Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

January 06, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Worship
He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord -Genesis 12:8

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.

Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram "pitched his tent" between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time- there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must "pitch our tents" where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life- worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God's idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.

Giving When No One Sees

Matthew 6:1-4 gives some important insight into giving,

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.  Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

Jesus points us to a truth that is vital to us as Christians:  Giving is an issue of the heart.

God will not honor your giving if, when you give, your heart is saying, "I want everyone to know what I'm doing.  I want to be noticed when I give.  I want everyone to know just how generous and kind I am and what a benevolent heart I have."

We should give with a pure motive.  When we give with the right motive, not to be seen by men but out of a right heart, God will reward us openly.  That may not exactly translate into dollars and cents, but it will translate into tangible blessings, things that people can see.

If nobody else knows you kicked in the extra hundred bucks, don't worry about it.  God sees, and He has a way of rewarding you openly.  Everyone will recognize the hand of God is on you.  God's blessings will come into your life.

So when you give, check your heart to make sure you are giving with the right motive.
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Read: Luke 19:1-10
The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. - Luke 19:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some people see "market morality" as an empty phrase. In the market, they say, what's "right" is what works. "Sex sells," so immorality is promoted and human bodies are degraded to sell a product. "Fame sells," so we are urged to buy something as an act of near-worship of an athlete or entertainer. Dignity and self-respect are assaulted-people are told their bodies, minds, desires, and lifestyles are hopeless, unless they purchase certain items. Envy and covetousness are promoted-happiness and contentment are impossible without the latest gadgets.
In God's eyes, however, the bottom line of sales and profit margins is not the bottom line of morality. As followers of Christ, we cannot use such reasoning in our handling of money. Zacchaeus had done so, but when he trusted Christ his financial attitudes and actions changed dramatically. As a chief tax collector, he had reasoned and acted in worldly ways. He had used his position and power for personal gain. All the Roman collaborators did so, and since he was in a position of authority he must have been good at it! But God worked in his life, and one momentous day this short man climbed a sycamore tree in order to be able to see Jesus. Shockingly, the Son of God invited Himself to dinner at the house of this notoriously corrupt official (vv. 5-7; cf. Luke 5:27-32; 15:1-7).

Zacchaeus believed in Jesus that day (vv. 9-10). He repented of his sins and showed it by his words and actions. He gladly welcomed Jesus into his home, even though his guest knew all about him. His life would never be the same. He not only returned his ill-gotten gains, he repaid his thievery four times over, far beyond the Law's normal provision for restitution of paying back the amount plus 20 percent (Num. 5:5-7). Furthermore, Zacchaeus generously gave half of what remained to the poor, demonstrating once and for all that his heart no longer served Money (Luke 16:13). In the end, money was transformed from a sign of corruption, dishonesty, and oppression into a sign of repentance, freedom, and spiritual rebirth.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Introducing his Gospel, the apostle John said of Jesus: "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (1:12-13). Repenting of sin and believing in Jesus, as Zacchaeus did in today's reading, is the key to becoming a child of God. If you haven't done so already, we encourage you to take this step today!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 07, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?' -John 14:9

These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: ". . . I have called you friends . . ." (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?

Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

A Matter of the Heart

God cares deeply about the motivations of our hearts. Yesterday, we saw that the heart is what matters most in giving. In Matthew 6:6, 17-18, we are shown just how important the heart is to God.

First Jesus deals with our heart when we 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."

Next He deals with our heart when fasting,

"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Jesus wants you and me to pray with the right heart, not seeking the praise of others. And the same is true with fasting. When you fast, you are not supposed to let everybody know.

When you fast, if somebody says, "Hey, would you like to go to lunch today?" and you reply, "I can't. I'm fasting," they may think, "Wow, he's spiritual!" but that is all the reward you get, right there, so you better enjoy it.

What is Jesus' point? When we give to the poor, when we pray, when we fast, we do not do it to get the applause or recognition of men. We do it out of obedience to God, out of love for our fellow men, and just wanting to help somebody else who is trying to make it through the day on this planet.

That is why we should do it. That is the right motivation of the heart.
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Read: Mark 14:3-9
Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told. - Mark 14:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Almost 90 percent of Americans identify with a religion, including 75 percent who say they're Christian. But according to a survey by the Barna Group, only 12 percent identify faith as the top priority in their life. Faith is outranked by family (45%); by health, leisure, and a balanced lifestyle (20%); and by wealth, money-making, and career success (17%). Among those who go to church regularly, the number is still just one in five. Among evangelicals, only 39 percent say faith is their highest priority in life. The president of the Barna Group commented: "When it comes to why so much of American religion seems merely skin-deep, this gap between what people call themselves and what they prioritize is perhaps most telling."
The woman in our reading had her priorities in the right order. From John 12:1-8, we know the woman was Jesus' friend, Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Just before Passion Week, while Jesus was in their home, she anointed Him with a very expensive perfume. Her act was a sign of respect and devotion and was motivated by both friendship and worship. The disciples, however, did not understand. They complained that the perfume, probably pure nard from India, could have been sold for the equivalent of a year's pay and the money given to the poor. Setting aside the dishonest motives of Judas (revealed in John's account), what was wrong with their complaint? After all, their statement was true. Wouldn't it have been more efficient and beneficial to use the money as they suggested? Wouldn't this have been better stewardship?

Jesus' response indicated that good stewardship is not necessarily governed by pragmatic concerns, even well-intentioned ones. In this case, honor and worship of Jesus trumped all other considerations (vv. 6-9). His earthly ministry was drawing to a close. Soon He would be crucified and buried, and within God's plan Mary's anointing was a foreshadowing of and a preparation for these events. What she had done was not wasteful but "a beautiful thing" and would become part of the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just as Jesus observed, the poor still need our help (v. 7). Christ showed compassion for the poor throughout His earthly ministry. Holidays are often seen as a time of special giving in this regard, including distributing food baskets at Thanksgiving and putting money into Salvation Army buckets outside stores at Christmas. But after the holidays, the poor still need help from God's people. Consider volunteering at a soup kitchen, or see if a homeless shelter needs blankets or coats this month.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 08, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Intimate With Jesus
Abraham built an altar . . . ; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar . . . -Genesis 22:9

This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not- "Lord, I am ready to go with You . . . to death" (Luke 22:33). But- "I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God."

We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him.

It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a "living sacrifice"- to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.

The Heart of the Issue

Over the last few devotionals, we have learned just how important our heart motivation is in giving, praying, and fasting. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus continues to deal with matters of the heart,

"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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

How do you lay up treasures in heaven? Jesus told the rich young ruler, "Sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." So giving to help people, giving to the poor, giving to ministry, giving to God's work instead of hoarding it up, giving to God-that is the way you lay treasure up in heaven.

But notice that Jesus goes on to say, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus hasn't really changed the subject. The heart of the issue is the heart. That is the theme of Jesus' teaching.

A right heart attitude-a proper heart motive-is what God cares about most. That is true whether you are giving, you are praying, or you are fasting. He wants you to do these things for the right reasons.

Those right reasons include your desire to help people. Your desire to express your love for God and His Kingdom. Those are the right reasons.

Jesus said, when you are motivated by the right reasons, you are laying up treasure in heaven. He says, "Where your treasure is (in heaven with God), there your heart will be also."

His point? The heart of the issue is your heart.
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Read: Deuteronomy 8:10-18
Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. - Deuteronomy 8:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Like Jacob, his father-in-law Laban liked to manipulate and deceive (Genesis 29-31). While Jacob was an accomplished trickster and dealmaker himself, Laban beat him at his own game, first deceiving him into working fourteen years for the right to marry Rachel, then paying him "wages" of only the spotted and speckled sheep from his flocks. Nonetheless, God blessed Jacob with wealth and prosperity to such an extent that Laban and his family became jealous. Jacob gave full credit to the Lord for his success: "The God of my father has been with me . . . God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me" (Gen. 31:5, 9).
Giving credit to the Lord is one of the key principles of godly financial stewardship. After all, God is in charge of our financial destinies: "The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts" (1 Sam. 2:7). Or in the words of today's verse: "It is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth" (v. 18).

The Mosaic covenant included God's promise of blessing on obedience. The corresponding temptation, however, was that once the people had received blessings they would forget the Source and take the glory for themselves. The human tendency is to blame other people or circumstances for bad things, but to take full credit for good things! Moses, after presenting an appealing portrait of peace and prosperity, forcefully warned them of the temptation of pride (v. 14). By focusing on self, pride forgets who God is. The Israelites could not afford to forget the One who had freed them from slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert, provided for their needs, and would bring them to the Promised Land. When that day came, they would need to resist the inevitable temptation to pat themselves on the back (v. 17).

We, too, must acknowledge the Lord as the real Provider and the One who controls our financial situations. In light of this, we, too, should reject pride and focus instead on a response of praise (v. 10) and a habit of obedience (v. 11).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As both wage earners and business people, we face the temptation to give ourselves credit for any success. We would do well to heed God's words: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight" (Jer. 9:23-24).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 09, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Prayerful Inner-Searching
May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless . . . -1 Thessalonians 5:23

"Your whole spirit . . . ." The great, mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is in the deep recesses of our being which we cannot reach. Read Psalm 139 . The psalmist implies- "O Lord, You are the God of the early mornings, the God of the late nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea. But, my God, my soul has horizons further away than those of early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature. You who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot discover, dreams I cannot realize. My God, search me."

Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? ". . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God's sight.

We should more frequently allow our minds to meditate on these great, massive truths of God.

Living for Whom?


Today I want us to return to Luke 12, but focus on verses 16-19,

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'"

This guy is classic!  While he was rich, he was only rich toward himself.  He did not have any thoughts about being rich toward the Kingdom of God.  He was totally self-centered.

In fact, in the few short verses where this man speaks, verses 17, 18, and 19, he uses six "I"s, five "my"s, and four "I will"s.  He says, "My crops, my barns, my goods, my soul."  Pretty self-centered!

Yes, his land brought forth an incredible harvest, but who provided the fertile soil?  Who provided the rain?  Who provided the sunshine?  Who gave him his health?  Who gave him the ability to think and plan?  In fact, for that matter, who gave him his soul?

In Ezekiel 18:4 God says, "All souls are Mine."

This man totally left God out of his plans.  Everything he did, he did for himself.  And God said he was a fool.  On the very same day he made his boast, his soul was required of him.

Instead of a barn, he had a burial; instead of living in the lap of luxury, he had to stand before God and give an account of his life.
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Sunday, January 9, 2011
Read: Proverbs 10:4-5
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent Nielsen study revealed that the average American watches four hours and 49 minutes of television per day. That's 20 percent more than a decade ago. In an average American household, someone is watching TV eight hours and 21 minutes of every day. In 1991, that number was only one hour and 50 minutes. Experts attribute this increase to expanded television programming, competing leisure options, and varying economic conditions.
Perhaps they should also consider laziness and an addiction to entertainment as contributing factors! By contrast, both the book of Proverbs and common sense recommend diligence and hard work as essential elements of successful stewardship. Good stewards understand that they are stewards, not owners. All the resources they manage belong to the Lord. Good stewards further understand that their ability to acquire and manage these resources also comes from the Lord. Whether in terms of external factors such as money and material goods, or in terms of internal factors such as abilities and effort, we have no reason for pride. Good stewards give all the glory to God.

This is not an excuse for not working diligently (cf. Eph. 4:28). Believers do not "put it on cruise control" and call it "trusting the Lord to provide." God's will is for us to be diligent and hard-working with the responsibilities He's given us, including those related to wage-earning and finances. This is clear in today's reading. These two proverbs are built around contrast. In verse 4, the contrast is about results-laziness leads to poverty, but diligence leads to wealth. In verse 5, the contrast is about character-hard work indicates wisdom, whereas slothfulness indicates foolishness.

Proverbs are general truths or principles. They are not promises, certainties, or explanations for all situations. For example, there are causes for poverty other than laziness. Even so, the principle that one reaps what one sows in terms of diligence versus laziness is confirmed many times in Proverbs (see 14:23; 24:30-34; and 28:19).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout Proverbs, hard work and diligence are associated with wisdom, understanding, and humility; while laziness or slothfulness are associated with foolishness, ignorance, and pride. The diligent get it done-the lazy are empty talkers. Or in modern terms, the hard workers walk the walk, while others are merely couch potatoes. This makes biblical stewardship a countercultural idea. Others might be obsessed with entertainment and pleasure, but Christians strive to please God.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Praise be to God!

Daily Devotional

January 10, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

The Opened Sight
I now send you, to open their eyes . . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . -Acts 26:17-18

This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.

God's first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, ". . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . ." When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people's eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God's second mighty work of grace: ". . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . ." In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God's ministry to others.

Compromise

As we continue our consideration of prosperity, I want to turn your attention to Luke 12:31,

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

This is a simple but powerful principle for life:  We have to put God's Kingdom first if we are to realize God's prosperity.

A lot of Christians get caught up in the drive for prosperity and forget that God's greatest desire is for us to pursue His Kingdom.  In fact, I think some of God's children today are frustrated as they are endeavoring to prosper.  They can see the promise of prosperity in the Word, yet they are coming up short, and they are asking, "God, what's up?"

I really think this is an issue of the heart.  God is not prospering them because they may not be mature enough spiritually to handle the degree of prosperity they are seeking.  It might do them harm.

This brings to mind a young coworker of mine from a number of years ago.  He was a believer but was struggling financially.  One night we were in a restaurant after work when he shared a difficult struggle he was going through.

We prayed that God would do something supernatural to help him in his time of need.  Two days later, he got an unexpected inheritance.  It was huge!  And you know what?  The next week he wasn't at work.  Instead he was out partying.  All of a sudden, his church life stopped and he walked away from his relationship with God.  He didn't have the maturity to handle the success.

I think success has ruined more people than failure.  It has been said that money is the most dangerous thing God can put into your trust.
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Read: Genesis 41:41-57
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! - Proverbs 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In one of Aesop's fables, an ant met a grasshopper. The grasshopper was hopping about, singing and chirping in the bright summer sunshine, while the ant was toiling away at its task of gathering food. "Why not take a break?" said the grasshopper. "Come play with me and enjoy yourself." "I'm preparing for the coming winter," the ant responded, "and you should do the same." The grasshopper ignored this advice and continued on his merry way. But when winter came, the grasshopper found himself starving while the ants were well fed. Too late, he understood the virtue of planning ahead (cf. Prov. 6:6-11).
Thinking ahead is another dimension of effective stewardship, and Joseph provides one of the best biblical models of this in today's reading. He used his administrative gifts to glorify God where he was put-and where he was put, amazingly enough, was second-in-command over all Egypt! Sovereignly and suddenly elevated from imprisoned slave to powerful ruler, Joseph had advance warning of a severe crisis. By means of his God-given ability to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, he knew a famine was coming. He had faith that God was the source of the dream-that is to say, he knew the dream was true and must be taken seriously.

Having been warned, he acted. He diligently collected and stored grain during the seven years of plenty, even when the accountants could not keep up. Then, when the seven years of famine began, there was enough food to save the lives of both Egyptians and foreigners, including Joseph's father, Jacob, and his extended family (vv. 53-57).

The fulfillment of Pharaoh's dream may have surprised some, but it didn't surprise Joseph. He knew it was a merciful warning from God, and that God had placed him in a position to do something about it. His planning ahead and good stewardship saved lives throughout the civilized world of that day. Though his brothers had attempted to destroy him out of spite and envy, Joseph understood in faith that God had turned their evil into good (Gen. 45:5-8; cf. Prov. 21:30).

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Thinking and planning ahead is a good thing, but sometimes life deals us unexpected blows-a lost job, an expensive medical need, bills that grow faster than income. While we know God is in control, struggling from day to day is hard. If that describes you, this encouraging verse is especially for you: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jer. 29:11).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 11, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

What My Obedience to God Costs Other People
As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon . . . , and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus -Luke 23:26

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything- it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people's plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, "You call this Christianity?" We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.

When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, "I will never accept anything from anyone." But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).

A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, "I will not cause other people to suffer"? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.

Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.

Go Fish

Over the next seven devotionals, I want to talk to you about the number one business of the Church: the business of winning souls. It is what I call "The Seven Cs of Soul Winning."

The first "C"-commission-is found in Mark 16:15. These are some of the last words Jesus spoke before He ascended into heaven,

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Could it be any clearer? Jesus said, "Go." Dare we say, "No"? He said, "Go."

That is the opposite of "stay," isn't it? G G-O.

God wants you and me to take the Gospel to Others.

You and I need to get out into the world! Jesus was not crucified between two candles on a church altar. He was crucified out in the byways and highways of humanity, and that is where we must take the message.

Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." That is a promise. But you know what? You have to get to the water if you are going to catch fish. You have to get out of the four church walls, out to where hurting humanity is, and engage them with the gospel.

A while back, I went backpacking with my two sons in a very remote area. We found a pristine lake where just about every time we would put a line in the water, we would catch a fish.

We also had this incredible camp. But you know what? If we wanted to catch fish, we had to go down to the water. No one could catch a fish sitting in camp.

A lot of Christians just hang around the camp. They form fishing clubs and talk about how important it is to fish. But they don't fish.

God wants us to go fish!
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Read: Deuteronomy 24:10-22
It will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the LORD your God. - Deuteronomy 24:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Pastor Cole Huffman wrote in Discipleship Journal: "Whether our money stories are shaped by our families, culture, or innate preferences, a new chapter gets written when we are reborn into Jesus' kingdom." If we follow in Christ's footsteps, "Our checkbook ledgers should tell a story of Jesus' ongoing transformation of us. We keep and spend not just for personal necessities like food and utilities, but also to do beautiful things for those we love or feel compelled to help."
One kingdom principle guiding our financial stewardship is that money must be handled with justice and respect. As mentioned on January 6, profits and material benefits are not the bottom-line justification for our financial choices. Instead, godliness and moral concerns must govern our handling of money. Two such concerns, justice and respect, are identified in today's reading. Both are based on the doctrine of creation-the fact that people are intrinsically valuable to God as beings made in His image (Gen. 1:27). Each person carries individual responsibility in this matter (v. 16).

Three examples get the point across. In the first example, the fact that one person is giving another a loan does not give the first person the right to show disrespect to the other (vv. 10-13). When the loan collateral is the borrower's personal clothing, the man's needs and dignity are more important considerations than money.

In the second example, the fact that one person is another's employer does not give the first person the right to pay wages when it's convenient (vv. 14-15). Not paying wages promptly amounts to exploiting one's workers (cf. Mal. 3:5). In fact, all who are socially vulnerable should be treated fairly (vv. 17-18). In the third and final example, the fact that one person owns a field while another is a poor gleaner does not give the first the right to maximize his harvest by leaving nothing to be gathered (vv. 19-22). In that culture, it would have been cruel to be overly thorough and efficient with the harvesting. People made in God's image deserve better treatment from their fellow human beings.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Money must be handled in ways that show respect and practice justice in order to please the Lord. What might this principle mean for you in your context? Do you allocate some of your resources to share with the needy? Do you treat others, especially those in need, with dignity and respect? We still need to apply this lesson within the context of the stewardship responsibilities God has given us. If we're not sure how, He has promised to give us wisdom when we ask (James 1:5).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 12, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (1)
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples -Mark 4:34

Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn't take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work- so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don't even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?

We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I'm so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can't teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires- things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.

Compassion for the Lost

Yesterday we started a series of devotionals I am calling "The Seven Cs of Soul Winning." Today I want to point you to the second "C"-compassion. In Mark 16:16 Jesus said,

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

Now, condemned is a pretty soft word in the English language. I actually like the King James Version, where it says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Condemned or damned, it means eternally separated from God with no opportunity of rescue or retrieval. Forever lost. Think about it!

Do you recall the story Jesus told of the rich man who died? It ought to send a shudder through the heart of even the most brazen sinner.

Jesus tells us that the rich man died and was in torment, in flame. Jesus goes on to say that the rich man lifted up his eyes, and begged for mercy. But no mercy came, even as it says in Revelation 14:11, "The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever."

I know it is not a popular subject in the Church to talk about hell, but Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven. It is a very real place. If we would consider just for a moment the end of the man or woman who rejects Christ, it ought to cause our hearts to be stirred with compassion.

When was the last time you and I shed a tear over lost humanity? When was the last time you and I were truly broken with the things that break the heart of God?

Our compassion for the lost ought to move us to do all we can to share Christ with them!
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Read: Matthew 25:14-27
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. - Matthew 25:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a recent report, the U.S. healthcare system is plagued by inefficiency, mistakes, and fraud. For example, antibiotics are over-prescribed and unnecessary laboratory tests are ordered in order to protect physicians from malpractice suits. Fraud accounts for about 22 percent of the total waste, including false Medicare claims. Other significant problems include administrative inefficiency, redundant paperwork, and medical errors. According to the report, "The average U.S. hospital spends one-quarter of its budget on billing and administration, nearly twice the average in Canada." The report found that up to $850 billion is lost annually.
Those responsible will one day be held accountable for this colossal waste. In the end, as the Parable of the Talents reveals, we will all be held accountable for our stewardship of the resources, including money, with which God has entrusted us.

The basis for our accountability lies in our identity as a steward or servant (v. 14). A 21st-century American might say, "I've earned it. It's mine. I can do with it what I like." But Christians understand this is false. All we are and all we have belongs to the Lord, and one of our life goals should be to do with ourselves and our resources not what we like but what He likes. If we invest in attitudes and actions that please Him, He will bless our stewardship with multiplied resources and a good "return on investment"-in kingdom terms this can include material things, but ultimately it's about spiritual blessings. "Profit" for the kingdom is ultimately about God's glory-good stewardship is about making choices that bring Him more glory.

The reward for faithful stewardship is God's commendation, some kind of additional responsibility, and best of all, the blessing of His presence for eternity. In the words of the master in the story: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (v. 21). When we understand that the Master is God, we understand what an incredible invitation this is!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What about the servant who failed? In the parable, the third servant buried his one talent in a hole and gave it back to the master when he returned. He justified this laziness in terms of fear, and was condemned for it. Stewardship is never about fear. It's not about taking the "safe way." What responsibility has God given you? What talents and resources do you have? Are you using them boldly for the glory of God? He calls us to serve, and He will bring the increase.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 13, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (2)
When He was alone . . . the twelve asked Him about the parable -Mark 4:10

His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship- when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ's training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn't understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).

As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person's struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.

Common Ground

The next "C" of "The Seven Cs of Soul Winning" is common ground. We need to endeavor to find common ground with people. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-24, Paul says,

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

In this passage, Paul is talking about the way he ran-the method he used-to reach people for Christ. Verse 22 in The Living Bible puts it this way, Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.

Paul didn't run aimlessly. And like Paul, you have to find a point to relate to people so that you can build a bridge over which the gospel can come.

I encourage you today to find a common area of interest, a common ground, to relate to people in order to share Christ with them.
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Read: 1 Timothy 5:3-10, 17-20
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God. - 1 Timothy 5:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
Many Asian cultures, especially those influenced by Confucian values, are characterized by a deep love for elders and respect for parents, especially mothers. Parents tend to be strong authority figures who have earned their authority by faithfully raising their children. Unsubmissive children are often viewed not as independent or self-confident but as ungrateful and self-centered. Because they gave children life, mothers in particular are owed a debt that can never be repaid. In northeast China, for example, one Christian English teacher was amazed to find that on their birthdays, her students would telephone their mothers to thank them for giving birth to them!
These family relationships and obligations compare well with the cultural background in today's reading. The apostle Paul dealt here with two stewardship responsibilities that applied to the church as a whole. The first is to take care of widows and, by extension, any fellow believers in serious need. The second is to pay pastors a decent wage. Many churches have embraced this second duty, understanding that elders who teach are "worthy of double honor" (v. 17). With regard to the first duty, however, we have perhaps grown careless. We're conditioned to think that it's the government's responsibility, not ours, to offer social services and a "safety net" for the poor.

But whatever the government does or does not do, Paul's command remains. If a believing widow or other person is truly in need-and examples are given of stringent circumstantial and spiritual standards that must be met to determine whether this is so-then the church is to offer material support. This is first a family obligation (vv. 4, , but also a family-of-God obligation.

The point of today's passage is simple: Pay pastors a decent salary, and make sure deserving widows and other needy believers get help from the body of Christ. We talk about loving others, and here are two specific ways to put our money where our mouth is.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul's command regarding pastors' pay is given in the context of the local church, where the Spirit has gifted some for leadership and teaching. Today, this often means one or more pastors on a church staff, and perhaps includes missionaries supported by the church as well. While other ministries might at times seem more glamorous, our first priority for our financial giving should always be the local church with whom God has called us to serve and worship.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 14, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Called By God
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

God did not direct His call to Isaiah- Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God's call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, ". . . who will go for Us?" However, God doesn't single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."

Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-"the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me."

Character Counts

So far we have learned about the first three "Cs" of soul winning in the last few devotionals. Today let me share the fourth "C"-character. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, particularly verse 27, tells us the importance of character in witnessing to others,

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul said he was temperate in all things, that he disciplined his body. He would bring it into subjection, meaning he had problems keeping his body in subjection, just like you and I do.

Every one of us has a propensity toward certain sins. It is important, though, that we rein in our flesh and that we are temperate in all things because our lifestyle affects our message.

Take just a moment and do the following exercise. Imagine you are an employer. If you wanted to hire an efficient, competent, trustworthy employee, would you hire yourself at your present salary?

Or let's say that you were going to have to spend the rest of your life with someone just like you. Would you look forward to it as a great opportunity and privilege? Or not?

If your character is out of whack, people are going to have a hard time hearing what you have to say. Character counts!
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Read: Luke 16:1-15
If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? - Luke 16:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
In his sermon, "The Use of Money," John Wesley spoke of the virtue of prudence. The first rule: "Gain all you can, without hurting either yourself or your neighbor, in soul or body, by [working diligently] and with all the understanding which God has given you." What next? "Having gained all you can, by honest wisdom and unwearied diligence, the second rule of Christian prudence is, 'Save all you can.'" In particular, Wesley exhorted believers, "Expend no part of [your money] merely to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life." Finally, the third rule is: "Give all you can, or, in other words, give all you have to God."
Prudence is perhaps the concept closest to the word translated "shrewd" in today's text. This parable presents us with several puzzles. The first is that Jesus seems to be encouraging us to follow a bad example. Some have sought to explain the manager's actions as culturally appropriate or even indicating a change of heart, but this seems to be reading in quite a bit. Jesus Himself called the man "dishonest" (v. , and the manager explicitly stated his motive as self-preservation (v. 4).

A second puzzle is why the rich man in the story commends the manager. "Because he had acted shrewdly." What does this mean? An additional puzzle is what Jesus meant by recommending shrewdness and why He linked it to trustworthiness and integrity (vv. 10-12). The Greek word at the center of these puzzles is phronimos, also translated as "prudent," "sensible," or "wise" in the sense of being mindful of one's own interests. For example, the man who built his house on a rock was phronimos (Matt. 7:24), as were the bridesmaids who brought oil for their lamps (Matt. 25:2).

In light of all this, the parable gives us a valuable lesson. In the same way that the manager used the resources available to him for temporal personal gain, so we should use the resources available to us for eternal personal (but not self-centered) gain. To use worldly wealth for heavenly purposes (v. 9) is a very shrewd investment!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before spending money, Wesley recommended this prayer, slightly modified here: "Lord, you see I am going to expend this sum on that food, apparel, or furniture. And you know I act in this matter with a single eye as a steward of your goods. . . . You know I do this in obedience to the Lord, as you command, and because you command it. Let this, I pray, be a holy sacrifice, acceptable through Jesus Christ. Let my conscience bear witness in the Holy Spirit that this plan is well-pleasing to God."
 
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 15, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Do You Walk In White?
We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life -Romans 6:4

No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a "white funeral"-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a "white funeral," a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose- to be a witness for Him.

Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying- being "baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3).

Have you had your "white funeral," or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, "Yes, it was then, at my 'white funeral,' that I made an agreement with God."

"This is the will of God, your sanctification . . ." (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God's will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that "white funeral" now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.

The Comforter

Today we are going to look at the fifth "C" of soul winning, and that is the Comforter.  Many times when Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit, He referred to Him as the Comforter.

In Acts 1:4-5, after the resurrection, Jesus said something to the disciples that was very intriguing,

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
He had already told them to go into all the world, but then He said, "Hey, you need to wait for something.  There's some equipment you need before you go.  Don't go start a Bible study, don't go pass out a tract, don't do anything.  You need something first.  You need to be baptized with the Spirit."

Then look at what He said in verse 8,

"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."

The Holy Spirit gives us power to be a witness.  There is something beyond even living a life of integrity.  There is a supernatural, captivating element when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit that makes the witness of the gospel even more inescapable.

Jesus was so strong on it He said, "Look, don't leave Jerusalem without it."  God has given us His Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to empower us to reach our generation for Christ.
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Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The day after former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821 on the island of St. Helena, someone cut a lock of hair from his head. That lock of hair landed in the collection of Denzil Ibbetson, a British official who served on St. Helena during the six years Napoleon lived there after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Ibbetson later emigrated to New Zealand. Last year, his descendants there auctioned off his collection, including the famous lock of hair. A collector in London paid $13,000 for the unusual artifact.
Thousands of dollars for a bit of centuries-dead hair from a defeated dictator? It would seem that this collector didn't get much of true value for his money. For the next six days we'll consider what Scripture has to say about wealth, values, and money. While it's true that wealth can be a blessing, the fact is that Scripture has mostly words of warning about riches and their danger as a spiritual temptation.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a record of Solomon's search for meaning and purpose in life. In today's reading, he experimented with various pleasures, all of which required money to enjoy. During his initial fling with shallow pleasures such as wine, he "wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do" (v. 3). He next engaged in deeper pleasures, including building projects and the accumulation of material wealth. In summary, he did whatever he wanted, indulged in every pleasure he could find, and found some happiness in his success (v. 10). Yet ultimately it was all "meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (v. 11).

Without God, pleasure and wealth cannot bring purpose or meaning to life. Pleasure, work, and money all have their proper places, but only within a larger worldview that has God and His glory at the center. Little wonder, then, that Solomon advised: "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle" (Prov. 23:4-5).

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
These days, individual goals in American society are often about career advancement and the accumulation of material wealth-get a degree so you can get a good job so you can earn a high salary so you can live a comfortable life. It's all about climbing the ladder of success. But God's standards for success are rather different from the world's. Are we living by His truth? Or are we pursuing things that will one day lead us to admit, "Nothing was gained under the sun"?

GOD BLESS!