Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

July 26,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Way to Purity

Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart . . . . For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man . . . -Matthew 15:18-20

Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, "But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart." We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own "innocent ignorance"? If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. But as long as I remain under the false security of my own "innocence," I am living in a fool's paradise. If I have never been an openly rude and abusive person, the only reason is my own cowardice coupled with the sense of protection I receive from living a civilized life. But when I am open and completely exposed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis of me.

The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.
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Your Weakness, God's Power

2 Corinthians 12:9 is a powerful reminder of God's provision for you and me when we reach the end of our strength.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

When Paul wrote these words, he was being harassed everywhere he went by an evil spirit that he referred to as "a thorn in the flesh."  It was a messenger sent from Satan to buffet him, to constantly harass him.

The constant harassment of this spirit finally got to him, and he begged God three times to take it away.  Paul was clearly at the end of his rope. 

But, even though Paul prayed for God's intervention three times, the spirit did not depart.  And God's response to Paul was the verse we read above.  His strength is made perfect in weakness.

What does perfect mean?  It means that His power comes to full maturity...it blossoms...it is fully expressed in our weakness.

What was Paul's response?  He went on to say in verses 9-10 of that same chapter,

Therefore most gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It seems that sometimes we have to get to the end of ourselves before we will look fully to God.  But when we do, we find that He is more than enough.  If you are there today or close to that point, take hold of God's strength.

Put your trust in Him.  He will bring you to the place of your breakthrough, and you will find the strength and direction you need.
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Read: 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. - Matthew 5:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
We have spent the last few days considering what God's justice and mercy look like in terms of caring for the vulnerable and extending generosity, specifically among our needy brothers and sisters. Now we turn our attention for the remainder of the month to God's justice and mercy as seen through pictures of reconciliation and new creation in the New Testament.
Paul asserts that Christ's love drives and controls gospel ministry (vv. 11-14). Christ's love compels because of the certainty of the transforming power of His death and resurrection. "Us" and "we" occur 14 times in our reading for today. For today's readers, these pronouns refer to all who put their faith in Jesus' death and resurrection and so "no longer live for themselves but for Him" (v. 15).

Jesus' death and resurrection transforms us. Now we are reconciled to God (v. 18); now we enter His new creation (v. 17); now we see with spiritual eyes (v. 16); and now we are Christ's ambassadors, entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation (vv. 18-19). How did this transformation happen? While humanity was alienated and estranged from God-as His enemies-God initiated forgiveness that completely restored our relationship with Him. This is called "reconciliation," and it's made possible because our sin was dealt with once for all on the cross (vv. 18-19, 21; cf. Rom. 5:10).

Reconciliation as a noun or verb appears 5 times (vv. 18-20), indicating that it is the central theme. As one New Testament scholar puts it, reconciliation is God's "cosmic restoration" project to make new all that is chaotic and distorted in the world, beginning with His relationship with humanity. God is the first Reconciler. As with His justice, righteousness, and love, we are also called to bear His image as reconcilers. Reconciliation is more than a message; it is a ministry. It is the work of forgiveness and peacemaking and of healing broken relationships, beginning with our relationship with God and extending throughout the whole world. Reconciliation is the pathway to new creation.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The picture of new creation is astonishing: "The old has gone, the new has come" (v. 16). This is God's mission in the world through Christ-making all things new. As Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice put it, reconciliation, justice, and new creation are not things we strive toward, but gifts of God that we accept. To delve deeper into today's passage and the message and ministry of reconciliation, work through Katongole and Rice's book Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace, and Healing.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 27,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Way to Knowledge

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine . . . -John 7:17

The golden rule to follow to obtain spiritual understanding is not one of intellectual pursuit, but one of obedience. If a person wants scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only obtain it through obedience. If spiritual things seem dark and hidden to me, then I can be sure that there is a point of disobedience somewhere in my life. Intellectual darkness is the result of ignorance, but spiritual darkness is the result of something that I do not intend to obey.

No one ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test regarding it. We disobey and then wonder why we are not growing spiritually. Jesus said, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" ( Matthew 5:23-24 ). He is saying, in essence, "Don't say another word to me; first be obedient by making things right." The teachings of Jesus hit us where we live. We cannot stand as impostors before Him for even one second. He instructs us down to the very last detail. The Spirit of God uncovers our spirit of self-vindication and makes us sensitive to things that we have never even thought of before.

When Jesus drives something home to you through His Word, don't try to evade it. If you do, you will become a religious impostor. Examine the things you tend simply to shrug your shoulders about, and where you have refused to be obedient, and you will know why you are not growing spiritually. As Jesus said, "First . . . go . . .." Even at the risk of being thought of as fanatical, you must obey what God tells you.
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YIELD: The Fourth Step in Effective Prayer

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

Here is what Psalm 37:4 says,

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

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

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

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

Then I silently wait for Him to speak to me.

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

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

That is the last element of effective prayer:  praise, repent, ask, yield.  Your prayers can indeed be effective if you commit to these four principles.  That is how to  P-R-A-Y.
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Read: Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37
Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. - Deuteronomy 15:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian "intentional communities" have sprung up in cities all across the United States in recent years. One of the best-known, Jesus People USA in Chicago, has been in existence since 1972; other intentional communities have formed in places as diverse as Philadelphia, Tampa, Durham, and San Francisco. These Christians are characterized by sharing property, living simply, worshiping together, and ministering in challenging neighborhoods. They strive to embody the description of the church in our reading.
Approximately 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:15). By the Spirit's power after Pentecost, another 3,000 decided to follow the resurrected Christ (2:41). This miraculous conversion of new believers is followed by an equally incredible description of their life together (2:42-47).

Verse 42 explains that the Christian community was devoted to four practices. The first was teaching. Signs and wonders accompanied the apostles' teaching, confirming their authority (v. 43). The temple was also associated with teaching, they met there daily (v. 46). Second, sharing their possessions with one another was another prominent characteristic of their fellowship (vv. 44-46). Third, "breaking of bread" refers to shared meals and the hospitality of opening their homes to one another (v. 46). Finally, prayer included the daily temple gatherings and "praising God" (vv. 46-47). Their life in community gained the respect of those who were not Christians, and people "were being saved" every day (v. 47).

Peter and John continued to preach the gospel and were imprisoned (3:1-4:30). The believers were not deterred by this opposition. In fact, 5,000 more believed in Christ (4:4) and were further emboldened by the Holy Spirit (4:31). Acts 4:32-37 confirms that the Christians' vibrant community life continued and strengthened. They remained unified and remarkably generous with one another. Luke repeats: "There were no needy persons among them" (4:34).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The early church shared more than common beliefs and core values. They shared their whole lives-including their material possessions. Passages like Deuteronomy 15:1-18 and Leviticus 25 share astonishing similarities with today's readings. "There shall be no poor among you . . . do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs" (Deut. 15:4, 7-8). Are our hearts hard or our fists closed to our brothers and sisters in need?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 28, 2010
 
Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

God's Purpose or Mine?

He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side . . . -Mark 6:45

We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success. We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God's purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.

What is my vision of God's purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish- His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea" ( Mark 6:49  ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

God's training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.

God's purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.
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Pressing On 
In Philippians 3:12, Paul says,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remove the barriers to your spiritual growth and press on!
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Read: Acts 10:1-23
Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too. - Romans 3:29

TODAY IN THE WORD
Maggy Barankitse grew up in Burundi, which shares a border with Rwanda. There, 600,000 people were massacred during ethnic violence between Hutus and Tutsis. After Maggy witnessed the murder of 72 friends and coworkers in 1993, God gave her the vision for Maison Shalom (House of Peace) where Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa people would build a new community together, reconciled to one another through God's love. Maison Shalom embodies God's deep healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation between enemies.
Yesterday we learned about God's initiative to reconcile humanity to Himself. Today we encounter His desire for reconciliation between people who are alienated from one another. At the beginning of Acts 10, we meet Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile who received a vision from God and obeys immediately (vv. 1-8). Little does Cornelius know that Peter also experienced a vision from God. While praying, Peter saw a sheet containing all kinds of unclean animals and birds. A voice commanded him three times to kill and eat and proclaims, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (vv. 11-16). Nothing could shock Peter more! How can religious distinctions between clean and unclean be abolished? Before Peter discerned the meaning of the vision, Cornelius' men arrived at his house (vv. 17-19).

The Spirit instructed Peter to greet the Gentile visitors and accompany them without hesitation (v. 20). In the original language of the New Testament, the word translated as hesitate means to evaluate, discriminate, or mistrust. Jews were prohibited from mingling with "unclean" Gentiles. Here, however, the Spirit commanded a righteous Jew not to discriminate with respect to Gentiles.

Like Cornelius, Peter obeyed immediately. He even invited the "unclean" visitors to be his guests (v. 23). The message of Peter's vision becomes clear; He removed the distinction between clean and unclean foods, and even destroys the barriers between Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:11-22).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you experienced a ruptured relationship? Have you determined that "things will never change" with a person or group? Maybe you have heard God's call to pursue reconciliation, but your first response was like Peter's: "Surely not, Lord!" (v. 14). Forgiveness and peacemaking is work. The journey to reconciliation for God first took Jesus to the cross before He ascended into glory. As you pursue God's reconciliation in your relationships, ask God for strength for the difficult road ahead and to relinquish your discriminations.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 29, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Do You See Jesus in Your Clouds?

Behold, He is coming with clouds . . . -Revelation 1:7

In the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. "The clouds are the dust of His feet" ( Nahum 1:3  ). They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds- He does not come in clear-shining brightness.

It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child- a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?

There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God's character, we do not yet know Him.

". . . they were fearful as they entered the cloud" (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is "no one anymore, but only Jesus . . ." (Mark 9:8 ; also see Mark 2-7  ).
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Growing Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

In tomorrow's devotion we will complete this list.
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Read: Acts 10:24-48; 11:15-18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
Since television shows have started making entire seasons available on DVD, some people have sat down intending to watch just one episode-only to find themselves hooked to find out what happens next with the characters and plot lines. Hours later, they're still eagerly watching one episode after another.
Acts is better than that show "you just can't miss," and yesterday's reading left us in suspense. In the middle of the story of Peter and Cornelius, we were left wondering if Peter will fully obey God's command not to discriminate against Gentiles. Will God's reconciliation be worked out, or will these two groups remain separate and alienated from one another? Today we'll discover the outcome.

"The next day," Peter took his first big steps toward reconciliation: he traveled to Cornelius' house and entered into Gentile space. God had transformed Peter's prior understanding; Peter declared it himself (v. 28). The good news is that through Jesus, God reconciles all people to Himself, Jews and Gentiles (v. 35). This is why Peter calls Jesus "Lord of all" (v. 36). Peter's conversion of understanding occurs, and then Cornelius' conversion to faith.

While Peter continued to tell about Jesus, he was interrupted by the Holy Spirit. Echoes of Pentecost resound, but this time, to the astonishment of Peter and his companions, the Spirit anointed Gentiles, who began "speaking in tongues and praising God" (vv. 44-46). If the message wasn't clear before, the Holy Spirit certainly sealed the deal: God "accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (v. 35; 11:17).

He is not God of one people group, but God of the whole world. Therefore, all who trust in Jesus Christ are members of one family, brothers and sisters despite all diversity and difference and barriers of hostility the world erects. Peter and Cornelius represent all Jews and Gentiles respectively. Reconciled first to God, now they must be reconciled with one another.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Immediately after his visit to Cornelius' house, Peter traveled to Jerusalem where he recounted the entire episode to the Jewish Christians there (Acts 11:1-18). The story of reconciliation and the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit is so astonishing that Luke records it twice. It is important for us to hear and tell stories of reconciliation. They remind us of the truth, power, and hope of the gospel. If Maggy Barankitse can extend forgiveness and reconciliation, surely through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can, too.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 30, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Teaching of Disillusionment

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . . , for He knew what was in man -John 2:24-25

Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions. However, though no longer deceived, our experience of disillusionment may actually leave us cynical and overly critical in our judgment of others. But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the point where we see people as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism. Many of the things in life that inflict the greatest injury, grief, or pain, stem from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts, seeing each other as we really are; we are only true to our misconceived ideas of one another. According to our thinking, everything is either delightful and good, or it is evil, malicious, and cowardly.

Refusing to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering of human life. And this is how that suffering happens- if we love someone, but do not love God, we demand total perfection and righteousness from that person, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; yet we are demanding of a human being something which he or she cannot possibly give. There is only one Being who can completely satisfy to the absolute depth of the hurting human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord is so obviously uncompromising with regard to every human relationship because He knows that every relationship that is not based on faithfulness to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no one, and never placed His faith in people, yet He was never suspicious or bitter. Our Lord's confidence in God, and in what God's grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone.
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Growing Up-Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You will be amazed at the change for good that will come about in your life!
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Read: Acts 10:24-48; 11:15-18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
Since television shows have started making entire seasons available on DVD, some people have sat down intending to watch just one episode-only to find themselves hooked to find out what happens next with the characters and plot lines. Hours later, they're still eagerly watching one episode after another.
Acts is better than that show "you just can't miss," and yesterday's reading left us in suspense. In the middle of the story of Peter and Cornelius, we were left wondering if Peter will fully obey God's command not to discriminate against Gentiles. Will God's reconciliation be worked out, or will these two groups remain separate and alienated from one another? Today we'll discover the outcome.

"The next day," Peter took his first big steps toward reconciliation: he traveled to Cornelius' house and entered into Gentile space. God had transformed Peter's prior understanding; Peter declared it himself (v. 28). The good news is that through Jesus, God reconciles all people to Himself, Jews and Gentiles (v. 35). This is why Peter calls Jesus "Lord of all" (v. 36). Peter's conversion of understanding occurs, and then Cornelius' conversion to faith.

While Peter continued to tell about Jesus, he was interrupted by the Holy Spirit. Echoes of Pentecost resound, but this time, to the astonishment of Peter and his companions, the Spirit anointed Gentiles, who began "speaking in tongues and praising God" (vv. 44-46). If the message wasn't clear before, the Holy Spirit certainly sealed the deal: God "accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (v. 35; 11:17).

He is not God of one people group, but God of the whole world. Therefore, all who trust in Jesus Christ are members of one family, brothers and sisters despite all diversity and difference and barriers of hostility the world erects. Peter and Cornelius represent all Jews and Gentiles respectively. Reconciled first to God, now they must be reconciled with one another.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Immediately after his visit to Cornelius' house, Peter traveled to Jerusalem where he recounted the entire episode to the Jewish Christians there (Acts 11:1-18). The story of reconciliation and the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit is so astonishing that Luke records it twice. It is important for us to hear and tell stories of reconciliation. They remind us of the truth, power, and hope of the gospel. If Maggy Barankitse can extend forgiveness and reconciliation, surely through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can, too.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 31, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
   
Becoming Entirely His

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing -James 1:4

Many of us appear to be all right in general, but there are still some areas in which we are careless and lazy; it is not a matter of sin, but the remnants of our carnal life that tend to make us careless. Carelessness is an insult to the Holy Spirit. We should have no carelessness about us either in the way we worship God, or even in the way we eat and drink.

Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. Ultimately, God will allow nothing to escape; every detail of our lives is under His scrutiny. God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product. It may be a problem arising from our impulsive nature, but again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to that one particular point. Or the problem may be our idle and wandering thinking, or our independent nature and self-interest. Through this process, God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right in our lives.

We have been having a wonderful time in our studies over the revealed truth of God's redemption, and our hearts are perfect toward Him. And His wonderful work in us makes us know that overall we are right with Him. "Let patience have its perfect work . . . ." The Holy Spirit speaking through James said, "Now let your patience become a finished product." Beware of becoming careless over the small details of life and saying, "Oh, that will have to do for now." Whatever it may be, God will point it out with persistence until we become entirely His.
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Focus

In Philippians 3:13, Paul says,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My question to you is this:  If you died and stood before God today, what is the one thing He is going to ask you about?  Paul said, "One thing I do."  What is that one thing for you?
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Read: Revelation 21:1-7
I am making everything new! - Revelation 21:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
We began this month overwhelmed with oppression, injustice, and death (Ps. 10:1). Then we encountered God's righteousness and justice, His love and care for the afflicted, marginalized, and victimized. We heard His call "to act justly and to love mercy" (Micah 6:, although His people were unfaithful. So God sent His only Son "to preach good news to the poor . . . to proclaim freedom for the prisoners" through His death and resurrection (Luke 4:18). Consequently, we learned that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" and shares Jesus' ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-18). We end this month with a vision of new creation-the ultimate end of injustice, suffering, and death.
The new heaven and new earth are the culmination of God's promise to renew all things (Isa. 65:17-18). Everything that has been distorted and marred since the fall of Adam and Eve is finally and fully restored. Most importantly, Revelation 21 reverses Adam and Eve's exile from God's presence in the Garden (v. 3). God eternally guarantees the covenant He made with His people: "They will be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. 32:38). The result is the end of suffering, grieving, and death. Do you hear the echo of 2 Corinthians 5:17? The King declares once for all, "The old has gone, the new has come" (vv. 4-5). Today's passage pictures God satisfying all human need-nourishment, relationships, and peace-and dwelling among His people on the eternal throne.

As one missionary describes, what "begins in a garden, ends in a city." We might be surprised to see the new heaven and earth look more like bustling Chicago than barren Alaska. Revelation was written to urban churches facing persecution and death, longing for Christ's return and the redemption of all things. Only those who overcome will inherit all this (v. 7). To overcome is to be steadfast in the face of persecution (2:10), uncompromising toward worldly values (2:14, 20), and to resist self-reliance (3:17).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The vision of new creation in today's reading gives us hope. These are God's promises, and they are "trustworthy and true" (v. 5). Remember when we asked: "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Ps. 10:1). Now we have unwavering hope in the midst of suffering and injustice surrounding us. God cares and acts; God calls us to care and act; and God is making all things new. Praise Him and re-commit to join His new creation mission!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

August 01, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
 
Learning About His Ways

When Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples . . . He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities -Matthew 11:1

He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, "I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here," it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.

He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. "Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . ." ( Luke 9:33  ).

Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God's role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.

He works where He sends us to wait. ". . . tarry . . . until . . ." (Luke 24:49 ). "Wait on the Lord" and He will work (Psalm 37:34 ). But don't wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can't see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to "wait patiently for Him"? ( Psalm 37:7  ). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.

These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
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God's Guidance System

In Matthew 6:22-24, Jesus tells us the impact when God has our whole heart,

"The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."

While it may not seem like it, Jesus is talking about the heart.

As we learned in our previous devotionals, if you give to God, and give for the right reasons, God has your heart.  Your heart belongs to Him.  When God has your heart, He can lead you; because that is how God leads, He leads through your heart.

That's really what this illustration is about.  That is what He means by, "The lamp of the body is the eye."

Think about the difference light makes when trying to walk on a narrow, craggy path.  When light comes into your eye, you can see your way.  Your eyes, when the light is able to come in, are a built-in guidance system, aren't they?

Well, you know what?  You have a guidance system God uses to lead you.  That guidance system is called your heart.  If God has your treasure, He has your heart.  But God can't lead you through your heart if He doesn't have your heart.

If God has your heart, then He can begin to lead you.  You can go anywhere He tells you to go.  And interestingly enough, the loyalty of our heart is expressed through our giving.  Giving and guidance tied together?  According to Jesus...definitely! 
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Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 1:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
In October 2009, a spate of articles in publications like the New York Times and The New Republic as well as on numerous parenting blogs all debated the same question: Is shouting the "new" spanking? As the practice of spanking children has declined in segments of the American population, parents admitted that they resorted to yelling and shouting instead. Now they wondered if that was really better than corporal punishment. When children misbehaved or exasperated them, was it okay to scream at them?
Every parent can relate to the occasional frustration caused by their child's actions and attitude-and as a spiritual father, Paul felt this toward his beloved church in Corinth (4:14,15). Yet in this letter to the Corinthians, which we'll study this month, Paul sent a message that is paternal and firm but never harsh or screeching. There was just cause for a tongue-lashing. The problems in the Corinthian church-including disunity, pride, misuse of spiritual gifts, and abuse of the Lord's Supper-were serious indeed.

In the opening portion of this letter Paul remains realistic in his appraisal of the Corinthians' spiritual life and practice, but he does not play the part of the scolding father. In fact, his tone is confident and expectant, because his hope for the Corinthians is rooted firmly in the unwavering faithfulness of God. Despite all their problems, Paul knows that in the end, they will be declared blameless on the day of Jesus' return. In these opening lines, he has full confidence that God has given the Corinthians a sure calling and hope, an enriching of their mouths and minds, and spiritual gifts for every need and occasion.

Exuberance abounds in the "every" and "all" of verse five. These words are only possible for those who call on the name of Jesus. In Christ, everything depends on grace, not on human performance. No one then, not even this strife-torn first-century church, falls beyond the reach of grace. God's rescue of salvation is evidence that He is committed to saving us and changing us.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like the Corinthians, we are followers of Jesus who sometimes struggle to get along with each other. Their problems, as we'll see throughout the month, aren't unlike ours. Divisions have grown up in the church, and the community is fractured and broken. A place to begin when broken fellowship seems irreparable is the unfailing grace of God: He never gives up on us. He has declared what we should be (saints), and He is determined to make our holiness a reality. If God doesn't give up on us, can we give up on one another?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

August 02, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Teaching of Adversity

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world -John 16:33

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . ." ( Psalm 91:1,10 )- the place where you are at one with God.

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." He is saying, "There is nothing for you to fear." The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.

God does not give us overcoming life- He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment- "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . ." (Revelation 2:7  ). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can "be of good cheer" even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
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Go Fish

Over the next seven devotionals, I want to talk to you about the number one business of the Church:  the business of winning souls.  It is what I call "The Seven Cs of Soul Winning."

The first "C"-commission-is found in Mark 16:15.  These are some of the last words Jesus spoke before He ascended into heaven,

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Could it be any clearer?  Jesus said, "Go."  Dare we say, "No"?  He said, "Go."

That is the opposite of "stay," isn't it?  G  G-O.

God wants you and me to take the Gospel to Others.

You and I need to get out into the world!  Jesus was not crucified between two candles on a church altar.  He was crucified out in the byways and highways of humanity, and that is where we must take the message.

Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  That is a promise.  But you know what?  You have to get to the water if you are going to catch fish.  You have to get out of the four church walls, out to where hurting humanity is, and engage them with the gospel.

A while back, I went backpacking with my two sons in a very remote area.  We found a pristine lake where just about every time we would put a line in the water, we would catch a fish.

We also had this incredible camp.  But you know what?  If we wanted to catch fish, we had to go down to the water.  No one could catch a fish sitting in camp.

A lot of Christians just hang around the camp.  They form fishing clubs and talk about how important it is to fish.  But they don't fish.

God wants us to go fish! 
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Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree. - 1 Corinthians 1:10

TODAY IN THE WORD
In an article in Sports Illustrated, sportswriter Rick Reilly dryly mocks today's self-esteem generation: "I know what all these NPR-listening, Starbucks-guzzling parents want. They want their Ambers and their Alexanders to grow up in a cozy womb of noncompetition where everybody shares tofu, and Little Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf set up a commune. Then their kids will stumble out into the bright light of the real world and find out that, yes, there's weak and there's strong and teams and sides and winning and losing."
As the spiritual father of the Corinthian church, Paul struck a balance between coddling and competition, for he knew that either extreme was unhealthy spiritually. He was not afraid to talk to his spiritual children about where they were weak and where improvement was needed. His letter began with gracious words of encouragement, but he turned quickly to address the problems. Serious disunity plagued this church, producing quarrels and factions. The Christians in Corinth had divided themselves according to different allegiances and loyalties: "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and even "I follow Christ."

We aren't told the reasons for these factions. Apollos was an eloquent teacher of the Scriptures and may have been favored for his rhetorical talents (cf. Acts 18:24-28). Peter, or Cephas, was of course a prominent member of Jesus' original twelve disciples. Paul himself founded the church at Corinth. No doubt each faction argued why their guy was the best.

Notice that what is at stake here was more than the Corinthians simply not getting along or someone's hurt feelings. The disunity threatened the integrity of the gospel and the message of the Cross. The Cross of Christ wields the power to bring wildly diverse people into agreement of mind and thought. The Cross exchanges ethnic and cultural identities for the name, Christian. At the Cross, forgiveness is freely offered to all, and together the people of God are baptized into one name: Jesus Christ. When disunity prevails, it makes a mockery of the Cross.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The church of Jesus Christ has yet to fully live into and claim the power of the gospel for which Paul fights fiercely in his letter. The gospel does not simply give us the capacity to be nice to people unlike us; far more than just niceness, it teaches us to work toward common goals and perspectives with people of different skin color, different social status, and different cultural backgrounds. Do you need to "reach across the aisle" in your church and community in the name of Jesus Christ?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

August 03, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Compelling Purpose of God

He . . . said to them, 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem . . -Luke 18:31

Jerusalem, in the life of our Lord, represents the place where He reached the culmination of His Father's will. Jesus said, "I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" ( John 5:30 ). Seeking to do "the will of the Father" was the one dominating concern throughout our Lord's life. And whatever He encountered along the way, whether joy or sorrow, success or failure, He was never deterred from that purpose. ". . . He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem . . ." ( Luke 9:51  ).

The greatest thing for us to remember is that we go up to Jerusalem to fulfill God's purpose, not our own. In the natural life our ambitions are our own, but in the Christian life we have no goals of our own. We talk so much today about our decisions for Christ, our determination to be Christians, and our decisions for this and that, but in the New Testament the only aspect that is brought out is the compelling purpose of God. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you . . ." ( John 15:16  ).

We are not taken into a conscious agreement with God's purpose- we are taken into God's purpose with no awareness of it at all. We have no idea what God's goal may be; as we continue, His purpose becomes even more and more vague. God's aim appears to have missed the mark, because we are too nearsighted to see the target at which He is aiming. At the beginning of the Christian life, we have our own ideas as to what God's purpose is. We say, "God means for me to go over there," and, "God has called me to do this special work." We do what we think is right, and yet the compelling purpose of God remains upon us. The work we do is of no account when compared with the compelling purpose of God. It is simply the scaffolding surrounding His work and His plan. "He took the twelve aside . . ." ( Luke 18:31  ). God takes us aside all the time. We have not yet understood all there is to know of the compelling purpose of God.
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Your Lane

God has given each of us a call...a destiny designed by God for His glory.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Determine God's unique design for your life and run in the lane of that design.  That is when you will know satisfaction, blessing, and contentment.
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Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . . so that no one may boast before him. - 1 Corinthians 1:28, 29

TODAY IN THE WORD
Aesop's fables give keen insight into the human condition; they expose the folly of human vanity and pride, laziness and trickery. A lesser-known fable, that of the olive tree and fig tree, warns against boasting due to the possibility of reversals of fortune: the olive tree taunts the fig tree for having lost all her leaves in the winter. She brags of her own year-round beauty. As she boasts, a thunderbolt strikes her and burns her to ashes, while the fig tree stands safe and sound.
The Bible is full of reversals of fortune like the one suffered by the olive tree. The story of Jesus Christ is the most powerful of all. God the King is born as a baby in a dirty stable into a carpenter's family. He enjoys no superior privilege, position, or education. He chooses ordinary fishermen and despised tax collectors to follow Him and preach His message. And eventually, He dies a criminal's death. The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus is the ultimate reversal in all of history. The good news of this God-Man's story subverts everything that the world esteems.

The culture of Corinth is similar to our culture today. They loved power and status, and in such a culture, a crucified Savior is absurd. How could the power and wisdom of God be executed on a cross with nails in His hands and feet? This portrait compels only those who believe. The Jews demanded a grand celestial display of God's power; the Greeks demanded carefully conceived and persuasively argued ideas. But the God-Man died without miraculous rescue from God and without eloquent philosophical treatises.

The purpose of God's plan is clear: He reserves all glory for Himself. Not one person deserves to boast in His presence. Man's abilities and achievements do not impress Him. This is a sobering message for the Corinthian church, whom Paul indicts for their boasting here and in later points in the letter (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18, 21; 2:7, 18; 5:2, 6). There's no room at the Cross for pride.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The gospel, as we've seen from our reading today, tells us about the heart of God but also the methods of God. They aren't pragmatic, or necessarily clever and compelling. In fact, it seems that God wants to make sport of what matters most to foolish human beings, things like achievement, success, power, and influence. It's a sobering reminder to us as we "build" our churches today. Do we do so according to the foolishness of the world or the wisdom of Christ?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

August 04, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Brave Friendship of God

He took the twelve aside . . . -Luke 18:31

Oh, the bravery of God in trusting us! Do you say, "But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing good in me and I have no value"? That is exactly why He chose you. As long as you think that you are of value to Him He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve. But if you will allow Him to take you to the end of your own self-sufficiency, then He can choose you to go with Him "to Jerusalem" ( Luke 18:31  ). And that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.

We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience- all of that is of no avail in this concern. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being made His friends (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-31  ). God's friendship is with people who know their poverty. He can accomplish nothing with the person who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all- we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. We do not know what God's compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. We must never allow anything to damage our relationship with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again. The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
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The Prize

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

It is found in verse 14 where Paul says,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I urge you to prepare for that day!
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Read: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power. - 1 Corinthians 2:4

TODAY IN THE WORD
A kindergarten teacher wanted to understand her students' struggle to master the fine motor skills of writing, cutting, and tying their shoes. For a period of time, she decided to use her weaker hand for all of her own fine motor tasks. She soon understood how it felt to fumble clumsily with a pair of scissors or a pencil.
In his own ministry, Paul purposefully "disadvantaged" himself for the purpose of upholding the integrity of the gospel. There were methods and means he could have used that might have arguably been more persuasive, but he made the deliberate decision not to employ them. "I resolved to know nothing . . . except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (2:2). Paul did not avail himself of the rhetorical devices he could have used to make compelling arguments about Jesus. Instead, for Paul, there was only the cross and the God-Man, Jesus.

From portraits of Paul in the book of Acts, we know that he was capable of powerful oratory. He was well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the contemporary poetry and literature of his day. Notice his address to the scholars and philosophers of Athens in Acts 17! But Paul, for all his academic and religious training, gave up the tactics of logical persuasion and argumentation, at least in Corinth, to focus all the power of his message on the Cross. And the Cross, as we've seen yesterday, doesn't fit neatly into common-sense categories.

In the culture of Corinth (and the Roman empire at this time), men were admired and esteemed for their rhetorical abilities. If one succeeded in public speaking, he earned the iconic status that movie stars and professional athletes enjoy in our day. Today, beauty and athletic ability are the currency of fame; in the Roman empire, philosophical wisdom and rhetorical eloquence were sought-after gifts. The Corinthians obviously held these in high esteem, which is why Paul would not, in his preaching, capitulate to their terms and compromise the gospel in any way.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Everything seems upside-down in the kingdom of God. Weakness is power. Humility is strength. Foolishness is wisdom. But the force behind preaching that centers on this "foolish" gospel is the Spirit's power. When the Spirit of God animates His Word with power, there is healing, conviction of sin, and worship. There are real encounters with the living God, and in His presence everything is possible. Must we, like the Corinthians, repent of worldly values that displace our allegiance to the crucified Christ?

GOD BLESS!