Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

He is Risen! Let's praise His name!
Happy Easter!
 
Daily Devotional

April 05, 2010

The Power Of Praise

READ: Isaiah 61:1-3
The Lord has anointed Me . . . to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. -Isaiah 61:1,3

Praise is powerful! When Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne was troubled with a coldness of heart toward the things of the Lord, he would sing the praises of God until he felt revived in his spirit. Those in his household were often able to tell what hour he awoke because he began the day with a psalm of praise.

One day, while he was trying to prepare his heart for preaching, he wrote in his journal: "Is it the desire of my heart to be made altogether holy? . . . Lord, You know all things . . . . I've felt so much deadness and grief that I cannot grieve for this deadness. Toward evening I revived. Got a calm spirit through [singing psalms] and prayer." McCheyne had been uplifted by praising God.

Perhaps you feel as if you are mired in what John Bunyan called the "slough of despond." Lift a song of praise to the Lord. The psalmist said, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever" (89:1). When we do that, the praise will flow not only from our lips but also from our heart. The Lord delights to give "the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isa. 61:3).

Yes, "it is good to sing praises to our God"-at all times (Ps. 147:1).  - Paul Van Gorder

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet your tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing. -Lyte

If you find yourself wearing a spirit of heaviness, try on a garment of praise.

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It's All Mapped Out

One of the great truths revealed in Scripture is that the end is determined from the beginning.  What I mean by that is God sees the end from the beginning.  He already has a plan for you.  He has already got the whole thing worked out.

Consider what God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you;  I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Before Jeremiah was ever born, God had his destiny, a plan for his life, all worked out.  That truth applies to you and me, and that helps me rest at night.  It is great to know I do not have to figure this whole thing out.  Sometimes we see through a glass darkly.  But you know what?  God sees everything perfectly.

This same truth is echoed in Ephesians 1:4,

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Did you know you were chosen before God laid the foundation for this world?  That was a long time ago.  God knew you before you ever existed.  He knew you before the world was here.  You were chosen in Him.  You were not an accident.  God knew you.

Again, this truth is affirmed in Ephesians 2:10,

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The beforehand is before the foundation of the world.  Just like God knew you, He prepared specific good works for you that you should walk in them long before you ever came into existence.
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Read: Numbers 14:1-45

How long will they refuse to believe in me? - Numbers 14:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
After fleeing from Egypt, God's people encamped in the Desert of Paran. The Lord commanded Moses to send twelve men to explore the Promised Land of Canaan (Numbers 13). The scouting trip lasted forty days. The explorers returned with a mixed report (13:27-28). They roused the whole Israelite community to fear the people in the land and distrust the Lord. Only two men, Joshua and Caleb, sustained confidence in the Lord's plan. This is the context of our passage today.
Verses 1 through 12 recount the heightening tension between the people and the four faithful men (Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua). Notice the emphasis that everyone is grumbling and rebelling: "all," "whole," and "entire" are used seven times (vv. 1-10). The people speculate about alternatives (vv. 2-3; cf. Gen. 3:1-6). They question God's trustworthiness and take matters into their own hands. Despite Joshua and Caleb's attempt to change their hearts, the Israelites remain obstinate, and the Lord intervenes (vv. 10-12).

Moses mediates and seeks God's restraint (Ex. 32:11-13). First, he appeals to God's reputation among the Egyptians (vv. 13-16). Then, he evokes the Lord's promise by referencing the declaration of his name (vv. 17-19; Ex. 34:4-7). The Lord is gracious and compassionate and forgives them (v. 20). Yet, He does not leave the guilty unpunished (vv. 21-35). God declares that everyone who is 20 years old or older and grumbled against Him will die in the desert and not see the Promised Land; the scouts who kindled the rebellion are killed immediately. This passage also illuminates what it means that the Lord punishes the children for the sin of the fathers (v. 33).

When the people realize that their heavenly Father is serious and true to His name, they change their tune. They try to repent, but it is too late (vv. 40-41). Moses warns them that the Lord will not go with them (vv. 42-43), but "in their presumption" they attempt to redeem what they have broken-and are defeated (v. 45).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
At the heart of the people's contempt was their refusal to believe God (v. 11), to trust that He knows best, and to surrender to His plan, despite perceived difficulties along the way. Have you ever thought, "Isn't there a better way, Lord?" or "I know where you are calling me, but it is dangerous with potential for failure and suffering." Let the Spirit search your heart for these kinds of thoughts in your current circumstances. Repent and ask the Lord to quicken your heart to trust Him like Joshua and Caleb did.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 05, 2010

For This I Have Jesus

READ: Psalm 66:1-15
I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Hebrews 13:5

In an evangelistic meeting in Ireland, the speaker was explaining what it means to abide in Christ and to trust Him completely in every trial. Concluding his message, he repeated several times, "It means that in every circumstance you can keep on saying, 'For this I have Jesus.' "

The meeting was then opened for testimonies. One young woman said, "Just a few minutes ago I was handed this telegram. It reads, 'Mother is very ill; take train home immediately.' When I saw those words, I knew that tonight's message was meant just for me. My heart looked up and said, 'For this I have Jesus.' Instantly a peace and strength flooded my soul."

Three or four weeks later the evangelist received a letter from this woman. It read, "Thank you again for the message you gave that day. Life has become an uninterrupted psalm of victory, for I have come to realize that no matter what life brings, for this I have Jesus."

That believer in Christ had found in her Savior the One who would be with her "through fire and through water," and who would bring her "out to rich fulfillment" (Ps. 66:12).

If you are enduring a great trial of affliction, remember-for this you have Jesus!  - Henry G. Bosch

I've found a refuge from life's care in Jesus,
I am hiding in His love divine;
He fully understands my soul's deep longing,
And He whispers softly, "Thou art Mine." -Christiansen

If every circumstance finds us abiding in Christ, we will find Christ abiding with us in every circumstance.
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Preparation for Promotion

It is easy for us to be impatient with God's timeline of blessing, or to wonder why God is not prospering us as we think we should be.

In 1 Samuel 22:1-2, we are given a snapshot of how God prepared David, a little shepherd boy, to be king,

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.  So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.  And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him.  So he became captain over them.  And there were about four hundred men with him.

Just think how David must have felt.  God tells Him, "David, you're going to be Israel's next king!" but Saul is chasing him across the countryside and the people who are following him are all the outcasts, the people with problems, the people who are unhappy, the people who don't have any money.

On top of that, the next few verses of this passage talk about how David had to move his family to a foreign country just to keep them safe.  Some promotion!

But you know what?  Through it all David was learning how to trust God and how to manage people.  His character was being tested.  He was being fitted by God to wear the garments of a king:  the garment of mercy, fairness, and wisdom, the shoes of decisiveness, the belt of strength, covered with a robe of gentleness.

The fullness of his promotion came in due season, and so will yours.  David was not ready to be king when he walked out of the field as a young shepherd boy, so do not be surprised if you also need to be prepared for your promotion! 
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Read: Matthew 7:7-12

Yet not as I will, but as you will. - Matthew 26:39

TODAY IN THE WORD
It was a sticky August day as the Johnsons waited in helmets and life jackets, paddles in hand. As their whitewater rafting guide, Steve, described the Class 4 rapids of the Upper Ocoee River, Deborah began to have second thoughts. How could she possibly survive hydraulics with names like "Godzilla" and "Roach Motel"? Terrified, Deborah announced she would not be joining the family, when Steve addressed her directly: "Don't worry! I'm an expert guide; if you do everything I say, you will be fine. In fact, you can sit close to me, and I will always have my eye on you."
This story echoes the context of today's reading. The Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5. Jesus invites His disciples to embark on a perilous mission full of persecution, reconciliation, love of enemies, prayerfulness, and peace. The journey seems impossible, yet Jesus anchors hope for survival in the goodness of our heavenly Father.

Verse 7 presents the main idea of today's passage. "Ask" occurs five times in five verses. "Ask," "seek," and "knock" all refer to prayer. Jesus' message is that when His disciples beseech the Father through prayer, they will receive "good gifts" (v. 11).

Two illustrations shape the context of prayer and clarify the essence of Jesus' words. The context is a loving relationship between God the Father and his children. Prayer is not a fanciful cry to a capricious or disdainful deity, but rather intimate communication with our heavenly Father. Jesus juxtaposes an earthly father and God the Father. If earthly fathers are sinful, yet respond to their children's requests with good things, "how much more" will God-who is holy, righteous, and loving-do the same.

Today's passage is about God's love as a good Father. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount reveals the difficult life of a faithful disciple. But His message here is one of encouragement. God the Father cares for His children, and He will give all that is needed for this journey to all who rely on Him through prayer.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage heartens us, yet we cannot help but wonder about unanswered prayer. New Testament scholar Dale Allison reminds us that Jesus experienced a divergent answer to His prayer in Gethsemane: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me" (Matt. 26:39). This teaches us two points about prayer. First, prayers will be answered only in accordance with God's will. Second, all prayers must be offered with the same qualification Jesus prays: "yet not as I will, but as you will."


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 07, 2010

Our Only Hope

READ: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

We should live . . . godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope. -Titus 2:12-13

An anonymous author wrote, "When I was first converted, and for some years afterward, the second coming of Christ was a thrilling idea, a blessed hope, a glorious promise, the theme of some of the most inspiring songs of the church.

"Later it became an accepted tenet of faith, a cardinal doctrine, a kind of invisible trademark of my ministry. It was the favorite arena of my theological discussions, in the pulpit and in print. Now suddenly the second coming means something more to me. Paul called it 'the blessed hope.' But today it appears as the only hope of the world."

From the human standpoint, there is no solution for the struggles of the world. Leaders are naturally frustrated in trying to deal with the increasing problems in society. The only complete and permanent solution is found in the return of Christ to earth. When He comes, He will set up His kingdom. He will rule the nations in righteousness, and "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14).

As we await our Savior's return, let us keep on praying, working, and watching, while "looking for the blessed hope"-our only hope for this world.  - Richard De Haan

And for the hope of His return,
Dear Lord, Your name we praise;
With longing hearts we watch and wait
For that great day of days! -Sherwood

As this world gets darker, the promised return of God's Son gets brighter.
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At Just the Right Time

It is easy for us to get anxious when it seems like God is moving more slowly than we would like.  But Scripture is clear, God's purposes have their appointed times.  They are fulfilled in their season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says,

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

And there is 1 Peter 5:6-7, which says,

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Humility and God's exalting of you are two things that are tied together.  Perhaps you are feeling pretty frazzled, wondering, "God, when's it going to happen?"  Just continue to cast your cares on Him.  He will promote you in due time.  Do not worry about it.

In fact, the phrase that says, that He may exalt you in due time, literally means "at the set time" or "at the time prearranged by God."

When your character has been shaped and molded enough, and when other events are ready and in their proper place, then God will promote and exalt you. 

Think about Moses who had it in his heart to be a deliverer and a judge, but when he first acted on it he failed miserably.  He was 40 years early! (See Acts 7:23-34).  The Israelites were not ready to be delivered yet.  God had to work at the other end of the line.

Remember, God may have put some things in your heart, but the timing may not be quite right.  There may be some work He needs to do in your life, or there may be some other factors God is working on.  Until those things come together, God will not push you into that position.

So, focus on being faithful and let God worry about just the right time.
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Read: 1 John 3:1-2

To know this love that surpasses knowledge. - Ephesians 3:19

TODAY IN THE WORD
Basil Pennington, in his work True Self/False Self, suggests that the false self is an identity based on what you have, what you do, and what others think about you. In stark contrast to this is the true self in Christ, which is who we are before God and in God-Christ living in us, as Paul put it to the churches in Galatia (Gal. 2:20). Our passage today sheds light on the core of our identity before God and in God, which is anchored in His lavish love for us.
In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the first word of verse 1 is an exhortation. Some translations reflect this word as "see" or "behold." The author is trying to grab our attention in order to say: fix your eyes on this-the Father's extravagant love.

The most powerful manifestation of God's love is our adoption into the family of God. As John clarifies in his Gospel, children of God are "born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God," that is, born of the Spirit (John 1:13). Paul also speaks about spiritual adoption in Romans 8:14-17 and Galatians 3:26-4:7.

Through God's love in Christ, we are children of God. This new identity speaks not only to God's personal and intimate nature, but also redefines our own disposition and future. Our relationship to the world reflects God's relationship to the world (v. 1).

Also, "we shall be like him" (v. 2); we are being transformed into the likeness of God's Son, Jesus (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). Each day we are being changed by God's Spirit. One day, though, we will be wholly renewed. Verse 2 describes the sequence of events resulting in the completion of this transformation: Christ will appear, referring to His second coming; we will see Him as He is; and then we will be like Him.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We think and speak, act and react, love and receive love, give and forgive out of our understanding of our identity. Although we know in our heads that we are God's children, often this reality gets tangled up and distorted in our hearts. Today's passage challenges us to know that we are deeply loved by God. To the extent we know this reality, we will truly love God, others, and ourselves. Join Paul in the prayer of Ephesians 3:14-17; ask the Holy Spirit to impress on your heart an understanding of God's lavish love for you.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 08, 2010

Clean Up The Environment

READ: Ephesians 4:17-32
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification. -Ephesians 4:29
What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it "verbal pollution," passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. "The poison of pessimism," Swindoll writes, "creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized."

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! As they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to "put off" the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (vv.22,30) and "put on" the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God's help. It's a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment.  - Joanie Yoder
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Attractive...or Unattractive?

Titus 2:9-10 says this,

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Let's focus on that phrase at the end, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.  We adorn the gospel.  We dress it up in clothes, as it were.

The New International Version says this,  And not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.  We make the gospel attractive or unattractive.

I was returning from Europe one time when, just before they closed the door of the plane, a woman rushed in and sat next to me.  She was wearing a baggy wool cap pulled down low, a pair of glasses sticking out from underneath the cap, a big baggy woolen sweater, and a bright orange sweat suit.

When we took off, I closed my eyes and took a little snooze.  When I opened my eyes and looked at her, I was startled because there was this beautiful woman sitting next to me.  I was really shocked. 

She turned out to be an actress who, I guess, was traveling incognito.  There was this amazing lady hidden under all this frumpy stuff.  Sometimes we take this amazing gospel that we have, and we adorn it in such a way that it is unattractive.

We must be careful to make the gospel attractive. But in order to do that, I believe it is important to see how we make the gospel unattractive first.

Our next few devotionals will deal with that subject. 
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Read: 1 John 3:1-2

To know this love that surpasses knowledge. - Ephesians 3:19

TODAY IN THE WORD
Basil Pennington, in his work True Self/False Self, suggests that the false self is an identity based on what you have, what you do, and what others think about you. In stark contrast to this is the true self in Christ, which is who we are before God and in God-Christ living in us, as Paul put it to the churches in Galatia (Gal. 2:20). Our passage today sheds light on the core of our identity before God and in God, which is anchored in His lavish love for us.
In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the first word of verse 1 is an exhortation. Some translations reflect this word as "see" or "behold." The author is trying to grab our attention in order to say: fix your eyes on this-the Father's extravagant love.

The most powerful manifestation of God's love is our adoption into the family of God. As John clarifies in his Gospel, children of God are "born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God," that is, born of the Spirit (John 1:13). Paul also speaks about spiritual adoption in Romans 8:14-17 and Galatians 3:26-4:7.

Through God's love in Christ, we are children of God. This new identity speaks not only to God's personal and intimate nature, but also redefines our own disposition and future. Our relationship to the world reflects God's relationship to the world (v. 1).

Also, "we shall be like him" (v. 2); we are being transformed into the likeness of God's Son, Jesus (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). Each day we are being changed by God's Spirit. One day, though, we will be wholly renewed. Verse 2 describes the sequence of events resulting in the completion of this transformation: Christ will appear, referring to His second coming; we will see Him as He is; and then we will be like Him.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We think and speak, act and react, love and receive love, give and forgive out of our understanding of our identity. Although we know in our heads that we are God's children, often this reality gets tangled up and distorted in our hearts. Today's passage challenges us to know that we are deeply loved by God. To the extent we know this reality, we will truly love God, others, and ourselves. Join Paul in the prayer of Ephesians 3:14-17; ask the Holy Spirit to impress on your heart an understanding of God's lavish love for you.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 09, 2010

The Fear Of Falling

READ: Psalm 46
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. -Deuteronomy 33:27

Have you ever dreamed that you were falling out of bed or from some great height, and you awoke in fright? I remember that as a boy I would often be awakened by such a terrifying feeling.

I heard about a man who had this sensation as soon as he slipped into sleep. He was so rudely awakened by his sense of falling that he was afraid to go back to sleep. He feared he would die, and he imagined he was falling into a bottomless pit.

Then one evening as he was strolling through a cemetery, he saw this phrase engraved on a tombstone:

Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms

These words reminded him that when believers die, they are safely carried by the Lord to their home in heaven. He recalled the assurance of the psalmist, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" (Ps. 23:4).

The once-fearful man realized that in life and in death- and even in sleep-the "everlasting arms" of our loving Lord are there to catch and hold us. That night he was able to sing what he was taught in childhood, "Teach me to live that I may dread the grave as little as my bed!" At last he could fall asleep without fear.  - M.R. De Haan

I can trust my loving Savior
When I fear the world's alarms;
There's no safer place of resting
Than His everlasting arms. -Hess

You can trust God in the dark as well as in the light.
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Double Standard

I would like for you to read again the Scripture we read yesterday, Titus 2:9-10,

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

We make the gospel unattractive when we live contrary to our beliefs.  The gospel becomes unsavory and unattractive to those outside the church when our lives do not match up to what we say we believe.

Take the verses we read here.  Paul says, in effect, that we make the gospel unsavory when we pilfer (which means stealing items of small value) or talk back to our boss. 

You do not adorn the gospel when you show lack of respect for your boss, rip the company off, use the phones and computers at your job for personal business, take extra long lunch breaks, steal paper, take staplers, steal pens, or whatever you can get your hands on.

You should not dress the gospel in rags and then pass out tracts to all your coworkers or invite your boss to church.

This truth does not just apply to work.  Do not live contrary to your beliefs anywhere.  Do not live a double standard at home.  If you do, it will turn your kids away from wanting to serve Christ.  If you are into sports and you curse a lot, cheat, or have a bad temper, you dress the gospel in rags. 

In 2 Corinthians 3:2 Paul states that, You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.

The truth is, we are the only Bible some people will ever read.  They are looking at our lives.
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Read: 1 John 4:8-10

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. - Psalm 48:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
We need not look far to find portraits of love in movies, television shows, books, music, and visual art. The prospect of instruction on true love, however, is far more scarce. The media have distorted and disfigured our expectations of being loved and the ways we attempt to love others. The message of our reading today offers a radical alternative and reveals something extraordinary that goes beyond what we have learned about God's love thus far.
"God is love" (v. . We have seen that God loves, but this phrase is saying more than that. One New Testament professor asserts that claiming "God is love" is to insist that love is not simply one of God's attributes, but that all of God's activity is loving.

Verses 9 and 10 point toward Christ as God's ultimate self-disclosure of love. This demonstration of God's love teaches us what true love is. First, it is sacrificial: God sent His only Son into the world that was hostile toward Him. Second, love is life-giving: verse 9 says "that we might live through him." Third, love originates in God. He loved us first, we love as a response to His love (v. 10). Fourth, God's love is redemptive: Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for our sins makes possible our reconciled relationship with God. Lastly, today's passage confirms that love is not simply an attitude or warm, fuzzy feeling. Love is active and practical, and it is defined in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Take a look at the verses before and after today's text. God is the source of all love, and as we enter into a loving relationship with Him through Jesus, His love transforms us to embody His love toward one another. Notice the phrase, "everyone who loves has been born of God" (v. 7). That is, children of God ought to bear the image of their heavenly Father in love. In summary, God is love, and therefore He defines love. He loves us in Christ, and in turn, we are empowered to love like He does.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our own strength we are incapable of loving like God. In fact, we tend toward the opposite: "love" that is selfish, life-thwarting, and destructive. As we absorb God's love, it flows out of us. We soak up God's love as we cultivate our relationship with Him through prayer, study of His Word, fellowship, and outreach. If one of these areas of spiritual sustenance is depleted, prayerfully consider ways it may be enhanced. One suggestion is to work through The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 11, 2010

A Memorial

READ: 1 Cor. 11:23-30
As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. -1 Corinthians 11:26

The Taj Mahal in India is a magnificent mausoleum. Built entirely of white marble, it was commissioned by the Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his wife, who died suddenly. It took 22 years to complete. Millions of tourists visit this memorial annually in order to see this grand structure the emperor ordered to be built in memory of the woman he loved.

Millions of people also throng to Jerusalem to look at another site-a tomb that some say may have been where Jesus was buried. No matter what tomb He lay in, Jesus occupied it for only a few days. It has been empty for 2,000 years.

Jesus doesn't need us to build a memorial to Him. Instead, He gave us the Lord's Supper (communion) as a memorial to remember Him. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and the cup and gave thanks to His Father before offering them to His disciples (Luke 22:14-21). Each time we partake of those elements in church, we are first to examine ourselves and our relationship with God (1 Cor. 11:28). "As often as [we] eat this bread and drink this cup" we are to do so in remembrance of the One we love, till He comes (vv.25-26).

The Lord has given us an enduring memorial to remind us of what He has done for us.  - C. P. Hia

I'll take the bread and cup, dear Lord,
That speak of love sublime,
And give myself afresh to Thee.
My life, my all is Thine! -Anon.

The Lord's Supper-Christ's memorial that He left for us.
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Faithful to Another

Jesus, in Luke 16:12, makes a very interesting statement...one that provides a perspective on faithfulness you would not expect,

"And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?"

Jesus makes it clear.  You have to be faithful in something that is someone else's before He will fulfill your dream or open doors for you.

God gives each of us opportunities to help others.  And He looks for us to faithfully help others before He blesses us.  For example, Joseph had to help Pharaoh with his dream, before God allowed Joseph's dream to come to pass.

Maybe you have a dream to be super rich for the purpose of spreading the gospel.  You would like to see the gospel go around the world.  Or you would like to pay off the debt on your church's building.  Or you would like to fund a certain missions organization.

I think the Kingdom could use a multitude of very wealthy people who have a heart for the lost and a desire to see God's work succeed and expand.

But first you need to be faithful working for that person who has hired you.  You have to be faithful in that which is another man's.  God is not going to open a door for you to fulfill the dream you have if you do not show up for work on time, or if you do not put in a full day's work.  Why would God open the door for you to lead your own successful business if you have not been faithful working for someone else?

You must serve that other person with all of your heart, or that other company you are working for first, before God will prosper you.  It is a Kingdom principle. 
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Read: John 13:1-17

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. - 1 John 3:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
After graduating from seminary, Janine encountered difficulty getting a job in full-time ministry. She shared with a friend that the daily grind of her current job was "seemingly meaningless," but that she was "being very humbled in learning to serve others through what appears insignificant and menial." This view sees all work-not just so-called professional ministry-as an opportunity to respond to Jesus' call to His disciples in today's passage.
The opening of chapter 13 sets the context and portrays the foot washing as a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrificial death as the Passover Lamb of God (v. 1; cf. John 1:29). Verse 1 also describes Jesus' action as a symbolic demonstration of "the full extent of his love." The word "so" at the beginning of verse 4 illuminates the foundation of Jesus' action. Jesus was secure in His identity and confident in His relationship with God the Father. He, then, was willing to humble Himself and perform a task normally reserved for household servants (cf. Phil. 2:6-7). Jesus displays His love not by exploiting His power and status, but rather through an act of complete self-abasement. This anticipates the cross on which Jesus laid down His life. God's love symbolized in the foot washing is sacrificial and humble; it serves to give others life.

Even after following Jesus for three years, Peter could not fathom Him performing this kind of action. He was so aghast that he refused Jesus. The Lord quickly clarified that anyone who wants a relationship with Him must be cleansed by Him. Jesus' statement indicates the cleansing nature of the Cross (cf. 1 John 1:7). Unless the Lamb of God takes away your sin, you are still marred by sin and alienated from God.

Jesus calls His disciples to join Him in His mission by following His example: "You also should wash one another's feet" (vv. 14-15). Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus' message is this: Do not simply believe something about Me, but follow Me, do what I do, be as I am, and know God as your Father (cf. Luke 9:23; John 17:18).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus' disciples are invited to embody God's self-sacrificial, humble love in everyday relationships and everyday tasks. Just as Jesus' act of washing feet pointed to His death, so our symbolic acts of foot-washing point to God's love poured out on the cross. What are opportunities in your day-to-day life and relationships that resemble the foot washing of the first century? Ask God to give you eyes to see and a heart like Jesus to surrender yourself to these opportunities so that you may witness to God's love in Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 12, 2010

The Wrong Stuff

READ: John 14:1-6
There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. -Acts 4:12

It was a simple task, but I was in over my head. One of the items on the grocery list was soy. Problem was, I didn't know what kind of soy my wife, Sue, had in mind when she made the list. After searching the aisles and asking the advice of a worker who was stacking soup cans, I grabbed a bottle of soy sauce, placed it in the cart, and went on my way.

Only after I unloaded my bags at home did I discover that Sue didn't want soy sauce. She wanted soy milk for our granddaughter Eliana. I was sincere in my search. I even asked for help and confidently pulled my selection off the shelf. But it didn't do me (or Eliana) any good. I had the wrong stuff.

Sadly, some people are walking through the grocery store of life with "heaven" on their list, but they are not getting what they need. Despite their sincerity and the intended help of others, they grab something that won't get them to heaven because they find a "different gospel" (2 Cor. 11:4).

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And Peter said, "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Trust Jesus. Don't settle for the wrong gospel.  - Dave Branon

Not all roads lead to God,
As many people claim;
There's only one true way-
Christ Jesus is His name. -Sper

Christ is the only door into heaven.
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The Way Up May Be Down

It is not unusual for God's promotion to look like a demotion at first, to feel like you are going backward rather than forward.

There are a couple of great examples of this in the Bible.  For instance, do you remember how Joseph in Genesis 37 dreamt he would one day rule over his brothers?  That God was going to promote him to a place of prominence?

So what happened?  His brothers threw him into a pit, he was sold to Midianite traders as a slave, and then he was put on the auction block and sold again in Egypt.  On top of that, he ended up in prison on false charges and spent several years there, seemingly forgotten.

But without those experiences, Joseph would have never been ready to rule.  Preparation comes before promotion.  The way up may go down for awhile at first.

David is another example of how God will "demote" in order to promote.  Do you remember in 1 Samuel 16:12-13 how David was anointed king while still just a shepherd?


Now he [David] was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking.  And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.  So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

This is a pretty big promotion for a shepherd boy, don't you think?  But for years, David lived a fugitive's life-moving from place to place, living in caves, being hunted.  He was separated from everyone and all the things that he loved.

His promotion ended up looking more like a demotion, which is often the way God works.  In the process of your promotion, He will take you through difficult times to prepare you for that promotion.

Just remember, the way up is often down.
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Read: Romans 5:1-11

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. - 2 Thessalonians 3:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian hope is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking. In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis calls hope a theological virtue: "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next." Christ's resurrection is the foundation of our hope, grounded upon God's love as demonstrated by the Cross.
Verse 1 begins with "therefore," which requires that we look back to Romans 4:23-25. There we learn that we have been "justified" or made right with God through Christ's death and resurrection (4:25; 5:9-10). Once we were God's enemies, but through Christ, our relationship with God is restored, and now there is peace between us.

Then Paul distinguishes God's love from human love (vv. 6-8). He suggests that for humans, only very rarely would someone die for another virtuous human. This reality highlights the "outrageous generosity of God," as one New Testament professor describes it. Christ did not die for the righteous, but rather for us when we were "powerless" and "sinners."

As another theologian explains, today's passage insists that "if God loves sinners enough for the Son to die for them, God will surely complete what was begun at such a cost." Note the "how much more" language (vv. 9-10). Assurance results in our hope and rejoicing, even in the midst of trials and sufferings. First, we "hope in the glory of God" (v. 2). What was lost with Adam and Eve is restored in Christ: God's image in us and His uninhibited presence with us.

Second, the Holy Spirit is a sign and guarantee of the new creation to come, beginning with God giving us new hearts filled with His love (v. 5). Third, suffering that produces perseverance, then character, and then hope reflects the experience of Israel in the wilderness and in exile, as well as Christ and the Cross. Hope in a final resurrection and new creation does not let us down because it has been initiated in Christ's resurrection and confirmed in the Holy Spirit (v. 5).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you notice how deeply personal the description of our relationship with God is in today's passage? Following Jesus is distinct from other religions because it is more than believing certain things about God. It is about being in a reconciled relationship with Him, initiated by God and made possible only through God's gift of His Son, Jesus. Praise God for this indescribable gift (2 Cor. 9:15), and reflect on the kind of hope in the midst of suffering that does not disappoint us.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

 
Daily Devotional

April 13, 2010

He Never Sleeps

READ: Psalm 121
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. -Psalm 121:3

Giraffes have the shortest sleep cycle of any mammal. They sleep only between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24-hour period and average just 1.9 hours of sleep per day. Seemingly always awake, the giraffe has nothing much in common with most humans in that regard. If we had so little sleep, it would probably mean we had some form of insomnia. But for giraffes, it's not a sleep disorder that keeps them awake. It's just the way God has made them.

If you think 1.9 hours a day is not much sleep, consider this fact about the Creator of our tall animal friends: Our heavenly Father never sleeps.

Describing God's continual concern for us, the psalmist declares, "He who keeps you will not slumber" (Ps. 121:3). In the context of this psalm, the writer makes it clear that God's sleepless vigilance is for our good. Verse 5 says, "The Lord is your keeper." God keeps us, protects us, and cares for us-with no need for refreshing. Our Protector is constantly seeking our good. As one song puts it: "He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He watches me both night and day."

Are you facing difficulties? Turn to the One who never sleeps. Each second of each day, let Him "preserve your going out and your coming in" (v..  - Bill Crowder

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. -Keith

The One who upholds the universe will never let you down.
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Overcoming Barrenness

I Samuel 1:10-11 says,

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.  Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

These words are written about Hannah, who was barren.  But God answered her prayer by giving her a son, and he became one of the most prominent figures in Biblical history-Samuel.

Perhaps there is a "barrenness" in some area of your life, and like Hannah, who was tormented by her adversary-so it is with you.  Prayer can change things.  It did in Hannah's life, and it can in yours.  But there are several things about Hannah's prayer that we need to consider:

1.      Hannah's prayer was not casual.  It was heartfelt and deep.  Too much of our praying is "skin deep."  Only prayers that originate from deep within us get God's attention.  James 5:16 declares that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

2.      Hannah's prayer was specific. She asked for a male child.  Too much of our praying is too general.  Don't be afraid to be specific in your requests.

3.      Hannah wanted the answer to her prayer to glorify God.  Her boy would be dedicated to God's service.  When our prayers take on the purpose of glorifying God, we have moved into a higher realm.

If you are experiencing a barrenness in any arena of life, pray.  And let your prayers be heartfelt, specific, and for the glory of God. 
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Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. - Romans 6:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
In C. S. Lewis's book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan's resurrection transforms all things: Edmund is released from bondage to temptation and debt to the White Witch; Aslan revives all the Narnians petrified by the Witch; and the four Pevensie children are made kings and queens of Narnia. Perhaps Lewis was inspired by the realities described in Ephesians 2.
The structure of today's passage draws attention to God's love. Verses 1 through 3 develop our identity as dead in our transgressions, verses 5 through 10 elaborate on our status as alive in Christ. In the middle, verse 4 explodes with the powerful theme: God's great love for us.

Notice the words that describe our condition apart from Christ (vv. 1-3). From birth we are alienated from God and bear responsibility for sinfulness that began with Adam and Eve. Radical change in our status is initiated by God and effected only by His grace through Christ's resurrection (vv. 4-6).

Paul highlights three significant reversals as a result of our salvation, all indicated by the word "with" (vv. 5-6). First, we move from death to life, becoming "alive with Christ." Second, God "raised us up with Christ," so that we are no longer enslaved to the cravings of our sinful nature. Third, God "seated us with him in the heavenly realms" where Christ rules. We are no longer subject to the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" (v. 2). All of this demonstrates the richness of God's love, grace, and mercy.

Verses 8 and 9 reemphasize verse 5: "it is by grace you have been saved." We receive God's gift of life not through obedience to the law or "works," but only through faith, so that no one can take pride in their efforts, but rather recognize complete dependence on God's grace. The power of God is necessary to destroy our deadly sin nature; God's power is also imperative to sustain new life in Him. Verse 10 reminds us that God created us to glorify Him, not gratify the desires of our sinful nature.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 2 mentions the influence of "the ruler of the kingdom of the air." The author of Ephesians is well aware of the spiritual battles waged for our devotion. Ephesians 6:10-18 reveals our adversaries: the authorities of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let us not be naive: spiritual warfare is real. As we seek to live out our new life in Christ, we must put on the full armor of God daily to win these battles (6:13).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 14, 2010

Unseen Workers

READ: Romans 12:1-10
We have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. -Romans 12:4

As I was giving myself a manicure, I started feeling sorry for my right hand. It does the most work, but my left hand gets the most attention. My right hand applies nail polish smoothly to my left-hand nails, but my left hand, lacking skill and coordination, does not return the favor. The polish on my right hand is always smeared and messy. One hand does the better work, but the other hand gets all the attention and honor.

As I worked on my fingernails, my thoughts turned toward something much more important-the people in my church, many of whom are highly skilled at tasks that make others look good. These hardworking folks, however, seldom get noticed, because their work puts the attention on someone else. It seems unfair that those who do such good work get little appreciation.

Truly servant-minded believers, though, don't see it that way. They give preference to others (Rom. 12:10) because they know that God sees what others do not-and that He will reward those whose work is unseen by others (Matt. 6:4,6,18; 1 Cor. 12:24).

Is someone else reaping the benefit of your hard work? Be encouraged. God rewards those who work "invisibly" to make Christ visible to the world.  - Julie Ackerman Link

The service that we do for God
May go unpraised by men;
But when we stand before the Lord,
He will reward us then. -Sper

No service for Christ goes unnoticed by Him.
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Power in Numbers

I believe the Bible teaches us that when we join together the impact is multiplied far beyond just the addition of those who join together.  One plus one equals far more than two.  Let me show you what I mean.       

In Deuteronomy 32:30, it says,

How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had surrendered them?

While this verse deals with Israel's disobedience to God and subsequent retreat from their enemies, think of what might be possible when God's people obey Him!  It says that one could chase a thousand, but two could put ten thousand to flight.

While one person can impact a thousand, two people can impact ten thousand.  That is a ten-fold multiplied effect! 

Leviticus 26:7-8, when God was giving promises to His people if they would walk in His ways, states this,

You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.  Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight;  your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

Notice God says five will chase a hundred, and a hundred will chase ten thousand.  By increasing the number of people times 20, their effectiveness would increase times 100.  Again, that is a multiplied effect.

You have probably heard of the Clydesdale horses, those big, strong workhorses that can pull a lot of weight.  One horse by itself can pull two tons, but if you yoke two together they can pull 23 tons!  That is incredible!

And that is how it works when we pray together with one another.  When we join our forces in prayer and connect with heaven, that is what happens.  There is a multiplied effect.   
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Read: Psalm 103:1-22
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. - Psalm 63:3

TODAY IN THE WORD
When the Reverend Richard Crocker, chaplain of Dartmouth College, was diagnosed with cancer, he also "resolved to read and think about one Psalm each day as a way of keeping track of the days . . . in the hope of deriving strength in a time of need." Psalm 103 strengthened him to remember God's love and challenged him to praise God throughout a very difficult season. As we near the middle of our month's study, let us take time to join the psalmist in praise of God's love-no matter what our life's situation.
Praise frames Psalm 103 (vv. 1-2, 20-22). There are four sections of the song; the first three all spotlight God's love and compassion (vv. 4, 8, 11, 17). The first section opens with attention on the individual, his innermost person glorifying God, rehearsing God's acts of forgiveness, healing, redemption, crowning, provision, and renewal (vv. 1-5). The repetition of "all" emphasizes completeness. Do you hear the echo of Exodus 34 in the second section (vv. 6-10)? The psalmist praises the Lord that from Moses to the time of David, He is always loving and always compassionate.

The word "for" introduces the third section, spelling out why the Lord "does not treat us as our sins deserve" (vv. 11-13). The poet employs two images to illustrate God's love "for those who fear him": the immeasurable and infinite distance between east and west helps us grasp how far God has removed our sins from us; a father's compassion toward his son corresponds to God's love for His children. Section four crescendos with a contrast between the short-lived human life and God's eternal love, between brief human existence and God's permanent throne (vv. 14-19).

After rehearsing these great truths of God's love, the psalmist exhorts the whole universe to join him: angels, heavenly hosts, every creature everywhere "Praise the LORD" (vv. 20-22). Today's psalm ends just how it began. The psalmist effectively declares that praise will not simply be external, but something deeply personal rising up from the inmost being.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To praise the Lord is to remember and celebrate: "forget not" (v. 2). It is easy in the midst of our circumstances to forget the Lord's goodness, to find ourselves complaining or impatient with Him. Scripture memory is a powerful way to combat these thoughts and attitudes. One effective method for memorization is to write the first letter of every word on a notecard to jog your memory. Endeavor to memorize Psalm 103:1-5 and repeat it throughout the day, particularly when you need a reminder to praise the Lord no matter your circumstance.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 15, 2010

Agents Of Change

READ: 2 Timothy 2:19-26
If anyone cleanses himself . . . , he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. -2 Timothy 2:21

With 4 years of seminary under my belt, I walked into my first ministry with a long agenda. As a new pastor, I thought I was there to change that place. Instead, God used that place to change me.

The board members were supportive, but they relentlessly kept my feet to the fire in administrative details. I needed to learn how to work with lay leadership, how to be careful in my work, and how to dream with others.

We often think God has assigned us to change the world around us when in reality He is interested in changing us. Why? To make each of us "a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21). God often uses the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places to teach us some of life's most difficult lessons. And just when we think we've arrived, He is instructing us further.

Not long ago I entered a new season of ministry. I may be a "seasoned veteran," but I'm still learning, still growing, and still amazed at how God continues to shape this vessel for His noble purposes.

If you want to be an agent of change, don't resist the true Agent of Change. He has your best interest-and His-at heart!  - Joe Stowell

What changes we would love to make
In others' lives, for Jesus' sake!
But first we must learn at His feet
The things that will make us complete. -Branon

Only when we are changed can we be agents of change.
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Unburdened

Philippians 4:6-7 promises,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God is telling us not to freak out about anything.  Anything!  Can you think of anything that does not fit in "anything"? Instead of worrying-pray-about everything!

It is interesting that these verses do not promise God will answer your requests (though it is implied).  Rather, what God does promise in these verses is this:  If, when you are confronted with difficult things, you will pray rather than worry, God will give you peace.  The stress will lift.  The pressure will be broken.

In America, people spend millions of dollars visiting their therapists.  They talk over all their problems with their therapists to try and relieve the stress and worries of life.  I have a confession to make...I have a therapist.  I talk to Him every single day.  My therapist is my Father in heaven.  I bring all my problems to Him.  And I talk over everything with Him.

One of the keys in unburdening your heart when you pray is being completely honest.  God knows what you are thinking, anyway.  You may as well tell Him the truth about what is weighing you down.

It is no accident you are reading this today.  Perhaps you are so filled with anxiety and stress that you are working on an ulcer right now.  You don't sleep like you should.  Your anxieties have robbed you of the quality of life God wants you to have.

God wants you free from your burdens.  Take them to God today, and every day, and see how those burdens are lifted. 
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Read: Psalm 27:1-14
With you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. - Psalm 36:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, Just Courage, International Justice Mission president Gary Haugen describes his family's ritual, "Charge the Darkness." When his children were young and afraid of the dark, he would invite them into the hallway to watch him run into the darkness of their bedrooms and return unscathed. In their dad's presence, the children's fears melted away. Similarly, the Lord is our light and salvation; in His love, our fears dissipate.
Psalm 27 begins and ends with unshakable confidence in God's love even among the threat of opposition (vv. 1-3, 11-13). The contrasts are stark. Light and salvation are compared with the darkness and destruction of fear and enemy attacks; the enemies will stumble and fall, yet the one who loves God will stand confident.

In the middle of this song we discover the poet's intimacy with God. In the context of a loving relationship with God, His love calms our fears. The psalmist encourages

an active, concentrated pursuit of God's presence in the midst of fears (vv. 4, 7-8). Verse 4 communicates the desire to be in God's presence. God's house and His temple are one in the same, namely His presence among His people prior to Jesus. Now God's presence dwells in us by His Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 3:16-17). God's presence, referred to as "tabernacle," is likened to a high rock (vv. 5-6). It is a place of safety, shelter, and refuge.

Verses 7 through 12 include ten requests the psalmist makes of the Lord. The first is "hear me" (v. 7); the last is "do not turn me over" (v. 12). The poet assertively beseeches the Lord precisely because he is near to God and confident of His redeeming love. The psalmist reasserts his deep conviction that in the end, there will be victory over enemies, and he will forever rest with God (v. 13). In the interim, the author invites everyone to exhort ourselves and one another to wait with courage of heart for the LORD (v. 14). To wait is to renew and persevere in unwavering trust.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our trust in God and courage in the midst of fear and opposition is directly correlated with the extent to which we live close to God, constantly dwelling in His presence. Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century lay brother, penned a tiny treasure known as The Practice of the Presence of Godin which he explains how to continually walk with God as a way of life-even when washing dishes!-available to anyone following Christ. As you go through the details of your day, you can grow in continuously living in God's presence.

GOD BLESS!