Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

November 29

What Would Jesus Do?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Did you know that the best argument for Christianity and the best argument against Christianity is...your life? That's right. Not only are you to be a witness of and for Jesus, you are to be a part of the evidence of His reality. What would happen if every Christian began to walk as Jesus walked, talk as Jesus talked, and love as Jesus loved? The world would take notice.

ACTION POINT:

Before you say or do anything today, ask yourself, "What Would Jesus Do?"

[Judy Harder]

November 30

Being Born Again—No Certificate Required

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." - 1 Peter 1:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A little girl was supposed to take her birth certificate to school. Her mother had solemnly warned her not to lose it because of its tremendous importance, but lose it she did. Later she was sitting on the steps of the school, crying. The janitor asked her what was wrong. She replied, "I lost my excuse for being born." Now, that's a funny story, but it has a sobering analogy. You don't need an excuse for being born again. You have a Savior, and He's calling your name.

ACTION POINT:

Have you been born again? Have you experienced the cleansing power of Jesus' blood that washes all your sin away? If not, I invite you to come to Him in repentance and faith. Discover Jesus today.

[Judy Harder]

December 1

True Satisfaction Is Found in the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Scottish-born naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir, once had a conversation with railroad magnate and industrialist E. H. Harriman.

"I'm richer than you are," declared Muir to the railroad baron.

"And how is that true?" responded Harriman.

"Because you don't have all you want — and I do. Therefore I am richer than you," answered Muir.

Well, perhaps these two men were playing word games with one another. We don't know if either man was truly satisfied with his life, but there's one thing of which I'm certain. Our search for satisfaction will not be found at the end of the rainbow in a pot of gold. It can only be found in Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

What satisfies you today? Is it the things you own? Your relationships? Your job? Ask the Lord to fill you with the source of lasting satisfaction—Himself!
 

[Judy Harder]

December 2

No One Knows Your Needs Better...

BIBLE MEDITATION:

". . . for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things." - Matthew 6:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

St. Augustine once said that we were created with a "God-shaped" void.

I agree.

Only God can meet the deepest longings of our hearts. There is nothing that can satisfy apart from your relationship with Him.

But it's not because He is a heavy-handed dictator forcing you to accept life the way He dishes it out!  Who knows what will satisfy your deepest needs better than the One who made you? As your Creator, He can see what your needs are going to be tomorrow and ten years from tomorrow. Don't you think He knows what you need today?

ACTION POINT:

What do you need today? Notice I'm not asking, "What do you want?" but "What do you need?" Does your Father know what that is? Then trust that He will provide.

[Judy Harder]

December 3

Working All Things Together and Toward His Return

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God has not promised you smooth sailing, but He has promised you a safe landing. He has a purpose in allowing every circumstance into your life. You can bank on this: He'll see you to the shore in every storm of life.

Andrew Murray said, "God is willing to assume the full responsibility for the life totally yielded to Him." One of these days your destiny will be fulfilled. And soon and very soon, He is going to step down from the mountain of His glory, and the trumpet will sound. Our little ship will leave the sea of time, and immediately we'll be on the shores of eternity.

When He comes, He's coming for you! He's coming for me!

First Thessalonians 4:16-18 tells us to comfort one another with these words of Christ's return:

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a Christian friend who is troubled today? Comfort him or her with this hope.

[Judy Harder]

December 4

The True Depth of the Savior's Love

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father." - John 10:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The true depth of the Savior's love becomes apparent when you consider an important truth—Jesus Christ is the only person who ever chose to die.

"But, what about kamikaze pilots in World War II? What about soldiers who, having heard the ominous 'click' of a land mine, stood still until their buddies could scurry to safety?"

They didn't choose to die in the final sense of the word; they only chose when to die. You and I, and everyone yet to be, will die eventually. But there was only One who did not have to die. Nails didn't hold our Savior to the tree. Silver cords of love and golden bonds of redemption held Him there.

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 22, 23, and 24 and rejoice in the provision, protection, and providence of the Good Shepherd!

[Judy Harder]

December 5

Jesus Is Victorious Over All

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"For He hath put all things under His feet. . ." 1 Corinthians 15:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Praise God! The story has a happy ending! He is risen! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God at this very moment, interceding on your behalf (Romans 8:34). And His prayers are always answered. When the problems of your life are over your head, remember they are under His feet. Where is His head? It is in the heavenlies, interceding for you. Where are your problems? Under His feet. Jesus is alive and waiting in the wings to return for you!

ACTION POINT:

Is there someone in your life who is struggling? Write them a note of encouragement and use Romans 8:34 as a closing verse of hope.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 6

Omnipotent God—Held by His Love and Grace

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." - Jude 24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you fussed and fumed through life's challenges, wondering if the Sovereign Creator of the Universe was on vacation? I have a message for you: The God who hung the stars, the God who poured the oceans, the God who raised the mountains, the God who knew you before you were knit together in your mother's womb, this sovereign God is your Savior. He is your King, and He is in control.

When you are plucked from the depths of sin, you are placed in the very hand of God! You can't climb up into the hand of God; you are placed into the hand of God. Hallelujah! Our efforts didn't get us there. His grace placed us there. And His love will keep us there forever.

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 139 and rejoice in the truth that God has created you and will make a way for you!

[Judy Harder]

December 7

Dependence on God—A Witness of His Power

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." -  2 Corinthians 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you're like most people, you don't realize your dependency on God until you're burned out from stress—either self-induced or caused by circumstances beyond your control.

Why is that?

Paul says it's because we are fragile. But he doesn't stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us!

Maybe someone told you, "Oh, just tie a knot and hang on!" Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

ACTION POINT:

Get a piece of rope and tie a knot in it. Let it sit on your desk this week as a reminder that God is more than just a knot at the end of the rope. He is the Savior of the World!

[Judy Harder]

December 8

Let Jesus Lead the Way

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." - Psalm 31:24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Who knows you better than the One who created you? Who cares more for you than the One Who died for you? Who leads you more carefully than the One Who knows the end from the beginning? There is no greater picture of courage than the picture of Jesus Christ—the Savior Who lays down His life. You can know security because the One Who loves you is compassionate, caring, and courageous. Jesus knows you. He cares for you. He wants to lead you into the abundant life.

ACTION POINT:

Are you willing to lay down your life for the sake of the Lord?