Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 21, 2009

Small Step-Giant Leap
READ: Ephesians 4:17-24
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. -Ephesians 4:23

In July 1969, I was at Fort Benning, Georgia, training to become a US Army officer. Infantry Officer Candidate School was intense and highly regimented with only rare moments of free time. Surprisingly, on the evening of July 20, we were ordered to our company Day Room, seated in front of a flickering television set, and told simply, "This is history."

Amazed, we watched Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong become the first human to set foot on the moon as he said, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Our usual curfew was suspended and we talked late into the night-not only about what we had witnessed but about life, God, and eternity. Our demanding routine had been interrupted, and our attention was shifted to what truly matters.

All of us need to shift our focus on a daily basis. Maintaining a regular time alone with God allows us to step away from our demanding jobs, break the routine, and concentrate on Him through the Bible and prayer. Our thoughts and actions will change as we follow Paul's urging to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Eph. 4:23).

What may seem like a small step can be a giant leap each day in our life of faith in Christ.  - David C. McCasland

A small step is a giant leap
In growth and faith each day
If this step is your time with God
To read His Word and pray. -Sper

Each small step of faith is a giant step of growth.

Rest

In the last several devotionals, we have looked at how we respond to the storms of life.  Today and tomorrow we will look at two more principles for handling life when the storms hit.

Today, I want to go back to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.  In verses 5-6 we read,

Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Notice that in the midst of his crisis, Elijah rested and ate.  He took care of his body. 

Some of the crises you experience come because you are sleep deprived and you don't eat right.  And you know what?  Your body, your soul, and your spirit are all tied together.  What you do to one affects the other two.  It affects the whole.

We are intricately woven together.  And the wisest thing you can do when you get into a crisis is just give your body a rest, because it affects every other part of your life.

When you are exhausted and physically weak, it is easy for everything to be blown out of proportion.  When you are tired, it can look like your whole world is falling apart when it really is not.  It is like Mark Twain said, "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."

You and I do need to rest.  If you are in the midst of a storm today, make sure not to neglect the rest you need.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: 1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many people in our culture look to entertainment stars for guidance on how to live and love. They imbibe lessons like Tina Turner's infamous song, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" A New York Times article found that an astounding percentage of girls age 12 to 17 defended pop star Chris Brown after he beat up his girlfriend, fellow pop star Rihanna. Clearly, people are confused about the nature of true love, lost without the embrace of God's unconditional and unlimited love.
Verse 19 reiterates verse 7 through 12. We love because God first loved us. This absolutely contrasts the typical foundations and motivations of human "love." Because of the gift of God's love we have already been given, we love others. This is exactly opposite of "loving" in order to earn the imperfect gift of human love in return. The difference between the two is profoundly significant.

Verses 20 and 21 echo 1 John 3:11-16 and commend a practical and necessary consequence of understanding verse 19. John describes someone whom his readers may encounter: the person claims she loves God, yet simultaneously speaks and acts hatefully toward brothers and sisters (v. 20). She is a liar. To lie is to make an untrue statement with the intent to deceive, to create a false or misleading impression. Her falsehood is exposed: this liar "cannot love God."

One theme common to John's Gospel and 1 John is the invisible or unseen God (v. 20; cf. John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46). This is an argument from lesser to greater. If the readers cannot fulfill the lesser requirement to love fellow believers who are highly visible, then they cannot fulfill the greater requirement to love God the Father whom they have never seen. Jesus uses a similar argument in the Parable of the Talents (see Matt. 25:14-30). He says, "You have been faithful with a few things [the lesser]; I will put you in charge of many things [the greater]" (vv. 21, 23). Jesus is also the command giver in our passage today (v. 21; cf. John 13:34).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of God's Word and through the Spirit's power, prayerfully evaluate your most significant relationships. With complete honesty, finish this sentence: "I love because. . ." 1 John 4:19 turns our defective motivations for love upside down. We do not love only when we feel like it or when it feels good, but rather because God first loved us. God's love transforms us, so that we love as generous givers instead of pining takers. Memorize 1 John 4:19 so that its truth may take deep root in your relationships.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 22, 2009

Eternity In Our Hearts
READ: Ecclesiastes 3:9-17
He has put eternity in their hearts. -Ecclesiastes 3:11

I once came across a scene of beauty outside Anchorage, Alaska. Against a slate-gray sky, the water of an ocean inlet had a slight greenish cast, interrupted by small whitecaps. Soon I saw these were not whitecaps at all but whales-silvery white beluga whales in a pod feeding no more than 50 feet offshore. I stood with other onlookers, listening to the rhythmic motion of the sea, following the graceful, ghostly crescents of surfacing whales. The crowd was hushed, even reverent. For just a moment, nothing else mattered.

The author of Ecclesiastes would have understood the crowd's response. He sees with dazzling clarity the beauty in the created world and that God "has put eternity in their hearts" (3:11). Such an elegant phrase applies to much in human experience. Surely it hints at a religious instinct. Our hearts perceive eternity in ways other than the religious.

Ecclesiastes presents both sides of life on this planet: the promise of pleasures so alluring that we may devote our lives to their pursuit, and the haunting realization that these pleasures ultimately do not satisfy. God's tantalizing world is too big for us. Unless we acknowledge our limits and subject ourselves to God's rule, unless we trust the Giver of all good gifts, we will end up in despair.  - Philip Yancey

Amid the measured music
What watchful ear can hear
God's voice amidst the garden?
Yet hush! for He is here! -Charles


To make the most of today, keep eternity in mind.

The Still Small Voice

In the last three devotionals, we have looked at principles on how we should respond when our life is in crisis.  The last principle is found in 1 Kings 19:11-12,

Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD."  And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

If your life is in crisis today, you need to remind yourself how God leads.  Do not look for it in outward, powerful manifestations-the strong wind, an earthquake, or fire.

Rather, listen for that "still small voice."

That is how Jesus speaks to us today.  Read carefully the words of John 16:13,

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

God has given you and me His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.  And, friend, when God leads you, it is going to be through the still small whisper of the Spirit in your heart.

Yet many people want more than that.  Some people think, "I'm in a desperate situation.  I need something more!"  You and I need nothing more, because through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have God on the inside.

So if God is going to guide you, He is going to do it from within...through that still small voice.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 John 5:1-5
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35

TODAY IN THE WORD
One leading reason missionaries return home prematurely is team strife. The pressures of cross-cultural living and decision-making with people who disagree about ministry and life philosophy germinate conflict. Team dysfunction also hinders work in local churches and other ministries, and it is often left unresolved until it becomes fatally cancerous. Today's passage inextricably connects love for fellow believers with love for God.
At first, John seems to suggest that whoever loves God the Father loves His Son, Jesus (v. 1). Closer reading clarifies that "his child" refers to the children of God, our fellow believers. The phrase "this is how we know" occurs seven times in 1 John, including in verse 2 (cf. 2:5, 18; 3:10, 16, 19, 24). John persists in reassuring his readers regarding their relationship with God. In this case, John sets up the relationship differently: rather than knowing we love God because we love our fellow believers (2:3-11), here we know we love fellow believers because we love God and obey Him (v. 2). Taken together, it's clear that love for God and love for fellow believers cannot be separated.

Obeying God's commands is not burdensome, because through spiritual rebirth we overcome the world, the values, attitudes, and actions opposed to God. The epicenter of this faith that overcomes is the belief that Jesus Christ is God's Son. One theme of 1 John is Jesus' identity. Our text today begins and ends with two confessions about Jesus. First, Jesus is the Christ. "Christ" is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew word Messiah or "Anointed One," who God promised would bring hope and deliverance to His people (see Jer. 23:5-6). Second, Jesus is the Son of God. He is almighty and eternally divine.

Another predominant theme of 1 John is our love for God. Christians often focus on pleasing God, serving God, and like the eldest son in Luke 15, slaving for God, yet not as frequently on loving God first and foremost. John continuously raises this topic because of its centrality for the life of faith.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you volunteer or serve full-time on a ministry team? Do you recognize the devastating effects of team disunity? The Evil One delights to bring destruction through division among servant leaders. Loving one another on your ministry team is the unshakable foundation for unleashing the Spirit's work, yet it is impossible apart from God's indwelling love in each of us. Pray regularly for team unity and commit to resolving conflict quickly (see John 17:20-23; Rom. 15:5-6; Eph. 4:2-3; Col. 3:12-13).
 
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
'

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 23, 2009

Who Is Deaf?
READ: Isaiah 42:1-4,23-25
The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save . . . . [But] your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. -Isaiah 59:1-2

A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, "Darling, is dinner ready?" Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, "For the third time, yes!"

Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them. Isaiah was a prophet sent to warn God's people about impending judgment, but his message fell on deaf ears. Instead of being God's covenant people, who were to bring light to those in darkness and release them from the dungeons of sin (42:7), they refused to hear Him. "They would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law" (v.24).

The prophet explained why their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears: "The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God" (Isa. 59:1-2). One reason for not receiving answers from God is that sin may be blocking our hearing. Let's examine ourselves carefully.

Our God isn't hard of hearing.  - C. P. Hia

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world's delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine; there's nothing between. -Tindley

God speaks through His Word to those who listen with their heart.

PRAISE: The First Step in Effective Prayer

Praying consistently will change your life.  In fact, many of the blessings God wants you to enjoy will never be realized unless you pray.

I think all Christians know they are supposed to pray, and all Christians want to pray.  But many of God's people, if they are completely frank and transparent about the issue, would have to admit their prayer life is somewhere between mediocre and non-existent.

Over the next few devotionals, I want to share with you four simple points which I have put into an acronym:  P-R-A-Y.  If you can spell the word pray, hopefully you will be able to remember how to make your prayer life more effective, and you will be inspired to pray more consistently.

Psalm 100 helps us understand the first letter, "P", in the word P-R-A-Y, which stands for praise.  Psalm 100:1-4 states it well,

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!  Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.  Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Verse 2 tells us, Come before His presence with singing.  And in verse 4 notice the words "enter into."  In other words, praise is how you are to enter God's presence.  It is the best way to begin your prayer.

When you want to come to God, you start with thanksgiving.  You start with singing.  You start with praise.  Or, as The Message says, Enter with the password:  "Thank you!"

Today, and every day, make praise the starting point of every conversation with God!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: 1 John 5:6-13
I write these things to you who believe . . . so that you many know that you have eternal life. - 1 John 5:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Imagine a familiar scene from the middle of the week at a Christian summer camp. Emily is an awkward but lively twelve-year-old with braces, French braids, and denim shorts. For the first time she hears the compelling gospel message. Without hesitation, Emily accepts the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus. Now think ahead many years. How does Emily know that what happened that July evening at summer camp still means anything? Emily's confidence has been sealed with the promises of today's text. This same assurance of God's gift of eternal life is for you today.
The word testimony and its derivatives occur eight times within eight verses, revealing the unmistakable theme of our passage. Earlier, the human testimony of the eyewitnesses is highlighted (see 1:2; 4:14), but the ultimate testimony about Jesus is revealed in verse 9. In both Old and New Testament times, important issues were decided with the testimony of two or three witnesses (cf. Deut. 17:6; John 8:17-18). John accordingly presents three witnesses: water, blood, and the Spirit (v. 7). As 1 John teaches, one of the primary roles of the Spirit is to testify to the truth about Jesus. Water refers to the baptism of Jesus by John, particularly that God the Father testifies at Jesus' baptism (see Mark 1:9-11). Blood refers to Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. All three witnesses are tangible.

Verses 10 and 11 mention two gifts from God: first, the testimony about His Son, and second, that through Him God gives eternal life. The theme of life is central to all of John's writing, including his Gospel and his letters, and life is always identified with Jesus. Jesus Himself is the life (cf. 1 John 5:20; John 14:6). The one who "has the Son" has life (v. 12). To "have Jesus" is to be indwelt by His Spirit, for God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to make their home in you (John 14:23).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every follower of Jesus endures times of doubt, periods when we question the certainty of eternal life in Jesus. John writes to establish unquestionable confidence: "So that you may know that you have eternal life" (v. 13). This assurance does not come from a feeling or state of being, but results from belief in the reality of God's gift in Jesus, confirmed in His life, death, and resurrection and guaranteed by His Spirit. Let us rest and rejoice in God's unshakable promise of eternal life in Christ.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 24, 2009

Ready To Speak
READ: 1 Peter 3:13-22
Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. -1 Peter 3:15

Lee Eclov and his wife were at a coffee shop in Estes Park, Colorado. At another table sat four men, one of whom was mocking Christianity and the resurrection of Jesus.

Lee could sense the Lord telling him to respond. But his fear kept him from doing so. Finally, he knew he had to make a stand. So he walked over to the men and began giving historical evidence for the resurrection.

How do we respond when we're in a similar situation? The apostle Peter encouraged his readers to make a commitment to stand up for Jesus, especially during extreme suffering. This commitment meant not remaining speechless when circumstances warranted them to defend their faith. He said, "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Their readiness to answer required them to know God's Word. They were to respond in godly meekness and fear, so that their persecutors would be ashamed of their own conduct.

Had Lee Eclov remained silent or responded rudely, the cause of Christ would have suffered. Lee later wrote, "God has a way of flushing us out of our quiet little places, and when He does we must be ready to speak for Him."  - Marvin Williams

When people wonder about our faith,
What answer will we give?
We'll tell of Jesus who bore our sins
And shows us how to live. -Fitzhugh


To be silent about the Savior and His salvation is a dreadful sin of omission.


 

 
REPENT: The Second Step in Effective Prayer

Yesterday we began to look at what makes for effective prayer by using the acronym P-R-A-Y.  The first step is praise.  Today, I want to focus on the second letter of our acronym, "R", which stands for repent.

By repentance in prayer, I mean taking the time before God to search your heart and repent of anything that has come between you and Him.  Psalm 19:12-13 expresses it well,

Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse me from secret faults.  Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.  Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Verse 12 begins with the question, "Who can understand his errors?"  The psalmist is telling us, "You will not always know when you do something wrong.  You will not always know when you get into an area that is not right."

What David is pointing to are the secret faults and presumptuous sins which can still have dominion over you-even though you may not be aware that what you did was wrong.

For example, sometimes we can allow attitudes to get into our hearts that we don't realize are inconsistent with God's character.  Or sometimes we can do and say things that are detrimental, not only to us, but to others, and not really understand the damage we have done.

How do you deal with these sins?  You come before God and say, "God, put the spotlight on anything in my life that has raised a barrier between You and me, and I will repent of it."

So when you pray, ask God to reveal any sin in your life you may be overlooking.  God will honor your heart of repentance.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 John 5:14-17
If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. - 1 John 5:14

TODAY IN THE WORD
Before Jesus died on the cross, God's people experienced daily, tangible reminders that they were separated from Him. The only access to Him had to be mediated through priests and sacrifices. Consider the numerous temple courts, from the outer courts of the Gentiles all the way into the Holy of Holies, where the high priest could enter only once a year. Do you ever stop to think that our "easy" access and confidence before God through Jesus is incredible? Now, through Christ, our Great High Priest, "the curtain of the temple was torn" (Mark 15:38), and we approach God's throne of grace with confidence (Heb. 4:14-16). This is the background of today's passage.
In addition to the assurance of eternal life (v. 13), there is confidence in prayer (vv. 14-15). This passage celebrates our confidence not only in Christ's victory to bring us into God's presence, but also confidence that God hears us when we beseech Him according to His will. "He hears us" is repeated twice and suggests a positive response. Jesus similarly promises answered prayer while sharing the Passover meal with His disciples (John 16:23).

Verse 16 offers an example of praying according to God's will. Previously, John outlines what to do when you yourself sin (1:9). Here he teaches that we need to pray for fellow believers who fall into sin. The "sin that does not lead to death" includes those sins committed by believers in Jesus. Forgiveness is offered by Christ's atoning sacrifice. To pray with confidence for our fellow believer who is trapped in sin is to pray that God would grant him life. This is in accord with God's will.

The "sin that leads to death" is all sin committed apart from belief in Jesus. This sin leads to spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). The unbeliever who denies Jesus and His essential, atoning death does not have the remedy for sin and the sin nature, and therefore without belief he cannot experience life.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage emphasizes confidence in prayer and the prayer of Christians for fellow believers. Praying according to God's will may seem intimidating. How do we know God's will? We know His will first and foremost in the person of Jesus Christ and as it's revealed in the Scriptures. Today, pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciples as a template for praying according to God's will (Matt. 6:9-13). For a deeper study of this prayer, read The Lord and His Prayer by N. T. Wright or Praying the Lord's Prayer by J. I. Packer.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY1

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 25, 2009

Walk The Walk
READ: 1 Timothy 4:6-16
Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. -1 Timothy 4:12

The preacher was speaking tongue-in-cheek when he complained, "My wife is absolutely unreasonable. She actually expects me to live everything I preach!" It's so much easier to tell someone what is right than to practice it personally.

When my son and I play golf together, I can tell him exactly how to play the hole and hit the shots. But my own ability to hit those shots is sadly limited. I suppose this is what is meant when we refer to athletes who "talk the talk, but don't walk the walk." Anyone can talk a good game, but actually performing well is far more difficult.

This is particularly true in the challenge of following Jesus Christ. It is not enough for us to talk about faith-we must live out our faith. Perhaps that is why Paul, after giving instructions to his young protégé Timothy about how to preach, included this reminder: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . . Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them" (1 Tim. 4:12,15).

As Christ's followers, we do not have the luxury of just talking a good game-we must live lives of exemplary faith in Jesus Christ. We must walk the walk.  - Bill Crowder

Do others know from how we act
At home, at work, at play,
That we have Jesus in our heart
And live for Him each day? -D. De Haan


We please God when our walk matches our talk.
 
ASK: The Third Step in Effective Prayer

So far we have discovered that praise and repentance are the first two steps to effective prayer.  Today I want to show you the very important third step of asking.

Yesterday we talked about how repentance is searching your own heart and asking God to put the spotlight on it, and then repenting of anything that He shows you.  When your heart is clean, you can have confidence before God when you ask.  As           1 John 3:21-22 says,

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us,

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

Pretty clear, isn't it?  God loves you and wants the very best for you.  Be careful not to water down the words of Jesus, or somehow try and explain them away or complicate them.  He meant just what He said.

But there are some conditions.  And tomorrow we will look at those conditions for receiving what you ask God for.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 John 5:18
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? - Romans 6:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
For the next three days, we will study the end of chapter 5, summarizing key points of John's letter. Yesterday's passage addressed brothers and sisters in Christ who commit a sin that does not lead to death, acknowledging that God's children are not sinless. Today's verse teaches the other side of this lesson: children of God do not continue to sin. They do not prolong sinful behavior without interruption, without the intention of stopping, or without an attitude of repentance. Persistence in sin does not characterize those born of God and in whom His Spirit lives. Paul makes a similar point: "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Rom. 6:2).
The second half of verse 18 begins with a reference to Jesus. Though the letter has not previously referred to Jesus as "the one born of God," Jesus has been called God's "one and only Son" (4:9). There is no doubt; Jesus is "the one" who provides security. This protection is offered to "anyone born of God."

To understand the second half of verse 18, we must recognize the implied "because" connecting the two sentences. In 1 John 3:9, the reason that children of God do not continue to sin is because God's seed, His Spirit, is in them. Here, a second reason is given: No one born of God continues to sin because Jesus keeps him or her safe. From what does Jesus keep them safe? Jesus protects those born of God from the Evil One (cf. John 17:15). "Evil one" is used interchangeably with "the devil" in 1 John (see 2:13-14; 3:8, 10, 12).

Also, in the context of John's letter, this safety and protection that Jesus provides to those born of God is most closely linked to protection against false teachers and from being led astray. Recall that the nucleus of the devil's work is deception and leading God's people astray, which he has been doing from the beginning.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we begin the conclusion to 1 John, take some time to review the key themes of this book. What promises have been outlined? What assurances are here for believers? What are some key words and verses? How does this letter challenge your relationship with God and other believers? If God has impressed something on your heart, record that in your spiritual journal or place where you keep notes. In your prayer time, thank God for His promises and assurances, and for His help to live out the exhortations in 1 John.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY1

GOD BLESS!
`-

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 26, 2009

Change Your Mind

READ: Acts 26:12-23
. . . repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. -Acts 26:20

One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips features Charlie Brown saying to Snoopy, "I hear you're writing a book on theology. I hope you have a good title." Snoopy responds, "I have the perfect title: Has It Ever Occurred To You That You Might Be Wrong?"

Snoopy's title reminds us that our understanding of God and what He requires of us is sometimes twisted. Because our wrong beliefs lead to wrong behavior, we need to "repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance" (Acts 26:20).

The Greek word translated "repent" is metanoeo, which means "change your mind." As Paul indicated, repentance does not mean just nodding in polite agreement with God, and continuing the same way we were going. When we turn our thoughts toward God-when we truly agree with Him about what is right-our behavior will follow. Like a car, we go in the direction we are pointed. So, when we truly turn our minds and hearts toward God, our actions change accordingly.

Instead of going happily along, assuming that our choices are right, we need to regularly stop and ask ourselves Snoopy's question. As Paul taught, it is only when we are willing to admit being wrong that we can be certain of being right with God.  - Julie Ackerman Link

We must acknowledge when we're wrong,
Confessing it as sin,
If we would know God's power to heal
And cleanse us from within. -Fasick


Either we conform our desires to the truth or we conform the truth to our desires. -Os Guinness

The Conditions for Answered Prayer

Yesterday we talked about the "A" in the acronym P-R-A-Y, which is our way of understanding the steps in effective prayer.  That "A" stands for ask, and I have come to believe that too many Christians don't believe that God wants them to ask.

God wants you to ask.  He really does.  But there are some conditions He gives in order to answer your requests.  In John chapters 14-16 we find a number of these conditions.

We need to remember that these are Jesus' last hours with the disciples; and He wants them to understand how prayer really works.  Over and over He emphasizes the need to ask, but His answers will be based on three conditions.

First, in John 14:13, Jesus says your request must glorify God,

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Second, in John 15:7, He says your request must be consistent and in harmony with His Word,

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

And finally, in John 16:23-24, Jesus sets the condition that your request bring you joy,

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Over and over, Jesus commands you to ask.  But when you ask, make sure your request will glorify God, that it is consistent with His Word, and that it will bring you joy.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 John 5:19
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. - Ephesians 6:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
In C. S. Lewis's book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy visits Narnia through a wardrobe and learns from Mr. Tumnus that the White Witch "has got all Narnia under her thumb. It's she that makes it always winter and never Christmas." The so-called Queen put an enchantment over Narnia to keep it forever in winter, but never Christmas. Yet Mr. Beaver announces, "Aslan is on the move. He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here . . . the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right." Similarly, the prince of this world and his imminent defeat is the focus of today's passage.
When studying God's Word, noting comparisons and contrasts is a helpful tool for interpreting the text. Notice the connection between today's verse and yesterday's. Also, observe the contrast between God's children and the Satan-dominated "world," which, as we have seen before, is a familiar theme in 1 John (cf. 2:15-17; 3:10; 4:5-6). John compares the position of God's children to the position of the unbelieving world: the former belong to God while the latter lives under the authority and power of the Evil One. Believers in Jesus Christ are no longer under the Evil One's control, and no longer slaves to sin; sin is not their master. God our Father "has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" (Col. 1:13).

The children of God inherit victory over the devil because Christ came to destroy his work (1 John 3:. Jesus has pronounced judgment on the world, and the prince of this world has been driven out. But a tension exists: although the devil has been defeated once for all through Christ's death and resurrection (see Col. 2:13-15), the unbelieving world is still under his control until he is finally bound and dethroned forever (Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ephesians makes clear that until Christ returns, we will battle against "the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (6:12). In order to stand strong against "the devil's schemes," such as lying, lust, covetousness, injustice, and general spiritual attack, let us put on the full armor of God (6:11-18). The LifeGuide Bible Study Spiritual Warfare by Jack Kuhatschek is an excellent workbook for individuals or groups seeking to stand in the midst of spiritual struggle.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 27, 2009

Role Models
READ: Philippians 2:12-18
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault. -Philippians 2:14-15

During a summer of international sports scandals involving gambling and substance abuse, two athletes were applauded for their character as much as their professional accomplishments. A record crowd of 75,000 cheered Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn during their 2007 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "Whether we like it or not," Ripken said, "as big leaguers, we are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative?"

Gwynn echoed the sentiment: "There's more than just playing the game of baseball. . . . You're responsible, you've got to make good decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done."

Every day, people are watching us. As followers of Christ, we are guided by Paul's challenge to "become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15).

Compromise causes others to become disillusioned, while character fosters hope. As the life of our Savior flows out from us, we can encourage others and point them to Him.

What kind of role model will we be for someone watching today?  - David C. McCasland

Guard well your life, to the Savior be true;
Many are watching each deed that you do;
Hence if you stumble and fall in deep sin,
It will prove harder lost souls here to win. -Bosch


The best role models model Christ.

  YIELD: The Fourth Step in Effective Prayer

Psalm 37:4 provides us the "Y" in the acronym P-R-A-Y, the four elements to effective prayer we have been discussing over the last few devotionals. 

Here is what Psalm 37:4 says,

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Now the Hebrew word for delight in this verse literally means to become soft or pliable.  This means that "delighting" in the Lord is assuming a yielded posture before God. 

So the "Y" in P-R-A-Y stands for yield.  The question is:  How do you practice yielding to God when you pray?  Yielding is when you stop talking, and  you wait, listen, and seek to hear from God. 

In my own practice of prayer, I will often bow before God and ask Him, "God, is there anything You want to say to me?  Do You have any instructions for me?  Is there anything You want me to change?"

Then I silently wait for Him to speak to me.

As you assume this posture of being yielded and waiting quietly before Him, you will be surprised at some of the things that come to your attention: "You need to spend more time with your daughter," "Take your wife out on a date," "Bake your neighbor a pie and build a bridge over which the ospel can travel," "Spend more time praising Me," "Show your gratitude and appreciation for those who have been helping you in your life."

You will indeed hear from God if you ask Him to speak into your heart, and wait silently before Him. 

That is the last element of effective prayer:  praise, repent, ask, yield.  Your prayers can indeed be effective if you commit to these four principles.  That is how to  P-R-A-Y.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: 1 John 5:20
He is the true God and eternal life. - 1 John 5:20

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2008, Minnesota Public Radio aired Nikki Tundel's story, "Societies Create Jesus in Their Own Image," describing how artistic renderings of Jesus throughout the centuries depict Him in the likeness of their own experiences and cultural attributes: "Christians simply relate better to a savior who looks like them." Rather than cultural expectations or assumptions that He is like us, though, God's Word should shape our portrait of Jesus. Today's passage paints a triumphant picture of Christ.
Three consecutive verses begin with "we know" (vv. 18-20). In fact, the word know occurs twenty-seven times in 1 John. John strengthens readers' confidence in Jesus and their relationship with Him. Our knowledge is not mere whimsical hope; it is sturdy assurance built on the indestructible foundation of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

John highlights two aspects of Christ's work: Jesus "came," leaving His glory with the Father to take on human flesh (cf. Phil. 2:6-8); and He gave understanding of His Father to believers (see John 14:6-9). "So that we may know him" implies that we know God not by striving to reach Him, but by God revealing Himself to us.

"Him who is true" is God the Father, whose Son is Jesus Christ. We are "in him" because we are in His Son (cf. 1 John 2:24); we cannot be in God without being in His Son. Our mutual indwelling with the Father and Son, which is effected through the Spirit, is a prominent theme in 1 John.

Does "he" in the last phrase of verse 20 refer to the Father or His Son? Three indicators point to Jesus: Jesus is the nearest noun referenced; Jesus is the acting subject of verse 20; and eternal life is connected with Jesus in 1 John (1:1-2; 5:11-13). What an exultant ending to John's letter! New Testament scholar Rudolph Schnackenburg declares: "Here the full identity of Jesus with God is recognized without reserve."
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you ever surprised by Jesus when you encounter Him in the Scriptures? Is your understanding of Him shaped by God's Word and your personal relationship with Him or by your expectations, experiences, and prejudices? We should always submit our notion of Jesus and who He is to the truth revealed in Scripture. If you ever find yourself explaining away something about Jesus in the Bible, prayerfully ask God to help you understand His Son as shown in His Word.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS
``

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 28, 2009

God's Heart Revealed
READ: Revelation 3:14-22
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. -Revelation 3:19

It's easy to think of God as a divine fly-swatter, just waiting for you to land so that-whap-He can nail you for your sins. But that's not what we see in Revelation 2-3 in His letters to the seven churches. The pattern of the letters demonstrates God's loving heart for wayward people.

Jesus began many of these letters by affirming the good things His people had done. This shows us that when we do what is good and right, the Lord is pleased.

But Jesus is also concerned about the faults in our lives. His commendation in these letters was often followed by clear words of reproof. And while it's not comfortable to hear Him say, "Nevertheless I have this against you" (2:4; see vv.14,20), He reveals what needs to be changed in our lives to keep us from self-deceit.

This moves us to the real heart of the matter-repentance. When the Lord told these churches to repent, He was revealing His love for wayward saints. His goal was not to condemn but to restore them to intimate fellowship with Him.

And don't miss the fact that each letter ends with a specific promise for the "overcomers." Clearly God desires to reward those who live lives that are pleasing to Him.

What's He saying to you today?  - Joe Stowell

To live a life that pleases Christ,
It's crucial to obey His voice;
When He reveals our sin to us,
Repentance is the wisest choice. -Sper


Repentance restores and renews our intimacy with the Lord.

Pressing On 
In Philippians 3:12, Paul says,

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Paul's challenge in this verse is for you and me to press on, to keep growing.  I believe one of the greatest assets in life that you and I have is the capacity to grow and change.  We have the capacity to press on.

One of the first steps in pressing on is to realize that you have not yet arrived.  Even the apostle Paul acknowledged and recognized that he had not yet arrived.  He said, Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected.

Paul understood that he had a lot of room for growth.  And if he did, so do we.

If you have grown stagnant in your spiritual life, you need to ask the question, "Why?"  Why is your spiritual life stunted?  Why are you not growing?  Why are you stymied in your spiritual progress?  What are your barriers to growth?

I believe that if we are willing to admit that we need to grow, then identify the barriers that are keeping a lid on our spiritual lives, and finally, by the grace of God, deal with those barriers and remove them, we will begin to press on and grow.

If you were to take a catfish and put it in a small fish tank, that fish would only grow to be 12 inches long and it might weigh a quarter of a pound.  But if you took that identical catfish and placed it into a lake, it might grow to be three feet long and weigh 60 pounds.

What was the barrier to its growth?  The tank kept it contained.  It grew to the limit that the environment allowed.

Remove the barriers to your spiritual growth and press on!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 John 5:21
Watch your life and doctrine closely. - 1 Timothy 4:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
When navigating a ship, an error of one degree seems miniscule, but continued travel in an errant direction will lead the vessel miles off course. Similarly, false belief about Jesus, even if seemingly slight, has increasingly deleterious effects upon orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right practice). Today's text warns against such false belief leading to idolatry.
Nothing in 1 John readies us for 5:21, as nothing explicit is said about idols up to this point in John's letter, though he does call Jesus "true God" (v. 20). John may be speaking of the actual idolatry of his day (cf. Acts 17:23; 1 Thess. 1:9), but it is more likely that the "idols" are those conjured by the false teachers. Idolatry is the worship of false gods. The antichrists' false claims about Jesus are idolatrous, because false belief leads to worship of something that is not God. In contrast, John exhorts us to maintain right belief about Jesus, "the true God and eternal life" (v. 20). Those who truly know Jesus completely avoid idols and those who endorse them.

First John 5:18-21 summarize John's major themes. As our study of 1 John ends, let's review one edifying thread woven through John's letter: assurance for believers in Jesus Christ, God's Son. First, assurance is grounded in obedience to the command to love and live like Jesus (2:3-6; 3:14). Second, confidence on the day of judgment is based on righteous living and loving in Christ (2:28-29; 4:17).

Third, certainty in prayer results from living and praying according to God's will (3:21-22; 5:14). Fourth, God's testimony about Jesus resides in our hearts (5:9-13). Lastly, all assurance is guaranteed through God's Spirit living in us (3:23-24; 4:13). As one New Testament scholar states: "The grounds of assurance are ethical, not emotional; objective, not subjective; plain and tangible, not microscopic and elusive."
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes Christians read God's Word piecemeal, one verse or passage at a time, often without connecting the small portion to the larger context, namely, the chapter, book, Testament, and Bible as a whole. Today, take time to read 1 John in its entirety. This is a good practice for any Bible study: at the end of a study, take some time to re-read the entire book. If you need a resource to encourage you, read Gordon Fee's How to Read the Bible Book by Book.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 29, 2009

The Value Of Friends
READ: 1 Samuel 20:12-17
Jonathan . . . loved [David] as he loved his own soul. -1 Samuel 20:17

John Chrysostom (347-407) was one of the great preachers in the early church. He was given the name Chrysostom, which means "golden-mouthed," because of his eloquent sermons.

Here is one of his insights on the value of friends: "Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant. . . . It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends."

The story of Jonathan and David illustrates the value of friendship. Though David was hunted by the demented King Saul, he drew encouragement from his friendship with Saul's son. "Jonathan . . . loved [David] as he loved his own soul" (1 Sam. 20:17). Their relationship was characterized by trust, understanding, and encouragement. How difficult it would have been for David to endure this unjust persecution without the nourishment of friendship based in the Lord (v.42).

The ancient voice of Chrysostom and the witness of David and Jonathan are reminders of the need to nurture the friendships God has given us.  - Dennis Fisher

Since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My daily prayer is while I live-
"God, make me worthy of my friends." -Sherman


A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.

Growing Up

The Scripture says in Ephesians 4:15 that we should grow in all things.  In today's and tomorrow's devotionals, I want to give you ten areas in which the Bible teaches us we should grow.  I hope you will take time to read each passage and answer the question of whether you are growing as you should in each of these areas.

1.      In Colossians 1:10 we are told we should increase in the knowledge of God.  You ought to know more about God and His Kingdom this week than you did last week.

2.      Psalm 71:21 tells us we are to be growing in our influence.  I hope I have not reached the pinnacle in my life when it comes to the influence I have for good in the lives of others.  If you call yourself a leader and no one is following you, then you are not influencing them, you are just taking a walk.  You and I need to grow in influence.

3.      In Proverbs 13:11 it says we are to be growing and increasing materially.  I don't know of many who couldn't grow in this area!

4.      Isaiah 29:19 speaks of increasing in joy.  From appearances, some people seem to grow more and more sour as the days go by and have less and less of a sense of humor.  Listen, the more you advance in age, the more your capacity to laugh at life's ups and downs should grow.   

5.      2 Thessalonians 1:3 teaches us that we should grow in faith.  Now faith certainly touches all areas of life; and, hopefully, today you don't freak out like you used to when you are faced with a trial, because your faith has grown and you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

In tomorrow's devotion we will complete this list.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 2 John 1-13
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." - 1 Corinthians 15:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the quest to be new or cutting-edge, some artists can simply create absurdity. From Project Runway avant-garde fashions to Iron Chef culinary confections to American Idol melodies, the judges love to say, "Don't mess with a classic." Today's passage hails the foundational teaching about Jesus, a true unchangeable constant.
Important questions to ask about 2 John concern the identity of these characters. Who is the elder, the chosen lady and her children, and her chosen sister (vv. 1, 13)? "Elder" likely does not refer to a church officer, since that office is usually indicated in the New Testament by the plural "elders" (see Acts 15). Rather, the writer of 2 John is a spiritual father to his readers. Most scholars consider "the chosen lady and her children" to be a metaphorical address to a local church and its members. Consequently, "her chosen sister" is the elder's church community.

Numerous echoes from 1 John are identifiable: truth; a new command, love one another; Jesus is God's Son; deceivers; world; and others. Alternatively, one new admonition stands out (vv. 8-9). When viewed in parallel, "what you have worked for" is the true "teaching of Christ": the reward is having God. Jesus' words also illuminate today's text: "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent" (John 6:29). The author contrasts running ahead with continuing in the teaching of Christ (v. 9). Truly, the mature believers graduate from spiritual milk to solid food (cf. Heb. 5:11-14)-but this is not what the elder has in mind in this passage. Verse 9 warns against accepting seemingly enlightened ideas, which when exposed turn out to be counterfeit. In the present context, the deceiver and antichrist denies the humanity of Jesus (v. 7).

The elder prescribes practical ways to resist the false teachers, namely deny them hospitality (vv. 10-11). In the ancient world this meant to refuse the itinerants lodging in one's home and a speaking platform in the church assembly. To welcome them in these ways would be to condone their wicked work.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's text warns us of perilous associations and influences. Do not give false teaching a listening ear, for this kind of hospitality can contaminate us. In our culture that promotes tolerance, it can be challenging to stand for truth. Allow the Holy Spirit to identify any toxic conversations or wayward advisors in your life, and prayerfully resolve to avoid them. Ask the Lord for strength to stand for Him and His Word when confronted with false teaching.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 30, 2009

Homecoming
READ: Psalm 73:21-28
You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. -Psalm 73:24

One of my favorite pastimes as a boy was walking the creek behind our home. Those walks were high adventure for me: rocks to skip, birds to watch, dams to build, animal tracks to follow. And if I made it to the mouth of the creek, my dog and I would sit and share lunch while we watched the biplanes land across the lake.

We'd linger as long as we could, but only so long, for my father wanted me home before sunset. The shadows grew long and the hollows got dark fast in the woods. I'd be wishing along the way that I was already home.

Our house sat on a hill behind some trees, but the light was always on until all the family was in. Often my father would be sitting on the back porch, reading the paper, waiting for me. "How did it go?" he would ask. "Pretty good," I'd say. "But it sure is good to be home."

Those memories of walking that creek make me think of another journey-the one I'm making now. It isn't always easy, but I know at the end of it there's a caring Father and my eternal home. I can hardly wait to get there.

I'm expected there. The light is on and my heavenly Father is waiting for me. I suppose He'll ask, just like my father used to, "How did it go?" "Pretty good," I'll say. "But it sure is good to be Home."  - David H. Roper

He will be waiting for me-
Jesus so kind and true;
On His beautiful throne He will welcome me home-
After the day is through. -Vandall
© Renewal 1962, N. B. Vandall.


For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E.

Growing Up-Part 2

Yesterday we began a list of ten areas in which Scripture says we should be growing.  In today's devotional, I want to complete that list for you.

1.      1 Thessalonians 3:12 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 teach us that we should grow in our love for others.  I would hate to think that I have plumbed the depths of love for my wife, for my children, for my friends, or for God.

2.      Ephesians 2:21 speaks to us of growing in unity.  You and I ought to grow better and better at getting along with other believers, especially those in our church.

3.      Luke 2:52 speaks of growing in wisdom.  God is so anxious to provide you and me with His wisdom, but it is something we need to seek.  Are you growing in wisdom? 

4.      Luke 2:52 also speaks of growing in favor.  Are you obnoxious and hard to get along with?  Do you find it difficult to get along with others?  I challenge you, if that is true, to consider the model of Jesus for our lives.  He grew in favor with both God and men. 

5.      2 Peter 3:18 says that we can grow in grace.  I don't know about you, but I am deeply grateful for God's grace in my life. And for those who extend me grace when I blow it.  Is grace a hallmark of your life?

According to Scripture, these ten areas-the five from yesterday and the five today-are vital areas in which you and I are to grow.  I challenge you to read each Scripture and take each area before the Lord and ask Him to reveal where you need to grow.

You will be amazed at the change for good that will come about in your life!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 3 John 1-14
Be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. - Romans 16:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Kudzu was introduced into the United States from Japan in 1876 as an ornamental vine to help prevent erosion. But in the American South, kudzu has near-perfect conditions for growth and no natural predators, and it is now changed from ornamental to obnoxious. It spreads like cancer, up to one foot per day, destroying valuable forests by preventing trees from receiving sunlight. Slander and gossip are like kudzu. Such "godless chatter" is often overlooked or justified, but overnight it inflicts destruction. Today's text strongly condemns malicious talk that ravages Christian community.
Third John is one of two personal letters in the New Testament (the other is Philemon); Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus contain a personal address, but are intended to guide the larger church body. The elder begins this letter with a prayer for his "dear friend," which mirrors 2 John 1:4 (v. 2); he commends Gaius not only for his orthodoxy, but also for his orthopraxy (v. 3). Then the author praises Gaius for his warm hospitality toward the traveling missionaries, his fellow workers for the gospel who did not accept pay from those they were trying to reach (v. 7).

Next, the elder draws attention to a toxic, kudzu-like presence among the Christian community (vv. 9-10). He accuses a certain Diotrephes of three offenses: gossiping maliciously; refusing the missionaries hospitality; and further, preventing others from extending such courtesy. These misdeeds stem from Diotrephes's original rejection of the elder's authority. The central issue of 3 John is authority. Who shepherds the church in doctrine and discipline? Who is granted authority to teach and to determine truth from falsehood? Common manifestations of this dispute are slander and power struggles. The author ends his letter with a stark contrast to Diotrephes: Demetrius, who imitates what is good and maintains an honorable reputation among Christ's followers (vv. 11-12; cf. Rom. 16:19).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Gossip is spreading personal or spectacular information about another; slander is speaking maliciously about others to blemish their reputation. Christ's followers should "avoid every kind of evil," including "godless chatter" (1 Thess. 5:22; 1 Tim. 5:13). In Woman of Influence, Pam Farrel suggests three questions as criteria to escape gossip: Would I say this if the person were here with me?; Do I have permission to share this?; Can the listener change the situation? If "yes" is not the answer to every question, do not speak.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`