I have observed that few inner battles are more fierce than the daily
grind of uncertainty. No doubt you, too, have encountered one or more of
its many faces as you have struggled with a career choice, new
direction in life, purpose in pain, job security, financial pressures,
physical handicaps, relational snags, and a dozen other confusing
puzzles not quickly or easily solved. It is for the dark hours of
uncertainty that David penned a song we know as Psalm 23. This brief song composed by a former shepherd has endeared itself to people in every circumstance of life:
All have endured the daily grind of uncertainty. When the trials of
life push us to the limit and our hearts are heaviest, this magnificent
"Psalm of the Shepherd" offers comfort and assurance, especially for
those who lack the secure feeling of God's perpetual presence.
So, then, let's begin with the analogy at the center of David's song. Psalm 23 is the woeful song of a frightened sheep, as though it were considering its life with its shepherd and recording its experiences. Consider some of the similarities between helpless sheep and God's feeble children:
1. Sheep lack a sense of direction. Unlike cats and dogs,
sheep can get lost easily--even in the familiar environment of their own
territory. So it is with believers--we cannot guide ourselves. We must
rely completely on the Word of God and the voice of our Shepherd-Savior.
2. Sheep are virtually defenseless. Most animals have a rather
effective means of defense--sharp claws; teeth; speed; ability to hide;
keenness of smell, sight, and hearing; great strength; ferocity. But
sheep are awkward, weak, and ignorant; they have spindle legs and tiny
hoofs, and are pitifully slow, even devoid of an angry growl.
Defenseless! The only sure protection for the sheep is the ever watchful
shepherd. So it is with the believer, who is admonished to be
strong--"in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:10).
3. Sheep are easily frightened. Being ignorant, unimpressive
in stature, and very much aware of their weakness, sheep find comfort
only in their shepherd's presence, including his reassuring songs in the
night. Psalm 27:1 also refers to this type of Shepherd-Lord relationship that we have with God.
5. Sheep cannot find food or water. While most animals have a
keen sense of smell, sheep depend upon their shepherd completely. If
left to themselves, sheep will eat poisonous weeds and die--and when one
does it, the others will follow the leader. Again, as children of God,
we are equally dependent.
6. The sheep's wool does not belong to the sheep. While sheep
may produce wool, the shepherd owns their wool. All bona fide spiritual
production in the life of the Christian belongs to the Lord. The Lord,
by means of the Holy Spirit, provides for all such production. In every
way, you see, we are indeed "His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3).
All genuine spiritual production by a Christian is by means of the Holy Spirit and belongs to the Lord.
Coveting Humility |
Monday, June 4, 2018
The Woeful Song of Frightened Sheep
Sunday, June 3, 2018
How You Can Live Free from Fear
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7
At one point during World War II, General George Patton met with a
high-ranking allied official in Sicily. The man praised Patton for his
courage and bravery. But Patton told him, “Sir, I am not a brave man... I
have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my
whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my
hands.”
Years later in his autobiography, General Patton revealed the secret to
his bravery. He wrote, “I have learned early in my life never to take
counsel of my fears.”
It’s astonishing just how much fear influences our daily decisions.
Think about it. How many decisions do you make daily based on a negative
event in the future that may or may not come to pass? And then, how
many of those fears actually materialize?
So how can we diagnose fear when we see it? By looking at its source.
Fear comes from either a lack of trust in God’s power, or a belief that
He doesn’t have your best interest at heart. When you fall into one of
those mindsets, you’re operating in fear, not trust.
As believers, we can overcome our fears in any situation by asking the
simple question, “What would I do here if I fully trusted God’s power
and goodness?” When we answer that and take action on it, we’ll be well
on our way to operating free from fear!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would expose areas of your life where you’re operating in fear, rather than trust in Him.
Questions for Thought
As you think about today’s devotional, what areas of your life come to
mind where you’ve been operating in fear rather than trust?
How might your daily decisions look differently if you fully trusted God’s power and goodness?
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Got No Spiritual Gifts
Today's Bible Verse...
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. —Proverbs 16:3
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
The
real question behind this promise is very simple: How do I define
success for my plans? The answer is very simple as well: bringing glory
to God for his grace (see Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Committing our works and
plans to God means surrendering them to God's will (James 4:13-15),
trusting that God will be glorified in them (Col. 3:17), and recognizing
that it is not in our power to properly guide our own steps (Prov.
16:9). God longs to bless us and empower us — not for our own selfish
ambition (James 3:16), but for our eternal good (Rom. 8:28) and God's
glory. Like Jesus, when we commit our plans and works to the Lord, we
are saying, "Not my will, Father, but yours be done!"
My Prayer...
Father, I want your will to be my plans. I want your glory to be my goal. I have things that I want to do. However, if these plans are not for your glory, if these plans are not a blessing to my family or those over whom I have influence, then please defeat me in those plans and please guide me into other areas of blessing. I want you to be glorified in what I do. I want to go where your grace leads. I commit my ways, my plans, and my works to you and to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.Saturday, June 2, 2018
A Call to Godly Living
The apostle Paul lived in an age when sensuality, the pursuit of
pleasure, and rebellion against the Lord were prevalent. In response, he
wrote letters urging Christians not to follow in the ways of the world.
Like those early believers, we are to pursue godliness by...
- Presenting our bodies to God. Our total being--mind, will, emotions, personality, and physical body--are to be turned over to our heavenly Father (James 4:7a). Submitting ourselves to the Lord requires a definite decision to give Him control and a daily commitment to remain under His authority. By surrendering to Him, we will position ourselves for godly living.
- Becoming living sacrifices. The Christian life is built around the concept of sacrifice. Jesus left the perfection of heaven to dwell among a sinful people so He might reconcile us to God. He offered up His life to make payment for our sins (1 John 3:16) and brought us into His family. As believers, we are to follow His example. Paul called it a living sacrifice, because it is ongoing--one that is repeated daily.
Life is full of options. Many decisions involve a choice between
following God's way or our own. Maturing Christians will increasingly
sacrifice their own desires and embrace His will.
A life of godliness is characterized by a heart and mind bent toward
the things of God. Although we will live imperfectly, our focus is to be
on obeying His will and pleasing Him. Let's commit to becoming more
like Jesus, the One who willingly gave Himself to God as a sacrifice for
us.
from Dr. Charles Stanley
Addressing Real Needs
Today's Bible Verse...
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. —Galatians 6:2
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
This
is just another way of saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself!" Jesus
came to bear our burdens and carry away the stain and pain of our sin.
(Read Isaiah 53 for a powerful description of God's Suffering Servant, a
passage quoted in the New Testament in reference to Jesus.) He now asks
us to live redemptively, in practical ways, toward those around us.
More than just praying, or asking what we can do to help, we are called
to serve, minister, and assist others who are burdened.
My Prayer...
Holy and merciful God, please give me eyes to see, a heart willing to serve, and hands ready to help the people in my path that need a burden lifted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.Friday, June 1, 2018
It Starts with One
The high and lofty one
who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and
holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore
the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with
repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15 NLT)
As we look at revivals in the Bible and at historical revivals, we see
they often began with one individual, one person who decided to do
something. Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman who began a lunchtime
prayer meeting on Fulton Street in downtown New York. A handful of
people showed up at the first meeting on September 23, 1857 at North
Dutch Church. Lanphier was persistent, however, and the group continued
to meet for prayer and continued to grow.
Then something dramatic took place: The New York stock market crashed.
Suddenly the prayer meeting began to explode. Prayer meetings quickly
popped up throughout New York City, and within six months, ten thousand
people were gathering for prayer in the Big Apple. It was unexplainable.
They were renting concert halls and Broadway theatres for daily 6:00
AM, 9:00 AM, and noon meetings, packing them out as men and women called
on the name of the Lord. And God began to work.
It was reported that 50,000 New Yorkers came to know the Lord during a
period of three months in 1858, from March to May. Ten thousand people
were added to church membership rolls weekly. The revival spread to
other cities as well, and when it was all over, an estimated one million
people had come to faith in Christ.
This revival from 1857
to 1859 became part of what is known as the Third Great Awakening in
the United States. The revival wasn’t orchestrated. It wasn’t a campaign
planned by people. It simply was a work of God in which God poured out
His Spirit. We need to see that today.
Jeremiah Lanphier was not a great preacher. He was not a famous person.
He was just an ordinary person who decided to pray. And you can do the
same.
Copyright (c) 2018 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Today's Verse...
Today's Verse...
What shall we say, then? Shall we
go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin;
how can we live in it any longer? —Romans 6:1
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Grace
doesn't mean that we are sloppy with sin. We have died to sin when we
surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Christ. We don't want sin, or
its power, to have control over us. We don't want to take lightly the
awful cost Jesus paid to cover our sin. The apostle Paul uses the
strongest language possible ("By no means!" is way too tame a
translation: "God forbid!" "Unthinkable!" "Abomination!" would all be
much more accurate.) As those saved by grace, we realize that sin is
more than breaking a divine command. Sin is making light of Jesus' love
for us by choosing our sin over his sacrifice. Sin is rebelling against
the Father who paid such a high price to adopt us into his family. Sin
is breaking our Father's heart because we are choosing our sin over our
love for him. Finally, sin is choosing our own will rather than God; a
choice that leads us down a path of self-destruction.
My Prayer...
Father, thank you for your incomparable generous grace lavished upon me through Jesus' death on the Cross and the salvation that I have received through him. Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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Thursday, May 31, 2018
Use Your Gift Properly
Proverbs 18:16, “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”
This statement can be very positive or it can be very negative. A man can bribe great men with gifts. We have seen that throughout the history of our world.
When we talk today about political corruption, we talk about people being on the take. It is sad when it is obvious that good people can be bought and sold. In this Proverb, we are going to look at the positive side. A man can use the gifts or talents God has given him to influence a leader to do the right thing. In the Bible, we see this over and over again.
We need to be wise with what God puts at our disposal. Joseph had the gift of dreams. God used Joseph to influence the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, to make wise decisions that preserved the nation of Israel, Egypt, and many other nations.
Abigail approached David with gifts, asking David to spare her life and the life of those that served with her. Jacob, when he knew that Esau was coming, sent gifts to Esau to calm his wrath. Jacob’s fear of Esau’s wrath had grown in the twenty years of his absence. We all have gifts.
Let me encourage you to do something today.
Ask yourself:
1. What are the gifts that God has given me?
2. How am I using those gifts presently?
3. Who have I used my gifts to influence?
4. How could God use me and my gift to influence others?
5. Am I using the gift God has given me for that which is right, for the glory of God, or for my own selfish desires?
Allow God to use the gift He has given you to minister to others and influence others to do that which is right in the sight of God.
This statement can be very positive or it can be very negative. A man can bribe great men with gifts. We have seen that throughout the history of our world.
When we talk today about political corruption, we talk about people being on the take. It is sad when it is obvious that good people can be bought and sold. In this Proverb, we are going to look at the positive side. A man can use the gifts or talents God has given him to influence a leader to do the right thing. In the Bible, we see this over and over again.
We need to be wise with what God puts at our disposal. Joseph had the gift of dreams. God used Joseph to influence the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, to make wise decisions that preserved the nation of Israel, Egypt, and many other nations.
Abigail approached David with gifts, asking David to spare her life and the life of those that served with her. Jacob, when he knew that Esau was coming, sent gifts to Esau to calm his wrath. Jacob’s fear of Esau’s wrath had grown in the twenty years of his absence. We all have gifts.
Let me encourage you to do something today.
Ask yourself:
1. What are the gifts that God has given me?
2. How am I using those gifts presently?
3. Who have I used my gifts to influence?
4. How could God use me and my gift to influence others?
5. Am I using the gift God has given me for that which is right, for the glory of God, or for my own selfish desires?
Allow God to use the gift He has given you to minister to others and influence others to do that which is right in the sight of God.
Your friend,
David Teis
David Teis
Today's Bible Verse...
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will
renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run
and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:30-31
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
What
is your strength? Is it your youth? ...your conditioning? ...your
wisdom? ...your friends? ...your experience? None of us can depend upon
our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerabe to the
fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can
survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times.
Let's call upon, let's wait upon, let's depend upon the LORD!
My Prayer...
O LORD, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life I praise you and thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.Have A Blessed Day...
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Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Christ's Comprehensive Love
How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His
people's interests that He does not consider, and there is nothing that
concerns their welfare that is not important to Him. He doesn't merely
think of you, believer, as an immortal being, but as a mortal being too.
Do not deny it or doubt it:
"Even the hairs of your head are all
numbered." Matthew 10:30 "
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he
delights in his way." Psalm 37:23
It would be sad for us if this covering of love did not tackle all our
concerns, for what mischief might be done to us in that part of our
lives that did not come under our gracious Lord's protection! Believer,
rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your smallest concerns.
The breadth of His tender love is such that you may turn to Him in
every case; for in all your afflictions He is afflicted, and just like a
father cares for his children, so He cares for you. The smallest
interests of all His saints are all borne upon the heart of the Son of
God.
And what a heart He has, which does not merely understand the nature of
His people but also comprehends their diverse and innumerable concerns.
Do you think, Christian, that you can measure the love of Christ?
Consider what His love has brought you--justification, adoption,
sanctification, eternal life! The riches of His goodness are
unsearchable; you will never be able to convey them or even conceive
them.
Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have
only half our hearts? Shall it have a cold love in return? Shall Jesus'
marvelous loving-kindness and tender care be met with only faint
response and delayed acknowledgment? My soul, tune your harp to a glad
song of thanksgiving! Go to your rest rejoicing, for you are not a
desolate wanderer but a beloved child, watched over, cared for,
supplied, and defended by your Lord.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Pursue Hospitality
Romans 12:9-14 says,
Let love be without
hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing
steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to
hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
At the end of verse 13, Paul says we are to be "given to hospitality." The word given is the Greek word translated "pursue" everywhere else in the New Testament. This could be translated "pursuing hospitality."
Hospitality is actually a compound word in the Greek
language. The first part of the word means to be fond of. The second
part means guests. So hospitality means to be friendly to strangers, to
open your heart and open your home to others.
The Scripture is very strong when it says we are to pursue
hospitality. It is one of the greatest ways in all the world to
demonstrate the love of God to people who are in need.
I remember like it was yesterday a time I was preaching at a church.
It was over 20 years ago, when I was a newlywed. After the service was
done, Janet and I were standing around not knowing what to do. No one
was speaking to us and the church had made no provision for our lodging
or meals.
Just then an elderly couple came up to us and invited us to their home for lunch, which we gratefully accepted.
And you know what? I don't remember what I preached that day, but to
this day I remember eating roast in that couple's home. I remember
their graciousness, their hospitable spirit, and how much they made us
feel welcome.
Pursue hospitality!
Monday, May 28, 2018
He Calls Your Name
Through His Spirit He calls us by name.
Hear
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary” (John 20:15, 16).
Mary went to the tomb early in the morning. It was still dark. She was surprised by what she saw. The stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone.
She thought that someone had taken it. She ran to tell the disciples.
Peter and John ran to the tomb to see. When they arrived, it was just as
Mary had said. The tomb was empty. Peter and John left while Mary
stayed.
She wept outside the tomb. She peered inside and encountered two
angels. They asked her why she was crying. She told them the same thing
she told the disciples, “They have taken my Lord away.”
She turned from the tomb and saw someone in the garden. Mary thought it
was the gardener. He asked her who she was looking for. She thought
this man may have taken the body.
And then a single word from him changed everything. “Mary.” The mention
of her name penetrated the clutter and confusion in her mind. She
recognized him. Jesus was alive! She wanted to cling to him, but he had
other things to do. She returned to the disciples with the good news, “I
have seen the Lord!” How personal the Lord is that he would call Mary
by name. But isn’t that what he does with each of us? We do not have the
privilege of hearing him face-to-face like Mary did. But through his
Spirit he calls us out individually. He speaks our name. When he does,
we know -- He is alive! In that moment, everything changes. Like Mary,
we become witnesses of the most significant event that has ever
occurred, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Live
There was a point in time when you responded to the good news. The Gospel called you out personally and individually, and like Mary, you recognized Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. And now you can say to others, “He is alive!” This is a privilege above all others. Today, rejoice. Jesus is alive, and he is alive in you.
In Him,
Bob Christopher
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Why Keep Praying When There Is No Answer?
By Rick Warren
“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT).
Why should you remain persistent in your prayers when you don’t get an answer? Here are four reasons.
Persistent prayer focuses your attention.
When you pray a prayer request over and over, it’s not to remind God.
He doesn’t need to be reminded! It’s to remind yourself that God is the
source of your answer and all your needs. If every prayer you ever
prayed were instantly answered, two things would happen. First, prayer
would actually begin to hurt you because sometimes we pray for things
that are not God’s will, or we make mistakes because we see with a
limited perspective. Second, you’d never really develop a deep
relationship with God, because he would become just a vending machine.
If every time you prayed you instantly got results, all you’d think
about is the blessing. God wants you to think about the Blesser.
Persistent prayer clarifies your request.
A delayed answer gives you time to clarify exactly what you want and to
refine your prayers. When you pray persistently to your heavenly Father
and you say something over and over again, it separates deep longings
from mere whims. It says, “God, I really care about this.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to answer your prayers. He does. It’s just that he wants you to be certain what you really want.
James 1:3-4 says, “When
your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it
grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect
and complete, needing nothing” (NLT). The only way you can grow to
spiritual maturity is to have your faith tested. One of the ways God
tests your faith is by delaying some answers to your prayers.
Persistent prayer prepares your heart for the answer.
When you make a request of God, God almost always wants to answer in a
greater way than you’ve prayed. Sometimes God denies your prayer request
because you’re thinking and asking too small. He wants to give you
something bigger and better. But first, he has to prepare you for it. So
God uses delays in answering prayer to help you grow, to help you get
ready, to help prepare you for a bigger and better answer.
Remember, “God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20 NCV).
Talk It Over
What is something you’ve been praying about for a long time? How might you need to refine your request?
If God is testing you right now by delaying an answer to a prayer, how
can you demonstrate your willingness to grow and accept his will and
purpose for you?
Think of something that you prayed for over the years that God has
never supplied. How have you seen that his denial was actually a
blessing in your life?
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Are you Ready?
We need to be ready, prepared, expecting, and looking toward the
future. We don't know for certain what our future holds, but, we do
know who holds the future.
During my military service I once was in a S.A.C. Unit. We had to be
prepared, “ready”, to go anywhere in the world to fight in some
conflict. We kept a bag packed we could take at a moment's notice. We
were prepared physically and mentally to leave within a few minuets.
In our verse today Jesus is telling us to be ready for the time he
will come again. YES, I do believe Jesus our LORD will come again and
take “born again believers” to be with him. Some people don't
believe that teaching, but, its because they have blinded eyes to see
the truth in the Bible. Many folks have an opinion of what the Bible
says, but then, they haven't read the Bible for themselves. They take
the word of other so called “scholars” and never look it up
themselves.
Christian friends, I want to encourage you to read God' Word every
day. Pray every day. Witness to some one, of God's blessings, every
day. Be ready for Jesus to come at any time.
We live in a very dangerous, wicked world. The Evil one is out to
destroy whoever and whatever he can; by any means he can use.
Let us stay strong in our faith, active in the Lord's work,
encouraging other Christians, and, trying to win people to Christ.
The Lord will bless you!
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Go Ye Therefore
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto rightousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I don't put much stock into a person when they tell me they are saved but then can't or won't tell me about the circumstance, time, or place where they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I think if you are saved, you will tell about it! You will WANT to tell others.
I don't put much stock into a person when they tell me they are saved but then can't or won't tell me about the circumstance, time, or place where they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I think if you are saved, you will tell about it! You will WANT to tell others.
I have heard folks say they were too shy, tongue tied, or embarrassed
to stand in church and share their experience with Jesus. I might be
wrong, but, if you won't share your blessings of Jesus, in church with
fellow Christians who love you, then, you sure won't share Jesus with
anyone on the street!
I've concluded that many Christians don't know what witnessing is, or, is all about.
That is one of the major problems in our churches. We are not going unto the world with the good news that Jesus saves. We sit back and tell ourselves, “God will save them in the end”,or, “God already knows who will be saved so we don't have to worry about it”,or, and here is the kicker, “ I am not worthy to witness”.
IF CHRISTIANS WON'T TELL ABOUT JESUS, WHO WILL???
I still love you and God does too!!
God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
I've concluded that many Christians don't know what witnessing is, or, is all about.
That is one of the major problems in our churches. We are not going unto the world with the good news that Jesus saves. We sit back and tell ourselves, “God will save them in the end”,or, “God already knows who will be saved so we don't have to worry about it”,or, and here is the kicker, “ I am not worthy to witness”.
IF CHRISTIANS WON'T TELL ABOUT JESUS, WHO WILL???
I still love you and God does too!!
God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Daily Repentance
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I
say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner that repenteth.
Had you rather have a person mad at you, or, happy with you? Some
studies have shown that a happy person might live longer because they
don't have the stress to worry with.
You have met folks that seem to be mad at everything and everyone.
They tend to talk evil, spread gossip, and even think evil of people
they don't know. Our Bible teaches us to avoid that type people.
Saved folks should be happy our sin is forgiven and we have a place
with Jesus!
Some saved people think that once they accept Jesus and are saved,
then, they don't need to repent of anything else.
Dear Christian friends, there are two types of people; lost sinners
and saved sinners. We all sin every day. We all need to repent of any
sin the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance.
Just think, if repenting of people brings joy to God's angels, how
joyful Jesus must be. Jesus is the one that forgives sin, and accepts
the sinner's repentance.
Oh! That we would long for and desire a better and deeper
understanding of the love of God toward us. We then could show a
different love toward others.
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Sufficient Grace
I thought the Christian life was going to be easier than this. Have
these words ever entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family
of God thinking that our heavenly Father will fix all our problems and
devote Himself to our happiness and comfort. However, that is not the
reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom the Lord used
greatly, and yet his life was anything but easy.
In fact, at one point, the apostle thought his pain was too much to
bear, and he begged God to remove it. There’s nothing wrong with asking
the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what should our response be if He
doesn’t? Paul probably had no idea that His experience would find its
way into the Bible, to comfort and guide believers throughout the ages.
The promise God gave him applies to us as well: “My grace is sufficient
for you” (v. 9).
God’s grace could be defined as His provision for us at the point of
our need. The problem is that sometimes it doesn’t seem as if the Lord
truly is meeting our need. But He frequently sees deficiencies,
outcomes, and complications that we don’t. His goals for us involve
spiritual growth, the development of Christlike character, and strong
faith. And trials play a vital role in achieving these.
The important issue is how we respond. If all you want is relief, you
could descend into anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become the
person God wants you to be, you’ll see each trial as an opportunity for
Christ to display His character and strength in you.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Hope beyond This Life
Not only does the Bible tell us we will live beyond the grave, but it
also tells us there is hope beyond this life. The resurrection of Jesus
from the dead proves there is life beyond the grave for the believer.
The Bible says, "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given
assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
No doubt this is why the devil has tried to discredit the Resurrection
over the years. This is why, ever since the first century, he has been
spreading his rumors about what happened to the body of Christ. And one
of the oldest rumors of all was that His body was stolen by the
disciples.
But claiming that the body of Jesus was stolen actually proves the
resurrection of the Lord. His friends could not have taken it, because
they left the scene and were convinced He was dead. The apostles had no
reason to counterfeit a Resurrection they did not even believe in
themselves.
And as we look at church history, we know that with the exception of
John (who survived an execution attempt and was banished to the island
of Patmos), all the apostles were martyred for what they believed. Don't
you think at least one of them would have suddenly exposed such a lie
if it were a lie? But they didn't, because none of them could deny what
was true: Christ was risen, Christ is risen, and He is alive.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
Monday, May 21, 2018
Turning Life’s Hardships into Stepping Stones
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good....”
A man was climbing a mountain with his son one day and his son was
having a very hard time. He was smaller than his dad, so his little legs
were struggling to take the necessary steps. So he told his dad, “Dad,
it’s so hard because of all of these rocks. They’re big, sharp, and they
hurt.”
The dad looked down at the boy and said, “Son, those sharp rocks are what we’re climbing on. Without the rocks, we’d fall.”
In life, we’re going to encounter bumps and jagged rocks. Many of them
hurt us, scar us, and leave us sore and bruised. But as believers, we
have to see those rocks not in terms of the damage they cause, but as
stepping stones to a higher plane of living. Yes, the enemy may intend
them to cause us harm, but God will use them for our good.
Don’t be discouraged by the jagged rocks you’re treading on today. Put
them below your feet and use them to propel you to a higher plane of
living. Keep your eyes focused on the prize and you’ll rise above life’s
negative circumstances.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON LIFE’S CHALLENGES, FOCUS ON THE PRIZE – LIFE WITH JESUS. RISE ABOVE THE PAIN TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF LIVING!
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