Thursday, December 30
Too Late!
The beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:22
Recommended Reading
Luke 16:19-31
The same Bible that teaches about heaven warns of hell. In our Lord's story of the rich man and the beggar, the latter served God faithfully on earth, but suffered an incurable skin disease and had to beg for food. The rich man, on the other hand, fared sumptuously every day but evidently had no relationship with the Lord. In a flash their respective earthly lives ended, and their roles were reversed in eternity.
The problem wasn't primarily economic but spiritual. The rich man had previously had access to the Scriptures--"Moses and the prophets" (verse 31)--but had paid no attention. He was too busy buying things.
We only have a few remaining hours in this year to think about heaven and hell, only a day to make a lasting decision for Christ. Listen to Moses, the prophets, the Lord Jesus, and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Give yourself wholeheartedly to Christ today, while you still can and while there's still time.
What does it profit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
The saddest road to hell is the one that runs under the pulpit, past the Bible, and through the middle of warnings and invitations.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 4-5
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Another Year Is Dawning
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
"Another year is dawning," prayed the hymnist, "dear Father, let it be, on earth or else in heaven, another year with Thee."
The Lord has brought us through another year, for which we're thankful. But we're not promised another one on earth. If the Lord chooses to take us home at some point in the future, that's not a bad prospect. Paul said he'd rather be "present with the Lord."
Note that he didn't say "in heaven." Yes, he was going to heaven, but his primary focus was seeing Jesus. The golden streets are real, but they simply lead to the throne where Jesus is. The Celestial City is awaiting, but it would be hollow without the presence of Christ. We can't wait to bathe in the Crystal River, but it's only possible because we've first bathed in the fountain filled with blood. And while we're eager to see the loved ones who have preceded us, we want to see our Savior first of all.
Whether on earth or in heaven, may your New Year be blessed!
The dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come . . . But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Fanny Crosby
Read-thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119
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Top Tens: atTENtion
The days of our years are threescore years and ten . . . so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:10, 12 (KJV)
Recommended Reading
Psalm 90:1-12
Ever since God issued ten commandments, we've understood there's something special about that number. It serves as the base of our numerical system. Ten is the sum of the first four numbers (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) and the first two-digit number. It brings us full circle. We view ten as complete and perfect, which is why we often say, "On a scale from one to ten. . . ."
Ten years make a decade. And since we only have about seven of those, that should get our atTENtion. Verse 10 of Psalm 90 says that our current earthly lives are zipping by. Our years are "soon cut off and we fly away." But God is from "everlasting to everlasting," our "dwelling place in all generations" (verses 1-2).
Starting the year without Christ is like jumping into a dark, unknown patch of the future. But with our Lord, it's like taking a step with Him who holds the future.
Lord, remind us that You are our eternal life. Turn our atTENtion to the importance of each day—each year—each decade, and to make our lives count for Christ.
O Father, let Thy watchful eye still look on us in love, that we may praise Thee year by year, with angel hosts above.
From the eighteenth-century hymn, "The Year is Gone, Beyond Recall." Francis Pott, lyrics
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 1:1 – 3:24; Genesis 4:1 – 6:22
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Monday, January 3
Pop Stars
You will know them by their fruits...by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:16, 20
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:15-20
How hot was it last summer? According to the newspapers, it was so hot in the southern United States that a farmer in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, reported that his corn popped on the stalk. A Hardin County farmer also claimed that some of the ears among his rows of corn started popping in the intense heat. He sent photos of the burst kernels to specialists who said such a phenomenon is possible, though rare. Talk about signs of life! Can you imagine walking through a cornfield and hearing popping sounds all around you?
When we walk among the rows of Christians at church, are there any signs of life? When you look in the mirror as the day begins, are there any bursts of joy and claps of praise? When things get hot, is there an explosion of trust in God and kindness toward others?
As followers of Christ, there should be "signs" that we are alive in Him. When Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them," He was telling us that Christianity must be fruitful. Are you bursting with joy today?
The time is short, and we must not only work while it is day; we must bear fruit while it is the season for fruit.
A. J. Gordon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 7:1-10:32
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January 4
Pointing to Jesus
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:22-23
You're sitting in your car, stuck in traffic on a freeway or busy thoroughfare. Looking around, you notice an exceptionally bright billboard standing high above the traffic on the side of the road. You look away for a moment, then look back--and the sign is showing a different advertisement! Increasingly common these days, you've just seen one of the new digital billboards. It's like a computer or television screen in your home, or a jumbotron screen at a sports stadium--changing images instantly using bright, electronic displays.
"Capturing eyeballs"--it's the new standard in advertising, especially on the Internet. Capture a person's attention and your chances of educating them and making a sale increase. Signs are important in more than just advertising. Jesus said there was one primary "sign" by which the world will know that people are His followers: the way we love one another. Sometimes a simple act of love will be a sign to others that there is something different about a person. And a conversation about Christ may follow.
Look for an opportunity today to be a sign that points to Jesus--by demonstrating His love to others.
Love is the queen of all the Christian graces.
A. W. Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 11:1-14:24
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Wednesday, January 5
Salty Saints
Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
Luke 14:34
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:6
Salt is essential to life. For thousands of years, long before refrigeration was invented, salt was used as a preservative to keep meat from spoiling--and to provide flavor to foods. So salt gives life, preserves life, and flavors life--one of the most important minerals found on planet earth.
Jesus told His original disciples that they were the "salt of the earth." They (and we) were to have a saving, preserving, and flavoring influence wherever they went and with whomever they interacted. Interestingly, much of the salt used in Israel was from the Dead Sea and was mixed with other noxious minerals that spoiled its purity and flavor. In such a case, the salt was good for nothing; it had to be thrown out and was rendered useless. If our lives become polluted by the things of this world, our ability to save, preserve, and flavor life will be diluted and weakened accordingly. Our mission is not just to be salt, but to be pure salt.
In whose life are you serving as a saving, preserving, and flavoring influence? Don't lose your power by becoming mixed with the false salts of this world.
We are the salt of the earth, not the sugar, and our ministry is truly to cleanse and not just to change the taste.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 15:1-18:33
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Thursday, January 6
Greater and Lesser Lights
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14
Recommended Reading
John 8:12
Most lights get their power (their "light") from another source. A fire in a fireplace is lighted by a match, an ancient oil lamp was lighted by a flame from another source, and a modern bedside lamp gets its power from an electric current. The Bible says there are two sources of spiritual light in this world--the greater giving light to the lesser.
In one of His "I am" statements, Jesus said He was the "light of the world." Anyone who follows Him, He said, would not "walk in darkness" but would "have the light of life" (John 8:12). So Jesus is the light of the world, but He also told His disciples, "You are the light of the world." In fact, He compared us to a lamp that is given light by another source. So Jesus is the greater light and we who follow Him are the lesser lights. We only have light in us because He lives in us. We only have light to offer the world when we allow His light--the light of His glory and grace--to shine through us and push back the darkness.
Like a lamp that needs to be lit each night, make sure you connect with your spiritual Light-Source every morning. Only by taking His light with you can you enlighten the world.
It is not necessary to blow out your neighbor's light to let your own shine.
M. R. de Haan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 19:1-21:34
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Friday, January 7
What Do You Do?
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:8
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:58
Question: What is (probably) the most-often asked question at parties and the church's fellowships when strangers meet?
Answer: "So, what do you do?"
Asking about a person's vocation or job is definitely a time-tested ice-breaker, good for a couple minutes of chit-chat--double that amount if the question is reciprocated: "And what do you do?"
Actually, every Christian could answer the question with the exact same template: "I serve the Lord Jesus Christ by working as a (name your vocation or job)." As slaves of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1), we really have only one job in life: to serve Him. We go to many different venues for our vocation, but it is ultimately Him we serve. As Christ came into the world to accomplish His Father's will (John 6:38), so we go into the world to accomplish Christ's will (Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21). We accomplish two things in doing so: We earn our daily bread through our labor and we extend the kingdom of God by manifesting Christ's life and values to others.
So, what do you do? And how can you serve Christ today through your vocation or calling?
He who disregards his calling will never keep the straight path in the duties of his work.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 22:1-24:67
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Weekend, January 8 & 9
Top Tens: consisTENcy
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Psalm 119:33
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:33-40
Reese Kauffman, president of Child Evangelism Fellowship, grew up in a Christian home where certain habits were instilled into his life at a young age. For example, his mother had a bedtime ritual that Reese has never gotten away from: Brush your teeth and read your Bible. Those were the two rules that never varied. Every night he brushed his teeth and read a chapter in his Bible. Even as a young businessman who had gotten away from the Lord, Reese didn't abandon that habit. Brush your teeth and read your Bible. And it was one night while reading Psalm 139 before bed that God spoke to him and got hold of his life. Now years later, Reese still maintains the same holy ritual: Brush your teeth and read your Bible.
Perhaps the most important aspect of Bible study is consistency. It's better to study a little in God's Word every day than to try to absorb lots of the Bible in random study. Find a pattern that works for you, and stick with it. Every day brush your teeth and read your Bible. Be consistent!
A lack of Bible study lead to "truth" decay.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 25:1-29:35
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Monday, January 10
The Message and the Method
...having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:11-12
Churches are always looking for new methods for doing their ministry, and many Christians are eager to find the newest ways of sharing their faith. Good for us! We need to be geared to the times as we proclaim the unchanging message of Christ. It's often been said that the methods may change but the message never does. We want to reach our contemporary culture, and every generation devises its own techniques and systems.
But wait!
Sometimes the methods don't change either. God's primary means of evangelism is for people to see the hope of Christ in our daily lives and to ask us about it. We're to be ready to give an answer when that happens (1 Peter 3:15). God's method is to let our light so shine before men that they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Peter said, "Live such good lives among the pagans that...they may see your good deeds and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12, NIV).
God's message is Christ. His method is you.
Men are God's method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.
E. M. Bounds in Power through Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 30:1-31:55
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Tuesday, January 11
Near to the Heart of God
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.
Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:19-23
One day in 1901, the much-loved pastor of Chicago's First Presbyterian Church, Cleland Boyd McAfee, was shaken by the news that his two beloved nieces had died from diphtheria. Sitting down in pain and in prayer, he penned the words and music of "Near to the Heart of God."
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God. A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.
On the day of the double funeral, McAfee sang his newly composed hymn outside his brother's quarantined house. The following Sunday, the First Presbyterian choir sang this song as a communion hymn. It expresses a great truth. In our search for inner peace we often go to resources outside ourselves, but real peace with God is found on our knees as we draw near Him and near to His heart.1
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.
Cleland Boyd McAfee
1Adapted from Near to the Heart of God by Robert J. Morgan (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010), installment for September 25.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 32:1-34:31
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Wednesday, January 12
Twenty-Three Years Later
(We) always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 91:14-16
After Bill Jones, President of Columbia International University, received Christ on March 24, 1974, he grew burdened for his dad. The elder Jones wasn't a Christian, and Bill prayed for him for years. Finally Bill had the opportunity of sharing the Gospel and watching his dad become a Christian. The date was March 24, 1997--23 years later to the day after Bill himself had made the same decision.
"Years later, after my dad died," Jones told his students, "I was given his Bible. Among its pages I found the little diagram I had drawn to explain the Gospel to him. So don't stop praying for your loved ones. It may take awhile, but God has a wonderful way of answering prayer."
The Bible teaches that the earnest prayers of a righteous son or daughter--or dad, or mom, or friend--are powerful and avail much. As we seek God in prayer, it's important to remember that He has given us keys to success. Jesus hears and answers prayer, and the Holy Spirit is given to encourage us to keep on praying.
Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 35:1-37:11
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Thursday, January 13
Heart and Hands
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-9
The phrase "working in concert" is illustrated most beautifully by a concert orchestra itself. What a cacophony would be created if upwards of a hundred musicians, playing a couple dozen kinds of instruments, were all playing separate pieces! But by working in concert--playing the same score--they produce a work of beauty, harmony, and edification.
In the Christian life, heart and hands must work in concert in the same way to produce a life of peace. Our desires (the heart) and our actions (the hands) must be working toward the same goal, or tension and disharmony will cause peace to vanish. In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul talks about living a prayerful life free from anxiety (verses 6-7), and gives us themes on which the heart can settle in peace: noble, true, and virtuous things (verses 8-9). It does no good to pray for peace if we are fixing our minds on the conflicts and struggles of this world.
If you are seeking peace today, spend time meditating on Paul's words. Fix your heart, and then fold your hands in prayer--and receive God's peace.
We must never settle for harmony at the expense of holiness, nor for peace at the expense of principle.
John Bradford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 37:12-40:23
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Perfect Peace
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Recommended Reading
John 14:25-28
Isaiah 26:3 is one of the Old Testament's most beloved verses: a promise of peace made possible by remaining steadfastly focused on God. But it's the context of this promise that makes it so inviting. Israel was anticipating the Day of the Lord when God would rain down judgment upon her enemies. And in the midst of such turmoil, no Israelite should be anxious. Rather, they should keep their mind "stayed" (focused steadfastly) on the strength of God. He will "appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks" (verse 1).
The image of battles and ramparts is a good one for all who desire to keep their hearts and minds in peace. Christians are in a battle, for sure (2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18). We battle against principalities and powers that would seek to take our minds off of God who is our salvation. Anything the devil can do to make us doubt God's love, Christ's sufficiency, and the power of the Holy Spirit, he will do. Peace is kept by staying focused on what is true, on what God says.
Today, before heading into battle, fix and focus your mind on the great and precious promises of God (2 Peter 1:4) by which you will be kept in perfect peace.
It is in the way of truth that real peace is found.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 41:1 – 42:38
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Weekend, January 15 & 16
Top Tens: enlighTENment
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19:8
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:17-18
In your daily Bible reading, are there times when certain words appear to jump off the page in neon colors? Not literally, of course, but in terms of impact. Perhaps it was just a phrase; but it was what you needed, and it provided an enlightenment you've never forgotten.
The psalmist said that God's Word enlightens our eyes. Ezra 9:8 says that God longs to "enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival." Paul told his friends he was praying that their understanding would be enlightened so they would know the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18).
"There is nothing like reading an illuminated Bible," said Charles Spurgeon. "You may read to all eternity, and never learn anything by it, unless it is illuminated by the Spirit; and then the words shine forth like stars. The book seems made of gold leaf; every single letter glitters like a diamond. Oh, it is a blessed thing to read an illuminated Bible lit up by the radiance of the Holy Ghost."
This year, read God's Word prayerfully and expectantly.
Let me tell you a little secret: whenever you cannot understand a text, open your Bible, bend your knee, and pray over that text.
Charles Spurgeon
Read -Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 43:1-48:22
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Monday, January 17
Roll Up Your Sleeves
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
Colossians 3:23
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:5-8
Batwing, raglan, dolman, puffed, set-in, butterfly, paned, hanging, bell--these and more are styles of sleeves worn throughout history. Even today, the expression of someone "having something up his sleeve" refers to an Oriental-style hanging sleeve that was also used as a pocket--as still seen in China and Japan today. Today's long-sleeved shirts are often found to be overkill, as hard-working folks roll up their sleeves to accomplish their task.
Somehow, the idea of "working hard" as a Christian is lost on many believers, as if spiritual work should never be strenuous. Such a perspective might have drawn a stern correction from a hard worker like the apostle Paul. Not only did he set an example of giving one's all in service to Christ, he exhorted his readers to follow his example. We are to work heartily and be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). There is nothing about the Christian life that will not allow as much hard work as we want to give it.
Today, figuratively, if not literally, roll up your sleeves for the kingdom's sake!
The reason some people don't recognize opportunity is that it usually comes disguised as hard work.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 49:1-Exodus 1:22
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January 18
Changing Teams
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
Colossians 1:13
Recommended Reading
Acts 14:21-22
Sports fans watch annually as their favorite teams go through the ritual of trading players. Players leave the world they had known—teammates, club culture, hometown fans—and enter a new world when they are traded. They suddenly find themselves trying to defeat the same team they used to try to make victorious.
That's a somewhat inadequate way to introduce the idea of what happens when one becomes a Christian. But it helps illustrate that we are transferred from one "team" (the kingdom of darkness) to a new "team" (the kingdom of God). Without even knowing it, we used to work against the "team" of which we are now a member—"work" being the key word. Now, as a member of the kingdom of light (or kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven) we are called by God to extend that kingdom by word and deed. We extend God's kingdom by spreading the Gospel, applying biblical values in the marketplace, promoting justice and righteousness, and speaking out boldly in the name of Christ when injustice, darkness, and carnality surface.
We are called to work hard to extend God's kingdom. When God gives you an opportunity today, grasp it with all your might!
The work of God cannot be done in the energy of the flesh.
Vance Havner
Read-thru-the-Bible
Exodus 2:1 – 5:23
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Wednesday, January 19
Uniquely You
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.
Romans 12:6a
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:3-8
When we think of uniqueness, we often think of snowflakes--the classic example of "no two being alike." But there are other worthy examples: Forensic science developed around the uniqueness of human fingerprints--no two being alike. And now the retina of the human eye is being used as a means of identification and security clearance because, you guessed it--no two are alike.
Those unique traits of humans speak to the larger uniqueness factor that every human being possesses: There has never been a person in history with the same combination of appearance, personality, natural talents, and spiritual gifts as you! And there never will be. That should be the basis for the positive self-esteem of every person in the world--and especially every Christian, once spiritual gifts are added to the mix. If you are a follower of Christ, no one in the world is qualified to take your place in the kingdom of God. Every Christian's prayer should be, "Lord, guide me into fulfilling the calling for which You created and gifted me."
Uniqueness is not a human boast, but a boast in the creativity and generosity of God. Ask Him today to use you to be a blessing to others that is unique to only you.
Take note of what God gives you, then you will also know the task He sets before you.
Emil Brunner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 6:1-8:32
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Thursday, January 20
True Strength
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Recommended Reading
Mark 10:43-45
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a paradox as "a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true." And the New Testament gives us several good examples: we receive by giving, we live by dying, we become great by becoming small, and others.
One of the most important paradoxes for Christian living is found in the apostle Paul's experience with weakness and strength. When he found himself to be weak, he asked God to remove the weakness so he could once again be strong enough to serve. But instead of removing the weakness, God gave Paul grace to experience the strength and power of Jesus Christ in his life. It was when Paul was willing to be humanly weak that he was in the right place to experience the strength of Christ. And therein lies the paradox: We become strong (in Christ) as we recognize our own human weakness, when we depend more on Him and less on ourselves.
Today: Rise early, exercise, eat healthy, sleep well. But remember that your true strength is the strength of Jesus.
Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength.
D. L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 9:1-12:28
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Friday, January 21
Open Hands
And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Acts 20:35b
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 9:10-11
Try this object lesson with a child. Have him hold out both hands, palms open, and put a nickel in each palm. Tell him to close his fists tight and keep them closed no matter what you say. Now tell him you're very poor and need some money. Can you have his two coins? No--he's holding them tightly. Then tell him you're very rich and would like to give him two quarters to replace his two nickels. Can you replace his nickels with quarters? No--he's still holding tight.
Even a child can see what adults sometimes fail to recognize: A closed hand misses two blessings in life. A closed hand cannot enjoy the blessing of giving to others who are in need, nor can a closed hand receive blessings God may want to bestow. The best posture in life is to live with open hands and to view ourselves as channels of God's blessings. He gives to us not only to meet our needs, but to give us the opportunity to learn to give as Christ gave--fully, generously, and unconditionally.
Prayerfully hold out both open hands in front of you and present them to the Lord for Him to take from them or give to them as He pleases.
Our heavenly father never takes anything from His children unless He means to give them something better.
George Muller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 12:29-15:27
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Weekend, January 22 & 23
Top Tens: hasTENing
Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.
2 Peter 3:11-12
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 3:10-13
Is it possible for us to speed up the Second Coming? Can we speed it up by a decade? By a year? By an hour? As remarkable as it seems, the Bible seems to indicate we can indeed hasten His coming. But how?
First, by godly living. That's Peter's point here. As the NIV puts it, "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."
Second, by zealous evangelism. Jesus said the Gospel would be preached in all the world, and then the end would come (Matthew 24:14). According to 2 Peter 3:9, God is delaying His coming to give more people time to repent and be saved. The Second Coming is linked with the Great Commission.
Third, we can hasten His coming by prayer. The last promise and prayer of the Bible say: "'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).
This may or may not be the year Christ comes, but this can certainly be the year we hasten His coming.
Our very looking for His coming doth hasten His coming.
William Bridge, seventeenth-century British pastor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 16:1-22:31
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January 24
Open House Evangelism
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:9
Recommended Reading
Titus 1:5-9
Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth, missionaries to China, practiced "Open-House Evangelism." Since the Chinese were curious to see the interior of their home, the Goforths opened their house for tours. Visitors came from miles around. Jonathan would give a brief presentation of the Gospel, then Rosalind would speak with the women afterward. On one single day, more than 2,000 people showed up; and during a particular five-month period, some 25,000 people came to visit. Rosalind later said, "Some may think that receiving visitors is not real mission work, but I think it is. I put myself out to make friends with the people and I reap the results when I go to their villages to preach."1
Few of us would invite 25,000 people to tour our home, but too many of us overlook the gift of hospitality. It's a great blessing to open one's home, and family, and table to those in need--whether the need is financial, spiritual, or relational. If it's impossible to open your home, there are lots of other ways to be hospitable. Just remember that hospitality is one mark of a generous life.
Entertaining says, "I want to impress you with my home...." Hospitality, seeking to minister, says, "This home is a gift from my Master...." Hospitality aims to serve.
Karen Maines
1Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), 190.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 23:1-25:40
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Tuesday, January 25
Sowing and Reaping
The Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.
Genesis 26:12
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:6-10
Years ago, a Christian couple working overseas grew discouraged. Despite intense efforts, they saw little results. One day they were greatly impressed by 2 Corinthians 9:6. On a blackboard in their home, they wrote: HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP ALSO BOUNTIFULLY. Those words remained on the blackboard for the next two years, reminding the family to keep sowing. The day came when they saw multitudes coming to Christ.
In its specific context, 2 Corinthians 9:6 refers to financially supporting the Lord's work, but the principle of sowing/reaping intersects all of life. Galatians 6:7-10 applies it to doing good. As we sow deeds of kindness, we'll reap a harvest of blessing. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we should do good to all without fainting.
Those who didn't grow up on a farm may not understand the power of the law of sowing and reaping; but it's a powerful tool at our disposal. When we invest our time, money, and energy for God's kingdom, we're sowing. The harvest will come in larger proportion than we can imagine.
Don't grow weary while doing good.
It is enough for us to know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. In due time we shall reap what we sow; and they who sow abundantly shall also reap abundantly.
John Owen, English clergyman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 26:1-28:43
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Wednesday, January 26
An Amazing Claim
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 11:24-25
We all get direct mail pieces from investment companies and financial planners urging us to purchase their investment advice or subscribe to their investment newsletter. What if you received a come-on like this: "We promise: The more you invest with us, the more you will make. Guaranteed!" Such a company would be immediately investigated by the government and put out of business. No one can guarantee those kinds of results.
No one, that is, but God--and not in a purely financial sense. But 2 Corinthians 9:6 is pretty plain: If we give sparingly, we'll reap sparingly. If we give generously, we will reap generously. Any investment guru would love to be able to make such a claim. Yet even when God makes that promise, plainly stated in Scripture, many are afraid to take Him at His Word. If we start off giving sparingly and find ourselves in financial straits, we're afraid of giving generously lest things become worse. Far better to begin the Christian life as a generous giver and let God show Himself faithful.
Take a fresh look at your giving this week--and your returns. Trust God to be true to His Word.
God's riches are never lessened by His generosity.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 29:1-30:38
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Thursday, January 27
Defining "Neighbor"
And the second [great commandment] is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 22:39
Recommended Reading
Luke 10:25-37
The Pharisees in Jesus' day were always looking for a loophole in the law. For instance, they had a tradition that allowed them to avoid giving funds for the care of their parents if the money had already been promised to God. Jesus did not look kindly on setting aside the commands of God for the sake of religious tradition (Mark 7:8-13).
And when it came to obeying the command to love one's neighbor (Luke 10:29), they were quick to ask Jesus, "And just who, exactly, is our neighbor?" In reply, Jesus told the story that is now known throughout the world: the parable of the Good Samaritan--a man who stopped to take care of an injured traveler after two religious leaders had passed him by. We can summarize Jesus' definition of "neighbor" this way: Your neighbor is anyone who has a need that you are able to meet. The definition has nothing to do with them living next door. It only has to do with their need and your ability to meet the need.
Think of those God has put in the path of your life. If you can think of one person with a need you have resources to meet, that person is your neighbor--a person to love as you love yourself.
If my heart is right with God, every human being is my neighbor.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 31:1-34:35
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Friday, January 28
For Love's Sake
Without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
Philemon 1:14
Recommended Reading
Philemon 1:8-21
In Roman times, a wealthy man named Philemon lived in the Colosse region of Asia Minor. One day his slave Onesimus ran away after stealing some money. The fugitive trekked to Rome where he met the apostle Paul and was converted to Christ. Paul sent him home with one of the shortest and most personal letters in our Bible--the epistle to Philemon. In it, the apostle exhorted Philemon to consider Onesimus "no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother" (verse 16). Paul hinted he would like to have Onesimus helping him in his ministry. But he stopped short of using his authority to order Philemon to comply. "Though I might be very bold in Christ to command you...yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you" (verse 8-9).
The Lord longs for us to obey because we want to, not because we have to. Some religions codify what must be done to others, but true charity comes from the heart. Let's serve God faithfully because we long to please Him each day.
If kindness or helpfulness is in any way forced, it becomes insincere...We must constantly examine our own lives to insure that proper actions are produced by proper motives.
James A. Borland
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 35:1-37:29
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Weekend, January 29 & 30
Top Tens: persisTENce
...because of his persistence...
Luke 11:8
Recommended Reading
Luke 11:5-10
Sir David Michels, the former head of Hilton and a respected commercial leader, calls persistence "an enormously useful tool in business." Years ago, he was a sales representative for a London hotel that was having trouble filling its rooms. Michels knew that his problem would be solved if he could only persuade Japan Airlines to agree to use his hotel for its flight crews. Michels went to work learning the Japanese language. He traveled to Japan ten times. He took up golf (which he detests) because the Japanese airline officials enjoyed the sport. He persisted for over two years, and one day the competing hotel made a mistake and overbooked its rooms. Flight crews were stranded, and the airline turned to Michels. He got the contract. His secret was persistence.
In this New Year, God wants to give us success in holiness and ministry. He wants us to grow in Christ and in our calling as Christians. He wants to bless us and our efforts. He wants to answer our prayers. The key is persistence--it's an enormously useful tool in God's kingdom.
Failure has been identified as the line of least persistence.
Zig Ziglar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 38:1-Leviticus 4:35
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Monday, January 31
Back in Church
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:5
Recommended Reading
Acts 16:1-5
There's a new effort to persuade people to get "Back to Church." It's an annual Sunday targeting those who once attended church but who no longer come. Most participating churches showed an uptick in attendance, and the effort is gaining momentum.
We're for anything that gets people back to church. But how much better to never drop out to begin with! Many churchgoers run into trouble after missing a week or two--perhaps due to work schedules, sickness, travel disruptions, or sheer laziness. The devil takes advantage of these lapses. We find we like sleeping in on Sundays, taking the day off, reading the paper, going to the park, and catching up on our work. The next thing we know, we ourselves are the mission field, needing someone to persuade us to get "back in church."
The church is a community of faith where we share our joys and sorrows. Much joy comes from giving and receiving love, rendering worship, and serving Christ. We should never need to get back in church. Instead we should back the church with our love, appreciation, energy, and faithfulness.
It was a shabby church house, the preacher was plain, the organ wheezy, and the music off key. But there was something that reminded one of the Upper Room.
Vance Havner, about his boyhood church
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 5:1-7:38
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Tuesday, February 1
How to Witness for Christ
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47
Recommended Reading
Colossians 1:27-28
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005, there was widespread criticism of the slow response of official (government) agencies. But as post-Katrina stories began to trickle into the media, one theme was consistently heard: the most effective help for victims of the hurricane came from churches and ministries who mobilized people and resources to go to New Orleans quickly and help however they could.
That kind of response is typical of how Jesus responded to needs around Him. There was no bureaucracy or red tape to cut through. There were just people with needs and a Savior with ways to meet those needs. That kind of compassion was rare in Jesus' day and it attracted people to Him. When Christians today allow Jesus to be compassionate through them, needs are met and hearts are awakened and attracted to the Savior. Our world is full of words, but not as full as it could be of service and compassion.
The Church's greatest witnessing tool is when she lives as the hands and heart of Jesus--ministering to her members and others in His name.
Preach the gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words.
Francis of Assisi
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 8:1-10:20
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Wednesday, February 2
Find a Quiet Place
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Matthew 14:23
Recommended Reading
Exodus 19:14-20
Are you addicted to Twitter, the social networking service that allows you to describe your status in 140 characters or less and subscribe to others' status reports? Even if you're not addicted, a lot of people apparently are. There are plenty of websites now that describe signs of Twitter addiction and how to break the addiction if you are so afflicted.
Twitter, texting, email, the Internet, 24-hour news cycles on radio and television--it's almost impossible to find a place to be alone with one's own thoughts today. And if you do find yourself in a silent place, it's only because you turned off or left behind a half-dozen or more devices that are designed to keep you occupied with "critical" information around the clock. But the information you receive in a quiet place is more important than anything else you might hear. That's because it comes from God and His Word. As our Creator and Heavenly Father, God wants to meet with you in a quiet place.
If need be, unplug and turn off the distractions and meet alone with the Father who waits for you.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 11:1-13:44
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Thursday, February 3
Who Holds the Future
Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers.
Song of Solomon 1:4
Recommended Reading
James 4:13-17
Forbes magazine is famous for its lists, one of them being "The 20 Most Expensive Celebrity Weddings." Among the astounding number of dollars spent on cakes, dresses, and honeymoons, at least five of the twenty couples spent money on a fairy-tale setting for their wedding: a castle. Scotland's Skibo Castle was used twice, and Italy's Odescalchi Castle was also used along with England's Sudeley Castle and India's Umaid Bhawan Palace.
While not exactly a castle in the strict sense, King Solomon's palace in Jerusalem probably fulfilled all his bride's expectations when they married. No wonder she said to him early in the Song of Solomon, "Draw me away!" What young girl doesn't dream of that most romantic of days in her future--her wedding day? Yet what a comfort to know that God holds the real-life answers to every heart's dream. We may not know what the future holds, but we definitely know who holds the future.
If you have dreams or questions about tomorrow, commit them to the God of the future. If your dream doesn't come true, it's only because God has something even better in store.
Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to his love, and the future to his providence.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 13:45-15:33
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Friday, February 4
Careful Currency
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17
Recommended Reading
Judges 12:2-6
In this age of political discourse, media spin, and sound bites, it can be difficult to know what words actually mean. Consultants can be paid large sums of money to produce words that take up space without saying anything. But in the kingdom of God, words are currency--a medium for meaning, an exchange tool for communication.
In marriage, the most intimate and trusting of human relationships, it is important for spouses to create a culture of confidence--and to create that culture by careful communication. The admonition of Jesus is a worthy model for marital words: "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'" (Matthew 5:37). The more words that are spoken, the greater the likelihood of misspeaking or misinterpreting. "But he who restrains his lips is wise" (Proverbs 10:19b). Is "I love you" just a phrase spoken when parting in person or on the phone, or does it mean "I choose to commit my all to your well-being forever, regardless of the cost"? Words are ultimately defined by actions, so couples have the opportunity to teach one another what they are saying.
Recommit yourself today to the kingdom proposition that words have meaning. And spend your currency wisely.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 16:1-18:30
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Weekend, February 5 & 6
"I Love You"--The Fact of God's Love
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Recommended Reading
1 Cor. 13:4-8a
For the Weekend devotionals this month, we will look at the progression of God's love for us: The fact of God's love, the nature of God's love, the surprise of God's love, and the permanence of God's love.
The aspect of Christianity that sets it apart from all other world religions is the fact of God's love. Instead of requiring us to sacrifice ourselves to gain God's approval, He sacrificed Himself for us in order to satisfy His own nature and fulfill His own attributes. God doesn't love us because of something we did, He loves us because it is in His nature to love: "I love you," God says to us. And the sign of His love is the fact that He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. God turned love into a verb--an action word. There can be no doubt that God loves us. He proved it by what He did for us.
And therein lies the template for all who claim to belong to God: We must love as God loves us. We love God and love others because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). If we are to be recognized as belonging to God, it will be first because of how we love (John 13:35).
None walk so evenly with God as they who are assured of the love of God.
Thomas Manton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 19:1-24:23
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Monday, February 7
Behold, What Love!
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
1 John 4:16a (NIV)
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:7-16
In a scene in a popular movie, Johnny Depp played a character who lectured his friend about the important things in life. "There are only four questions," he said. "What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?"
Then he said softly, "The answer to each is the same: only love."
That's true, though not as Hollywood thinks. To the world, love is a shallow sentiment. To the Christian, it's a divine reality. God is love, and He demonstrated His love at Calvary. This love is sacred; it's from Him. It prompted Him to form our spirits and make us in His image. It gives meaning to our lives and calls us to give ourselves for others. The language God used to share His love for us is found in His Word, in His actions at the cross, and in His plan for our eternal future.
Behold what love is lavished on us! It's a love we can both know and rely on today.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 25:1-26:46
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Tuesday, February 8
Lovesick
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick!
Song of Solomon 5:8
Recommended Reading
1 John 3:1-3
Recently a lonely reader wrote to the advice columnist for an online magazine, asking: "I love someone who doesn't feel the same way. Everyone tells me to move on, but that's just not working. What do I do?"
Do you remember when your heart filled with joy because of a phone call from one you loved, or a note, a hug, or even the wave of a hand? Conversely, have you ever known the pain of loving but not feeling loved in return?
The woman in Song of Solomon was struggling with her emotions after a disagreement with her husband--she was expressing how sick of heart she was as she struggled with her feelings for Solomon. Unfortunately, we can't control how another views us, nor can we command love from another person. But the Lord's love for us will never falter; we're secure in Him. Furthermore He promises to meet all our needs in life as we seek Him first (Matthew 6:33). If you feel lonely, rest in His love. Be proactive in meeting the needs of others, and trust Him to meet the deepest needs of your own heart in His own time and way.
Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself.
Francois Fénelon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 27:1-Numbers 1:54
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Wednesday, February 9
Sitting in a Puddle
To be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6b
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:20-25
When we're disappointed or distraught--whether about health or money or prodigals or whatever--we need a biblical plan for recovering God's peace. Perhaps you're separated from someone you love, and the loneliness is intense. To love is to sometimes hurt. We need the peace that exceeds understanding.
Try underlining Bible verses. Sit down with a cup of tea and search the Scriptures looking for verses to underline and memorize.
Try journaling. Write out your feelings, but also jot down the verses God gives you. You can also compose written prayers as the Psalm writers did long ago.
Try reading. Find an inspirational book. Whether an old classic like Pilgrim's Progress or something just off the press, read it with a highlighter in hand.
Try exercise. Even something as simple as walking around the block can clear your mind. Whatever you do, don't fall into self-pity. Sitting around in a puddle of worry isn't good for anyone. Whatever ailment we face, the Word of God is the medicine and the peace of God the cure.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 2:1-3:51
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Thursday, February 10
Mayonnaise on the Road
You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip.
2 Samuel 22:37
Recommended Reading
Psalm 1
A load of mayonnaise recently fell off a truck in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan. Mayo contains eggs, vinegar, and oil, and the shattered bottles created a slippery stretch of highway that police said was slicker than snow. It caused an eight-car pile-up, resulting in three injuries and a five-hour road closure.
The highway of life can get slippery, too. Sometimes we come to major intersections like choosing a life's partner; other times we have bends in the road. But finding the right pathway is vital, and Jesus is the only Way. He told us the gate is narrow, but the destination is certain (Matthew 7:13-14). Psalm 85:13 tells us that when righteousness goes before us, it makes firm footsteps for our path. The Book of Acts calls Christianity "the Way" (Acts 19:23). And Isaiah 35:8 says, "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness."
The most important thing about life's journey is being on the right road so our feet don't slide and our footsteps are secure.
Revival is just you and I walking along the Highway in complete oneness with the Lord Jesus and with one another, with cups continually cleansed and overflowing.
Roy Hession
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 4:1-5:31
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Friday, February 11
Thomas Austin's Rabbits
The righteous should choose...carefully.
Proverbs 12:26a
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 14:15-18
In his book, History's Worst Decisions and the People Who Made Them, Stephen Weir tells the story of Thomas Austin's ill-fated plan in 1859 to have a Christmas hunt on his land 60 miles from Melbourne, Australia. Austin imported 24 rabbits from England and released them onto his property, where they promptly started multiplying like, well...rabbits. Within a few years, over 3,000 square miles of farmland around Austin's estate had been stripped of vegetation by the rabbits; and by 1866, the devastation spread as far as 2,000 miles north to Queensland. By the 1940s, the rabbit population was estimated at 800 million, and each rabbit was figured to have cost one Australian dollar in damage. To this day, Australians are still fighting Thomas Austin's rabbits.1
Bad decisions have long-lasting effects. Our choices often come with unintended consequences. They set the direction of our lives, whether for good or ill. The value of making wise decisions is a lesson we all need. As you make decisions big and small, pray for guidance and make them prayerfully and thoughtfully.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 6:1-7:59
1Stephen Weir, History's Worst Decisions and the People Who Made Them (Millers Point, Australia: Murdoch Books Australia, 2005), 83-86.
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Weekend, February 12 & 13
"I Love You"--The Nature of God's Love
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
John 15:13
Recommended Reading
John 15:14-17
A 1970 film, by the same name as the novel on which it was based, Love Story, became famous for its tag line: "Love means never having to say you're sorry." That's just one of many examples of how people have defined and illustrated love through the years. Jesus Christ gave to the world the way to recognize true love in its ultimate manifestation--the greatest form of love possible. That kind of love is manifested by one person being willing to lay down his or her life for a friend. Ultimately, "lay down" means "to die for." But it could mean a less drastic sacrificial act of love as well. True love is when one person gives of himself for a friend.
John 3:16 says that God loved the whole world. But John 15:13 says that Jesus loves you personally because, as His follower, you are His friend (John 15:14-17). If ever you feel small in terms of God's love as part of the entire world, you can erase that feeling by taking Jesus' words to heart. You are His friend if you are His follower, and He laid down His life for you.
Love personalized is love individualized. Let a friend know today that you love him or her just because you are friends.
Every Christian would agree that a man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 7:60 -12:16
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Monday, February 14
"I'm Bored With Marriage"
I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5b
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:1-6
Actress Courteney Cox recently played a woman bored with her marriage, and she admitted in an interview that the movie was true to her life. Describing husband David Arquette, she said, "We've been married for ten years...I'm bored with my life and bored with my marriage." The couple has since separated and friends don't expect their marriage to survive.1
That's a sad example of the world's approach to marriage. They enjoy it for a while, then get bored and move on to something else. But Christians think differently because we have a God who is neither bored nor boring. He's eternally committed to us, and He expects us to reflect His loyalty to those we love and marry.
The Lord said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." As believers, we have security in the love and faithfulness God shows us. Commitment in marriage is based not on moods or impulses but on the fidelity we find in our walk with God.
Don't get bored. Get biblical. Dedicate yourself afresh to the Lord Jesus and to the spouse He has given you.
In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage.
Robert Anderson
1John Shearer, "Courtney Cox Talks About 'Being Bored With My Marriage' in Film" US Weekly, October 16, 2010, <usmagazine.com>, accessed on October 22, 2010.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 13:1-14:45
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Tuesday, February 15
Cranberry Juice and a Good Marriage
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love....
Ecclesiastes 9:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 127
A newspaper in Nova Scotia recently interviewed Mae Forbes, 100 years old, who has been a volunteer for the Bridgewater Hospital's auxiliary for 72 years. When asked the secret of her longevity, she replied, "I love cranberry juice." Then she added, "I had a happy marriage. I think that's the reason I feel so good. I had a lovely marriage." Mrs. Forbes met her husband when she was singing in the church choir. Stanley came into the service one day, and Mae spotted him. Nudging a girlfriend beside her, Mae whispered, "I'm going to get him." They were a happy couple for 64 years until Stanley's death.
Experts tell us that a good marriage can enhance our lives, and most studies report that married people live longer than non-married folks. There are various explanations for this, but undoubtedly our health is enhanced by the security of knowing we have someone with whom to share our lives.
The point is--if you're married, treasure your partner and value your home. And don't forget an occasional glass of cranberry juice.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 15:1-16:50
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Wednesday, February 16
There's a Wedding in Your Future
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7
Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:6-10
The average wedding costs $27,000, and some nuptials can gobble up hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some wedding dresses cost over $100,000, and the private jets to visit the designers are extra. Couples can easily blow a half-million on catering, especially if a famous chef is involved. Throw in a forty-piece orchestra, a private mansion, and over-the-top gift bags for the guests--and we're talking real money!
But there will never be a wedding to match the glory of the marriage of the Lamb. When the last saint has been transported to heaven and the total number of the redeemed are gathered around the throne, the church will be presented to Christ like a bride. Ephesians 5:27 says, "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing..."
We spend months anticipating our wedding and when the day comes, we're filled with joy. As Christians our Groom is preparing for us, and our happiest moments are still ahead.
O, that the church would work a hundredfold more earnestly for the conversion of souls and the edifying of the body of Christ, that the bride might be complete, and thus hasten the coming of her Lord.
William E. Blackstone
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 17:1-20:29
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Thursday, February 17
Wedding Disasters
So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah.
Genesis 29:25a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 22:1-14
The Today Show recently ran some stories about real-life wedding disasters, like the bride who was thrown from her carriage when the horse got spooked en route to the church. Another unfortunate bride swallowed her engagement ring. And don't forget the bride who got intoxicated at her wedding and was hauled off to jail.
But in the area of wedding disasters, nothing can top Jacob's disastrous experience in Genesis 29 when he woke up the next morning to learn he had married the wrong girl.
We can rest assured nothing will go wrong at the greatest of all weddings--the Marriage of the Lamb. It's been planned since eternity past. Jesus prayed, "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me...for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). We are chosen in Christ "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). Christ "was foreordained before the foundation of the world" for us (1 Peter 1:20).
Since the dawn of time, God has been preparing for our eternal future with Him. We have a glorious "wedding" to anticipate!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 21:1-23:30
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Friday, February 18
Time and Place
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.
Song of Solomon 2:7
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A 2005 study by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation on "U. S. Teen Sexual Activity" found 34 percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20, and approximately four million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease each year.*
If the young wife of Solomon, King of Israel, were to comment on these statistics, she might say, "Too many young people are stirring up and awakening love before love is ready to be roused." And if Solomon himself were to chime in, he would probably say, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven--including sex!" Somewhere, the beautiful and intimate act of marital relations has been moved from the sanctity of the marriage bed to the common ways of our culture. And we are the worse for it. God is the author of marriage, romance, and parenthood--and all the acts pertaining thereto.
Whether you are pre-wedding or post-wedding, give fresh consideration to God's design for sexual relations--and His perfect time and place for everything.
Whereas the charge leveled at the Victorians was "love without sex," today it is "sex without love."
David Watson
*Source: kff.org/youthhivstds/upload/U-S-Teen-Sexual-Activity-Fact-Sheet.pdf (as of 10-12-10)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 24:1-26:41
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Weekend, February 19 & 20
"I Love You"--The Surprise of God's Love
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:6-11
Jesus shocked His Jewish audience when He replaced the non-biblical idea of hating one's enemies with the New Testament idea of loving them (Matthew 5:43). The Jewish tradition of hating one's enemies had achieved Scripture-like status among the Jews--a status Jesus debunked.
The apostle Paul took that teaching a step further when he pointed out that it would be a rare occasion when someone might die for another person--even a righteous person (Romans 5:7), much less an enemy. Who would die for an enemy? God did, Paul said. God demonstrated His love for us--His enemies (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21)--by dying for us. So when God says, "I love you," He is saying He chose to love someone who, before being reconciled to Him through faith in Christ, was His enemy. What a shock to the world's system! The world thinks it's normal to love our friends but not to love (hate) our enemies. Yet God's love is counter cultural again.
God loves friends and enemies, as should we. If there is someone unlovely in your life today, surprise him with your love.
You never so touch the ocean of God's love as when you forgive and love your enemies.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 26:42-31:54
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Monday, February 21
Making God in Man's Image
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
John 7:17
Recommended Reading
John 8:42-47
An often-heard expression by those holding strong opinions about God (that are contrary to orthodox, historic, biblical teaching) is, "My God would never...(send anyone to hell, expect me to live a celibate lifestyle--and other opinions)." Whereas the Bible says God created man in His image, these people are creating God in their image.
Such opinions and declarations about God beg the question, "How do you know God wouldn't do such a thing?" Everyone has a right to his or her opinion about anything, but that doesn't make those opinions truth. Truth has to be anchored in something more dependable, trustworthy, and time-tested than an opinion. Thankfully, we have such a source from which to learn about God: the Word of God written (the Bible) and living (Jesus Christ). Jesus gave His stamp of authority to Scripture by affirming its teachings, and God affirmed Jesus by raising Him from the dead.
When opinions about God are being shared, it's always best to direct the discussion back to Scripture. If Scripture (rightly interpreted) says it, then that settles it. Anything else is just an opinion at best, speculation at worst.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 32:1-33:56
:angel:
Tuesday, February 22
Love Is Spelled T-i-m-e
By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.
Song of Solomon 3:1
Recommended Reading
John 13:34-35
A couple decades ago, Christian publishers released waves of books on marriage, family, and childrearing from a biblical perspective. Many of them countered a popular cultural notion that championed quality of time over quantity of time in relationships. Not so, Christian authors said: Quantity of time spent in relationships is just as important as quality of time, if not more so. Love, some suggested, could be spelled t-i-m-e.
It won't come as a surprise to modern married couples that the first spat in the marriage of King Solomon and his Shulamite bride was over the issue of time. Shulamith expected Solomon home at a certain hour and he showed up in the middle of the night. And Shulamith was too offended to get up and let him in. They patched things up in due course, but the tension they experienced is a warning to anyone in any relationship: There is no substitute for time spent together. Whether in marriage, childrearing, a relationship with God, or just good friends, growth and intimacy grow over time.
Consider your relationships today: Are you giving the people you love the time they deserve?
We have been too busy chopping wood to take time out to sharpen the ax.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 34:1-36:13
:angel:
Wednesday, February 23
Time Together
Where has your beloved gone...? Where has your beloved turned aside...?
Song of Solomon 6:1
Recommended Reading
Song 6:1-3
Marriage counselors are alarmed about the scant amount of time husbands and wives spend with each other and their children during the course of the week. We're a distracted generation. In olden times, families spent vast chunks of time together in the farmhouse and around the barn and in the fields. Today the average family hardly has time to eat a hurried sandwich together, and that's often done in the car after we've zipped past a drive-in where someone tosses food to us through the window.
A team of counselors recently suggested that any marriage can be improved by committing to a 30/30 plan--spending thirty minutes together for thirty days. We have to be intentional about scheduling time to protect priceless moments with those most precious to us. Block in date nights, family times, camping trips, regular meals, getaway Weekends, and reading times with your youngsters at bedtime.
Even Solomon and Shulamith had trouble spending time with each other in Song of Solomon. The problem is as old as the Bible, but the answer is as modern as a good planning calendar.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 1:1-2:37
:angel:
Thursday, February 24
Rekindling Love
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 5:32-33
Psychologists tell us that many couples are so "in love" when they get married that they don't realize that the flush of emotions will die down like the flames in a fireplace, and that constant work is required to keep the blaze going. Some couples forget to tend the flames of romance. They get busy, distracted, and negligent of each other. The pressures of life fall over the fire like a wet blanket. Before you know it, all that's left are dying embers.
But dying embers when urgently and properly tended to can be rekindled into a blaze that yields both heat and light. Stop taking your spouse for granted. Make time for romance. Start "dating" again. Start holding hands again. Kiss in the kitchen. Hug. Affirm. Take time to talk over dinner. Plan a Weekend getaway without the kids.
Go, show your love to your wife again, or to your husband or children, or to the Lord. It often doesn't take much to rekindle the fire if the burning embers are still there.
Affection is the cement of a relationship.
Willard F. Harley, Jr.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 3:1-4:49
:angel:
Friday, February 25
The Right Road
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Revelation 2:4
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 1:3-6
There is a principle in geography, relationships, and other endeavors that involve time and movement: The wrong road never turns into the right road. If you discover you are on the wrong road you must turn around and go back to where you made the wrong turn. Get off the wrong road, and get on the right road, and move forward from there. Even if we miss our objective by a millimeter, the distance between us and our goal only widens with time if we are on the wrong road.
When love for Christ grew cold in the church at Ephesus, Jesus himself told the church to "repent" and return to her first love. When young pastor Timothy grew fearful in exercising his gift of leadership, Paul told him to "stir up" the gift--fan it into flame again. And when Solomon and his wife hit a rough spot in their marriage, they rekindled their romance with a Weekend retreat to the countryside. The first step is acknowledgement: Things are different; the fire/romance/power/love is waning and weakening. We must get off this wrong road and return to the right road before we lose our way.
If you are losing sight of familiar benchmarks in any area of life, stop--go back to the landmarks you recognize, and go forward again.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 5:1-7:26
:angel:
Weekend, February 26 & 27
"I Love You Forever"--The Permanence of God's Love
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35a
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:35-39
"Separation anxiety" is defined as the fear or dread felt by a person at the prospect of being separated from a beneficial relationship or environment. It becomes a disorder when such anxiety rises to a level that it impairs one's ability to function normally. The great reformer, Martin Luther, might have suffered from such anxiety at the prospect of being separated from God due to his own sinfulness. Only his discovery, from Romans 1:17, that a relationship with God is sustained by faith, not works, set Martin Luther free from his anxiety.
No true Christian should ever fear being separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus. That is the clear testimony of God himself through His inspired Word. Living as we do in a world of imperfect love and failing relationships, it is challenging to rest in a love so pure and so permanent that it will never cease. But that is the nature of God's love. Paul exhausted his creativity trying to think of something that could come between us and God's love--and he failed (Romans 8:38-39)!
"Be anxious for nothing," Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6--including the permanence of God's love.
The true measure of God's love is that He loves without measure.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 8:1-14:29
:angel:
Monday, February 28
The Unfailing Husband
For your Maker is your husband--the Lord Almighty is his name--the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
Isaiah 54:5 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Ruth 4:13-22
In the Old Testament, Jehovah presents Himself as the Husband of the nation of Israel. In the New Testament, the church is pictured as the bride of Christ. How remarkable that the Bible consistently presents our Maker as our husband. Just as a caring man goes out of his way to enrich the life of his bride, God blesses us with loving provisions. He will never abandon, leave, forsake, neglect, nor forget us. He constantly demonstrates His love in expressions large and small. He gives us His name. He daily meets our needs. He lavishes His blessings. He has a mansion for us in heaven.
Sooner or later, we'll be disappointed by every friend on earth; none are perfect. But the Lord Jesus Christ will never let us down. When we are lonely, He comes calling. When we feel weak, He imparts strength. When we're hurt, His wounds provide strong medicine for inward healing. When we're aging, He reminds us of the eternal life bound up in His resurrection.
Your Maker is your husband--the Lord Almighty is His name.
Let the love of husband be never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of the flame that burns in the heart of Jesus.
Charles H. Spurgeon, in his sermon "Bands of Love"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 15:1-18:22
:angel:
Tuesday, March 1
Spring Has Sprung
I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2b
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-6
In one of his hit songs, Frank Sinatra sang merrily, "You make me feel so young; you make me feel like spring has sprung." He was saying that a good romance ages well. "And even when I'm old and gray," he crooned, "I'm gonna feel the way I do today."
A fine romance and a good marriage keep us young. But they also require tending. Romantic husbands figure out how to keep the courtship strong. Have you planned a special evening recently? Arranged for the babysitter? Made reservations at a quiet restaurant? Picked up some flowers? Given a tender hug? Spoken those three special words?
Just as a romantic husband spends time preparing special occasions for his wife, the Lord Jesus is planning something special for His Bride, the Church. When He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He wasn't just returning to the throne to be idle. Our Lord is always at work. He promised His disciples He would prepare a place for them. Remembering the eternal life He lovingly promised us is a good way to stay young--to feel that spring has sprung.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 19:1-22:30
:angel:
Wednesday, March 2
Crazy Busy
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46
In his book, CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap, Edward M. Hallowell wrote about the moment he knew he had crossed the dark side from busy to crazy busy. It was when he lost his temper at a rotary dial phone while on vacation. His cell phone wouldn't work, and he just about went nuts waiting for the dial to return to start with every number. Then, calming down, he timed the process. The entire dialing process took all of eleven seconds. "What a fool I had become," he wrote. "I had become a man in a hurry even when I had no need to hurry."1
Sometimes we're too busy to even notice we're busy. Our daily tasks weigh us down, and we unwillingly but unwittingly neglect what's most important--our inner nourishment and our family fellowship. Plan time for rest. Build some solitude into your routines. Establish plenty of time for spouse and family. Stop being crazy busy. Be still and remember Him who rules over all.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake, to guide the future as He has the past.
Catharina A. von Schlegel
1Alina Gugend, "Too Busy to Notice You're Too Busy," The New York Times, March 31, 2007.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 23:1-26:19
:angel:
Thursday, March 3
Loaded Living
Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits.
Psalm 68:19
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:2-5
Joseph Leek, a 90-year-old Britisher, was a tightwad. He regularly sauntered to his neighbor's house to watch television in order to reduce his electricity bill. He shopped at secondhand clothing stores and put off home repairs. It was a shock to everyone after his death when he left almost two million dollars to an organization that provides guide dogs for the blind.
Too bad he never met the English spinster, Mary Guthrie Essame. She was a retired nurse who also wore hand-me-downs and lived in a ramshackle house. Friends were amazed when she left ten million dollars to charity upon her death.
These kinds of stories--and there are many of them--remind us of two things. First, from a material perspective, we should live simply and wisely so as to be faithful supporters of God's work. But second, in a spiritual sense, how sad to live as paupers when we're the children of the King. Our God loads us with blessings every day, and we should fully enjoy the peace and pleasure of His promises and presence.
Let's live frugally--but joyfully!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68
:angel:
Friday, March 4
No More Wedding Bells?
Let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:1-4
A Pew Research Center study last fall revealed the way our society is changing its view of marriage. Nearly 40 percent of respondents said that marriage is becoming obsolete. Cohabitation has become the norm, and many people are accepting the view that wedding bells aren't needed to have a family.1
It's incorrect to view love as something we fall into and out of, as if we were at the mercy of some kind of romantic fate. To love someone faithfully and continually is more a matter of choice than of chemistry. It's more volitional than emotional. We decide that if God loves us, we can love others. We choose to love just as we choose to be patient and kind. We determine to put others before ourselves as the Bible commands in Philippians 2.
John MacArthur makes an unusual statement in his book, Different by Design: "When you choose to love someone who is no longer attractive to you, he or she will soon become attractive. Loving as Christ loves does not depend on what others are in themselves, but entirely on what we are in Christ."
Love is a choice we make--it is an act of our will as well as our heart.
John MacArthur
1Hope Yen, "More in U.S. Taking Marriage Off the Table," The Associated Press, November 18, 2010.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 29:1-31:30
:angel:
Weekend, March 5 & 6
Experiential Living: Experience Love
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:16
Recommended Reading
1 John 3:16-23
Many years ago in a Bible class conducted at a Y.M.C.A., the discussion turned to the topic of love. One of the participants was a printer. He told the group that his mother had died when he was a baby and he had been raised by a stern father who was a "cold moralist." The man said he had never experienced love and didn't understand what it was. He asked the group, "What do you mean by the love of God?" His friends were amazed to discover someone sitting beside them who had never experienced love. From that day on you can be sure they took every opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to the loveless printer.1
It saddens us to realize there are people who never know what love feels like. But only those who know the love of Christ really know true love; and only those who know His love can show His love. Take a moment today to thank God for His indescribable gift, and ask Him to show you someone you can love today.
A sense of God's love will excite in you great gratitude. "Oh!" you will say, "how can I repay the Lord for such an amazing favour?"
Charles H. Spurgeon in his sermon "Daniel's Band"
1"Three Men from One Class" Association Men, Vol. 35, Issue 5, p. 219.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 32:1-Joshua 4:24
:angel:
Monday, March 7
Time Lost Is Never Found
Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
Colossians 4:17 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:12-18
In Poor Richard's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin advised, "If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time may be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again ...Let us then be up and doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity."
Throughout eternity, God's servants will serve Him. We'll be worshipping around the throne in New Jerusalem and enjoying our fellowship, work, and pursuits with endless joy. But here on earth, we have limited time to care for our families and fulfill our Father's will.
Let's spend time doing those things that convey God's love to those around us. Christ had only 33 years, and in His active public ministry He had only 36 months. But He made every moment count; and on the eve of His crucifixion He said, "I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4).
Let's be diligent today to finish the work He's assigned us this day.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 5:1-8:35
:angel:
Tuesday, March 8
Driven Into Sovereign Arms
...to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning.
Isaiah 61:3
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 61:1-3
Kay Arthur was bitterly disappointed when she contracted a heart infection that forced her removal from the mission field. She and her family, serving in Mexico, were forced to return home. "I felt like a failure," she wrote. "Depression set in until I cried, 'Father, whatever You want.' It would be several years before I'd see how He'd use those formative years of study in Mexico to prepare me to write inductive Bible studies that would eventually reach 52 countries."
"My disappointments aren't over," Kay admits. "Pain and trials are almost constant companions, but never enemies. They drive me into His sovereign arms. There He takes my disappointments and works everything together for good."1
Sometimes we feel our world is falling apart, but the lessons learned through the pain often bring hidden blessings. The Lord promises in Isaiah 61 to exchange our mourning with His oil of joy, and to give a garment of praise to those who are weighed down in spirit. Cast your burdens on the Lord and let Him become the strength of your heart. Let trouble drive you into His sovereign arms.
The devil sometimes goes too far. He drives us straight into the Lord's arms.
Ruth Bell Graham
1Kay Arthur, "In Person: My Disappointments, His Appointments," Moody Magazine, January, 1992, p. 30.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 9:1-11:23
:angel:
Wednesday, March 9
Now I Understand
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71
Recommended Reading
Job 42:1-6
Clayton Christensen is a professor at Harvard Business School and is well-known for articulating his theory of disruptive technology--an unexpected product or service that disrupts an existing market and helps create a new category of customers. Examples of disruptive technologies include desktop publishing, CD-ROMs, DVDs, personal computers, steamships, telephones, and automobiles. Disruptive technologies are usually resisted at first and then accepted because of their benefits and efficiencies.
God allows disruptive moments in our lives that we almost always question or resist because they are painful, unanticipated, misunderstood, and often not optional. Yet in hindsight, they are always embraced for the good or blessing which results. In the Old Testament, Job is the classic example of a life being disrupted, while Paul's thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) is an obvious New Testament example.
If God has allowed a disruptive moment in your life, walk through it by faith rather than by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)--and be prepared to say, "Now I understand."
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 12:1-14:15
:angel:
Thursday, March 10
Dark Nights
You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalm 17:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 6:6-10
La noche oscura del alma--"The Dark Night of the Soul." That's the name of the poem written by St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish poet. Written while St. John was in prison for trying to reform his monastic order, "the dark night" represents the difficulties and trials we experience on the road to heaven.
"Dark night" also pictures the isolation we feel during times of spiritual tests. We sometimes lie in bed at night, surrounded by darkness, longing for sleep, but consumed with our thoughts and questions. The psalmists, especially David, were candidly honest about their literal and spiritual dark nights. David made good use of his sleepless nights, crying out to God for relief and answers (Psalm 22:2; 42:8). And he relied on the natural order of things to remind him that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).
If you are in the midst of your own dark night, use the time wisely. If there are tears, let them water the words you pour out to God, remembering that joy comes in the morning.
Faith is a plant that can grow in the shade, a grace that can find the way to heaven in a dark night.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 15:1-17:18
:angel:
Friday, March 11
Spiritual Solstice
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 63:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:11-12
Depending on how one views the calendar, the winter solstice happens at a moment in time between December 21 and 22 each year. It happens at the moment in the earth's annual orbit around the sun when the earth's axis is tilted farthest away from the sun. Practically speaking, it marks the end of long nights, short days, and the beginning of short nights, long days.
Spiritually speaking, we long for a winter solstice-type moment in our lives when we are going through times of trouble. We want to reach a point when we see more light than darkness in each day, when the darkness of discouragement gives way to the light of joy and hope as the Son rises anew in our life. Until that light appears, we can use the darkness as a time to meditate and reflect on the unchanging character and nature of God. While darkness may affect how we see Him, darkness does not change Him. The psalmist David said he would think about God as he lay on his bed at night. He meditated on Him through the "watches"--the stages, the progression--of the night.
Ask God to walk with you through the stages of your dark night. Remember who He is and what He has done for you.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 18:1-19:51
:angel:
Weekend, March 12 & 13
Experiential Living: Experience Patience
By your patience possess your souls.
Luke 21:19
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:10-12
Missionary J. O. Fraser who worked among the Lisu peoples of China once commented about the necessity of waiting on the Lord to do His work without the frantic, panicked rushing about that characterizes much of our labor.
He said: "In the biography of our Lord nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers, faithless disciples--always calm, always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed--but doing no more, and no less, than God had appointed Him, and with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so perturbing?"1
The Bible teaches that the fruit of the Spirit is patience. We should do things as efficiently as we can, but in the end so much of life requires waiting on our Lord's timing. What situation demands your patience today? Remember--He is called the "God of Patience" (Romans 15:5).
1Geraldine Taylor, Behind the Rangers: The Life-Changing Story of J. O. Fraser (Singapore: OMF International, 1998), 191.
Patience is passion tamed.
Lyman Abbott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 20:1-Judges 1:36
:angel:
Monday, March 14
Three Places to Look
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Psalm 119:67
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 31:18-19
A medical research study analyzed post-traumatic responses of cancer patients, one of which was found to be "stronger faith in God." One participant in the study said, "I am a Christian, believing that everything that God has allowed to happen in my life has a purpose. Since I was diagnosed with cancer, I was at first very confused and sad as to why it should happen to me. But I can only do what I can control and surrender the rest to God. Since then I really experience the real meaning of knowing how much He loves me and makes me worthy in His eyes (Ephesians 3:17-19)."*
There are only three places to look in life: inward, outward, and upward. And trials can help us (cause us) to look in all three directions. Looking inward, we can check our response to the trial. Looking outward, we can see how our response is impacting others. And looking upward, we can renew our faith in the One who causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
If you are going through a trial or test, look in all three directions. What you discover may become a blessing, or possibly a correction, you hadn't anticipated.
Temptation provokes me to look upward to God.
John Bunyan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 2:1-4:24
:angel:
Tuesday, March 15
Friend Power
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Recommended Reading
Luke 24:13-35
People with pets exercise more, sleep better, and take fewer sick days than adults without pets. Pet owners also demonstrate higher levels of social interaction with other adults and often have lower cardiovascular risks as well. The most often cited reason for these benefits is "unconditional love."*
Yes, humans and some animals enjoy a beneficial bond. But how much more would a human companion(s) be who displayed the same unconditional love--and so much more? God's statement in the Garden of Eden--that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)--has implications that go beyond marriage. Human beings were created by God as social beings, hardwired to relate to others as friends, spouses, extended family members, members of the Body of Christ, and partners in community life. Not only do we need what others can contribute to us, they need the strengths and gifts God has given us.
Are you walking through life with fellow pilgrims whose unconditional love manifests God's love to you? And are you being such a companion to others?
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 5:1-7:25
:angel:
Wednesday, March 16
Model of Patience
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:4
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:22-23
One of the best-known idioms in the English language shows up consistently in the day's news: "the patience of Job." People are said to exhibit the patience of Job when undergoing various circumstances or in their daily vocations. But truth be told, Job was not a very patient man. Until the end of the book, Job was on an impatient mission to prove he wasn't the cause of his own suffering.
So if Job is not a good example of patience, who is? Working backward from Galatians 5:22--"But the fruit of the Spirit is ...longsuffering [that is, patience]"--we arrive at Christ. The fruit of the Spirit represents the Spirit's manifestations of the life of Christ in us--so Christ must have been the personification of the fruit of the Spirit, including patience. But what about when Christ drove the merchants out of the temple with a whip, turning over their tables of money and cages of animals? Was that patience?
For a Christian, patience is willful and cheerful submission to the will and timing of God in one's life. Patience is not always meek and quiet--but it is God-centered, which makes it a measure by which to evaluate whether we are patient or not.
Cheerful patience is a holy art and skill, which a man learns from God.
Thomas Manton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 8:1-9:57
:angel:
Thursday, March 17
How Long?
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
Psalm 13:1
Recommended Reading
Daniel 10:1-11:1
On November 15, 2010, the CEO of Facebook announced that his service's 500 million users will get a new way to communicate even more quickly: a Facebook email account. Traditional email suffers from a time delay, but incorporating email into Facebook's messaging system is yet another way to remove delays from communication.
The digital age--specifically the Internet and various messaging methods--has already helped shrink the world and eliminate time delays. But when it comes to communicating with God, the digital age hasn't changed anything except perhaps made us more impatient with God. We are used to getting answers and replies to questions NOW and we forget that God works on His timetable, not ours. But when an answer or response from God takes time, we are forced to stop, think, consider, evaluate, meditate, contemplate, revise, repent--and most of all, let God be God. God is not impulsive, nor should we be. Not getting immediate answers, if that's how God responds, forces us to be more considerate.
If you are waiting on God, know there is a reason for His (seeming) delay. What seems like a delay on earth is a sign of a purpose or reason in heaven.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 10:1-13:25
:angel:
Friday, March 18
Therapeutic Praise
Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"
Joshua 5:14
Recommended Reading
Joshua 5:13-15
A recent report on CNBC claimed that 1 in 5 Americans suffers from stress disorders and other conditions which can cause illness. That amounts to 45 million Americans. Even more alarming, the highest levels of mental illness show up among young adults. The complaints include depression, substance abuse, thoughts of suicide, and family discord.
These are difficult times, and people around the world are facing extraordinary levels of stress. Many need professional help, and multitudes need a reason to be hopeful.
Try praise. One of the greatest antidotes to mental stress is worship with thanksgiving. When we come before the Lord, recognize His blessings, bathe our souls in His glory, claim His promises, and sing His praises--well, it's highly therapeutic to our souls. We don't worship Him just for what we get out of it, of course. That would be counterproductive. Worship is all about Him, not us. But how good of God to bless us, as we bless Him.
Joshua was worried before leading Israel into battle. But he fell on his face, worshipped, listened to God's instructions, and rose to conquer. We can do the same.
Worship: The spontaneous expression of the heart to the glory of God.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14:1-17:13
:angel:
Weekend, March 19 & 20
Experiential Living: Experience Faith
The man took Jesus at His word and departed.
John 4:50 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
John 4:46-54
Now there's a simple definition of faith. It's taking Jesus at His word. The man had found Christ in the city of Cana and told him of his son, who was deathly sick back at Capernaum. Jesus simply said, "Go your way; your son lives." The man didn't stand there wringing his hands and wondering what to do next. He didn't beg Jesus to travel to Capernaum. He didn't ask for proof. He simply took Jesus at His word and departed. When he arrived home, he found that his son had recovered instantly the day before--at the very moment when Jesus had spoken the word.
Faith is trusting God with your burdens, knowing that your prayers are already answered (Isaiah 65:24). It's being persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised (Romans 4:21). It is knowing that all things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). It's being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
Take Him at His word today.
Oh, for more of that faith which will believe without seeing, which will take Christ at His word in spite of appearances the most adverse!
Bishop J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 18:1-Ruth 4:22
:angel:
Monday, March 21
Divine Delays
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:17
Recommended Reading
Acts 16:6-10
Not a day goes by when our plans aren't changed by circumstances beyond our control. Natural disasters, house or car repair problems, unexpected illness, traffic jams on the freeway, a friend or neighbor with an emergency need, unforeseen time demands at work--the list goes on. The question is, "Can we trust that God is in those unforeseen delays, diversions, and distractions?"
A rarely-read, single verse in Exodus (13:17) tells how God led the newly-freed Hebrew nation into the Sinai Desert instead of around the southeast "corner" of the Mediterranean Sea into the Promised Land. Why? So the Hebrews wouldn't encounter the Philistines who inhabited that region, be attacked, and flee back to Egypt for safety. The Hebrews grumbled loud and long about the Sinai sand and sun, but at least they were alive. If they had met the Philistines, they might have been slaughtered.
Next time your path is changed unexpectedly, trust by faith that God is in it and that the change was for a good reason (Romans 8:28).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
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Tuesday, March 22
Rest and Refresh
Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
John 7:37b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 11:28-30
They were nuns, monks, hermits, and ascetics, and were known as the Desert Fathers (or Desert Mothers, for nuns). Beginning with Anthony the Great who moved to the Middle Eastern desert around A. D. 270, thousands of others followed in his footsteps seeking spiritual purity, enlightenment, solitude, and perfection.
Their pattern of "retreating" contributed to today's practice of taking a "retreat" to refresh oneself spiritually. Fortunately, it's not necessary to retreat to the desert or a mountaintop, either temporarily or permanently, to find spiritual refreshment. Jesus said if we would but come to Him--for living water or for rest (Matthew 11:28-30)--we would find it in abundance. We can create that place of rest in a place of prayer or Bible study or meditation or worship--anywhere we can retreat from the cares and busyness of life. When we turn over those cares to God in prayer through Christ, His peace will guard our heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).
If you can retreat to a serene spot in nature--wonderful! If that's not possible, retreat with Jesus wherever you can. He will meet you there.
You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 4:1-8:22
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Wednesday, March 23
Calm and Quiet
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131:2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 23:1-3
According to medical researchers at Duke University, there is a "vicious cycle" involving insomnia, anxiety, and depression.* It's sort of a "which came first: the chicken or the egg?" scenario. Perhaps it's the one that presents first, but once the cycle starts it doesn't matter. Anxiety might cause insomnia, which might result in depression, which might lead to greater anxiety ...and the cycle continues as the symptoms feed off one another.
There are plenty of good reasons to be anxious, depressed, and sleepless in today's world. But Christians have promises from God that should alleviate all three symptoms--promises that God rules over all the earth and knows the beginning from the end of history. Our task is to do what the psalmist David did: He didn't worry about "great matters" or things "too profound" for him. Instead, he "calmed and quieted" his soul like a "weaned child" at rest in its mother's lap--peaceful and quiet (Psalm 131:1-2).
God's job is to guide the world. Your job is to "be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6), to rest in the Father's promises.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 9:1-12:25
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Thursday, March 24
Life on Purpose
Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:28-29
If John 3:16 is the most recognizable verse in the entire Bible, then Romans 8:28 is surely next: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Christians love this verse because it says that everything--the good and the bad--that happens in our life will be used by God for a good purpose.
While that is comforting, Romans 8:28 doesn't tell us all we want to know. It doesn't tell us what the good purpose is. For what purpose is God orchestrating all the events of our life? Fortunately, we are told in the next verse, Romans 8:29: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." God's purpose is to conform us to "the image of His Son." Our lives follow the same pattern of testing that Jesus followed: "He learned obedience by the things which He suffered." As Jesus proved His Sonship by His obedience, we are conformed to His image by ours.
Whether this day is "good" or "bad" in your sight, it has moved you closer to the image of Jesus.
God is working out his eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and satanic opposition, but by means of them.
A. W. Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 13:1-15:35
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Friday, March 25
Living Above the World
...such a one was caught up to the third heaven ...into Paradise and heard inexpressible words.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 12:1-6
William Tennent, a friend of George Whitefield, died one day--or so it seemed. People gathered for Tennent's funeral, but the doctor wasn't sure he was dead and sent the people home. The patient thereafter opened his eyes and later explained that while unconscious he had envisioned himself in heaven. The glory was unutterable. Everyone was singing melodiously and there was a spirit of indescribable joy.
For years afterward, Tennent testified that he felt such a "sense of divine things" that everything else seemed vain. "Such was the effect on my mind of what I had seen and heard, that if it be possible for a human being to live entirely above the world, and the things of it ...I was that person."1
Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one knows sleepless nights and deep sorrow. But as a believer, we also know that during the dark hours we're not alone. God's comfort surpasses understanding. We anticipate heaven, and that enables us to live above the world.
I want to live above the world, though Satan's darts at me are hurled; for faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of saints on higher ground.
Johnson Oatman
1S. B. Shaw, Touching Incidents (Michigan: J. W. Hazelton, 1893), 154-156.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 16:1-17:58
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Weekend, March 26 & 27
Experiential Living: Experience Hope
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul.
Hebrews 6:19
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Linguists tell us that the English words "hope" and "hop" appear to be related. It's the idea of leaping in expectation. "Hope" is defined as the attitude of anticipation. It's looking forward to those things we know will happen. Hope is related to optimism and a positive view of the future. That's a reality that only Christians can truly experience. Think of it! One of the blessings given us in Christ is an unassailable positive anticipation toward a certain future. It's such a distinctive and exclusive attitude that the Bible tells us to always be ready to explain to others the reason for the hope that is within us.
The word "hope" appears 154 times in the Bible. It's too bad this is a short devotional, for we only have room for one other verse: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
There are more than 150 more references for you to investigate. So hop to it--and be hopeful today!
He is not only called the God of hope because He is the object of hope, but because He is the author if it; and all the Scripture is written to work hope in us, so saith v. 4 of the same chapter.
Thomas Goodwin, Puritan, on Romans 15:13
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 18:1-1 Samuel 24:22
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Monday, March 28
Performance Under Pressure
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 1:8-11
Pro football fans talk about DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average) for teams and individual players. The quarterback with the best DVOA ranking for 2009 was Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. That means he was the most productive under pressure of all quarterbacks (based on the DVOA formula).
Pressure in sports is temporary; pressure in life is continual. The apostle Paul talked about the pressure he faced--hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down--and how he continued to bear fruit. Jesus described the pruning process in the spiritual life that results in more fruit (John 15:1-8). And we have the promises of God that assure us no pressure will ever be more than we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). Indeed, like silver in the refiner's fire, heat burns away the dross and reveals the true value of Christ in us (Galatians 2:20).
How would you rate your performance under pressure in the spiritual life? The purpose is "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in [your] mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11).
While the fire is hot, keep conversing with the Refiner.
F. B. Meyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 25:1-27:12
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Tuesday, March 29
Two Kinds of Prayer
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:9-13
Christians who attend liturgical church services--services where prayers and creeds are written out and repeated each Sunday--find security in the repetition of time-honored words. Christians who attend non-liturgical services find comfort in the opposite--praying and professing in a different, spontaneous way each week. Not only is there room for both in Christendom, there is room for both in each Christian's life.
Jesus taught His disciples a prayer to pray--word for word--that has been repeated in church services for nearly two thousand years (Matthew 6:9-13). But the Bible is also filled with instances of spontaneous prayers--prayers that only make sense in the moment. Like the father who sought relief for his demonized son: "Lord ...help my unbelief!" Prayers prayed by memory allow us time to pray meditatively, thinking about God rather than searching for words. Spontaneous prayers call up passion and devotion and shameless dependence on the only One who can help.
As you pray, include both practiced prayers and pressured prayers. And enjoy the blessings that come from each.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 28:1-31:13
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Wednesday, March 30
Being Carried by God
And in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.
Deuteronomy 1:31
Recommended Reading
Hosea 11:1-4
Sometimes, when a toddler is exhausted or the path is too steep, the child will be scooped up and carried by a parent. But knowing the child might always opt for an easy ride, parents at other times insist that their child walk. Sometimes assistance is needed, other times admonishment. Sometimes carrying, other times calling.
Israel experienced both from God in her days as a "toddler" nation. Most of the time God carried Israel through the wilderness when they were just getting to know and trust Him. Moses, in recounting Israel's history to the second generation of Israelites who would enter the Promised Land, said that God "carried [Israel], as a man carries his son" until they reached the banks of the Jordan River. Like any father, God then expected Israel to do the hard work of creating a homeland out of Canaan. It is comforting to know that God is willing to carry His children when they are at their weakest.
If you are walking through your own wilderness, ask God to lift you up on His shoulders, to carry you as if on "wings like eagles" (Isaiah 40:31).
God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.
J. Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 1:1-3:39
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Thursday, March 31
Out of Ideas
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
2 Chronicles 20:12
Recommended Reading
John 6:66-68
It is often said, "When all else fails, read the directions." Or, "We're out of ideas--it's time to pray." Sometimes, man-made or common-sense answers are sufficient for the problem at hand. (But remember--even common sense is a gift from God.) What about when there is no obvious answer to life's questions?
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was out of answers. A vast army had gathered against Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat realized he had "no power against this great multitude." A king or commander knows when the odds are for him or against him, when man's military (or other) answers are adequate and when they aren't. Yes, we should pray and seek the Lord in either case. But in some cases, the better part of wisdom is to pray, "This is way beyond me. I have no idea what to do, Lord, but my eyes are on You!" The apostle Peter made such a confession once: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).
Don't be afraid to say, "Lord, I have no idea." God knows what to do and is waiting for you to ask Him.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 4:1-7:29
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Friday, April 1
Are You Boared?
The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it. Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven...
Psalm 80:13-14a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 80
Last winter, a Frenchwoman was strolling near the town of Bagneres-de-Luchon when she was threatened by wild boars. Clambering into a large tree, she shivered up in the branches waiting for the beasts to leave. When she tried to climb down, she slipped, fell about six feet, and became lodged in the branches. Fortunately she had a GPS-equipped cell phone, and authorities were able to rescue her by helicopter.
The writer of Psalm 80 was distressed that the hedges were broken down and the wild boars were running wild (verse 13). He was speaking figuratively of his foes. But he knew his rescuer, the Shepherd of Israel who dwelled between the cherubim. "Look down from heaven and see," he cried. "Revive us, and we will call upon Your name" (verses 14, 18).
It's one thing to be bored, and another to be boared. Are your problems driving you up a tree? The Lord knows your location. When the foes are attacking and problems are mounting, look for help from heaven. The Lord will revive you as you call upon His name.
God and one believer make a majority in any problem or perplexity.
Dr. V. Raymond Edman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 8:1-11:27
:angel:
Weekend, April 2 & 3
Cross Word Puzzles: Never Too Late
And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:43
Recommended Reading
Acts 16:29-31
You may be familiar with the pastor who asked a group of children in Sunday school how many of them wanted to go to heaven. All but one little boy raised a hand. When the Pastor asked him why, he said, "Oh, I do want to go to heaven. But if you're getting up a load right now, I can't go. Mama said to come home for lunch right after church."
Rarely do we talk about going to heaven today. And Jesus only used that word to describe going there with one person: the thief on the cross. There were two thieves crucified with Jesus--one mocked Jesus while the other one asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. And Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus knew they would be dead within hours and would enter Paradise together--the place where departed saints await the resurrection of their bodies.
It's never too late to place your faith in Jesus. Even if your confession is a death-bed conversion like the thief's, Jesus will hear the cry of a repentant, faithful heart. Don't make the eternal mistake of thinking you've waited too late to believe.
Death to a saint is nothing but the taking of a sweet flower out of this wilderness, and planting of it in the garden of paradise.
Thomas Brooks
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 12:1-17:29
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Monday, April 4
Defending the Treasure
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 4:7-12
Depending on where you live, this past winter you may have joined a growing number of homeowners who installed an insulating "jacket" around their home's hot water heater--especially if the unit is located in a garage, attic, or crawl space. The goal is to protect the water--to help it fend off the persistent, relentless encroachment of freezing cold air. To the degree it is protected, the less energy the hot water heater expends to keep the water hot.
There is something more important we have to protect: the Gospel of the grace of God. That is the treasure Paul spoke about in 2 Corinthians 4:7. Amazingly, God deposited His treasure in fragile "earthen vessels" which are subject to the persistent, relentless, encroaching ways of the world and attacks of the devil. But Paul says the treasure is protected "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (verse 11).
If you are feeling the pressures of life today, and if you are God's child by faith in Christ, God is committed to protecting the treasure He has deposited in you.
A sovereign Protector I have... and walls of salvation surround the soul He delights to defend.
Augustus M. Toplady
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 18:1-19:43
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Tuesday, April 5
Joyful, Joyful!
My soul shall be joyful in the LORD.
Psalm 35:9a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 66:1-4
Have you noticed how often "joyful" occurs in great hymns? At Christmas we sing, "O Come, All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant." Fanny Crosby taught us to "Praise Him, Praise Him, Ever in Joyful Song." Another old favorite proclaims, "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound: Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!"
The most famous "joyful" hymn is by the Princeton author and Presbyterian minister, Henry van Dyke. One day in 1907, he was fulfilling a speaking engagement at Williams College in Massachusetts. At breakfast, he handed his host a piece of paper with the words of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." He said, "Here is a hymn for you. Your mountains (the Berkshires) were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven's 'Hymn to Joy.'"
The great thing about this hymn is you don't even have to sing it. It's a prayer to be offered, and perhaps it's one you need today: "Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 20:1-22:51
:angel:
Wednesday, April 6
Anticipation
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
2 Peter 3:14
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 3:14-18
Psychologists tell us that anticipation, which is the opposite of surprise, is an emotion with marvelous healing powers. People who are snowbound sustain their spirits by anticipating the longer days of spring and summer. Couples who are separated by military deployment stay sane by anticipating their reunion. Students anticipate the end of the semester. Workers look forward to their vacations. Brides and grooms are eager for their wedding day.
Can you imagine a world without anticipation? How would we feel with nothing to look forward to? Welcome to non-Christianity. Without Christ, there's no ultimate anticipation. There may be momentary prospects and incremental excitement, but lasting expectancy is missing. The future has no promise; it holds no hope. Everything is perishing or will perish. Death is the termination of our lives, our families, our fortunes, our civilization, and even of the universe itself.
Thank God we have a message of hope! Our joy is complete as we look to the future return of our Lord and to the mansions He is preparing for us. Let's live in anticipation today!
On every page of the Bible there are words of God that give reason to hope.... In the promises of God I find inspiration and new hope.
Charles A. Allen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 23:1-1 Kings 1:27
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Thursday, March 7
Overflow or Run-Off
For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 2:9-13
Imagine an ever-flowing fountain, accessible and attractive, the waters fresh and pure. The flow is copious as the water gurgles and splashes from rock to rock as if dancing down stairsteps. There a person finds the overflow to meet his needs, irrigate his crops, and water his flocks. He never thirsts, and the fountain is never diminished in drought.
Now imagine this man deliberately ignoring the fountain. With illogical obstinacy he prefers to dig a hole in the ground for run-off water, which quickly seeps out of his broken cistern, leaving him nothing but mud.
That's the Bible's picture for those looking for happiness in the wrong places. The world is filled with broken cisterns--we can easily name them--but only Jesus can give satisfying joy. He said: "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
True happiness is only in Christ, the living water.
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.
Horatius Bonar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 1:28-3:28
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Friday, March 8
There Is a River
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.
Psalm 46:4a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46
Ralph Erskine, a Scottish preacher in the 1700s, reckoned that the river in Psalm 46:4 is a picture of God Himself, for it is God alone who makes His people glad.
God the Father is a river. In Jeremiah 2:13, He is called the fountain of living waters who quenches the spiritual longings of our hearts.
God the Son is a river, for Zechariah 13 talks about the fountain that cleanses from sin, and Jesus Himself is the water of life. He promised the Samaritan woman the living water of eternal life (John 4:10).
God the Spirit is a river, for Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." And the next verse explains, "This He spoke concerning the Spirit" (John 7:38-39).
We can't find happiness in life by looking for it. Happiness sought for its own sake is self-defeating. It's ultimately a by-product of knowing our Lord, for there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 4:1-6:38
:angel:
Weekend, April 9 & 10
Cross Word Puzzles: Forgiveness
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Luke 23:34a
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:47-48
Mistakes that are made unintentionally cause the same damage as actions carried out deliberately. But they are viewed differently. Parents treat a child who makes an honest error differently from one who demonstrates defiance and rebellion. In Luke 12, Jesus drew a distinction between a servant who messes up because he doesn't know his master's will, and the servant who chooses to ignore his master's will. The former will be treated differently (better) than the latter (verses 47-48).
In an amazing way, Jesus directed a similar measure of mercy and forgiveness toward those who crucified Him, asking God to forgive them because they didn't realize what they were doing. That is, they didn't know who Jesus really was. At an even more basic level, they didn't realize how unnecessarily brutal and unjust their actions had been toward Jesus as a man. Somehow, Jesus was willing to forgive those who put Him to death on a cross.
The results of sin are always bad, but sometimes the results come about for different reasons. And God knows our heart. In every case, we are never beyond the forgiveness of God.
Forgiveness is the fragrance the flower leaves on the heel of the one who crushed it.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 7:1-10:13
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Monday, April 11
How to Be Humble
...to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
Titus 3:2
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 5:5-6
Desalinization--removing minerals from seawater, making it potable--is increasing as resources of clean water contract around the world. While the primary product of desalinization is water, there is a by-product: the 90+ minerals that are found in and removed from ocean water. As a by-product, these mineral elements--like salt--find their way into other products and processes.
There are by-products in the spiritual life as well--like humility. Although we are told in Scripture to "put on... humility" (Colossians 3:12), humility is almost always a by-product of other values or actions. As Paul wrote to Titus, when we speak well of others and are peaceable and gentle, we demonstrate humility (Titus 3:2). We find humility while on the way to being faithful servants of Jesus Christ and of our fellow man. When we give up self-will for God's will and care more about others than about ourselves, we find ourselves in the company of humility.
Just as pride appears with self-will, so humility appears when we submit to God's will. Instead of seeking humility today, seek God--and expect humility to follow.
A blossom is the beginning of fruit bearing, and submission the beginning of humility.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 10:14 -12:33
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Tuesday, April 12
Mickey, What Happened?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 16:19-22
In her new biography of baseball star Mickey Mantle, Jane Leavy talks about the aura that surrounded Mickey as he burst onto the scene in the 1950s. Blond and blue-eyed, he had a coast-to-coast smile that made him "the first telegenic star of the new broadcast age." He was, as one teammate put it, "what everyone wanted to be and couldn't."
His fame and fortune might have made teammates envious, but it didn't bring happiness. Mickey sank into a prolonged life of alcohol and debauchery that left him saying at the end of his life, "Don't be like me."
His teammate, Cromer Smotherman, asked: "Mickey, what happened? Why did you do it? Why did you choose to live the life you did?"1
Jesus said happiness and blessings are the heritage of those who are poor in spirit. That implies a humbled contentedness with a quiet life lived for Christ alone. Whether we're well-known or unknown, our joy is in serving Jesus. Better to abide in God's love day-by-day in obscurity than ride the rollercoaster of worldly greatness to a bitter end.
1Jane Leavy, The Last Boy (NY: Harper, 2010), xiii, xv, xxiii, 31.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 13:1-15:34
Wednesday, April 13
Brick by Brick
Therefore we do not lose heart... the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 4:13-17
Thomas Carlyle labored with intensity on the first volume of a three-part study of the French Revolution. He felt it could be his greatest work. He loaned the manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill to read, and Mill read it by the fire. One morning the maid, cleaning the room and seeing the scattered pages on the floor, threw them in the fire. When Carlyle learned his manuscript was burned to ash, he sank into abysmal depression. Some time later, still desolate, he saw a brick mason through the window. The man was standing on a scaffold, singing and whistling to himself as he built the wall of a house one brick at a time. Watching him, Carlyle decided he would write his book again, one page at a time. His history of the revolution became famous, and he is remembered as one of Scotland's literary giants.
Perhaps you've lost something very valuable to you. Don't give up. Tomorrow still holds a bright promise, and the Lord blesses faithful, plodding work. Let's take it step-by-step, day-by-day, and moment-by-moment.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Daniel Whittle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 16:1-18:46
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Thursday, April 14
Comforted to Comfort Others
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
Recommended Reading
2 Cor. 1:3-5
When Mitch Albom heard that his favorite college professor was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease, he visited him for the first time in over 20 years. He asked Morrie, the professor, why he bothered to follow the news each day since he was not going to be around to see how things turn out: "It's hard to explain, Mitch," Morrie said. "Now that I'm suffering, I feel closer to people who suffer than I ever did before.... I feel their anguish as if it were my own."*
One of the reasons God lets us suffer in life is so we can understand the suffering of others and be able to comfort them--to do unto them what we would want others to do unto us. Paul lays out the progression of comfort in suffering by saying that God comforts us when we are hurting so we can comfort others with the same comfort by which we were comforted (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When we suffer, we should receive the comfort of God and remember it so we can replicate that comfort for another.
We don't have to pray for suffering--it will find us easily enough. But we should pray for a spiritually-empathetic heart to feel the anguish of others and be prepared to comfort them as we ourselves would want to be comforted.
*Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lessons (Broadway, 2002), p. 50.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 19:1-21:29
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Friday, April 15
How Blessed Is the Man
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Romans 13:1
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:13-14
Most people look forward to Fridays--but not this Friday. Today is the most dreaded day of the year: Tax Day, April 15. Not only do we have to labor through the tax forms (or pay someone else to do it for us), we have to bid a formal and fond farewell to a portion of our hard-earned money. And yet it would pay us well to be a cheerful giver on this day since God's will for every Christian is to "be subject to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1).
There is always a blessing, directly or indirectly, in submitting to the will of God even when it seems uncomfortable or undesirable--like paying taxes. Blessed are those, Jesus said, who manifest a submissive spirit toward God as Lord in their life: humble in spirit, mourning over sin, meekness, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, making peace (Matthew 5:3-9). To obey the governing authorities is just one more way of submitting to the will of God and living a blessed (happy) life.
Whether on Tax Day or any day, find ultimate happiness by submitting to the will of God in all things.
Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.
William Temple
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 22:1-2 Kings 2:25
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Weekend, April 16 & 17
Cross Word Puzzles: God Cannot Look on Sin
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Matthew 27:46
Recommended Reading
Psalm 22:1-2
A young, innocent female character is shocked at something she hears or sees--so she screams and covers her face with her hands as if to say, "Out of sight, out of mind." That's not just an acting gag--it happens in real life all the time. We know when we're looking at something shocking or shameful.
If we occasionally cover our eyes at the sight of sin, think how much more sensitive God's "eyes" must be. We see exactly how sensitive when He turned away from His own Son as He hung on Calvary's cross--the Son who bore in His body the sins of the world. What must the Father have seen and felt when He looked upon His pure and innocent Son who became a sacrifice for all the sins, great and small, of humanity? God turned away from sin and the Sin-bearer, causing Christ to cry out, "Why have You forsaken Me?" The fact that Christ bore your sins means God will never turn away from you. Instead of your sins, He sees only Christ's righteousness.
If you haven't yet exchanged your sins for Christ's righteousness, wouldn't this be a good day to do so?
If you can look on sin without sorrow then you have never looked on Christ.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 3:1-8:29
Monday, April 18
Meek, Not Weak
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
1 Peter 3:15
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:9-11
It is one of the ironies of the English lexicon that a word that rhymes with "meekness" is actually the opposite of it in meaning: weakness. Perhaps because the two words sound alike, many confuse meekness with weakness. But the two are in no way similar.
Perhaps the best place to look to prove that meekness is not weakness is in the life of Moses. The King James Version of Numbers 12:3 says, "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)" Moses the meekest man on earth? All we have to do is track his biography from Exodus through Deuteronomy to dispel the notion that meek equals weak. Moses killed an Egyptian guard who was abusing a Hebrew slave. He demanded that Pharaoh let the Hebrews go. And he called down judgment on the Hebrews when they sinned against God in the wilderness. Moses was meek (meaning humble and submissive to God), but he was not weak.
Don't confuse meekness with weakness. Instead, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).
To be truly meek means we no longer protect ourselves because we see there is nothing worth defending.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 9:1-11:21
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Tuesday, April 19
Eating Scripture
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
Recommended Reading
Revelation 10:9-10
It's amazing what companies try to sell us to eat. A food importer in North Carolina is now offering a potato chip that mimics haggis, Scotland's national delicacy. Real haggis is a rare treat--a blend of various sheep organs (like heart, liver, and lungs) traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach or intestines for several hours. It's doubtlessly more delicious than it sounds; but for those who aren't into sheep innards, we can now sample the taste in potato chip form.
It's amazing what the world wants to put into our minds. Just as our bodies need nourishment, our minds need to be well fed. We need the milk of the Word, the meat of sound doctrine, the Bread of Life, and the sustenance of Scripture. Instead, many people are addicted to video games, Internet searches, streaming movies, and television programs. According to the New York Times, people at home consume an average of twelve hours of media a day.
Stop filling your mind with junk food. Develop a personal plan to study your Bible every day. Eat His Book.
Reading is an immense gift, but only if the words are assimilated, taken into the soul--eaten, chewed, gnawed, received in unhurried delight.
Eugene Peterson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 12:1-15:16
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Wednesday, April 20
Heavenly Honey
The judgments of the LORD are... sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:9-11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 19:7-11
An old commentary suggests that the great abundance of honey in the ancient land of Israel made it a more prominent part of the daily diet than is generally true for most of us today. It was pleasant to the taste, served as a natural sweetener, and was highly nutritious. Amazing what God can do with a simple bee!
The psalmist viewed honey as an apt metaphor for the Scripture. God's Word is pleasant to the mind and highly nourishing to the soul. But according to the 1892 Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary on the Old Testament, there are also some contrasts. Honey may be eaten until it makes the eater sick, but not so with the Word of God. The more we eat of it, the healthier we become. And though honey is a God-given food that helps sustain and nourish a healthy person, it cannot cure a diseased body or prevent the inroads of sickness and decay. But the Scripture can restore us, heal us, and save us from death by giving us the Gospel of Christ.
Honey is sweet; but God's Word is sweeter!
Well, then, may we count those the sweetest hours which are spent reading the Holy Scriptures.
Puritan Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 15:17-17:41
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Thursday, April 21
Looking Back, Looking Forward
...saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
Luke 24:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 16:21-28
Suppose someone told you of two unlikely events that would happen in the future--one in a few days, the other at an undetermined time in the future. In spite of the details he gave about each event, you found it hard to believe that he could predict the future with that kind of accuracy. Within a few days you learn that the first predicted event took place exactly as the man said. How would that change your thinking about the likelihood of the second event?
It would probably change your thinking radically. Strangely enough, even though Jesus Christ predicted His own death and resurrection on the third day--both of which were fulfilled in detail--many people don't take seriously His promise to return to earth. On the same occasion in which Jesus told His disciples of His impending death and resurrection, He said, "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).
It would be unwise to look back at Christ's death and resurrection in belief, and not look forward to His Second Coming with expectation.
The future is as bright as the promises of God.
Adoniram Judson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 18:1-20:21
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Friday, April 22
Called to Live
..."These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
Acts 17:6
Recommended Reading
Luke 24:13-35
Peter: crucified upside down. James: beheaded. John: natural causes. Andrew: crucified on X-shaped cross. Philip: crucified. Bartholomew: skinned alive, beheaded. Matthew: stabbed to death. Thomas: speared to death. James: stoned, crucified, beaten to death. Jude: crucified. Simon: crucified. Matthias (replacement for Judas Iscariot): stoned and beheaded. Paul: beheaded.
Jesus warned His original disciples before He was killed, "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20b). And when their faith was finally tested, when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, "...they all forsook Him and fled" (Mark 14:50). What happened to turn a group of cowards into a core of courageous couriers of the Gospel who turned the world upside down and were willing to die for their beliefs? One thing: they witnessed the Resurrection. This event had a transforming effect on the disciples, transforming them into apostles--"sent ones." When they saw the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), they were no longer afraid.
You may not be called to die for Christ, but you are called to live for Him--the resurrected Lord.
The Christian church has the resurrection written all over it.
F. G. Robinson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 21:1-23:37
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Weekend, April 23 & 24
Cross Word Puzzles: Human and Divine
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
John 19:28
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 5:8-9
One of the biggest mistakes we make when thinking about Christ is to think more of His divinity than of His humanity. Because He worked miracles over nature, was born of a virgin, and was declared to be the Son of God by the Father (Matthew 3:17), we naturally think of Him more as "God" than "man." And yet He was equally both: the God-Man. Perfect God and perfect Man. The divine to represent God's interests at the cross, the human to represent man's.
Throughout the brutal treatment of Christ during His arrest, trial, and conviction, we are witnesses to His human suffering. But perhaps it is demonstrated most poignantly when He whispered, "I thirst!" just before He expired. If Jesus thirsted, then He must have experienced every other level of human pain and suffering imaginable. He suffered in His human body what we deserve to suffer for our sins.
No greater love has ever been shown than when one Perfect Human stood to die for imperfect humanity. To drink from His living water means never to thirst again.
Fallen human nature has neither grace nor truth in it, but the human nature of Christ was full of grace and truth.
W. E. Best
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 24:1-1 Chronicles 3:24
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Monday, April 25
Have Mercy!
And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."
Luke 17:13
Recommended Reading
Luke 18:35-43
If you grew up decades ago in the southern United States (the deeper the better), you likely remember hearing the expression, "Lord, have mercy!" whenever life took a turn for the worse. It was a familiar expression in the deep South because "the South" is synonymous with "the Bible belt," and "Lord, have mercy!" is a biblical expression.
"Have mercy" occurs 46 times in Scripture, 12 times in Psalms alone--the book in which authors were often found imploring God for relief or help. Jesus was called upon to "have mercy" on several occasions by those in need. And He responded by granting healing or deliverance as required. What is mercy? It is when we don't get what we deserve. Being sinners, we deserve all manner of judgment. So when we feel we're in the middle of a judgment of circumstances, we call out to God to "have mercy" and take the bad situation away. By grace, God often does--grace being giving us something (relief) we don't deserve. Grace and mercy are opposite sides of God's coin called love.
Find someone this week to show mercy to. If someone does something wrong and thus deserves judgment, extend mercy instead.
The name Jehovah carries majesty in it; the name Father carries mercy in it.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 4:1-6:48
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Tuesday, April 26
Sowing Seeds of Kindness
Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:8-9
Good deeds have a way of coming back to bless us. John Wooden, the great basketball coach who passed away last summer at the age of 99, was admired for the inspirational influence he left on players and fans alike. His life was shaped by a seven-point creed. He often passed it along to others, explaining that his father had given him this bit of advice upon his graduation from grammar school.
Be true to yourself. Make each day your masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
When we are kind to others and practice a merciful attitude, we become recipients of mercy ourselves. Just as the sower reaps the crop he has sown, so do merciful people reap what has been planted in the lives of others.
Don't get tired of doing good!
Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.
John Wooden
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 6:49-8:40
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Wednesday, April 27
Resting in Omniscience
Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak.
Isaiah 40:28-29a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:1-5
In Fred Smith's book, Breakfast with Fred, there's a great insight about having a critical spirit. It comes from Ron Glosser, Smith's friend, who was the President and CEO of Hershey Trust Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Glosser said that when he found himself being overly critical, the problem was sometimes in his own heart rather than in the other person's behavior. Glosser realized he needed a way to keep his thinking healthy.
"I have found that the best way to keep from being overly critical is to get myself centered early in the day," he said. "For me, this is achieved by reading the Scriptures and praying. I try to identify myself as the beloved child of God and to see all those with whom I come in contact that same way."1
We keep our spirits healthy by keeping our hearts and minds close to the Creator of the ends of the earth who never tires and whose understanding is unsearchable. We can rest in His omniscience, draw from His wisdom, and gain from Him the power of a patient perspective.
There are times when criticism is needed, but in most situations praising will produce far better results over time.
Ron Glosser
1Fred Smith, Sr., Breakfast with Fred (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2007), 48-49.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 9:1-11:47
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Thursday, April 28
Purity Within
He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
Proverbs 14:26 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Job 31:1-4
"The pornography industry," writes Daniel Henderson, "is the most powerful network of spiritual, moral, and cultural terrorists in the world."1 According to Henderson, there's a new word for pornographic websites that trick children into visiting online. It's called porn-napping. It's a perverse form of kidnapping in which our children are endangered in their own homes. They're exposed to impure images while doing their homework or playing games on the computer.
Godliness moves from the inside out. As the Holy Spirit takes residence in our hearts and the pure truths of Scripture fill our minds, we can grow in personal holiness and put a shield of godliness around our children. Jesus perceives our thoughts and He knows the reasoning in our hearts. He warned that it wasn't enough to avoid overt adultery. We also need to control the lust that consumes our thoughts (Matthew 5:29). To avoid both visual and mental impurity, says Henderson, "we must fill our minds with truths that will throttle our lust and rule our emotions in times of temptation."
Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.
Thomas Jefferson
1Daniel Henderson, Think Before You Look by Daniel Henderson (Chattanooga: Living Ink Books, 2005).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 12:1-15:29
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Friday, April 29
Special Envoys
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Recommended Reading
Luke 9:51-55
Last December, diplomat Richard Holbrooke, America's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, was rushed to the hospital with a torn aorta. After twenty hours of surgery, he passed away. His final words, spoken to his Pakistani surgeon at George Washington University Hospital as he was being sedated, were, "You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan." It wasn't a political statement, just an intense desire for peace to come to Central Asia and to the world.
Christians should be personal diplomats, seeking to bring the peace of the Lord to all the relationships around us. In Acts 9, the church in Jerusalem harbored understandable skepticism and animosity toward Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted them and now claimed to have been converted. Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the believers, and helped them accept and love him.
To the extent that it's possible, as far as it depends on us, we should live peacefully with others (Romans 12:18). Our world longs for peace, but true peace can only be found through the Prince of Peace. As we know Him, we become His special envoys.
In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; rejoice in it; and, as you can, try to imitate it.
John Ruskin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 16:1-18:17
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Weekend, April 30
Cross Word Puzzles: What Was Finished?
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:30
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:13-15
In the dramatic film, Braveheart, the Scottish defender and military leader William Wallace is shown being drawn and quartered by his English captors. The torture stops when it appears Wallace wants to speak--perhaps to confess his rebellion? Instead, with one last gasp he cries out, "Freedom!"
Jesus is an even better example of a seemingly defeated hero ending His life with a victory cry. After suffering on the cross, He said, "It is finished!"--and "gave up His spirit." What was finished? In the big picture, it was the work His Father sent Him to do (John 4:34; 9:4). More specifically, it was the once-for-all offering of Himself as a sacrifice for sin. His suffering as the Lamb of God was finished; the offering was accepted by the Father; there was no more sacrificial work to be done (Hebrews 1:3; 9:11-12, 25-28). Finally, "it is finished" is a word for us. Our search for God and His love is over--it ended at the foot of the cross.
Embrace Christ's words of completion and your search can be over as well.
Nothing needs to be added to Christ's finished work, and nothing can be added to Christ's finished work.
Francis Schaeffer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 19:1-22:19
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Weekend, May 1
Places of Greatness: Stony Brook
(David) took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 17:40-50
When we think of the story of David and Goliath, we emphasize the slingshot. But notice David's other equipment. He had a staff in his hand and a shepherd's bag tied around his body. Into its pouch he dropped the stones chosen from the nearby brook. David didn't want Saul's armor, but he couldn't do without his own simple equipment: a sling, a staff, some stones, and a shepherd's bag. Without the stone, the slingshot would have been useless; and without the shepherd's bag, the stones would not have been accessible. David was organized for the battle.
In our battles in life, we need our ammunition near at hand. Do you carry a Bible on your phone or a small New Testament in your purse or hip pocket? Is there an open Bible by your bed or on your desk? Have you memorized a verse recently? Do you have it tucked away safely in your heart?
God's Word is a potent weapon, but only if we keep it readily accessible--in our hands and in our hearts.
The one who neglects his Bible is bound to make a failure of the Christian life.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31
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Monday, May 2
Be a Peacemaker
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:18
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:14
There have been more than 14,000 wars in the world since 3600 B.C. as determined by the University of Oslo and Norwegian Academy of Sciences. The world has known relative peace for less than five percent of the time over the last 5,600 years. The U.S. Department of Defense has identified 43 combat zones in the world today, up from 23 in 2007.1
It is painfully obvious to everyone on the planet that peace is rare these days--and not just between nations. There are innumerable wars going on between individuals, within families, in business, and in government. Interestingly, the Bible puts the responsibility for peace in the world on individuals: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18); "Pursue peace with all people" (Hebrews 12:14). Obviously, if every individual purposed to live in peace, then nations could as well.
Insofar as it depends on you today, create peace wherever you go. Be a peacemaker, befitting a son or daughter of God.
The peace-makers are those who are at peace with God and who show that they are truly children of God by striving to use every opportunity open to them to effect reconciliation between others who are at variance.
R. V. G. Tasker
1Richard J. Maybury, U.S. & World Early Warning Report (Phoenix, AZ: Henry Madison Research, Inc., 2011), January 2011, 4.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 26:1-28:21
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Tuesday, May 3
Pain Today, Rewards Forever
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12
Recommended Reading
Acts 5:40-42
When supporters of Martin Luther stood by their leader in sixteenth-century Germany in protest against abuses in the established church, they were persecuted like Luther was. And for 2,000 years, followers of Jesus Christ have been persecuted just as their Lord was. We are reminded throughout God's Word that there is a cost to following our Savior, but the rewards are also great.
The probability of persecution is not the focal point of the Gospel message, but prospective followers of Christ should understand that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Jesus told His original disciples plainly, "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). Jesus also called those who are persecuted for His sake "blessed." Why? Because "great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12).
Persecution is painful, but the anticipation of eternal rewards for faithfulness is a balm for the wounded body and soul. Plus, it helps to know that you do not suffer alone.
Persecution is the legacy bequeathed by Christ to His people.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 29:1-2 Chronicles 3:17
:angel:
You are at war. So am I. Every Christian is!
Spiritual warfare is happening at this moment, whether one realizes it or not. It is no game. And it is not optional. It is "defeat ... or be defeated"!
But God does not leave you and me defenseless. He gives us, in His Word, powerful weapons of war.
And I am committed to armoring you fully — giving you full understanding of the armor and ammunition that God has arranged for you — so that you can be fully prepared for spiritual battle ... and experience spiritual victory.
Please allow me to thank you for your generous support today by sending you a "war manual," written by our good friend Dr. Warren Wiersbe. It is an amazing book entitled THE STRATEGY OF SATAN: How to Detect & Defeat Him ... one of the best-ever books on spiritual warfare!
It will teach you how Satan operates as deceiver, destroyer, ruler, and accuser. It will teach you how to live by faith. It even includes chapters on how to defeat the devil in church — and in the home. It will help you:
identify the tactics and targets of Satan ...
develop defensive strategies against him ...
find ways to glorify Christ in your life ...
and gain strength for the journey!
And as you help us produce and broadcast a crucial new teaching series on this subject with a generous gift of $60 or more, I want to send you Dr. Wiersbe's great book, PLUS our Spiritual Warfare Set:
The complete nine-message Spiritual Warfare series on audio CD
The companion 128-page study guide
And one of the most requested Turning Point resources: The Warrior's Prayer bookmark.
Help prepare multitudes for spiritual warfare — and arm your own self, too — through your online donation of the many ministry outreaches of Turning Point!
I trust you will give as generously as possible, and be blessed by the resources I look forward to sending you.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Wednesday, May 4
Badge of Honor
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
1 Peter 4:14
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:22-23
Soldiers, policemen, firemen, and others who put their lives in harm's way are often decorated for their valor. But private citizens are as well--not only for selfless acts but for contributions to the arts or service to a community or nation. In every case, there are always two factors involved: something that was done for the sake of a person or cause.
Without stepping forward and identifying with a need or cause, there would have been no award or reward. And the same is true with following Jesus--except the award is different. The marks of persecution are a badge of honor worn in this life until eternal awards are presented in heaven. If you want to identify with Jesus Christ and biblical Christianity, you must be prepared to put yourself in harm's way. You may be humiliated, but Christ will be glorified. You may be put down, but He will be lifted up.
Good for you if you have been recognized for your service to others. Even better for you if you have identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Persecution is like the goldsmith's hallmark on real silver and gold; it is one of the marks of a converted man.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 4:1-7:22
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Thursday, May 5
Conditions for Happiness
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8
Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:1-12
In the Old Testament, the word "blessed" or "happy" comes from a verb that means "to go straight; to advance." It was gradually used to refer to leading others straight ahead or in the right path, then to setting things right, and then to be right oneself--or to be happy, blessed, or in the best place.
There is lots of advice in the world about how to be happy, how to live a happy life. One popular lifestyle guru talks about "living your best life." But none of this advice squares with how the Bible describes true happiness or blessedness. Thirteen times in Scripture the phrase "blessed is the man who . . ." is used, and few of the conditions for happiness would be recommended by the world: meditating on God's Word, having a pure spirit, trusting in God, learning God's precepts, fearing God, listening to God, enduring temptation, and others. Drawing on the Old Testament examples, Jesus created His own list of nine conditions for happiness--the Beatitudes, or "be-attitudes" as they have been called.
What are your conditions for happiness? If they are the Bible's, you'll never be happier; if the world's, never sadder.
To seek God is to desire happiness; to find Him is that happiness.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 8:1-11:23
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Friday, May 6
Saved by Garbage
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Psalm 27:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 27
Last winter when a blizzard struck New York City, it became impossible for sanitation engineers to collect the garbage. Piles of trash accumulated in Manhattan. Though unpleasant for most residents, it saved the life of one man. A 26-year-old New Yorker, distraught over fears he would be evicted from his apartment, jumped from the ninth floor of his building. He landed in a huge heap of trash bags and escaped with only minor injuries.
There's a lot of sadness, despair, and depression in life; and we can't depend on the world's garbage to save us. We need the joy of the Lord and the uplifting power of His Word! To find true happiness, it's important to separate from bad company and other negative influences, and to daily renew our minds in the Scriptures. By living for Christ and meditating on His Word, our heads will be lifted above our enemies; and we can sing our praises to the Lord with joy.
Joy is not jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence in God's will because the soul delights itself in God Himself.
H. W. Webb-Peploe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 12:1-16:14
:angel:
Weekend, May 7 & 8
Places of Greatness: Seaside Shores
Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today... The LORD will fight for you....
Exodus 14:13-14a
Recommended Reading
Exodus 14:21-31
Who can imagine the terror that gripped the families of Israel in Exodus 14? The joy of their emancipation was overwhelmed by sudden crisis. Before them was the Red Sea; behind them was the flash of Pharaoh's swords. With no way out, they seemed to be facing annihilation. Yet the Lord said, "Don't be afraid. See what I will do. Stand still and watch while I fight for you." As Moses raised his rod over the waters, the winds of heaven blew and the sea parted before them.
God can make a way where there seems to be no way. Isaiah 43:19b (KJV) says, "I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." The apostle Paul promised God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability but will with the temptation make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
If you're facing a challenging problem, don't be afraid. Stand still and see what God will do. He will make a way.
The Lord will make a way for you where no foot has been before. That which, like a sea, threatens to drown you, shall be a highway for your escape.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 17:1-24:27
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Monday, May 9
There Is a War
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
Genesis 3:15
Recommended Reading
Romans 16:20
The United States' first law prohibiting illegal drugs was passed in 1914, but it wasn't until June 17, 1971, that the term "War on Drugs" was officially used. It took almost 60 years to realize that the nation was, in fact, fighting a war against the proliferation of substances deemed harmful and therefore, illegal.
Sometimes we can be in the middle of a war and not know it. That's how it is with many Christians and spiritual warfare. Not that this war has lacked for formal identification. It began in the Garden of Eden and was so noted (Genesis 3:15). But because it can be an invisible war, out of sight can result in out of mind--out of awareness--for Christians. Satan has authority to influence the world system (1 John 5:19) and Jesus came to destroy Satan's influence (1 John 3:8; Acts 10:38). So the war is ongoing, and it is dangerous for Christians to believe otherwise.
The outcome of the war between God and Satan has been decided but not finished. Assume today that you are in the enemy's sights and be prepared (Ephesians 6:10-18).
The reason some succeed in battle is because they gain the victory on their knees before the fight begins.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 25:1-28:27
:angel:
Tuesday, May 10
The Battlefield of the Mind
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:3
Recommended Reading
Romans 7:23-25
The American Heritage Dictionary defines battleground as "an area where a battle is fought; a sphere of contention." But the pictures in the daily news make us think otherwise--that battlegrounds are places where guns are fired, bombs are dropped, people are physically killed and wounded, and landscapes are destroyed. The danger is that, if we look around us and don't see those things happening, we think we are not living in a battlefield.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that our battle is not like the world's battles. Rather, it is a battle of ideas, fought on the battlefield of the mind. Our enemy's strategy is to tempt us to deny God's truth and deceive and discourage God's people so they lose faith and hope in the goodness and providence of God. Yes, Satan stirs up physical wars between nations and peoples, but even those wars begin with ideas.
Follow Paul's admonition to take every thought captive, submissive to the will of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Thoughts must be tested by the Word of God.
How sad our state by nature is! Our sin how deep it stains! And Satan binds our captive minds fast in his slavish chains.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 29:1-31:21
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Wednesday, May 11
Like Father, Like Son
[Paul] said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?"
Acts 13:10
Recommended Reading
John 8:42-47
More than one mother could confess to having looked (likely more than once) at her young male child and thought, "Like father, like son"--always in a positive sense, of course! It is not surprising--indeed, it is to be expected--that children bear the traits of those who birth and raise them.
And that is true in the spiritual realm as well from both a positive and negative perspective. Positively, Christians are given the Holy Spirit to become more like the Father (Galatians 5:22-23). Negatively, those who still belong to the devil manifest his traits. Jesus said to those who oppose Him that their opposition was like that of their father, the devil (John 8:43-44). And when Paul confronted a sorcerer, he declared him to be a "son of the devil." Elymas was "full of all deceit and all fraud, . . . [an] enemy of all righteousness, . . . perverting the straight ways of the Lord" (Acts 13:10). That is a perfect description of Satan: deceiver, liar, enemy of righteousness, maligner of God's ways.
To see the devil's children is to see their father and be on guard against him.
A young sinner will be an old devil.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 32:1-34:33
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Thursday, May 12
Defense Against Deceit
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3
Recommended Reading
Genesis 3:1-7
When a Wall Street investment manager defrauded investors out of billions of dollars, the guilty financier himself described it as "one big lie." He caused his investors to believe something that was not true.
That's a good way to describe the devil's primary strategy against the children of God: tempting them, influencing them to believe something that is not true. While Satan will attack truth wherever it is found--anything to promote discord and confusion on earth--it is the truth of God's Word that Satan most wants to negate. The first time we see him on earth, he is in the Garden of Eden convincing Eve that she will not die if she disobeys God's explicit instruction. Satan deceived Eve causing her to believe what was not true. And Eve died spiritually on the spot and physically in due course.
The best way for a Christian to defend against Satan's deceit is with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17b). Confidently correcting Satan's lies with God's own words will cause the devil to flee (Matthew 4:11; James 4:7).
No wickedness on earth is more common than the various forms of deceit.
William S. Plumer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 35:1-Ezra 2:70
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Friday, May 13
Tired or Attired?
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.
Ephesians 6:14a
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:13-16
Our English word "gird" reminds us of a "girdle," but that conjures up the wrong image. Though older translations used the word "girdle," they were referring to the belt or sash worn in biblical times around the waist or chest. Weapons were sometimes attached, for the Bible speaks of girding on one's sword. When running, people tucked their robes into their belts to race more freely (1 Peter 1:13). The girdle was the sash that held the rest of the clothing together.
Paul likened it to truth. In a day when many people believe truth is relative, the Bible teaches that God's truth is absolute and that His truth is inscribed and encapsulated in His Word. It's the truth that holds the rest of our armor together and enables us to fight with mental freedom. When we're convinced that all the Bible is altogether true, we're outfitted for victory. Our minds are composed; our weapons ready. Without a knowledge of God's truth, we're not well-attired. We're just tired.
Wear the truth, say it, sing it, and you will be amazed how the difficulty will be subdued; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
John Henry Jowett
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 3:1-6:22
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Weekend, May 14 & 15
Places of Greatness: Desert Sands
Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Matthew 4:10
Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11
We're often told that Jesus quoted Scripture to the devil and thereby defeated him. But it's not quite that easy. In reading through the story of the Temptation in Matthew 4, we notice that Jesus also relied on the Holy Spirit who was leading Him at every point (verse 1). Christ was also maintaining the spiritual discipline of fasting, and we can assume this was a season of prayer for Him (verse 2). Our Lord was also determined to say, "No! No! No!" to Satan's three enticements. We also notice that Jesus outlasted the temptation, for verse 11 says that Satan limped away in defeat having been worn out by our Lord's unflinching righteousness. Within that context, Jesus quoted Scripture three times to Satan and thereby won the victory.
To be victorious over sin, we need the Holy Spirit's inner power, the practice of regular spiritual disciplines, a determination to live righteously, tenacity, and a handful of crucial Scriptures to quote in times of temptation.
We, too, can resist the devil and he will flee from us.
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through.
Horatio R. Palmer in his hymn "Yield Not to Temptation"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 7:1-9:15
Ezra 10:1-Nehemiah 2:20
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Monday, May 16
Putting on Truth
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
John 14:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 19:7-11
In our modern world, think of all the ways we are told to relate to "truth": study the truth, find the truth, explore the truth, know the truth, discover the truth, reveal the truth--and the list goes on. But before we can put any of those verbs into action, we must answer the question raised by Pontius Pilate when he questioned Jesus of Nazareth: "What is truth?" (John 18:38) We can only study and learn that which we can define and identify.
Had Pilate known Jesus better, of course, he would have known that Jesus had already answered that question when He said, "I am . . . the truth." Marrying that statement with Paul's description of truth as one of the elements of the Christian's spiritual armor brings us to this conclusion: Jesus Christ is, in every dimension, the believer's spiritual armor. Paul says in Romans 13:14 that we are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." When we put on (believe in, submit to, embrace) Christ who is truth, we clothe ourselves with truth; we protect ourselves from Satan's lies and deceit.
If you are clothed with Christ and His Word today, you are clothed in truth, defended against the subterfuge of Satan.
The truth of Scripture demolishes speculation.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 3:1-6:19
:angel:
, May 17
Free From Accusations
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1b
Recommended Reading
Job 1:8-9; 2:3-6
At this very minute, accusations are flying around all over the world: in a court of law, in a political body, perhaps in a living room. Accusations carry tremendous weight according to the stature of the person making them.
There is another place where accusations never stop flowing--in the throne room of heaven. Revelation 12:10 calls Satan the "accuser of [the] brethren"--he accuses Christians "before our God day and night." Given the stature of the Accuser, the accusations against us as sinners, unworthy of forgiveness and grace, must be taken seriously. And they are true: We are sinners. But because we have put on "Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1), our Advocate enters as evidence the facts: He paid for our sins and we have been credited with His righteousness. That is what putting on the "breastplate of [Christ's] righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14b) means--that we are defended from the accusations of Satan about our sin.
When Satan tries to convince you of your unworthiness before God, agree with him--then show him the breastplate of Christ's righteousness you are wearing.
When God declares a man righteous he instantly sets about to make him righteous.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 7:1-8:18
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Wednesday, May 25
Helmets and Cauliflowers
And take the helmet of salvation....
Ephesians 6:17a
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:5-9
Each of us owns a jewel more valuable than any displayed at Cartier's or Tiffany's. It's a three-pound blob of gray pulp resembling a rotting cauliflower. This jewel is the most incredible creation in God's universe, a fabulous, living supercomputer with unfathomable circuitry and unimaginable complexity. It's the human brain--a collection of billions of neurons, each as complex as a small computer. Yet the brain is only as useful as the material it feeds on. Our thoughts should be fixed on Christ and filled with His Word.
The Bible tells us to set our minds on things above, not on the things of earth (Colossians 3:2). Wearing the helmet of salvation means our minds are protected by the saving truth of Christ. We're transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2), for those who live according to the Spirit set their mind on what the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5).
Psalm 37:3 tells us, "Feed on His faithfulness." Be careful what goes into your mind today. Remember that it's the battleground of the soul--and Christ has won the victory.
Our defeat or victory begins with what we think; and if we guard our thoughts, we shall not have much trouble anywhere else along the line.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 14:1-16:22
:angel:Thursday, May 26
Salty Language
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:2-6
There's an old saying: "What's down in the well comes up in the bucket." That's another way of making our Lord's point in Matthew 12:34: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
When we have the Scriptures wrapped around our brains like a helmet--especially through Scripture memory and meditation--our minds become filled with God's Word. It saturates our thoughts. As we fall asleep thinking on His promises and wake up with Him on our minds, it changes the patterns of our brains. We discover that we often have a word of encouragement for someone else. If we continually fill our minds with the knowledge of Christ, He will bring the needed words to mind in every situation.
Every good cook knows that salt enhances the flavor of foods. It's not just a matter of giving your meals a salty taste. There's something about salt, used in proper amounts, that brings out the taste of other ingredients and makes them more flavorful.
May God help us salt our conversations today with the flavor of His Word.
Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.
Winston Churchill
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 17:1-20:29
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Friday, May 27
Well Armed
Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:161-168
When the apostle Paul described the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit, he used an interesting Greek term for "word." He didn't employ the common word logos, but the word rhema. The meaning of rhema tends to emphasize the many sayings of God rather than the unified whole. All of the Bible is God's inspired and infallible Word; but often in our hand-to-hand combat in daily life, it's the specific verses and sayings of Scripture that we need.
Think of the Bible itself as the armory where the individual swords and daggers are stored. Paul's point isn't that we should always carry around a large black Bible for thumping and beating the devil, but that we have individual verses and statements from Scripture unsheathed in our minds and ready to use at a moment's notice.
When we memorize the many truths of the Bible and are prepared to use them, we've got a set of weapons to plunge into Satan as he tries to fill us with doubt, pride, and selfishness.
Are you working on a memory verse today?
The Bible is the Word of God. Period. But in this Word of God, we find those particular sayings that God gives us each day for the battles of life.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 21:1-23:17
:angel:
Weekend, May 28 & 29
Places of Greatness: Riverside Retreat
And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
Acts 16:13
Recommended Reading
Acts 16:11-15
Battle Creek, Michigan, is called "Cereal City" because it's the world headquarters for America's great cereal companies. But the town got its actual name from the river that flows through it, originally called the Waupakisco River. In 1824, a violent conflict arose there between surveyors and Native Americans. After the fracas, people started calling the place Battle Creek.
In Acts 16, Paul was at "battle creek," fighting for the souls of those who had gathered on the riverside. Lydia and her family were converted, and then others were saved. But the battle for souls turned ugly when Paul was arrested and beaten. Yet even that led to other conversions and to the planting of a church in the city of Philippi.
It's always a battle when we share Christ with others. A spiritual conflict rages in heavenly places as we seek to win souls. But Jesus told us that as we trust Him, rivers of living water would flow from within us. Don't be afraid of the warfare. Seek the lost at any cost and bear your witness boldly for Christ today.
Personal witnessing is hand-to-hand spiritual conflict; therefore, we must use spiritual weapons.
Lorne Sanny
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 24:1-31:40
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Monday, May 30
Power of the Sword
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Recommended Reading
Acts 7:38
In his book The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Zondervan, 1978), Leroy Eims describes his personal battle with anger and a temper. It was not until he made a covenant with God, which included memorizing and meditating on Colossians 3:8 ("But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath . . . ."), that anger loosened its grip on his emotions. He reviewed the verse daily and asked the Lord to bring it to mind whenever he was tempted to lose his temper. The Word of God became a sword with which he was able to win his spiritual battle.
Jesus used Scripture in a similar way. When He was tempted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus rebuffed every temptation by quoting an appropriate verse from Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:1-11). If you are in a spiritual battle, your sword is to be the Word of God--the swordA of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b). If there is a persistent spiritual battle you fight, memorize a portion of God's living and active Word to gain the victory.
The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold on me.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 32:1-34:37
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Tuesday, May 31
Making Ready for Battle
. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
Ephesians 6:18
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7
Two soldiers, identically dressed and equipped with the finest battlefield armor and weapons, are sent into battle. One is given awards for bravery, while the other lives with the shame of having deserted his post. Such a rudimentary illustration points out a profound truth: There is more to victory in battle than armor and weapons.
In military warfare terms, call it conviction, attitude, or readiness--the mental preparation that steels one against what might come. In spiritual warfare terms, call it prayer. Paul concluded his description of the Christian's spiritual armor by exhorting the Ephesians to pray "always . . . in the Spirit" and to be "watchful . . . for all the saints." Prayer is that spiritual connection with the One Who is our armor, Jesus Christ Himself. Prayer keeps us in a state of warfare readiness--"sober [and] vigilant" (1 Peter 5:8)--ever alert for the enemy who is walking about seeking someone to devour.
Be committed to wearing your spiritual armor today. But don't go into battle without the readiness that comes from prayer.
It is in the closet that the battle is lost or won.
Edward Payson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 35:1-37:24
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Wednesday, June 1
Battlefield Communication
...Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly....
Ephesians 6:18-19
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:18-24
In Ephesians 6:18-19, we have one of history's first missionary prayer requests. The apostle Paul, having written about the armor of the believer and the urgency of prayer, asked the Ephesians to pray that God would give him the ability to share the Gospel boldly at every opportunity.
Notice the alls in this passage. We're to pray always--at all times. We're to offer all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. We're to pray with all perseverance. And we're to remember all the saints.
In his book on prayer, Samuel D. Gordon wrote that this world is God's prodigal son, and that God has devised a plan for winning His prodigal back. He wants to use us in the process; and our greatest agency is prayer, which, Gordon says, is communication between God and His allies in the enemy's country. We're behind enemy lines, but prayer is our connection with the Commander.
Let's take prayer seriously and always offer all prayer in the Spirit with all perseverance for all the saints.
Communion is the basis of all prayer. It is the essential breath of the true Christian life.
S. D. Gordon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 38:1-39:30
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Thursday, June 2
Save This Date!
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24:42
Recommended Reading
Acts 1:4-8
"Save this date!" That's the slogan of those proffering specific dates for the return of Jesus Christ to earth.
The fourth-century Christian writer, Lactantius, determined Jesus would return in AD 520. Many believed Jesus would come in the year 1000, causing adherents to stay up all night on New Year's Eve of 999, awaiting the great event. Some among the Anabaptists believed Christ would come in 1533--exactly 1500 years after His death by their reckoning. Archbishop Ussher believed our Lord would come on a particular day in 1644. George Rapp, a religious teacher in Pennsylvania, predicted Christ's return on September 15, 1829. William Miller caused widespread panic through America by announcing October 22, 1844, as the date of Christ's return. In the 1980s, a popular booklet gave 88 reasons why the rapture would occur in 1988.
But Jesus told us to be ready anytime. Not even the angels know the exact day, but we're to "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is" (Mark 13:33).
It might be today! Are you ready?
To be ever looking for the Lord's appearing is one of the best helps to a close walk with God.
J. C. Ryle, nineteenth-century Christian writer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 40:1-42:17
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Friday, June 3
Looking Forward
...looking forward to these things...
2 Peter 3:14
Recommended Reading
Titus 2:11-14
Whatever problems you're facing, news you're dreading, or burdens you're bearing--all will be resolved within two seconds of Christ's return. This world brings tribulations, yet we can be of good cheer for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). When He comes, He will give rest to the troubled, and an eternal weight of glory for those facing, "light momentary affliction" (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:17). The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:18).
One day soon our sighs will become songs, our heartaches hallelujahs, and our worldly woes will be swallowed up in everlasting joy. There will be no heavy hearts in our heavenly homes. That's why the Bible tells us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Let's set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). Great joy comes to those who look forward to the Lord's return. Learn to visualize it, meditate on it, speak of it, study it, and pray, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)
Beyond the bounds of time and space, look forward to that happy place!
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 1:1-8:9
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Weekend, June 4 & 5
Proclaimers of God's Word: Hudson Taylor
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself... neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:4
Recommended Reading
John 15:1-5
Missionary pioneer Hudson Taylor worked so hard in China that his health nearly broke. One day a letter came from a friend who wrote about the joy of abiding in Christ. The letter said, "Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power...this is not new, and yet tis new to me."
Reading this at his mission station at Chin-kiang on September 4, 1869, Taylor's eyes were opened. "As I read," he recalled, "I saw it all. I looked to Jesus; and when I saw, oh how the joy flowed!" Writing to his sister, he said: "As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. The last month or more has been perhaps the happiest of my life; and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul."
This became known as "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret." Proclaiming the Word is not something we do for Christ but something He does through us as we abide in Him. Are you abiding in Him today?
The branch...rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it.
Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 9:1-16:11
Psalm 17:1-20:9
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Monday, June 6
When Things Look Darkest
False christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Mark 13:22-23
Recommended Reading
Mark 13:21-27
The recent turmoil among the Arab states in the Middle East is a reminder that the nation of Israel and its neighbors dominate the agenda of history. We don't know the reverberations of every conflict or the consequences of every shift of power. It may be that the youth movements among Arab states will provide new openness for the Gospel. On the other hand, the shifting political structures may lead to increased radicalism, setting the stage for the Antichrist.
It's not wise to be overly dogmatic as we try to interpret current events, and we've got to be careful about false prophets who claim they are either Christ or Antichrist. The twists and turns of history are under God's providential control, and it's best to watch prayerfully so we can take advantage of open doors for evangelism while awaiting our Lord's return.
We can't be dogmatic about specific events in the headlines, but we can be fully assured that history is His-story, and that the stage is being set for His soon return. We can live every day with confidence and excitement that no matter how disturbing the news reports, our sovereign Lord is in control.
When things look darkest to the world, they look brightest to the Christian. Our King is coming back!
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 21:1-25:22
:angel:
Tuesday, June 7
Ready for Anything
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming....
Luke 12:40a
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:40-44
Mike Yardley had just left his network's studios when his city collapsed around him. As the ground convulsed, a cloud of dust rose on all sides. Yardley noticed in horror that the city center of Christchurch, New Zealand, was raining down on the sidewalks. Looking back at his news building, he saw nothing but dust. Only later he realized that the dust was, in fact, the building he had just exited. It collapsed in the February 22 earthquake, killing seventeen of his colleagues. "My heart has been torn by the unwieldy weight of grief," he said, "as I reflect on 17 much-loved workmates who I will never share a TV studio with again."1
Jesus warned of famines, pestilences, and earthquakes as we grow closer to His return. We see all these things today and marvel at the disasters that are increasing as time draws shorter. But we shouldn't fear. We should take these things as reminders to be watching, waiting, and praying. We should be ready!
The world is in trouble, but Jesus came to rescue us from its final consequences.
Erwin Lutzer
1Mike Yardley, "CTV Reporter Torn with Grief" on February 24, 2011, at www.cnn.com.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 26:1-31:24
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Wednesday, June 8
Zealous for Souls
This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 11:30
The Great Commission tells us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. But the fulfilling of the Great Commission is not necessarily a sign of Christ's imminent return. When we compare the prophetic events of Matthew 24 with the Book of Revelation, we learn that after the rapture of the Church, the task of world evangelism will continue under the ministry of the 144,000 Messianic Jewish preachers, leading to the salvation of multitudes of people during the Great Tribulation.
Just imagine! Only twelve Jews (the disciples) turned the world upside down after the resurrection and ascension of Christ in the first century. Think of what 144,000 Jewish evangelists can do after the return of Christ to rapture the church!
But until then, we can do our part. We're to be proclaimers of the Word and preachers to the world. If we're followers of Christ, we're to be fishers of men. Think of the value of one soul into whose heart you were able to drop the seed of the Gospel. Be zealous for souls in all you do!
The example of the grace of God in our lives allows others to see Christ in us, and they can be saved from the wrath to come.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 32:1-35:28
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Thursday, June 9
Now!
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD.
Isaiah 1:18a
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 55:6-7
Leslie Flynn tells of a pastor who took a visiting evangelist to visit a farmer whose family had been converted during revival meetings. They hoped to witness to the man. But when they arrived, the farmer was offended. "I didn't ask you to bring anyone out here to preach to me," he said. "I know where the church is. Anytime I want to hear anybody preach, I'll go to church. I'm going to be saved sometime, but not till I'm good and ready."
The next Monday the phone rang with an urgent message to come to the farmer's house. In a freak accident, he had fallen from the hayloft and died instantly. He fell at the very spot where two days before he'd declared, "I'll get saved when I'm good and ready."1
We have no promise of tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation, and we must call upon the Lord while He is near. If you need Christ, don't wait another moment. Come to Him today, while there's still time. And don't delay in sharing God's grace with others who need to hear His plan of redemption.
The little word "now" is a very important word in God's vocabulary of salvation.
J. C. Macaulay
1Leslie B. Flynn, Come Alive with Illustrations (Ada, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 1987), 143.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 36:1-39:13
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Friday, June 10
Let the Reader Understand
Therefore, when you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:15-16
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:24-27
Many Bible readers are troubled by this passage because Jesus warns us to understand His words, yet they are mysterious. He's referring to an event in the future, when an abominable image will be erected in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. It's called the abomination of desolation, and it's going to trigger the horrific three-and-a-half years of Great Tribulation.
The prophet Daniel mentions this disgusting image in chapters 9, 11, and 12 of his book; Paul makes reference to it in 2 Thessalonians, as does John in Revelation 13. One day in the future, the Antichrist will desecrate the rebuilt Jewish temple with a vile image, setting in motion the events of the Great Tribulation.
Satan isn't waiting until then, however, to lead multitudes of people into idolatry. An idol isn't necessarily a statue or image; it's anything that we love more than we love Jesus Christ. Both now and then, both sooner and later, Jesus Christ must be the unrivaled Lord of our hearts.
Let Him rule and reign without equal in the temple of your life today.
Let Jesus be first and uppermost in thought and life and let all other things trail on after.
S. H. Hadley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 40:1-45:17
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Weekend, June 11 & 12
Proclaimers of God's Word: Geoffrey Bull
Feed on His faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:1-5
The Book that missionaries proclaim is the Book that sustains them in the work of proclamation. Geoffrey Bull, a British missionary to Tibet, was imprisoned by Chinese Communists who seized his Bible and made him suffer terribly at their hands for three years. Bull was subjected to such mental and psychological torture that he feared he would go insane. But the missionary began to systematically go over the Scriptures in his mind. It took about six months to go all the way through the Bible mentally. He started at Genesis and recalled each Bible story as best he could, first concentrating on the content and then musing on certain points, seeking light in prayer. He reconstructed the books and chapters as best he could until he came to Revelation. Then he started over again. He later wrote, "The strength received through this meditation was, I believe, a vital factor in bringing me through, kept by the faith to the very end."
In all our labors and trials, the Book we proclaim is also the Book that restores our souls. It should be both our diet and our decree.
In the Bible God has given us thoughts of His power and His love, and He has given them to us that we may think about them and have food for our souls.
William Wilberforce Newton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 46:1-50:23
Psalm 51:1-57:11
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Monday, June 13
History's Monster
But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
Daniel 11:32b
Recommended Reading
Daniel 11:36-39
In Daniel 11, we're given a prophecy about a man known to history as Antiochus IV, a Syrian general who is the biblical prototype of the coming Antichrist. Antiochus is among history's most despicable characters. He tried to force the people of Israel to forsake their religion, burn their Scriptures, paganize their children, and disavow their God. He desecrated the temple by stopping the daily sacrifices and setting up an altar or idol devoted to Zeus (the "abomination of desolation" that previewed the later actions of the Antichrist). In his fury at Jewish resistance, Antiochus massacred 80,000 men, women, and children. It was an indescribable reign of terror. But even then, there were faithful Jews (those who knew their God) who amid the carnage were strong and did great exploits. As a result, Israel regained her freedom until the days of the Roman Empire.
Every generation of believers faces opposition, hatred, persecution, and brutality. But those people who know their God will be strong and do great exploits. With Christ beside us, we cannot be conquered or cowed--never forget that the power of God working through a faithful servant is a mighty thing.
The right knowledge of God is, and will be, the strength of the soul, and, in the strength of that, gracious souls will do exploits.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 58:1-64:10
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Tuesday, June 14
Joy in the Morning
Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
Recommended Reading
Psalm 13
The Great Tribulation will last three-and-a-half years, and not a moment longer. If this period of calamity were to last longer, no one would survive. For the elect's sake, there's a termination point; it will not go on forever.
That's true of our current troubles, too. Sometimes we feel our problems have no end. There's no light at the end of the tunnel, no dawn at the end of the night, and no joy at the end of our sadness. The psalmist expressed this when he cried, "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?" (Psalm 13:1-2) But keep reading. By verse 5, the psalmist wrote, "I have trusted in Your mercy," and in the final verse he exclaimed, "I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me."
In Christ, all our problems are temporary; all our blessings are eternal. Don't give up. There'll be joy in the morning.
O my soul, what need it trouble thee to have heaviness in the evening, so long as thou art sure to have joy in the morning?
Sir Richard Baker, seventeenth-century British writer, on Psalm 13
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 65:1-68:35
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Wednesday, June 15
Jesus Has No Opinions
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing.
Matthew 7:15a
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:1-4
"Jesus does not offer an opinion," wrote A. W. Tozer, "for He never uttered opinions. He never guessed; He knew, and He knows. His words are not as Solomon's were, the sum of sound wisdom or the results of keen observation. He spoke out of the fullness of the Godhead, and His words are very Truth itself."1
Our world has lots of opinions, and most of them are wrong. In an increasingly secular society, we must guard against false teachers both inside and outside the church. Evolutionary theory saturates our scientific community. Humanism frames our laws and judicial decisions. Professors and educators exclude God and discriminate against Christian teachers. The entertainment industry churns out moral propaganda like ancient Rome. Popular preachers export a diluted message. And even our busses and subway cars declare there is no God.
Jesus warned that false teachers would dominate the last days. But secular opinion cannot withstand divine truth. And Jesus is very Truth itself. It is important to know Him and study His Word. How much more do you know Him today than you did yesterday? Know Him and study His Word.
It is well that He spoke... and it is good that we listen. His words are the essence of truth.
A. W. Tozer
1A. W. Tozer, Renewed Day by Day (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1989), March 29.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 69:1-72:20
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Thursday, June 16
There's Light for a Look at the Savior
Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
John 12:21
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 2:8-9
According to the news, scientists at the University of Michigan have developed the world's smallest computer system to help treat glaucoma patients. This tiny unit, about the size of a single letter on a penny, contains a microprocessor, sensor, memory, battery, solar cell, and a wireless radio with an infinitesimal antenna. Though it won't be available for actual use for years, it is designed to be implanted in a person's eye to track the progress of glaucoma and preserve vision.
According to the Bible, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the perishing, lest the light of glory of Christ shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:4). But as Christians, we have the Scriptures implanted in our vision. We look at the headlines through the computer of God's Word. We understand that Christ is coming again according to Scripture. Though the times are perilous, we have the peace of saying, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor" (Hebrews 2:9).
Look to Jesus for healthy I's.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face.
Helen H. Lemmel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 73:1-77:20
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Friday, June 17
To Live Below With Saints We Know
Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:10
Recommended Reading
Romans 14:1-13
One man recently observed that when he goes to work, everyone functions as a team and advances the cause of the corporation. But when he goes to church or to denominational meetings, he often finds a group that fusses, carps, complains, and criticizes one another.
Paul anguished over the same thing in Romans 14 and 15. He grieved over the fact that the early Christians fussed about whether to eat a Jewish or non-Jewish diet, whether to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and whether to keep certain holidays and holy days.
Having devoted much of Romans to the essential doctrine of justification by grace through faith, Paul devoted much of these two subsequent chapters to telling us to give room to one another to disagree on lesser matters. "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind," he advised in Romans 14:5b.
We don't have to agree about everything to be agreeable. Knowing that Christ is the ultimate judge, we should refrain from judging others and their motives, but instead love them, remaining steadfast in our faith and living out godly lives on earth.
To live above with saints we love, oh, that will be glory; to live below with saints we know, now that's another story.
An old anonymous rhyme
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 78:1-79:13
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Weekend, June 18 & 19
Proclaimers of God's Word: John Hyde
You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Isaiah 62:6-7
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 62:1-7
John ("Praying") Hyde sailed to India in 1892 to evangelize Punjab. After struggling for several years, Hyde rededicated himself to working through prayer. He believed Isaiah 62 commands us to remind God of His promises and "give Him no rest" till He answers.
In early 1908, Hyde prayed to win at least one soul to Christ per day. By December 31, he had recorded 400 converts. The following year, the Lord laid two souls per day on his heart, and his prayer was again answered. The next year he prayed for four souls daily with similar results.
Once, stopping at a cottage for water, Praying Hyde asked God for ten souls. He presented the Gospel, and all nine members of the family were saved. But what of number ten? A nephew who had been playing outside ran into the room and was promptly converted.
"Praying" became Hyde's middle name. It should be ours as well, for the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (James 5:16, NIV).
*Turning Point will soon be tracking our radio program in Punjabi and broadcasting the Gospel into India and Pakistan.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 80:1-85:13
Psalm 86:1-89:52
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Monday, June 20
The Fig Tree Is Leafing!
Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
Matthew 24:32
Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:32-35
Botanists tell us that figs were among the earliest plants in history to be cultivated by farmers and orchard growers. They are native to the Mediterranean basin and have been an important crop for thousands of years. Figs are high in calcium and fiber. They provide needed nutrients like copper, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K.
In Christ's day, there were fig trees everywhere, for the ideal state of a Jewish person was to dwell under his own vine and fig tree (1 Kings 4:25).
In His sermon on the Signs of the Times in Matthew 24, Jesus used the fig tree as an illustration. When a fig tree leafs out in the spring, it's a sign summer is near and the harvest is coming. In the same way, when we see the signs of the times happening all around us, we should realize His return is near. When the signs mentioned in Matthew 24 occur, we'll not have long to wait for the Second Coming. "Know that it is near--at the doors!" (verse 33)
Wouldn't you agree the fig tree is in leaf? He may return at any moment. So what will you do to be ready for that day?
This could be the day! Jesus Christ could return in the Rapture to take His own to be with Him!
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 90:1-95:11
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Tuesday, June 21
Certainly
I will certainly be with you....
Exodus 3:12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 66:16-20
What does actor Nicolas Cage have in common with basketball legend Julius (Dr. "J") Erving? Or with the hip-hop artist Chamillionaire? Or with former Detroit Red Wings hockey star Sergei Federov? Or with Patricia Kluge, multi-millionaire ex-wife of a media mogul? All have gone through foreclosure proceedings on their homes. In Kluge's case, the home was a whopping palatial estate in Virginia once valued at $100 million. It seems not even the so-called rich and famous are immune from the shifting economic landscape.
There's no permanence in money and no lasting security in our economy. Proverbs 23:5 says, "Riches certainly make themselves wings." In fact, nothing in this world provides certainty except for our Lord Jesus Christ. He will certainly be with us. He will certainly hear us (Psalm 66:19).
If you're pinched and pressured right now, you're in good company. These are uncertain times. But we have a sure and certain hope. We walk by faith; and faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV, 1984). You can certainly trust Him with your hopes, your dreams--your very life.
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree; Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!
Philip Bliss
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 96:1-102:28
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Wednesday, June 22
The Days of Noah
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:37
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:6-7
Noah's Arks are popping up all over the place. A Dutch builder has a full-sized replica on the Maas River in the Netherlands. Another full-sized replica is planned in Kentucky. There's a life-sized fiberglass copy in Hong Kong. And smaller-scale versions sit here and there on sites around the world.
Perhaps in the providence of God, we need to be reminded we're living in the days of Noah. Both Jesus and Peter compare the days before the flood to those preceding the return of Christ. Jesus said, "They ate... drank... married wives... were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:2). Peter said, "The world that then existed perished, being flooded with water." In the same way, he said, the current earth is facing imminent judgment by fire (2 Peter 3:6-7).
We Christians are Noahs--preachers of righteousness in an evil age, warning others of the judgment to come. Noah was different in his day, and we must be the same. Let's flood the world with gospel truth! Today is a good day to share the Good News.
The judgment of God shall come... And that judgment is swift and sure and certain, as it was in the days of Noah.
W. A. Criswell, in his sermon "Judgment of the Flood"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 103:1-105:45
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Thursday, June 23
The Midnight Cry
At midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!"
Matthew 25:6
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:1-13
An old campfire song says, "Give me oil in my lamp; keep me burning." That's a good prayer to offer. It's from Jesus' story in Matthew 25 about the ten virgins assigned to accompany the bridegroom to the wedding. They were to illumine the way. They didn't know the hour of his arrival, so they were to remain ready. Half the virgins did so, with their lamps filled with oil and their wicks trimmed for the procession. The other five were unprepared for his coming.
All ten women looked the same; but when the hour came, only half were ready. Some were excluded from the wedding supper and locked outside the house. The door was closed. "Watch therefore," said Jesus, "for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (verse 13).
Paul told the church members in Corinth to "examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Make sure the oil of the Holy Spirit is in your heart and that you are prepared for the arrival of our Savior and Lord.
O Christian . . . wait for the coming of your Lord, but let it be with your lamps trimmed and your lights burning.
Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon "A Visit to the Harvest Field"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 106:1-107:43
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Friday, June 24
A Waxy Feel
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief....
Hebrews 3:12
Recommended Reading
John 3:14-17
Merchants in Connecticut were on the lookout earlier this year for counterfeit $100 bills. The bills were of such quality that standard tests failed to identify them as fakes. The only giveaway was a slightly waxy feel when held in the fingers.
Satan is a master counterfeiter, and Jesus constantly warned us to beware of fakes. Wheat and the tares look the same as they grow, He said, but at the harvest they produce different crops (Matthew 13:24-30). False teachers will come as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). False christs will arise at the end of the age (Matthew 24:24). The ten virgins in Matthew 25 were similarly dressed and outfitted, but only five were truly ready for the bridegroom.
We mustn't doubt our salvation once we have truly received Christ as Lord. We can know with abiding assurance that we're saved. But we do want to make sure we have truly received Christ as Savior and Lord. If that isn't settled in your life, kneel down today and give yourself fully and finally to Him in true repentance and faith.
The Blood makes us safe; the Book makes us sure.
Source unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 108:1-114:8
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Weekend, June 25 & 26
Proclaimers of God's Word: Dr. L. Nelson Bell
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid....
Joel 2:21-22
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 41:10-13
Dr. and Mrs. L. Nelson Bell (whose daughter Ruth would marry evangelist Billy Graham) were medical missionaries in China who found themselves in dangerous straits when the Japanese invaded in 1938. On Christmas Day, Nelson wrote his mother in America, saying: "This past Thursday it was my time to lead the foreign prayer meeting, and I talked about the place of physical fear in the life of the Christian. Last week it dawned on me that our Lord, tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, hungered, thirsted, was tired, became angry, and gave every evidence of His humanity, but He was never fearful. Fear, therefore, must come from lack of faith--sin. Just as we never become sinless, so we never entirely lose fear, but it surely is His will for His children to live with peace in their hearts, trusting in Him and His promises."1
If your mind is vexed by various fears and alarms, remember that Jesus is not afraid. All is under His control and you are in His safekeeping.
I think the greatest tribute to mother's courage is that we children never sensed fear and we ourselves never had any fear.
Ruth Bell Graham
1John C. Pollock, A Foreign Devil in China (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1971), 191, 81.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 115:1-119:32
Psalm 119:33-119:120
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Monday, June 27
Faithful in Little Things
Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things...
Matthew 25:23
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:14-30
Puritan Richard Baxter said, "It will be an unspeakable comfort to look back on a life well spent and be able to say in humble sincerity, My time was not cast away . . . . It was spent in sincere labors for my God--in making my calling and election sure, in doing good to men's souls and bodies, it was entirely devoted to God.'"
In His Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, Jesus stressed the importance of being faithful to the work assigned us. We want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
It's not the amount of our work that's important, or the status of it, or the notoriety of it. It's the faithfulness with which we do exactly what He has assigned us. Our lives and labors call for perseverance, persistence, patience, and prayer.
If God has assigned our daily tasks, He'll produce an eternal harvest. Don't give up; and don't worry if the work seems small, the costs large, or the results meager. Just be faithful to the will of God--nothing more, nothing less.
Seeking to please God in little matters is a test of real devotion and love. Let your aim be to please our dear Lord perfectly in little things.
Jean Grou
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119:121-124:8
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Tuesday, June 28
Accountable
It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Recommended Reading
1 Cor. 4:1-2
Taxpayers around the world are in a feisty mood. They're demanding civic leaders and public employees to be accountable for the managing of the common good. They expect politicians to be accountable to the voters. They're ready to hold their governments accountable to act in a wise and disciplined way. They want to hold teachers accountable for the schools and generals for the armies. Without accountability, there's little discipline or restraint in our world.
Christ provides accountability for His people, too. He's like the owner of an estate who expects His employees to be good stewards of the things entrusted to them. God has given us time, talents, and treasures. Our lives do not belong to us. We belong to Him, and we're stewards on His behalf. One day we'll be judged on the basis of our faithfulness to what God has entrusted to us.
When we see Christ, we will show Him what we have done with what He has trusted into our care. All that we have will be a meager offering to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but it will be accepted and blessed because we have been faithful with whatever talent or treasure He has given into our keeping. What a day that will be when we hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful, and loyal, King of our Lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Frances Havergal
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 125:1-135:21
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Wednesday, June 29
Flax in the Flame
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
Recommended Reading
Revelation 6:12-17
David Marks was born to godly Connecticut parents in 1805, and his awareness of God began early. The incident that started him thinking about the Savior was when he saw some flax burn. He had heard of the fires of hell; and as he watched the flax, he thought how dreadful one moment in hell would be.
He decided that if the Day of Judgment came, he would hide in the well. Running to his mother, he shared his plan; but she replied, "Ah, my son, the water will boil and the earth will burn." He then told her he would run to a spot he knew in the rocks where he could hide. She said, "But the rocks will melt."
Young David pondered at length the reality of that coming day. Putting his hand over his heart, he looked toward heaven and said, "God, be merciful to me a sinner."
David recognized that he was not ready to stand before Holy God in his present state. What a simple, yet profound reminder that only through His mercy are we rescued from the punishment that we deserve. Are you ready?
The only passport we need to heaven is Jesus.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 136:1-140:13
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Thursday, June 30
Come, You Blessed!
Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:34
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:31-46
In Matthew 25, Jesus warned of a day when He will return to judge the nations. He will separate them as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. He will say to the former, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you . . . ." To the others He will say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (verse 41).
The former group is saved by grace through faith. Out of their salvation flows their good works--they feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, care for the imprisoned, and minister to "the least of these." We aren't saved on the basis of those deeds, for no amount of good works can save us. We engage in them because we have been saved; and our kindness is evidence of the grace of Christ in our hearts.
Our days should be filled with blessing those around us, living in expectation of the day when we hear the wonderful words of Christ calling us to "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
The seeming peace a sinner has is not from the knowledge of his happiness but from the ignorance of his danger.
Thomas Watson, Puritan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 141:1-147:20
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Friday, July 1
The Coming Surprise
Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning.
Mark 13:35
Recommended Reading
Mark 13:32-37
Every day was hard for the Padgett children while their dad was deployed in Afghanistan. They missed him terribly and sometimes tearfully. Then one day last winter, Joseph and Cortney joined classmates in the school cafeteria for a program. The school band struck up "America the Beautiful," and a soldier in combat fatigues stepped through the door. Instantly the two youngsters leaped up and ran through the crowd with tears in their eyes. Their dad, Spc. Buddy Padgett, had surprised his children with an early return home.1
We don't know the day or hour of our Lord's return, but what a glorious surprise awaits us! Jesus told us to watch, for we don't know if He'll come when the alarm clock rings, the dinner bell chimes, or the clock strikes midnight. We must be ready to leap to our feet with joyful shouts of "He's back! He's home!"
For nearly twenty years a spiritual enrichment has come into my ministry because I have realized the great New Testament revelation of the personal return of our Lord.
Dinsdale Young, English Methodist preacher
1"Soldier Surprises Children at School with Early Return" by Derrick Ek in the Corning (New York) Leader, the-leader.com/news/x2097055957/Soldier-surprises-children-at-school-with-early-return, February 16, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 148:1-Proverbs 2:22
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Weekend, July 2 & 3
Joy Busters: Criticism (A Critical Spirit)
Judge not, that you be not judged.
Matthew 7:1
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:1-6
With the rising trend of healthy eating, many people have returned to the practice of gardening. Sure the food may be better for us, and it may save us a few dollars, but it is also tedious work. Just one unnoticed weed can quickly make its way through the entire garden.
Much like an unkempt garden, Christians are susceptible to being over-run by a critical spirit. We allow a judgmental thought to linger too long, and it takes root. Soon it has infiltrated our lives--including those around us. Rather than being an encourager, a builder for Christ, we've become Satan's destructive tool. As George D. Watson once said, "[Criticism] is a parasite which...fastens itself on the tree of religion, and seeks to spread itself until it claims to be the tree, and...if not killed off, will succeed in killing the tree."
How do we avoid the strangling weeds of a critical spirit? Begin looking at things "NLOE" (in light of eternity). Focusing on eternity and desiring others to join us there will certainly help us to be less critical and more about encouraging others and spreading God's love, showing them we are a "<><" (follower of Christ)!
It is a delusion of Satan to get religious people to mistake censoriousness for sanctity.
George D. Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 3:1-5:23
Proverbs 6:1-8:36
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Monday, July 4
"Encourage Him"
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 1:38
Recommended Reading
Deut. 1:37-40
In Deuteronomy the aged Moses preached a final series of sermons to the younger generation who were entering the Promised Land. He poignantly recounted his forty years of hard service. The Israelites, he said in effect, had often plied him with discouragement. "The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes," he told them. Then as he introduced his successor, Joshua, he said, "Encourage him."
Maybe it's our human nature or our rebellious hearts, but we're sometimes quick to criticize those responsible for leading us--whether in government or in church. But leaders need encouragement every day as they bear "the strain of toil, the fret of care."
What can you do today to encourage a public representative you know? Perhaps a leader in your city or nation? Have you prayed for your elected official today? What about your pastor or church staff?
Paul wrote, "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord... Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work... encourage..." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, NIV).
The really great person is the person who makes every person feel great.
G. K. Chesterton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 9:1-11:31
:angel:
Tuesday, July 5
Poems and Sparrows
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:1-8
Percy Shelley wasn't successful in life personally or professionally. When he drowned in a storm at age 29, he had only about fifty readers and little money. But he's remembered today as one of the finest poets in the English language. He once defined his craft like this. "Poetry," he wrote, "is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds."
As the apostle Paul originally wrote Ephesians 2:10 in the Greek, he used an interesting word for "workmanship"--the Greek term poema, from which we get our English word poem. It means something made or created. We're the living record of His happy creative genius. God places great value on each of us. We are His craftsmanship, His creation, His workmanship.
Though this earth teems with nearly 7 billion people, each of us is important to God. "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?" Jesus asked. "And not one of them is forgotten before God. . . Do not fear, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:6-7).
I am somebody 'cause God don't make no junk.
Ethel Waters
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 12:1-14:35
:angel:
Wednesday, July 6
"When You Are Discouraged..."
Do not fear or be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 1:21b
Recommended Reading
Deut. 1:29-33
Many of our favorite hymns tell us what to do when discouraged. One old standby by Johnson Oatman advises: "When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one."
Another asks, "Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come?" We should rather remember that "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."
The beloved hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," gives us sound advice in saying we should "never be discouraged" over a burden, for we can "take it to the Lord in prayer."
The spiritual, "There Is a Balm in Gilead" says: "Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work's in vain, and then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again."
So if you're discouraged today, remember that a moment in the presence of our Lord can change your attitude. Count your blessings. Realize you're more valuable than the sparrows. Take it to the Lord in prayer, and let the Holy Spirit revive your soul again.
Do not fear or be discouraged.
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Civilla D. Martin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 15:1-17:28
:angel:
Thursday, July 7
Friends for the Journey
Two are better than one.... For if they fall, one will lift up his companion....
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Recommended Reading
Romans 15: 4-7
In John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Christian is blessed with two friends for his journey to the Celestial City: Faithful and Hopeful. At one point in the story, Christian and Hopeful are captured by Giant Despair and locked away in Doubting Castle. The symbolic names give wise counsel. Faith and hope are key companions when we encounter the twin destroyers of doubt and despair--especially in these desperate days of economic catastrophes and natural disasters.
Bunyan's allegory of the believer's struggle through life toward heaven poignantly illustrates the difficult journey we face. But the indispensable lesson of faith and hope through Pilgrim's traveling companions reminds believers of another important truth: We need friends along life's path to pick us up when we fall, encouraging us to keep on keeping on.
No burden is too great to carry with the heavenly promise of our Lord (John 14:1-2) and encouraging friends who help turn our despair into joy and doubt into a stronger faith and hope. Look around your path today. There is probably someone not too far from you who needs your encouragement.
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
Arnold Glasow
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 18:1-20:30
:angel:
Friday, July 8
iPause
Be still, and know that I am God....
Psalm 46:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46
Since its introduction in 2001, the Apple iPod has monopolized the mobile music player market, injecting sound into every possible moment of silence. It has even introduced the term, "iPod Generation," into Western vernacular. But what are the ramifications of this portable digital invention? Are we truly better off trying to fill all our silent moments?
Throughout Scripture, before God chose to use someone in a mighty way He strengthened them through solitude. Moses was assigned to the back side of a desert for forty years before God sent him to lead the Exodus. Elijah was removed from his duties and placed in a cave in Mount Horeb so he could hear the still, small voice of God. And the Lord Jesus Himself often withdrew to the seashore or to the mountains so He could be alone with the Father.
If it was important for God's servants to spend time in solitude before great works of ministry, we should reevaluate how we spend our quiet moments. Do we try to keep them filled with sounds--no matter how beautiful they may be? Or do we push the "pause" button in our daily routines and listen for the still, small voice of God?
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.
Leroy Brownlow
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 21:1-23:35
:angel:
Weekend, July 9 & 10
Joy Busters: Negativity (A Harmful Outlook)
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4
On March 11 of this year, we were awakened to news stories that Japan had been ravaged by a massive 9.0 earthquake and a devastating tsunami. Through the technological advances we take for granted, the world saw the events happening in Japan within moments of it happening. Even though it's good to know what's going on in the world, frequently the news focuses only on the more troubling events--filling us with negativity. With so much bad news being reported, how do we remain hopeful?
Thankfully, we have a choice. We can become discouraged about all the evil and trials in our world, or we can get excited about the good things God is doing!
Even now, Christian relief efforts are bringing physical and spiritual help to survivors in Japan. The Bible is being translated into more languages each year. Muslims are coming to faith in Christ in record numbers. Christians in Asia are risking their lives to spread the Gospel. And that is only scratching the surface. So, don't let negativity rob you of your joy--share the positive message of God's love and grace to a troubled world.
Great leaders understand that the right attitude will set the right atmosphere, which enables the right response from others.
John Maxwell
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 24:1-26:28
Proverbs 27:1-29:27
:angel:
Monday, July 11
Littered With Blessings
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night...
Psalm 92:1-2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 68:19-20
Police in Ohio responded to an unusual call earlier this year. Motorists along Route 23 near Columbus reported seeing large amounts of money scattered alongside the highway. Although the exact amount wasn't announced, sources close to the case said it amounted to tens of thousands of dollars. Officials have no idea where the money came from.
That story is reminiscent of the blessings in our lives. Just like the cash littering the highway, blessings are often unexpected and many times are overlooked. The highway of life isn't free of obstacles or traffic jams. Sometimes there are exhausting grades and precipitous curves. But God litters our way with blessings. The psalmist proclaimed, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19a).
Perhaps today we need to slow down and, with song and solitude, ponder how blessed we are. Tens of thousands of blessings attend our way. Goodness and mercy follow us all our days.
When God draws the curtain...mercy streams in on the sunbeam. When He shuts the eyelids of the day...it is mercy that...bids us rest. He "daily loadeth us with benefits."
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 30:1-Ecclesiastes 1:18
:angel:
Tuesday, July 12
Make Friends and Live Longer
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
Proverbs 27:9
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 27:5-10
According to The New York Times, researchers are paying attention to the role of friendship to overall health. A ten-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A study of middle-aged Swedish men found those with quality friendships were much more likely to survive coronary heart disease. Another study of women battling breast cancer found that friendship circles have a dramatic influence on survival rates.
"Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships," said one sociologist.1
Long ago, the writer of Proverbs said that a good friendship is to the heart what oils and medicines are to the body. Encouraging our friends--and being encouraged by them--is a conduit of blessing to our lives. We should cherish our relationships, pray for our friends, and fellowship warmly with those whom God brings across our paths. It's good for what ails us!
A friend is someone who walks in when others walk out.
Walter Winchell
1Tara Parker-Pope, "What Are Friends For? A Longer Life," The New York Times, April 21, 2009.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:1-5:20
Wednesday, July 13
If You Don't Write It Down...
I, Paul, am writing with my own hand.
Philemon 1:19
Recommended Reading
Philemon 1:17-25
In a popular Tom Clancy novel, one of the characters continually jotted notes in a small notebook. "You have to get used to me," she said apologetically. "Whenever I have an idea, I write it down right away." It isn't safe, she explained, to entrust important matters to memory alone, adding, "If you don't write it down, then it never happened."1
Perhaps that's not literally true, but the point is valid. The written word is a powerful way of encouraging others. It can be anything from an ordinary note to a friend to an autobiographical account of your life and testimony for your children and descendants. When something is written, it achieves greater permanence in its effect. Some people keep precious messages of encouragement on their refrigerators for years, or inserted in their Bibles, or filed with their keepsakes. Even email and blogs are helpful in this regard, though nothing can quite replace ink on paper when the hand that is writing it is yours.
Who can you encourage with a written word today?
Share your stories with your children over and over. They need to hear them more than once in order to really remember them.
J. Darline Peipman, in her commentary on the Book of Ruth
1Tom Clancy, Debt of Honor (New York: Berkley, 1994), 581.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 6:1-9:18
:angel:
Thursday, July 14
Mr. Encouragement
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus...
Acts 4:36
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:32-37
LeRoy Eims, in The Lost Art of Disciple Making, wrote that during his first year of campus ministry at the University of Pittsburgh a number of men came to Christ. Whenever Eims met them in the halls of the dormitories, he would stop and check up on their Bible study, Scripture memory, and Christian growth. He soon became known as "Old Mr. Check-up." Guys began avoiding him if they were lagging.
"I soon learned it was hard to help a person grow in Christ if he was avoiding me," wrote Eims. "So I changed and became known as 'Mr. Encouragement.' The more I encouraged, the more things changed. The new converts grew and we had great fellowship together. They became faithful in their walk with the Lord."1
Barnabas was the original "Mr. Encouragement." He was so generous, friendly, and uplifting, that the apostles changed his name from Joses to Mr. Encouragement.
May God help us all to bear that family name!
Encouragers see potential where others only see problems.
David Jeremiah
1LeRoy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), 71.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 10:1-Song of Solomon 2:17
:angel:
Friday, July 15
Think "Encouragement"
...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God.
Colossians 2:2
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:1-3
Jonas Salk, the great scientist and discoverer of the vaccine against polio, understood how to think and work with confidence. He was once asked, "How does this outstanding achievement, which has effectively brought an end to the word 'polio' in our vocabulary, cause you to view your 200 previous failures?"
"I have never had 200 failures in my whole life," he replied. "My family didn't think in terms of failure. They taught in terms of experiences and what could be learned. I just made my 201st discovery, and I couldn't have made it without learning from the previous 200 experiences."
Salk's example is illustrative to the Christian life. To support and encourage others we have to stay encouraged ourselves; and we have to learn to think, believe, and live with assurance and conviction. Based on the promises of God, we have every reason to be optimistic. It's the uplifting "can-do" attitude of a biblical encourager that stokes the flames of God's work in the lives of others.
Learn to think "encouragement."
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Thomas Edison
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Song of Solomon 3:1-8:14
:angel:
Weekend, July 16 & 17
Joy Busters: Anger (An Insensitive Reaction)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:25-32
If you've driven a car or been a passenger in one recently, you don't have to be told that anger is an issue in our society. Nearly half of car accidents are speculated to be caused by road rage. It seems that conflicts on the road bring deeper issues to the surface. And, unfortunately, tempers are often the vice of the virtuous. But the Bible clearly tells us that love is not provoked (1 Corinthians 13). Yes, it's possible to be a Christian and struggle with anger. But we should bear in mind the words of theologian Jonathan Edwards, "The grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live."
So how do we encourage love in a society that tends toward anger? The next time we're faced with an angry person or a situation that would normally warrant an angry response, we can choose to respond in love--allowing that soft answer to turn away anger. But in order to be capable of a gentle, loving response, we need to be constantly connected to the source of love--Jesus Christ!
Anger devours almost all other good emotions. It deadens the soul.
John Piper
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 1:1-4:6
Isaiah 5:1-8:22
:angel:
Monday, July 18
"I Always Say Yes"
...in honor giving preference to one another.
Romans 12:10
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:9-13
Several years ago, journalist Larry King interviewed television personality Art Linkletter, who had just turned ninety. King, who has famously been married several times, asked Linkletter the secret of longevity in marriage. Linkletter and his wife were married seventy-four years. Linkletter simply replied, "I always say yes to anything she says."
"So how do you stay happy?" asked King in surprise.
"Oh, that's Lois," said Art. "She's happy--when she's happy, I'm happy."1
There's a lot of truth in that little bit of folk wisdom. Of course, the real secret is when both partners begin practicing this habit. The place where encouragement is most needed is the home, where our flaws are exposed and our selfishness is most likely to exert itself. But marriage works best when spouses are less selfish, more selfless, and when they understand that it's not about making themselves happy but about making the other happy--in honor preferring one another. It is God's plan, and it works!
Biblical love is not emotions or feelings, but attitudes and actions that seek the best interests of the other person.
Jerry Bridges in The Practice of Godliness
1Larry King interview with Art Linkletter on July 26, 2002, taken from a CNN transcript at cgi.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0207/26/lkl.00.html, accessed March 7, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 9:1-13:22
:angel:
Tuesday, July 19
Jesus in Your Home
...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
Recommended Reading
Matthew 20:24-28
In his book, The Ministry of Marriage, Christian counselor Jim Binney suggests that many marriages are missing the key concept of ministry. We often get married in order to be happy, when we should get married to make someone else happy. A person is not supposed to get married in order to be ministered to, but to minister. "If your marriage is to be 'Christian,' writes Binney, "it must be Christlike. If it is to be Christlike, it must be permeated with Christ's sacrificial spirit of ministering."1
It's easy to unwittingly discourage a family member or spouse, for we're likely to be critical, cutting, dismissive, or selfish without even realizing it. To change that, start asking yourself, "How can I serve my loved one today? In what way can I minister to my husband or to my wife?"
Be Jesus in your home; and your home will be a little more like heaven.
Your mate can always measure your love by your actions. She may not see your feelings, understand your words, or even believe them; but there is no disputing the love behind actions.
Jim Binney
1Jim Binney, The Ministry of Marriage (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2003), 42, 176.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 14:1-18:7
:angel:
Wednesday, July 20
Some Party!
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.
2 Timothy 2:24
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 2:20-26
Earlier this year an Australian schoolgirl, wanting her classmates to attend her birthday party, invited them all via Facebook. She told them to get the word out and to bring friends. She even posted her address in the invitation. Her post went viral, and within 24 hours more than 20,000 people said they were coming. Then the number surged to 200,000. The party was quickly cancelled, police were stationed in the neighborhood on the day of the supposed party, and the girl's father cancelled her Facebook account.
Sooner or later, every youngster does something foolish. If you'll think back a little, you probably gave your folks a few gray hairs. We need to ask God for wisdom as we counsel, teach, correct, and advise our children. If you've ever been in a store and heard a child being scolded in a harsh way, you know that such words can wound. Children in a harsh and critical home may feel the sting all their lives. A wise parent must not quarrel but be gentle, able to teach, and patient.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength.
Ralph W. Sockman, twentieth-century Methodist pastor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 19:1-23:18
:angel:
Thursday, July 21
To Make Firm--Affirm
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Colossians 3:21
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:1-4
The word "affirmation" is related to the word "firm." In affirming others, we firm up their morale and confidence, and we encourage them in their decisions and direction.
Our children need that, for their self-esteem depends on the feedback they receive from us. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to do that. We can strengthen our children by using phrases like: Good job! or Way to go!
We can affirm by appropriate touch--a pat on the back or, tussle of the hair can convey lots of love.
We can affirm with eye contact too. Try smiling at your child with your eyes. We often convey discipline through our eyes; but we can also communicate warmth and affirmation with our eyes.
We also affirm children by spending time with them and praying for them. Children who are praised are like young plants lifting their leaves to the sun. They are drawn to its warmth. We are all a bit like children--we need to feel accepted and loved--even as Christ Himself unconditionally loved and received us by His grace. Affirm someone today.
Praise your children. Do not forever find fault with them. .... Whenever you can, praise them.1
Anonymous, from a nineteenth-century magazine
1Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine, Number 18, July to December, 1885, 530.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 24:1-28:29
:angel:
Friday, July 22
The Lost Art of Letter Writing
Paul...to all who are in Rome, beloved of God and called to be saints.
Romans 1:1, 7
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:1-8
It's no accident that God chose the written form of epistles or letters to convey the teachings of the Christian life to the earliest believers. Paul, Peter, John, Jude and the others wrote personal letters to churches and individuals, and this body of correspondence makes up the richest source of our understanding of the Christian way and walk. Paul could have compiled volumes of sermons or books of systematic teachings. But instead the Lord led him to use the medium of letter writing to leave a lasting legacy for all of Christian history. Letters are personal, readable, informal, enduring, and quotable.
Though our correspondence isn't inspired in the scriptural sense, don't underestimate the power of the written note. It's easy to pat someone on the back and say, "Good job." We need to frequently do that. But there is great value in taking time to write encouraging words. They are durable and distance-proof.
Rediscover the lost art of letter-writing.
Letter writing, in its ideal form, is really nothing else but indirect conversation.
C. H. Charles
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 29:1-32:20
:angel:
Weekend, July 23 & 24
Joy Busters: Selfishness (An Egocentric Lifestyle)
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13
Recommended Reading
Romans 2:5-11
Having children was not easy for Sean and Carolyn Savage, so in February of 2009, they attempted to have another child through in vitro fertilization (IVF). They soon discovered they were pregnant, but mistakenly with another couple's embryo. The Savages made a selfless decision--to give this baby a life--life with his biological parents.1
Often we're surprised when we read stories like this. We live in a world filled with self-centered people...a world that teaches a person has a right to do whatever they please to further their own desires. In fact, "self-centered" is not the preferred word any longer, most prefer "egocentric" to describe this self-proclaimed way of living. Sadly, egocentric thinking is accepted and even promoted by many today.
So how were the Savages able to act so selflessly? As Carolyn said, "We tried to focus on the gift, not the loss." Serving others in selflessness costs us something, but there is always a reward. .When we make the choice to live by the Spirit, rather than our flesh, our lives speak the simple words, "GLU" (God loves you).
Self-serving needs are not meant to be satisfied; they are meant to be put to death.
Edward T. Welch
1cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/seancarolynsavage030311.aspx
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 33:1-36:22
Isaiah 37:1-40:31
:angel:
Monday, July 25
The Write Encouragement
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.
Philippians 1:3-4
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:3-11
How many words do you speak throughout a given day compared to the words that you write? One estimation of our spoken words reports that a woman speaks approximately 8000 words a day, and a man speaks about 6000 words. These estimates outnumber our written words by far--even though Internet messaging goes on 24/7. Is it any surprise that sometimes we can't remember what we said or what someone else said? The power of the written word cannot be underestimated.
God valued the written word and gave us the Bible as His letter of encouragement--a permanent record of His love and concern for us. Many of the books in the New Testament are letters, known as epistles, written to churches and individuals. It's interesting to note that when the apostle Paul wrote a letter, he consistently began with a word of encouragement (Romans 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Written encouragement conveys a thoughtful investment of your time. Why not take a minute and think of someone you know who needs a word of encouragement today. They won't forget it!
Written encouragement is one of the most effective tools God has given to His children.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 41:1-43:28
:angel:
Tuesday, July 26
Reviving an Old Practice
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself....
1 Timothy 3:14-15
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 3:14-16
Newsweek recently carried a story on the passing of the era of the personal letter, saying, "The decline in letter writing constitutes a cultural shift so vast that in the future, historians may divide time not between B.C. and A.D. but between the eras when people wrote letters and when they did not."1
That may be overstated, but maybe not. Historians depend on personal letters to fill in the gaps of the human story. In bygone eras, letter writing was the only way people could communicate over distance, and correspondents were often self-revealing in what they penned. They left a historical record of their life, a legacy. With the invention of Morse's telegraph that began to change; and in our age of email and text messages few people sit down long enough to write a personal note of more than a few hurried words.
Considering this vacuum, what an impact a hand-written letter of encouragement can be. Find some appropriate stationery, a good pen, and give it a try. You never know who you might encourage as you revive an age-old practice that works!
To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.
Phyllis Theroux, essayist
1"The Good Word," Newsweek newsweek.com/2009/01/17/the-good-word.html.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 44:1-47:15
:angel:
There's nothing like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day! I imagine you know the feeling well — instant refreshment.
I'm sure you've discovered something else, too: Your personal relationship with Jesus Christ can be a lot like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day!
The love of Jesus quenches your soul like no other.
The Bible tells us, "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). "Perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). I could go on and on!
Today, I want to refresh your spiritual walk this summer by sharing a dynamic and inspirational study with you. My prayer is that it will rekindle true love in your heart ... and help you rediscover passion for God and others!
Drawing from the wonderful truths found in 1Corinthians 13, you can understand the power and priority of love over all other virtues.
True love is where Christian growth begins!
Click here to discover how to power-up your personal Christian walk with this most wonderful gift from God!
God bless you,
:angel:
Wednesday, July 27
Job's Pals
I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all!
Job 16:2
Recommended Reading
Job 16:1-5
Humorist Arnold H. Glasgow quipped, "A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad."
Job's pals seemed to start that way, for we read in Job 2:11: "When Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place...For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him." Job's friends began well. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights and grieved with him. Few words were spoken. The friends were sensitive to Job's despair as he unburdened his heart.
But then they opened their mouths and spouted opinions--most of which were laden with misinformation--and their well-meaning visit took a wrong turn. That led an exasperated Job to call them "miserable comforters."
How many times have we resembled Job's friends? With our friends, let's sit where they sit, weep when they weep, and laugh as they laugh. But when we open our mouths, let's ask God for wisdom to reflect His truth into their lives in a way that builds them up, lest we, too, be miserable comforters.
Friends are relatives you make for yourself.
Eustache Deschamps, Medieval French poet
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 48:1-51:23
:angel:
Thursday, July 28
Hidden Messages
Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-3
Recently a famous cereal company started wrapping their rice treats in writable wrapping paper. As parents pack lunches for their youngsters (or wives for their husbands), they can now use a permanent marker to jot a little note: I love you! Have a good day! Hugs and kisses!
The new wrappers prompted a Canadian group to survey how many parents actually add little personal notes to their children's lunch bags. Researchers found that while children desperately need encouragement at school, over half of Canadian parents never send notes along with their children's sandwiches.
While it was a great idea to utilize the writable packaging, we can't wait for cereal companies to remind us to be affirmers. There are countless little ways every day to boost your child, your spouse, your friend, and even a total stranger. It's up to us to begin cheering one another now. Why not think of a way you can snap, crackle, and pop with encouragement for someone today.
We need to encourage one another to fix our eyes on the risen Jesus and thus to stir each other up toward love and good deeds.
Iain M. Duguid
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 52:1-57:21
:angel:
Friday, July 29
The Harm of Being Headstrong
. . .endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:1-6
Pastor Larry Osborne, in a book about church unity, wrote, "I don't think it's an accident that Jesus predicted church growth but prayed for unity. If left unattended, or taken for granted, unity can disappear. All it takes is a few wrong people on the board, or even a series of minor annoyances left to fester... That's why I've taken to heart Paul's advice in Ephesians 4:3."1
While we need to remain true to our core beliefs, we shouldn't be difficult and opinionated. Some people have a personality that adds to the chemistry of the group; others are so headstrong in their ideas they unwittingly harm church unity.
A church that is composed of encouragers is a unified church. On the other hand, it's hard to stay united in a church where a handful of members are easily offended, get their feelings hurt, air their grievances, want their own way, and criticize the leadership.
Are you endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
In essentials, unity; in differences, liberty; in all things charity.
Philipp Melanchthon
1Larry W. Osborne, The Unity Factor (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1989), II, 16.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 58:1-62:12
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Weekend, July 30 & 31
Joy Busters: Jealousy (An Unhappy Existence)
Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Proverbs 27:4
Recommended Reading
James 3:13-18
Wanda Holloway, the "Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom," attempted to hire a hit-man to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival, hoping to give her daughter the upper hand. The girls were only thirteen at the time. This is unconceivable to us that a mother would be driven to such an action, but her desire to further her daughter's cheerleading prospects was greater than her rational thinking. She was driven by jealousy.
Jealousy is destructive--the Bible is full of evidence supporting its critical nature. Cain killed Abel. Saul attempted to take David's life. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. Jealousy sneaks into our lives and strangles those closest to us.
How can we overcome the jealousy that seeks to destroy? Rather than wish evil against someone, we can remember them in prayer. When we pray for someone, it's very difficult to desire evil in their lives. Very few acts are more encouraging, even if the person never knows we're praying for them. And while we're praying for them, we can also thank God for the many blessings in our lives. When we focus on what we do have, rather than what we wish we had, our jealous tendencies begin to wane.
The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 63:1-66:24
Jeremiah 1:1-3:25
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Monday, August 1
A Royal Calling
O foolish Galatians!. . . Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:1-2
Recommended Reading
Galatians 3:1-14
It reads like a fairytale: An African prince, Abdul Rahman, is tragically sold into slavery for forty years in the American South. Through incredible circumstances, he regains his freedom and is reestablished to his royal position. Now think about this absurd question: Would this prince want to return to slavery? The foolishness of this proposition is what the apostle Paul addresses in the Book of Galatians. The believers were about to turn from their freedom in Christ to the bondage of the law.
"O foolish Galatians!" Paul laments. He is upset and rightly so. The Judaizers were pressuring the Gentile believers to maintain their Christian life with Jewish laws, including circumcision. The pure Gospel of grace was being convoluted by legalism. Before salvation we were slaves to sin, and legalists are slaves to the law. But Christ-followers have a relationship with the Son of the Most High King who died in our place, was buried, and rose again. Why would a royal child of God return to a life of bondage?
You have been bought with a great price. Let go of your chains, and tell someone today that you are a child of the King!
The cross is "I" crossed out.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 4:1-6:30
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Tuesday, August 2
The Do-Gooders
For by grace you have been saved through faith . . . it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Recommended Reading
Galatians 1:1-9
How hard do you work at trying to be "good"? Technology can help you! Families can now view movies in their homes through the use of a television filter, muting unacceptable language, behavior, and violence. There's also Internet filter software to block pornography and foul content. And if you're trying to make good nutritional choices, you can buy a handheld electronic calorie counter. So technology can help you be good. But is it good enough?
God asks us to live in obedience to His Word, and our behavior should imitate Christ. But what a liberating thought that we don't need to be "good enough" for God's love! In the Book of Galatians, the apostle Paul's anger toward the Judaizers was justified. They were trying to change the Gospel of grace by adding required works (Galatians 1:9). Paul's message was clear: It's either the Gospel of grace or it's not the Gospel at all.
Do you worry about being good enough for God? Filling your hands with good works is not the answer. Show Him empty hands, and ask Him to fill them with His grace.
I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 7:1-9:26
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Wednesday, August 3
The God Response
But may the God of all grace . . . after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
1 Peter 5:10
Recommended Reading
2 Kings 6:8-23
When a gunman shot ten Amish children at their school, the world watched to see the reaction of the Amish community. With exemplary forgiveness, the Amish extended mercy to the man's family and pledged to heal the community. But the clarifying moment happened before the girls were shot. Details emerged that the killer asked the girls to pray for him. That's when God's grace illuminated the horrifying scene. The girls prayed for their killer, giving him what he didn't deserve, extending love to the unlovely.
None of us deserves grace, but we all hope for mercy. It's important to understand the difference between these two words so we can fully grasp the extent of God's love for us. Think of it this way: Mercy is God withholding the punishment we rightfully deserve (Romans 5:8; 6:23). Grace is God not only withholding that punishment but also offering the most precious of gifts--His Son (John 1:1, 14, 17).
Are you facing a personal crisis? Your heart aches, your world has shattered. Like the Amish with their astonishing healing response--look for ways to extend mercy. Step outside of your own pain and extend God's love and grace to someone who doesn't deserve it.
Grace grows best in winter.
Samuel Rutherford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 10:1-13:27
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Thursday, August 4
Intercepted by Grace
And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 1:24
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-19
Perhaps you're familiar with the Christian authors Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel, former atheists whose research led them to the One they sought to discredit. Their transformed lives now lead other truth seekers to God. Nothing gets your attention like someone who holds a strong position and then refutes it.
God has a way of getting people's attention. Take the apostle Paul: summa cum laude among Jewish scholars, impeccable credentials, practiced every Jewish tradition with unswerving zeal (Philippians 3:5-6; Galatians 1:14). Paul was convinced that killing Christians was a noble service to God, and he took his gruesome assignment seriously (Acts 8:3). So how does a former terrorist of the church change his mind? Did he just wake up one morning and say, "I wonder what it would be like to be an apostle of grace?"
That's the miracle of being intercepted by grace. No one can look at the life of Paul--or any believer transformed by the Gospel--and not see God's glory. Paul testified that when people heard his radical testimony, they didn't glorify him. All they could do was glorify God (Galatians 1:24).
Think of a way for people to see God in you this week and amaze them with His glory!
Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.
Karl Barth
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 14:1-17:27
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Friday, August 5
Standing Room Only
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.
Acts 4:29
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:16-17
Have you noticed schoolyard bullies have morphed into cyberspace bullies? And teenage peer pressure has followed us into adulthood via the media. But it is our Christian faith and morality that places us in the firing line for stigmas of intolerance and prejudice. Do we shore up or retreat?
As our Lord's return draws near, bold believers are needed to stand up, speak up, and not shut up for the defense of the Gospel! There is no better example for our critical mission than the apostle Paul. An outstanding freedom fighter, Paul fearlessly took on the Judaizers--a movement of people seeking to discredit his reputation for the sake of subverting the true message of the Gospel (Galatians 2:6-8).
We are free in Christ to say what we want to say, do what we want to do, and go where we want to go. Why should we take a stand? Because we know and love our Savior, we want to say what He would say, do what He would do, and go where He would go.
Now is the time to stand up and be counted as followers of Christ. Strategize a way to take a stand for the Gospel and do it fearlessly!
Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!
George Duffield
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 18:1-22:30
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Weekend, August 6
In a Pickle: Daniel (Self-Control)
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control.
2 Peter 1:5-6a
Recommended Reading
Daniel 1
We all face tempting situations. Yet the world tells us to do whatever makes us happy--even if what we want isn't honoring to God. With the lack of self-control that surrounds us, thankfully we have biblical examples of people who were able to deny the flesh and honor God.
As a young man, Daniel found himself in a tempting situation as a servant to the king of Babylon. The king ordered that Daniel and the other Jewish advisors receive a daily portion of his delicacies and wine. Not wanting to defile his body, Daniel requested to receive only vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days, his features appeared better and fatter in flesh than the young men who ate the king's portions. And because Daniel exhibited self-control, the Bible says God gave him knowledge and skill in all literature, as well as wisdom and understanding in all visions and dreams (Daniel 1:5-17).
Demonstrating self-control may not be easy at the time, but the sweetness of honoring God is certainly worth the effort.
I am a spiritual being . . . I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 23:1-25:38
Jeremiah 26:1-29:32
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Monday, August 8
The Cross Road
You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit . . .
1 Corinthians 6:20
Recommended Reading
1 Cor. 15:51-58
Murdered last March for opposing harsh blasphemy laws and working to establish religious liberty in law, the Pakistani cabinet member Shahbaz Bhatti recorded a video to be released in the event of his death. "I know the meaning of the cross," he testified, "I am following the cross. I am living for my community and suffering people . . . and I will die to defend their rights."
Throughout church history, in strategic moments martyrs have stood in the gap to protect the truth of God's Word. Bhatti's testimony is compelling: "I know the meaning of the cross." That is what every believer needs to understand. Do we know what it cost God to offer grace to us? His Son endured horrific suffering on the cross, receiving the penalty for our sins to offer us eternal life. Bhatti so poignantly reminds us that believers are not exempt from suffering.
Let's not take the gift of grace for granted. Value your faith by spending time in God's Word and in prayer so you grow closer to your Grace-giver. And set time aside to pray for persecuted Christians worldwide as we near the day of Christ's return.
May our greatest goal be to follow Christ--not worrying about the cost.
Grace--God's riches at Christ's expense.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 30:1-32:44
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Tuesday, August 9
How Easy to Judge!
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Romans 14:5
Recommended Reading
Romans 14:1-13
When Charles E. Fuller helped pioneer the ministry of radio evangelism in the 1920s, a fellow clergyman denounced him. Satan is the prince of the power of the air, said the man; so how can Christians have anything to do with the airwaves? Furthermore, claimed the critic, radio would "give one preacher too much prominence," would be too "costly," and would develop a "stay-at-home" attitude among believers.
How easy it often is to judge! We'd have a less critical spirit and fewer "church fights" if we better understood Romans 14. Here the apostle Paul tells us that while we must be adamant about the fundamental truths of the Christian faith, we should have maturity when it comes to non-essential matters. The Bible's rule is: "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). After all, Paul asked bluntly, "Who are you to judge another's servant?" (verse 4).
Our core beliefs are unshakable and unchanging. But on secondary issues, there's greater liberty for a variety of opinions. Think about this: If we all agree on everything, we double our chances of being wrong.
If two people agree about everything, one of them is unnecessary.
Ruth Bell Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 33:1-36:32
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Wednesday, August 10
Adopted for Life
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 1:5-7
In his book, Adopted for Life, Russell Moore writes movingly of the needs of children around the world and the importance of Christian adoption. As people heard he was writing this book, some asked, "So, is the book about the doctrine of adoption or, you know, real adoption?"
"That's a hard question to answer," Moore replied, "because you can't talk about the one without talking about the other." We learn how to be fathers by watching our heavenly Father; and we learn to raise our children by observing how He nurtures us. "We believe Jesus in heavenly things--our adoption in Christ," writes Moore, "so we follow Him in earthly things--the adoption of children."
Perhaps the Lord doesn't call us all to adopt children, but He does call all of us to be adopted into Christ. In joining His family, we become more like Him as we take on the traits of His family. It's primarily a relationship, not a set of rules. We are new creatures in Him--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
As we become more attuned to the Gospel, we'll have more of a burden for orphans. As we become more adoption-friendly, we'll be better able to understand the Gospel.
Russell Moore
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 37:1-41:18
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Thursday, August 11
Bertie's Book
They are not just idle words for you--they are your life.
Deuteronomy 32:47 NIV
Recommended Reading
1 Cor. 2:1-5
Bertrand Russell was born in 1872 into a wealthy family in Wales, but his childhood was darkened by the deaths of his parents and sister. Seeking answers, he turned to his older brother Frank who led him to begin studying geometry. Their textbook was Euclid's Elements, and Bertrand later said as he worked through that book, "I had not imagined there was anything so delicious in the world." He admitted that only his wish to better know mathematics kept him from suicide. In the end, Russell, an avowed agnostic, became an icon of unbelievers everywhere.1
Mathematics is a wonderful subject, and Euclid was a brilliant scholar. But what if Bertrand had found a Bible? What if his grief had been answered by a better book than Euclid's?
Any life philosophy that doesn't have Jesus Christ at its heart is doomed to fail. The Bible gives us God's message, and it is the foundation of our hope. The words of Scripture are not idle words--they are our life. We must always guard the truth and beware of falling away from reading and obeying it daily.
Faith in Jesus Christ is a cognitive, passionate, and moral commitment to that which stands up under the scrutiny of the mind, the heart, and the conscience.
Ravi Zacharias
1Paul Strathern, Bertrand Russell in 90 Minutes (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2001), 15.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 42:1-45:5
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Friday, August 12
A Springtime Meadow
. . .that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work.
Colossians 1:10
Recommended Reading
Colossians 1:9-12
Have you smiled at someone today? Held a door open? Let someone slip ahead of you in traffic? Changed a diaper? Written a check to charity?
Do any of those things make you more acceptable to God?
There's a biblical balance when it comes to acts of kindness and good deeds. Our lives should be filled with them, as flowers filling a springtime meadow. But we don't labor for the Lord from necessity but from love. The aim of spiritual maturity isn't to become more acceptable to God, for we are already fully accepted by Him through the blood of Christ. When we're justified by grace through faith, the righteousness of Christ is credited to our account. Thereafter we live a life of service because we love Him who has already accepted us in Christ.
Never worry about whether God loves you. If you know Christ as Savior, don't feel you have to win God's favor. You have all His grace for all your needs. Just serve Him with a desire to please Him in all you do and say.
Good works cannot put us right, but they necessarily follow when we are right; they are the natural fruit and the ordained sphere of the new creature in Christ Jesus.
Bernard H. Nadal, nineteenth-century American churchman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 46:1-48:47
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Weekend, August 13 & 14
In a Pickle: Joseph (Long-Suffering)
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4
Recommended Reading
Genesis 42-44
In our modern society, it is difficult to digest the concept of longsuffering. When we find ourselves in a thorny situation, we often resign to our challenge and wait for the end to come. And if we do suffer, our confrontations are often short lived. How many of us have had to suffer for years . . . or most of our lives?
Joseph did. And he could have easily given in to his inevitably horrible situation. Sold by his brothers, taken to a foreign land, accused wrongly by his master's wife, put in prison--yet Joseph refused to give up. Instead, he interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, became a ruling official, and saved the lives of many during the years of famine . . . including the brothers who betrayed him.
Joseph patiently served God, making the most of his situation while exhibiting the sweetness of long-suffering. He had no way of knowing what God had in store for him in the midst of his pain. The emotions he experienced reuniting with his father and saving his family from famine gave him great joy--erasing the years of sorrow. Like Joseph, we need to rest in God's purpose and plan when faced with trials.
If a bird is flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind; but if it meets danger, it turns and faces the wind in order that it may fly higher.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 49:1-50:46
Jeremiah 51:1-52:34
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Monday, August 15
What We Cannot See
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Recommended Reading
Genesis 22
Many of us claim that we have faith in God, trusting that He is real and that His promises are true. But if God asked us to act on our faith--trusting in what we cannot see--could He count our faith as righteousness?
Abraham believed God's promises. Even as he sat at the foot of Mount Moriah, preparing to go and sacrifice Isaac, he turned to his traveling party and said, "The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." He trusted that God would somehow intervene, and they would both come back. He knew this because God had told him that in Isaac his seed would be blessed. He didn't know how God was going to do it, but he believed God's promise.
Was Abraham righteous because he went up the mountain? No. Was he righteous because he raised the knife to take his son's life? No. Abraham was righteous for one reason: he believed, and his faith was counted unto him as righteousness.
Faith is believing what God says is true--even when we don't understand how it will all work out in the end.
Faith and obedience are inescapably related. There is no saving faith in God apart from obedience to God, and there can be no godly obedience without godly faith.
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 1:1-3:66
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Tuesday, August 16
A Quickening Ray
The Lord has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1
Recommended Reading
John 8:31-36
Shortly after he found freedom in Christ, Charles Wesley wrote a personal hymn of testimony, the fourth verse of which famously says: "Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night. Thine eye diffused a quickening ray--I woke, the dungeon flamed with light. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."
Imagine a prisoner wanting to stay locked up when he could be free. Yes, that sometimes happens. But why live behind bars when we could be romping in fresh air?
Christ died to set us free from sin, death, and hell. He can instantly release us from gloom, despair, and hopelessness. He redeems and liberates us. He proclaims liberty to the captives and the opening of prison to those who are bound.
Why stay guilty when you can be free? Trust Christ today. Believe His Word and accept His grace. Goodbye shame! Goodbye regrets! Welcome grace!
As John 8:36 (NIV 1984) says: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 4:1-Ezekiel 2:10
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Wednesday, August 17
Mirror Angst
He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer . . . this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25
Recommended Reading
James 1:22-25
A fashion retailer recently commissioned a study of what women thought of their appearance in the mirror. Widely reported in newspapers earlier this year, researchers found that 90 percent of women in their 40s and 50s are unhappy with the way they look and suffer from "mid-life mirror angst syndrome." According to the report, middle-aged women are four times unhappier than teenage girls with what they see in the mirror.
Not so fast. For Christians, time enhances our appearance because the joy of the Lord shines through. As we age Scripture tells us we take on the "incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:4).
But how much better to gaze into the mirror of God's Word! James said that the law is a mirror to show us what we're like. Without Christ, all we see are the wrinkles of wickedness and ghostly pallor of despair. But with Christ, looking into God's Word doesn't bring condemnation or judgment. It's the perfect law of liberty, profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
Don't suffer mirror angst. Study His Word today and see the mirror image of Christ.
The mirror of the Word not only examines us and reveals our sins, but it helps to cleanse us as well.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 3:1-7:27
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Thursday, August 18
Wayfaring Strangers
I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
Proverbs 4:11 (NIV 1984)
Recommended Reading
Psalm 121
In 1936, a young Hungarian-born man found a job as interpreter for a French shipping line. As he traveled around, he noticed tourists who were interested in where to eat and sleep and sightsee. This fellow, Eugene Fodor, put together a guidebook for them. That started a 75-year tradition of Fodor's Travel Guides, the largest such enterprise in the English-speaking world.
Travel guides are helpful as we prepare for a trip, but they can't replace the trip itself. No matter how much you read about Westminster Abbey or the Great Wall of China, it's not like being there in person.
The Law of God is like a travel guide. We can see how we should walk, where we should go, how we should live, and what we should be. But no amount of cramming will actually get us there. Grace, on the other hand, is a trip to heaven with all expenses paid.
Don't just look at the pictures and read the text. Let Christ bring it alive in your life. He has come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly!
Leader of faithful souls, and Guide of all who travel to the sky, Come, and with us, even us, abide, who would on Thee alone rely.
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 8:1-11:25
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Friday, August 19
Time to Grow Up
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4:7
Recommended Reading
Galatians 4:1-7
Family experts advise parents to teach children from the get-go to put away their playthings. As soon as toddlers can walk, they should learn to pick up and put away. A cleanup routine can be part of a bedtime routine, along with bath, prayers, and story. The idea is that as we grow older, we'll do the same--but not because we're told. As we mature, we internalize the spirit of cleanliness and maturely want to live well-ordered lives.
In the same way, the Law was given when God's people were in their childhood. The Law treats people like they're babies. Everything is spelled out. But with the coming of Christ, the time set by the Father was fulfilled; and Christians are to live freely as mature sons in Christ and not under the supervision of the Law. It's time to grow up. We're under grace.
Christianity is no longer about legalistically following a set of rules. We've been set free from all such man-made rules and regulations. Now we walk in the Spirit and live out our faith with confidence and freedom.
Legalism is lists--the filthy five, the nasty nine, the dirty dozen. But God already likes us, and we should live to please Him from our hearts, not from a list of rules.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 12:1-15:8
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Weekend, August 20 & 21
In a Pickle: Esther (Meekness)
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Psalm 149:4
Recommended Reading
Esther 8
A beautiful young woman, Esther won the approval of King Ahasuerus and quickly moved from being a Jewess orphan to Persian Queen. Soon after her arrival to the palace her relative, Mordecai, informed her that the Jewish people were scheduled for annihilation by the wicked Haman. And Mordecai posed a challenging question to Esther, "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)
Esther courageously formulated a plan and waited patiently for an opportunity to invite the king and Haman to her banquets. At just the right moment, she presented her plea with gentle humility, asking for mercy for herself and her people.
Although her outward beauty played an important role in King Ahasuerus' granting her request, even more important was her respectful, humble attitude toward her husband. Her meekness--her quiet, gentle strength--saved the Jewish people. It is a reminder that meekness is not weakness, but strength under the control of the Holy Spirit.
The higher people are in the favor of God, the more tender they are.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 16:1-17:24
Ezekiel 18:1-20:49
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Monday, August 22
Grow Up!
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11
Recommended Reading
Col. 2:20-23
Advertisers are fascinated with the new market of twenty- and thirty-somethings who are acting less grown-up. These young adults will wait in long lines to buy cupcakes with sprinkles, toy figurines from childhood television shows, and clamor for cartoons and animated movies. After work, many race home to play computer games.
Rewind to the First Century and you'll find the apostle Paul concerned for Christians who were spiritually immature (Galatians 4:1-11). These converts were more comfortable living by the Law rather than acknowledging their freedom in Christ. Legalism is a grace-stealer, and Paul contrasts it with the spiritual maturity of those living by faith in Christ. He cites the privilege of calling God "Abba, Father," our daddy (Galatians 4:6). In Aramaic, "Daddy" isn't infantile, but an intimate cry of the heart from grown children.
Decide what is childish in your spiritual life--legalism or an old habit--and cry out to God to help you put it away! Grow up to be like your heavenly Father so people recognize His likeness in you.
To ask that God's love should be content with us as we are is to ask that God should cease to be God.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 21:1-23:49
Tuesday, August 23
Confident in You, in the Lord!
I have confidence in you, in the Lord . . .
Galatians 5:10a
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:6-8
The German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, once observed, "Correction does much, but encouragement does more."
Yes, but correction and encouragement, wisely combined, does the most.
In Galatians, Paul devoted a bottle of ink to correcting and reproving his readers for theological carelessness. But along the way, he sought to encourage them and express his love and confidence toward them. Constant correction tears us down and demoralizes our hearts. When we're the source or the object of nagging, harping criticism, things only get worse. We change our ways more quickly when surrounded by people who are both honest and uplifting.
Notice that Paul didn't just say, "I have confidence in you." He added an intriguing qualification: "I have confidence in you, in the Lord." He meant: "I have confidence in the Lord that He can work in you what is pleasing to Him."
Don't just be "onto" people all the time. Don't be harping and criticizing too much. Add a spoonful of sugar. Learn to say, "I have confidence in you, in the Lord!"
Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and let him know that you trust him . . . Every individual responds to confidence.
Booker T. Washington
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 24:1-27:36
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Wednesday, August 24
The Forgotten Ministry
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
Proverbs 19:25
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 15:28-33
We can see every face in the world except one--our own. We can see what our face looks like in a mirror or in a picture; but it's a reflection, not the real thing. We can't see ourselves as others can. To be our best, we need the help of those who can see us better than we can see ourselves.
The practice of "rebuking" is the forgotten ministry. We're uncomfortable being on either the giving or receiving end of it. But it's a precious thing within the context of a close friendship where mutual trust has evolved over time. It functions most happily within relationships with a history of honesty and humility. It's often rendered from one who is older (like a father) to one who is younger (like a son); but it must always be done with love, for its aim is the edification of the other.
If you're concerned about someone you love, it's often best just to pray. But sometimes a corrective word is of greater value than a year's worth of flattery.
The more wisdom a man has the more desirous he should be to have his weaknesses shown him, because a little folly is a great blemish to him (with a) reputation for wisdom and honor.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 28:1-31:18
:angel:-
Thursday, August 25
Aim for Perfection
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV 1984)
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-18
In the King James Version, 2 Corinthians 13:11 says, "Be perfect." The New King James says, "Become complete." Other translations capture the spirit of Paul's advice by saying: "Aim for perfection." We're to daily grow more like Him who is perfect in every way.
The Bible says that God's ways are perfect and He is perfect in knowledge (Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 37:16). The law of the Lord is perfect (Psalm 19:7). His love and even His hatred are perfect (1 John 4:18; Psalm 139:22). He's able to keep us in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). We can experience His good and perfect will and enjoy His good and perfect gifts (Romans 12:2; James 1:17). His eternal city, the heavenly Zion, is "the perfection of beauty" (Psalm 50:2).
Sinless perfection may not be possible in this life, but the psalmist testified, "The LORD will perfect that which concerns me" (Psalm 138:8). We can aim at perfection. Without Christ, our efforts in trying to achieve perfection are wasted; but in Christ, He who has begun a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
Although it is true that we will never achieve sinless perfection until we reach heaven, this should never keep us from striving and saying with Fanny Crosby, "Take the world, but give me Jesus."
Kenneth W. Osbeck
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 32:1-34:31
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Friday, August 26
The Offense of the Cross
God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14
Recommended Reading
Luke 7:19-27
Recently a 64-year-old electrician in England faced dismissal because he displayed a small cross on the dashboard of his work vehicle. The man said, "I have worked in the coal mines and served in the Army in Northern Ireland and I have never suffered such stress." Company officials justified their demand by claiming the small cross might cause offense. But the electrician isn't backing down. "I have never been so full of resolve," he told a newspaper. "I am determined to stand up for my rights. If they sack me, so be it. But I am standing up for my faith."1
Just as Isaac was promised to Abraham, we are children of promise. As children of God, we enjoy intimacy and security in Him; but we must also endure pressure and sometimes persecution. Yet we should never be discouraged. We have liberty in Christ, the promise of eternal life in Him, and we are a blessed people.
Let's be full of resolve and full of rejoicing.
We do not want to be personally or institutionally offensive, but we cannot buffer the offense of the Cross.
John MacArthur
1"Electrician Faces Sack for Displaying Christian Cross in His Van," The Telegraph, April 18, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 35:1-37:28
:angel:
Weekend, August 27 & 28
In a Pickle: Ruth (Love)
The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.
Ruth 1:17
Recommended Reading
Ruth 1-4
Many people speak their love, but is there anyone you know who would show their love and dedication like the simple Moabite woman, Ruth?
Ruth grew deeply attached to her mother-in-law, Naomi, during her years of marriage. So after losing all the men in the family, Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi as she prepared to return to her homeland of Bethlehem. With an unusual love and devotion, Ruth left her people, traveled to a foreign land to live in poverty, leaving behind hope for a husband--all to care for and show her love for Naomi.
Ruth worked diligently to provide for the two of them, gleaning the edges of the barley fields of Naomi's relative, Boaz. And it was not long before Naomi was not the only one admiring Ruth for her love and kindness. God rewarded Ruth's love and dedication by granting her a husband--Boaz. Through their union came not only a great king for Israel, but also the Messiah--all because of the love and devotion of this Gentile woman. May we emulate Ruth's self-sacrificing love and devotion in our lives.
Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 38:1-40:49
Ezekiel 41:1-44:31
:angel:
Monday, August 29
The Open Road
So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
2 Samuel 12:13
Recommended Reading
Romans 7:4-25
We can all relate to the sinking feeling we get when we are handed a traffic ticket. No matter how careful we are to abide by the traffic laws, we are bound to make a mistake here and there. The time we allow our foot to get a little heavy on the gas pedal always seems to coincide with a police officer sitting in our path.
Living out our Christian life attempting to follow rules created by man--is almost like having the highway patrol constantly monitoring our every move. No matter how much we attempt to obey the laws, we are bound to make a mistake, only to be immediately caught and punished for our negligence, whether intentional or not.
But living our life by the grace of God is like being on an open road, a road where we are free to drive without constant patrols. Of course, we must still drive using good sense, enjoying our journey under the direction of God's grace; but we can be free from the fear of failure--on the open road to a wonderful destination!
The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.
Dwight L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 45:1-48:35
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Tuesday, August 30
Standing Fast
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:1-9
"Stand fast." The expression conjures up an ironic picture of opposing actions. To readers of Paul's epistles, the words reminded them of the hardened and disciplined Roman soldiers who would stand fast, locking shields together and digging their feet in the ground to provide a solid front against the enemy. Paul used this powerful image to show believers how serious he was about defending their freedom in Christ against false doctrine.
Over and over again, Paul uses this phrase, "stand fast," calling believers to persevere against the winds of persecution: Stand fast in your faith (1 Corinthians 16:13), your spirit (Philippians 1:27), in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:8), and in the traditions you have been given (2 Thessalonians 2:15). It's a crucial command for believers today.
Look around and eagle eye an encroaching enemy to the faith. It may be in the media, a curriculum, or an acquaintance. God will give you the strength to stand fast. With no apologies, we need to put our shields together, dig our feet in, and say, "Not here, not now, not this time."
We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to be so.
Phillips Brooks
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 1:1-3:30
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Wednesday, August 31
Reflecting Grace
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:13-16
Brilliantly reflecting light from 74 facets, the pear-shaped Regent Diamond is considered to be the most beautiful diamond ever seen. This gemstone adorned the crowns of kings and was worn in a hat by Marie Antoinette. Napoleon Bonaparte showcased the diamond in his sword. It now resides at the Louvre Palace. Imagine the colorful stories of adventure and mystery this jewel could tell.
Have you ever thought of the many facets of God's jewel of grace? It's no ordinary grace that planned a way for sinful man to be redeemed through the death and resurrection of God's only son. No common grace that sent the Holy Spirit to reside in all believers, giving us resilience and joy for life. Nor does a passive grace reflect God's brilliant love wherever it rests--in a royal palace, at a kitchen table, in a lonely room, or at the end of a devastating phone call. God's grace is brilliant. It heals, illuminates, and understands.
Grace is not a one-way experience. Feed your spirit with God's Word and by ministering to others. When you do, the brilliant facets of His grace will touch the people you connect with every day.
Grace does not grant permission to live in the flesh; it supplies power to live in the Spirit.
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 4:1-6:28
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Thursday, September 1
Follow the Leader
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-26
Directionally challenged people everywhere were thrilled when navigation systems became available. No longer would the embarrassing, "I'm lost" phone call have to be made. Now we travel worry free, allowing the system to do the work for us--until it leads us astray. For every appreciative GPS story, there are just as many frustrated users who circle a block three times before realizing there's not a restaurant in sight, or far worse, find themselves teetering on the edge of a cliff that their navigator insists is the safe route.
As Christians, we have an internal guide--the Holy Spirit--and He is like our life navigation system. But unlike our GPS, we can trust Him even when He's taking us down an uncertain road, because ultimately His way is best.
So the question is simple...will you follow? If we trust our GPS to guide us on a cross-country automobile adventure, shouldn't it be easier to follow the Holy Spirit through the journey of life? We may not always know where we are, but we will always be exactly where the Lord intends us to be.
When led of the Spirit, the child of God must be as ready to wait as to go, as prepared to be silent as to speak.
Lewis Sperry Chafer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 7:1-9:27
:angel:
Friday, September 2
To the Rescue!
Rescue me, and I will return, For you are the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31:18
Recommended Reading
1 Thess. 5:14-23
A thief is usually not happy to see law enforcement arrive at the scene of his crime. But last April, a burglar became trapped while trying to climb through the small window of a fifth story apartment. It took firefighters 30 minutes to get the bungling burglar to safety--where he was promptly arrested.1
The botched robbery is a great example of sin's trap and the need for rescuers. No one plans on getting trapped. The sin itself snags us, and rescuers are needed. Those walking in the Spirit are responsible to humbly restore. How do we do that? I love the Greek language of the New Testament because the words are so graphic. Restore is katartizo, describing the setting of a broken bone.
So instead of having the attitude of a legalist, who seeks to exploit a fallen brother and make him a topic of discussion, gently rescue him from his sin trap. You may share a house, an office, or a pew with someone who needs you to mend their brokenness with the spirit of love. Isn't that how you would hope to be rescued?
(Contrary to) people-pleasers, only people-lovers are able to confront.
Edward T. Welch
1huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/22/chinese-burglar-trapped-window-_n_852086.html (accessed 5/13/2011)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 10:1-12:13
:angel:
Weekend, September 3 & 4
Revive Us Again: The Great Awakening
Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
Psalm 85:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 85
Christianity was at a low ebb in Britain and America in the years before the Revolutionary War of 1776. One historian said, "The Puritan fire was almost extinct, and a cold Deism... reigned.... A gross darkness covered the people. The court was foul. Vice walked naked and unashamed."1 But in that moment of darkness, God sent a revival that shaped the moral and spiritual future of English-speaking nations on both sides of the Atlantic.
In England, the Wesley brothers and the thunderous sermons of George Whitefield triggered a spiritual revolution in thousands of lives. In America, the preaching of Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards sparked national repentance. The results of the Great Awakening influenced the destinies of nations, launched modern missions, and catapulted Christianity into a new era of vitality.
Many of us are discouraged at the moral deterioration of our times, but God often sends revival when things are darkest. Let's pray with the psalmist: "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"
God has always sent revival in the darkest days. Oh, for a mighty, sweeping revival today!
Adrian Rogers
1John Shearer, Old Time Revivals (Hagerstown: Christian Heritage Publishing, 2008), 15.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 1:1-6:11
Hosea 7:1-12:14
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Monday, September 5
Share the Load
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:1-5
Do you ever carry a backpack? Adult backpackers are recommended to carry no more than one-third of their body weight or muscle soreness and strained ligaments may result.1 And according to physicians, children should carry no more than 10-20 percent of their body weight.2 Whether you're a backpacker or not, it seems we always have stuff to carry around with us.
But when that "stuff" is internal, in the form of heavy burdens brought on by life's circumstances and people's failings, the weight can seem unbearable. God promises to help carry your burdens (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7). One way He does that is by encouraging another believer to come alongside you and put their shoulder down so you can put part of your burden on them, and you can walk together.
God may be asking you to put your shoulder under somebody's burden and share their load. Rush to that person like the father to the prodigal son--with open arms. Embrace him, tell him of God's love, and try to help him get his life back in order. Bearing one another's burdens honors and glorifies God.
You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body.
Max Lucado
1pediatrics.about.com/cs/safetyfirstaid/l/aa090202a.htm (accessed 5/13/11).
2walkingandhiking.co.uk/how-much-should-you-carry-your-backpack.html (accessed 5/13/11).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 13:1-Joel 3:21
:angel:
Tuesday, September 6
Holy Harvest
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:7-9
Have you ever heard of a farmer who planted corn, yet harvested wheat? Or have you seen tomato seeds grow into watermelons? Few things in life are as certain as the agricultural principle that whatever seed you plant, that's what you'll reap. The same is true in technology: garbage in, garbage out. Finance: If you don't invest, you won't get a return.
The same, of course, is true in the spiritual life. Through the books we read, the company we keep, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, we are sowing either to the Spirit or to the flesh. When we sow to the Spirit, we set our affections on things above--seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness. By praying, studying God's Word, sharing our faith, and bearing one another's burdens, we sow to the Spirit. But if we sow our lives and money to the flesh, according to the apostle Paul, we reap corruption.
Holiness is a harvest gained by careful sowing. Will you reap the reward of holy sowing? Or will you be surprised by what your harvest yields?
There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.
John Wooden
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 1:1-5:27
:angel:
Wednesday, September 7
In His Time
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 37:7
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:10-18
We've often heard that it is wise to live within our means. But today financial advisors everywhere are saying this is no longer good enough--we need to live below our means. According to a recent study on the phrase, "Good things come to those who wait," people are making great strides. They are willing to pass up the immediate, smaller reward to wait for the bigger, more satisfying one.
As Christians, many of us are willing to pass on the immediate "thank you" for our service if we could just see people's lives changed as they come to know Christ. So the days, months, and even years pass without seeing any fruit from our efforts. And the truth is, as discouraged as we may become, we have to remember that God times the harvest, and we will reap in due season if we do not lose heart. And what, at times, seems futile here on earth is used by our Father. He sees our acts of service, He knows the intentions of our heart, and He will reap the harvest...in His perfect time.
God aims to exalt Himself by working for those who wait for Him.
John Piper
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 6:1-Obadiah 1:1-21
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Thursday, September 8
It's Complicated
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:20-23
If you have any young contacts on your social media accounts, you've probably seen the phrase "it's complicated" used to describe their relationships. And relationships certainly aren't the only things more problematic these days. Our careers, our finances, and even our churches are being added to the list. It's almost like we find meaning and significance by making our lives more complex--overlooking the simple solutions that are right within our grasp.
Our most effortless solution to all of life's obstacles is Christ. He alone can set us free if we allow Him to be Lord of our life. And there is no need for us to busy ourselves by complicating His gift with rules or standards to earn our salvation. That thinking eliminates the necessity of the Cross.
Christ paid the penalty for all our sins, while we were sinners, to give us the gift of eternal life. It's that simple! So, with all the complications we face today, we can find refuge in that truth--resting in God's undeserved grace.
If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jonah 1:1-Micah 3:12
:angel:
Friday, September 9
The "Noble" Peace Prize
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-8
The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in recognition of "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."1 Though still incarcerated by his government, Xiaobo advocates peaceful political change as he opposes the ruling Chinese Communist Party's monopoly on power. Peace. It's a universal quality man longs for, yet eludes many.
The apostle Paul could be a Nobel Peace Prize winner in the New Testament. Fighting against legalists who sought to imprison new believers with useless laws and regulations, Paul forcefully expounded his noble Christian-rights mission of peace and mercy.
As you seek peace, get rid of the external trappings in your life and ask the simple question: Is Christ in me? Putting your faith in Christ releases you from rules and rituals and allows you to walk in the freedom and newness that He gives. Believers are empowered by the Author of peace to be ambassadors of peace. Is there someone you know who is longing for peace?
God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis
1nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2010/press.html (accessed 5/13/2011).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Micah 4:1-Nahum 3:19
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Weekend, September 10 & 11
Revive Us Again: The Second Great Awakening
I dwell...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.
Isaiah 57:15
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 57:15-21
After the War of Independence, the influence of Christianity waned. According to historian J. Edwin Orr, "In the wake of the American Revolution came a disastrous setback for Evangelical Christianity." The typical student at Harvard was atheist, says Orr. "Students of Williams College conducted a mock celebration of Holy Communion. When the Dean of Princeton opened the chapel Bible to read, a pack of playing cards fell out... Christians were so unpopular that they met in secret and kept their minutes in code. The radical leader of deist students led a mob in burning the Bible.... The last two decades of the eighteenth century were the darkest period, spiritually and morally, in the history of American Christianity."1
Then God sent another revival--the Second Great Awakening. It swept over the frontier, turned Ivy League schools upside down, and launched a new generation into global ministry. It's true to say that the Western world is only now shaking off the effects of the Second Great Awakening.
Lord, do it again!
We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.
G. Campbell Morgan
1J. Edwin Orr, Campus Aflame (Glendale: G/L Publications, 1971), 19.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Habakkuk 1:1-Zephaniah 3:20
Haggai 1:1-Zechariah 4:14
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Turning Point now on Lifetime
I am thrilled to announce a brand new outreach opportunity!
In addition to the many stations and networks where Turning Point Television is already airing, Turning Point can now be seen on Lifetime TV Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. (Eastern and Pacific).
I believe this is the Lord's timing as on September 11th we will be introducing a dramatic mini-series, The Account. Set in the early 1960s, a New York ad agency lands a mysterious, powerful client who enlists the agency to embark on a marketing strategy to attack one social issue after another. This dramatic hook will prepare viewers for the content of my new teaching series, I Never Thought I'd See the Day! which begins Sunday, September 18th.
I Never Thought I'd See the Day! examines the dramatic cultural and social changes of the past few years from a biblical perspective, how these changes have contributed to the deteriorating moral and spiritual climate Americans find themselves in today, and what Christians can do to reverse society's treacherous slide.
This new opportunity to deliver God's Word around the world on Lifetime TV is very exciting. I am praying that the Lord will use these telecasts to reach many.
Find us and tune in beginning Sunday, September 11th at 6:30 a.m. (Eastern and Pacific). You can also visit our station locator tool to find program information in your area.
Thank you for being a part of the Turning Point family. Please pray with me as we take this tremendous step of faith in an effort to fulfill our ongoing mission of Delivering the Unchanging Word of God to an Ever-Changing World.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Monday, September 12
Blossom With Revival
The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:1
Recommended Reading
Exodus 19:16-19
Have you ever prayed for revival? Not just a meaningful service at church, but a life-altering experience that radically transforms you? Literally hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched through the centuries by revivals. Starting with the terrible realization of sin, revivals renew entire communities by the extraordinary impact of God's Spirit.
Understanding the word "revival"--the picture of a flower that blooms again after its season or lives again--helps us understand the first revival in history. In the middle of a stark desert, revival broke out. The nation Israel was God's flower who had just left 400 years of slavery, miraculously walking across the Red Sea to stand in front of Mount Sinai. Ground quaking beneath her, lightning flashing above her, thunder resounding around her, Israel listened to the voice of God, and the nation blossomed again in her freedom. What an awesome experience!
Don't wait for revival in your church or community. Start with your personal life. Grieve over your sin. Repent and resolve to obey the will of God in every detail of your life. From your daytime planner to your relationships, become truly passionate about broadening the reach of your faith. Blossom with revival!
Revival is not just an emotional touch, but a complete takeover!
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 5:1-9:17
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Tuesday, September 13
A Worthy Focus
...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith....
Hebrews 12:2a
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-2
It's hard to believe the average attention span can be as short as eight seconds. If someone's cell phone rings, we hear it, but then move our attention quickly on. When it comes to sustained attention--staying on task to accomplish goals--most people stay focused for about 20 minutes. We can then choose to repeatedly refocus on that same task. So with scores of distractions in our busy schedules, how do we stay focused on God?
One way is by learning to handle our emotions, because spiritual commitments are often made in emotional settings. Church camps and retreats stir us to repent and set spiritual goals. But soon after, we can get distracted by our daily routine and responsibilities and forget those goals. Commitments often last about as long as the Israelites waited for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai. Tragically, after forty days of waiting, the people's emotional excitement waned once they heard God's voice, and they asked for a god they could see (Exodus 32:1).
Let's not be "out of sight, out of mind" Christians. Continually refocus on God by spending time daily in His Word and prayer. It's a focus worth repeating!
If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 10:1-14:21
:angel:
Wednesday, September 14
Stick to It!
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16b
Recommended Reading
Exodus 32:7-14
If you need a reminder, do you use a Post-it? Spencer Silver was researching adhesives in the 3M laboratories in 1970, but he wasn't able to develop one strong enough--so he shelved his weak adhesive. Four years later another 3M scientist, Arthur Fry, was singing in his church choir trying to keep his place in the hymnal, but his markers kept falling out. Thankfully, he remembered Silver's adhesive. Fry coated his markers with the weak adhesive; the markers stayed in place and didn't damage the hymnal. Post-its have been marking pages and serving as reminders ever since.
Remembering details can be tough. But why is it so hard to remember to pray? Often we approach prayer as a last resort, when in actuality prayer is the most powerful force God has given His children. Spiritual renewal depends on prayer, and the fervent prayer of one person can start a revival. Moses prayed for the nation of Israel after they turned from God and worshipped the golden calf at Sinai (Exodus 32:11). It was his prayer that restored the nation.
The most important thing a believer can remember to do is pray. So stick to it! And the next time you see a Post-it, remember to pray!
Hurry is the death of prayer.
Samuel Chadwick
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Malachi 1:1-Matthew 1:25
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Thursday, September 15
Feeling Icky?
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins....
1 John 1:9
Recommended Reading
1 John 1:8-10
Though his bedtime had long passed, the five-year-old boy hollered for his mother: "I have an icky feeling inside!" The tired mother trudged up the stairs to her son's bedroom. Opening the door, she heard a long list of 5-year-old sins spill out of her child's troubled soul. They had talked about sin before, but this time the boy understood what sin felt like--icky.
Do you ever get that icky feeling? Or maybe you've gotten so used to it that you hardly notice anymore. Throughout history when sin was recognized, revival took place. Moses needed to remove sin from the Israelite's camp near Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). The revival only days earlier had radically changed into outright rebellion. Gross sin was present, and many of the Israelites were not convicted. It took the slaying of three thousand men to purge the sin that had entered their camp.
The heaviness of sin weighs us down and keeps us from being used by the Lord to our fullest potential. Repentance is needed. Confess your sin now, and ask God to bring renewal to your heart and your sphere of influence.
It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 2:1-5:26
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The attack of atheist activism - The battle to save our culture
Culture Threat#2: The Attack of Atheist Activism
Atheists have become emboldened nonbelievers who are angry and proactive and determined to intimidate believers in God. The most angry among them are preaching their anti-God religion with fiery evangelistic zeal.
But, how can people be so angry with God if they do not even believe in His existence?
Today's vocal crop of atheists has ramped up the volume, if not the substance, of the modern attack on religion we see going on all around us. We've always had atheists, and we always will until the Lord comes again. But the shrill scream of today's atheists is nothing like the more respectful opposition to belief we've seen in the past.
I never thought I'd see the day when atheists would so openly and viciously attack us, abandoning rational argument and descending into toxic vitriol and groundless accusations. But that day has come!
We must defend our faith with fervor and grace so the New Atheism does not silence the voice of Christianity in our culture.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Be a student of the Word.
Know how to defend your faith.
Be knowledgeable about the New Atheism.
Read Chapter One of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines the threat of the New Atheism and how you can respond.
Pray:
Ask God to illuminate His Word in your life and in the lives of others.
Pray for the salvation of those who deny God.
Pray for Turning Point as we broadcast this simple but powerful message to reach our culture - even to the angry atheists who need Christ's transforming love.
Participate:
Get involved in freedom for faith decisions in your community.
Be under the teaching of the Word in church each week!
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
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Weekend, September 17 & 18
Revive Us Again: The Fulton Street Revival
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.
Psalm 119:37
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:37-40
Jeremiah C. Lanphier, a layman in New York City, longed for revival. After careful thought, he announced that a prayer service would be held September 23, 1857, at the Old Dutch Church on Fulton Street. When the hour came, Lanphier found himself alone. He sat and waited and finally a handful of people gathered. The next week, twenty came. Someone suggested the meetings occur daily, and soon the building was overflowing. Other churches opened their doors. The revival spread to other cities. Offices and stores closed for prayer at noon. Newspapers reported the story, and telegraph companies set aside certain hours when businessmen could wire one another with news of the revival.
The revival--sometimes called "The Third Great Awakening"--lasted nearly two years, and perhaps a million people were converted to Christ. Out of it came the largest outlay of money for philanthropic and Christian causes America had yet experienced.
Revival is often born in prayer and borne along by prayer. Let's keep praying for God to revive us again!
Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 8:1-9:38
Matthew 10:1-12:14
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Monday, September 19
Fervent in Spirit... Serving...
...fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11b
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:6-11
Revivals are launching pads for each new generation of Christian workers. A limited revival touched parts of our world after World War II, and many Christian organizations, missionary agencies, and parachurch groups trace their origins to the late 1940s. There was a stirring of revival on college campuses in the early 1970s. Time magazine called it the "Jesus Movement." Today many pastors and workers trace their conversion or call to ministry to that era.
When revival comes, it immediately revives God's work in the midst of the years. Revival is like water falling on a wilted plant. It perks us up and produces in us fruitfulness for God's glory. When we experience renewal, we don't have to beg for workers at church. We don't have to pressure people to serve against their will. We don't have to struggle to support our missionaries. The incoming tide lifts all the boats.
We don't have to wait for national or global revival to live in revival ourselves. Get excited about the Lord, and let His excitement fuel your passion.
The result of every great awakening, every great time of renewal, has been an overflow of ministry in the work of God.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 12:15-14:12
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Tuesday, September 20
Armed and Dangerous
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
Ephesians 2:14
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:13-19
Peter Cartwright, frontier evangelist, once preached in the backwoods. Two young men--armed and dangerous enemies--attended without the one knowing the other was there. When Cartwright gave the invitation, one of the men responded and knelt at one end of the altar. The other knelt at the opposite side. Cartwright went to the first, prayed with him, and asked for his pistol. Then he prayed with the other and took his sidearm as well.
Rising from the altar, the young men suddenly saw each other and instantly started toward one another. For a second the audience held its breath. But the men embraced, and from that day they were brothers in Christ.
Most of our problems with others would be resolved if we'd get our own hearts right with the Lord. Revival ushers in love. We're proud and stubborn by nature, but at the foot of the cross we find the love of Jesus and the capacity to love our neighbor as ourselves, and thus to fulfill all the law of God.
We should practice thinking of ourselves as members of the blessed family of God and should strive in prayer to love and appreciate everyone who is born of the Father.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 14:13-16:28
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Wednesday, September 21
Walking by Faith
...being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:21
Recommended Reading
John 4:46-54
Faith is keeping our spirits up when circumstances are down. It's basing our attitudes on what is promised in God's Word, not on what is unfolding in our world. Faith is being fully persuaded God has the power to do what He has said.
Once when Jesus was visiting Cana in Galilee, an official came from Capernaum with an urgent request. The man's son was dying, and the man begged Jesus to come heal him. Instead Jesus told the man to return home, for his son would recover. John 4:50-51 (NIV) says, "...the man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living." This man had literally turned and walked away by faith, and Jesus was as good as His word.
Are you anxious today?
"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise" (Hebrews 10:23, NLT).
Faith does not wait to understand. We have His word, and if it were not so, He would have told us.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 17:1-19:30
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Thursday, September 22
Bible-Based Revival
And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 30:22a
Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 30:21-22
The book of 2 Chronicles is the Bible's handbook on revival, describing the periodic waves of revival that swept over Judah. One of the greatest revivals occurred during the reign of King Hezekiah, who had the sense to encourage those who were teaching the "good knowledge of the Lord." By maintaining sound Bible teaching for his nation, Hezekiah fanned the flames of revival so it wouldn't die down.
Genuine revival is rooted in solid biblical teaching. A revival that doesn't rest on the Word of God will either fade out or will turn into an ostentatious display of emotionalism and sensationalism. The effect will be momentary. Nothing except a return to Scripture can arouse a nation, a church, or an individual back to God from a backslidden condition. We must have the power and authority of God's truth.
For personal revival, open your Bible. Encourage those who teach and preach God's Word, and respond to the implanted Word with humility and obedience.
God has promised to respond with revival fire for any person who will hear, love, trust, and obey Him.
Bill Bright
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 20:1-22:14
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Friday, September 23
Spiritually Sanitized
...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...
1 Peter 1:15
Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 29: 4-19
As children, our mothers always reminded us to wash our hands. But sales of hand sanitizer have skyrocketed since being introduced to the public in the late 90s. A recent study showed hand sanitizers containing ethanol more effective at removing rhinovirus (a cold virus) than washing with soap and water! And sanitizers with both ethanol and organic acids significantly reduce recovery of the virus from hands up to four hours after application.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a spiritual sanitizer that could remove our ability to sin for several hours at a time? The theological term, sanctification, describes the process of becoming more holy--clean. Sanctification is a continual process, living each day in awe and remembrance of Jesus' blood sacrifice on the Cross. King Hezekiah led the nation of Israel to repentance and a return to sanctification (2 Chronicles 29). He cleansed Israel's place of worship, the temple, and the nation was spiritually renewed.
Today we don't have a designated temple for worship. Worship is represented by our personal holiness before God. And when God brings revival, He starts cleaning the rubbish out. So get busy cleaning--spiritually sanitizing, that is.
Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 22:15-24:31
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Culture Threat #3: The Attack on Our Alliance With Israel
After President Obama presented his Middle East policy before the UN General Assembly this week, cries of confusion continued amidst unstable world conditions and threats of war.
Israel continues to be abandoned by her allies.
God's Word is clear in Genesis 12:3: Bless Israel and be blessed; curse Israel and be cursed. America has been Israel's best friend in the world. However, over the last few years, our commitment to Israel has weakened. It is more than coincidental that as our commitment has wavered, America's prosperity, posture, and place in the world has begun to decline.
No other race or nation has ever had the phrase "chosen people of God" attached to them as the Bible attaches it to the Jews. It is their very existence that supports their claim to a supernatural beginning and continuance.
We must not think that the promises of God can be compromised or renegotiated at the bargaining table. God has spoken about Israel, and His words never fail to accomplish the purpose for which they were sent.
Let us seek God's favor on our nation by preserving, protecting, and defending the nation of Israel. Our future depends on it.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Read Genesis 12:1-3 and Deuteronomy 7:6-8.
Educate yourself on world news that impacts Israel.
Read Chapter Nine of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines the history of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
Pray:
Pray for our leaders in public office to support Israel.
Pray for "the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).
Pray for the spiritual salvation of the Jewish people - the chosen people of God.
Participate:
Use whatever means are available to influence those who establish national policies in Washington to support Israel - vote, write letters, call your senators and representatives.
Do what you can to preserve, protect, and defend the nation of Israel.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Pre-order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse these destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
And when you order today, you will have access to more than 100 Bible online resources at no cost to you!
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Weekend, September 24 & 25
Revive Us Again: The Revival of 1906
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Recommended Reading
2 Chron. 7:12-15
About a hundred years ago, a college student in Wales named Evan Roberts felt a passion for revival. Returning to his village of Loughor, he preached to seventeen people, and his sermon had four points: (1) Confess any known sin to God and put away any wrong done to others; (2) put away any doubtful habit; (3) obey the Holy Spirit promptly; and (4) confess faith in Christ openly.
By week's end, sixty people had been converted. Within three months 100,000 converts were added to the churches in Wales. The revival spread around the globe, and the years between 1904 and 1911 are remembered as the last years in which our world has experienced a truly global revival. A perusal of almost any ministerial or missionary biography during this era will document some level of revival in diverse parts of the earth.
Our globe needs another hundred-year revival! Let's follow the counsel of 2 Chronicles 7:14, praying that God will send a revival to heal our land.
The spiritual disciplines of 2 Chronicles 7:14 are not just conditions for true revival; they are the revival itself!
Lewis Drummond
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 24:32-26:29
Matthew 26:30-27:31
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Monday, September 26
The Revival We Need
I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land... but I found no one.
Ezekiel 22:30
Recommended Reading
Ezekiel 22:24-30
In his book, The Revival We Need, Oswald J. Smith said, "As far back as I can remember my heart has burned within me whenever I have heard or read accounts of the mighty work of God in great Revivals of past years.... From my boyhood it has been my delight to read more or less of God's work along these lines, but lately I have been led to lay all else aside and to literally devour everything I could lay hands on regarding Revival work."
He continued, "As I studied the lives of those whom God has signally used all down the centuries... I was compelled to admit that I could see nothing like it today either in my own ministry or in the ministry of others."
Moved by his study of revival, Smith devoted the rest of his life to praying and working for spiritual awakening. Any renewal begins with one spiritual person. God always has a person through whom He works to change things around. Let's be students of past revivals--and instruments for one in our own day.
Nothing less than a genuine Revival in the Body of Christ, resulting in a true Awakening among the unsaved, will ever satisfy the heart of God.
Oswald J. Smith
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 27:32-Mark 1:45
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Tuesday, September 27
The Rescuing Prince
Whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23
Recommended Reading
Romans 14:21-24
Nick Barnett, 70, was hiking in the beautiful Snowdonia Mountains of northern Wales when he collapsed with chest pains. His companions called for help on a cell phone, and presently a helicopter appeared in the sky. It was a British Sea King Chopper, and it whisked the hiker to a nearby hospital where he was treated. What made headlines was who was at the controls. Prince William was on duty that day in the RAF as a search-and-rescue pilot, and he's the one who rescued the hiker.
Sin is spiritual heart blockage. It's moral plaque that cuts off the flow of the Spirit to our hearts. It leads to a diseased life and to ultimate death. No earthly prince can help us, for sin is an inherited and terminal disease. But we have a rescuing Savior--the Prince of Peace--who forgives our sins, restores our wellbeing, and gives us life both abundant and eternal.
Is there any buildup of spiritual plaque in your heart? Whatever is not of faith is sin, and only by earnestly confessing it can the Holy Spirit revamp the affected area of your life.
When we honestly confess our sins, He forgives us, cleans us up, and even gives us grace to walk in obedience.
Woodrow Kroll
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 2:1-4:25
:angel:
Maybe at some point you have been worried. Perhaps you have asked God to help you understand the circumstances you are facing ...
Or, perhaps at some point, you have found yourself doubting God, maybe even praying, Lord, how can I be sure You are real? ...
Perhaps you're stuck in the middle of a tough day -- or week, or month, or year -- and you wonder, Where can I find encouragement?
Sometimes it's hard to know who or what to believe when you need honest answers to the real-life questions, dilemmas, and crises you face. But I've got good news for you:
You can find God's answers -- His promises -- and practical application to help you through the challenges of life. Click here to find out how ...
• Jesus, I want to believe in You. How can I be sure You are real?
• It's been a tough day, Lord. Do You have any words of encouragement?
• I'm lonely, Lord. What is the secret to good relationships?
• I want to be a better parent, God. Can You help me with the challenges I'm facing?
Click here to learn more about how I am committed to helping you find God's answers to these questions ... and more ... straight from the Word of God -- the best source to comfort, help, encourage, and teach you.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Wednesday, September 28
Out on a Limb
And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
Luke 19:8 (ESV)
Recommended Reading
Luke 19:1-10
Making restitution is a wonderful privilege. In a sense, it allows us to change the past. While we can never turn back the clock, we often have the opportunity of correcting past mistakes, making up for them, and turning them to good. If we've stolen, we can repay. If we've defrauded, we can restore. If we've taken, we can return. If we've injured, we can affirm. If we've broken, we can mend.
Zacchaeus was a diminutive man who crawled out on a limb for a glimpse of Jesus. Our Lord paused under the tree, looked up, and told him to come down. So moved was Zacchaeus that he received Christ into his heart and home, offered to give liberally to the poor, and promised to make restitution to anyone he had defrauded. Jesus replied, "Today salvation has come to this house... for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Look for ways to make restitution or amends for any wrongs you have done--and consider it a liberating privilege. It's an evidence of Christ's life-changing power.
Restitution is evidence to others that one has made a transaction with God. Be committed to making restitution when needed, in God's timing.
Robert A. Hanson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 4:26-6:44
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Thursday, September 29
The Nourished Soul
...nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
1 Timothy 4:6b
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 4:6-11
In his 1729 Christian classic, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William Law gave us the secret to a spiritual and productive life. "Nourish (your soul) with good works," he wrote, "make it wise with reading, enlighten it by meditation, make it tender with love, sweeten it with humility, humble it with penance, enliven it with Psalms and Hymns, and comfort it with frequent reflections on future glory."1
The normal Christian life is one of constant and continual revival. While longing for a global revival to sweep the earth or a local revival to touch our church, we can personally nourish our soul every day. We can grow wise by the reading of God's Word, become enlightened by meditating on memorized Scripture, learn to treat others with the tenderness of agape love, and display the sweet traits of humility and confession. We can bolster our spirits with hymns and songs, and we can comfort and strengthen our hearts by reflecting on heaven and on things above.
For renewal to take place, we have only to study God's blessed Word and let it do its work in our lives.
Regularity of devotion, this holiness of common life... is a devotion that is the duty of all orders of Christian people.
William Law
1William Law, A Serious Call (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966), 45, 88.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 6:45-8:38
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Friday, September 30
Clear and Concise
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 8
Over the past twenty years, the amount of money spent on public education has nearly doubled. But some wonder if students are coming out of school twice as educated? There are so many more resources, more technology, more gimmicks to entice students to be interested in learning, yet it appears that education is still on the decline in some communities. It seems as though all the "extras" are taking the place of clear, concise instruction.
Like many schools, some churches today are complicating the recipe for a thriving church by adopting the world's methods for motivating people. But what we really need is the clear, concise teaching of God's Word. It alone is the greatest motivational technique God gave His people.
Aren't you thankful it's that simple to "come alive" in Christ and gain motivation? And there are so many churches today that offer clear, concise Bible teaching. We can be thankful that God has given us His Word and teachers to help us understand the Bible and apply it to our lives.
The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D.L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 9:1-10:34
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Weekend, October 1 & 2
Days of Creation: God Is in Control
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 40:21-24
One of the themes of the famous 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was the idea of a man-made computer taking on human characteristics--even taking on a will of its own. That was a revolutionary thought in its day. It has always been true that creations of man are subject to their creators. And they still are today.
That reflects a principle set in motion by the God of heaven and earth; the God who created the world out of nothing and remains supreme over it. Man, the pinnacle of God's creation, attempts at times to rise up against the Creator and replace God's will with his own. God's response, in human terms, is to "laugh [and] . . . hold them in derision" (Psalm 2:4). Yes, man has a will that can be exercised, but only within limits. God is the Creator who never relinquishes control of this world to human or spiritual beings.
When you next read a headline that makes you worry and wonder, remember that in the beginning God created everything by His Word--a Word that never fails to accomplish the purpose for which it was spoken (Isaiah 55:11).
Biblical patience is not rooted in fatalism that says everything is out of control. It is rooted in faith that says everything is in God's control.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 10:35-14:72
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Culture Threat #4: The Attack Against the Sanctity of Marriage
Cohabiting without marriage has become so common that in a mere thirty years it has effected a complete inversion of America's attitude toward a practice that the Bible unambiguously labels sin.
At stake is the very future of our society.
If this mindset prevails and more couples choose to treat marriage as optional, future generations of children will suffer, and the very walls of society - built on the foundation of marriage - will crumble around us.
Is the future of traditional marriage in danger of becoming obsolete? I never thought I'd see the day when the answer to this question could be "Yes"- but that day has arrived. Our selfish natures, our increasingly godless culture, and our very government are hard at work against God's first ordained institution.
We can't control the choices of a secular society, but we can guard our own marriages in both concept and practice. And in so doing, we can show the world what it's missing.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Understand the fundamental shift in values away from God's Word toward societal consensus.
Know how to defend marriage against the prevailing postmodern philosophy.
Read Chapter Four of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines cultural causes of today's deconstruction of marriage.
Pray:
Pray for your marriage and for other married couples you know to draw people closer to God.
Pray for our nation to return to a biblical foundation of marriage.
Pray for all marriages currently experiencing emotional and financial pressures.
Participate:
Commit to pray daily with your spouse for the health of your marriage.
Consider mentoring a young couple.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
DEADLINE: Pre-order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! before Tuesday, October 4, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
And when you order before Tuesday, you will gain access to over 100 Bible online resources at no cost to you!
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Monday, October 3
Surprising Conversions
It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
Acts 9:5b
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:10-15
As a mighty awakening rolled across New England in 1737, Rev. Jonathan Edwards compiled a pamphlet of revival stories. He titled it, A Narrative of Surprising Conversions. Over a hundred years later, William C. Conant wrote an updated version designed to include stories from the revivals of the 1800s. He used a similar title: Narratives of Surprising Conversions.
In a sense, every conversion is surprising. That God would reach down in infinite mercy and save any of us is a story of amazing grace. But the conversions of some souls are particularly surprising. No one expected Christianity's greatest enemy, Saul of Tarsus, to turn to Christ and become a great missionary. Paul later called himself the chief of sinners... "that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe" (1 Timothy 1:16).
Perhaps God will reach down and convert some strident anti-Christian voice today. Those who are the loudest may be the ones most secretly longing to believe. Let's pray for some more "surprising conversions."
It is wonderful that persons should be so suddenly and yet so greatly changed.
Jonathan Edwards in A Narrative of Surprising Conversions
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 15:1-Luke 1:38
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Tuesday, October 4
No God, or Know God
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
Psalm 14:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 14
Atheist Richard Dawkins recently told a newspaper that the Irish Constitution should be changed to remove all influence of the church. He referred to the church as an "evil" institution, and he expressed joy that secularism is growing in Ireland. How foolish! To be an atheist, one presupposes total knowledge. How arrogant to claim to have disproven the existence of God.
It's encouraging to know that despite the bluster of the atheists, Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds. In 1979, missiologist Patrick Johnstone was asked the most difficult places on earth for a Gospel breakthrough. He said Mongolia and Albania. Today there are at least 40,000 Mongolian believers, and Albania now has religious freedom and a thriving church. There are even reports that the church within Iran is growing at a remarkable pace; and according to the most recent edition of Operation World: "There are now Christians living and fellowshipping in every country on earth."1
Don't be discouraged. There is a God and He is not silent.
Christianity is the greatest intellectual system the mind of man has ever touched.
Francis Schaeffer
1Jason Mandryk, Operation World: Seventh Edition (WEC International, 2010), 4-5.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 1:39-2:52
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Wednesday, October 5
Picture Perfect
The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.
Nahum 1:3b
Recommended Reading
Nahum 1:1-7
According to United Press International, an Alabama couple whose house was destroyed in last May's outbreak of tornadoes said that their 1982 wedding photo turned up in Tennessee. When a tornado destroyed the home of Mike and Freida Evans of Hackleburg, Alabama, a photograph of their wedding was among the items lost. Apparently the picture was blown 120 miles to Lincoln County, Tennessee. A family there found the photo in their yard and had it printed in the local paper to find the owners. The Evans family said the picture appeared to be completely undamaged.
"When we go through trials, it only makes us stronger," Freida Evans said. "I am a survivor. I had depended on my faith and church family to get us through after the accident, and that's what we'll do now. We'll be able to build back."1
Sometimes our lives feel like a whirlwind, but we have confidence in the future because we have a God who rides above the storms.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.
William Cowper
1"Tornado Carries Photo 120 Miles" in UPI.Com, May 30, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 3:1-4:44
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Thursday, October 6
To Steal, Kill, & Destroy
And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat."
Luke 22:31
Recommended Reading
John 10:7-10
On the next rainy day, sit down with a cup of tea and look up the key biblical references to our devilish enemy, Satan. On a piece of paper, list the verbs attached to his name. You'll find things like this: Satan beguiles, seduces, opposes, resists, takes away, deceives, lies, hinders, steals, kills, destroys, buffets, tempts, persecutes, blasphemes, accuses, binds, and sifts as wheat.
We're in a battle, and our enemy is on the attack. We need to resist him. Satan can't stand the hymns of the faith, so sing. He can't overcome the prayers of the saints, so pray. He can't defeat the Lord Jesus Christ, so claim the power of the Blood. He can't overthrow the truth, so quote the Scriptures. He can't vanquish the joy of the Lord, so rejoice. He can't divert God's grace, so use the shield of faith.
We must use the weapons God has given us. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
It may be that Satan is planning some fresh temptation with which to assail you; but, though he desires to... sift you as wheat, Christ is praying for you, that your faith fail not.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, in his sermon, "The Tenses"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 5:1-6:49
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Friday, October 7
Accepting Reality
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:9-11
"Lewis's Trilemma" refers to the most popular presentation of the "Liar, Lunatic, Lord" defense for the divinity of Christ made by C. S. Lewis in his talks and writings. While the argument had been verbalized before in the nineteenth century, it was Lewis's expansion of the argument in Mere Christianity that established its permanence in apologetic discussions. The idea of the "trilemma" has to do with Jesus' claims to be God: He was either a liar (which means He couldn't be God), or a lunatic (He was self-deceived and mentally unaware of His own claims), or He was Lord--"however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem," Lewis said.
Radio humorist Garrison Keillor once said, "Sometimes we have to look reality in the face and deny it!" That seems to be the approach of many when it comes to Jesus. There is no evidence that Jesus was not who He claimed to be, yet many are unwilling to bow their knee before Him (though all will one day--Philippians 2:9-11).
Who do you say Jesus is? It is wiser to accept reality than to deny it.
Christ either deceived mankind by conscious fraud, or He was Himself deluded and self-deceived, or He was Divine. There is no getting out of this trilemma.
John "Rabbi" Duncan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 7:1–8:39
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Culture Threat #5: The Attack Against the Bible
Dear Friend
I never thought I'd see the day when the Bible would be pushed to the edge in public education and out of the decision-making processes of our official institutions. But what grieves me most is that the Bible's status has been downgraded and its message diluted in the last place we should expect it: in the Christian Church itself.
Under the threat of execution, Iranian Pastor Yusuf Nadarkhani has refused to recant his Christian faith. Imprisoned since October 2009, this pastor has risked his life to take a stand for the truth of God's Word. As his unwavering conviction is proclaimed across the globe, I wonder:
How did the Bible lose its centrality in our lives?
Many Christians have grown afraid to utter the words "The Bible says . . ." or "God says . . ." or "Jesus says . . ." On one hand we have people in repressive nations laying down their lives to expand the Bible's influence, and on the other we have modern churches being willing to allow the Bible's influence to recede toward the vanishing point, even in their own lives.
As a Christian I am never free to move God's Word to the edge of my life, regardless of what those around me or in authority over me may do. While the church should be influencing the culture, we are allowing the culture to seduce and diminish the church.
If enough Christians restore the Bible and the One it tells us of to the center of our lives, our society and its culture may yet be transformed.
Take a stand for the Bible with me - today!
What you can do:
Prepare:
Recognize the dangerous consequences of treating the Bible as irrelevant in your life and your church.
Agree with Peter and the other apostles: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
Read Chapter Six of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! and learn five ways Christians are contributing to the marginalization of the Word of God.
Pray:
Pray for strength and peace for believers who are being persecuted around the globe.
Daily commit to keeping God's Word central in your life.
Pray for believers to take a stand for the Bible in their communities.
Participate:
Be responsible as a steward of God to uphold His Word in every dimension of your life - in private, in public, at home, and at church.
Spend time with a skeptic and strengthen their confidence in the Bible.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
God bless you,
:angel:
Weekend, October 8 & 9
Day of the Incarnation: God Has a Plan
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Recommended Reading
Galatians 4:4-7
Deism is the worldview that says the universe was created and set in motion by God who then abandoned it, exerting no control over its outcome. Deism compares God to a highly-skilled watchmaker who creates a mechanical marvel, then winds it up and sets it to ticking before walking away.
There is no biblical or other revelation to support such a theory; those that hold it do so on the basis of reason alone. Besides being unsupported, it is a highly impersonal, even depressing, view of God, creation, and human existence and destiny. The Bible's view of God is totally different: He created us in His image with a plan to spend eternity with us. In spite of the disruption of sin, the second member of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, came to earth to "fix" the problem of sin and bring us back into relation with God, making it possible for God's original design for eternal fellowship to be ultimately realized.
The day of the incarnation--when God became a man to dwell among us--is the day God proved His promise: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5b).
The atonement is the real reason for the incarnation.
James Montgomery Boice
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 8:40-11:54
:angel:
Monday, October 10
Matthew, Mark, Luke, & Ringo
Listen to the statutes... teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
Deuteronomy 4:1, 9
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 4:1-9
Recently comedian Jay Leno asked his television audience to name one of the Ten Commandments. One person ventured: "God helps those who help themselves." Leno asked if anyone could name the four Gospels. No one could; but responding to another question, almost everyone in the audience could name the four Beatles.
As biblical instruction wanes, large numbers of young people are biblically illiterate. Our society is developing a profound ignorance of Jesus. Many don't understand the term "Good Friday" or the meaning of our basic Christian vocabulary--grace, sin, redemption, and salvation.
The number of people who read the Bible "occasionally" has declined from 79 percent in the 1980s to 59 percent. Only 16 percent of Christians say they read the Bible daily.1
Read your Bible every day. Teach it to your children. Don't depend on others to do it. Offer to lead Bible classes at your church, and volunteer to work in the children's ministry. Reversing the tide of biblical illiteracy is going to take all of us doing our part.
Many Christians expect the world to respect the book they neglect.
Quoted by E.C. McKenzie
1"Clayton Hardiman, "Bible Literacy Slipping, Experts Say," at Religious News Service, posted at home.snu.edu/~HCULBERT/literacy.htm.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 12:1-13:35
:angel:
Tuesday, October 11
Ironic, Isn't It?
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:1-6
As ironic as it sounds, many cohabiting couples end up in court when their relationships end. According to CNN, large numbers of unmarried-but-living-togethers are trying to prevent future problems by signing "Cohabitation Agreements" to outline what will happen should they split up. These are legally binding documents for couples who cohabit but don't marry. What happens, for example, if they buy a house together? A car? What about insurance matters? These become legal issues that must be resolved in something akin to "divorce court."
No matter how hard our society tries, we can't get away from our need for hallowed and happy relationships. There's a desire in each of us to be loved and connected with another person, and marriage is a God-designed, purposeful plan. Yet many people are seeking temporary connections with others and avoiding God's plan for a committed marriage--missing the joy of oneness that God designed. But it only leads to more trouble.
Follow God's plan and keep marriage honorable among all.
Marriage is a partnership between one man and one woman... Nothing could be clearer in the Bible as to what constitutes a marriage in God's sight.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 14:1-16:31
:angel:
Wednesday, October 12
Marriage at the Cross-Road
...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
Recommended Reading
Song of Solomon 1:1-4
Believe it or not, there's some good news about marriage. A recent poll commissioned by the Alliance Defense Fund shows that Americans still believe in traditional marriage. Sixty-two percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "I believe marriage should be defined only as a union between one man and one woman." Only about a third disagreed.1
But it's not enough to simply agree with the values of traditional marriage. We've got to practice what we preach. We must think of marriage as a ministry, as a lifelong act of service. We're not married in order to be happy but to make the other person happy--to serve rather than to be served.
Ask yourself: "How can I serve my husband today? How can I affirm my wife? What little act or attitude could make the difference?" The desire to serve ourselves has overtaken God's plan to serve one another through a committed marriage. Let's enrich traditional marriages with the traditional values of the Cross.
Many Christians seem to get their notions of love from the Love Boat instead of the Love Book... Make the Bible your guide.
Jim Binney in The Ministry of Marriage
1"Most Americans Still Believe in Traditional Marriage" by Stephanie Samuel in The Christian Post, June 17, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 17:1 - 18:43
:angel:
Thursday, October 13
Wrong Way!
And He led them forth by the right way...
Psalm 107:7a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 107:1-8
Just after five o'clock on the morning of July 17, 1938, Douglas Corrigan, 31, took off in an old secondhand plane from New York City on a nonstop solo flight across America. He was bound for Los Angeles. Turning into a cloud, Corrigan's plane disappeared into the eastern sky. Twenty-eight hours later, he landed--in Dublin, Ireland. "I'm Douglas Corrigan," he told onlookers. "Just got in from New York. Where am I? I intended to fly to California."
He was known for the rest of his long life as "Wrong Way Corrigan," and he blamed his error on a faulty compass.
If you're an aviator, a hiker, or a soldier, you want a compass that works with precision, one that reads truly in the storms when the landmarks are altered, the sky is darkened, and the stars are blackened in the heavens.
It's sad to come to the end of our days only to realize we've gone the wrong way. God alone is our moral compass, and the Bible gives us the true directions for life.
Chart and compass come from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
Edward Hopper, pastor and hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 19:1-20:47
:angel:
Friday, October 14
America the Changed
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . . .
Psalm 33:12a
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:27-31
In an 1892 U.S. Supreme Court decision, the majority opinion cited numerous examples and proofs of America's Christian heritage. In 1954, California Governor Earl Warren, who went on to become the chief justice of the Supreme Court, said that America is "a Christian land governed by Christian perspectives." But in 1992, when Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice referred to America as a Christian nation in a speech at a governors' conference, the media outrage was so strong he was forced to retract his statement and apologize a few days later.
Somewhere between 1892 and 1992, it stopped being acceptable to refer to America as a Christian nation. Yes, constitutionally America has no established religion. Nor is America a theocracy. Yet the Judeo-Christian principles of the Bible have characterized this nation since its founding--though it is considered politically incorrect to say so today. Jesus called the Church to be salt in the world to preserve goodness and create a thirst for God (Matthew 5:13).
If you are a Christian, do not be afraid, let your voice be heard in the public square lest it become illegal for it to be heard it at all.
May God pity a nation whose factory chimneys rise higher than her church steeples.
John Kelman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 21:1-22:71
:angel:
Culture Threat #6: The Attack Against Morality
Today many obvious violations of God's absolute moral code are not only committed openly and without shame, but even enshrined into law. And lawmakers are being urged to enact laws legitimizing even further violations.
The consequences will be impossible to imagine.
While many Americans may participate in gambling, prostitution, abortion, pornography, and other legal behaviors that soil the American conscience, most seem to realize there's a disconnect between what is legal and what is truly moral.
The loss of a moral compass in society at large is troubling, but it is even more troubling when followers of Jesus Christ - those who are called to be "salt and light" in the world (Matthew 5:13-16) - lose theirs. We need to draw a line in the sand and close the "morality gap" - the distance between what we know God expects and what we are willing to allow as acceptable behavior.
The most concise summary of God's laws for those who claim to follow Him was given by Jesus in Matthew 22:37: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
I never thought I'd see the day when America's moral compass would lose its orientation. But it has happened. Let's create a thirst for God in those whose lives we touch by living lives that demonstrate His nature to a wayward and searching world.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Read Matthew 5:3-16.
Know how to defend the attacks on morality in our culture by doing what you can to positively affect the legal process.
Read Chapter Five of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines the consequences of morality in decline. Now a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Pray:
Ask God to convict people of their sin and for them to respond in repentance.
Pray for our nation to return to her moral bearings rooted in God's Word.
Pray for Christians to be "salt and light" as we live in the world but are not of it (Ephesians 5:8-11).
Participate:
Get involved in reversing attacks on morality that impact your community.
Diligently study God's Word and understand His call to holiness in your life.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Weekend, October 15 & 16
Day of the Cross: God Provides Redemption
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:14
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:13-14
Some theologians limit the purpose of Christ's death on the cross to being an example of sacrificial love, an illustration of His words in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus proved that such costly love was possible when He illustrated it by His own sacrificial action.
Jesus certainly was an example of love and other godly attributes as well--imitated by the apostles (1 Corinthians 11:1). But something more profound than an example happened on the cross: Jesus Christ paid a ransom price to redeem mankind out of the marketplace of slavery to sin (Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:6). The most important transaction in history took place: Jesus exchanged His innocent life for our sin-stained life, dying the death we deserved that we might, by God's mercy, be spared the judgment we richly deserved. Because God was pleased with Christ in every way, the Cross turned away the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).
Take a moment today to thank God for the Day of the Cross and your redemption from sin.
The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 23:1-John 3:21
:angel:
Monday, October 17
God's Book
. . . these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God . . .
John 20:31
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The day after Christmas 2009, Amazon.com announced that Kindle had become the most gifted item in Amazon's history. With Kindle available at the click of a button --we have more secular and religious reading choices than ever before. But as we pursue knowledge, will we make time to read God's Book?
The Holy Bible still tops the best-selling books lists. Yet our insatiable quest for experiential knowledge can keep us from this source of Truth. The Israelites were not judged because they elevated knowledge, but because they elevated experience over knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Jesus rebuked the leaders of Israel in His day because they had "taken away the key of knowledge," misleading people from the truth of Jesus' words (Luke 11:52). Proverbs 1:7 clarifies our search for truth: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."
In your personal reading time, are you pursuing the world's deceptive system of discovering truth? Or are you conforming to the Truth? Whether you read the Bible electronically or by turning its pages, make it your source of knowledge and truth.
The Christian is bred by the Word, and he must be fed by it.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 3:22 -5:18
:angel:
Tuesday, October 18
Pushed to the Edge
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ . . .
Romans 1:16
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:6-8
We've all experienced it: A clique of "cool kids" at school decides to reduce our significance. We aren't welcomed or included. We may even be called unpleasant names. In the workplace, a particular employee might not be invited to significant policy meetings or is excluded from social gatherings. This treatment is what the Bible is experiencing today in our culture. God's Word is being "marginalized"--pushed to the edge of our families and even our churches!
The gradual process of marginalization happens so slowly that we almost don't notice societal shifts till after the fact. We wake up one day and the Bible has moved from a central position of education and authority to a shelf next to books by leading atheists, trivializing its content and intimidating its readers.
You and I can't control how others view or treat the Bible. But there's one place we can stop its marginalization: our own lives. When we do that, the Bible will gain new traction in our homes, churches, and communities. Don't miss the significance of living in this particular moment of history. Nothing could be more dangerous than to wander thoughtlessly down the path of marginalizing the Bible.
Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself but because it contradicts them.
Author Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 5:19 - 6:71
:angel:
Wednesday, October 19
Faces Not Places
These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Acts 17:6
Recommended Reading
Matthew 28:19-20
Did Jesus send a church building into the world to make disciples of all the nations? Of course not. He sent people. But this question helps clarify the definition of church. The New Testament uses the Greek word ekklesia (literally, "called-out ones") for Church, referring to those who are called together by God. The word always specifies people--the followers of Jesus--not buildings.
Our culture is questioning the relevancy of the Church. Unsavory things have happened to people "in church" or in the name of Christ throughout history. But that doesn't negate the good that has been done. Nor does it make the Church irrelevant. The pundits may rail against our stand on immorality, but they cannot deny our compassion for the poor, orphans, and widows. The Church's relevancy is based on the message we preach of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Is the Church making an impact on the world? Before you answer that question, there is one place you must look: the mirror. If we're going to be ridiculed by the world, let it be for turning the world upside down with the Gospel as the early apostles did (Acts 17:6).
Now the church is not wood and stone, but the company of people who believe in Christ.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 7:1-8:30
:angel:
Thursday, October 20
Steeple People
You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power . . .
Revelation 4:11
Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:13-16
Burning most of the city in four days, the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed St. Paul's Cathedral and many churches. Architect Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned by King Charles II to rebuild these religious structures. In his design, Wren included steeples that visually guided men and women to gaze heavenward above the city's destruction. The steeple image quickly caught on, reminding people of the Church's purpose: to glorify our Lord and Savior.
Yet tragically, in the busyness of new programs and entertaining fads, churches can forget their purpose. Do we pamper our congregations with an entertainment mentality that leads to biblical ignorance? It's not about how smart we are at directing people toward our particular church. Our purpose isn't to be wealthy, famous, or praised by a degraded society. Our singular purpose is to pave the way for His return by sowing the Gospel person-to-person and nation-to-nation.
I'm thankful for the church steeple. It's a fitting symbol for the central purpose of the Church, unapologetically directing people toward the glory of God. Step outside and gaze heavenward. It will put your life in perspective.`
It is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence-"Not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory."
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 8:31 -10:21
:angel:
Culture Threat #7: The Attack of Spiritual Warfare
The Christian's spiritual enemy is not in uniform, and he doesn't meet us on an identifiable battlefield. He uses ruthless and unconventional tactics, such as deceit, deflection, and disguise. Yet a large number of pastors and teachers ignore or downplay spiritual warfare to the point that many professing Christians don't even know they're in a war.
That means we have a crisis on our hands, and we need to sound the alarm.
The Church of Jesus Christ needs to know its enemy and his strategies. Yes, God wins in the end. But the more unsuspecting or unbelieving a person is concerning the reality of spiritual warfare, the more easily he or she becomes prey. The only way to protect oneself from Satan's infiltration is to be on the side of the One who is more powerful than he is: "because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Today, as we move ever closer to the appearing of Christ for His Church and the subsequent Tribulation period, we are witnessing a biblically-predicted increase of demonic activity all around the world. Yet many self-professed Christians fail to take seriously the Bible's teaching about Satan and spiritual warfare.
The Bible could not be more clear about the existence of the devil and the reality of the spiritual conflict going on all around us. We must not lose sight of the fact that we are in a war - a war for the ages and a war for the souls of men.
Our task is to embrace what the Bible tells us about our enemy and be prepared for the battle we most certainly will face - even today.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Read Ephesians 6:10-18.
Be prepared for spiritual battle by daily studying God's Word.
Read Chapter Two of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! that examines the cultural signs of increased spiritual warfare. Now a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Pray:
Ask God to help you navigate with discernment when involved with television, movies, or any entertainment that might take lightly - or glamorize - the powers of darkness.
Ask God to help you mature in your Christian walk so you can stand strong when spiritually attacked.
Pray for God to help your church understand the reality of spiritual warfare.
Participate:
You don't need to fight the devil alone. Get involved with an accountability partner who will pray for you and be available to you (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Be committed to a Scripture memory program.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
God bless you,
:angel:
Friday, October 21
Love Your Enemies
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Proverbs 21:1
Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:43-48
On June 15, 2011, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with the president of Russia and other Asian leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Kazakhstan. In a speech, the Iranian president delivered a tirade against the "slavers and colonizers" of the West and called for a new world order. He asked, "Have any of us used an atomic bomb against the defenceless citizens of any other country?"--an obvious reference to America's use of the atomic bomb to end World War II.1
The Iranian president misses no opportunity to disparage America. Not to worry: Every king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, being turned wherever He wishes. No world leader makes a move, for good or for ill, outside the sovereign permission of God and for His purposes. The statements of those who would do us harm offer a good opportunity to pray for them as Jesus taught: ". . . love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who . . . persecute you . . ." (Matthew 5:44).
We need not look upon those enemies with fear whom God looks upon with contempt.
Matthew Henry
1Joel C. Rosenberg, "Russian and Iranian Leaders Meet for Summit in Central Asia: Echoes of Ezekiel 38-39 Coalition." flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/russian-and-iranian-leaders-meet-for-summit-in-central-asia-echoes-of-ezekiel-38-39-coalition, (accessed 6-15-11).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 10:22-12:19
:angel:
Weekend, October 22 & 23
Day of the Resurrection: God Provides Eternal Hope
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
1 Corinthians 15:19
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:12-28
The first half of 2011 saw a measure of suffering from tornadoes and floods unparalleled in U.S. history. Portions of entire towns were swept away by wind and washed away by water, reducing the work and dreams of residents to but a memory. Yet even such loss cannot approach the losses of Job in the Old Testament: children, property, health, even the loyalty of his wife. Yet Job persevered because He knew that there was life beyond this life: "And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:26).
The apostle Paul, no stranger to suffering himself, agreed with Job. He wrote that we are to be pitied if the Christian life is about this life only. It is the promise of the resurrection to eternal life that makes faithfulness in this life reasonable. And we have that promise because of the resurrection of Christ. If Christ was not resurrected, neither shall we be. But because He was raised, we will follow Him out of the grave to an eternal day.
When the travails of this life weigh heavily upon you, remember the eternal hope provided by the day of the resurrection.
Christianity is essentially a religion of resurrection.
James S. Stewart
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 12:20-17:26
:angel:
Monday, October 24
Sovereign Ruler
For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Romans 13:1b
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 2:1-3
Parade magazine's 2009 list of "The World's Worst Dictators" ranked despotic rulers with reprehensible crimes against their countries, including: repressing religion, oppressing women, violence, torture, and controlling the media. If only these leaders understood that nations rise and fall and dictators come and go by the sovereign hand of our God. Do we as Christians grasp His sovereignty when we're prone to fear earthly rulers?
We live in unprecedented times as prophecy rapidly unfolds before us. In the midst of catastrophic world events, it's important to remember that God has a plan. The Book of Esther is a vivid reminder of God's sovereignty. This brave young woman's story reads like a bestselling thriller: a Persian official formulates a plot to exterminate the Jews living in Persia. By the Providence of God, Esther uncovers the sinister plan and it's derailed. Her spirit is an inspiration to those cowed by bullying leaders.
Why do we let our fears bully us into not sharing our faith? We should feel an urgency to do whatever needs to be done before Jesus returns. Make yourself available to Him, and stand strong in His sovereignty.
Are we not all immortal till our work is done?
Robert Murray McCheyne
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 18:1-19:42
:angel:
Tuesday, October 25
Toughen Up
The testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:3 (NIV 1984)
Recommended Reading
Revelation 3:10-13
Hardship sometimes destroys a spirit. But often character is strengthened in the crucible of suffering. Tom Dempsey, born with no toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand, was an American football placekicker in the National Football League. Remarkably, he broke the record for the longest field goal in football history. Forty years later Dempsey's record has been matched once, but never broken. Hardship fortified this man's spirit, instead of weakening him.
The tough-minded spirit, well-prepared for adversity, is clearly evident in the tiny nation of Israel. No race or nation has lived as long, contributed as much, and survived as much persecution as the Jews. Whether standing alone or supported by an ally, Israel has remained confident in her identity as the "chosen people of God" (Deuteronomy 7:6; 10:5). Her presence reminds us that God's kingdom is not just eternal. Ultimately He will establish His throne in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:3).
Are you asking God to develop perseverance in you through each trial you face? Remember that God's strong arm of faithfulness is enough to help you withstand any crisis. Give God your attention and toughen up.
God has many ways that He might use to achieve His ends, but His wisdom determined the best way to accomplish them.
Samuel Willard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 20:1-Acts 1:26
:angel:
Wednesday, October 26
God Bless You
I will bless those who bless you . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 12:3
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
When someone sneezes we say, "God bless you." Or we use the phrase to appreciate someone who gives needed help. Sometimes we close our correspondence with it. But more than a figurative expression, the concept of blessing carries great significance. We read in Scripture that when God blesses, it is a sign of His relationship with a person or nation and His grace upon them.
God created a people for Himself, the nation Israel, to bless the world through the gift of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His saving plan of redemption and grace. Genesis 12:3 promises that God blesses those who bless Abraham's descendants. Conversely, the history of nations that have abused the Jewish people proves the inevitable doom to those who don't choose to bless Israel. The promises of God toward Israel cannot be compromised or renegotiated at the political bargaining table. God has a plan for Israel, and His words never fail to accomplish their purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
As we wait for God's ultimate new world order, pray for your pastor and political leaders. And God bless you, friend, as you pray for "the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).
Anything is a blessing which makes us pray.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 2:1-4:22
:angel:
Thursday, October 27
Respond With Love
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:1
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:12-13
The fact is: If we have to ask someone to tell us, "I love you," it's not going to mean as much as the spontaneous version. These universally desirable words are usually not something you have to teach. It's just natural to respond with love to those we care about. Why is it then that sometimes we're slow to verbalize and show our love to the One who loves us the most?
When the apostle Paul offered his appeal, "I beseech you," in Romans 12:1, he didn't command his readers to present themselves to God because our responsive attitude to God is crucial. "Beseech" implies an urging to respond to what God has already done--mercifully delivering us from sin and graciously bestowing blessings we don't deserve. Without hypocrisy or envy, Paul's counsel models a true spirit of love toward God.
The only spiritual service that honors and pleases God is the loving, thoughtful, heartfelt devotion of His children who give themselves totally to Him. Tell God you love Him, and think of some ways you can pour His love into those around you.
Every Christian would agree that a man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4:23-6:15
:angel:
Culture Threat #8: The Attack on Jesus
I never thought I'd see the day in America when Jesus would be so profaned. Not only has a line been crossed that dishonors the name of Jesus, but the media industry and commercial entrepreneurs use it sacrilegiously for entertainment.
Is anything sacred anymore?
When Jesus is featured in profane ways on television shows like The Simpsons and South Park, He is reduced from His biblical stature of divine and holy to a cultural characterization of crude and common. But the blasphemous images continue to be tolerated for the sake of political correctness.
When people watch such shows or view similar representations of Jesus at the national level - and millions do - the national religious and spiritual psyche is changed. The message is, "Nothing is sacred anymore - and if anything is, it shouldn't be. Get over it."
Let's not be entertained at the expense of the One who created us and gave us life. Jesus is not just a good man; He is the God-Man. May we honor His name with our words and the entertainment choices we make.
What you can do:
Prepare:
Read Colossians 1:15-20 for a true portrait of Jesus.
Reflect on the humility of Jesus in Philippians 2:1-11.
Read Chapter Three of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! and examine how our culture is decreasing Jesus' deity and increasing His humanity. Now a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Pray:
Pray that you will honor the name of Jesus in your everyday conversations.
Ask God to make you a discerning person as you choose entertainment that honors Him.
Pray for your family to honor Jesus in your words and actions.
Participate:
Don't spend money or time on entertainment that dishonors Jesus and His name.
Consider buying a foul language filter for your television that mutes foul language while you're watching television and movies.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Friday, October 28
Choose Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:14-21
A word. A slight. A look. A forgotten birthday or anniversary. A piece of gossip about us--yes, it was true but no, it didn't need to be spoken. Things happen to us every day, from minor to major, that could serve as an excuse for vengeance. And each time something hurtful happens, we have a choice to make: Will we be a peacemaker or a revenge seeker? Will we inflame the event with the fire of revenge or will we smother it with the blanket of peace?
Let's assume you've been hurt purposefully. What should you do? God said, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel 33:11). Substitute whatever you're tempted to do in retaliation for the word "death" in that verse and you'll get God's counsel on your contemplated course of action. God said that vengeance is His; He will repay (Romans 12:19). And Paul wrote that we are to do everything possible to "live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). When we choose to forgive instead of fight, we are bringing peace to the world.
If you are faced with the choice of seeking peace or seeking vengeance today, choose peace. Receive the blessing of God in return for spreading the peace of God.
The noblest revenge is to forgive.
Thomas Fuller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 7:1–8:40
:angel:
Weekend, October 29 & 30
Day of His Return: God Provides a Future
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-4
Yesterday was the future on the day before yesterday, but today it is the past. The march of time teaches us that tomorrow is an expectation if not a promise. While we do not know what the future will hold, we have no doubt that it will come. And biblically, there are only two ways to look at the future: in fear or by faith.
Fear and faith obey the law of physics that says two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time. If we are consumed with fear of the future, there is no room for faith. But if we have faith that God knows the future then fear shall be absent. Thankfully, our faith is not blind faith--the Bible gives us great details (reasons for faith) about the future. And they all find their culmination and consummation in one event--the return of the Son of God to planet earth: "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:24).
Thank God for such a certain future! Through Christ every promise of God about the future is "Yes, and in Him Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favourable, and the future glorious.
V. Raymond Edman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 9:1-13:52
:angel:
Monday, October 31
No, Never Alone
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
John 16:32
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 43:1-5
Jesus twice told His listeners that despite the solitary nature of His work, He was not alone. In John 8:16, He said, "I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me." And in John 16:32, He said similarly, "You will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."
Sometimes our work for Jesus yields a loneliness that can tempt us to self-pity. Yield not. Even if you're the only Christian in your school, office, or apartment complex, you're not alone. Jesus has promised to be with you to the end of the age and to never leave nor forsake you.
Perhaps you're serving the Lord far from home, but by opening the Bible you have Moses, Job, David, Isaiah, Peter, and Paul as your companions. You have the Holy Spirit whispering to your heart. You have Jesus standing beside you and the Father listening to every prayer. You are not alone today. The One who sent you is with you.
When darkening shadow 'round me falls and light and hope seem gone, there is one thought my heart upholds. It is, I'm not alone.
Mary B. Peck, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 14:1-16:15
:angel:
Tuesday, November 1
The Power of Focus
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Acts 23:11
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 1:17-19
We learn about it in seminars and personal counseling sessions. And when we do it and see the results we wonder, "Why don't I do this more often?" Goal setting, writing a mission statement, vision casting--having a target and a direction can keep all sorts of problems at bay. Not the least of which is discouragement when the going gets hard.
What is your goal in life? What does your personal mission statement say? All through Scripture we find ordinary people keeping on because they were focused on their mission. Moses: Get the Hebrew children to Canaan. Joshua: Take the nation into their Promised Land. David: Stay alive until you take the throne. Jeremiah: Preach the warning of God in spite of opposition. Paul: Take the Gospel to the Gentiles. All these saints got discouraged, but they overcame and fulfilled their calling. And so can we if we are clear on the goal.
God's goal for every Christian is Christlikeness (Romans 8:29). And He will use everything in our life to see us reach that goal (Romans 8:28). Our job is never to lose sight of God's calling.
Christ understands loneliness; He's been through it.
Paul S. Rees
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 16:16-18:28
:angel:
Wednesday, November 2
Problems and Perspective
It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
You and your friend have been close for years--never a cross word between you. But suddenly, you find yourself reacting with harsh, impatient words. Where did that come from? And your friend looks at you with a puzzled expression as if asking the same thing. If you will look beneath the problem, you will find a new perspective. Perhaps there's a wound that needs healing, a jealousy that needs confessing, or a resentment in need of repentance.
Problems in life are tools in the Holy Spirit's hands to reveal things to us we might never have otherwise considered--truth about God, about others, and especially about ourselves. If we respond to the perspective God allows us to see, we can come out the other side more mature. Remember the problem Paul had that he asked God to take away--and God said "No"? Paul saw something new: God's grace is sufficient--so much so that he began opening his arms to problems in order to experience more grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
The next time you experience a problem, pray for perspective--and open your heart to embrace what God reveals.
Life can only be enjoyed as one acquires a true perspective of life and death and of the real purpose of life.
Spiros Zodhiates
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 19:1-21:16
:angel:
Thursday, November 3
Constant Character
But [God] honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
Psalm 15:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 15:1-5
In the 1960s, an Episcopal priest named Joseph Fletcher developed a theory of Christian ethics known as "situational ethics." He said that the highest biblical law was selfless (agape) love and that other lesser laws could be disobeyed if necessary in the pursuit of love. Therefore, the ends can justify the means. And, one's circumstances or situation can determine which of God's laws one keeps.
This unbiblical approach to God's laws can also lead to "circumstantial character"--the willingness to allow one's circumstances to dictate one's character. If God says He does not change (Malachi 3:6), and if it is God who lives in us (Galatians 2:20), it's hard to see how we could be justified in changing who we are--our character--as a response to our circumstances. One of the characteristics of those who dwelt in the presence of God in the Old Testament was a willingness to suffer loss rather than compromise their character (Psalm 15:4).
Character has often been described as what people do when they know no one is looking. Because God's eyes are always open, our character needs to be constant before Him.
A person's character is accurately measured by his reaction to life's inequities.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 21:17-23:35
:angel:
Have You Been Dis-Appointed?
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-5
The word "disappoint" comes from an old French word meaning to remove someone from office - to dis-appoint one who had been previously appointed to a position. Those who are fired or "dis-appointed" suffer crestfallen feelings of discouragement. Hence our English word disappointment. This is one of the most difficult emotions to reconcile. We all know how it feels to lose a game, fail at a task, be rejected in a relationship, miss an opportunity, or lose a job. The Bible says that hope deferred (disappointment) makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).
But we're also told God will never disappoint us and that His love never fails. According to Romans 5, we can glory in tribulation because tribulation produces perseverance, which leads to character, which develops hope - and God's hope never disappointments because the Holy Spirit sheds His love abroad in our hearts.
Someone once said "disappointments" are "His appointments." He has a way of working all to our good. If you're struggling with disappointment today, claim the love of God and the promise of Romans 5:5.
There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.
F. W. Faber
Read-thru-the-Bible
Acts 24:1 -- 26:32
:angel:
The Thanksgiving Express: Write Now!
I, Paul, am writing with my own hand...
Philemon 1:19
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 3:16-18
It's not easy to write letters now - real letters with pen and ink that arrive in someone's hand in an envelope to be sliced open, scribbled words to be cherished. We have too many "instant" ways of communicating.
We should remember that it wasn't easy to write letters in New Testament times either. Parchment was hard to come by. Ink was primitive and writing instruments were improvised. In Paul's case, writing a letter was especially difficult because he was often traveling or in jail. He may also have battled poor eyesight. And then there was the problem of getting the letter to its recipient.
It was worth all the effort then; and although our letters aren't Pauline epistles, it is worth the effort now. A note of thanksgiving or a letter of gratitude is often kept for years. Maybe there's someone to whom you should pen a note today. Be specific, original, thoughtful, and gracious. Including a verse of Scripture is a good idea.
Why not write one right now?
When we learn to give thanks, we are learning to concentrate not on the bad things, but on the good things.
Amy Vanderbilt
Read-thru-the-Bible
Acts 27:1 -- 28:31
Romans 1 - 3:31
:angel:
Culture Threat #9: The Attack on the Church
I never thought I'd see the day when the Church of Jesus Christ was perceived as irrelevant. If it's because we preach the message of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2), or because the Gospel has become a "stumbling stone and rock of offense" (Romans 9:33) to the world, that's one thing. But if we are deemed irrelevant because we're an anemic version of the world's entertainment options or because we aren't playing the world's game nearly as well as the world does, then that's another thing.
That's a tragedy.
Many people view churches as having little to say that is more relevant than what can be found on television talk shows or in Internet advice columns. And so they stay away. The Church doesn't always get it right. Unsavory and regrettable things have happened to people "in church" or in the name of Christ throughout history. But that doesn't negate the good that has been done and will continue to be done. It doesn't make the Church irrelevant.
When we talk about the relevancy of the Church of Jesus Christ, we are talking about people - the followers of Jesus. Buildings and institutions don't set agendas or make decisions: People do. Jesus didn't send a church building into the world to make disciples in every nation, He sent people (Matthew 28:19-20).
If we're going to be attacked or ignored by the world, it might as well be for turning the world upside down as the early Church did (Acts 17:6). We're here to pave the way for the Lord's return by sowing the Gospel, both person-to-person and nation-to-nation. Let's get busy!
What you can do:
Prepare:
Read Ephesians 2:19-21 to understand the relationship between God and the Church.
Serve in your local church.
Read Chapter Seven of I Never Thought I'd See the Day! and examine the cultural trends that question the relevancy of the church. Now a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Pray:
Pray for your pastor and leaders in your church to faithfully teach and spread the Gospel.
Ask God for specific ways you can fulfill the Great Commission in your life.
Pray for the persecuted church around the world.
Participate:
Join a small group in your church to help foster growth in yourself and others.
Become a mentor to another believer and encourage them to serve in their church.
Listen and watch I Never Thought I'd See the Day! on Turning Point Television and Radio.
I want to help you know what God's Word says about the cultural and spiritual changes impacting America and the Church today and also know how to live faithfully in the midst of them.
Order I Never Thought I'd See the Day! now, and discover the extraordinary opportunity to help reverse the destructive trends and call America back to faith in God, back to the solid foundation of His Word.
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Healing the Spiritual With the Physical
Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
Philippians 4:14
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:10-19
If you have ever extended yourself on behalf of others and not been thanked for your efforts, then you know how the apostle Paul felt. Though Paul did not serve the early churches in order to be rewarded, it seems strange to us that his work went unacknowledged. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote that in the early days of his missionary work "no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving" except the Philippians (Philippians 4:15).
Paul was in spiritually trying circumstances when he wrote that - under house arrest in Rome and witnessing other preachers misappropriating the Gospel for their own benefit. But his spirits were lifted when Epaphroditus brought a gift to him from Philippi - perhaps food, clothes, or funds. Often a physical, tangible act of kindness can lift the spirits of a discouraged brother or sister.
And it doesn't take a lot. A phone call, a note, a meal delivered, an invitation to lunch or dinner, an offer to babysit or help with yardwork - all of those physical actions can restore the brokenhearted.
The faintest whisper of support or encouragement uttered by a Christian in the ears of his fellow believer is heard in heaven.
John J. Murray
Read-thru-the-Bible
Romans 4:1 -- 7:25
:angel:
Tuesday, November 8
The God Who Hears and Heals
O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
Psalm 30:2
Recommended Reading
Matthew 20:29-34
We are used to associating the biblical word "healing" with cures for physical conditions. But in Psalm 30, David declares praise to the Lord for three different reasons: deliverance from his enemies, healing from an unspecified situation, and being spared from divine judgment and the grave (Psalm 30:1-3). In other words, regardless of the kind of trouble David was in--attacks by others, physical problems, or divine discipline--he trusted that God would hear and heal him.
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
That seems almost contradictory given the troubles David experienced. How could he have ultimate confidence in God yet continue to live a life filled with challenges? It seems to be his awareness of a bigger picture--something larger than the immediate crisis he faced. His confidence was not only in God's ability to solve an immediate problem, but in God's sovereign providence and protection over his entire life.
Our lives are like David's--filled with challenges of all sorts. And our faith should be like David's as well: No problem escapes the attention of the God who heals and delivers us now and for eternity.
Sometimes Christ sees that we need the sickness for the good of our souls more than the healing for the ease of our bodies.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 8:1-10:21
:angel:
Wednesday, November 9
Break Thou the Bread of Life
Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down...
John 6:11
Recommended Reading
John 6:10-14
Newspapers in South Carolina recently carried the story of a couple who claimed that a dark gray mark on a Walmart receipt was the image of Christ. They had purchased pictures, and when they got home the receipt fell on the kitchen floor. Picking it up, they noticed it had acquired a stain of some kind. They were struck with how the stained image resembled the face of the Lord, and the local media picked up their story.
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
Well, we can see Jesus on the printed page all right--but only by looking into the pages of the Bible. Someone once said that the Bible is simply "Jesus in print." In times of mental or physical suffering, we can open the Word, find His promises, fellowship with Him there, and see His face. He knows our burdens and He ministers rest and peace to our hearts. He gives a Scripture for every situation and a promise for every problem.
In times of illness, loneliness, or low spirits, seek Him in His Word and rest in His promises.
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord. My Spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.
Mary Lathbury
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 11:1-14:23
:angel:
Thursday, November 10
Falling Apart at the Seams
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
Recommended Reading
John 13:31-35
After Jennifer Lopez ended her marriage to the Latin singer Marc Anthony, fans studied her newest album looking for signs that her marriage had been troubled. They found hints everywhere. In one song, Jennifer Lopez sang, "He's all right / He's all wrong. / He's a player / He's a dog." And she admitted her dreams about her marriage were "falling apart at the seams." The rich and famous are often threadbare when it comes to love. All the romantic songs and fabulous mansions in the world can't build a happy home without Christ. Romantic love is portrayed as the ideal love, when in reality our relationships must be based on the love Jesus displayed toward the Church.
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
The apostle Paul told husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). In John 13:34, Jesus extended the truth to us all: "As I have loved you...also love one another." When romantic love falters, turn to the real love of Jesus; and remember that if your world falls apart at the seams, His love can be the mending thread.
The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ's love to us, the more our love will be drawn out to Him, and to those who are His, for His sake.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 15:1-1 Corinthians 1:31
:angel:
Friday, November 11
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God
Above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 4:7-11
America's colonial preacher, Jonathan Edwards, is famous for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which fueled the Great Awakening. But he also often spoke of God's love. In his Christian Love as Manifested in the Heart and Life, Edwards wrote, "Such was the love of Christ to us that He did, as it were, spend Himself for our sakes. His love did not rest in mere feeling nor in light efforts and small sacrifices; but though we were enemies, yet He so loved us that He had a heart to deny Himself and undertake the greatest efforts and undergo the greatest sufferings for our sakes. He gave up His own ease and comfort and interest and honor and wealth, and became poor and outcast and despised... and all for us!"
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
Jesus commands us to love as He loved. His standard for dealing with a spouse or family member is based on the internal workings of the heart, not the day-to-day desire to have someone conforming to our ideals. No one is perfect. But Christ loves imperfect people. He calls us to love one another. And love covers a multitude of sins.
If this is our spirit, our love to others will not depend on their love to us, but we shall do as Christ did to us--love them.
Jonathan Edwards
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 2:1-6:20
:angel:
The Thanksgiving Express: Phone Lines!
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:3-6
Almost 35,000 phone calls are made each second of every day, and that's just in the United States. Worldwide phone statistics are unknown. According to one estimate, hundreds of billions of phone calls are "dropped" each year around the world by carriers, resulting in inestimable lost dollars for consumers.
What if we could listen in to the world's conversations like the old-time telephone operators of an earlier era? We'd hear angry calls, business calls, deal-making calls, sales calls, complaint calls, love chats, and an occasional "Can you stop by the store and grab a gallon of milk?"
How many thanksgiving calls would we hear? Unfortunately most of those are dropped before they're ever made. Try calling someone today and saying: "Hey Cooper, I just wanted to thank you for helping out at the luncheon yesterday. You really saved the day for us." Or, "Miss Anderson. You may not remember me, but you were my fourth grade teacher and your lessons on science are why I'm a zoologist today."
Those calls should never be dropped.
A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.
Pam Brown, Australian poet
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 7:1 -- 9:27
1 Corinthians 10:1 -- 12:31
:angel:
Single - for a Purpose
...He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:32b
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 7:7-9
British researchers analyzed speed dating - meeting people by evaluating prospects at an event through a series of brief one-on-one meetings - to see if singles with a wide variety of potential dates had a higher chance of meeting a partner. The verdict: They didn't. 1 Catering to singles has opened up new multi-million-dollar enterprises from single bars to computerized dating.
But we're mistaken if we take our cues from society on singleness. God doesn't think we need to spend time and money trying to "fix" it. Three times in 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul talks about the unmarried, and he uses the phrase: "It is good." If you're single, God wants you to accept it as one of His gifts to you. Use your singleness to grow and become content with His plan.
Perhaps you've heard - or even made - thoughtless comments like: "What's a sweet girl/guy like you doing single? Maybe your standards are too high for a mate. I prayed for my husband/wife." Respect the singles you encounter, and share God's view of singleness: It is good.
[A godly single] answers God's calling in his/her life while single, not waiting for marriage to give him/her happiness or purpose.
Richard D. Phillips and Sharon Phillips
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 13:1 -- 15:34
1 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/02/ap/europe/main20038270.shtml (accessed 7/5/11).
:angel:
Activate His Calling
. . . that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:35
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 7:7-9
There have inevitably been times in each of our lives when we have felt overwhelmed with the busyness of our daily routine. And in that busyness, whether we are married or single, we can find it is challenging to discover the calling of God for our lives. Many famous Christians like Amy Carmichael, gifted author and missionary to India (1900s); David Brainerd, missionary to the American Indians during the Great Awakening; and John Stott, prolific author and influential leader in world evangelicalism, are examples of unmarried believers who found peace and satisfaction through their devotion to Christian service.
Many times those that are single may feel that their opportunities for service are limited, but this is not true. The apostle Paul describes the unmarried person as one who "cares for the things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:32). And that he "may serve the Lord without distraction" (verse 35).
If you're single, you have the joy of giving yourself totally to God without the daily responsibility of a family. If you're married, find a ministry that you and your spouse can enjoy together. Each of us, whether married or single, has a calling to fulfill God's purpose without distraction.
Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full.
Watchman Nee
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 15:35 -- 2 Corinthians 2:17
:angel:
Alone . . . With God
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me . . .
2 Timothy 4:17
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-21
Lonely. You may feel the word even as you read it. It's an ache inside, almost to the point of nausea. Some understand the anguish of loneliness more than others. But there's One who understands it more acutely than any of us.
Testimonies of men and women in Scripture like Job, Hagar, Moses, David, and Paul express the crushing weight of loneliness. Jesus faced separation from God as He hung on the Cross for our sins. Though He was the one who needed strengthening, Jesus comforted the lonely disciples as they feared His imminent departure, "Let not your heart be troubled . . . I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-2).
The greatest news for believers is that Jesus is preparing a place for us, and He will return to take us there! The One who bore the loneliest moment in history promises: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Live in the assurance of His promise. See with the eyes of faith the One who listens to your heartfelt cries and cares for you.
Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out... let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love.
Kay Arthur
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 3:1 -- 7:16
:angel:
The Overseer
. . . though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, . . . You are with me . . .
Psalm 23:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 23
Hagar was one of those behind-the-scenes people, thrown into jobs she didn't seek -- a servant girl asked to conceive her master's child and then treated harshly by her mistress. Fleeing to the wilderness, Hagar sat alone by a well in despair and isolation. It was there God made His presence known to her. An overjoyed Hagar named the well, Beerlahairoi, "You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees" (Genesis 16:13-14).
Abraham was the powerful man in the spotlight, everyone wanted to be his friend. But when God asked him to do the unthinkable -- raise a knife to slay his son and prove his love for God -- he answered with humility and trust, not ego. Obediently hiking up Mount Moriah, Abraham faced the task alone. And in the moment of Abraham's deepest need, God provided the substitute sacrifice of a ram. Abraham called the place, Jehovah-Jireh, "The-Lord-Will-Provide" (Genesis 22:14).
Maybe you're feeling rejected and alone like Hagar. Or perhaps God is asking you to take a stand in an area of your life that will require a big change -- like Abraham. Loneliness comes to all of us. Remember that God sees you, and He will provide.
When God seems absent from us, He is often doing His most important work in us.
Author Unknown
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 8:1 -- 11:33
:angel:
Gray Areas
The splendor of old men is their gray head.
Proverbs 20:29b
Recommended Reading
Psalm 71:17-24
Just when we're about to worry about old age, we find there's nothing to worry about. The Lord has taken care of it with a handful of verses sufficient for every passing year. He says, for example, in Deuteronomy 33:25b, "As your days, so shall your strength be."
In Isaiah 46:4a, He promises, "Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!"
Psalm 71:18 tells us to pray: "Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation..."
The apostle Paul said, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
And Psalm 92 chimes in saying: "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree... They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright" (verse 12-15).
So don't worry -- gray hairs are great hairs!
O gracious God, forsake me not, when I am old and gray, that unto those that follow me I may Thy might display.
The Psalter
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 12:1 -- Galatians 2:21
:angel:
The Thanksgiving Express: In Person
She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude.
2 Kings 4:37a (NLT)
Recommended Reading
2 Kings 4:32-37
A common rule of thumb among fundraisers is: "Say Thank You Seven Times." Effective fundraisers teach that it's important to say "thank you" in a variety of ways between when a gift is received and when the next is requested. This is based on an old Chinese custom of saying "thank you" seven times. Ancient Turkish protocol also involved seven "thank-you's" for special gifts. Stories from Nigeria mention that the words Na gode, meaning, "Thank you," are repeated seven times. A common phrase in other cultures is, "Thank you seven times over." 1
If the world is discovering the power of "thank you" in secular fundraising, shouldn't God's people, with simple and sincere gratitude, make it a common practice to say "thank you" at least once? Find one or two people today and tell them what a blessing they have been in your life. Intentionally say an extra "Thank you" to someone today. In doing so, you yourself will be blessed seven times over!
Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.
Jacques Maritain, French philosopher
Read-thru-the-Bible
Galatians 3:1 -- 4:31
Galatians 5:1 -- Ephesians 1:23
1 Janet Hedrick, Effective Donor Relations (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008), 63.
:angel:
Monday, November 21
Silver and Gold
The silver-haired head is a crown of glory ....
Proverbs 16:31a
Recommended Reading
Joshua 14
If you're 65 years or older like me, you're part of a record-breaking group! The U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 23 million senior citizens living in America--more than at any time in history. That number is projected to double by 2050, with golden-agers making up 21 percent of the American population.1
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
Now I don't plan on retiring from the Lord's service. And those of us who have been blessed with years should face the future with vision and faith like our friend Caleb in the Bible. Caleb's life teaches us two valuable lessons: A senior can accomplish life's greatest achievements in old age, and we never have to retire from the Lord's service (Joshua 14).
What is the attitude of your heart? You're old at 40 if you've stopped growing and accepting challenges. God's dimensions in life are not bound to the years of time. Servant opportunities abound for volunteers in churches as well as short-term and career ministry opportunities around the world. It's no mistake that the word "golden" is used for seasoned citizens. Your silver hair qualifies you for the best years in God's service.
Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.
George MacDonald
1usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/olderstats.htm (accessed 7/13/11).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 2:1-4:32
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Befriend
. . . there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 18:1-4
The big news in spring 2008 was that Facebook removed a limitation restricting users to no more than 5,000 friend connections. Originally Facebook capped the number of friends because they wanted to make sure people only added "real" friends to their account. With millions of people using social networking, it seems loneliness would be obsolete. But the paramount question is: How many friends do you have in "real" life?
All of us have contacts we cross paths with at the grocery store or casual friends we converse with about sports or similar hobbies. But you'll probably find it hard to name more than one or two people in your life who qualify as a "committed friend" -- who sacrificially gives to your friendship.
David and Jonathan were committed friends. Their friendship didn't depend on status -- son of a sheepherder versus royalty. There was no manipulation or attempt to use the friendship for each other's selfish purposes. Through life-threatening trials, the relationship remained secure and steadfast.
God's human cure for loneliness is friendship -- committed and sacrificial. Do you just "friend" people on their Facebooks? Or befriend them in "real" life?
There is a scarcity of friendship, but not of friends.
Thomas Fuller
Read-thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 5:1 -- 6:24
1http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/general-other-im-news/42506-facebook-lift-5-000-friends-limit.html (accessed 7/13/11).
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Bearing Burdens
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:15-16
Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry was in a 2008 firefight in Afghanistan. Though already wounded in both legs, he grabbed a live grenade that landed amidst his team and attempted to throw it away. It exploded before he could release it, destroying his right hand and forearm and shredding him with shrapnel. Putting a tourniquet on his arm to stop the bleeding, he continued to direct his men until the fight was over. His actions saved his fellow soldiers from death and injury.
Sergeant Petry took upon himself the burden of injury that his fellow soldiers would certainly have suffered -- not unlike what Christ did on the cross to spare us from certain death for our sins. The power of one individual to come alongside and bear the burden of a discouraged soul is amazing -- perhaps even the power of life and death. We are in a spiritual battle, after all. And it may be a word of encouragement from the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) that saves a friend from the attack of the giant of despair.
Be a burden-sharer and -bearer today in the life of one who needs a word of encouragement from a friend like you.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Solomon
Read-thru-the-Bible
Philippians 1:1 -- 2:30
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Friday, November 25
High Praise
Praise Him in the heights!
Psalm 148:1 (ESV)
Recommended Reading
Psalm 148:1-4
How high is Mount Everest? For years, we've been taught that the highest peak in the world tops out at 29,028 feet. But critics have recently claimed that the exact height is 29,008. Others have suggested the summit rises to 29,035 feet. Earlier this year, the government of Nepal announced a new measurement would be made using the most modern satellite technology. So stay tuned. Those few disputed feet are important to the thousands of brave souls who have conquered the summit since Sir Edmund Hillary stood there in 1953.
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
Most of us will never hike to the top of Mount Everest, but we ascend to even greater heights whenever we're caught up in the joy of thanksgiving and praise. We're in rare air when we're breathing in the lofty atmosphere of joy and gratitude. We're dwelling above the heads of 99 percent of the world when we learn to see blessings amid the problems, count our mercies instead of our miseries, and thank God in all things knowing that this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us.
Live in the heights today. Be thankful.
From the depth of sin and sadness to the heights of joy and gladness Jesus lifted me.
Julia H. Johnston, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Colossians 1:1-2:23
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The Thanksgiving Express: Gratitude All Year Long
...and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-15
Not long before James A. Garfield was elected President of the United States, he received a letter from his wife. She wanted to tell him how she had learned to be thankful for ordinary everyday tasks. "It came to me this morning while making bread," she said. "Why not consider this a very pleasant occupation and make it so by making perfect bread? After that the very sunshine seemed flowing down through my spirit into the loaves, and now my table has better bread than ever before." 1
Everyday gratitude is the elixir of life. Instead of groaning and moaning, we can smile. We can train ourselves to do it. We can practice it until it becomes a habit.
Many nations set aside a Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude, but for the Christian there's never a day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a daily holiday for the believer. That's because goodness and mercy follow us all our days and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Christian belief and a downcast countenance are not appropriate companions.
John Thomson Faris
Read-thru-the-Bible
Colossians 3:1 -- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
1 Thessalonians 2:1 -- 4:18
1 John Thomson Faris, The Book of Joy (NY: George H. Doran Co., 1917), 48, 14.
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Never Lonely Again
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5b
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Have you noticed how the expression "always there for me" has made its way into our cultural conversation? People express gratitude for a friend, loved one, mentor, teacher, or other important person who "was always there for me." But "always" is a relative term -- no human friend can measure up to "always." One day they will not be there for us.
But there is another who is definitely always there: God's Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is sent by God to indwell all who have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit who makes real the life of Christ in us (Galatians 2:20). And it is the Spirit who gives us love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). What more could a person want in a time of loneliness or discouragement? The Holy Spirit is also our Counselor, or Helper, as described by Jesus (John 14:16-17). So in lonely moments, when we need comfort and counsel, the Spirit is there, never to leave us nor forsake us.
If you know Christ today, yet are in a lonely place, remember: The Spirit of God is with you -- never to leave.
Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named not good.
John Milton
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Thessalonians 5:1 -- 2 Thessalonians 3:18
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Pray Boldly
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:5-8
Telephone calls used to be routed by operators, manually connecting circuits at a switchboard -- plugging and unplugging wires all day long to keep conversations going. Today, think how many millions of calls are handled by computerized routers every second of the day. Better yet, imagine how many countless prayer "calls" God receives every moment from all over the world.
It would be easy to be dissuaded from praying by thinking of our individual prayer requests getting lost amidst the millions God hears. Yet we are exhorted to "let [our] requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6), and to do so boldly (Hebrews 4:16). King David did (countless times in Psalms), and so did the apostle Paul -- the same request three different times! (2 Corinthians 12:7-8) They didn't feel bad or guilty for continually asking God for help, nor should we. In fact, not to pray is to portray God as less than He is -- a generous Father (Luke 11:11-13).
If you are in a stressful place today, stop now and tell God. Because ultimately He is the answer to our prayers, meeting with Him is the beginning of your answer.
Anxiety and prayer are more opposed to each other than fire and water.
J. A. Bengel
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 1:1 -- 3:16
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Wednesday, November 30
When There Is No Peace
They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, "Peace, peace!" when there is no peace.
Jeremiah 6:14
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 9:6-7
The League of Nations (1920). The United Nations (1945). Countless regional, charitable, educational, and non-governmental organizations with "peace" in their title. None have actually promised peace, but they have all attacked the problem of war and discord like peace was possible. But all have been without permanent success. At any time of the day, somewhere in the world, a war is being waged.
Listen to Today's
Radio Message
How are we to live in a warring world without being influenced by such ever-present discord? How can we live in peace when there is no peace around us? How can we quell the internal discord we feel in times of loneliness, discouragement, and despair? The Bible points to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, as the answer (Isaiah 9:6-7). With Him living in us as Lord, the fruit of His Spirit in our life is peace (Galatians 5:22). When we commit our anxieties and discord to Him in prayer, we receive His peace (Philippians 4:6)--regardless of what is going on around us or within us.
Don't wait for the world to give you a peace it has no ability to provide. Take the peace of Christ that is available today to calm your troubled soul.
Exchange your worries for His peace, and learn to lean on Jehovah-Shalom--"The Lord Who Calms our Fears."
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 4:1-6:21
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Possibility of Peace
"Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace. . ."
Ezekiel 13:10a
Recommended Reading
John 14:25-27
There was a reason World War I was called "the Great War" -- it was the largest, costliest war in human history. To ensure such a war never happened again, the Allied nations helped create the League of Nations (1920) whose principle responsibility was to maintain world peace through negotiations, disarmament, settling of disputes through the justice system, and other means. At the height of its existence the League had 58 members. Unfortunately, World War II proved the League lacked the ability to keep the peace and it was replaced in 1946 by the United Nations -- which has also failed to bring peace on earth.
There is nothing wrong with trying to create peace. Indeed, the apostle Paul wrote, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). Whether others seek the same peace is beyond our control. But regardless of what is happening around us, we can have the peace of God "[guarding our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
As attention is turned to the birth of Christ this month, let His peace be birthed in your heart. What is impossible with man is certainly possible with God.
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Timothy 1:1 -- 3:17
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Blessed December
Let not your heart be troubled...
John 14:1
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:78-79
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could suspend all wars for the month of December in honor of Christ's birth? We've read about the amazing Christmas Eve truce of World War I when German and Allied soldiers sang carols, exchanged gifts, and played soccer on the battlefields of Flanders. Why can't the armies of the world declare December a month of peace? What if no diseases struck during December? No deaths occurred? No funerals were necessary?
We live in a deadly, disease-ridden, war-weary world; and there's no cessation of trouble. But the Lord Jesus Christ can give inner peace, and He can provide assurance of eternal peace. In one of His greatest promises, He said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
How personal! Notice the phrases: ...with you...to you...to you...your heart.
We don't know how to suspend war or wickedness, but as Christians we walk with the Lord and experience His peace every day of December and beyond.
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Timothy 4:1 -- Titus 3:15
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Why the Incarnation?
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1:14a
Recommended Reading
John 1:1-14
Our heavenly Father yearned through the centuries and the rise and fall of civilizations to redeem His needy people. He never ceased to reach out to His prodigal family. He did this in every possible way: through the glories of His creation, through the immeasurable gifts He gave them, through the words of prophets and teachers. He dispatched His servants with countless messages that said the same thing in ten thousand ways: "Come home, come home! You are loved now and forever."
In the end and at long last, in the fullness of time, God Himself made the journey. He poured His Godhead into flesh and blood and visited the earth as a man. He walked among us -- a King in disguise, the Creator among His creatures. He entered our world through a doorway called Bethlehem and the world was changed forever.
That's something to celebrate! That's the reason it's a merry Christmas. The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. He is your Emmanuel today -- God with us. Live in peace and strength knowing that God is with you!
Read-thru-the-Bible
Philemon 1:1 -- Hebrews 2:18
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Rest Not Stress
And He said to them,"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."
Mark 6:31a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 11:28-30
"Cure stress permanently!" The advertisement is alluring. But notice there's no guarantee? Promises of proven home remedies and natural cures for stress flood the market. So why are emergency rooms and doctors' offices overflowing with patients complaining of symptoms that are stress related? Provoking numerous physical and emotional conditions, stress is the malady of our day.
But stress is not a modern-day phenomenon. The Jews of Jesus' day also experienced burnout. Feverishly, they worked in vain to meet the demands of the hypocritical scribes. Jesus saw the Jews struggling under the weight of that oppressive system and entreated them: "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest." Those who responded felt the weight of their sin removed, and they experienced the promise of a new life and future.
Jesus' invitation calls out to us today. Are you burdened by unconfessed sin? Weary from responsibility, monotony, anxiety? Few things in life come with guarantees. Accept the life-time guarantee that Jesus offers you now: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Rest. Don't stress.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 7:1 -- 9:28
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One-for-One
. . . for I always do those things that please Him.
John 8:29
Recommended Reading
Mark 4:18-20
From medications to meditation, people are seeking ways to de-stress. Multiple agendas complicate our lives as we crave purpose and significance. If only we could live like Jesus did -- with one agenda.
You think you're busy? Jesus lived his life with unparalleled intensity. Crowds of people thronged Him with overwhelming needs and requests; yet Jesus lived in the peace that passes understanding. Jesus revolutionized His world with one agenda: doing His Father's will.
The magnificent call of Jesus is that He asks us to live the same way He did: ". . . I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29). He doesn't ask for 95% of our lives with personal agendas attached. As Jesus' disciples, we need to give every corner of our lives, every aspect of our thinking to Him -- our choices, crises, things that cause us stress. And as we follow His call, Jesus boldly promises: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
If you've been experiencing inner feelings of stress and uneasiness, maybe your agendas are blocking God's purpose for your life. One simple prayer will grant you rest in this tumultuous world: "Lord, teach me to do Your will."
Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 10:1 -- 11:40
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Inside Story
. . . though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
An astonishing $14 trillion a year is spent by Americans attempting to look stylish, according to a report last year by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 1 People's obsession with how they look dates as far back as the Lord correcting Samuel: ". . . man looks at the outward appearance, but [I look] at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Mirrors don't reflect the inner part of us that lasts forever. And when trials knock on our doors, looking cool won't prepare us to victoriously meet their test. The apostle Paul describes the inner man as being renewed day by day as spiritual muscles grow stronger. He wasn't a perfect specimen of health (2 Corinthians 12:7), but Paul survived persecution and imprisonment because he lived his life from the inside out, focusing on eternity. When stress-producing events occurred, Paul survived and kept on singing (Acts 16:25).
What's at the core of your life? Are you so focused on looking fashionable that you haven't spent time strengthening your inner person through studying God's Word and praying without ceasing? What could you adjust in your schedule this week to allow more time for spiritual growth?
Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 12:1 -- 13:25
1 http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-14-trillion-spent-annually-on-trying-to-loo,17125/ (accessed 8/9/11).
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Bible sWord Drill
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11
Recommended Reading
Luke 4:1-13
NFL legend Mike Ditka was giving a news conference after being fired as the coach of the Chicago Bears in 1992 when he decided to quote the Bible--erroneously: "Scripture tells you that all things shall pass," a choked-up Ditka said. "This, too, shall pass." 1
How often do you realize the Bible is being misquoted? Have you heard: "God helps those who help themselves"? Or, "Cleanliness is next to godliness"? Neither one of these bits of folk wisdom are found in Scripture. As biblical ignorance increases, phantom biblical phrases float around our culture. Will those words turn away the enemy of our souls? When Jesus faced Satan's temptations, he quoted Scripture (Luke 4:4, 8, 12).
Are you looking for strength to persevere through a tough situation in your life? It's tempting to grab on to short and tweet-worthy phrases instead of studying and memorizing the Bible. But taking time to establish a Bible-memory plan will ensure spiritual victory. Pray about memorizing Bible verses that will strengthen your weaknesses and help you overcome what is tempting you even now. Then put your Bible-memory plan into action!
Read-thru-the-Bible
James 1:1 -- 2:26
1 <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/05/thats-not-in-the-bible/> (accessed 8/9/11).
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Rusting or Trusting
Do not fret... Trust.
Psalm 37:1, 3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:1-4
The Harbour Bridge and nearby Opera House are iconic images of Sydney, Australia. But engineers have recently grown alarmed that the famous bridge is showing serious signs of corrosion. Last year city officials spent $12 million fighting an endless battle with rust.
Anxiety is like rust. It coats and corrodes the mind, weakening the entire structure. Worry dissolves our peace just as rust eats away the strength of a bridge -- weakening the metal that was formerly strong.
Sydney's Harbour Bridge will be fine. Workers have been stripping the structure back to bare metal and starting the rustproofing process all over again with special paints. But how do you rustproof the heart?
You simply add a "t" and turn rust to trust. The writer of Psalm 37 said: "Trust in the LORD ... Delight yourself also in the LORD... Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him... Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret... trust in Him" (v. 3, 4, 5, 7, 40).
Don't rust. Trust.
Read-thru-the-Bible
James 3:1 -- 5:20
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Why the Star?
We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.
Matthew 2:2b
Recommended Reading
Numbers 24:15-17
What compelled the Magi to put aside all they were doing to undertake a long and dangerous journey, following one shimmering star across the landscape? The wise men were astrologers, seeking to understand human events by reading the constellations. It was their habit to compare the skies to prophetic literature, including the Jewish scriptures. Perhaps they had read Numbers 24:17, which says: "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel."
For ancient Magi, the message was clear: A great king, announced with the silent fanfare of a brilliant star, was on the way. And if such a king was foretold more than one thousand years earlier, He was worth traveling to see.
And so they came, and so do we. Somehow this star, our star, broke through the galaxies to remind us that the intimate story of the Nativity is written on the widest of canvases. And when we see Him, every star dims by comparison.
Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Peter 1:1 -- 2:25
1 Peter 3:1 -- 5:14
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Walk in Peace
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . .
Luke 3:8
Recommended Reading
Luke 7:1-10
What does it take to amaze Jesus? Twice in His earthly ministry, Jesus "marveled" ("was amazed," NIV) at something. Once was when a Roman centurion had the faith to believe Jesus could heal his servant just by speaking the word from a distance (Luke 7:1-10). The soldier understood authority and recognized that sickness was subject to Jesus. His faith told him that all Jesus needed to do was give the command and the servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at this demonstration of faith. (The other instance is in Mark 6:6 -- Jesus was amazed for the opposite reason.)
John the Baptist verbalized a kingdom principle to the crowds who came to receive his baptism: "Bear fruits worthy of repentance." That is, your life must demonstrate your faith. That applies in every area of the faith life -- even worry and anxiety. If we commit our worries to God in prayer, and believe we have been given the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7), we need to walk in peace. We need to bring forth fruits worthy of God's promise and our prayer.
If you are worried today, amaze Jesus by how you acknowledge His lordship by walking in peace.
Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Peter 1:1--3:18
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Tuesday, December 13
Repetition
Blessed is the man... his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:7-9
At the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park outside Atlanta, the biggest roller coaster is Goliath: height on the first drop is 200 feet (like stepping off a 20-story building); top speed is 70 miles per hour; length is 4,480 feet spread out over 8.5 acres. For those standing in line to ride Goliath for the first time, fear is the predominant emotion. But for the diehards awaiting their hundredth ride, fear has been replaced by fun.
Listen to Today's Radio Message
The difference? Repetition. Doing fearful acts over and over--learning that you will, in fact, survive--is the secret to living in peace. And that's true even in the spiritual life. If the only time you pray or read your Bible is when a life-threatening crisis arises, you're not likely to have a lot of peace in spite of God's promises. But if you are learning to trust God daily by committing everything to Him in prayer--crises big or small--seeing God's faithfulness repeatedly over time leads to a worry-free life: "God has carried me through countless situations before this. I know He is with me."
Whatever happens today, commit it to God in prayer and walk in peace. Then repeat daily for the rest of your life.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 1:1-3:24
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Wednesday, December 14
Our Sufficient Abba
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.
2 Corinthians 3:5
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
"Mommy, can you put this barrette in my hair?" "Daddy, the chain came off my bike. Can you fix it?" "Coach, what can I do on the weights to begin building more strength?" "Pastor, can you help us resolve an issue in our relationship that we keep getting stuck on?"
Listen to Today's Radio Message
Those questions--and a thousand more just like them--suggest a couple of things about the person who is asking. The first is inadequacy. Whether a result of age, immaturity, inexperience, or lack of training, everyone is inadequate in some (many) ways. The second is a willingness to ask for help. Children don't hesitate to ask for help, while adults are sometimes hesitant due to pride. If we are to make progress in our spiritual life, we have to embrace both realities: inadequacy and a willingness to ask God for help. The Bible says God is our Abba (the Aramaic word for "daddy") who stands ready to hear His children's requests for help (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
If we were sufficient in all things, we wouldn't need God's sufficiency. It is up to us to recognize our inadequacy and be willing to ask for help.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 4:1-2 John 1:13
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One Day at a Time
LORD, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.
Psalm 88:9b
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-9
Suppose you have a long glass tube the exact diameter of a marble, lying on its side, with openings at both ends. Presently, the tube contains exactly 100 black marbles filling the tube in single file from one end to the other. Your goal is to fill the tube with 100 white marbles, but you can remove only one black marble per day. How many days will it take to fill the tube with white marbles? Obviously, 100 days. As you push one new white marble in one end of the tube each day, a black marble will fall out of the tube on the opposite end. By the one-hundredth day -- in with a white marble, out with a black -- the tube will be full of white marbles.
Can you do the same with spiritual growth? Can your mind -- the battlefield in spiritual warfare -- be filled more and more with godly thoughts, driving out ungodly thoughts of fear, worry, and anxiety? Yes, but it won't happen overnight. Following Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:8-9 is a good place to begin by meditating daily on what is noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
The more we fill our heart and mind with godly prayer and meditation, the less room there will be for worry.
Read-thru-the-Bible
3 John 1:1 -- Jude 25
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A Word From the Lord
My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.
Psalm 119:28
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:25-32
Tony Evans suggests that as we study the Bible objectively we should also remember that the Lord leads us subjectively in its application. The Holy Spirit often gives us promises for particular needs in life. Evans wrote: "Have you ever heard someone say, 'God gave me a verse'? That person finds an application of the verse to his life even though the verse itself may have been written about Moses or Abraham, or someone else. How does this Christian know that this verse can be applied this way in his life? ...I believe the answer is in the internal witness of the Spirit. He applies different verses to different Christians in different ways at different times." 1
Dedicating our minds to Christ allows the Spirit to guide our thoughts into pathways that are positive and restorative. When we're prone to impure or anxious thoughts, the Holy Spirit can transform our lives through the renewing of our minds. As we study Scripture, He gives us new verses for every day and every dilemma. Do you have a word from the Lord today?
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 1:1 -- 2:29
1 Tony Evans, The Promise (Chicago: Moody, 1996), 285.
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Why Bethlehem?
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea...
Matthew 2:1
Recommended Reading
Micah 5:2-5
Someone once said that the hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable. There were thousands of towns in the days of Christ. But only one had been predicted as Messiah's birthplace by Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
The word "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread," for Christ was the Bread from heaven. "Ephrathah" means "fruitfulness," as Jesus later told His disciples, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit" (John 15:8a). In a forgotten corner of a forgotten town came the most unforgettable news the world has ever heard. In the House of Bread, Bread was served. In the town of fruitfulness, someone came as the sweet fruit of heaven.
Just as the Child quietly arrived in that town of towns, so He longs to be born again in the hearts of every one of us.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 3:1 -- 5:14
Revelation 6:1 -- 7:17
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Like Mother, Like Son
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."
Luke 1:38a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 26:36-39
Life is filled with dubious distinctions. Like the soldier chosen by his commanding officer to crawl up to enemy lines to spy on their operations. Or the accounting whiz who is chosen by his boss to work late for a month, crunching the numbers on a project. Or the college running back whose quarterback calls his number to run straight into the meanest defensive line in the conference. In every case, the response is, "Thanks a lot!"
What if God gave you the distinction of bearing the Son of God's human birth? An honor on one hand, an embarrassment to you and your fiancé on the other. But young Mary did the right thing: She submitted to the word and will of God by faith, trusting Him for the outcome. It's no surprise that her Son, when faced with the distinction of sacrificing His life for the sins of the world, followed not only His father's, but also His mother's example: "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).
The next time God calls you to do something challenging -- loving another, giving away your money, forgiving a family member, forgiving yourself -- follow Mary's and Jesus' example. Take God at His Word and trust Him by faith.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 8:1 -- 10:11
:angel:
Party and Pause
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Matthew 2:11a
Recommended Reading
Luke 2:8-20
Today, it's not uncommon to receive pictures by email taken in a hospital room. There's a tired, but radiant mom; a bundle full of newborn joy; older brothers, sisters, and cousins crowding in to see the new baby; and a host of adults as well: Dad, grandparents, adult siblings -- it's like a party! That picture is in stark contrast to the images of a few generations ago: Seen from within the newborn nursery, that same crowd would be standing outside the glass viewing window, staring silently and in awe at the swaddled infant whose bassinet bore their family's last name.
The birth of Jesus was a combination of both pictures. In the skies over Bethlehem, were the angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. But later in the quiet stable, there was a hushed reverence as the shepherds bowed before Jesus; likewise for the magi who appeared later bearing gifts.
This Christmas, let both responses be yours: Sing "Joy to the World" at the top of your lungs to celebrate your salvation. And "Silent Night, Holy Night" with the awe befitting the birth of the King of Kings.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 11:1 -- 13:18
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The Wonder of Christmas
And His name will be called Wonderful...
Isaiah 9:6b
Recommended Reading
Psalm 131
A former prisoner in Folsom, California, was arrested recently for trying to break back into prison. The parolee was caught attempting to scale the seven-foot-tall, barbed-topped fence that encircles the infamous penitentiary. Authorities haven't yet determined the reason for the attempted break-in. They speculate he was trying to smuggle drugs or cell phones to other inmates.
Jesus offers a way out of the prison of sin, but many people would apparently rather scale the walls of wickedness than enjoy the freedom of Calvary. They don't understand the wonder of Christmas or the message of redemption, nor do they embrace the wonder of the name of Jesus. But you can. Let Jesus free you from whatever's holding you back -- sin, failure, addiction, shame, brokenness, fear, sadness. He breaks the power of cancelled sin and sets the prisoner free. He came to set us free; and if the Son of God sets us free, we are free indeed.
Isaiah 29:9 says: "Pause and wonder!" So pause and wonder about that. And shout: Alleluia!
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 14:1 -- 16:21
:angel:
A Simple Christmas
Son, why have you done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."
Luke 2:48
Recommended Reading
Luke 21:1-4
Have you ever wondered if Joseph and Mary struggled to pay their bills? They were hardworking people raising a large family in a mountainside town. Surely there were cycles to the economy in ancient times just as today. Do you suppose they ever weathered a recession? Do you suppose Joseph ever had a day when he had to stay home and work around the house because the building industry was in decline? Think the siblings ever squabbled? Think Mary ever sat up with a feverish child?
We envision the "Holy Family" with haloes on their heads, moving serenely through life in layered sheens of light. But on at least one occasion, Mary was upset with her twelve-year-old firstborn who hadn't kept up with the group returning home.
The point is that Jesus came from a simple background and grew up in an ordinary family. The Lord can greatly bless and use simple, ordinary people like us. He gives grace to the humble. Don't be afraid of a simple Christmas. The Savior likes the simple things of life; He grew up that way.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 17:1 -- 18:24
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Something About That Name
His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21
Recommended Reading
Luke 2:21-24
There's just something about that name! As He is King of kings, so His name is above all names. "Jesus" is a simple word -- five letters in the English. Yeshua in Hebrew. Joshua in the Old Testament -- the name of a warrior (Joshua 1:1) and of a priest (Zechariah 3:1). Yet somehow His name stirs the deepest passions in humanity. To believers it's a holy word; to others it's a curse.
The Bible says, "Call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). We're to forsake all for His Name; and though we'll be hated of all nations because of His name, yet the message of repentance and remission of sins is to be preached in His name to all nations (Matthew 19:29, 24:9; Luke 24:47).
Peter reminds us, "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). And at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Jesus! Because of His name, ours are written in Heaven.
Read-thru-the-Bible
Revelation 19:1 -- 20:15
:angel:
Stewards of Health
You shall come to the grave at a full age, as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.
Job 5:26
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 34:5-7
The English author Daniel Defoe may have said it first, but it's Benjamin Franklin's version that has become the standard: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Setting aside taxes, we can agree regarding death: "And as it is appointed for men to die once . . ." (Hebrews 9:27).
The real question is not whether we die, but how. The picture painted for Job by one of his friends is a strange one when compared to modern reality. Eliphaz pictured life as a growing season, with the harvest of full fruit coming at the end. In a garden, harvest only happens when plants are nourished richly and consistently to encourage the bountiful fruit God intended. Gardening is a matter of stewardship of soil and plants together. And so is life and health a matter of good stewardship. As stewards of the gifts of God, we are called to care for our physical life just as faithfully as our spiritual life; to nourish our bodies with good food, exercise, and plenty of rest.
As you look toward the coming year, what new practices can you bring to bear on the stewardship of your health?
The fundamental truth in the matter of stewardship is that everything we touch belongs to God.
John Blanchard
Read-thru-the-Bible
Romans 8:1-39; 12:1-21
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Wednesday, December 28
Family Perspective
... you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%205&version=NKJV )
"Hey, you!" It's probably not your favorite way to be summoned. If you need your spouse, you might call out, "Sweetheart" or "Honey." Everyday we use friendly expressions like, "Hey, buddy," or even "Dude." These familiar names for each other help keep us close.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Scripture calls Christians believers, disciples, friends, servants, and saints. But my favorite name--from a family perspective--is brethren. Brothers can be close, and yet they can fall into disagreement. But because we are brethren, we need to live in harmony.
Nehemiah was a leader who promoted unity among the Jews when disharmony was crumbling the effort to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The divide between the rich and poor had created an economic squeeze that was about to destroy their unity. Nehemiah knew that when God's people don't get along, our testimony is damaged. Nehemiah successfully gathered the Jews together, and the rebuilding project was accomplished.
The badge of our discipleship is our love toward each other. Maybe you've been avoiding one of your Christian brethren who is hard to love. Since unity is God's goal for us, what could you do to show God's love to them?
Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Philippians 3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203-4&version=NKJV )
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Truth-Full
Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.
Ephesians 4:25
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:1-3, 25-32
Back in 1940, only 20 percent of college students admitted to cheating. Today, that number has increased to 75%-98%. Worse yet, two-thirds of parents think cheating is no big deal and that all students do it, according to statistics from National Public Radio. 1 What has happened to integrity?
In public and private, integrity should guide our lives. There's no better way to silence critics of the Gospel than to live above reproach, according to God's standard of holiness. Nehemiah and the apostle Paul were committed to integrity. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah could have received a food allowance from the Jews. Instead, he fed 150 workers from his own pocket as they rebuilt the Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah 5:14-19). The apostle Paul continued his trade of tent making as he ministered, so that none could misconstrue that he was in ministry for the money (Acts 20:33-35).
If Christians are to influence society toward integrity, we must radiate lives that point people to the Savior through honest living. Perhaps someone is pressuring you to lower your standards -- take a stand today and choose a life of integrity.
Truth has no degrees or shades. A half-truth is a whole lie, and a white lie is really black.
John MacArthur
Read-thru-the-Bible
Psalms 1, 23, and 37
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Taste of Perfection
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.
Psalm 34:8a
Recommended Reading
John 6:28-35
If you knew you'd be wandering in a wilderness for forty years, would you panic, wondering how you would eat? That's what the Israelites did even though God had just miraculously released them from slavery in Egypt. Why do we forget that God is bigger than our fears and wiser than man-made solutions?
Hungry, the Israelites woke up one morning wondering where breakfast would come from. As the dew lifted from the ground, there lay God's provision -- manna -- that sustained the Israelites for 40 years till they entered the Promised Land (Exodus 16). No man-made solution could have daily provided an omer (6 pints) of manna for two million people. God did it! He's always the answer for our needs.
Do you ever spend sleepless nights projecting your future and wondering how you will solve seemingly insurmountable problems? You may feel that life is pointless. You're in a wilderness experience, and the help you need is not from yourself or any other person. Jesus is your manna, all-sufficient for the ups and downs of your life. Have you tried Him? Have you tasted? Have you trusted? "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"
He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.
C. S. Lewis
Read-thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 4 and 5
:angel:
Why His Return?
And if I go... I will come again...
John 14:3
Recommended Reading
Revelation 22:6-7
The first appearance of Jesus was a mission of humility and sacrifice. The second will be a mission of triumph and transformation. He often described it as a groom returning for His bride. The Church, He said, is "the bride of Christ." And what eager brides we are! -- eagerly awaiting our Lord to come take us home! According to 1 Thessalonians 4, He will break through the clouds with a great shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
But He must also come to judge the world. Jesus spoke several times of the final judgment, when He would come to judge the living and the dead and to separate His faithful children from those who refuse to follow Him.
He'll also return to establish a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. How eagerly we're awaiting His new universe with its shimmering capital city described in Revelation 21 and 22 as the New Jerusalem.
Another year is dawning, dear Father let it be, on earth or else in Heaven another year for Thee!
Frances Havergal
Read-thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119
Genesis 1:1-2:24
:angel:
Weekend, January 1
New Year's Resolutions: Resolve to Guard
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
Recommended Reading
Mark 7:14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%207:14-16&version=NKJV )
In 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, making it illegal for private U.S. citizens to possess gold coins, bullion, or certificates. Between 1933 and 1937, so much gold was purchased from citizens that a secure storage place was needed. The United States Bullion Depository--traditionally called "Fort Knox"--was built and began receiving gold shipments in 1937. It is one of the most secure buildings in the world.
We guard that which we value most. In spiritual terms, then, the "heart" of man should be guarded. The heart--the mind, emotions, and will--is the seat of man's volitional commitment to God. It is no wonder the father in Proverbs exhorted his son to "keep your heart with all diligence." Why? "For out of it spring the issues of life." The heart is pictured like a spring, out of which flows that which gives life. If we are to live a righteous, godly life, the spring of the heart must be guarded with all diligence.
For 2012 resolve to make your heart even more secure than Fort Knox. Since your spiritual treasure is more valuable than gold, your heart should be all the more secure.
When anger was in Cain's heart, murder was not far off.
Philip Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 1:1-3:24
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Monday, January 2
A Greater Vision
...Lord, what do You want me to do?...
Acts 9:6
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209:1-22&version=NKJV )
Welcome to the first Monday of 2012. Did you make some New Year's resolutions? Today I want to challenge you with a question: What has God put in your heart to do? Because when you get in the sweet spot of God's vision for your life, you'll be in the center of His will for 2012.
Listen to Today'sBRRadio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Every person who has made a difference with their life has articulated a vision about their future. Check out the visions of David (2 Samuel 7), Solomon (1 Kings 3:9), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:5), and the apostle Paul (Acts 9:6). Paul's vision for his life dramatically changed on the road to Damascus with one question: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" It's a question we all should ask.
God's vision for you can be your road map for 2012. Is there a purpose you've been sensing for your life, yet you're avoiding it because it's out of your comfort zone? God will grow you in the areas that need strengthening. He will never call you to do something that He won't help you do. Remember Moses' lack of confidence and God's assurance? (Exodus 3:11-12) Ask this question, and catch God's vision for 2012!
You will invest your life in something, or you will throw it away on nothing.
Haddon Robinson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 4:1-6:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204:1-6:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Are You Perspiring Yet?
. . . I press on . . .and reaching forward . . . I press toward the goal.
Philippians 3:12-14
Recommended Reading
2 Samuel 7
Using athletic terms, the apostle Paul describes his pursuit of living a life totally sold out to God's purpose for him. The action words help us picture the perspiring athlete's drive as he stretches his legs out, pressing toward his mark, determined to finish strong.
A godly vision that is worthy of following demands sacrifice and yields a great result. God placed a vision in David's heart after steering him away from his first dream. David's desire was to build God a temple more beautiful than his own palace. Yet God's vision was for David to head up the temple's fundraising campaign and for David's son Solomon to build the temple.
When Paul and David received their visions from God, it gave them a dynamic purpose for living. He wants to do the same for you. You can live each day in 2012 with anticipation, watching God's vision unfold and seeing results in the lives of other people God impacts through you. His vision will cost you. You'll need to stretch yourself and persevere and pray to finish strong. Seek God's vision, and go for it in 2012!
Those who give much without sacrifice are reckoned as having given little.
Erwin Lutzer
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 7:1 -- 10:32
:angel:
Wednesday, January 4
First Things First
...seek first the kingdom of God...
Matthew 6:33
Recommended Reading
1 Kings 17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2017&version=NKJV )
The United States experienced an unprecedented year of natural catastrophes in 2011. Ten national disasters in the first six months, costing billions of dollars, tested our emergency preparations and reserves. From hurricanes to earthquakes to blackouts, we had to rely on personal and community provisions to get us through the crises. God's sacrificial-style of giving--not out of our abundance, but out of our storehouses--is being tested.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Famines ravaged cities during biblical times. So you can imagine Elijah's surprise when he needed provisions and God told him to go to a famine-ridden city and ask a poor widow for food. But Elijah obeyed God and assured the widow, "Do not fear... make me a small cake from it first [italics added]" (1 Kings 17:13). Elijah knew something the widow hadn't experienced: Trust God by putting Him first, and watch God work.
Giving with open hands--especially in the midst of a crisis--puts God first. When we give to Him with open hands, He not only blesses us but He takes what He wants and gives back what we need. Humanly speaking, it may not make sense. But put God first in your life, and watch what He will do.
Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.
John Henry Jowett
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 11:1-14:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2011:1-14:24&version=NKJV )
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New Year. Fresh start. That's the promise this season brings ...
So why are those same doubts and insecurities still lurking in the shadows of your life?
What's keeping you from victorious Christian living?
Loneliness. Discouragement. Worry. Anger. Procrastination. Doubt. Fear. Guilt. Temptation. Resentment. Failure. Jealousy.
These "giants" plague today's Church, causing far too many of God's children to stumble in their walks. How about you ... which of these Goliaths have infiltrated your life?
To help you stand valiantly against the giants that seek to terrorize your Christian walk in this New Year, I've launched a special, interactive Bible study website to correlate with my upcoming radio and TV broadcast series, Slaying the Giants in Your Life.
Please click here to visit The Land of the Giants website right now! ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/lotg/Default.aspx?tid=email_2012jan04v1 )
You can watch, or listen to, each of the radio and television broadcasts from this series, including four messages not aired on Turning Point Television. You'll also find Scripture, quizzes, and other resources to help you slay the giants in your life.
- Learn battle strategies for overcoming worry and anger;
- Be encouraged by Nehemiah's struggle against discouragement;
- Discover how the Apostle Paul confronted the giants of loneliness and failure;
- And much more.
Visit The Land of the Giants online ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/lotg/Default.aspx?tid=email_2012jan04v1 ).
We began the television series January 1! Tune in to Turning Point Television for the next 8 weeks, and to Turning Point Radio, beginning February 1, as we pull back the curtain on the giants in your life ... and claim a rousing victory in 2012!
God bless you,
David Jeremiah
:angel:
Thursday, January 5
Caught Like a Monkey!
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:13-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:13-21&version=NKJV )
There's an ancient parable, "The Monkey's Fist," that teaches a profound lesson. Native tribes would catch monkeys by hollowing out coconuts, filling them with bait, then tethering them to trees to lure the monkeys. When the monkey reached into the small opening in the coconut, his hand fit. But once his fist was full of the bait, he couldn't retrieve it--the monkey was trapped. The lesson for all of us is that the coconut was not the monkey's undoing, but rather his greedy unwillingness to let go of the bait.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
I know a lot of people like that. They clutch their material possessions so tightly in the attitude of their hearts that worry handicaps them, negatively impacting their faith, their family and friends, and their future. If only they would put God first, giving Him what belongs to Him--their time, talents, and treasures--then they could quit worrying about their future.
If you are grasping something tightly right now, you're in a trap and need to release your grip. There's not a better time to let go. Open your hands now. God has incredible gifts and resources for you--more than you could ever hold in your fists.
God doesn't look at just what we give. He also looks at what we keep.
Randy Alcorn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 15:1-18:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2015:1-18:33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Giving All
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:1
America's most recent Medal of Honor winner, Sergeant Dakota Meyer, was responsible for rescuing nearly three dozen comrades during a 2009 battle in Afghanistan. Over a six-hour period, he made five different trips into harm's way to rescue wounded and fallen fellow soldiers. After the conflict, reflecting on what he had done, then-Corporal Meyer stated, "I didn't think I was going to die. I knew I was."
That attitude -- setting out expecting to die -- is a heroic one when it comes to military conflict. But it has a parallel in the spiritual realm that is expected of every Christian: death to self when we choose to follow Christ as His disciple. Paul expresses the idea best in Romans 12:1 when he talks about presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. We live, yet we live as those who have died to self, sin, and the system of this world.
The very first act of stewardship we must carry out is dedicating all we have and all we are to God for His glory. It's what good stewards do -- giving up everything to live for the Master.
Consecration is resolution that is not afraid of sacrifice.
Anonymous
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 19:1 -- 21:34
:angel:
Weekend, January 7 & 8
New Year's Resolutions: Resolve to Glean
These... searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11
Recommended Reading
Ruth 2:1-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%202:1-23&version=NKJV )
When vines, trees, and fields were harvested in the Old Testament times, the harvesters deliberately left some produce in the field. The leftovers were for the poor and strangers to collect or glean. The harvest was concerned with the "low-hanging" fruit, while gleaning was focused on letting nothing go to waste. The best example of gleaning is the story of Ruth who gleaned in the fields of Boaz to support herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Applying the idea of gleaning to spiritual growth, the low-hanging fruit is what we get in the Sunday sermon, a Sunday school lesson, or a home Bible study group. But there is more! We need to go back to the Word of God again and again, looking for what was missed the first time around. We should be like the Christians in Berea who "searched the Scriptures daily" to verify what Paul and Silas were preaching to them. Looking for truth "as for hidden treasures" (Proverbs 2:4) is the only way to make sure we will never go spiritually hungry.
In 2012 resolve to be a gleaner in the Word of God, letting no morsel of truth go undigested.
As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 22:1-27:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022:1-27:17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, January 9
An Odd Offering
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:17
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2016:16-17&version=NKJV )
An Atlanta-area church recently faced an interesting dilemma. An anonymous attender dropped a ticket into the offering plate. It was the winning Georgia Lottery ticket worth $80,000. Such a gift would generate a variety of opinions in many churches. But most of us would agree on this--the secret to sustained stewardship isn't in lotteries but in Lordship.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
If Jesus is Lord of all, He is Lord over our finances, expenses, and giving. He is Lord over our income and outflow. He is Lord over our financial involvement in His work. When we support ministries He lays on our hearts, we're not really giving to those ministries. We're giving to Him.
These are critical days for work and for His workers. In many places progress is faltering for lack of funds. Perhaps too many Christians are overspending on themselves when they should be economizing for the kingdom. The cause of Christ isn't going to be advanced by lottery tickets or lavish lifestyles, but by the faithfulness of those who proclaim Him Lord of all.
Giving is an act of worship, and so every worshipper must be one of God's givers, whether rich or poor. The mites God values as much as the millions.
A. T. Pierson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 27:18-29:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027:18-29:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Sustained!
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22
Recommended Reading
Psalm 55:16-22
Today's devotion is sponsored by two simple syllables: Sustain. It's a word that means "to support, to hold, to bear up from beneath, to bear the weight of." Nehemiah 9:21 says about the Israelites, "Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing." The psalmist said, "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me" (Psalm 3:5). David promised that God would sustain the generous person even on a bed of sickness (Psalm 41:3).
Isaiah 46:4 says, "Even to your old age and gray hairs...I am He Who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you" NIV (1984).
Like the giant pillars of an unshakable bridge, the promises of God bear us up from beneath. His everlasting arms sustain us through every storm. A hymn by Anne Steele provides a good prayer for today: "My great protector, and my Lord, Thy constant aid impart; O let Thy kind, Thy gracious Word sustain my trembling heart."
Under every condition, in every circumstance, for every burden, in every need, through every sorrow, Christ, the source and sustainer of life, is more than sufficient.
A. L. Faust, early Methodist leader
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 30:1 -- 31:55
:angel:
Wednesday, January 11
Backpack Living
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 121 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20121&version=NKJV )
With airlines charging us extra fees if we want to take our suitcase with us on vacation, more people are learning to take less. Even on overseas trips, many seasoned travelers pack little more than a change of clothes and a toothbrush. Garments can be washed out in a sink at night, and other supplies can be picked up as needed. Traveling with a half-empty backpack is a liberating adventure.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The same is true of life. The more we acquire, the more we have to tend. Everything requires attention and maintenance. Costs increase. An escalating lifestyle brings accelerating pressure. Pretty soon our possessions possess us.
Rather than being upwardly mobile, why not deliberately downsize? Constantly be de-cluttering. Pour your money into eternal investments and live simply.
In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon admitted that he found little lasting satisfaction in his houses, vineyards, orchards, servants, herds, tools, toys, and treasures (2:4-11). Real joy was found in the simplest acts of eating, drinking, working hard, and laboring for the Lord (2:24).
For a better trip, throw a Bible in your backpack and travel light.
We are traveling on with our staff in hand... We are pilgrims bound for the heavenly land.
Fanny Crosby
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 32:1-34:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2032:1-34:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Brawling Billionaires
And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...
Deuteronomy 8:18
Recommended Reading
Genesis 22:13-14
Recently a Russian television show broadcast a panel discussion about the world's financial crisis. Two billionaires were among the guests. When the conversation grew heated, the men degenerated into name-calling. One of the billionaires became so livid he leaped up and pummeled the other with his fists, knocking him from his chair. Viewers were thoroughly entertained by the fracas, but it's safe to say no one was reassured about the men's leadership.
The world is facing global financial crisis, and even our best leaders seem unable to manage it. As Christians, we're to pray for wise rulers, but our confidence is in the Lord. He has promised to provide for His children. He gives us the power to gain wealth, which means He gives us the opportunity and the strength to gain the provisions we need. In His timing, He will provide the job, the work, and/or the provisions. As Martha Cook said, "In some way or other the Lord will provide; it may not be my way, it may not be thy way, and yet in His own way, the Lord will provide."
No word He hath spoken was ever yet broken: The Lord will provide!
Martha A. Cook
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 35:1 -- 37:11
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Friday, January 13
Long-term Investing
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:19-20
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 6:6-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%206:6-11&version=NKJV )
There is a place called the Four Corners where, theoretically, one can be in four states at the same time. The Four Corners is where the SW corner of Colorado, the NW corner of New Mexico, the NE corner of Arizona, and the SE corner of Utah meet. Like a contestant in a game of Twister, one could straddle the meeting point on all-fours with a foot and hand in each of the four states.
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Christians live in two domains simultaneously. We are residents of an earthly state and citizens of heaven at the same time (Philippians 3:20). Earthly citizenship is temporary (Psalm 90:10) while heaven is eternal (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Living in two places impacts our stewardship. The Bible encourages us to be good stewards (investors) of what we have on earth (Matthew 25:14-30), but to focus on investing for eternity (Matthew 6:19-20).
As you begin 2012, take stock of your investments. Make sure you are investing for the long term--for eternity--as a steward of the gifts of God.
A man is just as rich as his investment in the bank of heaven.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 37:12-40:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2037:12-40:23&version=NKJV )
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New Year's Resolution: Resolve to Give
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper . . .
1 Corinthians 16:2a
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 8:16-21
Technology has simplified our lives in many ways, including financially. We download monthly statements from our bank into financial software on our computer. We pay our bills online -- we can even have repetitive bills paid automatically from our bank account without even having to remember. Many church and ministry websites allow you to make financial contributions online.
There are no doubt efficiencies created by these technologies, but there is one dimension of our financial stewardship that may suffer: We are increasingly disconnected from money as it comes from God's hand to ours and our management of it. When Paul asked the churches in Macedonia and Corinth to collect money for the suffering church in Jerusalem, he asked them to set aside their money weekly -- "on the first day of the week" (our Sunday). That meant they had to account for what they had earned that week and decide how much to set aside for "God's work."
In 2012 resolve to stay intimately involved with what God gives you and what you give back to Him.
The fundamental truth in the matter of stewardship is that everything we touch belongs to God.
John Blanchard
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 41:1 -- 45:28
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Monday, January 16
Spiritual Numbness
Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
Matthew 25:40
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:34-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:34-40&version=NKJV )
The loss of feeling is a warning sign for athletes. Numbness usually arises from a lack of blood flow and causes a loss of sensation, especially in our extremities such as hands and feet. In a hard-hitting NFL game in November 2010, Philadelphia's kick returner Ellis Hobbs was tackled so hard he lost feeling in his body and was carted off the field. It was a career-ending injury. Cincinnati's Andy Dalton had a problem with his wrist following a rigorous tackle. "I just lost feeling," he said, "and could not grip the ball like I wanted to."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The loss of feeling is a warning sign to Christians too. When we lose our burden for the lost, our compassion for the poor, our concern for orphans around the world, or our excitement about the church... those are danger signs. Sometimes our affluence can make us insensitive to the needs of others. Sometimes busyness can do the same. Often the culprit is a backslidden heart.
If we stay sensitive to the needs of the "least of these," we'll be doing the most for Him.
Break my heart for what breaks Yours; everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause.
Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown, in the song "Hosanna"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 46:1-48:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2046:1-48:22&version=NKJV )
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Do You Believe It Now?
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:7-10
Evangelist D. L. Moody had just started preaching a sermon on Galatians 6:7 when a man in the audience stood up and shouted, "I don't believe it."
Moody replied, "My friend, that doesn't change the fact. Truth is truth whether you believe it or not, and a lie is a lie whether you believe it or not." When the meeting broke up, a police officer was at the door to arrest the man. He was convicted of theft and sent to prison for twelve months. Moody observed, "I really believe that when he got to his cell, he believed that he had to reap what he sowed." 1
Careless habits are like sowing to the wind. A wrong word, an immoral activity, an angry look -- all these will bring forth results. On the other hand, a wise word, a spiritual activity, a smile, a word of witness, a gift, a Gospel tract -- these will not return void.
The principle of the harvest is true in every aspect of our lives -- we reap according to what we have sown.
The evil harvest of sin and the good harvest of righteousness are as sure to follow the sowing as the harvest of wheat and barley. Life is not casual, but causal.
D. L. Moody
Read-thru-the-Bible
Genesis 49:1 -- Exodus 1:22
1 D. L. Moody, Sowing and Reaping (Ada, MI: Fleming Revell, 1896), 9-10.
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Wednesday, January 18
How Your Garden Grows
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 11:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2011:24&version=NKJV )
Evangelist D. L. Moody had just started preaching a sermon on Galatians 6:7 when a man in the audience stood up and shouted, "I don't believe it."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In 2005 scientists germinated a date palm seed that was recovered from Herod the Great's palace atop Masada in the Judean wilderness--making it around 2,000 years old. And a 1,300-year-old lotus seed recovered from China was germinated in 1995.* These remarkable examples of preservation, however, are more the exception than the rule. Seed companies today don't normally guarantee the viability of their seed for more than a few years.
Lots of things determine the quality of a harvest: the quality of the seed, the number of seeds sown, the quality of the soil, and the amounts of moisture and nutrients provided. And the same is true with spiritual harvest. God's laws of the harvest apply to the sowing we perform. If our seeds are our good works, our financial investments, our prayers, our study, and our service and worship, then quality and quantity are important. No farmer would sow haphazardly and expect a beautiful, bountiful harvest. And neither should we.
As stewards, we have been entrusted with seeds to sow. And as we sow, so shall we reap.
Anyone can count the seeds in one apple, but only God can count the apples in one seed.
Unknown
*en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_viable_seed (accessed 9-16-11).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 2:1-5:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%202:1-5:23&version=NKJV )
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, January 19
Giving by Grace
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing.
2 Corinthians 8:3
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%208:1-7&version=NKJV )
According to research, the rich give more dollars to charity, but the working poor give a larger percentage of their income. And the single biggest indicator of whether a person will give to charity is his or her religious life (or not). Religious people give more frequently and more overall (four times more) than non-religious people.*
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Biblical history seems to back up that research. The most generous people mentioned in the New Testament were the (apparently) poor Christian believers in Macedonia. When Paul asked them to contribute what they could to help the persecuted and suffering church in Jerusalem, they begged Paul to accept their gifts and deliver them to Jerusalem. And those were gifts given "in a great trial of affliction" and "deep poverty" (2 Corinthians 8:2). To what does Paul attribute their spontaneous "liberality"? "The grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia" (verse 1).
It's no wonder that Paul used the term "cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7) to describe those filled with grace to give. May you be a cheerful giver throughout this New Year.
The secret of true giving is the joy of the Holy Ghost.
Andrew Murray
*abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730&page=2 (accessed 9-16-11).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 6:1-8:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%206:1-8:32&version=NKJV )
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Friday, January 20
Infinite Grace to Give
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:14-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:14-19&version=NKJV )
We used to think of air and water--perhaps sunlight, also--as being available in super-abundant quantities, more than was needed. But no more. Clean air has become a rarity in many parts of the world, and experts are predicting that clean water will be fought over by nations in the future. Food, air, and water are becoming limited, rather than unlimited, resources.
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But there is one resource needed for life--indeed, the most important resource of all--that exists in infinite quantities: the grace of God. Nowhere in Scripture is grace pictured in limited terms. There is always more grace to come, more grace to replace grace that has been given. Because true giving is enabled by grace, our ability to give knows no limits. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that God is able "to make all grace abound" toward us, that we will always have "all sufficiency," and "abundance for every good work."
If you sense God leading you to give, don't hold back out of a fear of running out. When you open your hand to give, grace is able to fill your empty hand with what you need, and more.
A giving Savior should have giving disciples.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 9:1-12:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%209:1-12:28&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, January 21 & 22
New Year's Resolution: Resolve to Gather
[Andrew] first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).
John 1:41
Recommended Reading
John 1:44-46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:44-46&version=NKJV )
"Word of mouth" is the use of oral communication to pass information from person to person--and we find good examples of it in the four Gospels as news about Jesus spread. Scholars use the term " oikos evangelism" ( oikos is Greek for household) to describe how people "gossiped the Gospel" from one household to another along natural lines of communication between family and friends.
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While other forms of evangelism are good (rallies, literature, crusades), the most natural way to spread any kind of good news--especially good news about Jesus--is one person telling another. There is a level of credibility born out of personal experience and based on a history of trust that makes personal evangelism effective. We can share the good news about Jesus nonverbally (the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23) and verbally. Ideally, when people come to respect the life we live before them, they become much more open to hearing the how and why.
In 2012 resolve to gather others to Jesus through your life and your testimony about Him.
All true theology has an evangelistic thrust, and all true evangelism is theology in action.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 12:29-19:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:29-19:25&version=NKJV )
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Monday, January 23
Getting to Ten
Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
Proverbs 3:9
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:9-10&version=NKJV )
In his book, Seismic Shifts , Kevin Harney tells about Dan and Dawn, who had been active in church but had never reached the point of giving a full ten percent of their income to the Lord. They were juggling the expenses of a growing family. But they felt God wanted them to increase their giving, and they established a plan to do it in increments. One day Dan felt it was time to make the final step. He sat down with Dawn to suggest giving a full ten percent--a tithe. Smiling at him, she said, "We have been tithing for the past three months!" God had been so faithful in meeting their needs that Dan hadn't missed the money and hadn't realized his wife had accelerated the schedule.1
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Money is one way we can see who we are. If we try to control our money on our own, we do not trust Him as we should. But if we honor Him in giving, it's a mark of faith and faithfulness.
If our habits or hobbies are so expensive that we can't give God the first ten percent, it might be time to break a habit or scale back on a hobby.
Kevin Harney
1Kevin G. Harney, Seismic Shifts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), 198.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 20:1-22:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020:1-22:31&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, January 24
Over the Moon
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:44-46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:44-46&version=NKJV )
Several years ago, NASA gave each of the fifty United States a special gift--a small rock from the moon. Now it turns out many states have lost them. Arkansas has looked for years for the valuable lunar rock, which came from the Apollo 17 mission. It was finally discovered in a small plastic box among the papers of former governor Bill Clinton. The rocks are priceless; but unless they're found, they are worthless.
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The Bible teaches that our faith is like a pearl of great price. We must always cherish and value our relationship with Christ and be faithful with all that is entrusted to us. When we find this pearl, it costs all we have. We give Him our souls, our possessions, our faith, our future, our goals, our habits, our dreams. But in the process, we become infinitely and eternally richer.
Don't be careless with your pearl of great price. Don't misplace your faith. God rewards the faithful with a bounty of blessings.
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
George Bennard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 23:1-25:40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2023:1-25:40&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, January 25
A Powerhouse of Promises
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.
1 Peter 1:3-4
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:37-49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:37-49&version=NKJV )
Hundreds of promises are given throughout Scripture to believers who choose to live in obedience to God's Word. This heavenly bank of promises is powerful and purposeful for all our needs. When God provides for us, He gives lavishly from His riches. But understand that God supplies all our needs, not "greeds."
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The apostle Paul explained God's heavenly bank this way: "And my God [His promise is positive; italics added] shall supply [His promise is pointed] all your need [His promise is plentiful] according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Notice that God doesn't supply "out of" His riches, but "according to" His riches in glory. We give our tithes and offerings "out of" available funds in the bank. God gives commensurate with His riches, not simply "out of." His bank is colossal.
What are a couple of God's promises that are dearest to you at this point in your life? Are you evidencing these promises to others? How can you live so that those you come in contact with daily will be drawn to the power and purpose of God's promises in you?
The future is as bright as the promises of God.
Adoniram Judson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 26:1-28:43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2026:1-28:43&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, January 26
Open-Eyed Faith
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:4&version=NKJV )
Hebrews 7-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%207-29&version=NKJV )
You've probably heard the phrase, "I'm taking a step of faith," when someone starts tithing. That illustration can be confusing. It insinuates that faith is nothing more than blind optimism. A commitment to tithing is not just trusting God in the dark, jumping off a cliff into nowhere land. If someone tells you, "I'm just believing, just trusting," ask them who they are believing? Because that is the defining question of faith and will direct the way we give our money and time.
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Faith begins when God speaks. Romans 10:17 explains, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Every person mentioned in the Bible's Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, exercised their faith by responding to what God told them to do: Abel offered a sacrifice; Noah prepared an ark; Abraham offered up Isaac; Moses left Egypt. When God said, "Do this," they did it.
We shouldn't approach stewardship and biblical giving as simply topics for discussion. Take the faith step with your eyes open, and say, "Okay, God! I will do what You say!"
Stewardship is what I do after I say I believe.
Author Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 29:1-30:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2029:1-30:38&version=NKJV )
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Friday, January 27
Walking by Faith
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:1-2&version=NKJV )
Imagine you've gone through a difficult experience in your life and you're fearful of what the future might hold. To encourage you, a friend says, "You can do it, one day at a time. Remember: just walk by religion, not by sight." Walk by religion? To a biblically-literate Christian, the very sound of that phrase is off-putting, to say the least.
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Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Not religion, for you probably know what Paul really said in 2 Corinthians 5:7: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." But even the idea of walking by faith seems contrary to common sense. If we walked by religion, we would at least have a tangible structure--things that are seen--to pin our hopes on: buildings, traditions, schedules, liturgies, ministers, and the like. If we walk by faith, we have only the promises of God. But we also have "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We not only have God's promises, we have the evidence from thousands of years of history that He has kept His promises to those who trust Him. And He will keep His promises for you.
If you are facing an uncertain future (and who isn't?), remember to walk by faith--faith in the God who promises never to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 31:1-34:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2031:1-34:35&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, January 28 & 29
New Year's Resolution: Resolve to Go
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
Recommended Reading
Matthew 28:19-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:19-20&version=NKJV )
The Internet is shrinking the world. In the nineteenth century it took missionaries weeks to travel from England or America to reach a foreign field. Today, via our computer, we can be active participants in a missionary endeavor a half a world away.
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The distinction between evangelism being local and missions being "not local" is still helpful. And today, there is no reason for every Christian not to be involved in both. God may not call us to physically travel to a foreign country to do evangelism, but we can "go" in other ways. We can learn about the country and its people groups, scan the news feeds to stay informed, and then give and pray with a focused intensity to see souls brought into God's kingdom. Information is no longer a barrier to involvement. The Internet--and other technologies--provides more information than we can ever use.
In 2012 resolve to become a world Christian--one who is vitally involved in reaching the world Christ died to save.
The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we become.
Henry Martyn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 35:1-40:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2035:1-40:38&version=NKJV )
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Monday, January 30
The Fear Nots of the Bible
You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, "Do not fear!"
Lamentations 3:57
Recommended Reading
Matthew 14:25-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:25-27&version=NKJV )
Many years ago, a book was published in London entitled The Fear Nots of Scripture . The writer said, "It may surely be a profitable, as well as pleasant, occupation to consider some of the 'Fear nots' of Scripture; some of the many and varied instances in which the trembling servants of God are addressed in the reassuring words, 'Fear not; be not afraid.'"1
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Observant Christians have always known about this biblical theme. The Bible is packed with phrases like "Fear not," "Don't be afraid," "Fret not," and "Let not your hearts be troubled."
Fear shows up in our lives in many ways--terror, alarm, anxiety, worry, panic, phobia, apprehension, unease, nervousness, hysteria, dread. It's a universal emotion, and it's often justified. But the Lord doesn't want us to live in chronic fear. "Fear not" are words God spoke to Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Israel at the Red Sea, Gideon, Solomon, Zacharias, the disciples, Paul, and John. And to you.
"It is I," He said. "Do not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).
Are you afraid? Remember the "fear nots" of the Bible.
Elisabeth Elliot
1 The Fear Nots of Scripture , author unknown (London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1879), vii.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 1:1-4:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%201:1-4:35&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, January 31
The Relief of Forgiveness
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:12
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:21-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:21-27&version=NKJV )
In this age of financial crisis, newspapers are full of articles about loans being "forgiven." The debt loads of entire nations are sometimes forgiven. There's talk about student loans being forgiven, or homeowners being forgiven for unpaid mortgages, or institutions forgiven that are too big to fail. But one financial expert warned that there's no such thing as free forgiveness. Someone has to bear the burden of the debt.
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Regarding our sins and souls, Jesus paid it all. We come to Him with a load of guilt and confess all our regrets. We tell Him about that moment of foolishness that causes shame. We admit the stupid thing we did or said. The tragedy we caused. The hurt we inflicted.
As we confess it, He forgives it. As we lay it before Him, He washes it away with the blood of Calvary. What God has forgiven should no longer have dominion over our minds. In the blood of Jesus, we have relief from our captivity of guilt and fear. It's nailed to the Cross and we bear it no more.
There is unspeakable joy...for the person who knows release from guilt and the relief of forgiveness.
Stuart Briscoe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 5:1-7:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%205:1-7:38&version=NKJV )
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Victim or Victor
...we do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 42:5-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042:5-11&version=NKJV )
A woman lamented losing $50,000 worth of heirlooms dating back to the Civil War that were stolen from her home last July. The nineteenth century antiques were discovered missing after a new maid cleaned out more than she was hired to do.1 We all treasure earthly heirlooms. But God has given a promise to believers that is far more precious than any keepsake--and it needs protection.
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Prowling around, discouragement creeps inside the safe haven of our Christian homes. When we close the door at night, drained from life's unceasing activity, discouragement can rob us of the full and joyful life God wants to give us: "...for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). So how do we bolt the doors and keep the bandit of discouragement from stealing God's promise?
As believers, we have the right to claim God's promises. When discouragement sneaks in and you don't feel like reading the Bible--go to the Word. When you're frustrated with life's circumstances and are tempted to quit--go to the Word.
Protect your heart from discouragement. Open the Bible. Claim His promises. And that old desperado named discouragement will be driven away.
Fear knocked at the door and faith answered. No one was there.
Old English Proverb
1news4jax.com/news/Stolen-Heirlooms-Pawned-Off/index.html, accessed on October 27, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 8:1-10:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%208:1-10:20&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, February 2
The Best Do Rest
...men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 3:13-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:13-21&version=NKJV )
When thinking of public health epidemics, insufficient sleep probably doesn't come to mind. But the lack of a good night's sleep is linked to astounding statistics of motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and occupational errors.1 Feeling sleepy? Can't get to sleep? Besides endangering yourself and others, you're also vulnerable to the disparaging influence of discouragement.
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"Fatigue makes cowards of us all," quipped the great American football coach Vince Lombardi--and I can identify. How many times have you fallen vulnerable to discouragement when you're extremely tired? Even Jesus couldn't work 24/7. Withdrawing to a quiet place, He prayed. Minds and bodies dulled from lack of sleep and constant activity are hindered from radiating God's powerful love.
If you're discouraged today, set aside time from your busy schedule and tell God how you feel. Spend time in the Word. Also, get a good night's sleep. When you awake, you'll be refreshed and energized to continue the work you're doing for God.
Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength... It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.
C. H. Spurgeon
1www.enotes.com/public-health-encyclopedia/epidemics accessed 9/3/2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 11:1-13:44 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2011:1-13:44&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 3
Fellowship in Loneliness
The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
Psalm 121:5
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 4:9-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:9-18&version=NKJV )
Different types of loneliness invade our lives. Standing at the gravestone of a loved one, we feel the pang of separation. No message on our cell phone--we long to hear the voice of a loved one. But there's also a type of loneliness that invades our schedules as we minister to others.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When you ache with loneliness, remember that you're in good company. The Bible gives abundant examples of lonely saints. Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, spouse, parent, or child, we all experience loneliness somewhere along life's journey.
Even the apostle Paul, an incredibly gifted and blessed man, was not immune to loneliness. He was taken to heaven and shown things too wonderful to share with earthly beings. He authored much of the New Testament and founded all the missionary churches during New Testament times. But on occasion, he ached with loneliness: "Only Luke is with me..." (2 Timothy 4:11a).
Today you may encounter a lonely person hiding behind a smile. If you were that person, how would you hope to be greeted? Friendship is a sure antidote to a lonely soul. Be cheerful medicine to someone today.
The next time you find yourself alone ...stand still, whisper God's name, and listen. He is nearer than you think.
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 13:45-15:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2013:45-15:33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 4 & 5
Things Change: A Change of Heart
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes...
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Recommended Reading
Ezekiel 36:24-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2036:24-32&version=NKJV )
New York newspapers recently carried the sad story of a woman who lost her chance for a needed heart transplant because of shoplifting. A judge had previously freed her from prison so she could go on the transplant waiting list; but before a donor became available, the woman stole about $500 in toiletry items and ended up in jail again. She no longer qualifies for a transplant.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
This woman is emblematic of millions of people who forfeit the new heart God offers them. The Bible teaches that God wants to exchange our heart of stone for a new heart, a tender heart, a forgiven heart, a heart that will beat forever in heaven. It's a gift to be received by grace and through faith.
Having a change of heart doesn't just mean we've shifted our opinion or altered our attitude. It literally means that we have changed hearts. Don't forfeit your new heart. If you don't know Jesus as Savior and Lord, ask Him to give you a new heart today.
Give me a new, a perfect heart, from doubt, and fear, and sorrow free.
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 16:1-21:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2016:1-21:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 6
Sitting by the Fire
How can one be warm alone?
Ecclesiastes 4:11b
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%204:7-12&version=NKJV )
According to the show 60 Minutes , new questions have arisen about the death of artist Vincent Van Gogh. Two journalists have written a book claiming Van Gogh didn't shoot himself after all, but was murdered by local teens. It's an interesting theory, but historians point out that Van Gogh was obviously troubled and lonely. He once said: "One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever came to sit by it. Passers-by see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on their way."1
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As Christians, we need to take time to sit by the fire with a lonely soul. Our churches should be blazing with love and fellowship. It's not just that the church is a place where your own loneliness is relieved; it's a place where you can relieve the loneliness of another. Look around at faces. See who's sitting by themselves. Watch for someone needing a smile.
In showing love to someone else, your own complaints will lessen.
Cheer for all the lonely, comfort for the sad, sacred, blessed duty, make some other glad.
Hymnist, Lanta W. Smith
1Quoted by Anthony St. Peter, The Greatest Quotations of All Time (Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation, 2010), 583.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 22:1-24:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2022:1-24:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 7
Practical Atheism
Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Matthew 6:31-32
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:6-7&version=NKJV )
It has been said that the worst day for an atheist, or an irreligious person, is the day he feels really thankful to be alive but has no one to thank. On the other hand, the best day for a theist, or a religious person, is the day he is tempted to worry about the present or the future but remembers he worships a God who knows his every need.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In Jesus' most extended speech on the subject of worry, he connects the futility of worry with one true fact: the existence of a loving, generous God. In other words, if God exists and takes care of creation, which includes you, that means He knows your needs. And if He is loving, as He proves Himself to be in caring for creation, then He will meet your needs. Faith (lack of worry) is a statement of belief in God's existence and character. Worry (lack of faith) is a statement of disbelief in God's existence and character.
If you are worried today, the question is not, What will happen? but, What do I believe? Worry is practical atheism. Faith says, "I believe."
Opposition to divine sovereignty is essentially atheism.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 25:1–26:46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2025:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 8
Read Me
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
Recommended Reading
Luke 18:29-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2018:29-30&version=NKJV )
In the early days of software development, PC-oriented software packages would normally come with a text document titled "READ ME." This was a document that explained anything the installer needed to know about installation, late changes to the software that didn't make it into the manual, system requirements, or possible incompatibility issues. In other words, READ ME first--before installing the software--in order to avoid problems.
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God's READ ME file is in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God." All who aspire to enter and dwell in the kingdom of God need to know this: If you will put God and His kingdom first in your life's priorities, everything else necessary in life will be added to you. The inverse can be assumed to be true: Seek your own glory and authority in this life and you will find God's blessings absent.
If you want to avoid worries with your software, read the READ ME file first. If you want to avoid worries in your life, seek God's kingdom first and above all else. If you find yourself worrying about anything today, you'll know something has taken the place of the kingdom of God.
Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 27:1-Numbers 1:54 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2027:1-Numbers%201:54&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, February 9
His Magnum Opus
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NKJV )
"Guilty!" Your subconscious whispers to you as you agonize over a past sin. Sometimes portrayed morbidly through paintings and music, guilt can be a devastating emotion. But for the Christian, guilt should drive us to confession.
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King David was a man after God's own heart, yet he succumbed to adultery. Whatever fleeting enjoyment he experienced was annihilated by the agony of his guilt. And in his quest to cover up his sin, murder was committed. Finally David confessed his sin, and that's when God stepped in--He forgives when we repent.
Writing to the Colossian church, the apostle Paul portrayed sin's removal: "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us..." (Colossians 2:14). The Greek translation of "handwriting" refers to the handwritten certificate of debt signed by a debtor. Dramatically, Paul describes the permanence of God's forgiveness to wiping ink off a parchment--erasing our debt.
Don't allow lingering sin to rob you of the blessings that are yours in Christ. Your debt has been erased.
Sins are so remitted, as if they had never been committed.
Thomas Adams
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 2:1-3:51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%202:1-3:51&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 10
When It's Good to Forget
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 32:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032&version=NKJV )
Plop! Your spaghetti slides off your fork onto your new pants. Your only thought is, "Will this stain come out?" Unfortunately, some stains are permanent. But one stain, if confessed, is removed forever.
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It's difficult for us to understand God's forgiveness. We remember. It's hard to forget. Yet God illustrates His forgiveness beautifully: "...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." (Isaiah 1:18). There's only one condition God requires for His miraculous work of forgiving: We must confess our sin (1 John 1:9).
When King David sinned with Bathsheba, he perceived it as a stain on his soul and asked God to "cleanse me" (Psalm 51:2). The Hebrew word translated "cleanse" referred to the cleansing of a leper. David explicitly used the dreaded disease of leprosy to describe his sin and to vividly illustrate God's healing work of forgiveness. It's like David is saying, "Lord, take away the leprosy from my soul, and make me clean again."
Can you think of a sin you want forgotten--permanently removed? The cleansing price has been paid by your Redeemer. Confess it now, and rejoice that He forgets!
It does not spoil your happiness to confess your sin. The unhappiness is in not making the confession.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 4:1-5:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%204:1-5:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 11 & 12
Things Change: Changing Your Mind
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:8-9&version=NKJV )
The best way to change your life is to change your thinking. And the best way to change your thinking is to change your mental diet. Psalm 37:3 says, "Feed on His faithfulness." Jesus promised to lead us to find pasture (John 10:9). Jeremiah 15:16a says, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."
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If a spiritual nutritional analyst conducted a study of what goes into your mind each day, what would be the report? What proportion of your mental food is godly and scriptural? While it's sometimes very hard to control our thoughts, it's not so hard to control what feeds our thought lives. Improving our mental diet enriches our thinking, elevates our attitudes, and renews our spirits. Cut out junk food and fill your mind with whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good (Philippians 4:8).
Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 6:1-9:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%206:1-9:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 13
Resisting by Avoiding
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:16-18&version=NKJV )
David Robinson is considered the best basketball player in the history of the United States Naval Academy and one of the greatest centers in the history of the National Basketball Association. In a recent book about Christian athletes, David contributed a chapter entitled "Overcoming Temptation." He said that when he got into the NBA, he didn't go to clubs and bars because he figured that wasn't going to be the place to find a wife. He told himself, "I'm not going to listen to this type of music, I'm not going to watch these types of movies on TV, and I'm not going to put myself in certain situations where I'm going to be tempted."
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"Once you expose yourself to evil," he said, "you end up thinking about the wrong things all the time. And it's especially hard to resist temptation when it's all you can think about."
The best way to beat temptation is by avoiding it whenever possible. Don't expose yourself to evil. Clothe yourself with Christ.
Temptation will come. Be ready by writing some key verses on sticky notes and memorizing one each week.
David Robinson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 10:1-12:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2010:1-12:16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 14
Watch and Pray
When He came to the place, [Jesus] said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
Luke 22:40
Recommended Reading
Luke 22:45-46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:45-46&version=NKJV )
The apostle Paul used the armor of a Roman soldier as a metaphor for the believer's spiritual armor: belt, helmet, breastplate, sword, shoes, and shield. But Paul added something to the Christian's preparation for spiritual battle that he did not draw from the Roman military: prayer. After describing the armor, Paul added, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--" (Ephesians 6:18).
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That prayer language mirrors what Jesus said to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His arrest and trial. Jesus had just warned Peter about the coming temptation to deny Him (Luke 22:31-34) and the disciples about the opposition they would face (verses 35-38). As the hour of His trial grew near, Jesus admonished the disciples--twice--to pray lest they succumb to the temptations to deny Him and flee from persecution.
Waiting until the battle is joined is waiting too late to fight. Fighting begins on our knees as we call upon God for victory over temptation.
Christian, seek not yet repose; cast thy dreams of ease away; thou art in the midst of foes: watch and pray.
Charlotte Elliott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 13:1–14:45 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 15
Be Angry--or Not
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Recommended Reading
John 2:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202:13-17&version=NKJV )
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th edition) defines anger as "a strong feeling of displeasure or hostility." Anger by itself is an emotion, not a sin. Jesus definitely had "a strong feeling of displeasure" when He saw how the temple had been turned into a "house of merchandise" (John 2:16). Yet Jesus was not sinfully angry because He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
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The apostle Paul allows for anger that is not sin by warning the Ephesians not to allow their anger to cross the line: "Be angry, and do not sin." So when is anger righteous indignation (as in Jesus' case in the temple) and when is it sinful? Perhaps it depends on the purpose and intent of the anger. Sinful anger is self-centered--we are defending ourselves by attacking others. Righteous indignation defends the cause or standing of another. Sinful anger wants to hurt, whereas righteous indignation wants a miscarriage of justice to be set right. Sinful anger broods and is never resolved, but righteous indignation says its piece and is done.
If something arouses your anger today, make sure your anger doesn't cross the line.
Anger should not be destroyed but sanctified.
William Jenkyn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 15:1–16:50 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2015:1 )
:angel:/
Thursday, February 16
Snappy
The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Proverbs 17:14
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 2:24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202:24-26&version=NKJV )
Snappy, a crocodile in a wildlife park in the state of Victoria in Australia, has become something of a tourist attraction recently because of his color. His normal green is gone, and he's become bright orange. His keepers believe it happened after he chewed the pipes in his tank and ate the filter. The chemicals affected the pH in his body, turning his scales blazing orange. The change of color did nothing to improve his temper. He is known for being aggressive and territorial and for living up to his name--Snappy.
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When we are snappy, angry, and aggressive, it poisons our systems too. When we chew on the pipes of some quarrel, it changes the pH of our personalities. Anger, when nursed and mollycoddled, turns into bitterness. Our unforgiving spirit results in resentment and negativity. We turn orange, as it were.
Be careful not to nurse your anger or allow it to build up against others. Be a quick forgiver. Proverbs 20:3 says, "It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel."
You choose whether to live in the freedom of forgiveness or in the bitterness of bondage.
Elmer Towns
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 17:1-20:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2017:1-20:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 17
Economy of the Heart
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another.
Colossians 3:13a
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:12-14&version=NKJV )
In his book, The Gift of Forgiveness , Charles Stanley wrote, "Forgiveness is something each of us has had to deal with one way or another. What might take you just a short time to work through might be a process that takes someone else time, prayer, and godly counsel. But it is a process we cannot ignore, not if we want to be free to become the persons God created us to be."1
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Stanley went on to say that if we refuse to deal with the bitterness and resentments that put us in bondage, we cannot have the fellowship with our Father we are supposed to have.
It's not easy to forgive another. Some wounds are deep and last for decades. But hatred and bitterness are bars we use to imprison ourselves. When we place the other person in God's hands and release the bitterness to Him, we're set free, just as truly as being released from jail.
Forgiveness is the economy of the heart. A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.
From The Berean Magazine , November 21, 1826
1Charles Stanley, The Gift of Forgiveness (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 105.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 21:1-23:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2021:1-23:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 18
Things Change: Changing Directions
But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah 1:3a
Recommended Reading
Jonah 1:1-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201:1-17&version=NKJV )
Nothing's more terrifying than seeing a car racing toward you going the wrong way on the freeway. At that moment, everyone's life is in danger. According to the most recent figures, over 1700 people die annually in America from crashes caused by drivers traveling the wrong way on a highway. Statistically, two-thirds of those wrong-way drivers were drunk. Others took the wrong ramp onto the highway. Maybe some were fleeing the police.
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It's always dangerous to go the wrong way. It didn't work out very well for Jonah, and it won't work out for us. Is your life headed in the wrong direction? Has Satan gotten the better of your judgment? Do you need to make some changes?
Don't be like the man who said he was making a 360-degree change. Turn exactly 180 degrees. Repent of any and all entrapping sin. Rededicate yourself to Jesus Christ in body, mind, and soul. As Ezekiel 33:11b says: "Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?"
Let the Lord help you get out of the wrong lane today.
Repentance is one of the most positive words in any language. It tells us we can change direction. It assures us God will help us improve.
Robert J. Morgan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 24:1-28:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2024:1-28:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 20
Learning to Forgive
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
Recommended Reading
John 8:31-36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:31-36&version=NKJV )
When we forgive someone, we're not minimizing the harm they caused nor condoning the sin they've committed. We're simply choosing to place the offense into the nail-scarred hands of Christ.
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Paul J. Meyer wrote about a woman named Renee who hated her father because of long-term abuse. When Renee became a Christian at age forty-one, she faced a dilemma. She knew she'd been forgiven of all her sins through Christ, but she had no desire to forgive her father. As she studied the Bible, however, she began realizing that forgiveness isn't a feeling but a requirement. One day she prayed to God: "I, Renee, release my father into your loving arms. Please release me from the bondage of unforgiveness." Her attitude toward her dad began to change, and so did his own heart. He eventually confessed Christ as his Savior and was baptized at the age of eighty-four.
Learning to forgive others helps both the forgiven and the forgiver.
Forgiveness does not mean we have to allow ourselves to be mistreated... (It) does mean that we allow God to work in our lives and in the lives of the people against whom we hold bitterness.
Paul J. Meyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 29:1-31:54 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2029:1-31:54&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 21
Seeker or Skeptic?
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
John 7:17
Recommended Reading
Acts 17:10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:10-12&version=NKJV )
A lot can be learned about a person by the way he asks, "Is that really true?" With those words, one person might be saying excitedly, "I didn't know that was true, but I'm so glad to find out!" Another person might use the same words to communicate, "I'm very skeptical. I'm not sure I even want this to be true since it would mean a lot would change."
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The same doubts and questions can mean different things depending on whether the person is a seeker or a skeptic. Jesus said that the answer to the "Is it true?" question depends on the heart of the person who asks: "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know ..." If we approach God and His will and Word with a desire to believe it and obey it, God will reveal His will and Word to us so it can be done. The Jews in the city of Berea seemed to fall in the seeker category: "...they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
If you have questions for God, preface them with a confession: "Lord, I want to know Your will so I can fulfill it in my life."
There are parts of the Bible which cause me difficulty, but none which cause me doubt.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 32:1-33:56 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2032:1-33:56&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 22
Good Questions
So [Thomas] said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails... and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
John 20:25b
Recommended Reading
John 20:24-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:24-29&version=NKJV )
The disciple named Thomas is usually referred to as "Doubting Thomas" because of his insistence on walking by sight, not by faith, regarding the resurrection of Jesus. But let's not be too hard on Thomas. There are many aspects of biblical revelation and experience that stretch the rational mind. The Bible is not irrational, but it can be trans rational--asking us to believe things that transcend our understanding (the virgin birth, miracles, the resurrection of Christ, and so on).
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Let's give Thomas credit for being honest enough to articulate his doubts in precise language. He wanted to see the resurrected Christ--and evidence that it was really Him--before he committed himself to such a revolutionary event. Thomas would have had a problem if, after seeing Christ (John 20:26-27) he still refused to believe. It's one thing to ask for evidence or understanding; it's another to reject the evidence or understanding and not believe.
God is not threatened by our doubts. He is the One who says, "Come now, and let us reason together..." (Isaiah 1:18).
Turn your doubts to questions; turn your questions to prayers; turn your prayers to God.
Mark Littleton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 34:1–36:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2034:1 )
:angel:
Thursday, February 23
What to Do Today?
...redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:16
Recommended Reading
Psalm 90:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2090:12-14&version=NKJV )
When Katie Davis graduated from high school in America and volunteered to teach kindergarten in Uganda, she didn't know she would one day become mother to 13 orphaned girls and teacher and provider for hundreds more. In her book, Kisses from Katie, she describes what seems at times to be an overwhelming task--and her solution: "I began each day saying, 'Okay, Lord, what would you have me do today?... I was walking through life one moment at a time, blown away by what God could do through me if I simply said yes."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The best way to make the most of a life given as a gift from God is to make the most of today. God doesn't expect us to plan for the entire future--just today. Consider how much good can be accomplished in one day in the lives of the people God puts in our path!
When Paul wrote, "...redeeming the time," he was talking about today, tomorrow, the day after--one day at a time. Why the focus on today? Because a day not redeemed is a day gone forever. And because a life is nothing but a collection of todays.
Procrastination is not only the thief of time, it is also the grave of opportunity.
Unknown
1Katie J. Davis and Beth Clark, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption (Brentwood, TN: Howard Books, 2011), pp. 43-44
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 1:1-2:37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201:1-2:37&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 24
Today Is the Day
For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
Recommended Reading
Luke 13:22-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:22-25&version=NKJV )
The word "procrastinate" comes from a Latin compound word: pro meaning "forward," and crastinus indicating "of tomorrow"--from cras , meaning "tomorrow." So, "procrastinate" means to move or put something from today until tomorrow (or the day after tomorrow, ad infinitum ).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Most things in life that need to be done--pay the bills, paint the house, change the oil in the car--will allow for a few "tomorrows" before they absolutely have to be done. Why? Because if you die before you get the house painted, it will be an inconvenience for someone else, but not the end of the world. But there are other things in life that don't allow for such putting off since they have eternal ramifications. Most importantly is one's own decision regarding Christ. Hebrews 9:27 says we die and then comes the judgment--there are no tomorrows, do-overs, mulligans, or second chances when it comes to salvation.
You can survive if you procrastinate about some things. But putting off a decision about Christ is not one of them.
Pride is the devil's dragnet, in which he takes more fish than in any other, except procrastination.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 3:1–4:49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%203:1–4:49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 25 & 26
Things Change: Making Change
Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.
Psalm 55:19b
Recommended Reading
Psalm 55:16-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2055:16-19&version=NKJV )
Remember this number: 318. That's the number of change, and people who fear God are changing every day.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Second Corinthians 3:18 says: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory..."
Second Peter 3:18 says: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..."
You can change. None of us is the same person we were a year ago or a decade ago. Our bodies are changing--there's no denying that. But our minds, hearts, habits, personalities, and relationships are changing too. We just need to make sure we are changing for the better, that we're being transformed from glory to glory, that we're growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Those who refuse to change are not God-fearers, because those who love Him are changing every day. Don't be afraid to make some changes in your life, and don't be afraid to let Christ change you from within.
I'll go anywhere as long as it's forward.
David Livingstone
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 5:1-11:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%205:1-11:32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 27
Jesus Never Fails
Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?
Psalm 77:8
Recommended Reading
Psalm 77:8-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2077:8-14&version=NKJV )
Sir Winston Churchill, the legendary politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, once said, "Continuous effort--not strength or intelligence--is the key to unlocking our potential." We can't rest on our victories; neither can we wallow in our defeats. Everyone occasionally fails, and sometimes our failures can demoralize us. But even in failure there are benefits to be gained and progress to be made. Some lessons can only be learned in failure, and a day is never lost if a lesson is learned.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
God can do more with our failures than the world can do with our successes. Failure is often the back door to success if we persevere. Basketball great Michael Jordan understood this. He once said, "Failure always made me try harder next time."
As we encounter our ups and downs, it's helpful to remember that God never fails and that His mercy never ceases. His compassions fail not; they are new every morning. If you're brooding over a failure today, place it in Christ's hands. He can turn it for good.
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 12:1-14:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2012:1-14:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 28
Seeing the Unseen
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:18&version=NKJV )
The cofounder of Apple Computer, the late Steve Jobs, was actually fired from his position as CEO of the company before he came back to lead its renaissance. In a commencement address at Stanford University in 2005, Jobs said, "I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have happened to me... It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, testify that failure has been a back door to success. But the Bible explains why--and what God is doing in the midst of failure for those who trust in Him. When we experience failure--or any kind of affliction--we focus on what is seen; we focus on the moment. But God is at work in us doing the unseen--shaping our character into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Only the Christian can be confident that God is going to use failure for a deep purpose in his life.
If you regret a failure in your life, thank God for the unseen work He is doing in you today.
The Christian message is for those who have done their best--and failed!
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 15:1–18:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2015:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 29
For or Of?
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2
Recommended Reading
Exodus 34:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2034:14&version=NKJV )
In William Shakespeare's Othello , the ensign Iago attempts to make his commander, Othello, jealous: "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-ey'd monster..." In Shakespeare's day, colors were often assigned to emotions; and green was the color of jealousy or envy--thus, "green with envy."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We think of jealousy as an unrighteous attitude, yet the Bible says that God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). Why is it okay for God to be jealous but not okay for us to be jealous? A general distinction is found in the words "jealous for " versus "jealous of ." God was jealous for Israel--His jealousy was for another's protection. And Paul said he was jealous for the Corinthian believers for the same reason. The carnal side of jealousy arises when we fear losing something we think is ours--a loved one, a job, an advantage. Our jealousy is for our self-interest--we are jealous of the person who is taking what is ours.
If you experience jealousy, ask whether it is jealousy for or of . If it is the latter, it's the kind of jealousy that must be let go.
God is jealous for the good of His redeemed people--but He can never be jealous of anything or anyone.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 19:1–22:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2019:1 )
:angel:
Thursday, March 1
Here Comes the Groom!
...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:5b
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 3:3-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:3-10&version=NKJV )
Is Bible prophecy important? Does the Word of God require that Christ return for His church? From Genesis to Malachi, more than 300 prophecies point to Jesus Christ as the coming Deliverer. In the New Testament, Christ's second coming is mentioned 318 times. Indeed, God's Word unequivocally declares the glorious end to the prophetic timeline of Scripture: the marriage of the Lamb with His Church.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
To assure believers of Christ's return, Paul utilized the beautiful metaphor of marriage (2 Corinthians 11:2). Jewish weddings consisted of three parts: the contract, the betrothal, and the wedding. The symbolism is powerful. The contract for our union with Christ was written with His blood before we believed. Our betrothal to Christ was the moment of salvation when we received the Holy Spirit and the gifts that belong to all believers. Now we eagerly await the wedding celebration when Christ comes to take His Church--His Bride--home.
Is the imminent return of Christ changing the way you live? Are you clothing yourself with holiness and pure grace? Awake! For your Bridegroom cometh!
Look long enough in to the eyes of our Savior and, there...you will see a bride. Dressed in fine linen. Clothed in pure grace....His bride. Walking toward him, she is not yet with him. But he sees her, he awaits her, he longs for her.
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 23:1-26:19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2023:1-26:19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 2
Prophetic Mileposts
So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:31
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:15-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:15-16&version=NKJV )
As early as Roman times, stone columns were set by the side of roads to indicate the number of miles from or to a particular destination. Thus, the term milestone was born and is still used today. Called mileposts in America, they occur at regular intervals along the interstate highway system indicating miles traveled from a state line. In 1920, a Zero Milestone was erected just south of the White House in Washington, D.C., from which distances from the nation's capital were to be measured.
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Just as a highway milestone, or milepost, serves to keep one oriented on a geographical journey, so God has established prophetic markers for mankind's journey through time. We could say that the Zero Prophetic Milestone is Genesis 3:15 where the prophetic promise of Satan's defeat is found. The destination is the Eternal City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22). In between, prophetic markers are found in Scripture for those with eyes to see--especially related to the past, present, and future of God's chosen people, Israel.
The greater your knowledge of God's prophetic markers, the greater your security in an insecure world.
In God, history and prophecy are one and the same.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2027:1-28:68&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 3 & 4
March Madness: Marching Into the Sea (Faith)
So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Exodus 14:22
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205:7&version=NKJV )
Hebrews 11:1 in the New Living Translation (second edition) says that faith "gives us assurance about things we cannot see." And God allows us to find ourselves in places where we cannot see. Faith says, in those places, "Trust God's promises."
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Moses and the Israelites found themselves in such a place when they marched out of Egypt. They were on the banks of the Red Sea and the Egyptian army was closing fast. They couldn't see a way out; only faith would see them through. It seemed like madness to march through the water--who had ever seen such a thing before? Nobody! But that was God's instruction to Moses. Not only did they have to believe the waters would part but that the waters wouldn't crash back upon them as they walked across the floor of the sea. So they marched into the place where the Red Sea had been and they were saved.
The purpose of places in which we lose our vision is to strengthen our faith. If that's where you are today, let God's promises give you assurance about the things you cannot see.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Müller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 29:1-34:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2029:1-34:12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 5
The Map of God's Word
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
Psalm 119:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:9-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:9-11&version=NKJV )
A recent book about backpacking in Canada warns that some maps are hastily printed without taking time to insure the accuracy of the topographical data. One map was printed so quickly that one of its panels was produced upside down and backwards. Such mistakes can be tragic. Over the past three decades, scores of people have perished because of faulty maps.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When it comes to traveling the road of life and the pathway into the future, we need to be able to trust our map. In The Message , Eugene Peterson paraphrases Psalm 119:9 like this: "How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of Your Word."
The Bible maps out the future of planet earth, warning us of a coming Rapture, Tribulation, judgment day, and eternal state. The same Map also shows us what paths to follow in our daily conduct and service. When you open your Bible, you don't have to worry about errors or omissions. Every word is trustworthy. Every chapter will lead you safely home.
We are earthly pilgrims on our way home to heaven. But since we have never been there, we must trust our sense of direction to the map of Scripture.
Hans Finzel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 1:1-4:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:1-4:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 6
Lightning Strike
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:27
Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:23-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:23-27&version=NKJV )
More than a hundred lightning bolts strike the earth every second of every day. That's more than 10 million lightning strikes daily. According to a book published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute, lightning is a river of electricity rushing through an ocean of air, traveling at the speed of 60,000 miles per second. A lightning bolt can be ten miles long, and brighter than 10 million 100-watt light bulbs. A single flash can generate as much voltage as all the electrical generating plants in the United States in that split second.1
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Jesus said that we don't have to be worried about the exact time of His coming, and we shouldn't be deceived by those making false predictions. When He comes, there will be no doubt. As lightning flashing from the east to the west, splitting the sky in a millisecond, cracking the air with flash and fire, so will His coming be.
The next time you see a bolt of lightning cleave the sky, think of it as a reminder that His coming is near.
Light in the eastern sky, Jesus returning! Light in the western sky, Jesus is near!
Daniel B. Towner
1Seymour Simon, Lightning (NY: HarperCollins, 1997), 5-6
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 5:1-8:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%205:1-8:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 7
Future Vacancy
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:14
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:12-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:12-26&version=NKJV )
If you're looking for a new kind of vacation destination, Reuters reports that a Russian company wants to launch a hotel in orbit 217 miles above Earth by 2016. A five-day stay in the space hotel, including the exciting ride to get there, is estimated at a cool $1 million.1
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Temporary lodging, a billion dollar industry today, has been around for centuries. It's the wonderful word that New Testament Christians used to describe the temporary place where they buried their loved ones. The believer's body was placed into a koimateriam , Greek for hotel or inn. The word choice reflected the believers' firm expectation in the resurrection. If a believer dies before the Rapture, Christ will come to the hotel where their body is and reunite it with their spirit--which has been with Him.
The Rapture assures us the cemetery is only a motel for the body of the believer. Our hope is in the resurrection--that glorious moment when all believers are suddenly caught up into glory and hope bursts into reality. If you're missing a loved one whose spirit is with Jesus, fix your hope on the Resurrection (John 11:25).
Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.
Martin Luther
1travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/08/russia-space-hotel-plan-room-with-a-view-217-miles-above-earth/416165/1 accessed November 29, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 9:1-11:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%209:1-11:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 8
Good Morning After Goodnight
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-3&version=NKJV )
The death of a loved one through prolonged illness, serious memory impairment, or unexpected trauma is a life-changing experience. But when families are separated by distance, illness, or death, we experience the bond of family love that cements souls together. How comforting to know that God sees each tear and hears each cry. He also sees the joyful reunion that awaits believers.
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"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...the dead will be raised incorruptible..." (1 Corinthians 15:52). The imagery describing the Rapture is noteworthy: In biblical times ambassadors were sent to usher a visiting king into a city. That's what Almighty God has planned for us. He's sending Jesus to escort the living and those who have died into heaven--to never be separated again.
We do sorrow when death parts us from loved ones--but not without hope. The Cross removed the sting of death that permanently separates. If you are grieving a loss today, meditate on the destiny that awaits believers--that most blessed reunion in the sky!
...It is but a good night to those we hope to see with joy in the morning.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 12:1-14:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2012:1-14:15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 9
Beware Charisma
[A]nd the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Daniel 7:20
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 14:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014:12-17&version=NKJV )
Think of the leaders who have risen on the world stage and become destroyers of people and nations: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao Tse-tung, Pol Pot, and others. Tens of millions of people died at the hands of these ruthless leaders. So how did they gain positions of such power? Largely through charisma. Unfortunately, charisma can be a veil that obscures a person's true motives.
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Spiritual leaders can also use charisma for evil, as did Jim Jones, founder of the People's Temple who led the suicide of nearly a thousand of his followers in 1978. Another spiritual-political leader is destined to rise on the world stage. His charismatic personality and persuasive words will cause many to worship him before his evil motives are revealed. Thankfully, the Antichrist will be subdued by the returning King of Kings.
Charisma can be a tool for good or ill. The admonition of Scripture is to "be sober, be vigilant" (1 Peter 5:8).
All through the New Testament, when God's work in human lives is spoken of, the ethical takes priority over the charismatic.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 15:1-17:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2015:1-17:18&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, March 10 & 11
March Madness: Marching Around Jericho (Obedience)
You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.
Joshua 6:3
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 15:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2015:22&version=NKJV )
God told Moses to part the Red Sea. God told Gideon to defeat an army with 300 soldiers. Jesus told Peter to walk on the water. Jesus told His disciples to feed thousands of people with some bread and fish. Jesus told a blind man to go wash the mud off his eyes to regain his sight. Jesus told a paralyzed man to stand up and walk home.
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God has issued some impossible-sounding directions to people, but perhaps none so impossible as those issued to Joshua: March around Jericho with the Ark of the Covenant once a day for six days. On the seventh day march around Jericho seven times. Blow the trumpets and shout, and the walls will come tumbling down. Marching around the city must have sounded like madness to Joshua, but there is no indication he hesitated. He did exactly as God directed and God's words were fulfilled. On the seventh day, the walls fell down and Jericho was captured.
God may ask you to do something impossible-sounding: forgive an enemy, give generously to an ungrateful person, or serve at an incredibly inconvenient time. Calling Him "Lord" carries the expectation of obedience.
Faith is the starting-post of obedience.
Thomas Chalmers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 18:1-22:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2018:1-22:34&version=NKJV )
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Monday, March 12
The One You Feed
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:16-18&version=NKJV )
An anonymous poem says: "Two passions beat within my chest, the one is foul, the other blessed. The one I love, the other I hate; the one I feed will dominate." This is similar to the message of Galatians 5, which says: "The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another...." While God's children are on earth, we're subject to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We need to make sure we're feeding the right passions, impulses, and attitudes.
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As it relates to the future, that means keeping our eyes on Christ in faith, not on the world in fear. While being aware of the events of the Last Days and the coming of the Antichrist, we mustn't overly focus on that, but on our Lord and His glorious return.
Keep your eyes on the Lord, feed on His faithfulness, resist the devil, and draw near to God. Feed your faith and starve your fears.
Don't give your fears any of your time or energy. Don't feed them with gossip or negative news shows or frightening movies. Focus on your faith and feed it.
John Maxwell
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 23:1-Judges 1:36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2023:1-Judges%201:36&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 13
666
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 13:18
Recommended Reading
Revelation 13:11-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2013:11-18&version=NKJV )
A Georgia man was recently fired for not wearing a sticker saying 666. It represented the number of days his factory had operated without an accident. The man had no trouble wearing 665 the day before or 667 the day after, but he refused to wear 666. He was dismissed, but his case is pending in the courts.
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I'll let you decide if he has a valid case, but the day is coming during the Great Tribulation when those who refuse to wear the "Mark of the Beast" will be objects of intense discrimination and persecution. The exact nature of this mark is a mystery, but it will be some kind of universal identification code. Six is the number of humanity, even as seven is the number of God. God is 777--a Trinity of perfection. Humanity is 666, and it represents the inability of man to measure up to the perfections of God. But don't get too worried about 666. We have a perfect Savior, a perfect salvation, and a perfect future in heaven.
Whatever may come, we will stand strong for Him and bear His testimony to the world in which we live.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 2:1-4:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%202:1-4:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 14
Satanic Deceiver
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you."
Matthew 24:4
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202:3-9&version=NKJV )
Harry Houdini, perhaps the world's most famous magician, performed death-defying escapes from handcuffs, straightjackets, underwater handcuffs, and his famous Chinese Water Torture Cell. He was also quick to negate any help from the supernatural world and wrote books explaining his techniques.
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But there's a beastly magician with satanic powers who will visit the earth during the Tribulation. He will deceive people into receiving the Mark of the Beast--aligning people with the worship of Satan. This False Prophet will perform awesome signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven.
The spirit of deception is already embracing victims in our world today. Truth is pushed aside as people create their own morality and systems of belief. Pray for discernment as you navigate through society's lies and countercultural messages about God. Keep God's Word central in your life with your spiritual armor firmly in place: Take heed that no one deceives you.
Satan's lie is still the same today: "You can be free. Do whatever you want. It is your life. There are no divine laws; no absolute authority; and above all, no judgment. You will surely not die."
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 5:1-7:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%205:1-7:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 15
The Hallelujah Party
Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Revelation 19:9
Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:1-6&version=NKJV )
What would Handel think if he knew 7-1/2 million people had viewed his "Hallelujah Chorus" on YouTube--filmed at Macy's in Philadelphia, when more than 600 choristers mingling with regular shoppers burst into song?1 The video shows the shoppers' faces aglow with amazement, some singing along, all caught up in the joy of the moment.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When believers listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus," we long for that day of final victory when God's reign is established forever. That blessed event will culminate at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, recorded in Revelation 19:1-9. Some consider this passage to be the New Testament's "Hallelujah Chorus." The text clearly reminds us of why we'll be at this celebration: God has provided our redemption through His Son.
If you're not sure you'll be at that blessed event, trust Christ now as your Savior from sin, and give God the rightful adoration that belongs to Him.
...and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings! And Lord of lords! Hallelujah!...
George Frideric Handel
1associatedcontent.com/article/6017628/impromptu_hallelujah_chorus_sung_at.html accessed November 29, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 8:1-9:57 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%208:1-9:57&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 16
Cause for Celebration
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
Revelation 19:7
Recommended Reading
Song of Solomon 3:6-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%203:6-11&version=NKJV )
If you look closely at the word "celebrate," you will see within it the root of another familiar word: celebrity. They both have their origins in a Latin word for "famous." Not every celebrity is famous for the best of reasons, but there is one famous Person who is--and who will be celebrated for all eternity.
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Revelation 19 describes what the apostle John saw in his vision of heaven and the future: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the return of Jesus Christ to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And the celebration of praise John heard for the Lamb was like "the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings" (verse 6). There will be no paparazzi in heaven with their cameras, only the Bride of Christ, the Church, "arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright," praising the Lamb of God for having been made righteous, washed clean by His shed blood (verse 8).
If you want to be part of that celebration soon to come, you must be ready for the Rapture--when Christ gathers His Bride to Himself and takes her to heaven. It's a celebration you don't want to miss.
Faith is the marriage of the soul to Christ.
Richard Sibbes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 10:1-13:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2010:1-13:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 17 & 18
March Madness: Marching Lite (Trust)
Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand."
Judges 7:7a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 28:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2028:7&version=NKJV )
Jesus lived a Spartan life--at least during His three years of ministry. Yes, He came from a home in Nazareth, but His ministry years are best characterized by Matthew 8:20: ". . . the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." His was a life of dependence on His Father--we never see Him packing a bag when He left to journey from one place to another. In the human realm, an example of dependence we might more easily identify with is Gideon.
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Gideon was a simple farmer who God called to drive the Midianites out of Israel. When Gideon rallied an army of 32,000 men, God first reduced it down to 10,000, then to 300--and equipped them only with torches and trumpets. Marching against the innumerable Midiantes, ("as numerous as locusts"; Judges 6:5) with 300 men would have seemed like madness to Gideon--and to us. But Gideon learned that victory comes from the Lord, not from human strength or resources.
As the saying goes, God plus one equals a majority. If you are facing a formidable challenge, don't be discouraged by a lack of resources. Be encouraged by the presence and promises of God.
We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible.
F. B. Meyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14:1-20:48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2014:1-20:48&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 19
No More Fear
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.
Isaiah 12:2a
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 12:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2012:1-3&version=NKJV )
The word "Armageddon" shows up daily as journalists discuss the fears facing our world. But perhaps the thing bothering you today isn't Armageddon. It's the deficit in your bank account, a problem in your home, or a rift in your church.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
One of the great phrases in the Book of Revelation is "no more." We're told of a day for God's children when there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain.
Clarence Macartney said: "When I read those great 'no mores' in the book of Revelation where the heavenly life is described... I feel I would like to add another great 'no more'--'There shall be no more fear.' When Christ was born at Bethlehem, that was what the angels said to the shepherds, 'Fear not.' Christ came to banish fear... Over the portals of heaven are written these words, greeting man as he enters the heavenly city, 'Fear not!'"
Whether you're worried about Armageddon in the future or aggravations today, trust Him and don't be afraid.
The Psalmist said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." That is good, very good. But still better is what Isaiah said, "I will trust, and not be afraid."
Clarence Macartney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 21:1-Ruth 4:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2021:1-Ruth%204:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 20
Spread the Tidings All Around
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.
Hebrews 6:19a
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:16-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%206:16-20&version=NKJV )
Priscilla Owens was a schoolteacher in Baltimore, Maryland, and a faithful church worker. As time allowed she also composed Christian hymns. We know her as the author of the song, "Will Your Anchor Hold?" The chorus says, "We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll." Priscilla also wrote the popular hymn that says: "We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves! Jesus saves!"
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Jesus Himself is the only hope for the future of the world, for the future of the nation of Israel, and for those who comprise the final generations of history. He's also our only hope today. The Bible says, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Here's the great thing. When we hear the joyful sound and Jesus saves us, we discover we have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll.
Don't fear the billows today; rejoice in the blessings.
Fastened to the Rock that cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
Priscilla Owens
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 1:1-3:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%201:1-3:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 21
An Open Door
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16
Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:11-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:11-21&version=NKJV )
When Lucy cracks open the wardrobe door in C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe , she symbolically encounters a spiritual world. Through that door she meets the King of Beasts, Aslan, who Lewis uses to represent Jesus, the King of kings.
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Twice in the Book of Revelation, we are told that the door of heaven opens. The first time it opens, the Church is received into heaven at the Rapture (Revelation 4:1). The second time the door opens, Christ and His Church leave heaven and return to earth at the zenith of the Battle of Armageddon. Crowned with many crowns, Jesus returns as victor over sin, Satan, and death. King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16).
As followers of Christ, we know the heavenly door that awaits the Church. But do the lost souls around you know the door to salvation? Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved..." (John 10:9). Make sure the door of your life is open to welcome all who seek the answers to eternal life (1 Peter 3:15).
...Jesus' first coming inaugurated it [the Last Days]; His second coming will consummate it. The coming of Jesus was, therefore, the beginning of the end.
R. T. France
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 4:1-8:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%204:1-8:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 22
From Lamb to Lion
He who testifies to these things says,"Surely I am coming quickly."
Revelation 22:20a
Recommended Reading
Zechariah 14:4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2014:4-5&version=NKJV )
The first time Jesus came to earth, He arrived quietly. A babe in a manger. The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world through His own death and resurrection. But the second time Jesus returns to earth, He will appear magnificently in the sky--the Lion of Judah, bringing judgment.
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It might surprise you that references to the Second Coming outnumber references to the first by a factor of eight to one. Scholars count 1,845 biblical references to the Second Coming, including 318 in the New Testament. Second only to faith, the Second Coming is the most dominant subject in the New Testament. The Lord Himself referred to His return twenty-one times.
Are we anticipating His Second Coming as ardently as we celebrate the baby in the manger? Final victory and the eternal reign of Christ are in our future. As you live in expectation of that day, emmanate His love to others by showing a sincere interest in their lives. Don't waste a minute. Go touch someone today with the hope that is in you.
As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him.
Alan Redpath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 9:1-12:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%209:1-12:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 23
The Believers' Shangri-la
...And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020:1-10&version=NKJV )
Fictional utopia on earth is described in novelist James Hilton's 1933 novel, Lost Horizon , and the subsequent film made from it. The people dwell in a harmonious valley called, "Shangri-La," enjoying unheard of longevity. The word "Shangri-la" has become synonymous with a Garden of Eden-like paradise.
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However, surpassing man's idea of a Shangri-la will be the peaceful era of the Millennium when Jesus Christ physically returns to earth, defeats His enemies, and sets up His kingdom for one thousand years. Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled as a final rebellion inaugurates the new heaven and new earth. King Jesus will be reigning and ruling on the throne of David in Jerusalem.
Understanding future events should awaken us from living in a routine of selfishness. Servanthood should characterize our lives. The Millennium is a reward for believers. We'll reign and rule with Christ and be given opportunities to serve Him in a utopian setting. Let's live in Christ-like readiness!
We need to take down our "Do Not Disturb" signs...snap out of our stupor and come out of our coma and awake from our apathy.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 13:1-15:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2013:1-15:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 24 & 25
March Madness: Marching to Jerusalem (Worship)
Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses.
Deuteronomy 16:16a
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:24-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010:24-25&version=NKJV )
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Three times each year the men of Israel left their fields and flocks and traveled to Jerusalem to worship the Lord with offerings: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. If one lived in Judea, worship at the temple in Jerusalem was a regular possibility. But for those who lived elsewhere, at least three times each year they worshipped corporately in Jerusalem.
The worship began even before they arrived at the temple. A section of Hebrew psalms found in Psalms 120-134 in our Bibles is known as the Songs of Ascents. Most biblical scholars believe these songs were sung as the pilgrims marched from the plains of Israel to the heights of Jerusalem, ascending to the "Mountain of the LORD of Hosts, the Holy Mountain" (Zechariah 8:3). It may have seemed like madness to march from Israel's farthest borders to Jerusalem, but worship was at the heart of their spiritual life.
Don't let the busyness of your life keep you from the blessing that is found when the body of Christ gathers to worship the Lord together. The admonition in Scripture not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25) is for our good.
Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 16:1-20:42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2016:1-20:42&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 26
Homeland Security
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:9
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 11:1-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2011:1-9&version=NKJV )
The Millennium is a period of time after the Tribulation when Christ will return to earth to literally reign a thousand years, during which all the promises of the Old Testament concerning the nation of Israel will be fulfilled (Revelation 20:4). The redeemed Jews will live in their homeland in perfect security. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion will play together, and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The lesson of the Millennium is that when Jesus is in charge, He bestows peace. He's the Prince of Peace, and of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). He says to you and me: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.... Let not your heart be troubled" (John 14:27).
Until the Millennium arrives, we can still have the increase of His government and His peace in our lives. We can have total security in the homeland of our hearts today.
Do not let your peace depend on what people say of you.... True peace and joy is to be found in [Jesus] alone.
Thomas a' Kempis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 21:1-24:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2021:1-24:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 27
Don't Delay!
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God.
Revelation 20:12
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:11-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020:11-15&version=NKJV )
Daily devotional readings like those in this magazine seek to be hopeful, uplifting, and encouraging. But they should also reflect the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). This is no time to sugarcoat the Gospel or delete the warnings of judgment that comprise so much of the Bible. Take Revelation 20:11-15, for example. Pastor John MacArthur calls this paragraph "the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible.... It is the last courtroom scene that will ever take place.... There will be a prosecutor, but no defender; an accuser, but no advocate."1
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Jesus Christ gave Himself on Calvary to bear the wrath of God, to atone for our sins, to die in our place, and to save us from judgment and hell. Those who know Him will never stand trial at the Great White Throne but are saved and safe in Him. If you've never received Him as your Savior, don't delay another moment. Prayerfully read Revelation 20:11-15 and confess Christ now as your Savior and Lord.
Those who confess their sins and ask God to forgive them on the basis of Christ's substitutionary death on their behalf will be delivered from God's eternal wrath.
John MacArthur
1John MacArthur, Because the Time Is Near (Chicago: Moody, 2007), 305, 311.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 25:1-27:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2025:1-27:12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 28
Our Great Advocate
If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 2:1-2
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:1-5&version=NKJV )
The Youth's Companion was the children's magazine that first promoted the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, which had been written by one of its staff members. Published for over a hundred years by the Perry Mason Company of Boston, this magazine was filled with entertaining and inspiring stories. One of its more enthusiastic readers was a boy named Earl Stanley Gardner, who later became a writer himself. When he created a fictional lawyer - one who never lost a case - he named him in honor of the company responsible for the magazine he had so loved in childhood - Perry Mason.
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In countless novels, radio shows, and television programs, Perry Mason always saved the day. No matter how hopeless the case, his clients were always declared innocent in the end.
Of course, no attorney wins every case. None but Jesus Christ. When He is our advocate, He defends us by pleading His own blood. There is forgiveness instead of fear; justification instead of judgment. For He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25).
I need no other argument, I need no other plea; it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.
Lidie Edmunds
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 28:1-31:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2028:1-31:13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 29
Day of Wonders!
Well done, good and faithful servant...
Matthew 25:23
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=NKJV )
One of the finest stories I've heard about men longing for their leader's return is that of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. In 1914, twenty-nine men set sail from England to Antarctica to become the first adventurers to cross the Antarctic continent on foot.
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Five months into their voyage, the ship became entrapped in an ice pack and sank. Shackleton left his men on Elephant Island while he and five others set out to cross the Antarctic sea in a lifeboat to bring back rescuers. But perhaps the real hero in this story is Frank Wild, second in command to Shackleton, who was left in charge of the camp.
Shackleton later learned: "From a fortnight after I had left, Wild would roll up his sleeping bag each day with the remark, 'Get your things ready, boys, the Boss may come today.'" Wild's "cheerful anticipation proved infectious," and after 105 days of waiting, the "day of wonders" arrived when the crew was rescued.1
Unlike that desperate crew, we have a promise that the Lord will return. We're to remain busy living in love and serving in ministry, even when the days grow dark and the nights long. Be encouraged! Be anticipating!
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!
Andrae Crouch
1gutenberg.org/files/5199/5199-h/5199-h.htm, accessed November 30, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 1:1-3:39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%201:1-3:39&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 30
A Friendly Reward
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Genesis 15:1
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:23-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:23-24&version=NKJV )
What comes to mind when you think of the word "reward"? Usually it's a payment of money for finding and returning a lost object--perhaps a pet. Or perhaps for information leading to the arrest of a fugitive from the law. You do something honorable or honest and you are given money as a reward. Fair enough, right?
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Imagine this: You return a lost object to its owner and the person says, "Instead of the money, I've decided to give you myself as the reward. You and I are going to be friends forever." One can imagine all sorts of responses to a reward like that. But there's one situation in which that would be the most desirable reward possible--serving Christ in this life and being His friend forever. God even called Himself a reward on one occasion, speaking to Abraham (Genesis 15:1). And while the New Testament speaks of crowns and rewards for believers, Revelation 4:10 suggests that those rewards are given up in the pleasure of worshipping Christ for eternity.
Can you think of any greater eternal reward than being the friend of Jesus Christ?
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 4:1-7:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%204:1-7:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 31
March Madness: Marching to Zion (Hope)
For there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, "Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God."
Jeremiah 31:6
Recommended Reading
Micah 4:2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%204:2&version=NKJV )
In the New Testament, believers tend to focus their hope on heaven rather than on earth. But in the Old Testament, believers' hope was more terrestrial--their hope was focused on the Son of David coming to the City of David (Mount Zion) and ruling with righteousness and peace: "'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! . . . Behold, your King is coming to you" (Zechariah 9:9).
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
New Testament Christians need to learn a lesson from our Old Testament forefathers. Earth is not a hopeless place. Even before heaven, Christ will return to earth and establish His kingdom for a thousand years on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) (Zechariah 14:4). There will be peace and security and hope for all who dwell on earth in those days because the Prince of Peace will become the King of Kings. The nations of the earth will see that Jesus is their hope and stream to Jerusalem to experience hope again (Zechariah 8:23). Marching to Zion may seem like madness to the world today; but when He is there, it will be normal.
You don't have to wait on the Second Coming or travel to Jerusalem to have hope. Our hope is in Him--now and forever.
True faith is ever connected with hope.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 8:1-14:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%208:1-14:33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 1
First Words: Repentance
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted.
2 Corinthians 7:10a
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 7:5-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%207:5-10&version=NKJV )
Recently actor Alec Baldwin issued a statement regarding his rude behavior on an airplane: "I would like to apologize to the other passengers onboard the... flight that I was thrown off of." He then went on to blame the crew. One newspaper questioned his "non-apology." Could it be, the paper asked, that people think apologizing will damage their self-esteem? Is this generation incapable of admitting when it's done something ugly?1
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
As we share the Gospel, some words should come up early in the conversation. Like repentance. That's when we confess our sins and are willing to let God change our lives. It's the determination to reverse course, to go in the direction of obedience.
According to Scripture, repentance is necessary for healthy hearts. As Peter said in Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." The Gospel proclaims "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Those "first words" make good first steps.
True repentance will entirely change you.
George Whitefield
1Julian Baggini, "Saying Sorry Has Never Meant Less" in The Guardian , December 16, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 12:1-14:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2012:1-14:33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 2
Doing What He Did
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:42-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:42-48&version=NKJV )
Sometimes parents discipline a child for exercising poor judgment ("You should have known better"). But most of the time it is for not carrying out a parent's wishes ("You disobeyed")--that is, for being a poor steward. The child has been made a steward of certain things by the parent: time, freedom to choose, material resources, and others. If the child uses those resources in a manner out of keeping with a parent's values--that is, the child doesn't make the moral or values-based choice the parent would make--the child has been a poor steward.
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All human beings were created to be stewards of the gifts of God: life, breath, talents, resources, relationships, the creation in which we live, and others (Genesis 1:28). Christians have been made stewards of even more: the grace of God, spiritual gifts, the Gospel, and others. As Christians we are to use our resources to accomplish what Jesus Christ would do in our place. And He said, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
The question is: Are we being good stewards? We should be doing the same thing Christ would do in our place--seeking and saving the lost.
Stewardship is what a man does after he says, "I believe."
W. H. Greaves
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 15:1–17:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2015:1 )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 3
The Bigger, the Better
"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption."
Acts 13:36
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:19-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:19-20&version=NKJV )
The phrase "carbon footprint" has entered the cultural conversation as a sign of the times. Instead of being the path left by the boots of coal miners, a carbon footprint is a measure of the emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Measuring the carbon footprint of cars, factories, events, cities--any entity at all--has become a relevant variable in the analysis of changing climate conditions.
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In addition to their carbon footprint, Christians can also take the measurement of their spiritual footprint. Our spiritual footprint is the measure of all we are doing to change the spiritual climate in our world. Whereas with carbon footprints, smaller is better, with spiritual footprints it is the opposite: the larger, the better. We can leave a spiritual footprint both while we are here and after we are gone through our actions, prayers, and investments of time, talent, and treasure.
Every Christian can serve God faithfully in his or her generation. By wise planning and stewardship, we can expand our spiritual footprint even after entering glory.
The use of our possessions shows us up for what we actually are.
Charles C. Ryrie
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 18:1–19:43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2018:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 4
Faith and Funds
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours.
1 Chronicles 29:11a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 50:10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2050:10-12&version=NKJV )
Since the current economic recession began, the government has twice injected massive amounts of money (credit) into the economy in hopes of jump-starting a recovery. The average citizen wonders, "If the government is in debt, where does it get all this new stimulus money?" Since ordinary citizens cannot create "new money," the government stimulus packages have been confusing to many. Where does "new money" come from?
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While the technical answer to that question involves the Federal Reserve extending new lines of credit to member banks, there is a spiritual application to be gleaned: However money is created, measured, or accounted for, God owns it all. The Christian's hope should never ultimately be in the government's ability to change the money supply. Our hope is in the God who accomplishes His purposes in the earth through establishing and removing kings (and their policies). We cannot serve both God and money, Jesus said (Matthew 6:24).
When we serve God, we put our trust for everything--including the money needed to live--in Him alone.
In the battle of faith, money is usually the last stronghold to fall.
Ronald Dunn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 20:1–22:51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2020:1 )
:angel:
Thursday, April 5
Nothing New
That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 1:10; 2:12; 3:15; 6:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%201:10;%202:12;%203:15;%206:10&version=NKJV )
You no doubt have heard it said, regarding the economic recession that began in 2008, that it is the "worst since the Great Depression"--emphasis on "worst." It certainly isn't the only recession since the Great Depression--there have actually been 12 recessions since the Great Depression (not counting the current one). And there have been 47 recessions since 1797 (counting the current one). Great Depression--there have actually been 12 recessions since the Great Depression (not counting the current one). And there have been 47 recessions since 1797 (counting the current one).1
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What does that tell you about man's ability to manage the economy? At the very least it proves that what Solomon said is true--that there's nothing new under the sun. And it also proves that man is not smart enough to keep things in this world stable. Those who depend on their finances for hope and stability in life will, at least a few times in their lifetime, be sorely disappointed when the economy turns sour.
Rather than putting our trust in our understanding, or that of human leaders, we should trust in the Lord with our whole heart (Proverbs 3:5-6). He is the only one who can provide stability in an unstable world.
Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.
John Blanchard
1en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recessions_in_the_United_States accessed 12-15-11.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 23:1–1 Kings 1:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2023:1 )
:angel:
Friday, April 6
That's an Order
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:23-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037:23-29&version=NKJV )
Have you ever thought about our word order ? What a variety of applications! A fast food worker takes our order for French fries. Soldiers line up in alphabetical order to receive their orders . Our business meeting is called to order at a certain time, but the moderator rules our motion "out of order ." We work hard in order to make money; we spend it by filling out order forms for purchases; then we sit on the sofa and watch an old episode of Law and Order .
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The root idea is conforming to an authoritative standard, a command, an arrangement, a proper direction, or regulation.
When the psalmist says that God orders our steps, the idea is that He decrees our path and He arranges our lives. We live a God-ordered life--under His orders, ordered and arranged by His omniscience, and all in order to please Him.
The word "order" implies control. Our source of guidance must remain the One who understands us from the first to the last. Are you under His orders today?
Order my footsteps by Thy Word and make my heart sincere; let sin have no dominion, Lord, but keep my conscience clear.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 1:28-3:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%201:28-3:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 7 & 8
First Words: Love
The Son of God...loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-11&version=NKJV )
One day legendary movie mogul, Louis B. Mayer, called actor Van Johnson into his office and asked him how he had managed to work so well with Judy Garland. The filming of their picture wrapped up early. Judy was notoriously hard to work with, and Mayer wanted to learn the secret. "Well," replied Johnson, "I kept her happy. I kept her laughing.... She just needed love."1
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We all "just need love," but the kind of love we most need comes from above. The Bible says, "The love of God was manifested toward us... God has sent His only begotten Son into the world" (1 John 4:9). Some of the first words we should say in sharing the Gospel are: God loves you! He loves you because it is in His nature to love. He is love, and He demonstrated His love for us in this--Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That kind of love isn't found over the rainbow, but in the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus.
It has been my one and only business to set forth the love of God to men in Jesus Christ.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
1Quoted by John Fricke in Judy (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2010), 275.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 4:1-8:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%204:1-8:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 9
A Matter of Perspective
[Moses esteemed] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Hebrews 11:26
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:7-11&version=NKJV )
Most of the anxiety we experience in life has to do with the future--the unknown. Even if we are going through something difficult right now , we still think of the future: How long is this going to last? How is this going to change my life? How can I keep this from happening again?
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And when it comes to the future, there are only two ways to approach it: with faith or with fear. When Moses grew up in the lap of luxury in Egypt, every day he watched his Hebrew brethren suffer as slaves. He had to make decisions about his future. " By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king" (Hebrews 11:27a, italics added). Why? Because "he looked to the reward" (Hebrews 11:26). He faced his future with faith, not with fear, because his perspective was heavenly, not earthly. He gave up the riches of Egypt to gain the rewards of eternity, knowing there was no comparison.
If you are tempted to fear something in your future, let a heavenly perspective give you faith instead. A heavenly perspective means seeing life the way God sees it--including the future.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Müller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 8:22–10:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%208:22 )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 10
The Best of Christ
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:7-10&version=NKJV )
On December 13, 2011, in Wenzou, China, a security camera caught the drama of a small girl being accidentally run over by a large vehicle--and remaining stuck underneath. A crowd immediately gathered and lifted up one side of the vehicle so the child could be pulled to safety. It is not unusual that a high-stakes circumstance produces a heroic response on the part of an average person.
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There is a spiritual corollary, but with a twist. When we find ourselves in a high-stakes situation in life, far beyond our ability to solve, the situation brings out not the best in us but the best of Christ in us. That's what happened to the apostle Paul who found himself beset by a problem he couldn't solve. When God promised Paul grace to endure, he realized that the difficulty revealed his weakness but also revealed Christ's strength in him. He realized that when he was weak, Christ was strong.
If you have tried your best to solve a problem you are facing, ask Christ to reveal His strength in and through you.
Only he who can say, "The Lord is the strength of my life" can say, "Of whom shall I be afraid?"
Alexander MacLaren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 10:14–12:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2010:14 )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 11
Goodbye, Worry!
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:25-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:25-34&version=NKJV )
In C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, the senior devil, Screwtape, explains to the junior devil, Wormwood, why they must tempt humans to worry and not trust God: "There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human's mind against the Enemy. He [God] wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them."1
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But as we wrestle with the daily burdens of life, how do we not worry about our tomorrows? The apostle Peter explains the simple but profound solution to worry: "Humble yourselves....casting all your care upon Him...." (1 Peter 5:6-7). Entrusting ourselves and our troubles to God is our singular defense against worry.
Screwtape, continues his dastardly counsel: "Your patient will, of course, have picked up the notion that he must submit with patience to the Enemy's will....It is about this that he is to say 'Thy will be done,' and for the daily task of bearing this that the daily bread will be provided."
Are you submitting with patience to God's will? What will you gain from worrying about your tomorrows? God is your all-sufficient provider. He cares for you!
Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead.
Corrie Ten Boom
1C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 28-29.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 13:1-15:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2013:1-15:34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, April 12
This I Know
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30
Recommended Reading
Daniel 4:34-35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204:34-35&version=NKJV )
Some of us have far more hair on our heads than others. But God wants us to know He's counted every hair. Theologically you may accept the doctrine of God's sovereignty as biblical and true. Yet when your life seems derailed by the loss of a job, your home, or a loved one, do you question God's sovereignty?
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Abraham laughed wondering how God could ever fulfill His promise of birthing a nation through his seed (Genesis 17:17). God came through. Moses thought he'd hit a dead end at the Red Sea with more than two million people following his directions (Exodus 14:16). God came through. Joseph was holed up in a prison, rejected by his brothers, and lied about by his employer's wife (Genesis 50:20). God came through.
The One who knows the number of hairs on your head, who hears your cries during the night, who understands your confusion amid heartbreaking loss, is able to use your circumstances to accomplish His ultimate purposes. Have you been feeling that God's plans for you are thwarted by misfortune? Not so! Rejoice that a loving God holds you in His grip.
Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to His plans; nothing can thwart His purposes; and nothing is beyond His control.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 16:1-18:46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2016:1-18:46&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, April 13
A Changeless God in a Senseless World
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17
Recommended Reading
James 1:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:12-17&version=NKJV )
No matter how dear your friends are, they can fail. No matter how much money you have, you can go broke. No matter how diligently you exercise, you can get sick. Your most trusted walking stick can break. Your dearest dream can die. Life is as uncertain as the clouds that gather and scatter. It's as fickle as the waves of the ocean.
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How sad to be in a senseless world without a changeless God. We have a God with whom there is no variation nor shadow of turning. He doesn't have shifting moods, bad days, "oops" moments, momentary breakdowns, or changes of mind or heart. He's as consistent as a plumb line, as steady as a rock, and as unchanging as eternity. He is as He has always been and will always be. Forever He is enthroned in the highest, and forever His Word is fixed in the heavens.
Our forefathers walked with God and so can we. So can our children. He's the same in every generation. His promises cannot fail, His presence cannot dim, His power cannot wane. We can trust Him completely.
Culture changes. Churches change. Life changes. God doesn't.
James L. Wilson in his sermon, "The Immutability of God."
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 19:1-21:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2019:1-21:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 14 & 15
First Words: Sin
Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age...
Galatians 1:3-4
Recommended Reading
Galatians 1:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201:1-5&version=NKJV )
Earlier this year, an ancient copy of the Ten Commandments went on display in Times Square. The delicate parchment--part of the Dead Sea Scrolls--is 2,000 years old. One journalist wrote about the exhibition, noting that it seemed a great irony that the Ten Commandments, with their prohibitions against theft, murder, and adultery, were being displayed in what was once considered the center of sin in New York--Times Square.1
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The holy nature and commands of God are indelibly posted over the heads of the bustling multitudes of this world. When we violate His statutes, we are committing sins. Among our first words of witness should be: All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory... and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
That's why Jesus came. He came to give Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age. That's the gospel truth.
Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages.
Thomas Watson, Puritan
1John R. Quain, "A Last Look at the Ten Commandments" scitech.foxnews.mobi December 16, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 22:1-2 Kings 5:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2022:1-2%20Kings%203:1-5:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 16
You Are Being Watched
And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:5&version=NKJV )
A little guy is nervous about riding the bus to school for the very first time. But, for reassurance, his dad waits with him at the bus stop. After his son is safely on the bus, the father quickly gets in his car, takes a shortcut to the school, and parks his car near where the bus will unload. When the bus arrives and his son gets off, he looks up and sees his father giving him a "thumbs up." His father was the last person he saw before boarding the bus and the first person he saw getting off. The father repeated the routine for five straight days that first week. It was like the father had been there the whole time.
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And in a sense, he had been. Even though the child couldn't see his father during the trip, he knew his father had made sure he was safe. And it's the same way with God. We don't see Him with us physically, but the witness of the Spirit in us lets us know that we are children of a Father whose care never ceases (Romans 8:14-17).
Between the Spirit and the angels of God (Hebrews 1:14), you are never alone. The Father is watching over you--at this very moment--and wherever you go today.
The presence of God in a flood is better than a ferry boat.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 6:1–8:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%206:1 )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 17
Careful of Counterfeits
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011:13-15&version=NKJV )
In Chicago, police raided a small store and found more than 16,000 counterfeit CDs and DVDs. Police near Atlanta arrested 13 co-conspirators on charges of making counterfeit music and movies. Police in North Wilksboro, North Carolina, arrested two local men for possessing thousands of counterfeit CDs and DVDs. It is said that, in China, counterfeit movies and music are available before the originals are even released in the U.S. And the counterfeits are excellent quality! Many people can't tell the difference--until they play the movie or listen to the music. Even then, the counterfeits can be deceiving.
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Satan is good at counterfeiting in the spiritual realm. He can produce signs and wonders and can make his apostles look like Christ's apostles. Christians must be careful. Spiritual appearance is not a guarantee of spiritual integrity. We must "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" as John wrote (1 John 4:1 NIV).
It is up to us to obey the Bible's exhortation: "Do not be deceived" (Galatians 6:7).
There are powers that can counterfeit almost anything in the Christian life.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 9:1–11:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%209:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 18
Someone Is Coming
...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202:5-8&version=NKJV )
A Seattle couple was about 400 miles from Hawaii in their 38-foot boat when high seas threatened to sink their vessel. They broke out their life rafts, put on survival suits, and used their radio to send a distress signal with their location--then huddled together with their two dogs to wait. The Carnival cruise line's ship, Golden Princess , heard the distress call and was able to rescue the couple and their dogs. Brandy Meissner said, "I knew someone would come out. I just didn't know how long it would take...."
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That's the perspective Christians should have when they find themselves in the middle of the storms of life: "Even if we don't know when, we know Someone is going to come." That Someone is Jesus Christ, of course--and His coming is called the "blessed hope and glorious appearing." We persevere through the challenges of this life because our hope is built on the certainty of Christ's return. This world is not our home; we are just passing through.
When the waves get high, keep your eyes on the heavens for the One who has promised to come.
The only revelation from God which Christians still await is the revelation of Jesus Christ at his second coming.
Geoffrey B. Wilson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 12:1–15:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2012:1 )
:angel:
Thursday, April 19
Winning the Battle
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
Recommended Reading
Job 1:6-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201:6-19&version=NKJV )
Many people misunderstand the purpose of the spiritual warfare Job experienced (Job 1-2). The point of Satan was not to destroy Job or ruin his life by destroying his family and property. Satan's desire was that Job would curse God for letting such bad things happen to him. Sadly, Job's wife became so exasperated that she fell right into Satan's hands when she said to her husband, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9) Thankfully, Job kept his spiritual integrity and would not blame God for his troubles.
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The point is this: Satan's primary purpose is to make God, not us, look bad. But he attacks us in order to tempt us to attack God. And he will use any situation at all--just as he did in Job's life--including our finances and economic health. If you can become so anxious over the economy or money that you lose your faith in God, Satan has won the battle. We win by giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Don't let anything--including finances--cause you to "curse God." Rather, say what Job said: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10, NIV)
Scars are the price which every believer pays for his loyalty to Christ.
William Hendriksen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 15:17–17:41 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:17 )
:angel:
Friday, April 20
Whose Image?
Whose image and inscription is this?
Matthew 22:20
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203:12-18&version=NKJV )
More than 40 percent of Americans between 26 and 40 have a tattoo, and that's spawned a new and thriving business--tattoo removal. Many people come to regret their tattoos, and the laser removal business is booming.
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But some things cannot be reversed. One day, the dreaded "mark of the beast" will be stamped on the foreheads or hands of those worshipping the Antichrist, and no laser will be able to remove it. How much better to have the image of Christ stamped on our hearts.
We're to be conformed to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29). We're to bear the image of the heavenly Man (1 Corinthians 15:49). As we behold the glory of the Lord, we're transformed into His image from glory to glory by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Jesus once taught a lesson by observing the image on a coin (Matthew 22:20). In the same way, our worth is determined by whose image is stamped on our lives. The hymn "O to Be Like Thee" has a prayer for us: "Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart."
Adam's likeness now efface; stamp Thine image in its place.
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 18:1-20:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018:1-20:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 21 & 22
First Words: Mercy
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 1:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201:12-17&version=NKJV )
God's mercy extends to our greatest sins as well as to our lesser shortcomings. As theologian Jonathan Edwards put it: "The mercy of God is as sufficient for the pardon of the greatest sins as for the least; and that because His mercy is infinite. That which is infinite is as much above what is great as it is above what is small... So the mercy of God being infinite, it must be as sufficient for the pardon of all sin, as for one."
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If you fear you've sinned so greatly that God can't forgive, you're forgetting His limitless mercy. If you worry that you've outrun the boundaries of God's grace, you've forgotten that all His attributes are as infinite and eternal as He Himself is.
As we share the Gospel with others, we'll find some people so mired in guilt that they've decided God cannot forgive them. Mercy is God's compassion for us, especially in His provision of Christ's blood for our sins. Because of Jesus, He will abundantly pardon.
When the Law discloses our guilt, we should not despond, but flee to the mercy of God.
John Calvin, in The Institutes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 21:1-1 Chronicles 1:54 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2021:1-1%20Chronicles%201:54&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 23
Rational Lies?
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...
Matthew 28:19
Recommended Reading
Matthew 28:16-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:16-20&version=NKJV )
If Americans could only accomplish one goal in their lifetime, nearly three quarters would choose a travel-related goal, according to a new survey commissioned by Princess Cruises.1 Imagine if everyone added, "Sharing the Good News with the lost" to their bucket lists?
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Sadly, instead of making the Great Commission our personal charge, we rationalize why we don't share our faith. The word "rationalize" is defined the way it sounds: rational lies. There's no room for rationalizing in the Great Commission. In Jesus' parting words on earth to His followers, He commands them to "make disciples." No distinction is made among tribes or nations. All people groups are included. A good disciple duplicates himself by bringing others into a relationship with Jesus.
What are some of the "rational lies" you tell to excuse yourself from sharing the Gospel? Evangelizing the lost and making disciples is not just a bucket list item. It's the responsibility of every Christian. If you are a believer, you are equipped to fulfill the Great Commission. Go!
Any fool can write learned language. The vernacular is the real test. If you can't turn your faith into it, then you either don't understand it or you don't believe it.
C. S. Lewis
1cruiseandferry.net/article/News/0097/Travel goals top US bucket lists accessed 12/2/11.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 2:1-3:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%202:1-3:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 24
Keep the End in Mind
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
Luke 21:28
Recommended Reading
Luke 21:25-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2021:25-28&version=NKJV )
Your doctor tells you, "You're going to feel worse before you feel better." Not encouraging words when you hope to recover quickly from an ailment. Yet the hope of wellness spurs you on through the recovery process.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The "happy ending" prognosis can also be applied as we look at the signs of the end times. Negative financial overtones are predicted as we transition to a new world order. But for the believer, a downturn in the economy doesn't instill gloom. It's good news! Our redemption draws near!
The final stage of our redemption--initiated at the Cross--is inaugurated by the end times when the Church will be ushered into the safety of the kingdom. Unveiling the signs that would signal His coming, Jesus used a joyful image, "lift up your heads," to describe how believers should await His return. Should our heads be downcast in gloom? No! "....look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:27-28).
Keep yourself centered on the knowledge of Christ's return. Lift up your head! Your redemption is near!
Signs of the times are everywhere, there's a brand new feeling in the air. Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky. Lift up your head redemption draweth nigh.
Gordon Jensen, "Redemption Draweth Nigh"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 4:1-6:48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%204:1-6:48&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 25
Eternally Driven
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Timothy 6:7
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206:6-10&version=NKJV )
Tell a story. It's a proven teaching technique. Jesus was a master storyteller. It makes sense that the One who made us knows how to drive a point home. He had the crowds captivated with His parables--simple, memorable stories that conveyed deep messages. Some walked away transformed. Some just walked away.
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"Then he told them this story: 'The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: "What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest." Then he said, "Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!" 'Just then God showed up and said, "Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods--who gets it?"
'That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God'" (Luke 12:16-21, The Message).
Jesus didn't fault the rich man for his plans. He contrasted his earthly riches with his lack of heavenly riches. Will you walk away from that truth today? Or will it transform you?
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
Henry Ward Beecher
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 6:49-8:40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%206:49-8:40&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, April 26
Here I Stand
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only...
James 1:22
Recommended Reading
Joshua 24:14-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2024:14-18&version=NKJV )
When Martin Luther was asked to recant his teachings against the church, he made this bold statement to the Diet of Worms in 1521: "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."1
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In his farewell address to the Israelites, Joshua urged them to take a stand and commit themselves to the Lord. Laying out the options, he distinguished their choices: Choose to serve the God of Israel or choose idols. The choice would determine Israel's history as individuals and families, shaping future generations. Leading by example, Joshua proclaimed his commitment to God: "...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Perhaps today you stand in need of renewing your commitment to God. Your mind is wavering as a plethora of choices clouds the decision that determines your secure eternal future. Take a stand. Declare your unfailing commitment before God: Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.
Our strength is seen in the things we stand for; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for.
Theodore Epp
1greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/martin-luther.html accessed January 5, 2012.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 9:1-11:47 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%209:1-11:47&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, April 27 Could We With Ink the Oceans Fill
You are an epistle of Christ... written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God.
2 Corinthians 3:3
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203:1-6&version=NKJV )
This may be a far-fetched illustration, but let's give it a try. According to MSNBC, The British Medical Journal recently reported the case of a 76-year-old woman who visited her doctor complaining of stomach problems. When the scans came back, doctors were amazed to see a long object in her stomach. It was a pen! The woman remembered having put a pen in her mouth 25 years ago. She lost her balance, fell, and swallowed the pen. Her doctor at the time didn't believe it, and the x-ray equipment of that day didn't detect it, so nothing was ever done about it.
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Now here's the remarkable thing. When surgeons removed the pen, it still worked.
Sometimes we feel like we're being swallowed up in troubles, trials, pressures, and problems. But our God watches over us as He watched over Jonah in the belly of the whale. Trials produce testings, but from testings come testimonies. We never lose our message. We never run out of ink. Because of Christ, we never lose our ability to write the words: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness!"
Most of the world around you doesn't read the Bible. So...God gives the world a living epistle--you.
Kay Arthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 12:1-15:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2012:1-15:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 28 & 29
First Words: Grace
Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
Romans 5:20
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:19-21&version=NKJV )
John Bunyan was converted to Christ from a vile and profane life, and he wanted to tell everyone about it. When he started preaching in his little town of Bedford, England, he was arrested and imprisoned. This was in the days when only ministers for the Church of England could freely preach. Though Bunyan spent years in prison, his voice was never silenced. In fact, during his imprisonment he wrote his great classic Pilgrim's Progress and his autobiography, which he entitled Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners . According to Bunyan, had it not been for "a miracle of precious grace," he would have perished by the stroke of eternal justice.1
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The word "grace" means: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It's God's favor freely bestowed on us in Christ. As we share the Gospel with others, grace should be among the first words on our lips--abounding grace, amazing grace.
How sweet the sound!
His whole gospel is a gospel of grace, words of peace and salvation.
John Bunyan
1John Bunyan, Grace Abounding (Philadelphia: J. J. Woodward, 1828), 13, 195.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 16:1-1 Chronicles 22:19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2016:1-1%20Chronicles%2022:19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 30
A Deep, Settled Peace
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives...
John 14:27
Recommended Reading
John 14:26-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:26-27&version=NKJV )
In his devotional book By the Still Waters , Vance Havner tells of attending a small service in a little church on a cold February night. The people were local farming folk, and a time was given for sharing testimonies. The last to speak was a humble woman plainly dressed who rose and simply said: "I praise the Lord for a deep, settled peace. The world did not give it to me, and the world can't take it away."
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"That testimony lingers with me," wrote Havner. "I think of scholars and sages ransacking libraries and perusing heavy philosophies, searching for the secret of peace, while the plain, farm-woman had been enjoying it through the years."
There's much we don't comprehend. The plans that God has foreordained for us are beyond our understanding, but we know that when we are with Him, there will be peace and rest and joy such as we have never imagined.
The world didn't give it, and the world cannot take it away.
There are thousands of earth's rich and renowned who would give it all for the childish confidence of the soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2023:1-25:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 1
Life's No Cupcake
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14
Recommended Reading
Revelation 22:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022:12-17&version=NKJV )
Recently a security officer at Boston's international airport confiscated a woman's cupcake. He told her the frosting was like gel. It posed a security threat and violated TSA restrictions about liquids and gels on flights. There's no word as to whether or not the seizure occurred near the lunch hour; but the point is: Our world has become so threatened that now we're even afraid of cupcakes.
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Praise God we don't have to live in this present age forever! There's a better day coming, a thousand years of peace during the Millennium followed by eternity on the New Earth. For the children of God--those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb--we have a future in which all our fears will be banished, our faithfulness will be rewarded, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me" (Revelation 22:12).
That's a promise to anticipate today!
The Millennium will be an exhilarating era of happiness, contentment, and joy. It will be the answer to many anguished prayers.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 26:1-28:21
:angel:
Wednesday, May 2
Risky Business
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1
Recommended Reading
Acts 5:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:1-11&version=NKJV )
Ananias and his wife Sapphira lacked what we all should strive for--personal integrity and a desire for God that surpasses love for material possessions. Deliberately setting out to deceive Peter and the apostles, this calculating couple pretended devotion to God by lying about their generous financial gift to the church. Their judgment? Their very lives.
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Maybe you're thinking you can't relate to this Bible story. You don't lie about your tithe to the church. Maybe you don't try to impress your pastor and elders with the amount you give each month. But do you ever lie to the Holy Spirit? Do you pretend to be devoted to God to impress your family, friends, or church? Hypocrisy is insincere. It's presenting an appearance of commitment that's not true.
Ananias and Sapphira committed a sin unto death (1 John 5:16). The undertakers might be busy in our churches today if we were judged for the motives of our hearts. When you serve the church--teaching, singing, serving in a leadership role--are you putting God to the test? It's risky business to fake spirituality. Make your heart's desire for God and God alone.
It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 29:1-2 Chronicles 3:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2029:1-2%20Chronicles%203:17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 3
Spiritual Multiplication
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:11-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:11-16&version=NKJV )
Mentoring is the new buzz word among academicians. What society has learned is that preparing students for real life beyond the classroom is powerfully fostered in one-on-one relationships. In the Christian world, we use the word "discipleship" to describe the individual model of instruction and companionship to mature believers in Christ.
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Mentoring and discipleship don't just happen--a vision must be set to guide and direct those in our care. Paul embraced his discipleship role in Timothy's life, providing counsel and encouragement as Timothy grew in his faith and leadership role in the early church. Moses discipled Joshua for many years before passing the mantel of Israel's leadership to him. Ruth and Naomi's relationship provides a poignant model for how spiritual ties can strengthen family bonds. Jesus Himself is our ultimate example of 24/7 discipleship as He taught His disciples how they should live.
Are you a wise steward of your time with others? Discipleship impacts a church, a community, a nation, and an entire world--one life at a time.
The great thing is to be found at one's post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 4:1-7:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%204:1-7:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 4
Preparing for the Ultimate Test
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Luke 22:42
Recommended Reading
Daniel 3:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%203:16-18&version=NKJV )
The most famous and dramatic record of Christian martyrdom is Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church , by John Foxe--commonly referred to as Foxe's Book of Martyrs , first published in 1563. While the book has gone through many revisions through the years, it remains the most illustrative record of Christians who faithfully gave up their lives for the sake of Christ.
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How would the average Christian today respond to this choice: Deny your faith in Christ or face burning, beheading, boiling in oil, being hung, drawn and quartered, death by torture, or any combination of such acts? Is it possible to remain faithful to Christ in the face of the most horrendous outcome? That was the question facing Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane when He contemplated His approaching death. And His response was the only reasonable one for a Christian: "Not My will, but Yours, be done."
Today's faith is proven by tomorrow's tests. Make Jesus' prayer your prayer for today--and for whatever tomorrow may bring.
The way to grow strong in Christ is to become weak in yourself.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 8:1–11:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%208:1 )
:angel:
Weekend, May 5 & 6
Dear Moms: Moses' Mother
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.
Hebrews 11:23
Recommended Reading
Exodus 2:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%202:1-4&version=NKJV )
Experienced hikers in the wild know better than to come between a mother bear and her cubs. And the same goes for mother lions, elephants, and other beasts on the plains of Africa. But it could also have been said about a Hebrew mother among the captive slaves in Egypt.
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When Pharaoh ordered that Hebrew newborn males were to be killed, he didn't count on the resourcefulness of one Hebrew mother. This mother took her baby boy and hid him in a basket in the river Nile where he was found and adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh. That's right--we're talking about the mother of Moses (and Aaron and Miriam, Moses' brother and sister). The Bible says she knew there was something special about this boy, and she was "not afraid of [Pharaoh's] command." Pharaoh's first mistake was trying to come between the mother of Moses and her baby!
Today is a good day to thank God for mothers who fight for their children's lives when they are threatened.
There is more power in a mother's hand than in a King's scepter.
Billy Sunday
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 12:1-20:37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2012:1-20:37&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, May 7
What God Puts in Our Hearts
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do...
Nehemiah 2:12
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 2:11-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202:11-18&version=NKJV )
In the book that bears his name, Nehemiah relates his burden for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The moment he heard of the distress of his city, he began praying, fasting, and seeking God's will (Nehemiah 1:4). His concern deepened until King Artaxerxes noticed it on his face (2:2). Traveling to Jerusalem, Nehemiah surveyed the ruined walls and devised a plan for their rebuilding. At first, he told no one what God had put in his heart to do. But at the right moment he revealed his plan, mobilized the people, and persevered till the work was done.
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Have you seen a need? Have you prayed for a burden? Our work for Him isn't a personal ambition we seek. It's a vision He places on our hearts--perhaps to become involved in orphan care, to minister to the homeless, to work with nursery children or evangelize the lost, to plan a missions trip.
What has God put in your heart to do? What's the next step? What can you do today to make your vision a reality?
It's a terrible thing to see and have no vision.
Helen Keller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 21:1-24:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2021:1-24:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 8
Fresh Fire
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Acts 2:17
Recommended Reading
Joel 2:28-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%202:28-32&version=NKJV )
In his book, Ten Steps Ahead , Erik Calonius defines vision as "that laser beam of foresight that pierces all obstacles: Pasteur, arguing for the existence of microbes. Churchill, calling for fortitude in the face of apparently insurmountable odds."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Vision is a clear mental image of a preferable future. For Christians, vision comes from Him who has a plan for our lives. We're never too young or old to have a fresh vision of His will for us. In the future, the Bible says both young and old men will dream and give birth to visions. We mustn't rest on our memories; we must be driven by fresh fire.
God-given vision provides a goal for life. It's a badge of purpose. It produces emotion we otherwise wouldn't have. It gives hope for the future and a sense of direction. Before we can have mission, we need vision. Ask God to give you a new stimulus, a burden, an inner conviction for His plan for tomorrow, whatever your age. You are of great use to Him.
Old age does not exempt us from fulfilling our purposes in life.
Billy Graham
1Erik Calonius, Ten Steps Ahead (NY: Penguin, 2011), ch 1.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 25:1-28:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2025:1-28:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, May 9
A Covenant Forever
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
Genesis 17:7
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 31:35-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2031:35-37&version=NKJV )
Covenants in the Old Testament were made vertically (between God and man) and horizontally (between various human parties). In the ancient Near East, a covenant was a powerful document that could change the course of history. To break a covenant was considered the extreme act of disloyalty. Humans would make, and break, covenants. But there is no record of God breaking a covenant.
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Some covenants were conditional ("I will if you will") and others were unconditional ("I will"). The covenant God made with Abraham was unconditional: "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants..." The Abrahamic Covenant that God made is unusual in that it applies not only to Abraham but to his descendants for all time: "for an everlasting covenant." That means God's plan and purpose for Abraham and His descendants is as true today as it was the day it was made.
Looking at Israel today is like looking at no other nation on earth. Israel is a nation in a perpetual, unconditional covenant with God.
God promises to keep His people, and He will keep His promises.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 29:1-31:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2029:1-31:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 10
A Guide for the Nations
"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Genesis 12:3
Recommended Reading
Acts 3:22-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:22-25&version=NKJV )
Suppose the leaders of a nation came to you for advice and asked, "Does the Bible give any guidance on how a nation might enjoy the blessings of God? Also, what is the most important thing we should not do that might impact the blessing of God on our nation?" How would you answer?
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The answer to both questions is the same: How you relate to Israel. How a nation treats God's chosen people, the nation of Israel, is a benchmark for how God treats that nation. When God established His covenant with Abraham, He promised that Abraham's descendants would be a blessing to the world. And because Israel was to be a channel for God's blessings to the world, the nations of the world have a responsibility to be a blessing to Israel. God's promise to Abraham was that He would bless the nations that bless Israel and curse the nations that curse Israel.
That promise was fulfilled among the Old Testament nations and there is no reason to think it is not still in force. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love [her]'" (Psalm 122:6).
There is a living God; He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all He has promised.
Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 32:1-34:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2032:1-34:33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 11
Seeing Around the Bend
And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:5-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:5-12&version=NKJV )
You've taken a wrong turn while driving at night through a mountainous area. There are no lights on the narrow road that is winding around the sides of mountains as you see to find your way. Every time you slowly approach another sharp bend in the road, your headlights shine straight ahead into the dark. The road bends, but your headlights don't. You can see what's on this side of the bend but the far side, around the curve, is dark and unknown.
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That's how we often feel when we approach bends in the road of life. And it surely must be how Moses and Joshua felt as they prepared to take the children of Israel into the Promised Land. On their side of the Jordan River, they could see clearly, but the Canaan side was dark and unknown. That's when Moses told the people not to fear, that God would be with them, that He would never leave them or forsake them. And God later told Joshua the same thing (Joshua 1:5).
If your knowledge of the future only goes so far, and you are approaching a sharp curve, know that God is with you now and will be with you on the other side.
Saving faith is resting faith, the trust which relies entirely on the Savior.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 35:1–Ezra 2:70 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2035:1 )
:angel:
Weekend, May 12 & 13
Dear Moms: Hannah
Then [Hannah] made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life..."
1 Samuel 1:11
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%201:1-2:21&version=NKJV )
It is not unusual today, in the case of an unplanned pregnancy, for a mother to honor the life of the child by carrying it to term and then giving it up for adoption. But the bond between mother and child is so powerful that it is sometimes difficult for the mother to let her child go--understandably so.
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Hannah was a Hebrew mother who faced that difficult choice. Childless throughout her marriage, she pleaded with the Lord to grant fruitfulness to her womb by giving her a son. She promised that she would give up that son to serve the Lord all his days. The Lord heard her prayer and allowed her to conceive and bear a son whom she named Samuel--the child who would become the great and faithful prophet in Israel. It was no doubt difficult for Hannah to give her son to Eli, the priest, but she kept her vow to the Lord.
Give thanks to God today for mothers whose love for God is even deeper and stronger than their love for their own children.
You have omitted to mention the greatest of my teachers--my mother.
Winston Churchill
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 3:1–9:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%203:1 )
:angel:
Monday, May 14
When Through Fiery Trials...
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:7-11&version=NKJV )
The nineteenth-century Dutch Reformed pastor James D. DeMarest once preached a sermon on trials and tribulations. He said, "Now I see that those things which so perplexed and tried me led to my greatest blessings. I could not then see the hand of the Lord in His dealings with me, but I see it plainly now. In that painful dispensation, in that sickness, in that trouble of mind, in that agony of soul, that distressed path, how plainly do I see now that the Lord's hand was leading me!"
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Sometimes we're chastened by the trials and troubles of life. Jesus said we'd have tribulation in this world, and every hero of the Scripture endured times of pressure and pain. Aren't we driven closer to the Lord when faith is exercised during trials?
Don't be discouraged today. He says: "The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
If we could believe that every temptation we were passing through was intended by our merciful God for our special good, it would take off half the burden.
James D. DeMarest
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 10:1-Nehemiah 2:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%2010:1-Nehemiah%202:20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 15
The Storm Ends at 4:39
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
Mark 4:39a
Recommended Reading
Mark 4:35-41 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%204:35-41&version=NKJV )
Do you remember Hurricane John? It formed in the Pacific in 1994 and set a world record as the longest-lasting and farthest-traveling hurricane in recorded history. It was also one of the strongest hurricanes to have ever swept across the sea. It lasted a full month--31 days--and traveled from the eastern Pacific to the western Pacific and back to the central Pacific. Fortunately it remained mostly at sea, so damage was minimal despite the duration of the storm, but it broke records everywhere it went.
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Some storms seem to go on forever. A health crisis, a job disruption, a damaged relationship, a tough period at church. For the disciples, the storm lasted far too long. They feared death by drowning while their Lord slept peacefully in the stern. But Jesus knew the exact time to say, "Peace, be still." It was just at 4:39--Mark 4:39. At that moment, the winds ceased, and there was a great calm.
Let's learn to weather the storm by faith in Him. Our times are in His hands, and in His timing He will say, "Peace, be still!"
No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.
Mary A. Baker
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 3:1-6:19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%203:1-6:19&version=NKJV )
:angel:4
Wednesday, May 16
A Verse in Three Dimensions
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!
Psalm 68:19
Recommended Reading
Psalm 68:19-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2068:19-20&version=NKJV )
If you've ever been hiking, you know those backpacks can get mighty heavy after a while. Packed with supplies (or books if you're a student), backpacks can make our shoulders ache and our back hurt. But step onto a bus or into a taxi and, oh, the relief of letting the burden slip from your shoulders as it's carried by the same vehicle that is carrying you. We still have our backpacks. We've not lost our burden. But now someone or something else is bearing it.
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The New International Version renders Psalm 68:19, "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."
The English Standard Version puts it a little differently: "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation."
And the New King James Version says: "Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! "
Which translation is best? Why not choose all of them and praise our Savior who daily bears our burdens, bears us up, and loads us with benefits.
What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation.
Bill Bright
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 7:1-8:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%207:1-8:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 17
These Kids Need Jesus
They were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 1:23-24
Recommended Reading
Galatians 1:13-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201:13-24&version=NKJV )
During the hippy movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Pastor Chuck Smith of Costa Mesa, California, initially thought the dropouts and drug addicts just needed to cut their hair and get a job. But his wife grew burdened for their spiritual condition. Seeing them wandering aimlessly on the streets, she said, "Honey, these kids need Jesus." Eventually a longhaired kid with a beard and bells on his cuffs ended up at the Smith's home, where he stayed a month, and that started a new ministry for Smith, his family, and church. It could be marked as the beginning of the "Jesus Movement." Eventually thousands of young people came to the Lord, and from them a new era of praise and worship music was launched that is still affecting the church today.1
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When God opens an opportunity to serve Him, it might start with just one person. Don't miss that opportunity, and don't underestimate how God can multiply your efforts through that one for whom He gives you a burden.
The only thing that is secure and stable in this world is our faith in Jesus Christ. It is causing a real renewal.
Chuck Smith
1Karen Jones, "Retro-Modern Pastoring," in Bible Study Magazine .
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 9:1-10:39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%209:1-10:39&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 18
Opportunities
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2:12
Recommended Reading
Acts 16:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016:6-10&version=NKJV )
In ancient harbors, ships often had to wait for the incoming tide to raise the water level sufficiently to allow them to sail in. The Latin phrase ob portu (against the port) described a waiting ship's position just outside the harbor. The English word opportunity derives from the phrase ob portu to describe when one prepares and waits for just the right moment to act.
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Those who seem to have the most opportunities in life make opportunities instead of waiting for them to happen. The apostle Paul was the kind of person who looked for every opportunity to preach the Gospel. If a door closed and the opportunity vanished, he assumed it was God who closed the door and that another would open. On one occasion in Asia Minor, two doors closed in succession followed by a third that opened. Instead of bemoaning the two missed opportunities, Paul took the third, "concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them" (Acts 16:10).
There is no such thing as luck or coincidence in the Christian life. If God is in control of everything, then what appears to be luck or coincidence is really an opportunity provided by God.
An obstacle is often an unrecognized opportunity.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 11:1-12:47 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011:1-12:47&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, May 19 & 20
Dear Moms: Elizabeth
"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."
Luke 1:45
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:5–80 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:5 )
Parents are often excited when their children announce a calling from the Lord to full-time ministry--until they learn that calling involves living half a world away on the mission field, or ministering in a dangerous inner-city setting, or reaching out to young people involved in alternative lifestyles.
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Elizabeth was a mother who knew before her son was born that he was going to be "different." The angel Gabriel told Elizabeth's husband, Zacharias, that their son--to be named John--would live a Nazirite lifestyle (Numbers 6:1-21) and minister "in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). If anything, Elijah was known as a radical in the eyes of the world. And that's what Elizabeth could expect as her son, John, went out to prepare the way for the coming of his cousin, the Messiah, Jesus. And sure enough, "the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts" (Luke 1:80), dressed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6).
Thank God today for mothers who are willing to let their children fulfill their calling from the Lord.
No man is poor who has had a godly mother.
Abraham Lincoln
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 13:1-Esther 10:3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2013:1-Esther%2010:3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, May 21
Minor Country--Major Role
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...
Psalm 33:12
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 14:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2014:34&version=NKJV )
Based on our present spiritual temperature, we may forget that America has been the force behind world missions. Incredible that a country with 5 percent of the world's population has launched 75 percent of the missionaries of the last century and has provided approximately the same amount of money and material aid.1
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As believers look to the future and witness prophetic events unfolding, it's natural to wonder about the fate of one's own country. As an American, I find it interesting to study the sovereignty of God in the founding of America. Although the Bible makes no direct references to God's plan for America, He has distinctly used it in His redemptive purposes as a launching pad for spreading the Gospel to the world.
What's America's role in the prophetic future? The Bible is silent. God's Word and our future are not to be approached as simply an international message, but as an individual message. Salvation offers a future hope to each and every one of us.
How can we keep silent?
The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men.
Benjamin Franklin
1John F. Walvoord, "America and the Cause of World Missions," America in History and Bible Prophecy , Thomas McCall, ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1976), 21.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 1:1-5:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201:1-5:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 22
The Guiding Hand
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
Psalm 115:3
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2029:11-12&version=NKJV )
Have you ever played chess? Each player controls sixteen pieces--a king, queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The two-player war ensues and the pieces are eventually checked out. This popular game can be a helpful reminder of God's sovereignty over our lives. Sometimes we mistakenly believe that electing a particular president, for instance, will change the tide of world events. But in reality, there's only one hand that guides the course of world affairs.
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As king over the nation of Israel, David understood God's sovereignty. In his last official words to his son and nation, David unequivocally proclaimed that everything belongs to God (1 Chronicles 29:11-13). Reviewing the major events in his life, David acknowledged the hand of God with His people. "We are aliens and pilgrims before You..." (verse 15), David declared. Simply subjects in Almighty God's hand.
Do you ever cling to an earthly leader, hoping their presence will somehow transform your existence? Cling to God instead--the One who made you and guides your life with His hand.
This is the essence of God's sovereignty; His absolute independence to do as He pleases and His absolute control over the actions of all His creatures.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 6:1-9:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%206:1-9:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, May 23
Choosing Change
Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Recommended Reading
Ruth 1:16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201:16-17&version=NKJV )
Do you like change? Some people dread the very word. Change can be as life-altering as a job relocation. Or it can be as simple as someone sitting in "your" seat at church or your grocery store rearranging its aisles. But even creatures of habit must admit that some changes are beneficial and, in fact, life changing.
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One of the most unassuming characters in Scripture is a heroine who radically changed the course of her life, impacting the Davidic messianic line. Widowed at a young age, Ruth could have returned to the protection of her mother's family. But Ruth didn't pick the easy way. Facing enormous obstacles, this brave Gentile woman committed to a big change: "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16). By embracing change, Ruth was blessed far beyond what her finite mind could have imagined. Her son would be part of the messianic lineage.
Are you resisting the opportunity to make a positive change in your life? Perhaps mentally you've drawn boundaries around your comfort zone and you're crying, "No!" Step up to the challenge of change. The ramifications of God's kind of change can impact us beyond our wildest dreams.
Courage is the strength or choice to begin a change. Determination is the persistence to continue that change.
Author Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 10:1-13:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2010:1-13:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 24
Recipe for Godliness
...exercise yourself toward godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:12-14&version=NKJV )
One old recipe for rabbit began with this injunction: "First catch the rabbit." The writer knew how to put first things first. That's what we do when we establish priorities--we put the things that should be in first place in their proper order.1
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Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , points out: "Keep in mind that you are always saying 'no' to something. If it isn't to the apparent, urgent things in your life, it is probably to the more fundamental, highly important things. Even when the urgent is good, the good can keep you from your best... The way you spend your time is a result of the way you see your time and the way you really see your priorities" (pages 157-158).
Does the recipe for your day begin with spending time in God's Word? Or do you pass over that priority as "urgent" matters crowd your schedule? God's injunction for your day is: Exercise yourself in godliness. Open your Bible and get started!
Do not have your concert first and tune your instruments afterward. Begin the day with God.
Hudson Taylor
1Haddon Robinson, sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/priorities.htm accessed 1/16/12.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 14:1-16:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2014:1-16:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 25
When You Pray
"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
Matthew 6:6
Recommended Reading
Luke 11:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011:1-13&version=NKJV )
Perhaps no two small words carry such huge implications as the words "if" and "when." And we often mix them incorrectly. "If" carries with it a sense of contingency or uncertainty, while "when" conveys the opposite--a definite sense of certainty. We often hear people say, "It's not a case of if , but when ."
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As Jesus taught the disciples about prayer, He did not use the word "if" as in, " If you pray"--as if it were possible that the disciples might not pray. Instead, He said, "And when you pray... But you, when you pray... And when you pray..." (Matthew 6:5-7). And concerning needs the disciples had, He didn't say, "Whatever things you ask if you pray," but " when you pray" (Mark 11:24). It was as if Jesus assumed the disciples would be continually about the activity of prayer. Nowhere is that better captured than in the introduction to the model prayer (the "Lord's Prayer") He taught them: "So He said to them, ' When you pray, say: "Our Father in heaven . . .'" (Luke 11:2).
Our goal should be to use "when," not "if," in referring to our prayer life.
Mature faith does not live by answers to prayer, but by prayer.
R. E. O. White
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 17:1–20:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2017:1%E2%80%9320:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, May 26 & 27
Dear Moms: Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."
Luke 1:38
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:26-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:26-38&version=NKJV )
2:21-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:21-40&version=NKJV )
Unlike some others who became mothers after years of barrenness, Mary was not seeking to have a child. Indeed, she was not even pregnant. So when the angel Gabriel announced that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus, she was as much puzzled as awestruck. But her response was characteristic: "Let it be to me according to your word."
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The realization of what it would mean to be the mother of Jesus grew on Mary gradually. When Jesus was eight days old, Mary learned that "a sword" would pierce her own soul because of her Son (Luke 2:35). And when He was found to possess wisdom beyond His young years, her perception of His mission was stretched in a new way (Luke 2:41-52). It was only when His public ministry began, and she saw how her Son was treated by those who rejected Him, that her protective instincts surfaced (Luke 8:19-21). And they must have reached a peak when she stood at the foot of the cross and watched her Son die an unjust death (John 19:25).
Thank God today for mothers who submit to God's will for their children even when it is more painful than they could have imagined.
The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 21:1–28:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2021:1%E2%80%9328:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, May 28
From Praise to Praise
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:13
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:9-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:9-13&version=NKJV )
Many of us remember our mothers buying dress patterns to aid in sewing. Perhaps you've done the same yourself. A pattern is a paper template from which the parts of the dress are traced onto the fabric before cutting and stitching together at the home sewing machine.
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The Lord's Prayer is a pattern that allows us to trace and assemble a beautiful prayer life at home. There's hardly anything that touches life that isn't included in this prayer. It expands to cover all our needs and relationships, and it encompasses matters affecting both time and eternity.
One of the most useful observations is that the Lord's Prayer begins and ends on a note of praise. Left to ourselves, we'd probably begin and end our prayers with our own needs. But Jesus taught us to begin with the attitude: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name." And to end with: "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
When we begin and end our prayers with praise, we keep the focus on Him, and that's the pattern for joy.
Worship seals all prayers at the front and at the back. Always pray with praise beginning and praise ending.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 29:1-31:40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2029:1-31:40&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 29
Needing the Knee
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%201:2-4&version=NKJV )
A strange phenomenon swept over Washington's Union Station on the morning of June 6, 1944. No announcements came across the speakers. No one made a loud pronouncement. But suddenly the hustle and bustle of thousands of people crisscrossing the vast terminal came to a quiet moment of silence and stillness. One person after another dropped to a knee, folded their hands, and prayed. A few minutes later the phenomenon passed, people returned to their feet and scurried toward their trains or taxis. What had happened? It was D-Day, and news of the invasion flashed from person to person. Everyone felt the need for prayer.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
A popular football player has recently re-popularized the habit of dropping to one's knee in prayer. Many of the biblical characters knelt when they prayed--not always, but sometimes. And kneeling is a godly habit that represents our reverence to the Lord.
But whether we're kneeling literally or figuratively, our hearts should always be in an attitude of prayer. We can pray at all times, even amid the hustle and bustle of life. Even now.
Prayer isn't limited to a slot in our schedule. It's living in the Lord's presence and being open to Him.
Cheri Fuller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 32:1-34:37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2032:1-34:37&version=NKJV )
:angel:oooo
Wednesday, May 30
Is Your Church Cold?
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:4-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:4-10&version=NKJV )
Every winter the residents of Mitterfirmiansreut, Germany, build a church from snow. The tradition dates to 1911, when authorities denied a request for the building of a house of worship. Villagers decided to build it anyway, and they constructed it out of snow and ice. A frozen chapel has been built every year since, though the process is more expensive now. Last year's construction cost $200,000.
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Some churches are certainly colder than others. The true church is made from living stones (1 Peter 2:5), and some of them are colder than others. Every congregation is made of flawed people, with different personalities, and opinions, and levels of maturity.
Paul fretted about his church at Corinth. But writing to them, he began with a prayer thanking God for each member. When we learn to thank God for our churches despite their perceived flaws, we'll be following a tradition established by Paul. We'll find that thanksgiving can thaw the icicles of our hearts and warm those of others.
(When) some good man or woman comes into the church, or a new preacher, or God Himself comes by His Holy Spirit, there is a fire lighted in that cold church. Everyone begins to feel and act and pray differently.
Hugh T. Kerr
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 35:1-37:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2035:1-37:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 31
Our Fellow Servants
I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant."
Revelation 22:8-9
Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:9-10&version=NKJV )
According to the Bible, there is a spiritual zone around earth containing unseen angelic activity. References to angels are in 39 books of the Bible--19 in the Old Testament, 20 in the New. Angelic activity runs from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22. The Lord must want us to ponder this, as Colossians 3 tells us to set our minds on things above.
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Be thankful for angels, but remember that only God should be worshipped. In Revelation 19, the apostle John was so overwhelmed that he fell down to worship the angel who appeared to him. But the angel said, "Do not do it! I am your fellow servant." Three chapters later, John repeated his mistake, and the angel gave the same response, telling him that angels and Christians are fellow servants in the Lord's work.
What a concept! Don't worship angels but consider them fellow servants . Though we may not see them, they're working alongside us in ways we'll only understand later.1
Though we may not worship angels, we may esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And we may imitate them in all holiness.
John Wesley
1Adapted from Angels: True Stories by Robert J. Morgan (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 38:1-39:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038:1-39:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 2 & 3
The Father Knows Best: Love
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1
Recommended Reading
1 John 1:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201:1-3&version=NKJV )
Dads are imperfect people, and it only takes a single thoughtless mistake to create misfortune. On a recent Saturday night, for example, a man in New York pulled into a convenience store to buy a drink, leaving his car running. A thief jumped into the vehicle and took off, not realizing the owner's six-year-old son was asleep in the backseat. Thankfully the boy slept through the whole ordeal. He was safe and sound-and still asleep-when officials found him inside the abandoned vehicle a half-hour later. The thief wasn't caught, but the dad was charged with endangering the child.
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All dads make mistakes--some worse than others!--but there is one Father who will never make a mistake, let us down, endanger our lives, risk our well-being, leave us, or forsake us. He loves us with an everlasting love, and nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can rest in that!
Rest. Rest. Rest in God's love.
Madame Jeanne Guyon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 1:1-8:9, Psalms 9:1-16:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%201:1-8:9 )
:angel:
Monday, June 4
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:14
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:10-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:10-14&version=NKJV )
The death of a child is inexplicable. We can't understand it. But we can trust the God of all comfort, who assures us that every life is precious, every soul is eternal, and every departed child is safe in His arms. Jesus said of the girl in Galilee, "She is not dead, but sleeping" (Luke 8:52). David said of his lifeless child, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23).
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The mystery of heaven grows sweeter as we think of the children who have prematurely left earth to be with God. We may never get over the loss of a child, but we can get through it with the joy of the Lord as our strength. We can anticipate our reunions. We can remember He does all things well. Pastor John MacArthur wrote a prayer for grieving families, which said in part: "Turn their sorrow to joy as they accept the truth that their little one is safely in Your arms--now and forevermore."1
Amen.
Neither life nor death shall ever, from the Lord His children sever.
Karolina Sandell-Berg
1John MacArthur, Safe in the Arms of Jesus (Nashville: Nelson, 2003), 171.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 17:1-20:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2017:1-20:9&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 5
Mercy in His Image
"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:14b
Recommended Reading
Psalm 145:8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20145:8-9&version=NKJV )
When a newborn wakes his parents crying in the middle of the night, he is nursed back to sleep by a weary and understanding parent. When a two-year old accidentally knocks over a cup of juice, it is wiped up by a patient and understanding parent. And when a fussy five-year old refuses to take her nap, she is led back to her bed by a firm, but understanding, parent.
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What is it that makes these parents respond with understanding--that keeps them from punishing an infant, toddler, or five-year-old for accidents or typical behaviors? It's the same thing that God extends to us: mercy and grace. We are made in the image of God and so have the same sense of mercy and grace that God has, tarnished as ours might be due to sin. We understand that children are not mature; they make mistakes and have accidents; they don't know right from wrong. So we extend mercy and grace and love toward them as God does for us. It's the same mercy and grace God extends throughout His creation.
For children whose lives end at a young age, God's mercy and understanding draw them to Himself for all eternity.
What a world this would be if God sat on a throne of justice only, and if no mercy were ever to be shown to men!
Albert Barnes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 21:1–25:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2021:1 )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 6
Eternity in Our Heart
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts...
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:1-4&version=NKJV )
The most difficult time to retain a student's attention during the school year is inevitably the last few weeks of the spring term, waiting for summer vacation. And the same interest level for their work is also difficult to maintain in an employee's life the last few weeks before retirement. If summer vacations and retirement create such expectation and excitement, how much more anticipation should there be for spending all eternity in the glories of heaven?
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Even if a person has no fear of death, almost everyone will admit to the feeling that death is an interruption, something that is unplanned. We have a sense that life should be about more than living three-score and ten years. And it is! We think life should go on because of the God-implanted sense of eternity carried in the heart of every human being (Ecclesiastes 3:11). God created man to live forever, but death entered with sin (Romans 5:12). Fortunately, we can live forever through faith in Christ who cancelled out our debt of sin.
Are you thinking as much about eternity today as about an upcoming vacation, or about relaxing in your senior years? Thank God for the privilege of living forever with Him!
Eternity is the lifetime of the Almighty.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 26:1–31:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2026:1–31:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 7
Taking Away the Sting
"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
1 Corinthians 15:55
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:20-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:20-26&version=NKJV )
Nineteenth century poet and pastor Henry Van Dyke made the statement: "Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live." That is a very astute observation. For some people, the thought of dying is something that they fear--almost to the point of compulsion.
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Why is dying something we wish to escape? It's because it stings. At least that's how the New Testament describes it: "O Death, where is your sting?" Death stings for lots of reasons. Sometimes it comes with suffering and always with separation. Sometimes it's accompanied by regrets and unfulfilled dreams. Regardless of the reason, death, like all of life's "stings," is something to avoid. Unless, that is, you are a child of God for whom the sting of death has been removed by Christ. Yes, there is still separation and loss, but not without hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ took the sting out of death and took victory away from the grave. As Jesus said, it is possible to live even though we die (John 11:25-26).
There is no better way to live than to look forward to life and to death. And you can look forward to both today through faith in Christ.
He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 32:1–35:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2032:1%E2%80%9335:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 8
The Benefit of Stress
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:7-12&version=NKJV )
Hematohidrosis is the medical term for a rare event in which blood is mingled with sweat and oozes out of the pores of the skin. It almost always occurs under conditions of great stress, with fear being the predominant emotion: fear of death, bodily harm, or catastrophe. During the time of stress, blood vessels around the sweat glands constrict. As the stress passes, the vessels dilate and rupture, releasing blood into the sweat glands which release the blood onto the skin, mixed with sweat. It's possible Jesus experienced hematohidrosis in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His arrest.
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We don't think of Jesus as being "stressed out" or fearful, but given what He knew was coming in a matter of hours, it would be understandable if He was. The most important thing to notice about His experience of sweating blood is what He was doing when it happened: He was praying. He took His stress or fear or whatever He was feeling and committed it to God in prayer, trusting Him for the outcome.
Stress is like a mirror--it reveals better than anything else what is inside. The way we handle stress defines who we are.
The time of fear is the time to trust.
John MacBeath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 36:1–39:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2036:1%E2%80%9339:13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 9 & 10
The Father Knows Best: Discipline
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons.
Hebrews 12:7
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:3-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:3-11&version=NKJV )
One evening when Paul Moody, son of evangelist D. L. Moody, was ten years old, he disobeyed his dad. He later recalled, "My father... finding I had not obeyed him, spoke with that directness of which he was capable, called brusqueness by some, and ordered me to bed at once... I retreated, frightened and in tears, for such a tone of voice was a new experience in my life. I hurried to bed, but before I had time to fall asleep, he was at my bedside, kneeling and asking my forgiveness for the harsh way in which he had spoken to me, the tears falling down over his rugged, bearded face. That was nearly half a century ago," added Paul, "but all unknowing he was laying for me the consciousness of the Fatherhood of God and the love of God."1
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Our heavenly Father may discipline, but always in love and for our good. If you're facing chastening of some sort, trust Him and let it yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness in your life.
The purpose of God's discipline is not to punish us but to transform us.
Jerry Bridges in Trusting God
1 What I Owe to My Father by Sydney Strong (Hallendale, FL: New World, 1931), 113.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 40:1-45:17, Psalms 46:1-50:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2040:1-45:17 )
:angel:
Monday, June 11
Courageous Christianity
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:23-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:23-31&version=NKJV )
In his book, Courageous Christianity , Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote about living for Christ in a hostile society. "Why do I preach the Gospel when people do not want to hear and I face many hardships and discomforts in doing so?" he asked. "I will tell you why. Take this world of ours. We have already had two world wars, and look at the present international situation. What is the matter with this world? What is the matter with men and women? Is there nothing that can put things right? I say that only one thing can even touch the problems of the human race--it is this Gospel."1
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From the beginning of the biblical story, God's people have courageously relayed His message to the world. Jonah to Nineveh. Daniel to Babylon. Isaiah to Judah. Peter to the Jews. Paul to the Gentiles. The Gospel is the only hope. Some will oppose it, but many will hear, believe, and be saved if we are courageously Christian.
Boldness enables Christians to forsake all rather than Christ, and to prefer to offend all rather than to offend Him.
Jonathan Edwards
1Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Courageous Christianity (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2001) 7.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 51:1-57:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2051:1-57:11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 12
Children With Courage
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Colossians 3:21
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206:6-9&version=NKJV )
Samantha Garvey is a precocious 18-year-old high school student who was a semifinalist in a national talent search competition for her research in marine biology. She was invited to attend the president's 2012 State of the Union address, and the next morning she appeared on NBC's Today show. While Samantha's accomplishments would be noteworthy under any circumstances, her family's situation is unique: they are homeless. In December 2011, Samantha and her brother, sister, and parents lost their home. They are living in a homeless shelter while waiting for rent-subsidized housing to become available. In spite of their situation, Samantha's father said he and his wife have always encouraged their children to study hard and pursue their goals. Their encouragement obviously paid off.
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Encouragement may be the most important emotional ingredient in raising children who have the courage to overcome obstacles in life. Paul warned about the dangers of provoking children to anger and frustration (Ephesians 6:4). The opposite strategy is the one that works: Encourage them to become all God created them to be.
More people fail for lack of encouragement than for any other reason.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 58:1–64:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2058:1%E2%80%9364:10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 13
The Power of Choice
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."
John 14:1
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:6-7&version=NKJV )
When Krickitt Carpenter woke up from a car accident with complete amnesia, she had no idea who her husband, Kim, was. She told her doctors, "I'm not married." Their true love story--how Krickitt fell in love with Kim all over again--is being seen by millions in the movie, The Vow . In spite of all his efforts to prod his wife's memory, nothing worked. Finally, a therapist told Kim he needed to make Krickitt fall in love with him all over again. And it worked. "I chose to love him," Krickitt said.
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The power of choice is an underutilized tool in the spiritual toolbox. Usually, where the will goes the emotions will follow. For instance, Jesus told His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled" when they learned He would be leaving them. Where did Jesus place the responsibility to remain encouraged? Squarely on the disciples. It was their choice not to let their hearts be troubled. Too often we allow ourselves to become victims of circumstances as if we have no choice, no say in the matter. But according to Jesus, we can choose to be encouraged.
Make this an encouraging day in the Lord--by choice.
Joy is not an accident of temperament or an unpredictable providence; joy is a matter of choice.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 65:1–68:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2065:1%E2%80%9368:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 19
Terribly Purposeful
...The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
Recommended Reading
Job 3:1-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%203:1-26&version=NKJV )
Bad days are no fun. Judith Viorst's award-winning children's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day , resonates with all of us. Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair. His best friend deserts him. And he's served lima beans for dinner--the list goes on. We're sympathetic, because everyone has bad days. But when the bad days seem to overwhelm us, we might wonder: Is it a sin to be depressed?
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The emotional blackness painted by men in Scripture like Job, Elijah, and Moses gives brilliant light to those who are emotionally suffering. The tears and cries of hopelessness from these saints dispel any question as to whether depression is a sin. We see God's favor on these men as His extraordinary and boundless love reached out to them. Dark, desperate depression was replaced by love and a confident security in the arms of their God.
Do you feel like the purpose of your life is unraveling? Is a cloud of hopeless circumstances distorting your view of God's plan? Ask God to renew a steadfast spirit in you.
The presence of faith gives no guarantee of the absence of spiritual depression; however, the dark night of the soul always gives way to the brightness of the noonday light of the presence of God.
R.C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 90:1-95:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2090:1-95:11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 20
Ribbons or Rip Off?
...your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 5:8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%205:8-9&version=NKJV )
Ever walked through a county fair and heard the vendors yelling after you about their newest contests or the certainty you have of winning their games? Satan, too, calls out to believers enticing them to play worldly games that have no prize--only heartache and emptiness.
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The apostle Paul didn't mince words when he addressed the Ephesians about their arch enemy. Paul used the word "against" five times as he described the conflict between Satan and believers; and he specified the necessary armor believers would need to protect themselves from being victimized. He declared the Word of God as the all-powerful weapon that could combat "spiritual hosts of wickedness" (Ephesians 6:12).
The one who is given names like adversary, deceiver, liar, and murderer must be fought with God's Word. Put on your spiritual armor, and gird yourself with God's Word so you don't fall prey to Satan's colorful enticements.
In opposition... to all the suggestions of the devil, the sole, simple, and sufficient answer is the word of God. This puts to flight all the powers of darkness...
Charles Hodge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 96:1-102:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2096:1-102:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 21
Who Done It?
Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:10-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-20&version=NKJV )
Who done it? The inimitable Sherlock Holmes continues to spellbind movie audiences and mystery readers. His logical reasoning and intriguing disguises foil the most cunning criminals. We furrow our brow as the plot unfolds and the great detective zeros in on his criminal. In real life, criminals can be a little harder to nail down. The same goes for the mastermind who designs his ruse for your spiritual life.
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Sometimes disguising himself in religion, intellectualism, the arts, or in money, fame, and influence, Satan "threatens to undo us" as Martin Luther's great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," testifies. Satan even taunts us with discouragement--one of his best-used ploys to devour our influence for God.
Has Satan fooled you through a disguise? Maybe what you think is simply a distraction is seriously affecting your relationship with God. Ask God to reveal any inroads Satan might be making in your life that aren't godly. Once you've identified his methods, the power of God's Word is your singular weapon. Immerse yourself daily in reading the Bible and praying. Spiritually train as if your life counted on it--it does!
The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 103:1-105:45 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20103:1-105:45&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 22
Certified Hope
To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:1-5&version=NKJV )
When it's Super Bowl Sunday, you're probably hoping for a particular team to win. But whoever your favorite team is, no matter the sport, winning is never certain--no matter how loud you yell. There's one game, though, that we're assured of winning--if we have trusted Christ for our salvation.
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Once we're born again into God's family, there's a hope given to us that will never disappoint as we engage in the game of life. Objectively we know that once we're justified in Christ, we're secure in Him and His plan for our lives. But knowing that we're human and prone to insecurity, God goes one step further to cement our hope in Him by lavishly pouring out His love in us through His Holy Spirit. This testimony of God's love allows Him to implant evidence in our inner beings that we belong to Him and that we love Him because He first loved us.
Do you daily live with confidence in God's testimony of love for you? Can you prove it to those around you by your attitude of hopeful living? We've read the back of the Book and we know who wins! Live with confidence!
Hope, from a biblical perspective, is a future certainty grounded in a present reality.
Victor Shepherd
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 106:1-107:43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20106:1-107:43&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 23 & 24
The Father Knows Best: Integrity
The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 20:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2020:1-7&version=NKJV )
One night around a campfire Dr. Robert Brandt told his sons about a workman injured by a sliding boulder. He was dirt poor, and he feared losing his job. Because he couldn't afford a horse, he walked everywhere; so his injured foot was a constant trial. When payday came, he limped to the general store for groceries. Back home, he discovered he'd been given too much change. Despite searing pain, he limped back to the store to return the change.
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"What do you think, guys?" asked Dr. Brandt. "Did he do the right thing?"
The boys discussed it, then Brandt finished the story. "Before he died, (the young father) had passed his values in honesty to his children and his grandchildren. Even his great-grandchildren still hear about his honesty... He was my grandfather and your great-grandfather!"1
As parents and as people, we model our integrity after that of our heavenly Father. The righteous walk in their integrity, and their children will be blessed after them.
Faith that is not evidenced by a life of integrity is not biblical faith at all.
David Jeremiah in Turning Toward Integrity
1Robert I. Brandt, "A Heritage of Honesty" in Decision Magazine , July-August, 1991, 8-9.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 108:1-114:8, Psalms 115:1-119:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20108:1-114:8 )
:angel:
Monday, June 25
Pot Luck
For a righteous man may fall seven times, and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Proverbs 24:16
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 24:13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2024:13-16&version=NKJV )
There's a story about a ceramics teacher who divided his class into two groups. One group would be graded on the quantity of their work. They were to make as many pots as possible. The other group would be graded on the quality of their work. They were to make as perfect a pot as possible. When the day came to grade the students, the professor was amazed to discover that the group being graded for quantity also had the best quality. The group churning out the most vessels made the finest pieces. The reason? They were learning from their mistakes, so their work was constantly improving. The "quality" group spent all their time working on a single pot, but without the benefit of failures, mistakes, or experience.1
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Don't be afraid to fail. Proverbs 24:16 (NLT) says, "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again." If you've made a mistake or encountered a failure, don't stay down. Failure is often the back door to success.
Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Arnold Glasow
1David Bayles and Ted Orland, Art and Fear (Santa Barbara: Capra Press, 1993), 29.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 119:33-120 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20119:33-120&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 26
Make a Lemonade Stand!
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial...
James 1:12 (ESV)
Recommended Reading
James 1:2-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:2-4&version=NKJV )
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" This saying is a humorous reminder of the advantages we gain from adversity. Do you ever wonder how the lemons in your life could ever make lemonade? Look no further than the life of Joseph for encouragement.
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Joseph obeyed his father by going the extra mile in search of his brothers. The result? His brothers threw him into a pit, and he was sold to a group of traveling slave traders. Joseph maintained his purity when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. The result? He was slandered by the rebuffed woman and thrown into a dungeon. While in prison, Joseph correctly interpreted one of the prisoner's dreams, asking that he promise to remember him to Pharaoh. The result? The butler forgot.
But Joseph allowed God to use his pain to mature him. How else could a young man, favored and sheltered by his father, be hewn into a man of iron and become a powerful prime minister of Egypt, administering food during a worldwide famine to protect the lives of God's chosen nation.
When you wince during a trial, remember the advantages gained in your adversity. When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade stand!
No trials are wasted in God's economy.
Derek Prime and Alistair Begg
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 119:121-124:8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20119:121-124:8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 27
Heavenly Blinders
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV 1984)
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:1-2&version=NKJV )
Legend has it that blinders for horses were invented by a preacher who had a wager with one of his friends. He bet that he could make his horse walk up the stairs in his home--and the horse succeeded. The problem was coaxing the horse back down. The preacher decided to cover the horse's head and lead him down. Eureka! The discovery of blinders for horses has increased safety for the animals and the loads they carry. It also keeps them focused since peripheral vision can distract, leading to disastrous consequences.
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Blinders are needed in the spiritual world too. Heavenly blinders keep us safely on God's path. But blinders of selfishness remove our focus from God--until an unexpected tragedy or life threatening diagnosis gets our attention. Why do we often wait for a desperate situation to recognize our great need for God?
If you're wearing blinders of selfishness that keep you inattentive to God, don't wait for an emergency to get you back on track. Ask God to fit you with heavenly blinders that safely guide along the peaceful paths, the rocky roads, and through catastrophic circumstances. Fix your eyes on Jesus!
If we only spent more of our time in looking at Him we should soon forget ourselves.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 125:1-135:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20125:1-135:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 28 Growing in Grace
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18a
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202:16-17&version=NKJV )
Outside of love, the word most commonly associated with Christianity may be "grace." But like love, grace is harder to define than it is to recognize when we see it in action. Grace has often been described as God's Riches At Christ's Expense, and that is true. Within those riches, the Bible identifies favor, kindness, and good will as examples of grace--especially when it is undeserved by the recipient. In that sense, grace can be described as God's gift of something that isn't deserved, in contrast to mercy--God's withholding of judgment that is deserved.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
God doesn't hand us grace as we would hand an apple to a child--a transaction that is quick and complete. Rather, grace is something we grow in. Because grace represents the character of God and His infinite love and resources, His grace is never exhausted. Grace is fully present the day a new Christian first understands it, but that person's appreciation and depth of understanding will be radically different decades later.
Ask God today to open your eyes to the depth of His gift of grace that you might grow more in it.
They who would grow in grace must be inquisitive.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 136:1–140:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms%20136:1%E2%80%93140:13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 29
Would You Die for You?
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
Ephesians 2:4-5
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:6-10&version=NKJV )
The apostle Paul raises an embarrassing matter: "We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But..." (Romans 5:7, The Message ). "But"--that's the question. Who would die for an enemy? Who would die for a depraved person? Who would die for you? Why would God die for people who rebelled against Him? "But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him" (Romans 5:8, The Message ).
Listen to Today'sBRRadio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The best illustration of God's grace is found right there: God dying for His enemies. The simple answer for why He did it is because we were helpless. We were dead in our sins. Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician" (Mark 2:17a). We are the very people who needed God to die for us. But think what kind of love and grace it took for Him to do that!
If you are alive in Christ today, thank Him that it was "by grace you have been saved."
The Christian is not a good man. He is a vile wretch who has been saved by the grace of God.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 141:1-147:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20141:1-147:20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 30
The Father Knows Best: Listening
And God listened...
Genesis 30:22
Recommended Reading
Malachi 3:16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:16-17&version=NKJV )
Debra Fine wrote about eight-year-old Nick who told his dad about his day: "Dad, I had a great day at school. We had art class today, and I painted a cool picture of the mountains. We played soccer during gym and I scored a goal. And guess what--they served pizza for lunch." But looking at his dad whose nose was in the newspaper, Nick said, "Dad, you're not listening." His dad replied, "Yes I am, son. You painted a picture of the mountains, scored a goal in soccer, and had pizza for lunch." But Nicolas was unappeased. "No, dad, that's not it. You're not listening to me with your eyes."1
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
As parents, we don't always listen to our children as we should (hopefully we're improving), but our Heavenly Father always listens with His ears, His eyes, and His heart. We have His full attention. You can tell Him anything.
As parents are pleased with the first stammering accents of (their) children, especially when they lisp the words father, mother, so our heavenly Father listens with pleasure to the feeble, imperfect prayers of His children, when, guided by the Spirit of Adoption, they come lisping, Abba, Father.
Edward Payson, nineteenth-century American Congregational Preacher
1Debra Fine, The Fine Art of Small Talk (NY: Hyperion, 2005), 69-70.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 148:1-Proverbs 2:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20148:1-Proverbs%202:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 1
Seeing Red: A Look Across the Red Sea
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:29&version=NKJV )
When Jesus spoke the words (above) to His disciples about what is impossible with man but possible with God, He took the words right out of Moses' mouth. Not literally, of course, but we can well imagine Moses speaking similar words to the Hebrew slaves as they considered their situation--between the rock of the Egyptian army and the hard place of the Red Sea.
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The Hebrew slaves cried out to Moses that it would have been better to stay as Egyptian slaves than to die by Egyptian swords in the desert (Exodus 14:10-12). They had just witnessed God do 10 miracles in Egypt that brought the nation to its knees. But escape the Egyptian army by crossing the Red Sea? Impossible! They had not yet learned that what is impossible for man is possible for God in every case . But before reaching Canaan, they would see example after example of what is possible with God.
If you are trapped in a place--an impossible place--it is time to call upon the God who specializes in making the impossible possible. The more impossible your situation, the more glory goes to God when He works on your behalf.
Christ wants not nibblers at the possible but grabbers of the impossible.
C. T. Studd
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 3:1–5:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:1%E2%80%935:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 2
Perfect Original
...He who has seen Me has seen the Father...
John 14:9
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 9:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209:6-7&version=NKJV )
Do we really understand the surpassing greatness of Jesus? He is better than anything else! He's better than the system of Old Testament Judaism. Better than the prophets. Better than the kings. Better than the priests. And better than the angels.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
While we do not know what Jesus looked like, we do know about His character. The Book of Hebrews describes Jesus as "the exact representation" of God. This awesome description is the strongest word the New Testament uses to explain an exact duplication of the original. Greek writers employed it to describe the emperor's likeness on Roman coins and seals, which were viewed not as a general likeness but as good as the original. There's no question that God wants us to know Jesus is a true and complete representation of Himself.
Consider the treasure you have as a believer in Christ. Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead--the exact representation of the Father. He deserves our adoration and praise. How do you find God? Worship Jesus.
The good news is that in the face of Jesus Christ we see the very face of God...
Kevin Vanhoozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 6:1-8:36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%206:1-8:36&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 3
Worthwhile Waiting
...the Father had given all things into His hands...
John 13:3
Recommended Reading
John 13:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013:1-5&version=NKJV )
According to a new survey of technology experts, today's teens and young adults who have been raised with immediate access to each other and information through the Internet will multitask and approach problems differently than their elders. These technology experts also predicted this generation will exhibit a thirst for instant gratification and a lack of deep-thinking ability due to "fast-twitch wiring."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Now, consider the second century Jews who hadn't heard from God for 400 years--that's about 21,000 weeks or 147,000 days of waiting. No instant gratification in God's plan for the Messiah. After 33 years on earth, Jesus ate the Passover Supper with His disciples, "knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands." Notice the careful language so there's no mistaking Who purged us from our sins. The One who created this world and holds it together paid the penalty we deserve by the shedding of His own blood. Mission accomplished.
Our Savior was worth the wait. His plan for your life is worth the wait. Be patient today, and wire yourself to wait on Him.
God is never late and never early. He's always right on time.
Anonymous
1pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Hyperconnected-lives.aspx?src=prc-newsletter, accessed March 2, 2012.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 9:1-11:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%209:1-11:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 4
Matchless
For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"?
Hebrews 1:5a
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:18-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202:18-19&version=NKJV )
In the classic Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life , George Bailey is prevented from committing suicide by his guardian angel Clarence. Shown how his life has impacted others, George grasps the dramatic impact one life can make by this angel's intervention.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It is easy to appreciate the entertainment value of Clarence, but it is a reminder too that we should never elevate angels to a place of worship. Angels should be honored for their ministering work among us, but we should reserve our worship for God's holy and righteous Son. In the first chapter of Hebrews, the writer explains that no angel has ever been invited to share God's throne as Jesus has. Jesus is better than the angels. His deeds are unchanging. His dominion never ends. His dignity is unmatched.
Can you identify some areas of distraction in your life that are interrupting your ongoing relationship with God? Take the time to refocus your attention on Jesus, who alone is worthy of our worship and praise.
Angels--like all other intelligent creatures--were designed to render worship to God, not to receive worship themselves...
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 12:1-14:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2012:1-14:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 5
Supreme Savior
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.
Philippians 2:9
Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%205:11-13&version=NKJV )
Sometimes it's easier to take just a piece of Jesus, rather than become a full-fledged Christ follower. Our Christ-less society demeans His deity and entreats people to adopt a more "comfortable" approach to Jesus: He was a humanitarian and a good teacher.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Isn't it interesting that even religious people will rationalize and adjust theology to let them "have" Jesus, without letting Jesus "have" them? It's in fact a centuries-old problem. The writer of Hebrews appealed to first-century sects within Judaism who venerated angels instead of giving precedence to Jesus. Acceptance into their synagogues required the Jews to diminish Jesus to the status of a powerful angel--much less intimidating than the holy, righteous Son of God.
How do you respond to the pressure of making people feel comfortable with the person of Jesus? Are you in danger of compromising His superiority? Or do you unequivocally give Jesus His rightful place as supreme ruler of heaven, earth, and your life? What you believe about Christ determines your destiny. It's a deal breaker. You either believe 100% in the supremacy of Jesus, or you don't. Give Him His rightful place in your life.
There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.
Billy Sunday
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 15:1-17:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015:1-17:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 6
Spiritual Anchor
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Hebrews 2:1
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:21-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:21-24&version=NKJV )
Before the days of GPS--the Global Positioning System--the greatest danger for anyone on the ocean was drifting out of sight of land or losing sight of a landmark. A fisherman just off shore might decide to shut his eyes for a nap and several hours later wake up and see nothing but water all around him. The scariest part of drifting is how subtly it happens.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The strong currents that cause drifting on the ocean or in rivers are also found in the spiritual realm. The writer to the Hebrews warns his readers about drifting away from the truth and commitments they had made. What serves as an anchor in the spiritual realm? Giving "earnest heed to the things we have heard" (Hebrews 2:1). The writer of Proverbs puts it this way: "My son preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight" (Proverbs 3:21 NIV). The spiritual truth we learn from Scripture serves as a landmark to keep us from drifting.
But landmarks must be established and referenced continually. Make God's Word your landmark today and every day to prevent spiritual drifting.
When we learn to hold the world with a loose grip, we are learning to take hold of the world to come with a firm grip.
Sinclair Ferguson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 18:1–20:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2018:1%E2%80%9320:30&version=NKJV )
Weekend, July 7 & 8
Seeing Red: A Look From the Wall
And [Rahab] sent them [the Israelite spies] away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
Joshua 2:21
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:30-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:30-31&version=NKJV )
When Joshua was ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he chose two men and sent them to spy out the land--and especially the city of Jericho: "When you get to Jericho, find a local prostitute and spend the night in her house. You will be less conspicuous that way." No, that is definitely not what Joshua told the spies. He didn't tell them where to stay--he left that to their discretion and God's provision.
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When the spies entered Jericho and met Rahab--who was, indeed, a prostitute in the city--they discovered a unique person. She had an immoral lifestyle, she lied to the officials of Jericho about the men being in her house, but she also had a striking spiritual sensibility. She knew God was going to give Jericho over to the Israelite army, and she didn't want to perish with the city, so she made a bargain with the spies and remained safe by binding a scarlet cord in the window on the city wall. For her faithfulness, the spies agreed her house and family would be spared in the attack.
We should never anticipate how God is going to accomplish His purposes. His ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). We should prepare to be surprised and submissive to His will.
God's ways are behind the scenes, but He moves all the scenes which He is behind.
John Nelson Darby
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 21:1–26:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2021:1%E2%80%9326:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 9
Time to Bow Out
"If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me..."
John 8:54
Recommended Reading
John 3:25-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:25-30&version=NKJV )
When you admire Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa , do you credit Lisa Gherardini--the subject of the painting--for its prominence as the most famous painting in the world? When you listen to Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, do you congratulate the violinist for creating one of the most profound violin concertos of all time? I hope not. The artist and composer were obviously the creators.
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But aren't we prone to this dysfunctional attitude in our own lives? We get a promotion. We're recognized for an accomplishment, and what do we do? Mentally take a bow--flaunting our own glory. As God's creation, we're only beautiful or accomplished when we're celebrating the work God has done in us. Boasting, brandishing, broadcasting an invitation for autographs is the opposite of how Jesus lived. Jesus kept the main thing in life--to glorify His Father--the main thing. His public and private life evidenced His desire to glorify His Father. And He left any personal glory up to the Father to communicate.
Have you perhaps unintentionally been drifting toward pride--away from your master Creator? Stay close to Christ. Glorify Him with your gifts and talents. Keep the main thing, the main thing.
He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor.
Thomas à Kempis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 27:1-29:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2027:1-29:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 10
Blood Brothers
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren...
Hebrews 2:17
Recommended Reading
Psalm 8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208%20&version=NKJV )
Preferring not to attend church one Christmas Eve, a man was home when a flock of birds slammed into his landscape window, desperately seeking shelter from the storm. Repeatedly the kind-hearted man tried to lure them into his warm barn, but the birds were terrified of him. "If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear, and understand."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
This poignant story simply illustrates the incarnation. God became man to show us the way to eternal safety. Interestingly, Jesus called His followers disciples or friends during His earthly ministry. But the Cross changed that. After the Resurrection, His first words to Mary were to go and tell his "brethren" that He was alive (John 20:17). Because of His sacrifice, we are now sons of God and brothers in Christ.
If you're facing some challenges today, remember that Jesus Christ became man to show you the way.
He became what we are that He might make us what He is.
Athanasius
1Paul Harvey's Christmas story, "The Man and the Birds," ABC Radio, December 24, 2004.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 30:1-Ecclesiastes 1:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030:1-Ecclesiastes%201:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 11
Fireproof Intervention
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels... that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:5-8&version=NKJV )
This past March, after escaping his burning home by jumping through a window with his wife, a decorated U.S. Special Forces soldier covered himself with a blanket and re-entered his North Carolina home in search of his two young daughters. Unfortunately, this rescue was unsuccessful, costing the lives of the father and two daughters. 1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When someone needs help, especially someone we love, we do whatever we can to relieve their distress--even if it demands sacrifice. Just as God intervened for us when man fell into disobedience and sin. He provided a way out--Jesus came to our rescue. He humbled Himself. Left His home in glory and lived as one of us. It was the only way to deliver us from death and bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
Jesus has been through the fire for you. Approach Him today with confidence. Your Deliverer is waiting for your call.
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.
C.T. Studd
1ktvz.com/news/30620187/detail.html, accessed March 8, 2012.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:1-5:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%202:1-5:20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 12
The Bigger House
The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me [Moses] from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.
Deuteronomy 18:15
Recommended Reading
Numbers 12:6-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2012:6-8&version=NKJV )
In Orthodox Judaism there is no one greater than Moses. He is called "Our Leader Moshe," "Servant of God," and "Father of All the Prophets." Joshua, David, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah--they were all great leaders who accomplished much for God. But none can approach the greatness of Moses. He is the Jews' lawgiver, their redeemer from slavery, and their miracle worker in the wilderness.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When the New Testament writer to the Hebrews wanted to demonstrate the greatness of Jesus, he used Moses as a standard. It took something to be considered greater than Moses, but Jesus was. That takes nothing away from Moses--he was faithful in the "house" over which God made him a steward (Hebrews 3:5). But Jesus' house was bigger, more consequential, and more eternal. Moses was charged with bringing the Hebrews out of slavery into rest in Canaan, while Jesus' was charged with bringing those who believe into eternal rest. Both their cups were full--but Jesus had the larger cup.
Thank God today for faithful human servants who make it easier to see just how great a Servant Jesus Christ was for us.
The light which men got from Moses and the law was at best only starlight compared to noonday.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 6:1–9:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%206:1%E2%80%939:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 13
Partaking of Jesus
The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Recommended Reading
John 6:47-59 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:47-59&version=NKJV )
Jesus told the Jewish leaders of His day that He was the bread of life. He said that unless they ate His flesh and drank His blood, they would have no eternal life. Conversely, whoever did eat His flesh and drink His blood would have eternal life (John 6:53-54). "Bread" was a reference to the manna God sent the Israelites. Flesh and blood called to mind the Old Testament sacrifices, though there was a strict ordinance against consuming any of the blood of the sacrifice. So what was Jesus getting at?
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What we call the Lord's Supper has the same images--bread that represents His flesh, the cup that represents His blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). By partaking of that meal, we partake of Christ by faith. Jesus offered Himself to the Jews as the One who could nourish them eternally, far longer than the manna in the wilderness. Partaking of Christ means simply to embrace Him, believe in Him, and feed on Him spiritually.
Start today by thanking Christ for being the Bread of your life, for nourishing you with spiritual sustenance today and forever.
The Bible is meant to be bread for our daily use, not just cake for special occasions.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 10:1–Song of Solomon 2:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%2010:1%E2%80%93Song%20of%20Solomon%202:17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 14 & 15
Seeing Red: A Look at the Words of Jesus
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 663b
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 4:20-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204:20-22&version=NKJV )
In 2006, the Country Music Association's Single [Song] of the Year award went to "Believe," recorded by the country duo Brooks & Dunn. The song tells the story of a young boy who questioned an old man about his ability to withstand the trials he had experienced in his life--specifically, the death of his wife and child. In the song's chorus the old man says, "I raise my hands, bow my head, I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red."
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Most Bible-readers will understand immediately the reference to "words written in red"--Bibles that have the words of Jesus in the New Testament printed in red ink. The first red-letter editions of the Bible appeared around the turn of the twentieth century and have been popular ever since. But there's another reason to focus on the words of Jesus besides just locating them more easily. It's because they are just as Jesus described them: life. Proverbs 4:22 also refers to words that give life, and Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Word of God as "living."
If trials in life are weighing you down, turn to "the words written in red" for the new life you seek.
God's Word is the instrument by which God's Spirit transforms the Christian.
Robert M. Horn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Song of Solomon 3:1-Isaiah 4:6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%203:1-Isaiah%204:6&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 16
Hearing Loss
...Incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.
Proverbs 2:2
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 50:4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2050:4-7&version=NKJV )
A new study by John Hopkins found that people with mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling than people with normal hearing; and moderate hearing loss doubles the danger yet again. Losing your hearing could mean losing your footing.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The same is true spiritually. When our hearts grow hard and our ears dull, we can lose our spiritual footing. The Bible tells us to listen, to hear, and to give ear to His commands.
A tender heart toward the Lord means eager ears and guided feet. Spend time daily listening to the Lord and meditating on His Word, like the prophet who said, "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away" (Isaiah 50:4-5).
"For if you do these things you will never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10).
The best way to show someone you love them is to listen to them.
Quoted by Michael Card
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 5:1-8:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%205:1-8:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 17
Contagion
Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord for the Lord heard it.
Numbers 11:1
Recommended Reading
Exodus 15:20-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2015:20-24&version=NKJV )
Leadership expert Erik Calonius tells of a study of 12,000 interconnected people in Massachusetts that found that happiness passes from one person to another like flu. The closer you are to a happy person, the happier you'll be. Statistically, each happy friend a person has increases that person's probability of being happy by about nine percent. Every unhappy friend decreases it by seven percent. Experts call this "contagion."1
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Readers of Exodus aren't surprised, for negative attitudes swept through the Israelites in epidemic waves. For example, in chapter 15 the Israelites burst into hymns over the parting of the Red Sea; but by the end of the chapter, they were grumbling again.
The attitude you're carrying right now will spread to somebody else today. If you're joyful, you'll lift their spirits. If you're angry, you'll infect them with negative feelings. The Bible tells us to exhort one another, to hold fast to our faith, and to spread abroad the love of God with overflowing hearts.
Smiles are the most contagious emotional signal of all, having an almost irresistible power to make others smile in return.
Daniel Goleman
1Erik Calonius, Ten Steps Ahead (NY: Penguin, 2011).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 9:1-13:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209:1-13:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 18
Internal Thermometers
And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all.
Acts 27:35
Recommended Reading
Acts 27:33-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027:33-38&version=NKJV )
Newspapers recently told of a woman in China who has lived with a thermometer inside her lung for 44 years. Apparently she accidently swallowed it during a routine checkup when she was twelve years old, but her family couldn't afford the surgery to remove it. Now doctors are planning to remove it before it breaks and leaks mercury into her body.
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We all have an internal thermometer that measures our emotional health, and that thermometer is gratitude. You can tell how happy someone is by noticing whether they grumble or give thanks, whatever the circumstances. In Acts 27, the apostle Paul was drenched to the skin, reeling from a vicious storm, and trapped on a sinking ship. But he found something for which to thank the Lord, and he led his 276 fellow passengers in thanksgiving. The ability to be thankful in any given set of circumstances is an indication of the health of our souls.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Even when a storm is raging around us and all things seem to be against us, we shall find that we have much for which to be thankful.
James H. Snowden, nineteenth-century Presbyterian pastor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 14:1-18:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014:1-18:7&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 19
Concrete Faith
The gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith...
Hebrews 4:2
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 4:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204:1-10&version=NKJV )
What substance is necessary to turn cement into concrete? It's water, as anyone knows who has used cement for a household project like pouring a sidewalk or firming up a fencepost. Cement is a dry fine-grained compound that's useless without water to moisten it so it can harden. Likewise, it's great to have the Word of God in our hearts, but it must be mixed with faith.
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Perhaps you're facing a disappointment today. An expected opening didn't occur. A hoped-for breakthrough didn't come. Instead of good news, you've gotten a discouraging word. This is just the time to exchange your problem for a promise. Go to the Scriptures and study through them until you find a word from God that meets your need. Focus your thoughts on that promise, and determine to trust God to keep it. He turns all things for good to those who love Him, and He makes disappointments "His appointments."
Don't mix your worries with fear, but mix His Word with faith. He wants to give you concrete assurance every day and keep you well set in life.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there.
Old English Proverb
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 19:1-23:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2019:1-23:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 20
Never Not Enough
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209:6-8&version=NKJV )
When Elijah met a widow's need for food in Zarephath, "she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry" (1 Kings 17:15-16). When Jesus fed thousands of hungry people by the Sea of Galilee, He took a few fish and loaves and multiplied them and "they all ate and were filled"--with 12 baskets full of leftovers (Matthew 14:20).
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When God meets needs, He provides sufficiently. Sometimes it is more than needed, as in the case of the fish and loaves. Whether it is just enough or more than enough, it is never "not enough." Paul wrote that God's grace allows for us to have "all sufficiency in all things" (2 Corinthians 9:8). When Paul found himself in a situation he desperately wanted God to change, God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). The reason God is always able to supply sufficiently is because of His infinite nature.
If you need God to supply something in your life, time and means may change, but one thing will not: His sufficiency in meeting your need. There is always enough with God.
Our efficiency without God's sufficiency is only a deficiency.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 24:1–28:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2024:1%E2%80%9328:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 21 & 22
Seeing Red: The Beginning of Miracles
And [the master of the feast] said to the bridegroom, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
John 2:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-16&version=NKJV )
You have probably heard this saying that has been around for years: "I know I'm somebody 'cause God don't make no junk." The saying is attributed to the singer Ethel Waters who was a beloved soloist for years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She died in 1977, but her slogan has lived on.
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Another evidence that God makes nothing sub-standard can be found at a wedding in Cana of Galilee in the first century. Jesus, His mother, and His disciples were in attendance as guests when Jesus was put on the spot. The supply of wine for the wedding ran out, and Jesus' mother appealed to Him to help. Though His ministry had not begun publicly, Jesus miraculously changed six large pots of water into wine. When the person in charge tasted the new wine, he was amazed at the excellent quality (John 2:1-10)!
You are a creation of God, "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). If you ever question your worth as a person, remember that God makes nothing but the best!
God will never cast away his jewels, but gather them into his cabinet of just men made perfect.
William S. Plumer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 29:1–36:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2029:1%E2%80%9336:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 23
Our Great High Priest
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203:1-6&version=NKJV )
In one of his great hymns, Isaac Watts wrote, "Jesus, my great High Priest, offered His blood and died; my guilty conscience seeks no sacrifice beside. His pow'rful blood did once atone, and now it pleads before the Throne."
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Whatever's going on in your life, you have a Great High Priest seated on the throne of majesty at the right hand of God, making intercession for you. He sympathizes with your infirmities, identifies with your temptations, prays over your distresses, and dispenses grace and mercy in time of need. He brings your cares to the attention of the Father, and sends His Spirit to support your fainting heart. He gives His Word, keeps His promises, strengthens His children, and readies heaven for our use.
Christians have a resource the world knows nothing about, a representative whose attention never falters. Therefore "fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess" (Hebrews 3:1 NIV 1984).
All other men, even the greatest, the wisest, the best, have been marked by imperfection and sin, but in Christ we have a great High Priest of absolute sinlessness, and in Him we may safely and fully trust.
J. S. Exell
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 37:1-40:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2037:1-40:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 24
Great Shepherd
Now may the God of peace... that great Shepherd of the sheep... make you complete.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:20-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013:20-25&version=NKJV )
Sergeant Harry J. Wheeler has become a legend among crime fighters in New York. When he was found years ago, he was wandering the streets of Brooklyn, abandoned and lost, living by his wits. Rescuers noticed his keen perception and protective nature and sent him to a 20-week training course with the New York State Police. Since then he's played a critical role in several police investigations. He's especially proficient in locating the remains of murder victims. You might say he has a nose for murder, for Sergeant Wheeler is a German Shepherd who works on New York's K-9 Force.
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We're like Sergeant Harry J. Wheeler. Somehow we lost our way, but our Rescuer found us wandering around, abandoned and confused, living by our wits. He put us into His school, trained us as His disciples, and gave us assignments to do. The Bible doesn't picture us as dogs, but as sheep--with Christ being the Chief Shepherd. He laid down His life for us, and now lives to lead us, bless us, and use us for His glory.
He is not only the Shepherd but "that great shepherd," just as He is not only High Priest, but our "great High Priest," and not merely King, but the "King of Kings"
Arthur Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 41:1-43:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041:1-43:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 25
Foreknowing, Forgiving, Fortifying
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:14
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 7:25-8:1 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%207:25-8:1&version=NKJV )
Only one book in the Bible refers to Jesus as our High Priest, but that book--Hebrews--uses the phrase eighteen times. Jesus Christ is our "merciful and faithful High Priest" (2:17); the High Priest of our confession (3:1); the High Priest who has passed through the heavens (4:14); a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses (4:15); who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners (7:26); a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens (8:1). He is our great High Priest of the good things to come (9:11).
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As High Priest He foreknows us. He's anticipated our need and worked in advance to provide for our salvation.
As High Priest He forgives us, offering His own blood once for all.
As High Priest He fortifies us. He understands our weaknesses, intercedes for us before the throne, and upholds us with daily grace and peace. Seeing then that we have such a great High Priest, let us hold fast to our confession.
Now let our cheerful eyes survey our great High Priest above, and celebrate His constant care and sympathizing love.
Phillip Doddridge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 44:1-47:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2044:1-47:15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 26
Immature Forever?
Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Recommended Reading
Luke 8:14-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208:14-15&version=NKJV )
"You're only young once," quipped Australian writer Germaine Greer, "but you can be immature forever." She's sadly right. It's one thing for a child to act immaturely; we expect that. But for immaturity to persist into adulthood is distressing. Many of our problems are caused by immaturity--immature husbands, immature wives, immature church members, immature actions.
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The word "maturity" means "fully grown, developed, or completed." The greatest picture of maturity in the Bible is our Lord Jesus, who "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." In other words, He matured mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.
"Him we proclaim," said Paul, "warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ" (Colossians 1:28 ESV). As we feed on the Bible, confess our sins, learn from our mistakes, and grow in God's wisdom, we can mature. We don't have to stay immature forever.
Spiritual maturity cannot come in a day. We cannot expect it. It takes growth, until the whole beauty of the image of Christ is formed in (us).
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 48:1-51:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2048:1-51:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 27
Diet for Growth
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
1 Peter 2:2
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 5:12-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%205:12-13&version=NKJV )
Mammals are characterized, in part, by the female having mammary glands that produce milk for a baby. How appropriate that God designed a built-in food supply for tiny infants that conveys everything the baby needs to develop in the first months of life. Obviously, an infant is totally unequipped to chew, swallow, or digest solid food. But when the time is right, the transition to solid food needs to happen.
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The same is true in the process of spiritual growth. New Christians need to be fed "the milk of the Word"--basic biblical truths about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. But that "milk" is for a transitional purpose, just as mother's milk plays a transitional role in human physical development. If a Christian doesn't move beyond basic Bible doctrines into deeper biblical understanding, something is wrong. Spiritual growth only continues when the "milk" of the Word is replaced by the "meat" of the Word.
How would you describe your spiritual diet in terms of how long you have been a Christian? If you are consuming milk too long or meat too soon, your growth will suffer.
The Bible calls itself food. The value of food is not in the discussion it arouses but in the nourishment it imparts.
Will Houghton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 52:1–57:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2052:1%E2%80%9357:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 28 & 29
Seeing Red: Nothing But the Blood
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 9:19-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209:19-22&version=NKJV )
Though it was his desire to influence people for Christ through his preaching ministry, it is Robert Lowry's ministry as a hymn writer that has kept his memory alive since his death in 1899. He composed around five hundred Gospel hymns during his years of ministry, none better known than "Nothing But the Blood." The first stanza of this hymn is sung as energetically today as when he wrote it in 1876: "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
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Since innocent animals were first sacrificed as a substitute for guilty human beings, blood has been the means of atonement. Why blood? Because blood "is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life" (Leviticus 17:13-14). So for one life to be taken in place of another, blood must be shed. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission" of sin (Hebrews 9:22).
Praise God today that His own Son's blood was sufficient to cover the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). And make sure your faith is in "nothing but the blood of Jesus."
I hear the words of love, I gaze upon the blood, I see the mighty sacrifice, and I have peace with God.
Horatius Bonar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 58:1–66:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2058:1%E2%80%9366:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 30
Lion-Sized Boldness
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1
Recommended Reading
John 3:13-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:13-22&version=NKJV )
In 1934, Adolf Hitler summoned German church leaders to his Berlin office to berate them for insufficiently supporting his programs. Pastor Martin Niemöller explained that he was concerned only for the welfare of the church and of the German people. Hitler snapped, "You confine yourself to the church. I'll take care of the German people." Niemöller replied, "You said that 'I will take care of the German people.' But we too, as Christians and churchmen, have a responsibility toward the German people. That responsibility was entrusted to us by God, and neither you nor anyone in this world has the power to take it from us."
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It's easy to be intimidated today, for Christian values and convictions are the laughingstock of a godless society. But this is no time to be on the defensive. Christ overturned the moneychangers in the temple without flinching. If Jesus stood firm in His day and Niemöller in his, we can stand for Christ today--as bold as a lion.
The fearful hare trembles at every cry; but the courageous lion is unmoved by the greatest clamors. Were believers to shrink back at every contrary wind that blows, they would never make their voyage to heaven.
William Secker, seventeenth-century clergyman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 1:1 - 3:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%201:1%20-%203:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 31 "Put Up That Knife!"
God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!
Acts 23:3
Recommended Reading
Acts 23:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023:1-5&version=NKJV )
One night some ruffians surrounded the church where evangelist Mordecai Ham was preaching. They threw rocks through the windows, unharnessed the horses, and threatened the attenders. Ham went out to confront the ringleader, who pulled a knife on him. The evangelist said, "Put up that knife, you coward... I'm going to ask the Lord either to convert you or kill you." The man cursed Ham and walked off. The next morning, the bully was dead. Three other troublemakers died at a sawmill explosion. A revival swept through town.
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That kind of fearlessness may be rare today, but not in the Bible. Paul told the one who struck him in Acts 23, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!" Jesus was majestic in His boldness amid opposition. We shouldn't use words rashly or overreact to provocation, but neither should we be spiritual weaklings. Christ's example--and those of His followers through the ages--should bolster our faith and encourage us to stand up for Him when tested.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.
George Duffield
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 4:1-6:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%204:1-6:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 1
Walking and Pleasing
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5
Recommended Reading
Genesis 5:18-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%205:18-24&version=NKJV )
In today's world, the "centenarian club"--those living to age 100 or more--is a select group. Thousands of years ago, prior to the great flood, the goal was not living to 100 but living to 1,000! No one made it, but Methuselah came closest, dying at age 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Methuselah's father, Enoch, was a rarity in those days--he lived only 365 years. But there was a special reason why his lifespan on earth was cut short.
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Enoch's life on earth ended unexpectedly because God removed him from earth, presumably to heaven. We are not told why God took Enoch, but we are given two clues. First, Enoch "walked with God" (Genesis 5:22). Noah is the only other person in the Bible who "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Second, we are told that Enoch "pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). The fact that Enoch lived in a time of great violence and sin on the earth suggests that God removed Enoch from that environment as a reward for his righteousness.
Regardless of how long we live, our goal today and everyday should be to walk with God in a way that pleases Him.
If I walk with the world, I can't walk with God.
Dwight L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 7:1–9:26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%207:1%E2%80%939:26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 2
Faithful Walking
...Enoch walked with God....
Genesis 5:22
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:12-15&version=NKJV )
It was a story that touched the world. David Vetter, the little boy with big brown eyes, lived his life inside plastic isolator bubbles to protect his body from germs. Tragically, a cure for his fatal immune disease never came, and David died after a bone marrow transplant one month after his twelfth birthday in 1984.1 Fighting bacteria is a lifelong ordeal for our human bodies. And for the Christian, living in a sin-infested world is also a lifelong ordeal.
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Even though the environment around us may be toxic, it is possible to faithfully walk with God. If you're an ordinary person striving to possess extraordinary faith, consider the life of Enoch. He was an everyday kind of guy--not a prophet like Moses or a statesman like Daniel. He lived in a culture of such prevailing wickedness and rebellion that God ultimately judged the entire world with the Flood. But Enoch didn't use the wickedness of his culture as an excuse for faithless living. He walked with God.
Keep walking on the road where God has placed you at this time in history. And be an extraordinary person of faith--walking with God.
His is a joy which consequences cannot quench. His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.
Max Lucado
1pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bubble/peopleevents/p_vetter.html accessed 4/2/12.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 10:1-13:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2010:1-13:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 3
Flooded With Faith
By faith Noah...moved with godly fear...
Hebrews 11:7
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 54:8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2054:8-10&version=NKJV )
You're a farmer living in medieval times. A passerby explains the features of his new smartphone. It gives you a weather report for your harvest season, a rotation schedule for using the oxen that the villager's share, the going price for chickens that your wife raises, music to listen to while you work, and you can talk to the blacksmith in the next town (and see his face) without leaving your farm. Would you believe him?
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It's a thought almost as mind-boggling as Noah hearing that rain--which he'd never seen before--would fall from the sky and flood the earth. And Noah's job assignment from God for the next 100 years? Build a boat to carry your family and sundry creatures to safety. Noah tried to explain it to his neighbors. But who could believe such a preposterous story? Especially a wicked generation notorious for rampant iniquity, riotous violence, and religious indifference.
Faith can be a lonely place. Noah worked day after day on a boat that attracted contempt. He trusted God implicitly for a flood of rain he'd never seen. Noah's faithful testimony gives every believer the strength to hold on in impossible circumstances. When people insult your testimony, and you wonder how God will ever bring meaning and order out of the broken pieces of your life, take a faithful stand for Him.
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 14:1-17:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2014:1-17:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 4 & 5
Your Spiritual Wardrobe: Armor
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:10-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-18&version=NKJV )
The newest innovation in body armor for soldiers and police officers is liquid gel. Military developers have invented a new super gel that's lighter to wear than traditional bulletproof vests, yet more effective. The fluid has special particles that collide and lock together when disturbed, forming a hard surface that absorbs and stops projectiles. It's cooler and more flexible to wear, and soon coming to a police officer near you.
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The believer's armor is flexible and strong; and in this hostile world it's never safe for a Christian to leave home without it. As described in Ephesians 6, we need the utility belt of truth, the vest of righteousness, the shield of faith, the shoes of evangelism, the sword of Scripture, and the helmet of salvation.
Just as we wouldn't think of walking out the door unclothed, let's not leave home without the protective covering of our armor. Consciously put on each piece daily, and guard against the devil's wiles.
Soldiers of Jesus Christ, take up the arms which the Apostle has set before you, cover yourselves with them from head to foot, seize the sword of the Word of God, wield it courageously, and the victory will be assured, and after the victory the crown.
Rev. Jeremias Bonomelli, Bishop of Cremona
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 18:1-22:30, Jeremiah 23:1-25:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2018:1-22:30,%20Jeremiah%2023:1-25:38&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 6
Ark Thou a Replica?
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:8
Recommended Reading
Genesis 6:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206:1-12&version=NKJV )
People are fascinated by Noah's ark. Toy stores sell ark play sets, which we sometimes use in telling Noah's story in Sunday school classes. Adults seem as interested as children. A high-budget Hollywood movie is in the works; and in recent years a number of replicas of Noah's ark have appeared around the world.
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Replicas of Noah's ark are interesting, but what we really need are replicas of Noah himself. The Bible says: "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God" (Genesis 6:9, NLT).
We live in a world where values are reversed, evil is spoken of as good, and good is vilified as evil. That's how it was in Noah's day too. Yet he lived for God despite his culture, and so must we. In a corrupt world, we can be righteous. In a dark world, we can have fellowship with God. Let's replicate the righteous convictions of Noah. Let's follow the example of Him who was greater than Noah--our Lord Jesus.
Noah lived when the rest perished. He became heir of righteousness when others were condemned. May God make us all so, and unto His name shall be the glory.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 26:1-29:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2026:1-29:32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 7
Flawed but Faithful
But without faith it is impossible to please Him...
Hebrews 11:6
Recommended Reading
Genesis 12:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012:1-3&version=NKJV )
Maybe you've experienced the "Why can't you be like your brother or sister?" syndrome. Comparing is man's way of trying to motivate and impress--not God's.
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Throughout Scripture we find flawed people whom God chose to use in a glorious way. Men and women who struggled with weaknesses and imperfections, yet held onto their faith. They inspire us to ask God, "What can You do with me?" Understand the difference? God's way of motivating doesn't compare us to "perfect" people who intimidate us. He uses the lives of struggling, selfish, sinful people to demonstrate what He can do when we choose to trust Him.
Take the life of Abraham. He lied sometimes and often took matters into his own hands when he felt God was taking too long. Yet God chose to make Abraham the "father of many nations"! Why? Because even amidst all his flaws, Abraham had a deep, unwavering faith.
If you're trying to impress God by self-promoting and comparing yourself to others, put away that effort. Come to Him with the faith and candor of a child. He'll respond and work wonders in your life.
Faith as [Jesus] characterized it is nothing less than a complete exchange of all that we are for all that He is.
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 30:1-32:44 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2030:1-32:44&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 8
Jehovah-Jireh
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide...
Genesis 22:14
Recommended Reading
Genesis 22:8-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022:8-14&version=NKJV )
Sometimes we use the phrase, "The Lord will provide," to comfort someone in need. Perhaps no one in the history of mankind understood the Lord's provision better than Abraham. His test of offering his son as a sacrifice to God rips into the heart of every one of us. Abraham knew in his head that God provided for him. But did his heart believe it? God wanted Abraham to know.
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Abraham continued to believe God, though he must have been in a state of complete bewilderment. At great cost to himself, this obedient servant chose to worship God by placing the situation completely in his Provider's hands. Instead of breaking him, the test took this patriarch to the summit of his walk with God. "Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram [the substitute sacrifice]...And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide..." (Genesis 22:13-14). In Hebrew, this location is named Jehovah-Jireh.
Maybe you're needing to experience the Lord's provision today--a longed for answer to prayer, a job, healing. Remember Abraham and his place of Jehovah-Jireh. And as you're waiting, make sure you've surrendered your will to God by faithfully obeying Him. Now wait with expectation for His provision!
Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 33:1-36:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2033:1-36:32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 9
A Man From God
They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God...
2 Chronicles 30:16
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 34:10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2034:10-12&version=NKJV )
The most famous work of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the seventeenth-century Spanish novelist, is Don Quixote de La Mancha --the story of a knight from the La Mancha region of Spain. Since La Mancha was a geographical region, we could easily translate "man of La Mancha" as "man from La Mancha." And the same is true when using the biblical phrase "man of God."
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The easiest way to understand the meaning of "man of God" is to think of it as "man from God." The phrase occurs 78 times in the New King James Version of the Old Testament and most often refers to prophets--those who spoke words from God on His behalf. The prophets were men of God because they came from God to speak to the people. "Man of God" describes one man in the Old Testament more than any other: Moses. He was a man sent by God to speak the words of God to Pharaoh in Egypt. And later he spoke words from God to the people of Israel.
The defining characteristic of a man or woman of God today is that they say what God says. Instead of putting words in God's mouth, they put His Word in theirs.
It takes a lifetime to prepare a sermon because it takes a lifetime to prepare a man of God.
Arthur S. Wood
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 37:1–41:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2037:1%E2%80%9341:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 10
Life Map
By faith [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:27
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:23-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:23-28&version=NKJV )
Counselors and life-coaches will often have their clients construct a "life map"--a visual representation of the major periods and events in their life leading up to the present. A life map can also project into the future as a set of goals.
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No one could have constructed a more concise and balanced life map at the end of life than Moses. The hero of Israel died at the age of 120 after living through three periods of 40 years each. His first 40 years were spent being raised in royalty in Egypt. The second 40 years were spent in humility as a shepherd in Midian. And the last 40 years were spent shepherding Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. Moses' life looked orderly in hindsight, but it probably didn't feel that way to him while living it. His secret was to continue doing the next right thing that God revealed.
Looking back, life looks like the front of a tapestry--a beautifully-woven image. In process, life can look like the back of the tapestry--knots, tie-offs, and dangling threads. The secret is to trust that the final image will make beautiful sense, just as it did in Moses' life.
Doubt breeds distress but trust means joy in the long run.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 42:1–45:5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2042:1%E2%80%9345:5&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 11 & 12
Your Spiritual Wardrobe: Incorruptibility
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:53
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:50-58&version=NKJV )
In Henry Lyte's classic hymn, "Abide with Me," he wrote: "Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me." How right he was! Most of us first learned the word "decay" as children visiting the dentist and hearing about tooth decay. Engineers warn of the decay of our infrastructure, roads, and bridges. City planners talk of urban decay. Philosophers warn of moral decay. The worst decay is what happens to our own bodies. As Job 13:28 puts it, "Man decays like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten."
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But the Bible teaches that one day our bodies will be clothed with the incorruptibility of eternal life. The body is sown in corruption, but raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor but raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, but raised in power. One day we'll put on new bodies and enjoy the glories of resurrection life in the new heavens and new earth. But until then, we'll abide in Him and be inwardly renewed day to day.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Henry Lyte
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 46:1-48:47, Jeremiah 49:1-50:46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2046:1-48:47,%20Jeremiah%2049:1-50:46&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 13
A Forgiving Spirit
Joseph said..., "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:19-21
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:21-35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:21-35&version=NKJV )
The Christian spirit, wrote Jonathan Edwards, is "a forgiving spirit or a disposition to overlook and forgive injuries... Without it the apostle tells us... we are as sounding brass or ...tinkling cymbal. There is no one virtue or disposition of the mind that is so often and so expressly insisted on in the marks that are laid down in the New Testament, whereby to know true Christians."1
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Few men were more abused than Joseph at the hands of his brothers. He was kidnapped, torn from his father, nearly killed, stripped, sold into slavery, accused of sexual assault, entombed in an Egyptian prison, and held in bondage from age 17 to 30. Yet afterward he comforted his brothers, spoke kindly to them, and cared for their needs.
Have you spoken kindly to someone who has hurt you? It's only possible by the grace of the Lord Jesus, who forgives us and asks us to forgive others. Release those feelings of bitterness. Nail them to the cross. And extend the grace you received to someone who needs it today.
Nothing can be invented that is a greater absurdity than a morose, hard, close, high spirited, spiteful true Christian.
Jonathan Edwards
1Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections (Philadelphia: James Crissy, 1821), 309-312.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 51:1-52:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2051:1-52:34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 14
Faithilistic versus Fatalistic
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Genesis 50:20
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:28-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:28-29&version=NKJV )
If you are on the streets of Paris, you might hear someone say, "C'est la vie!" If you are in other places you might hear the Spanish-sounding (but not grammatically accurate) phrase, "Que sera, sera!" Or if you are on the streets of Anytown, U.S.A., you might hear, "Whatever!" or "What are you 'gonna do?" All these phrases express a fatalistic view of life.
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The Bible suggests a much different way to view what happens in life, Joseph being a perfect example. He was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers and falsely imprisoned before finally rising to a position of great authority. He used his power to provide, decades later, a safe harbor for his father's family who were fleeing a famine in Canaan. Only then did Joseph realize why God had sent him ahead of his family to Egypt: "to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20 is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28--the truth that God has a purpose in the things His children experience.
If you are in a hard place today, take a "faithilistic," not a "fatalistic" view of your circumstances. God, not "life," is in control.
Let us learn to trust [God] for who He is.
Elisabeth Elliot
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 1:1–3:66 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%201:1%E2%80%933:66&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 15
Needed: Courage
And the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him."
Numbers 27:18
Recommended Reading
Exodus 17:8-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2017:8-13&version=NKJV )
There is no shortage of tools available to help pick the right person for the right job. Does the task require numbers ability? Managerial ability? Big-picture ability? How about courage? When it came to picking a successor for Moses, courage was at the top of the list.
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From a human perspective, Joshua had already demonstrated the kind of courage necessary to invade and settle the land of Canaan. Joshua defeated the Amalekites in Israel's first fight after leaving Egypt (Exodus 17). And Joshua (along with Caleb) wasn't afraid to tackle the giants in the land that the 12 spies observed (Numbers 13). So when it came time to pick a leader for Israel's invasion of Canaan, Joshua was the obvious, courageous choice. It is interesting that Moses changed Joshua's name from Hoshea ("salvation") to Jehoshua ("Yahweh is salvation") (Numbers 13:16). Was it to remind Joshua that his natural courage needed to remain dependent on the Lord?
Courage may not appear on modern job descriptions, but it is a requirement for being a Christian. Courage is nothing more than faith and trust in God.
There can be no courage in men unless God supports them by his Word.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 4:1–Ezekiel 2:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%204:1%E2%80%93Ezekiel%202:10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 16
Lotta Joy
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206:7-10&version=NKJV )
Lotteries are pickpockets. They stick their hands into our purses like a street-corner thief. Even those rare souls who "win" the lottery often lose. Psychologists tell us that people who win vast sums often lose their sense of purpose. Their money distracts them from their life's agenda. They quit their jobs, change habits, go on sprees, and confuse their goals. That's why we hear stories like the man in Texas, who, two years after winning 31 million dollars, killed himself. Strange feelings of worthlessness befall those with deep pockets but shallow hearts.
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The richest life imaginable is awaking every morning with a sense of purpose, knowing God has something for us to do. He has people for us to reach, cheer for us to spread, smiles for us to share, tasks for us to tackle, and souls for us to influence. Knowing what we're called to do is a greater blessing than striking it rich. Take each opportunity daily to do His good will, and you'll be truly rich.
Christ is gloriously rich! Oh! There is abundance, yea, a redundancy of grace and riches in Christ. He is as full of grace as the sea is full of water or the sun is full of light.
Benjamin Keach, seventeenth-century British pastor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 3:1-7:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%203:1-7:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 17
Our Sufficient Shepherd
And who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 2:16
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 2:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202:12-17&version=NKJV )
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, former president of Wheaton College, wrote of being forced from the mission field by illness as a young man. His weight had fallen from 165 pounds to 120, and he had to sail home from Ecuador. Aboard ship, he comforted himself in 2 Corinthians. When he came to the last paragraph of chapter 2, the verses struck him like nails. He was shaken by the thought that "God...always leads us in triumph in Christ" (verse 14), and diffuses through us the fragrance of Christ" (verse 14). Verse 16 asks: "Who is sufficient for these things?"
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Those verses led Edman to make a renewed surrender of himself to Christ, one that changed the course of his life. He realized only Christ was all sufficient to lead him in triumph as he said to Him, "Anywhere, Anything."1
We aren't sufficient in ourselves to do anything by ourselves, but praise the Lord--our sufficiency is in Christ who always leads us in paths of righteousness. He leads us in triumph.
If the Lord is your shepherd, He is sufficient for all your needs.
Tony Evans
1 V. Raymond Edman, Out of My Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1961), 43.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 8:1-11:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%208:1-11:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 18 & 19
Your Spiritual Wardrobe: The New Man
Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:24
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:17-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:17-24&version=NKJV )
Ever been in a mud pit? Believe it or not, it's a favorite experience for youngsters at summer camp. They can slip, slide, roll and wrestle in the mud to their hearts' content before being hosed down and heading for the showers. For most adults, however, jumping in the mud has lost its charm.
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Isaiah 64:6 says that without God's forgiveness we're dressed in "filthy rags." We're caked with mud and filth. After His forgiveness, we're clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Becoming a Christian means, according to Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4, that we "put off the old man with his deeds," such as anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying. We clothe ourselves in "the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him [Christ]."
Take a moment and imagine being covered with mud, mire, grime, and filth. Now think of hot showers and fresh clothes. That's a picture of how it feels to put on the new man. That's what it means to be a forgiven follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and He who is mighty came and in His compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall.
St. Patrick
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 12:1-15:8, Ezekiel 16:1-17:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2012:1-15:8,%20Ezekiel%2016:1-17:24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 20
Wholly and Holy
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 16:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2016:7-10&version=NKJV )
Historians have marveled how an uneducated, rugged boy like Dwight Moody could sway great crowds and lead thousands to Christ. Responding to these questions, Dr. R. A. Torrey wrote a tract after Moody's death in 1899, entitled, Why God Used D. L. Moody . He said, in part, "The first thing that accounts for God's using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully-surrendered man. Every ounce of that 280-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had belonged wholly to God. Now, I am not saying that Mr. Moody was perfect; he was not... nevertheless I know that he was a man who belonged wholly to God."
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Torrey went on to say that Moody was greatly moved by this statement by Henry Varley: "It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him." Moody replied, "Well, I will be that man."
We can all be that man or woman. God wants to use us, but we must give ourselves wholly to Him.
If you and I are to be used in our sphere as D. L. Moody was used in his, we must put all that we have and all that we are in the hands of God, for Him to use as He will.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 18:1-20:49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2018:1-20:49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 21
Flawed Characters
The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson...
Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14 (NLT)
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 13:25-26, Judges 3:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2013:25-26,%20Judges%203:1-5&version=NKJV )
Beginning Bible readers are often struck by the people God chose to serve Him in various endeavors. To put it plainly, they seem so... well, normal! So imperfect! There are exceptions, but most of them were ordinary people through whom the Holy Spirit worked in spite of weakness and imperfection.
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Samson was a man used greatly by God--but he was also a deeply flawed character. He was vain, impetuous, deceitful, and a bit spoiled, humanly speaking. But he was also a life-long Nazirite, set apart by his parents (at God's command) for God's service. The Holy Spirit came upon Samson powerfully in his role as a judge in Israel, his challenge being to defeat the Philistines that tormented Israel. Samson's successes and failures raise the question, Why does God use flawed people to accomplish His purposes? The first reason is that He only has flawed people to work with! But second, when God accomplishes great things through imperfect people, it is clear who gets the glory.
Whatever your imperfections, God's purposes are made all the more glorious through you as you trust in Him.
All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.
J. Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 21:1–23:49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2021:1%E2%80%9323:49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 22
When Grace Isn't Fair
Then [the thief] said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
Luke 23:42
Recommended Reading
Judges 16:28-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2016:28-30&version=NKJV )
To demonstrate how different the kingdom of God is from the kingdom of this world, Jesus told a parable that stands the notion of fairness on its head. The owner of a vineyard hired workers throughout the day, up until the last hour of the day. When it came time to pay them for their labors, every worker got the same pay as the ones hired first--the ones who had worked all day laboring in the sun. Those hired first thought this was highly irregular and unfair. They worked more and thought they deserved more than the others.
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The principle that "the last will be first" (Matthew 20:16) is a kingdom principle illustrated in other places. A thief, hanging next to Jesus on the cross, had his request for forgiveness and salvation granted in the last hour of his life. Blind Samson, after his unfaithfulness led him to be captured and tortured by the Philistines, cried out to God for strength to pull down the Philistine temple upon himself--and God granted the request.
We don't earn God's ear by our good works. God hears and answers prayer by grace. Don't be afraid to call out to Him when you think you least deserve His help.
Christian doctrine is grace, and Christian conduct is gratitude.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 24:1–27:36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2024:1%E2%80%9327:36&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 23
The Next Right Thing
Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
Ruth 1:14
Recommended Reading
Ruth 1:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201:16-18&version=NKJV )
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) uses the phrase in its teachings. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used a similar phrase. And many others who have found themselves in the midst of difficult situations, when directions are missing for the next step, have relied on this maxim: Do the next right thing.
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Even those who rely on God's guidance don't always know the next step. Take Ruth, for example. A Moabitess who married into a Jewish family, her father-in-law and husband died and she was left with her mother-in-law, Naomi. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem to her people, she urged Ruth to stay in Moab with her own people. What should Ruth do? She did the next right thing: remain loyal to her mother-in-law, return with her to Bethlehem, and help provide for her. So she did--Naomi and Ruth journeyed to Bethlehem where, in time, God blessed Ruth with a prosperous husband and security for her and Naomi.
When confused about what steps to take next, doing the next right thing in God's sight is always a good choice. God blesses faith steps--and one step leads to another.
Guidance is not normally ecstatic or mystical. It is always ethical and intensely practical.
Sinclair Ferguson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 28:1–31:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2028:1%E2%80%9331:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 24
Trail of Clues
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Recommended Reading
Ruth 4:17-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%204:17-22&version=NKJV )
A favorite birthday surprise planned by parents for young children (and creative folks of all ages and situations) is the "Trail of Clues." As each clue is discovered and read, the celebrant gets closer and closer to uncovering the present or surprise toward which all the clues have been directing him or her. The clues seem random and unrelated, and in a birthday setting they are. They are tied together only by their collective goal of reaching the blessing at the end.
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In a limited sense, the Christian life is like that "Trail of Clues." Just as a child trusts that the clues are not meaningless but lead to a conclusion, so we trust that the "clues" in our life--the events and circumstances--are taking us in the direction God wants us to go. They are moving us toward a destination, or a lifetime of destinations, called "knowing God." After all, knowing Him and being conformed to the image of His Son is the ultimate prize in life. And all things--all "clues"--work together to cause us to find the blessing (Romans 8:28-29).
Ask God today for sensitivity to the clues He reveals. Treasure each one and ask Him to move you faithfully toward Christlikeness.
God's grace is sufficient for us anywhere His providence places us.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 32:1–34:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2032:1%E2%80%9334:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 25 & 26
Your Spiritual Wardrobe: Love
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:14
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:12-14&version=NKJV )
In his book on auditioning for Broadway, director Michael Shurtleff tells actors to consider every scene in a play a "love scene." It's not that every scene is romantic. But every scene has emotion, and our core emotion is love. "The desire for love, to give it or receive it... is the chief propellant in human beings," wrote Shurtleff. "An actor had best learn that."1
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We'd best all learn that. Every experience in life is a love scene, and Christians are to love as Jesus loves. The Bible speaks of putting on love like a garment. Colossians 3:14 (NLT) says, "Above all, clothe yourselves with love." It's a cloak we never remove. Since the Bible uses this symbol, why not take a moment and visualize it. Look at the clothes you're wearing today. Think of them as radiating love. Think of yourself as wearing the invisible threads of love, doing good, meeting needs, shedding offenses, showing compassion, projecting friendliness. That's the uniform of the Christian.
If I take offense easily; if I am content to continue in cold unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Amy Carmichael
1Michael Shurtleff, Audition (NY: Bantum, 1980), 25, 29.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 35:1- 37:28, Ezekiel 38:1-40:49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2035:1-%2037:28,%20Ezekiel%2038:1-40:49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 27
Cave Dwellers
A contemplation of David. A prayer when he was in the cave. I cry out to the Lord with my voice...
Psalm 142, superscription & verse 1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 142 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20142&version=NKJV )
A recent story in the Los Angeles Times reported that 30 million people in the Shaanxi province of China live in caves. Some of these cave homes have multiple rooms with brick masonry. Some have electricity and running water. They're cool in summer, protected in winter, and energy efficient. According to the story, a cave with three bedrooms and a bath is going for about $46,000.
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When he wrote Psalm 142, David wasn't so enthusiastic about his cave. He was hiding there lonely and troubled (verse 2), overwhelmed (verse 3), thinking no one cared whether he lived or died (verse 4), persecuted and imprisoned by circumstances (verses 6-7).
That's exactly what he told the Lord as he wrote Psalm 142. He freely expressed his pain and perplexities in prayer. His example reminds us that we don't have to couch our prayers in lofty language. We can tell the Lord just how we feel. He listens patiently. He understands. And in His own way and time, He'll answer.
Before God we may speak out our minds fully, and name the persons that afflict, affront, and trouble us... I find not that such a prayer in Scripture ever returned empty.
Samuel Lee, in Treasury of David
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 41:1-44:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2041:1-44:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 28
The Question
So it was, when Elijah heard [the still small voice], that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1 Kings 19:13
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:1-12&version=NKJV )
Jonah fled from God only to find God was in the middle of the sea. Peter was afraid to identify with Jesus only to find that Jesus wasn't afraid to identify with him. Moses fled from Pharaoh only to find God in a burning bush in Midian. Paul was locked in jail in Rome and found the joy of the Lord. David discovered there was nowhere he could go without encountering God.
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Throughout Scripture, people learned it is impossible to go anywhere without encountering God. So when Elijah fled for his life and hid in a cave from the evil King Ahab, he discovered God was already there and had a question: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" When we are at the low points in our life, God is always there with the same question--through His Word, through a person, or through a thought. He wants us to wrestle with why we are where we are so we can move to a better place.
Are you somewhere today, trying to hide from God? Here's the question: What are you doing there? God is waiting to encourage you to move on with Him.
A man may hide God from himself, and yet he cannot hide himself from God.
William Secker
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 45:1–48:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2045:1%E2%80%9348:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 29
Being Cared-For
And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther 2:7
Recommended Reading
Titus 2:11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%202:11-14&version=NKJV )
Raising little girls to one day become women of God is a challenging proposition today because the culture places great emphasis on the number of friends they "like" on social media, their position or status, and their physical appearance. This sad commentary on the values our society is propagating is shocking, but it provides a reminder of how important it is for all young women to have a godly role model who emphasizes their true worth and importance in the sight of God.
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The story of Esther shows a beautiful orphaned young woman who did have someone who watched and cared for her, providing the protection of a home until she was chosen to be in King Ahasuerus' household; and even then offering wise spiritual counsel and comfort to her. Mordecai, her cousin, adopted Esther, "as his own daughter" when she became orphaned. This imagery is not lost on us today that our heavenly Father watches over us even when we feel we are all alone and facing difficult challenges in our lives. He goes before us, offering direction and protection.
I trust in God, I know He cares for me, upon the land, or on the rolling sea, tho' billows roll, He keeps my soul, my heav'nly Father watches over me.
William C. Martin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 1:1–3:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201:1%E2%80%933:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 30
Prayerful Courage
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart...
Psalm 27:14
Recommended Reading
Esther 4:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%204:13-17&version=NKJV )
The word "courage" has somewhat of an identity crisis today. Some think of courage as the absence of fear. Actually, courage is persevering in spite of fear. Some of the most courageous men and women have prevailed in spite of weakness, sickness, and persecution.
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After two millennia, the beautiful Jewish woman Esther is still remembered for courageously stepping forward to preserve the Jewish nation. When alerted to Haman's evil plan to annihilate the Jews, Esther asked her cousin Mordecai to mobilize the prayer team as she endangered her life to approach the king without his summons. In Esther's moment of crisis, she wisely spent three days in prayer and fasting--before making her request to the king.
If you're experiencing a situation where you need courage to make a decision, don't rush ahead. The more crucial the decision or project, the more critical the groundwork. Make preparation through prayer, asking others to support you. It is then that God will reinforce your courage and give you strength to proceed.
Cowardice asks the question: "Is it safe?" Consensus asks the question: "Is it popular?" Courage asks the question: "Is it right?"
Rod Rogers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 4:1-6:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204:1-6:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 31
When Trouble Brings Triumph
...Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job 2:10
Recommended Reading
Job 1:1-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201:1-22&version=NKJV )
Our tendency to remember the bad and forget the good is evidenced in the life of Job. His name has become synonymous with trials. But perhaps we need to focus on the triumph Job experienced through his trials.
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Job valued four things in his life: faith, family, fortune, and friends. Satan tried to extinguish them all, hoping Job would curse God. Instead, we find a grieving Job responding to the greatness of God, reflecting on the goodness of God, and refusing to assign guilt to God. Instead of Job, Satan might have been the one cursing! Job kept his integrity intact. God was enough for him--with or without the other things he valued.
Do you bless God when you don't understand what He's doing in your life? Job models for us the kind of believer who trusts God in the midst of severe and unexplainable circumstances. Job expressed his grief to God, and God wants to hear the cries of our hearts too. But let's remember Job for the triumph he experienced through his testing--he remained guiltless before God. Open your eyes today to the absolute, all-sufficiency of Almighty God. He is enough!
He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 7:1-9:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207:1-9:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 1 & 2
Back to School: Having the Right Textbook
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16
Recommended Reading
Psalm 19:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019:7-11&version=NKJV )
Because graduate school textbooks are printed in limited numbers and are revised frequently to keep up with changes in knowledge, each copy is very expensive--sometimes in the hundreds of dollars. But students are no longer limited to paying top dollar at the campus bookstore. Expensive textbooks, new and used, are now available all over the Internet.
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Fortunately, the textbook for the Master's Degree hasn't changed since the first edition. There are millions of copies available all over the planet. And, no matter which course of study you are pursuing--doctrine, prayer, marriage and the family, sanctification, prophecy, or another--the textbook is the same! The content is never revised or updated, and the Author stands by the accuracy of every word. The textbook is, of course, the Bible--God's inspired and inerrant Word.
Don't try to go back to school with Jesus without a well-worn copy of the Bible. You'll need to know it well to pass every test and answer every question. It's the right textbook for every class you'll take.
The truly wise man is he who always believes the Bible against the opinion of any man.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 10:1–Hosea 1-6:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2010:1%E2%80%93Hosea%201-6:11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 3
An Eye for Detail
You comprehend my path... and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:1-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:1-18&version=NKJV )
The key component to every masterpiece is found in the details. Unforgettable performances, exceptional meals, professional accomplishments all share the distinguishing factor of someone giving scrutiny to the details.
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The Bible continually reminds us that God has an eye for detail--even knowing the precise number of hairs on each of our heads (Luke 12:7). David the psalmist credits God with knowing everything about him: "You... are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:3). At times, we can feel overwhelmed by the details of our lives. It's then that we need to consider the litany of Job's trials and his response--unswerving faith in the One who holds the galaxy in His hands, as well as the intricate details of our lives.
God is not dismayed about the current circumstances in your life. His eyes are on you right now. Above all else, He loves you. And He chose to measure that love, not in words, but in blood--the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Because He loves you that much, will He not sustain you in the midst of whatever it is you are experiencing? Trust Him for the details.
God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 7:1-12:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%207:1-12:14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 4
Take the Daniel Dare
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself...
Daniel 1:8
Recommended Reading
Daniel 1:8-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201:8-20&version=NKJV )
Scandalous news has recently surfaced of numerous sports personalities making foolish choices, resulting in their disgrace and ruin. Instead of saying "No" to worldly temptations, they acted immorally, hurting themselves, those who loved them, and the sports world that idolized them. Character is not worn on one's sleeve. It's found buried in the souls of those who choose wisely--before temptation strikes.
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Thank God He placed the story of Daniel in the Bible to give us a powerful role model of a man who lived an uncompromising life. Daniel dared to say "No" when asked to do what the Bible forbids. Compromise can be a notoriously life-altering word. One error in judgment can derail your life. But consistent courage to declare your convictions empowers you to live each day to your fullest potential. Like Daniel, you won't look back over your shoulder, fearing for your reputation. You'll know where you stand with God.
There is great reward in living an uncompromising life. Make your decision now to courageously obey the Lord--before temptation strikes. Take the Daniel dare.
Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.
Philip P. Bliss, "Dare to Be a Daniel"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 13:1-Joel 3:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%2013:1-Joel%203:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 5
Star-Struck
Those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
Galatians 2:6
Recommended Reading
Galatians 2:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%202:6-10&version=NKJV )
When we are given the opportunity to meet someone we admire or who is well-known, it is easy to become enamored of their status--we might even become star-struck. This frequently happens with actors and athletes, and at times, even politicians.
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This phenomenon has probably happened to most of us at one point when we spot someone who is "famous." But as in everything else, we must keep a Christian attitude about it. Often, the greatest people we meet are the humblest servants. The Lord isn't impressed with outward appearance; He sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The real heroes are the unsung variety, people who serve Christ joyfully, unconcerned about any recognition but the Lord's "Well done."
In Galatians 2, the apostle Paul respected the other apostles, but his head wasn't turned by their position. In God's sight, he knew the important thing is not fame but faithfulness.
Rewards and recognition on the final great day will not be based on usefulness, but faithfulness.
Robertson McQuilkin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 1:1-5:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos%201:1-5:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 6
Living Character
Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary?
Matthew 13:55
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:53-58 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:53-58&version=NKJV )
On a hillside in rural Pennsylvania, a number of elaborate tombstones sprout from the ground, bearing long inscriptions of curious verse. But a nearby gravestone bears a simpler inscription. It identifies a woman named Margaret Workizer, who passed away February 4, 1805, at age fifty-five, and adds these lines with their mild rebuke:
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Verses on tombstones are but idly spent, The living character is the monument.1
Mrs. Workizer made her point. The flashy and flamboyant are worth little. Its integrity, character, and humble faithfulness that leave a lasting mark. That's why the Lord chose Joseph as the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph was a simple, hard-working carpenter; but he was steady, honest, and blameless. He may have been a quiet man, but he was quite a man.
If you feel disappointed with some aspect of your lot in life, remember that God likes characters with character. The steady is better than the showy, and godliness beats grandstanding.
Thank Him for His sturdy, steady faithfulness--and ask Him to grow the same in you.
John MacArthur, Jr.
John Faris, Old Roads out of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1917), 137.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 6:1-Obadiah 1:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos%206:1-Obadiah%201:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 7
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
Colossians 3:23
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 31:13-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2031:13-27&version=NKJV )
You may have heard this expression: "I'd rather burn out than rust out." Lots of missionaries and full-time Christian workers have that perspective, and it is commendable. They see the Christian life as a full-time, lifelong calling to serve their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even if they retire from vocational ministry, they want to take their last breath with their hands on the plow and their boots on the ground.
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Both "burning out" and "rusting out" are extreme choices, and balance is usually found in the middle. But in this day of entitlements and benefits, perhaps a commitment to industry and hard work deserves a second look--from a spiritual point of view. There are plenty of examples of hard work in Scripture--especially in the apostolic period when persecution was abundant and resources were scarce. In the Old Testament, the proverbial "Proverbs 31 Woman" is the classic example of using God-given talents and resources to the maximum level, benefitting all around.
Where do you fall on the "burn out/rust out" scale? Is your whole life lived "heartily, as to the Lord"?
In an effort to get the work of the Lord done, we often lose contact with the Lord of the work.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jonah 1:1–Micah 3:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201:1 )
:angel:
Weekend, September 8 & 9
Back to School: Set Your Alarm
My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.
Psalm 119:148
Recommended Reading
Acts 17:10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:10-11&version=NKJV )
September is still the back-to-school month in most people's minds. After sleeping late all summer, students go to bed the night before the first day of school dreading the intrusive BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! of the alarm clock that rouses them out of their slumber. But for many students, the earlier time to rise is only a slight adjustment. They are the students who, even through the summer months, have risen early every day to spend devotional time with the Lord.
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There is no greater challenge for adults who wish to pursue a Master's Degree with the Lord than maintaining the daily discipline of a devotional time. David, the shepherd, spent the "night watches" meditating on God's Word--probably the books of Moses. And while early morning quiet times are a traditional appointment among modern Christians, the goal is the meeting itself, not the time of the day.
Make sure you have set your alarm--or your calendar, or your smartphone reminder, or whatever tool works--to focus your heart and mind upon God's Word in study and prayer every day.
Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.
William Wilberforce
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Micah 4:1–Zephaniah 3:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%204:1%E2%80%93Zephaniah%203:20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 10
Living the Influential Life
...You must be born again.
John 3:7
Recommended Reading
John 3:1-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:1-17&version=NKJV )
When Chuck Colson was imprisoned in 1973 for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, it appeared his life was over. But while Colson was facing arrest, a friend gave him a copy of C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, and Colson became a born-again Christian. After his release from prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, which has impacted hundreds of thousands of inmates around the globe with the Gospel.
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Though we grieve the loss of Colson's influential voice since his death last May, his legacy is an inspiration to those who think they can never be used by God. Colson knew firsthand that radical transformation is possible in a life surrendered to Christ.
Colson wrote in his book Loving God, "...the real legacy of my life was my biggest failure--that I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation--being sent to prison--was the beginning of God's greatest use of my life. He chose the one experience in which I could not glory for His glory."1
Learn from Colson's life. When you are directed by the Holy Spirit, God can influence the world through you!
Except a man be born again, he will wish one day he had never been born at all.
J. C. Ryle
1Charles Colson, Loving God (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), 24. Read-Thru-the-Bible
Haggai 1:1-Zechariah 4:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai%201:1-Zechariah%204:14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 11
Center Is Safest
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
Recommended Reading
John 3:26-36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:26-36&version=NKJV )
Hurricanes can travel up to 200 miles per hour, often destroying everything in their path. However, inside the center of these tropical storms--described as the eye of the cyclone--is mostly calm weather with minimum barometric pressure. The contrast of raging winds outside the calm center of the storm is an awesome illustration of the safety found in living life in the center of God's will.
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Why is it so hard to stay centered in our Christian lives, not climbing the ladder of prominence in God's service? Posturing for position only leads to precarious pinnacles. Our position as believers should always be submission to God's will. John the Baptist understood his position in relation to Christ. When John's disciples saw his popularity being overshadowed by Jesus, they tried to rile him up. But John humbly affirmed, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
When someone looks at your life, do they see you straining for attention? Or do they see Jesus? Do they see your ministry? Or God's ministry? Are all eyes looking at you? Or are you directing all eyes to the Savior? There's only one safe place in this life--the center of God's will.
What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.
John Newton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 5:1-9:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%205:1-9:17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 12
God's Peculiar People
...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us...and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 2:14
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:9-10&version=NKJV )
John the Baptist was an odd man in rough garb eating locusts and honey; but He helped launch Jesus into ministry (Mark 1:6). Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were wealthy urbane leaders; but they took care of Christ at the end of His ministry (John 19:38-40). There's an old saying: "It takes all kinds to make a world." Well, God has used all kinds of people for His purposes.
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The King James Version of the Bible uses the word "peculiar" to describe us. Titus 2:14 says God wants to "purify unto Himself a peculiar people." In 1 Peter 2:9, we read, "But ye are a... peculiar people." Newer versions update that word to "special" or "treasured." Yet when we study the characters God has used in Christian history, some of them do seem a little peculiar (though in a good way, of course).
God has made each of us special, treasured--and maybe a little peculiar. We're all different. Whether you're as rough as John the Baptist or as cultured as Nicodemus, use your individuality for Christ today.
God has designed it so that when people have seen God's "peculiar" people, they have in a real sense caught a view of God.
Darrell L. Guder in Missional Church
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 10:1-14:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010:1-14:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 13
Change Is Good!
Now when [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
Mark 16:9
Recommended Reading
Luke 8:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208:1-3&version=NKJV )
The apostle Paul went from throwing Christians into prison to leading non-Christians into the kingdom of God. John Newton went from being a slave trader to being a pastor and hymn-writer. Nicky Cruz went from being a New York City gang member to being a street evangelist for Christ. The late Chuck Colson went from White House "Hatchet Man" to prison evangelist and apologist.
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Meeting Christ always results in life-change, but sometimes the change is radical . Take a woman named Mary, from the Galilee town of Magdala, for example. We know little about her pre-Christian life except that she was possessed by seven demonic spirits, from which Jesus delivered her. We can only assume that being possessed by seven demons created a chaotic life. By comparison, after being freed from them, Mary became a faithful follower of Jesus--attending both His death and resurrection.
Sometimes we don't like change--until we see the changes are for the better! Take a moment to thank God today for the positive changes you've seen in your life since meeting Christ.
The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D. L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Malachi 1:1-Matthew 1:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201:1-Matthew%201:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 14
Lost and Found
And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:9-10
Recommended Reading
Luke 19:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:1-10&version=NKJV )
Have you ever been lost? Perhaps you took a wrong turn in an unfamiliar city, and couldn't determine which highway would redirect you to your original destination. I've experienced traveling in the wrong direction or on the wrong road--and it is an unsettling feeling not knowing which way to turn.
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The people around us today who do not have their hope in Christ are lost. But an encounter with Jesus Christ can change that condition. One such person that was safely brought home is Zacchaeus. The Bible tells us he was a rich tax collector, and a sinner, but he had a desire to know Christ. Being small in stature, he climbed up in a tree to see who Jesus was and his search was over. Jesus called out to him and traveled to his home. He was no longer lost.
Nothing can compare to being "found" by the Savior of the universe. No more wandering, wondering which way to turn--He is there to lead us home. Do you know someone who is lost? Introduce them to the Savior.
What I believe about God is the most important thing about me.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 2:1–5:26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202:1%E2%80%935:26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 15 & 16
Back to School: Get to the Classroom
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:24-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010:24-25&version=NKJV )
The Internet has created "distance learning." It's possible for college and graduate students to take many, if not most, of their classes "in their pajamas"--through the convenience of their computer. But as this trend has grown, many students have discovered they don't like the isolation; they prefer the "old fashioned" community of education via the traditional classroom.
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God never intended for Christian education to occur in isolation either. Every Christian is part of a spiritual body, the body of Christ that only works as designed when Christians meet together. Each believer brings to the community what God has been doing in his or her life to share with others. Each brings his or her spiritual gift(s) to serve and build up the Body. The weekly meeting of the Church on the Lord's Day--a practice established immediately upon the birth of the Church at Pentecost--is "required attendance" for Master's Degree students.
Make sure you are part of the regular meetings of the Body of Christ in your community. Those weekly meetings, and other gatherings, are God's classroom for growth.
Sunday should strike the keynote for the week.
J. Wilbur Chapman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 5:27–9:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:27%E2%80%939:38&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 17
Hot Potatoes
...lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%202:17-20&version=NKJV )
Workers in a potato processing plant in Athens, Greece, were startled to see two odd looking potatoes mixed into a shipment from Germany. The two objects were World War II-era hand grenades. Bomb-disposal experts neutralized the weapons, and Greek police are investigating the incident.
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None of us knows when the devil is going to toss a couple of grenades into our daily routines. The apostle Paul warned that Satan will try to tempt us because of our lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:5). He will try to take advantage of us if we're not alert to his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). He will try to hinder us in our work (1 Thessalonians 2:18). He will buffet us with thorns to our flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7).
But his plans backfire when we turn to the Lord and take our stand on Scripture. Times of difficulty are the means by which God stretches our faith and teaches us anew to trust Him and obey. Turn your pressures into prayers and put on the whole armor of God. That's how to withstand the devil's grenades.
Times of adversity can drive us closer to the Lord than times of ease, comfort and pleasure.
Victor Coleman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 10:1-12:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:1-12:14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 18
Complexion of Comfort
God... has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%201:2-3&version=NKJV )
When the sixteenth-century British poet and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney, died, his friend Matthew Roydon wrote a poem in his honor. He said that Sidney possessed: "A sweet attractive kind of grace; a full assurance given by looks; continual comfort in a face; the (complexion) of Gospel books." In other words, the Gospel shone through Sidney's face. Divine comfort was etched into his complexion. To look at him was to be reassured.
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If the face of a mere mortal can express God's grace, think of looking into the face of Christ Himself. Imagine being the blind man whose first sight was the smiling face of the Healer. Imagine Mary and Martha seeing our Lord's concerned face in their grief. Imagine the disciples looking into the radiant face of our Lord as He ascended into heaven. Now imagine His face seeing you and your burdens today.
One day we'll see Him face-to-face. Until then, we can still look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Continual comfort in a face! Is this not truer of the face of Jesus, who was marred more than any other man? His benign countenance, loving eyes, gracious presence, and heartfelt messages all exuded comfort.
Herbert Lockyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 12:15-14:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:15-14:12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 19
The Great Transformer
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
Romans 12:2
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:17-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:17-21&version=NKJV )
The Transformers are a line of comic book characters that can transform themselves from vehicles and machines into humanoid-type robots. The Transformer movies are big hits, bringing the word "transform" into the popular culture.
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But "transform" is a Bible word. Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, we are transformed from "glory to glory" by the Holy Spirit as we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. Philippians 3:21 tells us that one day our Savior will come from heaven and transform our mortal bodies to be like His glorious body.
Jesus is the great Transformer. He transformed water into wine and a stormy sea into a placid pond. He transformed a tomb into a triumph. He transformed the woman of Samaria into a trophy of His grace, and the "chief of sinners" into a great apostle. When we're in Christ, no area of life is unaffected. Our transformation is more wonderful than anything in the movies. Don't be conformed to the world around you; be transformed by the Spirit within you.
Take my heart and mold it; take my mind, transform it; take my will, conform it--to Yours, to Yours, to Yours.
Micah Stampley in "Take My Life (Holiness)"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 14:13-16:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:13-16:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 20
Unshackled
He had often been bound with shackles and chains.
Mark 5:4
Recommended Reading
Mark 5:1-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205:1-20&version=NKJV )
As superintendent of Chicago's Pacific Garden Mission, Harry Saulnier had a 1940s radio program in which he told stories of people who had been transformed by Christ. Since this was the golden age of radio drama, Saulnier wanted to launch another broadcast that would take these stories and present them dramatically. In 1950, a set of scripts was readied for a recording session. But what to call the new program? During a brainstorming session, a former Navy man recalled, "In beginning a radio call at sea, we'd say 'shackled' and end with 'unshackled.' Why not 'Unshackled' for a title?"
"That's it," replied Saulnier.
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Today "Unshackled" is the longest-running radio drama in history. There's no lack of material. Every person who comes to Christ is unshackled. In Him, we move from slavery to freedom and from immorality to immortality--just like the woman at the well or like the demoniac of the Gadarenes. Jesus can break the chains of sin, shame, addiction, and despair. "Therefore," said Jesus, "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
He breaks the power of cancelled sin; He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 17:1-19:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:1-19:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 21
Constantly Giving
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:27
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:36-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:36-37&version=NKJV )
The original word for "encouragement" in the New Testament -- as when Barnabas is referred to as the "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4:36) -- is from the same root as the word paraklete -- the Word used to describe the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26). Both words come from a root that means to be called alongside -- as an encourager like Barnabas or as a divine Comforter like the Holy Spirit.
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An encourager is a person who dispenses courage to those who are weak or fearful. And in Barnabas' case, his generosity with courage should come as no surprise since he was also generous in other ways. For instance, he sold a piece of personal property and donated the money to help care for the needy in the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36-37). And he generously introduced the new apostle, Paul, to the other apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 9:27).
People who are generous are constantly giving things away: courage, money, introductions -- whatever is needed. Look around today and see what you have in abundance that others might be lacking.
Seeking empties a life while giving fills it.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 20:1–22:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020:1-22:14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 22 & 23
Back to School: Find a Study Group
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203:12-15&version=NKJV )
Church growth experts tell us that when a church exceeds 200 in attendance, people start seeing "strangers" in their midst. That's fine -- the Body of Christ should continue to grow. But when churches exceed "family size" on Sunday morning, there is a need for small group Bible studies so members can maintain their close ties with other Christians.
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Every Christian needs a close-knit group of believers who can suffer and rejoice, weep and laugh, together. It's entirely possible for a believer to walk into church on Sunday morning, sit alone, and leave without ever speaking to anyone he knows or who knows him. Spiritual growth happens in many ways, in the pew, in a Sunday school classroom, in a women's or men's Bible study, and often in small group Bible studies held in homes. Growth occurs as believers are challenged to apply the Word to life and as they pray and challenge one another to obey what they have studied together.
Are you in a group of believers who are studying the Word? If not, find a church, Sunday school class, or small group to join and take your growth in Christ to a deeper level.
There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 22:15–26:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:15-26:29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 24
Power-Full Words
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 41:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041:6-10&version=NKJV )
I took a speech class in college because a girl named Donna Thompson was taking the class (her last name is now the same as mine). While she was an excellent student, I mostly goofed-off in that class. One day, the professor took me aside after class and said, "You know, I don't know what others have told you about your abilities, but I believe you have real potential. I believe in you. You ought not to mess around in class. If you apply yourself, you might become a preacher one day."
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I shrugged off his advice then -- but I didn't forget it. In fact, I remember that moment as if it were yesterday. Rarely do we forget the moments when someone speaks an encouraging word to us that powerfully impacts our lives. And every time we feel encouraged by someone, we ought to make a mental note to do the same for another person.
Encouragement is as simple as giving away what we receive. Just as that professor had a lasting and encouraging impact on my life, maybe there's someone who needs an encouraging word from you today. Go and seek that person out.
Your words can permanently influence a life.
Jerry Falwell
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 26:30-27:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:30-27:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 25
God's Appointment Book
I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
Psalm 119:60
Recommended Reading
Acts 8:26-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:26-40&version=NKJV )
Sometimes you can't judge a book by its cover. The same goes for people -- and coincidences. Corrie ten Boom once quipped, "All I know is that when I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't pray, they don't happen." As a Holocaust survivor, Corrie's life was filled with God-ordained moments. That's how I like to think of living by faith -- as responding to divine guidance and appointments.
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Philip the evangelist experienced a God-ordained opportunity when he was preaching at a revival meeting in Samaria with multitudes coming to Christ. But then an angel suddenly appeared and directed him to a solitary Ethiopian who was traveling through the desert and needing some help as he studied the Book of Isaiah. Philip obeyed God's divine appointment. The same Holy Spirit who prompted Philip to deliver the message of evangelism was already at work in the heart of this Ethiopian.
When we get ready to be His ambassador, God has already prepared people for His Good News and He brings us together -- that's a divine appointment. There aren't any accidents with God. If God has put it in your heart to share the Gospel, don't wait until a convenient time.
A coincidence is an event in which a sovereign God chooses to remain anonymous.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 27:32-Mark 1:45 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MAtthew%2027:32-Mark%201:45&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 26
The Flying Gospel
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:13-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Acts%204:13-21&version=NKJV )
A strange item recently appeared in Florida newspapers. A man in Port Richey was arrested and accused of assaulting his roommate by throwing a Bible at the back of her head. The two had gotten into an argument; and as the girl tried to take the garbage out of the house, the man allegedly threw a Bible at her so hard that it bent the cover. The case is pending.
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This isn't what Martin Luther had in mind when he advised ministers to know the Gospel well, to teach it to others, and to "beat it into their heads continually."
Luther wasn't speaking literally, of course. We mustn't beat people over the head with the Gospel. But we do need to find ways of getting the Scriptures into the hearts and minds of those God brings into our lives. Be alert today for any opportunity of saying a word for the Lord. Have a verse ready. Take the Gospel wherever Christ leads you, knowing that He has prepared the way. Don't be afraid to share a word for the Lord today.
Successful witnessing is taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.
Bill Bright
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 2:1-4:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:1-4:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 27
2820 Encouragement Street
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord's house is finished.
1 Chronicles 28:20 (HCSB)
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 28:20-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2028:20-21&version=NKJV )
Sometimes in memorizing Scripture we have trouble recalling the references. Try mental associations. For example, if you know the Great Commission Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:20, you can locate the Great Promise David gave his son in 1 Chronicles 28:20. They share the same street address of 28:20.
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These are among David's final words. As he turned over the kingdom to Solomon, he charged him with building a glorious house to serve as the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. The task was daunting, but the promise was sufficient: Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work... is finished.
This promise is for us too. We need to exhort and encourage each other regarding the work God has given us. We need to build one another up. As we tackle Matthew 28:20, let's remember 1 Chronicles 28:20. The Lord will stay with us till the work is done.
We are to encourage and build self-confidence in our loved ones, friends, and associates.
Billy Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 4:26-6:44 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%204:26-6:44&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 28
Forewarned Is Forearmed
And the Lord said to [Paul], "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do."
Acts 22:10b
Recommended Reading
Acts 26:15-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2026:15-18&version=NKJV )
You've probably heard the expression, "Forewarned is forearmed." It simply means that the more we know about what is coming, the better equipped we will be to handle it. Likewise, the more we know about life as a whole, the fewer surprises there will be along the way. Paul forewarned new converts to Christ by telling them; "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
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Paul knew that all too well. When he got his assignment from Christ to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and their kings, he was also told that he would suffer in the process (Acts 9:16). But at least he was forewarned and therefore forearmed with the knowledge he would need to depend on the strength of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). But it's not just apostles who suffer for Christ. All who are called to follow Him must be ready to share in the "fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). The more we know about our assignment from Christ, the more we can be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
How would you define your assignment, or appointment, from Christ? How are you preparing for it?
By suffering God's will, we learn to do God's will.
Thomas Case
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 6:45–8:38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%206:45-8:38&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 29 & 30
Back to School: Do Your Homework
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25
Recommended Reading
John 13:15-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013:15-17&version=NKJV )
"If a train leaves station A, headed for station B, at 12:00 noon, averaging 35 mph, and another train leaves station B, headed for station A, at 12:30, averaging 38 mph, at what exact time will the two trains pass each other on their separate tracks?" Remember those word problems--the bane of junior high school math students? The point of math word problems for homework was to use math to solve real-world problems.
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For the Christian, life is an ongoing, never-ending series of real-world word problems! Instead of homework assignments given to school students, Christians are given "lifework" assignments by God. The point of Bible study, prayer, Scripture memory, and other disciplines is to solve the spiritual problems and meet the spiritual challenges that arise in daily life. That's why it is not enough to be just a hearer or learner of the Word of God--we must be doers of the Word as well.
If you feel threatened by life's word problems, continue to work out your salvation by applying the Word of God in every situation (Philippians 2:12).
Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself.
J. A. Bengel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 9:1–12:44 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%209:1-12:44&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 1
Unfathomable Love
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-10&version=NKJV )
Evangelist Charles Finney once preached a sermon on 1 John 4:8, saying: "Love is the cement of society and the source of social happiness. Without it the great community of the rational universe would dissolve, and men and angels would turn savages." But when Finney tried to explain how "God is love," he admitted defeat. "There is an unfathomable depth in this concise laconic sentence," he said, "which even the penetration of an angel's mind cannot reach."
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Finney said that one Sunday as he preached on this text, a farmer by the name of Jowles took a seat near the pulpit. During the sermon the man groaned. Anguish gripped his face. He then became motionless and had to be helped home. Soon however, Jowles was gloriously converted and became a powerful instrument for bringing his friends to Christ.
If we really saw the transcendence of God's love, it would shock us, numb us, awaken us, thrill us, and turn us into worshippers and witnesses.
God is love, and He loves you.
Whatever (God) does, He does it because He is love.
Charles G. Finney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 13:1-14:72 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2013:1-14:72&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 2
You Can't Leave Home Without Him
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psalm 139:7
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 23:23-24 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Jeremiah%2023:23-24&version=NKJV ]
A famous consumer credit company's advertising campaign, beginning in 1975, used the tagline, "Don't Leave Home Without Them" for 25 years -- referring to the company's travelers checks. When the credit card replaced travelers checks, the phrase was changed slightly to say, "Don't Leave Home Without It" -- referring to the plastic credit card that replaced checks for travelers.
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You might leave home today without a credit card in your pocket, but there is one thing you can never leave home without: the presence of God. The psalmist David wrote an entire psalm (Psalm 139) about the fact that God was always with Him. And the prophet Jonah discovered he couldn't escape God even when he tried. If you can't escape God's presence that means you can't escape God's love either -- because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Some people think their sins or failings have put them far away from the reach of God and His love, but that is never true. God and His love are always with you.
God is no further from you on your worst day than He is on your best day. Just open your heart to receive Him and His love.
God is love, and He loves you.
We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 15:1-Luke 1:38 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015:1-Luke%201:38&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Wednesday, October 3
Rules and Reasons
Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
Romans 7:12
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 1:8-11 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201:8-11&version=NKJV ]
"Do not use this product below 32 degrees F." "Do not exceed the red line on the tachometer." "Do not take this medicine on an empty stomach." "Speed Limit: 65 m.p.h." "Billy, do NOT leave our yard and go into the street after the ball."
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Life is full of commands, instructions, prohibitions, warnings, and regulations. And in the vast majority of cases they are written for our benefit. In other words (again, in the vast majority of cases), rules have a reason. And most people are thankful for the protection and benefits that result from obeying them. Except, it seems, with God's rules. The Ten Commandments have long been caricatured as the attempt of an angry, self-centered God to keep His rebellious subjects from enjoying life. Just the opposite is true. Because God is our Creator, He knows how the happiness we were created to experience can best be realized. His commands are simply guardrails that will keep us on the path of pleasure.
If you are chafing against one of God's guidelines, commit to obeying Him by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Give God's guidelines time to produce their intended result.
The commands of God are all designed to make us more happy than we can possibly be without them.
Thomas Wilson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 1:39-2:52 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:39-2:52&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Thursday, October 4
The Benefits of Focus
There is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.
Isaiah 45:21
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:24-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:24-25&version=NKJV )
In his book Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else (Penguin Group, 2008), business journalist Geoff Colvin defines what great performers have in common: years of "deliberate practice." Not casual or regular practice, but deliberate practice -- for years. He cites abundant research that shows, "Many scientists and authors produce their greatest work only after twenty or more years of devoted effort, which means that in year nineteen they are still getting better" (page 62).
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Research is clear that focus-over-time is a key ingredient to success. It should come as no surprise, then, that God expects His human creation to focus only on Him, excluding all other gods, idols, and images -- for our whole life. Joshua asked the Israelites to choose whom they would serve -- gods or God (Joshua 24:15). Jesus said that man cannot serve God and money at the same time (Matthew 6:24).
Worshipping God alone -- "deliberate practice" -- is the only way to maximize our potential as His creatures.
Every one of us is, from his mother's womb, expert in inventing idols.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 3:1-4:44 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%203:1-4:44&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, October 5
From the Beginning
For You formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-16&version=NKJV )
Alexander Tsiaras, while a mathematician and researcher at Yale University, helped to create a 2010 presentation titled Conception to Birth -- Visualized. Using new applications of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanning, never before seen images of the development of the human fetus were obtained. When giving a talk on what his team discovered he said, "It's a mystery, it's magic, it's divinity."* As a scientist, he found it hard to think that evolution could account for the design and development of something as complex as a human being.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
He almost took the words right out of the psalmist David's mouth. When contemplating how God had knit him together in his mother's womb, David exclaimed, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17) David was astounded that the God who loved him enough to always be with him was also with him in his mother's womb. From the beginning to the end of human life on earth, God guides everything. And because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), His love is there all along.
Thank God today that His love has been shaping your life from the very beginning.
He who was our help from our birth ought to be our hope from our youth.
Matthew Henry
:angel:
*evolutionnews.org/2012/03/mathematician_a057741.html
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 5:1-6:49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205:1-6:49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, October 6 & 7
Always: Always Love
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-4 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%201:1-4&version=NKJV ]
The word "always" occurs nearly 100 times in the Bible. It's often used by Paul to describe certain Christian behaviors we should manifest. We're to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58), "always confident that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6), "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus" (2 Corinthians 4:10), and "always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10).
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In Christ, we "always" have all sufficiency in all things (2 Corinthians 9:8) and should be zealous in good works "always" (Galatians 4:18). Our speech should "always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6) as we await the day we'll "always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Paul "always" prayed for his friends with thanksgiving and love (1 Thessalonians 1:2). There should be no breaks in our love for others and no blackouts in the consistency of our Christian lives. Our model, Christ, "always lives to make intercession" for us (Hebrews 7:25).
To Christ we are to be always coming; upon Him always relying; to His precious blood always looking.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 7:1-8:39, Luke 8:40-9:62 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207:1-8:39,%20Luke%208:40-9:62&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 8
Carved in Stone
And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
Exodus 31:18
Recommended Reading
Exodus 20:1-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020:1-17&version=NKJV )
Remember when you first drew pictures with an Etch A Sketch? If you wanted to change your mind, you could simply shake it. Everything would disappear, and you could start all over again. It's one of the most popular toys in history. Unfortunately, too often our society writes its moral standards on its own Etch A Sketch. Our cultural sense of right and wrong is based on societal consensus, not on the unchanging Word of God. In abandoning the absolute standards of a holy God, we've become a world in which morality is relative; it's whatever people want it to be.
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Christians take a different view. The Lord didn't write His Commandments on an Etch A Sketch. They were carved in stone, indicating their durable and permanent value. The commands of God flow from His character and establish the moral baseline of the universe. No matter how hard it tries, this world can never erase the truth of God's Word or the demands of His Ten Commandments. They are rock solid, and we can base our moral codes on the tablets of His holiness.
If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.
Zig Ziglar
*evolutionnews.org/2012/03/mathematician_a057741.html
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 10:1-11:54 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:1-11:54&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 9
Never, Never, Never
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5b
Recommended Reading
Lamentations 3:22-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Lamentations%203:22-23&version=NKJV )
As prime minister of England, Winston Churchill returned to address the students at Harrow School, his alma mater, on October 29, 1941. The previous year, London had weathered, and survived under Churchill's leadership, the withering attacks of the German Air Force in what became known as the Battle of Britain. When Churchill addressed the Harrow students, he told them, "This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense..."
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Even with best intentions, sometimes human determination runs out. But God's determination never stops. To paraphrase Churchill, God never stops loving -- never, never, never, never. The apostle Paul pictured God's love in Christ like a constantly flowing stream that nothing could interrupt. He wrote that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
Sometimes it's easy to feel like God has stopped loving, or that we've been separated from His love. But feelings don't win the war. Never giving in to them does.
The true measure of God's love is that He loves without measure.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 12:1-13:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:1-13:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 10
Carry Me
...and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.
Deuteronomy 1:31
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 33:25-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Deuteronomy%2033:25-29&version=NKJV )
It happens any place that the journey lasts longer than the strength in the little legs of a small child. That child looks up at her parent and says, with arms lifted toward heaven, "Carry me." Few parents can resist such an opportunity to hold a little one close, to be strong when the little one is weak, to take the child where it cannot go on its own. Even if the parent is already tired, love for the child overcomes all.
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When Israel stumbled out of slavery in Egypt, taking halting steps as a childish nation, there were many times when God carried her in the wilderness, "as a man carries his son." There were many times when God provided, protected, and persevered with His nation-child on the basis of love alone. When Israel, the child, had nothing to give to God except her needs, God loved "in spite of" and guided her toward the home He had promised her.
If you are weak today, in need of being carried, lift your arms toward your heavenly Father and say, "Carry me, Abba" (Romans 8:15). When we are weak, His love is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).
The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete.
Augustus M. Toplady
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 14:1-16:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:1-16:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 11
REDeemed
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:8-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:8-11&version=NKJV )
The blood of Jesus. His sacrifice sets Christianity apart from every other religion. It's the foundation of our salvation. The eternal guarantee of His love for us. No other love -- the love of a spouse, a child, a friend -- can compare with the extravagant love of God poured out through the precious blood of His only Son.
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Yet some songwriters, authors, and -- sad to say -- preachers stay away from mentioning the blood of Jesus. They feel it's too offensive. In fact, the opposite is true. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). The deepest love we can experience as humans is directly tied to the blood of Jesus. And His all-encompassing love is beyond human understanding: He not only died for His friends, He died for His enemies (Romans 5:8-10).
Explore what Jesus has said and demonstrated of His love through His death on the cross. It will help you grasp how dearly and passionately God loves you. And above all, thank Him for His precious blood.
I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer's blood.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 17:1-18:43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017:1-18:43&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, October 12
Unchanging Love Changes Us
....without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 9:22
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 9:11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209:11-14&version=NKJV )
The average person celebrating Valentine's Day this year was expected to shell out the most money ever -- $126.03 -- according to BIGinsight's 10-year survey history. With total spending expected to reach $17.6 billion, retailers were celebrating emotional spending.1 Too many times, the concept of love is one of fleeting emotions. Fickle, finicky, and fast-paced, human love is the antithesis of God's unchanging, all-encompassing, eternal love-written in the blood of His Son.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
That God loves us is the most profound truth in the universe. Experiencing God's eternal love has the potential to answer every question, solve every problem, and satisfy the deepest yearnings of the heart. So why are many people who believe this still unable to fully utilize the power of God's love in their personal lives?
God's love is more than just talk. It is real. It completely changes the way we think, the way we see others, the way we live each day. Love delivers us from the vicious cycle of vengeful retaliation. It makes life worth living. It changes everything. Take a loving step and share the message of God's unchanging love with your neighbor, your colleague, your...
The Cross is the ultimate evidence that there is no length the love of God will refuse to go in effecting reconciliation.
Kent Hughes
1 nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1304> accessed 6/12/12.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 19:1-20:47 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:1-20:47&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Always: Always Trust
I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8
Recommended Reading
Psalm 16 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016&version=NKJV ]
Dr. Charles Allen was a popular twentieth-century Methodist preacher and writer who devoted twelve years to pastoring a large church in Atlanta, Georgia. He once said that when he traveled he carried a little radio with him in his bag. He liked to listen to an Atlanta station. But if his trip took him too far away, he couldn't pick up the station. There was too much static and the voice of the station was blotted out. "It is the same radio," he wrote. "The station is broadcasting with the same power. But I have gone too far away."
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His point was that many of us miss God's voice because we have tuned him out. We've got to stay tuned in to the right frequency, and listen carefully. We must set the Lord before us always, listening for His message, and trusting Him always. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Are you tuned in to God's Word today? At His right hand? Listening carefully? Trusting always?
Only believe, only believe; all things are possible, only believe. That is more than just a little chorus. It is the Christian faith.
Charles L. Allen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 21:1-22:71, Luke 23:1-24:53 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2021:1-22:71,%20Luke%2023:1-24:53&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 15
Rains of Repentance
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:7-11&version=NKJV )
Dr. Paul White, a missionary physician in East Africa, described a drought threatening his area. Day after day, the blazing sun beat down and the plants withered. The regular rains were months late. One day the chief visited the local clergyman, and Dr. White joined them. "Bwana, we have sinned," said the chief. "We must ask God's forgiveness and His help. Can we have next Sunday as a day of repentance and prayer for rain?"
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The word went out and large numbers gathered. The African pastor preached a powerful sermon on repentance, and everyone united in earnest prayer. Within an hour, gentle rain was falling, and three inches followed within three days. 1
Every affliction isn't necessarily an act of divine chastening, but we should bear this in mind -- very often the Lord uses difficulty to discipline and deepen us. When facing a problem, ask, "What is the Lord trying to teach me?" Sometimes we think of discipline as being hurtful, but God's discipline is helpful. It offers eternal benefits.
The godly have some good in them; therefore the devil afflicts them; and some evil in them, therefore God afflicts them.
Thomas Watson, Puritan writer
1 Dr. Paul White, Doctor of Tanganyika (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955), 177-178.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 1:1-3:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:1-3:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 15
Sometimes Love Hurts
For whom the LORD loves He chastens...
Hebrews 12:6
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:5-6&version=NKJV )
The moment after a child is corrected, they usually don't want to hear, "I love you." To immature ears, the sentiment sounds insincere. Perspective makes all the difference. As adults, we get it. But do we understand our heavenly Father's discipline? A. W. Tozer illustrates God's loving correction:
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He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is. 1
The story of the prodigal son illustrates how love can hurt. While only one son is called the prodigal, both sons were lost. One was lost in a distant land and the other at home. But God loved both. This story about a human father and his sons tells an even greater story about our heavenly Father's love for all lost sons and daughters.
Jesus looks down through time to this very moment and His eyes meet yours: Which son represents you in this story? He wants you to know the result is the same... God loves you.
Look beyond the rod to the All-wise hand that wields it!
A.W. Pink
1Warren W. Wiersbe, The Best of A. W. Tozer (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1978), 120-122.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 3:22-5:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:22-5:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 17
Pull Up! Pull Up!
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction.
Proverbs 3:11
Recommended Reading
Numbers 22:20-35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2022:20-35&version=NKJV )
In relating the experiences of soldiers in Afghanistan, Doug Stanton tells of a resupply mission bringing provisions to a field hospital. Visibility was zero, and pilot Greg Gibson was flying by cues on tiny screens in his dim cockpit. Exhausted, he handed the controls to his copilot and leaned back. Suddenly crew members in the back of the helicopter shouted, "Pull up! Pull up!" When the copilot didn't respond instantly, Gibson grabbed the stick and put the aircraft into a serious bank. They tipped onto their side, knocking the crew in the back to the deck. They barely missed running into a mountain. The crew had seen rocks coming at them and had yelled just in time. Though the chopper was damaged, disaster was averted because of immediate corrective action.1
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No one likes to be corrected, but we easily veer off course. The Lord sometimes "shouts" to us. His corrections let us know He's watching for us, helping us in low visibility, and keeping us from self-made disasters. Don't resent His correction. Respond to it immediately.
God's intention in disciplining His people is to reform them by giving them a clear sense of the evil of sin and making them seek Him for relief.
Matthew Henry
1 Doug Stanton, Adapted from the book Horse Soldiers (New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2009).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 5:19-6:71 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%205:19-6:71&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 18
Seeing the Potential
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).
John 1:42
Recommended Reading
John 1:35-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:35-42&version=NKJV )
In his book, You Can Lead Effectively , Mathew Philip wrote, "Jesus had the habit of always seeing the potential for good in the people around him. Jesus saw the potential for good in Simon Peter. Jesus identified the potential in Simon when He said, 'You are rock' before [Peter] understood his own potential."1
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Jesus saw the potential in the Samaritan woman, in Mary Magdalene, in the simple fishermen of Galilee. He sees the potential in everyone, for He made us on purpose, designed us in His image, wrote the script of our lives in advance, and intends to use us for His glory. He knows the thoughts He thinks toward us, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Lord Jesus is the potter, you're the clay, and He longs to shape you into a vessel fit for His use (2 Timothy 2:21). His love not only recognizes who you are but what you will become. He knows the legacy before us.
Jesus saw the potential you have to bring glory to God. Today, emulate his example by telling others how great a gift it is to honor him with your life.
From the book Moments of Peace in the Morning (Baker Publishing Group)
1Mathew Philip, You Can Lead Effectively (Maitland, FL: Zulon Press, 2008), 19.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 7:1-8:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207:1-8:30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, October 19
In His Grip
Fear not, for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God...
Isaiah 41:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 73:22-26 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073:22-26&version=NKJV ]
Absolutes are often frowned on in our culture. Whether it's absolute truth about God, His Word, or morality, progressive thinking deviates from absolutes. The unchanging truth that God has always loved us and always will is hard for some people to fathom. But it is a truth that defies the critics, a love that will not let us go.
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Fortunately, God's love doesn't depend on how well we love Him back. We don't earn it, deserve it, or maintain it. Unlike human love, it has no conditions and no limits. Yet think of the mental energy people needlessly expend in anxiety over messing up and somehow losing His love.
God loves you at the top of the mountain, and He loves you equally in the depths of the valley. Maybe in your pain you have torn yourself from His arms. Even then, God's love remains intact in spite of your anger. When you cease striving and simply begin to trust the rope--the infinite love of God--you will discover marvelous power, astounding power, supernatural power. You need never let go of your hope because God will never let go of His love for you. Rest in His grip!
He loved us not because we are lovable, but because He is love.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 8:31-10:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:31-10:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, October 20 & 21
Always: Always Give
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
1 Peter 3:15
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%203:13-17&version=NKJV )
Always... be ready... to give... a defense... to everyone. Read that again and emphasize every word. When we think of giving, we usually think of giving our money or perhaps our time. But giving is a continual part of the Christian's DNA, and it comes naturally to give from all our resources including our hope and faith.
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Think of what Peter was implying. First, our lives should be so radiant that others notice the hope within us. Second, when others come to a point of trouble in their lives, during those moments our hope will appear in sharp contrast to their distress or despair. Third, at such times they're likely to ask us what we have that they don't. Fourth, that's our cue to explain our faith, doing so with an attitude of sweetness and meekness.
Why not turn this verse into a prayer: Lord, as I sanctify You in my heart, may I always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks me a reason for the hope I have. And Lord, bring them on to me!
When was the last time someone asked you about "the reason for the hope that is in you"?
John Piper
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 10:22-12:19, John 12:20-14:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:22-12:19,%20John%2012:20-14:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 22
In the Grip of Grace
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life... nor height nor depth... shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:37-39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:37-39&version=NKJV )
Kay Arthur says that when the devil tries to make us doubt God's love, we have some good answers for him: "Tell Satan that God loves you when you are nothing, accepts you just the way you are, and loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love that is in the process of transforming you into His image. Tell the devil that you are secure in God's love "because the love of God has been poured out within your heart through the Holy Spirit who was given to us," and "nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."1
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That's a pretty good answer, but perhaps we're the ones needing to hear it. Maybe you need to remind yourself of these truths. When the psalmist said, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? ...Hope in God" (Psalm 42:11), he was talking to himself. Preach this message to yourself: We cannot slip out of the grip of God's grace. We can rest assured that no one can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28).
God does not love us because we are valuable, but we are valuable because God loves us.
Attributed to Martin Luther
1Kay Arthur, Lord, Heal My Hurts (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2000), 251.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 15:1-17:26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015:1-17:26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 23
Eternal Attitude Check
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-3&version=NKJV )
Why do so few believers long for heaven? Are children unmoved by the anticipation of Christmas morning? Are young couples apathetic about their wedding day? Certainly not. We need to expectantly look forward to our eternal destination.
Listen to Today's Radio Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Heaven is an actual location, and it is a future for everyone who knows and loves the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a place of reunion with those we've lost, and it is a place where we will see our Savior face-to-face. At that moment we will experience a deeper, fuller, and more exhilarating gladness than we can even begin to comprehend.
On the day we finally see His face, we'll know beyond all doubt just how much God loves us -- how much He always has, and how much He always will. As we kneel in His presence, tears of joy staining our faces, we'll finally understand how much He has longed to be with us. We'll then hear those two words that every soul longs to hear above any words imaginable: Welcome home.
Are you pining about your pilgrimage on earth? Or are you joyfully anticipating heaven? Give yourself an eternal attitude check today.
If there were no hell, the loss of heaven would be hell.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 18:1-19:42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018:1-19:42&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 24
Testify!
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.
Psalm 66:16
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:15-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:15-17&version=NKJV )
Do you believe in miracles? Consider the stories of saints and martyrs, famously remembered for their irrepressible testimonies. While their lives were violently snuffed out, these believers courageously testified. In your own life, you may have a story -- a testimony you can share of the miraculous work God has done through His redeeming grace in your life.
Listen to Today's Radio Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Heaven is an actual location, and it is a future for everyone who knows and loves the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a place of reunion with those we've lost, and it is a place where we will see our Savior face-to-face. At that moment we will experience a deeper, fuller, and more exhilarating gladness than we can even begin to comprehend.
Take note of the amazing testimony of a virulent persecutor of Christians turned evangelist: "For I am persuaded that... [nothing can] separate us from the love of God..." (Romans 8:38-39). That's a miracle! This murderer turned apostle gives one of the strongest testimonies you'll read in the Bible to the staying power of God's love.
In spite of our inability to grasp the full scope of God's love, it miraculously exists in the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people around the world. But unless that person is willing to share their story, people will miss the miracle. Testify! And share your miracle -- your story -- with someone today.
God has no more precious gift to a church or an age than a man who lives as an embodiment of His will, and inspires those around him with the faith of what grace can do.
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 20:1-Acts 1:26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:1-Acts%201:26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 25
Life that Never Ends
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203:11&version=NKJV )
"Eternity" is or has been the name of (at least) three different movies, two different television series, eight different music albums, eight different songs, a perfume, a mobile phone, a puzzle game, a superhero (Kid Eternity), a Christian magazine, a newspaper, a science fiction magazine... and more. It is ironic that a word that means "forever" is applied to short-lived products.
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Fortunately, when the Bible uses the word "eternity" or "eternal" it means forever! In fact, for those who know God through faith in Jesus Christ, eternity has already begun. The clearest definition of eternal life is found in Jesus' prayer to the Father: eternal life is knowing "the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [God has] sent" (John 17:3). Eternal life is not the same as heaven. Heaven is a place, while eternal life is entering into a personal relationship with God through Christ. That life begins when we meet Christ and never ends--not even when we die (John 11:25-26).
Eternal life is a never-ending expression of God's love--the love that promises we will "not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Eternal life does not begin with death: it begins with faith.
Samuel Shoemaker
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 2:1-4:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:1-4:22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, October 26
Proof of Sonship
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
Hebrews 12:7
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:11-12&version=NKJV )
In his book, Rebel With a Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (Thomas Nelson, 1995), Franklin Graham describes growing up as the son of Ruth and Billy Graham. While his father was often away on ministry trips, Franklin tested his mother's patience and love. But she was ready for every challenge. Her "tough love" proved capable of responding to Franklin's strong-willed ways.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Hebrews 12:11 says, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." In fact, no parent likes to discipline his or her child, and certainly no child enjoys it. But it has a purpose: training for righteousness. And God has the same goal in mind when He disciplines His children. He may be correcting our behavior or preparing us for a task in the future. But in God's economy, pain has a purpose.
If you are experiencing a painful period of training, ask God to show you what He wants you to know.
Discipline is a privilege because it is an evidence of our sonship.
Alistair Begg
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4:23-6:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:23-6:15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, October 27 & 28
Always: Always Pray
Night and day praying exceedingly...
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:14-22&version=NKJV )
Last summer a highway truck wrecked on Interstate 75 in Kentucky, completely spilling its cargo of Hungry Jack pancake syrup. Every lane of the road was covered in syrup in both directions. The accident happened when the driver, swerving to miss a car with a flat tire, crashed into the median at Buttermilk Pike. It was a sticky mess, but at least no cars were pancaked in the accident.
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There are a lot of sticky messes in life. We never know when the sweetest moments will turn sour, or the happiest moments will crash into an unexpected circumstance. But there's never a moment when we can't pray. Our connection to heaven is never severed, not for a second. Jesus said that we should always pray and not faint (Luke 18:1). The early church gave themselves continually to prayer (Acts 6:4). And the apostle Paul said, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
We can pray when life is scrambled. Whatever your situation, make it a matter of prayer. Whatever your messes, take them to the Lord in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Joseph Scriven
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 7:1-8:40, Acts 9:1-10:48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:1-8:40,%20Acts%209:1-10:48&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 29
Bookends of Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:9-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:9-13&version=NKJV )
It often helps to follow a pattern when we tackle a project. In approaching the Throne of Grace, our pattern is the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6. If you'd like to use the Lord's prayer to develop a sequence for your own prayer time, just follow the course of these six words.
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- Praise: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
- Priorities: Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
- Provision: Give us this day our daily bread.
- Personal relationships: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Protection: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
- Praise: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Notice that the first and last words are the same, as prayer comes full circle from praise to praise. The glory of God provides the bookends of this prayer that you can offer today.
Prayer and praise are the oars by which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 11:1-13:52 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2011:1-13:52&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 30
Prayer (Not) by the Numbers
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Matthew 6:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:5-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:5-15&version=NKJV )
At the dedication of the Civil War cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, one speech was made by Edward Everett, a former Congressman, Senator, and president of Harvard. He spoke for more than two hours. The second speech was by President Abraham Lincoln, consisting of 10 sentences and 272 words. After the dedication, Everett wrote a letter to President Lincoln: "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." History well records which of the two speeches is best remembered.
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Jesus had some thoughts about short versus long when it comes to prayer. He encouraged talking to God as one talks to a father in simple and heartfelt words. The prayer He taught His disciples to pray contains around 70 Greek words (Matthew 6:9-13), yet it covers all the basics: praise, petition, provision, and protection. Long prayers are fine, too -- Jesus' prayer on the night of His betrayal comprises all of John 17.
When you pray, let the number of your words be determined by their content.
What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.
Thomas Manton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 14:1-16:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2014:1-16:15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 31
God Our Papa
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8:15
Recommended Reading
Galatians 4:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204:6-7&version=NKJV )
In the hardest hour of His life, Jesus called God "Abba" (Mark 14:36), an emphatic Aramaic word used by Mark because there was no suitable Greek word to use in its place. The traditional Greek word was pater, or "Father." So Mark recorded them both: "Abba, Father..." For Jesus to call God "Abba" would be like a child of today saying "Daddy" or "Papa." It was an emphatic, emotional, and personal term that came from Jesus' heart in His most trying hour.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
"Abba" occurs two more times in the New Testament, in Paul's letters (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Paul says that Christians, by way of the Holy Spirit, now call out to the Father using the same two-fold, vocative cry, "Abba, Father!" We have that privilege, Paul reasoned, because we have been made children of God. Sonship (and "daughtership") is the privilege of all who call Christ their Lord and call God their Father (Romans 8:12-17).
When you pray, think of God both ways: as Father and as Daddy. Honor and emotion are a child's responsibility and privilege.
Since God has a Son of His own, and such a Son, how wonderful God's love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but He did not need sons.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 16:16-18:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016:16-18:28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 1
Are You Texting Heaven?
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:2-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%204:2-6&version=NKJV )
The text messaging phenomenon can help illustrate -- though never fully capture -- the spirit of prayerfulness God desires for us. Just like the convenience of prayer, texting a friend anytime, anywhere, makes the frequency of private communication possible in situations where voice communication is impossible or disruptive.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Frequent prayer is exactly what the apostle Paul deeply desired in the lives of New Testament believers when he advised them to "pray without ceasing." He used the adverb translated "without ceasing" that other Greek writers of his day used to describe a hacking cough. What a convincing way to communicate the spirit of prayerfulness that should pervade our lives. Prayer was as natural as breathing to Paul, and he wanted believers to devote themselves to this prayerful attitude of constant dependence on God. He was saying that no occasion is too small, no decision too insignificant, not to be covered with prayer.
We can't pray every minute, but we can pray frequently -- while driving, while eating, even while texting. Prayer allows us to listen to our heavenly Father and become more like Him in the process. Ask God to infiltrate your life with the powerful spirit of prayerfulness.
Abiding fully means praying much.
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 19:1-21:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:1-21:16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 2
A Hallowed Name
In this manner, therefore, pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name."
Matthew 6:9
Recommended Reading
Exodus 20:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020:7&version=NKJV )
How often lately have you used the word "hallow" or "hallowed"? Probably not at all -- unless you were reciting the Lord's Prayer. Our English word "hallowed" comes from an Old English word of German origin, and it still appears in modern Bible translations of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9) because we don't have an English word for "holy-ed" -- which is what hallowed means. (The second edition of the New Living Translation has "may your name be kept holy" in Matthew 6:9.)
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It is significant that Jesus instructed His disciples to give proper respect and honor to God's name when they began their prayers. This is in keeping, of course, with the third of Israel's Ten Commandments: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain..." (Exodus 20:7). If such a reminder was necessary in Jesus' day, how much more is it needed in ours? "God," "Jesus," and "Christ" are used as part of curses, jokes, unkept promises, and unthinking conversation. God's name is read and heard so often in modern media that we have become numb to how often it is defamed and dishonored.
Make sure that you hallow God's name today, in word and in deed.
The great argument of Scripture is the glory of God's own name.
Charles Simeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 21:17-23:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2021:17-23:35&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 3 & 4
Always With Thanksgiving: Always Thankful for Prosperity
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.
1 Chronicles 29:14
Recommended Reading
Job 1:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201:1-5&version=NKJV )
One of the greatest displays of personal wealth in recorded history is that of King David of Israel in preparation for building the first temple in Jerusalem. Out of his own personal wealth, David gave 3,000 talents of gold and seven thousand talents of silver -- an amount worth about $5.9 billion in today's dollars. And the leaders of Israel contributed several times more.
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And what do you think the first words from David's mouth were after these billions of dollars of commodities were collected? "Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever" (1 Chronicles 29:10). The first thing David did was to "praise God from whom all blessings flow" (to use the words of our modern Doxology). David knew that everything they had given to build the temple had come from God and that they were donating back to God only what God had previously given to them. A lack of praise in times of prosperity may mean we are confused about the source of our blessings.
If you have more than you need today, give thanks to God for your prosperity.
To see a man humble under prosperity is one of the greatest rarities in the world.
John Flavel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 24:1-26:32, Acts 27:1-28:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2024:1-26:32,%20Acts%2027:1-28:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 5
Trashing the Transcendent
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
Psalm 89:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 89:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2089:1-7&version=NKJV )
Reverence isn't widely revered any more. Much of our worship has lost its awe, and there's little majesty in our gatherings. In daily conversation, too, we often hear God's name spoken irreverently and His truths treated with disrespect. The world wants to trash the transcendent and reduce the grandeur of the Almighty to a self-defined experience.
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Of course, there is something to be said for enjoying the informal friendship we have with our Lord. Paul told us to address God as "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15), the word "Abba" being a childlike word of affection like "Daddy" or "Papa."
But note the biblical balance. Jesus reminded us pray, "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). We mustn't so focus on the love of God that we forget His loftiness. He is an all-consuming fire who fills heaven and earth and dwells in inapproachable light. His name must never be taken lightly or His presence entered carelessly. He is pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise, and to Him belong the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
We reverence God and we hallow God's name when our life is such that it brings honor to God and attracts others to him.
William Barclay
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 1:1-3:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:1-3:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 6
Breathe on Me
....singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16
Recommended Reading
Psalm 47:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2047:1-4&version=NKJV )
One of the joys of prayer is finding so many ways of doing it. Many prayers in the Bible were psalms, telling us that singable prayers are biblical. Sometimes when we can't focus our thoughts, we can turn to Christian songs old and new and sing them to God. Many hymns are written as prayers, and how meaningful to pray: "Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way." When you pray, "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah" or "Be Thou my vision," it's your prayer, no matter who originally composed it.
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One of the most helpful hymn-prayers was penned by American hymnist B. B. McKinney, who wrote, "Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit breathe on me." McKinney was undoubtedly inspired by an earlier hymn by Edwin Hatch, who wrote: "Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do."
Sing praise to God, and sing prayers to Him too.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thomas O. Chisholm
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 4:1-7:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204:1-7:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 7
Soul Food
The Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your... soul.
Deuteronomy 13:3
Recommended Reading
Mark 8:34-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208:34-37&version=NKJV )
Newspaper reports recently told of an Albuquerque woman who tried to auction off her soul on eBay. The woman said she'd had a string of bad luck. She was struck by a drunk driver, left in a coma, woke up suffering a stroke, broke miscellaneous bones, and suffered a collapsed lung. She wants to pass her unlucky soul to someone else for an initial asking price of $2000.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Our souls can't be sold, but they can be strengthened. The Bible says we can sometimes be in "bitterness of soul" (1 Samuel 1:10) and our souls can be in "deep distress" (2 Kings 4:27). But the psalmist said, "He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:3). Psalm 57:1 says, "My soul trusts in You... in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by."
Sometimes the Lord allows things to test and deepen our souls and spirits. We can say, "Thy will be done," trust the Lord with the circumstances, and find a new attitude: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2).
My body was very weak, but my soul was strengthened and blest with a delightful sense of God.... To do His will is my constant desire.
Methodist pioneer Francis Asbury, in his journal.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 8:1-10:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:1-10:21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 8
When You're Floundering
They also had a few small fish.
Mark 8:7
Recommended Reading
John 21:1-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021:1-14&version=NKJV )
Khru Jarern pastored a church in Thailand in 1981, but his income was lean. One day his family ate the last of their food for supper. When their son asked what they would eat the next day, Jarern said, "We don't know. We will pray." That night the rain fell in buckets, and Jarern got up to secure a broken corner of his rice paddy. Feeling something slippery under his feet, he realized it was fish. Rousing his family, they caught enough to tide them over several days.1
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Several of our Lord's miracles involved fish -- the feeding of the 5000 in Mark 6; the feeding of the 4000 in Mark 8; the fish with the coin in Matthew 17; the miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5; the catch in John 21. In each case, Jesus provided for His followers in unexpected ways. He'll do the same for you -- and that's no fish story. When we ask for daily provision, it reminds us to keep our dependence on the Lord, not on ourselves.
There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all He has promised.
J. Hudson Taylor
1 Various, When God Provides (Littleton, CO: OMF International, 1986), 24. info
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 11:1-14:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:1-14:23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 9
The Source of All
Give me neither poverty nor riches -- feed me with the food allotted to me.
Proverbs 30:8b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:11&version=NKJV )
There is little in our culture today that encourages contentment. We are constantly bombarded with messages to make more, get more, and have more. Certainly, we should maximize the gifts and abilities God has given us, but not for the sake of personal indulgence. Every blessing of God is meant not only for our sustenance but also in ministry to others -- and all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
A wise man in the Old Testament, Agur (Proverbs 30:1), prayed that God would bless him with just the right amount -- not so much that he forgot to acknowledge God as the source and not too little that he might steal to get more (Proverbs 30:9). It would have been Agur's responsibility, of course, to honor God in the midst of much and refuse the temptation to steal in times of want. That was the perspective Paul took -- he said he had learned to be content in times of plenty and want (Philippians 4:12). Paul's entire life was in service to Christ and so he trusted God to provide what he needed.
Contentment -- trusting God for daily bread, as Jesus taught the disciples to pray (Matthew 6:11) -- is the best way to be reminded daily that God is the source of everything.
Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 15:1-1 Corinthians 1:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2015-1%20Corinthians%201:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 10 & 11
Always With Thanksgiving: Always Thankful for Simplicity
....in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
Philippians 4:12b NASB
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%208:1-4&version=NKJV )
A number of celebrated people seem to be credited with originating the following observation: "I've been rich and I've been poor. Believe me, rich is better." It's hard to argue with that sentiment, in general. "Rich" pays the bills and provides a measure of freedom in life, but "rich" also makes it difficult to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25). For that reason alone, "poor" deserves a fair look.
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We are not told to become poor for the sake of the kingdom of God, but neither are we told not to. What we are told to do is to be willing to leave all for the sake of following Christ if that is what following Him should require (Matthew 19:21-29). That happened to Paul occasionally -- sometimes he had more than he needed and other times he had less. But he had learned the secret of contentment: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
If you have less than you need today, give thanks to God for the privilege of doing everything through Christ who strengthens you. Learning to trust God is worth more than anything.
The two great tests of character are wealth and poverty.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 2:1-6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:1-9:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202:1-6:20,%201%20Corinthians%207:1-9:27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 12
When Things Don't Add Up
....bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:1-6&version=NKJV )
When England's William Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer, he relied on some statistics that had been miscalculated by a clerk. The blunder was only discovered after Gladstone had given a budget speech in the House of Commons, and the mistakes held him up to ridicule. He sent for the clerk, who arrived expecting to be fired. "I sent for you," said Gladstone, "because I could imagine the torture of your feelings. You have been for many years dealing with the bewildering intricacies of the national accounts, and you have done your work with...exactness... It was because of your splendid record that I did not trouble to verify your calculations. I have sent for you to compliment you on that record and to set you at ease."1
Listen to Today's Radio Meassage ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When things don't add up in a friendship, add grace and subtract rancor. Perhaps someone has made a mistake affecting you. With the Spirit of Christ, seek to be gracious, understanding, patient, and forgiving. Christ loved us even while we were yet sinners; and remember -- forgiveness aids the forgiver as much as the one needing forgiveness.
It is a great thing to be a really good forgiver.
F. W. Boreham
1 Frank Boreham, The Other Side of the Hill (New York: Abington Press, 1917).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 10:1-12:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010:1-12:31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 13
When Forgiveness Is Hard
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Luke 23:34
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:12-14&version=NKJV )
Recently a Las Vegas boxing coach named Arturo Martinez made an emotional statement to reporters as he stood with his two young sons beside him. Nearly three months earlier, he'd been nearly bludgeoned to death in a home invasion during which his wife and daughter were killed. His words, though hindered by his own brain injuries, were powerful. "I forgive this murderer because of my faith in God and in Jesus Christ," Martinez said. "Because I have to forgive him doesn't take my pain away. Because I have to forgive him doesn't mean that he will not be held accountable to God and the American judicial system... (but) I choose not to give in to this evil. I choose life and happiness for my sons... We choose to be strong and move forward."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
If a man like that can find the grace of Christ to forgive his attacker, shouldn't we all learn to forgive the lesser slights most of us encounter at one time or another? Let's all choose forgiveness.
Because we are the most forgiven people in the world, we should be the most forgiving people in the world.
C. J. Mahaney
1"Finding Forgiveness" in The Mohave Daily News, July 13, 2012.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 13:1-15:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:1-15:34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 14
Flirting With Fire
And don't give the devil a chance.
Ephesians 4:27 (CEV)
Recommended Reading
James 1:12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:12-14%20&version=NKJV )
The age-old question "Why did Eve go near the tree of knowledge of good and evil?" hits closer to home than most of us might care to admit. If asked, "Do you flirt with temptation?" We may answer "No," But do we prove it in our daily pursuits by showing discernment as we use the Internet, choose movies, and prioritize our time with God? How close do we allow ourselves to get to temptation?
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Temptation reveals what's in our hearts. When we walk away from a tempting scenario -- and you probably know your weaknesses -- our hearts reveal what we truly believe. Each time we flee from temptation, it's not just a single victory. That victory is one step toward more victories because resisting temptation builds spiritual muscles. When temptation strikes again -- and it will -- we'll be stronger in dealing with it because we're becoming more like Christ.
The daily habits of holiness built through reading the Word and prayer are the best ways to guard ourselves against temptation. The temptation itself has a way of strengthening us through the process to be holy and righteous people. Are you stepping toward temptation? Or away from it?
Every time we say yes to temptation, we make it harder to say no the next time.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 15:35-2 Corinthians 2:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:35-2%20Corinthians%202:17&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, November 15
Three Words to Fight Temptation
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11
Recommended Reading
Luke 4:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204:1-12&version=NKJV )
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He faced it head-on with the Word of God, quoting it to silence Satan: "It is written," "It is written," "It is written" (Luke 4:4, 8, 10). If Jesus triumphed over temptation with God's Holy Word, how could anyone think they could live a life of holiness and purity apart from the Bible?
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Just as He has created a physical immune system to equip our bodies to ward off diseases, God has provided a way of overcoming temptation. Rooting His Word in our hearts, God implants His spiritual immune system that empowers us to live healthy, righteous, godly lives. Jesus Himself models the best spiritual antioxidants for strengthening ourselves against temptation -- the godly discipline of reading and obeying God's Word.
Are you polluting your spiritual immune system with junk food -- the pollutants of the world's system? Let's commit to daily filling our hearts with God's Word and fighting temptation like Jesus did: It is written...
The Lord in his suffering... provided a path of triumph which we can walk. The Word, watchfulness, prayerfulness. That's it. No magic. That's how you deal with [temptation]. Pour the Word in. Stay alert.
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 3:1-7:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203:1-7:16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 16
Testing and Temptation
"...deliver us from the evil one."
Matthew 6:13b
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 5:8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%205:8-9&version=NKJV )
Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God would not lead them into temptation (Matthew 6:13a). Assuming God would answer that prayer, why did Jesus then teach them to pray that God would "deliver [them] from the evil one"? If we are protected from Satan's temptations, isn't that the same as being delivered from Satan?
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The word "temptation" can also be translated as "testing"; and while God never leads us to be tempted, He does allow us to be tested (James 1:2, 13). For instance, when Jesus was tested in the wilderness by God (Matthew 4:1-11), Satan attacked Him with three separate temptations. God led Jesus into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1), but Satan was the one who presented the temptations (Matthew 4:3, 5-6, 8-9). So Jesus' instructions about prayer were directed, ultimately, to keep Satan from getting the upper hand in our life. If we are tested by difficulties, Satan will tempt us to despair, anger, rebellion, or escape the difficulties inappropriately.
If you find yourself in a time of testing, pray that God will strengthen you to resist the temptations of Satan. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Holiness is not freedom from temptation, but power to overcome temptation.
G. Campbell Morgan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 8:1-11:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%208:1-11:33&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, November 17 & 18
Always With Thanksgiving: Always Thankful for Adversity
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:6-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:6-9&version=NKJV )
Judging by the commercials on television, modern man doesn't like pain. Whether it's physical pain, the pain of a broken appliance, the pain of the Internal Revenue Service, the pain of recovering from an accident or natural disaster -- regardless of the kind of pain, if there's not a pill, there is a plan or program for relief.
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But there may also be a purpose. The Bible suggests that adversity is a frequent visitor in our fallen world. Since God is sovereign, our first question is not how to be free of trouble but how to discover God's purpose in it. The apostle Paul was like us. When he suffered, he prayed that God would take it away. Instead, God gave him grace to live with the adversity. Immediately, Paul recognized a positive outcome: When he was weak in himself, he was strong in Christ (2 Corinthians 12:10).
It's fine to ask God to solve the adversities in life. But while pursuing resolution, ask God to show you if there is something for which you can thank Him. Something you wouldn't have experienced without the pain.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 12:1-Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:1-4:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012:1-Galatians%202:21,%20Galatians%203:1-4:31&version=NKJV )
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Monday, November 19
A Great Calm
"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26
Recommended Reading
Matthew 8:23-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:23-27&version=NKJV )
Fear comes in many forms. Sometimes it's easy to detect, as when we hear a noise outside our window or wake up during a nightmare. Sometimes our fear is disguised as anxiety, worry, a panic attack, or a phobia. Fear can even be an addictive form of excitement, the kind we feel before we board a rollercoaster or watch a horror movie. But other times the horror is real, especially when our lives are in danger.
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If fear in any form is tormenting your peace of mind, ask the Lord for the miracle of a faith that banishes fear. Consider these two verses: Isaiah 12:2 says: I will trust and not be afraid. And Psalm 56:11 says: In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid.
Jesus marveled that His disciples felt fear in the storm when they should have recognized His watchful care. Four times in Matthew's Gospel He called His disciples, "You of little faith" (6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8). Be of good faith. Trust Him fully and experience a great calm.
When the problem is worry, the prescription is prayer.
David Jeremiah, in Turning Toward Joy
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Galatians 5:1-Ephesians 1:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:1-Ephesians%201:23&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, November 20
Lofty Language
Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.
Psalm 65:1-2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 65 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2065&version=NKJV )
In 1898, Mary W. Tileston published a little devotional book called Great Souls at Prayer. Combing through hundreds of years of devotional material, Mrs. Tileston collected some of the most poignant prayers ever penned. These she arranged in daily readings. Her selection for November 20 is especially meaningful. It was written by Henry W. Foote, an early American clergyman: "O God, who art the Fountain of Truth and the Giver of spiritual knowledge, who leadest us from year to year in unchanging love -- we bless Thee that, when by sight we could not gaze upon Thy glory, by faith we can know Thee, and lay hold on the Truth which giveth light to the soul."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In a day when many people take their relationship with God too casually, let's not be afraid of some lofty language in our prayers. Recognize His grandeur. Employ the language of Psalms in addressing Him who is above all. When we approach God, we are coming to a Throne of Grace, but it is still a Throne and praise is awaiting Him there.
We ask from the treasures of Thy grace for a more childlike trust, a more faithful spirit, a more loyal will.
Henry W. Foote
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 2:1-4:32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:1-4:32&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, November 21
He'll Do It!
Is anything too hard for the LORD?
Genesis 18:14a
Recommended Reading
Luke 11:5-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Luke%2011:5-13%20&version=NKJV )
One of the first declarations we put together as children is, "I'll do it!" We grasp and reach and climb and hold on tight, learning to protect and provide for ourselves. As we grow, the potential problem is that some of us never learn -- or admit -- that we can't live life in our own strength. By refusing to surrender our lives to God, we inevitably choose frustration, fatigue, and failure.
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Jesus taught His disciples to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). His point is that as we experience God's daily provision firsthand, we more completely understand our beneficiary-Benefactor relationship with Him. He is Jehovah-Jireh who provides for our present and future and graciously handles the deficiencies in our lives.
Has fear raised its ugly head as life crowds in and circumstances prevent the security you long for? Have you become so practiced at relying on your own strength that you aren't depending on the Lord? Make a list of the needs in your life that concern you and release them to your Provider. Do you really think your concerns are too big for the God of heaven and earth?
Faith is trusting God... because we are convinced by His provisions that God is both willing and able to keep His Word.
Scott Hafemann
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 5:1-6:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:1-6:24&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, November 22
Live Above Your Circumstances
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4
Recommended Reading
Daniel 6:10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206:10-11%20&version=NKJV )
Is your cup empty or full of gratitude today? Before you sit down and offer thanks around the dinner table, ask yourself: "Am I a complainer? Or a thanks giver?" It all comes down to perspective. Are you focusing on your blessings? Or on what you've lost in life?
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It's easy to complain about circumstances -- recessions, disease, hurt, and mounting difficulties. But we should give thanks to our God who lives above the circumstances. The Old Testament saint Daniel developed a discipline of gratitude in his life while living as a prisoner separated from family and friends. Yet even through dreary days, disappointments, and disaster, Daniel was a perpetual praise giver.
If you've had a tough week, a tough month, or even a tough year, fill your cup full of gratitude for who God is. Viewing the scope of your life from beginning to end, God has designed a purpose for you, and He wants you to trust Him. Though your circumstances may have changed this Thanksgiving, the faithful, gracious, merciful God you serve has not. Rise above your circumstances and give thanks!
Gratitude develops faith. The surest path out of a slump is marked by the road sign "thank you, God."
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Philippians 1:1-2:30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:1-2:30&version=NKJV )
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Friday, November 23
Daily Prayer
Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:8
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:29-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:29-31&version=NKJV )
Jesus' brief instructions about prayer stand out for their brevity (Matthew 6:8). For that reason, Jesus' pattern for prayer can be a helpful aid to prayer in the early morning hours or the last minutes of the day.
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In the morning, use Jesus' pattern for prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a way to begin your own prayer time. Alone, it touches every element of prayer: praise, petition, "penance" (confession and absolution), petition, and protection. Pray it straight through, or use it as an outline, inserting specific prayers of your own that parallel Jesus' words.
Then, at night, use it as a way to thank God for His work in your life during the day: thank Him for kingdom work you accomplished, for daily bread, for forgiving your sins and giving you grace to forgive others, for not leading you into temptation, and for delivering you from Satan and evil. And while the words of praise in verse 13 are not found in all Bible translations ("For Yours is the kingdom..."), they are powerful affirmations of your faith with which to end the day.
Make the Lord's Prayer a pattern for your personal daily disciple's prayer.
The door is closed to prayer unless it is opened with the key of trust.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Philippians 3:1–4:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:1-4:23&version=NKJV )
:angel: :angel:
Weekend, November 24 & 25
Always With Thanksgiving: Always Thankful for Eternity
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 16:9-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016:9-11&version=NKJV )
When a Sunday school teacher asked her class of young children how many wanted to go to heaven, every child raised a hand except Billy. When the teacher asked Billy if he didn't want to go to heaven someday, he said, "Yes, someday. I thought you were getting up a load to go today."
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Someday, Billy will gladly raise his hand to go straight on to heaven "today." Life on this earth is only a foretaste of "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). We know in our hearts that there is something more to life than this earth. And that is because "He has put eternity in [our] hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We were created for inexpressible joy and ultimate fulfillment, not for the tastes and foreshadows that this life offers on its best days. Thankfully, Jesus has made it possible to have abundant life now (John 10:10b) and eternal life forever.
Don't feel guilty about looking forward to leaving earth and going to heaven. God Himself put that longing in your heart.
The nearer to heaven in hopes, the farther from earth in desires.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Colossians 1:1-2:23, Colossians 3:1-1-Thessalonians 1:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201:1-2:23,%20Colossians%203:1-1%20Thessalonians%201:10&version=NKJV )
:angel: :angel: :angel:
Monday, November 26
Start With Praise
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3, Ephesians 1:3
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 1:3-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201:3-6&version=NKJV )
The apostle Paul spent between two and three years in both Ephesus and Corinth. They were his two greatest church-planting projects. The former produced the greatest church of the New Testament era. Paul, Timothy, and John were among its succession of pastors. From Ephesus, a great church-planting effort evangelized much of Asia Minor.
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Corinth was another story. From the beginning, Paul encountered such problems that he was almost beside himself. Yet Paul began Ephesians and 2 Corinthians in the same way -- with praise. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." And 2 Corinthians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."
Whether your church, your work, or your circumstances are in Ephesus or Corinth, start your prayers (and your days) with praise.
His sacred name forever bless... Let lands and seas His power confess.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Thessalonians 2:1-4:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%202:1-4:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 27
A Maze From Above
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the Lord...?"
Isaiah 40:27
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 40:27-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040:27-31&version=NKJV )
According to the 2008 Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest maze in the world is at the Dole Plantation on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Stretching over three acres and crafted from 14,000 colorful Hawaiian plants, you can wander around for miles trying to find your way out. But seen from above, the maze is amazing. It makes perfect sense, displays elegant symmetry, and in the very middle of it there is a huge image of -- what else? -- a pineapple.
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When we feel lost in life, it helps to remember that seen from above our maze is amazing. God has planned and designed our pathways, incorporating into them those events that may presently confuse us. But at the very center of it all is the image of His Son.
Perspective is everything. When we see our problems from God's elevation, they seem smaller and make more sense. If we look at them simply at ground level, they may seem insurmountable. Ask God for His perspective for your circumstances today, and thank Him for His amazing grace.
Wisdom is the capacity to see things from God's viewpoint.
Charles Stanley, in Walking Wisely
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Thessalonians 3:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:1-2%20Thessalonians%203:18&version=NKJV )
Wednesday, November 28
Lifeline
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:35-39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:35-39&version=NKJV )
When mountain climbers make their way across an icy glacier, or the edge of an icy peak, one slip and they could tumble into a crevasse or slide down a mountainside. So they tie themselves together with a lifeline -- a long piece of rope that ties them to one another. If one slips, the rest dig their crampons into the ice and hold the line, preventing certain death.
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We need a lifeline for our spiritual lives. When we stumble into sin, or slip into a period of overwhelming circumstances, we need a "rope" that will hold us fast; we need a lifeline to God that cannot be broken. The Bible says we have one: the love of God. The Bible says the God who began His work in us will complete it; He will never let it be thwarted. But Romans 8:35-39 details all kinds of trouble and obstacles in our path, things that might appear to cut us off from God's purpose. Paul says nothing will separate us from the lifeline of God's love (Romans 8:39). God's loyal and unconditional love is what keeps us tied to Him.
When you fall and start to slip away from God, reach out for His lifeline of love. He will never let you go.
None walk so evenly with God as they who are assured of the love of God.
Thomas Manton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 1:1-3:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201:1-3:16&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, November 29
Trust the Unseen
And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:5-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:5-9&version=NKJV )
When small children are awakened in the middle of the night by a crashing thunderstorm, if they don't flee to their parents' bedroom they will at least call out for them. They mainly want to know -- without being able to express it -- that they are not alone in the midst of such a threatening situation. One little guy, after being assured by his parents that Jesus was with him, said he needed "a Jesus with some skin on!"
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Are we so different? When the storms of life roll in and we find ourselves handling them alone, we have to reassure ourselves that God has not left us nor forsaken us. We know that's what the Bible says, yet we still want to run down the hall to God's "room" to make sure He's there. We have no shortage of promises in the Bible that He is, and yet we can't see Him in person. That's why the Bible encourages us to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Just as it is possible to love someone we haven't seen (1 Peter 1:8), so it is possible to trust someone we can't see.
If the winds howl and the thunder rolls today, trust the promises of God. He will never leave you.
Anxious care is out of place in a heavenly Father's presence.
Kenneth Wuest
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 4:1-6:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%204:1-6:21&version=NKJV )
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Friday, November 30
Trust Yields Strength
....My strength is made perfect in weakness....
2 Corinthians 12:9
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012:8-10&version=NKJV )
Trust is such a little word, but whom or what we place our trust in determines our response to adversity. When writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul uncomfortably shared personal information about trusting God with his most painful trial. We can be thankful he did; Paul's attitude toward his pain is God's purpose for our trials.
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Three times Paul prayed for his thorn of suffering to be removed. Insert your own thorn -- disease, financial set-back, heartache -- into Paul's story. When God said "No," Paul humbly responded that he'd been given the gift of a handicap: "At first I didn't think of it as a gift... and then he told me, My grace is enoug; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that... I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, MSG).
Instead of focusing on your troubles, confidently entrust them to God as Paul did -- and grow in strength.
God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. So when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan, when you can't trace His hand, trust His heart.
Eddie Carswell and Babbie Mason, "Trust His Heart"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Timothy 1:1-3:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%201:1-3:17&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, December 1 & 2
Not So Familiar Christmas Scripture: Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2
Recommended Reading
Micah 5:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%205:1-5&version=NKJV )
When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews, the Jewish scholars knew just where to send them -- to Bethlehem, a hamlet five miles away. The rabbis were acquainted with the prediction made 700 years before by the prophet Micah, that the Messiah would come from "Bethlehem," the "House of Bread." The added title "Ephrathah" meant "Fruitful" and distinguished this Bethlehem from other towns by the same name. In penning his prophecy, Micah seemed amazed that such a powerful Person would come from such a small place.
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God delights in using small things. Jean Grou, the French writer, wrote, "Little things come daily, hourly, without our reach, and they are not less calculated to set forward our growth in holiness than are the greater occasions which occur but rarely. Moreover, fidelity in trifles, and an earnest seeking to please God in little matters, is a test of real devotion. Let your aim be to please our dear Lord perfectly in little things."
If you feel small, take heart. Little is much when God is in it.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Timothy 4:1-Hebrews 2:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:1-Hebrews%202:18&version=NKJV )
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Monday, December 3
The Secret to Blessed Assurance
....he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Psalm 32:10
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012:7-10&version=NKJV ]
So how do you lift your head off the pillow in the morning to face a day you know will be filled with distressing trials? You need to know the secret to blessed assurance.
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In her infancy, Fanny Crosby became blind. As a young girl she was once asked by her mother if she resented her blindness, and she replied, "Mother, if I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind... for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior."1 Hers are powerfully convicting words to those who lack contentment in their predicaments. With more than 8,000 hymns to her credit, Fanny remained confident in her visually impaired state, "I don't believe I would have ever written all of those hymns had I been able to see."2
To see joy in our trials, good in our pain, purpose in our frustrations, is the secret to finding strength to live each day. Instead of resentment, find renewed confidence in your trials. Make Fanny's song yours: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine... This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long."
1 thewordteaches.com/QuotesRZ.htm#Trials (accessed 7/30/12)
2 Gene Fedele, Heroes of the Faith (Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos, 2003), 209.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 3:1 – 6:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203:1%20 )
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Tuesday, December 4
How Do You Spell Commitment?
But without faith it is impossible to please Him...
Hebrews 11:6
Recommended Reading
Daniel 3:16-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%203:16-30&version=NKJV )
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego took the fiery plunge into Nebuchadnezzar's furnace of judgment, do you imagine that they were second-guessing their declaration of faith to Nebuchadnezzar? "...We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:18). Absolutely not! Clearly these men of faith knew that a great price would be paid for their commitment to God. The answer to the trio's faith test was found when Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and saw a fourth Man walking with the three (who were no longer bound and certainly not burning). They had faith-period.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When you face a trial of your faith, what will your heart reveal? Like the three men brought under Nebuchadnezzar's judgment, do your actions and words confirm your commitment? Your commitment to Christ should not vacillate when the fiery trials draw near. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego we need to have absolute confidence in God and His Word-that is how you spell commitment.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 7:1-9:28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%207:1-9:28&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, December 5
Faith Restores
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8a
Recommended Reading
James 1:2-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:2-4&version=NKJV )
Born without any limbs, Nick Vujicic says he's not constrained by his circumstances: "Often we feel life is unfair. Hard times and tough circumstances can trigger self-doubt and despair. I understand that well. But the Bible says, 'Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds'" (James 1:2 NIV).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In his book, Life Without Limits, Nick candidly shares about his difficult adolescent years and wanting to feel "normal." "It didn't help that a few cruel kids called me a freak and an alien," Nick shares. But after he hit a wall of despair, Nick testifies that he emerged with hope, stronger and more determined.1 Biblical heroes also affirm the truth that when we're faced with opposition, faith restores. Whether a physical trial like Paul's or imprisonment like Joseph's or depression like Jeremiah's, the trial itself can be the experience God uses to make us aware of His presence in our lives.
You may be in the fieriest trial of your life. Do not be moved! If you've wandered from the conviction of your faith, renew it today. Draw near to God and He will carry you through.
1Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limits (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press, 2012), Introduction.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 10:1-11:40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010:1-11:40&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, December 6
No Fear!
....do not be afraid...
Joshua 1:9
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:6-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:6-9&version=NKJV )
Last summer, U.S. flags flying at half-mast honored the people slain by a disturbed gunman in a movie theater in Colorado. Only weeks later, flags were again lowered to half-mast to remember those slain at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. These tragic shootings elicited fear as people lamented the loss of life and faced the fearful forecast of an unsafe world.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Fear is a word that no one wants to own. "No fear" has become a popular slogan for living on the edge. But in the Christian arena, "No fear" is a call of surrender, not rebellion. It's a call to courageously live out God's divine purpose for us. God challenged Israel's commander Joshua to fearlessly focus his mind and heart on God's purpose for him -- to occupy Canaan, the land which God had given the Israelites.
Our marching orders are found in the pages of God's Word: to occupy our homes, neighborhoods, churches, and places of employment with His love and for His glory. Perhaps your priorities are misplaced and fear is setting on your horizon. Follow God's priority for success: "...meditate in [God's Word] day and night..." (Joshua 1:8). And then occupy your position, your purpose, for His glory -- until He calls you home. No fear!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 12:1-13:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:1-13:25&version=NKJV )
See Today's Advent Calendar Gift:
http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/advent3/default.aspx?tid=email_edevo_12.06_advent2012
:angel:
Friday, December 7
Destination: Heaven
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:19-21&version=NKJV )
A letter received by the "Conscience Fund" of the U.S. Government stated: "Please accept this money for two postal stamps I re-used." Another person seeking relief from their guilt wrote, "About eight years ago I took from a railroad station an item worth about $25... so I'm enclosing $50 to clear my conscience." Since 1811, the U. S. Department of the Treasury has received millions of dollars of voluntary contributions from people who have stolen from or defrauded the United States Government. Most gifts are sent in anonymously, but others are forwarded by clergy who received deathbed confessions.1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Surprised? It's interesting how a heartfelt fear of judgment can spring us into action, especially when we consider death. None of us knows how short or long our lives may be, and it's a good practice to keep our consciences clear with God each day. When your feet touched the floor this morning, did you think about the brevity of your life and get your heart right with Him? "Search me, O God, and know my heart..." (Psalm 139:23).
You may reach heaven tomorrow or many years from now. Before you start your day, take time to confess your failings and focus on your ultimate destination.
1 articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-12-10/news/1991344144_1_conscience-treasury-employees-treasury-department (accessed 8/15/12)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
James 1:1-2:26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:1-2:26&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, December 8 & 9
Not So Familiar Christmas Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 9:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209:1-7&version=NKJV )
Each of the titles in Isaiah 9:6 describes a different attribute of the Lord Jesus. He came as a Child and identified Himself as a Son. He wonderfully counsels us, is the Father of our Faith, brings peace to our lives, and is God Himself.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Let's focus on His counseling ministry. In the Gospels, distressed parents came to Jesus for help. The sick and diseased sought Him out. Wealthy men like Nicodemus and the Rich Young Ruler asked His advice; and the poor heard Him gladly. He counseled both men and women, both young and old. He guided His disciples through emotional problems, and even gave life-changing counsel to the repentant thief on the cross.
Today He still counsels us through His Word and by His Spirit. When you don't know what to do or need a corrective or encouraging word, open your Bible. He's still the Wonderful Counselor. As hymnist John Morison wrote in 1781: "His Name shall be the Prince of Peace, forevermore adored, the Wonderful, the Counselor, the great and mighty Lord."
Read-Thru-the-Bible
James 3:1-5:20, 1 Peter 1:1-2:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%203:1-5:20,%201%20Peter%201:1-2:25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, December 10
Unbelievable Success
Look among the nations and watch -- be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.
Habakkuk 1:5
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 2:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202:9&version=NKJV )
Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, wrote a wonderful book with a complete message just in the title: Failure -- The Back Door to Success. His point was that a failure or defeat is often the very thing God uses to open the door to victory or success in an unexpected way.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The prophet Habakkuk had just such an epiphany just before the Babylonian destruction of Judah. His prophecy is unique in the Old Testament because it is not addressed to the nation but to God. His questions for God -- "Why are You allowing wickedness to run rampant and are doing nothing about it?" -- reflected the heart of the righteous in Judah. It appeared that God was allowing the nation to fail -- something Habakkuk couldn't understand. God's answer to Habakkuk was that He was about to do something in Judah that Habakkuk wouldn't have believed if he hadn't heard it from God Himself.
When you find yourself on the verge of defeat, look for what God will do to surprise you. And allow Him to determine the definition of victory!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Peter 3:1-5:14
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Tuesday, December 11
The Heights of Praise
But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22:3
Recommended Reading
Habakkuk 3:17-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk%203:17-19&version=NKJV )
Hot air balloonists are subject to the winds. There is no way to control the direction of a hot air balloon when it stays at a certain altitude. But by venting hot air from the balloon and dropping to a lower altitude, or heating the air in the balloon and rising to a higher altitude, the pilot can find a stream of wind blowing in a different direction. Thus, the problem and the solution are found in the same place -- only at different altitudes.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Just as a hot-air balloon is a captive of the wind at a given altitude, so we often see ourselves as captives of our circumstances. God, who could set us free, seems to be absent at the altitude at which we are living. But He is never absent. As in ballooning, the solution is found in the midst of our problem. The psalmist David realized that when God seemed to be absent, He was there all the time -- in the praises of His people. When we praise God in the midst of our problems, we find He has been there all the time.
Don't be held captive by the winds of circumstance. Rise to new heights of praise and discover the presence of God.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Peter 1:1-3:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201:1-3:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, December 12
How to Avoid Disappointment
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:16&version=NKJV )
Scientists have finally discovered a guaranteed way to avoid disappointment in life. First, unplug the phone, the television, the Internet, and don't answer the door. In short, have no interactions with other human beings. Second, get rid of all appliances (anything that might break). Third, expect the worst of everyone and you'll never have reason for disappointment.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Okay, that's a little extreme. The truth is that disappointment can't be avoided for those who live a normal life. People will fail us, things will break, plans will change, and disasters will happen. Surely Jesus was disappointed with His disciples on occasion, especially Peter and Judas, so we will experience disappointment as well. But the very fact that we seek perfection in life is an indication of our longing for something beyond what this world provides. And that is the love of God that gives us hope that never disappoints.
If you experience disappointment today or this week, focus your hope and expectations on the God who never disappoints.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 1:1–3:24
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Thursday, December 13
Faithful and True
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Revelation 19:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 3:14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203:14&version=NKJV )
Jesus Christ is referred to more than 200 different ways in Scripture. One of the least known names -- it only occurs twice (Revelation 3:14; 19:11) -- is "Faithful and True." Most names in biblical times said something about the person, and "Faithful and True" is no different. Simply put, we can say Jesus was called "Faithful and True" because He was never unfaithful and He never told a lie.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
You may know a person you consider to be faithful and true -- but no one is totally faithful and true like Jesus was. It's because of human beings' lack of faithfulness (dependability, consistency) and lack of complete honesty (exaggeration, fudging the truth, "white" lies) that we experience disappointment with each other. But the simple truth is, no human being has ever had a legitimate reason to be disappointed in Jesus -- which is quite a fact. He completed all the work God gave Him to do (faithfulness -- John 17:4) and He lived a life of complete integrity (truthfulness -- John 14:6).
If you are looking for someone who will never disappoint, consider the One who is Faithful and True.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 4:1-2 John 1:13
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Friday, December 14
Resting in Jesus
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Jeremiah 31:25
Recommended Reading
Matthew 11:28-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:28-29&version=NKJV )
According to WebMD.com, about 20 percent of Americans report that they average less than six hours of sleep per night. Also, the number of Americans who report getting eight hours of sleep per night is declining. Polls show that sleep deficiency correlates with poor work performance, driving accidents, relationship problems, and emotional problems like anger and depression.1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
There were no sleep deficiency polls taken in the first century, yet Jesus knew intuitively that people were burdened and in need of rest (Matthew 11:28-30). And He invited them to come to Him to find the rest they needed. He was talking mainly about their need for spiritual rest -- the need to recuperate from the relentless reminders that they were not measuring up in God's sight. The irony is that God's standards, His laws, are designed to make us tired and lead us straight into the arms of Jesus. Paul called the Law a "tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" instead of by our own imperfect efforts (Galatians 3:24).
If you're not getting enough sleep, go to bed early. But if you're worn out from searching for peace with God, go to Jesus.
1webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/toll-of-sleep-loss-in-america (accessed August 23, 2012).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
3 John 1:1-Jude 1:25
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Weekend, December 15 & 16
Not So Familiar Christmas Scripture: Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:34-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:34-38&version=NKJV )
The virgin birth of Christ makes possible His sinlessness. This is one of the most wondrous and marvelous aspects of Jesus of Nazareth. He's the only person in history who lived righteously on earth -- a full life of eating and drinking and socializing and working and talking and sleeping, yet totally free from the taint of sin. There was no moral failure in His dealings, and He was untainted by evil. He was pure and perfect to the depths of His being, and He maintained that purity every moment of His life.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Because our Lord was conceived in the womb of a virgin who had been overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, He was holy and pure, uncontaminated by the blood disease of sin that has infected every other man and woman on the globe. It is a mystery, but it is marvelous; and it's vitally important. Jesus could not have died for our sins had He not Himself been sinless.
Today take a moment to praise God for providing us such a Savior and for giving us such an amazing story.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 1:1-2:29, Revelation 3:1-5:14
:angel:
Monday, December 17
The World Rushes On
You shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Leviticus 23:21
Recommended Reading
Leviticus 23:1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2023:1-8&version=NKJV )
We can learn a lot about holidays (or holy days) from Leviticus 23, the chapter in which the Lord builds special festivals and feasts into the calendar of ancient Israel. These special days were for worship, for family, and for rest.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It says: You shall do no work on it... You shall do no customary work... you shall do no customary work... You shall do no customary work... You shall have a Sabbath-rest... You shall do no customary work... and you shall do no work on that same day... It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest... (v. 3, 7, 8, 21, 24, 25, 28, 31, 32) and so on throughout the chapter.
While there's no way to avoid all the pressures of the Christmas season, it shouldn't be a time of frenzied exhaustion. Sit down in advance and block out quiet zones. Leave some evenings for yourself. Sleep late one day. Go to bed early one night. Take time for tea or coffee with a good book. Stop working. Take time to be holy. Spend time in secret with Jesus alone.
Find rest this Christmas in the Prince of Peace.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 6:1-7:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%206:1-7:17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, December 18
A Purr-fect Will
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman... therefore you are... a son, and if a son, than an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4:4-7
Recommended Reading
Galatians 4:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204:1-7&version=NKJV )
Last year a 94-year-old woman died in Rome and left her fortune to her four-year-old cat, a former stray. The woman didn't have children or heirs, and she became so attached to her cat that she left it an inheritance of $13 million.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
That's a ridiculous story, but here's a similar story that's not ridiculous at all. There was once a man who left the wealth of the ages to His sheep. He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd" (John 10:10-11).
All our inheritance was released upon the death of Jesus Christ. Because He died, we have an abundant provision of everything we need. We are heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ, and He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:3, 7).
Because of Christmas we have comfort for today, hope for tomorrow, and blessings innumerable for every day. That's why it's truly a Merry Christmas.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 8:1-10:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%208:1-10:11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, December 19
The Parts and the Whole
....even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:23
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201:4-9&version=NKJV )
The presence or absence of the top of the box that a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle comes in makes all the difference. Usually, the completed image appears on the box top making it easier to see which pieces go where. Without the completed image, each piece is random; with the image, each piece is part of a whole.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Most of the Old Testament prophets had the pieces to the prophetic puzzle but they lacked the box top -- they didn't always see the completed picture like we do. For example, when Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-19), He quoted all the passage except the part about "the day of vengeance of our God" since that would be fulfilled at His Second Coming, not His first. Isaiah saw both parts of the Messiah's ministry -- good news and judgment -- but didn't see the separation between the two. Fortunately, we have the advantage of hindsight -- the full "box top" of the Bible that gives us the completed picture.
Have you embraced the good news of Jesus' first coming? Are you looking forward to His ultimate return?
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 11:1-13:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2011:1-13:18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, December 20
Who Would Do That?
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:15-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:15-16&version=NKJV )
Sometimes on Christmas we unwrap the dreaded "indescribable gift." It is our politeness that keeps us from asking, What is it? What am I supposed to do with it? Or, Are you sure this is for me? On the other hand, each of us has probably received another kind of "indescribable gift" -- one that leaves us speechless with appreciation. Such a gift is one we never expected, one we think we don't deserve, and one that leaves us awestruck.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It's that second kind of indescribable gift that Paul tells the Corinthians about in 2 Corinthians 9:15 -- that gift being the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Some have described grace as " God's Riches At Christ's Expense." That's a good place to start in describing grace, but it's much harder to describe the free gift that God has given us. Who gives a gift of complete forgiveness to guilty sinners? Why would someone sacrifice Himself for the sake of those who might not even appreciate it? How is it possible that such love and forgiveness never ceases, even when our gratitude does? That's why it's called indescribable.
Do your best this Christmas to thank God for His indescribable gift -- and to extend that same gift to others.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 14:1-16:21
:angel: :angel:
Friday, December 21
Full Circle
I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.
John 16:28
Recommended Reading
John 16:28-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016:28-33&version=NKJV )
The life of Jesus is a perfect circle of symmetry. His conception and birth brought Him into the world. His resurrection and ascension took Him out of the world. At the beginning of life, He was conceived in a womb from which never a child had been born. At the end of life, He was placed in a tomb in which never a man had been laid. In this virgin womb, He was hidden for nine months; in the virgin tomb, for three days.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
He left Mary's womb with a baby's cry and Joseph's tomb with a victor's shout. He was born to give us a life that's forgiven, and raised to give us a life that's forever. His body was sown perishable, but was raised imperishable. It was sown in dishonor but was raised in glory. It was sown in weakness but raised in power.
Because of His sacrifice, we can claim the words of the hymnist as our own: "Living, He loved me; dying He saved me; buried He carried my sins far away; rising He justified freely forever; one day He's coming -- O glorious day" (Wilber Chapman, 1908).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 17:1-18:24
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Weekend, December 22 & 23
Not So Familiar Christmas Scripture: Numbers 24:17
I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel...
Numbers 24:17
Recommended Reading
Numbers 24:15-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2024:15-19&version=NKJV )
Jesus is called a "Star" three times in Scripture. In Numbers 24, Balaam predicted a Messiah in the far future, rising like a star from the descendants of Jacob. Second Peter 1:19 talks about the Morning Star rising in our hearts. And in Revelation 22:16, Jesus called Himself "the Bright and Morning Star."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
In astronomy, the bright and morning star is not literally a star, but the planet Venus that appears in the eastern sky just before dawn and is one of the brightest objects in the sky. The sight of this "star" is a sign that night is nearly over.
It's symbolic of Christ. The dark epoch of earth's history is nearly past. Soon the Lord will rise from His throne like the Star of Morning, ushering in an eternal day for His children. Just as He came the first time, so He will come again. And we "do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart" (2 Peter 1:19).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 19:1-20:15, Revelation 21:1-22:21
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Monday, December 24
Missing Christ at Christmas
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
John 1:10
Recommended Reading
John 1:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:1-13&version=NKJV )
When Jesus came the first time, few people recognized or accepted Him. There was Joseph and Mary, of course. There were the ragged shepherds and the mysterious wise men. But most of the world missed it. There was no room for Him in the inn. The residents of Bethlehem seemed oblivious that the most famous personage in time or space had dropped into their village.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Some of the people who glimpsed the truth violently opposed Him. Even in infancy, He was forced to flee His own country. His life was endangered when He was a baby, and He was slain as an adult. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not. But to as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.
Even on Christmas Eve, it's possible to miss Him. We must intentionally, consciously, deliberately turn our lives over to Him, confessing our sins and acknowledging Him as Lord of all. The best way to keep Christ in Christmas is to enthrone Him in your heart right now as Savior and Lord.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 2:1-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:1-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, December 25
A Christmas Response
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."
Luke 1:46
Recommended Reading
Acts 22:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022:6-10&version=NKJV )
A high school senior has studied hard and made good grades in preparation for applying to college -- the first in his family to do so. He applies to college and is accepted, even receiving a partial scholarship. But even with the scholarship and what he can earn from a campus job, he still cannot afford the balance of the expenses. An anonymous benefactor hears of the situation and promises to supply the needed funds for the next four years. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the student works hard and graduates near the top of his class four years later.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In one sense, gifts require nothing -- they are given unconditionally. Yet there is something in human gratitude that wants to respond. There is an impulse that says, "I want to demonstrate that I understand the wonderful thing you have done for me." The teenager Mary, mother of Jesus, responded that way when the angel Gabriel told her she would be the mother of Jesus. She couldn't imagine, at that moment, how to respond other than to say, "I am ready to do your will, Lord." That is the response of a grateful heart.
How might you respond this Christmas Day to the amazing gift of Jesus?
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 1:18-2:23
:angel:
Wednesday, December 26
Joy in the Kingdom
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
Matthew 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%201:3-5&version=NKJV )
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued its 2012 "happiness index" -- a ranking of the developed nations on the basis of life satisfaction.1 The survey measures things like employment rate, health, the number of hours employees work, disposable income, educational attainment, and life expectancy. In searching for the happiest nation, "sympathy for those in need" is not something that is measured.
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That's the difference in happiness -- or better, joy -- in the world and in the kingdom of God. In the world, happiness is found in pursuit of happiness for self, while in the kingdom, happiness -- again, deep-seated joy -- is found in the pursuit of love and service to others. The most striking example of such joy is Jesus Christ who "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). Endured the cross as a path to joy? What could be more counterintuitive, humanly speaking, than that? Yet that is the way of the cross -- laying down one's life for another: "Blessed [happy, joyful] are the merciful" (Matthew 5:7).
As you celebrated the joy of Christmas, now multiply it in your life by extending it to others.
Only in obedience can we discover the great joy of the will of God.
Sinclair Ferguson
1247wallst.com/2012/05/22/the-happiest-countries-in-the-world-2/2/ (accessed August 23, 2012)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Colossians 3-4
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Thursday, December 27
Happy Sorrow
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
Matthew 5:6
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%207:9-10&version=NKJV )
Often we hear someone whose words or actions have been called into question say, "I'd like to apologize if I offended anyone by what I said (did)." That kind of apology suggests that the person isn't sorry for what he did as much as for offending others. Said another way, they may be more sorry for getting caught than for doing something wrong.
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The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). "Salvation" can refer both to eternal salvation (when we express godly sorrow over our sin that separates us from God) or the earthly joy of salvation -- the blessed (happy) state Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6). There is no happier feeling than knowing we have confessed and repented of our sin and are forgiven by God.
As you look toward the beginning of a new year, make sure you are leaving all your sins behind, covered by God's forgiveness.
Those who are most conscious of forgiveness are invariably those who have been most acutely convicted of their sin.
Sinclair Ferguson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 8; 12
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Friday, December 28
A Working Vision
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
Colossians 3:23
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:1-3&version=NKJV )
Maybe your name will never be in a book like Warren Wiersbe's 50 People Every Christian Should Know. But you need to look at the servants between the pages of God's Word to understand that a godly vision doesn't require you to be well-known. You can live in obscurity and still have a great vision for living a Spirit-led life that is filled with purpose.
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Countless people who were instrumental in God's plan for redemption served without fanfare. Remember Simon who helped carry Jesus' cross to Calvary? Or the women who served Jesus and his disciples as they ministered? How about the mother who made the lunch for her son that would unbelievably be multiplied to feed thousands?
Are you finding yourself in a routine -- one that doesn't include a vision for your role in the body of Christ? Each of us has abilities to accomplish much for God's glory and for the lost in our world. You are not insignificant in God's eyes. Tell Him that you want to share His vision for your life -- it will be life-changing.
The only way to be obedient to "the heavenly vision" is to give our utmost for His highest -- our best for His glory.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Philippians 3 and 4
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Weekend, December 29 & 30
Not So Familiar Christmas Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 53:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053:1-6&version=NKJV )
As the year winds down, perhaps you're glad to consign it to history. All the sorrows of the past twelve months are behind you. Perhaps you've faced tragedy this year, or grief, or sorrow. Even if you haven't, you've probably had your share of frustrations. How wonderful to know we can relegate the past to the grace of the Lord Jesus!
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And the future? Our Lord not only bears our griefs and sorrows, He bears us up like a man carrying his son according to Deuteronomy 1:31. Psalm 28:9 says He bears us up forever. Isaiah 40:11 says He carries us like a shepherd carrying a lamb close to his heart. And listen to Isaiah 46:4: "Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!"
Being the Man of Sorrows, He can bear both you and your burdens, even across the threshold of a new year. Cast all your care on Him. The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Great God, we sing Your mighty hand by which supported still we stand; The opening year Your mercy shows, that mercy crowns it 'til its close.
Philip Doddridge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 1, 23, 37, Ephesians 4-5
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Monday, December 31
8,760 Hours
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 90:10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2090:10-12&version=NKJV )
Last fall an Australian man placed a call to Qantas airline and was put on hold. A recording said the next available agent would speak to him. The man waited and waited. He waited 15 hours, 40 minutes, and 1 second before hanging up. The airline later apologized and said it would investigate the incident.
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Tomorrow we'll receive a gift of 8,760 new hours -- a New Year. The Bible tells us to number our days, to value each moment, and to use each for God's glory. He never wastes our time, and He doesn't want us wasting it either. If we begin the year with a commitment to His Lordship, we're more likely to be productive in His labor.
The commentator Matthew Henry said on his deathbed: "You have been used to take notice of the sayings of dying men -- this is mine: that a life spent in the service of God and communion with Him is the most pleasant life that anyone can live in this world."
Let's learn to number our days and gain a heart of wisdom.
Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever.
Samuel Smiles, Scottish author and reformer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119
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Tuesday, January 1
Because It's His
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's. It is holy to the LORD.
Leviticus 27:30
Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 31:5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2031:5-6&version=NKJV )
It's Saturday, your lawnmower is broken, the grass is high, and you have company coming for supper. You borrow your neighbor's lawnmower, cut the grass, and stick the mower in your garage while you clean up for your guest's arrival. The next Saturday a knock on your door reveals your neighbor -- looking for his lawnmower. Embarrassed at having not returned it, you hastily apologize and return the mower. Why? Because the lawnmower is his!
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When something belongs to someone else, our obligation is to return it to him promptly. And that is true of a tenth of all we possess. Why? Because it is His! God gives us everything we have, entrusting it to us to use temporarily (1 Chronicles 29:14). But a tenth -- a tithe -- of what God has given to us belongs to Him: "And all the tithe of the land ... is the Lord's." When we give a tithe of our possessions to the Lord, we demonstrate that we know Who really owns what we temporarily possess. It is a way to honor Him and what He has done.
The tithe is one more way to put God first in our lives by acknowledging that what we have is His.
God demands the tithe, deserves the offerings, defends the savings and directs the expenses.
Stephen Olford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 1-4
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Wednesday, January 2
Heaven's Currency
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
Exodus 19:5
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:9-10%20&version=NKJV )
A quarter of Wall Street executives see wrongdoing as a key to success according to a survey by whistleblower law firm Labaton Sucharow. In a survey of 500 senior executives in the United States and the UK, 24 percent said they believed financial services professionals may need to engage in unethical or illegal conduct to be successful.1
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In God's kingdom, disobedience doesn't lead to success. Prophet after prophet warned Israel not to disobey God's Law and reminded them to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Finally, God gave His beloved nation one last admonition before sending their promised Messiah. The prophet Malachi delivered a strong message of fiscal responsibility toward the Lord's temple -- a tithe that promised God's future blessing.
The currency of heaven is obedience. From financial integrity in the workplace to financial stewardship in the home and church, God will bless the faithful, generous steward. Where does your money stand with you and God? Has it come between you? Or do you use it to glorify Him?
In light of God's promises, believers who refuse to give obediently don't have a money problem -- they have a trust problem.
Rod Rogers
1uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/10/business-us-wallstreet-survey-idUKBRE86906G20120710 (accessed 8/31/12).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 5-8
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Thursday, January 3
Are You a Gift Giver or Taker?
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11b
Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 31:7-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%202%20Chronicles%2031:7-12&version=NKJV )
When observing children, it's heartwarming to watch the excitement they have when giving gifts to their parents for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions. Anticipating the moment of surprise, they bestow handmade treasures they know will please their mommies and daddies. But some children need many prompts and helpful guidance to learn the importance of giving. Lamentably, even into adulthood some of us need constant reminders about birthday and anniversary celebrations.
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If only we could capture the cheerful, childlike innocence of giving to our Father in heaven. The gift of a tithe delights our Lord as we seek to further His kingdom on earth. Some of us joyfully give our tithes, but some of us may need some prompting to answer God's call to obedient stewardship.
Each month as you pay your bills and survey your finances, are you generously planning your gifts to present to God? Does He have first place in your life among your many financial responsibilities? Faithful giving is a tangible expression of our gratitude for God's blessings in our lives. Give thanks with a grateful heart!
When we come to the end of life, the question will be, "How much have you given?" not "How much have you gotten?"
George Sweeting
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 9-12
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Friday, January 4
What Is a Need?
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209:8-11&version=NKJV )
The apostle who wrote that "God shall supply all your need" knew from personal experience what the provision of your daily needs meant. The churches that the apostle Paul had ministered to, in turn shared in providing the necessities he required to live. This was God's plan for the church then, and it is still true today. Paul also stated, "not that I seek the gift, but the fruit that abounds to your account" (Philippians 4:17). It isn't that God could not directly provide for Paul's needs, but in His grand design, God provided that blessings will accrue to those who are faithful to support His work.
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Paul wrote, "Not that I speak in regard to need , for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11, italics added). Paul had learned to trust God's determination for his needs, and to be content with what God provided -- and we need to learn to do the same.
Where are you in the process of learning what a need is, giving to help provide the need in other's lives, and trusting God's way of meeting your needs?
He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scripture in his hands has all he needs.
Alexander MacLaren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 13-17
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Weekend, January 5 & 6
Lessons of the 13s for 2013: Make the Right Choices in 2013 (Genesis 13)
Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And [he and Abraham] separated from each other.
Genesis 13:11
Recommended Reading
Acts 20:35 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:35&version=NKJV )
There are a few words of Jesus Christ that appear in Acts instead of the four Gospels. They are mostly words spoken by Jesus to the apostle Paul (for example, see Acts 9:1-16; 22:1-21; 23:11; 26:14-18). Paul also quotes a statement of Jesus that is applicable to every Christian: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
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Since all of life is a process of giving or receiving, these words have daily impact. Daily we choose: Should I give or should I receive? Sometimes, the choice is not so clear. Abraham gave his nephew, Lot, the opportunity to choose where to make his home. Lot chose the best land he knew about, leaving Abraham to take what was left. His choice seems to have been self-centered. While we don't know what would have happened if he had chosen differently, we know that his choice ended up costing him, and Abraham, dearly (Genesis 13-14).
This is a good time to renew your focus on choices. Since Jesus said choosing to be generous is better, make every choice this year as generous and as wise as you can.
Men are free to decide their own moral choices, but they are also under the necessity to account to God for those choices.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 18-23
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Monday, January 7
Heartfelt Giving
All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16b
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 29:10-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2029:10-17%20&version=NKJV )
If you pay a mortgage each month, it may be a foreign concept to think of everything as belonging to God. Maybe you don't want to believe the fact that God owns everything, oversees everything, and originated everything. You prefer the security of feeling in control of your life.
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When King David, the most powerful king in Israel's history, reviewed the major lessons of his life, he emphatically stated first that everything belonged to God -- the singular foundation for the doctrine of stewardship. As David observed the people lavishly giving to the temple, he noted how it revealed hearts devoted to the Lord: "and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You" (1 Chronicles 29:17).
Have you given God control of your income, your savings account, your pension? You may not feel like it is necessary when things are going well for you. But when you suddenly encounter a difficult financial time, there's nothing more comforting than knowing your problem is God's opportunity. Review your personal giving and honestly appraise how well you're managing what He has given you. Is your heart devoted to glorifying Him with your resources?
God can have our money and not have our hearts, but He cannot have our hearts without having our money.
Kent Hughes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 24-25
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Tuesday, January 8
Breathing a Miracle
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 33:6-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2033:6-9&version=NKJV )
If you're reading this devotional -- you're breathing. As long as we're healthy, breathing is subconscious and effortless. But the elaborate breathing cycle is incredibly intricate. Controlled by the nervous system, breathing is regulated by the respiratory center of the brain and more than twenty respiratory muscles.
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In all his achievements through the centuries, man cannot boast that he created breathing. Every breath we breathe is a gift from God. He is the originator of the process that begins and sustains life. The Book of Genesis beautifully describes the creation process: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). God's "breath of life" gives man his lifeblood, and "the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding" (Job 32:8).
Make this the day you inspect your own breath of life. If there's any false pride that's arisen, remember that man doesn't own anything -- including his first breath. What we have is from God's gracious hand, and only what we give back to Him will live and breathe forever.
The world asks, "What does a man own?" Christ asks, "How does he use it?"
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 26-28
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Wednesday, January 9
Inexhaustible Wealth
Oh, how inexhaustible are God's resources ...
Romans 11:33 (Weymouth)
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 1:18-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Ephesians%201:18-23&version=NKJV )
Pretend you're one of the 1200-plus billionaires in the world. How long would it take to spend your money? If you dished out $1000 a day and received no interest or income from your portfolio, you could keep spending for 2,740 years. If you spent $10,000 a day, you could keep spending for 274 years if you received no interest on the balance. With even a modest rate of return, you could spend $10,000 a day and never run out of money.
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You would, however, run out of years. There's only one source for inexhaustible wealth coupled with everlasting life, and it's in Christ. He has an unfailing plan for our economic security and for our eternal security. Jesus spoke of our "inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys" (Luke 12:33, HCSB). Paul talked about "the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8, The Message).
Even if your finances seem tight today, remember how rich you are. Oh, how inexhaustible are God's resources!
My life is Christ, the Beloved of all. He is my inexhaustible wealth, my inexhaustible food, my inexhaustible drink.
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 29-31
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Thursday, January 10
A Matter of Balance
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:3-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206:3-10&version=NKJV )
Last fall a man in Miami broke into a car, stole a credit card, and went to a nearby bar where he ordered a beer. Things went wrong when he tried to pay. Turns out the thief had burgled the bartender's car. When the bartender saw his own credit card he called the police.
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Credit cards can get us all in trouble even when we're honest. There's nothing wrong with the wise use of a credit card, but it's easy to overspend. Learn to curtail your wants, desiring what God wants for you, living within your means and in obedience to His will. Discipline is at the heart of any economic plan. Guard against greed. Keep track of your finances. Know your balances and stay balanced. Be a wise steward of the resources God has entrusted to you.
Remember: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out"(1 Timothy 6:6-7).
A batch of credit cards fattens the wallet before it thins it.
Quoted in 20,000 Quips & Quotes, compiled by Evan Esar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 32-35
Friday, January 11
Expect the Test
And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."
Exodus 20:20
Recommended Reading
James 1:2-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:2-4&version=NKJV )
Parents do it all the time -- test their children. They assign their six-year-old the task of picking up all the toys off the floor and putting them in their place. And they assign their sixteen-year-old the task of being home at a certain hour after socializing with friends. The test is to see if they have developed the necessary maturity to put responsibility before personal interest or desire. If they pass the test, rewards and greater responsibility are forthcoming; if they fail, discipline (not punishment) may ensue in order to train the senses toward maturity.
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In the Old Testament, God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1) and the nation of Israel. And the apostle James says that tests are common to the Christian. Not temptations, but tests. Satan tempts (1 Corinthians 7:5), but God does not (James 1:13). But God does test for the purpose of leading us to honor Him and bring us to maturity (James 1:4).
Is every difficult circumstance a test from God? The Bible doesn't say. Our job is to be on guard against Satan tempting us in the midst of difficulty -- and use the situation as an opportunity to respond in faith.
Everything in life is a test of character.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 36-38
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Weekend, January 12 & 13
Lessons of the 13s for 2013: Live With Confidence in 2013 (Numbers 13)
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."
Numbers 13:30
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:6&version=NKJV )
Will the weather tomorrow be clear or rainy? Will the American and world economies pick up in 2013? Will my health be good in the coming year? Will I be financially secure until the end of my life? The human mind is excellent at coming up with questions and doubts -- and when we don't have ready answers for our questions, our doubts can turn to fear. We can't have answers for all our questions; but when God has spoken on a matter, we can have absolute confidence.
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When the Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land, 10 of the 12 spies Moses sent doubted that they could conquer it -- in spite of the fact that God said they could (Numbers 13:1-2). Only Joshua and Caleb had confidence that God would stand behind His promises. They saw the same giants and obstacles that the 10 other spies saw, but they based their confidence on God's Word.
Even if we can't have specific answers to every question going into 2013, we know that God is good and God is faithful. And on such knowledge confidence is built.
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 39-43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2039-43&version=NKJV )
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Monday, January 14
High Yields
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:32-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:32-38&version=NKJV )
If the proportions of Luke 6:38 are a guide, we are blessed 37 times over when we give to the Lord. That's a pretty good return, but how is it calculated? Well, there are 38 words in verse 38. Only the first is a command: "Give." The remaining 37 words describe God's blessings on those who obey it.
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Of course, the true proportions are much greater. We give of our money, time, gifts, and talents to the Lord, but at best we're unworthy servants (Luke 17:10). Yet His gifts to us include "exceeding riches" (Ephesians 2:7), "unsearchable riches" (Ephesians 3:8), and "enduring riches and righteousness" (Proverbs 8:18).
Any of us would be glad to get a 37-fold increase on an investment, but none of us can calculate the blessings that come to us as children of God who share His loving and generous heart. As we look to God for guidance and understanding, we'll better see that abundance isn't limited to simple monetary yields but includes all the riches of His grace.
Generosity is a lovely attribute, and we only practice it when relationships are more important to us than our possessions.
Michael Wright in Yours, Lord.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 44-46
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Tuesday, January 15
Seriously Cheerful
Behold, this is our God .... We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
Isaiah 25:9
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 25:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2025:9&version=NKJV )
According to an article in The Journal of Religion and Health, people who regularly attend church are 56 percent more likely to have an optimistic view of life and 27 percent less likely to succumb to depression. The study was based on a sample of nearly 100,000 women and was funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.1
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Imagine! The U.S. Government funding a study demonstrating that church attenders are happier, more optimistic, and less depressed than people who don't go to church. We could have told them that without spending a penny. Joy is the instantaneous response of a heart that's filled with God's blessings.
God has many attributes -- love, justice, omnipresence, and countless others -- but among His qualities is an attitude of perpetual joy. God is joyful. As we meditate on His wonders and grow to be like Him, our lives will become increasingly optimistic as we say, "Behold, this is our God .... let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (ESV).
Be seriously cheerful, and cheerfully serious.
Isaac Watts
1"Churchgoers More Likely to Be Optimistic" in The Christian Post, November 12, 2011.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 47-50 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2047-50&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, January 16
All Sufficient
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.
2 Corinthians 3:5
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203:1-6&version=NKJV )
Most of our worries involve a fear of insufficiency. We're afraid we're not good enough as parents or providers or Christians or whatever. Or we're concerned we don't have enough, whether food or money or health or strength. When we think of ourselves as the source of our own sufficiency, we have reason to worry and be concerned. But as Christians, our sufficiency is from God. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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In John 14:8, Philip asked Jesus, "Show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." His request was wiser than he knew. When we come to the end of our earthly resources, we find that His sufficiency has only begun. If you think you're not good enough or don't have enough, remember these words from the old hymn "How Firm a Foundation: 'My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.'"
The God of Abraham praise, whose all sufficient grace shall guide me all my happy days, in all my ways.
Thomas Olivers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%201-4&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, January 17
Climbing the Ladder
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:19-21&version=NKJV )
Someone quipped, "Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway." As we watch the world economy rise and fall, we're led to wonder if our economists or investment advisors know what they're doing. Thankfully, some of them are perceptive and they can help us manage our affairs. Jesus spoke of the men who procured good returns on the investments of their talents (Matthew 25:14-30); and Proverbs 13:11 (NIV) says, "Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow."
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But even if we strike it rich, we've lost everything at the moment of death unless we've also been faithfully investing in eternity. When we make temporal investments, our rewards are temporal also. But when we invest our resources in the work of the kingdom, our rewards are eternal. Let's learn to be wise stewards of our temporal means; but let's be especially diligent to lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Wouldn't it be a tragedy to get to the top of the ladder and find you placed it against the wrong wall?
Henry Blackaby
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 5-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%205-7&version=NKJV )
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Friday, January 18
Test the Promise
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
Malachi 3:10
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 1:3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201:3-4&version=NKJV )
Presumption is not a mature attitude, especially when dealing with God. In fact, the apostle James warned his readers about making presumptions about what God might or might not do (James 4:13-17). But there is one place in Scripture where God invites us not to presume upon Him, but to test Him -- to give Him the opportunity to prove Himself worthy of His promise.
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It came about when the Jews returned from exile in Persia. They were pursuing their own interests, getting resettled in the land, and were not putting God first. Specifically, they were not bringing God's tithe into the storehouse. And they were suffering in disarray as a result of God withholding His blessing. So God proposed a test: Bring your tithe and see if I won't bless you beyond your imagination. The Jews were being reminded of covenant stipulations: obedience brings blessing, disobedience removes blessing.
Put God's promises to the test and see if His blessings don't follow. God loves to prove His faithfulness.
The whole covenant is a bundle of promises.
Thomas Brooks
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 8-10
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Weekend, January 19 & 20
Lessons of the 13s for 2013: Be a Servant in 2013 (John 13)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
John 13:14
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:13&version=NKJV )
Historically, the Protestant Christian Church has embraced two "sacraments" or observances -- Communion (the Lord's Table) and baptism. A small number of Protestant Christians embrace a third -- foot washing. Their basis for doing so is found in John 13:14 -- Jesus' admonition to His disciples to wash one another's feet after He had washed theirs.
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Whether Jesus' words are to be taken literally or figuratively (foot washing being an example of the kinds of service and humility that should characterize Jesus' followers), what Jesus did demonstrated the purpose for His coming into the world: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." (Mark 10:45). Jesus demonstrated His service to mankind not only by washing His disciples' feet and healing the diseases of the lowliest members of society but by dying on a cross for the sins of the world. Except for dying for the world's sins, we have been called to serve others just as Jesus did, demonstrating God's love.
Consider 2013 a year of service in which you become the hands and heart of Jesus by meeting needs He would meet.
The highest honor in the church is not government but service.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 11-16
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Monday, January 21
In a Pickle
Riches can disappear fast ... so watch your business interests closely.
Proverbs 27:23 (The Living Bible)
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 27:23-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2027:23-27&version=NKJV )
What do you do when your finances are in a pickle? Well, did you hear about the man in Pennsylvania who bought a jar of pickles for a few dollars? He later sold it on e-Bay for over $44,000. It wasn't the pickles that were so valuable; it was the jar, which turned out to be a rare blown glass cathedral pickle bottle made in the 1850s.
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Making money is hard; spending it is easy; saving it is tough; investing it is tricky; giving it is fulfilling. God's people should learn to do those things with diligence and discretion. Proverbs 27 says, "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks ... for riches are not forever." The passage goes on to tell us that as the seasons change, those who manage their assets wisely will be able to provide clothing for themselves and food for their households.
Ask God for the wisdom and integrity to manage what's in your wallet or pocketbook today, and to be diligent and upright in earning money, spending it, saving it, investing it, and giving it.
With eternal investments there is never a loss of principle or principal.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 17-20
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Tuesday, January 22
Making Priorities a Priority
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Matthew 6:10
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028:1-2&version=NKJV )
As helpful as children's literature is to teach reading, increase comprehension, and excite the imagination, it can skew the portrayal of a critical biblical concept: the nature of a kingdom. In fantasy tales, kingdoms are controlled from castles, ruled over by kings or queens, and defended by knights on horseback. But that is not an accurate picture of the kingdom of God.
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When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," He defined the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the place where God's will is done. That obviously includes heaven, and Jesus prayed that it would one day include earth -- which it will. The easiest way to see the kingdom of God extended on earth is for human beings to make God's priorities their priorities. When we act, think, and speak like God, we are manifesting His will in our presence. In that place, in that moment, the kingdom of God has come on earth.
As you plan your day and your week, think about priorities. How closely are your priorities aligned to the priorities of God? Where God's will is done, His blessings follow.
We live by demands when we should live by priorities.
J. A. Motyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 21-23
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Wednesday, January 23
Bitter Coffee
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:17
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 16:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2016:13-17&version=NKJV )
In November, 1954, Don Neal of New Castle, Indiana, returned home from the Marines, married his girlfriend, bought a house, and started working for the phone company making $47 a week. He and Mary had decided to tithe from their income; but times were hard and Don secretly kept back a few dimes each week as coffee money.
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"Some people say the Lord spoke to them," Don said. "I didn't hear an audible voice, but my heart became deeply burdened for what I was doing. I finally went to my wife and confessed my sin. I told her that regardless of what happened to us, we would be faithful to tithe from that moment, even if they turned off the lights, gas, and water. That was 57 years ago, the bills have all been paid, the utilities have stayed on, and God is faithful."
A few dimes don't seem like much, but integrity is of great value. God loves honest givers as well as cheerful ones. And His people soon learn they can never "outgive" Him.
You can't outgive God. Why not try it and see for yourself?
Greg Laurie
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 24-27
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Thursday, January 24
Investing in Gold
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Revelation 21:18
Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:14-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:14-21&version=NKJV )
In Carson City, Nevada, there's a 1200-square-foot house now for sale on a quiet street. Its sole occupant passed away. He was a reclusive man, having only $200 in his bank account at the time of his death. But when authorities cleared out his home, they found several boxes neatly wrapped in aluminum foil. They were filled with coins that the man had collected over the years. Gold coins. Their combined value amounted to seven million dollars.
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Television advertisers are telling us to invest in gold. That may or may not be a good idea; but it's worth pointing out that the reclusive man in Carson City didn't take a single gold coin with him into eternity.
There's an old song that says, "I'm satisfied with just a cottage below, a little silver and a little gold." It's great to have provisions on earth, but our greatest treasure is still ahead. Don't let gold become your god, or money your master. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
And some day yonder we will never more wander but walk on streets that are purest gold.
Ira Stamphill
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 28-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2028-30&version=NKJV )
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Friday, January 25
Taste Test
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30
Recommended Reading
Psalm 34:8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034:8&version=NKJV )
It is now standard practice in the retail industry for a "100 percent satisfaction guarantee" to be advertised -- especially online. Many products ordered over the Internet arrive with a preprinted return label in the box so the product can be easily shipped back to the retailer with a minimum of trouble. The goal is to take the risk out of shopping for the consumer, to encourage the consumer to order a product, test it, and hopefully fall in love with it.
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Unlike consumer products, God is perfect and has no defects. There is no need for Him to issue a guarantee of satisfaction. Yet God encourages us to take Him at His Word so He can prove His faithfulness -- as He did to the Jews who returned from the exile in Persia (Malachi 3:10). Many food retailers allow customers to taste a sample of a food before buying. The psalmist David used that same language when he wrote, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).
If you are having doubts about trusting the Lord, test Him; taste Him and see that He is good. The Christian life is stepping out in faith, believing that God is faithful (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Though men are false, God is faithful.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 31-34
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Weekend, January 26 & 27
Lessons of the 13s for 2013: Demonstrate Love in 2013 (1 Corinthians 13)
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:6&version=NKJV )
Do you have ministry plans for 2013? Perhaps you have an assignment to teach a Sunday school class, lead a Bible study, or head up a committee in your church. Or perhaps you sing in the choir or participate in a worship team. Or maybe your ministry is one of hospitality to those in your neighborhood, or caring for the less fortunate or homeless in an inner city or urban setting.
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The apostle Paul described three kinds of ministries in 1 Corinthians 13 before issuing a qualifier for each. He wrote of using the gift of tongues, of speaking forth with the gift of prophecy, and caring for the poor through a ministry of benevolence (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). In each case, he said, those ministries count for nothing unless they are enveloped by the love of Christ. Ministries of service and leadership and caring benefit neither the giver nor the receiver if they are not carried out with agape, the God-kind of love -- sacrificial, uncaused, and unconditional.
Ask God to fill you with His kind of love every day in 2013 -- the kind of love that will ensure people know your service is from Christ Himself.
It is possible to be so active in the service of Christ as to forget to love Him.
P. T. Forsyth
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 35-40
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Monday, January 28
Positioning for God, Not Money
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:34
Recommended Reading
Luke 19:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:1-10&version=NKJV )
Jesus didn't need the media to attract an audience. Walking the crowded Jericho streets, He even attracted attention from the city's tax collector, Zacchaeus. After spying this rich man perched in a sycamore tree, Jesus called him down; and the crowd complained, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?" (Luke 19, The Message)
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That's what drew the crowds. Jesus did the unexpected, the unexplained. And He tackled a subject many pastors tend to ignore: money. Dr. John MacArthur points out, "Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables of Jesus deal with money. One out of ten verses in the New Testament deals with that subject. Scripture offers about five hundred verses on prayer, fewer than five hundred on faith, and over two thousand on money. The believer's attitude toward money and possessions is determinative."1
We can learn from Zacchaeus. As he drew near to Jesus, his prideful, calculating soul was convicted. When he met Jesus, his priorities changed along with his financial stewardship. We should do likewise.
I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.
John Wesley
1 John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 418.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%201-4&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, January 29
God-Centered or Me-Centered
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV 84)
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:55-58&version=NKJV )
Wake up ... commute ... work ... commute ... sleep -- repeat. It's a schedule replayed daily around the globe. With such a predictable existence, all mankind must have the same outlook on life, right? But nothing could be further from the truth. There's great diversity in how each of us approaches life.
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King Solomon, a true achiever with no equal on earth, minced no words penning the Book of Ecclesiastes. He called the cycles of life futile. Glaring statistics show the absence of meaning and purpose in many people's lives -- with the high rates of substance abuse, promiscuity, and suicide. But Solomon's observation does not leave us despondent. It concludes with a positive challenge to uphold a Christian worldview: fear God and keep His commandments.
True, our days can be filled with frustrations, and life at times is puzzling. But for the believer, lasting happiness is discovered when we center our lives on God. That worldview gives your morning alarm purpose. It changes your commute into communion as you ready yourself to glorify God in your work. Yes, work is man's crowning achievement on earth -- when you focus on God and not on yourself.
God judges what we give by what we keep.
George Muller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 5-7
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Wednesday, January 30
What's the Use?
I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove ... I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold.
Ecclesiastes 2:6-8
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%202:24-26&version=NKJV )
Last fall archaeologists found an ancient water reservoir in Jerusalem dating from Solomon's age. It was discovered near the Temple Mount and was apparently constructed to provide water for ritual cleansing, drinking, sanitation, and irrigation. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon described his vast public works projects in Jerusalem including his water pools and parks. Yet none of it satisfied him. As he climbed down the ladder into his reservoir or gazed up at his splendid temple, there must have been a feeling of accomplishment; but, oddly, not of fulfillment. He bemoaned, "What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
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Solomon seemed to realize that without God, our ambitions and accumulations are empty. "Who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him?" he asked (Ecclesiastes 2:25, HCSB). Only a relationship with Christ can satisfy our hearts. Without Him we have nothing. With Him we have all things to enjoy.
Make Him the Source, the Center, and the One who encompasses every delight of your soul.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 8-10
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Thursday, January 31
Help, or Harmonic Convergence?
I will lift up my eyes to the hills -- from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 121 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Psalm%20121&version=NKJV )
What did the psalmist mean when he said he was looking to the hills for help? He certainly didn't mean that the hills themselves provided help. He wasn't like the New Age thinkers in Arizona who suggest that the red hills around Sedona emit a "harmonic convergence" that gives healing and strength to visitors. Nor was he expecting the cavalry to come charging over the hills like in a TV Western.
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Though various commentators of Psalm 121 offer different suggestions, perhaps the simplest explanation is the best. The psalmist, in facing great difficulty, looked up and saw the hills that God had made. And he said to himself: "The Creator of heaven and earth is my Lord, and if He can create all things, He can surely take care of me."
In searching for meaning and security in life, don't look to temporal pleasures or enjoyments. Instead look to the One who made the mountains rise, who spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies. Your help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.
Mine eyes look toward the mountains, help cometh from on high, from God who never slumbers, whose care is ever nigh.
A Swedish paraphrase of Psalm 121
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 11-13
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Friday, February 1
Square Peg, Round Hole
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:4 NIV
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Ecclesiastes%203:11%20&version=NKJV )
Almost every child grew up with some version of a small wooden bench with geometrical shapes cut in the top -- a circle, square, triangle, and others. There were also wooden pegs in shapes that matched the openings cut in the top of the bench. The child's task was to match each peg with the correct opening -- and pound the peg through with a small wooden mallet. The learning lesson came when the child discovered that a square peg wouldn't fit in a round hole.
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Christians often feel like a square peg in a round hole while journeying through their life on earth. Something doesn't fit; something doesn't feel right. We look around at some realities on earth -- war, poverty, discord, greed -- and it doesn't look like God. If you feel that way, you are not alone. The apostle Paul groaned and felt burdened with the same feeling. He longed to be clothed with the pure garments of heaven, casting aside the soil and stain of sin on earth.
When you have that "something's not right here" feeling, remind yourself that you are a citizen of heaven, that this world is not your home.
If contentment were here, heaven would not be heaven.
Samuel Rutherford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 14-15
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Weekend, February 2 & 3
Words from the Wise: David
And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
1 Samuel 18:14
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 18:12-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2018:12-16&version=NKJV )
When was the last time you saw a young superstar, political leader, celebrity, or youthful VIP who was truly wise? There are a few of them, but most hotshots don't have the maturity to handle early fame. That's why so many NFL players get into trouble, and why so many rock superstars die young. Even Susan Boyle -- no spring chicken -- struggled with renown after becoming an overnight sensation on Britain's Got Talent. She told the Today Show that sudden fame is "a lot like a giant demolition ball."
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But God can give wisdom to both young and old, both famous and obscure. When the shepherd-boy David suddenly became famous after defeating Goliath, he behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. None of us knows when we'll be noticed by the crowds; but all of us are noticed by someone each day. If we learn God's wisdom in obscurity, we'll be able to practice it whatever comes. How can you behave a little more wisely today?
If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 16-18, Leviticus 19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2016-18,%20Leviticus%2019-21&version=NKJV )
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Monday, February 4
The Sun Also Rises
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down ... The wind whirls about continually ... There is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:5-6, 9
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%202:24-26&version=NKJV )
Start to finish, it took Ernest Hemingway eight weeks to compose the draft of his novel about a group of decadent expatriates in Spain. He originally titled his book Fiesta, then changed it to The Lost Generation, a phrase coined by Gertrude Stein about those unhinged by World War I. But the title that stuck was from Ecclesiastes: The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway began his book by quoting this passage about the transient nature of the cycles of life. His point was that day after day the sun rises over succeeding generations of lost humans who seek to be brave in the approaching darkness.
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Ecclesiastes is a warning that if we reject God and live as if everything were "under the sun," we're a lost generation whose fiestas merely distract us from the futility of life. But when we develop God's vision for our lives -- His plan and purpose -- everything changes. Our daily mood and morale soars. We can say, "The Son also rises, with healing in His wings." And because He lives, we live also.
Our only boast, our only confidence, our only hope must be in Christ.
R. Kent Hughes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 22-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2022-23&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, February 5
Doing All for Eternity
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 15:16
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:16-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:16-21&version=NKJV )
In the October 8, 2012, issue of Forbes business magazine, the annual list of billionaires appeared. Prominent attention was given to those billionaires who have made significant charitable contributions toward education, medical research, poverty, and other critical human needs. One billionaire was profiled in a separate article because of his commitment to supporting evangelical Christian causes. Speaking of his business success, he said, "So I have learned to say, 'Look, this is yours, God. It's all yours. I'm going to give it to you.'"
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All good works are good, but not all good works will last forever. The ultimate joy in life comes when we invest in things that will bear fruit both now and for eternity. That means investing in spreading the Word of God so that the souls of men can live with God forever. Meeting human needs now often provides an open door for the Gospel. Feeding body and soul provides the ultimate satisfaction, physically and spiritually.
Consider your own work and good works -- and keep the eternal perspective clearly in focus.
We do all for eternity.
Thomas Brooks
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 24-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2024-25&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, February 6
Ripple Effect
For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.
2 Corinthians 9:12
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206:7&version=NKJV )
The next time you slice a tomato for a salad or sandwich, pay particular attention to the tiny seeds. There are scores, if not hundreds, of seeds in a single tomato. And the tomato you are slicing is only one of dozens that came from a single tomato plant -- which grew from a single tomato seed. It's a perfect example of the ripple effect so prevalent in the kingdom of God.
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It can be discouraging when we compare our individual abilities to the needs in the world. Yet the same multiplier effect that causes one tomato seed to produce thousands more is at work in our individual lives. Only heaven will reveal the impact of your gifts and good works. Paul told the Corinthians that their gifts to the suffering Jerusalem church would not only meet those Christians' needs, but would "[abound] through many thanksgivings to God." That is, a single gift will bring praise to God in multiple ways we can never anticipate.
As you invest your time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God, do so with anticipation. One day you will learn how God used you as a blessing to others -- a ripple effect throughout eternity.
Sow holiness and reap happiness.
George Swinnock
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 26-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2026-27&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, February 7
Holding On
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Colossians%202:6-7&version=NKJV )
Did you know there's a connection between thunderstorms and the quality of the food you eat? High winds have a positive effect on many plants, stimulating their roots to grow deeper so as to anchor the plant more firmly in the soil. And when roots grow deeper, they find fresh reserves of minerals that are taken up by the plant and deposited in the fruit. And it's minerals that provide nutrition. A stressed plant offers the sweetest fruit -- in due time.
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And the same is true with us. When God allows winds of adversity to blow against us, we are forced to extend the roots of our faith deeper into the soil of God's promises and provision, just to hang on through the storm. But when the storm passes, we have newfound faith, strength, maturity, and humility as a result of learning to hold on to God. That's why God doesn't remove every storm so that we learn to depend on the grace of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). But we have to give the process time.
If you are in a storm right now, dig deep into God and hold on. The sweet fruit of peace and joy will soon appear.
Patience is the ballast of the soul that will keep it from rolling and tumbling in the greatest storms.
Ezekiel Hopkins
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 8
Seasons of Life
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3
Recommended Reading
Acts 1:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Acts%201:6-7&version=NKJV )
Moses was a busy man for the first season of his life. But for the second season, he had to flee for his life to Midian where he worked as a shepherd for 40 years. Moses could have been excused for believing that his usefulness to God was over. It had been four decades since he had heard from the Lord. Then, at age 80, God called Moses back into service for another 40 years. Moses' life is an example of the biblical principle that the seasons of life pass according to God's perfect timetable.
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In the Bible, the word "season" refers to the passage of time (Genesis 1:14) and the agricultural cycle-planting, harvesting, and resting (Leviticus 26:4). Though the ancients knew nothing of the revolution of the earth around the sun and the tilt of the earth's axis that cause seasons, they knew that seasons were always coming and going. And they knew they could be neither slowed down nor speeded up. They knew that seasons were in the hand of God.
Our life has its seasons just as the earth does. As God gave Moses a time of rest between times of service, so He orders the seasons of our lives as well.
The man who lives in God is never out of season.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%203-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 9 & 10
Words from the Wise: Jesus
The queen of the South... came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:42
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:53-58 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:53-58&version=NKJV )
Cy Young won more baseball games than anyone in major league history, a record unlikely to be broken -- 511 wins over twenty-two years. But who knows? Records are made to be broken. Many people thought Solomon's place as "the wisest man in the world" could never be bested. Then Jesus came.
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In childhood, Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." As a preacher, His messages invoked the response, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this?" Isaiah said of Him, "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding"; and Paul said, "In (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Our Lord is able to guide us. His words are dependable; His direction unfailing; His advice irrefutable; His counsel trustworthy. As Jesus said, wise people build their lives on the rock of obedience to His commands (Matthew 7:24).
Jesus is still teaching us through the Bible and through His Holy Spirit in our hearts. Jesus was, and is, and always will be the wisest rabbi, the wisest teacher.
Karyn Henley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 5-6, Numbers 7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%205-6,%20Numbers%207&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 11
Sweet Peace, the Gift of God's Love
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
Colossians 3:15
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:12-15&version=NKJV )
Have you noticed how many "wars" are raging around us? I'm not talking just about military conflicts. We have a way of branding everything a war. There's a war on coal, a war on drugs, and a war on poverty. Companies get into bidding wars, neighbors get into wars of words, and Microsoft and Apple are duking it out in tablet wars. Not to be outdone, churches sometimes engage in worship wars.
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Some wars are worth fighting, and some are unavoidable. But what we most need is peace -- peace in our world, in our homes, in our churches, and peace in our hearts. One day the Prince of Peace will come, and "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). God will ultimately balance the scales of right and wrong. Until then, we can experience peace with God and the peace of God. Today fix your thoughts on Him. Turn your eyes to His promises. Place your circumstances in His hands. Claim His wonderful, wonderful peace, sweet peace, the gift of His love.
Peace, peace, sweet peace, wonderful gift from above.
Peter P. Bilhorn, hymnist
:angel:
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%208-10&version=NKJV )
Tuesday, February 12
Riches or Relationships?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Recommended Reading
Mark 7:9-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%207:9-13&version=NKJV )
Mark explained a Jewish practice called "Corban" (Hebrew for "offering") in his Gospel for his Gentile readers. Tradition (not Scripture) allowed for a Jew to dedicate (offer) money or possessions to God in a vow, even money that should have been used to support his parents. Jesus soundly criticized such a practice as a violation of the fifth of the Ten Commandments: "Honor your father and your mother" (Mark 7:9-13; Exodus 20:12).
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In other words, Jews who engaged in the practice of Corban were putting money above people, riches above relationships. All it takes is a reading of King Solomon's words about the value of relationships to see which is more important. It is the people in our lives who provide help with our labor, a hand-up when we fall, warmth and companionship when we are lonely, and defense against attacks (Ecclesiastes 4:8-12). And when it comes to the relationships in our family, Paul said we are worse than a pagan if we put selfishness over their care (1 Timothy 5:8).
There is nothing wrong with riches, but they need to remain in their place -- second to our relationships with others.
No amount of riches can atone for poverty of character.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2011-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 13
Acts of God
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19
Recommended Reading
James 1:16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:16-17&version=NKJV )
"Act of God" is a legal term that appears in contracts. It refers to events that are beyond human control such as natural disasters, illnesses, and other events. In other words, when bad things happen, God gets blamed. Even when God is not blamed for causing a disaster, He is blamed for not preventing it.
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What's missing in this discussion is a biblical understanding of God's economy and the nature of a fallen world system. Bad things happen because of sin -- a curse extended even to planet earth (Genesis 2:17-19). The whole world is laboring under the burden of sin, longing to be set free (Romans 8:19-22). God is not sitting idly by watching bad things happen. Rather, He allows sin to run its course as part of His demonstration of the need for repentance. God's righteousness stands in stark contrast to the darkness in a fallen world (Psalm 19:7-11; Romans 1:19-20).
When you experience difficulties, resist the temptation to blame God. Instead, depend on the "acts of God" that Scripture verifies -- His deliverance and compassion for those who trust in Him.
Jesus treats wars and natural disasters not as agenda items in a discussion of the mysterious ways of God, but as incentives to repentance.
D. A. Carson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 14-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2014-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, February 14
Promise Keeping
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it ... Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Recommended Reading
James 5:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%205:12&version=NKJV )
The third of the Ten Commandments -- "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7) -- has been wrongly interpreted to mean using God's name in a curse or profane statement (although that is certainly to be avoided). Originally, it referred to making a vow or promise with God as your witness that you would keep your word. If you failed to keep your promise, you were guilty of using His name in vain. You had involved God in your deceit or unfaithfulness, and God is not to be "used" by His people for their convenience in such a way.
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King Solomon wrote an extended paragraph about the danger of making vows and promises to God and, by extension, to others with God as our witness (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7). The apostle James, following his half-brother, Jesus of Nazareth, went further: Don't make vows at all. Just let your "Yes" mean yes and your "No" mean no (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12). Instead of making a promise in God's name, we should let our character serve as a guaranty for our word.
If you say "Yes" or "No" today, follow through appropriately. Better not to promise than to promise and not pay.
We must never promise ourselves any more than God has promised us.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 16–18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2016-18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 15
The Gift of Enjoyment
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor -- this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 5:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Ecclesiastes%205:13-17&version=NKJV )
Everyone knows that hearses aren't equipped with luggage racks or trailers, meaning, of course, "You can't take it with you." That well-known phrase comes from the pen of the world's richest man in his day, Solomon. While many agree with Solomon that we can't take our wealth with us, they ignore Solomon's other lesson about money: there is no guarantee that it will satisfy even in life.
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Solomon's wealth certainly didn't satisfy him. He concluded that not only was wealth itself a gift from God, the ability to enjoy it was a gift as well. Just having money is no guarantee of happiness. If it were, all rich people would be happy and all poor people would be miserable. But not only do we read of some wealthy people living unhappy lives, we also read of people with modest means being happy and content. The blessing of God -- peace, joy, contentment, and happiness -- is not tied to money. Rather, it comes as a gift to those who trust in Him.
Regardless of your material condition, let your joy and happiness today be found in God rather than in material things.
The things that we love tell us what we are.
Thomas Aquinas
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2019-21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 16 & 17
Words from the Wise: Daniel
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.
Daniel 2:20
Recommended Reading
Daniel 2:20-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%202:20-23&version=NKJV )
Check out these book titles: Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things ... Why Smart People Do Stupid Things with Money ... Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things ... Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid ... Why Smart Companies Do Dumb Things ... Why Smart People Make Dumb Choices .... I guess there are so many books with similar titles because we identify with the subject. We like to think we're smart, but sometimes we all do and say dumb things.
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Skip the aforementioned books and spend time instead in the Book of Daniel, and discover one of the wisest men of Scripture. His insights are as fresh today as when first penned. His understanding of the times is more relevant than ever.
Daniel trusted God for wisdom and always gave God the credit. As we study God's Word -- including oft-neglected books like Daniel -- we'll grow in wisdom, be less likely to do foolish things, and God will be increasingly glorified in our lives.
Daniel gave all the glory to God; he took none of it for himself. There is no limit to what God will do for the believer who will let God have all the glory.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 22-24, Numbers 25-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2022-24,%20Numbers%2025-26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 18
A Mind That Loves God
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.
Luke 10:27
Recommended Reading
Luke 10:25-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:25-28&version=NKJV )
In his book, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God, John Piper wrote, "The main reason God has given us minds is that we might seek out and find all the reasons that exist for treasuring Him in all things and above all things. He created the world so that through it and above it we might treasure Him. ... Thinking is a God-given means to that end." 1
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The Bible constantly refers to keeping our minds sound and sharp for Christ, of having the mind of Christ, of being transformed by the renewing of our minds, and of having our thoughts stayed on God and fixed on Jesus.
Evil thoughts grow in our minds like weeds, but we can cultivate wholesome thoughts with Bible meditation and judicious reading. Choose a healthy diet for your mind. Replace evil thoughts with memorized Scripture. True Christianity is never anti-intellectual; and growing Christians don't idle their minds in neutral. Love the Lord your God with all your mind.
Loving God with the mind means that our thinking is wholly engaged to do all it can to awaken and express the heartfelt fullness of treasuring God above all things.
John Piper
1 John Piper, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010), 15, 20.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 27-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2027-29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 19
A Word from the Wise
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:5
Recommended Reading
Psalm 141:5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20141:5&version=NKJV )
Perhaps the greatest example in history of a person failing to heed the "rebuke of the wise" happened nearly 2,000 years ago. While Pontius Pilate was examining Jesus of Nazareth, his wife came to him and warned him not to condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:19). Pilate ignored his wife's warning. Instead of heeding the words of the wise, he listened to the song (words) of a foolish, angry crowd.
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King Solomon had more to say about hearing and heeding wise rebukes than any other biblical writer. Maybe he remembered the lesson of his father, David, who received the rebuke of Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 12). The Book of Proverbs contains many reasons for humbly accepting sound rebukes: They are the way to life (6:23), honor (13:18), the company of the wise (15:31), and understanding (15:32). Indeed, they are like an "ornament of fine gold" (25:12). The person who rejects rebukes experiences just the opposite.
If you are fortunate enough to receive a word of warning from a wise friend, open your heart to what God may want you to do or learn.
I had rather that true and faithful teachers should rebuke and condemn me, and reprove my ways, than that hypocrites should flatter me and applaud me as a saint.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 30-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2030-32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 20
The Unusual Path to Maturity
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012:7-10&version=NKJV )
A man who heard someone refer to a "pair of docks" had to be corrected -- the discussion was not about two identical places to tie up boats. But a paradox does involve two ideas that seem to be contradictory when contained in the same sentence. And the Bible is filled with them: We receive by giving, we become great by becoming small, we live by dying, and more.
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One particularly unsettling paradox is that we learn more from adversity than from prosperity. A person who wants to grow deep and wise in spiritual things puts himself in the position of welcoming trouble into his life. The contradiction is that prosperity provides peace and calm -- surely we can focus on spiritual growth better in such an environment. But the essence of spiritual growth is growing in faith, learning to walk by faith instead of by sight. And we do that best when things are hard. If Jesus "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8), it is likely that we will, too.
Don't create or look for adversity. But when it comes, embrace it as an opportunity to deepen your walk with Christ.
There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained only through the discipline of suffering.
D. A. Carson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 33-36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2033-36&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, February 21
Confident Dependence
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204:13%20&version=NKJV )
Part of every parent's task is finding the balance between letting a young child struggle to accomplish a task -- tying a shoe, unscrewing a jar lid, putting together a new toy -- versus stepping in to do the task for the child. Children learn there are some things that simply cannot be done by themselves.
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It is God's design that we learn to be totally dependent on His power in us. Unlike children, who eventually grow up to accomplish life's tasks on their own, Christians remain dependent on God for all their lives. But wait -- don't we make our way through the day on our own? So what is it that we are so dependent on God for? Christlikeness. There is nothing in our human ability that allows us to bear the fruit of Christlikeness. That fruit -- the character of Christ outlined in part by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 -- can only be borne in us by the Holy Spirit.
The Christian life is a fine-line balance between confidence and dependence. When we realize that our confidence is in Christ alone, confidence and dependence become one and the same. Confess your confident dependence on Him today.
The Christian should resemble a fruit tree, not a Christmas tree!
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, February 22
The Skill of Living
How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Proverbs 16:16
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 8:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208:1-11&version=NKJV )
When we marvel at the work of an artisan or craftsman ... when we are amazed at the performance of an athlete ... when we are astounded at the performance of a musician ... in every case we applaud their skill. Talent is involved, but skill is the result of talent refined through years of practice.
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In the Old Testament, such performers would have been described as wise, not skillful. That is because the Hebrew word for wisdom -- hokmah -- is actually the word for skill. We think of wisdom as being intangible, a hard-to-define quality that is mysteriously attained. In fact, wisdom is simply skill -- the kind of skill needed to make the high priest's garments (Exodus 28:3), the fabrics for the tabernacle (Exodus 35:35), an idol (Isaiah 40:19), or to pilot a ship (Ezekiel 27:8). So what kind of skill does the Book of Proverbs talk about more than 100 times? Wisdom is the skill of living life from God's perspective, a skill that is acquired by humility and reverence before Him (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
The more we fear (reverence) the Lord, the more skillful at life we become.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and they that lack the beginning have neither middle nor end.
John Bunyan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%203-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, February 23 & 24
Words from the Wise: Agur
Give me neither poverty nor riches -- feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You ... or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Proverbs 30:8-9
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 30:1-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030:1-9&version=NKJV )
Who was Agur son of Jakeh? His name means "Hireling," and he's not a biblical VIP. He's a minor character in Scripture who once scribbled some advice to two people named Ithiel and Ucal. Was Agur a king or a peasant? A Jew or a Gentile? Revered or persecuted? We don't know, but we do know he was highly respected for his wise thinking. Agur's wisdom rivaled that of Solomon, and his friendly advice was included in the Book of Proverbs as the thirtieth chapter.
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Here in verses 8-9, Agur gave us one of the wisest and most unusual prayers of the Bible. He asked God to keep him from both extreme poverty and extreme wealth. The safest life for the soul, he reasoned, was one of moderation and contentment.
Agur didn't have total obscurity (he's a biblical author) nor total fame (we know little of him). He didn't want total poverty or total wealth. His wisdom was in a balanced life, a contented heart, and a well-adjusted attitude. He's a man to emulate, and his prayer is a petition to echo.
I wonder how many financial advisors pray Agur's prayer ... ? It just seems so un-American to pray like this.
Steven James
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 5-8, Deuteronomy 9-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%205-8,%20Deuteronomy%209-11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, February 25
Content or Contentious?
Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
1 Timothy 6:8
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:6-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206:6-11&version=NKJV )
Some people are contentious and others are content. Some strive and struggle to get more and more; others find joy in what they have, and most of all in Whom they serve.
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William Henry Channing, a nineteenth-century clergyman, summed up his philosophy of life like this: "To live content with small means; to see elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common -- this is my symphony."
When we're walking with God and finding our sufficiency in Christ, contentment is the melody of the soul. All of life is a symphony. We may not have the latest sound system in our living room, but we have a choir of songbirds in the nearby park -- and they sing for free!
As the Bible says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
Contentment ... is the soul's enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding.
Arthur Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2012-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, February 26
God Is God
Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 23:11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023:11-12&version=NKJV )
When you think of an immovable object, what comes to mind? Perhaps the massive Rock of Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, or the Empire State Building in New York City? How about the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco? Some things have the ability to resist human effort; they are completely immovable by us.
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If created things are immovable, how about the Creator, God Himself? The Bible says that God resists the proud. For a prideful person to attempt to change or move God is as futile as a baby trying to move a building. There is great liberty found in the awareness that God is God and we are not, that God's ways are perfect and that He is unmoved by the prideful or disagreeable protests of man. While God is unmoved by pride, He is moved by humility. To the humble, God gives grace -- as He did to the apostle Paul who cried out three times concerning his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
If you are inclined to pridefully protest against God's decisions in your life, you will find Him unmoved. But humility in the face of His decisions and actions will result in the grace to let Him be God in your situation.
God assists the humble but resists the proud.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 16-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2016-19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, February 27
Loving Life
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Recommended Reading
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%209:1-10&version=NKJV )
Have you ever been around someone who totally enjoys life? A person who sees each day as an opportunity to live life fully for God and enjoy the blessings of that day? Knowing a person like that is an inspiration because they understand that every moment of our lives is a gift from God.
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Such should be the way the Christian regards life and death. We tend to view heaven as being better than life on earth, and it certainly will be in many ways. Yet Scripture also suggests that life on earth should be fruitful and enjoyable. There is great good to be accomplished on earth, leading to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that we are maximizing our calling from God in Christ. We view death not as an escape from life, but a portal through which we enter the consummating reality for which we have been saved -- experiencing what it means to be in the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Take a fresh measure of how much you love the life God has given you. Jesus said He came to make it abundant (John 10:10b), and we should experience it just that way.
Too many Christians envy the sinners their pleasure and the saints their joy because they don't have either one.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 20-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2020-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, February 28
Life Is Not Fair!
I returned and saw under the sun that -- the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:1-2&version=NKJV )
Where do children learn to say, "That's not fair!" Probably where they learn almost everything -- from adults. And we, and those children who imitate us, are usually right. Life is definitely not fair.
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But, as the song says, "That's life!" It's impossible to explain or justify the unfair things that happen in life. Bad things happen to good people and bad people seem to get a pass; deserving people get overlooked and undeserving people get rewarded. It was that kind of inconsistency that caused King Solomon to declare that all of life is vanity. In today's vernacular it would sound more like, "It's fruitless to try to figure this out. Life is filled with unpredictable variables." Instead, from our New Testament perspective, we know to put our trust in God, live with humility, pursue wisdom, and enjoy the blessings of God when they arrive. And leave the secret things to Him (Deuteronomy 29:29).
The Judge of all the earth will one day "do right" (Genesis 18:25). Until that day, we rest in what He causes and allows.
Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts.
F.F. Bosworth
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 23-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2023-25&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 1
Fore!
Do not be afraid of sudden terror ... for the LORD will be your confidence.
Proverbs 3:25-26a
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:21-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:21-26&version=NKJV )
Did you hear about the shark on the twelfth hole? Golfers in San Juan Capistrano, California, were surprised recently when a shark dropped out of the sky and landed on the fairway. Weighing about two pounds, the young fish had been plucked from the ocean by a bird, which dropped him mid-flight. The shark was bleeding from the bird's talons, but when workers released him into the ocean he swam away as though nothing had happened.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We never know what a day will bring. We try to get along swimmingly with everyone; yet in an instant we can be snatched from our comfort zone, wounded without warning, clawed by an enemy, and dropped into the rough. But the same God who cares for the "birdies" and "eagles" will care for you. The Bible says to trust Him, seek His wisdom, and fall asleep each night without fear. "Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror" (Proverbs 3:24-25).
For Christians, a life without fear is par for the course.
Fear may fill our world, but it doesn't have to fill our hearts.
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 26-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2026-27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 2 & 3
Will Power: Whosoever Will
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 55:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055:1-3&version=NKJV )
When the first Europeans came to America, there was no immigration office. There was no way to become a naturalized citizen. There was nowhere to get a Social Security card or a driver's license. People -- whoever wanted to -- just came. Today, things are much different and certainly more complicated. No nation on earth is borderless. Every nation has a stop sign at its borders requiring that conditions be met before entering.
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There is one kingdom on earth that has a different "immigration" policy. In fact, its policy contains only one word and one requirement. The word is "Come!" and the requirement is faith. That kingdom is, of course, the kingdom of God. God's policy has always been the same -- whoever wills, whoever desires, may come in. In fact, the one requirement -- faith -- is assumed. Those who enter in gladly are those with a heart of belief in the gift they are offered. No one enters who does not truly want to be there.
Have you heard the invitation? Have you met the one requirement? The door to God's kingdom, where the water of life flows freely, is open for you.
We are encouraged to come freely to God but not flippantly.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 28-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028-32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 4
Fore!
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 28:2
Recommended Reading
Leviticus 26:3-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2026:3-13&version=NKJV )
To a little child, a large backyard looks HUGE. It's filled with trees to climb, bushes to hide behind, a sandbox to play in, a swing set or jungle gym to explore -- what more could a child want? When Mom says, "You can play anywhere you want in the entire backyard, but you can't leave the yard," that doesn't sound restrictive at all. Who would want to leave the yard when the yard offers so much?
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It's not a perfect analogy to how we should view the idea of obedience to God, but it is close. He gives us the entire kingdom of God to "play" in and only asks that we don't get distracted or tempted by the kingdom of the world on the other side of the fence. Just to make sure the Israelites understood, God gave them long lists of the blessings they would find within the limits He asked them to observe -- and the difficulties they would find outside those limits (Deuteronomy 28). Obedience is always the choice that leads to blessings.
Parents ask their children to obey for a reason -- a reason called love. And God does the same with us. Obedience begins at the point of believing that God knows best. Trust that He limits because He loves.
Faith is the starting-post of obedience.
Thomas Chalmers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 33-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2033-34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 5
A Focused Mind
Fix your thoughts on Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1 (NIV 1984)
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203:1-6&version=NKJV )
In his commentary on Hebrews, Kent Hughes tells about a brilliant mathematician, Norbert Wiener, who was walking across the campus of M.I.T. in deep thought. His concentration was so great he didn't respond when greeted by a student. But a moment later, he turned and asked the student, "Pardon me, could you tell me which way I came from?" The student pointed and said, "That way." "Thanks," said the professor. "Now I know I've had lunch!"
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We're seldom so focused of mind that we lose track of our surroundings, but the Bible does tell us to devote intense concentration to thinking on spiritual things. Christians must learn to use their minds to ponder who God is, what He has said in His Word, and the majesty of our calling to be His disciples. We must learn to fix our thoughts on Him, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and to think on things that are excellent and praiseworthy.
He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Fixing our thoughts on Jesus requires time, for true reflection cannot happen with a glance. No one can see the beauty of the country as he hurries through it on the interstate.
R. Kent Hughes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 6
Right, Left, and Wrong
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," him the people will curse.
Proverbs 24:24
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 24:23-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2024:23-26&version=NKJV )
According to British researchers, many toddlers are suffering delayed development in telling left from right. About 30 percent of all five-year-olds are not even sure if they are left or right-handed. Their research shows that the failure to distinguish left from right is the result of increased TV viewing and decreased interaction with their hands.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Many adults have similar problems -- the inability to distinguish right from wrong. As the prophet Isaiah said long ago, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). The world's value system has always been opposed to that of a holy God. Society now sees evil people or movements and says to them: "You are righteous."1
As Christians, we must view every issue, movement, trend, fad, and opinion in light of the unchanging Word of God. His holy character provides the moral baseline of the universe. If we learn to discern right from wrong, the benefit to the quality of our lives will be great. Don't be afraid to call good "good" and evil "evil."
Tolerance once meant that we could use our reason to discern good and evil in open debate. Today tolerance has been used to call good evil and evil good.
Charles Colson, in The Good Life
1findingdulcinea.com/news/health/2008/November/Children-Don-t-Know-Right-from-Left--Research-Says.html.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 5-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%205-7&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 7
The Racket of Life
Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you.
Ezekiel 40:4
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010:3-5&version=NKJV )
Novak Djokovic is the Number One tennis player in the world. After beating Andy Murray at the Shanghai Masters, he told reporters, "A calm mind always wins. Confidence plays a key role for any person on this planet."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
For Christians, a calm mind comes from having our thoughts fixed on Jesus and our minds stayed on Him (Hebrews 3:1; Isaiah 26:3). Jesus told us to love Him with all our mind (Matthew 22:37). The Bible warns against an "anxious mind" (Luke 12:29) and instructs us to set our minds on "things above" (Colossians 3:2). We're to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. To be spiritually minded is "life and peace" (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 8:6). As we meditate on God's Word, the peace of God guards our "hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). 1
Amid the racket of life, a calm mind always wins. Learn to deliberately fix your mind on Jesus and His Word today. Focus on Christ and feed on His Word.
It is a grand thing when the mind becomes calm, when the soul grows strong, when courage increases, when confidence comes, when deep peace and quiet restfulness flow into the soul.
Charles H. Spurgeon
1examiner.com/article/djokovic-gears-up-for-friday-match-with-thomas-berdych-at-atp-world-finals.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%208-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, March 8
An Eternal Pursuit
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:8-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:8-13&version=NKJV )
According to John Wesley, when we pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," we're asking God to help us do His will in our daily tasks just as the angels do the same in heaven. They obey God willingly, continually, and perfectly. "We pray that we may do the whole will of God as He willeth, in a manner that pleases Him," Wesley said, "that this may be the sole reason and ground, the whole and only motive, of whatsoever we think, or whatsoever we speak or do."
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When we determine to do God's will, our lives are transformed by His power working in and through us. Our thoughts, motives, and actions parallel what is happening in highest heaven. It's intriguing to think of God's servants currently serving Him in corresponding realms, both seen and unseen. According to Ephesians 1:10, one day "in the dispensation of the fullness of the times," God will bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Fulfilling God's will is an eternal pursuit, both for us and for angels, both in heaven and on earth.
We pray that we and all mankind may do the whole will of God in all things, and nothing else ... the holy and acceptable will of God.
John Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2011-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 9 & 10
Will Power: If the Lord Wills
Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."
James 4:15
Recommended Reading
Acts 18:19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018:19-21&version=NKJV )
Some principles of Christian living raise questions in the minds of new believers. For example they might have questions about Paul's admonitions to "pray without ceasing" and "in everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Does that mean we should never cease praying and stop to give thanks for every single thing in life? Another example is seeking God's will. Do we have to pray for His will about the clothes we wear and the food we eat?
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The apostle James provided an example about seeking God's will. He told of some men who had big plans to start a business in another city for a year and make a lot of money. He said (paraphrasing), "How do you know you will do this? You don't even know what will happen tomorrow much less a year from now. You should always say, 'If the Lord wills' when putting together your plans" (James 4:13-17). Seeking God's will is like prayer and giving thanks -- a mental and spiritual perspective. We always have in mind God's Lordship in our lives. And we live to know and do His will.
The more serious our plans, the more we ought to seek the Lord's will. And we should always be ready to accept His will when it becomes clear.
There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.
Frederick W. Faber
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 14-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2014-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 11
Having His Mind
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing;but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 2:13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202:13-16&version=NKJV )
If you have been married for a long time, you and your spouse may be one of those couples researchers highlight: "They can order each other's meals in a restaurant; they can finish each other's sentences; they can speak for each other." Couples like that have lived together so closely that they know (or "have") each other's minds.
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That's something like what Paul meant when he said to the Corinthian believers, "But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). When we think like Christ, we have the mind of Christ. Jesus said that He did not think, act, or speak on His own initiative. He only did what He saw the Father doing; He only did what the Father gave Him to do (John 4:34; 5:19, 30; 6:38). We could say that Christ had the mind of the Father. And Christ told His disciples, "All things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15).
Christ had the mind of the Father, and we can have the mind of Christ. Because He lives in us, His mind guides how we think and act in our walk with Him.
May the mind of Christ my Saviour, live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling, all I do and say.
Katie Barclay Wilkinson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2021-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, March 12
Becoming Like Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:5-8&version=NKJV )
Before the advent of law schools and medical schools, aspiring attorneys and physicians learned their craft by apprenticing. They would attach themselves to a practicing professional and work by his side until they became like him and could go out on their own. The idea was, "Just watch what I do and do the same thing yourself."
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Paul had a similar thought in mind when he wrote to the Philippians, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). He wanted the Philippians to be like Christ in a particular area of life: humility. When Christ entered the world, He humbled Himself by giving up any aspiration except that which was the Father's purpose for His life. He set aside His rights and prerogatives as the Son of God and humbled Himself, taking on the lifestyle and behavior of a servant. In that way, Christ fulfilled God's purpose for His life. His purpose was to know and carry out God's purpose for His life.
If we are to fulfill God's purpose for our life, we will become like Jesus. We will humble ourselves before God and say, "Not my will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). When our purpose is to fulfill God's purpose, His will will be done.
The surest mark of true conversion is humility.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 23–24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%2023-24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, March 13
On Time and Under Budget
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 4:10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:10-11&version=NKJV )
In the days before railroads, the fastest mode of public transport in Europe was what we might call a stagecoach -- known to most Americans from movies set in the "Wild West." But in Europe the coaches were larger, carried more people, and were pulled by seven or eight horses. The French version of the coach was known as the carrosse de diligence -- or "speed coach."
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Do you see the root of our notion of diligence there? When a Frenchman wanted to get somewhere as quickly as possible, he took the diligence . When we want to get something done "on time and under budget," we work diligently. And that includes what we do as servants of Christ in the kingdom of God. Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, to "be diligent . . . [be] a worker who does not need to be ashamed." Which raises the question: Do we work as hard (diligently) for God as we do at our job, our hobby, or our recreational pursuits? Diligence isn't measured by perspiration as much as dedication. It's not a measure of calories as much as consistency.
Be diligent today in everything, since everything is done for Him.
Keep your heart with all diligence and God will look after the universe.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 1–3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, March 14
Spiritual Focus
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
Recommended Reading
Luke 10:38-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?f=G&utm_expid=13466113-0&search=Luke%2010:38-42&version=NKJV&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Ff%3DG%26search%3DLuke%252010%3A38-42%26version%3DNKJV )
Computers can be programmed to multitask. While computers multitask efficiently, research has cast doubts on man's ability to do more than one thing effectively at a time. In fact, one kind of multitasking is becoming increasingly illegal -- talking or texting on mobile phones while driving. The decision not to multitask when life is threatened is not a hard decision to make.
Listen to Today's Radio Message (http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We should apply the same caution to spiritual multitasking -- the idea that we can serve God and the world at the same time. Jesus used money as an illustration to make a point about spiritual multitasking: "You cannot serve God and [money]" (Matthew 6:24). How do we know when we are putting our spiritual life in danger? Obviously, when our conscience is not clear, we should refocus on God (Acts 23:1). And if we know we have sinned, it's time to refocus (James 4:17). Whenever our fruit or our effectiveness diminishes, we are doing more than we should.
Paul's guideline applies: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
We live by demands when we should live by priorities.
J. A. Motyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 4–5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?f=G&utm_expid=13466113-0&search=Judges%204â€"5&version=NKJV&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2F)
:angel:
Friday, March 15
Identify Yourself
For to me, to live is Christ . . . .
Philippians 1:21a
Recommended Reading
Galatians 2:20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%202:20&version=NKJV )
Think of all the ways human beings define themselves, beginning with gender: male or female. Then we often cite race: Caucasian, Asian, African, Latin, and so on. Then comes nation of citizenship: American, French, Brazilian, South African, Russian -- wherever one was born or became a naturalized citizen. And the list goes on from there: region ("the South"), state ("Pennsylvania"), county ("Orange County"), city ("Dallas"), and even neighborhood or part of the state.
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But there is one identifying mark that should supersede all others for the followers of Jesus Christ: Christian. A Christian can be of any race or gender, live in any nation, state, or town, and be part of any subgroup. Paul said in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul also wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ . . . " (Philippians 1:21) and, "For our citizenship is in heaven . . ." (Philippians 3:20).
People usually identify themselves by the label that is most important to them. Is "Christian" most important to you?
I reckon him a Christian indeed that is neither ashamed of the Gospel nor a shame to it.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 6-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%206-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, March 16 & 17
Will Power: I Will Have Mercy
For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."
Romans 9:15
Recommended Reading
Exodus 33:19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2033:19&version=NKJV )
Imagine approaching a towering wall that stretches as far as the eye can see to the left and the right. It is the wall that divides the kingdom of God from the kingdom of this world. In the wall is a large gate through which you can see the glories of God's kingdom. Above the gate you notice these words written: "All who will, may enter in." After passing through the gate, you look around in awe and notice different words written above the gate on the inside of the wall: "Chosen by God before the foundation of the world."
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The invitation for all to come to Christ is genuine -- that is the heart of the Gospel preached to all nations. But it is also true that God has mercy and compassion, leading to salvation, on whomever He will. While that may seem contradictory to the human mind, one need only realize that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). If none deserve to be saved, God is free to extend mercy as He will.
If you are outside the gate today, accept the invitation and enter in. It is the only way to know you were chosen before the foundation of the world.
The believer who knows his own heart will ever bless God for election.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 9-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%209-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, March 18
An Eternal Foundation
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203:11-15&version=NKJV )
Work on Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to begin in 2013. It is slated to be the world's tallest building at around 3,280 feet (the exact planned height is a secret). The foundation is designed to be 197 feet deep and the 270 piles (deep foundational poles driven into the earth) will be up to 361 feet deep. When spending $1.23 billion on a skyscraper, the centerpiece of a $20 billion commercial complex, getting the foundation right is imperative.
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If you were paying for that building, how insistent would you be on the design and testing of the foundation? Buildings don't last for eternity -- with one exception: the building we call life. The question of whether or not our life will stand up to the judgment of God (Hebrews 9:27) is certainly a motivating factor to insist on a firm foundation. The apostle Paul wrote that there is no foundation on which a life for eternity should be built except the foundation that is Jesus Christ. Only that building will stand the test of fire that is to come (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
The question is not whether we are building a life for eternity, but whether we are building on a foundation that will last.
The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
Samuel J. Stone
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14-16
Tuesday, March 19
"I Wanted More..."
And will not be anxious....
Jeremiah 17:8
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 17:5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2017:5-8&version=NKJV )
Millions of fans around the world idolize actor Robert Pattinson, the British heartthrob made famous by the Twilight movies. But for Pattinson himself, fame was a letdown. He recently told an interviewer about his two-year struggle with depression and career anxiety. "I went through a big time of depression," he said. "I couldn't go where I wanted to go, I was in the tabloids every day and I didn't have access to the roles I really wanted. I wanted more, on every level."1
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What a case study of humanity: Fame. Fortune. Career anxiety. Depression. Emptiness. Wanting more on every level.
No one is exempt from anxious feelings; but as followers of Christ, we want more of Him on every level. According to Jeremiah 17:7-8, those who trust in the Lord and place their hope in Him will be like trees planted by the waters with their roots tapping into a mighty river. They "will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."
There's no need to dwell in the twilight when we can walk in the sunshine.
Those who make God their hope have enough in him to make up the want of all creature-comforts. They shall not cease from yielding fruit in holiness, and in all good works.
Matthew Henry
1Amanda Schaffler, examiner.com/article/robert-pattinson-reveals-struggle-with-depression-career-anxiety. November 8, 2012, accessed November 30, 2012.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 17-19 [(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2017-19&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, March 20
Think on These Things
Whatever things are true ... noble ... just ... pure ... lovely ... of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:8&version=NKJV )
Albert Einstein said, "The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking."1 Einstein was using the term world in a global sense, but his point is true with our personal worlds. Our thoughts become attitudes; our attitudes spawn actions; our actions braid themselves into habits; and our habits determine our destiny.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The fastest way to change your world is to change your thinking. Crowd out impure thoughts with Scripture memory. Push aside anxious thoughts with biblical promises. Learn the power of meditating on the Word. Think on God's Book, which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Find ways of disrupting exposure to filthy or negative mental intake. Be "transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)," for you cannot change your life without changing your thoughts. But as you develop the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), the God of peace will be with you.
Our thinking about who we are as Christians should not begin with what we can discover about ourselves by self-analysis. Rather, it begins with what God says about those who trust in Christ.
Sinclair B. Ferguson
1Morris A. Graham and Kevin Baize, Executive Thinking (Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2011), 166.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 20-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2020-21&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, March 21
Explosive Combination
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.
Colossians 3:16
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 5:17-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:17-21&version=NKJV )
In April 1866, crates of nitroglycerin were shipped to California to aid in blasting through a mountain to create the Summit Tunnel. One of the crates exploded at the Wells Fargo office in San Francisco, killing fifteen people. Nitroglycerin is an effective explosive, but highly unstable. Yet in another form it's an effective treatment for heart disease and one of the oldest drugs used in the prevention of heart attacks. What power is unleashed when two elements -- nitric acid and glycerin -- come together!
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible combine in a believer's mind, there's an explosion of power, and the mixture somehow strengthens our hearts. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to "be filled with the Spirit." Colossians 3:16 says to "let the Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly." Both passages promise the same results -- singing, thanksgiving, and power in our relationships. These parallel Scriptures suggest there are two active agents working to help us achieve a renewed mind -- the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
Combine these dynamic agents in your life today.
The Bible without the Holy Spirit is a sundial by moonlight.
D. L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ruth 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201-4&version=NKJV )
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Friday, March 22
A Living Book
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:17-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:17-24&version=NKJV )
According to theologian Erich Sauer, the Bible isn't merely an old volume of once-upon-a-time stories; it's a living Book. "The Spirit of God has not only inbreathed the written Word," wrote Sauer, "He accompanies it and makes it operative .... God comes to us now through His Word, and the Word that is centuries old remains fresh and eternally young. It is as if it had been written yesterday, as if the ink was not yet dry, never growing old, superior to time, ever present."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The same Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible makes it new every morning to those who prayerfully study it. The words of David, Matthew, Peter, Paul, and the other writers teach us fresh lessons, remold our thoughts, refresh our hearts, and help us achieve a renewed mind. In the process, we discover for ourselves on a daily basis "what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).
Let's learn to pray as we study our Bibles: Lord, open our eyes that we may see wondrous things from Your Word.
The Bible is a living Book ... not only a written word, but a spiritually living Word.
Erich Sauer
1Erich Sauer, From Eternity to Eternity, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), 134.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%201-3&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, March 23 & 24
Will Power: I Will Give You Rest
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 4:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204:1-13&version=NKJV )
Eight hours of sleep has long been the prescription for the average person, but the average American is getting far less sleep than they need. And it shows -- we are more susceptible to illness, our work productivity suffers, and we live on the edge emotionally. We need rest!
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Those in Jesus' day needed rest as well, but of a different sort. Their exhaustion was not so much physical as spiritual. The religious leaders of their day would "bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders" (Matthew 23:4). Those burdens were based in the Law and the hundreds of traditions that the Pharisees had added to it. One could spend day and night consciously attempting to "please God" and still think of himself as a failure. In our modern performance-based culture, we can have the same exhausting feeling at the end of the day as we attempt to please those around us -- including our attempts to please God. But Jesus said, "Come to Me ..., and I will give you rest."
If you need rest, start by changing your schedule to get a good night's sleep. Then, think about your need for spiritual rest and consider letting Jesus lift the burden you are carrying.
You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 4-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%204-12&version=NKJV )
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Monday, March 25
Trusting God, Knowing God
My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him.
Daniel 6:22
Recommended Reading
Job 13:11-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2013:11-19&version=NKJV )
A Christian bishop from Africa was visiting churches in the United States. When commenting on the differences between the Church in America and the Church in Africa, he laughed and said, "In America, you have blessed insurance . In Africa, all we have is blessed assurance! "
Listen to Today's Radio Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The story of the people of God suggests that the deepest knowledge of God comes from those who have had to trust Him most. That connection can be seen in the life of the prophet Daniel in Babylon and Persia. It is no surprise that the most detailed and far-reaching prophecies in the Old Testament were delivered through a man who, beginning as a teenager, had to trust God with His very life. More than once Daniel put his life on the line out of obedience to God. And in each case, God honored Daniel's faith with deliverance and revelation.
Instead of placing confidence in plans of our own making, we are called to be available to His purpose and to trust God when He leads. You can be confident that when He is needed the most -- God will be there to lead and to guide.
You will never understand why God does what He does, but if you believe Him, that is all that is necessary. Let us learn to trust Him for who He is.
Elisabeth Elliot
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 13-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2013-14&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, March 26
Jesus on Daniel
When you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:15-16
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:24-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:24-27&version=NKJV )
Standing on the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24, Jesus delivered a great sermon on the signs of the times and the end of the age. He foretold the events leading to His return. He reached back to the writings of Daniel and spoke of the abominable image to be erected by the Antichrist in the future temple (Daniel 9:27). In doing so, Jesus stamped His seal of approval onto the pages of Daniel. Jesus spoke approvingly of Daniel; and Daniel, of course, spoke prophetically of Jesus.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Daniel is one of the Bible's most fascinating books. It contains vivid images like Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the vision of the four beasts, and the prophecy of the seventy weeks. It might seem overwhelming to read, but remember that Jesus was a student of this Book. He read it, studied it, and quoted it. These prophetic portions of Scripture provide vital information for understanding the times and anticipating the future. You can trust every word in the Book of Daniel and claim every promise.
Jesus did.
I wish to stress... that none of the prophets has so clearly spoken concerning Christ as has this prophet Daniel.
Jerome (A.D. 347-420)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 15-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2015-16&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, March 27
Walking on Egg Shells
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
Daniel 1:8
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 4:12-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%204:12-16&version=NKJV )
A report from Zimbabwe recently told of two teens who were prowling around the town dump, looking for anything they could salvage. They found fifty eggs discarded by chicken producers. Taking the eggs home, they hatched them. More eggs. More chicks. Now the two boys have a business going with more than 500 chickens, and the proceeds pay their school expenses.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Teenagers have a way of surprising us. They're resourceful, innovative, and full of promise. In the Bible, many of our greatest heroes excelled as teens -- Joseph in Egypt, David in Bethlehem, Timothy in Macedonia, Josiah on the throne.
In Babylon, Daniel and his three friends purposed in their hearts to live for the Lord despite the pressures of a pagan culture. The decisions they made in their youth sustained them throughout life. If you are a teen, or if you have a teen, or if you know a teen, remember these words: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). Dare to be a Daniel.
Renewal and revival often begin when young people take a stand for God.
Jim Burns
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 17-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017-18&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, March 28
Resurrection Bay
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.
Hebrews 6:19
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:13-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%206:13-20&version=NKJV )
In the movie The Hunt for Red October, the opening scene was filmed in Resurrection Bay, Alaska. This dramatic setting received its name in 1792 when the Russian trader and explorer Alexandr Baranov was forced to find refuge there during a vicious storm on Easter Sunday. Resurrection Bay has the distinction of remaining ice-free even in the dead of winter. Even in squalls and storms, it provides safe harbor.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As Christians, we anchor our souls in Resurrection Bay. The world may be caught in a thousand tempests, and storms may arise from all directions. But the empty tomb assures us of tranquility and a passageway to heaven that will never ice over. Jesus died and rose again to give us peace with God and the peace of God -- life both eternal and abundant. We anchor our souls in the haven of rest.
As hymnist Priscilla Owens put it: "We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love."
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
Edward Mote
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2019-21&version=NKJV )
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Friday, March 29
Many Infallible Proofs
He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs.
Acts 1:3
Recommended Reading
Acts 1:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201:1-3&version=NKJV )
Albert L. Roper was a prominent Virginia attorney, a graduate of the University of Virginia and its law school, who eventually became mayor of the city of Norfolk. He once began a thorough legal investigation into the evidence for the resurrection of Christ, asking himself the question: Can any intelligent person accept the resurrection story? After examining the evidence at length, he came away asking a different question: Can any intelligent person deny the weight of this evidence?
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Even those who traveled for three years with Jesus experienced disbelief over His resurrection, but Jesus showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs. We don't base our faith on legends, myths, or fairy tales. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is well-documented, and many critics have been silenced (and even converted) when they've carefully investigated the evidence.1
We have a risen Savior! He offers Himself to us today with many infallible proofs.
Many people say the Bible is a myth, but they're myth-taken, myth-guided, and myth-erable.
Vance Havner
1Albert L. Roper, Did Jesus Rise From the Dead (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1965), foreword.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 22-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2022-24&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, March 30 & 31
Will Power: I Will Not Cast Out
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:37
Recommended Reading
John 6:35-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20John%206:35-40&version=NKJV )
A thoughtful Christian entertains no greater question than how to discern and do the will of God. As a man, Jesus Christ had the same challenge. But He had no doubts about God's will for His life: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day" (John 6:38-39).
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
The will of God for Jesus Christ was that He (Christ) would not fail to bring a single soul, chosen by the Father and given to the Son, into the eternal kingdom. That was the impetus for Jesus' words, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
Two implications bring great security to the Christian: If you belong, by faith, to Jesus Christ, it is because you were chosen by the Father. And if you belong to Christ, you will always belong to Him. There is nothing you have done or will do that would keep Jesus Christ from accomplishing the will of God for His life -- which means He is keeping you secure for all eternity.
We believe in eternal security, [but] we do not believe in eternal presumption.
Donald Grey Barnhouse
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 25-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2025-31&version=NKJV )
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Monday, April 01
Choosing Courage
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 2:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202:1-6&version=NKJV )
Courage begins with a choice and becomes visible when we take a stand in the midst of adversity. After taking hostages from Judah, the King of Babylon sought to assimilate these young men into Babylonian culture. The rules for these youthful hostages were clear: Learn the Babylonian language and knowledge while enjoying the King's food and drink. None of us would blame Daniel for submitting. He was young and far from home, but Daniel knew the meat was ceremonially unclean. God's word prohibited its consumption.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Speaking out could have meant death for Daniel, but he did it anyway. His unexpected courage overlooked the circumstances and focused on God. Our courage, or lack of courage, begins with our perspective. If we fix our eyes on the possibility of failure and the barriers to obedience, we will fail. But if we fix our eyes on God, His greatness and faithfulness, we will have the courage to obey.
Holiness begins in our minds and works out to our actions.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%201-3%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 02
Prepare to Say "No"
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel 1:8
Recommended Reading
John 12:25-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012:25-26%20&version=NKJV )
Peer pressure is "social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted."1 Peer pressure can be felt at any age, but during adolescence the pressure to conform is perhaps the greatest -- and the ability to say "No" is the hardest.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Daniel was one of many young people taken from Judah and made captive in Babylon. But when Daniel and three of his friends were pressured to adopt the diet of the Babylonians as part of their training for royal service, they refused. They risked their lives by saying "No" to the king of Babylon. Because of their obedience to God and respect for His covenant stipulations, they were elevated to ranks of service and honor in Babylon.
The time to avoid peer pressure is before the pressure arrives. Decide today what your values and commitments are so you are prepared when the test arrives.
Obedience is the hallmark of faith.
Charles H. Spurgeon
1 Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. dictionary.reference.com/browse/peer-pressure (accessed December 26, 2012).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%204-7&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, April 03
Train Today for Tomorrow
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206:4-9&version=NKJV )
When the Israelites were poised on the banks of the Jordan River to cross over and inhabit the Promised Land, Moses gave them a pattern to follow for passing on genuine faith in God from generation to generation. The pattern was to incorporate the commands and promises of God into everyday life so they became second nature instead of something to consider at every turn (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:18-21).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Daniel must have been raised in a family that followed Moses' strategy for raising godly children. Daniel's faith was not restricted to favorable circumstances. Instead, it was a faith that shaped his priorities and fueled his decisions wherever he was. Throughout his life in Babylon as a Hebrew captive, Daniel's faith was challenged over and over. But he never yielded; he never did what was most comfortable or safe for himself. He had apparently learned as a child that God always honors obedience.
It's never too late to begin following Moses' plan in your personal life or in the life of your children. Building faith for tomorrow begins today.
If you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they would.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 8–11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%208-11&version=NKJV)
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Thursday, April 04
Making Possible the Impossible
But Jesus looked at them and said to them,"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
Recommended Reading
Genesis 18:10-14 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2018:10-14&version=NKJV ]
Jesus once told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were astonished and asked how anyone could ever be saved given that standard. Jesus didn't answer them directly, but indirectly. He gave them a principle that applies to all areas of life: "With God all things are possible."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When the king of Babylon had a dream, he demanded that the wise men of his court tell him both his dream and what it meant. This being impossible, they feared for their lives -- including Daniel and his three friends who were among the king's court. But Daniel knew what was impossible for man was possible for God -- that all things are possible with God. They prayed and asked God not only for the dream but for what it meant. God answered, and Daniel and his friends were rewarded by the king.
If you are facing a situation that looks impossible in human terms, ask God. While God's will may vary in each situation of life, God's ability is never lacking. Our job is to ask and believe.
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 12-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2012-13&version=NKJV )
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Friday, April 05
First Expressions
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel 1:17
Recommended Reading
Daniel 2:19-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%202:19-23&version=NKJV )
"You only get one chance to make a first impression." That saying is well known by those in sales. But it also applies to the spiritual life. When we survive a difficult situation or a photo-finish event in life -- maybe in health or finances -- too often our first expression is, "Whew!" -- not exactly a deep expression of faith or gratitude to God. With each new close call in life, we only get one chance to make the right first expression.
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When the lives of Daniel and his three friends (along with the lives of the Babylonian wise men) were threatened by the king of Babylon, they prayed to God for help. When God answered their prayers, the first thing Daniel did was to praise God: "Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (Daniel 2:19-23). Instead of turning to his friends and exclaiming, "Whew! That was close," or even running to the king with the answer to his demands, Daniel's first expression was thanks and praise to God.
Thanksgiving to God should become a matter of first expressions. Make today a day of praise and thanksgiving.
Hem your blessings with praise lest they unravel.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2014-16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 09
Extremist?
He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:18-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:18-32&version=NKJV )
According to reports in the news, President François Hollande plans to create a secularism agency in the government of France. Its purpose is (1) develop religious-free curriculum featuring secular morality for French schools; and (2) monitor religious extremism, including, the reports say, Christian creationists and radical Islamists.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It makes us wonder who the real extremists are! In the Western World there's a new breed of secular fundamentalists and atheistic fanatics trying to lump in Christians with every fringe element. Don't be surprised to find your faith under attack in these Last Days. Just read the prophecies found in the Book of Daniel, in Matthew 24, in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and in the Book of Revelation. According to Daniel 2 and 9, for example, the governments of this world will become increasingly cruel, hostile, and top heavy, culminating in a revival of the Roman Empire and the emergence of a brutal dictator. But no empire or emperor can withstand the simple name of Jesus. That's why we can be extreme -- extremely glad He's coming again soon!
I am waiting for the coming of the Lord who died for me; Oh, His words have thrilled my spirit, "I will come again for thee."
S. Trevor Francis, British hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 10
Swift News
Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.
Psalm 72:11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 72:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2072:1-11&version=NKJV )
Music superstar Taylor Swift recently admitted that she's nervous about stalkers. Her security team regularly sends her pictures of crazed fans so she can watch out for them. "I try not to talk too much about it because it scares me," she says.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Celebrities live with unusual burdens, but all of us have to work hard to avoid a life of fear. Our world has never been more dangerous. Yet soon history will be history, tomorrow will be today, and Christ will be in charge.
Zechariah 14 says, "Behold, the day of the LORD is coming.... The LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.... And the LORD shall be King over all the earth" (verses 1, 3, 4, 9). The Book of Revelation speaks of a day when the kingdoms of this world will "become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
In a crazed world, it helps to have a coming King.
I can hear the chariot's rumble, I can see the marching throng ... Praise God, He's coming for me.
Bill Gaither
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 3-5
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Thursday, April 11
The World's Largest Rock
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Daniel 2:34
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:4-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:4-10&version=NKJV )
What's the biggest rock in the world? Australians claim the honor for two sites. Ayers Rock is the largest monolith in the world, a dramatic sandstone formation rising over 1,000 feet above the earth. But Australia's Mount Augustus is even larger -- the largest freestanding rock in the world.
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Neither can hold a candle to the one Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about in Daniel 2. A huge stone made without human hands crashed into a giant statue, shattering it to pieces. The statue represented the successive empires of history, and the Rock cut without hands represented Christ.
No human hand fashioned the substance of our Lord. Born of a virgin, He was a stone cut without hands. He was resurrected from the grave by divine power, not with human hands. He is the supernatural King, coming one day to set up a supernatural kingdom. He will demolish the pride and principalities of earth, and His kingdom will be like nothing the world has ever seen. He alone can be a solid cornerstone for our lives.
Oh, Christ is our lamb, our daily manna, and our rock with the flowing stream -- He is so good!
Witness Lee, Chinese Christian
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%206-7&version=NKJV )
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Friday, April 12
Fresco Fiasco
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:6
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:1-6&version=NKJV )
About a hundred years ago, the Spanish artist Elias Garcia Martinez painted a fresco of Christ on the wall of a chapel in the small town of Borja, Spain. The work deteriorated over time, and recently the church paid an eighty-one-year-old local artist to restore it. Cecilia Giménez went to work with good intentions, but she botched the job and ruined the painting. Instead of a tender portrait of Christ wearing the crown of thorns, the painting now resembles a monkey in an ill-fitting tunic. The fiasco has created an Internet sensation.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The Bible tells us to be walking portraits of Jesus. We represent Christ to the world without distortion. We're to be conformed to His image. That requires integrity. The Old Testament heroes like Daniel and his three friends maintained their integrity in a hostile environment. In the New Testament, the apostles and disciples did the same. Our society badly needs to see Christ in us -- His joy, His honesty, His love, His humility. We're to reflect Christ today. Let's be careful we don't botch the job.
God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you there. He wants you to be just like Jesus.
Max Lucado
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%208-9&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 13 & 14
Field Work: Isaac
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening.
Genesis 24:63
Recommended Reading
Psalm 131 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20131&version=NKJV )
Isaac was an outdoorsman who worked the fields during the day; but he returned there in the evenings for another kind of work -- the mental work of meditation. Imagine his world. No electricity or electric lights, no radios or headsets, no cell phones or engine noises. With the vault of heaven above him, Isaac took time for nocturnal walks before bedtime to pray and think and meditate. If you're envious of that kind of quietness, remember that it's available. And it's necessary.
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The psalmist says, "I have calmed and quieted my soul" (Psalm 131:2). Isaiah said, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15). The apostle Paul encouraged us to "aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business" (1 Thessalonians 4:11). And Peter spoke of women having "the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:4).
Find time this weekend to turn off your phone, calm your nerves, cast your cares on the Lord, and meditate in the field of His faithfulness.
I can be calm and free from care on any shore, since God is there.
Madame Guyon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 10-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2010-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 15
Nones
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
Psalm 53:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 53 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Psalm%2053&version=NKJV )
People with no religious affiliation -- atheists and agnostics -- now make up the third-largest "religious" group in the world. According to the Pew Forum, 2.2 billion people call themselves Christian; 1.6 billion identify themselves as Muslims; and roughly a billion consider themselves "Nones," unaffiliated with any religion.
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But everyone has a god, a controlling power in life. Everyone has a religion, a belief about matters of time and eternity. How we think about our "god" determines who we are. We inevitably become like the god we serve. If we reject the God of heaven, we unavoidably create lesser gods for ourselves, whether idols of wood or stone, or idols of the heart like egotism and greed. Atheism is as inferior to Christianity as falsehood is to the truth, both in its intellectual integrity and in its psychological implications.
If you're going to be a "None," be the kind that says: "No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You. Nor is there any rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2).
If there were no God, there would be no atheists.
G. K. Chesterton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2016-18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 16
Cause for Amazement
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29
Recommended Reading
Daniel 3:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%203:16-18&version=NKJV )
In his book The Grace of Giving, Stephen Olford tells about Peter Miller, a Pennsylvania pastor during the American Revolution. A man named Michael Wittman, a fierce critic of the pastor, was arrested and sentenced to die for treason against the American cause. Pastor Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to plead for Wittman's life from General George Washington. The general refused Pastor Miller's request until he learned that Wittman was Miller's enemy. Washington was so amazed that the pastor was pleading for the life of someone who hated him that he granted the request. And Pastor Miller took Wittman, now his friend, home.1
Listen to Today's Radio Message (http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When we are obedient to God -- like loving an enemy -- many will marvel. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were sentenced to die by the king of Babylon, they accepted the sentence with faith and entered the fiery furnace. When God spared them from death and they were released, the king praised God.
We don't know what the results of our obedience will be. We do know that God always blesses obedience in some way.
Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God; and he that trusts God, obeys God.
Charles H. Spurgeon
1Stephen F. Olford, The Grace of Giving (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications), 52.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 19-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2019-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 17
The Reward of Obedience
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:30
Recommended Reading
Luke 19:11-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:11-27&version=NKJV )
When ancient kingdoms conquered another people, they took the best of the inhabitants captive to their own land. They also repopulated the conquered land with their own citizens. It was a way the conquerors could expand their influence.
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God is also extending His domain (His kingdom) in this world. But He is not using political or military means. Whenever He finds one of His people who is obedient in a small thing, He expands their responsibilities and influence. When the influence of a child of God is extended, the kingdom of God is also extended. This happened in Babylon when Daniel and his three friends were obedient to God and God expanded their range of influence in the foreign land. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were faithful to God in not worshipping the king of Babylon's image, God rewarded them by expanding their influence: "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon."
"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 16:9a).
In the mysterious chemistry of God's mercy, a man's very obedience is made a blessing to him.
John Blanchard
1Stephen F. Olford, The Grace of Giving (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications), 52.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2021-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, April 18
Reasons to Be Humble
Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6b
Recommended Reading
Daniel 4:23-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204:23-33&version=NKJV )
One day King Herod mounted his throne in Caesarea to speak to the people. Wanting to curry the king's favor, the people cried out, "[This is] the voice of a god and not of a man!" (Acts 12:22) Unfortunately, instead of deflecting their praise from himself to the true God, King Herod reveled in it. And it cost him dearly: "Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God" (Acts 12:23a).
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A simple principle of God's economy is repeated at least four times in Scripture: God stands against (resists, pulls down) the proud but gives grace to (supports, encourages, expands the influence) the humble (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; Matthew 23:12; James 4:6). The king of Babylon made the same mistake as Herod -- giving himself credit for abilities and accomplishments for which God deserved the praise (Daniel 4:30). And God afflicted the king for a time until he repented of his pride (Daniel 4:33-37). To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
The wise person lives in a constant state of humility -- not out of fear of God, but from an understanding that everything comes from Him (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Perish each thought of human pride, let God alone be magnified.
Philip Doddridge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, April 19
How to Repent
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Recommended Reading
Daniel 4:34-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204:34-37&version=NKJV )
When someone -- especially a public figure -- offers an apology for an offense committed, it raises the question: Is the person really sorry for what he did or is he sorry he got caught (especially when the apology is accompanied by the phrase, "If I offended anyone . . .")? Any apologetic words have to be accompanied by "godly sorrow [that] produces repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance can begin with words but much more time is required to validate its sincerity.
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King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had been humbled by God because of his pride. He fell into a period of seeming insanity, living in the wild like an animal. When his sanity was restored, he "blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever" (Daniel 4:34). It appears that his repentance toward God was genuine -- at least long enough for God's blessing to again be manifested in his kingdom (Daniel 4:36-37).
Nebuchadnezzar learned that "those who walk in pride [God] is able to put down" (Daniel 4:37). A humble, repentant life is much to be preferred over a prideful one.
Adversity does not fall out to us by chance, but is the method by which God arouses us to repentance.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%204-5&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 20 & 21
Field Work: The Harvesters
Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
John 4:35b
Recommended Reading
John 4:27-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204:27-38&version=NKJV )
While waiting for His disciples to do their grocery shopping, Jesus shared the Gospel with a woman of Samaria who needed direction in life. Because of His witness to her and of her subsequent witness to others, many fellow townspeople sought out the Lord Jesus. As the disciples returned with their food, they saw a mass of white-robed Samaritans flocking to Jesus. It looked like fields ripe unto harvest. (John 4)
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The work of soul winning is likened in Scripture to sowing and reaping. The psalmist said, "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:6). The apostle Paul said, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9).
Try evangelizing as you walk around today. You never know when a word, a tract, an invitation, a Bible verse, or a sentence of testimony will become a harvest-bearing seed. The Bible says, "He who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).
The Gospel soul winner does not simply persuade people ... he sows the wonderful living seed of the Word of God.
John R. Rice, in The Soul-Winner's Fire
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%206-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 22
The Supreme Sin
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
John 1:10
Recommended Reading
John 1:1-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:1-18&version=NKJV )
Dr. A. W. Tozer once posed a troubling question: "What is the supreme sin of a profane society?" He found his answer in John 1:10. Though Jesus made the world and actually came into the world, the world still does not see Him, feel Him, respect Him, or know Him. "Surely," Tozer said, "this is the great curse that lies upon mankind today -- men are so wrapped up in their own godless world that they refuse the Light that shines, the Voice that speaks, and the Presence that pervades."
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On the other hand, how wonderful when we do know Him! When He is Lord of our lives, we have order restored, hope renewed, and eternity assured. Rather than drifting, we have a North Star. Rather than despairing, we have purposeful direction. Rather than hell, we have heaven.
It's a fearful thing to be arrogant in the face of God, "but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
He is still in the world, but mankind scoffs in its ignorance of Him, almost completely unaware of His revelation that the Word can be known and honored and loved by the humble human heart.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2011-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 23
The Limits of God's Patience
He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.
Psalm 103:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 75:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2075:6-7&version=NKJV )
Israel's prophets brought comfort to the people during difficult times by reminding them, "[God] will not always strive with us." That's a comforting word, except that it is a reminder that, right now, God is striving with us! In other words, God's patience has its limits. As He demonstrated with Israel over and over, at some point God stops waiting for people to repent by their own choice and He sends judgment.
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There was a period in which the nation of Babylon was under God's blessing -- when the king, Nebuchadnezzar, repented of his pride (Daniel 4:34-37). But when a new king, Belshazzar, took the throne, Babylon changed. In a drunken orgy one night, Belshazzar brought out the sacred vessels that had been stolen from the temple in Jerusalem and used them to drink wine. To take and use the sacred vessels from a nation's temple was a way to proclaim the impotence of the conquered god. The same is true when anyone flaunts or disobeys the laws of God.
God is holy and reserves the right to judge sacrilege, or any other sin, when repentance is absent.
As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2014-16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, April 24
The Hand Behind the Throne
And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
Daniel 2:21
Recommended Reading
Daniel 5:5-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%205:5-31&version=NKJV )
At the present time there are around 200 nations in the world (193 member states in the United Nations). Each has a leader. Whether that leader is a dictator or monarch for life, or is elected to a limited term of a few years, "kings" (leaders) of these 200 nations are constantly ascending and descending their "thrones." Without reason to think otherwise, the appointment of kings seems to be a purely human activity -- whether based on heredity or election.
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But the Bible gives us a reason to think otherwise. The prophet Daniel, after receiving a vision about the transfer of power from one kingdom to another in Mesopotamia, said it is God who "removes kings and raises up kings." We do our campaigning and voting, but in the end it is God who moves key players on and off the stage of world history. When the sacrilegious king of Babylon did not repent of his pride, God sent a message through handwriting on the wall that his days as king were over. That very night, the Medes and the Persians captured Babylon and killed the king.
We may not always agree with the changing of our leaders, but we can be confident that God has His reasons.
All the world's thrones are occupied by rulers under God's authority.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 17-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2017-18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, April 25
The Judge of All
Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.
Daniel 5:27
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:47-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:47-48&version=NKJV)
Associated with judicial buildings all over the world, including the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., are statues of "Lady Justice" -- Justitia, to use the name given by the Romans to their goddess of justice. Typically, three objects are associated with her: a set of scales in one hand for weighing evidence and balancing fairness with justice, a double-edged sword in the other hand, symbolizing reason and justice, and a blindfold over her eyes, signifying the equal application of the law to every person.
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Even with those admirable goals and precautions, human justice still gets it wrong at times. Sometimes the innocent are punished and the guilty are not. But a day is coming when the scales of justice will be perfectly balanced. And it even happens perfectly in this life at times -- like when God weighed the king of Babylon in the scales of His justice and found Him "wanting." The result was justice -- the king and his kingdom were destroyed that very day (Daniel 5:30).
If you are waiting for justice in this life, be patient and trust the Judge of all men. If the scales aren't balanced in this age, they will be in the age to come.
God is not always a God of immediate justice, but He is a God of ultimate justice.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 19-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2019-21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, April 26
Speaking the Truth
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20
Recommended Reading
Acts 23:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023:1-10&version=NKJV )
One of life's greatest tests is whether to tell the truth when there may be a price to pay. Nathan the prophet did it when he pointed out King David's sins. Peter and John preached the Gospel even after the Jewish leaders told them to stop. Jesus said "Yes" when Pontius Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Daniel the prophet did it when the king of Babylon asked him to interpret the handwriting on the wall.
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Even before Daniel translated the words written on the wall at the banquet, he told the king, "But you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways" (Daniel 5:23, NIV). Just saying that might have been enough to send the king into a rage. But Daniel went ahead and told the king exactly what God was saying through the writing on the wall: Your kingdom is over; your kingdom has been given to the Medes and Persians. Fortunately, Daniel did not suffer for his honesty. But he didn't know what the outcome of speaking the truth would be.
If God puts you in a place where the truth needs to be heard, it's for a reason: The truth needs to be heard! Speak humbly and honestly and entrust yourself to Him.
Honesty that can be trusted and respected is a very fragrant flower in the life of a Christian.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 22-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2022-23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, April 27 & 28
Field Work: Elisha's Cook
So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into a pot of stew.
Kings 4:39
Recommended Reading
2 Kings 4:38-41 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20kings%204:38-41&version=NKJV )
We all make mistakes. Perhaps you've said something wrong, done something stupid, or acted in a way that you now realize was inappropriate. Someone has been hurt. You have been embarrassed. But there's a simple story in the Bible that shows us how God can even "bless" our mistakes.
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In 2 Kings 4:38-41, Elisha was teaching in his school of the prophets. The cook went out to the field to gather vegetables and herbs. Through an honest mistake he tossed poisonous gourds into the stew. When the students gathered for supper, they got sick. "There is death in the pot!" they cried. The cook had made a deadly mistake.
In God's providence, however, it all worked for good. Elisha performed a miracle by throwing some flour in the pot and healing the stew. As a result, this story has come down to us through the centuries with its great lesson: Even our ignorant mistakes can become blessings when God redeems them for good.
There are many death-dealing pots which Christ, as the Meal, can alone rid of their disastrous effects.
Herbert Lockyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 24-25, 1 Chronicles 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2024-25,%201%20Chronicles%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, April 29
Tick, Tick, Tick ...
My times are in Your hand.
Psalm 31:15
Recommended Reading
Job 14:5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2014:5&version=NKJV )
The hymnist John Ryland wrote: "Plagues and deaths around me fly; till He bids I cannot die; not a single shaft can hit till the God of love sees fit." General Stonewall Jackson similarly said: "My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that." Missionary David Livingstone put it this way: "Men are immortal till their work is done."
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That's a precious thought to the Christian, but not so much for unbelievers. In Daniel 5, Belshazzar planned a dinner party for a thousand of his lords, a much-anticipated night of drinking and irreligious revelry. But in the midst of the mayhem, the hand of God wrote on the wall of his palace: "God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it." That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
God controls the time clock of life and the calendar of history. He orders our days, and as His children we can rest assured that our times are in His hands.
God's children are immortal whilst their Father hath anything for them to do on earth.
Thomas Fuller, seventeenth-century Baptist preacher
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%203-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, April 30
Faithful Endurance
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12
Recommended Reading
Daniel 6:1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206:1-10&version=NKJV )
How do you want to be remembered? While we like to avoid thoughts of death, this question can be used to measure our life's focus: what do you want your life to be about?
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The trajectory of our lives weaves through valleys and mountaintops. It's easy to follow God when He is blessing us, but what if we were as faithful to God during our trials as during our blessings? Scripture highlights the stories of those who turned from God, pridefully taking their lives into their own hands, and those who faithfully endured adversity. King Saul turned away from God. Daniel continued trusting God despite an edict meant to destroy him. Then there are those, like David, who returned to God after falling away. It's never too late to return to God.
The humble draw near to God, trusting Him to sustain and exalt them in His time regardless of their circumstances. Their faithfulness is the foundation of their legacy.
A faithful life is one that is lived thoughtfully throughout all the seasons.
Gary Thomas
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%205-6&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, May 1
How Not to "Pow!"
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Philippians%204:6-7&version=NKJV )
Every child eventually undertakes a science experiment having to do with the laws of pressure. Either he blows up a balloon beyond its intended size or she presses her balloon against a sharp object. In either case, the result is the same: POW! The look of bewilderment on a child's face the first time he pops his balloon is priceless for parents.
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Eventually children learn the science: a thin, rubber balloon can only stand so much pressure before it explodes. And the same thing is true for human beings. God did not design the human body to handle unlimited amounts of pressure before it "explodes" in various ways, physically or emotionally. In fact, how a Christian handles pressure is a good indicator of his or her reliance upon God. Christians are not immune to life's circumstances or the pressure they can produce. But God wants us to trust Him with those circumstances and their outcome -- "casting all [our] care upon Him, for He cares for [us]" (1 Peter 5:7).
If you are experiencing pressure in your life, keep your mind stayed upon the God who knows your past, present, and future and promises to meet your every need (Philippians 4:19).
Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 7-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%207-9&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 2
The Wonders of Prayer
You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas.
Psalm 65:5
Recommended Reading
Psalm 65:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2065:1-5&version=NKJV )
In 1885, evangelist Daniel Whittle published The Wonders of Prayer, a book containing stories of answered prayer, including the account of Admiral Thomas Williams, who was in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic on September 8, 1799. Sailing past the uninhabited island of Ascension, Williams had a deep burden to steer toward it. Ships never stopped at this island; there was no reason to do so. But the feeling became so urgent that Williams told his crew to change course. They did so reluctantly, warning against the delay. Then a sailor spotted something through his spyglass -- a white flag. More than a dozen shipwrecked men, destitute and near starvation, had been praying for a miracle -- someone to rescue them in the nick of time.
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Prayer is an invisible force that, through God, can accomplish more than we could ever imagine. It can alter the course of ships and change the course of lives. Especially in times of crisis, our prayers -- coming from a heart of faith filled with praise -- can gain God's blessings on life's tempestuous sea.
There can be no loftier exercise of soul ever given to created intelligence than to come into conscious contact with the living God, and be able to say, "My Father."
Daniel W. Whittle, in The Wonders of Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2010-12&version=NKJV )
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Friday, May 3
Welcome to the Den
My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me.
Daniel 6:22
Recommended Reading
Daniel 6:10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206:10-11&version=NKJV )
Psalm 11:3 asks: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Sometimes we feel we're living in the reality of that verse. As humanism and secularism erode the Judeo-Christian foundations of society, Christians face hostility from a secular culture.
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The prophet Daniel might respectfully say, "Welcome to the club" or, more accurately, to the "den." At the time of the events in Daniel 6, the aged prophet had devoted a lifetime to the welfare of the Babylonian and Persian empires. He had guided the affairs of state with wisdom. Even his enemies "could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him" (Daniel 6:4). But they hated him anyway and conspired to feed him to the lions.
The lions, of course, missed their meal because the angel of the Lord shut their mouths. In due time, He will shut the mouths of our critics too. In the meantime, dare to be a Daniel, and let the growling of the lions be a time for growing in the Lord.
His enemies had counted on the lions taking care of Daniel. What they hadn't counted on was his God taking care of Daniel.
Tony Evans
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2013-16&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, May 4 & 5
May Flowers: An English Garden
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made ...
Psalm 139:14a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 8:4-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208:4-9&version=NKJV )
Prior to the eighteenth century, gardens in Europe were formal and by design like the famous gardens at the French chateaus at Versailles and Chantilly. But in England, gardens began to revert to a more natural state, thanks in large part to the American naturalist John Bartram, who shipped countless boxes of American seeds and plants to England. English gardeners allowed these new trees, shrubs, and flowers to grow naturally with a minimal amount of shaping. The goal was for the plants to express their uniqueness according to nature's design, not man's.
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In a parallel sense, we can think of humanity as God's landscape of unique creations. Yes, by His design every person bears His image (Genesis 1:26-27), yet within that unifying factor is the infinite diversity and uniqueness of individuals. Not only is every person unique in appearance, we are individual in our talents, abilities, and, for Christians, spiritual gifts.
Rejoice today, and give God thanks, for the fact that you are fearfully and wonderfully made -- a unique creation in the amazing landscape that fills the earth.
Man is a creature, because he is made by God. But he is a unique creature, because he is made like God.
Edmund P. Clowney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 17–23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2017 )
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Monday, May 6
Faith to Endure
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of [the prophets] who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Hebrews 11:32-33
Recommended Reading
Daniel 6:23-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206:23-28&version=NKJV )
Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days, Touching Matters of the Church was written by the Englishman John Foxe and published in 1563. Foxe's book (known today as Foxe's Book of Martyrs ) chronicled the suffering and martyrdom of Christians in England and Scotland at the hands of the ruling Roman Catholic Church. It remains the most thorough account of Christian martyrdom ever written.
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The prophet Daniel, had he lived later, could have been included in Foxe's book, but with a happier ending than Foxe's subjects. Daniel's well-known consignment to a den of lions by the king of Babylon, and his emergence unharmed, is a testament to the prophet's faith. Few Christians in the West suffer life-threatening persecutions for their faith. But all Christians should consider the possibility and how they might respond. Is my faith strong enough to see me through, even to the point of death for Christ?
Ask God today for the grace and help to prepare you for what many have already endured -- to have faith that is greater than any foe (Hebrews 4:16).
Persecution often does in this life, what the last great day will do completely, separate the wheat from the tares.
James Milner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2024-26&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, May 7
Looking Forward
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
2 Peter 3:14
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 3:14-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:14-18&version=NKJV )
What are you looking forward to? Maybe a trip later this year? Your summer vacation? The birth of a child or grandchild? Summer break from school? The capacity to "look forward" is one of God's greatest gifts. We look backward with thanksgiving at what God has done for us, but we look forward with anticipation -- whatever our circumstances -- because the Christian's best experiences are always ahead.
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Hebrews 11:10 (ESV) says that Abraham "was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." Peter said, "In keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13, NIV).
If you've been looking behind you with sorrow or around you with sadness, fix your eyes on what's ahead. God's future for His children is beyond our imagination. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne?
Charles Spurgeon in Morning and Evening
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 27-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2027-29&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, May 8
Hover Boards
And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.
Daniel 8:26
Recommended Reading
Daniel 8:18-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%208:18-27&version=NKJV )
For a good laugh, look at some old movies and notice how they tried to predict the future. In 1952, a movie titled April 2000 envisioned a one-world government under the head of a Global Union President. When Austria tried to pull out of the Union, the President arrived in a flying saucer with an army equipped with death-ray guns to quell the rebellion. In the 1968 movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, filmmakers envisioned long-distance space travel by 2001. More recently, Back to the Future showed earthlings riding around on "hover boards" in 2015.
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Not even the most creative human minds can accurately envision the future. But the Lord dwells in eternity and knows the future as if it had already happened. Every detail of every day is perfectly known by Him. He's revealed crucial elements of future events to us in His Word, and we know that God's prophecies are sure and certain -- they will unfold exactly as promised. We can be certain of that.
You may not have a flying saucer in your future, but you have a coming Savior.
God knows everything in one eternal now, including the past, present, and future. And God knows the future before it happens in time.
Norman L. Geisler
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%201-4&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, May 9
The Eternal Kingdom
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 12:28
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Psalm%2046&version=NKJV )
The world and the people around us change every day. Just as Christ foretold, we are hearing about wars and rumors of wars; but we do not need to be afraid.
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God has promised that His kingdom will never be shaken. His words are true. It's hard to imagine a world without conflict and change. Only God can promise us an unshakeable kingdom because He is unshakeable. No one can stand in the way of God. His divine kingdom is unique because it will never be conquered or divided.
Embrace this promise and trust in the One making the promise. He is our refuge and strength. We are secure in Him and will not be moved.
God doesn't make suggestions. He speaks with the full determination to see that what He has said will come to fruition.
Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 5-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%205-7%20&version=NKJV )
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Friday, May 10
The Mystery of God
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 63 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2063&version=NKJV )
Before a stranger becomes a friend, you must get to know him. This takes time. No two people are the same. The same is true of God. He is different from any being we have known. We could spend all of eternity considering His attributes and never exhaust the subject.
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The complexity, detail and wonder of nature illustrate this. Take a leaf for example. It has color, has veins, and feeds the plant using sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide to fuel. This is one part of creation. If creation is this unique, intricate and complex, how much more is the Creator!
Thankfully we have our entire lives, both on earth and in eternity, to learn and reflect on who God is. Keep calm and worship Him.
What repeatedly enters your mind occupies your mind, eventually shapes your mind, and will ultimately express itself in what you do and who you become.
John Ortberg
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 8-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%208-11%20&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, May 11 & 12
May Flowers: Special Delivery
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Proverbs 31:28
Recommended Reading
1 Kings 2:18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%202:18-20&version=NKJV )
Julia Ward Howe (d. 1910) was a prominent American activist who called for a "Mother's Day for Peace" in 1872. Later attempts to honor mothers were unsuccessful until Anna Jarvis of West Virginia created the forerunner of today's Mother's Day in 1908 in honor of her mother. President Woodrow Wilson formalized Mother's Day nationally in 1914. Jarvis died in 1948 regretting that her holiday had become so overly commercialized. In the midst of the commercialization, however, Mother's Day is third only to Christmas and Easter in terms of church attendance in America.
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Fortunately, the Judeo-Christian tradition has all the reasons needed to support and honor mothers every day of the year. Children are to bless their mother, and husbands are to praise her not just on the second Sunday of May but throughout the year. Just as Solomon bowed down before his mother, Bathsheba, and set a throne for her next to his own, so the mothers in our lives deserve equal honor (1 Kings 2:19).
Pray today, with thanksgiving, for God's blessings on those with the high calling of motherhood.
I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England.
John Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 12-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2012-20&version=NKJV )
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Monday, May 13
Test the Spirits
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
Recommended Reading
Daniel 7:15-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207:15-28&version=NKJV )
Caveat emptor is a Latin phrase that means "let the buyer beware." While literally the phrase referred to a buyer's diminished rights after the sale of property ("look before you buy"), it serves as a warning to all who are about to buy or believe anything.
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The apostle John issued a spiritual version of caveat emptor in his first letter when he wrote, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God." Why? "Because many false prophets have gone out into the world." A day is coming when a political leader will rise up on the world stage and tell the world he can bring peace and prosperity if only people will give him their allegiance. And many people will -- and they will suffer the consequences. This Antichrist will speak eloquently and boastfully, and his false prophet assistant will work miracles. At that time as in no other, people will need to "test the spirits."
All Christians should be like the first century Bereans who studied the Scriptures daily to separate truth from error (Acts 17:11).
The way to test yourself, the way to test any man, is to look below the surface.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 21-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2021-24&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, May 14
Be Prayerful and Careful
Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them.
Deuteronomy 11:16
Recommended Reading
Mark 13:21-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2013:21-23&version=NKJV )
Does a deceived person know he or she is deceived? By definition, No. It is, in fact, possible to be deceived about deception. For instance, many Christians are not aware that, while the coming Antichrist is an individual human person, there is a spirit of the Antichrist already let loose in the world causing many to be deceived (1 John 4:1-3).
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The spirit of the Antichrist is, of course, Satan -- "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44, NIV). Satan's native language is lies, and his primary methodology is deception by counterfeiting the truth. To miss a target by an inch has the same result as missing by a mile, and Satan is satisfied with an inch's -- worth of error in what he promotes on earth. Satan's main tactic in spiritual warfare is to misrepresent the Word and character of God. And the closer we get to the end of the age, the more deception he will attempt to foist on the human race.
Go slow, be careful and prayerful, and test everything by patience and the Word of God. Ask God to examine what you believe and to confirm by His Word any error (Psalm 139:23-24).
The fundamental deception of Satan is the lie that obedience can never bring happiness.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 25-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2025-28&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, May 15
Cunning and Innocence
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
Genesis 3:1a
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 5:3-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%205:3-6&version=NKJV )
We often miss, in English, the subtleties of the Bible's original languages. For example, in the story of Adam and Eve's temptation and fall into sin, the serpent is described as "cunning." Before their encounter with the serpent, Adam and Eve are described as "naked." What we don't see in English is that the Hebrew words for "cunning" ('arum) and "naked" ('arom) are almost identical. This was no linguistic coincidence.
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Moses' point was to link the serpent's craftiness with Adam and Eve's innocence, symbolized by their nakedness. The serpent was no doubt beautiful in appearance and his words were definitely persuasive -- words that piqued the first couple's interest and appealed to their human desires to taste what was forbidden. By yielding to the serpent's charisma, their eyes were opened and their innocence lost.
The point: Innocence is often lost at the hands of that which is crafty, beautiful, or charismatic. Every follower of Jesus must be wise about what is good and innocent amidst what is evil (Matthew 10:16).
The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 29-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2029-31&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, May 16
A Defeated Foe
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:7-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020:7-10&version=NKJV )
Some readers of novels begin on page one and read page by page until the conclusion. They want to experience the questions, the tension, the crises, and the surprises just as the author intended. Others begin their reading five pages from the end. They want the context of the conclusion to provide a backdrop before they return and begin reading at the start.
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The Bible is not a novel, and certainly not a work of fiction, though it does follow a generally chronological path from Genesis to Revelation. So there is value in reading the Bible from beginning to end. But it is also entirely legitimate to read the last chapters first. When we read about the doom of Satan (Revelation 20) and the forthcoming New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22), we are given great confidence as to how things play out in the end. The apostle John put it best: "... the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
Face this day with the confidence that the Bible's final pages declare: Satan is a defeated foe, and you are a victor in Christ!
Satan, as in his first temptation, is still on the losing side.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 32-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2032-34&version=NKJV )
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Friday, May 17
Caution: Trouble Ahead
Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Jeremiah 30:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:21-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Matthew%2024:21-25&version=NKJV )
In hindsight, we can usually look back after a world-changing event and see signs that indicated trouble was coming. Biblical prophecy gives us the ability to look forward and see both the signs and the events.
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That is true of the coming Great Tribulation -- the seven-year period of "trouble" that will come upon the earth. The Bible tells us clearly that this period of time is coming, but it doesn't tell us when. But like all world-level events, there will be signs that tell us the Tribulation is getting closer. What kind of signs? If the Tribulation is going to be a time of trouble like the world has never seen, then we should look for "troubling" signs in the world. And there are more of those in our day than ever before. Wars, diseases, natural disasters, geopolitical turmoil, economic instability -- these are troubles that will only be magnified in the coming Tribulation.
Just because the Church will not go through the Tribulation is no reason to take these signs lightly. We should be even more motivated to share the Gospel with those destined for that great time of trouble.
We are not to require "signs," but we are to regard signs.
Ian MacPherson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 35-36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2035-36&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, May 18 & 19
May Flowers: The Tudor Rose
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:3-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:3-6&version=NKJV )
The War of the Roses was a series of mid-fifteenth-century battles between two competing families (houses) for the right to the English throne. The leader of the House of Lancaster was Henry VII (whose emblem was a red rose) and the House of York was represented by Richard III (symbolized by a white rose). Henry VII proved victorious in the battles and ascended to the throne. To promote unity in the country, Richard married Elizabeth of York and adopted what came to be called the Tudor Rose: a red rose with a smaller white rose in the center.
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While it's easy to get lost in the details of British monarchical history, sometimes the history of Christian division is no less daunting and confusing. Hundreds and hundreds of separate denominations and groups attempt to maintain "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). While the average Christian can do little to break down denominational borders, we can certainly disassemble them at the personal level.
Do whatever you can to demonstrate the unifying love by which Jesus said the world will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35).
In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Richard Baxter
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%201-7&version=NKJV )
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Monday, May 20
Life's Final Test
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 13:33
Recommended Reading
Titus 2:11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%202:11-14&version=NKJV )
Anybody who has been to school knows what "cramming" is. We know a test is coming but we fail to prepare until the last minute. Often a syllabus is handed out at the beginning of the course that has the dates of each test—so students know exactly what is coming. Yet it is human nature to put off until tomorrow what we can prepare for today.
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The Bible is like that syllabus. It tells anyone who will read it of the last great test humanity will face: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus Christ will return to earth to judge the world and establish His righteous kingdom of peace and justice. Many have heard this truth and have postponed preparing for this final test, the only preparation being to place one's faith in Christ Himself. And many Christians, who will also be tested by Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10), are failing to live in such a way that will result in rewards for their faithfulness.
If you do not know Christ, prepare today by accepting Him as Savior and Lord. And if you do know Him, live today in a manner that declares your faith.
No one is redeemed except through unmerited mercy, and no one is condemned except through merited judgment.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%208-10&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, May 21
The Unlying God
It is impossible for God to lie.
Hebrews 6:18
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:13-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%206:13-20&version=NKJV )
In his book of theology, Wayne Grudem writes, "With respect to His promises, God always does what He promises to do, and we can depend on Him never to be unfaithful to His promises. Thus, He is a God of faithfulness ... In fact, this specific aspect of God's truthfulness is sometimes viewed as a distinct attribute: God's faithfulness means that God will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised ... He can be relied upon, and He will never prove unfaithful to those who trust what He has said. Indeed, the essence of true faith is taking God at His word and relying on Him to do as He has promised."1
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Among our friends, we have none who is fully trustworthy. Given enough time and the right circumstances, even our dearest loved ones may fail us in some way. But our Lord will never fail, never lie, never disappoint, never betray, never double-cross, never mislead, never forget, or let us down. He is the unlying, undying God.
God always speaks truth when He speaks. He is "the unlying God."
Wayne Grudem
1Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 195-196.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%201-3&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, May 22
Armstrong or Strong Arm
You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
Psalm 89:13 (NASB)
Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:36-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:36-42&version=NKJV )
When cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted to doping and lying, USA Today ran an article on how he could get back into good graces, saying: "He just has to repent -- or appear to," in four stages: Confession ("I did it"); Contrition ("I'm sorry I did it"); Conversion ("I will not do it again"); and Atonement ("I will do this because I did that").1
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Those terms have a biblical ring to them; but when celebrities go on television with their scandals it often seems more like damage control and media manipulation than genuine repentance.
How refreshing in an age of flawed heroes to turn to the most honest person in history. Everything Jesus said is true, spoken earnestly for our good. His words about the future are as truthful as His other teachings. Jesus predicted all that is to come from now until His return, and both His promises and His person are perfectly reliable.
In days like these, we can lean on His strong arm.
Every other refuge in which you may seek safety and rest will, sooner or later, turn out to be a refuge of lies; but the refuge to be found in Jesus will never disappoint your hopes: it will abide forever.
Anonymous quote in a nineteenth-century tract
1Rick Hampson "Can You Forgive Lance Armstrong?", USA Today, January 18, 2013, 1A.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%204-7&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, May 23
Tragic Ending
But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse.
2 Timothy 3:13
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 3:10-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:10-17&version=NKJV )
A tragic but bizarre story appeared in Florida newspapers earlier this year. A sixty-eight-year-old man in the Panhandle had just driven into the driveway of his home and stepped out of the car to open the gate. He left the car door open, and his excited dog jumped into the vehicle, somehow hit the accelerator, ran over the man, and killed him.
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The point of the story is that some days we feel like strange forces are accelerating history. The human race is careening into the Last Days with an alarming speed. The Bible teaches that evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
As Christians, we needn't worry about what lies ahead. We know whose hand is guiding history.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake. To guide the future, as He has the past.
Katharina A. von Schlegel, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%208-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 24 "Blessed Is Your Advice"
The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings.
1 Samuel 25:3
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 25:23-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2025:23-33&version=NKJV )
Question: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Answer: A woman has to intervene.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In 1 Samuel 25, David, running for his life accompanied by a group of malcontents, sought help from a surly and stingy man named Nabal. Conflict and bloodshed seemed inevitable until Nabal's wife, Abigail, saddled her donkey and sought out David to appeal for peace. Her measured and reasonable words prompted David to reply, "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice" (verses 32-33).
One day Jesus will bring peace to the world, but until then we can take His message of peace to others and be peacemakers at home, work, and school. We can give such wise counsel that others will say, "Blessed is your advice." Do you know an angry soul? Can you say a word to bring calmness to his or her heart and pour oil on troubled waters? "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).
Lord, help me be a person who speaks words that build up and not tear down.
Stormie Omartian in A Book of Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, May 25 & 26
May Flowers: Victory Bouquet
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:3-5&version=NKJV )
Floral students at several British colleges were given a daunting assignment in the summer of 2012: help put together 4,800 victory bouquets to be presented to the medal recipients in the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed by a British floral icon, the late Jane Packer, each bouquet contained four groups of English roses (yellow, orange, green, pink), 10 sprigs each of rosemary, apple mint, and wheat, and 60 sprigs of lavender -- all English-grown.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
To win an Olympic medal is perhaps one of history's most coveted kinds of victory -- whether gold, silver, or bronze. But the apostles made more than one reference to victory crowns in their day, especially athletic crowns, that will ultimately fade away -- contrasting them with the "imperishable ... crown of glory that does not fade away..." (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Peter 5:4). The victory over death won by Jesus Christ is the victory in which we share as His followers.
Few of us will breathe the rarified air atop an Olympic victory stand. But all it takes is faith in Jesus to participate in eternity's greatest victory celebration.
Let's keep our chins up and our knees down -- we're on the victory side!
Alan Redpath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Esther 1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, May 27
Earthly Distractions
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Mark 13:8a
Recommended Reading
Daniel 10:1-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2010:1-21&version=NKJV )
Wars and conflicts are a part of life in a fallen world. But behind those conflicts are spiritual realities and dynamics that demand our attention and our involvement. That's the reason Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Only when the spiritual dynamics on earth are changed will the physical dynamics between nations and people change as well.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Job 1-2 and Daniel 10 give glimpses into how spiritual realities affect life on earth. Satan likes nothing better than to stir up conflict and foment rebellion on earth. For when man is fighting against man, then man's attention is taken away from God. When man is occupied with physical realities alone -- peace between nations and individuals -- then spiritual realities escape his attention. Creation's groaning is heard in part in the cries of humans in conflict with one another (Romans 8:18-22).
It is the Christian's duty to stay focused on heavenly citizenship and realities, to pray for the kingdom of God to be consummated on earth. Pray today for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.
We must never settle for harmony at the expense of holiness, nor for peace at the expense of principle.
John Bradford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, May 28
Grant Me Wisdom
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:18-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:18-23&version=NKJV )
Throughout the Bible, the sacred writers warned of a coming man of lawlessness who would be history's ultimate dictator and antichrist. The Book of Daniel says he will be a king "having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.... He shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes" (Daniel 8:23-25).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
But the apostle John makes another point: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18).
We need to be sensitive to the fact that when someone claims to have all the answers, perhaps they're simply exalting themselves and misrepresenting their true motives, as the Antichrist will do when he comes. Let's be as wise as serpents, asking God for wisdom to weigh the words of others. Don't believe everything you hear, and don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1).
Thy Word alone true wisdom can impart; thou only canst instruct the mind. and purify the heart.
George W. Doane, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%205-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, May 29
Fooled by Peace
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
Daniel 9:27
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:25-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:25-27&version=NKJV )
Bible scholars have speculated for centuries about the identity of the Antichrist. Some years ago, speculation swirled around Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. During apostolic times, Nero was a prime suspect. Trying to identify the Antichrist is not a totally futile exercise, for we should be on our guard at all times. The names mentioned above and others are likely precursors to the future and ultimate Antichrist, as were Antiochus and Alexander the Great.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We don't know who the Antichrist is, but one thing we do know. When he comes, he will try to imitate Jesus Christ, even to the point of appearing as a peacemaker. He will establish a peace covenant with Israel, and then break it. The human race is so desperately seeking peace that we're vulnerable to being fooled. But there's only one real Prince of Peace. Jesus alone can bring peace to the human heart and to the human race. Accept no substitutes. Be fooled by no imitations.
[The Antichrist] is both a false Christ and against Christ. He masquerades as an angel of light only to plunge the world into spiritual darkness.
Tim LaHaye
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 9-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%209-12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, May 30
Few Agonizers
Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary.
Daniel 9:17
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:17-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:17-19&version=NKJV )
In his book, Why Revival Tarries, the late preacher Leonard Ravenhill wrote of the prayerlessness of many churches. "We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
If you want to see a man of God in prayer, look at the ninth chapter of Daniel. He set his face toward the Lord to make requests by prayer and supplication in great humility and prolonged earnestness. He confessed his sins and those of his people. He pleaded for mercy, begging for God's "face to shine" on His sanctuary.
How could you improve your life of prayer? Could you take a little more time, be a little more specific, pray a little more frequently? What about devoting an entire hour to prayer, or a morning, or a day?
Lord, teach us to pray!
No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.
Leonard Ravenhill
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 13-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2013-16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, May 31
Prayer, Not Despair
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:12
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:12-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%204:12-18&version=NKJV )
Epaphras is our model when it comes to praying for our children, grandchildren, or other loved ones who need a strengthening touch from the Lord. One translation renders this verse: "He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (NIV). Notice how he prayed -- laboring fervently and wrestling. Notice what he prayed -- that his friends would stand firm and complete, fully assured in the will of God.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
If you want to see a man of God in prayer, look at the ninth chapter of Daniel. He set his face toward the Lord to make requests by prayer and supplication in great humility and prolonged earnestness. He confessed his sins and those of his people. He pleaded for mercy, begging for God's "face to shine" on His sanctuary.
Why not adopt an Epaphras attitude toward someone on your heart. Perhaps your child or brother or friend has a problem you can't solve. No words or actions of yours can make things better. No, but you can pray. You can wrestle in prayer. You can plead fervently, knowing the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16). Remember what Samuel told Israel: Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you (1 Samuel 12:23).
Try prayer, not despair.
Like a perspiring wrestler straining every muscle, summoning every last ounce of strength.... Epaphras prayed to the point of exhaustion.
J. Oswald Sanders
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 17-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2017-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 1 & 2
Impact
Benjamin Franklin remains a household name more than two hundred years after his death. To be remembered after your death, Franklin said, you must either write things worth reading or do things worth writing about -- and he seems to have done both.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Being remembered is a worthy goal, but not for reasons of fame. Instead, the legacy we leave behind for our children and others is definitely worth considering. It's not important that people write books about us. But it is important that they be encouraged to live a good and godly life because of being touched by the life we lived.
Make a positive impact on the road to new life.
Discover God's ways to impact lives for eternity . . . on Route 66.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 21-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2021-30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, June 3
Two Cans and a String
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
1 Samuel 1:10
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 1:8-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%201:8-18&version=NKJV )
Remember playing with two cans and a string? The science behind that children's toy really works. When you take two cans or paper cups, punch holes in the bottom of them, and stretch a string between them, you've recreated a primitive phone. The sound of your voice vibrates the bottom of the cup at 1,000 times a second, and the vibrations run along the string, making the bottom of the second cup vibrate with sound waves. The early telephones worked the same way, except the wires were electric.
Listen To Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Whenever we pray, God is on the other end of the line with His ear to the cup, hearing every word and listening to every vibration of our voices. He hears even the faintest sigh. The prophet Daniel prayed regularly all his life and history was changed. The apostle Paul prayed, and cities were opened to the Gospel. Hannah prayed and God lifted her burden.
If you're in anguish or distress, you don't need two cans and a string. Two bent knees and a broken heart will do just fine.
Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 31-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2031-34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 4
Sandpapering Your Fingers
I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
Acts 24:16
Recommended Reading
Acts 24:10-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2024:10-16&version=NKJV )
Occasionally in the movies we'll see gunslingers, pickpockets, and safecrackers sandpaper their fingertips to make them more sensitive so that they can better feel the trigger of the gun, the wallet in the victim's coat, or the tumblers in the dial of a lock. Whether this happens in real life is anyone's guess, but it does illustrate the issue of sensitivity. When our skin becomes callused, it's harder to feel things. Remember how tough our feet became as children running around barefoot in the summer? We could step on thistles and thorns without pain.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The Bible warns against letting our conscience become callused or seared (1 Timothy 4:2). We need a tender conscience, like that of Paul who said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Acts 23:1). The prophet Daniel gives us an example of someone who was sensitive to sin and temptation, striving to maintain a pure conscience in a pagan world.
Beware a callused conscience. Learn to align your conscience to the Scriptures and keep it tender before God.
The good conscience is lost in most cases, not by adopting a heretical creed, but by indulging in the pleasures of sin.
William Arnot, nineteenth-century Scottish preacher
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 35-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2035-38&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 5
Not My Will
Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.
Luke 22:42
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:1-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:1-19&version=NKJV )
One of the hardest human challenges is to submit. It begins when toddlers learn to obey their parents when they want to say, "No!" As children of God, we live with that challenge all our life -- submitting our will to the will of the Father when all we can think of is "Why?"
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When the prophet Daniel was a captive in Babylon, he read from the prophet Jeremiah that Israel's exile would last 70 years (Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 25:11). And so Daniel turned to God in prayer to pray in accordance with the will of God. He didn't complain or protest that Israel was in captivity. Rather, in humility, he agreed with God that Israel deserved to be there (Daniel 9:1-19). Daniel displayed humility (verse 3), worship (verse 4), confession (verses 5-15), and petition (verses 16-19). Yes, he asked for the captivity to end. But he couched his request in submission to God's will -- just as Jesus did in the most difficult moment of His life: "...not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).
If you wish God's will for your life were different right now, before asking for it to be different, agree with God that His will is worth submitting to.
The essence of sin is arrogance; the essence of salvation is submission.
Alan Redpath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 39-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2039-42&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 6
Letting God Be God
And [Gabriel] informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand."
Daniel 9:22
Recommended Reading
Galatians 6:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206:6-10&version=NKJV )
When we read in the Bible that we "reap what we sow" (Galatians 6:7), we first think of agriculture. Next, we think of our behavior -- sowing kindness reaps kindness in return. But the principle of sowing and reaping applies to everything in the kingdom of God.
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When the prophet Daniel sowed humility, he reaped wisdom and the "skill to understand" his situation. The angel Gabriel appeared to explain something Daniel had never considered -- something that was a brand new insight. Daniel thought Israel had been consigned to 70 years of discipline. But Gabriel showed Daniel that Israel's future would last not 70 years, but 70 sevens of years -- or 490 years (Daniel 9:24). Gabriel went on to explain the details to Daniel (Daniel 9:25-27). Daniel sowed humility and reaped wisdom. Daniel sowed the freedom to let God be God and reaped freedom that came with understanding.
If you are seeking freedom -- or anything else -- from God, first give God the right to be God in your life. Sowing submission brings a harvest of freedom and understanding.
Suffering times are a Christian's harvest times.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%201-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 7
The God Who Hears
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
Isaiah 59:1-3
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:14-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:14-15&version=NKJV)
Imagine a child approaching her father to ask for something. He doesn't acknowledge the request or the presence of his daughter by his chair. In fact, he appears not to have heard the question or even be aware that she is asking.
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Every feeling person recoils at such indifference. And the Bible presents the exact opposite of such a scenario when it comes to our requests before God. We are told, in the plainest of terms, to let our requests be made known to God, who is a loving Father (Matthew 7:7; Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:6-7. God may not give the answer immediately, but God hears and considers our every thoughtful prayer. He never neglects our petitions when we pray. In two cases, the prophet Daniel was told that God heard his prayers as soon as Daniel opened his mouth (Daniel 9:23; 10:12). In both situations, the answers were dispatched immediately. In one case, the answer arrived immediately; in the other, spiritual warfare delayed the answer by three weeks.
When you pray, know that God hears even before you speak (Matthew 6:8). And know that His answer will not be late.
Anxiety and prayer are more opposed to each other than fire and water.
J. A. Bengel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 9-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%209-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 8 & 9
Healing
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Sometimes a family pet may stop eating and spend an unusual amount of time sleeping or resting. Our tendency is to make them better with remedies. But animals seem to know instinctively that the first thing, often the best thing, to do is to rest and wait for healing to come naturally.
I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't take our pet to the vet -- rather, that we might imitate them when we are feeling out of sorts. Instead of trying to "fix" our problem with activity, perhaps we need to rest -- to grow quiet enough to hear God's still, small voice speaking to our heart.
Find restoration on the road to new life.
Discover God's repose ... on Route 66.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 18-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2018-27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, June 10
Don't Work a Day in Your Life
A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:4-10 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:4-10&version=NKJV ]
Confucius said, "Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life." When you're doing what God wants you to do, there's work; but there's joy in the work. We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When evangelist George Whitefield was going to speak to a large crowd near the end of his life, someone commented on his feebleness. He acknowledged the observation; but, clasping his hands, simply prayed: "Lord Jesus, I am weary in Thy work, but not of it. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for Thee once more."1
We don't always know the dates God has set for accomplishing His plans for us, but we know He has a perfect plan. We may grow weary in the work; but the joy of the Lord is our strength as we press on to finish our course.
Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.
George Whitefield
1Helen C. Knight, Lady Huntington and Her Friends (New York: American Tract Society, 1853), 208.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 28-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2028-33&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 11
483 Years
And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself....
Daniel 9:26
Recommended Reading
Daniel 9:20-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209:20-27&version=NKJV)
In the days of Daniel, Jerusalem lay in ruins, having been destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C. But Daniel 9:20-27 predicted a decree to rebuild the city, and the issuing of that decree would trigger a timeline -- seven periods of seven years, followed by sixty-two periods of seven years, at the end of which the Messiah would be "cut off."
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Do the math: 7 x 7 = 49; and 62 x 7 = 434. Add 49 to 434, and you get 483 years.
Daniel predicted that 483 years after the decree for rebuilding Jerusalem, the Messiah would come into Jerusalem and be put to death. There are several ways of calculating this. They vary in detail, but here's the simplicity of it: The order to rebuild Jerusalem was issued by King Artaxerxes in the Book of Nehemiah. And 483 years later, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and was crucified exactly when Daniel had predicted.
If the Lord knows history's timeline, don't you think you can trust Him with yours? You can say with Psalm 31:15: "My times are in Your hand."
Psalm 22 vividly describes how Christ would die... Isaiah 53 describes why Christ would die... (Daniel 9) adds to this verse by identifying when Christ would die.
Bill Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 34-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2034-37&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 12
Safety in Christ
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:10
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:15-18&version=NKJV )
When young recruits go through military basic training, slogging through the rain and mud, they are reminded, "You can do anything for eight weeks!" The promise of an end to travails gives strength and hope to carry on.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Like a prophetic calendar, Daniel's vision of 70 weeks was like a chronology of hope (Daniel 9:24-27). Strangely, the last seven-year week held the promise not of consolation but of trouble and trial. A great abomination would occur in Jerusalem's temple (Daniel 9:27). It turns out, the seventieth week is the climax of the period known by Jeremiah as "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7) -- a time of judgment and cleansing in Israel and the world. We know that period as the Great Tribulation. Fortunately, those in the body of Christ will not undergo that week of judgment. They will have been removed from earth by Christ at the Rapture. The full revelation of Scripture assures Christians that their destiny is not judgment but salvation and safety in Christ.
We may with the greatest assurance depend upon God for the safety of His church.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 38-42 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2038-42&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 13
Love and Trouble
Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand). . . .
Matthew 24:15
Recommended Reading
Daniel 11:31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2011:31&version=NKJV )
The most common complaint against the notion of a loving God is that such a God would not allow the suffering and trouble seen in the world. Trouble in the world doesn't mean God is not good or powerful. Rather, it means God has reasons and plans that may not be plain to us.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When Joseph went through trouble in his life, he recognized that God had a greater purpose, one that resulted in good for his whole family (Genesis 50:19-21). And the apostle who endured tremendous trouble and suffering for the sake of Christ is the same apostle who wrote that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). That purpose, Paul wrote, is "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). Just as God has a purpose for individuals, God has a purpose for the world -- that it might reflect His goodness and beauty.
When you see God's world marred by sin, never forget that God's purposes are always at work and will be fulfilled.
The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete.
Augustus M. Toplady
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 43-49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2043-49&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 14
Set Your Heart
Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard."
Daniel 10:12a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 26:36-46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:36-46&version=NKJV )
Many things tell a lot about a person: how he spends his money and what she does with her free time. What a person does when pressured or burdened may say the most since burdens are something we want to escape. Where we turn with our troubles reveals who or what we think is able to deliver us.
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Great characters in Scripture always turned to God. Hannah cried out to God (1 Samuel 1:10). David petitioned the Lord (Psalm 34:4). Paul called on God over and over (2 Corinthians 12:8). And Jesus stayed in the presence of the Father seeking understanding of the trial He faced (Matthew 26:39). Daniel did the same, and the phrase used to describe his attitude characterizes all who see God as their first stop in times of confusion: Daniel "set [his] heart to understand" (Daniel 10:12). In that phrase is a sense of commitment and perseverance. There is no desire for a quick answer but rather for a heart that understands.
If you have questions today, set your heart before God to gain His understanding.
The Christian faith is ultimately not only a matter of doctrine or understanding or of intellect, it is a condition of the heart.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 50-55 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2050-55&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 15 & 16
Repetition
You and I have forgotten a lot that we used to know. Perhaps it is an algebraic formula from a math class, or a telephone number, or the words of a hymn. The saying is definitely true, "Out of sight, out of mind." We eventually forget those things we stop using.
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The author of Psalm 119 said that he continually set God's judgments before him so he could walk in them. And he used the nighttime hours, watching the sheep, as a way to meditate on God's Word. In order to know and remember the truth of God's Word, we must continually keep it before us.
Persistently study the Bible on the road to new life.
Discover God's promises through the study of His Word . . . on Route 66.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 56-68 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2056-68&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, June 17
333
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 33:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2033:1-3&version=NKJV )
When pastor and author Robert J. Morgan was visiting Vietnam, he met an aged pastor who had been imprisoned for his faith in earlier days. "My two 333s got me through the experience," said the man. "The first was Jeremiah 33:3: 'Call to Me, and I will answer you....' The other was Number 333 in the Vietnamese hymnbook." When asked the name of the hymn, the man couldn't think how to say it in English, so he started singing it. Instantly Pastor Morgan recognized the tune: "Face to face with Christ my Savior."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Sometimes when we pray, the answers don't come exactly when or as we'd like. But we should keep on praying and singing, for God will be faithful to our 333s and to all the other verses and songs He gives us.
If you have questions today, set your heart before God to gain His understanding.
Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!
Carrie E. Breck
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 69-72 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2069-72&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 18
Too Busy to Pray?
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:2-3a
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-6&version=NKJV )
As far as we can tell, earth still spins at exactly the same speed as when King David wrote Psalm 23 and when Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled." But it surely seems to have sped up for most of us. Instead of long walks into town, we jump in our cars and fight the traffic. Instead of slow cruises across the Atlantic, we take flights of six jet-lagged hours. Rather than going to bed at sunset, we work into the night and deprive ourselves of sleep.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It's better to be busy than bored; but being too busy to pray is a clear indication our schedule is no longer under the Holy Spirit's control. Jesus interspersed periods of intense activity with seasons of withdrawal, carefully guarding His spiritual and emotional well-being.
If you're rushed at prayer, something's wrong. Stop a moment, figure out how you can again enjoy your necessary daily time with the Lord, and let Him restore your soul. Beware the barrenness of busyness.
Most of us are far too busy for our own spiritual good.
Bill Hybels
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 73-77 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2073-77&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 19
History and Prophecy
And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.
Daniel 8:26
Recommended Reading
Ezekiel 12:27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2012:27&version=NKJV )
Michel de Nostredame, popularly referred to as Nostradamus, lived in sixteenth-century France. The first edition of his book The Prophecies appeared in 1555 and has remained in print. While the prophecies of Nostradamus have been misinterpreted, mistranslated, and misapplied so as to connect them with world events, no serious scholar assigns any predictive accuracy to them.
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This is not so with the prophecies of Daniel. They have proven to be so accurate regarding the movement of world powers -- Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman -- that many have concluded they were written after the fact instead of before. One must either conclude that Daniel's prophecies are divinely inspired or that they represent history, not prophecy. Those who deny divine revelation frequently assign a human cause for prophecy that seems to accurately predict the future. Because history unfolded just as Daniel predicted, the prophecies yet to be fulfilled come to us with a divine stamp of certainty.
Offer praise and thanks to God today for the fact that He knows the future -- yours, as well as the world's.
In [God], history and prophecy are one and the same.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 78-80 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2078-80&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, June 20
The Value of Prophecy
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
1 Corinthians 14:3
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2018:21-22&version=NKJV )
Product user guides -- especially the "WARNING!" parts -- are provided so consumers remain safe, the products work as designed, and the purchaser enjoys the product. Those benefits are almost the same as the biblical benefits of prophecy: "edification and exhortation and comfort."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
We can think of edification as teaching and information -- God telling us what we need to know about the future and revealing to us His omniscience, the fact that He sees past, present, and future as one. Exhortation can be thought of as a warning in the present in light of dangers in the future. Anyone who reads prophecies about end-time events ought to be motivated to "get right with God" before it is too late. And comfort comes in the form of future hope and certainty when life is troubling in the present. When Daniel received prophecies about the Son of Man and His eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14), they were words of comfort to those who were captive in Babylon.
Every Christian is a student of prophecy. Previously fulfilled prophecies give us certainty that the Word of God is true and the future is certain.
No Bible subject holds more practical implications than the matter of prophecy.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 81-88 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2081-88&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 21
"Ain't Gonna Study War No More"
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
Isaiah 9:6
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 9:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209:1-7&version=NKJV )
War is the final proof of humanity's overwhelming sinfulness. Some wars are necessary; some are justified; but all are tragic, involving youth who under other circumstances might be the best of friends, facing each other in a life-or-death struggle. Dwight Eisenhower summed it up saying, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
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Jesus predicted that "wars and rumors of wars" would persist till the end of time, but a day is coming when war will be no more. There will be a final battle at Armageddon, and in victory Jesus will bring an end to earth's cycle of violence.
[And] of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever (Isaiah 9:7).
We may grow discouraged in the face of world events, but reassurance comes in keeping our eyes on the face of our Prince of Peace.
In reading our newspapers today, we can see how God is setting the table, getting everything in order, preparing the way for Christ to return.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 89-94 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2089-94&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 22 & 23
Self-Knowledge
The great British man of letters, Samuel Johnson, once observed that "almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep."
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The apostle Paul had a remedy for that kind of thinking. In Romans 12 he wrote that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think; rather, we should think of ourselves in terms of the grace and gifts God has given us. When we learn to know and value ourselves as God knows us, we have gained true self-knowledge.
Get to know yourself on the road to new life.
Discover the grace and gifts God has given you . . . on Route 66.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 95-106
:angel:
Monday, June 24
A Sense of Urgency
David asked Ahimelek,"Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's mission was urgent."
1 Samuel 21:8 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Luke 24:44-52 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:44-52&version=NKJV )
John Kotter, a renowned authority on leadership, writes that urgency is an essential element for those wanting to be successful, for most people are more complacent than they realize. "Insufficient urgency," he writes, "with all of its consequences, can be found in winners and losers, businesses and governments. It can undermine a plant, an office, or a whole country. Conversely, in all of these situations, a high sense of urgency can help produce results, and a whole way of life."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As Christians, we know Jesus is coming to earth like a thief in the night. Time is short, and the task of spreading His Gospel and expanding His work is urgent. More than 150,000 people die each day, and most go into eternity without the Savior.
While we don't know the day or the hour of our Lord's return, we don't have forever to finish the task -- He's coming soon! May our hearts overflow with an overwhelming urgency to fulfill His purposes and His Great Commission. The King's business is urgent!
We are much too complacent. And we don't even know it . . . With an attitude of true urgency, you try to accomplish something important each day.
John Kotter
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 107-111 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20107-111&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, June 25
Heaven Rules
The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes....
Daniel 4:17 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Daniel 4:34-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204:34-37&version=NKJV )
The last of the Major Prophets tells the story of a prophet and statesman named Daniel, who was among the exiles from Judah living in Babylon during the time when the nation of Judah no longer existed and the city of Jerusalem no longer stood. From all observable evidence, God's promises to Israel had failed. The Jewish people, it seemed, were finished, and with them God's redemptive plan for the earth.
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But not so fast! The theme of the Book of Daniel is that the Most High still rules over the affairs of history regardless of who seems to be in control of the governmental centers of earth. The first six chapters of Daniel tell six stories emphasizing God's sovereign control over history, and the last six chapters give predictions as to God's plan for the future.
In every epoch, God's purposes are not delayed nor His decrees thwarted. Amid today's chaos and even during the coming Great Tribulation, God is and will forever be in control. We can rest assured "Heaven rules" (Daniel 4:26).
Apart from Christ, history is without final meaning, for real history is the history of redemption. History is His story.
J. Oswald Sanders
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 112-118 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20112-118&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, June 26
Forever Fame
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:38-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:38-40&version=NKJV )
When the word "star" is mentioned, images of Hollywood's celebrity culture come to mind. The bright lights of stardom and the glamour of the celebrity lifestyle appeal to all who don't possess them. But once attained, fame is fleeting and stardom is shallow. There is always a bigger, brighter level of stardom to achieve in the world.
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God described a different kind of stardom to the prophet Daniel. God's fame is based on wisdom and turning others to righteousness. The wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and the righteous will shine like the stars. And both will shine "forever and ever." When we are committed to the work of the Lord, the world may not recognize us, but we can be certain that God's "greats" do not go unrewarded.
The certainty of eternal life in the presence of God is a level of "celebrity" of which the world knows nothing -- star power that will shine forever.
If the love of fame be our governing principle, our whole ministry will be tainted by it.
Andrew Fuller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119&version=NKJV )
Thursday, June 27
God's Secrets
Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
Daniel 12:8
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 29:29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2029:29&version=NKJV)
In the eighteenth century it took months for news to travel from America to Europe and back -- assuming the sailing ship was not sunk in a storm or boarded by enemies who threw anything not of immediate value overboard -- including personal and political correspondence. Then months more would elapse before explanations arrived and the process of sending information would begin again. In the Internet age, we are used to getting questions answered immediately, at the speed of light. But there are some questions for which only God has answers. And He has not revealed them all.
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When Daniel received God's final revelations about the end of the age, he wasn't satisfied -- he wanted to know more. But Daniel's questions remained unanswered: "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). If Daniel had to live patiently with unanswered questions, we must as well.
The Bible says what is revealed belongs to us, and that the "secret things" belong to God (Deuteronomy 29:29). And we can trust Him with His secrets.
While we cannot comprehend God in His fullness, we can know enough about Him through His revelation to praise Him appropriately.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 120-133 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20120-133&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, June 28
Obsession
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.
Daniel 12:13
Recommended Reading
Daniel 12:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%2012:9&version=NKJV )
Perfumes in the 1980s became stronger than those of earlier times as designers tried to satisfy the demands of sensory-oriented Yuppies. It began with "Giorgio" by Giorgio of Beverly Hills. Then Christian Dior introduced "Poison," which had such a strong floral fragrance that some New York restaurants banned it. Paris-based Guerlain introduced its sandalwood-rich "Samsara;" and in 1985, Calvin Klein debuted his "Obsession."
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The word "obsession" often has a negative connotation, implying neurotic preoccupation; but it's an appropriate word for the way many people live. We're obsessed with pleasure, with sports, with hobbies, with goals, with entertainment.
Some believers grow obsessed with current trends, biblical prophecy, and the signs of the times. A healthy interest in those subjects is good, but God doesn't want us to be consumed by them. He told Daniel to go away and occupy himself with the work while awaiting the fulfillment of prophecy. That's what we're to do as well. Study the prophecies of the Last Days, but don't neglect the work of today.
Bible prophecy helps us to better understand the future and realize the urgent need to spread the Gospel. It motivates us to personal purity and gives us hope in a hopeless age.
Tim LaHaye
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 134-140 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20134-140%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, June 29 & 30
Something to Think On
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In the early days of computers, the acronym G-I-G-O was often used. G-I-G-O stood for "garbage in, garbage out." If you wanted the computer to give accurate information, you had to give it accurate data. Good data in, good data out. Bad data in, bad data out.
The human mind is like a computer in that it mirrors the information we feed it. A verse in Proverbs captures this idea when it says, "As he thinks in his heart, so is he" (23:7). We become like what we think about. That's why the Bible says to think on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Refine your thinking on the road to new life.
Discover God's frame of mind . . . on Route 66.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 141-Proverbs 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms%20141-Proverbs%203&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 01
The Lasting Command
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203&version=NKJV )
Jesus spoke these words over 2,000 years ago. While the disciples did not scatter into the world immediately, once they began to be persecuted, they and the Word spread quickly. Since then, millions of disciples have taken the Gospel into their neighborhoods and around the world.
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It is easy to put the early disciples on a pedestal, thinking they were somehow smarter, better equipped, or more courageous to share the Gospel than we are today. The truth is that they were ordinary men equipped and guided by God. They understood, just as David did when he fought Goliath, that the result of their efforts did not depend on them, but on God.
Today, we have the same commission that Christ assigned to His disciples. While His command may seem daunting, we have the same God with us, and He makes successful evangelism possible. Our only responsibility is to remain focused on Him. We can be confident in Him. He has the power to take our mustard seed faith and move mountains. Let's remain committed to letting our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him.
Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204-7%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 02
Life as Preparation
But the Lord said to [Ananias], "Go, for [Saul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel."
Acts 9:15
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 1:5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%201:5&version=NKJV )
When someone meets Christ later in life, their eyes are suddenly opened to the "things of the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:14). They may wonder, "Have I wasted all my years up to this point, not having known Christ as Lord?" The answer is "No." Conversion may happen in a moment, but preparation for ministry may take years.
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This is a mystery of sorts: God would have all people come to Him today for salvation, regardless of age (1 Timothy 2:4). God does not postpone anyone's salvation until they're "ready." On the other hand, it is true that many come to Christ late in life. So between those parallel truths is the mystery, exemplified by Saul of Tarsus. Saul, who became the apostle Paul, came to Christ after many years of study in the Old Testament. God used Paul's past as a scholar to make him Christ's chief apostle -- no one had theological training equal to Paul's (Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:4-6).
Regardless of when you came to Christ, ask God to show you how your knowledge, skills, and talents can be used for Christ's sake.
Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 8-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208-11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 03
Remarkable Salvation
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
Recommended Reading
Romans 3:21-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203:21-26&version=NKJV )
You have been invited to share your testimony of faith in Christ at an evangelistic meeting. Just before you speak, a man who was a drug dealer and who served prison time for numerous offenses gives his testimony of a glorious conversion to Christ. You were raised in a Christian home and have, compared to the converted drug dealer, a rather "unremarkable" testimony.
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But is one testimony of salvation any more remarkable than another? The same apostle who called himself the chief of sinners also wrote that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Paul also wrote that every person who is born again to faith in Christ was "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Is bringing one dead soul back to life any more remarkable, any more of a miracle, than another? The remarkableness of God's grace is not that some "serious" sinners are saved but that any sinners are saved.
The focus of salvation is not on what we were, but what we have become and are becoming in Christ.
Ever since God had a church of redeemed sinners on earth, the future of her destiny has been brighter than her past history.
William S. Plumer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2012-14&version=NKJV)
:angel:
Thursday, July 04
To One or One Million
Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%203:15&version=NKJV )
In 1957, evangelist Billy Graham planned a six-week evangelistic crusade for New York City's Madison Square Garden. Instead of six weeks, the crusade lasted nearly sixteen weeks, from May 15 to September 1, and was attended by more than two million people. Billy Graham has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone in history -- nearly 215 million people in 185 countries and territories.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The large crusade format is most often associated with the word "evangelism." While that format has been used by God to bring many to Christ, evangelism simply means to "proclaim the Good News." Therefore, it can take place one-on-one over a cup of coffee or in a massive outdoor stadium with tens of thousands present. Crusade evangelists are simply using their spiritual gift, but every single Christian is called to be a bearer of God's Good News.
Most of us will never preach to thousands, but all of us will have the opportunity to share the "reason for the hope that is in [us]" (1 Peter 3:15). Ask God today to arrange a divine opportunity for you to be an evangelist.
There is only one means of evangelism: namely, the gospel of Christ, explained and applied.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 15-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:+
Friday, July 05
Learning Obedience
But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and not do the things which I say?
Luke 6:46
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:47-49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Lue%206:47-49&version=NKJV )
One of the most important principles parents instill in their children is the principle of obedience. Not only is it fundamental to understanding the concepts of authority, respect, and submission, it can also be the difference between life and death: "Never run into the street by yourself!" Once the principle of obedience is understood, the more abstract idea of "delayed obedience" comes into play. Children have to learn that delayed obedience is the same as disobedience.
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But are our children the only ones who need to be reminded of this lesson? Obviously not -- various forms of the word "obey" occur nearly 200 times in Scripture. It was Jesus Himself who asked His disciples why they called Him "Lord" when they didn't do what He said. Immediately after that question, Jesus told the parable of two houses -- one built on solid rock, the other on sand. It is the house on solid rock -- the person who obeys God's Words -- that can withstand the floods that come against us in life.
The best way to instill the principle of obedience in a child's life is for parents to model obedience to God in all things.
Obedience to legitimate authority is one of the fruits and evidences of Christian sincerity.
Charles Hodge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2018-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 6 & 7
The B-I-B-L-E
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.
Ephesians 6:14
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:65-72 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:65-72&version=NKJV )
Many of us learned to spell the Bible before we could read it because of a simple song learned in Vacation Bible School or Sunday school: "The B-I-B-L-E. Yes, that's the book for me." Though childish in nature, that song gives us truth for a lifetime.
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First, it teaches that the Bible is a book for me, providing what I need to be "wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15 NIV). It tells me of creation, redemption, pardon, peace, purpose, and eternal life. In other words, it tells of Jesus.
Second, it teaches us to take our stand on the Word of God as a basis for lifelong wisdom. When we stand on the truth of Scripture, we're on solid ground, not quicksand, and we have a foundation for life.
Third, we must "stand alone" on God's Word. That has a double meaning: We stand only on God's Word, and we must sometimes take our stand alone because no one else will join us. If you're standing alone today, don't be discouraged. Just sing and read the B-I-B-L-E.
The B-I-B-L-E. Yes, that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 21-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2021-26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 08
Preach It!
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2 Corinthians 1:20
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 1:18-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%201:18-24&version=NKJV )
Perhaps you've attended a church where the congregation is vocal in supporting the pastor while he speaks. "Amen, brother! Preach it! That's right! Yes, Lord! Amen!"
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Even if you don't attend such a church, you can personally read the Bible with a similar response. According to today's verse, when God makes a promise to us, Jesus says, "Yes!" and we shout, "Amen!" This is true for every promise made to us in Scripture, for this verse begins, "For all the promises of God ...."
This is illustrated by the everlasting covenant God made with Israel and with the covenant love He extends to us. His promises are not fleeting or provisional. All His promises in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Find a promise in the Bible today that meets your need. Remember Christ knows that very promise and says, "Yes!" You can respond with a hearty "Amen!" as you claim it for yourself.
I remember her Bible always open in a convenient place -- the kitchen counter, her bedside table, beside the sofa, or even on the ironing board. In this way, she could quickly glean a promise or memorize a verse as she continued her work.
Gigi Graham about her mother, Ruth Bell Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 27-29 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2027-29&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 09
Warning: Danger Ahead!
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 3:8-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:8-14&version=NKJV )
Unless a person lives on a mountaintop in the wilderness, it's hard not to be confronted with the turmoil in our world. It's not just greater awareness -- it is the fact that new developments in nuclear technology, disease, political unrest, natural disasters, and poverty make unrest a personal matter.
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So how should the Christian respond? Urgency in world affairs should produce an urgency in spiritual affairs -- an urgency to share with people the sure and certain hope found only in Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter goes to great lengths to warn his readers that this world is going to come to an end in a cataclysmic fashion (2 Peter 3:10). But he also says that God is patient, not wanting any to perish. Instead of using God's patience as permission to pursue our own dreams, every Christian must endeavor to prepare those who have no hope with the hope of salvation in Christ.
If you have hope in Christ and know of others who don't, ask God to give you an open door to share His Good News with them.
The problem of the church today is not that the Gospel has lost its power, but that the church has lost its audience.
Paul Little
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 30-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030-31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 10
When God Speaks
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32
Recommended Reading
Luke 22:29-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:29-30&version=NKJV )
One of the greatest learning experiences Jesus' disciples had was when they set out on the Sea of Galilee in a boat and a great storm came upon them (Mark 4:35-41). Their boat was taking on water and the disciples were sure they would soon drown -- yet Jesus was sleeping calmly in the rear of the boat. The disciples had forgotten one thing: Jesus had said, "Let us cross over to the other side" (Mark 4:35).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When God says something is going to happen, that thing will happen. If Jesus says He and the disciples are going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, they will arrive. Might the journey be harrowing? Yes! But they will arrive. Just so, Jesus has promised His followers a kingdom -- the coming kingdom of God. And in light of that promise, He has said, "Do not fear" (Luke 12:32). The turmoil in our world today is like the wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee -- it can cloud our expectation of arriving. But Jesus has given us a kingdom, and a kingdom we will receive.
If you fear what you see happening in the world around you, focus instead on what God has said in His Word. Thank God today that nothing in this world can negate His promises.
A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts.
Paul Johnson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%201-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 11
Unlimited Power
.. . . that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:3-5&version=NKJV )
For thousands of years, man relied on burning wood for energy, then coal, followed by petroleum. But today's scientists are experimenting with multiple sources to power our world: solar, wind, hydrogen, algae, methane gas, ocean currents, geothermal, ethanol and other biofuels -- the search for energy and power is progressing nonstop around the world.
Listen to Today's Radio Message (http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It is ironic that the scientific community mostly ignores the greatest source of power in the universe: the power of God. The apostle Paul wrote that "in [Christ] all things consist" (Colossians 1:17). That is, it is Christ who holds the entire universe together by His power! How much good would a new power source be in a world that literally came apart at the seams? How much more guidance might we receive about finding and using energy in this world if we asked the One who holds the world together for guidance?
Christians must continually remind themselves -- we do not live by the wisdom of men but by the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5). We are "kept by the power of God" until the end is revealed (1 Peter 1:5).
I hold one single sentence out of God's Word to be of more certainty, and of more power, than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%205-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 12
Wisdom From Fear
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 9:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Proverbs%209:10&version=NKJV )
In a list of more than a thousand colleges and universities around the world, more than one hundred have the word "knowledge" in their institution's motto. Ontario, Canada's Queen's University is a good example: Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas. Or, in English, "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times."
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As valuable as education is, most people have concluded that education alone doesn't have the power to bring the stability and peace we desire. So what is the source of wisdom and knowledge? When the life of the prophet Daniel depended on his ability to interpret the king of Babylon's dream, he turned to God. Daniel prayed, "[God] gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" (Daniel 2:21). "Understanding" means "understanding who God is" -- that God is a God to be feared, honored, and respected. God honored Daniel's fear and answered his prayer. As Proverbs says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
Is there something you need to know? God is ready to give wisdom and knowledge to those who fear Him.
There is no wisdom but that which is founded on the fear of God.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 9-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%209-12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 13 & 14
The B-I-B-L-E: The Wordless Book Song
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NKJV )
In a sermon in 1866, Charles Spurgeon told of an old man who used to study a wordless book of three pages -- black, red, and white. Spurgeon proceeded to present the Gospel using those colors to symbolize sin, the blood of Christ, and forgiveness. A few years later, evangelist D. L. Moody preached in Liverpool using a wordless book of four pages, adding gold to illustrate heaven. Christian workers around the world started using the "Wordless Book" to lead children of all ages to Christ, sometimes adding a green page for Christian growth.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Frances M. Johnston put words to the Wordless Book when she wrote a song about it: "My heart was dark with sin, until the Savior came in. His precious blood I know, has washed it white as snow. And in His Word I'm told, I'll walk the streets of gold. To grow in Christ each day, I read the Bible and pray."
When we experience the message of the Wordless Book for ourselves, it leaves us speechless. Try sharing the Gospel soon, using the colors of grace.
In yourselves, you are stained with sin; but when you stand before God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, the stains of sin are all gone.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Song of Solomon 1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%201-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 15
The Last Hour
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:18-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:18-25&version=NKJV )
The true identity of the Antichrist isn't yet known, but that doesn't keep people from speculating. A document from the first century suggests that Christians in the early church believed Nero was the Antichrist. A later generation wondered if it was Justinian. Centuries later Napoleon had the dubious honor of being a candidate; and in more recent times Hitler, Mussolini, and Mikhail Gorbachev have been suspected to have been the Antichrist.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Perhaps some of these leaders were forerunners of the Antichrist, for John tells us that many antichrists have already come (1 John 2:18) and the spirit of the Antichrist is now at work in the world (1 John 4:3). But the identity of the ultimate Man of Lawlessness is still a mystery, though maybe not for long. Perilous times are coming. The Rapture could occur at any moment, followed by the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.
We need to take every opportunity of sharing the message of Christ. If it was "the last hour" in the days of the apostle John, we must now be living in the last minutes.
Has not our Lord Jesus carried up our flesh into heaven and shall He not return? We know that He shall return.
John Knox
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 16
True Truth
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
Recommended Reading
John 17:17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:17&version=NKJV )
One of the most famous figures in the development of the digital world is Andrew Grove, the Hungarian-born former CEO of Intel Corporation. Besides being a brilliant visionary and manager, he was also a stickler for quality when it came to Intel's products. Grove is often remembered for telling his employees, "The devil is in the details."
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Andrew Grove didn't invent that saying, but applying it to the micro-detailed world of computer chips is understandable. A world in which details matter even more is the world of spiritual truth. And sadly, the devil -- the real devil -- often confuses the details for the unknowing. If Jesus said that the truth will make us free, then anything that is not the truth cannot make us free. And it doesn't matter by how much we miss the truth -- by an inch or a mile, a miss is still a miss. Jesus also said that God's Word is truth (John 17:17). Therefore anyone who wants to know God's truth has to make a study of Scripture his or her focus (2 Timothy 2:15).
Since so many people profess to have "the truth" today, make sure what you believe is what the late theologian Francis Schaeffer called the true truth -- the truth that comes from God and is found in His Word.
The truth of Scripture demolishes speculation.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 4-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%204-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 17
With or Without
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Matthew 5:44
Recommended Reading
Luke 23:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:34&version=NKJV )
When Caleb Donnelly deployed with the Marines to Iraq, his wife Grace gave him an expensive love bracelet to wear. After his return, their home was burglarized and the bracelet, along with other jewelry, was stolen and never recovered. When the thieves were caught, the judge sentenced them to make restitution to the couple, but the couple declined the money. Instead, Grace wrote a letter of forgiveness to them, saying, "I have already forgiven you with or without an apology. . . . I will be praying for you." A lawyer involved said he had never met anyone as forgiving and truly Christian as Grace.1
Listen to Today's Radio Message (http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When it comes to forgiving those who have harmed us, Jesus is the extreme example: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). A few weeks later, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, prayed the same prayer concerning those who stoned him (Acts 7:60). Ephesians 4:32 is the principle: "forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
If there is someone you need to forgive, do so today -- with or without an apology.
Nothing causes us to so nearly resemble God as the forgiveness of injuries.
John Chrysostom
1 Portsia Smith, "Letter of forgiveness," February 21, 2013. <news.fredericksburg.com/newsdesk/2013/02/21/letter-of-forgiveness-moves-caroline-court (accessed 3-8-2013)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 9-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209-11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 18
Ready to Go?
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24:42
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=NKJV )
In biblical days, the bridegroom would travel in a procession to the home of his bride-to-be. The bride's family and friends would maintain a vigil, watching for the groom's arrival, so as to meet him with appropriate fanfare and welcome. Jesus used this very custom as the basis for a parable that carries a sober warning to all.
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In the parable (Matthew 25:1-13), ten virgins (think bridesmaids) were waiting with the family for the groom. When the groom was seen coming from afar at night, only five of the virgins had lamps with sufficient oil to go out and light the way for his arrival. The other five virgins had to go to buy oil, and when they returned, the door to the celebration was closed and they were shut out. Jesus' point was, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). The Son of Man is coming for His Church at the Rapture -- those not prepared will be left out of the celebration.
Preparation means two things: Placing one's faith in Christ, and then living faithfully each day in anticipation of His return -- which could be today! "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)
How many Christians live their lives packed up and ready to go?
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2012-14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 19
A Forever Reunion
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Recommended Reading
Romans 14:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:9&version=NKJV )
Hospital chaplains often give testimony about the different ways families express their grief over the death of a loved one. Some grieve over what they assume to be the permanent loss of their family member. Strong Christian families, by contrast, grieve only at the sadness of temporary separation.
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Christians in the new church at Thessalonica expressed concern to the apostle Paul about some loved ones who had died prior to Christ's return. Would the deceased brethren miss being united with Christ at His return since they were already dead? Paul's answer was unequivocal: When Christ returns for His Church, the "dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17a). Yes, there is a temporary separation, but not without hope of a permanent reunion.
If you are a believer in Christ who has lost a friend or loved one who was also a Christian, be assured that you will see that one again and forever.
The character wherewith we sink into the grave at death is the very character wherewith we shall reappear at the resurrection.
Thomas Chalmers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 15-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2015-19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, May 11 & 12
The B-I-B-L-E: Jesus Loves Me
We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:15-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%201%20John%204:15-21&version=NKJV )
Sisters Anna and Susan Warner made their home on Constitution Island on the Hudson, right across from the Military Academy at West Point. They taught Bible to the cadets, and they wrote some of the most popular novels in the 1800s. In their novel Say and Seal, they told of a fictional boy named Johnny Fox who was dying. His Sunday school teacher, John Linden, comforted him by taking him in his arms, rocking him, and making up a little song: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. . . ." When composer William Bradbury read the words of John Linden's little song, he composed music for the lines; and "Jesus Loves Me" was born as a children's hymn.
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This song gives us our theology in a thimble. Whether we are living or dying, whether weak or strong, whether rich or poor, whether famous or obscure, we can always rest in this truth: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
Nothing in all the world is so good as the knowledge and love of Christ, and no pleasure that can be enjoyed equal to the joy of serving Him with all one's heart.
Susan Warner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 20-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2020-28&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, July 22
Yes, But Do You Love?
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013&version=NKJV )
A young minister preached an eloquent sermon one Sunday, and his congregation was nearly as impressed with it as he was. But an insightful octogenarian pulled him aside and asked, "You like to preach to people, don't you?" The pastor admitted he did, whereupon the older man asked, "Yes, but do you love the people you preach to?"
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The Bible says, "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD" (Proverbs 16:2, NIV). In today's culture we must carefully evaluate our motives and methods in the Lord's work. It's not how many people we draw to the pews; it's how many hearts we draw to the Lord. It's not just a matter of success; it's a matter of sincerity. The love of Christ should compel us.
Learn to ask the Lord to refine and purify your motives. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, and He can enable us to do the right things in the right ways for the right reasons.
Only one act of pure love, unsullied by any taint of ulterior motive, has ever been performed in the history of the world, namely the self-giving of God in Christ on the cross.
John Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 29-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2029-31&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 23
Ostriches and Christians
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, "Do business till I come."
Luke 19:13
Recommended Reading
Luke 19:11-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:11-27&version=NKJV )
Ostriches and Christians have gotten a bad rap for opposite reasons. In the case of the big birds, they're accused of hiding their heads in the sand and ignoring immediate threats or problems. Christians are sometimes accused of hiding their heads in the clouds and being so heavenly minded that they're of no earthly good.
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Neither accusation is right. Ostriches don't hide their heads in the sand. They dig holes for their very large eggs, and several times a day they stick their heads in the holes and turn the eggs to keep them warm on all sides. And as far as biblical Christians are concerned, we keep an eager eye peeled to the eastern sky for our Lord's return, but our feet are firmly planted on the ground as we go about the Master's business.
The Lord has invested His work in us now, and our biblical study of tomorrow's events only makes us more eager to serve Him in practical ways today.
As we study prophetic events that stretch out into the horizons beyond, let us not forget that God has given us that truth so that we can ask this question: "How shall we then live?"
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 32-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2032-34&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 24
Horse Sense
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 90:10-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2090:10-12&version=NKJV )
In one of his books, Stuart Briscoe spoke of the many demands he faced as a busy pastor. There wasn't time for a fraction of the things expected by others, and many items on his "to do" list were left undone. "Each morning I woke up feeling like the cowboy who rode up to a saloon, hitched his horse to the rail, started to pull a bag of oats over the horse's head, and heard the town drunk standing nearby say, 'Any fool can see you'll never fit that horse in that bag!'"
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We can't possibly fit all the demands of life into the hours of each day. So we must live by priority, by commitment, by putting first things first, and seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Every moment of every day should be lived on God's agenda with a commitment to Jesus as Lord of our pursuits and priorities. No servant can serve two masters. In a world filled with distractions, we're called to serve the only One worthy of our praise and to let His agenda control our days.
Majoring on minors may mean making major mistakes.
Stuart Briscoe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 35-37 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2035-37&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, July 25
The Fear Factor
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance... He will come and save you."
Isaiah 35:3-4
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:25-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:25-34&version=NKJV )
Have you ever watched a scary movie and struggled to sleep afterward? Our minds are easily filled with images of what if. As children we run to our beds, leaping onto them, afraid that a monster may grab our legs before we make it to safety. We beg our parents to turn on the lights as they check our closets and under our beds. It's easy to get caught up in a story, forgetting about the end where the hero emerges to set things right.
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The same is true when we think about the end times. We can spend so much time worrying and trying to identify the Antichrist that we forget about the ending: Christ is coming. We don't need to be afraid as we wait for our coming King. He has promised to conquer His enemies and save us. Courage and strength can replace our fear when we realize that our future is secure.
Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee.
Francis Frangipane
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 38-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2038-40&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, July 26
Who Do You Watch?
My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:1-6&version=NKJV )
Every eye is upon him as he stands above the crowd; the responsibility for the timing and execution of this piece rests on him. As he raises his baton, the silence of the room expands. When he signals, musicians lift their instruments and music fills the room. He knows each member and instrument in the orchestra and has spent many hours preparing them for this performance. He is the conductor.
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God is the director of the world and all its inhabitants. We may not always be aware of His directing, but He has created all things and sustains all things. He oversees each detail of our lives (Psalm 139). When we lock our attention onto God and ask for His wisdom, He generously gives it to us. We can count on His sovereignty.
When we wait for God's cues and direction, He guides every note of our lives. He will orchestrate every moment to create a masterpiece that sings His praise and reveals His glory.
God has a time for everything, a perfect schedule. He is never too soon, never too late. The when of His will is as important as the what and the how.
Richard C. Halverson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 41-43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041-43&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, July 27 & 28
The B-I-B-L-E: Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:9-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:9-16&version=NKJV )
Ernest Sellers, superintendent of public works in Lansing, Michigan, was converted to Christ at a YMCA rally and became a beloved hymnist. In 1908, he published his simple little song based on Psalm 119:11, "Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart." He wanted us to remember that as we memorize and meditate on God's Word, it becomes implanted in our brains and transforms us from the inside out.
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In its April 17, 2012 edition, TIME Magazine devoted an article to the power of the subconscious mind, advising us that whatever we think about as we fall asleep will work its way through our subconscious mind through the night. "Paul McCartney famously said that he came up with the melody for 'Yesterday' in a dream," said the article. "Elias Howe, the inventor of the sewing machine, is said to have solved the problem of the machine's needle when he dreamed of an attack by warriors carrying spears with holes in the tips."
Always be working on a memory verse. Hiding God's Word in the furrows of your mind will produce a crop of blessings.
At morning, at noon, and at night I ever will give Thee praise; for Thou art my portion, O Lord, and shall be through all my days!
Ernest Sellers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 44-49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2044-49&version=NKJV )
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Monday, July 29
The Tribulum
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:9-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012:9-13&version=NKJV )
Archaeologists throughout the Mediterranean world have discovered many examples of a farming implement called a tribulum, which was a sort of sled with sharp flint or stones embedded on its underside. As it was dragged over harvested wheat, its sharp stones rubbed the seed from the pods and chopped the straw into chaff. From this comes our word "tribulation" -- being raked by the sharp troubles of life.
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This word appears often in the Bible. Jesus spoke of a coming Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), but His people face tribulation even now. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God," warns Acts 14:22. Romans 5:3 says we should "also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance," and Romans 8:35 assures us that tribulation will never separate us from the love of Christ. "In the world you will have tribulation," Jesus warned in John 16:33, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
If you feel you're caught in a tribulum, be patient and of good cheer. The Lord will deliver you.
In time of tribulation, hear, Lord, my feeble cries; with humble supplication to Thee my spirit flies.
James Montgomery, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 50-52 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2050-52&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, July 30
Fragile Threads
The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice.
Psalm 97:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 97:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2097:1-6&version=NKJV )
If you run out of topics to talk about at your next gathering, just ask this question: What currently known conditions could trigger World War III? North Korea or Iran firing at someone? The collapse of a nuclearized state like Pakistan, with atomic bombs going to the highest bidder? Militant groups using weapons of mass destruction? A global economic crisis that emboldens an adversarial nation? The Middle East erupting in conflagration? An assassination? An errant missile?
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The world is held together by fragile threads, and Jesus predicted that wars and rumors of wars would characterize the last days. But unrest in the world will eventually come to an end. Christ is coming for His Church, the Great Tribulation will run its course, the Battle of Armageddon will be won by the King of kings, and the peace of God will rule in our hearts forevermore. Without God, our world would be doomed and our lives would be pointless. But He is in complete control, Christ is coming, and His agenda is unfolding every hour.
The Lord reigns. Let the earth rejoice!
Those who are familiar with Bible prophecy are the only ones who can face what seems to be an uncertain future with peaceful confidence.
Tim LaHaye, in Charting the End Times
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 53-56 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053-56&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, July 31
Instant Victory
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured....
Revelation 19:19-20
Recommended Reading
Revelation 19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019&version=NKJV )
The 1982 war between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falklands lasted seventy-four days. The 1971 conflict between India and Pakistan lasted thirteen days. The Six-Day War in the Middle East lasted June 5-10, 1967. Perhaps the shortest war in history occurred in 1896 between Great Britain and Zanzibar. It lasted forty-five minutes. What about the longest war? That would be the Hundred Years' War, which really lasted 116 years, between 1337 and 1453.
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Earth's final battle will end abruptly. The Antichrist will deploy the armies of the world from his headquarters at Armageddon, planning to destroy the nation of Israel once and for all. In the nick of time, Jesus Christ will burst from heaven with a shout, with a word of power, and He will win the victory -- instantly, decisively, gloriously.
As Christians, we'll have a front-row seat to the action. Until then, we can visualize and anticipate victory every time we read Revelation 19 and its description of Him whose name is called Faithful and True. And we can shout with the angels in advance: "Alleluia!"
Christians can rest in the sure conviction that just as Jesus came to earth the first time, so He will return at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation.
David Jeremiah, in What in the World Is Going On?
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 57-59 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2057-59&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 1
Near and Far
And [Jesus] began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Luke 4:21
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 61:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2061:1-2&version=NKJV )
A young man about to leave for college says to his friend: "I want to be involved in student government and do an internship at a law firm." At the end of his freshman year, the friend says, "I thought you were going to do an internship at a law firm."
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"I am," the student says. "I can do student government all four years, but internships are reserved for seniors only."
The freshman student had two parts to his plan that were separated by four years. He would do both but not at the same time. The same thing was true about something Jesus said early in His ministry at a synagogue in Nazareth. He read from Isaiah 61:1-2, prophecies about the coming Messiah, and said those verses were fulfilled in Him. But He omitted the last line of verse 2 that describes "the day of vengeance of our God." That event will be fulfilled in and by Jesus, but only at His Second Coming. So far, 2,000 years have separated the first and second parts of the fulfillment of Isaiah's Messianic prophecy.
When Christ returns, He will "proclaim ... the day of vengeance of our God" when He establishes His kingdom. There is a near and a far view to biblical prophecy.
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 60-63 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2060-63&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 2
Jesus the Judge
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.
John 5:22
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:1-5&version=NKJV )
Some of the most scathing words recorded in the Bible are those of Jesus in Matthew 23:13-39 -- the section where He passes judgment on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Seven times He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees!" He accuses them of being hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, blind men, and snakes, and says they are like dirty dishes and tombs -- clean on the outside but dirty on the inside.
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Is this the same Jesus who said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1)? Yes, the very same. So is Jesus the hypocrite in this case -- telling others not to judge but acting like a judge Himself? No, because He knew why He had been sent into the world. Jesus knew that the Father has "committed all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). Jesus' entire life -- His words and His works -- was a judgment on this fallen world. On occasion, He put those judgments into specific words as He did with the Pharisees. And He will do it again when He returns as Judge of the nations at His Second Coming.
We are not to judge one another because God has "committed all judgment to the Son." When we place ourselves over others as judge, we are usurping a place given by God to Jesus alone.
No man's conscience is to be a judge for another.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 64-66 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2064-66&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 3 & 4
Right On!: Do What You Know Is Right
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James 4:17
Recommended Reading
James 2:10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202:10&version=NKJV )
James, the half-brother of Jesus, was slow to affirm the ministry of his controversial brother (John 7:5). Eventually he did come to believe in Him and became one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection (Acts 15:13). And what a leader! Once James got in step with Jesus' mission, he became zealous for righteousness. His one epistle is the most like the messages of the Old Testament prophets of all the New Testament letters.
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James seemed to be a black-and-white thinker. Don't approach James to discuss compromise or the possibility of not doing what God expects. First, James said that if you know what is the right thing to do but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). Second, he said that if you do all the right things except one, it's the same in God's sight as not having done any of them (James 2:10). Any questions? But James also appreciated the grace of God. In cases where we don't know the right thing to do, he said ask God for wisdom which God will give "liberally and without reproach" (James 1:5).
Grace doesn't mean we don't have to do the right thing. Neither does it mean we can't ask to be shown.
The Christian must recognize that there are no degrees in right or wrong.
Donald Grey Barnhouse
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%201-5%20&version=NKJV )
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Monday, August 5
Wisdom U
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 1:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%201:1-7&version=NKJV )
Recently CBS News ran an interesting article on the problems of getting a Ph.D. According to the report, there are a dozen downsides to getting that coveted degree. For example, you might end up on food stamps. In the three years covered by the report, the number of Ph.Ds. who filed for food stamps more than tripled. It may also be hard to find a job. Between 2005 and 2009, America produced more than 100,000 doctoral degrees, but only 16,000 new professorships were created.
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If you're working on your education, keep at it! We don't want to discourage you. We need more and more Christians with higher and higher degrees, and we certainly need more Christian thinkers speaking into our culture. But the most important degree is from God's University of Wisdom.
Solomon understood the difference between intellect and wisdom. Our scholastic knowledge is of little value compared to the wisdom we attain when we study God's textbook, the Bible. We can't all earn a doctorate, but we can all enroll in Wisdom U.
Applying God's standards to life's choices is called wisdom; applying the world's standards is called folly.
Woodrow Kroll, in Proverbs: The Pursuit of God's Wisdom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 6-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%206-8&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, August 6
His Understanding Is Infinite
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
Psalm 147:5
Recommended Reading
Psalm 147:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20147:1-6&version=NKJV )
Notice the phrase in the verse above -- "His understanding is infinite." That's the attribute of God called omniscience . The prefix omni means all ; science means knowledge . According to Psalm 147, the all-knowingness of God should propel us to praise.
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God knows all we know, all the angels know, all the universal truths of the cosmos, and all the particulars of our lives down to the number of hairs on our heads. He knows the future as well as the past. He knows what will happen and what will not. If He were a chess player, the Lord would instantly know all the possible moves of every piece into infinity. He knows all realities and contingencies. His understanding is infinite.
Ours is not. Even in heaven we'll not be omniscient, but we'll always be capable of learning, of advancing in wisdom. The more we understand God and His precepts, the more we realize how much more we need to learn. It's exciting to realize we can grow wiser as we humbly learn at the feet of Jesus. May the Lord teach us more of His wisdom and His ways today!
God knows all things independently.... He receives not His knowledge from anything without Him; He hath no tutor to instruct Him, or book to inform Him.
Stephen Charnock, in The Existence and Attributes of God
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 9-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%209-11&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, August 7
Your Signature
Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22
Recommended Reading
James 1:21-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20James%201:21-27&version=NKJV )
Everyone knows to read legal documents before signing them. If signed blindly, you may be affected in unforeseen ways. The additional fees and required actions are difficult to get out of once you have signed the agreement. Your signature equals your commitment and approval.
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Our actions are the signature to our beliefs. Actions tell us more about our beliefs than our words do. We know the danger of signing blindly, but do we know the danger of living blindly?
It is easy to say we believe in being on time, but if we are continually late, our actions prove otherwise. Our actions bind us to our beliefs in the same way that our signature binds us to a legal document. We expect integrity from our leaders; and while you may not see yourself as a leader, each of us has influence. Our actions are witnessed by friends, coworkers, family, and even strangers. Impressions are left. Our influence is either positive or negative. We affect the lives of others through our words, and even more so through our actions.
God has given each of us a sphere of influence. We can either ignore or intentionally use it. What beliefs are your actions undersigning?
When I have integrity, my words and my deeds match up.
John C. Maxwell
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 12-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2012-14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 8
God's Appointment
He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings.
Daniel 2:21a
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 26:5-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2026:5-25&version=NKJV )
When the people of Israel began to praise David more than King Saul, he became jealous and sought to kill David. God had appointed David to be the next king and when Saul set himself against David, he was setting himself against God. It would have been easy for David to fight back, but he knew God had given Saul the kingship. Until God demoted Saul, David honored God by respecting Saul.
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The Psalms David wrote during that time are filled with heartfelt prayers asking God to defend him. Twice David had the opportunity to kill Saul. The second time David spared Saul's life, his prayers were answered. Saul realized his error and stopped pursuing David: "May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail" (1 Samuel 26:25a).
God hears our prayers. David knew he could trust the King of kings to reign in the world and in his circumstances. He honored God through prayerfully maintaining an attitude of respect, patience, and temperance toward the governing authority God had placed above him.
We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.
Andrew Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 15-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2015-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 9
WARNING!
For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead.
Proverbs 2:18
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 7:1-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%207:1-27&version=NKJV )
The Seattle Times recorded a story of an incident that happens all too often. Due to heavy rains, a local river overflowed its banks and covered a nearby road. Authorities had closed the road and posted WARNING signs. But a 58-year-old motorist ignored the signs and tried to use the flooded road anyway. Her car was swept into the flooded river and she perished. A local authority said the woman was likely deceived by what seemed like shallow water on the road but didn't realize how strong the current was.
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Isn't that what WARNING signs are for -- to tell us about things that look safe but in reality aren't? People who ignore warning signs usually don't do so arrogantly. They simply are deceived into thinking that they know more than the person who erected the sign; they think they will be the exception. The Book of Proverbs is full of warnings -- like the warnings to young men to avoid the temptations of immorality. How often is that warning ignored in our culture, and how destructive are the consequences?
The warnings in the Bible are written in plain language not to limit our pleasure but to preserve our lives. God has ordained that we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).
Warning signs are only helpful when they are heeded.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 18-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2018-21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 10 & 11
Right On!: Do What Is Right in God's Sight
If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.
Exodus 15:26
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:46-49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:46-49&version=NKJV )
In many ways, modern cultures are like the ancient society of Israel -- everybody doing what is right in his or her own eyes. In pluralistic cultures where tolerance is the highest value, people hold dear the right to do whatever they want. And indeed, citizens have that right (up to a point). But it's the consequences that arise over time that people don't like.
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When God brought the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, the people agreed to "do what is right in His sight" (Exodus 15:26). That was the covenant agreement the people entered into, God promising to bless them for their willingness, in essence, to set aside what they thought was right and do what God said is right. However, their commitment didn't last long (Judges 17:6; 21:25). By the time Solomon became king he identified as fools those who do what is right in their own eyes (Proverbs 12:15; 21:2).
Wise are the people who are willing to believe that what God says is right, is right for them.
Nothing is right for a Christian if it is not God's will for him.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 22-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2022-27&version=NKJV )
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Monday, August 12
Sprayed With Foolishness
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Isaiah 1:18
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 1:16-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%201:16-20&version=NKJV )
Earlier this year, a TSA agent at JFK International Airport in New York found a device he thought was a laser pointer, and he started playing around with it. It was actually a canister of pepper spray, which he accidentally discharged on fellow workers. Six TSA employees were taken to the hospital, and security checks were halted for fifteen minutes due to the incident.
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Perhaps no great harm was done, but this story illustrates how easily we can hurt others by just "playing around." A moment of carelessness, a wrong action, a foolish decision, a rash word, a yielding to temptation -- and the results can be far worse than a dose of pepper spray. They can inflict lifelong damage.
The effects of foolishness may be irreversible, painful, and deep; but God can restore any heart, forgive any sin, and turn all things for good. If you've hurt someone through past foolishness or if your heart is heavy with the weight of bygone failures, place your sin under the blood of Christ. He can give you total forgiveness and give you a new start today.
Though your sins should be double-dyed as crimson was, though you have sinned again and again and again... yet He is able to cleanse you.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 28-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2028-30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 13
Then We Met
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4
Recommended Reading
1 John 1:1-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201:1-9&version=NKJV )
"My wife and I were happy for twenty years," said comedian Rodney Dangerfield, "then we met." It doesn't have to be that way, of course. A quality marriage depends on a consistent walk with the Lord. Before we're married our top priority should be our relationship with Him. After marriage, it's the same. If we walk in the light, we'll have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). Our relationship with our spouse will be as strong as our intimacy with the Savior.
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Hebrews 13:4 sums this up by giving us two rules for a thriving marriage: priority and purity. Marriage is honorable, so we should give it priority, working on it and patiently building a friendship around our romance. It also deserves purity as we avoid all hints of immoral behavior and diligently guard against anything or anyone drawing our hearts away from our vows.
Walk with the Master, work on the marriage, keep Christ first in your life, and you can be happy all the years the Lord gives you on earth.
It takes three to make love, not two: you, your spouse, and God.
Fulton J. Sheen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 31-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2031-32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 14
A Lifetime of Contentment
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 5:22-33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:22-33&version=NKJV )
John and Ann Betar were named (unofficially) as the longest married couple in the United States for 2013. As of April 13, 2013, they had been married 80 years, 139 days. When asked for the secret to their long relationship, John Betar said, "We just live with contentment and we don't live beyond our means. Just go with the flow."
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"Living with contentment" sounds like the apostle Peter's advice to husbands: "Treat your wife as a fellow heir of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3:7, paraphrase). When two people stay married as long as the Betars, it takes more than a civil union. There has to have been a blending and bonding that epitomizes the meaning of "two becoming one" (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5). There has to be a measure of contentment by which each person is comfortable with the other's standing before God as an equal sharer in God's gifts and callings. And that doesn't happen naturally, but it can happen supernaturally.
Whatever your marital state, agree with God that relationships take work -- especially those that last a lifetime.
Marriage is a perpetual test of character.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 33-36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2033-36&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 15
Start Young
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:4&version=NKJV )
King Solomon did not have access to modern research on child development. But several thousand years ago, he said something about children that modern research has validated. Today, child development experts suggest that the majority of a child's personality is in place at a very young age. Solomon suggested something similar: A child's foundational values will stick with him or her for the rest of the child's life.
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Specifically, when talking about raising godly children, Solomon said to begin training them when they are young and the training will stay with them even when they are old. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom -- wise sayings that reflect godly principles. Proverbs 22:6 doesn't mean there will never be a child raised in a godly home that won't walk away from God and stay away. Rather, it is an instruction and guide for parents: Build into your children at an early age godly principles and those principles will guide them as they grow older.
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Start young when training up your children. Trust that God will bless that training even when they are old."
If you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go and not in the way they would.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 37-39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2037-39%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 16
Gain From Pain
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:5-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Hebrews%2012:5-13&version=NKJV )
There is one parental saying that no child believes -- until that child becomes a parent: "This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you." No parent likes the duty of causing a child to experience discomfort as a result of discipline. But every parent knows that life's most painful lessons are the longest remembered.
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The Old Testament psalmist said that affliction is what taught him the necessity of obeying God's Word (Psalm 119:67, 71, 92). And Solomon, in his proverbs, revealed a truth that would cause God's people to look at discipline in a whole new light: "For whom the LORD loves He corrects" (Proverbs 3:11-12). That is, correction and discipline are evidences of God's love! How contrary to the modern philosophy that love means letting a child find his or her own way. The writer of Hebrews took Proverbs 3:12 to its logical conclusion: "But if you are without chastening [from God] ... then you are illegitimate and not sons" (Hebrews 12:8).
Better for a Christian to be reproved by God, or a child by his or her parents, than to willfully follow their own path and be uncorrected and unloved.
Those that would enjoy the dignities and privileges of Christ's family must submit to the discipline of it.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 40-43 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2040-43%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 17 & 18
Right On!: Exercise Your Right to Be a Child of God
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
John 1:12
Recommended Reading
Galatians 3:26-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203:26-28&version=NKJV )
Words and ideas have been lifted from Scripture and applied erroneously. A good example is the idea of "God's children." Today, we often hear it said that "we are all God's children." There was even a religious cult that arose in the late 1960s called the Children of God.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
The Bible, however, takes a narrower view of the phrase "children of God." In each of ten New Testament uses, it refers to born-again Christians only. In fact, the apostle John wrote that only certain people have a right to call themselves a child of God -- those who receive Jesus Christ by faith, embracing the fullness of His mission (John 1:12). The apostle Paul echoed that doctrinal view in Galatians 3:26: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ." The idea of being children of God emphasizes the Fatherhood of God, Christians having been adopted into His family (Romans 8:12-17).
The most secure place to be in this world is in the family of God. Make sure you have exercised your right to be there through faith in Christ.
The true reason for becoming a Christian is not that we may have a wonderful life but that we may be in a right relationship to God.
Will Metzger
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 44-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2044-48&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 19
Sow Love, Reap Love
Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:1-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:1-9&version=NKJV )
Andy and Barney ... Laverne and Shirley ... Lucy and Ethel ... Tom and Jerry ... Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.... Who doesn't want a Best Friend Forever? It's been the key to the plots of many great novels, movies, and television shows. Some of our favorite Bible stories are about friendship too -- Ruth and Naomi ... David and Jonathan .... Paul and Silas....
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Perhaps you need a best friend today. We know the Lord is our greatest friend, but He knows we also need human fellowship. Though it seems strange advice, we never make friends by trying to find friends; for when we seek friendship, it's an indication we're putting our own needs first, that we're looking for a friend who will alleviate some sense of loneliness in our own lives or bring us some sense of fulfillment.
Rather than seeking a friend, try being a friend. The parable of the sower tells us we reap what we sow. If we sow the seeds of love and smiles and friendliness, we'll have an abundant harvest. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all" (Galatians 6:10).
A lone state need never be. Friendship will create friendship. Sow love, reap love.
Charles Stanford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 49 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2049&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 20
"Even Longer"
Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
1 Corinthians 15:33
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:29-34&version=NKJV )
"We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet in one of A. A. Milne's timeless children's stories, to which Pooh responded, "Even longer."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The Lord wants us to have friendships that last forever, and even longer. Christians only part to meet again (while the unsaved only meet to part again). Yes, we'll know our loved ones in heaven and our relationships there will pick up where they've left off on earth.
The Resurrection Chapter of the Bible -- 1 Corinthians 15 -- is packed with encouragement about our eternal destiny. But right in the middle of this chapter is verse 33, warning us, "Evil company corrupts good habits." The apostle Paul said that without the hope of the resurrection, all that's left is an attitude of: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (verse 32). This godless, secular attitude can spread to our hearts very quickly, doing great damage. God created us to be in relationships with each other, but we must choose our close friends wisely. Be with those who build you up; flee from those who tear you down.
True friends ... face in the same direction, toward common projects, interests, goals.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 50 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2050&version=NKJV)
:angel:
Wednesday, August 21
A Treasure Within
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you ...?
1 Corinthians 6:19
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:1-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:1-15&version=NKJV )
A Montana man, on a road trip with his dog, Sundance, stopped for a meal, leaving the pooch in the car. Well, Sundance must have been hungry too, for he nosed around in the vehicle until he found five $100 bills and ate them like dog biscuits. The man returned to find his pet's meal had cost him a good deal more than his own.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As Christians, we have something inside us that a billion dollars can't buy. We have something better than gold in our hearts. We have the Holy Spirit as a deposit or down payment, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 1:22). Our bodies are His temples, and we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency may be of Him (2 Corinthians 4:7).
That leads to a life of thanksgiving as our hearts overflow. Gratitude isn't a momentary feeling; it's a constant attitude produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit as He reminds us of our blessings in Christ. Be thankful today, as though you had swallowed sunshine.
When I met Christ, I felt that I had swallowed sunshine.
E. Stanley Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 51-52 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2051-52&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, August 22
A Fifty-Year Thank You
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
Psalm 18:16
Recommended Reading
Psalm 124 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20124&version=NKJV )
One day in 1964, five-year-old Eady Rothstein fell into a swimming pool in Long Island, New York. She would have drowned but for the efforts of Larry Brickman, 21, a lifeguard who knew CPR, which was rare at the time. Now, almost fifty years later, Eady used family scrapbooks and online search engines to locate Larry and express her gratitude. "I've always said I wanted to thank him," Rothstein said. "I owe my life, and it's a very nice feeling to finally be able to say, 'Thank you.'"1
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It's always a very nice feeling to say "Thank you." Having a thankful spirit enhances our personalities and provides a powerful antidote for discouragement. Things don't always go our way, and sometimes we're "underwater" in life; but we have a Savior who redeems all our situations, a mighty hand that draws us up and sets our feet on a rock. He can make all things work together for good.
Don't wait a moment longer to tell Him: "Thanks!"
Whenever you stop being thankful in your spirit, you begin to push God to the perimeter of your life.
David Jeremiah
1 Eric Pfeiffer, "Woman Tracks Down Lifeguard Who Saved Her Nearly 50 Years Ago," Yahoo! News. (accessed April 12, 2013).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 23
Guard the Heart
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Proverbs 15:23
Recommended Reading
James 3:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%203:1-12&version=NKJV )
A man spoke a word of untrue gossip to a monk. To teach the man a lesson, the monk told the man to open a feather pillow and go about the village, placing one feather on every doorstep as an act of penance. When the man completed his penance, the monk told him to go and retrieve every feather. "Why, that would be impossible," the man exclaimed. "the wind will have carried them far and wide!" "Let that be a lesson," the monk replied. "Your words are like those feathers. Once spoken, they are impossible to get back."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
While human speech has conveyed comfort, beauty, and blessing throughout history, it has also delivered hate, lies, and curses. The apostle James talked about human speech by referring to the tongue as a "fire, a world of iniquity," and "unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:6, 8). The tongue, the fleshly organ, is not to blame, of course. Jesus said it was out of the heart of man that 'evil things come" -- including words (Mark 7:20-23).
If you would speak a word in due season, a word of beauty and blessing, ask God to give you a heart like the words you want to speak. Guarding the heart is the way to guard the tongue.
The heart is the metal of the bell, the tongue is but the clapper.
George Swinnock
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Lamentations 3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%203-5%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 24 & 25
Right On!: Treat Your Parents the Right Way
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:1
Recommended Reading
Exodus 20:12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020:12&version=NKJV )
We live in a dispersed society. More often than not, when children reach adulthood, their education and mobility allows them to take jobs that separate them from their parents. Therefore, it takes creative energy for adult children to continue to support and honor their aging parents who may live a great distance away.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Is that a Christian responsibility? It is so important that God included the responsibility for honoring one's parents in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12). Those commandments were given to the whole community of Israel -- adults and children. So there is no age limit implied. As long as one's parents are alive, the responsibility to honor them remains. Paul quotes this commandment in Ephesians 6:1, changing "honor" to "obey." And it seems obvious he is referring to younger children still living at home since he is discussing family relationships. And the reason he gives is simple: "this is right."
Regardless of your age, consider your responsibility to honor your parents if you are an adult and to obey them if you are still under their authority in the home. It's the right thing to do.
Obedience is the evidence of that honor which children owe to their parents.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%201-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, August 26
Yuck or Yum
Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.
Psalm 145:2-3
Recommended Reading
Colossians 4:2-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%204:2-6&version=NKJV )
We have approximately 9,000 taste buds in our mouths, each with ten to fifteen receptacles that send messages to the brain saying Yuck or Yum. John Harrison, the official taste tester for a major ice cream company, has developed such a sensitive and discriminating tongue that his taste buds are insured for a million dollars. Over the years Harrison has sampled more than 180 million gallons of ice cream (yet he claims his cholesterol is still under 200).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
All of us need a sensitive and discriminating tongue, which the Bible compares to honey and apples. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." And Proverbs 25:11 adds, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Today, ask God to give you by His Holy Spirit a sensitivity of speech to impart timely words, sensitive to each situation and seasoned with Scripture. To refine our speech, we must refine the source -- the heart. God-honoring speech comes only from a heart that honors God.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Frances Ridley Havergal
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 9-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%209-12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, August 27
How God Sees Money
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:6-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206:6-10&version=NKJV )
In his book about heaven, D. L. Moody writes, "Somebody has said that getting riches brings care; keeping them brings trouble; abusing them brings guilt; and losing them brings sorrow. It's a great mistake to make so much of riches as we do."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As followers of Christ, we need God's wisdom in our approach to money. We need to view our checkbooks, bank accounts, and paychecks exactly as He does. He knows we have bills to pay. He knows we need to provide for our families and store up for rainy days. He also knows the brevity of life and the uselessness of money beyond the grave. The most valuable things are those He provides free of charge, like air to breathe and sunlight to bathe our faces. The Lord knows how to provide for us in every condition.
The tentacles of greed wrap themselves around us when we substitute our wisdom for God's as it relates to money. May the Lord Jesus give us His wisdom as we remember that nothing we have belongs to us. We belong to Him, and all we have is His.
As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol.
A. B. Simpson, in Days of Heaven upon Earth
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 13-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2013-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, August 28
Such a Commerce as This
God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 9:1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209:1-8&version=NKJV )
Augustine made a powerful observation about the nature of Christian giving and tithing when he said: "We give earth, and receive heaven. We give the temporal, and receive the eternal. We give things corruptible, and receive the immortal. Lastly we give what God has bestowed, and receive God Himself. Let us not be slothful in such a commerce as this. Let us not continue to be poor."
Listen to Today's Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Somehow we never lose when we give our tithes and offerings. The Lord continually promises blessings to those who generously offer Him their support. But we don't give simply in hopes of getting. Our giving to the Lord is an act of worship, not a financial ploy. We give to Him because we love Him; and He gives to us out of His infinite love for us.
When we give, we are to give cheerfully and obediently to the Lord. Giving in order to "get more" is not a biblical principle. But those who faithfully give can rejoice, knowing that as they help meet the needs of others, God will meet their needs as well.
Giving to the Lord never impoverishes.
George W. Brown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%
:angel:
Thursday, August 29
Immutable!
....the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046&version=NKJV )
If you're worried about anything at all today, let me introduce you to the subject of the immutability of God. What do we mean when we say something is "immutable"? It means it's not capable of mutating. In other words, it is not possible for it to change. If something is immutable, it is unchanging and unchangeable. What could that be? Nothing that is part of this world. Everything in the universe is subject to change. Certainly you and I are changing. Our children are changing. Our society is changing. And even the most durable elements of our natural world and in our universe are changing.
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But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega. The Lord says, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:19). Malachi 3:6 says, "I am the LORD, I do not change." In Christ we have a rock of stability. We have a Friend whose word will never go out of style. We have a Savior who is as dependable now as He was two thousand years ago.
In times of instability, focus on God's immutability.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Thomas O. Chisholm
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2018-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, August 30
Perfect Point of View
The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men....He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
Psalm 33:13, 15
Recommended Reading
Acts 17:22-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:22-31&version=NKJV )
A man in a plane flying above a town has a better perspective on the town than a man walking on the street. If you had to choose one of them to guide you, who would you choose?
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We are like the man on the street, only seeing and understanding our immediate surroundings. God, like the man in the plane, sees more. He knows each detail of our lives. As the Creator of all, He understands each intricate person and piece of the world.
He has determined our times and dwelling places. Unlike an author or painter who steps back from their created work once it is finished, God desires a daily relationship with us. We have a choice. We can rely on our own instincts and wisdom or we can rely on God for direction. When we rely on our own point of view, we are certain to take wrong turns. When we rely on God, our footsteps are sure. Who will you trust today?
It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2021-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, August 31
Right On! Stay on the Right Road
They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.
2 Peter 2:15
Recommended Reading
Numbers 22:1-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2022:1-21&version=NKJV )
Balaam was an Old Testament "prophet" for hire. His reputation was so great (he was from Mesopotamia) that when the Israelites were approaching Moab on their way to the Promised Land, Balak, the king of Moab, tried to hire Balaam to rain down curses on Israel. Balaam was prevented by God from cursing Israel, but the good outcome came in spite of Balaam's character as a greedy "oracle for hire."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
False prophets and false teachers did not stop with the Old Testament age. They were present in the New Testament churches as well. Teachers traveled about seeking to extract money from those they taught. But they came under strict condemnation from the apostles. Peter, in particular, said the false teachers had "forsaken the right way and gone astray" (2 Peter 2:15). The true faith was frequently referred to as "the Way" in the first century, and that is Peter's reference here.
The pull of material greed can tempt anyone to leave "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). But there is only one right way -- the way of fidelity to Christ. Don't forsake it.
What is the use of running when we are not on the right road?
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 23-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2023-24%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 1
Fall Favorites -- Family
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Proverbs 17:1
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 17:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2017:1-6&version=NKJV )
Without a doubt, each family knows what it is like to experience some type of disruption at home. The commotion may be caused by one person in the family, or by a number of inadvertent actions that affected everyone in the household. These things happen in everyday life, but there are ways to bring order back into a home so that it is a place of stability for everyone living there. If someone is having a hard day -- listen. Be supportive and ask how you can help. Make sure that you remain positive -- find time to pray so that your words and actions are filled with love and not anger. Don't allow bitterness to enter into your conversation. Could be you've had hard times at work recently. Have you come home with a short fuse and an irritable demeanor? Become a peacemaker.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Fall is a great time to make things right. As school cranks up and temperatures drop, the world becomes colorful. We begin thinking about Thanksgiving. What a great time to tell your family anew: "I love you; I thank God for you."
Don't let the devil disrupt your home. Fall into a pattern of patience, prayer, and togetherness this season.
The mind of Christ is to be learned in the family. Strength of character may be acquired at work, but beauty of character is learned at home.
Henry Drummond
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 25-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2025-27&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 02
The Physics of Maturity
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Philippians 3:12
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:1-2&version=NKJV )
Wolfgang Pauli was an Austrian theoretical physicist who won a Nobel Prize in 1945 for what is called the "Pauli exclusion principle." Though his research was done at the molecular level, his work laid the foundation for this popularized law: Two different objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Pauli's principle can help us think about a corresponding spiritual law: a Christian cannot be moving forward toward maturity and backward toward immaturity at the same time. Many Christians worry about the possibility of falling away from the faith, about losing their salvation. But one simple test will relieve those fears: Are you pressing on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? That is not to say our salvation is dependent on our pressing on. Rather, it means that our hunger to grow in Christ is a sign of our genuine spiritual state. If we are moving forward, we cannot be moving backward.
If you know you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), make sure you are continually pressing on toward maturity in Him.
There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. It takes time to be holy.
Erwin W. Lutzer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 28 – 30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2028-30&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 03
Be the Good Soil
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 13:23
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203:5-8&version=NKJV )
If you are a vegetable gardener, you have had the puzzling experience of different plants of the same variety producing different qualities of fruit when planted in the same soil. Perhaps a large rock is blocking the growth of the roots. Or perhaps a poisonous chemical substance was accidentally spilled on the ground. Lots of things can render soil unsuitable for seed.
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Jesus identified the soil of the heart as the primary variable in spiritual growth (Matthew 13:1-23). If the soil is rocky or filled with weeds and brambles, the seed of the Word of God cannot spring up and bear fruit. But if the soil is "good," then we "hear and understand" it and bring forth an abundant crop of spiritual fruit. And whose job is it to make sure the soil of the heart is "good," prepared to receive kingdom teaching? It is every Christian's responsibility to prepare his or her heart -- to be the good soil.
Whenever you are about to receive the Word -- before Bible study or a sermon -- ask God to give you a heart of good soil.
As seed is made for soil and soil for seed, so the heart is made for God's truth and God's truth for the heart.
Richard Glover
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 31-32 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2031-32&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 05
The Clothes We Wear
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:20-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:20-21&version=NKJV )
If you see a woman dressed in green surgical scrubs, a mask covering her face, and latex gloves on her hands, you know she likely works in a ________. If you see a man wearing a cowboy hat and chaps, riding a horse and holding a lariat, you know he's probably a ________. If you see a man dressed in blue with a gun on his hip and a badge on his chest, he's likely a ________.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
But if you see a woman sacrificing herself compassionately for the sake of a friend, or a stranger, there's a good chance that person is a follower of ________. If you said "Jesus," it would be a good guess. Christians aren't the only people who show sacrificial love to others, but they are the only ones for whom love is supposed to be their defining characteristic. Jesus made that clear to His disciples: The way the world is supposed to identify us as His followers is by the love we have for one another. And the apostle John took it a step further: If we say we are followers of Jesus but don't have love, we are liars.
At the very least, being dressed in love for others should make people wonder, "Why does that person love so generously?" Then we can tell them -- because Jesus first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Faith without love is no living grace, and love without faith is no saving grace.
William Burkitt
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 36-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2036-38&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 06
Jesus' Job Description
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:14
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 4:14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204:14-16&version=NKJV )
A long list of criteria had to be met for a man to become High Priest. Meeting the criteria was only the first step. Afterwards, the High Priest was to offer sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people. He was most connected to the sacred perfection of God and most responsible to correctly atone for the people's sin. The sacrifices were continually repeated because no sacrifice was perfect enough to atone for sin once and for all.
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Jesus was different. He was perfect and did not become High Priest by being appointed by men. He was appointed by God. When Jesus submitted Himself to death on the cross, He assumed the position of both the High Priest and the sacrifice. He presented Himself as the sacrifice for our sin. No other priest or sacrifice is necessary. When we look to Jesus, we can be filled with thanksgiving because our High Priest is perfect. Once we believe in Him, we are safe, having been cleansed from all unrighteousness. Jesus fulfilled the law completely and through Him we have eternal life.
In his life Christ is an example showing us how to live; in his death, he is a sacrifice satisfying for our sins; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his ascension, a king; in his intercession a high priest.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 39-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2039-40&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 7 & 8
Fall Favorites: Friends
I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15
Recommended Reading
John 15:9-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015:9-17&version=NKJV )
Henry Clay Trumbull, an influential nineteenth-century Christian worker, used all his influence to promote the cause of Sunday school and the message of the victorious Christian life. He was a man with a great capacity for work and also for friendship. In 1891 he wrote a book about friendship, and his premise was: Friendship is a matter of loving, not of being loved. "Friendship is love with the selfish element eliminated," he said. "It is an out-going and an on-going affection. No love in any relation of life can be at its best if the element of friendship be lacking."1
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It's startling to think about our friends this way. We usually want to be with them because of what they do for us -- they make us feel comfortable; they're fun to be with; they support us; they affirm us. But what if none of those things happened? What if we derived little benefit from being their friend? Would we be friendly anyway?
It's not what we get but what we give that makes us a friend.
Friendship consists in being a friend, not in having a friend; in giving one's affection unselfishly and unswervingly to another.
Henry Clay Trumbull
1Quotes from Trumbull's book, Friendship, the Master Passion.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 41-46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2041-46&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 09
Cars and Christians
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.
Romans 8:3
Recommended Reading
Romans 7:18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%207:18-20&version=NKJV )
The idea of the gasoline-powered vehicle to be used for human and commercial transportation is a fabulous idea! In fact, a century of innovations and further inventions have made cars and trucks a permanent part of our life. So why do we only tolerate them instead of love them?
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
It's because they break down and need repairs. Rubber wears out, metal breaks down, paint fades, wires break, and we crash these machines into one another. It's not the idea of the vehicle that is bad -- it's the execution that breaks down. And so it is with the law of God. The law is "holy and just and good" (Romans 7:12), yet we have a hard time implementing the concept. Vehicles are weak because of their parts and humans are weak because of their flesh -- their fallen human nature. If inventors ever create parts that last forever, they will do for vehicles what Jesus did for us: be strong, not weak, in the flesh.
The next time your car is in the shop, thank God that Jesus is a permanent, perfect keeper of God's law. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.
Dwight L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 47-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2047-48&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 10
Finally Free!
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 8:6-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%208:6-12&version=NKJV)
In 2007, James Tillman was released from prison after serving 16.5 years of a 45-year sentence for a rape he did not commit. Also in 2007, Lynn DeJac was released from prison after serving 13 years on a murder conviction -- a murder she did not commit. In 2010, Greg Taylor was released from prison after serving 17 years for a murder he did not commit. As of June 2012, 292 wrongfully-convicted people had been freed from prison through DNA testing, 17 of whom had received death sentences.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Imagine what it must feel like to walk out of prison a free person -- no more burden of guilt or shame of (accused) wrongdoing. The Christian doesn't have to imagine it. We know the reality in an even deeper way: We did, in fact, commit the sins of which we stand accused by God's law. And yet we have been set free from the burden of guilt and shame of (actual) wrongdoing. Through the shed blood of Christ, God promises to remember our sins no more. Our challenge is to remember that God has forgotten!
If you are a child of God, thank Him today that you have been set free -- forevermore! Then walk in the newness of life Christ's blood has bought.
Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 11
The Law and the Heart
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Hebrews 8:10
Recommended Reading
Ezekiel 36:26-27 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2036:26-27&version=NKJV )
Twelve years ago today, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The record of the lives lost and damage done is being recorded in an underground museum in what was the foundation of the World Trade Center's "Twin Towers." But the records are written even more indelibly in another place -- in the hearts of those who lost loved ones on that day.
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God first wrote His laws for Israel on tablets of stone. When man proved incapable of obeying those laws, He promised to write them in a more accessible place -- in the hearts and minds of His people. That is how the New Covenant was portrayed by God through the prophet Jeremiah. The internalization of God's law is made possible by the permanent presence of the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Give thanks to God today for His Holy Spirit who empowers you to walk in a manner pleasing to God. Then be sensitive to the Spirit's promptings as He calls God's will to mind.
Sinners cannot obey the Gospel, any more than the law, without renewal of heart.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204-5&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 12
Don't Miss the Meaning!
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Matthew 5:17
Recommended Reading
Galatians 3:24-25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203:24-25&version=NKJV )
The Amazing Race is one of the most popular shows on television -- it has won thirteen Emmy awards since debuting in 2001. Two-person teams compete by traveling all over the world in a race against the clock. On The Amazing Race , once teams arrive at a destination, they search for a set of instructions for reaching the next destination -- and so on until they complete the final leg. Every new set of instructions moves them closer to arriving at the final destination ahead of their competitors.
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In a similar way, the entire Old Testament is a set of clues, or instructions, pointing toward a final destination: the arrival of Jesus Christ, Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. The Old Testament was written over many hundreds of years by many different people, so piecing the clues together took discernment. But when Christ appeared, He made it plain: "I came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 5:17, paraphrase).
Old Testament saints may have been at a disadvantage, but we shouldn't be. We have the promise and fulfillment in one book. Don't miss the meaning of the Old Testament!
[Christ] is the center, the structure of the whole history of the Old Testament.
Edmund P. Clowney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 6-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 13
'Tis a Charming Sound
For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:19
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 7:18-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%207:18-28&version=NKJV )
To understand the link between Law and Grace, remember that God is pure, perfect, holy, and righteous. We are not; but without a measuring stick we can't see how truly sinful we are. When God gave the Ten Commandments (which is the Law in its essence), He revealed His character in a way that allows us to measure ourselves by His holiness. Standing on tiptoe and trying to be as tall as the Law can never save us. The Law simply shows our deficiency.
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It also reveals our need for Grace. When Christ came, He perfectly fulfilled the Law; and when He died on the cross, He took our failures upon Himself and transferred His righteousness to our account.
There was nothing wrong with the Law; it simply defined sin. But it also prepared us for a better hope -- the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we draw near to God. The Law was conditional, but Christ's redemption is unmerited, unconditional, final, and worthy of praise forever.
Grace first inscribed my name in God's eternal book; 'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, who all my sorrows took.
Philip Doddridge, in the hymn "Grace, 'Tis a Charming Sound"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 9-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%209-12%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 14 & 15
Fall Favorites: Faith
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208&version=NKJV )
John Piper wrote, "When I was in seminary, a wise professor told me that besides the Bible I should choose one great theologian and apply myself throughout life to understanding and mastering his thought.... The theologian I have devoted myself to is Jonathan Edwards."
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Piper was particularly influenced by Edwards' dissertation about the reason God created the world, which was ultimately and exclusively for His glory. Everything is of God and in God and to God. The presence of beauty in this sin-cursed world is a reflection of the glory of God.1
This autumn as you watch the swirls of oranges, reds, and browns; as the birds migrate above you; as the harvest rolls in around you; and as you see the sun set earlier in the sky, take time to reaffirm your faith in God. Trust the Creator with all your heart and say to Him: "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth."
In the creatures' knowing, esteeming, loving, rejoicing in and praising God, the glory of God is both exhibited and acknowledged; His fullness is received and returned.
Jonathan Edwards
1John Piper in the introduction of Jonathan Edwards on Beauty by Owen Strachan and Douglas Sweeney (Chicago: Moody, 2010), 15-17.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 1-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%201-9%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 16
Simplicity
Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Hebrews 9:24
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-6&version=NKJV )
Copies come from an original. Examples illustrate truth. Foreshadowing is used to point to the future. To reach us, God has to make things simple. If He revealed all of Himself and heaven to us now, we would fall before Him in awestruck fear.
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This world is temporary and any roots and security we build here will pass away. Adam and Eve left the Garden. Abraham was a nomad. Jacob fled from his brother. Joshua led the Israelites into a new land. Each of their lives reminds us of the transient and temporary nature of our lives. God gave the Israelites the design of the tabernacle to illustrate His holiness and perfection. The entire structure kept the holiness of God in view. It was made by human hands and was a foreshadowing of heaven, where God dwells in all His glory.
Our life here is a fleeting moment, but we can focus on God, His glory, and the eternity that awaits us when we trust in Him. Then our lives and actions will be gloriously transformed, serving as an example of all that God can do through those who trust in Him.
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 10-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%2010-14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 17
The Go-Between
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
Recommended Reading
John 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=NKJV )
"Mom! He pinched me!" As children we often ran to our parents when a disagreement broke out between us. Sometimes our parents would tell us to sort it out ourselves, other times they would step in as a mediator, helping us mend our relationship with one another.
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When sin entered the world and the relationship between God and man was broken, man had no one to mediate and mend his relationship with God. Only a being who was both deity and human could bridge the gap between man and God. We were stuck, unable to renew our relationship with God.
Aware of our inability to rectify our relationship to Himself, God chose and appointed a Mediator. He sent His son, Jesus, to earth, clothed in the flesh of humanity to become our Savior and Mediator and pay the penalty for our sin. When we believe in Him, our relationship with God is healed and our future destination is secured. Through Christ we can have an intimate relationship with God on earth and throughout eternity.
Jesus [Christ] stands between us and God, and for that very reason he stands between us and all other men and things. He is the Mediator ... Since the whole world was created through him and unto him ... he is the sole Mediator in the world.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joel 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%201-3%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Justice and Mercy
God is just. However, He often delays His justice so people can come to know Him. For example, Dr. Cyril E.M. Joad, the former head of the Philosophy Department at the University of London, and some of his colleagues, may have done more to undermine the faith of the collegiate world of recent generations. Dr. Joad taught that God was an impersonal part of the cosmos and that there is no accountability to Him. Yet, God did not strike him dead or give him a crippling disease. Before he died, Dr. Joad became a zealous follower of Jesus Christ. Most likely many of his followers started a relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of his testimony and writings.
God's delayed justice is an opportunity for Him to show His mercy to many. Follow your Father's example--examine your motivations in the way you deal with difficult people. Look for opportunities to extend mercy!
Today's One Thing
Thank God for ways that He has shown you mercy by delaying justice.
Going Deeper
Galatians 6:7; Romans 2:1-4
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Wednesday, September 18
Connecting the Dots
Those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:18-19
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 52:13-53:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2052:13-53:9&version=NKJV )
Connecting the dots is a children's game. As a child draws a line, connecting the dots sprinkled across the page of his or her coloring book, a picture is created. Similarly the verses in the Old and New Testament can be connected and reveal Jesus as our Savior.
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The first dot is God's creation of man. The second dot is sin entering the world through Adam and Eve. Next are the many dots of wandering prophets and kings. A picture of need emerges. Humankind is in need of a Savior. Broken and sinful, man is incapable of saving himself.
The first dot in the New Testament is the genealogy of Christ in Matthew. This dot connects us to the past. Jesus is from the tribe foretold to bring a Savior. From this point the four Gospels are filled with dot after dot, revealing the life and character of Jesus. He came with truth and compassion, speaking accurate judgment but offering forgiveness and mercy. As the line is drawn leading to Christ's death and resurrection, the picture is complete. Jesus is our perfect Savior. He died for our sins. Can you connect the dots and trust in Him today?
Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.
John Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos%201-4%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 19
Before and Behind
He is the image of the invisible God ... For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible ... All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:15-17
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 40:10-31 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040:10-31&version=NKJV ]
Some people try to look at the life of Jesus solely from the time He lived on earth -- they see Him as a wise teacher, but nothing more. But Jesus existed before He came to earth. The prophets foretold His coming and the Israelites looked forward to the coming of the Messiah with great expectation. Everything was created by and through Christ. The miracle of life and the masterful detail of creation come from Him. What we see is only a part of His creation. The description of Christ in Colossians matches the description of God throughout Scripture, confirming Christ's deity. In John the message is clear, "The Word was with God, and the Word was God" (1:1).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo ]
This is a key point -- Jesus is sovereign and yet, while He lived on earth, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father. He laid aside His divinity -- for us. What a glorious thought -- the sinless, sovereign Son of God -- loves me!
Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 5-9 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos%205-9%20&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Friday, September 20
Let Us Prepare
.... not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:12-15 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%203:12-15&version=NKJV ]
If you are having guests over for supper, you create a To-Do list -- at least mental if not written -- preparing "now" for "then."
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The writer to the Hebrews had that mindset as well. He devoted an entire section of Hebrews 10 to how we should live while anticipating the arrival of Christ:
1. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (verse 22a). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
2. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope" (Hebrews 10:23a, NIV). Hope keeps us focused on Christ's promise to return for us (John 14:1-3).
3. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). The central activity of Christianity is the gathering of believers together for encouragement, education, and edification (Acts 2:42).
Just as hosts say to one another, "Let us prepare for our guests," so Christians say, "Let us prepare for Christ's return with faith, hope, and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Obadiah 1 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah%201&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Weekend, September 21 & 22
Fall Favorites: Fellowship
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
Recommended Reading
Romans 13:8-11 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013:8-11&version=NKJV ]
Sam Rayburn served nearly a half-century in the U.S. House of Representatives and became one of the most powerful men in the world, but he never outgrew his friends. One night, a friend's daughter passed away. Early the next morning the man heard a knock on his door, and when he opened it, Mr. Rayburn stood outside. "I just came by to see what I could do to help," said Rayburn. The man said nothing could be done.
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"Well," Mr. Rayburn said, "have you had your coffee this morning?" While Rayburn was working in the kitchen, the man came in and said, "Mr. Speaker, I thought you were supposed to be having breakfast at the White House this morning."
"Well, I was," Rayburn said, "but I called the President and told him I had a friend who was in trouble, and I couldn't come."
Sometime during this fall season someone will need your support and fellowship. A friend in trouble is the most important person in the world; and fellowship is the funnel through which our love flows to others. Do you have a friend in need today?
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
John Fawcett
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jonah 1-Micah 4 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201-%20Micah%204%20&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Monday, September 23
Keep the Meaning
And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:19-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010:19-22&version=NKJV )
Several hundred years ago, the English word "seminary" was used to describe a garden plot -- a place where seeds were planted and sprouted. That meaning is no longer in use. Today, a seminary is where young men and women enroll to be trained for various kinds of Christian ministry (a place to nurture and grow young ministers).
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The use and meaning of some words can change without harm; the original meaning of other words should never change. "Fellowship" is a biblical word, but its meaning is often diluted if not changed outright. It comes from the Greek koinonia , a word that means "commonality or oneness." Fellowship never meant "have doughnuts and coffee," although sharing meals together can be an expression of oneness and unity in faith (Acts 2:46). But the expression should never be mistaken for the underlying reality. The deepest dimension of fellowship is the oneness we have with God Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is amazing to realize that, by being one with Christ, we are one with God.
Only by being one with God can we be one with each other.
Fellowship with Christians is for the sake of fellowship with God.
J. I. Packer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Micah 5-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%205-7&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, September 24
Examine Yourself
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 4:1 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%204:1&version=NKJV )
Who would you name as the most infamous person in the New Testament? Other than the Antichrist, it has to be Judas Iscariot. He was a man who gave the impression of believing in Jesus. Then, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas fell away from Jesus -- fell away from his faith -- and became what the New Testament calls an apostate.
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"Apostate," in the Greek language, came from a word that meant "to lead away or to depart from." An apostate is one who departs from his or her presumed, professed faith in Christ. Judas had every opportunity to know about Jesus and to know Jesus Himself; he did not suffer from lack of knowledge or access. He had everything one needed to become a true follower of Jesus. But he didn't; he fell away from the faith he led others to think he possessed. The other eleven disciples persevered in their faith and became faithful apostles, but he did not.
Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians applies to all who profess Christ: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Don't fail the faith test!
Apostasy must be called what it is -- a spiritual adultery.
Francis Schaeffer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nahum 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nahum%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, September 25
Why People Leave
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
1 John 2:19
Recommended Reading
Acts 20:29-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:29-30&version=NKJV )
Have you ever sat in church and wondered where a particular person was -- even pondering if they had stopped attending church at all? How many people who sit in Christian churches on Sunday morning are actually true followers of Jesus -- and how many are not? That question does not mean that anyone who leaves a particular church is not a Christian. And without question, there are people who faithfully attend church who are not yet followers of Christ. Based on what John had written about those who left the body of believers, they left the faith first , then the church. They had denied the incarnation of Christ; they denied, and did not have, God the Father; they were liars and deceivers; they had nothing in common with other Christians (1 John 2:19-23; John 4:23; 2 John 1:7).
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If someone leaves one solid church to attend another, that's one thing. If he leaves church because he has left the faith, that is altogether different -- and eternally serious.
Unbelief is the root of apostasy.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Habakkuk 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, September 26
Past and Future Faithfulness
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.
Hebrews 10:32
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:29-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:29-30&version=NKJV )
Often new Army recruits anticipate "boot camp" with deserved apprehension. They get through it by believing the advice of those who have gone before: "You can do anything for ten weeks." When it's over, they proudly tell others, "It wasn't so bad."
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In the moment, many things seem "bad." But in hindsight, the fact that one endures the discomfort pays an immediate benefit: It equips us for the future. From that perspective, the pain of the past becomes a blessing because we have personally seen God's faithfulness and His strength working in us. If we had strength to endure then , we know we will have strength when .... The writer to the Hebrews exhorted his readers to "recall the former days in which ... you endured a great struggle with sufferings" (Hebrews 10:32). The key word in that exhortation is "endured." Yes, they no doubt suffered and experienced pain for Christ's sake. But they were blessed by God's faithfulness and were thus prepared for the future.
As you look to the future, remember God's faithful blessings in your past.
Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zephaniah 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, September 27
Confidence in Whom?
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Hebrews 10:35
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203&version=NKJV )
If you confide in a friend, you put your trust in him or her. English confide, confidant, and confidence all come from Latin confidere: the intensive prefix con and fidere, meaning trust. Con, as a prefix in Western languages, can also mean "with." So confidence means "with trust or faith." The English words confidence and confidently occur 36 times in the Bible (NKJV).
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The writer to the Hebrews talks about remaining confident in Christ "to the end" (Hebrews 3:6, 14) and exhorts his readers not to lose their confidence, "which has great reward" (Hebrews 10:35). The Greek word for confidence also occurs in Hebrews 4:16 where it is translated "boldly" -- an exhortation to come boldly, with confidence and without doubting, into God's presence to "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." The apostle Paul says our confidence is not in ourselves but in Christ (Ephesians 3:12).
If confidence means "with faith," the next question is, Faith in whom or what? The rewards of confidence are only as good as its object. Make sure your confidence is in Christ alone.
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Haggai 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, September 28 & 29
Fall Favorites: Festivities
You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Mighty One of Israel.
Isaiah 30:29
Recommended Reading
Psalm 100 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20100&version=NKJV )
Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote about growing up in upstate New York, where one summer's day his mother sent him out to pick a quart of raspberries. "I dragged my feet in rebellion," he said, "and the can was filling very slowly. Then a new idea came: it would be fun to pick two quarts of raspberries and surprise her. I had so interesting a time picking two quarts to the utter amazement of the household, and they never forgot it. But alas, I have often forgotten the philosophy of it: we can change any situation by changing our attitude toward it."1
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It's natural to celebrate with a grateful heart during the harvest seasons of the year. As fresh produce shows up in the markets and we relish our fresh apples and fall vegetables, everything tastes better when salted with thanksgiving. A few family festivities and traditions make enriching memories.
This fall, celebrate the goodness of God, and may the Lord give you gladness of heart.
Happiness comes from holiness. You can't truly be happy unless you're hungry for Jesus Christ.
David Jeremiah
1Alan Loy McGinnis, The Power of Optimism (San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1990), 151.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 1-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%201-10%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, September 30
The Great Calm
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39
Recommended Reading
John 14:25-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:25-31%20&version=NKJV )
Everyone has their own pocketful of fears. One person fears heights, spiders, and death, while another fears failure, germs, and the disapproval of others. Every fear reveals itself through our actions. If I am afraid of germs, my house will be clean from top to bottom and I may be afraid to shake the hands of others.
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God knew the fears of His followers. Be not afraid. This phrase is repeated by God and His angels throughout Scripture. He knew that whenever He called His people to trust or fulfill His purposes, their fear could hold them back. These men did not hold back: Abraham left his home behind. Moses demanded that Pharaoh release God's people from captivity. Joseph patiently and faithfully served as a slave. Joshua marched around Jericho's walls. Be not afraid.
God knows your fears. Be not afraid. He points us to a reality greater and more powerful than our fear. He points us to Himself. Just as Jesus reminded His disciples of His protection, calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. He wants to remind you of His protection and fill you with His peace.
This is a wise, sane Christian faith: that a man commit himself, his life, and his hopes to God; that God undertakes the special protection of that man; that therefore that man ought not to be afraid of anything.
George MacDonald
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2011-14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 1
The First Step
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 57 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2057&version=NKJV )
Fear is the first step toward obedience. In Scripture, when God calls a person to a specific task or role, their first response is usually an objection, question, or doubt. Fearfully, they ask, "Why have You chosen me? I'm not qualified. I've never done this before."
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God chose Israel, although it was a small, insignificant nation (Deuteronomy 7:7). God chose Moses, although he had run away from Egypt in fear. God chose Joseph, although he was ridiculed and sold by his brothers. Jesus chose an unlikely group of men to be His disciples. God delights in choosing those for whom it is impossible to fulfill His commands in their own strength. He assures us "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).
When God calls us, He equips us. If we get stuck in fear, we are forgetting who God is. Although fear is a natural first step, we must move from fear to faith to obey God. As we focus on Him, remembering His power and strength, our faith increases. He will be glorified through our obedience and bring to completion all He has promised.
Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Malachi 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201-4%20%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 02
Afraid of Failing
The Lord ... never fails.
Zephaniah 3:5
Recommended Reading
Zephaniah 3:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%203:1-5&version=NKJV )
Look up the word "fail" in a thesaurus and you'll find terms like: blunder, break down, fall, fizzle, flop, flounder, fold, lose out, and disappoint. These are strongly negative words, and sometimes we're so afraid of them we don't move forward in the endeavors God has for us. What would you do today that you aren't doing if you knew you could not fail? When fear of failure keeps us from moving forward in faith, fear has won.
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While we can't guarantee that all our projects and ambitions will end successfully (as we define "success"), we can be certain that God's plan for our lives will be fulfilled as we trust Him. Zephaniah 3:5 says, "The LORD is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails."
Don't worry about success or failure. Concentrate on trusting God and obeying Him. Move forward, knowing He never blunders, breaks down, falls, fizzles, flops, flounders, folds, loses out, or disappoints.
He never fails.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Thomas O. Chisholm, in the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 3
A Hospital for Loneliness
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
Psalm 102:6-7
Recommended Reading
Zephaniah 3:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%203:1-5&version=NKJV )
In 1950, less than ten percent of American households were made up of just one person; now the number is twenty-seven percent. We depend on cell phones and computers to stay connected, and that's why we panic when our Internet goes out or we lose our phone. Our society tends toward isolation, and one of the wonders of sociology is why neighbors who live miles apart in rural areas feel closer than apartment dwellers in major cities.
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Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but loneliness can be an impetus to making changes in our lives. If we feel disconnected from others, we can find ways to help others who feel that way too. Often the best way is to become more involved at church. When you attend a Bible study or small group, volunteer in your congregation, pray for those in the nearby pews, and work shoulder-to-shoulder with other saints, it involves you in the family of God. It's hard to feel disconnected while making those efforts.
Don't sit around feeling lonely. Find someone to bless today.
A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Abigail Van Buren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205-6&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, October 4
Reach Out by Prayer
For God is my witness ... that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
Romans 1:9-10
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:3-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:3-6&version=NKJV )
Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchills contains the voluminous correspondence carried on between the famous prime minister and his wife. Though political and wartime duties resulted in lengthy separations, the couple also carried on written correspondence when in the same house. Working in their separate offices, the Churchills sent written love notes via the servants to one another throughout the day.
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The apostle Paul also used written correspondence to support the young churches in the Mediterranean world, but he also used a different means of support: He prayed faithfully. Many Christians don't realize that Paul had never visited Rome when he wrote his most famous letter to the church there. But oh, how he prayed for them! He made mention of them "always in [his] prayers."
If you are separated from those you love, technology gives you many ways to stay in touch. But the most important way to reach out and touch others is through prayer. Why not pray for someone right now who is dear to you?
The chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 7-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207-9&version=NKJV)
:angel:
Weekend, October 5 & 6
Do Not Be Afraid!: Fear and Trust
And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God -- my God -- will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
1 Chronicles 28:20
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013:5-6&version=NKJV )
Anyone who has ever started a new job -- or been promoted to increased responsibility -- knows the feeling: "I'm not sure I'm ready for this; I don't know if I can do what's expected!" And then it always happens: A month, or six months, down the road, you're doing the job like a seasoned veteran. It's just the thought of doing something new and challenging that can be scary.
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Solomon knew the feeling. He had never built a temple before, much less a temple as large and grandiose as the one his father, David, had planned. Not to mention -- it was a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel. It must have been evident to David that Solomon was fearful and dismayed. Why? Because David told him, "Do not fear nor be dismayed"! And David gave Solomon just one reason to be confident of succeeding: "God will be with you until you have finished the work."
If you are facing a challenge as a child of God, do not fear or be dismayed. God is a Father who never leaves His children until their work is finished.
It is a blessed fear which drives us to trust.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 10-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 7
Seeking Approval
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified.
1 Peter 4:11
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 4:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:1-11&version=NKJV )
We all seek approval, wanting to be liked, respected, admired, and appreciated. But when put into practice, our Christian principles sometimes incur the disapproval of others. The apostle Peter warned his readers to turn away from "lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries," even though our friends will "think it strange that [we] do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation" and will speak evil of us (1 Peter 4:3-4).
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In obeying Christ, we may lose the approval of peers, but we'll gain the approbation of the Lord. For the Christian, there's blessed peace in knowing God no longer sees us in our sin, but He sees us through Christ. He's not disapproving of His children. Our sins are forgiven, and all our efforts to live for Him are blessed.
Whether you speak or minister, do it with a sense of God's blessing and approval, no matter what others may think. As you labor with the ability God supplies, He will be "glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:11b).
What higher approval could a person enjoy than to know that what he or she has done is pleasing to God?
R. C. Sproul, in Pleasing God
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 14-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 8
Our Adversary, Our Advocate
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
Zechariah 3:1
Recommended Reading
Zechariah 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%203&version=NKJV )
The Old Testament Book of Zechariah is filled with strange visions and important lessons for God's people. In chapter 3, Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the Lord. (This isn't the Joshua who fought the Battle of Jericho; this is the Joshua who helped rebuild the temple in postexilic times). Evidently he was discouraged and feeling bad about himself. In some sense Satan was opposing and accusing him to God. But the Lord rebuked the devil. Then in his vision Zechariah watched as Joshua's dirty garments were removed and he was dressed in clean clothes and a turban.
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The devil is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), but the apostle John tells us "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Our adversary, the devil, wants us to believe God sits on His throne frowning at our every move. But God is working on our behalf so we'll be successful and approved by Him.
If the adversary bothers you today, remember you have an Advocate -- Jesus Christ the righteous.
We have an Advocate who ...,because He is infinite ..., can give His attention to an infinite number of children at any moment of time and can faithfully represent them as Defense Attorney before God, as need arises.
J. Dwight Pentecost
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 9
A Valuable Lesson
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Philippians 4:12
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 30:8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030:8-9&version=NKJV )
For many people, the silver lining in the recent economic cloud was a wake-up call concerning personal indebtedness. The housing market had skyrocketed and many people took on more debt than they could handle. And when the housing bubble burst ... well, everyone is familiar with what happened.
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It wasn't just housing debt -- credit card debt had soared to record levels before the downturn began. The last several years have been a reminder that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). What is the source of debt? Most often, debt arises when we live beyond our means. It happens when we are not satisfied with what God has provided. The apostle Paul discovered the secret to living within one's means: contentment. And the key word in his description of contentment is "learned" -- being content is not something we do naturally. Sometimes it takes a hard experience to learn this valuable lesson.
If you feel envious today, ask God for discipline and insight to learn the secret of contentment.
To be content with one's possessions is one of the most strongly worded exhortations in Scripture.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 10
Staying Free
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:6-10 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206:6-10&version=NKJV ]
If a new "toy" caught your eye -- boat, car, a recreational vehicle of some sort -- but the cost was beyond your reach, how would you respond to this offer from the salesman: "I can work out a way for you to make the purchase, with only one stipulation: You and your family will become my slaves for the duration of the six-year loan. It won't be that bad. It just means you'll have to get my permission before you spend any money -- even a penny -- for the next six years."
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What would you do? Without thinking, we enslave ourselves every time we borrow money to buy something we actually can't afford -- if we believe Proverbs 22:7 (NIV), that is: "the borrower is slave to the lender." We wouldn't think of letting someone enslave our family, but Proverbs 25:28 suggests how it happens: "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." Lack of self-control in any area invites others to enslave us. Without self-control, we buy what we can't afford. With the resulting debt, we enslave ourselves to the lender.
Ask God today for the protection of self-control when it comes to spending, and for the resulting freedom to be no one's servant except His.
The alternative to discipline is disaster.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 23-24 [ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023-24&version=NKJV ]
:angel:
Friday, October 11
Unseen Protector
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:21-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:21-26&version=NKJV )
When actor James ("Jimmy") Stewart left Hollywood to become an Air Force pilot after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, his father gave him a copy of Psalm 91 to carry with him as he flew bombing missions. According to the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the actor said, "What a promise for an airman. I placed in His hands the squadron I would be leading. And, as the psalmist promised, I felt myself borne up." Stewart was referring, of course, to Psalm 91:12: "In their hands [the angels] shall bear you up."
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Biblical writers were confident of nothing if not God's power and protection. That doesn't mean that harm never came to an Israelite or a Christian. But it does mean that God's oversight was part of His protection. The author of Psalm 91 was saying the same as David in Psalm 23: We will fear no evil because God is with us. The knowledge of His presence becomes a comfort in times of danger. If God is with us, then nothing can touch us without His knowledge.
Life can be dangerous even on the best days. Make sure you live it confidently and fearlessly, knowing that God is with you.
A sovereign Protector I have, unseen, yet forever at hand.
Augustus M. Toplady
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 25-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025-26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, October 12 & 13
Do Not Be Afraid: Overcoming Memories
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Recommended Reading
Numbers 13:26-14:9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013:26-14:9&version=NKJV )
When Joshua was preparing to take the Israelites into the Promised Land, God gave him a promise: "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." It wasn't just the task that had Joshua worried. It was also a thirty-eight-year-old memory.
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Two years after the exodus from Egypt, the nation arrived at Kadesh where Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan. After forty days, the spies returned burdened with the fruit of the land -- and burdened about the warlike nature of the inhabitants. Ten of the spies warned Moses not to try to take the land because the giants that lived there would surely defeat them. To their credit, Joshua and Caleb disagreed, saying God would give them victory. For rebelling against God at Kadesh, the nation wandered in the wilderness thirty-eight years until that generation died off. Now Joshua would lead the second generation of Israelites against the next generation of Canaanite giants and their iron chariots.
Memories are powerful things. If God is calling you to do something, don't let a bad memory stand in your way -- "for the Lord your God is with you."
Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.
Dwight L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 27-Mark 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027-Mark%203&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 14
Reign of Terror
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."
Psalm 91:2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 91
( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091&version=NKJV )
The word "terror" is akin to "terrible" from a Latin term meaning "great fear." Every day the headlines speak of "terror threats," "terror plots" and "terror attacks." From the surveillance of our communication to the checkpoints at our airports, our world has become a different place because of terror.
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The heroes of the Bible faced great fear too. Job said, "Terrors overwhelm me" (Job 30:15, NIV). David said, "My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me" (Psalm 55:4). Jeremiah spoke of "the terrors" that surrounded him (Lamentations 2:22).
Psalm 91 tells us what to do in such times, whether the fear is public panic or personal anxiety: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty .... You shall not be afraid of the terror by night."
We all experience some heart-pounding moments in life, but the Most High is always there to afford us peace and protection. God's children have a safe and secure refuge under the shadow of the Almighty.
Destructive anxiety subtracts God from the future, faces uncertainties with no faith, and tallies up the challenges of the day without entering God into the equation.
Max Lucado, in Fear Not Promise Book
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%204-5%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 15
Inside and Outside
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed ....
Psalm 46:1-2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046%20&version=NKJV )
According to Psalm 46, there are external and internal provisions from the Lord in times of disaster, for God is both our refuge and strength .
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The external provision of His grace is seen in the word refuge . A person being chased might run toward a fortress and race across the mote as the drawbridge is being raised. He'll find himself enclosed within the walls of safety. As Martin Luther said, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing!"
The internal provision is the strength God gives. According to Psalm 46:1, the same God who is our refuge on the outside is our strength on the inside. I wonder if you've discovered the "strength" verses of the Bible. There's no room to list them here, but sometime when you feel worried or weary look up the references to strength in the Bible. The Book of Isaiah says God renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31), and Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
Both within and around you, God is your refuge and strength.
If He is our refuge and strength ... then we shall never fear under any circumstances, not even though the earth be removed.
R. A. Torrey
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%206-7&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 16
Fading Investments
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-7&version=NKJV )
Generous people have this in common: they know possessions are temporal. Rather than trying to grasp and collect all they can, they give. When we forget the temporal nature of our possessions, we spend our energy protecting what we have and grasping for more. While the world equates money, prestige, and power to success, Christ reminds us that the world's success is temporary.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
If we listen to the world, we are building on sand which will be washed away. If we listen to Christ, we are secure. He is our Rock. If we pay attention, the temporary nature of possessions is clear: Clothes wear out, computers die, glassware breaks, and coffee spills onto our recently purchased carpet.
The signs are all around us. This world, our possessions, and even our lives on earth are temporary. If we listen to Christ, finding our satisfaction and security in Him, we are set free from our frantic gathering of earthly success and possessions. We live in the truth that Jesus is preparing an eternal home for us that will not fade. When we follow Him and His teaching, we are investing in eternity.
We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.
Dwight L. Moody
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208-9%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
, October 17
Sinking Sorrow
I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.
Psalm 6:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 62 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2062&version=NKJV )
Depression is no longer a symptom of the few. Almost everyone has struggled with, or knows someone who has struggled with, depression. While the causes vary, the pain of those affected is real and overwhelming. Thankfully, in the Bible, we discover we are not alone. Rachel and Hannah, inconsolable, cried out to God for a child. Jonah ran from God and then sat in a depressed stupor when God decided to save the city through his preaching. Peter wept bitterly when he denied Christ. Both Moses and Elijah stood on the Mount of Transfiguration with the Lord and later, in a deep depression, prayed that they might die. Even Jesus was sorrowful and wept.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When depressed, the turbulent winds and waves of our emotions threaten to pull us under. Our eyes see the storm and forget about the One who is with us. Like Peter when he began to sink, we can cry out to God. He is with us. If your heart is heavy or discouraged, remember that God is "close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18, NIV). You are not alone. God understands you and will remain with you through the storm.
We have ample evidence that the Lord is able to guide... All we need to do is to take the hand he stretches out.
Elisabeth Elliot
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 10-11
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Friday, October 18
Feeling Good by Being Grateful
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Psalm 42:5a
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:16-18&version=NKJV )
Dr. Robert Emmons is unofficially known as "the gratitude scientist". Officially, he's a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and author of Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. His "10 Ways to Become More Grateful" are helpful, especially number four: Learn Prayers of Gratitude.1 It's hard to feel depressed and grateful at the same time.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Actually, linking prayer and gratitude together is not so much "new science" as it is old wisdom. The apostle Paul linked the two together in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18: "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks." When we find ourselves discouraged -- or "cast down" to use the psalmist's language -- finding ways to give thanks is a positive antidote to a negative condition. While it may be counterintuitive to give thanks for the circumstance causing our discouragement, we can still give thanks "in" that circumstance.
Whether you are happy or sad at this moment, give thanks to God for the blessings you enjoy.
Christian doctrine is grace, and Christian conduct is gratitude.
J. I. Packer
1greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/ten_ways_to_become_more_grateful1 (accessed 6-13-13)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 12-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012-13&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, October 19 & 20
Do Not Be Afraid: The Opposite of Fear
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
Mark 5:36
Recommended Reading
Luke 8:49-55 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208:49-55&version=NKJV )
When we think of faith, we think of belief. And when we think of the opposite of belief, we naturally think of unbelief. Therefore, we conclude that the opposite of faith is unbelief. And from a dictionary perspective, that is true. But the Bible usually sets something besides unbelief in opposition to faith -- and that is fear. From a grammatical point of view, the opposite of believing may be not believing. But from the perspective of life, the opposite of faith is fear.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Jesus demonstrated this clearly when a Jewish man begged Him to come and heal his sick daughter. On their way, friends of the man met them and said it was too late -- the little girl had died. But Jesus said to the man, "Do not be afraid ; only believe ." Jesus didn't tell the man not to doubt -- He told him not to fear. Faith and hope are focused on the future. Facing the future without faith and hope is a good reason to be fearful. Going forward, we have two choices: faith or fear.
Whether the future you are focused on is five minutes, five months, or five years away, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Muller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014-16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 21
When Disease Strikes
Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.
John 11:3
Recommended Reading
John 11:1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011:1-5&version=NKJV )
A disease is a condition causing pain, dysfunction, distress, or death to the one afflicted. Most diseases affect the personality in some way, and they can also drain us financially. Some are exotically rare and have names like Lymphangioleiomyomatosis; others are as common as arthritis.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Perhaps you're alarmed at twinges in your chest, aches in your bones, a persistent cough, or a speck of blood where it shouldn't be. Or maybe you're past those initial symptoms. You've been diagnosed. You are battling disease right now. The Lord may or may not heal us of all our diseases on earth, but ultimate healing and eternal health is included in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He suffered excruciating pain to give us resurrection bodies free from illness, aging, or debilitating disease. Matthew 8:17 says, "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Isaiah 53:5 says, "By His stripes we are healed."
Illness makes us all uncomfortable, but it can turn our thoughts to Him who loves us even when we're sick.
We often need physical therapy, but God is the great spiritual Therapist who can keep us strong of heart even when we're weak of body.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 22
Counterproductive
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?
Proverbs 18:14
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 18:10-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2018:10-14&version=NKJV )
Henry Venn was an English pastor and revivalist during the days of evangelist George Whitefield, with whom he was a close friend. When illness struck him down, Henry continued to maintain a vital prayer ministry, even from his sickbed. His grandson later said, "He often declared that he never felt more fervency of devotion than whilst imploring spiritual blessings for his children and friends, and especially for the success of those who were still engaged in the ministry of the blessed gospel, from which he was himself laid aside. For himself, his prayer was that he might die to the glory of Christ."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
During his illness, Henry was so full of the Holy Spirit that the doctor treating him observed that the joy he felt at his near departure was actually counterproductive to his dying! It kept giving new stimulus to his life.
Many people who have gone through a trial of illness find a renewed joy in life and in their Savior, and often a renewed ministry and message. Let the Holy Spirit sustain you in illness.
Suffering prepares you by training you to trust God and know that He is always at work in your life.
Charles Stanley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 3-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%203-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 23
Now Departing
The time of my departure is at hand.
2 Timothy 4:6
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:19-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:19-26&version=NKJV )
A woman in Gothenburg, Sweden, was shocked when she opened her local newspaper and read her own obituary. The column began, "Our dear daughter, sister and friend has left us today in sorrow." There followed details of her life and passing. The woman was understandably upset and knew she had to call her mother to warn her of the mistake, but she was crying too hard to make the call. Officials have yet to determine who played the cruel joke.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
One day we'll all be reading our own obituaries in the newspaper. At least, others will be reading them. Death is a 100 percent certainty for mankind. But the Bible uses the word "depart" instead of "dying" for Christians going to heaven. Paul had a desire to "depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).
We try hard to avoid thinking about death, but going to heaven is our greatest hope. If we meditated more on this, perhaps we'd inspire others to look to God for the eternal answers only He can provide.
He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205-6&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, October 28
Life's Starting Point
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.
Psalm 25:14
Recommended Reading
Psalm 25:12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2025:12-15&version=NKJV )
The Bible talks about the fear of the Lord over 300 times, and we're told the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It's the starting point for understanding life. It's also the starting point of blessings, for Psalm 128:1 says, "Blessed is every one who fears the LORD." According to Solomon, fearing God and keeping His commands is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Since the Bible says there is "no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1), we've been delivered from the fear of God's wrath. Yet Paul told the Philippian believers to "work out [ their ] own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). For believers, the fear of God is the astonished reverence we feel as we gaze upon His majesty, contemplate His immensity, and recognize His infinite power. That's a missing ingredient in much of Christianity.
Many fears that grab our senses and control our actions are foolish; but when it comes to Almighty God, we need to approach Him with awe, respect, and reverent fear.
I believe that the reverential fear of God mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and admiration and devotion is the most enjoyable state and the most purifying emotion the human soul can know.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016-18&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, October 29
Remember the Spring
Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs are in you."
Psalm 87:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 87 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Psalm%2087&version=NKJV )
A family in a typical American home once entertained a man from a poverty-stricken village in the developing world. "Three places to eat!" was all the man could say, as he saw the dining room, the kitchen table, and a picnic table on the deck. The Lord blesses us with our daily bread, and with multiple places to eat it. Many of us have plenty of clothes, and multiple closets. The Lord daily opens the floodgates of heaven and pours out blessings beyond enumeration.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
There's a Chinese proverb that says, "When you drink from a stream, remember the spring." How easy it becomes to mutter, grumble, complain, bellyache, and yield to discouragement and depression. Instead we should count our blessings and praise God from whom all blessings flow. As the psalmist said, "All our springs are in Him" (Psalm 87:7).
When our heart is filled with gratitude, it's easier to remember the goodness of God in the past and trust Him for future blessings. Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he counseled, "Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously."
Thou who hast given so much to me, give one more thing: a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 19-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019-20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, October 30
Life Is Hard. Then ...
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:4-5&version=NKJV )
A well-known bumper sticker has been around for a few years that reads, "Life Is Hard. Then You Die." That bumper sticker might be found on a car driven by a nihilist ("there is no purpose"), a cynic ("life is a joke"), an existentialist ("life is absurd"), or a humanist ("it's every man for himself"). These worldviews agree: Death is unavoidable in the end, so what's the point?
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Death is the great leveler -- it is appointed unto man once to die (Hebrews 9:27). Without a solution for the problem of death, life can appear to be an exercise in futility. But that is the great message of the Christian Gospel! God has given us victory over our ultimate death through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, without Christ's resurrection that provides for ours, Paul would agree with the bumper sticker: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19). But because of the Gospel, we can change the bumper sticker to read, "Life Is Hard. Then We Die and Live Forever!"
Is that your hope today? If so, thank God for the victory that is yours in Christ.
Let's keep our chins up and our knees down -- we're on the victory side!
Alan Redpath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 21-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2021-22&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, October 31
Glory and Grind
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%204:16-18&version=NKJV )
When parents see their child receive a college diploma ... when an athlete wins the race ... when a new business turns a profit ... when treatments result in a clean bill of health -- these are moments in life when we think, "It was all worthwhile." All what? All the hard work, the pain, the long hours, the practice, the harsh treatments -- whatever it took before the final result was realized.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
A day is coming when every Christian will realize that it was all worthwhile. All what? The choices, the discipline, the obedience, the sacrifice, the sufferings of living in a fallen world. Life can be hard, no doubt about it. But Paul says that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory" that is to come (Romans 8:18). He also calls our temporary "afflictions" the preparation for an "exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). That which is in the future for the Christian makes everything in the present worthwhile.
If you are a Christian who sometimes grows weary, remember the glory to come. The glory makes the grind worthwhile.
Glory for the Christian is more certain than the grave.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 23-24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023-24&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 1
The Awe-Full Creator
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Psalm 33:8
Recommended Reading
Psalm 96:1-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2096:1-13&version=NKJV )
When the Scottish missionary David Livingstone first viewed (what he named) Victoria Falls in southern Africa in 1855, he was likely the first European ever to see it. He must have heard the falls long before he saw them, and marveled at the sound! Victoria Falls is the largest sheet of falling water in the world -- twice the size of Niagara Falls on the United States and Canadian border. More than 5,600 feet wide and 350 feet high, Victoria Falls is also known by its indigenous name, "the smoke that thunders."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
"Smoke that thunders" could have been the name of Mount Sinai where the newly-freed Hebrew slaves first trembled before Yahweh, their God (Exodus 19:16-19). There is no end to the natural wonders that humans encounter -- not only on planet earth but in the heavens above. But if the creation is awe-inspiring, how much more "awe-full" is the Creator? When we stand speechless before a natural wonder, we must remember that it is the God who created nature before whom we should stand in awe.
The next time you find yourself stunned by the beauty and grandeur of our world, let your thoughts become words of praise to the One who made it all.
Where the sovereignty of God is denied there will be no holy awe of Him.
A. W. Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201-2&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 02 & 03
Blessing Bundles: Friends, Family, & Church
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201:4-9&version=NKJV)
A twelve-year-old boy went missing last summer at a Wisconsin ballpark; and for two terrible hours his grandmother, joined by police and civilians, searched for him. He was found safe and sound, asleep on the backseat of a car. He said he'd gotten tired and gone back to his grandmother's car to stretch out. But he'd mistakenly climbed into the wrong car for his nap. Imagine the relief and thanksgiving felt by that woman when she knew her grandson was safe.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )
Sometimes when a friend or family member irritates us, it's a good idea to pause and thank God for the blessing of having them near. Things could be much worse, and we should be grateful things are as good as they are.
The apostle Paul anguished over the faults and failures of the Corinthians, yet he still found reasons to tell them: "I thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which has been given to you." Pause today, and give thanks for the bundle of blessings you have in the love and support of family, friends, and church.
Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice .... It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint.
Henry Nouwen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 3-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203-6&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 4
Worship ... and Serve
Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Matthew 4:10
Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204:1-11&version=NKJV )
In his book Called to Worship, Vernon Whaley writes, "True worship embraces love for the people of God -- demonstrated through service .... Our worship of God cannot be isolated from the real world or trapped inside the walls of our 'secret place.' It must impact us to reach out to and at times confront the culture around us."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
In the New Testament the Pharisees knew much about God and His Law, but they didn't have compassion for the people around them. When the Lord Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were critical. But true worshippers exhibit a God-like behavior that touches the lives of others in service. When we truly worship God, we're transformed into His likeness and become people who reach out to others and serve them. When we enter into the needs of other people and begin to minister to them, we recapture the sense of the wonder of who God is.
Sing a song of praise to the Lord today. Find a way to serve God and touch the lives of those around you.
When God's people turn their hearts to biblical worship, there will be social change. And with that change comes ethical and moral accountability.
Vernon Whaley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 7-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 5
The Price of Worship
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
Recommended Reading
Romans 6:12-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206:12-19&version=NKJV )
Imagine this Old Testament conversation: "John, I am headed to the temple to offer a sacrifice for something I did earlier this week. Could you give me one of your blemish-free lambs to offer? I only have one and need to keep him for breeding." Or consider this modern-day conversation: "Mary, I made a commitment to donate blood at the blood drive. Could you go in my place and donate a pint of blood for me?"
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
What's wrong with these questions? It's obvious -- the person who has an obligation or commitment doesn't want to make a sacrifice to fulfill his duty. And yet that negates the very notion of sacrifice. A personal sacrifice costs something; "sacrifice" means we have less than before. That is consistent with Paul's words in Romans 12:1 where he urges us to make ourselves a "living sacrifice." Imagine asking someone, "Could you give your life to Christ in my place? I'd like the benefits but am not crazy about the cost involved."
Worshipping God involves many sacrifices: time, money, energy, our will, and our decisions. We should count the cost before making the commitment (Luke 14:28-33).
Consecration is resolution that is not afraid of sacrifice.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 6
Worthy of Sacrifice?
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: "Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!"
Judges 16:23
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 5:2-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%205:2-7&version=NKJV )
The exact implied "powers" of Dagon, the Philistine god, are uncertain. But when the Philistines captured Samson the judge, and blinded him, they offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to Dagon for delivering their enemy to them. As it turned out, Dagon wasn't as powerful as those sacrificing to him would have liked.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As a final act of retribution, Samson pulled down the columns supporting Dagon's temple and crushed more Philistines than he had killed in battle. Later, when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant from the Israelites, they put it in Dagon's rebuilt temple -- right next to the idol. The next two mornings, the Philistines found Dagon laying face down on the ground before the ark. The Philistines returned the ark to the Israelites!
Dagon's impotence raises the question: Should we sacrifice to or for that which is unworthy of sacrifice? Clearly Dagon was unworthy. What about examining our own lives? Is everything we sacrifice to or for worthy of what we are sacrificing?
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.
C. T. Studd
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011-12&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 7
Knowing the God We Worship
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: ... "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him."
Exodus 15:1-2
Recommended Reading
Ezra 3:10-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%203:10-13&version=NKJV )
Many people come to know Christ personally after having attended church for many years. And they often give testimony to experiencing a different kind of worship after becoming a Christian. Before being saved, they were singing worship songs about God; after being saved, they were singing to God. It boils down to the difference between knowing about God and knowing God Himself.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
After Moses led the Hebrew slaves across the floor of the Red Sea, out of the reach of the Egyptian army, he led them in a song of worship to the God who had just delivered them from death. For understandable reasons, their song was sung in personal terms: "The LORD is my strength ... my salvation; He is my God" (Exodus 15:2, italics added). Up until this point, they had learned about God through the plagues on Egypt. But their knowledge had suddenly become personal!
People who know the works of God in their own lives are the ones who worship with the most meaning. The next time you are involved in worship, consider what God has done for you personally.
If worship does not change us it has not been worship.
Richard J. Foster
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 13-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 8
Never-Ending Worship
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Revelation 4:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%205:11-13&version=NKJV )
It is worth remembering that our modern word worship comes from the Old English word weorthscipe, or "worthship" -- meaning to ascribe worth to someone or something. So when we worship God, we are reciting the reasons He is worthy to receive our praise: "We worship You because ...."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The psalmist David wrote, "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised" (Psalm 18:3). Just before those words, he lists the reasons God is worthy: God is his rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, shield, stronghold, and the horn of his salvation. The apostle John heard these words in heaven: "You [ Jesus ] are worthy ... for You were slain, and have redeemed us" (Revelation 5:9). Worship is always attached to worth. The question becomes, Is God only worthy on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. until noon? Do the reasons God is worthy go away when we leave church? Or is God always worthy to be worshipped because He is always our rock, redeemer, and so on?
The answer is Yes -- God is always worthy. The question then is, Are we always worshipping Him? If God never ceases to be God, our worship should also be never-ending.
Worship is Christian living.
Dick Lucas
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 9 & 10
Blessing Bundles: Food, Clothing, and Shelter
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17:6
Recommended Reading
1 Kings 17:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2017:1-6&version=NKJV )
Recently a church in Ohio received a $93,000 water bill in the mail. It wasn't because of conducting too many baptisms; it was a mistake on the part of the utility company. A spate of similar bills arrived in mailboxes all over the town of Girard, Ohio, leaving city officials in, er, hot water.
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The Lord didn't send Elijah a bill for his food and water in 1 Kings 17. The rugged prophet had courageously confronted King Ahab, announced a drought on the land, and retreated to a safe place where the Lord sent him food by the ravens and gave him water in the brook. The Bible commentator Matthew Henry observed that God provided for Elijah using unlikely caterers, and "the provision was plentiful, and good, and constant, bread and meat twice a day, daily bread and food convenient."
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things," referring to food, clothing, and shelter. Look around you today and notice how wonderfully God has provided for you. Remember to thank Him. Remember to praise His name.
He who could furnish a table in the wilderness and make ravens the cooks and servers to His prophet is able to supply all our need according to His riches in glory.
Matthew Henry (paraphrased)
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 18-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018-21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 11
"We Didn't Hear It in Heaven"
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:12-17&version=NKJV )
Corrie ten Boom told of an old monk who sang every Christmas Eve for his brothers in the monastery. His voice was rough, but he loved the Lord and sang from his heart. One year the director of the cloister said, "I'm sorry, Brother Don, we have a new monk who has such a beautiful voice ... he will sing this Christmas."
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The new fellow sang beautifully and everyone was happy. But that night an angel came to the superior and said, "Why didn't you have a Christmas Eve song?" The superior replied, "We had a beautiful song, didn't you hear it?" The angel shook his head sadly. "It may have been very inspiring to you, but we didn't hear it in heaven."1
Remember that God is more interested in "heart" than "art" in your singing -- or in whatever ministry you possess. He gives us talents to showcase His grace, not our glory. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord and for His honor alone.
The person who fears God seeks to live all of life to the glory of God .... All the activities of life should be pursued with the aim of glorifying God.
Jerry Bridges, in The Joy of Fearing God
1 Corrie ten Boom, In My Father's House (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1976), 136-137.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 12
World Without End
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 92:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2092:1-4&version=NKJV )
The more we study the Bible, the more we want to sing. Our hearts become a virtual doxology. The word doxology comes from two Greek terms: Doxo, meaning praise, and -logos, meaning word. It's a word or a burst of praise. The most famous doxology was written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, and begins: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." It's one of the oldest English hymns; but as doxologies go, it's the new kid on the block. The oldest doxology still commonly sung is the Gloria Patri. According to Basil the Great, portions of the Gloria Patri were being sung as early as the time of Clement of Rome, who died around A.D. 100.
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If you don't know the Gloria Patri, you can still utter its words as a prayer of praise to our Triune God: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be -- world without end. Amen."
Amen!
When a non-singer becomes a Christian, he or she becomes a singer.
Ronald Allen, in Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204-5%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 13
No Worship Without Sacrifice
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:17
Recommended Reading
Psalm 51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NKJV )
Put sacrifice at the top of the list of words we'd rather avoid. The dictionary defines sacrifice as "the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something with a higher claim." We sacrifice when we give up something precious, personal, or profitable to us. Children might sacrifice their favorite toys for a charity drive; a firefighter or soldier might sacrifice his or her life to save others.
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The Bible talks about the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15), the sacrifice of prayer (Psalm 141:2), the sacrifice of giving to missions (Philippians 4:18), the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), and offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
Many Christians serve God only when it's convenient. We are willing to give something to God as long as it doesn't cost much. We know little of the sacrifices of those who have preceded us or who are today suffering great privations for the Gospel. But true worship means counting the cost without fear, and serving God without thought of convenience or cost.
Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, and help me to make a complete sacrifice. I give up myself, and whatever I know; now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
James Nicholson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 6-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206-7%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 14
Expand Your (Worship) Boundaries!
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
Acts 17:24
Recommended Reading
Genesis 12:7-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012:7-8&version=NKJV )
A family with three young children was faithful to attend their church's worship and Sunday school classes each Sunday. When they were out of town, the parents conducted a family worship service using materials the church furnished. As a result, the children were able to maintain their "perfect church attendance" record for the entire year. Regardless of the family's motives (worship or rewards), their out-of-town practice illustrates a biblical point: Worship knows no bounds.
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There was a transition when the Church was birthed at Pentecost (Acts 2). Before then, Jewish worship had been in a sacred building: first the tabernacle, then the temple, then synagogues in cities beyond Jerusalem. Then Christians began meeting in homes as well as the temple courts (Acts 2:42-47). And Peter declared that the new "temple" is one made of "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5), affirming that "where two or three are gathered together in [ Christ's ] name," He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).
Expand your boundaries! Make a point of worshipping God -- wherever you are.
When we see even a small glimpse of God's holiness, we will bow in worship.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 8-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208-9&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 15
A Day of Giving Thanks
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 5:18-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:18-20&version=NKJV )
As an experiment, consider giving God thanks "in everything" for a solid day. Give thanks, not repeating "Thank you, Lord" with every breath all day long, but in every event or occurrence. Every time something new happens -- phone call, flat tire, unexpected bill to pay, compliment, criticism, injury -- ask this question: "What is there in this situation or event that provides a reason to give thanks to God?"
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Many people have misread 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It doesn't say "For everything give thanks," it says "In everything give thanks." There are many challenging things that happen in life for which we don't naturally, even supernaturally, feel thankful. But when we consider that God is our Father, that He knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7), and that the days of our life are planned by Him ahead of time (Psalm 139:16) -- it stands to reason that there are no accidents with God. We know that God is able to use even the difficult things in life for our good (Romans 8:28), to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
If you have a hard time seeing a reason to thank Him for something that happens, do the next best thing: Ask Him to show you.
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
Ambrose
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 10-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2010-11&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 16 & 17
Blessing Bundles: Health, Care, and Comfort
He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:43-48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:43-48&version=NKJV )
French novelist Alphonse Karr wrote, "Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." None of us have perfect circumstances in life. That's a state reserved for heaven. But we all have the blessings of common grace, and God's children have the blessings that come from being in Christ.
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In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that God is gracious to all humanity. Even the most despicable person on earth can enjoy a new sunrise every morning and a fresh rain shower in season. We all have air to breathe and a beautiful creation to enjoy. Christians additionally have all the benefits of grace. The Bible says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
Try offering this old prayer: "Lord, Thank You that I'm as well off as I am." God has given you a degree of health, care, and comfort. Focus on your blessings, and learn to thank God for the roses.
Do all things without grumbling. Why? You have a sovereign God who is on your side, who works everything together for your good.
John Piper
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 12-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2012-15&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 18
Heaven on Earth
Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:12
Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:1-6&version=NKJV )
A woman in New Zealand recently called the emergency number, and her groans and moans led operators to think she was a captive. Police rushed to her house to find that she wasn't bound and gagged at all; she had accidently put superglue on her lips, thinking it was her medicated lip ointment, and her lips were sealed shut.
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Sometimes we Christians moan and groan as if our lips were sealed shut, but we ought to be so filled with the Spirit we're singing and worshipping God with enthusiasm. That's the way worship is rendered in heaven. Perhaps you've noticed how frequently hymns occur in the Book of Revelation. Songs of praise are constantly interjected in the action in that apocalyptic book.
The idea that we'll one day be in the presence of God for all eternity is beyond our finite understanding; but when we spend time in worship now, we begin to see a glimpse of what heaven will be like. When we worship, we experience a momentary hint of heaven on earth.
Surely if we ask God to bless us, the least we can do is to bless Him.
A.W. Pink, in The Lord's Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 19
Defining God
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
Recommended Reading
John 14:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:7-11&version=NKJV )
What would you tell someone who asked for a definition of God? One person aptly replied: "God is the One who exists beyond all definition."
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Another person, the well-known theologian Charles Hodge, suggested the best definition of God that was ever penned is in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."
Another way of defining God is by looking at Christ, for Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus is God personified, the Word made flesh who dwelled among us. When we hear Christ's wisdom, we're listening to God. When we see His power, we're witnessing omnipotence. When we feel His love, we know the love God lavishes on us. Christ is worthy of our praise because of who He is, and we should praise Him all day long. As British hymnist Henry Lyte wrote: "Praise my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet thy tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing."
Jesus is God! O! Could I now but compass earth and sea, to teach and tell the single truth, how happy should I be!
Frederick W. Faber
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 18-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018-19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 20
What Manner of Man!
He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Mark 2:10-12
Recommended Reading
Mark 2:1-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:1-12&version=NKJV )
When your mind turns to Christ, rejoice first in who He is -- His person, His divine and human natures, for He is both God and man. Then think of what He has done -- His work. Visualize as best you can the scene when He created the heavens and earth. See Him entering the world as a baby, becoming a miracle worker, wielding His power over wind and weather, over sickness and sorrow, over death and demons. Remember how He died for us, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will soon return in glory. Think, too, of what He does for us each day -- the blessings He pours into our lives, the way He is interceding now for us as our Great High Priest.
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Sometimes we're too busy to consider Him as we ought. Take time today to ponder anew the person and work of Christ. If we really think on these things, we'll be like the people in Mark 2 who "were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'"
Most men are notable for one conspicuous virtue or grace -- Moses for meekness, Job for patience, John for love. But in Jesus you find everything.
J. Oswald Sanders
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 20-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020-21&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 21
Spiritual War, Spiritual Battlefield
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir ... and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:22
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:10-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-20&version=NKJV )
When enemies of Judah came against her, King Jehoshaphat called the people to fast and pray. And he led the prayers, beginning with praise: "O Lord God of our fathers, ... do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations ... ?" (2 Chronicles 20:5-6) He went on with further praise before making a simple request: "O our God, will You not judge them?" (verse 12a) And he concluded: "Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (verse 12b).
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There is only one being who would motivate a massive attack on the people of God: Satan (1 John 5:19). Regardless of what Jehoshaphat knew about spiritual warfare, he did the right thing. Instead of looking at the enemy, he put his eyes on God: "Our eyes are upon You." The majority of his prayer was spent in praise to God, a minority in requests (Matthew 6:8). When Paul concluded his instructions on spiritual warfare, he said to pray "with all prayer and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18).
Spiritual warfare is won in the spiritual realm -- and begins with prayers of physical praise.
Let earth and heaven combine, angels and men agree, to praise in songs divine the incarnate Deity.
Charles Wesley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 22-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022-23&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 22
How to Confuse the Enemy
So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets.... And the people shouted with a great shout, [ and ] the wall [ of Jericho ] fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:20
Recommended Reading
Judges 7:15-23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%207:15-23&version=NKJV )
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Paul says the people of God do not "war according to the flesh." Our weapons are "mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." A classic example of fighting differently was when the "stronghold" of Jericho was taken by the Israelites (Joshua 6).
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The world is not used to seeing God's people act unexpectedly. So when the armies of Israel marched around Jericho for six days, and on the seventh day blew their celebratory trumpets and gave a shout of victory, they likely didn't know what to think. Israel rushed over the collapsed walls and took the city. The same thing happened when Gideon used torches, pitchers, and trumpets to completely confuse his enemies (Judges 7). The armies were thrown into confusion and fled the scene.
Satan is the author of fear. When God's people are courageous instead of fearful, their enemies -- spiritual or human -- are confused. Trumpets and shouts of praise are signs of victory by faith!
We should be always wearing the garment of praise, not just waving a palm branch now and then.
Andrew Bonar
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 24-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2024-26&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, November 23 & 24
Blessing Bundles: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:1-2 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:1-2&version=NKJV )
The Trinity is the most unique aspect of Christian truth. Christians believe there is one God who eternally exists in Three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a doctrine that is easy to state, yet impossible to understand. After all, if God were small enough to be understood, He wouldn't be big enough to be worshipped.
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Perhaps the simplest explanation for the Trinity comes from Charles Colson, who described the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as: God Above, God Beside, God Within. We have a Father -- God above us. We have a Savior -- God beside us. We have a Spirit -- God within us. That's a humble explanation for the Trinity, but it's not inaccurate.
God's grace is conveyed to us through the Trinity. We are triply blessed in every way, as reflected in the Apostolic Benediction of 2 Corinthians 13. Anytime we see a passage in the Bible mentioning all three members of the Trinity, it is invariably a passage of blessing and grace (see Revelation 1:4-6). We are healthier people when we understand and enjoy God above us, God beside us, and God within us.
The Trinity ... answers the deepest needs of the human heart, offering a depth of spirituality unknown in any other religion.
Charles Colson, in The Faith
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 27-28, Romans 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027-28,%20Romans%201-3%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, November 25
Look Up!
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
Psalm 5:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%205&version=NKJV )
The phrase "look up" occurs four times in the Bible (NKJV), and it conveys four different truths. In Psalm 40:12, the writer was so discouraged by looking around him that he found it difficult to look up: "Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up." But Mark 8:25 says Jesus helps us look up, even when we can't see straight. Referring to the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes "and made him look up." Our Lord offers the same encouragement to us, especially in these Last Days, for in Luke 21:28, Jesus said, "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
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So we can say with the psalmist: "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Whatever is happening in your life today, look up. When we turn our eyes heavenward and celebrate what we see, our hearts will overflow with joy.
"Behold the Lamb of God," and always behold Him. Look to Him; look up to Him, and follow where He leads the way.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 4-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204-7%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, November 26
Worshipping Toward God
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth.
Psalm 138:2
Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 6:36-39 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%206:36-39&version=NKJV )
In Babylon, David prayed three times daily (Psalm 55:17) "toward Jerusalem" (Daniel 6:10). Solomon made reference to praying toward Jerusalem in his prayer of dedication for the temple. If God's people were taken captive to another land and they prayed toward Jerusalem in repentance, he asked God to hear their prayers (2 Chronicles 6:38-39). Solomon may have learned about praying toward Jerusalem from his father, David. In Psalm 138:2, David wrote, "I will worship toward Your holy temple." Though the temple had not been built when David wrote this psalm, he was probably referring to the tent he constructed to house the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:17).
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The idea is this: Wherever God is, that is where we turn our face in worship. So David worshipped toward the ark of the covenant, where God dwelt. Besides worshipping obediently, David worshipped gratefully: He worshipped God because of His "lovingkindness" and "truth" (Psalm 138:2).
We should worship the same way today -- directing our worship and praise toward the God whose loyal and unconditional love draws us to Himself.
The heart of prayer is gratitude. The voice of prayer is obedience.
William A. Ward
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 8-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, November 27
Mercy and Praise
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:33
Recommended Reading
Psalm 136 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20136&version=NKJV )
One of the most beautiful doxologies in Scripture comes from the apostle Paul in Romans 11:33-36. Leaving Paul's doxology in context begs the question, What caused Paul to burst out in these words of glory to God at this point in his letter?
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The doxology begins in verse 33. Looking back at verses 30-32 which precede the doxology, we find one dominant theme: the mercy of God. Paul mentions mercy four times in verses 30-32. In Romans 11 Paul is talking about how the wild branches of the Gentiles have been grafted into the root stock of Israel. And in verse 30 he says that all who receive mercy from God do so in spite of their disobedience, Jews and Gentiles alike. And God is committed to such mercy because "the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable" (verse 29).
God's promises are made on the basis of His character, not on the basis of our worthiness. God's mercy is always a good reason to offer praise and worship to Him.
Who shall the LORD's elect condemn? 'Tis God that justifies their souls, and mercy like a mighty stream O'er all their sins divinely rolls.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011-14&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, November 28
Voluntary Thanksgiving
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:21
Recommended Reading
Psalm 107:8, 15, 31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20107:8,%2015,%2031&version=NKJV )
The American Pilgrims weren't the first to give thanks with a meal: "The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning" (Leviticus 7:15, NIV 1984). Due to the lack of refrigeration, the "fellowship offering of thanksgiving" had to be offered and eaten on the same day. Today we enjoy leftovers for several days after!
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The Israelites did not restrict their expressions of thanksgiving to one day. "Thank offerings" could be offered at any time as a type of "fellowship offering" (Leviticus 3; 7:11-34), one of the five categories of Old Testament sacrifices (the others were burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings). A fellowship offering was a voluntary offering. When offered for the purpose of thanksgiving, it included not only an animal sacrifice but various breads to be consumed as a meal.
Voluntary is the key word. We are free at any time to thank God for His goodness and wonderful works: "Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).
God's giving deserves our thanksgiving.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Romans 15-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2015-16&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, November 29
The Light of His Glory
One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 73:16-17, 23-28 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073:16-17,%2023-28&version=NKJV )
At a meeting of the Socratic Club in Oxford, England, in 1945, the Christian apologist C. S. Lewis said, "I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else." In his biography of C. S. Lewis, Alister McGrath explains what Lewis meant: "We can look at the sun itself; or we can look instead at what it illuminates -- thus enlarging our intellectual, moral, and aesthetic vision. We see the true, the good, and the beautiful more clearly by being given a lens that brings them into focus."1
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The psalmist Asaph had a similar enlightening experience. He was confused and frustrated about the prosperity of evildoers in the world -- "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end" (Psalm 73:17). When he went to the temple to worship God, suddenly he saw the answer -- the answer was God! Somehow, when we "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 29:2), life looks different.
We worship God not only because He is God but because we see everything else more clearly in the light of His glory.
In the light of God, human vision clears.
James Philip
1Alister McGrath, C. S. Lewis: A Life—Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2013), 277.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201-4&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, November 30
Blessing Bundles: Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013:1-8&version=NKJV )
About forty million adults in America suffer from anxiety, making it the most common mental illness in the country. But even those who haven't been treated for an anxiety disorder experience daily stress, tension, and fear. Our worries can center on things that happened in the past, either recent or distant, the circumstances currently facing us, or fears of tomorrow.
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When your past comes back to haunt you, turn your thoughts around and thank God for past blessings. His care for you in days gone by is far greater than any perils or problems, and His redemption is deeper than any regret. When a current distress torments you, turn it into prayer and praise, and thank God for promising to never leave you nor forsake you. Whenever you're tempted to fret about tomorrow, start praising Him for the eternal nature of His love, for a future just as bright as His promises.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- and so are His grace, peace, sovereignty, fellowship, joy, power, wisdom, and love. He gives His blessings in bundles -- yesterday, today, and forever -- so our gratitude should be eternal.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. One day we all will meet Him around this dynamic truth.... He is ours -- the unforsaking, unchanged Christ.
Calvin Miller, in Fruit of the Spirit
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 5-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205-9%20&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, December 1
Visions of Christmas: Seeing Red
Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalm 116:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 11:28-30 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:28-30&version=NKJV )
Studying U.S. death data from 1979-2004, a team of researchers at the University of California at San Diego found that Americans are more likely to die over the holidays -- including fatal events on Christmas Day and New Year's Day -- than at any other time of the year.1 That should be enough to encourage anyone to slow down and enjoy a stress-free Christmas this year!
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Today is December 1 -- you have several weeks to prepare for a peaceful and safe celebratory season. Indeed, preparation is the key to preventing stress all year long. You're off to a good start, reading your daily devotions in Turning Points. In addition, ask the Lord to help you reflect Him this Christmas. God is not stressed or in a hurry; God's face doesn't turn red because of traffic and shoppers and the cost of gifts. So we shouldn't be stressed or turn red either. The fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Stay filled with the Spirit this Christmas and there will be no room left for stress (Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 1:9).
Let the only red you see this Christmas be on the decorations, not in the mirror!
1 news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/20/christmas-the-deadliest-day-of-the-year-study (accessed 8-1-13).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 10-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010-13&version=NKJV )
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Monday, December 02
History's Best Seller
We also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%201%20Thessalonians%202:13-20&version=NKJV )
According to Wikipedia's list of best-selling books, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities is history's top novel, followed by The Lord of the Rings, The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince), and The Hobbit -- each selling more than 100 million copies.1 But none of those compare with the circulation or impact of the Bible, which is by far the most widely distributed book on earth and in history.
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If you're facing a crisis, how much strength do you find in A Tale of Two Cities? If you need spiritual encouragement, do you turn to The Lord of the Rings? These may be enjoyable reads, but they can't bring salvation to our hearts, life to our souls, strength to our spirits, or heaven to our pathways. While we treasure the heritage of good literature, only one book is given by inspiration of God.
Welcome, read, and obey the Bible each day not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in those who believe.
1en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List (accessed September 4, 2013).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Corinthians 14-16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2014-16%20&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, December 03
"That Verse Saved My Life"
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Proverbs 1:10
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 1:8-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Proverbs%201:8-15&version=NKJV )
Referring to Proverbs 1:10, Barry Black, Chaplain of the United States Senate, wrote: "This simple Bible verse saved my life during my early teenage years when I refused to follow two friends who eventually murdered someone. The same morning I memorized this verse, I refused to go with them. The refusal kept me from going to jail for life -- the penalty they received for the crime. God's warnings are designed to protect us, not to destroy our joy. He challenges us to refuse to follow sinners."1
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When we accept the Word of God, it ultimately affects our decisions, our walk, and our entire life. It provides rules when we don't know where the guardrails are. And it's a fountainhead of strength when we're overcome by fear or weakness.
Are you currently memorizing a particular verse or passage from the Bible? If not, find a verse and begin today. You might start with Proverbs 1:10. You never know when the right verse at the right time will save your life.
1 Barry C. Black, The Blessing of Adversity (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2011), 100.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%201-4%20&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, December 04
God's Everyone Seminary
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God ... that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 3:13-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:13-17&version=NKJV )
A "seminary" is a school specializing in theological training especially for those entering vocational ministry. The word seminary, akin to the term for "seed," comes from the Latin term seminarium, or "plant nursery." Since the 1580s, this word has described schools that train Christians for ministry. Good seminaries enrich the Church with scholarship and instruction, and they're important to the advancement of our Christian work.
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Though not everyone can attend seminary, every Christian has a seminary between two covers -- the Holy Bible. God's Word is a school that trains us for the work He has planned for us on earth. According to 2 Timothy 3:17, as we invest ourselves in God's Word, we're "thoroughly equipped for every good work." We're not just equipped for good work; we're equipped for every good work, and we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. We become spiritually productive through the Word of God.
The Bible is God's Everyone Seminary. Make sure you're enrolled today by having a personal plan for reading, studying, memorizing, pondering, obeying, and sharing the Bible.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 5-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205-9%20&version=NKJV )
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Thursday, December 05
"Take Up and Read"
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Romans 13:14
Recommended Reading
Romans 13:11-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013:11-14&version=NKJV )
Augustine of Hippo was born in North Africa to a pagan father and a devout mother. He grew up a prodigal who reveled in drunkenness, lewdness, and lust, but his mother kept praying for him. One day as Augustine sat in a garden, he overheard a voice chanting, "Take up and read!" Picking up a Bible, he opened it to Romans 13. As he read that page -- especially verse 14 -- a light streamed into his heart and, as he later said, all the darkness of doubt fled away. Augustine went on to become one of the greatest thinkers in Church history.
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It's remarkable how Bible verses become shafts of light to illumine the darkness of our souls, and then afterward they illumine the footsteps of our ways. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Any good work arising from our commitment to the Word of God brings honor to the Lord and overcomes the attacks of the enemy. Let's constantly "take up and read" the Bible, resolved to always walk in its light.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Corinthians 10-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010-13&version=NKJV )
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Friday, December 06
The Unopened Gift
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:5-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:5-6&version=NKJV )
We expect a lot from December: Christmas songs, yummy Christmas cookies, decorations, good food, and time with those we love. As we rush to buy last-minute gifts, we try to remain calm amidst the crowds and busyness. It shouldn't surprise us that we tend to overlook the one gift that can help us keep perspective during the month of December: God's Word.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
When we open the Bible, we find encouragement for those times when our expectations remain unmet. The birth of Jesus lacked most of the comforts we now associate with Christmas. Mary did not expect to give birth to her first child in a barn. Joseph did not expect Mary to become pregnant before they wed. They were alone and far from family. Despite their difficult circumstances, Mary and Joseph trusted God. They had received the gift of God's voice and they followed His directions.
We too can hear from God. Scripture reminds us of what is important. It speaks to our deepest needs and keeps us focused on God and His will during each season of life. Let's not forget to open this gift this Christmas and throughout the year. God's Word has the counsel, wisdom, and power we need. Open it today.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Galatians 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201-3%20&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, December 7
Visions of Christmas: Seeing Green
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 1:3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%201:3&version=NKJV )
"Chlorophyll," a green pigment, comes from two Greek words that mean "green" and "leaf." Chlorophyll allows for photosynthesis to take place -- a plant's ability to absorb energy from light and use that energy to cause growth.
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If we had to pick a color for Christmas, it might be green because of all the greenery we see -- Christmas trees, holly, mistletoe, and evergreen garlands gracing banisters and mantels. All that greenery is there because of chlorophyll -- the energy-producing growth factor in plants. So when we decorate with greenery this Christmas it can remind us to ask, "How can I grow in Christ this Christmas season? What can be my spiritual chlorophyll?" No one needs reminding of how busy Christmas can be, crowding out quiet time for prayer and Bible study. Assuming we maintain those disciplines, what can we do to reach higher and farther -- to actually grow? Consider looking for opportunities to do what Christ came into the world to do: to serve others in love (Mark 10:45).
Every time we deny ourselves in order to serve someone else, we grow in Christ. Make that a goal this Christmas.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Galatians 4-Ephesians 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204-Ephesians%203&version=NKJV )
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Monday, December 09
One-Upping the Digital Age
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:26
Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201:8&version=NKJV )
Today there are numerous ways to have ready access to the Bible. Most people have multiple printed Bibles, and more versions are available on the Internet. We can also access the Bible from our smartphones, digital music players, pads or tablets, and computers (not to mention CDs and DVDs). While the digital revolution has helped multiply copies of God's Word, there has been an unintended negative impact on an important spiritual discipline related to the Bible: Scripture memorization. Why memorize something that you can call up anytime, anywhere on a digital device?
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It was different in the biblical era. Copies of Scripture were extremely rare, especially in the Old Testament. For that reason, it was necessary to memorize the text mostly through listening. And when we hide God's Word in our mind and heart (Psalm 119:11), we have one-upped the digital age. Whatever you have memorized is available for the Holy Spirit to use at a moment's notice as a doctrine, a reproof, a correction, teaching, or comfort (2 Timothy 3:16).
Yes, the digital age has many benefits. But it is still up to us to put God's Word in the one place where it is always available: in our mind.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ephesians 4-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204-6%20&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, December 10
Remember to Remember!
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
Psalm 143:5
Recommended Reading
Numbers 15:39-40 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2015:39-40&version=NKJV )
Part of aging is memory loss -- sometimes it is significant, and other times it is subtle. So we exercise, eat right, lay off the sugar, read, do the crosswords, juggle, play Ping-Pong, and brush our teeth with our opposite hand -- all proven to strengthen the brain. But the Israelites had a different memory tool: tassels. They wore tassels on their garments so they could "look upon [ them ] and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them" (Numbers 15:37-40). Something as simple as a tassel can remind us of God, His Word, and His faithfulness.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
You may not want to sew tassels on the hem of your garments, but there are plenty of other ways to remind yourself of what God has done in your life. The most permanent reminder is a written record -- a diary, a journal, 3" x 5" cards, or notes you type on your computer. If Moses had to remind the Israelites to remember their rescue from Egypt (Exodus 13:3), how much more should we be writing down the less dramatic but equally memorable ways God has been faithful to us?
Are you keeping a record? In the challenging days of life, you will be encouraged to look back and remember how God met your needs and answered your prayers.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Philippians 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201-4&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, December 11
Write It Down
Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.
1 Chronicles 16:12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 77:11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2077:11-12&version=NKJV )
You take a trip -- a trip that you have been anticipating for a long time. You pack your essentials: clothes, toiletries, maybe even a camera. But you forgot to bring a notepad and pencil to keep a journal of what happened through your thoughts. Tragically, your camera breaks a day into the trip. Far too soon you realize it's almost time to return home to your normal life and to leave the best trip of your life. The one thing you brought along to remember the trip is no longer functioning. Now you wish you had brought a backup plan -- a journal.
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Journaling is a good way to remember the details of a special vacation, but it is also a wonderful way to recall God's faithfulness.
The Bible is filled with instructions for us to make remembering things or people a high priority. "But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings" (Hebrews 10:32). A journal is a great way to keep track of what happens daily in your walk with God and to record your prayers and thoughts. It's a way to remember God's words to you that day, and to bring to mind His goodness and mercy when you recollect that day.
Recall God's faithfulness -- write it down!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Colossians 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201-4%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, December 12
No Christmas, No Bible
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
Recommended Reading
John 14:6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:6&version=NKJV )
On Christmas Eve, some families follow the routine of setting out a glass of milk and cookies for Santa's visit, and even remember to provide carrots for his reindeer. Sleep is often hard to find as the little ones anticipate the day to come that is filled with presents, food, family, and friends. But as much fun and joy as these routines bring, that is not the reason why Christmas Day is so special -- it's the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
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"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:18).
If there hadn't been a Christmas, the Bible would be untrue because prophecies of the Old Testament would be left unfulfilled. And if the Bible were untrue, our God would be unknown. If our God is unknown, our sins would be left on the table and our prayers would go unanswered.
But Jesus did come into this world to be our Savior -- bringing the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Instead of fixating on the idea of presents during Christmas, make sure you realize what happened on that day when Jesus was born and what it means for your faith.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Thessalonians 1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%201-5&version=NKJV )
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Friday, December 13
What If?
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 3:16 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203:16&version=NKJV )
The late Dr. D. James Kennedy and his co-author Jerry Newcombe wrote an important book in 1994 titled What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? In sixteen chapters, they thoroughly document the impact of Christianity on our world: the value of human life, the poor, education, civil liberties, science, economics, the family, medicine, morality, and the arts. It is staggering to consider what the world might be like without genuine Christian faith.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
As we approach the celebration of Christ's birth this month, it is also important to consider what our personal lives would have been like without the first Christmas. That is, What if God had not entered into the human realm in the person of Christ? The apostle Paul says plainly that we "were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Every human being ever born has been in that condition (Romans 3:23). What if the world today contained only unregenerate people, dead in their sins?
Yes, many are still in that condition, but I pray you are not. If you have accepted Christ, your sins have been washed away, and you have been born again into a new life through faith in the God-Man, Jesus Christ, who came to rescue this world.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Thessalonians 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%201-3&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, December 14
Visions of Christmas: Seeing White
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.
Acts 2:46
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 14:33 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%201%20Corinthians%2014:33&version=NKJV )
Our modern Christian activities are much more elaborate and complicated than those of the early church. That's not to say their lives weren't complicated. In any age, the duties of life seem to expand to fill the time and resources available. Yet Luke, the author of Acts, noted something about the early Christians. He didn't say their life was simple, but he did say they lived their lives with "simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:46). Is it possible to live with simplicity of heart in a busy season like Christmas? It must be. If the early Christians did it from week to week, we can surely do it at Christmas.
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We don't know exactly what Luke meant by his words, but it must have something to do with staying focused on the basics which he mentioned in verse 42: teaching, fellowship, the Lord's Supper, and prayer. What are the basics of Christmas? Love, generosity, worship, service, giving, contemplation, gratitude, and others.
Like a pure white garment (Revelation 19:8), keep this Christmas clutter free by living with simplicity of heart.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Timothy 1-2 Timothy 4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%201-2%20Timothy%204&version=NKJV )
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Monday, December 16
A Vaulted Tale
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.
Matthew 2:11
Recommended Reading
Acts 17:22-31 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:22-31&version=NKJV )
J. Edgar Parks wrote about a man named George Mason, a banker who inadvertently locked himself in his bank vault on Christmas Eve. He didn't get out until the morning after Christmas, when he slipped out sheepishly but silently as the door automatically swung open. What bothered him most was that nobody had missed him. He had been so detached from Christmas preparations that not a single person had noticed his absence. He resolved to never again "miss" Christmas.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Few people are ever locked in a bank vault, but lots of people miss Christmas. They may party, spend, give, receive, and concentrate on the things of the world. But none of that speaks of the essence of Christmas. The true celebration of Christmas is when we ponder afresh the grace of God who became human, entered history through a virgin's womb, and brought redemption to the world. Pondering these things leads to prayer, and prayer leads to worship, and worship leads to obedience and joyful service.
If you're in a vault of your own making -- busyness or bitterness or business -- break out of it. Worship Christ the Newborn King.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Titus 1-Philemon 1 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%201-Philemon%201&version=NKJV )
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Tuesday, December 17
Don't Miss the Merry
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared.
Titus 2:11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 100:3-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20100:3-5&version=NKJV )
Newspaper columnist Joseph Szalay wrote of serving with the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II. Christmas 1944 found him in combat in Germany. He gave gifts to the men in his section. The gifts were his personal possessions wrapped with paper from packages from home. "It was a Christmas I'll long remember," he said. "All we prayed for was to see another Christmas."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
His next Christmas was spent at sea in a terrible storm. "We prayed we would live through it," he wrote. Arriving home in January of 1946, he celebrated a late Christmas with the family he hadn't seen in two years. "This was the happiest Christmas I can remember," he said. "I haven't missed Christmas with my family since then and I thank God for all the Christmases since coming home from the war."
Our hearts ache for those who miss Christmas because of distance; but it's far worse to miss Christmas because of disinterest. Make this the merriest Christmas you can remember. Be thankful for every little thing about the holiday this year, and praise God each day of the season.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%201-4%20&version=NKJV )
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Wednesday, December 18
Emotional Music
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Luke 2:13-14
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 16:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2016:23&version=NKJV )
The French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte observed that you can tell a great deal about people by what went on in their life, and the world, when they were twenty years of age. Expanding that idea, most adults love to listen to the music that was popular when they were fifteen to twenty years old. There is a continuing connection between the music that moved us when we were at an emotionally-heightened age -- like adolescence -- and the music we still love. All music is emotional, but especially the music connected to important experiences -- like salvation.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
That may account for why people love Christmas music. Part of the reason is the anticipation that builds up all year. But a better reason is that our salvation is an emotionally compelling experience. It seems that musicians and lyricists have done some of their best work through the ages when writing songs about one of history's most important events, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
We sing with joy and tears at Christmas for good reason -- salvation came to earth 2,000 years ago and opened the door of eternal life for all who believe. Nothing could be more emotional and worth singing about.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 5-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%205-8&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, December 19
Christmas Relief
[ Simeon ] took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word."
Luke 2:28-29
Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%205:9-10&version=NKJV )
The American Heritage Dictionary says relief is "a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress." Relief is what Simeon felt when he first saw the eight-day-old baby Jesus. What was the "anxiety or distress" Simeon felt? It was the stress of waiting and watching for God's Messiah to appear (Luke 2:25). Simeon was apparently an aged man. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah (Luke 2:26), and now he said to the Lord: "You are letting Your servant depart in peace."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Simeon was like Abraham. God had promised Abraham a son through whom a great nation would grow, but Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety (Genesis 17:17-18) -- they waited and God answered. God had promised Simeon he would see the Messiah but ... and then it happened! He didn't need to wait to see the Messiah's kingdom -- he only needed to know that the Messiah had come. He could depart this world "in peace."
For the same reason, we can celebrate Christmas in peace. The Messiah has come. God has fulfilled His Word. All will soon be right with the world when the Messiah establishes His kingdom on earth.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209-10&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Friday, December 20
"This Is Serious"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
Luke 2:15
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:26-38 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:26-38&version=NKJV )
If a stranger announced that you were the winner of a giant sweepstakes, would you believe him? It is doubtful. But if the Publishers Clearance House team arrived at your home with an official van, balloons, video cameras, and a huge check, would your reaction be different? Yes, it would -- but why? Because when important things happen, there is a need for verification, authenticity, and believability.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Now think about the first Christmas. If a friend told Mary she would give birth to the Messiah ... if a stranger told Joseph that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit ... if one of the shepherds said to the others, "I think the Messiah was just born in Bethlehem" ... if Joseph woke Mary up in the middle of the night and said, "I think we need to go to Egypt" -- how believable would any of these scenarios seem? Not very! Instead, in all four instances (and throughout biblical history) God sent angels to declare the message, "This is serious."
Thank God for "ministering spirits" this Christmas.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011-13%20&version=NKJV )
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Weekend, December 21
Visions of Christmas: Seeing Blue
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 52:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2052:7&version=NKJV )
Blue is the calming color in the rainbow -- the color of infinite sky and ocean. "True blue" means loyal and faithful. In England, a blue sapphire engagement ring is a symbol of fidelity and loyalty. Blue ribbons signify the highest prize, a blue-ribbon panel consists of the most knowledgeable people, and a blue-chip stock is one of great value. A "blue blood" is a person of nobility or high rank, while a blue-collar worker is a hardworking tradesman who works with his hands.
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Think how many of those images could be applied to Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth we celebrate this coming week: infinity, beauty, faithfulness, fidelity, high value, nobility, and a tradesman who worked with His hands. Blue is not a traditional color of Christmas, but it is a color brought to mind by the character of Christ. Blue calls to mind the wonder and infinity of the Savior who left the nobility of heaven to be born in a stable in blue-collar Bethlehem. Too often we focus on the celebration of Christmas while overlooking the Celebrant Himself.
This Christmas, remember the marvel and mystery, the wonder and wonderment of God coming to earth as Man -- and doing it for you!
Read-Thru-the-Bible
James 1-2 Peter 3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201-2%20Peter%203&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, December 23
Hark! The Herald Angels!
Are they [ the angels ] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 1:10-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%201:10-14&version=NKJV )
Angels appear six times in the biblical story of Christmas. First, Gabriel visited Zacharias in Luke 1. Then he paid a visit to Mary. An angel appeared three times to Joseph. And the sixth (and perhaps most awesome) angelic appearance was over the shepherds' field when an innumerable multitude of angels assembled the greatest mass choir in history.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
But don't think angels are limited to the Christmas season. The Bible contains 234 passages about angels, and there are references to angels in 39 books of the Bible. The range of angelic activity spans the Scripture from Genesis 3:23 to Revelation 22:16. Nor is angelic activity limited to Bible times. The Bible teaches that angels are active today in the lives of God's children, transporting blessings to our lives, delivering us from judgment, protecting us in danger, guiding us in unseen ways, and watching over the events of our world. So in addition to all the carols you'll sing about angels this season, don't forget another song -- the old African-American spiritual that says, "All night, all day, angels watching over me!"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 1-5 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-5%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, December 24
Miracle and Mystery
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Matthew 1:23
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 7:10-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207:10-14&version=NKJV )
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said of Christmas: "Here is the Ancient of Days becoming a babe in Bethlehem. Here is He who thunders in the Heavens, crying in the cradle. Here is the One who made all flesh now being made of flesh. Here is He who could summon the legions of angels and He's wrapped in swaddling clothes ... the Mighty God becoming a helpless child."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
This is the marvel and mystery of the virgin birth. Without the supernatural conception of Christ, there is no Christmas and no Christianity. We believe Jesus was miraculously born through Mary without the agency of a human father, having been conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. This explains: (1) our Lord's dual nature as both God and man; and (2) His pure and sinless life. Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58). He is the preexisting, self-existent, everlasting God whose goings forth are from old, even from eternity.
That's why we sing His praise and worship His name. That's why we say, as they did of old, "What manner of man is this!"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 John 1-3 John 1 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John%201-3%20John%201&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, December 25
By Prophet Bards Foretold
We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth
John 1:45
Recommended Reading
John 1:1-14 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:1-14&version=NKJV )
Every aspect of our Lord's birth, life, personality, character, ministry, arrest, trial, death, resurrection, and ascension were predicted hundreds of years in advance. The entire Old Testament is simply a preview of the life of Christ. We're told He would be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15); to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3); of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10); through the line of David (Isaiah 9:7); in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); and that His name would be Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The virgin birth and all the other aspects of our Lord's life, having been accurately predicted, were wondrously fulfilled, proving His origin and identity. Jesus told His enemies to search the Old Testament Scriptures, for "these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).
The same Bible that pinpointed His first coming is brimming with references to His return. Let's rejoice in His virgin birth today, and await His victorious return.
"For lo! The days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold, when with the ever circling years comes round the age of gold."1
1 Edmund H. Sears, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear."
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 2:1-20, Jude 1 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20(Luke%202:1-20),%20Jude%201&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Thursday, December 26
Lyin'
You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:145-152 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:145-152&version=NKJV )
The zoo in Luohe, in the Chinese province of Henan, was closed temporarily last summer because zookeepers tried to pull the wool over patrons' eyes. It happened when the resident lion was removed for breeding purposes and workers substituted a Tibetan mastiff, which is a large, hairy breed of dog resembling the king of the jungle. But when the lion barked, the cat was out of the bag.
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
The world lies to us all the time, and the devil is always offering substitutes for the truth. Our culture is now predicated on the concept of relativity -- that there is no absolute truth, that everything is relative, that all standards are flexible and changeable, and the truth is whatever we want it to be. We must get back to the Word of God, which is the absolute truth for our age and every age. God's revealed Word has sustained us through the old year; it will carry us through the new. It is clear and unchanging; and we can say with the psalmist: You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
The Bible is the repository of God's eternal, non-negotiable truths .... The Bible is God's perfect and complete message to humankind.
Robert Jeffress in Outrageous Truth
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201-4%20&version=NKJV )
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Friday, December 27
Living Words
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 4:20-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204:20-22&version=NKJV )
Wildfires race up a mountainside like they are alive; the flames in our fireplace spread the same way. God compared His words to a fire (Jeremiah 23:29) and the disciples on the Emmaus road said Jesus' words "burned" within them (Luke 24:32).
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
What sets God's words apart from any other? Moses gave the first clue, telling the Israelites that the word of the covenant "is your life" (Deuteronomy 32:47). Stephen, in his speech to Jewish leaders, describes the words Moses received on Mount Sinai as "living oracles" (Acts 7:38). Finally, the writer to the Hebrews expands the idea of "living" words, saying the "word of God" is a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). It's not that God's words seem to be alive like fire -- they are alive. God is life, His words are life, and they create life in us as the Holy Spirit conforms us to them. Life begets life!
As you read the Word of God today, read it with expectancy and anticipation for the changes it will make in you.
The only true reformation is that which emanates from the Word of God.
J. H. Merle d'Aubigné
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 5-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%205-9%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Weekend, December 28
Visions of Christmas: Seeing Gold
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Revelation 21:18
Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:21&version=NKJV )
Three times in Revelation 21 the apostle John uses the word "gold" to describe various aspects of the eternal city (verses 15, 18, 21). That's because, in the ancient world and still today, gold remains the most sought-after symbol of wealth and purity. The only way John knew to assign ultimate value and beauty to the New Jerusalem was to describe it as "pure gold" (verses 18, 21).
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The combination of gold and white is often seen at Christmas, especially in ornaments on "Chrismon Trees" -- trees decorated with symbols depicting Jesus Christ. White (for purity) and gold (for value) are two appropriate colors by which to depict Christ. Combining those with John's vision of gold reminds us of the ultimate meaning of Christmas: God's eternally valuable gift to us. Yes, Christmas is about Christ's birth. But it is ultimately about why Christ was born -- to live a perfect life before God and qualify as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
Let every gift, every card, every festive occasion this Christmas be a reminder that the eternal celebration is yet to come in the city of gold!
Worldlings make gold their god; saints make God their gold.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 10-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2010-17&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Monday, December 30
The Detour Is the Route
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret....
Psalm 37:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:1-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037:1-8&version=NKJV )
If life is a highway, most of us are racing down the interstate, hitting the breaks in the congestion, overheating our engines, and running out of gas. Well, take a detour for a moment and read Psalm 37:7. Think of this verse as a winding mountain road with relaxed speeds, glorious overlooks, and scant traffic. Now consider: This detour is the quickest way to the destination. We can accomplish so much more when we're relaxed as we trust the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
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Resting in the Lord means recognizing He's in control. Your problems are His concern, and His promises are your inheritance. You may have reasons to worry, but you have better reasons not to. The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms, and the Lord knows your needs before you even ask. He will take care of you.
Resting in the Lord is the exact opposite of the spirit of our age. But who wants the spirit of this age anyway? Let the Spirit of God fill you with all joy and peace as you rest in the Lord.
Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Jean S. Pigott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 18-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2018-19&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Tuesday, December 31
Turning the Page
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.
Psalm 19:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 19:7-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019:7-11&version=NKJV )
One day John Strait (father of singer George Strait) distributed Gideon Bibles in a prison in Dilley, Texas. A prisoner accepted one, but later when another worker, Jerry Horn of San Antonio, visited, the inmate needed another copy. The pages were all gone from the old one; only the covers remained. "What happened?" Jerry asked. The prisoner replied, "I used them to make cigarettes."
Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )
Jerry brought him a new copy and witnessed to him. The prisoner received the Lord as Savior and signed his name in the book, indicating his decision. After getting out of prison, he went to school and became pastor of a Texas church. "He had a new Bible, a new life, and a new way of living," said Jerry.
Tomorrow turns the page on a new year. The liberating message of God's Word is ours every moment. The devil may attack us, but we have the Sword of the Spirit. The world may tempt us, but we can hide God's Word in our hearts. Let's turn the calendar with our Bibles in our hands and the joy of the Lord in our hearts.
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.
Benjamin Franklin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Revelation 20-22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020-22%20&version=NKJV )
:angel:
Wednesday, January 1
Around the Corner
His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
Matthew 25:23
Recommended Reading
Matthew 25:14-30 [ http://iz3.me/LhaN1zwXd1A1 ]
It's easy to prepare when we know what's coming. The lord in Jesus' parable entrusted his servants with money, expecting them to be wise stewards. Only two of the servants understood their purpose. The third decided it was easier to avoid the risk of investment; he feared failure and the wrath of his lord.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/MhaN1zwXd1A1 ]
Obedience requires a measure of sacrifice. When God calls us to something new, we easily focus on the unknowns or the difficulty of the path. Like the third servant, we forget the rewards of serving our Lord and His purposes.
The truth is: We serve a generous God. He delights in giving us opportunities beyond our capabilities. He has promised to equip us, and remain with us through each bend in the road. Although we may not know what is around the corner, we can trust the One who called us. He is our comfort and courage, sustaining us through difficulty and rewarding us generously.
God does not delight in our sufferings. He brings only that which is necessary, but He does not shrink from that which will help us grow.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/NhaN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, January 2
What's Your Story?
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 John 5:11
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:1-13 [ http://iz3.me/nIcN1zwXd1A1 ]
The truth that transformed your life is waiting to transform the lives of others. It's easy to downplay one's testimony when comparing it to the riveting testimonies of others, but the truth is that each testimony has power. Your story may reach people in a way no one else's can.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/oIcN1zwXd1A1 ]
As you meditate on Christ and His sacrifice for you, joy will fill your heart. You will not be able to keep your story to yourself. As you celebrate all Christ has done for you, your words may encourage a faltering Christian or plant a seed of faith in a pre-believer. When we share Christ, the Truth behind our transformation, we are offering people an opportunity to be transformed. If you're not sure where to start, these four questions offer an outline for sharing your testimony: What was life like before you were saved? When did you believe in Jesus? What has life been like since then? How are you growing in your faith today?
Don't wait to share your story. Your life has been transformed. Celebrate and share your story today.
You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 5-8 [ http://iz3.me/pIcN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, January 3
Sound the Alarm
They were hearing only, "He [ Paul ] who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God in me[ Paul ].
Galatians 1:23-24
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-22 [ http://iz3.me/ddiN1zwXd1A1 ]
Rarely noticed, they perch unobtrusively on ceilings. We forget they are there. Smoke detectors' two basic functions are sensing smoke and sounding an alarm. People are like smoke detectors in that they rarely change. Most will drift through life without sounding an alarm or drawing attention to themselves.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ediN1zwXd1A1 ]
Paul was different. He was loud in his persecution of Christians. When Paul was converted, people were instantly aware of the change. Suddenly this man who formerly hunted and killed Christians was preaching Christ. He was associating with and befriending Christians as his new faith changed both his actions and his priorities. The change in his life sounded an alarm that could not be ignored.
When we believe in Christ, we are changed from the inside out. Our entire life becomes a testimony of what He has done. Each day holds countless opportunities to sound an alarm and influence those around us. We can be encouraged knowing that our daily actions and words are declaring Christ to the world.
Christ not only died for all: He died for each.
Billy Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 9-12 [ http://iz3.me/fdiN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, January 4 & 5
A New Year to Embrace Change
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 29:11 [ http://iz3.me/qnnN1zwXd1A1 ]
A lot of us need a change of pace this year; but what we're really having trouble with is the pace of change . All change -- even the good -- is hard. It involves adjustment, moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from the settled past into the unknown future. As Anatole France said, "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/rnnN1zwXd1A1 ]
We can embrace change by knowing we serve an unchanging God. At the beginning of this new year, we confess with Joshua: "We have never been this way before." But our faithful, changeless Lord will show us the way to go, guide us at every juncture, bless us at every step, and provide goodness and mercy every day of our lives.
Let's not dig in our heels and cling to the past. Heed the words God gave to Joshua: "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Joshua 3:5, 7).
Everyone is in favor of progress; it's change they don't like.
In The Mentor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 13-20 [ http://iz3.me/snnN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, January 6
Stop and Get Your Bearings
I kept my bearings in Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:21, The Message
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:14-16 [ http://iz3.me/pCqN1zwXd1A1 ]
In his book on leadership, Robert K. Cooper credits his grandfather, Hugh Cooper, Sr., a minister and teacher, for the wisdom needed for success. One of the best lessons involved the practice of pausing amid the busyness of life to contemplate whether we're proceeding the right way. "When my grandfather Cooper and I planted trees," he wrote, "he would stop every half hour or so. Reaching into his pocket, he would take out a small compass he carried. I always knew what he would say next: 'Robert, let's stop and get our bearings.'"1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/qCqN1zwXd1A1 ]
It's not enough to be busy. We must make sure we're keeping our bearings in Christ. As you go through the day, the month, and the year, remember to periodically pause to check your priorities and get your bearings. Take time to pray and ponder. Set aside time for Bible study and personal meditation. Pull over at rest stops. Pause often to remember who you are, where you're going, and the God you're serving.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul, each thought and each motive beneath His control.
William D. Longstaff
1Robert K. Cooper, The Other 90% (New York: Random House, 2001), 152.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 21-23 [ http://iz3.me/sCqN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, January 7
God's Calling
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
2 Timothy 1:9
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 1:4-5 [ http://iz3.me/I4xN1zwXd1A1 ]
When we buy a new car, it comes with an owner's manual. That manual represents the manufacturer's will for us -- what to do, and not do, with the car. Sometimes we wish God had given us a unique owner's manual for our life so we would know His will every day.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/K4xN1zwXd1A1 ]
There's no indication in Scripture that God gives anyone step-by-step directions for life (except in rare circumstances -- see Acts 16:7). But God does have a calling and purpose for us on two levels: general and specific. Generally, God's will for our life is contained in the Bible. What is written in Scripture is God's will and calling for every Christian. Specifically, as we deepen our walk with Christ, God makes known His calling on our life individually. As we give over our talents and abilities to Him, become aware of our spiritual gifts and remain submissive to His leading and blessing, His calling on our life will become more and more evident.
Just as God told certain biblical characters what He wanted them to do, God will tell us as well if we are sensitive to His voice.
Christians are in the world to be witnesses, and they must concentrate on their calling.
Paul B. Smith
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 24-25 [ http://iz3.me/M4xN1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, January 8
A Different Way of Seeing
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 [ http://iz3.me/KW8O1zwXd1A1 ]
Hiking in the deep wilderness can be foreboding. In the morning you may find yourself in a deep ravine between the sides of two mountains, barely able to glimpse the sky above. In the afternoon you may be in a rugged, old-growth forest, completely surrounded by trees with no view of the horizon. In either case, you are headed toward a destination you cannot see. Aided by a map and compass (and now GPS), you trudge on with certain expectation of your direction.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/LW8O1zwXd1A1 ]
That is what the Christian life can be like at times -- walking toward a destination we cannot see, but one which we have every confidence of finding. The destination may be in this life -- a decision about vocation or our children -- or it may be eternal (Hebrews 11:8-16). Either way, we have a map (Psalm 119:105) and a heavenly Companion (Hebrews 13:5) upon which we depend. We don't know specifically what next week, or eternity, will look like. We are moving toward destinations we cannot see. But that is not a problem since we walk by faith, not by sight.
Walking by faith means seeing life differently: trusting the God we cannot see (1 Peter 1:7-8) for that which He has yet to reveal.
Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 26-28 [ http://iz3.me/MW8O1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, January 9
Walking by Faith
Then [ God ] said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
Genesis 22:2
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:17-19 [ http://iz3.me/VcGO1zwXd1A1 ]
When veteran high-wire performer Nik Wallenda took his first step on a wire stretched above Niagara Falls in 2012, he was walking by faith. The same was true the next year when he walked on a wire high above a Grand Canyon gorge. When asked about fear, Wallenda has said, "I would say the only thing I fear is God."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/WcGO1zwXd1A1 ]
Walking by faith in any arena of life requires confidence in something. Besides confidence in God, Wallenda has faith in his skills, training, and equipment. Still, there are no guarantees. Abraham walked by faith when God told him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. But Abraham's walk was different. His confidence was in the God who had made promises to Abraham about his future, about being the father of a great nation. The writer to the Hebrews said Abraham believed that if God didn't intervene and spare Isaac, He would raise the boy from the dead and fulfill the promises He had made to Abraham (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Walking by faith means taking steps in the direction God has indicated, trusting that He will be faithful to guide and provide.
We live by faith, and faith lives by exercise.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 29-31 [ http://iz3.me/XcGO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, January 10
Living on Purpose
But [ Jesus ] said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
Luke 4:43
Recommended Reading
John 4:31-34 [ http://iz3.me/ROOO1zwXd1A1 ]
In 2005, when the Barna Research Group surveyed pastors and Christian leaders about the books that influenced them most during the previous three years, Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life was the most cited book (apart from the Bible). Warren's The Purpose Driven Church was the second most-often cited.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/SOOO1zwXd1A1 ]
What does it mean that two Bible-based books on "purpose" sold tens of millions of copies around the world? At the very least, it suggests that Christians (and others) are very interested in discovering how to live life "on purpose." When we say we did something "on purpose," it means we did it intentionally; it means our actions were no accident. And if we model our life after that of Jesus Christ, we will live our life as purposefully as He did. Jesus came into the world with a purpose, a mission, from God and refused to let anything distract Him from that purpose (John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:28, 42; 10:37-38; 12:49).
As God sent Jesus into the world "on purpose," so Jesus has sent us "on purpose" as well (John 20:21). Live purposefully, not accidentally, for Christ today.
Life can only be enjoyed as one acquires a true perspective of life and death and of the real purpose of life.
Spiros Zodhiates
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 32-35 [ http://iz3.me/TOOO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, January 11 & 12
A New Year to Prioritize Your Priorities
One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.
Psalm 27:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 27 [ http://iz3.me/V0VO1zwXd1A1 ]
In 1967, Charles Hummel published a booklet entitled Tyranny of the Urgent, in which he suggested a reason we're so overworked and disorganized. It's because of jumbled priorities. Hummel relates what an experienced factory manager once told him, "Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important."1
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/W0VO1zwXd1A1 ]
What are the important things in life? Our time with the Lord. Our families. The work only we can do as assigned to us by the Father. But how easily these true priorities are pushed aside by urgent demands each day! Let's reprioritize our priorities. The Book of Common Prayer suggests a prayer of confession that many of us need at the beginning of the year. Condensed, it says: "Almighty Father. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. Have mercy upon us. Grant, most merciful Father, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. Amen."
Our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically a problem of priorities... We have left undone those things which we ought to have done.
Charles E. Hummel
1 Charles E. Hummel, Tyranny of the Urgent , Rev. ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994), 4-5.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 36-41 [ http://iz3.me/X0VO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, January 13
Super... or Supernatural?
Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:10
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 [ http://iz3.me/SUXO1zwXd1A1 ]
When Herbert Chavez was growing up in the Philippines, he loved watching Superman on television, and as an adult he determined to become like his superhero. According to newspaper reports, Chavez has undergone many plastic surgeries, subjecting himself to at least nineteen procedures all designed to make him look like the Man of Steel.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/TUXO1zwXd1A1 ]
If a man can be that passionate about transforming himself into a comic book hero, surely we Christians can purpose in our hearts to become like the Lord Jesus Christ. We can be like Daniel, who purposed in his heart not to be defiled. We can be like Ezra, who prepared his heart to seek the Lord. We can be like Paul, who longed to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. When we're yielded to the Lord, invested in His Word daily, obeying His commands, and seeking to share His message with others, we're becoming like Christ. It's the Holy Spirit who reproduces the character of Christ within us. That's not just a super life. It's a supernatural one.
God ... Please keep my eyes focused on the only target worth hitting -- Christlikeness!
Johnny Hunt, in The One Year Devotional Prayer Book
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 42-43 [ http://iz3.me/UUXO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, January 14
Preparation and Patience
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.
Hebrews 11:23
Recommended Reading
Exodus 2:1-10 [ http://iz3.me/AbgO1zwXd1A1 ]
How many times have we become fixated on something that is demanding a response, while ignoring something far more important that is less urgent? We need to plan our days so that we do not let the urgent things crowd out the important things. A similar perspective is to focus on the long view in life, not the short view.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/BbgO1zwXd1A1 ]
Moses was forced to take the long view of life. When God called him to free the Hebrew slaves he was eighty years old! Perhaps Moses finally began to understand the path his life had followed. His first forty years were spent being educated in the royal courts of Egypt. Most important in his education -- he knew Egypt and how Egyptian rulers thought. There was no better man on earth for God to use to confront the Egyptian pharaoh than Moses. Eighty years of preparation produced the redeemer the Hebrew slaves needed.
Jesus began His ministry around the age of thirty-perhaps the same for Paul. With God's calling comes a time of preparation, and preparation requires patience. Trust God today with His schedule for your life.
Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for a future that only He can see.
Corrie ten Boom
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 44-46 [ http://iz3.me/CbgO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, January 15
Success the Hard Way
So [ Moses ] looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Exodus 2:12
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 34:5-8 [ http://iz3.me/wxpO1zwXd1A1 ]
The title of Pastor Erwin W. Lutzer's 1975 book suggests a biblical approach to handling the failures we experience in life: Failure: The Backdoor to Success. If failure is the back door to success, that means failure really isn't a failure at all! Failure can be part of success.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/xxpO1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible certainly does not hide the failures of its principle characters. Israel's national hero, Moses, experienced his fair share of failures both before and after being called by God. He had to flee Egypt because he murdered a soldier who was abusing a Hebrew soldier. That failure led him to a 40-year sojourn in Midian where he matured and met God. Though he argued with God about returning to Egypt, he eventually did -- though throughout the Hebrews' wilderness wanderings his temper and impulsivity got the better of him more than once. But to Moses' credit, he always rebounded from his failures and ultimately ended his life with God's blessing.
If you have failed in some way, take heart. Ask God to show you how to redeem the time and the circumstances. Ask Him to let "failure" be your backdoor to success.
The Lord Jesus does not cast off His believing people because of failures and imperfections.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Genesis 47-50 [ http://iz3.me/00qO1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, January 16
Another Gadget You Don't Need
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.
Psalm 119:48
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:41-48 [ http://iz3.me/La0P1zwXd1A1 ]
Recently a Los Angeles street artist pranked retail giant Best Buy. He created empty boxes and snuck them into stores. The boxes looked like an official product with bar code, price, and label. But a closer look showed these words on the box: "Another Gadget You Don't Really Need." Discovering the prank, the stores removed the boxes immediately, but the media kept the story alive for days.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Ma0P1zwXd1A1 ]
We often spend a lot of money for items whether we need them or not. Some possessions assume great value to us. Others we soon toss out. But the one item everyone should value above all else is the Word of God. The Scottish Christians of earlier days had a habit of never placing any object on top of the Scripture. They wanted their Bibles accessible, visible, displayed for testimony's sake, and available for use at any moment. Why not adopt the same habit? Keep a Bible always within an arm's reach -- at work, home, school, and while traveling -- so you can always lift up your hand to His commands and meditate on His statutes.
The Bible is not simply a guide for life, a collection of wise sayings and wonderful stories. It is both the meeting place and the instrument that brings you and God together.
Woodrow Kroll, in How to Find God in the Bible
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/Na0P1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, January 17
The Hacker
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:41-48 [ http://iz3.me/K3AP1zwXd1A1 ]
Last fall police in Argentina arrested a nineteen-year-old super-hacker who ran an elaborate cyber-fraud network. From a "technological cave" in his home, the teenager hacked into money transfer and gambling websites, skimming hundreds of thousands of dollars into his own account.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/L3AP1zwXd1A1 ]
No wonder we're worried about computer security. Hackers are everywhere. But the most notorious hacker in history is the devil himself, who tries to tamper with the marvelous computer system God has installed within us -- our brains. He tries to deceive us and corrupt our minds.
We need the security system of God's Word. The Bible says, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them" (Hebrews 10:16). Reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture are the security systems of the mind. Starting a Scripture memory program is as easy as finding a verse to learn and resolving to repeat it aloud, say, ten times when you get up and ten times at bedtime. Sounds like a simple plan, but try it for a few weeks. You'll be amazed how secure it helps you feel.
I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture.
Chuck Swindoll, in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 5-7 [ http://iz3.me/M3AP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, January 18 & 19
A New Year to Make Amends
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
James 5:16
Recommended Reading
James 5:13-20 [ http://iz3.me/N6HP1zwXd1A1 ]
In 1955, Joe Rota got a job as an elevator operator aboard the transatlantic ocean liner, the SS United States. On his first day at sea, the elevator door opened and in walked legendary actor Burt Lancaster with his two young sons. Without thinking, Rota shouted, "Burt!" The actor was visibly disturbed, protectively putting his arms around his boys. Rota realized his outburst had been inappropriate. Later when he saw Lancaster glance at the elevator and then head for the stairs, he followed him. "Mr. Lancaster, can I talk to you a moment?" he asked. He explained he was new on the job and had been surprised to see the actor. "I have to apologize," said Rota. Lancaster smiled and said, "That's perfectly all right. I understand. Take me up." From that point, the two were friends.1
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/O6HP1zwXd1A1 ]
Sometimes we inadvertently disturb someone. We say something we later realize was inappropriate. Determine here at the beginning of the year to make amends. A humble word of apology can heal a relationship as quickly as it was damaged.
Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
Benjamin Franklin
1Steven Ujifusa, A Man and His Ship (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012), 328.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 8-13 [ http://iz3.me/P6HP1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, January 20
Sunlight Through Glass
This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
Recommended Reading
Joshua 24:14-15 [ http://iz3.me/mcJP1zwXd1A1 ]
Writer F. W. Boreham told of taking lodgings in the home of Old Bessie, the widow of a local pastor. One morning he noticed some words etched into one of the windows: "This is the day!" At breakfast he asked Bessie about it.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ncJP1zwXd1A1 ]
"I have had a lot of trouble in my time," she explained. "Each morning when I woke up I felt as though I had the weight of the world upon me. Then one day when I was very upset about things, I sat down and read ... the 118th Psalm. When I came to the 24th verse, I stopped. ... It flashed upon me like a burst of sunshine on a gloomy day." With a glass-cutting tool from the kitchen, Bessie etched the words on the windowpane -- This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
"There!" she thought. "Now I shall see that little bit of Bible there every morning when I draw up the blind."1
Even biblical characters as courageous as Joshua needed to learn to keep a good attitude despite circumstances. So did Old Bessie. So do we! Today rejoice! Be glad in Him.
If the church is to impress the world with the deathless hope of the everlasting Gospel, she must be animated by that hope herself.
F. W. Boreham
1 F. W. Boreham, Shadows on the Wall (New York: Abingdon Press, 1922), 68-70.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 14-16 [ http://iz3.me/ocJP1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, January 21
God With You
As I [ God ] was with Moses, so I will be with you [ Joshua ]. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 13:5-6 [ http://iz3.me/23OP1zwXd1A1 ]
When a mother decided her little boy was old enough to begin walking the few blocks to his school by himself, it was a major step. Nervous for the first few days, the little guy nonetheless made it to school and home safely the whole year. It wasn't until years later that the mother told her now teenaged son that she had followed behind him, out of sight, every day for that first year to make sure he made it to school safely. He had been nervous and a little afraid to walk by himself, but he shouldn't have been. The one who loved him the most was always with him.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/33OP1zwXd1A1 ]
When Joshua filled Moses' sandals as the new leader of Israel, he was no doubt nervous and a little afraid, too. He remembered the giants in Canaan that the spies had reported decades before (Numbers 13:31-33). So God made a promise to Joshua: "I was with Moses. You are taking Moses' place. So I will be with you as well." Part of God's covenant promise to Israel was to be with them and make them successful. And Jesus affirms that same promise to His followers: "And lo, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).
As you go about God's work today, remember: He is with you (Mark 16:20).
Anxious care is out of place in a heavenly Father's presence.
Kenneth Wuest
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 17-20 [ http://iz3.me/43OP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, January 22
Fruit Inspection
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:15-20 [ http://iz3.me/XcWP1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the first things very young children learn is to identify various kinds of fruit -- through pictures in a book as well as the actual fruit. The next step is to transfer the knowledge of the fruit to the tree that bears it: apples grow on apple trees and oranges grow on orange trees. The lesson for children? You can tell a tree by its fruit.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/acWP1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus used that simple connection to make a powerful spiritual application. When warning His followers about false prophets He said, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16, 20). He went on to explain, "Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." In fact, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit" (verses17-18). So if the spiritual fruit coming from a person is bad, it is a clear indication of the nature of the tree that bears the fruit. Fortunately, we have examples of the kind of good fruit produced by the Holy Spirit -- a standard for spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Jesus' teaching and Paul's list cause us to examine ourselves and ask: What kind of fruit are we bearing? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Fruit is evidence of the root.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 21-23 [ http://iz3.me/bcWP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, January 23
Out on a Limb
Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10
Recommended Reading
John 15:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/pXgP1zwXd1A1 ]
Will Rogers quipped, "You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is." Christians often find themselves out on a limb; but wherever we are, we're to bear fruit. The New Testament writers used the word "fruit" in many ways. Hebrews 13:15 talks about "the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." James used the word "fruit" to describe our good works (James 3:17). John the Baptist described our changed behaviors as "fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). In Romans 1:13, Paul used "fruit" to describe those coming to Christ under his ministry. In Galatians 5:22, he used the same term for the attitudes that characterize mature Christianity: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," and so on.
Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/qXgP1zwXd1A1 ]
In all these cases, we can say the word "fruit" describes the demonstrative results of Christian maturity. If we're growing in Christ, there should be evidence of it. People should see the signs of our Christian faith. The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit.
Are you fruitful?
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 24-27 [ http://iz3.me/sXgP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, January 24
His House or Dollhouses?
Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
John 2:17
Recommended Reading
John 2:13-22 [ http://iz3.me/HBpP1zwXd1A1 ]
Huguette Clark was a reclusive heiress who owned mansions in California and New York, though she never visited them. She preferred her Fifth Avenue apartment. She also rented a room in a local hospital, despite being in ideal health (she lived to be 104 years old). Her one and only interest was collecting dolls. She spent millions of dollars on dolls, doll clothes, and dollhouses. Her biographer called it her passion and obsession. Her love for her dolls dominated her life.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/IBpP1zwXd1A1 ]
Every person needs a passionate pursuit. We need something we can pour our lives into, a cause to which we can give our lives. But it should be a worthy passion and a worthwhile pursuit. It should touch on the eternal -- on matters related to God's house, not dollhouses. It was said of Jesus: "Passion for God's house burns within me" (John 2:17, NLT).
People are passionate about many things in life -- politics, sports, health -- but let's be passionate about growing in our walk with God and advancing His work. Ask Him today for His zeal.
If we want to be thoroughly hot with zeal, we must go near to the furnace of the Saviour's love.
Lady Powerscourt
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 28-30 [ http://iz3.me/JBpP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, January 25 & 26
A New Year to Clarify Your Purpose
Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again ... but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:13-14
Recommended Reading
John 4:7-14 [ http://iz3.me/UKwP1zwXd1A1 ]
Scientists in drought-stricken Kenya have discovered enormous underground aquifers with water supplies fed by underground rivers from distant mountains. The largest of these newly found reservoirs is 62 miles long, 41 miles across, and contains 200 billion cubic meters of water -- a 900 percent increase over Kenya's current water preserves.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/VKwP1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus promised us living water bubbling up from within those who trust Him. These rivers represent streams of eternal life, everlasting purpose, abundant living, and the waters of the Holy Spirit. In John 7, Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (verses 37-38).
Thank God for the jubilation of finding massive aquifers beneath the surface of a drought-stricken land. Now thank Him for the joy of having the purposeful, plentiful waters of Jesus beneath the surface of our lives like inexhaustible springs. Our driving purpose in life should be borne along by the currents of those waters. Take time today to make sure you're drilling down in the right places. Take time to be refreshed.
God is His own motive. His love is not drawn out by our loveableness, but wells up, like an artesian spring, from the depths of His nature.
Alexander Maclaren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 31-37 [ http://iz3.me/WKwP1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, January 27
Whatever!
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:13
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 [ http://iz3.me/Uw0Q1zwXd1A1 ]
We often read a verse and think: "That's a command" or "That's a promise." While the Bible is filled with both promises and commands, the difference between the two isn't as great as we think. Every command, for example, is a promise in reverse, for God never commands us to do anything without supplying the strength. The Scottish preacher Alexander Maclaren put it this way in his sermon on John 5: "All Christ's commandments are gifts. When He says to you, 'Do this!' He pledges Himself to give you power to do it. Whatsoever He enjoins He strengthens for."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Vw0Q1zwXd1A1 ]
Whenever there's a command, whatever it is, He gives the strength to obey it. Whenever there's a promise, whatever it is, He gives the faith to claim it. We're to do all things for His glory, and we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
Some people, when faced with a task, respond with a flippant: "Whatever!" When we read God's promises and commands, we too say "Whatever" -- whatever comes, it's for God's glory!
Whensoever we attempt to do what we know to be the Master's will, because He has given Himself for us, our power will be equal to our desire, and enough for our duty.
Alexander Maclaren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 38-40 [ http://iz3.me/Ww0Q1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, January 28
Imitating Jesus
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
John 17:4
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:10 [ http://iz3.me/928Q1zwXd1A1 ]
It is not unusual in families for the firstborn child to establish a pattern or standard that younger siblings tend to imitate -- at least at first. It's only natural that young children look to older ones to learn family customs and expectations. When young children realize they have a will and a choice, imitation may give way to self-directed behavior -- for better or worse.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/A28Q1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul spoke of Jesus Christ as "the firstborn among many brethren," and of God's purpose in conforming us to Christ's image (Romans 8:29). Therefore, when it comes to relating to God the Father, Jesus becomes the model for us, His younger siblings in the faith. Jesus lived a life of complete obedience to the Father. He did nothing on His own initiative, but came into the world to accomplish the work the Father had given Him. Likewise, Paul writes that there are works "God prepared beforehand" for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Like Jesus, we have been given work to do by the Father. And Jesus is the model of obedience we should follow.
If you face a challenging task from God today, ask yourself, "How would Jesus handle this?" Then go and do the same.
Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy.
Albert Barnes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/B28Q1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, January 30
Forest or Trees?
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Philippians 3:12
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 4:15 [ http://iz3.me/eLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]
An arborist is a scientist who studies trees and other woody plants, usually individual specimens. A forester is a scientist who studies large swaths of woody plants like a forest. The domain of foresters and arborists overlaps at times in the pursuit of health of both trees and forests.
Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/fLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]
The Christian life is made up of two similar domains -- individual days and life as a whole. Unfortunately, we get so caught up in the pressures of each day that we sometimes fail to step back and look at our spiritual life as a whole. Questions need to be asked: Since coming to know Christ, how have I grown spiritually and emotionally? What differences can I see over my entire Christian life, and over the last few months or years? What areas of my life in Christ need attention? The apostle Paul talked about "pressing on" toward Christ in his own life and talked to Timothy about making "progress" in his life (1 Timothy 4:15).
Are you a spiritual arborist or forester? Are you focusing more on the trees or the forest? Ask God for His help in showing you how to measure your maturity.
There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. It takes time to be holy.
Erwin W. Lutzer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/gLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, January 31
Future and Hope
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:5-6 [ http://iz3.me/p0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]
It's easy to understand why God spoke the words of Jeremiah 29:11 through the prophet to His people. Jeremiah wrote during the time when Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. The Jews could see nothing but disaster on the horizon; they wondered if all God's covenant promises had become null and void. So God spoke through Jeremiah to tell the people that His thoughts were not evil toward them, that He had a hopeful future in mind.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/q0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]
We may not look out our window and see invading Babylonians on the horizon, but we may see something that seems just as hopeless. We can cling to God's promise to Israel because it is a reflection of His character. God is the God of hope and the future. He "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). We are called in those moments to "trust in the Lord with all [ our ] heart," to "lean not on [ our ] own understanding," and to "acknowledge Him" in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).
If you feel besieged by life today, lean on the God of peace -- the God of hope and the future. The same God who has a plan for Israel has a plan for you. Trust that He will direct your path.
True faith is ever connected with hope.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 11-13 [ http://iz3.me/r0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, February 1 & 2
Four Seasons: A Season of Rejoicing
The month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday.
Esther 9:22a
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:4 [ http://iz3.me/13iQ1zwXd1A1 ]
While Israel's seasons are the same as ours, the Jewish calendar is different. The last month of the Jewish year, Adar, corresponds to our February-March. We consider February to be a short, intermission month standing between winter and spring. We celebrate Valentine's Day and presidential birthdays in February, but not too much else.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/23iQ1zwXd1A1 ]
But on the Jewish calendar, Adar (our February) is a time to rejoice! During Adar, the Jews celebrated (and still do) Purim -- the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from the plans of the wicked official named Haman (Esther 9:18-32). It is a time to remember that "which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; ... days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22).
If February is nothing but a post-holiday month for you, don't spend it just waiting for spring. Take the opportunity this month to rejoice in your own deliverance "from the power of darkness ... into the kingdom of the Son ... in whom we have redemption through His blood" (Colossians 1:13-14). There is no greater reason to rejoice!
No duty almost is more pressed in both Testaments than this, of rejoicing in the Lord.
John Trapp
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 14-18 [ http://iz3.me/33iQ1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, February 3
Boring? Never!
Let not your heart be troubled... In My Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:1-2
Recommended Reading
John 14:1-6 [ http://iz3.me/FnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]
"In heaven," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, "all the interesting people are missing." That's how the world views heaven, as irrelevant, vague, and dull. According to the Bible, of course, heaven is none of those things. It's a real place, a home, a paradise, a city, a country, a new earth, a prepared place for prepared people. No one there will be bored or boring.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]
Yet many Christians reflect Nietzsche's view. We're confused about heaven, prone to view it as a never-ending church service or a vapory world with harps and halos. But heaven is mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible, and the information is designed to fill us with anticipation. Our Redeemer is in heaven; our relationships are there, those who have gone before us; our resources are there, the investments we've made in eternity; our residence is in heaven, our rewards and riches. Think about that often, and do not let your heart be troubled. He who has gone to prepare a place for us will soon come again, that where He is we may be also.
Heaven is not a figment of imagination. It is not a feeling or an emotion. It is not the "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." It is a prepared place for a prepared people.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 19-21 [ http://iz3.me/HnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, February 4
Reservations Required
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27
Recommended Reading
John 6:35-40 [ http://iz3.me/E9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]
Has this happened to you? You get to a hotel at the end of a long trip only to find the front desk has no record of your reservation. Or perhaps an airline bungled a flight reservation for you, or a tour company lost your record. A trip can quickly become a nightmare. It's always best to confirm our reservations and have the paperwork in hand.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/F9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]
Heaven is only accessible with confirmed reservations, for those whose names are prerecorded in the Book of Life. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, our names are recorded, as if in blood. Jesus promised, "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day" (John 6:39-40 NIV).
Our Lord will never lose our reservations, but it's vital to know we've trusted in Him for salvation. Make sure your reservation is secure in Him.
A person's eternal destiny ... is based on whether or not his name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Tim LaHaye, in Understanding Bible Prophecy for Yourself
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 22-23 [ http://iz3.me/G9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, February 5
Where Is Our Treasure?
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven ... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:16-20 [ http://iz3.me/7V3R1zwXd1A1 ]
In 2009, discussions began between Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, among the world's richest people, about what to do with their vast billions when they die. The result of those discussions is The Giving Pledge -- an international effort to encourage the world's wealthiest people to give away, or bequeath, at least half of their wealth to philanthropic or charitable causes. So far, 114 billionaires have signed The Giving Pledge.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8V3R1zwXd1A1 ]
There is much to commend about the efforts of wealthy people to be generous. But the most basic reason to make giving decisions is because, as the saying goes, "You can't take it with you." Everything we have had, now have, or will have will remain here on earth when we die. The Bible is clear about the difference between laying up treasures here and laying them up in heaven. Treasures acquired on earth can provide returns for eternity only if they are invested for the glory of God now.
Have you thought prayerfully about what will happen to your "riches"? Invest them now to bear eternal fruit forever.
Heaven's riches are moth-proof, rustproof, and burglar-proof.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 24–25 [ http://iz3.me/9V3R1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, February 6
The Same as Saying "No"
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:18
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:15 [ http://iz3.me/e6CR1zwXd1A1 ]
The English word "procrastinate" comes from a Latin word made of two parts: pro ("forward") and crastinus ("belonging to tomorrow"). When we procrastinate, we move forward to tomorrow something that should be done today. Procrastination gives the illusion of neutrality. For instance, if we put off making a decision, it is easy to think we have said neither "Yes" nor "No" -- that we have remained neutral. In reality, however, the failure to say "Yes" means, by default, that we have said "No." We have remained in our original negative state by a failure to say "Yes" and move to a positive state.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/f6CR1zwXd1A1 ]
When people put off making a decision about Christ -- or about moving forward to a deeper level of spiritual maturity -- they have not remained neutral. The failure to say "Yes" to Christ is the same as saying "No." Why? Because we are born into this world saying "No" to God (Romans 3:23; 5:12). We remain condemned by sin until the day we say "Yes" to Christ.
Don't put off until tomorrow what should be accomplished today.
If we put off our repentance to another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent.
J. Mason
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 26–27 [ http://iz3.me/g6CR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, February 7
From Glory to Glorious
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 64:4; 65:17 [ http://iz3.me/orJR1zwXd1A1 ]
When we see beautiful photographs of the earth's natural wonders, we are often stunned at the awesomeness of God's creation. Amidst such natural beauty, we are often shocked when we remember we are looking at a creation cursed by sin (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). If earth is so beautiful in a cursed state, how much more beautiful will it be when the whole creation has been redeemed?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/prJR1zwXd1A1 ]
It is important to remember that heaven is going to be on planet earth -- actually, there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). The apostle Peter referred to it as the "restoration of all things" (Acts 3:21). "Restoration" refers to the perfect environment God created "in the beginning" (Genesis 1:1), the creation that was cursed by man's sin. Since we never saw Eden, we don't know what the restoration will be like. But if what we see now seems glorious at times, how much more glorious will the new heaven and new earth be?
God is calling out a people for Himself to populate heaven. Make sure you have responded to His invitation.
Wisdom opens the eyes both to the glories of heaven and to the hollowness of earth.
J. A. Motyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 1-2 [ http://iz3.me/qrJR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, February 8 & 9
Four Seasons: A Season of Renewal
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Recommended Reading
Psalm 103:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/5JRR1zwXd1A1 ]
Because schools resume in September, we think of September through December as the last third of the year. School, football, Thanksgiving, and Christmas -- each month has its own focus. But if we slice the calendar a little differently, we can think of November through February as a block as well: November and December are the holidays, January is "New Year's," and February is Recovery! February is an opportunity to recover from the busyness of the holidays and Renew our focus on the year ahead.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/6JRR1zwXd1A1 ]
God knew we needed consistent times of renewal in life. In fact, he built a renewal day into every week -- the seventh day was a Sabbath of rest and renewal to prepare for the next six days (Exodus 20:8-11). And Israel had three feasts each year during which they renewed their focus on the Lord (Exodus 23:14-17).
If you are in recovery mode this month from the holiday and New Year's season, gradually shift your focus from recovery to renewal. "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23) as you prepare for the year ahead.
The difference between worldliness and godliness is a renewed mind.
Erwin W. Lutzer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 3-6 [ http://iz3.me/7JRR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, February 10
The Twinkling of an Eye
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 [ http://iz3.me/o5UR1zwXd1A1 ]
The bookstores are filled with books about being "a better you," on how to self-improve and live with productivity and confidence. But only two changes will ever truly make us into better people. The apostle Paul explained both to the Christians in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he spoke of the transformation occurring when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The moment we give our lives to Him, He begins a renovation process in our personalities to make us into better people.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/p5UR1zwXd1A1 ]
The other change is the one mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15. In the future at the moment of the believer's resurrection, we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. All sinful and perishing vestiges of our lives will fall away, and we'll be transformed to be like Jesus. The process that began with salvation will be completed with glorification.
If you're discouraged with yourself today, remember -- there's a great day coming!
A blink ... is fast -- so fast that most of the time you don't even notice it when you blink. But the time it takes for an eye to twinkle is even faster.
Greg Laurie in Are These the Last Days?
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 7 [ http://iz3.me/q5UR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, February 11
A Whole New You
The Lord Jesus Christ... will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:17-21 [ http://iz3.me/sudR1zwXd1A1 ]
Several years ago the television show Extreme Makeover showed us how dramatically we could change our appearance using techniques as simple as a haircut, as rigorous as an exercise routine, and as drastic as cosmetic surgery. Participants were taken for their makeovers and, at the end of the process reunited with their friends and family amid oohs and aahs. Critics, however, were understandably unhappy with the show's overemphasis on physical beauty.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/tudR1zwXd1A1 ]
Without going to extremes, all of us occasionally need a little "makeover" -- a new hairstyle, a fresh outfit, a different brand of makeup, a few pounds off the scale. But remember -- the greatest makeover will happen in the twinkling of an eye when we'll be instantly transformed and glorified at the moment of rapture or resurrection. The mortal will put on immortality, the perishable will become imperishable, and we will be changed to be like the Lord Jesus.
The desire to improve our physique and appearance has created a billion-dollar industry, but God will make us over in the twinkling of an eye. The expense was paid at Calvary, and the changes will be forever.
Our resurrection bodies are not second bodies; rather, they are our present bodies transformed.
Hank Hanegraaff
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/uudR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, February 12
Radiating From Within
And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Acts 6:15
Recommended Reading
Exodus 34:29-35 [ http://iz3.me/7AnR1zwXd1A1 ]
The New York Times recently carried an article about what the newspaper called a "youthful glow, radiating from within," which characterizes certain people. The writer described the multibillion-dollar skin care industry and the prevalence of cosmetic surgery. But having a youthful glow is "more than skin deep," said the columnist. It must come from within, from our attitudes and lifestyle habits.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8AnR1zwXd1A1 ]
Indeed. In eternity our faces will glow with radiance possible only in heaven. According to Revelation 21, the Celestial City shines with the internal radiance of the glory of God; and we can assume our faces will shine like the face of Moses on Mount Sinai, of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, and of Stephen in Acts 6.
But we don't have to wait until heaven. The Bible says: "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Psalm 34:5 says, "They looked to Him and were radiant." The easiest way to make our faces beautiful is by looking at Him.
A person's face is the signature of his soul.
William L. Stidger, early twentieth-century preacher
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 11-13 [ http://iz3.me/9AnR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, February 13
The Red Carpet
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 [ http://iz3.me/O3xR1zwXd1A1 ]
Ever get tired of the awards shows celebrating actors and musicians? There are the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the People's Choice Awards, the Tonys, the Grammys, the MTV Music Awards, and lots more. An entire industry is built around these annual "red carpet" events, as everyone listens to see if their favorite stars are chosen. Meanwhile, our true heroes are often forgotten -- soldiers, schoolteachers, firefighters, missionaries, and those laboring long and hard for souls.
Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/P3xR1zwXd1A1 ]
One day an Awards Ceremony will occur in heaven, where the true rewards will be distributed. The Bible says, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done" (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
The reward ceremony in heaven will be unlike anything we can imagine. Treading the red carpet might be fun, but walking down the golden streets is eternal!
But isn't it wrong to be motivated by reward? No, it isn't. If it were wrong, Christ wouldn't offer it to us as a motivation.
Randy Alcorn, in The Treasure Principle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 14-15 [ http://iz3.me/Q3xR1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, February 14
The Greatest Reward
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Genesis 15:1
Recommended Reading
Numbers 18:20 [ http://iz3.me/TJ7S1zwXd1A1 ]
There is a trend in grammar schools and youth sports programs to award "participation" trophies, medals, certificates, or prizes to everyone -- winners and losers alike. If you compete, you get a prize; no one goes away a loser.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/UJ7S1zwXd1A1 ]
There will be rewards in heaven as well, based on our faithfulness to Christ and His glory during our life on earth (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). But even if a Christian received no rewards for faithfulness at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), there is one reward that every believer will receive: Christ Himself. Paul said that his greatest earthly ambition was to "gain Christ and be found in Him" (Philippians 3:8-9). He, and every true believer, will certainly gain Christ as his or her ultimate reward for following Him. Even though Abraham was a very wealthy man, God told him, "I am your ... exceedingly great reward" (Genesis 15:1).
Regardless of what other stature we may attain on earth or in heaven, gaining Christ will be our "exceedingly great reward." All other rewards pale in comparison.
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 16–18 [ http://iz3.me/VJ7S1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, February 15 & 16
Four Seasons: A Season of Remembrance
And Moses said to the people: "Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place."
Exodus 13:3a
Recommended Reading
Leviticus 26:42-45 [ http://iz3.me/cAFS1zwXd1A1 ]
The people of God are called to be "rememberers." The Jews were to "remember the Sabbath day" (Exodus 20:8), their forefathers (Exodus 32:13), "all the commandments of the LORD" (Numbers 15:39), their spiritual rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7), and God's covenant and "marvelous works" (1 Chronicles 16:12, 15). Most of all, God's people in both Testaments are to remember His redemptive work: the Exodus in the Old Testament (Exodus 13:3) and Christ's crucifixion in the New (Luke 22:19). Memories are a foundation on which we build for the future.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/dAFS1zwXd1A1 ]
February is an excellent month in which to pull out your journal, diary, or day planner and review God's activity in your life during 2013. There was no doubt blessing, and there may have been correction. There was no doubt provision, but there might also have been testing. But above all, there will be faithfulness to remember: "Forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2).
Let February be a quiet time in which to remember all God has done in your life as you look toward 2014.
When you drink from the stream, remember the spring.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 19–24 [ http://iz3.me/eAFS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, February 17
The Endless Song
So I will sing praise to Your name forever.
Psalm 61:8
Recommended Reading
Revelation 4:6-8 [ http://iz3.me/kwHS1zwXd1A1 ]
Someone just paid a million and a half dollars for a ruined violin that can't be played. Its value isn't in its musical quality but in its history, for it was played the last time in April 1912 by a doomed musician named Wallace Hartley aboard the Titanic. Hartley and his fellow musicians reportedly played "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the vessel slipped beneath the icy North Atlantic. Hartley's body was recovered ten days later with his violin strapped to him.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/lwHS1zwXd1A1 ]
God's children never know when we'll sing our last song on earth; but we know that because of Christ, we'll be part of an endless choir in the heavens. The palmist said, "I will sing praise to Your name forever."
Since heaven is a literal place, and since we'll have resurrection bodies, we'll all be capable of singing and rejoicing and praising. It's not that heaven is merely a never-ending church service. The New Heavens and New Earth are literal places with never-ceasing meaningful activities. And praise will be a rich part of that activity.
Our joy there will be unending and unsinkable.
I want to be fluent in heaven's language. I want to become an expert at praise.
Ruth Graham, in In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 25-26 [ http://iz3.me/mwHS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, February 18
A Great Shining City
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:23
Recommended Reading
Revelation 21:22-27 [ http://iz3.me/bFNS1zwXd1A1 ]
In his book on heaven, evangelist D. L. Moody quoted an acquaintance who said: "When I was a boy, I thought of heaven as a great, shining city, with vast walls and domes and spires, and with nobody in it except white-robed angels, who were strangers to me. By and by my little brother died; and I thought of a great city with walls and domes and spires ... and one little fellow that I was acquainted with ... And now so many of my acquaintances have gone there, that it sometimes seems to me that I know more people in heaven than I do on earth."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/cFNS1zwXd1A1 ]
What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two chapters of the Bible are a virtual travelogue of our heavenly home. To visualize heaven accurately, study the Bible continually. The more we study God's Word, the more we can anticipate the features of the fabulous forever home He is preparing for those who love Him.
Remember: the Bible is our only authoritative source of information about Heaven.
Billy Graham, in The Heaven Answer Book
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 27-29 [ http://iz3.me/dFNS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, February 19
Dress Rehearsal for Heaven
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9
Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:11-14 [ http://iz3.me/0wWS1zwXd1A1 ]
Actors know the value of rehearsals. And the most important rehearsals are the dress rehearsals in which every aspect of the performance -- costumes, script, lights, music -- is carried out exactly as it will be in the actual performance. Non-dress rehearsals are fine for getting oriented, but dress rehearsals are where one prepares for the actual performance.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/1wWS1zwXd1A1 ]
There is a sense in which the Christian's life on earth is a dress rehearsal for heaven. Not in terms of costumes and theatrics, but in terms of worship and devotion to the One we will worship for all eternity -- the Lamb who sits on the throne of heaven. If He is to receive "blessing and honor and glory and power ... forever and ever" (Revelation 5:13), then the more we rehearse that worship now, the more seamless our transition to eternity will be -- the more comfortable and secure we will be in our role as eternal citizens of the New Jerusalem.
Because our eternal life has already begun (John 17:3), so should our dress rehearsal for eternity!
I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 30–32 [ http://iz3.me/2wWS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, February 20
From Practice to Presence
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Revelation 7:9
Recommended Reading
Psalm 100:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/oTiS1zwXd1A1 ]
When Handel's Messiah is performed at Christmas, some conductors will invite members of the audience to join the trained choir on stage to sing "the Hallelujah Chorus." Those bold enough to accept the invitation discover the powerful effect of joining voices with scores of singers and musicians at a "professional" level. It's one thing to sing alone in the shower or the car; it's altogether different to join a throng who are lifting their voices in unified praise to God!
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/pTiS1zwXd1A1 ]
That transition -- from pew to stage -- may suggest what it will be like to join the untold number of worshippers who will one day stand before the throne of the Lamb in heaven and worship Him. Imagine the thunderous sound of the voices! That is not to denigrate the worship we offer Him on earth. It is simply to say that life on earth is simply a foreshadowing, a foretaste, of what life in heaven will be like -- and that certainly applies to worship.
So, "Come before His presence with singing" this Sunday (Psalm 100:2) -- a warm-up for what is to come!
Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Numbers 33-36 [ http://iz3.me/qTiS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, February 21
The River of Life
And [ the angel ] showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:1
Recommended Reading
John 7:37-39 [ http://iz3.me/9JrS1zwXd1A1 ]
The Ogallala Aquifer is the largest freshwater aquifer in the United States, lying beneath eight Plains states. Its waters have been heavily used, primarily for agriculture, and may contain only another 25 years' supply. This is not good news not only in terms of personal consumption but for agricultural uses as well. Scientists and ecologists agree -- water is the most endangered, fastest shrinking resource on the planet.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/AJrS1zwXd1A1 ]
Fortunately, there will be no shortage of water in the New Jerusalem. A "pure river of water of life" (Revelation 22:1) will flow from the New Jerusalem to water all the earth. Jesus made reference to "rivers of living water" which the apostle John said referred to the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). Just as the Holy Spirit gave life to those in the earthly Jerusalem, so will there be a river of life in the New Jerusalem. Everything we need for life, forever, God will provide.
No earthly shortage should be a cause of concern for those who belong to Christ. Eternal provision has been made in the New Jerusalem for physical and spiritual abundance!
Those who have the New Jerusalem in their eye must have the ways that lead to it in their heart.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 1–2 [ http://iz3.me/BJrS1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, February 22 & 23
Four Seasons: A Season of Rededication
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
Recommended Reading
Romans 12:1-2 [ http://iz3.me/kr0T1zwXd1A1 ]
The second law of thermodynamics says that disorder increases over time unless it is interrupted. Not only is that true physically, it is also true spiritually. Left to ourselves, our carnal nature wars against the Spirit to pull us in the direction of spiritual disorder (Galatians 5:17).
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/lr0T1zwXd1A1 ]
Moses called each generation of Israelites to affirm their allegiance to God. The Exodus generation dedicated themselves to God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24) and the second generation was called to do the same (the book of Deuteronomy). Moses then instructed Joshua to lead Israel to rededicate themselves to the Covenant before they settled the land (Joshua 8:30-35). And after their expansion into the land, they rededicated themselves again (Joshua 24).
Why not let February -- even today -- be when you rededicate yourself to God: to love and obey Him in everything in the coming year.
The year is made up of minutes. Let these be watched as having been dedicated to God. It is in the sanctification of the small that hallowing of the large is secure.
G. Campbell Morgan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 3–8 [ http://iz3.me/mr0T1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, February 24
Full Circle
Cursed is the ground... And there shall be no more curse.
Genesis 3:17; Revelation 22:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:20-26 [ http://iz3.me/sN3T1zwXd1A1 ]
In a well-crafted novel, a problem is usually introduced in the opening pages, often involving life-and-death matters. A plot then unfolds with twists and turns, all connected with a heroic protagonist. Then the story climaxes and concludes in a way that satisfies the reader.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/tN3T1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible isn't a novel, but it is inspired by a Master Author. In its opening pages we're introduced to a set of terrible problems. The plot unfolds with twists and turns, centered around one heroic personage -- Jesus Christ. The book concludes with the story coming full circle in a satisfying way.
In Genesis 1-3, humanity is separated from God by a serpent and by sin, and a curse falls over creation. In Revelation 19-22, sin is dealt with, the serpent condemned, paradise restored, and God's people eternally satisfied. In the New Earth, the curse of sin will be reversed, revealing once again the beauty God designed for us. No curse will spoil the new creation, and no dullness will dim our eyesight. So we will see it. How wonderful to read God's Book, knowing it is all written for us to claim!
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 9-11 [ http://iz3.me/uN3T1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, February 25
Joy to the World!
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Psalm 98:4
Recommended Reading
Psalm 98 [ http://iz3.me/fKBT1zwXd1A1 ]
It might surprise you to know that when Isaac Watts wrote "Joy to the World," he wasn't thinking of Christmas. He had been studying Psalm 98 and contemplating the millennial reign of Christ. When Jesus comes again, He will establish a thousand-year reign on earth, and heaven and nature will sing. Fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains will repeat the sounding joy. Only during the Millennium, which comes after the second advent of Christ, will the words to "Joy to the World" really be fulfilled. The Millennium will be an earthly foretaste of the New Heavens and New Earth, which will be our eternal home.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/gKBT1zwXd1A1 ]
If you want to know what the Millennium will be like, read passages like Revelation 20 and Isaiah 11. This is earth's future. When you hear now of wars and rumors of war, and when you despair over the coarsening of society, and when you worry about global issues, remember: He will come to make His blessings flow as far as the curse is found -- a joy for earth and a foretaste of heaven.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 12-15 [ http://iz3.me/hKBT1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, February 26
Swords Into Plowshares
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 2:4
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 2:1-4 [ http://iz3.me/3ILT1zwXd1A1 ]
In the garden of the United Nations in New York City, a dramatic sculpture -- a 1959 gift from the old Soviet Union -- bears the words of Isaiah 2:4: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares." The sculpture shows the figure of a man holding a hammer in one hand, and in the other, a sword that he is beating into a plow. It expresses the great aspiration for world peace.
Listen to Today's Radio Message http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo ]
But here's the problem: Isaiah 2:4 has a first part to the verse. It begins: "He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people." Isaiah 2 is about the Second Coming of Christ and the establishing of His millennial reign. Without the Prince of Peace, there can be no lasting peace on earth; for the hearts of humanity are evil. Christ alone can usher in a period of global peace. Pray for peace on earth, but also pray: "Your kingdom come." Only when Christ returns will there be lasting peace. We can't imagine how wonderful that peace will be, but we can pray, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
When Christ returns, and only then, will the angel's message to the shepherds be totally fulfilled: Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 16-19 [ http://iz3.me/4ILT1zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, February 27
Precious in His Sight
But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
2 Samuel 12:23
Recommended Reading
Luke 8:49-56 [ http://iz3.me/JmTT1zwXd1A1 ]
The death of children is one of earth's greatest sorrows. Throughout much of history and in much of the world today, childhood mortality figures are astoundingly high. Some reading these words have lost a child or a grandchild, either through illness or accident. Some have lost preborn children through miscarriage or abortion.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/KmTT1zwXd1A1 ]
God loves children. He loves the preborn and He loves the newborn. He loves the infant and He loves the toddler. "Jesus loves the little children of the world -- red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." He is not willing for children to be lost. David said about his child who died: "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." Our few moments on earth are like the pop of a flashbulb compared to eternity. Be comforted: Our separation is short; our reunion is eternal.
Those little children have not yet any understanding to desire His blessing; but when they are presented to Him, He gently and kindly receives them, and dedicates them to the Father by a solemn act of blessing.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 20-22 [ http://iz3.me/LmTT1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, February 28
Our Hope in Trials
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.
Psalm 86:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 19:13-14 [ http://iz3.me/qhgT1zwXd1A1 ]
This past November, Typhoon Haiyan devastated coastal towns in the Philippines, killing thousands and making hundreds of thousands homeless as its storm surge raked its water across the numerous islands in the Philippines. The city of Tacloban was destroyed, creating communication, medical, and food and housing issues for the survivors.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/rhgT1zwXd1A1 ]
One young mother was found wandering -- alone and sad. A television interview revealed that she had lost her husband and all six of her daughters. She had found them in the debris and made a makeshift cover for their bodies. Numb with grief, she asked, "Where do I go?"
Where do we go when we are heart-broken and in despair? We go to the One who loves us with an everlasting love. We do not comprehend fully why events like this storm occur, but we do know that it is not God's will that children perish (Matthew 18:14). Jesus himself made this assurance.
If you have gone through a loss recently, especially the loss of a child, you have the assurance from God Himself that you will see your child again one day and that God will keep your little one safe for eternity. God will attend to the voice of our call.
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you're slamming the door in the face of God.
Charles L. Allen
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 23–25 [ http://iz3.me/shgT1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, March 1 & 2
The Approval Process: Lip Service
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 25:8-15 [ http://iz3.me/BmpT1zwXd1A1 ]
Dr. William Mayo of the Mayo Clinic was known for his habitual use of praise and encouragement. Whenever a younger doctor read a paper at a staff meeting, Dr. Mayo would inevitably approach him afterward, put his hand on his shoulder, and offer a quiet word of encouragement, like "Good work!" Afterward the younger doctor would likely get a note saying, "Dear so-and-so, I learned more from that paper of yours the other night than I ever knew before." It's also said that Mayo's smile and greetings to his patients as he made his daily rounds had almost as much to do with their recovery as his medicine.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/CmpT1zwXd1A1 ]
Could that be said of you? What about at home to family members? On Sundays to church members? Through the week at work, school, and the marketplace? While we can't approve of everyone's actions, we can always be as pleasant as possible in any given set of circumstances. We can build others up with encouragement, and we can ask God to always give us a word fitly spoken. How wonderful to express our approval in words of gold spoken in the right settings.
Words are [ powerful ] seeds. Once planted... words will bring forth flowers or weeds, health or disease, healing or poison. You carry a great responsibility for their use.
Dennis and Barbara Rainey, in Building Your Mate's Self Esteem
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 26-29 [ http://iz3.me/DmpT1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, March 3
Be Prepared
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:13
Recommended Reading
Titus 2:11-14 [ http://iz3.me/HrsT1zwXd1A1 ]
Since 1907, the motto of the Boy Scouts movement (and many Girl Scouts organizations) has been, "Be Prepared." Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, defined what it means to be prepared: "You are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/IrsT1zwXd1A1 ]
If we add "spirit" to mind and body, we will have a workable perspective on what it means as a Christian to be prepared -- to be ready in body, mind, and spirit to do our duty. Doing our Christian duty on a moment-by-moment basis is one thing for which we must be prepared. But there is an even greater reason for readiness: the any-moment return of Jesus Christ. Jesus told a parable about ten members of a bridal party who were awaiting the bridegroom's cortege to arrive. Only five had made adequate preparation, while the other five, failing to do their duty, were locked out of the celebration. When Jesus said, "Watch therefore," He was saying, "Be prepared -- be about your duty until I return."
We prepare for Jesus' return in two ways: one, by submitting to Christ as Savior and Lord, and two, by serving Him faithfully as we watch for His return.
I will therefore be prepared at all times for that which may come at any time.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 30-32 [ http://iz3.me/JrsT1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, March 4
Now and Then
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 [ http://iz3.me/5T2U1zwXd1A1 ]
The notable seventeenth-century English scientist Sir Isaac Newton said in his third law of motion that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Generalizing, we could say that nothing happens in a vacuum; every action produces a reaction or result of some sort.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/6T2U1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul said that every Christian is a member, or part, of the body of Christ. As such, the actions (or lack of actions) of any one part influence every other part. The New Testament also says that every Christian will stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day to have our words (Matthew 12:36) and our deeds (1 Corinthians 3:13) judged. Everything we do now will create a response then. We do not live our spiritual life in a vacuum; there are no hidden words or deeds in God's sight.
We know Christ is coming again. We know He is going to examine our life for the purpose of giving rewards. Therefore, we ought to live every moment of life as if we are living in His very presence -- living now in order to hear Him say, "Well done" (Matthew 25:21, 23).
Today, let us rise and go to our work. Tomorrow, we shall rise and go to our reward.
Richard Fuller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Deuteronomy 33-34 [ http://iz3.me/7T2U1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, March 5
The Truth About Angels
You may learn in us not to think beyond what is written.
1 Corinthians 4:6
Recommended Reading
Acts 12:5-11 [ http://iz3.me/JFCU1zwXd1A1 ]
New York Magazine recently carried a story on the evolution of angels. Years ago, angels were primarily creatures we read about in the Bible, heard about in missionary stories, and saw on Christmas cards. Until a hundred years ago, they were typically portrayed as male; but gradually they became increasingly feminine and beautiful, and now the media and retailers often portray them sensually. Angels have also become New Age symbols of mysterious charm. Even some Christians get caught up in angel mania and go beyond biblical teaching on this subject.
Listen to Radio Today's Message [ http://iz3.me/KFCU1zwXd1A1 ]
Remember: The Bible is our only factual, definitive, trustworthy source of angelic truth. We don't have to be speculative. Our culture is fascinated by angels, but too many people make angels into something they're not -- just as they often do with God. Rejoice in the reality of angels and study the truth about them in the Bible. But be cautious about going beyond what Scripture says on this subject (while being equally cautious not to neglect anything the Bible does teach us).
Ignorance of angels and their actions is inexcusable, seeing the Scripture speaks in no uncertain terms about them.
Herbert Lockyer, Sr., in All the Angels in the Bible
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/LFCU1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, March 7
Lord of Hosts
The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 24 [ http://iz3.me/BSUU1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the strangest battles of World War I was waged on August 23, 1914 -- the Battle of Mons -- when four divisions of the British Expeditionary Force met German troops over the sixty-foot-wide Mons Canal in Belgium. After withstanding six hours of bombardment, the British forces withdrew amid terrible scenes of conflagration. Here's what's strange about the retreat. London newspapers shortly afterward carried the accounts of British soldiers who reported seeing heavenly guardians aiding in the retreat and saving the army from annihilation. Some of the hospitalized soldiers spoke of "the secret army of Mons," and many became believers in Christ.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/CSUU1zwXd1A1 ]
When we read such stories, we're intrigued and perhaps even encouraged. But we don't base our doctrine or build our theology on personal accounts or individual experiences. Our beliefs are grounded in Scripture alone. The Bible itself sufficiently speaks of angels as organized like an army, mobilized, ready to come to our aid as God directs them.
Angels are innumerable heavenly beings -- immortal and invincible creations of God. He is the Lord of the hosts of heaven.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Thomas Ken, in the "Doxology"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/DSUU1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, March 8 & 9
The Approval Process: Fan Club
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 1:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/lCeU1zwXd1A1 ]
Linguists aren't sure where we concocted our term fan. Some trace fan back to the British term fancy, which, in olden times, meant "to like something very much." We still occasionally speak of "taking a fancy" to something or someone. Other experts claim the word is a shortened form of fanatic -- someone who is overly enthused about something, such as a sport or celebrity. Regardless of its origin, the word became popular in the late 1880s in America, and we've all been fans of something or someone ever since.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/mCeU1zwXd1A1 ]
If you know someone needing encouragement, consider yourself a one-person fan club. That's what the apostle Paul was for Timothy, as he exhorted the young man to fan into flame the gift God had given him. Paul reminded Timothy of his heritage, of his testimony, of his calling, and of his Lord. The apostle prayed for his young disciple; and when Timothy came to the end of his earthly life, he could surely have looked back and said, "Thank God I had a fan."
Help someone gain a sense of approval this weekend. Be their fan.
All around you are people whose lives are filled with trouble and sorrow, and they need your compassion and encouragement.
Billy Graham, in Billy Graham in Quotes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 11-17 [ http://iz3.me/nCeU1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, March 10
Rejoicing Angels
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
Recommended Reading
Luke 15:4-9 [ http://iz3.me/QRhU1zwXd1A1 ]
When a British man lost his wedding ring while vacationing with his wife at a beach, they called a local man who makes a hobby out of helping people find lost items. Wearing a wetsuit and using a metal detector, the man searched for four days until he found a wedding ring in the sand. The name inscribed on the inside was proof that the correct ring had been found. The man's wife said, "I thought that angels had wings, but now I know that they can arrive in a wetsuit as well."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/RRhU1zwXd1A1 ]
Whether an angel was involved in that search effort or not, we do know that angels in heaven rejoice when a certain kind of lost "item" is found. In telling a parable about a lost sheep, Jesus concluded by saying there is joy among the angels over "one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10). If you are a sinner saved by faith in Christ, you were the cause of great rejoicing among heaven's angels!
Is anything more valuable than an eternal soul? Let's strive to give the angels innumerable reasons for rejoicing!
There is no one so far lost that Jesus cannot find him and cannot save him.
Andrew Murray
1"Lost wedding ring found by 'angels in a wetsuit' on Bournemouth beach," bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10594296.Lost_wedding_ring_found_by__angel_in_a_wetsuit__on_Bournemouth_beach (accessed November 5, 2013).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 18-20 [ http://iz3.me/SRhU1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, March 11
Classes of Angels
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 6:12 [ http://iz3.me/ohqU1zwXd1A1 ]
From the playground to corporations to governments, humans create structures of authority and responsibility. That tendency must have something to do with being created in the image of God. Even His angels seem to be organized!
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/phqU1zwXd1A1 ]
We get glimpses in Scripture of titles, assignments, and classes of angelic beings. There are cherubim (Genesis 3:24) and seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-7), presumably angelic beings. There are principalities and powers who have authority and dominion (Colossians 1:16). There is a ruling angel, an "archangel" named Michael (Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9) who seems to have responsibility for the protection of Israel (Daniel 10:13; 12:1). And a primary messenger, or ambassador, named Gabriel (Luke 1:11-20, 26-38). It is no surprise, then, that evil angels also have ranks and designations (Ephesians 6:12).
Give thanks today that there are also "ministering spirits" sent to serve those who believe (Hebrews 1:14).
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains. And the mountains in reply, echo back their joyous strains.
From a French carol
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 21–22 [ http://iz3.me/qhqU1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, March 12
Angels by Name
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
Jude 1:9
Recommended Reading
Luke 1:26-38 [ http://iz3.me/CC3V1zwXd1A1 ]
Biblical names often had special meaning. For instance, Abraham means "father of many [ peoples ]" -- a name given by God when He entered into a covenant with the patriarch (Genesis 17:4-5).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/DC3V1zwXd1A1 ]
The two good angels whose names we know may also reflect their roles. Michael means "who is like God?" -- a name that fits Michael's challenge to Satan over the disposition of the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). Satan had once said, "I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14), and Michael defended God's authority concerning Moses' remains. We know Michael's name because another angel identified Michael to Daniel (Daniel 10:13; 12:1).
Gabriel means "man of God" -- a name that fits his role as a messenger for God delivering important revelations to Daniel, Zechariah (father of John the Baptist), and Mary, mother of Jesus.
We can take comfort in the personal identities and roles of God's mighty angelic servants who work to accomplish His will "in all places of His dominion" (Psalm 103:20).
Angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 23-24 [ http://iz3.me/EC3V1zwXd1A1 ]
Read An Interview with David Jeremiah from Preaching magazine here: [ http://iz3.me/FC3V1zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, March 13
Unseen Protectors
Are [ angels ] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14
Recommended Reading
Acts 5:17-20 [ http://iz3.me/cwCV1zwXd1A1 ]
More than a few parents have been "guilty" of following their young children as they walk the short way to school. Their parental priority was protection -- but doing so invisibly, from a distance, so as to allow their child a sense of independence. As parents protect their children, so angels are sent to protect God's children.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/dwCV1zwXd1A1 ]
In the angelic realm, protection as a responsibility is apparently well known. When Satan tempted Jesus, challenging Him to jump from the highest point of the temple, he quoted Psalm 91:11: "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (Matthew 4:6). In spite of that promise, Jesus didn't yield to the devil's challenge. And neither should we act foolishly, expecting to be protected by angels. But we can be assured that angels -- our unseen guardians -- are aware of our steps and are there to protect and minister to us.
Every moment of the day -- especially when traveling or heading into challenging situations -- is a good time to thank God for the angels who are there to care for you.
Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth.
Book of Common Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/ewCV1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, March 14
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 18:10
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:10-14 [ http://iz3.me/kLMV1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the most famous paintings in Christian history is Heiliger Schutzengel , which means "Guardian Angel." It's the scene of two children -- a girl and her small brother -- crossing a rickety bridge over a roaring stream. A beautiful angel hovers above them, arms outstretched, wings expanding, silently watching the youngsters complete the perilous crossing. The origin of the painting is unknown. A company called Lindberg in Switzerland produced the first copies many years ago. We can only assume the artist was thinking of Matthew 18:10.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/lLMV1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible gives few verses on the subject of whether or not everyone has a specific guardian angel, but there's no question we have angels watching over us all the time. Whether we have one specific angel guarding us is uncertain, but what is clearly indicated in the Bible is that God has His angels watching over us constantly. Don't worry about whether you have one angel or many. In either case, the angelic host serves as the security detail for believers. They are our heavenly helpers whenever we're on a bridge over troubled waters.
All the angels in the whole universe care about you; and if God wants to dispatch them all, He can do it.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 4-5 [ http://iz3.me/mLMV1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, March 15 & 16
The Approval Process: Pen Pal
See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Galatians 6:11
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 [ http://iz3.me/6DVV1zwXd1A1 ]
God spoke through the sermons of the prophets, the poetry of the psalmist, the history of the kings, and the biography of the Savior. But when He wanted to encourage Christians to live godly lives, He chose the simple medium of personal correspondence. Hence we have the New Testament letters.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/7DVV1zwXd1A1 ]
Maybe we can take a page from God's Book. Parade Magazine carried the story of a Vermont nursing student cramming for a rigorous exam. Returning to her table in the coffee shop, she found a note tucked inside her textbook. "I'm assuming if you're thumbing through [ this textbook ] you're probably nearing the end of nursing school," said the note. "You should be so proud of yourself. You've worked so hard to get here, and ... it's so worth it. I've been a nurse for twelve years and can't imagine doing anything else." The note, which is now widely circulated online, contained a pep talk -- and a ten-dollar gift card for coffee.
People crave encouragement, and sometimes the greatest encouragement is the writing of words that endure. Perhaps you can pen a note of affirmation and approval to someone today.
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
William James
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 6-10 [ http://iz3.me/8DVV1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, March 17
How the Mighty Have Fallen
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.
Ezekiel 28:13
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 3:5-7 [ http://iz3.me/T2aV1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the most timeless warnings in all the Bible is illustrated by an ancient event: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). In the uncharted time before creation, Satan was Lucifer, the most beautiful and honored of God's created angelic beings. But his pride -- his belief in his beauty -- brought him down.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/U2aV1zwXd1A1 ]
Two passages in the Old Testament -- Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 -- are considered by many scholars to be personifications of events in Satan's story. Both passages refer to earthly kings, but in language that can only typify heavenly events. And because all godless kings draw their prideful inspiration from Satan, they serve as a type of Lucifer himself. Ezekiel 28:17 says, "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty." And the apostle Paul echoes that verse when talking about the pride that led to Satan's fall (1 Timothy 3:6).
Beware of pride and self-exaltation (James 4:6).
Pride of gifts robs us of God's blessing in the use of them.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 11-13 [ http://iz3.me/V2aV1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, March 18
Choosing a Seat
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.
Isaiah 14:14
Recommended Reading
Luke 14:7-11 [ http://iz3.me/5OiV1zwXd1A1 ]
We've all seen it -- and perhaps been guilty of it: The doors open at a concert venue and everyone makes a dash for the front row seats. Or the doors open for a department store sale and the shoppers shove and push each other in order to get first dibs on the merchandise. Our fleshly nature tempts us to put ourselves above others or seek a position or place for ourselves instead of allowing others to have it.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/6OiV1zwXd1A1 ]
Satan, as God's angelic, highly-anointed minister, made the mistake of seeking a place reserved for God alone. In five different ways -- "I will ..." -- he expressed his desire to "be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13-14). He wanted to exalt himself from his rightful place to a place equal with God Himself. Interestingly, Jesus related a parable with the antidote to pride of place. When attending a banquet, He said, take the lowest seat. It's better to be invited to move up than to be told to move down for being in someone else's place (Luke 14:7-11). That was a lesson Satan failed to learn, but one we can take to heart.
Humility seeks to advance others rather than advancing self. But the promise is, we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).
Other sins are against God's law, but pride is against God's sovereignty.
Thomas Manton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14-16 [ http://iz3.me/7OiV1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, March 19
The Arch Deceiver
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3
Recommended Reading
John 4:1-6 [ http://iz3.me/lesV1zwXd1A1 ]
By the end of the first century, the apostle John had to write to the young Church, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). It's not that deception started with the birth of the Church at Pentecost. It had been around since the Garden of Eden.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/mesV1zwXd1A1 ]
We have to be honest and recognize that Adam and Eve had never been confronted with a lie or with deception when Satan came to them in the Garden. They were innocent and naïve. Granted, they should have simply believed and obeyed God, but Satan was good at his craft. After all, he had apparently already deceived one third of the angels in heaven and led them in rebellion against God (Revelation 12:4). Given his power to deceive, John was right in warning the Church to test every spirit to see if it is from God or not. And that message remains relevant today.
Refresh your commitment today to test everything by the Word of God. The surest defense against spiritual deception is knowledge of spiritual truth.
Nothing can deceive unless it bears a plausible resemblance to reality.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 17-19 [ http://iz3.me/nesV1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, March 20
Nothing to Fear
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Jude 1:6
Recommended Reading
2 Peter 2:4-11 [ http://iz3.me/TD4W1zwXd1A1 ]
It has been said, "Everything in the Bible is true, but not all truth is in the Bible." The Bible is not an encyclopedia containing all known truth. It is the record of the revelation of God -- the story of redemption. It provides all we need to know about some subjects, like how to be reconciled to God. But it doesn't tell all we'd like to know -- and someday will know -- about other subjects. Jude 1:6 is an example of the tip of a theological iceberg that begs for a fuller revelation.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/UD4W1zwXd1A1 ]
We would like to know more about Satan's rebellion in which many angels participated. We would like to know more about how and where those angels are being kept in "chains under darkness" until the final judgment. And we would like to know the differences between these incarcerated angels and the demons that apparently are free to roam the earth.
When we find hints in Scripture about subjects not fully revealed, we are reminded that God keeps Satan and fallen angels on a short leash, that evil will one day be punished, and those who are secure in Christ have nothing to fear (Romans 8:35-39).
I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 20-21 [ http://iz3.me/VD4W1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, March 21
Angelic Escort
Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Exodus 23:20
Recommended Reading
Exodus 20-23 [ http://iz3.me/QhDW1zwXd1A1 ]
Throughout the Bible, angels seem to have an active role in ushering God's children to heaven. In his book, Somewhere Angels, Larry Libby writes: "No one likes to go on trips all alone. Now, some fine day you will and I will see heaven for the very first time .... and that home will be so very much better than Disneyland, and sunsets, and mountain lakes, and snowy canyons that I can't even tell you how much. And I don't think God means for us to be alone when we travel to that new home .... The angel gets to be there when you see the shining beauty of your forever home for the very first time; when your eyes fly open and your mouth drops open, and the tears of happiness rush to your eyes, and you say, 'Oh, my goodness! It's more beautiful than I could ever have dreamed!' And the angel gets to be there and share in it all!"1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/RhDW1zwXd1A1 ]
We can't fully visualize the wonder of that moment, but what a comfort to know we'll not be alone as we travel from earth to heaven! No Christian is abandoned at the moment of death. The angels are the ushers, and our passage to heaven is under their escort.
When it comes to leaving earth for heaven, there's nothing to worry about. God wants you home so much that He'll send His own angel to meet you. And don't be surprised if the angel is wearing a big smile.
Larry Libby
1 Larry Libby, Somewhere Angels (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1994), n.p.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ruth 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/ShDW1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, March 24
Destination: Heaven
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:22
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/LwOW1zwXd1A1 ]
In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of the rich man and the beggar and their ultimate destinations. In life, the poor beggar sat outside the rich man's gate, begging for crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. When he breathed his last, the beggar (Lazarus) "was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom" -- to the presence of God. Think of the instant transition and transformation for Lazarus. When the rich man died, he also was buried, but he had no heavenly escort to a beautiful destination -- instead he cried for mercy in Hades, while Lazarus discovered the joys of his new home.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/MwOW1zwXd1A1 ]
Throughout Scripture God's love is shown to us, even to providing His assurance to the believer about dying. We are told that death for the follower of Christ is "precious" (Psalm 116:15), "blessed" (Revelation 14:13), and that it holds "no sting" (1 Corinthians 15:55). And that isn't all that God tells us in His Word about our transition from this earthly life to our new heavenly home -- we will have angels to escort us!
Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 8-12 [ http://iz3.me/NwOW1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, March 25
Appearing, Dwelling, Abiding
And the Angel of the LORD appeared to [ Moses ] in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush..
Exodus 3:2a
Recommended Reading
Judges 13:6, 10, 21 [ http://iz3.me/UMaW1zwXd1A1 ]
In 1977, much of the Western world saw a depiction of a developing technology. In the Star Wars movie, the robot R2-D2 displayed a hologram -- a light-based "physical" image -- of Princess Leia. That was 1977 in a science fiction movie. But thousands of years before that movie, something similar occurred on earth: God appearing as an angel-man.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/VMaW1zwXd1A1 ]
The future mother of Samson described it best -- "a Man of God" who "looked like an angel of God, very awesome" appeared to her (Judges 13:6 NIV). She saw what appeared to be a human, yet also appeared to be a "very awesome" angel. And the being appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again (verses 10, 21). The Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:7, 9-11; 22:11, 15) is generally considered to be deity -- a preincarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. An angel of the Lord (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19) is not. After Christ was incarnated in flesh (John 1:14), the Angel of the Lord does not appear again.
God appeared to His people in the Old Testament and dwelt with His people in the New -- and now abides in us by His Spirit.
The glory of the Incarnation is that it presents to our adoring gaze, not a humanized God or a deified man, but a true God-man.
Benjamin B. Warfield
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 13–14 [ http://iz3.me/WMaW1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, March 26
The Fourth Man
"Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
Daniel 3:25
Recommended Reading
Daniel 3:19-29 [ http://iz3.me/DjkW1zwXd1A1 ]
In reading the Old Testament, we occasionally meet a Stranger who defies explanation -- the Guest who showed up at Abraham's tent, the Traveler who wrestled with Jacob, the Commander of the Lord's Army who puzzled Joshua, the Fourth Man who appeared in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, the Angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/EjkW1zwXd1A1 ]
Many scholars believe this Personage was Jesus Himself in His pre-Bethlehem state. When Jesus became a human through the womb of the Virgin, He literally became the God-Man. From that moment He was both fully God and fully human. We call this the incarnation. But prior to that, He sometimes appeared in a preincarnate form. In other words, in the Old Testament Jesus occasionally appeared in the form of a man; at His birth He literally became a man.
How comforting to know that Jesus will always find a way of being with His people. Even now He is present by His Holy Spirit, and He constantly speaks to us through His Word. We have a Savior who is always near and always dear. He's the Fourth Man in the furnace, but He's first in our hearts.
To throw the Christian into the furnace is to put him into Christ's parlor; for lo! Jesus Christ is walking with him.
Charles Spurgeon, from his sermon "God's People in the Furnace"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 15-16 [ http://iz3.me/FjkW1zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, March 27
The Greatest Authority on Angels
....things which angels desire to look into.
1 Peter 1:12
Recommended Reading
Matthew 26:50-56 [ http://iz3.me/f8wW1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus had more encounters with angels than anyone else in history. During His earthly life, angels -- both good and evil ones -- appeared to Him many times. He conversed with them, argued with them, silenced a few of them, and on one occasion stated that He had several thousand of them at His disposal. Angels were present at His birth, during His temptation, during His agony in Gethsemane, at the tomb on Easter Sunday, and at His ascension. Now they're awaiting instructions regarding His return.
Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/g8wW1zwXd1A1 ]
The angels were drawn to Him and desired to look into the depths of the Good News He was bringing us. It's no wonder He commands the heightened attention of heaven's host. If the ultimate purpose of angels is to glorify His name, then we would expect them to be drawn to Jesus.
Come to think of it, the same is true of us, isn't it? If our ultimate purpose is to worship and praise our Lord, should we not, too, be drawn to Him? Should we not also sing "Holy, Holy, Holy"? And should we not seek to serve Him as the angels do, especially because we have a song that even angels cannot sing -- the song of redemption?
Yea, sinners may address their King in songs that angels cannot sing.
John Newton
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 17-18 [ http://iz3.me/h8wW1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, March 28
Scheduling Rest
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/rQ7X1zwXd1A1 ]
In the desert Jesus withstood intense temptation. Three times the devil enticed Him to sin, but Jesus responded with the power of God's truth. When Jesus had successfully overcome the temptations, angels came and ministered to Him. The word "ministered" in the New Testament language carries with it the idea of spreading out a table of nourishment and strength. The ordeal Jesus faced was followed by peace and refreshment.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/sQ7X1zwXd1A1 ]
Throughout Jesus' ministry, He took time away from the crowds and even His disciples to pray by Himself. Jesus modeled the importance of not only serving God with our actions but of being still and drawing close to God to renew our souls. If we rush forward, forgetting to rest, we may miss the very guidance and encouragement God wants to give us to face upcoming challenges.
God alone knows our deepest needs and the difficult circumstances we may be facing. In the coming days, let's set aside time to get away, as Jesus did, to rest in God's presence and allow Him to nourish and strengthen us with His Word.
Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.... It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 19–21 [ http://iz3.me/tQ7X1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, March 29 & 30
The Approval Process: Appeal Process
Meanwhile praying also for us...
Colossians 4:3
Recommended Reading
John 17:9-20 [ http://iz3.me/fwIX1zwXd1A1 ]
Missionary J. Hudson Taylor oft recounted his conversion. One day while a teenager, he was home alone and bored. In the study he picked up a small pamphlet. His mother, meanwhile, who was eighty miles away, felt a sudden burden to pray for him. Going to her room, she turned the key and resolved to stay in prayer until the burden lifted. As Hudson read, his eyes saw a sentence in the pamphlet about the finished work of Christ. It was as if a light flashed in his soul. Falling to his knees, he gave his life to the Lord. When his mother returned two weeks later, he met her with the news. She said, "I know, my boy; I have been rejoicing for a fortnight."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/gwIX1zwXd1A1 ]
You can express your approval, affirmation, and encouragement to others by being a fan, in word, pen, and deed. But the greatest results are achieved by our prayer appeals. Thomas Chalmers, the Scottish pulpit giant, said, "Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God." The greatest encouragement is conveyed in prayer.
[ Intercessory prayer ]... is our instrument to impart spiritual blessing to others.
Andrew Murray, in The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 22-27 [ http://iz3.me/hwIX1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, March 31
Inspired Worship
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan. For it is written, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Luke 4:8
Recommended Reading
Genesis 1:1-29 [ http://iz3.me/JtLX1zwXd1A1 ]
Feelings of awe alert us to the fingerprints of God. Whether we feel it in response to a sunset, the rushing of a waterfall, or the majesty of angels, it's easy to be swept up in the moment and to forget the Creator behind the breathtaking beauty.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/KtLX1zwXd1A1 ]
Our natural instinct is to move from awe to worship. When John came face-to-face with angels, they were beyond anything he had seen before. He fell facedown to worship them. Swiftly, the angel rebuked him, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant ...Worship God" (Revelation 22:9). The angel reminded John that only God is worthy of our worship.
God created the heavens and the earth to reveal His glory. Don't allow creation to eclipse and steal the worship God desires and deserves. Our feelings of awe can increase our worship of God. The brilliant radiance of a sunset reminds us of His radiance. The crashing of waves reminds us of His power. If we focus our adoration on creation, we miss the point. God is greater. Who or what will you worship today?
[ Worship is ] the specific act of ascribing to God the glory, majesty, honor, and worthiness that are His.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 28-31 [ http://iz3.me/LtLX1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, April 1
Heavenly Companion
For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11
Recommended Reading
Genesis 28:10-22 [ http://iz3.me/0cVX1zwXd1A1 ]
When God created man, he left no detail to chance. The precision and perfection of our body's systems are without equal: our circulatory, digestive, immune, and muscular systems are designed to sustain our life.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/1cVX1zwXd1A1 ]
God's care for us goes beyond the formation of our bodies. The world was created for us to inhabit, rule over, and enjoy. Even in the creation of His angels, we see God's great care and concern for us. Angels protect and watch over us in life; and in Luke 16:22, the Bible describes Lazarus as being ushered into heaven by angels. Later, in Luke 24:51, Jesus is carried up into heaven.
What a loving God we serve! Not only has He prepared a heavenly dwelling for us, but His angels also accompany us as we transition from this world to the next. Our hearts will be filled with great comfort and joy as we reflect on God's goodness. He has provided more than we could have imagined or asked for.
When my time to die comes, an angel will be there to comfort me. He will give me peace and joy even at the most critical hour, and usher me into the presence of God, and I will dwell with the Lord forever. Thank God for the ministry of His blessed angels!
Billy Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/2cVX1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, April 2
The Ultimate Relationship
Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake!" To silent stone, "Arise! It shall teach!" Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all.
Habakkuk 2:19
Recommended Reading
Psalm 115:4-8 [ http://iz3.me/oNiX1zwXd1A1 ]
To the modern, Western mind, trained in logic and rational thinking, nothing seems as illogical or irrational as some of the practices of people in the ancient Near East: Create an image out of wood or stone, then treat the image as if it was a living, breathing being -- a god with whom the worshipper can relate.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/pNiX1zwXd1A1 ]
Educated people don't do that today because we know that inanimate objects can't be animated just because we want them to be. We know that a true relationship requires two sentient beings, at the very least. Even our family pet has more life than a stone idol. Relating to a pet or person is better than trying to relate to wood or stone, but it still leaves us wanting more. It is only when we enter into the relationship for which God created us -- a personal, intimate relationship with Himself -- that our hunger for knowing and being known can be satisfied.
If you are seeking the ultimate relationship in life, don't seek it in things that cannot respond and relate in the way you are meant to. Seek it in the One who said He is the life (John 14:6).
Man, made in the image of God, has a purpose -- to be in relationship to God, who is there.
Francis Schaeffer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 4-7 [ http://iz3.me/qNiX1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, April 3
Certain Peace
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7 [ http://iz3.me/LirX1zwXd1A1 ]
We know the bus we need to catch is always on time. A friend who has promised to help us on Saturday is one who always keeps his word. The pension check we need by the end of the month has never been late. Certainty -- or as close as we can get to it in human terms -- brings peace of mind.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/MirX1zwXd1A1 ]
But the truth is, nothing is absolutely certain in life. Things happen that have never happened before. So if we achieve a degree of peace by trusting in things that are less than certain, how much more peace could we enjoy by trusting in Someone who has never failed? The psalmist wrote, "Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful" (very certain; Psalm 119:138). And the apostle Paul said that when we commit our uncertainties to God in prayer, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). We have peace because we believe in God's absolute trustworthiness.
If peace seems elusive in your life today, commit yourself to God, commit your concerns to Him in prayer, and then rest peacefully as you trust in Him.
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
Annie Johnson Flint
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 8-11 [ http://iz3.me/NirX1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, April 4
Reflecting His Holiness
So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Isaiah 6:5
Recommended Reading
Luke 5:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/4J3a1zwXd1A1 ]
Tennis players like to play opponents who play at a higher level than themselves. Parents encourage their children to make friends with upstanding peers. Teachers encourage promising students to take advanced placement classes. Why? Because we can always do better; there is always a higher level of potential achievement. Fortunately, in most areas of life there are examples of outstanding achievement to emulate.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/5J3a1zwXd1A1 ]
When it comes to holiness, however, grasping the concept is harder because none of us knows a perfectly holy person. That is, it is not normal today for people to have personal, face-to-face encounters with God, the Angel of the Lord, or Jesus Christ -- those who personify pure holiness. But we can read from Scripture what happened to people who did: Their lives were radically changed; they became more holy.
When Moses met with God face-to-face, it was obvious to everyone (Exodus 34:29-30). That's why worship, Bible study, and communion with God are so important. The more we see His holiness, the more like Him we can become.
Everything in Scripture has in view the promotion of holiness.
A. W. Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 12-13 [ http://iz3.me/6J3a1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, April 5 & 6
Page Turners! David and Goliath
Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of [ Goliath ]; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
1 Samuel 17:32
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 [ http://iz3.me/o5Ca1zwXd1A1 ]
Rudy Ruettiger dreamed of playing football for the "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame even though his chances were slim. But Rudy made it to Notre Dame, made the team, and actually got to play in the last game of his senior year. The 1993 movie, Rudy, is one of the greatest underdog dramas of all time.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/p5Ca1zwXd1A1 ]
Rudy's heroic story took four years to play out; but another one, even more dramatic, lasted for forty days. When the Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of Israel for more than a month, the Israelite soldiers cowered in fear. It was a common practice in the ancient world to have two champions fight and decide a matter instead of risking the lives of many soldiers in a mass battle. But no Israelite soldier would step forward to accept Goliath's challenge -- until a teenager named David volunteered (1 Samuel 17). So, after forty days of intimidation, Goliath lay dead and Israel was saved.
God has stepped in at the last minute more than once in history (remember Moses at the Red Sea?). And He can do the same for you. Keep turning the pages by faith and let the story play out to the end.
The Bible has a story-line. It traces an unfolding drama.
Edmund P. Clowney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 14-19 [ http://iz3.me/q5Ca1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, April 7
Holy Is and Holy Does
To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints ...
Romans 1:7
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:15-16 [ http://iz3.me/j0Fa1zwXd1A1 ]
We often hear people give this testimony: "I am a sinner saved by grace." Technically, that's true. But the New Testament would say it this way: "I was a sinner, but am now a saint, saved by grace." The New Testament does not refer to members of the body of Christ as sinners: "And such [ sinners ] were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified [ made holy ], but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/k0Fa1zwXd1A1 ]
The word "saint" in the New Testament is based on the Greek word for "holy" -- a saint is a "holy one." "Saint" represents the position of the Christian before God, a position to which we are called in Christ (Romans 1:7). Because Christ is holy, and we are in Christ, we share in His holiness as saints before God. But as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:7-10, the life of a sinner is to be a past tense matter for the Christian. As holy ones before God, we are to live a life of holiness that mirrors our holy, positional life in Christ.
So, holiness is something we are ("called to be saints") as well as something we do ("Be holy, for I am holy"). Let your standing in Christ reflect your conduct in Christ today.
Christianity is a universal holiness in every part of life.
William Law
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 20-22 [ http://iz3.me/m0Fa1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, April 8
Eyes of Faith
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.
2 Chronicles 20:12
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 41:8-10 [ http://iz3.me/WfNa1zwXd1A1 ]
There are times in life when we have done everything we know to do in the face of a crisis -- an illness, a financial reversal, an approaching natural disaster, a family problem. To paraphrase the apostle Paul when he wrote about spiritual armor in those times, "having done all, [ we can only ] stand" (Ephesians 6:13). But stand how? While tempted to stand in fear, the Bible encourages us to stand in faith in the One who can do what we cannot.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/XfNa1zwXd1A1 ]
King Jehoshaphat of Judah found himself in such a situation when neighboring kings banded together against him. His army was vastly outnumbered, so he did the only thing he could do. He stood in faith rather than fear. In prayer, before all the people, he called upon God to defend His own name. His final confession was brutally honest: "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You."
If you find that you have done everything you know to do and the crisis is not yet solved, stand in faith. God is faithful and true. Confess your inability and His ability, and keep your eyes on Him.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Muller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Samuel 23-24 [ http://iz3.me/afNa1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, April 9
Only a Cat's Paw
If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:13-15 [ http://iz3.me/tvXa1zwXd1A1 ]
When missionary J. Hudson Taylor was conducting services aboard a ship one Sunday, he noticed the captain looked troubled. A contrary wind was bearing the ship toward a dangerous reef. As the course grew more perilous, the captain said, "Well, we have done everything that can be done."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/uvXa1zwXd1A1 ]
"No," said Taylor, "there is one thing we have not yet done. Four of us onboard are Christians. Let us each retire to his own cabin, and in agreed prayer ask the Lord to give us immediately a breeze." After a brief time in prayer, Taylor returned to the deck and told the first officer, a godless man, to let down the mainsail. With an oath the man did so, and a slight breeze caught it. "It's only a cat's paw," said the sailor, meaning a mere puff of wind. But it became a sustained breeze that pushed the ship back into its desired course.
Our prayers are strengthened when we know God is listening and that He is faithful. While we always say, "Your will be done," we must never lack confidence that He hears, answers, and keeps us on the right course.
You must go forward on your knees.
J. Hudson Taylor
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 1-2 [ http://iz3.me/vvXa1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, April 10
The King Eternal
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:8-14 [ http://iz3.me/DJka1zwXd1A1 ]
There are two eternities in 1 Timothy 1:17. There is a King who reigns eternally; and there is praise that greets Him forever and ever. Because God is eternal, His praise is everlasting.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/EJka1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the reasons God promises us eternal life is so we can render everlasting praise. The Bible says, "Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Psalm 90:2). The cry of the holy ones in heaven is: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13)
If Christians only think in terms of time, our lives are miserable. The Bible says that without the reality of the resurrection and its ensuring eternal life, we are the most pitiful of people (1 Corinthians 15:19). But Christ has risen from the dead! The Day of the Lord is coming. Eternity is our inheritance. As we better contemplate the nature of our eternal King, we'll better cope with the tensions of time. Since we're going to praise Him forever, why not begin now? Why not start living with eternity in view!
We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 3-5 [ http://iz3.me/FJka1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, April 11
What God Knows
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure."
Isaiah 46:10
Recommended Reading
Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13 [ http://iz3.me/DUta1zwXd1A1 ]
An obscure literary figure of speech, called merism, occurs often in Scripture. A merism is the use of two contrasting words to refer to something in its entirety. For example, if we say, "He searched high and low," we are really saying, "He searched everywhere." Or if we say, like the psalmist, "You know my sitting down and my rising up" (Psalm 139:2), we would be saying that God knows everything about us. That's what God meant when He said, through Isaiah, that He declared "the end from the beginning." That is, God knows everything "from A to Z" about everything! He knows A, He knows Z, and everything in between.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/EUta1zwXd1A1 ]
God employed merism to describe Himself. Christ called Himself "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," and then explained the figure of speech: "Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). Christ is eternal and His knowledge is complete.
There is nothing God doesn't know about your life. You may know the past and present, but God also knows the future. Choose today to walk securely -- not in what you know, but in what you believe.
God knows what He is going to make of us.
James M. Boice
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 6-7 [ http://iz3.me/FUta1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, April 12 & 13
Page Turners! Jesus' Temptation
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
Matthew 9:35a
Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/Dp3b1zwXd1A1 ]
Will the family survive the flood? Will the jury declare the innocent man not guilty? Will the mistreated wife forgive her husband? Will the rescue party find the lost hiker? When everything hangs in the balance -- when everything depends on a moment in time -- we can't put the story down until we know how it ends.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/Ep3b1zwXd1A1 ]
Too many people read the story of Jesus' temptation by Satan as just another event without realizing it was a crisis situation. It was all about why Paul referred to Jesus as "the last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45). As the last Adam, Jesus came to restore all that the first Adam had lost through sin. But in order to reverse Adam's failure, Jesus had to be tempted like the first Adam was. The last Adam had to obey God in the wilderness in order to reverse what the first Adam gave up in the Garden. The kingdom of God was hanging in the balance. Fortunately, Jesus remained true to the Father and established the authority of God's kingdom on earth.
Every moment of temptation in our lives is a crisis moment. Purpose today to be true to your kingdom calling.
Before we can pray, "Thy kingdom come," we must be willing to pray, "My kingdom go."
Alan Redpath
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 8-12 [ http://iz3.me/Fp3b1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, April 14
No Credibility Gaps
.... being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:21
Recommended Reading
Romans 4:16-25 [ http://iz3.me/Me6b1zwXd1A1 ]
Several years ago when a particular United States governor was caught breaking an oft-repeated campaign promise, he explained that his prior words were simply "political statements" that had to be adjusted with changing circumstances. He was adopting the philosophy of Machiavelli, the prince of politicians, who said, "The promise given was a necessity of the past; the word broken is the necessity of the present." Promise breaking seems to be standard operating procedure for many of today's politicians. Still, we somehow expect our leaders to keep their promises; and when they break them, it creates a credibility gap with those they govern.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Ne6b1zwXd1A1 ]
God is different. His promises are sure. No matter how many promises He has made, each one is more certain than the sunrise, more enduring than the highest mountain, more abiding than the deepest sea.
When Abraham believed the promises of God, it was credited to him as righteousness. Whenever in a time of doubt or darkness we find a promise in Scripture and cling to it in faith, God is pleased. He is faithful. He will always do as He has said.
We break our promises to one another. We break our promises to God. But God never breaks His promises to us.
R. C. Sproul, in The Promises of God
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 13-15 [ http://iz3.me/Oe6b1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, April 15
Abide With Me
My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass. But You, O Lord, shall endure forever.
Psalm 102:11-12
Recommended Reading
Psalm 102:8-17 [ http://iz3.me/hvFb1zwXd1A1 ]
When you see a butterfly with its beautiful wings fluttering around your yard or park, you might wonder about its longevity. It has a one-month lifespan. Alligators live about 50 years. There are whales swimming in the oceans that carry around ivory points of spears flung at them 200 years ago. A giant tortoise can celebrate 250 birthdays. The Antarctic Sponge has a lifespan of 1500 years. And there is a species of jellyfish said to be virtually immortal. When it grows old it has the ability to cycle back to an immature stage and start all over again.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ivFb1zwXd1A1 ]
Yet time passes, everything decays, and except for the reality of God, the entire universe will one day burn out, die out, and fade to blackness.
Except for the reality of God. The psalmist said, "But You, O Lord, shall endure forever." God is our constant in a changing world. He is our stability in unstable times. You can anchor your soul on Him, the Rock that abides forever. He died to give us eternal life, and He lives to prepare our eternal home. You can forever abide in Him who changes not.
Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
Henry Lyte, in the hymn "Abide With Me."
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 16-18 [ http://iz3.me/jvFb1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, April 16
The Fatigue Factor
I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Job 42:2
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 40:27-31 [ http://iz3.me/DvPb1zwXd1A1 ]
The word "fatigue" frequently shows up in the headlines, preceded by a host of adjectives. Congress suffers budget fatigue. Sports teams lose because of travel fatigue. Trains derail because of driver fatigue. Soldiers face battle fatigue. Ministries go unfunded because of donor fatigue. There was even a report recently about young people suffering Facebook fatigue. All these reports -- and more -- are accurate. We are a society of tired people in a tired world.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/EvPb1zwXd1A1 ]
But God isn't tired. "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary" (Isaiah 40:28). Since God possesses all the power in the universe, He can do anything He chooses. He can do everything as easily as He does anything. Nothing is more difficult for God than anything else; He does all things with the same amount of ease. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is remotely hard for Him. He never grows tired.
The Bible repeatedly reassures us of God's strengthening grace. So take care of yourself, avoid unnecessary weariness, rest in Him, and draw from His strength.
The same God who built a 100,000-mile ring around Saturn also made the tiny feather of a humming bird. He can do anything; His power is unlimited.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 19-20 [ http://iz3.me/FvPb1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, April 17
The Power of Jesus' Name
Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 2:11
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:5-11 [ http://iz3.me/o6cb1zwXd1A1 ]
In his 1875 book on the history of hymns, Edwin Long tells of a missionary in India named Reverend E. P. Scott who determined to reach a dangerous tribe with the Gospel. His friends sought to dissuade him, saying, "We will never see you again." He said, "But I must carry Jesus to them." Traveling through the area, Scott found himself surrounded by warriors brandishing spears pointed at his chest. The missionary, expecting to die, quietly extracted his violin from its case, closed his eyes, and decided to die singing "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/p6cb1zwXd1A1 ]
The expected attack didn't come. On the third verse ("Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball..."), Scott opened his eyes to see the spears lowered and tears in the eyes of the warriors. Reverend Scott went on to devote years of labor to evangelizing this tribe.
The power of the Lord Jesus exceeds all the dangers and demands of earth. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and no prayer too hard to answer. Praise Him today for His power, find strength in His omnipotence, and crown Him Lord of all.
All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Edward Perronet
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Kings 21-22 [ http://iz3.me/q6cb1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, April 19 & 20
Page Turners! Facing the Giants
Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.
Numbers 14:9
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 1:19-31 [ http://iz3.me/inqb1zwXd1A1 ]
When first graders start grammar school, and ninth graders start high school, they can feel like grasshoppers in a land of giants. Everything seems bigger and scarier. While things normally turn out okay, for one group of "new students," they didn't.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/jnqb1zwXd1A1 ]
When Moses sent the 12 spies from Kadesh into Canaan to spy out the land, 10 of the 12 returned shaking in their sandals because of the giants in the land. They told Moses they would never be able to conquer such people and their walled cities. Their fear spread throughout the assembled nation and they were forced to spend their lives wandering in the wilderness. But when Jesus commissioned His apostles to go throughout the world to preach the Gospel to people who might be opposed, they obeyed wholeheartedly in spite of "giants" in the land.
By the Holy Spirit, God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Don't worry about the assignments God gives you. We've read this page-turner and know that we win in the end!
When a man makes alliance with the Almighty, giants look like grasshoppers.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 4-8 [ http://iz3.me/knqb1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, April 21
Staying Cheerful in an Evil World
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Recommended Reading
John 16:25-33 [ http://iz3.me/eLtb1zwXd1A1 ]
Recently Britain's Prince Charles added his voice to those alarmed about the dramatic increase of violence against Christians. He warned that Islamic militants are deliberately targeting Christians in parts of the Middle East and seeking to wipe out the followers of Christ in Arab lands. It's true, but that's not the half of it. The crisis is global. Christians are the most persecuted group in the world today -- with millions facing pressure, danger, and death because of their faith. One expert called Christian persecution a worldwide human rights disaster of epic proportions.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/fLtb1zwXd1A1 ]
When we see the violence against believers escalating, and the Western world becoming increasingly secularized and given over to sin, we can grow discouraged.
According to Jesus, discouragement isn't the correct response. We should maintain our cheerfulness, knowing He is in control. "In the world you will have tribulation," He said, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
From Genesis to Revelation, here's the central message: God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, the Triune God is in control of all things, period.
Charles Stanley, in God Is in Control
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 9-10 [ http://iz3.me/gLtb1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, April 22
Were They Wise...
He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45
Recommended Reading
Matthew 5:38-48 [ http://iz3.me/Ed3c1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus told us to treat people as kindly as we can, for that emulates our heavenly Father. He shares His sun with everyone whether they are good or evil; and He waters the fields of both the righteous farmer and the ungodly landowner.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Fd3c1zwXd1A1 ]
Were they wise, people everywhere would look to the sky, see the beauty of the sunrise, feel the refreshing drops of replenishing rains, watch the migration of the birds, and praise God for the genius of His creation.
Were they wise, secularists and atheists and skeptics would notice the brilliance of the stellar heavens and their self-evident intelligent design, and they would praise the God of the stars. Were they wise, all the hedonistic, self-absorbed people on earth would pause to thank God for their pulsing hearts and breathing lungs and incredible brains.
The evidence of God's goodness is everywhere to be seen. Some people are blind to it, but they're the ones most needing our kindness. Let's praise God for His power, and let's share His compassion today even with those who don't believe in it.
Does your love to Him ring true? And your life and service, too? Can the world see Jesus in you?
Leila N. Morris, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 11-13 [ http://iz3.me/Gd3c1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, April 23
One Would Think...
Consider the lilies...
Matthew 6:28
Recommended Reading
Matthew 6:25-34 [ http://iz3.me/73Ec1zwXd1A1 ]
In her book, God of All Comfort, devotional writer Hannah Whitall Smith said, "The Lord assures us that we need not be anxious about anything, but may commit all our cares to Him; for He careth for us. We are all familiar with the passages where He tells us to 'behold the fowls of the air,' and to 'consider the lilies of the field' and assures us that we are of much more value than they, and that, if He cares for them He will much more care for us. One would think there was comfort enough here for every care or sorrow all the wide world over. To have God assume our cares and our burdens and carry them for us; the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, who can control everything, and foresee everything, and consequently can manage everything in the best possible way, to have Him declare that He will undertake for us; what could possibly be of greater comfort?"
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/83Ec1zwXd1A1 ]
But, said Smith, we often don't enjoy God's comfort because we doubt the power of His promises.
Take God at His Word today. Today, know He cares for you.
If we want to be comforted, we must make up our minds to believe every single solitary word of comfort God has ever spoken.
Hannah Whitall Smith, in God of All Comfort
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 14-16 [ http://iz3.me/93Ec1zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, April 24
The Preeminent One
By Him all things were created ... that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:16-18
Recommended Reading
Colossians 1:15-18 [ http://iz3.me/TgNc1zwXd1A1 ]
Recently the website Wikipedia released a report based on its research and analysis listing the ten most influential people in human history. Who tops the list? It's Jesus Christ, of course; followed by Napoleon Bonaparte, William Shakespeare, Muhammad, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, and Thomas Jefferson.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/UgNc1zwXd1A1 ]
It's undoubtedly true that Jesus of Nazareth is the most influential person who ever lived. But here's what's wrong with the list. The Lord Jesus Christ is in a class all by Himself; there are no competitors, no rivals; He is unique. He is Lord of all. He is King of kings, Lord of lords, the image of the invisible God. He is Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Preeminent One.
That's wonderful to contemplate. We'd be in sad shape if we had to worship Napoleon or some other name on that list. We don't pray to Shakespeare. We may admire Washington and Lincoln, but they can't give abundant life. There is only one Jesus, and He alone guides our steps, receives our worship, and gives us everlasting hope. He alone is preeminent.
He is preeminent in creation because He is the Creator. He is preeminent in redemption for He is the Redeemer. He is preeminent in the church because He is the One who gave Himself for the church.
J. Vernon McGee, in Thru the Bible: Colossians
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 17-18 [ http://iz3.me/VgNc1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, April 26 & 27
Page Turners! Saved From Doomsday
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Revelation 19:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 16:16-21 [ http://iz3.me/R7ic1zwXd1A1 ]
The late Tom Clancy defined the military-thriller-doomsday genre. Almost all of his twenty novels were bestsellers, and many were made into movies. In all of his novels, the future of the world hangs by a thread as a nuclear, terrorist, military, or other scenario unfolds -- narrowly averted by one of his heroic main characters.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/S7ic1zwXd1A1 ]
A bigger conflagration than Tom Clancy ever wrote about is coming -- and it is anything but fiction. The Bible says that at the end of the age, the nations of the world, led by the Antichrist, will be united in their goal to destroy Israel. Just as they are about to unleash their destruction, the heavens will part and Jesus Christ will return to save Israel, destroy the Antichrist's armies, and judge the nations. It will not be the first time Israel has been saved from a doomsday scenario, but it will be the last: "And so all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26).
Life is filled with close encounters. But God's promises govern them all. Never forget that God's plan to conform you to the image of Christ is inviolable (Romans 8:28-29).
Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Kings 22–25 [ http://iz3.me/T7ic1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, April 28
His Way
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:18
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 8:18-20 [ http://iz3.me/alkc1zwXd1A1 ]
One day while vacationing in the south of France, singer Paul Anka heard a song titled "Comme d'habitude." He flew to Paris to negotiate the rights to translate and record it in English. Back in New York, Anka sat down late at night and began writing his version on an old electric typewriter. He had only one soloist in mind -- Frank Sinatra. Anka composed the lyrics as he thought Sinatra would have written them if he were dying: "The end is near ... I've lived a life that's full ... I've done it my way." It became one of Sinatra's greatest hits: "My Way!"
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/blkc1zwXd1A1 ]
As our culture has advanced in entertainment, technology, science, and education, a humanist philosophy has overtaken our hearts. People want to do things their way, take all the credit, and live as though God has little to do with everyday life. Like the people of Babel, we want to make a name for ourselves with no thought of God.
But it's God who gives us the ability to do things, even to gain wealth; and we must remember that what we do is only successful when we do it -- His Way.
God's way is still the best way.
Zig Ziglar, in his book by that title
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 1-2 [ http://iz3.me/clkc1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, April 29
The Heavens Declare
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
Psalm 14:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 14 [ http://iz3.me/D8tc1zwXd1A1 ]
Physicist Tony Rothman wrote an article for Discovery Magazine discussing the problem secular scientists face with the complexity of the universe and the remarkable scientific laws and fine-tuning of the cosmos. "When confronted with the order and beauty of the universe and the strange coincidences of nature," he wrote, "it's very tempting to take the leap of faith from science into religion. I am sure many physicists want to. I only wish they would admit it."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/E8tc1zwXd1A1 ]
Acknowledging the creative power of God isn't really a leap of faith; it's obvious for those who are honest and objective. Psalm 19 says (in The Message): "God's glory is on a tour in the skies.... Madame Day holds classes each morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren't heard ... but their... unspoken truth is spoken everywhere."
The universe is filled with the evidence of God's greatness. In awesome wonder we can consider the worlds He has made. When we see His stars and hear His rolling thunder, we can praise Him. We can say with the writer of Psalm 104: "O Lord my God, You are very great."
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee: How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Stuart K. Hine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 3-4 [ http://iz3.me/F8tc1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, April 30
Hide & Seek
"Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:24
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:7-12 [ http://iz3.me/Ks4d1zwXd1A1 ]
When we try to hide from God, we are like small children hiding in plain view. We may think we are hidden, but God sees us. The thought of God's omnipresence can either be comforting or frightening.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Ls4d1zwXd1A1 ]
It's easy to forget that God is everywhere. Adam and Eve sought to hide from God. Jonah hoped to sail away from God and His plan. Each of them learned firsthand that it is impossible to evade God. God is unlimited and infinite with respect to time; He is eternal. God is unlimited and unaffected by space; He is present everywhere at the same time.
While God's presence is frightening when we are trying to continue in sin, His constant presence can be a deep comfort for those who follow Him. His forgiveness, grace, and mercy are as constant as His presence. We no longer need to fear challenges, difficulty, or even death because He is with us and has promised to remain with us. Even if we fight against or ignore God's glory and presence, we cannot diminish them.
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, "darkness" on the wall of his cell.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 5-6 [ http://iz3.me/Ms4d1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, May 1
Eternal Love
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
1 John 4:16a
Recommended Reading
1 John 4:7-19 [ http://iz3.me/FgEd1zwXd1A1 ]
The evidence of God's love has existed since the beginning of the world. When God created man, He gave him a beautiful garden, a companion, and a purpose. Instead of withdrawing from the world after its creation, God remained involved. Even after Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the Garden of Eden, God did not abandon them.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/HgEd1zwXd1A1 ]
We are sometimes tempted to believe the lie that God does not love us. Thankfully the Bible is filled with evidence that this is not true. We see God's love illustrated through the prophets. Their inspired message proclaimed God's desire for fellowship and intimacy with His people, despite the people's unfaithfulness. When Jesus came to earth, He loved the unlovable, healed the sick, and gave generously of Himself and His resources. Perhaps the most poignant picture of God's love is the cross. Jesus suffered so that we could have forgiveness, life, and restored fellowship with God.
We have been given the gift of life. The intricacy and wonder of creation reveal a God who cares about details and leaves nothing to chance. He created you. He loves you. When you feel distant from God, remember that He wants to be involved in the details of your life. He is with you.
Love, not anger, brought Jesus to the cross. Golgotha came as a result of God's great desire to forgive, not His reluctance.
Richard J. Foster
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 7-9 [ http://iz3.me/IgEd1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, May 2
A Serious Offer
He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 7:27
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 7:20-28 [ http://iz3.me/3TPd1zwXd1A1 ]
Everyone on earth is looking for a serious offer. World-class athletes wait for a "serious offer" before committing to a team. Homeowners want a "serious offer" before selling their house. The White House and Congress spar over whether the other is making a "serious offer" in budget negotiations. Financiers avoid wasting their time with those who aren't ready to make a "serious offer."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/4TPd1zwXd1A1 ]
The most serious offer in history is the one made by Jesus Christ, who offered up Himself as an offering for sin. He offers us eternal life, and it's an offer for the taking. He offers us forgiveness. He offers friendship with God. He offers a meaningful life of purpose and peace. He offers an eternal home in heaven. John Wesley once preached: "The case is this: God offers you one of the greatest mercies on this side of heaven and commands you to accept it. Why do you not accept this mercy in obedience to His command.... God offers you a pardon for all your sins."
That's a serious offer. That's an offer you can't refuse.
A full relationship is what God offers to those who come to God by Jesus. Imagine this! An open invitation to become a member of the royal family and a joint-heir with the Son of God.
R. T. Kendall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 10-12 [ http://iz3.me/5TPd1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, May 3 & 4
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Worship
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.
Revelation 4:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 4:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/nmXd1zwXd1A1 ]
Worship is God's way of giving us an opportunity to shift our focus from our own concerns, problems, and circumstances to the way things are in heaven. Constant worship is happening right now around the throne in New Jerusalem. Angels are praising. Choirs are singing. Lightning is flashing. Thunder is rolling. Saints are rejoicing. Citizens of heaven -- both saints and angels -- are coming and going in a constant procession up and down the golden streets, to and from the throne of God.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/omXd1zwXd1A1 ]
As we read Revelation 4 and 5, we're peering through an open scriptural door into the heart of the Celestial City, glimpsing a worship service now in progress in heaven. The scene is described in Revelation 4:6: "Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal." All around the throne the song is rising: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)
One day we'll be part of that heavenly choir, but for now we still have the opportunity of joining in -- whenever we board the ship of worship.
Join in a song with sweet accord, and thus surround the throne.
Isaac Watts
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 13-19 [ http://iz3.me/pmXd1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, May 5
What's in a Name?
Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His."
Daniel 2:20
Recommended Reading
Exodus 3:13-14 [ http://iz3.me/Rrcd1zwXd1A1 ]
Many English surnames reflect an object or occupation: Smith, Wright, Butcher, Baker, Cooper, Barker, Butler, Mason, Marshall, Miller, Bell, Cook, and more. Throughout history, names have been associated with something about the person -- for example, Jesus' name Immanuel (Matthew 1:23): God with us (im = with, anu = us, el = God in Hebrew).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Srcd1zwXd1A1 ]
God Himself is known by many names in Scripture, each revealing something about Him. "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), is the name God told Moses to use when revealing Him to the Israelites. It is based on the Hebrew verb "to be" -- and God had just told Moses, "I will certainly be with you" (verse 12). Not only was "I AM" a definitive statement of God's existence, it was a promise of His being with Moses and Israel. God was also known as El Elohe (strong, dominant; Genesis 33:20), El Elyon (God Most High; Genesis 14:19), El Shaddai (God Almighty; Exodus 6:3), Holy One of Israel (Psalm 78:41), and many others like Healer, Provider, and Deliverer.
Names can be a doorway into knowing who a person is, and that is certainly true of God. A study of His names is a study of who He is and will be for you.
To know God's name is to know something of His nature.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 20-23 [ http://iz3.me/Trcd1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, May 6
God the Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 23:1-4 [ http://iz3.me/Vsld1zwXd1A1 ]
Ancient images of the Egyptian god Osiris, the god of the afterlife, show him holding a shepherd's crook in his right hand. But in his left hand is a whip. One hand for shepherding and one hand for punishing. Fast forward to modern Christian traditions: In liturgical churches, bishops still carry the crosier, or shepherd's staff, but it is carried in the left hand. The right hand remains empty, free to reach out and bestow blessings. One hand for guiding and protecting, the other hand for blessing.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Wsld1zwXd1A1 ]
The pastoral staff with the hook on the end has been the shepherd's symbol in all cultures for thousands of years. It has become an iconic image in Christian tradition primarily because of Psalm 23 where David declares that God is his shepherd. He even portrays God as protector and "blesser" -- the shepherd's staff in one hand comforts him (verse 4), while the other hand anoints his head with oil for blessing and healing (verse 5). Jesus completed the image of God as shepherd when He called Himself "the good shepherd" who knows His sheep (John 10:14).
Protection in one hand, blessing in the other. No sheep in God's flock could ask for more.
For some of us, our greatest ability seems to be the ability for getting away from the Shepherd.
Geoffrey King
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 24-26 [ http://iz3.me/Xsld1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, May 7
Asking for Help
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:7-8 [ http://iz3.me/0Jwd1zwXd1A1 ]
One of life's hardest moments is when we have to ask for help. Maybe it's at work and we dread having to knock on the boss's door. Maybe we're a child and we've done something of which we know our parents disapprove. Or maybe we've gotten ourselves into a mess of our own making -- we're embarrassed and ashamed. Any of those situations could create apprehension if we are approaching another human being for help. Not so with God. We can know ahead of time how He will respond.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/3Jwd1zwXd1A1 ]
James 1:2-8 is a classic text in Scripture on how to respond to trials in our life. Part of the instruction has to do with our response -- patiently let the trial (test) produce its result of maturity. But the other part of the instruction is to ask God for help (wisdom). We are told three things: First, God will respond liberally, or generously; He will not withhold help in order to "pay us back." Second, He will respond "without reproach"; we will not be made to feel bad or guilty for asking. And third, He will give the wisdom we need.
If you are at a hard place in life, hesitant to ask for help, God invites you to ask Him so He can meet your need.
We dare not limit God in our asking, nor in His answering.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Chronicles 27-29 [ http://iz3.me/4Jwd1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, May 8
Trials and Obedience
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Psalm 119:67
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:3-5 [ http://iz3.me/IC9e1zwXd1A1 ]
A little boy, in trouble with his mother, decided to run away from home. He took off down the sidewalk on his tricycle and a neighbor soon observed him coming past every 10 or 15 minutes. So the neighbor stopped the little guy: "Billy, why are you going around and around the block on your trike?" "I'm running away from home," Billy said, "but I'm not allowed to cross the street by myself."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/JC9e1zwXd1A1 ]
That's a curious blend of trouble and obedience -- two realities we don't often link together. Sometimes we find ourselves suffering because we were disobedient. But never is obedience needed more than when we are in the midst of a trial. Happily, trials can have the positive effect of refocusing our attention on God and His Word. As the psalmist wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word." Part of obedience is simply trusting Him in the midst of trouble so the intended result -- spiritual maturity -- can be realized (James 1:4). Trials move us farther in an obedient direction toward maturity.
If you are hurting for any reason, focus on obedience in order to realize God's purpose and blessing.
None of us can come to the highest maturity without enduring the summer heat of trials.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/KC9e1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, May 9
God's Antidote for Sinning
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/AQIe1zwXd1A1 ]
"When I find myself assailed by temptation," Martin Luther wrote in his Table Talk, "I forthwith lay hold of some text of the Bible, which Jesus extends to me."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/BQIe1zwXd1A1 ]
Luther knew, as we do, that the Bible is our greatest weapon in fighting temptation, for every temptation comes to us via our thoughts. When we lay hold of the texts of the Bible, we're arming our minds for battle. The best way to fight the temptation of lust is memorizing verses about purity. The finest way to combat greed is by learning verses about stewardship. The strongest antidote to a hot temper is memorizing verses about anger and about patience. The best way to combat depression is learning some of the joy texts of Scripture.
Dwight L. Moody said, "The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible." Don't let sin keep you from the Word of God. If you're under siege today, spend some time with an open Bible, list a handful of verses to help you, and begin committing them to memory. Hide God's Word in your heart.
All the great temptations appear first in the region of the mind and can be fought and conquered there.
Amy Carmichael
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 5-7 [ http://iz3.me/CQIe1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, May 10 & 11
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Stewardship
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 4:7-11 [ http://iz3.me/NIRe1zwXd1A1 ]
If you've taken a cruise, you know the value of a good steward, someone who tends to your comfort. The steward keeps your cabin clean, makes your bed, provides fresh linen, replaces needed supplies, and arranges your towels into animal designs. The title "steward" comes from an Old English word for someone who oversees the house or hall of another.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/OIRe1zwXd1A1 ]
In Christian terminology, it's common for believers to think of themselves as stewards. We're sailing through the solar system on the good ship Earth, and we feel so at home here we can almost think it belongs to us. But it's not our ship; it belongs to the Owner. We're placed on board to care for what belongs to Him, and that often means serving others.
As stewards, we acknowledge that nothing really belongs to us. Whether our houses or homes, our gifts or talents, our opportunities or time -- we're simply servants. Stewardship provides an opportunity to keep things in perspective as we serve the Captain of the ship and our fellow passengers until we reach the heavenly harbor.
The first requisite of stewardship is to give ourselves to God. Thus, a logical recognition of God's absolute ownership should follow.
Stephen F. Olford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 8-16 [ http://iz3.me/PIRe1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, May 12
The Source of Sin
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
James 1:14
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:8-9 [ http://iz3.me/5wTe1zwXd1A1 ]
In October 2009, in the African nation of Niger, a man and his two adult sons were arrested for a horrific crime against a fellow countryman. When interviewed by police, one of the sons said, "God tempted me, and I succumbed to the temptation."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/7wTe1zwXd1A1 ]
According to James, the accused man's account of events is false: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone" (James 1:13). If temptation does not come from God, what is its source? James continues: "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (verse 14). So temptation is a response to desires that originate in our fallen human nature -- desires contrary to God's. If we yield to those desires, sin is the result: "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin" (verse 15a). Desires may arise unbidden in the human heart, but they do not have to be entertained.
To avoid sin, avoid temptation. To avoid temptation, meditate on that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy, and of good report (Philippians 4:8-9).
We cannot prevent a bird from flying into our hair, but we can prevent it from building a nest there.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 17-20 [ http://iz3.me/8wTe1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, May 13
A Heart to Hear
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, ""Here am I! Send me."
Isaiah 6:8
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:8-9 [ http://iz3.me/Koee1zwXd1A1 ]
The British teacher Oswald Chambers points out something unique about Isaiah's call from God: "God did not direct His call to Isaiah -- Isaiah overheard God saying, 'who will go for Us?'"
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Loee1zwXd1A1 ]
Somehow, Isaiah overheard the counsel of God concerning a need for someone to prophesy to Israel. God didn't say, "Isaiah, go for Me." Instead, Isaiah heard the need and recognized it as something God had prepared him to do. Thus his response, "Here am I! Send me."1 A willing heart is the first step in finding God's will in our lives. We cannot expect God to force us or to plead with us about the calling in our lives. In Mark 1:17 Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Their response? "They immediately left their nets and followed Him" (Mark 1:18). Willingness, openness, receptivity, a listening heart -- these are the prerequisites for determining the call of God.
If you want to serve God, immerse yourself in prayer and Bible study with a heart that is ready to hear what you know you must do.
I can say from experience that 95 percent of knowing the will of God consists in being prepared to do it before you know what it is.
Donald Grey Barnhouse
1 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 14 reading.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 17-20 [ http://iz3.me/Moee1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, May 14
Swift to Hear
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
James 1:19
Recommended Reading
James 1:19-27 [ http://iz3.me/6uoe1zwXd1A1 ]
The Huffington Post carried an article on the five skills of good listeners: "They give special attention to the one speaking, they listen without being judgmental or reacting too soon, they discern where the speaker is coming from, they interrupt sparingly, and they respond with understanding."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/7uoe1zwXd1A1 ]
Apply those principles to listening to God's Word. Picking up our Bibles, we should give God our full attention, withhold our opinion until we understand what He is saying, listen without interrupting, and respond with understanding and obedience.
When James said, "Be quick to hear," he wasn't just talking about listening to each other. The verses that follow speak of being quick to listen to the Lord: "Let every man be swift to hear ... and receive with meekness the implanted word ... Be doers of the word, and not hearers only ... He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it ... will be blessed in what he does." Let's be quick to listen, swift to believe, and eager to obey!
Read the Bible with reverence. Think, every line you read, God is speaking to you.
Thomas Watson, Puritan, in A Body of Practical Divinity
1 Roya R. Rad, "5 Skills of Good Listeners," The Huffington Post, December 23, 2013.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 25-28 [ http://iz3.me/8uoe1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, May 15
Cold Love
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12
Recommended Reading
John 13:31-35 [ http://iz3.me/aoxe1zwXd1A1 ]
Last winter when arctic blasts sent much of America into a deep freeze, a pizza store near Pittsburgh sent its delivery trucks to deliver prescriptions to ill and elderly residents. People across the eastern side of Pittsburgh called the shop's number to arrange for their medications. And, no, they didn't have to order a pizza. There were no strings attached. The owner told local media outlets, "You just have to be there for your residents."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/boxe1zwXd1A1 ]
Six times in the Upper Room on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus used the phrase "one another." He told the disciples to wash one another's feet and to love one another. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." He said. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:14, 34-35; 15:12, 17).
That means we have to be there for others, no strings attached. If an arctic chill has blown into one of your relationships, rededicate yourself to loving that person today as you should, and so prove to be our Lord's disciple. On cold days we can warm others by our love.
Not everyone is your brother or sister in the faith, but everyone is your neighbor, and you must love your neighbor.
Timothy Keller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 29-31 [ http://iz3.me/doxe1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, May 16
Into the Sewer
Behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him.
Matthew 9:10
Recommended Reading
Matthew 9:9-13 [ http://iz3.me/98Af1zwXd1A1 ]
Viewers of the local news in Phoenix earlier this year saw a shirtless fellow being interviewed and hailed a hero. He had helped rescue a toddler who had fallen through the covering of a septic tank. The little girl, while walking with her mother, had stepped on the lid of the tank, causing it to buckle and sending her into the foul pool below. The twenty-eight year old man jumped in after her, thinking nothing of the muck that swallowed him up. After the girl was rescued and revived, reporters discovered the hero was an ex-convict, two weeks out of prison. "I would have done it for anyone," said the man. "I have a son too."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/B8Af1zwXd1A1 ]
Everyone we meet is a hero waiting to happen. When Jesus saw people, He envisioned their potential. No respecter of persons, He associated with people from all walks of life.
Beware the sin of looking down on those for whom Christ died. After all, He plunged into the sewage of a sinful world to save the likes of you and me. We, in turn, can share His grace with those who need it most.
He stated His message boldly and forcefully, without compromise, whether He was speaking to the lowest outcast of society or a member of the Pharisee elite. Jesus was no respecter of persons.
Michael Youssef
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 32-34 [ http://iz3.me/D8Af1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, May 17 & 18
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Fellowship
If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.
1 John 1:7
Recommended Reading
1 John 1:5-10 [ http://iz3.me/4KIf1zwXd1A1 ]
Hank Williams dropped out of school to pursue his dream of being a country music star, but he ran into problems with alcoholism. He married Audrey Sheppard at a gas station in Alabama. But when the marriage hit the rocks, Audrey threw Hank out of the house. Fueled by heartache, Williams wrote the song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Shortly afterward he died at age 29 in the back of his Cadillac en route to a performance. His songs of loneliness and heartache made him an American icon, for somehow his plaintive melodies touched the hearts of those who are so lonely they could cry.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/5KIf1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible has a one-word answer for loneliness: Fellowship. That's our opportunity to be best friends with the Lord and part of His worldwide family. It's the divine answer.
If you feel so lonely you could cry, take the focus off yourself. Think of how much God loves you, and find another person whom you can serve today. When we see the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.
People need fellowship, and it is God's will that they should have it.
James Montgomery Boice
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 35-36, Ezra 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/6KIf1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, May 19
Saying Versus Showing
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:18
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:8-10 [ http://iz3.me/CbLf1zwXd1A1 ]
History is filled with people claiming to have seen "Bigfoot," "Sasquatch," or the "Abominable Snowman." A recent claim to make the news was from a man in Michigan who claims to have seen Bigfoot many times over the years. He puts out boxes of pizza at night and finds the torn, empty boxes in the morning. (No explanation is given as to why he hasn't set up a video camera to record the visitations.)
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/DbLf1zwXd1A1 ]
There is a central conflict in all the claims of sightings: verbal claims as opposed to visual evidence. We are asked to take the word of someone without verifiable evidence to back up the claim. That conflict exists in Christian spirituality as well: the profession of faith versus the demonstration of faith. And when it comes to Christian faith, both are important. The apostle James wrote a lengthy section of his letter on this subject (James 2:14-26). In short, he said, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (verse 17).
No one is saved by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but every Christian has been saved for good works (verse 10).
We must come to good works by faith, and not to faith by good works.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 5-7 [ http://iz3.me/EbLf1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, May 20
Blessed to Be a Blessing
And [ if ] one of you says to [ a believer in need ], "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
James 2:16
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/swVf1zwXd1A1 ]
A grieving Canadian widower was dining alone in a restaurant for the first time since burying his wife of 43 years. Seated nearby was a young couple who reminded him of the love he and his wife had shared. He quietly gave the restaurant money to cover the couple's meal and wrote them a note on a napkin. He thanked them for the memories they evoked, related a bit of his own situation, and wished them well in their lives.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/twVf1zwXd1A1 ]
He could have enjoyed the memories alone. He could have stopped by their table and greeted them. But he went a step further -- he took money from his pocket to bless a couple of strangers with a meal and encourage them in their lives. Opportunities to be a blessing to others are fleeting and should be grasped. Wishing someone well is one thing; taking steps to ensure they are blessed is another -- especially when they have a need that we can meet. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others (1 Peter 3:9).
Commit yourself now to be a blessing to others today. When that fleeting opportunity appears, you will be ready.
Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.
Frederick W. Faber
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezra 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/uwVf1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, May 21
Powerful Words
Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
Genesis 1:3
Recommended Reading
James 3:1-12 [ http://iz3.me/uSif1zwXd1A1 ]
In the beginning God spoke and it was. His words created something out of nothing. While our words are not as powerful as God's, Proverbs declares that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (18:21a). Once we accept the power of our words, we must decide on their purpose.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/vSif1zwXd1A1 ]
Words can be as useful as a strong horse ploughing a field or a spark used to start a warm fire on a winter night. They can also rage uncontrollably, destroying what lies in their path. Caring words of support create a safe and intimate friendship. Truthful words spoken in love can offer a friend the opportunity to grow, but spiteful words destroy friendships, and vindictive truth discourages the hearer instead of inspiring them to grow.
Within seconds thoughts become words that slip off our tongue and into the world. Pausing before we speak may seem cumbersome, but it allows us to decide: Is this helpful? Does this need to be said now? What is the best way to say this?
Our words reveal what we care about and they influence others. Is there someone you can encourage today?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/wSif1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, May 22
The Antidote
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:13-14
Recommended Reading
1 John 3:16-23 [ http://iz3.me/aWsf1zwXd1A1 ]
We avoid sickness. When an item at the grocery store is recalled or we hear of a friend getting food poisoning from a local restaurant, we avoid the culprits of the disease. If only we were this cautious when it came to our words. Words may seem fragile and weightless, but the truth is that they can harm both the speaker and the listener. Two of the greatest culprits are flattery and gossip.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/fWsf1zwXd1A1 ]
Flattery is lying: we create empty words that contain only a kernel of truth; we delude the person being flattered, blinding them to reality. We also delude ourselves, hiding our real thoughts and beliefs behind a mask. Gossip may seem harmless because it is done in secret, but the ideas spread about another person can damage their reputation, opportunities, and relationships.
The person we influence most with our negative words is ourselves. If we are not careful, these thoughts and words create a well-worn path in our hearts that leads us to have a bitter and judgmental spirit. The only antidote is God and His love. It is only as we remember and embrace His generous grace toward us that we can extend it to others. Will you accept and extend His grace today?
It's not necessary to blow out your neighbor's light to let your own shine.
M. R. De Haan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 4-7 [ http://iz3.me/gWsf1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, May 23
The Devil's Sway
You are of your father the devil .... He was a murderer from the beginning ... He is a liar and the father of it.
John 8:44
Recommended Reading
1 John 5:14-21 [ http://iz3.me/pc4g1zwXd1A1 ]
In his first epistle, the apostle John makes a remarkable statement: "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). That would seem to include the whole unsaved geopolitical, economic, entertainment, and educational world -- all the world lies under Satan's sway. He is a murderer and liar from the beginning. In lying to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he led them into sin and, in effect, murdered the whole human race in a single moment. He brought death upon all humanity.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/qc4g1zwXd1A1 ]
The failure of earthly wisdom began in the Garden of Eden. But the power of heavenly wisdom triumphed at the cross and tomb of Christ. In another passage, John said, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
The wisest choice we can ever make is to lean on and learn from our Lord Jesus Christ. As we receive Him as Savior and commune with Him daily in His Word, we'll be growing in wisdom. The blood of Jesus will overturn the devil's schemes, and God's Word will counteract Satan's lies.
Satan must be defeated in the arena he dominates, this world. So Christ was sent into this world to destroy Satan's works.
Charles C. Ryrie
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/rc4g1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, May 24 & 25
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Leadership
Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me.
Psalm 27:11
Recommended Reading
Psalm 27:11-14 [ http://iz3.me/XfBg1zwXd1A1 ]
In a new children's book, writer Brad Meltzer tells how the famous aviator Amelia Earhart was told as a child not to pursue "unladylike adventures," but she didn't listen. At age seven, she built her own roller coaster in the backyard using a wooden packing box, planks, roller skate wheels, and lard, which served as grease. From the beginning, she was an innovator and a leader.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/afBg1zwXd1A1 ]
Whatever your age or stage in life, perhaps you'll have the opportunity today to be an innovator and a leader. Perhaps you'll have the opportunity to lead a church, to lead a team, to lead a Bible study, to lead a mission trip, to lead in prayer, to lead your family in devotions, or to lead a soul to Christ. Even if you don't think of yourself as a leader, you are one -- or can be.
Leadership is an opportunity for Spirit-filled people to serve others on this roller coaster called life. Offer this prayer today: "Lord, lead me to be a leader; teach me to be a teacher; help me to be a helper; and bless me to be a blessing."
The fullness of the Spirit is an essential and indispensable experience for spiritual leadership. And each of us is as full of the Spirit as we really want to be.
J. Oswald Sanders
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nehemiah 11-13, Esther 1-5 [ http://iz3.me/bfBg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, May 26
True Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13
Recommended Reading
James 4:6-7 [ http://iz3.me/l9Eg1zwXd1A1 ]
A group sets out on a journey, accompanied by a servant, Leo, who is a powerful presence. Leo performs all the menial tasks and also encourages and motivates by his spirit. One day Leo disappears, the group falls apart, and the journey is abandoned. Years later, one of the members encounters Leo and discovers he is the powerful leader of the organization that originally sponsored the journey. That story inspired Robert Greenleaf to found the modern "servant leadership" movement.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/m9Eg1zwXd1A1 ]
Is it possible to be a servant and also a leader? Is it possible to be both humble and wise? The answer is yes -- Jesus was both a servant and a leader, both humble and wise (Matthew 23:11; Mark 10:45). The apostle James wrote that true good works are done in the "meekness [ humility ] of wisdom." Wisdom is always wise for two reasons: First, wisdom comes from fearing the Lord, something arrogance cannot do (Proverbs 9:10). Second, the Hebrew meaning of wisdom is "skill" -- and experience shows that the most skillful leaders are the most humble.
When you lead today (and everyone is a leader somewhere), purpose to lead with the humility of wisdom.
The surest mark of true conversion is humility.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Esther 6-10 [ http://iz3.me/n9Eg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, May 27
Avoiding Confusion
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33
Recommended Reading
James 3:14-16 [ http://iz3.me/NDGg1zwXd1A1 ]
United States President Barack Obama quoted from 1 Corinthians 13 in his first inauguration address. At the funeral of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair read 1 Corinthians 13. This so-called "love chapter" of the Bible is an iconic piece of literature.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ODGg1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 to the church at Corinth because they were the opposite of a loving church! They were divisive, boastful, immoral, suing each other, arguing over food, degrading the Lord's Table, and competing over spiritual gifts. The church at Corinth fit the description given by James of people who follow after worldly wisdom: "Confusion and every evil thing are there" (James 3:16). So Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 to say that love is the most important part of the Christian life -- and that God is the author of peace.
If there is confusion in any of your relationships, examine the kind of wisdom being applied -- whether it is heavenly or worldly. Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good works, impartial, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).
The one who has wisdom in his head and heart does not need to shout at others.
Spiros Zodhiates
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/QDGg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, May 28
Getting Off the Enemies List
Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:4
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:15-17 [ http://iz3.me/FIQg1zwXd1A1 ]
President Richard Nixon's infamous "Enemies List" contained the names of his political enemies. Originally consisting of twenty names, the list was gradually expanded to hundreds. The purpose of the list was to punish Nixon's opponents through the use of tactics like IRS tax audits, litigation, withholding of federal funds, and other means. The existence of the list was made public during the Watergate hearings beginning in 1973.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GIQg1zwXd1A1 ]
In a purely metaphorical sense, God has an "enemies list" of His own. Not in a personal sense -- but the apostles Paul and James use the notion of enemies to describe people who live in opposition to God. Paul includes himself among those who were enemies of God before being reconciled to Him (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21), and James says those who love the world instead of loving God are enemies of God (James 4:4). It is not a happy thought to be the enemy of anyone -- and certainly not the enemy of God.
Fortunately, becoming the friend of God (John 15:15) is an opportunity open to all: "We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
By obeying the serpent, Adam and Eve made themselves the friends of Satan and the enemies of God.
Edmund P. Clowney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 5-8 [ http://iz3.me/HIQg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, May 29
How to Plan
The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:1
Recommended Reading
James 4:13-16 [ http://iz3.me/37bg1zwXd1A1 ]
Dating back to the Roman Empire, one of the hallmarks of jurisprudence in America and other nations is the presumption of innocence. That is, a defendant is presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty. As the Romans put it, "The burden of proof is on he who declares, not on he who denies." Presumption in this case protects individual rights, but in the spiritual realm presumption is not advised.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/57bg1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle James suggested as much when he said that presuming to know God's will without inquiring is unwise. He used the example of a group of men planning to start a new business in a distant city; they were totally confident their plan would be successful and therefore profitable (James 4:13-16). But James said such thinking is arrogant and boastful; God might have a different plan in mind. "Instead [ we ] ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'" (James 4:15). Man can plan, but God has the final say (Proverbs 16:1).
Do you have plans for today? Whether they are simple or complex, submit them to God for His approval. Invite Him to guide your steps along the way according to His will.
Whether you shall live to reach home today or not depends absolutely upon God's will.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 9-12 [ http://iz3.me/77bg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, May 30
Rich in Things That Matter
Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
Luke 12:15
Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 6:11-19 [ http://iz3.me/N1mg1zwXd1A1 ]
Gerontologist Karl Pillemer recently interviewed more than 1,000 elderly Americans -- most in their 80s and 90s -- asking them the secrets of the "good life." Among his conclusions is that while young people obsess about making a lot of money, older people wonder what they're thinking. When asked for their prescription for happiness at work, not a single one of those interviewed said that to be happy you should work as hard as you can to make money to buy the things you want. Not one person said it's important to be as wealthy as the people around you.1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/P1mg1zwXd1A1 ]
Wealth without righteousness leads to unhappiness because riches cannot fulfill us. While we should work hard and save wisely and give generously, our happiness isn't based on our wealth. A person's life does not consist in the abundance of the things possessed. The Bible tells us to be rich in good works and to trust in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
Let's be rich in things that matter.
The durable riches are only found in God.
Alexander Maclaren
1Morgan Housel, "10 Money Lessons From Elderly Americans Who Have Seen It All," DailyFinance.com (accessed February 6, 2014).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 13-16 [ http://iz3.me/R1mg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, May 31
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Citizenship
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
Recommended Reading
Romans 13:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/unvg1zwXd1A1 ]
The government of Malta created a quarrel in the European Union when it announced plans to sell citizenship papers to foreigners for $888,000 per person. The small island nation -- where the apostle Paul once made an unscheduled stop (Acts 28) -- hopes to attract rich people to help boost its economy.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/vnvg1zwXd1A1 ]
Paul reminded us that that our citizenship is in heaven, and it cannot be purchased. Jesus signed the necessary papers with His blood. But Paul also boasted about his Roman citizenship. In Acts 22, when he was about to be flogged, he claimed his rights as a Roman citizen. The commander said, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship." Paul responded, "But I was born a citizen" (verse 28).
As Christians we have dual citizenship -- citizens of both heaven and our various nations on earth. That gives us the opportunity of sharing Christ with the world. Let's pray for our leaders, pay our taxes, stand up for our rights, and be the best citizens we can be while traveling through this world to the heavenly kingdom to which we belong.
Christians have a dual citizenship -- on earth and in heaven -- and our citizenship in heaven ought to make us better people here on earth.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 17-20 [ http://iz3.me/wnvg1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, June 2
The First Speeding Ticket
My times are in Your hand.
Psalm 31:15
Recommended Reading
James 5:7-12 [ http://iz3.me/JB1h1zwXd1A1 ]
The first American ever arrested for speeding was Jacob German, 26, a taxi driver for the Electric Vehicle Company of New York City. On May 20, 1899, he was hauled off to jail for bolting down Lexington Street in Manhattan, at 12 miles an hour in an 8 mph zone.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/KB1h1zwXd1A1 ]
What would Jacob German think now? Compared with 1899, the pace of life has advanced to science fiction levels. We bolt through every hour until the days become a blur and the years fly by like a movie stuck on fast-forward.
Sometimes in our rush, we grow impatient with the Lord because He doesn't hurry as we do. Our times are in His hands; and His clocks operate at a different speed, for a day to Him is like a thousand years, and vice versa (2 Peter 3:8). Perhaps you want the Lord to answer your prayer now, to resolve your problem now, to provide deliverance this instant. But when we put God on our timetables it often brings disappointment. Learn to wait on the Lord and let Him work at His speed. He has a perfect sense of timing.
His method is sublime, His heart profoundly kind; God never is before His time, and never is behind.
From an old anonymous hymn
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 25–30 [ http://iz3.me/LB1h1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, June 3
In Paradise by Sundown
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/LWAh1zwXd1A1 ]
Joni Eareckson Tada was talking to her elderly friend Alice McIntire, whose exact age was a guarded secret. "Any woman who tells her age, will tell anything," Alice quipped. Joni said, "You must be really looking forward to heaven," to which Alice replied, "Oh, honey, yes, but I hope I stay around for Jesus' return. I never like to miss a good party."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/MWAh1zwXd1A1 ]
In recounting the exchange, Joni later observed, "Alice keeps looking up. This is why she stays so young ... Every Christian who keeps looking up stretches his heart's capacity for heaven."1
The Bible tells us to seek things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-4). When Jesus met with His disciples just before His arrest, He was thinking of mansions in heaven (John 14:2); and on the cross He anticipated being in Paradise by sundown (Luke 23:43). If you're beset by pain or problems today, look up and live by faith. Distresses below can direct our attention to things above.
Christ longs for you to walk beside Him on earth, then to join Him in heaven. He desires us to be where He is. Behold, what love the Father has lavished on us!
David Jeremiah
1Joni Eareckson Tada, Heaven (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 286.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 31–34 [ http://iz3.me/NWAh1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, June 4
The Lord Who Heals
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
James 5:14
Recommended Reading
Mark 6:13 [ http://iz3.me/e4Mh1zwXd1A1 ]
God is the God of the natural and the supernatural. When the Israelites needed water in the Sinai desert, they came to a pool of bitter water. God told Moses to throw a piece of wood into the pool, and the water turned sweet. God used that as a lesson. If the Israelites would obey all His statutes, He would keep them well: "For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:22-26).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/f4Mh1zwXd1A1 ]
A natural piece of wood and a supernatural "healing" of the water, the keeping of natural laws and the supernatural health of a nation -- this natural and supernatural blend appears in the classic New Testament text on healing as well (James 5:13-18). James exhorts any who are ill to call for elders of the church, who will anoint the sick person "in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up" (verses 14-15). Natural oil and supernatural healing -- it is not oil and prayer that heal; it is the supernatural "Lord who heals."
Use the natural as you trust in the supernatural power of Jehovah Rophe -- "the Lord who heals you."
Sometimes Christ sees that we need the sickness for the good of our souls more than the healing for the ease of our bodies.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Job 35-38 [ http://iz3.me/g4Mh1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, June 7 & 8
June Bugs: The Ant
Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.
Proverbs 6:6
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 30:24-25 [ http://iz3.me/Woqh1zwXd1A1 ]
The world's greatest living authority on ants is Dr. E. O. Wilson, former professor of biology at Harvard and winner of numerous literary and scientific awards. A lifetime of studying the tiny creatures has led him to conclude, "Ants have the most complicated social organization on earth next to humans."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/Xoqh1zwXd1A1 ]
What a conversation we might anticipate between a scholar like Wilson and the wisest man among the ancients, King Solomon, who also was a deep student of the natural world (1 Kings 4:33-34). But Solomon did more than describe the natural world. He exhorted human beings to learn from it -- specifically, to learn from the lowly ant and imitate its ways (Proverbs 6:6-11). The lazy among us, Solomon wrote, should be like the ant -- gather in times of abundance in order to have plenty during times of want. Otherwise, "poverty [ will ] come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man" (verse 11). God's promise in Scripture to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19) is never a reason to ignore the God-given opportunities to provide for ourselves and others.
Meditate on Proverbs 6:6-11, asking God for wisdom to apply the lessons from the ant to your own life.
No verse of Scripture yields its meaning to lazy people.
A. W. Pink
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 9-21 [ http://iz3.me/aoqh1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, June 9
The Sharpened Sword
Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psalm 119:36
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:33-40 [ http://iz3.me/tPth1zwXd1A1 ]
"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book," observed Henry David Thoreau. Sometimes when we're at a crossroads, we discover some timely book and drink it in like a desert wanderer at an oasis. It changes our lives.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/vPth1zwXd1A1 ]
In the course of a lifetime, most of us can point to a handful of books that had a soul-shaping effect on us. But here is the wonder of Scripture: God's Word has that effect on every Christian every day as we faithfully read and study it. The more we study the Bible, the more our hearts are inclined to good and not bad. As we abide in Scripture, God predisposes our hearts to His testimonies and not to covetousness. He inclines us to holiness and not to sinfulness. As we hide His Word in our hearts, it keeps us from sinning against Him.
The Sword of the Spirit is our greatest offensive weapon. Understanding the Word of God helps us fight Satan's attacks. Keep your sword sharpened, and you'll stay sharp for whatever battle you're facing today.
The authority of the Scriptures is not a matter to be defended as much as to be asserted.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 22–27 [ http://iz3.me/wPth1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, June 10
Know Your Advocate
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46 [ http://iz3.me/EU3i1zwXd1A1 ]
"Know your enemy" is a famous phrase from Sun Tzu's sixth-century book, The Art of War. The exact quotation is: "If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/FU3i1zwXd1A1 ]
In spiritual warfare, it's important to know our enemies, which is why the Bible gives us so much information about the world, the flesh, and the devil. We mustn't be ignorant of Satan's schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). But greater than knowing our enemy or ourselves is knowing the Lord. He is our refuge and strength, our fortress, and our advocate. He is our shield and strength. He is our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend. Knowing that God is more powerful than the enemy is crucial when facing spiritual warfare. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Know yourself; know your enemy; but most of all, know your Lord.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Martin Luther
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 28-33 [ http://iz3.me/GU3i1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, June 11
Christ Our Armor
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
Recommended Reading
Romans 13:11-12 [ http://iz3.me/hFDi1zwXd1A1 ]
The most extreme examples of personal armor date from sixteenth century Europe when knights and soldiers were covered from head to toe in polished metal suits. From helmets with eye-slits to metal gloves to metal shoe covers -- and everything in between -- warriors were encased in more than 50 pounds of metal protection. Larger cavalry horses were bred to carry the added weight of their own armor plus their rider's.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/iFDi1zwXd1A1 ]
Total envelopment is how the New Testament pictures the Christian's spiritual armor. Even though Paul mentions six specific types of armor -- belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword (Ephesians 6:14-17) -- there is a way to think of our armor in a holistic sense. Jesus Christ Himself is our armor: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27). When we "make no provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14), we put on Christ and arm ourselves with His truth, righteousness, peace, faithfulness, salvation, and His Word. Everything that each piece of God's armor is to us, Christ is for us.
Putting aside sin and the flesh, the Christian walks in the full protection of Christ Himself.
Our enemies are on every side, so must our armor be.
William Gurnall
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 34-37 [ http://iz3.me/jFDi1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, June 12
The Belt of Truth
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth ....
Ephesians 6:14a
Recommended Reading
John 14:16-17 [ http://iz3.me/6iLi1zwXd1A1 ]
The use of "girded" (NKJV, NASB) and "girt" (KJV) in Ephesians 6:14 gave rise to the popular term "girdle of truth." But a word of clarification: Paul is not making reference in that verse to the "girdle" as it was defined in the early to mid-twentieth century -- a female undergarment. Paul refers more correctly to a "belt" worn around the waist of most men in his day, and all soldiers: "the belt of truth" (NIV, NLT, ESV).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8iLi1zwXd1A1 ]
But why would Paul connect truth to a first-century belt? Probably because of the usefulness of the leather or linen belt in his day. It was used to tuck up a robe to ensure more efficient movement (1 Peter 1:13); it was used by soldiers for hanging a sword or quiver of arrows; it was used by soldiers to display medals of valor. Just so, the truth of God keeps the Christian unencumbered by false teaching and sin (Hebrews 12:1), serves as a place to hang our beliefs (John 17:17), and rewards us with salvation when we believe and obey it (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Most of all, truth allows us to love in deeds and not in words alone (1 John 3:18).
The belt of God's truth is not something that makes us look good. Rather, it is something that shapes our life into the image of Christ.
Truth wears well.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 38-42 [ http://iz3.me/AiLi1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, June 13
The Armor of Righteousness
.... having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians 6:14b
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 59:17 [ http://iz3.me/hTVi1zwXd1A1 ]
Sadly, bullet-proof vests are a common article of clothing for many besides soldiers. They are the modern equivalent of the ancient breastplate, mentioned by Paul as an item of the Christian's armor. Isaiah notes that even God wore a figurative breastplate as the defender of Israel (Isaiah 59:17). But ancient and modern breastplates differ from biblical breastplates in what they are meant to protect.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/iTVi1zwXd1A1 ]
Ancient breastplates and modern vests worn by soldiers protect the body and heart, while the biblical breastplate protects one from the ravages of sin and unrighteousness. For that reason, Paul calls this piece of the Christian's armor the "breastplate of righteousness." Isaiah's reference is helpful: God "put on righteousness as a breastplate" -- and we do the same. It is not our righteousness that protects us from the fiery attacks of Satan; it is Christ's righteousness that is our armor (2 Corinthians 6:7).
We gain righteousness through faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:21-26). Trusting in His righteousness is the only way to negate Satan's accusations of guilt from sin.
In justification we are not only told that Christ has paid the debt of our sins, we receive Christ's righteousness!
Sinclair Ferguson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 43-49 [ http://iz3.me/jTVi1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, June 14 & 15
June Bugs: The Fly
Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 11:22 [ http://iz3.me/nmfi1zwXd1A1 ]
In a training manual used at the United States Naval Academy, a short creed is included, originally written by John Wayland in 1899 and titled "The True Gentleman." The first line says, "The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from ... an acute sense of propriety." A trip to the dictionary reveals that "propriety" is the quality of being socially appropriate -- doing and saying the right thing at the right time.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/omfi1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible speaks of a similar idea when it talks about speech seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Always graphic, Solomon said an angry woman is like a gold ring in a pig's nose (Proverbs 11:22). And later in life, the king put it a different way: All it takes to ruin the beautiful odor of a vial of perfume is one dead fly floating therein (Ecclesiastes 10:1). All these verses say the same thing: It only takes one small, inappropriate word or deed to tarnish an otherwise respectable person or moment. James would agree: Be slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19).
Ask God to give you a Spirit-led sense of propriety, today and every day.
Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 50–61 [ http://iz3.me/pmfi1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, June 16
Doubly Righteous
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16
Recommended Reading
James 5:13-20 [ http://iz3.me/scii1zwXd1A1 ]
According to James 5:16, the most effective prayers are the ones offered fervently by righteous people. But righteous in what way? First, we are righteous in Christ. When we receive Him as our Lord and Savior, we're washed of our sins and clothed in His righteousness. When God sees us, He sees the righteousness of Christ. We can never be declared righteous on our own, for all our righteousness is like filthy rags. But when we are garbed in Christ, we're heirs of His righteousness, which is imputed to us by grace through faith.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/tcii1zwXd1A1 ]
But there is a second aspect to righteousness. Having been declared righteous in Christ, we should then live an upright life. Our positional righteousness should lead to practical righteousness. In a sense, then, we can be doubly righteous. Living a righteous life in Christ helps us lead a victorious life.
Has a sinful attitude or habit infiltrated your everyday righteousness? Confess it, turn from it, and learn to walk in a way that pleases the Lord. Your prayers will be stronger and your life sweeter.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
Edward Mote
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 62-68 [ http://iz3.me/ucii1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, June 17
Get in the Zone
To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/e2si1zwXd1A1 ]
During last winter's Olympic Games, the Huffington Post ran an article about the brain-training secrets of the athletes. Gold medal champions know how to train their minds like they train their bodies. Using mental exercises, they've learned to tune out distractions, reduce stress, and focus on staying on top of their game. Using mental imagery, they visualize their performance in exacting detail, for studies have found that mental practice is almost as effective as physical training. Olympians meditate to calm themselves down. When they get into a "flow mindset," they say they're "in the zone."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/f2si1zwXd1A1 ]
Christians should be experts at cultivating the mind and soul. The Bible tells us to train our minds as we train our bodies -- to reject anxiety, to focus on trusting the Lord, and to visualize the green pastures, still waters, and abundant life God has promised. The Bible tells us to meditate on His Word and get "into the zone" of the spiritual mind. Peace comes from trusting in our Savior -- to be spiritually minded is life and peace -- and that's why He keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
If we lived under the constant benediction of the deepest truth of the universe -- "God is love" -- our peace would be full.
Alexander Maclaren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 69-72 [ http://iz3.me/h2si1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, June 23
Upward Thinking
And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:43
Recommended Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/xJbj1zwXd1A1 ]
Dr. B. H. Carroll, who died in 1914, was an expositional preacher and Christian leader who published thirty-three books and is best known today for a multi-volume commentary on the Bible. His zeal for evangelism and Christian education was legendary. If you want to know his motivational secret, read what he wrote in his commentary on the four Gospels: "In my own experience," he said, "the brightest hour was when I got my first glorious conception of heaven, and it has been the power of my Christianity ever since."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2Kbj1zwXd1A1 ]
On the cross, our Lord's thoughts were of where He would be by sundown. He proffered the same comfort to the thief who believed on Him. In our own times of trouble and weariness, it's our hope of our Lord's return and of our eternal home in heaven that uplifts and sustains us. Whatever happens around us, we can always glance at the sunrise or sunset or see the twinkling stars and remind ourselves of our eternal destiny.
Knowing that Christ will return one day helps us persevere in times of trouble.
When we see by faith the invisible things of heaven, it has an uplifting power, it has an attracting power, higher above the earth, nearer to God all the time.
B. H. Carroll
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 104-106 [ http://iz3.me/3Kbj1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, June 24
Spirit-Given Words
Do not worry about how or what you should answer.... For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Luke 12:11-12
Recommended Reading
Luke 12:8-12 [ http://iz3.me/O0jj1zwXd1A1 ]
In Soviet days, East German Communist authorities summoned fifteen-year-old Wilfried Gotter to a closed room and pressured him to join the army as a Communist. Wilfried was a committed Christian who wanted no part of Communism, but how could he withstand the authorities? "I was given a word from God," he later said. "It was Colossians 2:8: 'See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.'"
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/P0jj1zwXd1A1 ]
The teenager quoted this verse to his interrogators and they seemed totally disarmed. They had no answer to that verse and they let him go. "In that moment," Wilfried said, "I really experienced what it says in the Bible -- that when you are led before the authorities, you shouldn't be concerned about what you are to say."
We seldom know the best thing to say -- especially in the face of anger or opposition. But the Holy Spirit can give us the right thoughts. Trust God for His wisdom and His words on every occasion.
To have such words in such a situation wasn't due to my quick-wittedness or anything -- I was only fifteen. These are the practical experiences of faith.
Wilfried Gotter
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 107-111 [ http://iz3.me/Q0jj1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, June 25
A Concealed Weapon
Lay up His words in your heart.
Job 22:22
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 1:13-16 [ http://iz3.me/6Rrj1zwXd1A1 ]
The human brain is arguably the climax of God's creation, the most incredible invention in His universe. It's a fabulous, living super-computer with unfathomable circuitry and unimaginable complexity, a collection of billions of neurons, each as complex as a small computer. They're all interconnected, and one scientist said that the number of connections within one human brain rivals the number of stars and galaxies in the entire universe.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8Rrj1zwXd1A1 ]
With a brain like that, you can memorize Scripture. In fact, Scripture memory is the most therapeutic thing you can do with and for your brain. In the days before the printing press, many people didn't have access to their own copies of the Bible; so they memorized vast portions of God's Word. How tragic that now, with all our modern versions and translations, we're memorizing it less and less.
It's important to memorize Scripture in order to stand strong during life's difficult circumstances. When you have Bible verses inscribed in your mind, you're carrying a concealed weapon. You're wielding the sword of the Spirit. Find a passage today and begin laying up His words in your heart.
Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization.
Dallas Willard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 112-118 [ http://iz3.me/ARrj1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, June 26
Tiny Bibles
These words which I command you today ... you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 [ http://iz3.me/xd1k1zwXd1A1 ]
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the smallest New Testament in the world can fit on your fingertip. It can be read with a powerful magnifying glass and is designed to be worn as a pendant or lapel pin.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/0e1k1zwXd1A1 ]
There's nothing wrong with wearing our witness or having lapel pins to spark conversations about Christ. But the Bible isn't a talisman. The words the Bible contains are what make it special. The Lord told the Israelites to teach the Scriptures to their children, to wear them as a sign on their foreheads, and to write them on the doorposts of their homes. It was God's way of reminding them to keep Scripture close and accessible. Some turned this into a ritual and began wearing phylacteries, little leather boxes containing a verse from the Law.
It's all right to have verses at our fingertips, and there are great ways to display our love for Scripture. But remember, the best place for the Word of God is in our hearts and minds. It's not about a ritual but a relationship.
If we understood what happens when we use the Word of God, we would use it oftener.
Oswald Chambers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalm 119 [ http://iz3.me/1e1k1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, June 27
Always Praying
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Ephesians 6:18a
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7 [ http://iz3.me/fLBk1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the great records of correspondence by mail was between John and Abigail Adams during the founding of the American republic. She was in Massachusetts, he in Philadelphia or Europe, and the stream of letters never ceased. Likewise, the correspondence between Winston and Clementine Churchill was equally nonstop. Even when they were in the same house, working in different rooms, servants carried a constant stream of love notes back and forth between them.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/gLBk1zwXd1A1 ]
Those stories are examples of "communicating without ceasing." Though not formally conversing at every moment, each spouse kept the other in mind continually so that communication was only a note away. Likewise, Paul admonishes Christians to "pray at all times in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18a) and "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That means take up the pen of faith and pray to our beloved God whenever there is a need. Keep Him in mind at all times so He is only a prayer away.
Let God be on your mind continually today so words of praise, intercession, or supplication may arise as needed.
I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming.
George Müller
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Psalms 120-133 [ http://iz3.me/hLBk1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, June 30
What Would You Have Me Do?
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
Acts 9:6
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-9 [ http://iz3.me/u6Lk1zwXd1A1 ]
If you pick up a five-pound British note, you may see the image of one of England's great heroes -- Elizabeth Fry, a Christian reformer whose lifelong efforts on behalf of prisoners changed the laws of the land and the tone of prison ministry. Her heart went out to those behind bars, and she fought to give them humane treatment and dignity. For this she is remembered today with her image on British currency.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/v6Lk1zwXd1A1 ]
When Elizabeth was dying at the age of 65, she revealed the secret of her lifetime of service. Speaking to one near her bed, she said, "My dear Rachel, I can say one thing -- since my heart was touched at seventeen years old, I believe I have never awakened from sleep, in sickness or in health, by day or by night, without my first waking thought being how best I might serve my Lord."1
Whatever we're facing today, we should say, as Paul did in Acts 9:6: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Whatever circumstances we're confronting, we can bathe them in prayer. God has a plan for us today. It's our joy to pray and proceed in obedience.
What He would have me to do, that may I do; where He would have me to go, there may I go.
Elizabeth Fry
1Francis Cresswell, A Memoir of Elizabeth Fry (London: James Nisbet, 1868), 316, 214.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/w6Lk1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, July 1
The Perfect Ending
She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 1:1-4 [ http://iz3.me/8rSk1zwXd1A1 ]
When we dislike the ending of a book or movie, we try to imagine a better one: what we think should have happened. The wonder and goodness of creation was broken when Adam disobeyed God. We feel the burden of this brokenness and separation from God. Thankfully, the Creator did not end the story there.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/9rSk1zwXd1A1 ]
Just as a producer determines the last scene of a movie and a writer carefully crafts the final sentence of a book, God mercifully provided what we desire and desperately need: a Savior. We cannot save ourselves. Only God, who is powerful enough to create the world out of nothing and to give us life, could find the perfect solution to our brokenness and separation from Him: Jesus.
Jesus is God's final answer to the dilemma we face. He is God in the flesh, and the book of Hebrews elaborates on why Jesus is all we need. He is superior to every human leader, prophet, and priest. He offers us Himself along with forgiveness, life, and meaning.
The moment someone chooses to trust in Jesus Christ, his sins are wiped away, and he is adopted into God's family. That individual is set apart as a child of God, with a sacred purpose.
Charles Stanley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 4-7 [ http://iz3.me/ArSk1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, July 2
Christ Alone
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Recommended Reading
Colossians 1:15-20 [ http://iz3.me/UDek1zwXd1A1 ]
Human beings are committed to making lists -- and not just "To Do" lists. We create lists to rank all manner of things. Athletic teams are ranked, students in graduating classes are ranked, and music is ranked on the charts. Fortune magazine ranks the top companies and Forbes magazine ranks the richest people.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/VDek1zwXd1A1 ]
The book of Hebrews does some ranking of its own, but in a different way. The world ranks groups of equals to see who is number one. And while Hebrews ranks Jesus Christ as number one, it is not because He is first among equals. He is number one in all of creation because He has no equal. The first three verses of Hebrews 1 summarize why Christ is superior to angels, Moses, priests, and everyone else -- because only Christ has taken away our sins and has sat down at the right hand of God as a sign of the Father's approval of what Christ accomplished. No one else has done for us what Christ has done for us.
Christ sets Christianity apart from all other religions. He is the only person who had the remedy for human sin and was qualified to carry it out on our behalf. For that and more, today He deserves our praise.
Faith alone justifies, through Christ alone.
Sinclair Ferguson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 8-11 [ http://iz3.me/WDek1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, July 3
Born to Rule
But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?"
Hebrews 2:6
Recommended Reading
Genesis 1:26-28 [ http://iz3.me/Xonk1zwXd1A1 ]
Eton College (founded in 1440) is a boarding school in England for boys aged 13-18, traditionally from England's privileged class. Nineteen British Prime Ministers have been educated at Eton (Churchill attended a similar school, Harrow) along with countless political elites. Eton is known as the chief nurse of England's statesmen. Unofficially, it is said that Eton students learn they are "born to rule."
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Not all Eton graduates rule England, of course. But there is a class of people in this world who were born to rule: human beings. In Genesis 1, mankind is given dominion over all of creation (verses 26-28). And in Hebrews 2, the writer quotes David, the psalmist, who says, "And You have crowned [ man ] with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:5-6; Hebrews 2:7-8). So what happened? Sin. But the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) has come to restore what the first Adam lost.
Remember who you are in Christ: born to rule, then born again and destined to regain your place of honor and glory.
Seeing we are born God's enemies, we must be new-born His sons.
Richard Baxter
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 12-14 [ http://iz3.me/bonk1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, July 4
A Little Lower Than Angels
You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands.
Hebrews 2:7
Recommended Reading
Psalm 8 [ http://iz3.me/ASuk1zwXd1A1 ]
In terms of classification, there seems to be a graduated order to creation. God Himself is over all, Lord of all, eternal and omnipotent. Below Him is the angelic order -- fabulous beings of light and glory. Below them are humans, created "a little lower than the angels" (Psalm 8:5), and placed on earth to tend it. Below humans are animals -- sheep, oxen, beasts of the field, birds, and fish (Psalm 8:6-9).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/BSuk1zwXd1A1 ]
According to Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2, Jesus Christ moved down the chain to redeem the human race. Though He was God Himself, He became human -- a little lower than the angels -- in order to die for our sins. Following His resurrection, He ascended back to heaven to reassume the glory He had with the Father before the world began (John 17:5). "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name... in heaven... and... on earth" (Philippians 2:9-10).
We'll never fathom all Jesus did for us; but the more we study it, the more we appreciate His great gift of salvation.
Jesus' destiny is to reign. The angels' destiny is to serve forever those who are heirs of salvation. What a wonderful, awesome prospect for Christians!
John MacArthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 15-17 [ http://iz3.me/CSuk1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, July 7
Invisible Paths
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Psalm 62:5-6
Recommended Reading
Genesis 45:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/3X0l1zwXd1A1 ]
Faith is a gift from God. It allows us to perceive the truth, even if it is unseen. It persuades our emotions to embrace the truth and then moves our will to act upon it. When God promised Abraham and his descendants a land of their own, Abraham could have pretended to believe but chosen not to leave the safety of his home. Instead, Abraham accepted the unseen reality of God's word: he packed his possessions and left home. Abraham knew that God's promises were more reliable than his own perceptions.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/4X0l1zwXd1A1 ]
Joseph had a prophetic dream. Despite being sold into slavery, with no rights or power, he conducted himself with integrity. Instead of giving up or cursing God, Joseph had faith. After years of waiting he became Pharaoh's right hand man. The prophetic dream was fulfilled when Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers. He generously forgave them for selling him into slavery because his faith enabled him to see that God had worked every circumstance in his life for good.
Faith changes our perspective, attitude, and actions. We can be filled with peace because God's promises are more reliable than what we can perceive or know.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 24-26 [ http://iz3.me/5X0l1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, July 8
Faith Is a Must
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:7-12 [ http://iz3.me/7O8l1zwXd1A1 ]
We have heard this saying before. If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to see (or hear) it, does it make a sound? That's one big problem Christians face every day. We haven't actually seen the physical appearance of God.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/9O8l1zwXd1A1 ]
People who don't believe need to see before they believe. Believers don't need to see it. They rely on the Word of God. Faith treats things that are hoped for as reality. Faith is the solid, unshakable confidence in God which is built upon assurance that He is faithful to His promises.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Who wouldn't want a reward from the Creator of the universe and Creator of all living things? The map to the reward is rather easy -- we just need to have faith in God.
Faith is a reality and it reaches out to facts that are more solid, more real, more substantial, and more eternal than anything registered by our physical senses.
John Phillips
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 27-29 [ http://iz3.me/AO8l1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, July 9
Take the Gift
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Recommended Reading
James 2:14-17 [ http://iz3.me/9AHl1zwXd1A1 ]
You work hard in your vegetable garden and harvest an abundance of fresh produce. So you collect a bag full of tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and squash and knock on your neighbor's door to share the bounty. As you hand her the gift from your garden, she asks if she can pay you something. You decline, but understand. If it's not Christmas, a birthday, or anniversary, people are uncomfortable with the idea of receiving a gift.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/AAHl1zwXd1A1 ]
The human tendency to want to work for what we get, the feeling that what is not earned is undeserved, keeps many from understanding the Gospel of the grace of God. Salvation is no more free than the cost of growing vegetables. But just as you paid the price so your neighbor could have a gift, so Jesus Christ paid the price for salvation and offers it as a gift to us. We are "saved through faith ... not [ by ] works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation "is the gift of God." When we offer to pay for a gift, it ceases to be a gift at all.
There's only one thing to do with God's offer of the gift of salvation: Say "thank you" and embrace it.
Faith is like the hand of the beggar that takes the gift while adding nothing to it.
Thomas Chalmers
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Proverbs 30-31 [ http://iz3.me/BAHl1zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, July 10
Learning to Say Thank You
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15
Recommended Reading
John 4:24 [ http://iz3.me/pvQl1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the first things parents do with their children is teach them to say "thank you." Later, children learn to write thank-you notes for Christmas and birthday gifts. The expression of gratitude is a learned trait, and "thank you" hopefully becomes a spontaneous response.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/qvQl1zwXd1A1 ]
"Thank you" to God is a form of worship springing from a sense of gratitude. Saying "thank you" to God is a learned expression of worship in response to His gifts. Worship is also a sacrifice. At the very least, we sacrifice time, talent, and treasure in worshipping God, all of which could have been spent differently. The first act of worship recorded in human history was an act of sacrifice by Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-4). While Cain's sacrifice was based on selfish interests, Abel's sacrifice was pleasing to God and cited as exemplary (Hebrews 11:4). Upon learning what God has done for him, one of the Christian's first responses should be "the sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15) -- the sacrifice of saying, "Thank You."
Use your desire to worship God as a measure of your gratitude to Him.
Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus.
John R. W. Stott
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/svQl1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, July 11
Not of This World
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:14
Recommended Reading
John 17:9-17 [ http://iz3.me/hHcl1zwXd1A1 ]
After His last sermon in the Gospels, which is recorded in John 13-16, Jesus paused to pray for His disciples; and His words are preserved in the next chapter, John 17. In verse 14 He prayed, "I am not of the world." Being eternally God, Jesus entered the world via a virgin birth and left the world by ascending to heaven from the Mount of Olives. He was truly "not of the world."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/iHcl1zwXd1A1 ]
But the preceding phrase in verse 14 is mind-bending, for it says of us, His followers, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."
We don't belong to this world any more than Jesus did. We're strangers and exiles here, just as He was. Our citizenship is in heaven, our eternal home is there, and our values are determined from there -- just like Him. These aren't easy days to be a Christian, but no such days have ever existed. The challenges of living a Christian life in today's culture can't be used as an excuse for not walking with God. Stay true to Him no matter what the world says. You don't belong to it.
How then can we deal with our tendency toward worldliness? It is not by determining that we will not be worldly, but by committing ourselves to becoming more godly.
Jerry Bridges
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ecclesiastes 5-8 [ http://iz3.me/jHcl1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, July 14
Pleasing God
For before [ Enoch ] was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5b
Recommended Reading
Genesis 5:21-24 [ http://iz3.me/Ofml1zwXd1A1 ]
It is the classic theme of world literature -- the need of a lesser being to please a greater being. Whether the greater being is a king, tyrant, ogre, or fantastical being, the subject's need is to discover what the ruler demands and do it. Tension in the story builds as it looks less and less likely that the subject will be able to please the ruler.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Pfml1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible is part of world literature, and it shares that theme with other great stories. The Bible's story -- the necessity for man to please God -- is at the same time more and less dramatic. First, God requires only one thing to be pleased: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him " (Hebrews 11:6). Everything else we might do to please the Creator God does not qualify unless preceded by faith. Second, there is a dramatic crisis and solution: God becomes a human being so dedicated to God that He lives a perfectly faithful life and dies to pay for the faithlessness of all other men. The life of pleasing God is illustrated simply by Enoch: "He pleased God."
If it is your desire to please God, always begin with faith. Our belief in Him seems to bring Him more pleasure than anything else.
A deep and sober daily concern to please God is the rarest of rarities.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Song of Solomon 5-8 [ http://iz3.me/Qfml1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, July 15
Faithfulness in Spite of ...
By his faith [ Noah ] condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 11:7b, NIV 1984
Recommended Reading
Genesis 6:5-8 [ http://iz3.me/Tful1zwXd1A1 ]
Since its founding in the 1770s, America was known as a Christian nation. Many pilgrims were Christians seeking religious freedom, many founding fathers were Christian, and many foundational documents expressed biblical principles. But beginning in the mid-twentieth century, America began to be known as a post-Christian nation as God was moved further toward the edge of public influence.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Uful1zwXd1A1 ]
Is it harder to live as a Christian in a post-Christian nation than in a Christian one? Some would say so. But in truth, it doesn't matter where we live. The biblical requirement for faithfulness as the way to please God is the same. The need to remain faithful never changes. Noah proved it is possible to live in a corrupt culture and still please God. His "holy fear" (holy reverence) of God caused him to stand firm in faithfulness in spite of getting no support from the culture in which he lived.
You may feel unsupported in your nation, your home, your workplace -- but you can remain faithful to the One who is always faithful to you (2 Timothy 2:13).
I know of nothing which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God till death.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/Vful1zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, July 16
Always Faithful
And [ Abraham ] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Recommended Reading
Romans 4:20-22 [ http://iz3.me/7K6m1zwXd1A1 ]
The Latin phrase Semper Fi -- short for Semper Fidelis -- is well known to United States Marines and their families. It means "always faithful" or "always loyal," and has served as the motto of the Marine Corps since 1883. On the Marine Corps emblem, an eagle holds a ribbon in its mouth inscribed with Semper Fidelis. The words "always faithful" suggest there is never a time when a Marine will not be faithful to his or her duty to country.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8K6m1zwXd1A1 ]
The Marine Corps motto could well serve as a motto for the Christian life. The apostle Paul makes the point that "it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). And Christians are nothing if not stewards -- of creation, of spiritual gifts, of the Gospel, of time, talent, and treasure, and of the grace of God. There is never a day when we are not expected to be faithful to God, never a day when we can allow fear of the future to replace faith in the God who knows the future. Abraham received amazing promises from God about the future, and Abraham was faithful -- "he believed in the Lord."
If you are a follower of Christ, let Semper Fidelis be your watchword today and every day: Always Faithful.
When faithfulness is most difficult, it is most necessary.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 4-8 [ http://iz3.me/9K6m1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, July 17
Aliens and Strangers
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:17-21 [ http://iz3.me/doFm1zwXd1A1 ]
The question of who is, or can become, an American citizen became an issue in the earliest days of the republic. The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills signed into law in 1798. Fast forward to today and "immigration reform" is a current, unsolved problem. Citizenship is important.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/eoFm1zwXd1A1 ]
Though citizenship and boundaries were less well defined in the ancient world, people still knew when they were "aliens and strangers." Versions of that latter phrase occur frequently in the Old Testament -- in the accounts of Abraham (Genesis 23:4), Job (Job 19:15), the psalmists (Psalm 69:8), and the wise (Proverbs 5:10). But a most unusual expression of the phrase occurs in Hebrews 11:13, where it is said that the faithful thought of themselves as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth." It's one thing to be a stranger in another country, but another thing to be a stranger on a planet.
If you sometimes feel out of place on planet earth, remember that you are a citizen of heaven. What you feel is a longing for your native land.
If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 9-11 [ http://iz3.me/foFm1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, July 18
Father, Whatever You Want
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.
Romans 5:3
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/qxNm1zwXd1A1 ]
Millions around the world have benefited from the teaching ministry of Kay Arthur; but her work wouldn't have happened apart from bitter disappointment early in her ministry. While serving as a missionary to Mexico, she contracted a heart infection that forced her to return home. "I felt like a failure," she recalls. "Depression set in until I cried, 'Father, whatever You want.'" Back in Chattanooga, she began teaching the Bible to teenagers in her home, and out of those experiences came her life's work. "It would be several years before I'd see how He'd use those formative years of study in Mexico to prepare me to write inductive Bible studies that would eventually reach fifty-two countries," she wrote.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/rxNm1zwXd1A1 ]
We seldom understand our trials at the time. We may feel like failures and wonder why God allows suffering. But as time passes we learn to look back and see how He worked things for good and how every trial drove us closer to Him. With every test, our relationship with God grows more intimate and our perseverance more sturdy.
Pain and trials are almost constant companions, but never enemies. They drive me into His sovereign arms. There He takes my disappointments and works everything together for good.
Kay Arthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 12-14 [ http://iz3.me/sxNm1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, July 21
I'm in a Hurry
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Hebrews 12:28
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:25-29 [ http://iz3.me/lCWm1zwXd1A1 ]
The country music band Alabama has a song about the pace of life that says: "I'm in a hurry to get things done. Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die. But I'm in a hurry and don't know why."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/mCWm1zwXd1A1 ]
Waiting is part of living, and sometimes it's the hardest part. We're programmed to hurry, but sometimes God has a way of slowing us down. It's hard to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear when we're too busy to pray, to be still, and to give God time to resolve the issues that concern us. Maturity takes time, and time requires waiting.
Maybe you're waiting for Mr. Right or Miss Congeniality, or for a prodigal to return, or for an employer to call. As Christians, we learn more about walking with God through waiting than through anything else. Our faith grows when we're trusting in His promises and patiently laying our concerns before Him.
Remember amid the rush of life to slow down long enough to wait on the Lord.
Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.
Peter Marshall
1Alabama: American Pride, "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)," by Roger Murrah and Randy VanWarmer, writers, released 1992.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 25-28 [ http://iz3.me/nCWm1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, July 22
What God Cannot Do
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:13-20 [ http://iz3.me/rnfm1zwXd1A1 ]
Anxious? Fearful? Worried? Depressed? Perhaps we need to remember what Joshua said: "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.... Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you" (Joshua 21:45 & 23:14).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/snfm1zwXd1A1 ]
King Solomon made the same point at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:56, saying, "There has not failed one word of all His good promise."
Titus 1:2 says, "God, who cannot lie, promised."
Hebrews 6:18 adds, "It is impossible for God to lie"; and so, said the writer, that's why we "lay hold of the hope set before us ." God has never broken, and will never break, a single promise -- past, present, or future. Trust Him today with your anxiety, fear, worry, and depression. Lean on His power, love, grace, and mercy.
The promises of God are His guarantees amid life's uncertainties. They're the basis of all our life of faith.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 29-31 [ http://iz3.me/vnfm1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, July 23
Blessed to Be a Blessing
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:20-22 [ http://iz3.me/06pm1zwXd1A1 ]
Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their research into the nature of the genetic code -- that information contained in human cells that is passed from generation to generation. We receive genetic information from our parents and pass it on to our children, a living chain that ties the human race together from beginning to end.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/16pm1zwXd1A1 ]
Scientists now know that human genes can be affected by environmental and lifestyle choices. It behooves us, therefore, to be good stewards of what we receive for the benefit of succeeding generations. And the same is true of spiritual blessings we inherit. That is, we have been blessed to be a blessing. Not only have we been called, as children of God, to inherit a blessing; we have been sent out into the world in order to be a blessing to others as well. The grace of God in us is for our giving as well as for our keeping -- a never-ending supply of blessing for the world.
As God has been a blessing to you, ask Him to show you someone to whom you may be a blessing today.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace.
Robert Robinson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 32-34 [ http://iz3.me/26pm1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, July 24
Future Focus
For [ Abraham ] waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:10
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:13-16 [ http://iz3.me/ltxm1zwXd1A1 ]
Parents are sometimes heard telling their young adult children, "You need to stop dreaming about the future and get a job today!" Some adults can't stop thinking that their true destination in life is just around the corner. Instead of sowing seeds today, they dream only of a harvest (Proverbs 12:11).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ntxm1zwXd1A1 ]
Just the opposite is true of some Christians. Instead of keeping our eyes focused on our eternal calling, we become enamored with "today" -- the things of this world that are only temporal (1 John 2:17). The writer to the Hebrews singled out Abraham and Moses as examples of those who lived their lives by faith in the future. Abraham might have been travelling to Canaan, but he knew he was destined for an eternal city. And Moses didn't mind giving up the riches of Egypt because "he looked to the reward" God had planned for him in eternity (Hebrews 11:26).
Both the present and the future are important, but only one will last forever. In fact, our present life is to be lived with our eternal life in mind (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Whatever your plans are for today, fulfill them for eternal reasons.
Too often we concentrate only on the things we can see now; but our focus should be on that place we can only envision, but will enjoy for all eternity.
David Jeremiah
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 35-37 [ http://iz3.me/ptxm1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, July 25
Trust in God and Do the Right
Trust in the LORD, and do good.
Psalm 37:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 37:1-6 [ http://iz3.me/Ni8n1zwXd1A1 ]
It took some courage, but a Texas Girl Scout Troop helped nab a shoplifter while they were selling cookies at a Houston supermarket. From their table near the entrance, they watched a suspicious man wheel his shopping cart out the door and toward the curb. The girls were suspicious because none of the items were in bags and the man looked as if he were trying to sneak out. They alerted authorities who found $2000 in stolen merchandise in the man's possession -- not just groceries but small appliances and alcohol as well. "He was stealing a lot of stuff," said one girl. "We caught a bad guy."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Oi8n1zwXd1A1 ]
Sometimes while minding our own business throughout the course of a day, we're confronted with a challenge -- a wrong to right, a correction to make, a task to finish, or a soul to influence. Most people look the other way, apathetic or frightened. But remember that the word "bold" is a New Testament adjective for God's people; and the Lord expects us to be of "good courage."
Having faith will give us courage even when the challenge seems intimidating or the task seems impossible. We must always trust God and do what's right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee, some will flatter, some will slight; turn from man, and look above thee; trust in God and do the right.
Norman Macleod, Scottish poet
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 38-40 [ http://iz3.me/Pi8n1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, July 26 & 27
Four Presents You Can Give: Prayer
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:12
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 4:14-16 [ http://iz3.me/rXFn1zwXd1A1 ]
Marianne Adlard, a bedridden girl in 1860s London, read about the success of evangelist D. L. Moody and longed for his ministry to touch her own local congregation. She prayed, "O Lord, send this man to our church." In 1870, Moody was indeed invited to speak at Marianne's church; but that morning there was no response to his message. Marianne prayed earnestly that afternoon. In the evening Moody asked if anyone wanted to give their lives to Christ. A flood of people rose to their feet. Moody was so surprised he had them sit down while he clarified his invitation. Still they stood. In a ten-day period, four hundred people professed faith in Christ.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/sXFn1zwXd1A1 ]
Like Marianne, Epaphras wrestled in prayer for the church he loved, asking God to work among the people. He believed his greatest ministry to others was in prayer.
When we present the needs of others in prayer to God, we're exercising Throne Power -- the power of coming to the Throne of Grace so another soul can receive mercy and grace to help in time of need. Only heaven knows the power of such a ministry.
Our prayers should be insistent. There comes a time, in spite of our soft, modern ways... when we must wrestle.... The Bible recognizes such a thing as storming heaven.
Cameron V. Thompson, in Master Secrets of Prayer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 41-46 [ http://iz3.me/tXFn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, July 28
The Painter Did It
By faith Moses... refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
Hebrews 11:24-25
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:23-29 [ http://iz3.me/D9Hn1zwXd1A1 ]
During a hotel stay in France, the founder of Greater Europe Mission, Robert Evans, determined to share his faith with the staff he encountered there. He quickly discovered that many of them were familiar with Gospel, and some had already come to faith in Christ. Evans was interested in how they came to know about Christ and found that it was one of the workers -- the hotel painter -- who had shared his faith. "Almost everything here gets constant painting," explained the man. "My work gets me into every department of the building, I know everybody and everybody knows me. Of course, I tell them about my Lord."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/E9Hn1zwXd1A1 ]
This is a great reminder that our mission field is wherever we are. For Moses, it was the desert. He did his greatest work for the Lord in the hardest locations. Sometimes our situations are difficult and challenging, but having a Moses-like faith can help us see beyond the temporal and into the eternal. Don't be frustrated if you're tending sheep in the desert or painting a wall somewhere. God has a wonderful way of using us to reach people wherever we are.
"A sage seeks opportunities in difficulties, and a fool finds difficulties in opportunities." We are born to overcome difficulties through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christiana Tsai, Chinese heroine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 47-49 [ http://iz3.me/F9Hn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, July 29
By Faith
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/MlOn1zwXd1A1 ]
William Sangster began pastoring London's Westminster Central Hall just as World War II broke out. His courageous ministry, powerful evangelism, and undying optimism helped keep London alive for Christ even in her darkest hours. After the war, Sangster was diagnosed with progressive muscular atrophy. His condition deteriorated until he was virtually paralyzed. But his attitude never faltered. He told others that he had made four rules for himself at the outset of his illness: "(1) I will never complain; (2) I will keep the home bright; (3) I will count my blessings; (4) I will try to turn it to gain."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/NlOn1zwXd1A1 ]
Things don't always go as we'd wish, and we often don't have all the information we desire. Such times aren't just testing times; they are trusting times. The Bible tells us to walk by faith and not by sight, for without faith it is impossible to please Him. Those who come to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6)
Let's adopt Sangster's rules as our own. In times like these, it's critical to have faith in God and to trust every word of His every promise.
There have been great gains already from my sickness. I live in the present. I am grateful for little things. I have more time -- and use it -- for prayer.
William Sangster
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 50-52 [ http://iz3.me/OlOn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, July 30
Forgivable Sins
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
Hebrews 11:31
Recommended Reading
1 John 1:8-9 [ http://iz3.me/kFXn1zwXd1A1 ]
Sometimes Christians wonder if they have committed a sin that God cannot forgive. Or they wonder if they have committed the unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:31-32). As for the latter possibility, Jesus was speaking to Pharisees who willfully rejected Christ's divine credentials as the Son of God. No Christian is in danger of committing that sin.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/mFXn1zwXd1A1 ]
As for committing a terrible sin that God cannot forgive, the Bible is clear: All have sinned (Romans 3:23), and all may receive eternal life (John 3:16). Because we live in societies that are required to exact punishment for crimes, it is difficult to comprehend the idea that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). But He is! A pagan prostitute named Rahab found that out personally. She threw herself on the mercy of the Israelites' God when His people entered Canaan. And she was forgiven her past and rewarded for her faithfulness (Joshua 2).
God withholds forgiveness from no one who needs and seeks it. If that applies to you today, confess your sins and be forgiven.
He may look on death with joy, who can look on forgiveness with faith.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 53-56 [ http://iz3.me/nFXn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, July 31
Black Sheep
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
James 2:25
Recommended Reading
Romans 3:21-31 [ http://iz3.me/dJjn1zwXd1A1 ]
Most families have a "black sheep" somewhere in the family. How that person is viewed depends on distance. If the person is a faint memory, he is seen as a laughing matter, a faint shadow in the past. But if the person remains a fresh memory, then there is no mention of him or her in polite company.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/eJjn1zwXd1A1 ]
Such distinctions are made only among those who place great pride in human respectability. But in biblical terms, there are no white sheep! We are all black sheep in the family of humanity. None of us deserves mention in the holy company of heaven -- except for the grace of God. That grace is demonstrated by God sending His own Son to be born as the descendant of human sinners. They ranged from a harlot like Rahab (Matthew 1:5) to a deceiver like Jacob (Matthew 1:2); to occasional sinners like Abraham, kings that struggled to rule righteously; and Joseph, a seemingly good man. But they were sinners all, chosen by God to play a role in His grand purpose of redemption.
Because all have sinned, all can be forgiven in Christ and all can serve. Don't ever let your human past keep you from imagining a redeemed future.
No creature that deserved redemption would need to be redeemed.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 57-59 [ http://iz3.me/fJjn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, August 1
Law of Imitation
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-14 [ http://iz3.me/Ousn1zwXd1A1 ]
The Latin phrase lex talionis refers to the "law of retaliation," illustrated by the biblical instruction of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24). The biblical guideline was meant to limit punishment, not mandate it; and the New Testament suggests a better response to wrongdoing: love and grace instead of retaliation.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Pusn1zwXd1A1 ]
Nothing is more impulsively human than retaliation, and nothing is more supernaturally surprising than the extension of grace in all things -- especially when one has been wronged. And in Ephesians 4:32, there is a reason for such an unnatural response: We should extend grace to others because of the grace that has been extended to us by God. It takes a measure of disregard and contempt to say, "Even though God has extended grace to me, I choose not to extend that same grace to others." God had every reason not to extend grace to humanity, but He did anyway. And He calls us to do the same. We can know it's the right thing to do when we feel a natural resistance to doing it.
Instead of the law of retaliation, practice the law of imitation. Do for others what you have seen God do for you.
A sound theology must be a theology where grace is central to it.
R. C. Sproul
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 60-63 [ http://iz3.me/Qusn1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, August 2 & 3
Five Words to Live By: Love
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
John 15:13
Recommended Reading
John 3:16-17 [ http://iz3.me/oW2o1zwXd1A1 ]
It was the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning who began one of her most famous poems with this line: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." She went on to enumerate the various ways her love could be measured and described. And her last line comes close to a biblical thought: "I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/pW2o1zwXd1A1 ]
Saying that her love would only be perfected in heaven comes close to the idea Jesus shared with His disciples: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Love may be perfected in heaven, but the pinnacle of love on earth is to deny oneself and prefer the needs of others over one's own -- even to the point of laying down one's life, as Jesus would demonstrate only a few hours after stating these words. It would be wrong to think Jesus was talking only about literal death. There are many ways to die to oneself in the pursuit of loving and serving others while living.
Paul said the greatest virtue of all is love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and Jesus said the best way to demonstrate it is by dying to self while living for others.
We are as we love, not as we know.
Richard Sibbes
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 64-Jeremiah 3 [ http://iz3.me/qW2o1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, August 4
No "Buts" About It
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Luke 23:34
Recommended Reading
Luke 6:32-35 [ http://iz3.me/cK4o1zwXd1A1 ]
You may have heard these words from someone you hurt: "I forgive you, but ...." If there is a pause after "but," what are you thinking? During that moment of silence you are probably wondering if you are truly forgiven or not. The relief you heard in "I forgive you" probably vanished when you heard "but."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/dK4o1zwXd1A1 ]
"But" usually means there is a condition involved. "You can ride with me, but (I have three stops to make first)." "I'll let you borrow my car, but (you'll need to return it with the gas tank full)." Sometimes conditions are expected (filling the gas tank), but sometimes they seem out of place: "I forgive you, but ...." Doesn't "forgive" mean, well, forgive -- as in unconditional forgiveness? When we hear "but," we hear the prelude to conditions on which forgiveness will be extended. When Jesus Christ asked God to forgive those who crucified Him, His request was unconditional: "Father, forgive them." He didn't say, "Forgive them, but don't make it easy on them." He simply asked that they be forgiven.
The next time you are called on to extend the grace of forgiveness, make sure it is unconditional -- that there are no "buts" about it.
Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.
C. S. Lewis
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 4-5 [ http://iz3.me/fK4o1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, August 5
Warning Signs
And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people.
2 Chronicles 36:15
Recommended Reading
Acts 20:18-35 [ http://iz3.me/T9Co1zwXd1A1 ]
If a society doesn't have "warnings," it doesn't care for its citizens. Depending on where we live, we need warning sirens to alert us to the dangers of tornadoes or tsunamis. We need notifications that warn us of severe weather. We need warning labels on products that may be harmful. News outlets have an obligation to warn viewers of local scams or regional epidemics.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/W9Co1zwXd1A1 ]
A warning is an attempt to prevent another person from running into danger or encountering harm. The Bible is full of warnings. Sin produces sorrow; immorality brings heartache; moral depravity causes despair; and disregard for grace results in judgment. When we ignore God's greatest warnings and continue to live in sin, we miss His grace, His Gospel, and the glory He wants to give us. That's why the apostle Paul told the Ephesians, "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31).
If our Gospel contains no warnings, we're not preaching the "whole counsel of God." If we fail to heed the warnings God sends us, we're endangering our souls.
Benevolent hands reach down from heaven to offer us the most hopeful warning and remedy: "Prepare to meet your God."
Billy Graham, in his book Storm Warning
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 6-8 [ http://iz3.me/X9Co1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, August 6
Walking This Pilgrim Pathway
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:13-16 [ http://iz3.me/fuLo1zwXd1A1 ]
Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote about California: "I have a ranch out here. It's not what you would call a big ranch -- 72 feet wide and 128 feet deep. But I have my house in the middle of it, and I have ... orange trees, avocado trees, tangerine trees, nectarine trees, and lemons .... The other day I just looked up and thanked the Lord that He gave me that place. It is the first place I have ever owned and paid for, but He gave it to me, and I thank Him for it. However, I told Him, 'Don't let me get in love with this place, or I won't want to leave it and go to a better place.' We are strangers and pilgrims down here, because we are walking by faith, looking to a better place."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/guLo1zwXd1A1 ]
Possessions accumulate with time, but it's helpful to echo Dr. McGee's prayer: "Lord, don't let me get in love with this place." Faith is how we receive God's grace, and our greatest possessions are Christ, His Word, and the future He's planned for us. Don't fall in love with the world. Walk by faith on the pilgrim pathway.
Walking by faith will cause all of us to recognize that as children of God we are just pilgrims and strangers down here on this earth.
J. Vernon McGee
1 J. Vernon McGee, Hebrews Chapters 8-13 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 87.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 9-11 [ http://iz3.me/huLo1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, August 7
Extravagant Love
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1
Recommended Reading
Luke 15:11-31 [ http://iz3.me/93Wo1zwXd1A1 ]
God's love for us is like an intricately cut diamond. The longer we examine each facet, the deeper our understanding of it. Jesus uses the father in the story of the prodigal son to describe His heart and affection for the lost. When the prodigal returned home, the father could have cut him off from the family. This was the acceptable course of action against a person who had brought such shame upon his family. It was naive of the son to think he could return home, even as a servant.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/A3Wo1zwXd1A1 ]
But this father does the unexpected. When he sees his son in the distance, he runs to him, embracing and kissing him. The father is more concerned with having his son return than with hearing why he returned. He is given a robe, a ring, and shoes -- these are visible signs to the community that the son is a part of his family.
We serve a loving God: He searches for us and runs to us. He embraces us and adopts us into His family. When God's love touches our lives, we are inspired to seek and love the lost as Jesus did.
God's mercy and grace give me hope -- for myself, and for our world.
Billy Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 12-14 [ http://iz3.me/B3Wo1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, August 8
Pride Blinds
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Mark 2:17
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:21-35 [ http://iz3.me/1Kho1zwXd1A1 ]
Children will sometimes fake an illness to get out of school and may even convince themselves they are sick. The Pharisees had the opposite problem. They convinced themselves they were better than others and avoided those they saw as lower than themselves.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2Kho1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus confused them. His authority and healing power could have allowed Him to choose His associates and to gain status in the synagogue. Instead He was moved with compassion toward those who called upon Him: the sick, destitute, and unclean.
Pride makes us blind to the work of God. We forget His sovereignty. Pride also blinds us to our own need for a Savior, and we withhold grace from those we feel do not deserve it. It is important to confess our pride or we will end up like the Pharisees, taking God's grace for granted and missing opportunities to lead others to Christ. If we are not careful, pride will distance us from others and from God.
None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 15-17 [ http://iz3.me/3Kho1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, August 9 & 10
Five Words to Live By: Blessed
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8, KJV
Recommended Reading
Psalm 1:1-6 [ http://iz3.me/5ono1zwXd1A1 ]
"Back to the basics." We hear that phrase a lot -- so many things in life can be "fixed" when we return to basic principles. That lesson was at the heart of Jesus' Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). Nine times He said, "Blessed are [ those ] ..." referring to people who put the kingdom of God first.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/6ono1zwXd1A1 ]
Blessedness is more than happiness. It is akin to the Hebrew concept of shalom, or peace, the contented, stable, peaceful relationship one has with man and God. Blessedness is an Old Testament concept that was picked up by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Psalm 1 -- the psalm chosen to introduce Israel's hymnbook -- the psalmist begins just as Jesus did: "Blessed is the man who ...." The psalmist says we are blessed when our "delight is in the law of the LORD." That is, we are blessed when our thoughts and actions are consistent with God's values and priorities as found in Scripture. It's the same message Jesus gave to His audience: Center your heart on God and you will know Him now and forever.
It's good to be happy in this world, but even better to be blessed by God. Blessing comes from getting back to spiritual basics.
Blessedness does not lie in externals.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 18-24 [ http://iz3.me/7ono1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, August 11
The H-Word
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Romans 2:1
Recommended Reading
Matthew 7:3-5 [ http://iz3.me/Hcpo1zwXd1A1 ]
We are all disappointed when someone we know, or thought we knew, shocks us by being involved in an immoral or illegal activity. Our disappointment is the deepest when the guilty party has previously stood for the very opposite behavior he has been found guilty of. It seems harder to forgive when the H-word "hypocrisy" is involved.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Icpo1zwXd1A1 ]
Judging another person for some act while practicing the same thing ourselves is plainly hypocritical. Jesus said it bluntly: "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye ...." So what should we do? Should we never stand and speak for righteousness for fear that we might one day commit the very sin we stand and speak against? Should we never call out sin when necessary? No, we should always stand and speak for righteousness -- but with a serious measure of grace, knowing that, "There, but for the grace of God, go I" (1 Corinthians 15:10; see 1 Corinthians 10:12). And if we do fail or fall, we must repent with equal grace and humility.
When others fail, let us forgive them and pray that God will keep us from the same end.
Grace that cannot be seen, like light, and tasted, like salt, is not grace, but hypocrisy.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 25-27 [ http://iz3.me/Jcpo1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, August 12
Divine Equality
They, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:12
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 10:12-18 [ http://iz3.me/gRxo1zwXd1A1 ]
The Washington Post ran a column entitled "Do Your Employees Think You Play Favorites?" According to the author, 28 percent of federal employees believe their supervisor has engaged in favoritism, and over half believe favoritism has influenced the decisions of adjacent supervisors. The article suggested supervisors ask themselves: Are you spending more time with some employees than others? Are your decisions clear? Are your employees clear about their standing on the team?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/hRxo1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul warned against favoritism and against comparing ourselves to one another. God's plan for each of us is unique and specifically designed for each of us alone. God sees everyone equally and judges impartially. He wants to spend time with all His children; He wants to bless each of us richly; and He loves all of us with infinite love. We're also equally responsible to give Him our hearts and our lives in constant and ever-renewed yieldedness. We are equally sinful, equally loved, equally forgiven, and equally vital to the cause of Christ.
Your calling and gifts are unique ... There's a special blueprint for your life, with no other name on the page.
Robert J. Morgan, in Mastering Life Before It's Too Late
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 28-30 [ http://iz3.me/iRxo1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, August 13
World Class Peace
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace...
Romans 5:1
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/bh8p1zwXd1A1 ]
One evening earlier this year, residents of a town in the Philippines made a gallant effort to set a Guinness World Record for the number of sky lanterns illumined in one place. Over 100,000 people created a sea of lights that shimmered like the stars. The slogan for the event was: "World Peace Through Inner Peace." Organizers wanted to advance their belief that meditation could bring about personal peace; and if everyone possessed inner peace, it would lead to global peace.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/ch8p1zwXd1A1 ]
There was logic to their slogan, but something was missing. Without Christ, there is no inner peace. Perhaps meditation and other psychological techniques can lower our blood pressure or stave off panic attacks; but enduring inner peace is a gift of God's grace, and it comes only from a personal commitment to Christ. When we receive God's grace, we receive His peace.
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). He will keep you in perfect peace as your mind is fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Know Christ; know peace. No Christ, no peace.
Unknown
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 31-32 [ http://iz3.me/eh8p1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, August 14
Feeling Needy Is Normal
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Recommended Reading
Deuteronomy 1:29-31 [ http://iz3.me/FvIp1zwXd1A1 ]
Emergency medical care for wounded soldiers is amazing. Soldiers who, in a previous era, would have died on the battlefield are now surviving. But they often recover with life-changing, and often debilitating, results. Soldiers who have survived the loss of one or more limbs awake from their surgeries with a new realization: "I'll never be able to do this on my own."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GvIp1zwXd1A1 ]
Strong, self-sufficient soldiers have to accept the humbling reality that they need others around them to help them adapt to a new life. If there is a silver lining in such an experience, it is learning the lesson afresh that we were not created by God to live life alone -- even the healthiest among us are dependent. Jesus said as much when He told His disciples, "Without Me you can do nothing." That was not a statement of ego on Jesus' part; it was a way of stating the truth that man was created to live in dependence upon God. And God gives the grace needed to live such a life of leaning on Him (James 4:6).
If you feel the need for God in your life, that's exactly how you are supposed to feel. You were never intended to do life on your own.
God made life, and God alone can tell us its meaning.
J. I. Packer, God's Plans for You
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 33-36 [ http://iz3.me/HvIp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, August 15
Past and Present
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:20-21 [ http://iz3.me/FqSp1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul is often called "the apostle of grace" because his writings are filled with references to the grace of God. "Grace" appears 83 times in Paul's epistles, especially when he wrote about his past and present.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GqSp1zwXd1A1 ]
First there's the grace of forgiveness. Paul referred to himself as the "chief" of sinners. For him, his pre-Christian life of persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ was beyond the pale (1 Corinthians 15:9). He never seemed to get over the fact that the grace of God was greater than all his previous sins (Romans 5:20). Regardless of our past sins, we each feel the same way: How could God forgive all I have done and said? But He does.
Then there's the grace of endurance. Even as a mature Christian, Paul suffered in various ways; and he was not shy about asking God to relieve his suffering. On at least one occasion, God granted him grace to endure rather than removing the cause of his suffering (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Regardless of our present situation, that same grace is sufficient for our every need.
God knows every detail of your past sins and present situation. And His grace is sufficient for both.
Thank God, He does not measure grace out in teaspoons.
Amy Carmichael
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 37-39 [ http://iz3.me/HqSp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, August 16 & 17
Five Words to Live By: Lost
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
Recommended Reading
Luke 15:3-7 [ http://iz3.me/ucbp1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus said His mission was "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The Jews to whom He said those words were confused. How could they be lost? After all, they were the chosen people of God.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/vcbp1zwXd1A1 ]
People today who hear the biblical term "lost" have an equally hard time comprehending the meaning. Lost from who or what? In the Jews' case, God had rebuked the spiritual leaders of Israel, her shepherds, for allowing their "sheep" to wander off into carnality and captivity. He said through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away" (Ezekiel 34:16). The Jews were lost because they had wandered away from God and they needed to be found. That's what Jesus meant in the three parables He told about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (Luke 15:3-32). Jesus was fulfilling God's promise to seek "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6; 15:24).
But His mission was extended to all of God's creation -- to reconcile the world back to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). If you are apart from Christ, you are lost. But Christ has come to seek and save you today.
I do not know if there is a more dreadful word in the English language than that word "lost."
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 40-46 [ http://iz3.me/wcbp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, August 18
The Seeking God
There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.
Romans 3:11
Recommended Reading
Matthew 18:12-13 [ http://iz3.me/Xpfp1zwXd1A1 ]
There is a seeking instinct hardwired into human beings. When a hiker is lost in the wilderness, when a child doesn't return from school on time, when a fishing party fails to return to port, when an airliner vanishes over the ocean without a trace -- the human instinct to seek and save those who are lost is inevitable. Individuals, groups, armies, and nations commit limitless resources to seeking.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/apfp1zwXd1A1 ]
But there is one case in which humans don't seek as they should. We don't seek after God. Solomon wrote that we have an eternal sensibility in us (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and Paul wrote that our lack of seeking God is inexcusable (Romans 1:20). But there is also a powerful, sinful inclination that argues against any innate desire to seek after God (Romans 3:10-18). If that is true, how do any of us find God? We don't find God; He finds us. From heaven, "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). God sent His Son into the world so that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17). None of us are saved by our efforts but by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Thank God today that He is a seeking God who looked for, and found, you.
As in paradise, God walks in the Holy Scriptures, seeking man.
Ambrose
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 47–48 [ http://iz3.me/bpfp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, August 19
Daily Grace for the Daily Grind
Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon 2:15
Recommended Reading
Romans 5:12-17 [ http://iz3.me/mEkp1zwXd1A1 ]
The small problems of life aren't always small. Consider what happened at the McMillen Community Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when a little squirrel managed to get into the place. The building was under construction and due to open within weeks. The furry guy chewed into some wiring and caused a power surge that fried three HVAC systems and destroyed the building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. The damages exceeded $300,000.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/nEkp1zwXd1A1 ]
Perhaps you're not facing traumatic, life-altering events right now; but the little foxes are trying to ruin the vines, and the little squirrels are short-circuiting your happiness. God's grace is endless and amazing, but it also comes in small doses and daily allotments. The same grace that keeps us from losing our souls in hell also keeps us from losing our temper in the office. The same grace that transports us to heaven also gives us composure when our flights are delayed or the traffic is jammed up.
God's grace is infinite, but accessible. It's an ocean of grace, but it also falls in gentle drops at our feet. It's more than enough for the little problems you'll face today.
Give us this day our daily grace.
Charles Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 49 [ http://iz3.me/oEkp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, August 20
Heaven More Precious
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2
Recommended Reading
Revelation 22:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/gHtp1zwXd1A1 ]
Harvey H. Springer was called the Cowboy Evangelist. Once during a trying time in ministry, he looked down from the pulpit and saw his father in the audience. Harvey asked his dad to stand, and he told the church how his dad prayed for him, supported him, stood by him, and encouraged him. After church, the elder Springer drove into the country to be alone with God and pray. Somewhere alongside a rural lane he collapsed. A passing motorist found him, but it was too late. Harvey later told his congregation he was going to work harder than ever for the Lord now, for his dad was watching from the grandstands of heaven. Knowing his father had preceded him, he said, "makes heaven more precious."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/hHtp1zwXd1A1 ]
God won't always remove our pain. If we live life with no problems, we take our eyes off things that are eternal. Knowing our loved ones are awaiting us in heaven keeps us focused on the future. Remembering the brevity of life keeps us working for things unseen. Our daily problems and persecutions can deepen our longing for heaven. Think about New Jerusalem today, and anticipate the glories God has prepared for you.
Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand.
Jennie Wilson, hymnist
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 50 [ http://iz3.me/iHtp1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, August 21
Then God Said, "No"
And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" Then God said: "No."
Genesis 17:18-19
Recommended Reading
Romans 4:16-22 [ http://iz3.me/Uc4q1zwXd1A1 ]
Abraham once asked God for something special. He wanted Ishmael to be the "son of promise" through whom the prophecies of redemption would be fulfilled. Abraham knew God had promised to multiply his descendants in a way that would bring salvation to the world. The real meaning of Abraham's request in Genesis 17:18 was that Ishmael would live before God in the fulfillment of those promises. But God said no. He had a better plan. He was preparing for the birth of Isaac and for the establishment of the Jewish nation as progenitors of the Messiah.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Vc4q1zwXd1A1 ]
Stormie Omartian wrote, "Praising and worshiping God doesn't guarantee that our prayers will be answered exactly the way we pray them. That doesn't happen to anyone all the time ... prayer is not telling God what to do. It's sharing our heart and making our requests known to Him. He then answers in accordance with His will."1
If God says no, there is a reason.
If your prayers haven't been answered, it doesn't mean they won't be answered. In fact, they may already have been answered, but just not the way you wanted or expected them to be.
Stormie Omartian
1Stormie Omartian, The Prayer That Changes Everything (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004), 216.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Jeremiah 51-52 [ http://iz3.me/Wc4q1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, August 28
Puppy Love
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.
Luke 17:15-16
Recommended Reading
Luke 17:11-19 [ http://iz3.me/Vloq1zwXd1A1 ]
Last spring, a dog became stranded in the water at the bottom of a canal in Romania. A passerby, seeing the pooch whimpering and trying to climb to safety, scaled down the wall, jumped into the water, pulled the dog out by the scruff of its neck, and carried it back up to dry land. The dog ran away and shook itself; but then it quickly returned, ran to its rescuer, and showered the man with lots of nuzzles and licks. The video of the grateful canine became a sensation.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Wloq1zwXd1A1 ]
Sometimes we can learn a lot from our four-footed friends. Jesus once healed ten lepers, but only one came back with thanksgiving -- and he was a Samaritan. Everyone who is in Christ has been rescued. We've been healed. We're the most blessed people on earth. Some days may be harder than others, and some seasons of life might be tumultuous. But gratitude isn't situational. It isn't based on what we have or where we are, but on our relationship with the God who pulled us out of deep waters, set our feet on a rock, and put a new song of praise in our mouths.
When I praise Him, He is exalted in my life, and when He is exalted, I am happy and whole.
Vernon Whaley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 16-17 [ http://iz3.me/aloq1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, August 29
Possessing the Promises
....who through faith... obtained promises.
Hebrews 11:33
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 11:32-40 [ http://iz3.me/Goxq1zwXd1A1 ]
The Bible is full of promises, but how are they obtained? Can we purchase them like items in a store? Can we earn them like wages in a factory? Can we win them like dollars in a lottery? If you have a perplexity in your life presently, there's surely a promise in the Bible meeting your need. If you're worried about the future, there's a word from God to give you confidence. But how do you occupy that promise?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Hoxq1zwXd1A1 ]
Through faith! It's like salvation. Christ has already purchased what we need and it's available by grace. Our job is to receive it by faith, which means trusting Him to do just as He has said. God has given us the gift of faith that we can take what's unseen and make it part of who we are.
Hebrews 11 gives lots of examples of that, including Abraham (see Hebrews 11:8-18). He didn't know where he was going or how to find the land promised him, but he took every forward footstep with the assurance that God could and would unerringly guide him. We can do the same and through faith obtain the promises.
We "obtain promises" by faith.... We have "access by faith" into the grace that is given us in our Lord Jesus Christ... and are enabled to live by faith, to stand by faith, to walk by faith.
Hannah Whitall Smith, in The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 18-20 [ http://iz3.me/Ioxq1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, August 30 & 31
Five Words to Live By: Father
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9
Recommended Reading
Romans 8:14-17 [ http://iz3.me/Pc6r1zwXd1A1 ]
English "father" was vader in Dutch, fader in early German, vater in later German, and fader in Middle English. And all those words were built on Latin pater, which was very close to Greek pater. But all those Western spellings were a radical departure from Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. He would have pronounced "father" as abba, derived from Hebrew ab.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/Qc6r1zwXd1A1 ]
In fact, Jesus' use of "father" represented a major shift in how the Hebrews used the term -- almost exclusively to refer to human fathers. God was rarely called Father by the Jews (Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; Jeremiah 31:9; Malachi 2:10), but Jesus called God "Father" (Abba -- Matthew 11:26) and taught His disciples to do the same (Matthew 6:9). But this was not the formal, Victorian "father" of the English language. This was the abba of the Hebrew family unit -- the "papa" or "daddy" used by children the world over today (Mark 14:36). Jesus introduced a new way to relate to God -- a familial way of fondness and closeness.
However you view and address your earthly father, feel free to address your heavenly Father the way Jesus did -- as Abba Father.
The name Jehovah carries majesty in it; the name Father carries mercy in it.
Thomas Watson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 21-24 [ http://iz3.me/Rc6r1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, September 1
Eyes and Arms Open
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.
John 16:13a
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:5-6 [ http://iz3.me/1N8r1zwXd1A1 ]
Driving the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an explorer's delight. From northern Virginia to the Tennessee-North Carolina border, there are wonders around every bend in the mountainous road. You may see wildlife, a pioneer cabin, gorgeous vistas, a country church, a stream or waterfall -- the beauty never ends. The Parkway is not for the hurried; it is for the expectant -- those eager for new experiences and discovery.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2N8r1zwXd1A1 ]
And the same is true for the Christian life -- if, that is, we take seriously the foundational biblical truth that our God is a guide through life. Even though we do not know what is around every bend in the road, God does. There are encounters, discoveries, people, events, opportunities, blessings, and challenges to be found. Instead of being shocked at a circumstance or event, we should look at our path through the lens of heaven. There is a time, season, and purpose for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). There is something to rejoice in, give thanks for, and pray about around every curve (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Today, trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding you into all truth. Live with eyes and arms open to embrace what you discover.
God is never taken by surprise.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 25-27 [ http://iz3.me/3N8r1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, September 2
Divine Foresight
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 46:9-10 [ http://iz3.me/1BAr1zwXd1A1 ]
If you have 20/20 vision, you can see what a normal person sees on a chart when standing 20 feet away. If you have 20/40 vision, it means that you, while standing 20 feet from the chart, can see what a normal person can see from 40 feet away -- meaning your eyesight is imperfect. The expression "hindsight is 20/20" means that everyone sees the past clearly. What seems fuzzy before it happens is always clear after the fact.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2BAr1zwXd1A1 ]
We humans might have 20/20 hindsight, but God also has 20/20 foresight. That is, His view of the future is just as clear as His (and our) view of the past. We try our best to see the future clearly -- we pray, do our research, seek counsel, and prepare. But only God knows the future. That is the heart of biblical prophecy. God knows and declares, through His prophets, "the end from the beginning ... things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:10). God's heart is to give His people "a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
You know your past today, and God knows your future. If you trust Him with what has already happened, trust Him as well with things to come.
Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.
Augustine
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 28-30 [ http://iz3.me/3BAr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, September 3
Night Lights
The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.
Psalm 74:16
Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:7-12 [ http://iz3.me/FCKr1zwXd1A1 ]
The book of Psalms is full of nocturnal verses. Psalm 1 tells us to meditate on God's Word day and night. Psalm 16:7 says, "My heart also instructs me in the night seasons." According to Psalm 30, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 77 reminds us to sing at night, and Psalm 92 speaks of God's faithfulness to us every night.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GCKr1zwXd1A1 ]
Psalm 134, one of the shortest chapters in the Bible, was written to priests on the graveyard shift: "Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!"
Sometimes our "nights" are metaphorical as we go through dark seasons in life. But sometimes they're literal, for we often have trouble sleeping, sometimes due to anxious care. Remember, you can lift up your hands in the night seasons as well as in the light, for both the day and night belong to the Lord.
All praise to Thee, my God, this night, for all the blessings of the light! Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, beneath Thine own almighty wings.
Thomas Ken, author of the Doxology
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 31-32 [ http://iz3.me/HCKr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, September 4
Digging Deep
Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
Psalm 71:3
Recommended Reading
Psalm 71 [ http://iz3.me/UQUr1zwXd1A1 ]
When our lives progress according to our plans, we feel confident and secure. We value our independence and sense of control. This sense of security dissipates when we face trials, difficulty, or loss. Instead of feeling secure, we become acutely aware of our vulnerability. As our plans unravel, we realize the limitations of our control and power. As Christians, we may wish for an exemption from suffering, but this was never promised to us. In the midst of our insecurity, we have a choice.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/VQUr1zwXd1A1 ]
We can be like trees whose roots grow deep into the ground to withstand the winds shaking them, or we can allow the circumstances to separate us from God, our strength and foundation. He is the only one who can provide the power and peace we need to survive trials. The security offered by other sources is temporary. God alone is steadfast and constant.
Start a list of God's attributes and the ways in which He has worked in your life. This can serve as a reminder when you face trials. When we remember who God is and His faithfulness to us in the past, we are encouraged to continue depending on Him in the midst of new challenges.
Just as the roots of trees take firmer hold when they are contending with the wind; so faith takes firmer hold when it struggles with adverse appearances.
Robert Murray McCheyne
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 33-35 [ http://iz3.me/WQUr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, September 5
Expert Counsel
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever.
Psalm 146:5-6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 46 [ http://iz3.me/D3gr1zwXd1A1 ]
Who will help me? Our natural response to challenges is to react in our own strength. We strategize and try to think our way to a solution. When that fails, we turn to those around us. Have you experienced this? What did you do?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/E3gr1zwXd1A1 ]
While these methods sometimes work, we have forgotten our most powerful ally. This simple refrain from a children's song reminds us, "He holds the whole world in His hands." True wisdom and help come from the One who not only holds the world, but created it. If we are struggling to trust God's insight and sovereignty, all we need to do is spend time in His creation. The details, structure, and creative coloring of each plant and creature point to God's power.
Instead of running to God as an afterthought, we can start with Him. We are His creation and He knows what we need. God knows more about you and your situation than any other being, including you. He is also the only one who can control the outcome. When we realize this, we will seek His expertise and help first. As we surrender ourselves and our situation to His expertise, we gain the hope and confidence of knowing that He is in control and that He loves to help us.
When trouble comes, focus on God's ability to care for you.
Charles Stanley
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 36-38 [ http://iz3.me/F3gr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, September 6 & 7
Back to School: Backpack
Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Ezra 7:10 (NIV)
Recommended Reading
Ezra 7:1-10 [ http://iz3.me/PEnr1zwXd1A1 ]
Are you familiar with phrases about having our daily devotions? Where did that term originate? We don't know when the word devotions was first used for our periods of Bible study and prayer, but it's appropriate. The word devotion means "earnest affection for a person or a cause." It's a better term than the word commitment. We can be committed to a cause out of sheer duty; but to be devoted implies commitment plus affection.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/REnr1zwXd1A1 ]
When we're devoted to learning God's Word, it helps to have the right study tools. The primary point is having a Bible; and a good study Bible is indispensable. Many Christians also use a personal notebook to record their thoughts. A concordance (either online or in book format) can help locate all the occurrences of particular words in Scripture. And a simple one-volume commentary can yield helpful insights on difficult passages.
As our children head back to school, it's time to don our backpacks and enroll in the Ezra School of Bible Study -- devoting ourselves to the study and observance of God's Word and to teaching it to others.
As you study your Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit, and live out the truths that God reveals to you, you will discover new stability, strength, and confidence.
Kay Arthur
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 39-43 [ http://iz3.me/SEnr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, September 8
Promises That Are True
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13
Recommended Reading
Psalm 119:160 [ http://iz3.me/p2pr1zwXd1A1 ]
Consider how you feel when you're in a relationship with a person -- spouse, friend, coworker, boss -- who has never been untrue in word or deed. The longer that person goes without betraying your trust, the higher your confidence soars. But should something untrue be said or done, your confidence crashes. It can take a long time to restore trust.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/q2pr1zwXd1A1 ]
We serve a God who has never been untrue in word or deed. In fact, Jesus called Himself "the truth," personifying the quality that is an attribute of God (John 14:6). While man is constantly redefining truth -- Pontius Pilate famously asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) -- Jesus and the psalmist declared that God's Word is truth (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). And God's promises are part of His Word (2 Peter 1:2-4). Jesus said that the Christian's place in eternity, in God's family, is eternal -- that is a promise that will be eternally true (John 10:28). Nothing can separate the Christian from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
Whatever your need today -- provision, protection, perseverance -- cling to the promises from the One who has never been untrue.
The whole covenant is a bundle of promises.
Thomas Brooks
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 44-46 [ http://iz3.me/r2pr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, September 9
Singing Confuses the Enemy
When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army.
2 Chronicles 20:21
Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 20:18-30 [ http://iz3.me/wowr1zwXd1A1 ]
Cliff Barrows, worship leader for the Billy Graham Crusades, tells how his father, an avid Gideon, traveled to Rangoon years ago. The area was under oppression and Gideon Bibles had been removed from hotels. While there, he met with local Gideons who were trying to restore the Bibles. During the meeting, Barrows had difficulty following the discussion because two men were singing hymns just a few yards away. Finally he asked, "Why are those men singing while we're trying to have this meeting?" The local Gideon replied, "Because this room is bugged, and the singing confuses the enemy who is trying to listen to us."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/xowr1zwXd1A1 ]
"There's a spiritual lesson in that," says Cliff. "When we sing, it confuses the enemy and allows the Lord's work to proceed." 1
When we're discouraged, attacked, or faced with unanswered prayers, singing a song of triumph brings us back into focus, allowing us to express our thanks to God for who He is.
The great hymns of the faith are continually flooding my mind. I revel in trying to recall their words.
Cliff Barrows
1Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul: Book 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 282.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Ezekiel 47-48 [ http://iz3.me/0pwr1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, September 10
Seeing Only One Side
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
Psalm 13:1
Recommended Reading
John 12:27-28 [ http://iz3.me/2M8s1zwXd1A1 ]
Directors of dramatic films often use a camera sequence that heightens the tension in a scene. Two enemies will be within feet of each other -- on opposite sides of a wall or on parallel streets in a city without knowing it. An aerial shot or split screen gives us, the viewers, the advantage of seeing both parties. But the actors are portraying extreme tension, not knowing where the other person is.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/3M8s1zwXd1A1 ]
That tension is what we feel sometimes when we can only see our side of the split screen without seeing God's side. We're in a situation of some sort -- trouble or danger is approaching -- and we cry out to God for His help and intervention. And either we don't hear immediately from God or we get an answer that is not what we wanted or expected. The problem is, we can only see our part of the drama. God is above it all and sees what we cannot. Consider the time the Israelites were delayed in reaching the Promised Land (Exodus 13:17-18), or the time the answer to Daniel's prayer was delayed for three weeks (Daniel 10:1-14) -- both delays were for good reasons.
If you are asking God for something and the answer is slow in coming, remember that you are seeing only one part of the equation.
Hope is the foundation of patience.
John Calvin
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/5M8s1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, September 11
Why We Worship
Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 16:29 [ http://iz3.me/TxIs1zwXd1A1 ]
Some things in life are negotiable, others are not. Civil laws are non-negotiable. The physical laws of the universe, like gravity, are non-negotiable. Going to the gym, raking the leaves, purchasing a desired item -- these, and other things in life, are negotiable. That means we can allow our feelings to help determine our course of action.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/UxIs1zwXd1A1 ]
Non-negotiables in the kingdom of God are expressed as commands. Sometimes we are told they are laws, as in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), and other times their status as commands is implied by how they are written. As suggested by Hebrew grammar, worshiping God is not negotiable: "worship the Lord" is an imperative form (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:9). We think of worship as an emotional act born out of love and gratitude -- those are good reasons to worship God. But what if we don't feel love and gratitude? At that point we worship God because of "the splendor of His holiness" (NIV). That is, we worship Him because He deserves to be worshiped as our Creator-God.
Don't let feelings be an obstacle to worship. Worship God because of Who He is and what He deserves -- and feelings will follow.
What or whom we worship determines our behavior.
John Murray
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 4-5 [ http://iz3.me/VxIs1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, September 12
Worshiping in the Darkness
I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.
Psalm 138:1
Recommended Reading
Job 42:1-6 [ http://iz3.me/a2Ts1zwXd1A1 ]
The nineteenth-century South African pastor and writer, Andrew Murray, was feeling unwell one day when a woman came seeking his advice about a difficult situation in which she was involved. Unable to see the woman in person, he wrote down a few paragraphs on paper for his housekeeper to give to the woman. The last line he wrote was a summary for her to believe: "I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/b2Ts1zwXd1A1 ]
In short, Andrew Murray gave his visitor four reasons for worshiping God even in times of trouble. If we are where we are by God's appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time, what could we possibly have to worry about? Those four points are usually what we think when things are going well, when we really feel like worshiping God. But if they are true all the time, even when things are hard, why wouldn't we worship God in those times as well? We agree with Job: "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10)
We don't worship God because things are good or otherwise. We worship Him because of His sovereign oversight and care for our life.
Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.
V. Raymond Edman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 6-8 [ http://iz3.me/c2Ts1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, September 13 & 14
Back to School: Homework
Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Acts 18:24
Recommended Reading
Acts 18:24-28 [ http://iz3.me/MAds1zwXd1A1 ]
There's a never-ending debate among educators about homework. While schools are assigning more and more homework in earlier and earlier grades, a rash of recent reports have questioned its value. We'll leave that discussion to parents and educators; but when it comes to studying the Good Book, there's no question. Like Apollos, we need to be mighty in the Scriptures, and that requires homework -- daily times of Bible study.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/NAds1zwXd1A1 ]
Dr. William Henry Griffith Thomas, an Anglican preacher of an earlier era, wrote: "The Bible is the Word of God, the revelation of His Will to man. It follows that we ought to know this revelation and heed its message. Knowledge demands study, earnest, faithful, patient, constant ... Knowledge, however, presupposes very much more than reading; it calls for study. And not study only, but a genuine application of mind, heart, and conscience to the substance and teaching of Holy Writ .... Bible study involves hard work, because it demands thought."1
Have you set aside a daily time for your "homework"? If so, enjoy it today. If not, begin today!
There can be no doubt that the most powerful and fruitful ministry will ever be the ministry of those who are, like Apollos, "mighty in the Scriptures."
William Henry Griffith Thomas
1W. H. G. Thomas, Methods of Bible Study (New York: Association Press, 1911), 1-2.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Daniel 9-12, Hosea 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/OAds1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, September 15
When Surprises Come
O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 57:1-3 [ http://iz3.me/PHfs1zwXd1A1 ]
In June 1995, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, was deposed in a coup by his own son, the Crown Prince of Qatar. The Sheikh was in Switzerland when the coup occurred, but he vowed to return and regain the throne. (He didn't; his son remained the new leader of the nation.)
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/QHfs1zwXd1A1 ]
The Emir of Qatar was no doubt embarrassed by his grown son's behavior; parents tend to think that post-adolescent children will be friends for life. But trouble can come at unexpected times. The same thing happened to King David of Israel near the end of his life when his son Absalom rebelled against him (2 Samuel 15). David was brokenhearted over his son's actions and poured out his heart to God in the Judean Desert (Psalm 63). Even in the midst of heartache David vowed to seek God, to rejoice in Him, and to seek refuge "in the shadow of [ His ] wings" (verse 7). Whether we are young, middle-aged, or older, we should be prepared for trouble. We are born for it, Job said, "as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7).
Whether you are in the desert or green pastures today, put your hope in God. What surprises us is no surprise for Him.
Hope is never ill when faith is well.
John Bunyan
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 5-9 [ http://iz3.me/RHfs1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, September 16
Sleep Well
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 63:6
Recommended Reading
Psalm 77:4-6 [ http://iz3.me/PBps1zwXd1A1 ]
Scientists and researchers aren't sure why we sleep. When we don't sleep, we are tired, less alert, irritable, and have poorer memory. So we sleep to prevent those things from happening. We do know this: The mind is active while we sleep. Many believe it is helpful to give the mind positive and peaceful thoughts while drifting off to sleep.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/QBps1zwXd1A1 ]
And what could be more positive and peace-inducing than thoughts of God's love and care? Meditating on Scripture before going to sleep is encouraged by verses like Hebrews 4:12: "Scripture is alive and active, able to separate soul from spirit, able to reveal the thoughts and intents of the heart" (paraphrase). Why not give our mind "food for thought" that is alive and active, truth the Holy Spirit can use even as we sleep to create ideas, desires, insights, and motivations for our life? And if we awake from sleep in the night with a troubled heart, a whispered prayer to God for rest and peace is better than tossing and turning (Philippians 4:6-7).
Give your mind and body the rest it needs by sleeping peacefully in the knowledge that God is at work in you for His own good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence.
François de la Mothe Fénelon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hosea 10-14 [ http://iz3.me/RBps1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, September 17
In Every Condition
Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25
Recommended Reading
Psalm 77:4-6 [ http://iz3.me/9M1t1zwXd1A1 ]
Reverend John Rippon served as pastor of Carter's Lane Baptist Church in London for 63 years. Perhaps his greatest legacy was in the hymnals he compiled with the help of his worship minister, Robert Keene. In one of those hymnbooks, a new song appeared. The author simply identified himself as "K," but most scholars believe the "K" stands for Keene. The title was "How Firm a Foundation," and the stanzas were all adapted from Bible verses. Stanza two, inspired by Deuteronomy 33:25, says: "In every condition, in sickness, in health; in poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth; at home or abroad, on the land, on the sea, as thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/AM1t1zwXd1A1 ]
When we're sick, we should ask God for healing. The apostle Paul did so when afflicted by a thorn in his flesh. But whether we're healed physically or not, the Lord wants us to trust Him for our daily strength. In His grace, God sometimes grants rapid or immediate physical healing. In His love, God always desires our best and asks us to trust Him.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love.
Attributed to Robert Keene
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joel 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/BM1t1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, September 18
This Turn of Events
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Psalm 23:6
Recommended Reading
Proverbs 11:1-4 [ http://iz3.me/7eAt1zwXd1A1 ]
William Wilberforce, the English politician whose commitment to Christ fueled his career, is remembered for his campaign to abolish slavery in the British Empire. What isn't well known is the financial disaster that befell him after he retired from politics. His son invested the family fortune in a failed dairy farm, and the Wilberforce family lost everything -- even their beautiful home, Highwood Hill. "What I shall most miss will be my books and my garden," Wilberforce wrote. But his biographer said, "As he prayed and reflected during walks along garden paths that were not his own, he arrived at the belief that this turn of events was in some way part of God's plan for his life." Wilberforce learned to count his blessings and concluded that his heavy loss had actually led to "the solid and great increase of [ their ] enjoyments."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8eAt1zwXd1A1 ]
When we go from prosperity to poverty, it doesn't change who God is. His resources are undiminished, and His promises to care for us are unaffected. Good comes from adversity, and goodness still follows every day until we go to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What better could we desire? A kind Providence has enabled me with truth to adopt the declaration of David, that goodness and mercy have followed me all my days.
William Wilberforce
1Kevin Belmonte, William Wilberforce (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), 318-322.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/9eAt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, September 19
Facing the Hagrites
He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.
1 Chronicles 5:20
Recommended Reading
1 Chronicles 5:11-21 [ http://iz3.me/EUJt1zwXd1A1 ]
Some Bible readers find the first part of 1 Chronicles tedious because of its long genealogies or lists of names. But careful readers notice the lists are occasionally interrupted by individualized comments. Here is a remark about one particular army from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh: "They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him" (1 Chronicles 5:19-20).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/FUJt1zwXd1A1 ]
Imagine, chapter after chapter of genealogies, when suddenly the list is interrupted to tell us of one particular group of men who cried out to God, trusted in Him, and claimed the needed victory. You and I aren't just names on a list. We have access to the power of prayer. When we're discouraged, we need to verbalize our concerns to God, not assuming that He knows how we feel. He does, of course; but it helps us (and pleases Him) when we express the deepest yearnings of our heart to Him who has the solutions.
As long as we have unsolved problems, unfilled desires, and a mustard seed of faith, we have all we need for a vibrant prayer life.
John Ortberg
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Amos 5-9 [ http://iz3.me/GUJt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, September 20 & 21
Back to School: Classwork
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
Recommended Reading
Matthew 16:13-20 [ http://iz3.me/MaTt1zwXd1A1 ]
Mission organizations are winning the world to Christ. Ministries like Turning Point are pulling out all the stops to evangelize our generation. Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are producing dedicated workers for the kingdom. Christian humanitarian and benevolent agencies are feeding the hungry, educating the illiterate, clothing the naked, caring for prisoners, taking in the orphans, and seeking to bring Christ to the forgotten.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/NaTt1zwXd1A1 ]
Yet we should always remember that Christ never established mission boards, colleges, or humanitarian organizations. He established the church. The local church is ground zero for ministry, and all these other wonderful works are the overflow of the church's mission. If local churches are healthy, the work of Christ will prosper on the earth.
As our children head back to school, let's stay active in our local churches. Be faithful to attend each Sunday; be part of a small group; give faithfully of your tithes and offerings; volunteer; and pray for God to bless your pastor and church leaders. That's your classwork for this weekend.
I love the church of Jesus Christ with all my heart. Despite all its faults . . . it is still the most magnificent concept ever created. It has been God's chosen instrument of blessing for two thousand years.
Rick Warren
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Obadiah 1, Jonah 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/OaTt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, September 22
Grace Is Greater
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
Psalm 43:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 42:5-11 [ http://iz3.me/9tVt1zwXd1A1 ]
Taking the Hill is an hour-long documentary focusing on the recovery of Vietnam veterans. Halfway through the movie, Raul Ries confessed, "I didn't think God could forgive me." Soldiers returning from war often have secrets and shame that haunt them forever -- until they discover that God will still hear their prayers.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/AtVt1zwXd1A1 ]
Even King David of Israel learned that lesson. Early in his life he wasn't guilty of sin, but he was definitely discouraged from being persecuted by his attackers. And he cried out to God for deliverance and vindication. But later in life, he was guilty of sin. Even then, he found the ears of God still open to his cries for cleansing and restoration (Psalm 32, 51). Discouragement isn't always a result of sin. It can just be the result of the stress of life. And if we have called on God for strength before, we think He can't possibly be willing to meet our need again.
But the Bible is clear: God's grace is greater than all our sin, shame, discouragement, or fear (Romans 5:20b).
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss; grace that is greater -- yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty Cross.
Julia H. Johnston
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Micah 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/BtVt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, September 23
Prayer Is for Times of Trouble
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord . . .
Acts 4:24a
Recommended Reading
Acts 12:8-12 [ http://iz3.me/h8gt1zwXd1A1 ]
While the saying appears in various forms in war correspondence through the years, it was general-turned-president Dwight Eisenhower who put it in words that were made a part of the public record: "There are no atheists in foxholes." His remarks in a broadcast from the White House became a public recognition of what most people know instinctively: The more serious the trouble, the more likely we are to call out to God.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/i8gt1zwXd1A1 ]
Yes, it's an instinctive response and one well understood based on the biblical record. We are created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27) and have eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). When we are threatened, like small children we intuitively call out for the One we know cares for us. Christians have learned that God welcomes our prayers. Jesus taught us to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7-8); Paul said to bring all our requests to God without ceasing (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18); and Hebrews 4:16 tells us to call on God boldly for mercy and grace -- two things every discouraged person needs.
If you are in a "foxhole" today, call upon God. Even if you have never called on God before, today is a good day to begin.
Days of trouble must be days of prayer.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Micah 5-7 [ http://iz3.me/j8gt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, September 24
The Covering Presence
And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp.
Numbers 10:34
Recommended Reading
Numbers 10:33-36 [ http://iz3.me/g3qt1zwXd1A1 ]
In the old missionary biography A Thousand Miles of Miracle in China, Archibald Glover tells of his family's deliverance during the Boxer Rebellion in China at the turn of the twentieth century. At one point while traveling to safety, the family was captured at a wayside inn with no way to escape. "[ We prayed ] He would not permit the officials . . . or our captors in the room, to touch a hair of our head, and that no power might be given them against us . . . . There was dead silence as the prayer went up." Later, about midnight, the orders came: "Kill them at once." One of the captors lit a lamp and the fumes of some narcotic began filling the room. The Glovers passed out, and the guards were too insensible to obey their orders. One of the guards later said, "These people have been praying to [ their God ]; and we could do nothing against their prayers."1
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/h3qt1zwXd1A1 ]
Our pathways often twist through stormy landscapes; but when we look back, we'll see a thousand miles of miracles and answered prayers. We'll grow stronger along the way, and we'll praise Him more heartily. Over the storm clouds is the Covering Presence.
Over all was the covering Presence; and the memory of that can never be anything else than joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Archibald E. Glover
1Archibald E. Glover, A Thousand Miles of Miracle in China, 3d ed. (London: Hodder and Stroughton, 1907), 258-263.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Nahum 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/i3qt1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, September 25
The Everlasting Arms
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27
Recommended Reading
Psalm 107:28-30 [ http://iz3.me/003u1zwXd1A1 ]
On May 7, 1710, the great Bible scholar Matthew Henry preached a sermon entitled "The Everlasting Arms." It was the final message in a three-and-a-half-year series of sermons on the subject of the Promises of God. To Matthew Henry, God's promises were His everlasting arms. They support us, bear us, carry us, and we can never exhaust them. "They are a foundation of our faith, and we have them as such," said Henry. "On these we are to build all our expectations from God; and in all temptations and trials we have them to rest our souls upon. . . . We have them as the means by which the grace of God works for our holiness and comfort, for by these we are made partakers of a divine nature."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/103u1zwXd1A1 ]
When trouble comes, we have a refuge that we can run to. The Everlasting Arms, which are represented by the promises of God, will provide the shelter we require, regardless of the circumstances.
If you're in a storm today, find a precious promise, fix your thoughts upon it, and discover afresh that your eternal God is your refuge.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Elisha Hoffman
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Habakkuk 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/203u1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, September 26
Yesterday's Fights / Today's Faith
Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.
1 Samuel 17:36
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 17:40-51 [ http://iz3.me/WcCu1zwXd1A1 ]
When the shepherding lad, David, went to check on his brothers in the army, he was alarmed to find them paralyzed with fear because of the threats of a Philistine giant named Goliath. The whole army seemed stupefied, from King Saul down to the lowest ranks. David offered to take on the giant, but his brothers were scornful and Saul was doubtful. "You are a youth," Saul said. But David told him how he had killed the lion and the bear that had threatened his flocks. In verse 37, he said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/XcCu1zwXd1A1 ]
And God did.
Our Lord's past performance of faithfulness is an ever-present comfort during times of distress. One of the reasons God allows trials is to strengthen our faith for the future. Don't waste yesterday's lessons by forgetting the deliverance of God. The same God who delivered you from the lion and the bear will give you victory and grace today and tomorrow.
Never, never forget the things He has done.
David Jeremiah, in When Your World Falls Apart
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zephaniah 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/acCu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, September 27 & 28
Back to School: Penmanship
Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.
Jeremiah 30:2
Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 30:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/7tKu1zwXd1A1 ]
As our children head back to school, it's a good time to talk with them about good penmanship -- and to practice it ourselves. Every Christian should be reading one book -- the Bible -- and writing two. The first is a daily journal. Though not everyone finds this helpful, it's hard to object to keeping a small notebook (either literally or electronically) beside our Bibles so we can jot down the daily insights that come from our Bible study.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/8tKu1zwXd1A1 ]
The other book is an autobiography. Somewhere and somehow we should begin recording our testimony for those who will come after us. It might be a document you work on whenever you have a chance; or it might be a few handwritten stories you file away in the desk or in your family Bible.
When we're dead and gone, our voices will no longer be heard on earth; but if we leave behind an account of our testimonies, we can minister to the next generation. Why not start your journal and a simple record of your life today? After all, it's back-to-school time!
A journal is an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, and a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Ron Klug
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 1-5 [ http://iz3.me/9tKu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, September 29
Mindful of You
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?
Psalm 8:3-4a
Recommended Reading
Psalm 111:1-9 [ http://iz3.me/OPNu1zwXd1A1 ]
When the ancients looked up at the heavens, they didn't know what they were seeing. We may know more about the universe than they did, but we still know relatively little. The observable universe is thought to be 92 billion light-years in diameter -- and one light-year is 6 trillion miles. So do the math: 92 billion times 6 trillion equals . . . well, it equals a long way from one side of the observable universe to the other. And what about the unobservable part?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/PPNu1zwXd1A1 ]
Based just on what they saw and understood of the heavens, the ancient biblical writers were overwhelmed with their smallness measured against its immensity. And they were amazed that God invested time and attention in them. When we have problems in life, they seem very large -- and they are. But when we consider that God is powerful enough to have created the universe, we realize He is more than capable of meeting our needs.
God cares about you and your needs. Bring them to Him in a spirit of worship and thanksgiving, knowing that He is mindful of your place in His creation.
The vast majority of mankind never gives a thought of gratitude towards God for all His care and blessings.
Donald Grey Barnhouse
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 6-10 [ http://iz3.me/QPNu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, September 30
King and Counselor
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Recommended Reading
John 14:16, 26 [ http://iz3.me/VSWu1zwXd1A1 ]
One of the embarrassing facts about King David's affair with Bathsheba was that she was the granddaughter of Ahithophel the Gilonite, one of David's most trusted counselors (2 Samuel 15:12). Seeking counsel from Ahithophel was "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" (2 Samuel 16:23).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/XSWu1zwXd1A1 ]
Kings had counselors, even if they didn't always follow their advice. The sage -- the wise man -- was an important part of God's economy in Israel along with prophet, priest, and king. But counselors were fallible; their advice was not perfect, so kings had more than one. But the prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when One would come who was both king and counselor; One who would be a counselor to those He ruled. That person was the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. After giving Israel counsel for three years on earth, He returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to continue His ministry of Counselor to His people (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, HCSB).
If you need counsel, start with the One who is both Counselor and King -- the One who is the source of both wisdom and power.
God never needs to change His counsels.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Zechariah 11-14 [ http://iz3.me/aSWu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, October 1
Sooner Than Expected
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3
Recommended Reading
Revelation 1:1-7 [ http://iz3.me/Hhhu1zwXd1A1 ]
An economist released a book earlier this year predicting the collapse of the global monetary system, but in a recent interview he confessed he got something wrong. "The tempo of events is faster than expected," he said. "Therefore some of these catastrophic outcomes may come sooner than I wrote about."1 That's how Christians feel about world events. Rogue nations are acquiring nuclear weapons. Terrorism is a constant threat. Government surveillance is relentless. Middle East tensions are rising. Missionary work is expanding. And morals are collapsing like dominoes.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Ihhu1zwXd1A1 ]
What a great time to read and study the book of Revelation! When we read the Bible's concluding book, we're motivated by its promise of blessing -- Christ's return. He is coming swiftly. He is coming surely. He is coming suddenly. And He is coming for us.
If you're anxious about the state of the world, that's understandable. But trade your anxiety for the blessing of hearing the words of Scripture, keeping them in faith and obedience, and remembering the time is near.
Jesus is coming back -- it could even be today.
David Jeremiah
1"'Death of Money': Author Rickards predicts collapse of global monetary system," trunews.com/death-money-author-rickards-predicts-collapse-global-monetary-system/ (accessed June 23, 2014).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Malachi 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/Jhhu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, October 2
Fear No Evil
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Psalm 49:5
Recommended Reading
Galatians 1:1-5 [ http://iz3.me/Tlsu1zwXd1A1 ]
Revelation devotes several chapters to the coming days of evil and tribulation. Reading these passages, we sense the time drawing near. We're astounded at the evil of our days and prone to worry about the evils to be unleashed on earth.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/alsu1zwXd1A1 ]
But remember, the times have always been evil. Genesis 6:5 says of mankind in Noah's day, "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Moses described his people as, "this evil generation"(Deuteronomy 1:35). Isaiah called the people of his day "a brood of evildoers" (Isaiah 1:4). Jesus referred to His generation as evil (Matthew 12:39). Paul told people in his age to redeem the time "because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
Perhaps the evil is worse now; we're closer to the end than we've ever been before. But evil has been around since the Garden of Eden, and God's plan for victory was designed before the world began. The Bible tells us to fear no evil. Because Christ triumphed, we will also overcome evil in the end. Trust Christ in this evil age and redeem the time, for the days are evil.
Though walking through death's dismal shade, no evil will I fear; Thy rod, Thy staff shall lend me aid, for Thou art ever near.
John Quincy Adams
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/blsu1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, October 3
Biblical Boldness
.. . . and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
Recommended Reading
Matthew 24:1-14 [ http://iz3.me/dr5v1zwXd1A1 ]
In The Global War on Christians, John L. Allen Jr. calls persecution against Christians "the most dramatic religion story of the early twenty-first century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening . . . Christians today indisputably are the most persecuted religious body on the planet."1 Allen goes on to catalogue blood-chilling stories of believers being oppressed, imprisoned, vilified, and slain around the world each day.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/er5v1zwXd1A1 ]
And yet the Church is growing. Reports from Latin America, Asia, and Africa tell of incredible numbers coming to Christ. Even in the West, there are signs of revival and a resurgence of evangelism as Millennials search for an alternative to the emptiness of secularism.
In His sermon on the Signs of the Times, Jesus said, "You will be hated by all nations for My name's sake . . . And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world" (Matthew 24:9, 14). The persecution of Christians has never been worse, but the proclamation of Christ has never been greater -- just as Jesus predicted. It's time for biblical boldness.
The world today may have big problems, but what would it have been like had not hundreds of thousands of Christians given their lives sacrificially... to meet its physical and spiritual needs?
Patrick Johnstone, in The Future of the Global Church
1John L. Allen Jr., The Global War on Christians (New York: Crown, 2013), introduction.
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 5-6 [ http://iz3.me/gr5v1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, October 4 & 5
Seasonal Changes: Priorities
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 3:7-11 [ http://iz3.me/dMDv1zwXd1A1 ]
We hear a lot about priorities in life and there are many. Every area of life -- family, work, personal -- has its own set of priorities. But is there one that stands above all others? It could be said that attaining eternal life is more important than any other goal in life. After all, eternal life was the gift of God in the beginning, and it is what was lost due to sin. So reestablishing that status could be seen as Priority One in life.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/eMDv1zwXd1A1 ]
"But I have already achieved that priority," you say. "After all, Jesus said that knowing the Father and the Son is eternal life. I know the Father through faith in Christ and have eternal life." Yes, knowing Christ is where eternal life begins; but by its very definition it never ends. All of our earthly, temporal life should be lived in light of the eternity we possess and the presence of God we anticipate. We should be living now the same way we will live in heaven forever.
As the season changes, ask whether your life is changing as well. Is your life taking on more and more of a Christlike quality every day -- becoming less temporal, more eternal?
You must therefore live, in the present, as far as possible like you will live in the future. N. T. Wright
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 7-11 [ http://iz3.me/fMDv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, October 6
Whom Do We Fear?
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
1 Peter 4:19
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 2:19-21 [ http://iz3.me/0aFv1zwXd1A1 ]
In September 2013, Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese doctor, was imprisoned for having married a Christian Sudanese man who is a U.S. citizen. She was sentenced to 100 lashes for her "adultery" and sentenced to death for not renouncing her Christian faith. Her sentences were delayed until she could give birth to the child she was carrying, a birth that occurred in May 2014, in a squalid prison where she was kept. Sudanese officials have come under worldwide condemnation for their faith-based persecution of Ibrahim. And she has not wavered: "I refuse to change. I am not giving up Christianity just so that I can live.... If they want to execute me then they should go ahead and do it because I'm not going to change my faith."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/1aFv1zwXd1A1 ]
Persecution of Christians happens every day around the world. But Christians cannot live their lives in fear of persecution. Rather, we must live in fear (in awe) of God. Man can touch the body but only God can touch the soul (Matthew 10:28).
Purpose daily to live a life of trust and commitment, following Christ wherever He may lead.
Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold -- it is one of the marks of a converted man.
J. C. Ryle
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 12-13 [ http://iz3.me/2aFv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, October 7
The Devil Is Real
....that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.
Revelation 12:9
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 2:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/twOv1zwXd1A1 ]
In his recent newspaper column, "My Answer," evangelist Billy Graham responded to a critic who belittled the biblical teaching of Satan by calling the devil "some imaginary supernatural being." Graham pointed out that the Bible clearly teaches the devil is real and far more powerful than most of us realize. "Remember," he said, "Satan is for death, not life; chaos, not order; despair, not hope."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/uwOv1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus certainly believed the devil was real; He battled him on the Mount of Temptation. Peter believed in the reality of Satan, for he called him "a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). 2:11). Paul warned about the devil, telling us not to be ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Satan is real; he is dangerous and hungry for power. We need to be aware of his plans and reject his attempts to confuse us. The best way to resist the devil is by drawing near to Christ. Jesus is Victor. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is our Triumph today and forever.
Yes, Satan is real, but so is Christ, and someday Satan will be defeated and Christ will rule forever. Don't be deceived, but open your heart and mind to Jesus Christ, and put your life into His hands.
Billy Graham
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 14-17 [ http://iz3.me/vwOv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, October 8
Wherever He Goes
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
Revelation 14:4
Recommended Reading
Matthew 16:24-28 [ http://iz3.me/R0cv1zwXd1A1 ]
Years ago, Reverend R. S. Jones, a missionary to Brazil, had to leave his field of service due to failing health. While at a convention in Alabama, he ran into his friend B. B. McKinney, and the two shared a meal. McKinney asked the missionary what he was going to do next. "I don't know," replied Jones, "but wherever He leads I'll go." McKinney, a hymnist, was struck by those words. Returning to his hotel room, he composed the great hymn of consecration, "Wherever He Leads I'll Go."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/S0cv1zwXd1A1 ]
During the Great Tribulation, the 144,000 evangelists will follow the Lamb wherever He goes, devoting themselves entirely to God, to holiness, and to evangelism. It's crucial for us to do the same now. Christ is going to all the world. He's going to the unreached. He's going into a fallen culture with a message of hope. He's going where there are no easy roads, and He challenges us to take up our cross and follow Him.
Follow the Lamb every step of the way, and let your prayer be: "Wherever You lead, I'll go."
I'll follow my Christ who loves me so; wherever He leads I'll go.
B. B. McKinney
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 18-20 [ http://iz3.me/T0cv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, October 9
Now or Later
But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Revelation 14:4
Recommended Reading
Daniel 3:16-18 [ http://iz3.me/Qblv1zwXd1A1 ]
A well-known maker of automobile oil filters became famous for their slogan introduced in 1971: "You can pay me now, or pay me later. ®" The point was, it's better to spend a little money on regular maintenance now than a lot of money on repairs later . The "now or later" principle applies to many areas of life -- even the spiritual life.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Rblv1zwXd1A1 ]
During the coming Tribulation, God will send two witnesses into the world to testify for Him (Revelation 11:1-13). They will faithfully prophesy for God until they are eventually killed. But the world will be astounded when they are raised from the dead and taken into heaven. God always honors and rewards faithfulness in the face of persecution. It is better to pay whatever price is needed today to remain loyal to Christ than to risk the eternal cost of separation from Him.
The time to make decisions about loyalty to Christ is today, not tomorrow when we are faced with the temptation to deny Him. Consider today what kind of witness you will be for Christ until He returns -- one who is faithful to Him.
Popularity has killed more prophets than persecution.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 21-22 [ http://iz3.me/Sblv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, October 10
Ready to Speak
And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."
Acts 26:29
Recommended Reading
Acts 5:27-29 [ http://iz3.me/Skwv1zwXd1A1 ]
The American pop artist Andy Warhol wrote in 1968, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." From that statement came the now famous reference to "15 minutes of fame" -- a moment when someone finds himself in the spotlight. What would we do or say if we suddenly found ourselves with a captive audience?
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Tkwv1zwXd1A1 ]
That is, if you had one thing you could tell the world, what would it be? The spotlight can cause some people to lose their nerve and freeze -- but not the apostle Paul. On the several occasions he found himself standing before authorities with a captive audience, he never failed to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage those listening to believe in Him (Acts 21:27-22:21; 23:1-11; 24:10-21; 26:1-29; 28:17-31). And the same thing will happen in the coming Tribulation when, because of modern technology, the whole world will hear the testimony of God's two faithful witnesses (Revelation 11:1-13).
Regardless of the size and place of the opportunities God gives you, be prepared to speak of the hope that lies in you (1 Peter 3:15).
Every believer is a witness whether he wants to be or not.
Donald G. Barnhouse
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 23-24 [ http://iz3.me/Ukwv1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, October 11 & 12
Seasonal Changes: Plans
A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Recommended Reading
James 4:13-17 [ http://iz3.me/jF7w1zwXd1A1 ]
Think for a moment about all the plans you have in place right now: You plan to finish reading this devotional; you plan to take care of chores and tasks this weekend; you plan to do certain things next week; you plan to accomplish some family objectives this fall; you plan to take a vacation, get involved in a committee at church, retire, enjoy your senior years, and spend eternity with Christ. We live with plans -- from the small to the sacred and everywhere in between.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/kF7w1zwXd1A1 ]
Scripture commends plan-making -- especially Proverbs (3:5-6; 16:1-4, 9; 19:21; 20:24). Proverbs even commends the ants for "planning" for the winter by storing up food in the summer (Proverbs 6:6-8). Yet for human planners, there is one caveat when it comes to making plans: God's plans always take precedence over ours. Every plan we make should carry the conscious addendum, "As the Lord directs." In a parable the apostle James taught, planners are told to say, "If the Lord wills . . ." (James 4:15).
So, make your plans for this weekend, this fall, and the coming year. Just allow God to direct your steps. And trust that if He changes your plans, it is a chance to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
God's plan will continue on God's schedule.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 25-28 [ http://iz3.me/lF7w1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, October 13
Defeating Temptation
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/2g9w1zwXd1A1 ]
Comedian Flip Wilson made this line famous: "The devil made me do it!" The characters in Wilson's comedy routines often blamed the devil for leading them into trouble. While comedians are not usually a go-to source for biblical theology, Flip Wilson was partly right. The devil can't make anyone do anything, but he can definitely tempt us and influence our choices. But we have defensive measures.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/3g9w1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus' encounter with Satan in the Judean wilderness is a proof-text for the fact that Satan can tempt the child of God. This happened at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry when a failure on His part would have been catastrophic. Satan tempted Jesus three different times with three different enticements. But each time, Jesus rebuffed the offers and remained true to God's Word and God's will (Matthew 4:1-11). Though unsuccessful then, Satan "departed from [ Jesus ] until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13).
James writes that if we do what Jesus did -- submit to God in obedient faith and resist the devil -- Satan will flee from us (James 4:7). When we live clothed with the armor of God in obedient faith (Ephesians 6:10-18), Satan will be defeated.
Those that would avoid sin must not parley with temptation.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 1-3 [ http://iz3.me/4g9w1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, October 14
Elephant Tracks
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Romans 16:20
Recommended Reading
Romans 16:17-27 [ http://iz3.me/hQGw1zwXd1A1 ]
Tor Bowling, 27, an engineer, quit his job to see the world; but earlier this year in Thailand he got more than he bargained for. While hiking in the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, he encountered an elephant charging at him like a freight train. Bowling instinctively stepped forward and held up his hand in a halting motion. The elephant stopped, turned, and fled in the opposite direction.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/iQGw1zwXd1A1 ]
At times, Satan charges us like a stampeding elephant or a roaring lion. He can be intimidating. He may even appear to be winning. He reduced Job to the ash heap, sifted Peter like wheat, caused Christ to die for our sins, and hindered Paul from visiting the Thessalonians. According to the book of Revelation, he will dominate the entire world during the Tribulation.
But when we hold up the cross, Satan's power is broken. His defeat is certain, and the God of peace will crush him under our feet shortly. Until then, we have all we need for victory—the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Overcomer! Satan is already defeated! ... We should stand on the ground of the cross, asking for victory as well as for the destruction of the works of the devil.
Watchman Nee
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 4-5 [ http://iz3.me/jQGw1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, October 15
A Devilish Crime
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
Recommended Reading
Revelation 12:10-12 [ http://iz3.me/6USw1zwXd1A1 ]
When you think of counterfeiting, don't just think of money. Fraudsters are creating knockoff websites that imitate those of real companies. Customers are tricked into purchasing inferior products on these fraudulent Internet pages, thinking they're shopping on the genuine website.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/7USw1zwXd1A1 ]
Counterfeiting in all its forms is a devilish crime. Satan is the original counterfeiter, and his goal is to duplicate everything God has made and to trick us into buying the bogus article. The Bible says of false teachers: "Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). During the Great Tribulation, the devil, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet will even try to trick the world into following a counterfeit trinity.
Satan can imitate God, but he cannot duplicate Him -- God is the only One who can deliver us from our pain and suffering. Let's look to Jesus, put on His armor, and resist the wiles of the devil.
No matter how hard Satan tries, he cannot dim the glory of Jesus. People may close their eyes or turn their backs, but neither of those actions reduces Jesus' divine stature.
Woodrow Kroll
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 6-7 [ http://iz3.me/8USw1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, October 16
Avoid This Spirit
And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 John 4:3
Recommended Reading
1 John 2:15-19 [ http://iz3.me/G4fw1zwXd1A1 ]
We hear "Spirit of . . ." often: Spirit of Christmas, Spirit of 1776, Spirit of America, the Olympic Spirit, and others. While it's hard to define, "spirit of" means attitudes and behaviors consistent with the season or event being described.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/H4fw1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle John wrote that a diabolical spirit -- "the spirit of the Antichrist" (1 John 4:3) -- was already at work, empowering those who denied that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh as a human man -- the Son of God and the Son of Man. The Greek word anti can mean "against" or "in place of." So the spirit of the Antichrist would be any attitude, behavior, or teaching that is blatantly against or subtly counterfeiting the true Christ. There is no reason to suspect that the spirit of the Antichrist was limited to the first century. Look around today at the number of ways Christ is opposed or misrepresented in our culture.
It is the Christian's responsibility to know Christ and His teaching well enough to immediately recognize "the spirit of the Antichrist."
What will finally destroy us is not communism or fascism, but man acting like God.
Malcolm Muggeridge
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 8-9 [ http://iz3.me/I4fw1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Friday, October 17
The Unholy Trinity
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 16:13
Recommended Reading
Revelation 13:1-2, 11-12 [ http://iz3.me/UXow1zwXd1A1 ]
Counterfeit money is as old as money itself -- coins were first used in Greece around 600 B.C. Counterfeits were made of less valuable metals but looked the same. It is estimated today that for every one million true United States dollars in circulation there are one hundred counterfeit dollars.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/VXow1zwXd1A1 ]
At every opportunity Satan will seek to counterfeit God's work (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Everything he says is a lie, as worthless as counterfeit currency (John 8:44). In the coming Tribulation, Satan will deploy his most dramatic counterfeit strategy of all: an unholy trinity. Just as the Holy Trinity consists of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Satan's unholy trinity will consist of himself (counterfeiting God the Father), the Antichrist (paralleling the Son), and the False Prophet (imitating the Spirit) (Revelation 16:13). They will seek to deceive the whole world into worshiping the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ.
The spirit of the Antichrist is at work today (1 John 4:3). Do not be deceived by what you see or hear (1 Peter 5:8).
There are powers that can counterfeit almost everything in the Christian life.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 10-11 [ http://iz3.me/WXow1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Weekend, October 11 & 12
Seasonal Changes: Plans
A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Recommended Reading
James 4:13-17 [ http://iz3.me/rOww1zwXd1A1 ]
Think for a moment about all the plans you have in place right now: You plan to finish reading this devotional; you plan to take care of chores and tasks this weekend; you plan to do certain things next week; you plan to accomplish some family objectives this fall; you plan to take a vacation, get involved in a committee at church, retire, enjoy your senior years, and spend eternity with Christ. We live with plans -- from the small to the sacred and everywhere in between.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/sOww1zwXd1A1 ]
Scripture commends plan-making -- especially Proverbs (3:5-6; 16:1-4, 9; 19:21; 20:24). Proverbs even commends the ants for "planning" for the winter by storing up food in the summer (Proverbs 6:6-8). Yet for human planners, there is one caveat when it comes to making plans: God's plans always take precedence over ours. Every plan we make should carry the conscious addendum, "As the Lord directs." In a parable the apostle James taught, planners are told to say, "If the Lord wills . . ." (James 4:15).
So, make your plans for this weekend, this fall, and the coming year. Just allow God to direct your steps. And trust that if He changes your plans, it is a chance to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
God's plan will continue on God's schedule.
A. W. Tozer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Matthew 25-28 [ http://iz3.me/tOww1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Monday, October 20
Taking the Long View
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
Recommended Reading
Revelation 13:16-18 [ http://iz3.me/hw0x1zwXd1A1 ]
Many nations have used rationing -- controlling the availability of certain goods and services -- during times of war. Citizens usually comply with rationing because they understand the long-term benefits of achieving national prosperity through victory.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/iw0x1zwXd1A1 ]
In the Tribulation, however, the Antichrist will institute a form of rationing unlike any the world has seen. It will be for the purposes of gaining control and securing the allegiance of the world's population. Without the "mark . . . of the beast," no one will be able to buy or sell goods or services (Revelation 13:16-18). Those who refuse the Antichrist's "mark" will suffer. But those who refuse the mark, and are killed for Christ's sake, will be resurrected to reign with Christ in the Millennium for a thousand years.
Much of the spiritual life is about discerning the difference between short-term gratification and long-term blessing -- as in eternal blessing.
In true Christianity, there are no short-term commitments and no escape clauses.
John Blanchard
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Mark 15-16 [ http://iz3.me/jw0x1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Tuesday, October 21
A Picture of Sin
Take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
Numbers 32:23
Recommended Reading
Psalm 51:7-13 [ http://iz3.me/1u9x1zwXd1A1 ]
A man in Palm Beach County, Florida, was arrested for theft earlier this year. He might have gotten away with it except he posted "selfies" of himself with the loot on his Instagram page. Officials searched his house and found a quarter-million dollars' worth of stolen plunder. As they filled out the arrest warrant, they asked the man his occupation. He replied, "Thief."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2u9x1zwXd1A1 ]
It's strange when we're proud of the things we should be ashamed of -- and ashamed of the things we should boast about. The Bible tells us to boast in the Lord, but to avoid the appearance of evil. Even as fully forgiven, born-again Christians, we can become proud of some evil habit in our lives. And, sad to say, we can be ashamed of serving Jesus. That's a terrible condition.
Although we enjoy God's grace here on earth, we need to remember He is just in all His dealings with us and we should never take His grace for granted. Listen instead to 2 Corinthians 7:1: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
Robert Robinson in the hymn, "Come, Thou Fount"
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 1-2 [ http://iz3.me/3u9x1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Wednesday, October 22
A Dark World
.. . . shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.
Philippians 2:15-16
Recommended Reading
Philippians 2:14-18 [ http://iz3.me/frKx1zwXd1A1 ]
Turning Points readers live all over the world, some in lands of oppression and some in countries with ungodly leaders. We live in a dark world, and our rulers are often ego-driven and misguided. Some governments are corrupt, and few leaders are truly Christ-loving people. Yet few of us have a ruler as bad as Nero, the emperor with whom Paul contended. Nero was brutal, weak, sensual, perverted, sadistic, and deranged. He freely tortured and killed Christians, lighting his chariot course with their burning bodies.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/grKx1zwXd1A1 ]
The apostle Paul told us to pray for our leaders and to respect the authority God has put into place (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1). In spite of Nero, Paul managed to turn the world upside down and advance the Gospel to every corner (Acts 17:6).
When Jesus comes again, every knee will bow before Him. Revelation 19 says He will rule "with a rod of iron." No earthly leader will be able to withstand His return, not even the Antichrist. But until then, let's shine with the message of the Cross. We can still turn the world upside down. We can be living torches for Christ today.
When we are in touch with God's joy and peace in us, then we become whole and holy persons. Like living torches we radiate the light and heat of God's compassionate love.
Mark Yaconelli
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 3-4 [ http://iz3.me/hrKx1zwXd1A1 ]
:angel:
Thursday, October 23
Seated With Christ
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 [ http://iz3.me/VqVx1zwXd1A1 ]
In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul chided the Corinthians for failing to resolve difficulties without suing one another. We should be able to settle matters with each other, he said, because one day we'll judge the world. It's hard to foresee how that will happen, but similar verses reinforce the point. The Bible teaches we will reign with Christ and have part in His kingship. When He judges the world, we'll be there to agree with His judgment.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/WqVx1zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 19:28, "You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Revelation 3:21 adds, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne." The Bible says, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him " (2 Timothy 2:12). In Revelation 20, John envisioned God's faithful children reigning with Christ a thousand years.
If we'll one day judge the world, shouldn't we be able to work out our disagreements now? Think of a troubled relationship in your life and ask God for wisdom to improve it.
God has raised you up to be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. It's a place not only of privilege but of serious responsibility, for as you pray, you do so alongside your Lord and from an exalted position.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 5-6 [ http://iz3.me/XqVx1zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, October 24
Universal Praise
Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne.
Revelation 5:13
Recommended Reading
Psalm 148 [ http://iz3.me/H0ix1zwXd1A1 ]
When we praise the Lord, we're joining the saints of Scripture and the hymnists of history in lifting up our worship to Him who sits on the Throne. We're joining the hosts in heaven now gathered by the crystal river. We're sharing in the natural praise that arises from Creation as the birds sing, the winds howl, and the thunders rumble across the sky. The whole universe is designed to praise the Lord.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/I0ix1zwXd1A1 ]
George Dawson, a nineteenth-century English divine, prayed: "We join, O God, in the blessed strain Thy holy children sang of old, when, filled full of gladness and Divine glory, they all met to sing Thy praise, to praise Thee as a God of glory, and to magnify Thy mighty name. We too would call upon all things to praise Thee, and join the song poured forth unto Thee by the sweet birds and the flowers, and by all Thy works in nature."
From first to last, Revelation brims and overflows with worship. It isn't a book of perplexity but of praise. If worship will be universal during the Millennium and eternal state, let's get a head start on it today!
Thou hast uplifted us, and given us to drink of the cup of God, drawn from the river of the water of life which is by Thy Throne for evermore.
George Dawson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 7-8 [ http://iz3.me/J0ix1zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, October 25 & 26
Seasonal Changes: Places
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem . . . .
Matthew 16:21
Recommended Reading
Jonah 1:1-3 [ http://iz3.me/bwpx1zwXd1A1 ]
According to the 2011 U.S. Census, a typical American moves his place of residence 11.7 times in his lifetime -- about once every seven years. But when it comes to changing our "place," there is more than geography to consider.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/cwpx1zwXd1A1 ]
Our life consists of many different "places": work, recreation, relationships, education -- even mental, spiritual, or emotional places ("I'm in a really great place right now!"). "Place" is one of those parts of life that needs to be always before the Lord for His confirmation or correction. God may want us to serve or help someone which will require us to change our place. Or He may want us to leave a place that is having a negative impact on our life. He may even want us to remain there and be an agent of godly change in a place that doesn't acknowledge Him. Christ made His disciples into apostles by sending them from where they were into the world (Matthew 28:19-20). We should be ready for Him to change our place in life as well.
Where are you this fall -- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally? Ask God to confirm where you are or give you grace to change if needed.
The middle of the road is a poor place to walk. It is a poor place to drive. It is a poor place to live.
Vance Havner
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 9-12 [ http://iz3.me/dwpx1zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, October 27
Being Narrow-Minded
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
2 Timothy 4:1
Recommended Reading
2 Timothy 4:6-8 [ http://iz3.me/kMsx1zwXd1A1 ]
Some say biblical Christianity is too narrow. If it is true (and it is) then it is indeed narrow compared with modern sensibilities. It helps to remind ourselves of what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ, to make sure we remain committed to a biblical faith.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/lMsx1zwXd1A1 ]
For instance, the Bible says that Jesus Christ will sit as judge of all humanity one day in the future (Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1). Do you believe this? Jesus Himself said that He is the way, the truth, and the life -- that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Do you believe this? The Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10). Do you believe this? Jesus said that everyone who does not believe in Him stands condemned already (John 3:18). Do you believe this? But the Bible also says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Do you believe this?
The law of gravity is narrow, but it is also true. The best response to truth is to believe and rejoice in its blessing.
All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass -- Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Archibald Alexander
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 13-15 [ http://iz3.me/mMsx1zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, October 28
The Judge of All the Earth
True and righteous are His judgments.
Revelation 19:2
Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 [ http://iz3.me/18302zwXd1A1 ]
In Genesis 18:25, Abraham asked a question that puts things in perspective: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" As humans, we recoil from the concept of judgment. We question why God would condemn the world. We wonder about those who have never heard the message of the Gospel. We can't fully understand the presence of evil in the universe or the suffering that fills our world. Sometimes we're uncomfortable with the biblical concepts of God's wrath, vengeance, and judgment.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/28302zwXd1A1 ]
In the end, we will come to Abraham's conclusion in Genesis: The Judge of all the earth will do right. We'll agree with the angels in Revelation: "True and righteous are His judgments." God's wisdom knows how to handle sin; and His purity demands its condemnation. His grace is extended to us fully and freely, and His Cross frees us from condemnation.
Without the judgment of God, sin and suffering would be unhindered, unfettered, and unending. God's judgment is certain, but it's wise in its application and crucial for our happiness. We can praise Him for His judgments, for the Judge of all the world will do right. He is -- and always will be -- true and righteous.
The fact that there will be a final judgment assures us that ultimately God's universe is fair, for God is in control.
Wayne Grudem
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 16-18 [ http://iz3.me/58302zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, October 29
The Great White Throne
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
Revelation 20:12
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:11-15 [ http://iz3.me/rNC02zwXd1A1 ]
Anyone who has sat in a courtroom awaiting a verdict knows the stress of the moment. Innocent or guilty? Life or death? Tension fills the courtroom like electrical voltage as the jury renders its decision and the judge pronounces the sentence.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/sNC02zwXd1A1 ]
What, then, will it be like at the Great White Throne? God will have a complete record of every moment of everyone's life, everything done publicly and privately. This will be the ultimate test for those who believe their good works will get them into heaven. No one has lived a perfect or sinless life; no one's works will be sufficient. Whether we view our lives as good or bad, without Christ there is only condemnation.
That's why Christ came to save us. His blood shields us, for "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Becoming a Christian means we no longer gain salvation by our works but by grace. The only way to pass from death to life -- to bypass the Great White Throne Judgment -- is through faith in Christ.
How much better to know Him as Savior than to meet Him as Judge!
A great white throne: Great, because of the causes that will be decided there ... white, because of its immaculate purity ... a throne, because a King will sit there.
F. B. Meyer, in Great Verses Through the Bible
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 19-20 [ http://iz3.me/tNC02zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, October 30
Negating the Word of God
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Recommended Reading
Mark 7:1-13 [ http://iz3.me/MOL02zwXd1A1 ]
Many adults today are assuming a greater share of responsibility for their aging parents. In Jesus' day, He criticized some who sidestepped that responsibility based on a Jewish tradition that had evolved. They made "the word of God of no effect through [ their ] tradition" (Mark 7:13). This tradition said money could be dedicated to God and thus not be used to help one's parents. That is an example of keeping the letter but violating the spirit of the law. It was a tradition that essentially negated God's Word.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/NOL02zwXd1A1 ]
Traditions are not wrong in and of themselves -- they are simply practices or teachings passed from one generation to another. If the practices or teachings conform to God's Word, they are good and should be preserved -- like the traditions Paul exhorted the Corinthians and Thessalonians to keep (1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). The challenge is discerning which traditions are pleasing to God and which are not.
Think about the religious traditions in your own life today. How many are conscious choices, consistent with Scripture, and how many are not?
Corrupt practices are the genuine fruit and product of corrupt principles.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 21-22 [ http://iz3.me/OOL02zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, October 31
Saved to Serve
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13
Recommended Reading
Mark 10:41-45 [ http://iz3.me/MhV02zwXd1A1 ]
Children think that the absence of rules means the absence of restraint -- and not just physical children; spiritual children often think that too. Paul dedicated part of his letter to the Galatians, teaching that "liberty" -- freedom from the law -- is not a license for the unbridled appetites of the flesh. Rather, the energy formerly spent obeying the law is now to be redirected to serving others.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/NhV02zwXd1A1 ]
Jesus told His disciples that He did not come into the world to be served but to serve and to give His life for others (Mark 10:45). Indeed, He said that greatness is determined by the humility of service. Two of Isaiah''s most powerful images are that of the nation of Israel as a servant to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:3), then of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant for both Jews and Gentiles alike (Isaiah 53:11). If Christ came to honor God by serving the will of God, we who go by His name must do the same.
Look for an opportunity today to serve someone in your life. Serve them as Christ would serve -- sacrificially and unconditionally.
Use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.
Eugene Peterson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 23-24 [ http://iz3.me/OhV02zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, November 1 & 2
Gratuity Not Included: God
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.
James 1:17
Recommended Reading
James 1:12-18 [ http://iz3.me/JCg02zwXd1A1 ]
One of the greatest speeches in sports history was given seventy-five years ago. It was short -- 277 words, spoken by a shy man whose head was bowed in modesty. He held his baseball cap in one hand and wiped tears with the other. Those in the stands knew Lou Gehrig was ill, but didn't know the nature of his disease. He didn't tell them. He simply began: "Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." For the next few minutes, he told the crowd how thankful he was for his life, his wife, his parents, his teammates, even his mother-in-law. The simplicity of his words earned him the title, "The Luckiest Man."
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/KCg02zwXd1A1 ]
As Christians, we don't think of ourselves as lucky but as blessed. Occasionally we have bad breaks, but we have a good God who bestows good things. He doesn't demand gratitude, just as most restaurants don't demand tips. We give it willingly. It's how we remember we're the most blessed people on the face of the earth.
So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.
Lou Gehrig
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/LCg02zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, November 3
When Hearts Come Together
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2
Recommended Reading
Psalm 61 [ http://iz3.me/81j02zwXd1A1 ]
In November 2004, two North Carolina buddies, Dale Beatty and John Gallina, were wounded when their vehicle hit an anti-tank mine in Iraq. John received severe head and back injuries. Dale lost both legs below the knee. Neither man let their injuries stop them. Returning home, they formed an organization to provide accessible housing solutions for disabled veterans. Their story has widely appeared in the media, and they've been called part of "the new greatest generation." Their slogan: "When hearts come together, great things happen." 1
Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/91j02zwXd1A1 ]
We can't always control what happens to us, but we are responsible for our response. It takes time to work through painful and injurious episodes in life; but nothing is wasted in the providence of God. He knows how to take every burden and bring from it a blessing. Obstacles are stepping stones, not roadblocks.
In times of loss, it's necessary to grieve, process the pain, ask questions, and allow ourselves to cycle through natural human emotions. But all the while, we can cry to the Lord. When overwhelmed, we can pray, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
We may not be able to rejoice in our circumstances, but we can rejoice in the Lord and brighten up in God our Savior.
Robert J. Morgan
1 Purple Heart Homes, purplehearthomesusa.org (accessed July 29, 2014).
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 5-6 [ http://iz3.me/A1j02zwXd1A1 ]
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Wednesday, November 5
Character Counts
And [ God ] said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
Genesis 32:28
Recommended Reading
Genesis 25:19-34 [ http://iz3.me/6f412zwXd1A1 ]
Given names (first names) came first in history, with surnames (last names) being added later. It's easy to see how some name combinations were formed: John the miller became John Miller; Thomas the blacksmith (or ironsmith) became Thomas Smith; Joseph the farmer became Joseph Farmer. Surnames were also derived from geography, nature, and character traits.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/8f412zwXd1A1 ]
That last category -- character traits and responsibilities -- describes how many biblical names were assigned or changed. For example, Jacob ("tripper" or "supplanter") received his name because he grasped his firstborn twin brother Esau's foot when they were born. And later, Jacob "tripped" Esau up by stealing his birthright and blessing from their father Isaac. But then God humbled Jacob in an encounter and changed his name to Israel -- "he who struggles with God." Characteristically, Israel the nation took Israel the patriarch's name, and rightfully so: Israel as a nation has struggled all its life with God, and remains in that struggle today.
If God ascribed a name to you, based on character, what would it be?
Character, like embroidery, is made stitch by stitch.
Anonymous
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 9–10 [ http://iz3.me/Af412zwXd1A1 ]
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Thursday, November 6
Educational Encounter
Also God said to [ Jacob ]: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body."
Genesis 35:11
Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-19 [ http://iz3.me/fHF12zwXd1A1 ]
The list of those whom God saved out of carnality and rebellion into a life of spiritual maturity is long. But that's the whole point isn't it? God's goal is to transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) -- and He'll use all means necessary (Romans 8:28).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/gHF12zwXd1A1 ]
Who would have thought that, in his younger days, a scheming man like Jacob would become the father of twelve sons from whom would arise the multitudes in the nation of Israel? And yet that is what God did through a painful encounter with Jacob (Genesis 32:22-30). In fact, Jacob lived with a limp after that encounter, and his descendants refused to eat the meat in an animal's hip socket in memory of Jacob's encounter and transformation (Genesis 32:31-32). In short, God will do whatever it takes to conform us to the image of His Son -- even allow us to experience pain and live with reminders of our "educational encounter" with Him.
Let God have His way in your life today. The sooner we say "Yes, Lord" to Him, the sooner we become like Him.
The Christian life is not applied like make-up to the outside of our personalities, but is an outgrowth from an inner transformation.
J. A. Motyer
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 11–12 [ http://iz3.me/hHF12zwXd1A1 ]
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Friday, November 7
His Supreme Ways
Even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
1 Peter 3:14
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:13-17 [ http://iz3.me/1pP12zwXd1A1 ]
An honors student in Massachusetts learned that a friend was drunk at a party and needed a safe ride home. When she came to collect her friend, the police arrived too and she was arrested with the group. This Good Samaritan had not been drinking, was not in possession of alcohol, and the police later vouched for her sobriety and behavior. Nevertheless her school, citing its zero-tolerance policy, suspended her from her sports team. The case has since been argued in the court of public opinion, where one person posted this ironic comment: "Thank goodness she didn't have a Bible on her or she would have been in real trouble."
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/2pP12zwXd1A1 ]
Sometimes we get in real trouble trying to do the right thing. In Genesis 37, Joseph obeyed his father's request, but it led to an opportunity for his brothers to betray him. One good deed cost him thirteen years of freedom. But in the end, God supremely vindicated him and used it for good. If you should suffer for righteousness' sake, don't grow weary. You are blessed, and God will uphold you in His supreme ways.
You're one happy man when you do what's right, one happy woman when you form the habit of justice.
Eugene Peterson
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 13–15 [ http://iz3.me/3pP12zwXd1A1 ]
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Weekend, November 8 & 9
Gratuity Not Included: Spouse
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3
Recommended Reading
Philippians 1:3-8 [ http://iz3.me/cJa12zwXd1A1 ]
When Aaron Collins worked in a pizzeria, he noticed how little the servers made. So he made out his will and added a stipulation leaving a $500 tip to a restaurant server. When he suddenly died at age thirty, his estate couldn't afford to pay the "tip," so his friends pitched in. The campaign spread, aided by social media; and thousands of dollars in tips have now been distributed to servers across America in Collins' honor.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/dJa12zwXd1A1 ]
Maybe there's a server in your own house, under your own roof. Perhaps there is someone who serves others day and night. It might be your spouse. Perhaps you know someone who labors selflessly. Perhaps you're married to this dear one.
It's wonderful to be a blessing after our deaths, but why wait? How much better to express appreciation now! We often neglect to thank those closest to us. We take them for granted. Take time right now to call, text, email, or write to tell someone how much you thank God for them. A gesture of gratitude might be unexpected, but it will never be unappreciated.
How much would our churches be transformed if each of us made it a practice to thank God for others and then to tell these others what it is about them that we thank God for?
D. A. Carson, in A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 16–19 [ http://iz3.me/eJa12zwXd1A1 ]
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Monday, November 10
The Last Word
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:16
Recommended Reading
Genesis 37:31-33 [ http://iz3.me/O9d12zwXd1A1 ]
There are at least two ways to be untruthful about another person. One, it is possible to tell a lie -- to say that someone did or said something that he didn't. The other way is not to tell the truth when you know someone is under a false impression. Staying quiet in the presence of a lie can be as wrong as telling the lie.
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/P9d12zwXd1A1 ]
Ten of Jacob's sons, who were also brothers of Joseph, the eleventh son, were guilty on both counts. First, they misrepresented what happened to Joseph; they pretended they didn't know how Joseph's torn, bloody coat got that way. They even pretended not to know if the coat was Joseph's. Then, when Jacob reached a wrong conclusion about Joseph's fate -- that he had been killed by a wild animal -- the brothers remained silent, knowing that they had sold Joseph, alive and well, to Midianite traders. Not to worry -- God always gets the last word when it comes to truth as He did in Joseph's case (Genesis 39:19-23; Matthew 12:36).
First, purpose never to traffic in falsehoods yourself. Second, purpose never to remain silent in the presence of a lie (Ephesians 4:15). The false reports of man are always subject to the final reports of God.
I am quite sure that the best way to promote union is to promote truth.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 20-21 [ http://iz3.me/Q9d12zwXd1A1 ]
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Tuesday, November 11
Behind the Scenes
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:17
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 [ http://iz3.me/bll12zwXd1A1 ]
On the way out of Egypt, God protected Israel from military danger by sending them deep into the Sinai Peninsula (Exodus 13:17-18). And God sent them into Egypt to protect them from a moral danger in the land of Canaan (Genesis 38).
Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/cll12zwXd1A1 ]
Without going into the unsavory details, some in Jacob's family -- specifically, Jacob's son Judah -- became involved in serious immorality because of his family's close proximity to Canaanites. It became apparent that if Jacob's sons and their families were to remain faithful to the Lord, they needed to leave Canaan until they were morally and spiritually stronger. So God sent a famine on Canaan, arranged for his son Joseph to provide a place of refuge for Jacob's family in Egypt, and kept them there for 400 years, separated from the Egyptians in a corner of the land (Genesis 46:31-34).
Don't be too quick to judge inconvenient circumstances in your life. God may be at work behind the scenes to protect you from something more serious.
A Sovereign Protector I have, unseen, yet forever at hand.
Augustus M. Toplady
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 1–3 [ http://iz3.me/dll12zwXd1A1 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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
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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
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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 ]
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