Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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