Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 12, 2008

Out Of Obscurity  READ: 2 Kings 22:3-11  I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. -2 Kings 22:8

In an old house close to a Civil War battleground in Virginia, workers are painstakingly restoring graffiti. Unsightly scribbling similar to what we scrub from public view is considered a clue to knowledge of the past. Workers are ecstatic when a new letter or word emerges from obscurity to provide information that has remained hidden for over 145 years.

The story brings to mind a scene in ancient Israel when Hilkiah the priest found the long lost book of the law in the temple of the Lord. The very words of God, entrusted to the nation of Israel, had been ignored, forgotten, and eventually lost. But King Josiah was determined to follow the Lord, so he instructed the priest to restore worship in the temple. In the process, the Law of Moses was discovered.

But an even greater discovery was yet to be made. Many years later, after meeting Jesus, Philip reported to his friend Nathanael: "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law" (John 1:45 NIV).

People today get excited about discovering the scribbles of Civil War soldiers. How much more exciting it is to discover the words of Almighty God expressed in the Word made flesh, Jesus the Messiah.  - Julie Ackerman Link

The treasures of the Word of God
Are great beyond compare;
But if we do not search them out,
We cannot use what's there. -Sper

The Bible is old, but its truths are always new.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Satisfies God's Requirements
"Love does no wrong to anyone. That's why it fully satisfies all of God's requirements. It is the only law you need" (Romans 13:10).

Early in my Christian life, I was troubled over the command to love God so completely, as I mentioned in yesterday's reading. How could I ever measure up to such a high standard? Then He showed me how to love by faith.

We are to love God. We are to love our neighbors. We are to love our enemies. We are to love our family members. And we are to love ourselves with God's kind of love, by faith.

Since the greatest commandment is to love God, we are to give Him our first love, never allowing anyone or anything to come before Him. And supernaturally, we are to express the agape kind of love to others - a love no less in its quality and magnitude than that which we express toward God.

In the same way, God loves all His children perfectly. He loves you and me just as much as He loves His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:23).

The person who has not yet learned to love God and to seek Him above all else and all others is to be pitied. Such a person is only denying himself the blessings that await all who love God with all their heart, soul and mind.

It is natural for us to fulfill the command to love our neighbors as ourselves if we truly love God in the way mentioned above. If we are properly related to God, vertically, we will be properly related to our fellow man, horizontally.

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: By faith I will claim God's love - for Him, for my neighbors, for myself, for my enemies - and as a result do only good, which is a result of supernatural living

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Show proper respect to everyone." 1 Peter 2:17 NIV

Thoughts for Today
The third vital quality we need to develop in helping a hurting loved one-and in every relationship-is respect. People with life-controlling problems might not seem to deserve our respect, but our respect for them could be one of the keys to their healing. Even if their life is controlled by destructive behaviors, people deserve respect as a human being.

Respecting loved ones with a life-controlling problem doesn't mean you should own their problem or rescue them from taking responsibility for their behavior. It does mean you should treat them as equals and not put them down.

How is this possible? First, you need to separate them from their behavior. Look beyond their wrong behavior and see them as God's creation. Even though you cannot respect their wrongdoing, you can respect them as a person.

Second, remember that God loves us no matter what we do. He gave us free will even though we sometimes use that freedom in harmful ways. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. If God shows us this kind of love and respect, how can we do less for each other?

Consider this
Ask God to help you love and respect people as his creation even when you can't respect what they are doing. Difficult? Yes. But with Christ, all things are possible.

Prayer
Lord, teach me to separate people from their behavior and learn to love and respect them as your creation. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Understanding the Times. This book by Dr. Jimmy Lee offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture. The qualities described in this week's devotions are derived from Gary Sweeten's work in Apples of God I and II. We appreciate his contribution.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The Changed LifeIf anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new -2 Corinthians 5:17

What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is- has God changed the things that really matter to you? If you still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born from above- you are deceiving yourself. If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your real life and thought. And when a crisis comes, you are the most amazed person on earth at the wonderful difference there is in you. There is no possibility of imagining that you did it. It is this complete and amazing change that is the very evidence that you are saved.

What difference has my salvation and sanctification made? For instance, can I stand in the light of 1 Corinthians 13 , or do I squirm and evade the issue? True salvation, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit, frees me completely. And as long as I "walk in the light as He is in the light" ( 1 John 1:7  ), God sees nothing to rebuke because His life is working itself into every detailed part of my being, not on the conscious level, but even deeper than my consciousness.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 13, 2008

Whom Will You Trust?  READ: Philippians 3:1-11 

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. -Ephesians 2:8

Ayn Rand, an American philosopher who died in 1982, gathered a sizable following who read her books and attended her lectures. An avid individualist, she had this to say: "Now I see the free face of god and I raise this god over all the earth, this god who men have sought since men came into being, the god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word, I." When asked if she believed in God, she answered, "This god is myself, I." Egotism-faith in oneself-that's what this philosopher believed in.

The apostle Paul bore witness to a trust that is exactly the opposite of that misplaced self-confidence. He declared, "[We] worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). He put his trust solely in Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, the true God of love and mercy.

We read in the book of Ephesians, "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (2:.

Are we embracing the philosophy of egotism, which is really a confidence that will prove eternally self-destructive? Or have we, like Paul, embraced the self-sacrificing grace of Jesus Christ?  - Vernon C. Grounds

By grace now I'm saved-Hallelujah!
Praise God, and through faith it's been done;
Naught of myself, but believing
In the finished work of His Son. -Gladwin

We are saved not by what we do but by trusting what Christ has done.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

Wonderful Friendship
"God will surely do this for you, for He always does just what He says, and He is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with His Son, even Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9).

You and I do not always prove faithful, but the apostle Paul wants us to know, by way of his letter to the believers in Corinth, that our God will surely do what He has promised; in this case, make us "blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse .

The apostle wants the Corinthians to know that they can depend upon the faithfulness of God, who had begun a good work among them, and certainly would see them through to the end. He did the inviting; He would do the keeping.

Christians are able to participate with Christ in several ways. First in His trials and sufferings, for we are subjected to temptations and trials similar to His: "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings" (1 Peter 4:13, KJV).

Second, in His feelings and views (Romans 8:9).

Third, in His heirship to the inheritance and glory which awaits Him: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17, KJV).

Fourth, in His triumph in the resurrection and future glory: "Ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28, KJV).

Are you not glad for that kind of friendship?

Bible Reading:  2 Thessalonians 3:3-5

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: When I look for a faithful friend, my first thought will be of Christ Himself, who truly qualifies as my very best friend 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known." Luke 12:2 MSG

Thoughts for Today
Many of us wear a mask. We don't want other people to know the "real us." And yet, if we want to help someone we care about who is struggling with a problem, we need to take off the mask and be real. This quality of being genuine will enable us to be more effective in relationships with those we want to help-actually, in any relationship.

If people you are trying to help believe that you are a phony, they are not going to trust you with what you say and do. They need to see you living a consistent life from day to day, whether you are at church or on the job or having a good time with friends. They need to hear you be honest about your feelings-although you do need to find a balance. Don't be so transparent that you hurt or offend people with your honesty.

Consider this
As a genuine person, you will not act superior or pretend to be someone you are not. You will honestly admit when you've been wrong.

Being openly genuine will open the door to a trusting relationship between you and those you want to help. It will encourage them to come to you and to respect what you say.

If you want to help others, be willing to be real.

Prayer
Father, teach me to set aside my pride and be willing to be real. Help me to be honest about my feelings and genuine in all I do. Help me to take off the mask. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Understanding the Times. This book by Dr. Jimmy Lee offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture. The qualities described in this week's devotions are derived from Gary Sweeten's work in Apples of God I and II. We appreciate his contribution.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.


Faith or Experience? . . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me -Galatians 2:20

We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, "I haven't had this experience or that experience"! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides- He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith "in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 1:30  ). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!

We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ- not a "prayer meeting" Jesus Christ, or a "book" Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.

It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 14, 2008

The Person Makes The Place   READ: Revelation 22:6-17God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. -Revelation 21:3-4

Engaged couples often spend hours poring over travel brochures and vacation Web sites looking for just the right honeymoon spot. They can hardly wait for their romantic getaway. But it's not so much about the place; it's about being with the person they love.

We get used to places no matter how glorious they are. But being with a person who loves us never gets old!

In Revelation, John paints a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like. But it's not really about the place-it's about the Person we'll be with. The day is coming when Jesus will come to take us to be with Him in the place He has prepared for us. And the wonderful news is that He says: "Behold, I am coming quickly!" (22:7).

If you're thinking, He may come back for others, but surely not for me, don't miss verse 17: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Anyone is welcome to join the wedding feast. All we have to do is believe in the One who died for us, Jesus Christ, the Lover of our souls.

Make no mistake, the place-heaven-will be incredible beyond our dreams. But our greatest joy will be the experience of being with Jesus forever!  - Joe Stowell

He will take me to be with Him
In His happy Home above,
Where no sin or pain can enter,
And all is joy and love. -Anon.

The greatest aspect of heaven will be spending eternity with Jesus.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Abundant, Supernatural Life
"Even so, consider yourself to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11, NAS).

My friend Randy had given up on the Christian life. He said, "I have tried, but failed so many times; nothing seems to work. God doesn't hear my prayers, and I am tired of trying. I've read the Bible, prayed, memorized Scripture, and gone to church. But there is no joy and I don't see any purpose in continuing a life of shame and hypocrisy, pretending I am something that I'm not."

After listening to his account of his many failures and defeats, I began to explain the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He interrupted me with, "I know all about the Holy Spirit. I've read everything I can find, everything you and others have written - and nothing works for me."

My thoughts turned to Romans, chapter 6. I asked him, "Randy, are you sure you're a Christian?"

"Yes," he answered. "I'm sure."

"How do you know?"

"By faith," he responded. "The Scripture promises, 'For by grace are you saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it's a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.' I know I'm saved."

"Why," I asked him, "do you trust God for your salvation, but do not believe in His other promises concerning your rights as a child of God?"

I began to read from Romans 6 and reminded Randy that every believer has available to him the mighty, supernatural power of the risen Christ. With the enabling of the Holy Spirit, the believer can live that supernatural life simply by claiming his rights through an act of his will. The same Holy Spirit who inspired Ephesians 2:8 and 9 inspired Romans 6, and, by faith, we can claim that sin no longer has control over us and that the mighty power of the resurrection is available as promised.

That day, God touched Randy's life, his spiritual eyes were opened and he began, by faith, to live in accordance with his God-given heritage.

Bible Reading: Romans 6:12-18

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Today, by faith, I will claim the truths of Romans 6. As an act of my will, I surrender the members of my body as instruments of righteousness unto God, to live that abundant, supernatural life, which is my heritage in Christ. Enabled by the Holy Spirit, I will encourage other believers to claim their kingdom rights, and non-believers to join this adventure with the risen Savior

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 MSG

Thoughts for Today
Appropriate self-disclosure can be a useful tool in a helping relationship. Sharing your own personal experiences and insight may help your friend understand how to deal with a life-controlling problem. Keep the conversation positive, telling about your mistakes but focusing on how God helped you and the things you learned through the process. A word of caution-don't overuse self-disclosure by talking too much, shifting the focus of the conversation toward you and away from the person you want to help.

It is also important that while sharing with others, you do not talk down to them, making them feel as though you are treating them like a child or an inferior person. Your self-disclosure should have a clear goal of providing insight your friend does not appear to have and moving him or her toward healing. Try to stay at the level of insight relevant to the person's need.

Consider this
Freedom from a life-controlling problem is a process. Pray that God will help you disclose all that will assist your friend in that process, but not so much as to produce confusion. And pray that God will use what you say to help set your loved one free.

Prayer
Father, help me be generous with my life and share with my friend those things that will hasten deliverance and healing. I pray that my self-disclosure will be an encouragement to my friend to open up to you. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
Understanding the Times. This book by Dr. Jimmy Lee offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture. The qualities described in this week's devotions are derived from Gary Sweeten's work in Apples of God I and II. We appreciate his contribution.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Discovering Divine Design As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . . -Genesis 24:27
We should be so one with God that we don't need to ask continually for guidance. Sanctification means that we are made the children of God. A child's life is normally obedient, until he chooses disobedience. But as soon as he chooses to disobey, an inherent inner conflict is produced. On the spiritual level, inner conflict is the warning of the Spirit of God. When He warns us in this way, we must stop at once and be renewed in the spirit of our mind to discern God's will (see Romans 12:2  ). If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. ". . . the Lord led me . . ." and on looking back we see the presence of an amazing design. If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit.

We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God's appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.

Beware of being obsessed with consistency to your own convictions instead of being devoted to God. If you are a saint and say, "I will never do this or that," in all probability this will be exactly what God will require of you. There was never a more inconsistent being on this earth than our Lord, but He was never inconsistent with His Father. The important consistency in a saint is not to a principle but to the divine life. It is the divine life that continually makes more and more discoveries about the divine mind. It is easier to be an excessive fanatic than it is to be consistently faithful, because God causes an amazing humbling of our religious conceit when we are faithful to Him.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 15, 2008

Your Children Will Ask  READ: Exodus 12:13-17,25-27 When your children say to you, "What do you mean by this service?" . . . you shall say, "It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord." -Exodus 12:26-27

One of the most important events in Jewish history is the exodus, when God freed His people from the bondage of Egypt. Prior to leaving Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to eat a special meal called the Passover. As an act of judgment upon the Egyptians, God said that He would strike down every firstborn son, but He would pass over the houses that had the blood of a lamb on the top and sides of the door frame (Ex. 12).

To commemorate this act of judgment and grace, God's people would share in the Passover meal. God said that one day their children would ask: "What do you mean by this?" They were then responsible to retell the story of the exodus and God's salvation. God did not want the story of His great salvation to get lost in one generation.

When our children ask us about our values, lifestyle, prayer in decision-making, Bible-reading, church attendance, and worship, we have a responsibility to answer them. We are followers of Jesus. We must retell the story of how He became our Passover Lamb. His blood is the marker over our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin but are free to serve the Eternal One of heaven.

What are you teaching the children?  - Marvin Williams

How great, O God, Your acts of love!
Your saving deeds would proclaim
That generations yet to come
May set their hope in Your great name. -D. De Haan


A parent's life is a child's guidebook.


Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Overwhelming Love
"But despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us" (Romans 8:37).

Today I prayed with a beloved friend who is dying of cancer. As he and his precious wife and I held hands, we lifted our voices in praise to God, knowing that He makes no mistakes, that "all things work together for good to those who love Him," and that he is fully aware of my brother's body riddled with pain as a result of cancerous cells that are on a warpath. Together we claimed that victory which comes from an unwavering confidence in Christ's sufficiency.

The victory comes, of course, through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. Such love is beyond our ability to grasp with our minds, but it is not beyond our ability to experience with our hearts. God's love is unconditional and it is constant. Because He is perfect, His love is perfect, too.

The Scriptures tell of a certain lawyer who asked Jesus, "Sir, which is the most important command in the Law of Moses?"

Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

The question may come to your mind: "Why does God want our love?"

From a human standpoint, this could appear selfish and egotistical. But God, in His sovereignty and love, has so created man that he finds his greatest joy and fulfillment when he loves God with all his heart and soul and mind, and his neighbor as himself.

Early in my Christian life, I was troubled over the command to love God so completely. But now the Holy Spirit has filled my heart with God's love. And as I meditate on the "overwhelming victory" that He gives us, I find my love for Him growing.

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: His great love and "overwhelming victory" for me prompts me to respond with supernatural love for Him and for others

Praise: The Ultimate Cure for Pride

Pride asks, "How do others perceive me?" and "What impression am I making on other people?" When there is pride in our lives, it makes us self-conscious. Pride wants to be praised.

While we all need encouragement, only God deserves praise.

Pride can blind us to any feeling of gratitude toward the Lord. Unchecked, it will ultimately separate us from God and those we love. The only cure for pride is surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ-making a commitment to Him and then choosing to let the Spirit of God work in our lives on a daily basis.

After David was anointed as king over Israel, he and his men brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15).

David appointed musicians and singers, and the ark of God entered the city with shouts, trumpets, and the playing of harps. In exuberance and excitement, David took off his royal robe and began to dance before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14). But his wife Michal watched and later criticized David's actions. She was proud and thought David's actions were not kingly (2 Samuel 6:20).

Placing undue importance on our self-images and the opinions of others are just two of the distractions that Satan uses to discourage us. However, God wants us to have healthy self images based on His unconditional love for us. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we become children of the King of kings and are made members of His royal family.

David was not concerned about his image. He was praising God. He was focused on the Lord and not on himself. Are you concerned about your appearance before others? Don't withhold your worship of the Lord because of fear of what others will think.

Praise frees you from the hold of pride.

Those who walk in pride he is able to humble (Daniel 4:37).

Learn how praise can make all the difference in your life.  Michael Youssef explores this topic in our free resource this month-"Empowered by Praise." Download it today.

By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world. Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

"What Is That to You?"Peter . . . said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, '. . . what is that to you? You follow Me' -John 21:21-22

One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people's lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God's plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, "He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn't." You put your hand right in front of God's permissive will to stop it, and then God says, "What is that to you?" Is there stagnation in your spiritual life? Don't allow it to continue, but get into God's presence and find out the reason for it. You will possibly find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another- proposing things you had no right to propose, or advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another person, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit. Your part is to maintain the right relationship with God so that His discernment can come through you continually for the purpose of blessing someone else.

Most of us live only within the level of consciousness- consciously serving and consciously devoted to God. This shows immaturity and the fact that we're not yet living the real Christian life. Maturity is produced in the life of a child of God on the unconscious level, until we become so totally surrendered to God that we are not even aware of being used by Him. When we are consciously aware of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, we have yet another level to reach- a level where all awareness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is completely eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint- a saint is consciously dependent on God.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 16, 2008

"I Did Not Know It"  READ: Genesis 28:10-16  Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." -Genesis 28:16

As Jacob did in Genesis 28, I like to remind myself each morning when I awaken that God is here, "in this place," present with me (v.16). As I spend time with Him each morning, reading His Word and responding in prayer, it reinforces my sense of His presence-that He is near. Although we do not see Him, Peter reminds us that we can love Him and rejoice in His love for us with "inexpressible," glorious joy (1 Peter 1:.

We take the Lord's presence with us all through the day, blending work and play with prayer. He is our teacher, our philosopher, our companion-our gentle, kind, and very best friend.

God is with us wherever we go. He is in the commonplace, whether we know it or not. "Surely the Lord is in this place," Jacob said of a most unlikely spot, "and I did not know it" (Gen. 28:16). We may not realize He is close by. We may feel lonely and sad. Our day may seem bleak and dreary without a visible ray of hope-yet He is present.

Amid all the clamor and din of this visible and audible world, listen carefully for God's quiet voice. Listen to Him in the Bible. Talk to Him frequently in prayer. Look for Him in your circumstances. Seek Him. He is with you wherever you go!  - David H. Roper

Oh, how oft I wake and find
I have been forgetting Thee!
I am never from Thy mind;
Thou it is that wakest me. -MacDonald


Our greatest privilege is to enjoy God's presence.


Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

He Gives the Victory
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57, KJV).

In our busy lives, yours and mine, there are days when victory seems an impossibility. Heartaches, trials, burdens, or just the ordinary cares of the day, all seem foreign to the idea of being victorious.

And yet the fact remains that we are "more than conquerors" even when we do not feel like it. God graciously allows His children to be human and to express our doubts and fears when suffering and pain and testing and trial seem to overwhelm us.

"I have to be very honest," confessed Joyce Landorf, well-known Christian author and speaker, during a long period of illness. "One of the things I have learned from severe pain is that I have felt totally abandoned by God. I didn't think he'd let that happen to me, but He has.

"And maybe the feeling of abandonment when pain is at its writhing best..maybe that's what makes it so sweet after the pain goes and the Lord says, 'I was here all the time. I haven't left you. I will never forsake you.' Now those words get sweeter to me because I know what it has felt like to not feel His presence."

We do not have all the answers, but we know one who does. And that is where our victory begins - acknowledging (1) that God is a God of love, one who never makes a mistake, and (2) he will never leave us or forsake us.

Bible Reading: Romans 7:18-25


TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will consider myself a victor, whatever may transpire, because I serve the victorious one

Judas
by Max Lucado

If God has called you to be a Martha, then serve! Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and there is worship in nursing the sick.

If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.

If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.

Each of us has our place at the table.

Except one. There was one at Martha's house who didn't find his place. Though he had been near Jesus longer than any of the others, he was furthest in his faith. His name was Judas. He was a thief. When Mary poured the perfume he feigned spirituality. "The perfume could have been sold and given to the poor," he said. But Jesus knew Judas's heart, and Jesus defended Mary's worship. Years later, John, too, knew Judas's heart, and John explained that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). And all these years he had been dipping his hand in the treasury. The reason he wanted the perfume to be sold and the money put in the treasury was so that he could get his hands on it.

What a sad ending to a beautiful story. But what an appropriate ending. For in every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify.

And there are those like Judas who take, take, take, and never give in return. Are you a Judas? I ask the question carefully, yet honestly. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Are you a Judas?

Do you take, take, take, and never give? If so, you are the Judas in this story.

If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.
If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.
If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.
But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.


From
Cast of Characters
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) Max Lucado

Now Available

Still Human!. . . whatever you do, do all to the glory of God -1 Corinthians 10:31

In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.

We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It's one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, "What a wonderful man of prayer he is!" or, "What a great woman of devotion she is!" If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.

We want to be able to say, "Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!" But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God's Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint's life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life "hidden with Christ in God" in our everyday human conditions ( Colossians 3:3  ). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.

God Bless


   

   




 

[Judy Harder]

 
Daily Devotionals November 17, 2008

Closing The Gaps  READ: Acts 5:1-11  Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. -Acts 5:4

After the final episode of the 2002 TV program Survivor: Africa, a wrap-up special focused on the final contestants. The show's host Jeff Probst said that the victor won "mostly by sticking with his principles." The champion later explained that he wanted to win while retaining "dignity and self-respect." He elaborated that you don't have to lie, cheat, or do underhanded things to win. You can be competitive, yet still be truthful and nice. In short, he permitted no discrepancy between image and reality.

In the book of Acts we read about Ananias and Sapphira, who did have a gap between what they wanted to be known for and who they really were (5:1-11). Satan filled their hearts with a deceptive plan. They sold a piece of property and brought just a portion of the money to the apostles, while pretending they were giving all the proceeds. They wanted to be recognized as a generous couple, but they were not what they appeared to be. This gap caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the faith community. They paid a terrible price-death. Their example stands as a stark warning to us all.

What discrepancies have we permitted in our lives? We must confess them and close the gaps.  - Marvin Williams

Lord, by Your Spirit grant that we
May live with such integrity
That when we simply give our word
No one will doubt what has been heard. -D. De Haan


Integrity means never having to look over your shoulder.


Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

His Great Love for Us
"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:.

A dear friend and Christian leader from another country hated and resented his father, who was an alcoholic. Through the years, my friends had been humiliated and embarrassed by his father's conduct. He wanted nothing to do with him.

As he grew more and more mature in his faith, and the Christlike qualities began to develop in his life, he began to realize that his attitude toward his father was wrong. He knew well that God's Word commanded him to love and honor his mother and father, with no conditions.

Then he began to comprehend and experience the truth of loving by faith after a message which he had heard me give. As a result, he went to his father and, as an act of the will, by faith - because at that point he did not honestly feel like doing so - he expressed his love.

He was amazed to discover that his father had been hurt for years because he had sensed that his son despised and rejected him.

When the son began to demonstrate love for him - to assure him that he cared for him, whether he drank or did not drink - it prompted the father to commit his life to Christ and to trust Him to help him overcome the problem which had plagued him most of his life.

Through this new relationship with the Lord, my friend's father became a new creature and was able to gain victory over the addiction to alcohol several years before he died - a dramatic example of the power of love.


Bible Reading: Romans 5:9-15


TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Knowing Christ's great love for me, I will claim His supernatural love for others today

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Thoughts for Today
In today's world, a sense of safety and security may be difficult to find. The good news is that there is one way we can always be secure.

Most people feel more secure when they are in control. Somehow a trip down a mountain road does not feel as dangerous to us when we have our hands on the steering wheel. The passengers with us are likely to have much greater anxiety.

Having control over our circumstances is very important to most of us-it makes us feel more secure and confident. But we can't always be in control. And when circumstances beyond our control happen, we may feel helpless and experience panic or depression.

God provides a way for us to always experience a sense of security. He leaves it up to us we can either continue depending on ourselves, panicking or losing hope when we can't control a situation or we can depend on the Lord. If we choose Jesus and his way for our lives, we can always be secure in his love. We will still experience problems and trials on this earth, but we will begin to view them from an eternal perspective. When we turn control over to Jesus, we can know that no matter what challenges or trials we face, he will ultimately work them out for good.

Consider this
Whose hands have control of your steering wheel? Are you still trying to control every detail of your life? Do you experience frustration, fear or even anger when you can't control what is happening to you? Consider turning everything over to Jesus. You can trust him.

Prayer
Father, it seems that every time I turn a situation over to you, I hang on to some little part of it and pull it away from you again. I want to be in control, and yet I know that doesn't always work out. Please forgive me for not trusting you with every area of my life. Help me to trust you more and to leave the control of my life in your hands. Help me to rest securely in your love. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Completely Free! by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time to time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are released from sin's slavery, from condemnation and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will, no matter what the circumstances in a person's personal life, in his country or in the world. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The Eternal Goal By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing . . . I will bless you . . . -Genesis 22:16-17
Abraham, at this point, has reached where he is in touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.

My goal is God Himself . . .
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

"At any cost . . . by any road" means submitting to God's way of bringing us to the goal.

There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, "Come," I simply come; when He says, "Let go," I let go; when He says, "Trust God in this matter," I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.

God's revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God's character.

'Tis because I am ordinary,
Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.

It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, "In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee."

The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. "All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our "Yes" must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, "Amen," or, "So be it." That promise becomes ours.

God Bless


With the holiday's approaching the Gospel Hiway asks "what are your thankful for?"  Share your Thankful Heart Testimony with us by clicking here My Thankful Heart and tell others what God has done in your life. Won't you share what God has done in your life and be an encouragement to others?   

The Gospel Hiway is dedicated to praying for your needs and sharing your words of encouragement with others.If you have a prayer request or a praise report to share please use the links below.    Prayer request Praise reports Do you have a general question or comment for The Gospel Hiway? Contact us  Matthew 6:33 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)


33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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[Judy Harder]

 

Daily Devotionals November 18, 2008
   Cooler Heads  READ: Proverbs 17:22-28   A man of understanding is of a calm spirit. -Proverbs 17:27

A Christian I know was angry with someone at his workplace over a perceived injustice. A colleague listened to his grievance and sensed that his temper still ran high. He gave him this wise advice to consider before confronting those involved: "Cooler heads prevail."
As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and takes steps to deal with conflict diplomatically.
Proverbs 17:27 tells us: "He who has knowledge spares his words." This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.
The Proverbs also give us wise counsel on the emotional side of controlling our frustrations. "A man of understanding is of a calm spirit." A mature person exhibits understanding by keeping cool in conflict. Problem-solving is enhanced by an even-tempered approach.
The next time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say.
Remember, cooler heads prevail.  - Dennis Fisher
For Further Study
It's important to handle anger in constructive ways.
Visit www.discoveryseries.org/cb942 on the Web
and read When Anger Burns.

The best time to stop an argument is before it starts.


Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional


By Dr. Bill Bright

He Wonderfully Comforts


"What a wonderful God we have - He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:3,4).
Whatever God does for you and me is without merit on our part and by pure grace on His part, and it is done for a purpose. Here the apostle Paul tells the Corinthian believers why God so wonderfully comforts and strengthens them, and us, in our hardships and trials.
This scriptural principle is a good one to remember: God never gives to or benefits His children solely for their own selfish ends. We are not comforted and strengthened in our hardships and trials just so that we will feel better.
Eleven out of the 13 Pauline epistles begin with the exclamations of joy, praise and thanksgiving. Second Corinthians, obviously, is one of those. Though Paul had been afflicted and persecuted, he had also been favored with God's comfort and consolation.
Paul delighted in tracing all his comforts back to God. He found no other real source of happiness. The apostle does not say that God's comfort and strength is given solely for the benefit of others, but he does say that this is an important purpose. We are not to hoard God's blessings. 
Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:15-19

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: As I live in the supernatural strength of the Lord God, I will make an effort, with His help, to share that strength (and other blessings) with others

 
Living Free Every Day®  Today's Scripture 

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Security means different things to different people. Some feel secure if their health is good, others if their finances are strong, still others if they are surrounded by a loving family. But depending on any earthly person or thing can result in disappointment.
Suppose you work for a company many years, building up a healthy retirement fund that you are depending on for security in later life. Soon after your 60th birthday, the company bankrupts and the retirement fund is no more. If your faith has been in that retirement plan, you are most likely devastated and fearful for the future. But if you recognize that God, not the retirement fund, is your real source, you can rest in the assurance that he has a plan ... and that he will take care of you. Nothing takes God by surprise. You might not see his plan, but you can go forward knowing that he has everything under control.
The same principle applies when you lose a job, don't get an expected promotion, or your business has a setback. If your faith is in the job ... or the promotion ... or your business, you may lose hope. But if your faith is in Jesus, you know that he never changes. Nothing can separate you from his love. And he will provide a way. He may choose to provide through another job, or increased business, or some other earthly means, but as you go forward, doing what you can but trusting in him as your source, he will take care of you.
Consider this...
God wants us to ask for guidance and wisdom in planning for our financial future. But he also wants us to remember that all good things come from him. Bottom line ... no matter what means he uses to bless us, he is our source. And he is trustworthy. He will take care of us.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times I have depended on other people and things, and then lost hope when they let me down. Help me to remember that you are my source, and that you are unchanging and totally trustworthy. Thank you for supplying all my needs. Thank you for taking care of me. In Jesus' name ...
These thoughts were drawn from...
Completely Free! by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time to time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are released from sin's slavery, from condemnation and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will, no matter what the circumstances in a person's personal life, in his country or in the world. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.   
 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.


Winning into Freedom by Oswald Chambers

: If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed -John 8:36

If there is even a trace of individual self-satisfaction left in us, it always says, "I can't surrender," or "I can't be free." But the spiritual part of our being never says "I can't"; it simply soaks up everything around it. Our spirit hungers for more and more. It is the way we are built. We are designed with a great capacity for God, but sin, our own individuality, and wrong thinking keep us from getting to Him. God delivers us from sin- we have to deliver ourselves from our individuality. This means offering our natural life to God and sacrificing it to Him, so He may transform it into spiritual life through our obedience.
God pays no attention to our natural individuality in the development of our spiritual life. His plan runs right through our natural life. We must see to it that we aid and assist God, and not stand against Him by saying, "I can't do that." God will not discipline us; we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring our "arguments . . . and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5 )- we have to do it. Don't say, "Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts." Don't suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.
"If the Son makes you free . . . ." Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage. The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20  when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ . . . ." His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him. ". . . you shall be free indeed"- free to the very core of your being; free from the inside to the outside. We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 19, 2008

Out Of Options?  READ: 2 Kings 5:1-3,9-15  Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. -2 Kings 5:15

As ancient Syria's mightiest military commander, General Naaman had all the benefits the empire could offer: influence, affluence, and power. All, that is, except for health! Naaman was a leper (2 Kings 5:1-3).

In contrast, the servant girl in the general's household had no options or power at all. As a captive from an army raid, she had been forced into a lifetime of slavery (v.2). But she did not permit herself to be overcome by despair and bitterness. Rather, she rose above her no-option estate to serve wholeheartedly the best interests of her master.

This servant girl didn't see her master's leprosy as God's punishment but as an opportunity to point Naaman to God's prophet in Samaria (v.3). Her recommendation led to Naaman's complete healing. He declared, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel" (v.15).

Today, many people have abundant options. Others, however, have their choices curtailed by poverty, poor health, or other adverse circumstances. When a crisis comes, even their limited options evaporate.

Yet one choice always remains. Like Naaman's servant girl, we can still choose to serve God and point others to Him-regardless of our limited circumstances.  - Albert Lee

'Tis mine to choose if self shall die
And never rise again;
'Tis mine to yield the throne to Christ
And bid Him rule and reign. -Christiansen


Facing an impossibility gives us the opportunity to trust God.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Like a Sweet Perfume
"But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume" (2 Corinthians 2:14).

We can certainly learn a lesson from the apostle Paul. He frequently begins a chapter or a verse with a note of praise. To say that he had a thankful spirit would be understating the case. That perhaps is the key to victory in every area of our lives, to begin with thanksgiving.

It is God who leads us to triumph over principalities and powers. And in leading us to triumph, He is then able to use us to tell others of His love and forgiveness through the Lord Jesus. As we rest in His victory and in His command, with its promise of "Lo, I am with you always," we spread the gospel like a sweet perfume.

In your own home and in your own neighborhood, perhaps, are those who need the sweet perfume of the gospel, that heavenly aroma that comes first from God, then through us as His servants, and finally in the message itself: the good news of sins forgiven and a heavenly home assured.

Around the world, literally, I personally have seen multitudes of men and women, old and young, become new creatures in Christ. The aroma indeed is one of sweet perfume, for tangled lives have become untangled to the glory of God, and joy abounds in hearts and lives where only sadness and despair had been known.

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: "Dear Lord, help me to bear a heavenly aroma as I share the sweet perfume of the gospel with others."
 
Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1 NLT

Thoughts for Today
We often find security in a relationship-with a spouse, a family member or a best friend. We are secure in knowing that this person loves us and is always there for us ... and then we may find that this loved one is suddenly gone. Perhaps they chose to leave us, or perhaps they were taken in death.

This kind of loss is always extremely painful. A long process of grief usually follows. And if our entire sense of security depended on our relationship with this person, we are likely to lose all hope.

On the other hand, if we look to Jesus for our security, we will still hurt we will still grieve but we won't lose all hope. Nothing can separate us from God's love. We can still look to him for the strength to go on. We will still have the hope of accomplishing his purpose for our life.

Consider this
No matter what your circumstances, determine to look to Jesus as your source. He may choose to provide for your well-being through a special relationship with a loved one ... or he may choose another way. But always remember that he is your source, and he will never leave you nor forsake you. He will always love you unconditionally. You can count on him.

Prayer
Lord, thank you for being my refuge and my strength. Thank you that no matter what the circumstances, I can count on you to shelter me and to give me strength. Thank you that even if things around me seem to crumble, you are always with me, always loving me, always helping me. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
Completely Free! by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time to time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are released from sin's slavery, from condemnation and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will, no matter what the circumstances in a person's personal life, in his country or in the world. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

With the holiday's approaching the Gospel Hiway asks "what are your thankful for?"  Share your Thankful Heart Testimony with us by clicking here My Thankful Heart and tell others what God has done in your life.

"When He Has Come"When He has come, He will convict the world of sin . . . -John 16:8
Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin. We know the experience of being disturbed because we have done wrong things. But conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots out every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one- "Against You, You only, have I sinned . . ." ( Psalm 51:4  ). When a person is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that God would not dare to forgive him. If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary- nothing less! The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else. The only basis for which God can forgive me is the Cross of Christ. It is there that His conscience is satisfied.

Forgiveness doesn't merely mean that I am saved from hell and have been made ready for heaven (no one would accept forgiveness on that level). Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns me, the unholy one, into the standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature, the nature of Jesus Christ.

  God Bless   

[Judy Harder]

 
Daily Devotionals November 20, 2008

Life's Surprises  READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-7  The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. -1 Samuel 16:7

No one watching Britain's Got Talent (a popular televised talent show) expected much when mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took the stage. The judges looked skeptically at one another when the nervous, unassuming, ordinary-looking chap announced he would sing opera-until Potts opened his mouth.

He began to sing Puccini's "Nessun Dorma"-and it was magical! The crowd roared and stood in amazement while the judges sat stunned in tearful silence. It was one of the greatest surprises any such television program has ever had, in large part because it came wrapped in such an ordinary package.

In the Old Testament, the rescuer of Israel arrived at the battlefield in a most unlikely form-a young shepherd boy (1 Sam. 17). King Saul and his entire army were surprised when David defeated Goliath and won the day. They needed to learn the way that God looks at people. He said to the prophet Samuel, "The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (16:7).

If we judge others only by their outer appearance, we might miss the wonderful surprise of what's in their heart.  - Bill Crowder

O Lord, we are so quick to judge,
Though much is veiled from sight;
Lord, may we see how just You are
To guide us in what's right. -D. De Haan

It's what's in the heart that counts.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Thoughts for Today
This week we are focusing on the truth that real security comes from God.

We are secure because God promised that he will never stop loving us, and nothing could ever happen to make him change his mind. His Word assures us that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from his love.

We can be secure in God's promise to work all things together for our good and in knowing that suffering tremendous hardship is not a sign of his lack of love for us. His love will see us through. And we can be secure in knowing that after a relatively miniscule time on this earth, we will spend forever in a perfect heaven with Jesus.

Consider this
Are you experiencing a difficult time right now? Don't let the enemy convince you that it's because God doesn't love you. Jesus went through extremely difficult times here on earth because he loves us so much. He even chose to suffer and die on the cross for our sins because of his great love for us. He said we would have problems on this earth, but he also promised that with his help we can overcome those problems.

Take comfort in knowing that no matter how difficult things may seem right now, you are enveloped in the love of Jesus and he will give you the strength you need. Nothing can ever separate you from his love.

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for your love. Thank you for giving your life on the cross for me. Help me be reminded that even though things are difficult right now, you are with me, you are loving me and that you will work all things together for good.

These thoughts were drawn from
Completely Free! by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time to time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are released from sin's slavery, from condemnation and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will, no matter what the circumstances in a person's personal life, in his country or in the world. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The Forgiveness of GodIn Him we have . . . the forgiveness of sins . . . -Ephesians 1:7
Beware of the pleasant view of the fatherhood of God: God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That thought, based solely on emotion, cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament. The only basis on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ. To base our forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours.

Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive- He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God's forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm.

Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is small. Sanctification is simply the wonderful expression or evidence of the forgiveness of sins in a human life. But the thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin. Paul never got away from this. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.

God Bless

   

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 21, 2008

Off Track
READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-13
Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? -2 Samuel 12:9

When I sat in my car at the start of the automatic car wash, I didn't know that my left front tire was not properly lined up with the track. The car wash started but my car wasn't moving, so I accelerated. That caused my tire to jump the track.

Now I was stuck-I couldn't move forward or backward. The car wash continued through its cycle without my car. Meanwhile, cars began lining up and waiting for me. I was glad when two workers at the station helped me get my car back on the track.

Sometimes in our Christian lives we get off track too. King David did in a big way. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and later ordered that her husband be put "in the forefront of the hottest battle" and left there to be killed (2 Sam. 11:3-4,15-17). David's actions were way out of line with how God wanted him to behave as His chosen king.

David needed help to get back on track. The Bible says that "the Lord sent Nathan to David" (12:1). He confronted him about stealing another man's wife, and David wisely repented (v.13). Nathan took a risk to help David get right with God, even though his sin still had dire consequences.

Does someone you know need your help to get back on track?  - Anne Cetas

Fellowship with other Christians
Strengthens us when we are weak,
Reprimands when we are sinning,
Helps us when God's will we seek. -Sper

True love dares to confront.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7 NIV

Thoughts for Today
If you were traveling on an airplane, who would you want in control of flying the plane: a trained pilot or a six-year-old child?

If you were having surgery, who would you want to be in control of the surgery: a doctor  or a gourmet chef?

If you need help for your life, who would you want to be in control: Almighty God who created all things and is all-knowing and all-powerful and loves you unconditionally or you, the created?

Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

Our world is in turmoil today. Wars, terrorists and famines. Traditional values being turned upside down. Horrific crimes. Financial ups and downs. But amid the turmoil is a place of security. Of indescribable peace. That place of refuge is in Jesus.

Consider this
If you are already trusting Jesus to be in control of your life, continue standing fast and strong. The turmoil around us will continue and is likely to grow, but Jesus will always be greater.

"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." Ephesians 3:12 NLT

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for providing a place of safety and peace in the middle of chaos. I want to trust you as Lord of my life and experience the peace that only you can give.

These thoughts were drawn from
Completely Free! by Dan Strickland. Everyone struggles from time to time, but we can have confidence that in Christ we are released from sin's slavery, from condemnation and from fear of failure. This group study of Romans 1-8 helps Christians break out of the dull routine of a stagnant spiritual life. Applying the truths found in Romans can transform any believer into a person eager to follow God's will, no matter what the circumstances in a person's personal life, in his country or in the world. This study can also serve as a powerful evangelistic tool by explaining the message of salvation as presented in Romans. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.   

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

A Man Who Has God's Favor

Zechariah 8:23
"...Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."


Few men of God have become extraordinary people of faith without the influence of mentors. A mentor is one who takes responsibility for the spiritual and, sometimes, physical care of another. It requires a commitment from the teacher and the student.

Elijah mentored Elisha. Elisha became one of the greatest prophets in all the Bible. One of the primary reasons for this was Elisha's hunger. Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It was this hunger that drove Elisha to be sold out to God's purposes for his life.

I have been privileged to have had many mentors throughout my spiritual life. In each stage of my maturity, God brought new mentors who had unique gifts that the previous mentor did not have. God has given me the hunger to desire a double portion of those positive attributes of my mentors. This desire is sorely missing among many today. I fail to see the hunger among many who could be used greatly in the Kingdom. Instead, they get distracted by the cares of this world. It is an attitude of a la carte versus an attitude of pressing in to the full measure of what God might have for them.

Who are the people of God He has placed in your life? Are you learning from them? Are you seeking a double portion of their anointing? What prevents you from gaining from their wisdom and experience? God may have brought them into your life to prepare you to be a man or woman of God with great anointing. However, there is a time of training and waiting to prove out your own faith. Ask God today if there is someone He would have you mentor or be mentored by.

Who Can You Trust?
Who Can You Trust?
In Who Can You Trust?,
Howard E. Butt, Jr. candidly shares his own real-life experience and expertise to help you recognize and resolve past trust issues that have shattered your faith and your spirit. And he shows you how to let your faith help you build stronger trust in the future for all your most important relationships.
Learn More or Order

'It is Finished!'
READ:
I have finished the work which You have given Me to do -John 17:4
The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him- something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.

Never build your case for forgiveness on the idea that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us. That contradicts the revealed truth of God in Jesus Christ. It makes the Cross unnecessary, and the redemption "much ado about nothing." God forgives sin only because of the death of Christ. God could forgive people in no other way than by the death of His Son, and Jesus is exalted as Savior because of His death. "We see Jesus . . . for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor . . ." ( Hebrews 2:9 ). The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ- "It is finished!" ( John 19:30  ). That is the final word in the redemption of humankind.

Anything that lessens or completely obliterates the holiness of God, through a false view of His love, contradicts the truth of God as revealed by Jesus Christ. Never allow yourself to believe that Jesus Christ stands with us, and against God, out of pity and compassion, or that He became a curse for us out of sympathy for us. Jesus Christ became a curse for us by divine decree. Our part in realizing the tremendous meaning of His curse is the conviction of sin. Conviction is given to us as a gift of shame and repentance; it is the great mercy of God. Jesus Christ hates the sin in people, and Calvary is the measure of His hatred.

God Bless