Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 31, 2009

Getting Involved

READ: Luke 10:30-37
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. -Psalm 111:4

Isn't anybody going to help that poor guy?" Fred exclaimed as he and my husband, Tom, realized what had been causing traffic to creep down the busy five-lane road. A man lay sprawled between the lanes, bicycle on top of him, as vehicles simply drove around him. Fred turned on the warning flashers and blocked traffic with his car. Then both guys jumped out to help the shaken man.

Fred and Tom got involved, as did the Samaritan man in Jesus' story in Luke 10. Like him, they overcame any reluctance they might have had to reach out to a man in distress. The Samaritan also had to overcome racial and cultural prejudice. The people we would have expected to help showed indifference to the injured man's plight.

It's easy to find reasons not to get involved. Busyness, indifference, and fear often top the list. Yet as we seek to follow our Lord faithfully, we will become more aware of opportunities to show the kind of compassion He showed (Matt. 14:14; 15:32; Mark 6:34).

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus commended the man who had acted out of compassion even though it was inconvenient, difficult, and costly to do so. Then, to us He says, "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37).  - Cindy Hess Kasper

When we share another's burden,
We display God's love and care,
Offering relief and comfort
When life seems too much to bear. -Sper


True compassion puts love into action.

Focus

In Philippians 3:13, Paul says,

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

The phrase I want to direct you to today is Paul's statement, One thing I do.  These are echoes of words King David spoke when he said, "One thing I desire," and Jesus, who said to the rich young ruler, "There is one thing you lack."

Then there is the blind man, who had been blind from birth, whom Jesus healed.  When he was questioned, he said, "There is one thing I know:  I was blind, now I see."  One thing I do; one thing I desire; one thing you lack; one thing I know.

Each of these statements points to a vital thing needed if you are to grow in your spiritual life:  FOCUS.

The problem with many people is they are far too scattered.  They are trying to do everything and be everything.  They try to be a jack-of-all-trades and end up being a master of none.

If that describes you today, let me ask you a question:  What is the one main thing that should be the focus of your life?

I have a very gifted friend who drives me crazy.  We can spend an hour in the car; and, in that hour, he has shared 21 new ideas with me.  He is trying to be so many things and do so many things that he is not as effective as he could be at anything!

My question to you is this:  If you died and stood before God today, what is the one thing He is going to ask you about?  Paul said, "One thing I do."  What is that one thing for you?

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: Jude 1-16
Fight the good fight of the faith. - 1 Timothy 6:12

TODAY IN THE WORD
Midrash is a Hebrew term literally meaning "to investigate" or "to study." Midrash is an ancient method of interpreting biblical texts whereby examples from Scripture are interpreted to reflect and apply to contemporary situations. Jude employs the technique of midrash to address the situation facing his readers. His prevalent use of this Jewish tradition suggests that he and probably even his original readers were Jewish Christians (vv. 5-15).
Most New Testament scholars identify Jude as the brother of Jesus, pointing to the author's self-designation as "a brother of James" (v. 1; cf. Matt. 13:55). Jude was not a follower of Jesus during his brother's lifetime, but like James joined the Christian movement after Christ's resurrection. Verses 3 and 4 announce the purpose for Jude's letter: to expose the false teachers in their midst and to urge his readers to fight for the faith. The shepherding imagery of verse 12 identifies the "godless men" as false teachers (cf. Ezek. 34:1-10). "Faith" here is used as a synonym for the gospel of Jesus Christ; it is also depicted as something one must fight for in order to maintain.

The ungodly men who "secretly slipped among" them distort God's grace and reject Christ's lordship in exchange for immoral living (vv. 4, . Jude describes and condemns the false teachers (vv. 5-19). He uses numerous illustrations to thoroughly convince his readers of the threat posed by the infiltrators. Jude's point is clear: in the same way the Old Testament exemplars such as Sodom and Gomorrah and Balaam faced judgment, so too will these wicked, poisonous men. They will be like condemned creation, purposeless and unproductive. "The Lord is coming . . . to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way" (vv. 14-15).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer distinguishes between "cheap" and "costly" grace: "Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without discipline, communion without confession." Jude says it is changing God's grace "into a license for immorality" (v. 4). Costly grace demands repentance that leads to transformation. Bonhoeffer said, "It is costly because it compels one to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him." Let's daily count the cost of discipleship and receive God's grace.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 1, 2009

The Only Place To Start
READ: Galatians 1:6-12
If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. -Galatians 1:9

When a publishing company asked me to write an endorsement for a new book, I said I'd be glad to. It appeared to be a helpful effort directed to young people, challenging them to live for God in a changing world. But as I read the book, something troubled me. Although it had lots of Scripture and great spiritual advice, it didn't explain that the starting point for any relationship with God is salvation through Jesus Christ.

The writer seemed to imply that the essence of living spiritually in modern society is based totally on action-good deeds-and not on saving faith in Christ. I didn't write the endorsement.

The culture of the church is changing rapidly. Often left behind in the rush to find exciting new ideas is the essential nature of the gospel. The apostle Paul was astonished that people so readily embraced a "different gospel" (Gal. 1:6). What he preached was not from man, but a direct revelation from Jesus Himself (vv.11-12).

We must never let go of that true gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our justification, declaring us righteous before God (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4). This alone offers the "power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). If we want to live for God, this is the only place to start.  - Dave Branon

No one can say he doesn't need
Forgiveness for his sin,
For all must come to Christ by faith
To have new life within. -Branon


Faith is the hand that must take God's gift of salvation.

Forgetting the Past

Yesterday we looked at Philippians 3:13.  I want to draw our attention to this verse again today, but for another reason.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

The key word I want to have you focus on today is forgetting.  I want you to understand the importance of forgetting the past so you can move forward.

Some people-perhaps you-cannot reach forward because they are continually looking backwards.  Their focus is on their past sins, their past mistakes, their past failures, their past hurts.

God does not want you to live in the past, but rather focus on the future.

A while back I was visiting a friend who had a great impact on my life as a young believer.  As I was sitting at a meal with him and his wife, he began to share with me a great personal failure. 

About ten years earlier, when he was pioneering a church, he fell into an adulterous relationship.  It rocked the foundation of his marriage; but he repented, got out of the relationship, and over time, God healed his marriage.  But he has not been in ministry since.

As he told me, tears began to stream down his face.  He got up from the table, went to the bathroom, and his wife looked at me and said, "Bayless, if you can help him, please do.  My husband has lived a holy life for the last ten years.  God has forgiven him, I have forgiven him, but he hasn't forgiven himself."

This man chained himself to this one past failure, and he can't get on with what God had called him to do.

Bury your past so you can uncover your future.

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: Jude 17-25
Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Jude 21

TODAY IN THE WORD
In Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper contends, "Life is war because the maintenance of our faith and the laying hold of eternal life is a constant fight." This echoes yesterday's discussion about the fight of faith and reflects Jude's closing remarks (vv. 20-21, 24). In order to live in light of eternity, we must, through regularly practiced exercises, maintain spiritual fitness for present wartime conditions.
Verses 20 through 23 instruct readers on how to "contend for the faith" (v. 3). First, Christ's followers must maintain and "build up" their own relationship with God (vv. 20-21). This includes praying according to God's will in fellowship with His Spirit and living in light of the Lord's return. Second, Jude urges his readers to "be merciful" to those contaminated by the false teachers (v. 22), which entails saving them from deception's snare. These traps of lies will lead to eternal judgment (v. 23). This smaller-scale rescue mission reflects God's large-scale mission to save His people (cf. John 3:16-17). The last phrase of verse 23 warns the readers to make every effort to avoid being corrupted themselves.

Jude concludes his letter with a doxology or short song of praise to God (vv. 24-25). He reassures his readers that God Himself will protect and preserve them through their present trials until Christ returns, at which point they will stand blameless and joyful before their Creator and King. Jude's heartening words are not uncommon to the New Testament. In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul teaches that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose," and that no trial or adversary can separate believers from God's love in Christ (8:28, 31-39). The author of Hebrews prays: "May the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will" (13:20-21).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jude ends looking forward to Christ's return (vv. 21, 24). The spirit of anticipation for Christ's return was prevalent among the early church. The term Maranatha! or "Come, Lord Jesus!" reflects this spirit (1 Cor. 16:22; cf. Rev. 22:20). Expecting and anticipating Christ's return causes us to live as disciplined, watchful stewards of God's kingdom. Is your life characterized by a longing for Christ's return? Today, reflect on the potential effects of such longing in your family, work, and relationships.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 2, 2009

Biography Of God
READ: Romans 1:16-20
Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen . . . even His eternal power and Godhead. -Romans 1:20

Let's say you were really famous. People would want to know all kinds of things about you. Then let's say you called me up and asked, "How'd you like to write my biography?" Let's say I agreed. I would be all over you like a moth on a streetlight, buzzing around trying to find out all I could about you. I'd ask you a thousand questions. I would ask for your list of contacts and call everyone on it to find out more about you. Then I would ask you to hand over anything related to your life. Papers. Pictures. The works.

I would look for three components, which are the secret to getting to know someone: What you say about yourself, what others say about you, and what you've done. Now think of what this means as you seek to know God: What does He say about Himself, what do others say about Him, and what has He done?

To know God in a vibrant, new way, ask all three. Read the Bible to find out what God says about Himself (Ex. 34:6-7; Lev. 19:2; Jer. 32:27). Then find out what the writers say about Him and His remarkable attributes (Ps. 19:1-4; Rom. 1:16-20; 1 John 4:8-10). Finally, take a look at the amazing things God has done (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 14:10-31; John 3:16).

Get to know God. Be His biographer. It will teach you more about Him than you ever thought possible.  - Dave Branon

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious-Thy great name we praise. -Smith

The God who created the universe is the God you can know.

Running Inside the Lines

In Philippians 3:14, Paul provides a powerful insight into his passion.  Here is what he says,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul clearly had a goal in mind, a sense of his destiny.  And he was undaunted in seeking to reach it.

In fact, the phrase "I press toward the goal" could literally be translated from the Greek text this way,  "I run within the lines."  It paints the picture of a runner, running down a track, staying in his lane.

He is not overreaching his bounds, running in someone else's lane.  Rather, as he goes for the goal, he is running within the lines with the goal in mind.

In a little mission in Medford, Oregon, many years ago, there was a young man with a terrible drug and alcohol problem.  One night God got a hold of his life.  It was a truly dramatic conversion. 

I was that young man.  And for several decades now, I have been seeking to lay hold of the reason for which He laid hold of me.  I knew that night that God had a destiny for my life.  And that is the goal I strive and press forward to achieve.

God has a destiny for your life, too.  God laid hold of your life just like He did mine, for a purpose.  If you have not already done so, you must understand and press forward to fulfill the destiny God has for your life.

If you don't know what that might be, then start asking God to reveal that to you.  Ask Him to show you the lane you are to run in.

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: Mark 10:13-31
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. - Luke 18:17

TODAY IN THE WORD
Exclusive country clubs won't let just anyone join. Initiation fees can cost $100,000 or more, with additional monthly dues that exceed $10,000. Other clubs insist on a referral from an existing member. Entrance into these clubs requires certain qualifications.
Today we begin a study that examines the stories of children in the Bible. We will focus on what they reveal about God and His relationship to us, as well as lessons from these children that apply to us all, whether young or old. In the story of Jesus welcoming the little children, we discover that the qualifications for entering the kingdom of God do not include riches or popularity.

This story appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (cf. Matt. 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17). People brought young children to Jesus for His prayers and blessings, and the disciples demonstrated their frustration by rebuking these people. To understand the perspective of the disciples, it's helpful to remember that in that culture children had very little status or rights. The disciples were trying to protect Jesus' time and energy and guard His status.

Jesus, though, welcomed the little children; verse 16 gives the warm description that "he took the children in his arms." Jesus was not too busy to extend love and value even to those disregarded by the rest of society. He then made a point about the kingdom of God: one must be like a little child in order to enter it (v. 15). Jesus was outlining the qualifications required: acknowledging that we have no spiritual status or rights and recognizing that we need Jesus.

In all three Gospels, this story is immediately followed by the story of the Rich Young Man (vv. 17-22). He sought to enter the kingdom of God, but he wanted to rely on his wealth and status. He was unwilling to become like a little child, totally dependent and in need of a Savior. The little children received a blessing from Jesus, but the Rich Young Man went away sad.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you understand what is required to enter the kingdom of God, the way to "inherit eternal life?" (v. 17). God does not screen out people on the basis of wealth or status. He welcomes all those who recognize that apart from Jesus, they have no hope of salvation. If you have never acknowledged your need for Jesus, let today be the day when you come to Him as a humble child and trust Him to save you. If you would like to talk to someone about salvation, you can call 1-800-NEED HIM.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 3, 2009

Best Friends
READ: 1 Samuel 20:30-42
The righteous should choose his friends carefully. -Proverbs 12:26

When I signed up for a popular Internet social network, I was shocked to be greeted with the words, "You have no friends." Although I knew it was untrue, I still felt sad for a moment. The idea that anyone, even an impersonal Web site, would call me friendless was upsetting. Friends are essential for our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Friends listen to our heartaches without blaming us for having problems. They defend us when we're under attack. They are happy when we succeed and sad when we fail. They give us wise counsel to keep us from making foolish choices. They even risk making us angry for the sake of making us right. My friends have done all of this and more for me.

Perhaps the best-known friendship in the Bible is that of Jonathan and David. Jonathan was heir to the throne of his father Saul. But he knew that the Lord had chosen David for that role, so he risked his own life to save his friend (1 Sam. 20).

As the Bible shows us, we need to choose friends carefully (Prov. 12:26). The very best friends are those who are friends with God and who strengthen our relationship with Him (1 Sam. 23:16).  - Julie Ackerman Link

I do not ask for many friends,
But give me, Lord, the few
Whose loyalty and faithfulness
Are first of all to You. -Meadows


True friends are like diamonds-precious and rare.

Your Lane

Yesterday we discovered that God has given each of us a call...a destiny designed by God for His glory.

In Philippians 3:12, Paul gives us some additional insight into that call,

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-when he was still an unbeliever and on the road to Damascus-had an encounter with Jesus.  Our Lord laid hold of him and Paul realized God had not only put a call on his life, but that the call was unique.

He was driven to fulfill that call.  He states it this way,  "Since that day, I have been trying to lay hold of the reason for which He laid hold of me." 

You also have a unique call.  And whatever it is, you need to stop comparing yourself to others and competing with others.  That is a terrible way to live.  Find out what your lane is, what your gifting is, your calling, and run in that lane.

You are unique!  God has not called anyone else to do exactly what you do.  Find out who you are and forget about what anybody else thinks.  God is not comparing you to another person.  You do not have to compete with anyone or be compared to anyone.  Just do what He has asked you to do.

That is running in your lane.  Do not run in somebody else's lane.  Now you can certainly learn from others, but you don't want to copy them.  You were born an original; you don't want to die a copy. 

Determine God's unique design for your life and run in the lane of that design.  That is when you will know satisfaction, blessing, and contentment.

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: Genesis 21:8-21
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. - Psalm 116:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a report released in May by the National Center on Family Homelessness, nearly 1.2 million U.S. children have "precarious" living arrangements, meaning that they share housing with friends or relatives, or live in a family who pays an extremely high percentage of income for housing. Another 330,000 children are completely homeless, living either in shelters or on the street. Our story today examines a child whose precarious living arrangement became homelessness. His story becomes a story of God's incredible grace.
Ishmael was surrounded by circumstances beyond his control. He was half-Egyptian, and he and his mother, the slave Hagar, lived with his father Abraham. His family could certainly be described as dysfunctional; Abraham's wife Sarah had a history of mistreating Hagar (see Genesis 16). Once Sarah's own son, Isaac, was born, she hated the idea that Ishmael might share in the inheritance, and she ordered Abraham to send away both him and Hagar. Ishmael became homeless, a victim of jealousy and power.


Ishmael was not the child that God had promised to Abraham, yet God extended grace to him (vv. 12-13). As Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert, all hope seemed lost. Hagar's pain in verse 16 is heart-wrenching; she sobbed in grief, expecting her son to die. But God heard his cry and responded, keeping His promise both to Hagar (Gen. 16:10) and to Abraham (v. 13). God repeated His promise again to Hagar, telling her that Ishmael would not only survive this desert experience, but also become a great nation (v. 18). Ishmael's name means, "God hears," and God proved He was still the "God who sees me," still hearing the cry of those in desperate circumstances (cf. Gen. 16:13). God's faithfulness was evident in the life of Ishmael. As he grew into adulthood, God was with him (v. 20). God had chosen Isaac as the son of Abraham that would be the son of promise, but He extended His grace outside the chosen line to preserve, protect, and prosper Ishmael, the other son of Abraham.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Children in need fill our neighborhoods and communities. Some need food, some need academic help, and some need loving adult mentors. Consider how you might extend the love and grace of God to them. You could volunteer at a local food pantry or tutor some children at the library. You might assist an afterschool program with adult leadership or even just with snacks. God cares for the children who appear to fall through the cracks, and we can show them His love.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 4, 2009

Being Glad
READ: Psalm 30
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24

One of my favorite childhood books was Pollyanna, the story of the optimistic young girl who always found something to be glad about-even when bad things happened.

I was reminded recently of that literary friend when my real-life friend fell and broke her arm while riding her bicycle. Marianne told me how thankful she was that she was able to ride all the way back home and how grateful she was that she wouldn't need to have surgery. It was her left arm (she's right-handed), she said, so she would still be able to work. And wasn't it great, she marveled, that she has good bones, so her arm should heal fine! And wasn't it wonderful that it hadn't been any worse!

Whew! Marianne is an example of someone who has learned to rejoice in spite of trouble. She has a confidence that God will care for her-no matter what.

Suffering eventually touches us all. And in times of difficulty, thankfulness is usually not our first response. But I think God looks at us with pleasure when we find reasons to be thankful (1 Thess. 5:16-18). As we realistically look for the good despite our bad circumstances, we can be grateful that God is holding us close. It is when we trust in His goodness that we find gladness.  - Cindy Hess Kasper

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. -Cushing


Thankfulness finds something good in every circumstance.

The Prize

If you have read the last couple of days' devotionals, you know we have been focusing on Philippians 3:12-14.  Today I want to give you one final truth from this passage of Scripture.

It is found in verse 14 where Paul says,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

What I want to focus our thoughts on today is the prize.  According to this passage, there is a reward for finishing, a reward that will be given openly to all those who are faithful.

In fact, the Greek word translated prize literally means a reward that is given publicly.  This is not something that is given in private.

In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul says,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

This crown of righteousness is synonymous with the "prize."  Paul said, "It will be given to me on that Day."  Not the day Paul died, but rather on a day that has yet to arrive, when we are gathered before God's throne.

On that day, everyone will be there.  King David, Samuel the prophet, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Moses, the apostle Paul, Peter...every saint who has lived for God in every generation since the Resurrection.

On that day, we are going to be standing before God giving an account of our lives.  We are going to be rewarded publicly if we have fulfilled our job description and run within the lines of our calling while on this earth.

I urge you to prepare for that day!

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!
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Read: 1 Kings 17:7-24
Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth. - 1 Kings 17:24

TODAY IN THE WORD
Few things are more excruciating than the grief of a parent who experiences the death of a child. It wrenches the natural order-parents expect their children to outlive them. According to The Mother's Report, published by Save the Children, every day 26,000 children die around the world, many from malnutrition and its accompanying diseases.
The mother in our passage today knew the piercing pain of losing a child. The widow of Zarephath was not an Israelite, yet she was the one chosen by God to provide for His prophet, Elijah (v. 9). In return, God miraculously provided food for her and her son during the famine. She was not among the chosen people of God, yet she gave generously in obedience to God's command.

And then tragedy struck. Her only son stopped breathing and died (v. 17). She poured out her grief in an interrogation of Elijah: "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" (v. 18). Like those in sorrow before and after her, she begged to know, "Why?" Elijah's prayer revealed his own confusion. This woman had been obedient and generous. Why had God allowed this to happen (v. 20)?

God responded to Elijah's cry and restored life to the boy. The prophet carried him to his mother: "Look, your son is alive!" (v. 23). This amazing event confirmed Elijah's identity for the widow, and she recognized the truth from the Lord that he represented. Interestingly, God did not explicitly answer the questions of Elijah and the mother. He raised the boy to life, but He did not explain why all this happened.

A few principles emerge from this story. First, God cares about the suffering of mothers over the death of their children. He is not emotionally aloof. Second, the miracle of restored life confirmed the identity of Elijah, God's prophet, and the truth that he spoke. Although Elijah and the widow didn't know it, there is more to this story, which we'll see in the coming days.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when we hear a statistic that 26,000 children die each day. Though we might not be in a position to dramatically reduce that number, we can each do something to reach out to children and their families who are suffering. Some ideas include sending cards to children in hospitals, volunteering and visiting children, and financially giving to hospitals who provide specialized care for sick children. And all of us can intercede in prayer as Elijah did, asking God to do a mighty work of healing.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 5, 2009

Our Moral Compass

READ: 2 Chronicles 7:1-14
If My people . . . turn from their wicked ways, then I will . . . forgive their sin and heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

When Abraham Lincoln was introduced to author Harriet Beecher Stowe, he reportedly said that she was "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

Although President Lincoln's comment wasn't entirely serious, Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was instrumental in abolishing slavery in the US. Its graphic depiction of racism and the injustice of slavery helped lead to the start of civil war. Ultimately, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves "shall be free." Thus, Stowe's novel helped to change a nation's moral compass.

Centuries earlier, King Solomon was told about what would change the moral compass of God's people Israel. It was to start with humility and confession. The Lord told Solomon: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

As a Christian community, we should first take an inventory of our own personal lives. As we humbly seek God in prayer and repentance of sin, changes begin in our lives. God may then use us to change a nation's moral compass.  - Dennis Fisher

Revive us again,
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above. -Mackay


Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. -Lincoln

Your Three-Way Calling

In Jude 1, we read the following greeting,         

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for called here is used in three different ways.  As believers in Jesus Christ, this word tells us we are called to three things:

1.      It is used for those who are summoned to an office, duty, or a responsibility.  Friend, every believer has been called.  You have a duty, you have an office, and you have a responsibility.  We have all been called to do something for Christ.  We are ambassadors for Christ, and we need to represent Him to a lost and dying world.

2.      The word called is also used in the Greek language to summon someone to a feast or a festival.  And you know what?  You have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and you will sit down one day to enjoy all the things God has planned for eternity.

3.      Finally, the word translated called in this passage is used to summon someone into court to give an account for themselves, or to summon them to judgment.  One day we will have to give an account of our lives.  One day every one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for the works done in the body.

You have a responsibility to represent Christ to our dying world, to someday celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb, and to ultimately give an account of your life.

I pray you will embrace and fulfill your calling today!

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 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6
Because you have seen me, you have believed. - John 20:29

TODAY IN THE WORD
Proof is a concept we can understand. We say, "The proof is in the pudding." We respond when asked for proof of identification or proof of insurance. We believe that deeds will prove whether words were true. Proof gives us confidence that we aren't falling for a scam.
The story of the son of the Shunammite Woman ends with dramatic proof. This story contains some parallels to our reading yesterday of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. In this passage, the prophet Elisha was offered hospitality by a wealthy woman in the town of Shunem. This town in the tribal area of Issachar was situated near a major thoroughfare and would have been a convenient place to stay as Elisha traveled about the country in his ministry. The Shunammite, recognizing that Elisha was a man of God, went beyond providing meals; she and her husband built an addition to their home for him!

In response to her generosity, Elisha offered to help the woman in some way.

Realizing that she had no children, he told her that she would have a son in the next year. The promised son was born-but then as a child, he suddenly died (4:20). The Shunammite immediately went to Elisha, who came to the boy. Elisha prayed and stretched himself over the boy, and life returned to him. In a manner similar to the story yesterday, Elisha returned the boy to his mother.

Later, Elisha warned the woman and her family to leave the area during a severe famine (8:1). Seven years later, the woman returned, and she sought to regain the land and house that she had left. This scene was beautifully orchestrated: God had Elisha's servant, Gehazi, at the right place at the right time. He was in the middle of describing the powerful works of Elisha. Just as he said that Elisha had restored the dead to life, the Shunammite entered. Gehazi pointed to her-and her son, who had been dead but who was now standing there very much alive-as proof of Elisha's ministry. Amazed, the king granted the woman's request and more.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we saw yesterday, God's restoration of life to this son was proof of His power. This story provides a foretaste of the resurrection of God's Son, Jesus, whose living flesh was proof of His claims and evidence that God had provided salvation for all who believe. If you have time for additional reading this week, read through John 20: "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 6, 2009

Matters Of The Heart
READ: Matthew 13:10-15
The hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed. -Matthew 13:15

At the beginning of a spiritual retreat, our speaker Matt Heard asked, "How's your heart?" It stunned me, because I tend to focus on believing with my mind and working with my hands. In the activity of thinking and serving, my heart is pushed to the side. As we were led through the Bible's repeated emphasis on this crucial center of our lives, I began to grasp his premise that belief and service are, more than anything else, matters of the heart.

When Jesus told a story to illustrate how people receive and respond to His teaching (Matt. 13:1-9), His disciples asked, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" (v.10). In reply, Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah: "For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" (v.15; Isa. 6:10).

How dangerously easy it is to neglect our hearts. If we become callous, we find no joy in living or serving; and life seems hollow. But when our hearts are tender toward God, understanding and gratefulness flow through us to others.

So, how's your heart?  - David C. McCasland

Our service for the Lord becomes
A duty that is hollow
If we neglect our heart for God
And Him we do not follow. -Sper


We can become so busy doing good that we lose our heart for God.

Your Calling to Judgment

One of the three ways in which we are called as believers, which we looked at in yesterday's devotional, is a call or summons to judgment.  And frankly, the thought of it unsettles me. 

In fact, when I read what the apostle Paul says about the judgment seat of Christ, it is very sobering.  He tells us that someday we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for the works done in the body.  In 2 Corinthians 5:11, he states this about that day,

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

Think about that for a moment.  Isn't that unsettling to you?

The apostle Paul who wrote the great majority of the New Testament, who walked the known world three times to establish churches and to preach the gospel where it had been previously unpreached, who gave his life, and according to church history, was even martyred for the cause of Christ, refers to the judgment seat of Christ as "the terror of the Lord."

Wow!  That is just unnerving.

Someday I really want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  I'm taking God's call seriously.  Now, I am enjoying life to the max, but there is always that serious edge knowing that I am going to have to stand before Jesus someday.

My prayer for you today is that you, too, would take your call before the judgment seat of Christ seriously.  Someday you will stand before our Lord and give an account of every part of your life.

May you hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

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: Luke 7:11-22
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. - Luke 7:22

TODAY IN THE WORD
From age 16 to 18, Frank Abagnale flew over one million miles to 26 countries-for free. He would dress in an airline pilot's uniform, carry false identity papers, and go through the crew entrance, saying that he needed to "deadhead" (the term for flights that crew make when they are not on duty) to another city. He would present forged payroll checks to support his lavish lifestyle. Frank looked and sounded the part, but he was not who he claimed to be.
The question of identity appears in our reading today as well. Over the past few days, we've seen that God cares about the plight of children, even rescuing them from death. In the stories of the sons of the widow of Zarephath and the Shunammite woman, we also see that God used these events to confirm the identity of His prophets, Elijah and Elisha.

The parallels of those accounts and our story today are striking. The only son of a widow had died (v. 12). Jesus was moved by compassion and touched the coffin. The son sat up and began to talk. In a phrase almost identical to those in our stories the past two days, Luke says that "Jesus gave him back to his mother" (v. 15). Finally, the crowd responded with recognition that this miracle echoed the healings of the great prophets.

The crowd was right-to a point. The Gospel of Luke clearly establishes this miracle as something that puts Jesus in the line of Elijah and Elisha. Yet it doesn't stop there. As word spread, followers of John the Baptist asked Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (v. 20). The crowd had been content to call Jesus a great prophet, but John the Baptist wanted to know the real identity of Jesus. Are you the Messiah, the Christ? Jesus responded by quoting from Isaiah 61. This work substantiated His claim. He was no impostor. He was Christ the Lord.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The stories from the past few days of these sons who die before having life restored can help give us a measure of comfort during our grief. First, Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus all recognized the grief as legitimate. They responded to the mothers with compassion. Second, as readers of Scripture we see some of God's great work through these events, even if the mothers and sons themselves never knew how God was using their lives to point forward to Jesus. We may not know "why" on this earth, but we do know "Who" is in control.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 7, 2009

Breath Mint, Anyone?
READ: Galatians 6:1-5
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2

A new Web site helps you tell a co-worker what you're afraid to say in person. Comments like: "A breath mint would be beneficial today" or "Your cell phone ringer is very loud today" or "Your perfume/cologne is very strong on a regular basis." You confront issues anonymously by having the Web site send an e-mail message for you.

It's understandable that we're cautious in talking to others about something that bothers us. But when it comes to confronting fellow believers about their sin, that's serious. We might wish we could do it anonymously, yet we have to do it face to face.

Galatians 6:1-5 offers some guidelines for confronting a fellow Christian who is living a sinful lifestyle. The first requirement is that we're close to the Lord ourselves, and that we don't exalt ourselves as superior to the one who is sinning. Then we are to look at the situation as restoring the person, not bringing condemnation. We're to have "a spirit of gentleness," all the while keeping in mind that we too may be tempted. Jesus also gave instructions that can help us with issues of sin against us personally (Matt. 7:1-5; 18:15-20).

With God's enablement we can courageously and sensitively confront and restore others.  - Anne Cetas

Lord, give us courage to confront
Believers who have strayed,
And then with gentleness restore
By coming to their aid. -Sper

To help people get back on the right path, walk with them and show them the way.

No Plan B

Have you ever thought of the fact that in eternity past God planned for you, me, and every other believer to be His Plan "A" to take His salvation to the world?

Read the words of Jude 1:3,

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

In this verse, Jude is telling those to whom he is writing, "I have written to exhort you, to call you near to God, and that you might contend (literally fight) for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

He is referring to the doctrine of Jesus Christ:  His crucifixion, His suffering for our sins, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His imminent return.

Notice his words, though, that it "was once for all delivered."  In other words, God is not changing His plan now.  It was delivered to us to both defend and to declare, once and for all.  There is no Plan B.  We are it.

This means the gospel has literally been entrusted to you and to me as the Church...the body of Christ.  God has chosen that through the foolishness of preaching men would be saved.

The good news of Jesus Christ, God's only method of bringing salvation to a lost and dying world, the only method of changing men and women's eternal destination, has been delivered to us.

Isn't that an awesome thought?  That is why my passion is to bring a living Jesus to a dying world.  Because there is no Plan B.

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!
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Read: Mark 5:21-43
Don't be afraid; just believe. - Mark 5:36

TODAY IN THE WORD
Parents use a time-honored technique to get their hesitant children into the swimming pool for the first time. Dad stands a few yards from the edge, opens his arms, and says, "Jump to me!" The idea, of course, is that the fearful child will not focus on the unknown depth of the water or the scary notion of going under the water-or even the water at all. The child will focus on the secure arms of Dad, and jump to him.
This principle of trust seems simple when we think of young children jumping into a pool. It can be far more challenging for us when we are jumping into life's deep end, and we struggle to fixate on the strong arms of our Father instead of the unknown depth. In our reading today, Jesus encountered a desperate father with a gravely ill daughter, and we see more of what it means to trust God.

The father, Jairus, begged Jesus to heal his dying daughter, and Jesus agreed to go with him. But as they made their way to Jairus's home, Jesus was interrupted by a suffering woman who longed to be healed. She believed that even a touch of His clothes could heal her. But Jesus stopped His procession after sensing that something had happened (v. 30). When she came forward, Jesus acknowledged her great faith and sent her on her way, free from her anguish. Imagine how Jairus felt during this exchange! He knew his daughter didn't have much time. Jesus had agreed to come, and now He was having a conversation with someone else! His worst fears were realized when he got word that indeed, his daughter had died. Jesus was too late.

Jesus responded to Jairus and this news in an interesting way. He didn't make an excuse or an argument or an explanation. He simply told Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe" (v. 36). By the time they reached the home, the grieving rituals were in full swing. Jesus entered the house, took the girl's hand, and instructed her to get up. And immediately she did, fully healed and restored to her parents.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you or someone you love is struggling with the depth of life's difficulties. Jesus doesn't ask us to pretend that these circumstances aren't real or hard. But He does ask us to trust Him. If you are struggling to hold on to God's strong arms at this time, spend time reading the Psalms that capture honest crying out to God. It might be helpful to memorize some psalms to help you keep your focus on the Lord. Psalm 40 is a good place to start, and you can find other psalms that directly apply to your struggles.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 8, 2009

Subtle Wisdom
READ: Mark 8:34-38
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. -John 12:26

When I was in college, my co-worker Bud, a fork-truck driver, often enriched my life with his pithy wisdom. We were eating lunch one day, sitting on the back of his fork truck, when I announced that I was transferring to another school.

"Why?" he asked.

"All my friends are transferring," I answered.

Bud chewed his sandwich for a moment and then replied quietly and with subtle irony, "I guess that's one way to pick a school."

His words struck me with rare force. Of course, I thought. But is this the only way to choose a school? Will I follow my friends for the rest of my days, or will I follow Jesus? Will I seek His face and His will and go where He wants me to go?

Twenty-five times in the New Testament, Jesus said to His disciples, "Follow Me." In Mark 8:34, He said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." No matter what others do or what direction their lives may take, we must do what He asks us to do.

The words of an old song come to mind: "My Lord knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow!"  - David H. Roper

As I walk along life's pathway,
Though the way I cannot see,
I shall follow in Christ's footsteps,
For He has a plan for me. -Thiesen


To find your way through life, follow Jesus.

The Entrance of Error

Jude 4 gives us an ominous warning,

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude is giving us an idea of how the devil brings error into a church.  The key phrase is men have crept in unnoticed.  That phrase literally means to come alongside by stealth.  It pictures someone creeping in and coming alongside, like coming in through a side door.

The folks Jude is talking about look like everyone else, they talk like everyone else, but they are not like everyone else.

That is the way the devil brings error and false doctrine into the Church.  It looks like the truth, sounds good, seems like the truth, and it may even be partially true.  But there is enough poison in it to kill you.

It's like the guy who wanted to break into a used car lot to steal a bunch of auto parts.  The only problem was the two guard dogs.  So for the next week he showed up every night with some pieces of meat.

At first the dogs would bark like crazy, but after the man left, they would eat the meat.  By the end of the week, they didn't bark at all, they just wanted the meat.  So, having become familiar with the dogs, knowing that they wouldn't "sound the alarm," he approached them one last time-with poisoned meat.  The dogs ate, and he was able to get into the lot and steal all he wanted.

That is the way the devil does it a lot of times.  He sends someone among the believers in order to distract and detour them from the truth.  But it is calculated and happens by degrees.  Do not let your "inner alarm system" go silent through familiarity.

Beware of those who would move you away, even subtly, from the clearly revealed truth of God's Word.

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!
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Read: Acts 16:16-34
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - John 8:32

TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a 2004 report from the U.S. State Department, human trafficking is the third most profitable criminal activity. Each year, around 600,000-800,000 people are trafficked-and 50 percent of those are children. Sometimes children are kidnapped; others are lured with false promises of lucrative work. Instead, they become indentured servants in mines, sex workers, child soldiers, or sweatshop slaves.
Exploiting children for profit is not new, and our reading today includes the story of a slave girl whose owners were making a great deal of money from her demon-possessed powers.

As the book of Acts recounts how Paul and Silas started the church in Philippi, we are introduced to a diverse assortment of people. First was Lydia, the wealthy woman who believed the gospel and opened her home to the missionaries; second was the slave girl, who could not have been more opposite to Lydia. She had no control over the fortune she was producing, and no status in the city. The work of God in both Lydia and the slave girl reminds us that the gospel can transform anyone, whether rich or poor, slave or free.

The spirit that controlled this girl was known as a truth-telling spirit, and her owners used her to tell fortunes. But this spirit also began proclaiming the truth about Paul and Silas; day after day the girl would follow Paul and his companions shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" (v. 17).

This was, in fact, the truth. But Paul was not content to let the truth about him and his mission be proclaimed as a means to support evil and to profit from this girl's slavery. In the name of Jesus, he commanded the spirit to leave her, freeing her from her demon-possession. But freeing her from the spirit also meant depriving her owners of their profits. Furious, they brought legal charges against Paul and Silas. They valued greed over deliverance.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul understood the value of this girl's life-not just her profits. Will we stand for the value of life, even when others profit from its abuse and destruction? Abortion destroys thousands of lives every day in the United States, and many people profit from it, whether financially, socially, or politically. We certainly need to be prayer warriors on this issue. Perhaps you could also support a crisis pregnancy center in your area by volunteering, donating needed supplies, or giving financially.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals August 9, 2009

Granville Sharp
READ: James 1:19-27
Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. -James 1:22

When I was a Bible college student, a name occasionally mentioned in Greek class was that of Granville Sharp. He was a renowned Greek scholar (1735-1813) whose studies resulted in principles of biblical interpretation that continue to guide our understanding of the original language of the New Testament.

To study the Scriptures and learn the powerful truths they contain is a noble exercise but, no matter how deeply we study, it is not enough. James challenged us to understand this when he wrote: "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (James 1:22-24).

Granville Sharp understood this and put his faith into practice. In addition to being a biblical scholar, he also fought to eradicate slavery in England. Sharp said, "A toleration of slavery is, in effect, a toleration of inhumanity." His biblical understanding of the worth of a human soul and the justice of a holy God compelled him to act on his beliefs.

We can benefit from Sharp's passion for the Word-and for living out the truth that Word contains.  - Bill Crowder

It is God's will that we should read
His Word from day to day,
Not just for knowledge, but much more-
To love Him and obey. -Hess


We don't really know the Bible unless we obey the Bible.

The True Grace of God

Yesterday we read Jude 4 which states,

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Before we move away from this verse, I want to point out a phrase that I believe is very dangerous ground for the Church in America today.  It is the phrase, "Ungodlymen, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness."

Lewdness literally means unrestrained lust, wickedness, and immorality.  These people believed that once you were saved, you could live however you wanted. 

There are people in the Church today with this type of thinking.  They believe that if you are saved by grace, and good works do not merit salvation, then you can do whatever you want.           

You can sleep around, commit adultery, get drunk, the sky's the limit.  It's grace, baby!  Your works don't have anything to do with it.  You can live however you want!

One of the things that I have heard throughout the years is, "Hey, it doesn't matter.  It's grace.  God will forgive me, so I'm going to go ahead and do this anyway."

You do not want to live that way.  Believe me, something begins to break down inside of you, and you will pay the piper eventually.

If you are turning the grace of God into lewdness through immorality, or any other sin, I challenge you to stop today.  Confess your sin to God, turn from whatever it is that you have been doing, and ask God to help you live for Him.  If you do, you will experience the true grace of God, which teaches us that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-12).

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!
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Read: Judges 11:29-40
When a man makes a vow to the Lord . . . he must not break his word but must do everything he said. - Numbers 30:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2004, an outbreak of polio swept through children in northern Nigeria. Vaccinations are used worldwide, and the disease has largely been eradicated. But in the Nigerian state of Kano, rumors spread that the polio vaccine was intended to make the children sterile or even give them AIDS. Despite pleas from neighboring countries and world health leaders, several Nigerian states boycotted the vaccine for several years. Thousands of children paid the price, becoming crippled or even dying from polio.
For the past several days, we've examined stories of children in the Bible that demonstrate God's care for children, especially those in distress, and we've seen how we can trust our God to be faithful. Today we turn to look at several stories that illustrate ways that children pay the price of their parents' decisions.

In today's reading, Jephthah prayed to the Lord to ask for victory in battle over the Ammonites. So far, so good: Jephthah acknowledged his need for divine assistance in defeating these oppressors of Israel. Then Jephthah made a vow to God-if given the military victory, he would offer "whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me" as a burnt offering (v. 31). While this might seem generous, it was unnecessary; the Law didn't require any burnt offering for such an occasion.

Tragically, the first thing from his house to meet Jephthah was his daughter, his only child (v. 34). The price of his impetuous promise would be paid by this young girl. Jephthah's daughter did not argue or beg him to go back on his word to the Lord. She demonstrated understanding that a vow to God is a sacred commitment; God had fulfilled Jephthah's request, and now he had to follow through (v. 36).

Jephthah's daughter paid the price for his unwise oath. But in the larger context, the book of Judges depicts a culture spiraling out of control, becoming increasingly evil, and devastating those who are most helpless, like the young daughter of Jephthah.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The choices made by parents have consequences for their children. Even if you have no children of your own or your children are grown, each of us faces choices that impact the culture around us, sometimes in ways we might not realize. Are we living in a way that promotes spiritual health and life for the children around us? Do we acknowledge our dependence on the Lord? Do we make rash commitments without counting the cost? Ask God to make you a source of spiritual blessing for the children in your life.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
GOD BLESS!
`