Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

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.

  Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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

  Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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 )

[Judy Harder]

 
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.

  Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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?"

  Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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."

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )

[Judy Harder]

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.

  Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

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 )