Devotional for the day

Started by Judy Harder, January 30, 2008, 10:03:48 AM

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Judy Harder

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   


Experience or God's Revealed Truth?
 
We have received . . . the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God -1 Corinthians 2:12
My experience is not what makes redemption real- redemption is reality. Redemption has no real meaning for me until it is worked out through my conscious life. When I am born again, the Spirit of God takes me beyond myself and my experiences, and identifies me with Jesus Christ. If I am left only with my personal experiences, I am left with something not produced by redemption. But experiences produced by redemption prove themselves by leading me beyond myself, to the point of no longer paying any attention to experiences as the basis of reality. Instead, I see that only the reality itself produced the experiences. My experiences are not worth anything unless they keep me at the Source of truth- Jesus Christ.

If you try to hold back the Holy Spirit within you, with the desire of producing more inner spiritual experiences, you will find that He will break the hold and take you again to the historic Christ. Never support an experience which does not have God as its Source and faith in God as its result. If you do, your experience is anti-Christian, no matter what visions or insights you may have had. Is Jesus Christ Lord of your experiences, or do you place your experiences above Him? Is any experience dearer to you than your Lord? You must allow Him to be Lord over you, and pay no attention to any experience over which He is not Lord. Then there will come a time when God will make you impatient with your own experience, and you can truthfully say, "I do not care what I experience- I am sure of Him!"

Be relentless and hard on yourself if you are in the habit of talking about the experiences you have had. Faith based on experience is not faith; faith based on God's revealed truth is the only faith there is.


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Key #8 to Effective Prayer-Forgiveness

An important key to effective prayer is your relationship with others.  In Mark 11:24-26 Jesus says,

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Pretty strong, isn't it?  Jesus cited unforgiveness as the number one reason for unanswered prayer.  If my prayers were not being answered, this would be the first place I would look-into my own heart, to see whether I had allowed bitterness toward another human being to reside there.  Whether I was harboring a grudge or had strife in my heart toward anyone else.

Jesus said if you have anything against anyone, anything-big or small, new or old-or anyone-yourself, your husband, your wife, a family member, a loved one, a neighbor, a co-worker, a relative, an enemy-if you have anything against anyone, it will lead to unanswered prayer. 

Sometimes people hold things against themselves.  They do not forgive themselves, even after God has forgiven them and after others have forgiven them.  They just want to whip themselves for their stupidity for falling into the same stupid sin again, or for whatever they have done, and they don't release themselves!

There are others too, including those closest to us, whom we must forgive.  If your prayers are not being answered, then look there.

Perhaps you have searched the Scriptures, filled your heart with the Word, you are praying from the bottom of your heart, and you are expectant of answers; but before you can partake of the fruit of your prayers, you must forgive if you have anything against anyone!

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Portrait of a Christian Family

In His Presence: The Lord bless you... may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life (Psalm 128:5)

Statistics tell us that over half of the couples that get married today will also get divorced.  For the African-American community, this figure is even more sobering.  Over 70 percent of our children will grow up in broken homes, and chances are they will grow up without a father.

We quickly see why the subject of the family is so important.  God created us to be a part of a family.  We are His children-members of His family-and our home is not broken.  You and I are loved unconditionally.  God's love for us is eternal.  It does not change and will not fade.

It doesn't matter if you are married, single, divorced or widowed, God is your heavenly Father and he has promised never to leave you.  This truth should add a tremendous amount of security to your life, especially when you live devoted to Him and not to yourself.

Sadly, when couples put their own interests ahead of their vows to God and their love for one another, something is bound to give, and it usually is their marriage.  It falls apart, leaving deep feelings of resentment and sorrow.

When people do not feel loved, a deep sorrow can fill their hearts that often leads to anger and acts of violence.  How can you help?  It all begins with unconditional love-God's love within you, poured out to those around you.

One Minute Please

Preservation of the family is critical to our welfare---individually and as a nation.



God bless
  :angel: :angel: :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   


Where the Battle is Won or Lost
 
'If you will return, O Israel,' says the Lord . . . -Jeremiah 4:1

Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God's presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.

I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I'll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.

In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point- a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest- our best for His glory


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You Made it This Far!

In the last couple of devotionals, we saw how the devil will attack a new babe in Christ.  Hebrews 10:32 sheds some additional light on what we can expect,

But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.

When it says, after you were illuminated, it literally means, "After you came to the light."  This verse is talking about when the light of the Gospel dawned on you, when you were saved.

And what does it say?  You need to recall, to remember, that after you came to Christ, you endured.  You went through some battles.

I think we need to remember that.  In fact, let me just encourage you today.  The fact that you are reading this devotional today says something about you.  Did you know there are a lot of people who were saved at the same time you were, but they are not seeking God today?

You made it through the battle!  You stood fast.  You might feel like you are pretty rickety and ready to keel over, but you are still seeking God!  If the devil could get you, he would have gotten you already.

By God's grace you made it this far.  Now is no time to quit!


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ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT

In His Presence:  Hear...your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching (Proverbs 1:8).

Another way people learn about the family is through the lives and advice of friends.  We may have heard others talking about what they would or would not do.  Sitting around with his buddies watching a football game, one guy declared that he did not do woman's work.  Another chimed in with agreement.  Both men proudly stated how their wives take care of the children while they bring home a paycheck.

Remember what we said earlier: One of the number one problems in our country today is absentee parents-men and women who have checked out of the lives of their children.  However, children need both parents to be actively involved as they learn and grow.  Yet far too often, dads are taking a backseat, while moms are left to single-handedly direct the show.

When this is the case, children receive a mixed message.  Instead of feeling secure, they feel insecure and often see their fathers as being weak.  God has created men to be the head of the family.  Therefore, men have a responsibility to fulfill.

If you are unsure how to handle yhour situation, ask God to direct your steps.  Also, set a goal to live according to His principles.  Most importantly, be actively involved in the lives of your children.  You will never have another opportunity to say: "I love you," with your life.  Therefore, make the most of the time that God has given you.

One Minute Please:

When it comes to the ways of the family, God the Father knows exactly what is best.

God bless
  :angel: :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   


Continuous Conversion
. . . unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 18:3

These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God's, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must "put on the new man . . ." (Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule- God must rule in us.

To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, "I won't submit." We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.


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Attack at the Point of Spiritual Breakthrough

We have seen in previous devotionals how Satan will attack when a person comes to Christ, when they are a babe in their faith.  I believe Scripture shows us that the devil will also attack when you are on the verge of a breakthrough, or at a time of important transition.  This is the second battle we must fight.

In Matthew 3, we find Jesus at an absolutely critical time of transition in His life.  We have not heard from Him since He was 12 years old.  There has been about 30 quiet, unnoticed years where He presumably was working in His father's carpentry shop.

That is when we read in Matthew 3:16-4:1,

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus is about to enter public ministry.  The sick will be healed; the poor will have the gospel preached to them; miracles will be worked; the Father will be revealed.   So from this point, the battle is on.  And we are given a bird's-eye view of the conflict that occurs between Christ and the devil, which we will look at in more detail in the next several devotionals.

But I want to submit something to you today.  If it seems that all hell has broken loose in your life, maybe, just maybe, it's because you are on the verge of a breakthrough in your life.

Maybe it's a time of very important transition where God wants to lift you into a place where there is going to be greater influence and greater impact through your life.


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LIVING WITH A SUBSTITUTE

In HIS Presence: The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

We live in a world where substitutes are often accepted as being the real thing. Years ago, a leading soft drink company decided to change the way its soda tasted. The company created a new drink and rolled out an elaborate ad campaign calling the drink the "new" cola.

When the public realized this new product would replace the original, there was outrage. People vowed to boycott the company by refusing to drink any of its products. Immediately, company executives realized that they were in trouble and withdrew the new product line. They quickly adopted a new marketing slogan regarding the original cola: "It's the real thing!"

What potentially could have spelled disaster for the company became the basis of a marketing program that is still going today-"It's the real thing!"  In other words, there are no substitutes or fakes. The original thing is the real thing.

When it comes to the subject of the family, we have cast aside the original plan God gave us in Genesis and adopted a "new" plan. Instead of turning to His Word for advice, we now switch on the television and tune in to the talk shows and our families are suffering. If this is all we hear and practice, then we will be headed for deep trouble. God has a plan in mind for the family. It is real and amazing, but first we must be willing to embrace it.

One Minute Please:

We live in a day of substitutes and in a time when the real thing looks cheap.





God bless
  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   



Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
 
He went out, not knowing where he was going -Hebrews 11:8

Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?"You don't know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don't know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. ". . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don't worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do- He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.


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The Impact of Sacrifice



Jesus calls us to sacrifice, and the devil will do all he can to keep us from that.  Read  Jesus' words,

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25).

The devil will fight to keep you from sacrifice because he knows several things.

1.      He understands that sacrifice brings the presence of God.  Throughout the Old and New Testaments you will find that whenever men and women sacrificed, God's presence came.  The devil doesn't want more of the presence of God in your life.  He would love for you to live a mediocre, half-hearted life.  But to follow Jesus means self-denial.  When Jesus leads you to sacrifice, it will always bring a greater measure of His life and His presence into your life.  And the devil understands that.

2.      He understands that sacrifice opens a great channel of blessing that otherwise we will not experience.  Paul wrote to the Philippians, "I've received your gift.  It is a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling aroma to God, and my God will supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  That promise of needs being met according to a heavenly standard was directly linked to sacrificial giving.

3.      He understands that those who have changed the world were always men and women who sacrificed.  You will not find anyone who has changed the world for good that has not been a person of great sacrifice.  The devil knows that is true!

Don't let Satan keep you from the sacrifice God is calling you to make.


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MARCHING TO THE WORLD'S DRUMBEAT

In HIS Presence:  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female (Genesis 1:27).

It's amazing to listen to what people are saying about marriage and the family.  Many do not expect to be in either type of relationship very long.  Therefore, they treat their family commitments as if they were temporary-something that is here today and gone tomorrow.

It's like the cartoon character preparing for his wedding.  He says to a friend, "Man I'm getting married today and I'm nervous."

His friend answers, "Yeah, you need to think very seriously about something that will occupy the next five years of your life."

People no longer expect marriages to last.  In fact, they expect them to fail.

The reason many marriages do fall apart is because people trade in God's idea of marriage for their own.  They take His plan and adjust it to theirs, making a horrible mess.

Husbands and fathers seem to be more interested in following the crowd than God.  Many women no longer seek to be what God called them to be-godly wives and mothers who put the interests of their family above their own.

Most of us would not consider buying a complicated product without knowing how to work it.  Yet, we enter marriage and never pick up the owner's manual-God's Word.  Obviously, the Manufacturer knew what He was doing when He packaged the product.

One Minute Please:

The problem is not the family; it is with us-the ones who refuse to read God's instructions.

God bless
  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   


Clouds and Darkness
 
Clouds and darkness surround Him . . . -Psalm 97:2

A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that "clouds and darkness surround Him . . . ." When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet- getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God- it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable "darkness" of realizing who He is.

Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us - "clouds and darkness"- then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way- words.


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Samson and Jesus-Part 1

For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines  (Judges 13:5).

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS... And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God"  (Luke 1:31 & 35).

There are some striking similarities between Samson the Nazarite and Jesus the Nazarine. Here are a few of them.

·        Both the birth of Samson and the birth of Christ were announced through angelic messengers.

·        Samson's father said, "Let your words come to pass."  Mary, the mother of Jesus, said, "Let it be unto me according to your word."

·        Samson was born to deliver the Israelites who were in bondage to and oppressed by the Philistines.  Jesus was born to deliver the world that was in bondage to and oppressed by Satan.

·        The Spirit moved upon Samson.  The Spirit descended upon and anointed Jesus.

·        Samson was a thorn in the Philistines' side, going about destroying their yoke over Israel.  Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil and thereby destroying Satan's yoke of bondage.

·        Samson's own people rejected him and turned him over to the Philistines.  Jesus' own people (the Jews) rejected Him and turned Him over to the Romans.

These similarities between Samson and Jesus are not coincidental.  Samson's story is meant to point the way to Jesus. God wants people to know about the blessed Savior.  You can point the way to Him as well.  Tell someone today about Jesus!

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The Tragedy

In HIS Presence:  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female (Genesis 1:27).

There are no counterfeits in the kingdom of God.  However, in Satan's evil realm, there are only faulty imitations of what the Lord created to be good.  The Enemy is determined to destroy God's work, and he always begins by seeking to tear the family apart.  He tempts us into compromising and doing exactly what we know is wrong.  In times of sin, we may think so one will get hurt but ourselves.  However, we are wrong.  The ripple effect of sin goes on and on.

God promises to deal with every deed done in secret and darkness.  We will have to bear the consequences of our actions.  Usually, once sin begins, it does not stop until something tragic takes place.  Sadly, our children often are the ones who suffer the most as they wonder why Daddy is not home or why Mommy left so quickly.

God's plan for marriage has an instruction guide that is easy to follow.  It begins like this, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:;37).

When you obey His principles, life becomes bright and full of joy.  There may be some touch issues that you will have to tackle along the way.  However, because you have obeyed Him, He will give you the strength and wisdom you need to get through every difficulty.

One Moment Please:

God wants men and women to partner together to fulfill his plan for the family.

God bless
:angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   


Why Can I Not Follow You Now?
 
Peter said to Him, 'Lord, why can I not follow You now?' -John 13:37

There are times when you can't understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don't fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification- to be set apart from sin and made holy- or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt- wait.

At first you may see clearly what God's will is- the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God's will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God's timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.

Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. "I will lay down my life for Your sake." Peter's statement was honest but ignorant. "Jesus answered him, ' . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times' " (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.

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Samson and Jesus-Part 2

For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines  (Judges 13:5).

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS  (Luke 1:31).

In yesterday's devotional we examined some amazing similarities between Samson and Jesus.  Here are a few more parallels to ponder:

·        Samson was betrayed by Delilah.  Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

·        Samson was taken prisoner and tortured by the Philistines.  Jesus was taken prisoner and tortured by the Romans.

·        Samson, while being mocked in Dagon's temple, wrought his greatest victory and gave the Philistines their worst defeat-the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Jesus, while being mocked on the cross by his persecutors, wrought His greatest victory and handed hell its ultimate defeat.  And He did it through His death.

It is said that Samson "began to deliver Israel," indicating that his work was to be carried on by others. Jesus has left the work of evangelism to us. Though He paid the price, we are to carry the good news of His victory to the ends of the earth.

As you think about these similarities, I want you to especially consider the last one I presented. Once we receive the gospel, we are then to be carriers of the gospel. Tell someone about Jesus and what He has done for them-today!


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AN UNCOMPROMISING LOVE

In HIS Presence:  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25).

Most of us have either read or heard a sermon preached on the Scripture quoted above.  The apostle Paul was writing to believers in Ephesus-a city that was one of the most pagan at the time.  These early believers were just beginning to understand what it meant to love others the way that Jesus loved people.  So Paul added an important detail to his teaching-he instructed husbands to love their wives the way Christ loves the church.

When we talk about loving to this degree, we are talking about sacrifice and commitment.  This is exactly what Jesus did for each one of us.  He sacrificed His life and committed Himself to us.  Wives need to know that their husbands are willing to do the same for them.

Jesus is our loving Savior.  Likewise, there will be times when wives need to view their husbands as saviors-not taking the place of Christ, but listening to their daily struggles and providing the protection they need from harm.

If you have never opened your heart to Christ's love, then you will not know how to love the way He loved.  In fact, a person can be saved and still not experience the depth of God's love.  However, when you ask Him to teach you the right way to love, He will do it.  No matter what your past contains, He will broaden your ability to love with His same love.

One Minute Please

Love is measured by sacrifice, not by enjoyment.


God bless
  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

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.
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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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GOD'S LOVE IS ETERNAL

In HIS Presence:  God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

God commands husbands to love their wives.  However, He never instructs a wife to do the same.  She is commanded, instead, to respect her mate.  This may seem like an odd way to address the subject of love, but God is not saying that women should dismiss this commandment.

Rather, God is love, and His love lives within us.  Therefore, we are commanded to love one another with the love of Christ.  From God's perspective, a woman's love comes as a direct response to her husband's salvation and the fight of love he gives to her.  It begins with the foundation of respect and flourishes.

If husbands are going to be biblical lovers, they also must become biblical saviors.  Jesus Christ did not die for us because we were lovable.  He died for us in order to make us lovable.  His gift of salvation is the greatest form of love.  When we were lost in sin, He died for you and me.  It is his love that draws us to Himself.  We are saved by love so that we can receive His love.

Many times, we think of love as being hot or cold-on or off-but God's love is eternal.  It has no ending.  In order to experience it, however, we must come to a point where we accept and respect the fact that He loves us.  Once we do this, we discover the irresistible love of God for ourselves.

One Minute Please:

Husbands have a Deliverer in Christ, and wives need to have a deliverer in them.

God bless
  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers   

Is My Sacrifice Living?

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.

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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.

Seek after God.  And when He prospers you, keep seeking after Him!
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Before Rushing Down the Aisle

Scripture Readings: Romans 5:1-3 

I'm sure you've noticed how many single people really want to get married, and how most married couples are always trying to set up their single friends. And of course, I'm sure you've heard (especially at Christmas get togethers) grandparents, aunts, uncles, and parents always asking the single relatives in the family, "Sooo . . . anyone special in your life?"

Yes, marriage is something very special, but it is never something to rush into. Too often people rush into marriage before they've been able to define themselves and become complete in God. Some people think getting married will make them happy and complete, but putting two incomplete people together does not equal a whole, but rather two unhappy people in an unhappy marriage.

We can't look to others to make us happy; we have to look to God. Those who are single should define themselves in God and find happiness in Him, and those matchmakers out there should help their single friends and family with this process-helping them become whole, before starting to try to find them the perfect person to marry.


God bless
:angel: :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


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.
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The Secret to God's Provision

In Luke 12:31-32 Jesus tells us,

"But seek the kingdom of God...." (In Matthew 6:33, He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God...and all these things shall be added to you.")  "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The secret to receiving God's provision is to put God's Kingdom first, then everything else will be added to you.  That includes all the things you worry about and strive after.  God promises He will add them to you.

I know for some people it is just too simplistic.  It is just a childish notion to be brushed aside.  But, to do so is a grave mistake.  Never underestimate the power of obedience.  When we obey God and get our priorities in line, it unlocks and releases incredible blessings in our life.

When we put the spiritual above the material, when we put the cause and the mission of God's Kingdom before our own personal desires, it will cause things to be added to our lives.

I remember reading about J.L. Kraft.  He began his business by selling cheese on the streets in Chicago, but failed miserably.  One day a Christian friend told him, "J.L., you don't have God first in your life, or in your business.  Put Him first in all things you do, and you will see a different outcome."

From that day on, he put God's Kingdom first in every way and he built the largest cheese empire in the world.

First things first.  Jesus said, "Do not worry.  Just get your priorities in line, and God will take care of you."

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Look for Opportunities to Encourage

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Isaiah 43:5

Are you one of them?  They're out there right now.  There are millions of them.  In your city.  In your neighborhood.  In your church.  Perhaps, even in your home. You may even be  one of them  . . . Who are they?

People in desperate need of encouragement.

Let's face it . . . life can be hard.  The Christian walk is a narrow road that can be smooth one minute and bumpy the next, filled with twists and turns and trials and triumphs.  All of us face moments when we feel like it takes everything we've got just to keep going.

In those moments, we need an encouraging word.  We need someone who will speak the truth to us in love.  We need the light of God's love to fill us with the hope, faith and strength we need to rise again.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, the Apostle Paul challenged Christians to encourage one another.  As followers of Christ, we should ALWAYS be on the lookout for opportunities to encourage others!  Are you?

God bless
  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder


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.
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What Has You?

In Mark 10:17-22, this is what we read,

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"  So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  You know the commandments:  'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"  And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."  Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack:  Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."  But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This is an interesting passage, isn't it?!  I think verse 22 could probably be read as "great possessions had him," and we wouldn't do too much damage to the text.  Possessions possessed him, and he went away from his conversation with Jesus sorrowful.

When Jesus met this guy, He was able to cut right to the heart issue, what controlled his life.  Verse 21 could be paraphrased, "Okay, you really want it?  Here's your roadblock, baby."  It was the guy's attitude toward his stuff.

This man loved possessions, wealth, and the things of this life more than he loved Jesus.

Where are you today, my friend?  Have you allowed our world to con you into believing that you should base your life on the stuff you accumulate?  Or do you love God the most?
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Make a Difference One by One

A father and son were walking along a beach after a powerful storm.  In fact, the storm was so strong that as the waves crashed and the wind blew, hundreds of starfish were washed ashore and left far from the water they needed to survive.

As they walked, the father and son began a rescue mission, picking up starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean.  When the boy looked at the hundreds of remaining starfish, he became discouraged. "Dad, there's too many. We can't save them all.   We can't make a difference!"

The father looked at the starfish in his hand.  The creature would have never made it back into the ocean on its own.  As he threw the starfish back in the ocean, he told his son, "We're making a difference to this one."

You can make a difference too . . . even if it's only one by one.  God has called each of us - not just the pastor or the missionary - to be a voice of encouragement to someone.  Bless someone. Make a difference.

God bless


:angel:
Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

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