Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

 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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

[Judy Harder]

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

 

[Judy Harder]

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