Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

April 15, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     


The Failure To Pay Close Attention
The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days -2 Chronicles 15:17


Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, "Oh, that thing in my life doesn't matter much." The fact that it doesn't matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, "I know I am right with God"- yet the "high places" still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.

Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless- you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes' effort.
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Unburdened

Philippians 4:6-7 promises,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God is telling us not to freak out about anything.  Anything!  Can you think of anything that does not fit in "anything"? Instead of worrying-pray-about everything!

It is interesting that these verses do not promise God will answer your requests (though it is implied).  Rather, what God does promise in these verses is this:  If, when you are confronted with difficult things, you will pray rather than worry, God will give you peace.  The stress will lift.  The pressure will be broken.

In America, people spend millions of dollars visiting their therapists.  They talk over all their problems with their therapists to try and relieve the stress and worries of life.  I have a confession to make...I have a therapist.  I talk to Him every single day.  My therapist is my Father in heaven.  I bring all my problems to Him.  And I talk over everything with Him.

One of the keys in unburdening your heart when you pray is being completely honest.  God knows what you are thinking, anyway.  You may as well tell Him the truth about what is weighing you down.

It is no accident you are reading this today.  Perhaps you are so filled with anxiety and stress that you are working on an ulcer right now.  You don't sleep like you should.  Your anxieties have robbed you of the quality of life God wants you to have.

God wants you free from your burdens.  Take them to God today, and every day, and see how those burdens are lifted.
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Read: Luke 12
From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. - Luke 12:48

TODAY IN THE WORD
Junior high school science teacher Doug Edmonds makes science "cool." Using music, Edmonds takes popular songs and rewrites the lyrics in order to explain scientific ideas such as density and chemical bonds. Then he creates videos of himself singing the new song, complete with visual aids such as flash cards and diagrams. These music videos are posted on the Internet, where his students (and anyone else) can learn from them. The songs help his students to remember and understand complex concepts. One said, "If I'm ever struggling on a quiz, I'll just sort of sing them to my-self."
As seen in His parables and elsewhere, Jesus was also a creative master teacher. Even when delivering spiritual warnings, He did so in powerful language and memorable images. There are seven things in today's reading that He warned us to be on guard against.

(1) Hypocrisy (vv. 1-3). He called this "the yeast of the Pharisees" and warned that one day their true character would be known. (2) Disrespecting God (vv. 4-12). He cares for us, but those who reject Him will themselves be rejected on judgment day. When we stand firm, by contrast, He helps us. (3) Greed (vv. 13-21). The rich fool in the parable disrespected God and put his trust in the wrong object. In the end, his material possessions couldn't save him. By comparison, we should seek God's kingdom as genuine treasure.

(4) Worry (vv. 22-34). Greed might in part be fueled by worry or anxiety, which shows a lack of faith in God to care and provide. A lack of generosity might also show that we're anxiously attached to our material resources. (5) Spiritual unreadiness (vv. 35-48). The servants in the parable weren't ready for their master's return. Committed servants of God need to be faithful and vigilant. (6) Spiritual unfaithfulness (vv. 49-53). Faith in Christ creates difficult social and personal choices, but proper priorities mean God must always come first. (7) Spiritual blindness (vv. 54-59). We need to be sensitive to the "signs of the times" and on the lookout for what God is doing.
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APPLY THE WORD
Financial worry might be high-after all, today is when personal income tax returns must be filed in the United States, though this year we actually have until Monday, April 18. Tax season is an excellent time to take to heart Jesus' warnings concerning greed and worry. Those with more should remember that "life does not consist in the abundance of possessions" (v. 15)-those with less, that we should "seek his kingdom, and [food and clothing] will be given to you as well" (v. 31).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 18, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     


Readiness
God called to him . . . . And he said, 'Here I am' -Exodus 3:4


When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses' reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. We are so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes. We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, "Here I am." Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is rising up to take authority over some great task, we are there, but we are not ready for some obscure duty.

Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing- it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God's plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God's voice as our Lord heard His Father's voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." (John 17:22).

Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready- he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.

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The First Step Toward Freedom

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:2-6).

Jesus asked this man a seemingly ridiculous question, "Do you want to be made well?"  It's obvious isn't it?  He is at the ool, isn't he?  The only reason people went there was to be healed.  What kind of a question is that to be asking?  Of course, he wanted to be healed.

But Jesus was not convinced.  This man had been stuck in his condition for a long time.  He was not only lying down on the outside, he was lying down on the inside.

Sometimes people get used to living in their problems.  While they may outwardly be going through the motions to get free (generally because they know that is what is expected of them), inwardly they have given up.

The first step toward getting free from your problems and that which binds and restricts your life is wanting it-really wanting it.

You have to stand up on the inside before you can ever stand up on the outside.

Let me be very bold and ask you:  Do you want to be made well?  Do you really want things to change?  Or have you grown accustomed to living under the devil's heel?

If you are tired of defeat, mediocrity and bondage, then stand up on the inside and say, "Enough is enough!"

It is the first step toward freedom.
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Read: Luke 15
There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. - Luke 15:10

TODAY IN THE WORD
Preoccupied with plans for upcoming concerts and tours, classical violinist Gidon Kremer accidentally left his $3 million violin behind on a train. Once he realized the situation, he urgently called Amtrak officials to see what could be done. A baggage handler found the violin, undisturbed in its blue cloth case, and the valuable instrument was quickly returned to its owner. As a thank-you, Kremer invited the Amtrak employee who had located the violin to one of his concerts.
As eagerly as Kremer searched for his lost violin, God is even more passionate in searching for spiritually lost individuals. Up to this point in our month's study, we have divided Luke's Gospel into three main parts: Jesus' birth (Luke 1-2), the start of His public ministry (chap. 3-7), and His main teachings (chap. 8-14). Today we begin a fourth section on the theme of God's kingdom in Jesus' teaching (chap. 15-19:27), to be followed by a final section on Passion Week, that is, Jesus' death and resurrection (19:28-24:53).

The three parables in today's reading reveal the joy God takes in saving the lost. The Pharisees thought it was improper for a rabbi to fraternize with "tax collectors and sinners," but Jesus wanted everyone to know that this is what the kingdom of God is all about! His first story involved a lost sheep (vv. 3-7), the second a lost coin (vv. 8-10), and the third a lost son (vv. 11-32). The first two begin with an item that gets lost, and then a careful effort is made to find it, upon which great rejoicing follows. From a spiritual perspective, sin is lostness and redemption is "foundness," so finding the lost item represents a sinner who by the grace of God repents.

The third parable is similar but more complex. The lost item in this story is a person who makes a series of choices. These choices include extreme disrespect to his father, selfishness, pleasure-seeking, wastefulness, and pride. By contrast, the father's choices include grace, mercy, compassion, unconditional love, and finally a celebration of "life out of death" when his son returned.
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APPLY THE WORD
While the shepherd and the housewife in the parables searched diligently for their lost items, the third story doesn't mention the father searching at all. He let the son make his choices and walk his wayward road-what he did do was watch and pray. When the prodigal returned, he ran to meet him and threw a celebratory banquet. Sometimes our vigilant concern for the salvation of those we love means we must watch and pray, trusting that God is working in their hearts.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 19, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     


Beware of the Least Likely Temptation
Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom -1 Kings 2:28


Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.

We are apt to say, "It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world." Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials- now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.

". . . kept by the power of God . . ."- that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
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Stop Blaming and Rise Up

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in  that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me"  (John 5:6-7).

This guy was basically saying, "It's not my fault.  I'm in this condition because of what someone else won't do for me, and because of what someone else has done to me."

Think about it, "I have no man to put me in."  Paraphrased that says, "I'm stuck because of what someone won't do for me."  Or, "While I'm coming, another steps down before me," which paraphrased says, "I'm stuck because of what someone else has done to me."  Either way, "It is not my fault."

After making up our minds that we want to be free, the next step is to stop shifting the blame to others.

A friend of mine migrated from Mexico to the U.S. many years ago.  He didn't understand the culture or the language and seemed to be hopelessly locked into a dead end job.

His employer took advantage of him and it seemed like he had no way out.  But instead of blaming others for his situation (which would have been easy for him to do), he decided to get unstuck and do something with his life.

It took several years, but today he has several businesses and is quite wealthy.

Do not get caught in the trap of blaming others.  Instead, make the decision to rise up (something we will be talking about in our next devotional.)
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Read: Luke 16
God knows your hearts. - Luke 16:15

TODAY IN THE WORD
Recent studies suggest that Americans' religious walk doesn't match their religious talk. Seventy percent say they have no doubt God exists, and 40 percent claim to attend religious services regularly. Empirical evidence contradicts the latter claim, however. One study asked people to narrate their Sunday schedules, another estimated religious service attendance nationwide and compared that to poll responses, and another examined nearly 500 different time-use studies. All concluded that actual church attendance is only about half of what people say. Although most Americans don't go to religious services, they apparently want others to believe they do.
God is not fooled by such posturing. He knows our hearts (v. 15)-in time our actions will prove what our hearts truly value. That's why the good news of the coming of the kingdom of God in today's reading (v. 16) is accompanied by so many practical, moral commands. Jesus taught things that weren't popular then and aren't popular now, but they're true nonetheless. One cannot serve both God and money (v. 13). Divorce is related to adultery (v. 18). Riches can be a barrier to faith. Submission and stewardship are important spiritual disciplines. God is no respecter of persons.

The two main parables in this chapter deal with money. The parable of the shrewd manager teaches that money is a means, not an end. To give up money-not his money, but money nonetheless-to get friends showed a kind of cleverness that treated money as a means to a better end. If an unethical person can show the way in this area, how much more will spiritual wisdom lead us to treat money as a means to eternal ends. Earthly stewardship is a warm-up for heaven.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us, among other things, that riches can be a barrier to faith when they compete for loyalty and priority in our lives. The rich man's comfortable state on earth had led him to neglect faith and godliness, and as a result he ended up in hell. Too late he realized that he had lived for the wrong things!

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APPLY THE WORD
The phrase "everyone is forcing his way into it" (v. 16) is a difficult phrase to translate. The idea of "force" can have positive or negative connotations. It seems to point toward the passion, positive or negative, of people's responses to the ministry of Jesus. To paraphrase this verse, "God's Word promised the kingdom all along. Since John the Baptist its arrival has been proclaimed and people have been violently embracing or rejecting it." Which one describes you?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 20, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     


Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light . . . -John 12:36


We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, "I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!" We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.

Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don't place yourself on the shelf by thinking, "How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!" Act immediately- do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don't say, "I'll do it"- just do it! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary "gray" day according to what we saw on the mountain.

Don't give up because you have been blocked and confused once- go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
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Obey and Get Unstuck

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk" (John 5:.

These words were spoken to a man who had been sick for 38 years!  His bed had been carrying him, and now Jesus was telling him to carry his bed!

We have discussed several keys to getting unstuck from your problems in our last devotions.  First, we must genuinely want to be free, and second, we must stop shifting the blame for our problems to others.

The final key I want to share with you is found in the above verse.  It is to obey what the Lord tells you.  Whether it makes sense or not-obey!

To a man who had been carried by his bed for 38 years, rising up and carrying his bed must have seemed crazy!  But the moment he began to obey, new life and strength began to flow into his previously paralyzed limbs.

Listen for the Lord's instructions in your heart.  Search for them in His Word. There is no faith without action.  There will be something that God will require you to do in order to release or express your faith.

It may make sense to you-or it may not.  But to quote Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5).

After pastoring the same church for several decades, I have observed that many people remain stuck in their problems.  Not because the Lord hasn't spoken to them, but because He has and they haven't obeyed.

If there is any unfilled obedience in your life, get busy and do what the Lord has told you to do.  It is the only way to get unstuck.
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Read: Luke 17
It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. - Luke 17:30

TODAY IN THE WORD
Faith, according to Hebrews, "is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (11:1). But how do we live this out? Thankfully, many concrete examples are found in Scripture, especially in Hebrews 11, also known as the "Hall of Faith." Abel, for instance, offered his sacrifice in humble faith and God accepted it. Noah trusted the Lord and "built an ark to save his family." Abraham obeyed God and journeyed to a foreign land. Joseph anticipated the Exodus. Moses' parents protected him from the murderous intentions of their Egyptian enslavers.
Today's reading reveals five essential principles and practices of faith. First, faith means resisting and forgiving sin (vv. 1-5). Sin may be inevitable, but this doesn't remove human responsibility. Woe to one who causes a child to sin or refuses to forgive a repentant brother! In their response, "Increase our faith!" the disciples correctly perceived the difficulty of obeying these commands.

Second, faith means serving without looking for praise or reward (vv. 6-10). Service as a spiritual "duty" is not an inspiring or motivating message in today's world, but the fact is that God owes us nothing. Our work for His glory is proper and fitting and our duty and privilege to perform.

Third, faith means gratitude for God's incredible work in our lives (vv. 11-19). This is seen in the incident with the ten lepers, only one of whom (and a Samaritan at that!) came back to say "thank you" for his miraculous healing from a dreadful disease. Once again, Luke stresses overturned expectations.

Fourth, faith understands that the "kingdom of God" is a spiritual reality (vv. 20-21). The Pharisees and others were looking for a savior from the Roman occupation and a new Davidic golden age, but Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (v. 20). Fifth and finally, faith understands that the "kingdom of God" is both present and future (vv. 22-37). It is present in Jesus and in people's responses to Him, but it is also future in Jesus and His Second Coming.

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APPLY THE WORD
The return of Christ is imminent. By this, we don't mean that it will necessarily happen soon-after all, Scripture says, "About that day or hour no one knows" (Matt. 24:36). Rather, the imminent return of Christ means that it could happen at any time. Nothing else needs to happen first. It could be in the next minute, next week, next decade, or next century. Are we ready? No, if we're focused on temporal things and worldly concerns. Yes, if we're walking day by day with Christ in faith.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 21, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
 

Don't Hurt the Lord
Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? -John 14:9


Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us-astounded at how "un-simple" we are. It is our own opinions that make us dense and slow to understand, but when we are simple we are never dense; we have discernment all the time. Philip expected the future revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in Jesus, the Person he thought he already knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be-it is now, though we look for it to be revealed in the future in some overwhelming, momentous event. We have no reluctance to obey Jesus, but it is highly probable that we are hurting Him by what we ask-"Lord, show us the Father . . ." (John 14:. His response immediately comes back to us as He says, "Can't you see Him? He is always right here or He is nowhere to be found." We look for God to exhibit Himself to His children, but God only exhibits Himself in His children. And while others see the evidence, the child of God does not. We want to be fully aware of what God is doing in us, but we cannot have complete awareness and expect to remain reasonable or balanced in our expectations of Him. If all we are asking God to give us is experiences, and the awareness of those experiences is blocking our way, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus, because they are not the questions of a child.

"Let not your heart be troubled . . ." (14:1, 27). Am I then hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? . If I believe in Jesus and His attributes, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to disturb my heart, or am I allowing any questions to come in which are unsound or unbalanced? I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.
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Confounding the Wise

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, 27-29, the apostle Paul provides a very powerful word,

Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

We are often enamored with what the world considers wise and mighty, but God isn't.  In fact, He chooses things that are foolish and weak, things the world considers insignificant, and things the world even despises, to put to shame the things that people consider wise.

I really like the King James Version when it states that God does these things to confound the wise.

We need to understand that sometimes God turns human conventional wisdom on its head.  And I believe Scripture shows us three ways in which He does that.

First, there are times that God turns conventional wisdom on its head with the people He chooses for His purposes.  Second, He will confound human wisdom with the plans He unfolds.  Whether they are for your deliverance, or plans to further His kingdom and expand His work.

And then, third, God will truly confound the wise of this world with the pardon that He provides.

Through people, plans, and pardon, God does confound the wise!

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Read: Luke 18
What is impossible with man is possible with God. - Luke 18:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author and pastor John Piper called humility a "shy virtue." What did he mean? "Our humility, if there is any at all, is based on our finiteness, our fallibility, and our sinfulness. But the eternal Son of God was not finite. He was not fallible. And he was not sinful. So, unlike our humility, Jesus' humility originated some other way." To put it simply, He chose to be humble (Mark 10:45; Phil. 2:6-8). "What defines Jesus' humility is the fact that it is mainly a conscious act of putting himself in a lowly, servant role for the good of others. . . . [W]e are called to join Jesus in this conscious self-humbling and servanthood."
Humility is a key dimension of citizenship in God's kingdom, including humility in prayer (vv. 9-14). To some smug listeners, Jesus told a story built around a contrast. On one side stood a religious leader. His prayer was prideful. He boasted of his good works and compared himself favorably to others. On the other side a tax collector stood at a distance. His prayer was humble and repentant. He confessed his unworthiness and begged God for mercy. It was this man rather than the other who "went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (v. 14) The tax collector understood that we are to receive the kingdom "like a little child" (v. 17).

We should also pray with persistence and purity of heart. Jesus made the first point with a story about a widow and an unjust judge (vv. 1-8). If a widow could obtain justice under unfavorable circumstances through simple persistence, how much more can we expect the same from our just and loving God? The blind man who would not be shushed and shouted louder for healing certainly discovered this (vv. 35-43). The issue of purity of heart is shown in Jesus' encounter with the rich young man (vv. 18-30). Though apparently in search of the kingdom, the fact was that his heart was attached more to his wealth than to God's truth.

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APPLY THE WORD
Some of us would rather "achieve" the kingdom than "receive" the kingdom (v. 17). Even though we know in our heads that salvation is all about God's grace and not what we deserve, we still want to earn something. Perhaps we do good deeds in an attempt to "repay" God. Perhaps we take ideas like discipleship and sacrifice and turn them into spiritual achievements to take pride in. But in our own strength we can do nothing at all-there's no room for pride in God's kingdom!

God bless

[Judy Harder]

April 22, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
 

The Light That Never Fails
We all, with unveiled face, beholding . . . the glory of the Lord . . . -2 Corinthians 3:18


A servant of God must stand so very much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of the Christian life, disappointments will come- people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away. We have to get so used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, ". . . no one stood with me, but all forsook me . . . . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me . . ." (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When "important" individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do- to look into the face of God for ourselves.

Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it. A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware- ". . . Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him" (Exodus 34:29).

We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant's life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.
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God's Choice of People

1 Corinthians 1:26 says,

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

God does not call a lot of people who our world would consider wise, noble or mighty.  He calls a few, but not many.  The fact of the matter is, God will use anyone who will yield himself or herself to Him.

The idea Paul wants us to understand is that the vast majority of people God chooses are a surprise to everyone else.  God's choices are generally not on our "A" list of people.

Think about the apostle Paul himself, who wrote these very words in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  And the next words out of his mouth are profound, But by the grace of God I am what I am.

Paul was a persecutor of Christians.  In fact, he was so filled with hatred he even went to foreign cities to have believers arrested, families split apart, Christians jailed, beaten, and at times even executed.  And yet, God chose Paul as His mouthpiece.

It was so astonishing to many in the church that they didn't want to receive Paul when he was first saved.  They thought it was a trick.  It took them a while to understand that God actually had saved him and was using him.

Paul would not have been one of their primary choices as a vessel for God.  I love that about the Lord.  He uses the unexpected and those we might pass over to carry out some of His most important work.
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Read: Luke 19:1-27
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. - Luke 19:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
At the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization held last year in Cape Town, South Africa, an 18-year-old Korean high school student gave a stirring testimony. Born in Pyongyang, North Korea, she was the only child of a wealthy and well-connected family. When they were politically persecuted, they fled to China. There they met Chinese Christians and Korean and American missionaries who introduced her parents to faith in Christ. Her mother soon died of leukemia. Her father sought to take the gospel back to North Korea, but was imprisoned and is presumed martyred. She, too, received Christ and shares this passion to see His gospel flourish in the physically and spiritually impoverished land of her birth.
This is also the heart of her heavenly Father, and the very reason for the Incarnation: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (v. 10). This verse is often described as the theme verse for Luke's entire Gospel.

It is epitomized in the story of Zacchaeus (vv. 1-10). As a chief tax collector in the Roman system, he almost certainly was corrupt and locally notorious for his sinfulness. Yet God had moved in his heart until he took the undignified step of climbing a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

Jesus knew he would be there and took the initiative to invite Himself to dinner. Though some would criticize this move, "to seek and to save the lost" was exactly why He had come. Zacchaeus responded with immediate faith, concretely demonstrating his repentance of sin by paying restitution and giving to the poor. These actions didn't save him, but they were proof of God's saving work in his heart.

Like Zacchaeus, we who are "found" seek to be faithful followers of Christ (vv. 11-27; cf. Matt. 25:14-30). Being faithful in our stewardship of resources is one such way. One servant in the parable failed to manage his talent well and stood condemned. The other two, however, obeyed faithfully and were ready on the day of the master's return (cf. 1 Cor. 4:5).

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APPLY THE WORD
Thanks to modern technology, you can see and hear the North Korean student's testimony. Video of it is available both at the Lausanne Congress Web site, http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11671, and on YouTube. (www.youtube.com). Her testimony of suffering and faith will stir your soul and encourage you in your daily walk. It is a vigorous witness to the power of the gospel and the love of God.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

April 25, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
 

"Ready in Season"
Be ready in season and out of season -2 Timothy 4:2


Many of us suffer from the unbalanced tendency to "be ready" only "out of season." The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season." In other words, we should "be ready" whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually feeble and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired. The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not.

One of the worst traps a Christian worker can fall into is to become obsessed with his own exceptional moments of inspiration. When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, "Now that I've experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God." No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the gift of God. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become an intolerable burden on Him. You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times. If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.

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When God's Plan Doesn't Make Sense

In Joshua 6:1-5 we find one of the most bizarre battle plans, but one with an important lesson for you and me,

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.  And the LORD said to Joshua: "See!  I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.  You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once.  This you shall do six days.  And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark.  But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.  It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat.  And the people shall go up every man straight before him."

When you and I read that today it is easy for us to think, "Oh, that must have been pretty normal and natural to Joshua."  But it wasn't.  It did not make any more sense to him than it would have to you and me.

Imagine God taking Joshua aside and telling him that all they need to do is march around the city one time for six days.  Then on the seventh day march around seven times and shout.  It made no sense.  Naturally speaking, it was ridiculous!

All of us will face our Jerichos, and sometimes God's plans won't seem to make sense.  Our part is to listen and obey-even when God's instructions don't make sense to our natural minds.  He has had a lot more experience winning battles than we have!
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Read: Luke 21
Be always on the watch, and pray. - Luke 21:36

TODAY IN THE WORD
Did you know that "once in a blue moon" actually happens? A "blue moon" is the second full moon in a month, an event that occurs about once every two-and-a-half years. To ring in the year 2010, a "blue moon" occurred on New Year's Eve in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. That hadn't happened since 1990, and the next New Year's Eve "blue moon" won't occur until the year 2028.
As rare as a "blue moon" is, the advents of Christ are even rarer. According to Scripture, just two are planned for all of recorded history! From our vantage point in time, we look back on His first coming and forward to His second. In the Olivet Discourse, our passage today, Jesus spoke of these matters (vv. 5-38; cf. Matthew 24).

One lesson for His disciples was not to trust in church building projects, so to speak. Jesus' shocking statement about the destruction of the temple was literally fulfilled in A.D. 70, when the Romans burned it to the ground. The crowds were focused on looking for a messiah to liberate them from Roman occupation, but Jesus wanted His disciples to understand the deeper nature of redemption and God's plan for the world.

A second lesson He wanted them to learn was not to trust in impostors. Many false messiahs and teachers would show up during the "end times," and believers would need to be discerning and rely on God's wisdom to know how to respond. A third lesson was that there would be "signs of the times," including both social (persecution and wars) and natural signs (earthquakes and famines).

The climax of history will be the Second Coming of Christ (v. 27). The first advent was about rejection and redemption, but the next will be about power and glory. How should we respond to all this? The point is not to try to decode the signs as if they were a puzzle, though we should be aware of passing events (vv. 29-31). Rather, we should remain steadfast when the going gets rough. God's love will preserve our eternal lives no matter what happens.

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APPLY THE WORD
What is the key to the end times? At a practical, everyday level, the answer can be found in the story that opens this chapter (vv. 1-4). The widow who put all her money into the temple offering trusted the Lord with all she had, without reservation. This is the sign of a heart that is not weighed down with the cares of this world (v. 34). We, too, will be ready for Christ's return and found faithful if we trust Him with all we have, all we are, and all we do.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

April 26, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
   

The Supreme Climb
Take now your son . . . and offer him . . . as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you -Genesis 22:2


A person's character determines how he interprets God's will (see Psalm 18:25-26). Abraham interpreted God's command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs which must be removed-for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil's lie and a travesty on the true nature of God! If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.

The great lesson to be learned from Abraham's faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don't ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even "to go . . . both to prison and to death" (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement- he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.
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Pursue Peace

In 1 Peter 3:10-11, Peter provides an important command in our relationships with other people,

For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.  Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it."

I want to focus your attention on the last part of verse 11, "Seek peace and pursue it."  This means we are to pursue peace with people.

This command is reinforced by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 12:14,

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

I want you to take note of the first part of that verse,  Pursue peace with....  How many people are we to pursue peace with?  All people.  Does that include your neighbor?  How about your mom?  How about your dad?  How about your kids?  Your boss?  Your relatives?  How about that individual who seems to have a gift for getting on your nerves?  What about those who are rude and obnoxious?

We are told that we are to pursue peace with all people.  That is not a suggestion.  That is a command.  And that command is clarified further in Romans 14:19, which says,

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Things that edify (or build up) create peace.  Things that tear down shatter peace.  Keep that in mind next time you are having a heated discussion with your husband or wife.  Ask yourself, "Are the things that I am sharing at this moment building up my partner?  Or, are they tearing them down?"

Pursue peace with all people by choosing words and deeds that will build them up.
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Read: Luke 22:1-46
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. - Luke 22:42

TODAY IN THE WORD
In today's reading, Jesus' disciples were guilty of pandiculation. This seldom-used English word means, "Stretching the body and extremities when drowsy or tired, usually accompanied by yawning." It can also be a verb, "pandiculate," or an agent noun, "pandiculator." The Latin root is pandiculari, meaning "to stretch one's self." While His closest friends unhelpfully pandiculated, Jesus prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane (vv. 39-46). Knowing what would happen, and why, didn't necessarily make things easier-He was in such agony that He sweat drops of blood. Nonetheless, the core of His prayer and of His entire life was, "Not my will, but [God's] be done" (v. 42).
Just prior, Jesus had shared the Last Supper with His disciples and spoken quite plainly about His impending death. Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, had gone to the Pharisees and agreed to betray the Lord when an opportunity presented itself. Satan entered him, not against his will but as a result of his choices, and spurred the plot forward.The thirty pieces of silver do not seem to be a sufficient motive for Judas' betrayal, but they are an indication of his low character. Jesus knew what was going on and revealed during dinner that one of them would betray Him (vv. 21-22) and that Peter would deny Him three times (v. 34), facts which no doubt added to His emotional burden.

As they shared the Passover meal, Jesus spoke to His disciples of His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 (v. 37), and the redeeming power of His blood, soon to be shed for them and for all of us. As this would be the last close fellowship He would be able to share with them before His death, these were the matters closest to His heart. As part of the meal and the teaching, He instituted a "new covenant" and what we today call communion or the Lord's Table (vv. 19-20). Though the "new covenant" meant that nothing would ever be the same, the disciples' unfortunate response was to renew an old debate over which of them was the greatest.

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APPLY THE WORD
Jesus taught about servant leadership (vv. 25-27). Those who view power and authority in worldly ways use it to seek their own advantage, to command respect, and to make themselves look good. But with God, power and authority are for different purposes, namely, to serve others. Jesus Himself showed the way-His divine power and authority culminated in Him presenting His life as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin (Heb. 9:26).

God bless

 

[Judy Harder]

April 27, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
   

What Do You Want?
Do you seek great things for yourself? -Jeremiah 45:5


Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts- He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.

If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, "I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn't give me the rest and the peace I expected." And instantly God puts His finger on the reason-you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." (Matthew 7:7). Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. "Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:. Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, "Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit"? If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He's continually working out His ultimate perfection for you- ". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." (John 17:22).
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Winning an Offended Brother

Proverbs 18:19 tells us,

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

When this verse refers to a "strong city," it means a fortified or a guarded city.  You cannot just waltz up to the gate of a fortified city and say "give up."  It takes strategic planning to take such a city.  You have to think things through and have a plan.

It also means there is going to be strenuous effort involved.  And, more than likely, you will be in a vulnerable position.  In fact, you don't take a strong city without taking risks, without becoming vulnerable.

The same things come into play when a brother is offended.  It takes thoughtful planning, it takes effort, and sometimes you have to become vulnerable when you do not want to be.

Perhaps you are struggling with a damaged relationship today, and you haven't pursued healing this relationship because you don't know how to do it.  It always starts with prayer.  You talk to God about them and about yourself, and then you need to go and talk to them.

When you do, I want you to listen carefully, it should not be with a view to prove that you are right.  Being right is not the goal.  Peace is.  Most of the time it is more important to be kind than it is to be right.

If you try to work something out, but only with the intention of having them understand your point of view so that you can prove you are right, you may win the argument, but you will never make peace.

So when you are endeavoring to win an offended brother, listen carefully to them, and endeavor to understand where they are coming from.  Seek to hear and not just be heard.  Though it may be difficult, you can win peace and see a broken relationship restored.
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Read: Luke 22:47-23:25
They kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" - Luke 23:21

TODAY IN THE WORD
A great-grandmother in California has donated more than 200 pints of blood. Margaret Delfino, who began giving blood in 1954, gave her 200th pint in 2009. An ovarian cancer survivor, she wishes more individuals would give, pointing out, "It can mean the difference between life and death for some people." She encourages her own family to donate, and she and a granddaughter have a date every eight weeks to do so at a local blood bank.
For many, Margaret Delfino's blood has doubtless given the gift of life. God's gift of eternal life is made possible by the blood of Christ. In today's reading, the events of Passion Week head for a climax.

To begin, Judas accomplished his act of treachery. He let the religious leaders know where they could find Jesus that night, and they showed up with a mob to arrest Him. Judas' kiss has become an idiom for betrayal by a friend, but it was unnecessary. Jesus identified Himself, did not resist, and even undid the impetuous violence done on His behalf by Peter.

The trials Jesus endured highlight His innocence and the guilt of His accusers-both Jews and Gentiles-and the unfaithfulness of those for whom He was to die-not only religious leaders but also His disciples. As He stood trial, out in the courtyard the future "rock of the church" was denying His Lord three times, even though he had been explicitly warned he would do so that night. Thankfully, Peter's bitter sorrow wasn't the end of that story (see John 21:15-23).

Meanwhile, Jesus suffered torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers and two show trials. The soldiers' mockery showed some familiarity with His ministry-they seem to relish inflicting pain on their helpless prisoner. The Jewish Sanhedrin interpreted Jesus' few words as blasphemy. Herod hoped to get Him to put on a show, which He refused to do. And Pilate played political games, passing the buck to Herod before condemning Jesus to death in a pragmatic response to the crowd's demands.

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APPLY THE WORD
Why did Peter deny Christ three times? He was afraid. If he was identified as a friend of Jesus, perhaps they would arrest him as well. Would he then be imprisoned or executed? Peter didn't know, and he acted on base instincts of self-preservation rather than taking a stand for what he believed. Fear is always the enemy of faith. Thankfully, when our courage fails, as it did Peter that night, there is "forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Eph. 1:7).

God bless

[Judy Harder]

April 28, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers     
   
What You Will Get
I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go -Jeremiah 45:5

This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him- "I will give your life to you . . . ." What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. ". . . your life . . . as a prize . . ." means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go- the life that "is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, "Well, what about this?" Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, "What about this?" you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, "I will give your life to you as a prize . . . ." The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything- they have not been given their life "as a prize." The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.
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Listen... to Understand

In Proverbs 18:2, we are given an important word of warning,

A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.

It is so easy to play the role of such a fool when we are dealing with a strained or broken relationship.  Rather than seeking to understand the other person, we will often feel the need to make the other person understand our hurt.

Like me, you have probably said, "You need to hear me.  You need to understand why I'm hurt.  You need to understand why I reacted the way I reacted.  You need to see that I'm right.  I need to convince you that I'm justified in the things I've said and the things I've done."

When we say those things, we are not interested in understanding the other person's point of view to reach a mutual peace.  We just want to express our opinions, our hurt, and our reasons.

The Bible says that is the way a fool behaves.  I am going to stand at the front of the line and say, "I've been that fool more than once."  But we must learn to listen and understand.

Once you have listened and understood, here is an important phrase to learn, "I see what you're saying, and I'm sorry."  That does not mean, "I see what you're saying, and I'm sorry you're such an idiot."  That means, "I've listened to you, I've heard you, and I'm sorry."  Period.  "Forgive me."

It is amazing how some people choke on those words.  In fact, it is shocking to realize how few people know how to give a proper apology.  They offer the rose of an apology by handing it thorn-end first.

Don't play the fool.  Listen...to understand.
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Read: Luke 23:26-56
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Several years ago, a twelve-year-old boy was in the middle of his piano lesson when a stray bullet from a drunken robber's gun hit him. The shot paralyzed him. Police caught the gunman and he was tried and convicted in a court in Oakland, California. The judge sentenced him to 70 years to life in prison, seemingly a just outcome. But what came next transcended justice. The victim, Christopher Rodriguez, rolled his wheelchair to the front of the courtroom, shook the hand of the man who had shot him, and said, "I forgive you." It is uncertain whether the criminal felt true remorse, but Christopher left the court that day unburdened by hate.
Before He died, Jesus, too, forgave all those who participated in murdering Him (vv. 34-38). The Crucifixion was the turning point of history and the hinge of God's plan of redemption, but it was also an act of criminal injustice. Jesus forgave the Roman soldiers who cast lots for His clothing and mocked Him. He forgave the religious leaders who sneered at Him and challenged Him to save Himself. He forgave the gawking and passivity of the watching crowd. He forgave the followers who had run away and hidden, including the remaining disciples. His women followers did stay with Him. No doubt their presence was a comfort to Jesus. These faithful eyewitnesses throughout this heart-wrenching time also made preparations for His burial.

Jesus remained in control throughout His crucifixion (vv. 44-49). He continued the ministry of the kingdom right up to the end, forgiving the sins of one of the criminals who hung next to Him and offering him the hope of heaven. He chose the moment of His own death, signaling that it was not defeat but the surrender of His spirit to His sovereign Father. Nature responded to this momentous event with three hours of midday darkness. The inner curtain of the temple was torn in two, meaning that the terms of access to God were forever changed (see Heb. 8:11). And the commander of the execution squad cried out in faith, "Surely this was a righteous man!" (v. 47).
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APPLY THE WORD
Scripture commands: "Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2). How can we imitate the incredible love of Christ? By loving one another. Jesus said: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Later the apostle John reflected: "If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:12).

God bless