Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

December 05, 2009

Presents Or Presence?

READ: 1 John 2:24-29

In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. -Psalm 16:11

Oswald Chambers once wrote: "It is not God's promises we need, it is [God] Himself."

At Christmastime we often say, "God's presence is more important than presents." But the amount of time and effort we spend on shopping for gifts may indicate otherwise.

In certain parts of the world, people give gifts on December 6. By doing so, they have the rest of the month to focus on Jesus and the wonder of His birth, God's perfect gift to us.

When we say we want God's presence more than presents from others, perhaps we're being truthful. But how many of us can honestly say that we want God's presence more than His presents?

Often we want gifts from God more than we want God Himself. We want health, wealth, knowledge, a better job, a better place to live. God may indeed want to give us these things, but we can't have them apart from Him. As David said, "In Your presence is fullness of joy" (Ps. 16:11). Presents may make us happy for a time; earthly gifts from God may make us happy temporarily, but fullness of joy comes only when we remain in a right relationship with God.

So, what would Christmas be like if we truly celebrated God's presence?  -


Lord, we want to remember You and Your coming in special ways this Christmas. Give us creativity and thoughtfulness in our planning. Help us to focus on Your presence and not on what we hope to give or receive.

God's presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us.
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What's Your Motive?

The Bible says in James 4:3,

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James says that you ask, but you do not receive, because you ask amiss.  The word amiss here comes from the Greek root word that means to harm or to injure.  His point is:  God will not grant you anything that is going to harm or injure your spiritual life, whether in the short term or in the long term.

When you pray, God is looking out for your best interests.

But then he also said, You ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures.  The word pleasures has the idea of sensuality, which means, if I am asking for something just to stroke my fleshly ego, then I short-circuit the prayer by my wrong motivation.

For example, it is great to pray for a car.  I live in Southern California where we need a car to get around.  And I think God will give you a car that you like.  After all, the Bible says He gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Jesus said, "Ask, that your joy might be full."  So I think God wants us to be happy, and He generally has no problems granting your request for a car you would like.

Yet some people go a step beyond that, and their real motivation is, "Man, I want that car because I would look good in that car!  If I came to work in that car, I would really show up so-and-so.  People would think I'm pretty fine if I had that car.  If I had that car, the chicks would dig me."

Be careful when you pray to not slip over into a motivation that is not really pure.  Because you will short-circuit your faith and you will not receive an answer-except "no".   
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Read: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. - John 20:29

TODAY IN THE WORD
In his treatise, Faith in the Unseen, the fourth-century bishop Augustine of Hippo challenged the idea that nothing should be believed if it cannot be seen or verified physically. Instead, argued Augustine, nearly all of life requires trust, or belief, in things we cannot see: the will of our friends, the love of our parents, the existence of a foreign country. In short, said Augustine, if we refuse to believe what we cannot see, "nothing would remain stable in human society." Today's reading emphasizes this fundamental call to believe in Jesus, whom we have not seen. Peter, of course, had seen Jesus. He could call to mind any number of scenes where Jesus healed, taught, prayed, received abuse at the hands of Roman soldiers, died on the cross, or appeared alive again. For Peter, his love for Jesus could easily be linked with his witness of Jesus' love and power during His earthly ministry.

But Peter's audience didn't have that advantage. Here was a group living in northern Asia Minor, some years after Jesus' life on earth. They had never seen Jesus with their physical eyes, and yet they loved Him and believed in Him (v. . Perhaps Peter had in mind Jesus' words to Thomas: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). None of us have seen Jesus, yet our encounter with Him and love for Him is real thanks to God's Word, the testimony of others' experience, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Although we do not see Jesus now with our physical eyes, Scripture encourages us with the reminder that we will see Him in the future when our salvation is obtained in full (vv. 7, 9; cf. 1 Cor. 13:12). Notice, however, that while our full salvation is something yet to come, the Christian life is a present reality. The love, faith, and "inexpressible and glorious joy" that Peter speaks of is all in the present tense. We may wait in eager anticipation of that glorious day, but true love and joy is ours even now.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you struggle with the reality that you cannot see and touch Jesus? Or perhaps you know of someone who resists faith in Christ because they cannot see Him with their eyes? In many ways, God calls us to be His tangible body to those who need the physical presence of God. Be that "visible Jesus" for someone today. Consider visiting a sick person in the hospital or their home, or simply give a hug to someone who needs to know God's love in a physical way.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 06, 2009

The Best Of Gifts

READ: John 1:10-13

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! -2 Corinthians 9:15

Having trouble selecting that perfect gift for someone? A friend shared with me a few suggestions:

· The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response. Just listening.

· The gift of affection. Being generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back.

· The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

· The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note your appreciation or affection.

· The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying, "You look great today" or "You are special" can bring a smile.

But as we begin this special month of celebration, why not pass on the best gift you've ever received? Share the fact that "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:23). Or share this verse from John 1:12, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." Remind others that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

The best gift of all is Jesus Christ. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

The greatest Gift that has ever been given
Is Jesus Christ who was sent down from heaven.
This Gift can be yours if you will believe;
Trust Him as Savior, and new life receive. -Hess

The best gift was found in a manger.
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Faithfulness and Open Doors

In 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul writes,

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

According to Paul, Jesus did three things.  First, He enabled him, which means Jesus is the One who puts the gifting in you.  He is the One who gives you talent.  He is the One who gives you the ability. 

Second, Paul says that Jesus counted him faithful.  Apparently, Jesus is watching and He expects you and me to be faithful.

Third, Paul says that Jesus put him into the ministry.  In other words, Jesus opens doors when we are faithful, doors that no man can shut.  When the way seems blocked, Jesus can make a way where there is no way.

Here is the point.  It is not enough just to be enabled.  Some of the greatest, most gifted, and talented people in the world are living far, far below their potential.  While the enablement is there, Jesus has not found them faithful yet, and so certain doors of opportunity remain shut.

Having the gifting is not enough.  You need to have both the gifting and be faithful.  When both are there, Jesus opens doors.

Recognize and develop the gifting God has given you, but focus on being faithful so that God can open doors in your life.

Here are a few other verses that also make it clear that faithfulness is the road between enablement and open doors,

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:20).

"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord'" (Matthew 25:21).   

Read: 1 Peter 1:10-12

Even the angels long to look into these things. - 1 Peter 1:12

TODAY IN THE WORD
For the second-century here-tic Marcion, the Jewish God of the Old Testament was different than the Christian God of the New Testament. The lesser god of violence and law had been replaced by the superior God of love and grace. Thus, according to his thinking, Christians should have nothing to do with the stories and teaching of the Bible of the Jews. Although written prior to Marcion, today's passage speaks firmly against a Marcionite concept of God and the Bible, as Peter discusses the salvation that has come in Christ. First, Scripture presents the unchanging God of our salvation. Nothing that happened with Christ, His death, His resurrection, and the subsequent grace given to the church was without anticipation. The Spirit of Christ predicted these things through the Old Testament prophets (vv. 10-12). The Spirit who led the old prophets was the same as the one preaching the gospel. The salvation now enjoyed by Jews and Gentiles alike was part of God's plan and purpose from the beginning.
Second, Scripture reveals the preciousness of salvation. So significant was this promised salvation that the prophets who predicted Christ's coming eagerly tried to discover when and how these events would come about. Moreover, even the angels in heaven "long to look into these things" (v. 12). In other words, the gift of salvation in Christ was so important that it got the attention of Old Testament saints and heavenly beings alike.
Finally, Scripture indicates the surprising pattern of salvation. Many first-century Jews anticipated a kingly Messiah who would vindicate Israel and free them from oppression. Most expected glory; few anticipated a suffering Messiah. Yet Scripture declares both: the events predicted by the prophets included both "the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (v. 10). For Peter's readers, this is a subtle reminder that their sufferings are following the pattern of Christ, and their end will be the same as His: glory. But this should be no surprise; it's all been predicted beforehand.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today marks the second Sunday in Advent, that season of reflection on the first and second comings of Christ. What a perfect occasion to appreciate the wonder and significance of what God has done for you in Christ. Spend time meditating on several Old Testament passages, such as Psalm 110, Isaiah 53, or Psalm 22, that foretell the suffering and the glory of the Christ who brings us salvation. Then thank God that in His unending love He had planned a way for our restoration and renewal in His Son, Jesus Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 07, 2009

War . . . Then Peace

READ: Luke 23:32-43

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7


On December 7, 1941, a Japanese war plane piloted by Mitsuo Fuchida took off from the aircraft carrier Akagi. Fuchida led the surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Through the war years to follow, Fuchida continued to fly-often narrowly escaping death. At war's end, he was disillusioned and bitter.
A few years later, he heard a story that piqued his spiritual curiosity: A Christian young woman whose parents had been killed by the Japanese during the war decided to minister to Japanese prisoners. Impressed, Fuchida began reading the Bible.

As he read Jesus' words from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34), he understood how that woman could show kindness to her enemies. That day Fuchida gave his heart to Christ.
Becoming a lay preacher and evangelist to his fellow citizens, this former warrior demonstrated "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7)-a peace enjoyed by those who have trusted Christ and who "let [their] requests be made known to God" (v.6).

Have you found this peace? No matter what you have gone through, God makes it available to you.  - Dennis Fisher
There is peace in midst of turmoil,
There is joy when eyes are dim,
There is perfect understanding
When we leave it all to Him. -Brown

True peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of God. -Loveless
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Key #1 to Effective Prayer - Being Specific

Over the next number of devotionals, I want to walk you through the keys to effective prayer.  To start, I want to focus today's devotional on Mark 10:46-52 where we find a very intriguing story.

Now they came to Jericho.  As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer.  Rise, He is calling you."  And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.  So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."  And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The question Jesus asked, "What do you want Me to do for you?", seemed obvious, didn't it?  Everybody present knew Bartimaeus needed his eyes to be healed.  Why would Jesus ask this question?

He wanted us to understand how important it is to be specific when we ask something of God.  Bartimaeus' faith had to become specific before it made him well.  It was after he said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight," that Jesus said, "Your faith has made you well."
Being specific in what you request of God is the first key to effective prayer. 
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Read: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore . . . be holy in all you do. - 1 Peter 1:13, 15


TODAY IN THE WORD
When interpreting the Bible, scholars observe something called "the indicative and imperative." In Scripture, the "indicative" tells us who we are and what God has done-it tells us what is true. The "imperative" tells us how we should act as the people of God that we are-it tells us what to do. In short, the indicative and imperative in Scripture tells us what is true and what to do. When we come to the "Therefore" of verse 13 in today's reading, we are shifting from the "what is true" into the "what to do." Because God has chosen you (vv. 1-2) and given you a living hope and a new inheritance (vv. 3-4), and because of the promise of salvation and glory yet to come (vv. 7-9), therefore, says Scripture, we must live a certain way.

First, we are called to self-control (v. 13), to engage our minds in thinking about how we live and making sure it's in accord with who we are. Next, we are called to set our hope on the grace to come; that is, we should live our lives in light of the sure expectation of Christ's return. Third, we are exhorted not to conform to the evil desires of our past (v. 14). This implies a change has taken place from one way of life-ignorance and disobedience-to another-knowledge and obedience (see v. 2). Finally, we are called to "be holy in all you do" (v. 15).

Simply put, holiness is being set apart for and to God. In fact, God Himself became the basis and pattern for our holiness: "Be holy, because I am holy" (v. 16). Peter is quoting a refrain that occurs several times in Leviticus and was first given to the nation of Israel (see Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7). This call to total holiness ("in all you do") may seem like an impossible task, but remember, you have the Holy One Himself working in you and through you. The question is, will you give yourself to your holy Father?

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's call is a daunting one, but Scripture's order is essential: the indicative first, then the imperative. We live with self-control, resist evil desires, and act in holiness not so that God may grant us grace, but precisely the opposite. Because God has done those things, therefore we live like the people God has already declared us to be. As you attempt to "be holy in all you do" today, ask God for strength to live in a manner indicative of who you already are in Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 08, 2009

A Legacy Of Repentance

READ: Psalm 51
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. -Psalm 51:17


All nations have heroes, but Israel may be alone in making epic literature about its greatest hero's failings (Ps. 51). This eloquent psalm shows that Israel ultimately remembered David more for his devotion to God than for his political achievements.

Step-by-step, the psalm takes the reader through the stages of repentance. It describes the constant mental replays, the gnawing guilt, the shame, and finally the hope of a new beginning that springs from true repentance.

In a remarkable way, Psalm 51 reveals the true nature of sin as a broken relationship with God. David cries out, "Against You, You only, have I sinned" (v.4). He sees that the sacrifices God wants are "a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart" (v.17). Those, David has.

In his prayer, David looks for possible good that might come out of his tragedy and sees a glimmer of light. Perhaps by reading this story of sin others might avoid the same pitfalls, or by reading his confession they might gain hope in forgiveness. David's prayer is answered and becomes his greatest legacy as king. The best king of Israel has fallen the farthest. But neither he, nor anyone, can fall beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness.  - Philip Yancey

How blest is he whose trespass
Has freely been forgiven,
Whose sin is wholly covered
Before the sight of heaven. -Psalter

Repentance is the soil in which forgiveness flourishes.
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Key #3 to Effective Prayer - Praying From the Heart

Today we will look at the third key to effective prayer.  This key is found in Romans 10:9-10 where it says,

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Prayer must come from the heart.  These verses in particular teach us that if a person is going to pray a prayer of salvation, the heart and the mouth must get together.  It is not good enough to just have the words.  Your heart and mouth must be in agreement.

I believe this truth applies to every kind of prayer.  It is not good enough to just use eloquent words.  There has to be heart behind them if you are going to realize results from your prayers.

I think only those things that burn brightly within our hearts truly touch the heart of God.
When I was young, I would go fishing with my cousins.  At night, the bats would come out and my cousins would take a lure, and they would cast it up in the air.  Every once in a great while one of the bats would hit the lure and get snagged.

I think when we pray, it is like casting lines up into the heavens.  But it is only the prayers that come from our heart that ever hook onto anything in heaven.
Effective prayer comes from your heart.
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Read: 1 Peter 1:17-21

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. - Psalm 34:22

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the Roman Empire, the common word redemption referred to the process whereby a slave could be released from bondage through some form of payment to the slave's master. That payment, made either by the slave or by someone else, would buy the slave's freedom. A new life was the result.

This theme of redemption is central to today's reading. First, Peter declares the method of payment for our redemption: it did not come through the typical means of silver or gold (v. 18). Rather, we were redeemed with something far more valuable: "the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (v. 19). The reference here, of course, evokes the Old Testament command for a sacrificial animal that was perfect and without defect (see Lev. 22:17-25). Christ, in His sinlessness, was that perfect sacrifice.

Notice too, that we were not the ones making this payment. It was the work of God Himself, who chose Christ "before the creation of the world" (v. 20), raised Him from the dead, and glorified Him (v. 21). This was no afterthought; God had planned our redemption from the very beginning. Even before we existed, we were already thought of by our loving God.

The imagery of redemption implies freedom from slavery, but to what were we enslaved? Peter calls it an "empty way of life" (v. 18), a phrase commonly used for idolatry and rebellion against God (see Jer. 16:19). Without Christ, we have only the vanity which the world has to offer.

What does our freedom from such a life entail? Scripture declares that through Christ we gain faith and hope in God. Recall from previous days what that hope means. We also have a new relationship with God-He is not just an impartial judge, but a Father we can call upon. And we have a new home; no longer enslaved to emptiness, we live a life of "reverent fear" (v. 17). Strangers in this world, we are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Our redemption in Christ accomplished it all.


TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We all revere our fathers in some way, whether earthly, national, or ideological. But today's reading challenges us to value one Father above all, and to live in reverence of Him (vv. 17, 18). Make a list of the influential figures in your own life, and then ask yourself: Does following the footsteps of these figures lead to a life of holiness and reverence for God the Father? If so, thank Him for such godly influences. If not, ask God for wisdom to re-prioritize the "fatherly" figures in your life.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 09, 2009

When Life Is Too Big

READ: 1 Kings 3:4-14

As a young man, Jimmy Carter was a junior officer in the US Navy. He was deeply impacted by Admiral Hyman Rickover, the mastermind of the US nuclear submarine fleet.

Shortly after Carter's inauguration as President, he invited Rickover to the White House for lunch, where the admiral presented Carter with a plaque that read, "O, God, Thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small." That prayer is a useful perspective on the size and complexity of life and our inability to manage it on our own.

Solomon too knew that life could be overwhelming. When he succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel, he confessed his weakness to God, saying, "O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in" (1 Kings 3:7). As a result, he asked for the wisdom to lead in a way that would please God and help others (v.9).

Is life feeling too big for you? There may not be easy answers to the challenges you are facing, but God promises that, if you ask for wisdom, He will grant it (James 1:5). You don't have to face the overwhelming challenges of life alone.  - Bill Crowder

Each day we learn from yesterday
Of God's great love and care;
And every burden we must face
He'll surely help us bear. -D. De Haan

Recognizing our own smallness can cause us to embrace God's greatness.
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By Janet Conley 

Key #4 to Effective Prayer - Consistent with God's Will

In order for your prayers to be effective, they need to be in line with God's Word and will. That is the fourth key to effective prayer.

This means you must have knowledge of God's Word.  In John 15:7, Jesus says,
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

If you abide in God and His words abide in you, your desires will line up with His will.  How important it is for us to know the Word of God!

As Hebrews 4 reminds us, the Word of God is living and active and powerful. It is spirit; it is life. It's not just pages on a piece of paper. And as you are in the Word of God, I believe the Holy Spirit will paint heaven's pictures, heaven's thoughts, and heaven's ideas on the canvas of your heart and your mind.

As you read the Word of God, you will have confidence in your prayers because you will have God's heart. And when you have God's heart, He is going to answer your prayers because that is what He desires.

I also want to point you to 1 John 5:14 which says,
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

His will, of course, is His Word.  So if you ask anything according to His Word, He will hear you. And if you know that He hears whatever you ask, you know you have the petitions you have asked of Him.

This means you and I need to know what the Bible says so that our prayers will be answered. Effective prayers are those that are in line with God's Word and will. 
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Read: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. - 1 Peter 2:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
The word love is common today. From glib declarations in a Hallmark card to the newest pop song's promise, "I will love U 4ever," the idea of love has become devoid of meaning. A mere sentimentality, contemporary notions of love often express infatuation, lust, or need-driven feelings. So when we come to the call in today's passage to "love one another," it's easy to miss the challenge in Peter's exhortation.

Earlier, holiness was urged through self-control over evil desires (1 Peter 1:13-16). Now the exhortation to holiness continues with a call to love. The Christian life is not just internal; it is also about relationships with others. The call is explicit: "love one another deeply, from the heart" (1:22). And it's worth noting that the word "deeply" might better be translated "extensively" or "earnestly." It's the same word used to describe Jesus' longing prayer in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).

This positive call to relational love is then repeated from the negative side in 2:1. All the named vices that we are called to extinguish from our lives are nothing less than attitudes and behaviors that lack love. Where there is "malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander," there can be no love in the community (2:2). This is no superficial call to niceness or civility, but rather to an earnest, sincere attitude and action of care among the Christian family.

Scripture also reveals the foundation of this new life of love. Our reading begins with a reminder that we have been purified already through obedience to the truth (1:22). The remainder of our passage makes it clear that the obedience Peter has in mind is the believer's faithful response to the gospel proclamation, the "word that was preached to you" (1:25). Compared to all other living things, which eventually wither and die, God's word is "living and enduring" (1:23). That creative, life-giving word of God which brought all things into existence is the same word now in us. It purifies, renews, and empowers us to live a life of true love.


TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The call to love is not static; it requires attitude and action. But today's passage adds another ingredient necessary for Christian growth: nourishment, what Peter calls "pure spiritual milk" (2:2). So important is this spiritual food that he compares us to a hungry infant craving to be fed. Do you see the growth of true love in your own spiritual life? If not, perhaps you need to recommit yourself to the regular spiritual nourishment of God's Word. Don't just taste it; feed on it, and grow!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 10, 2009

A Mere Happening?

READ: Ruth 2:1-12
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6


Huang, a nonbeliever, was a visiting scientist at the University of Minnesota in 1994. While there, he met some Christians and enjoyed their fellowship. So when they learned he would be returning to Beijing, they gave him the name of a Christian to contact who was also moving there.

On the flight back to Beijing, the plane encountered engine trouble and stopped in Seattle overnight. The airline placed Huang in the same room with the very person he was to contact! Once they arrived in Beijing, the two began meeting weekly for a Bible study, and a year later Huang gave his life to Christ. This was not just a mere happening; it was by God's arrangement.

In Ruth 2, we read that Ruth came "to the part of the field belonging to Boaz" (v.3). Boaz asked his servants who she was (v.5), which prompted his special consideration toward her. When Ruth asked him the reason for such kindness, Boaz replied, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law . . . . The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you" (vv.11-12).

Did the events in the lives of Ruth and Huang just happen? No, for none of God's people can escape God's plans to guide and to provide.  - Albert Lee
I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things don't just happen-
Everything by Him is planned. -Smith

A "mere happening" may be God's design.
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Key #5 to Effective Prayer-Endurance

The next key to effective prayer is the need to be patient.  You need to be willing to endure.
Hebrews 6:11-15 says,
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Do you realize that once God gave Abraham and Sarah the promise of having a child, it was 25 years before Isaac was born?  There was some patient enduring that took place before they obtained the reality of God's promise in their lives.  And so it must be with us.
Perhaps you have been praying for things in your life, and you are getting discouraged.  You must remember that God does not always work things on our timetable.  He works according to His.

I just want to encourage you today:  Be patient.  Patience is that long-lasting quality of your faith.

A number of years ago I heard one person say that faith is like your hand and patience is like your arm.  When you exercise faith, it is like holding up your hand against the problem, and as you do, things are being worked out.  But if you take your patience down, your faith comes down with it.

Patience is the thing that keeps your faith applied until the answer comes.
Patience is a critical key to effective prayer.  Whatever you are praying for, patiently endure. 
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Read: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. - 1 Peter 2:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
The word love is common today. From glib declarations in a Hallmark card to the newest pop song's promise, "I will love U 4ever," the idea of love has become devoid of meaning. A mere sentimentality, contemporary notions of love often express infatuation, lust, or need-driven feelings. So when we come to the call in today's passage to "love one another," it's easy to miss the challenge in Peter's exhortation. Earlier, holiness was urged through self-control over evil desires (1 Peter 1:13-16). Now the exhortation to holiness continues with a call to love. The Christian life is not just internal; it is also about relationships with others. The call is explicit: "love one another deeply, from the heart" (1:22). And it's worth noting that the word "deeply" might better be translated "extensively" or "earnestly." It's the same word used to describe Jesus' longing prayer in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).

This positive call to relational love is then repeated from the negative side in 2:1. All the named vices that we are called to extinguish from our lives are nothing less than attitudes and behaviors that lack love. Where there is "malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander," there can be no love in the community (2:2). This is no superficial call to niceness or civility, but rather to an earnest, sincere attitude and action of care among the Christian family.

Scripture also reveals the foundation of this new life of love. Our reading begins with a reminder that we have been purified already through obedience to the truth (1:22). The remainder of our passage makes it clear that the obedience Peter has in mind is the believer's faithful response to the gospel proclamation, the "word that was preached to you" (1:25). Compared to all other living things, which eventually wither and die, God's word is "living and enduring" (1:23). That creative, life-giving word of God which brought all things into existence is the same word now in us. It purifies, renews, and empowers us to live a life of true love.


TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The call to love is not static; it requires attitude and action. But today's passage adds another ingredient necessary for Christian growth: nourishment, what Peter calls "pure spiritual milk" (2:2). So important is this spiritual food that he compares us to a hungry infant craving to be fed. Do you see the growth of true love in your own spiritual life? If not, perhaps you need to recommit yourself to the regular spiritual nourishment of God's Word. Don't just taste it; feed on it, and grow!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 11, 2009

Tears Of Repentance

READ: Luke 22:54-62 

Peter went out and wept bitterly. -Luke 22:62

My husband, a self-proclaimed computer illiterate, purchased a computer to help him with his business. After giving him a few pointers, I left him alone to do some experimenting. It wasn't long, however, before I heard a slightly panicked voice from the office: "Hey, where's that 'uh-oh' button?"

What he had been looking for, of course, was the "undo" key that lets you backtrack when you've made a mistake. Have you ever wished for one of those in life? A provision to reverse, repair, or restore what's been broken or damaged by sin?

After Jesus' arrest, Peter, one of His beloved disciples, denied three times that he knew Him. Then, we read, "the Lord turned" and simply "looked at" him. Peter "went out and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61-62). His tears were most likely tears of shame and repentance. No doubt he wished he could undo his actions. But Peter wasn't left in his misery. After Jesus' resurrection, He restored Peter, giving him opportunity to reaffirm his love (John 21:15-17).

When you sorrow over sin in your life, remember that God has provided a method of restoration. "If we confess our sins," He will "forgive us" and "cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  - Cindy Hess Kasper
We're thankful, Lord, that when we fall
We can begin anew
If humbly we confess our sin,
Then turn and follow You. -Sper

The way back to God begins with a broken heart.
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Key #6 to Effective Prayer-Humility

Humility is a very important key to effective prayer.  In 1 Peter 5:5-6 we read this,
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

God resists the proud.  He gives grace to the humble.

Humility, more than anything else, is an attitude of the heart that says, "I recognize I am not self-sufficient.  I am open, I am teachable, I am thankful.  God, I am willing to bow my heart before You and confess that I am in utter need of Your assistance."

Contrary to what some people say and think, humility is not to be equated with lack of courage.  In fact, it takes great courage for a person to admit they have need.  Meekness is not weakness.  Meekness is a sign of strength.

King David said in Psalm 18:35, Your gentleness (or Your meekness) has made me great.  Moses was called the meekest or the humblest man on the face of the earth, and yet we don't think of him as a weak person.  He is one of the greatest leaders to ever step out of the pages of the Bible, and very few people in history have had power with God in the place of prayer like Moses did.

Jesus, our Savior, said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (KJV).  Friend, that ought to be one of the hallmark qualities of our lives- especially when we are praying.  It is a key to effective prayer. 
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Read: 1 Peter 2:4-12

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. - 1 Peter 2:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
In both ancient and modern buildings, the cornerstone is the key piece of architecture. The first stone put in place, it anchors the whole building. Because the rest of the structure is built on it, a weak or faulty cornerstone will result in instability. But a strong and level cornerstone will produce a stable building. Using this metaphor of a building, Peter describes Christ as the cornerstone, and the church as God's house. But this is no inanimate structure. Both Christ and the church are "living" stones (vv. 4-5). Though rejected by men, Christ the cornerstone is chosen by God and has become the foundation of the church. Notice that Peter (who was himself named a "Rock" by Christ [Matt. 16:18]) draws our attention away from himself and places it upon Christ the "Stone." Jesus, not human leaders, is the true foundation of Christ's church.
So what does all this foundation talk lead to? A new identity. Built on the sure foundation of Christ, we are a "spiritual house," a "royal priesthood," a "chosen people," a "holy nation," and a "people belonging to God." All are wonderful descriptions of our new status before God, but don't miss the clear evocations for Peter's first readers: these are Old Testament descriptions of Israel (e.g. Ex. 19:6)! Gentiles, once "not a people," are now part of the family of God. God's love and protection shown to Israel in the Old Testament now belongs also to Christians. And this new identity, says Peter, all rests on our foundation stone, Christ.
Finally, Scripture points us to the purpose of our new identity and the reason God has shown us His mercy: the glory and praise of God. Part of being brought from darkness into His "wonderful light" should include telling others about God's mercy. We are also called to live in a way that compels unbelievers to "glorify God on the day he visits us" (v. 12). Whether through voice or action, our goal should be the praise and glory of our merciful God.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Edward Mote, a nineteenth-century English preacher, understood the security that comes with Christ as our sure foundation. The refrain of his now famous hymn echoes this theme from today's reading: "On Christ the solid Rock I stand / All other ground is sinking sand; / All other ground is sinking sand." Find the full words to this hymn in a hymnal or online, and sing them privately or with your family today to "declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (v. 9).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 12, 2009

Sowing Seed With Tears

READ: Ephesians 4:17-24
I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. -Romans 9:2

In our Bible-study class, we were reading Ephesians 4:17-24 out loud when Alyssa began to cry. Most of us were wondering why, when she quietly said, "I'm crying because hearing this passage read out loud makes me see the condition that lost people are in. They're separated from God and are blind to it! That breaks my heart."

One person in the class admitted later that he was embarrassed he had never felt that sad about nonbelievers and had in the past even talked excitedly about the judgment they would receive one day from God.

The apostle Paul laid out the condition of the lost with these words: "[They have] their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God . . . because of the blindness of their heart" (Eph. 4:18). He testified that he had "great sorrow and continual grief in [his] heart" because his fellow countrymen had not yet come to know the love of Christ (Rom. 9:1-3).

As we think about the condition of nonbelievers, we can remember God's heart toward them: "The Lord is . . . longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). When we share the Word of God and pray earnestly for others, eyes will be opened to His love.  - Anne Cetas

Oh, give me, Lord, Thy love for souls,
For lost and wandering sheep,
That I may see the multitudes
And weep as Thou didst weep. -Harrison

Open your heart to the Lord, and He will open your eyes to the lost.
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Key #7 to Effective Prayer - The Holy Spirit's Help

Today I want to talk to you about another key to effective prayer, and that is the help of the Holy Spirit.  I am so glad we have the Holy Spirit to help us, aren't you?

In John 16, Jesus is talking to His disciples, and He is trying to prepare them and let them know that He is going away.  In John 16:7 He tells them,

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth.  It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

Do you know who the Helper is?  It is the Holy Spirit.  Earlier in John 14:26 he had told His disciples this,

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, has been sent to come alongside and teach us all things.  He will teach you how to pray; He will teach you things about prayer.  The Holy Spirit will help you in that way.

Then He said, "[He will] bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."  The Holy Spirit will help us remember the promises.  The things that God has taught us He will bring to our remembrance, so we can pray effectively.

The Holy Spirit is like having a personal assistant.  A personal assistant will help you remember your appointments or show you something you do not know.  Every moment of every day He is there for us.

Take time to praise God today for His provision of the Holy Spirit.  And remember He is there to help you in prayer. 
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Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example. - 1 Peter 2:21

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 1982 blockbuster film, Rambo: First Blood, Vietnam War veteran John Rambo wandered into a town where he was mistreated by local authorities. Tension escalated when Rambo escaped and armed with military weapons and Green-Beret smarts, showed the full force of his anger and retaliation at the injustice he experienced. When asked to turn himself in, Rambo refused saying, "They drew first blood." For the thousands of viewers that made Rambo such a popular film, something felt satisfying about seeing a man exact revenge in the face of clear injustice. But today's reading calls us to consider a different response. Continuing yesterday's theme of submission, Scripture teaches us what submission in an unjust world may cost: suffering (vv. 18-19). However, not only is suffering for doing good "commendable before God," Peter tells us that this is part of the Christian calling (vv. 19-21). If we are Christ-followers, then we should expect to follow Christ's suffering.
Look then at Christ's example. Quoting or alluding to Isaiah 53, Scripture presents Christ's response to the injustice He experienced. Without sin or deceit, Christ did not retaliate or hurl threats. Instead, He maintained a quiet confidence in the One who judges justly, God the Father (vv. 22-23). Confidence in a just Father is key! Christian suffering is more than grinning and bearing it; we take our suffering to God, trusting that His perfect justice will prevail in the end.
Scripture presents the salvific purpose of Christ's suffering. Through Christ's pain, we die to sin, live for righteousness, are made whole again, and are restored to our loving Shepherd (vv. 24-25). In other words, Peter reminds us that all injustice is a demonstration of our fallen world's need of Christ's redemptive healing. Rather than focus on the injustice we experience, we are called to see those who harm us as sinners in need of Christ's redemption. Only He can bring true healing and justice to our world.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY Today's passage is challenging if taken seriously. We have all experienced suffering, injustice, and the temptation to seek personal vengeance in some way. What situations do you face this week-in your workplace, neighborhood, or among family members-where you experience suffering and injustice, perhaps even because you're a Christian? Ask God's Spirit to let the focus of today's passage change the way you view your situation, that you may entrust your suffering to the just Judge and pray for those who harm you.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 13, 2009

A Time For Readjustment

READ: Leviticus 25:1-7
In the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land. -Leviticus 25:4

The earth's solar orbit takes 365 and a quarter days. Because of this, every 4 years an extra day is added to the calendar so we don't fall behind in the natural cycle of things. Each leap year we add that day onto the end of February. In this way, the calendar is readjusted to the astronomical timetable.

In the calendar of ancient Israel, God set up a remarkable means of readjusting things. Just as mankind was commanded to rest every seventh day (Ex. 20:8-10), so the land was to be allowed to rest during the seventh year (Lev. 25:4). This sabbatical year allowed the farmland to replenish for greater fertility. In addition, debts were canceled (Deut. 15:1-11) and Hebrew slaves were set free (vv.12-18).
With our busy schedules and our hectic pace of life, we too need readjustment.

Demands of work, family, and church can require reevaluation. One way we do that is by observing the sabbath principle-making sure to set aside time to rest and prayerfully refocus our priorities. Jesus, for example, went "to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35).

When can you pull aside from your activities and prayerfully ask God to reset your spiritual calendar to His Word and His will? Is it time for a readjustment?  - Dennis Fisher

To face life's many challenges
And overcome each test,
The Lord tells us to take the time
To stop, to pray, to rest. -Sper


To make the most of your time, take time to pray.
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Key #8 to Effective Prayer-Forgiveness

An important key to effective prayer is your relationship with others.  In Mark 11:24-26 Jesus says,
"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

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

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

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

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

Perhaps you have searched the Scriptures, filled your heart with the Word, you are praying from the bottom of your heart, and you are expectant of answers; but before you can partake of the fruit of your prayers, you must forgive if you have anything against anyone!
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Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example. - 1 Peter 2:21

TODAY IN THE WORD
The philosopher Plutarch argued that wives should submit to their husbands, and husbands should exercise control over their wives. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, family stability was equivalent to civil stability. Anything that jeopardized the family structure was considered subversive and dangerous to the order of the state. At first glance, Peter's words would have appeared quite sensible to his contemporaries. Upon closer examination, however, we discover that Peter's exhortations on marriage roles offer something uniquely Christian. The key lies in the words, "in the same way" (vv. 1, 7). Peter is continuing his discourse on godly submission begun in 2:13 and continued through Christ's sacrificial suffering in 2:25. When we hear in today's passage the call for wives to submit to their husbands "in the same way," we must remember the context. Just as Christ humbly submitted Himself with the goal of our salvation, so wives are called to follow that example in submitting themselves to their husbands. Christian submission is another way of following Christ's example.
In particular, though, Peter has in mind a marriage in which the husband is not a believer (v. 1). Into that context, Scripture calls for wives to imitate godly women of old, like Sarah, and to exhibit "purity," "reverence," a "gentle and quiet spirit," and a focus on the inward beauty of the heart rather than mere outward appearances (vv. 2-6). And just as Christ's expression of humility and submission brought our salvation, so too a wife's humility may win over the husband to Christ (v. 1).
One might then anticipate Scripture calling husbands to exercise their authority in marriage or to demand submission from their wives. But instead, Peter calls husbands also to imitate Christ's humility (note "in the same way" of verse 7). Husbands are called to treat their wives with respect and consideration of their needs, all the time remembering that the wife's role in marriage in no way diminishes her exalted status as a co-heir of eternal life (v. 7). A differentiation of roles need not indicate an inequality of status and worth.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Today marks the third Sunday in the Advent season, and it's appropriate to consider our passage in light of the Christ's submission and humility at His first coming. As you reflect on your own marriage (or the marriages of those you know), do you see in these relationships an attempt to imitate Christ's example of humility and service? What would change if you approached all relationships this way, choosing self-giving and sacrifice over self-assertion? Choose to perform one action today that will reflect Christ's humility.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 14, 2009

Warning Lights

READ: Joel 2:12-17

"Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." -Joel 2:12

I didn't think that the hesitation in my car engine and that little yellow "check engine" light on my dashboard really needed my immediate attention. I sang it away, saying that I would get to it tomorrow. However, the next morning when I turned the key to start my car, it wouldn't start. My first reaction was frustration, knowing that this would mean money, time, and inconvenience. My second thought was more of a resolution: I need to pay attention to warning lights that are trying to get my attention-they can mean something is wrong.

In Joel 2:12-17, we read that God used the prophet Joel to encourage His people to pay attention to the warning light on their spiritual dashboard. Prosperity had caused them to become complacent and negligent in their commitment to the Lord. Their faith had degenerated into empty formalism and their lives into moral bankruptcy. So God sent a locust plague to ruin crops in order to get His people's attention, causing them to change their behavior and turn to Him with their whole heart.

What warning lights are flashing in your life? What needs to be tuned up or repaired through confession and repentance?  - Marvin Williams

God's love is not some fuzzy thing
That lets us do what we think best;
It guides and warns, and shows the way,
And always puts us to the test. -D. De Haan

Conviction is God's warning light.
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Hindered Prayers 1 Peter 3:7 says,

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Notice it says, "Husbands, likewise," which means, gals, you are not off the hook.  The following truth applies to you as much as it does to the boys.

That truth is simply this:  If there is bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart toward your spouse, your prayers will be hindered.  That word hindered literally means to be cut down in the same way one would cut down a tree. 

I once had this incredible tree called a cherimoya tree.  One of the things about a cherimoya tree is that it is not indigenous to our country, and the insects that pollinate it do not exist here.

In order for the tree to bear fruit, I needed to pollinate it by hand with my little artist paintbrush.  I would get pollen on the brush from one flower and pollinate other flowers.

Eventually the little buds I had pollinated began to turn into fruit.  I was so excited!  They were getting close to the time to be harvested.  Then I came home one afternoon to find my whole tree hacked to pieces.  Every branch and piece of fruit was in the trash.  The gardener had cut my tree down!

I believe that can happen with our prayers.  You can be intensely committed spiritually, searching the Scriptures, filling your heart with the Word, praying from the bottom of your heart, but if you are not honoring your spouse or you are treating them in a bad way, the devil has the authority to waltz right in and chop your prayer tree down.

Let's keep the ax out of the devil's hand by honoring and forgiving and valuing our marriage partner.
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Read: 1 Peter 3:8-12
Whoever would love life and see good days . . . must turn from evil and do good. - 1 Peter 3:10-11

TODAY IN THE WORD
A nutritional health supplement called "Good Days Positive Mood Formula" boasts the ability to calm the mind and body while energizing you for the day. In its online ad, "Good Days" promises to "increase your confidence" and give you a "healthier, happier way of living." In fact, the makers of "Good Days" are so confident in its promise, you can receive a 30-day trial absolutely free! By the world's standards, "good days" mean strong self-esteem, bubbly happiness, and lots of energy. But Scripture provides an alternative for those who "would love life and see good days" (v. 10). Indeed, today's entire passage is a kind of biblical prescription for a life of blessing. Earlier, Peter reminded his readers that they were called to follow Christ's example of suffering (2:21); paradoxically, he now declares that those same readers are called to a life of blessing (v. 9).
What does this look like? First it entails a life that blesses others. Scripture calls us to a life concerned with the well-being of others. Our lives should exhibit peace and harmony, sympathy toward others, love for our new family in Christ, compassion, humility, honest speech, and a biblical response to sin in which we repay evil not with more evil, but with blessing (vv. 8-11). Speaking of this life of blessing to others, Peter declares, "to this you were called" (v. 10).
A life of blessing means more than blessing others; it also means we "inherit a blessing" as well (v. 9). Given Peter's earlier exhortations about suffering, he clearly recognizes that the Christian life may be full of pain. Nonetheless, such suffering does not negate the gift of blessing. For one reason, such blessing is an "inheritance" from God (v. 9). It is His gift to us that cannot be taken away, no matter what our earthly circumstances may bring. But also, because true blessing means having a God who truly cares for us (v. 12). A biblical life of blessing has more to do with our relationship with God than with what the world might deem "good days."


TODAY ALONG THE WAY

A large part of today's reading emphasized our calling to be a blessing to others, both to our siblings in Christ and to those who may intend our harm. How will you bless others today? Perhaps you might give a tangible gift to someone in need? Or present an encouraging word to a struggling friend? Or even offer your forgiveness over a painful insult? As you go about your day today, seek for ways to offer blessing in someone's life, knowing that "to this you were called" (v. 9).


GOD BLESS!