Daily Devotion

[boldstardex]

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6

Are Claims About God Possible? Or Are We Just Fools?
October 13, 2014

If we’re honest, as Christians, we have all struggled with our faith at one time or another. Here is an area that I have struggled with about the existence of God. Look at the first four words of the Bible, “In the beginning God…” In my human mind, I can’t grasp the concept of no beginning. I know that everything begins and ends, except God – He always has been, is, and always will be. That’s just hard to wrap your head around!

But let me tell you why the first four words of Genesis also enrich my faith. Look at John 1:1. Note the same beginning for the Gospel of John as you saw as the first words in the book of Genesis. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” But we also read verse 14 of John 1. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Who is the Word? The Word is Jesus, and the only reason I can believe in an invisible God is Jesus. And when I struggle with doubts about the existence of God and deal with those unanswerable questions, like where did God come from? Or how could He always exist? I come back to Jesus. I look at His life, God in the flesh, and most of all, I look at the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. If Christ rose from the dead, any Biblical claims about God are possible. If He did not, the Bible says we Christians are just a bunch of fools.

 

[boldstardex]

Seeing Upside Down
By Philip Yancey
Read: Matthew 8:1-4; 9:9-12
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. —Matthew 9:12
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
In India I worshiped among leprosy patients. Most of the medical advances in the treatment of leprosy came about as a result of missionary doctors, who were willing to live among patients and risk exposure to the dreaded disease. As a result, churches thrive in most major leprosy centers. In Myanmar I visited homes for AIDS orphans, where Christian volunteers try to replace parental affection the disease has stolen away. The most rousing church services I have attended took place in Chile and Peru, in the bowels of a federal prison. Among the lowly, the wretched, the downtrodden—the rejected of this world—God’s kingdom takes root.

Taking God’s assignment seriously means that we must learn to look at the world upside down, as Jesus did. Instead of seeking out people with resources who can do us favors, we look for people with few resources. Instead of the strong, we find the weak; instead of the healthy, the sick. Instead of the spiritual, the sinful. Is not this how God reconciles the world to Himself? “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. . . . I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:12-13niv).

To gain a new perspective, look at the world upside down as Jesus did.

We know, Jesus, that You sought the lowly ones
who were rejected by others. We want to be like
You. Open our eyes and show us how.
We long to be used by You to bless others.
Do you see a needy world through the eyes of Jesus?
Insight
Jesus dined with the Pharisees (Luke 7:36; 11:37), perhaps even with a member of the Sanhedrin (14:1). But Jesus ate so often with social and religious outcasts that He earned the reputation as “a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Matt. 11:19). He even appointed a tax collector as His apostle. When the self-righteous Pharisees criticized Him for socializing with those they considered the outcasts of society, Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

 

[boldstardex]

"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name." - Acts 22:16

The First Step of Faith
October 14, 2014

Each individual has to make a major personal decision in life. That decision occurs when Christ is reaching out to you. You call on Him, receive His grace, His forgiveness, His promise of a new life, and His promise of eternal life. At that point, He commands you to publicly identify with Christ so that the world will know that you are a follower. And the way you publicly identify with Christ is to be baptized.

I realize a lot of you were baptized as infants, but there’s nothing in the Bible about being baptized as an infant. It is an important tradition in many churches, but Jesus doesn’t teach anything about it. Jesus does teach that if we are going to begin to be His followers, then we should proclaim that identity through baptism. Baptism is kind of a Christian initiation ceremony. Just as a couple will publicly declare their love by having a wedding ceremony, a Christian will proclaim his or her affiliation with Christ through the baptismal ceremony. If you want to identify with Jesus, the way Christ commands us to do that is to be baptized as a testimony of our faith. If you are a believer and you haven’t been baptized, I encourage you to take that step of faith soon. You’ll be amazed at the blessing and power you will feel as you share your faith in front of others.

If you haven’t asked Jesus to come into your heart, there’s no better time than right now to take care of that. It’s easy, and it’s free. Just tell Jesus that you know you need Him, ask Him to forgive you and become the Lord of your life. Then, the first step of faith is to follow Jesus’ command to publicly profess your faith in Him through baptism.

 

[boldstardex]

Mysterious Detours
By Dave BranonRead: Genesis 12:1-10; 13:1
Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. —Psalm 22:4
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4
Before my wife and I embarked on a 400-mile road trip, I set up the GPS with our daughter’s home in Missouri as the destination. As we traveled through Illinois, the GPS instructed us to get off the Interstate, resulting in a detour through the city of Harvey. After the GPS directed us back to
I-80, I was baffled by this mysterious detour. Why were we directed off a perfectly good highway?

I’ll never know the answer. We continued on our way, and we trusted the GPS to get us there and home again.

That got me to thinking about detours in life. We may seem to be traveling on a smooth pathway. Then for some reason, God redirects us into an unfamiliar area. Perhaps it is an illness, or a crisis at work or school, or an unexpected tragedy occurs. We don’t understand what God is doing.

Abraham faced a mysterious detour when God told him, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house” (Gen. 12:1). Surely Abraham must have wondered why God was routing him to the Negev desert. But he trusted God and His good purposes.

A GPS may make mistakes, but we can trust our unfailing God (Ps. 22:4). He will guide us through all our mysterious detours and lead us where He wants us to go.

We seek Your guidance, Lord, but we understand
that our path won’t always be without challenges.
Help us to trust You through the detours—knowing
that You have our best interests and Your honor at heart.
We don’t need to see the way when we stay close to the One who does.

 

[boldstardex]

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'" - Luke 16:22-28

A Place Where You Don’t Want to Be
October 15, 2014

If you study the Bible, you’ll find that Jesus painted a pretty complete picture as to what hell is like. In some cases, He spoke literally and in others He spoke more figuratively. He spoke about the suffering of hell. It means being permanently separated from God. It is going to be a place of totally unrestrained evil, where the devil and his demons reside along with all those who have rejected Jesus Christ. That’s not a pretty picture and not a place you want to be.

While there is nothing in Scripture that says hell is an eternal torture chamber, it does say it will be eternal suffering and a clear awareness of what you have missed out on. You will realize that your whole life had been a waste because you never responded to Christ. There is the realization that you are permanently separated from God, and that will create great agony.

Whatever it may be, you surely don’t want to wind up there. And you don’t have to. Jesus Christ came to save us from hell. He came to forgive us of our sins and make us right with God. Have you claimed this good news in faith? If not, please do so today. Hell is definitely a place from which you want to be saved.

 

[boldstardex]

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." - John 3:19-21

The Light Exposes Who We Really Are
October 16, 2014

There are some things that just don’t like the light– at the top of the list are these four things: One cockroaches. Two, rats. Three, teenagers making out in a dark room, when a parent comes in and turns on the light. And four, a thief in the night. None of those four like the light. Why? Because the light says, “You’re up to no good!” So, obviously, there’s a tendency for roaches, rats, smooching teenagers, and thieves in the night to run for cover when the light comes on. They don’t want their deeds exposed.

Really, this is true for all of us. The closer we get to the Light, the more our sins are exposed. The closer a person is to Christ, the more aware they are of their sinfulness. The further a person is from Christ, the more unaware they are of their sinfulness and they tend to think that they’re basically pretty good people. So, when the Light exposes who they really are, they prefer to flee toward the darkness.

But there is good news in all of this. John 1:9 says, “There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” And 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” In other words, in Jesus, we are made clean – we don’t have to fear exposure. He is the Light that leads us into righteous living.

 

[boldstardex]

The Right Foundation
By Marion Stroud
Read: Matthew 7:24–29
Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. —Matthew 7:24
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
“I’ve got bad news for you,” said the builder, who was renovating an old house I had inherited. “When we started to convert the back half of the garage for your office, we found that the walls had almost no foundation. We will have to demolish them, dig proper foundations, and start again.”

“Do you have to do that?” I pleaded, silently calculating the extra cost. “Can’t you just patch it up?” But the builder was adamant. “Unless we go down to the proper depth, the building inspector won’t approve it. The right foundation is vital.”

The right foundation makes the difference between something that lasts and something temporary. Jesus knew that though foundations are invisible, they are vitally important to the strength and stability of the house (Matt. 7:24-25), especially when it is battered by the elements. He also knew the hearts of His listeners. They would be tempted to take the easy way, find shortcuts, or do things by halves to gain their objectives.

Other foundations may be quicker and easier. Building our lives on the right foundation is hard work, but God’s truth is the only bedrock worth building on. When the storms of life hit, houses built on and held together by Him stand firm.

Father, the winds of life’s storms can be
powerful and threatening. Thank You for the
foundation of the truth of Your faithfulness. Help
me to rely on Your strength in my storms.
The wise man builds his house upon the Rock.
Insight
Jesus had just finished giving His “Sermon on the Mount” when He used the analogy found in today’s passage. His teachings provide a stable foundation that will weather any storm. The wind, the rain, and the house are not the problem. The house built on the sand fell down because the sand provided no support in the wind and rain. The wind and rain washed and blew away the foundation so that there was nothing to support the house. Even the best house will crumble with no foundation.

 

[boldstardex]

A War Of Words
By David C. McCaslandRead: Proverbs 15:1-23
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. —Proverbs 15:1
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 59-61; 2 Thessalonians 3
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie. Within 90 days, other European countries had taken sides to honor their military alliances and pursue their own ambitions. A single event escalated into World War I, one of the most destructive military conflicts of modern time.

The tragedy of war is staggering, yet our relationships and families can begin to fracture with only a few hateful words. James wrote, “See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” (James 3:5). A key to avoiding verbal conflict is found in Proverbs: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (15:1).

A small comment can start a large fight. When we, by God’s grace, choose not to retaliate with our words, we honor Jesus our Savior. When He was abused and insulted, He fulfilled the prophetic words of Isaiah, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth” (Isa. 53:7).

Proverbs urges us to speak the truth and seek peace through our words. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, . . . and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (15:4,23).

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless. —Anon.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Insight
A major theme in Proverbs concerns the use of our tongues (10:19-21; 12:18, 13:3; 17:27-28; 18:6-8; 25:11; 26:18-22). Proverbs 15 warns of the consequences of using wrong words and the benefits of using right words. A wise person is carefully restrained and judicious when speaking (vv.2,7,28).

 

[boldstardex]

"He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." - Matthew 12:39a

Show Me!
October 19, 2014

Ever hear someone say, “Hey, I believe in God. I’m religious. But all this stuff about Jesus rising from the dead? I don’t know – that’s a little out there. Show me one of those miracles and then I’d believe.” Well, here’s some bad news for those who might believe that way. Roman guards saw the resurrection of Jesus Christ and chose not to believe. The religious leaders who already believed in God engaged in a cover up, just because they chose not to believe. Even though they had seen miracle after miracle, they chose not to believe.

You see, even if you saw a miracle, it would be hard for you to believe for several reasons. Most of all, your pride. You’d have to admit that you were wrong. But not only that, there’s the issue of giving up control. Nobody likes to give up control. If Christ really did rise from the dead, then He really is who He says He is. And if you’re going to go to heaven, He’s going to be the only way you make it. It would mean having someone else as your Lord other than yourself. And you like to be in charge. You like to be the boss, the lord of your life. That’s hard to swallow.

Look, if you’re determined not to believe, even if a man rises from the dead and walks into someone’s office, there will still be many in that office who would choose to disbelieve. Are you going to be one of those? Or are you going to be one who has the FAITH to believe? That’s what it takes, you know. Faith. I have it. Do you?

 

[boldstardex]

Undeserved Praise
By Julie Ackerman LinkRead: Luke 5:27-32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. —Luke 5:32
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1
Even before I could afford a self-cleaning oven, I managed to keep my oven clean. Guests even commented on it when we had them over for a meal. “Wow, your oven is so clean. It looks like new.” I accepted the praise even though I knew I didn’t deserve it. The reason my oven was clean had nothing to do with my meticulous scrubbing; it was clean because I so seldom used it.

How often, I wonder, am I guilty of accepting undeserved admiration for my “clean” life? It’s easy to give the impression of being virtuous; simply do nothing difficult, controversial, or upsetting to people. But Jesus said we are to love people who don’t agree with us, who don’t share our values, who don’t even like us. Love requires that we get involved in the messy situations of people’s lives. Jesus was frequently in trouble with religious leaders who were more concerned about keeping their own reputations clean than they were about the spiritual condition of those they were supposed to care for. They considered Jesus and His disciples unclean for mingling with sinners when they were simply trying to rescue people from their destructive way of life (Luke 5:30-31).

True disciples of Jesus are willing to risk their own reputations to help others out of the mire of sin.

Dear Lord, give me a heart of compassion for
those who are lost in sin. Help me not to be
concerned about what others think of me but
only that Your holy name will be honored.
Christ sends us out to bring others in.
Insight
The role of tax collector in first-century Israel was quite different from what we would think today. Ancient Rome operated on the back of the taxes drained from conquered lands like Israel. This was overseen by the local governor (or procurator), but it was actually accomplished by local citizens like Levi (also known as Matthew), who worked for Rome. These tax collectors, however, were not viewed as simple agents or bureaucrats. They were known to charge higher taxes than were due and to pocket the excess. They were despised as collaborators who had aligned themselves with the hated occupying force. The taxes they collected were a continuing symbol of the oppression the Jews felt as a conquered people, and the tax collectors were considered participants in that oppression.

 

[boldstardex]

One Who Understands
By David H. Roper
Read: Psalm 139:7-12
The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. —1 Chronicles 28:9
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 65-66; 1 Timothy 2
My friend’s husband was in the last stages of dementia. In his first introduction to the nurse who was assigned to care for him, he reached out for her arm and stopped her. He said he wanted to introduce her to his best friend—one who loved him deeply.

Since no one else was in the hall, the nurse thought he was delusional. But as it turned out he was speaking of Jesus. She was deeply touched but had to hurry on to care for another patient. When she returned, the darkness had closed in again and the man was no longer lucid.

Even though this man had descended into the darkness of dementia, he knew that the Lord was his best Friend. God dwells in the fathomless depth that is our soul. He can pierce the darkest mind and assure us of His tender, loving care. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide us from Him (Ps. 139:12).

We do not know what the future holds for us or those we love. We too may descend into the darkness of mental illness, Alzheimer’s, or dementia as we age. But even there the Lord’s hand will lead us and His right hand will hold us tight (v.10). We cannot get away from His love and personal care.

God knows each winding way I take,
And every sorrow, pain, and ache;
And me He never will forsake—
He knows and loves His own. —Bosch
Jesus loves me. This I know.
Insight
Today’s passage, a standard text on the doctrine of God’s omnipresence—God is everywhere all the time—is also one of deep comfort. These verses offer assurance that no matter where we go, even if we are trying to run from God (see v.7), we cannot separate ourselves from Him. This is the same idea that Paul elaborates on in his letter to the church in Rome: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). These verses not only point out that nothing can separate us from His presence, they also beautifully state that nothing can keep us from God’s love.

 

[boldstardex]

Clean The Closet
By Joe Stowell
Read: Psalm 139:13-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart. —Psalm 139:23
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3
To this day I can still hear my mother telling me to go and clean up my room. Dutifully, I would go to my room to start the process, only to get distracted by reading the comic book that I was supposed to put neatly in the stack. But soon the distraction was interrupted by my mother warning that she would be up in 5 minutes to inspect the room. Unable to effectively clean the room in that time, I would proceed to hide everything I didn’t know what to do with in the closet, make the bed, and then wait for her to come in—hoping that she wouldn’t look in the closet.

This reminds me of what many of us do with our lives. We clean up the outside of our lives hoping that no one will look into the “closet” where we have hidden our sins by rationalization and excuses and by blaming others for our own faults.

The problem is that while looking good on the outside, we remain well aware of the mess on the inside. The psalmist encourages us to submit to the cleansing inspection of God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). Let’s invite Him to inspect and cleanse every corner of our lives.

Lord, forgive me for looking good on the
outside while attempting to hide my faults and
failings. I desire for You to cleanse my life so
that I may walk with You in full integrity.
We can own up to our wrongs— because we can’t hide them from God anyway.
Insight
In Psalm 139, David invites us to meditate on the attributes of God. He is omniscient, or all-knowing (vv.1-4); omnipresent, or ever-present (vv.5-12); and omnipotent, or all-powerful (vv.13-18). In today’s text, David writes of the human body as a masterpiece created by the all-powerful Creator. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (vv.13-15). Mindful of the wickedness around him (vv.19-22), David closes his psalm with a prayer of loyalty and commitment (vv.23-24).

 

[boldstardex]

Tiny Island
By Poh Fang ChiaRead: Titus 3:1-7
Speak evil of no one, . . . be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. —Titus 3:2
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 3-5; 1 Timothy 4
Singapore is a tiny island. It’s so small that one can hardly spot it on the world map. (Try it, if you don’t already know where Singapore is.) Because it is densely populated, consideration of others is especially important. A man wrote to his fiancée who was coming to Singapore for the first time: “Space is limited. Therefore . . . you must always have that sense of space around you. You should always step aside to ensure you are not blocking anyone. The key is to be considerate.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Titus, a young pastor: “Remind the people . . . to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:1-2 niv). It has been said, “Our lives may be the only Bible some people read.” The world knows that Christians are supposed to be different. If we are cantankerous, self-absorbed, and rude, what will others think about Christ and the gospel we share?

Being considerate is a good motto to live by and is possible as we depend on the Lord. And it is one way to model Christ and demonstrate to the world that Jesus saves and transforms lives.

Dear Lord, help us to be gracious, kind, and
considerate not only in the church but also in our
community. May the world who watches see
transformed people and believe in Your transforming power.
Your witness is only as strong as your character.
Insight
According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Titus “was with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch, and accompanied them to the council at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-3; Acts 15:2) . . . . He appears to have been a Gentile, and to have been chiefly engaged in ministering to Gentiles; for Paul sternly refused to have him circumcised . . . . [Later] he was sent by Paul to Corinth for the purpose of getting the contributions of the church there in behalf of the poor saints at Jerusalem sent forward (2 Cor. 8:6, 12:18).”

 

[boldstardex]

"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:10 and 3:23

This One’s With Me
October 25, 2014

Do you realize that you can’t earn your way into heaven? It just can’t be done! There is just too much sin in our life to ever be offset by any good works we may perform. No matter how hard you try, the ledger can never be balanced. The only way to heaven is through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Salvation is a gift we accept or reject; there are no other choices.

For the Christian, I picture it this way: We’re standing before the throne of Jesus Christ. All of our deeds for this life are brought out. It’s very evident that we deserve hell, because unless we’re perfect (and no one is), we certainly deserve eternal separation from our Creator. Then Christ steps down from that throne of judgment and stands beside us. There’s a wonderful song recorded by the Christian musical group, Newsong, entitled, “This One’s With Me” that pretty well sums it up. Because, He then takes His robe of righteousness and puts it on us and says (my words), “It’s obvious you’re guilty. It’s obvious you deserve hell. But, I have paid the penalty. I have taken the judgment you deserve upon Myself on the cross, and you have accepted this gift. May you live forever in the joy and gratitude of what I have done for you! Father, this one’s with me.” And what a celebration of gratitude and praising of the Lord that will be.

Have you received the unearned gift in faith?

 

[boldstardex]

New To The Family
By Dave Branon
Read: Luke 15:3-7
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. —Luke 15:7
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 12-14; 2 Timothy 1
While on a ministry trip with a Christian high school chorale to Jamaica, we witnessed an illustration of God’s love in action. On the day we visited an orphanage for disabled children and teens, we learned that Donald, one of the boys our kids had interacted with—a teen with cerebral palsy—was going to be adopted.

When the adopting couple arrived at the “base” where we were staying, it was a joy to talk to them about Donald. But what was even better was what happened later. We were at the base when Donald and his new parents arrived just after they had picked him up at the orphanage. As the brand-new mom embraced her son, our students gathered around her and sang praise songs. Tears flowed. Tears of joy. And Donald was beaming!

Later, one of the students said to me, “This reminds me of what it must be like in heaven when someone is saved. The angels rejoice because someone has been adopted into God’s family.” Indeed, it was a picture of the joy of heaven when someone new joins God’s forever family by faith in Christ. Jesus spoke of that grand moment when He said, “There will be . . . joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7).

Praise God that He has adopted us into His family. No wonder the angels rejoice!

The One who made the heavens,
Who died on Calvary,
Rejoices with His angels
When one soul is set free. —Fasick
Angels rejoice when we repent.
Insight
In Luke 15, Jesus delivers a trilogy of parables to describe the pursuing love of God for the lost. The first, seen here in verses 3-7, displays the shepherd desperately pursuing his lost sheep. The second, in verses 8-10, pictures a woman tenaciously searching for a lost coin. The third, in verses 11-32, tells of a father’s compassion for a wayward child and of his grace and forgiveness when that prodigal returns home. In each parable, the result of finding the lost is a celebration (vv.6,9,22-24) that depicts the great joy experienced in heaven when the lost return to their heavenly Father.

 

[boldstardex]

"When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" - Acts 5:27-29

Leave the Results Up to God
October 28, 2014

I realize that today the call to obey God’s law, rather than man’s in the conflict, is a dangerous message. Why do you think that is? Consider this:

1. The Christian Fool Syndrome
   In every body of believers there are some Christian fools. They hear a sermon to obey God over man-made morality, and boy, are they excited about going out and stirring it up. So they go out with the best of intentions to tell those in authority over their lives where they are wrong. They confuse defiance and rebellion with Godliness, when in most cases, they are simply obnoxious fools. Can’t you picture God, from heaven, looking at them, shaking His head, and saying, “Bless their hearts!”
2. This one can be really dangerous = Being led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. When God gives us an open door to speak about our faith in Christ, or what God says is right, we need to do it in the Spirit. And yes, there may be repercussions, and yes, there may be objections, and yes, there may be legitimate persecution in doing so. But it’s not because we are acting the fool. It’s because we are obeying God, rather than man, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

So, Christian, seek to be filled with God’s Spirit. Follow His prompting and then leave the results up to God.

 

[boldstardex]

Music And Megaphone
By David C. McCasland
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:7
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. —2 Corinthians 4:7
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 20-21; 2 Timothy 4
Christopher Locke buys old trumpets, trombones, and French horns and transforms them into acoustic amplifiers for iPhones and iPads. His creations are modeled on the trumpetlike speakers used in the first phonographs during the late 1800s. Music played through Christopher’s AnalogTelePhonographers has a “louder, cleaner, richer, deeper sound” than what is heard from the small speakers in the digital devices. Along with being interesting works of art, these salvaged brass instruments require no electrical power as they amplify the music people love to hear.

Paul’s words to the followers of Jesus in Corinth remind us today that in living for Christ and sharing Him with others, we are not the music but only a megaphone. “For we do not preach ourselves,” Paul wrote, “but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). Our purpose is not to become the message, but to convey it through our lives and our lips. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (v.7).

If an old horn can amplify music, then perhaps our flawed lives can magnify the goodness of God. We’re the megaphone; the music and the power come from Him!

Thank You, Lord, that You can take our lives
and use them in ways we never thought
possible. Help us to be the instruments
that convey the music of Your love.
Nothing is unusable in God’s hands.

Insight
Paul was careful to ensure that his motives and methods were completely aboveboard (2 Cor. 4:2). Careful not to be accused of being a huckster who profited monetarily from the ministry (2:17), Paul ensured that his message was true, his motives were pure, and his methods were proper (4:2). He also spoke of the need for integrity in ministry in
1 Thessalonians 2:3-10.

 

[boldstardex]

"The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.'" - 1 Kings 3:10-12

What Do You Wish?
November 8, 2014

I remember as a child playing the game of “Three Wishes.” We would all tell our stories of what we would wish for if a magic genie appeared and granted us anything we wanted. Of course, there would be wishes for money – lots of it – and to be a hall-of-fame baseball player, a superpower, and other rich fantasies. I always thought I was so clever in asking for unlimited wishes.

Years ago, a young King of Israel asked for and received the greatest gift from God. He could have asked for his enemies to be destroyed or for a long life, or for more power, or even great wealth. Instead, he asked for wisdom. Solomon asked for the understanding in his heart to be able to know the right decisions for the best interests of the people. He wanted the wisdom of how to rule. And my friends, few things are more important to great leadership than wisdom.

Know this: wisdom is not knowledge. A lot of brilliant people have no wisdom at all. Wisdom is the ability to assimilate that knowledge to make decisions that are right, wise, and best for all concerned. God gives us the key to wisdom, which is being willing to listen to the Word of God and obey it. Solomon “wished” for the right thing. We should follow his example whenever we find ourselves placed in a position of trust, responsibility, and authority.

 

[boldstardex]

The Drinking Gourd
By Dennis FisherRead: Philippians 2:12-18
Shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. —Philippians 2:15-16
Bible in a Year:
Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8
Prior to the American Civil War (1861–1865), fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the “Drinking Gourd.” This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.

Both the abolitionists and the “drinking gourd” served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. The apostle Paul says that believers are to shine as “lights in the world” to show the way to those seeking God’s truth, redemption, and spiritual liberation (Phil. 2:15).

We live in a dark world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to shine forth God’s truth so that others can be directed to the One who redeems and is the path to liberty and life. We point the way to Jesus, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving
me new life. Give me compassion for those who are
still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a light
that points others to You, the Light of the world.
Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus.
Insight
Paul tells the followers of Christ in Philippi that they are lights among a “crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15). But the progression of Paul’s thought should be noted. When we live our lives in harmony and concern for others “without complaining and disputing” (v.14), we become blameless and harmless and shine in the world (v.15). Christ is made known in the world through us when our lives reflect the humility and love of our Lord.

 

[boldstardex]

Windfall
By Mart De Haan
Read: Proverbs 30:1-9
Give us this day our daily bread. —Matthew 6:11
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 1-2; Hebrews 11:1-19
Upon winning $314 million in a 2002 lottery, a happy business owner expressed noble desires. He wanted to start a charitable foundation, put laid-off workers back on the job, and do nice things for his family. Already wealthy, he told reporters the big win wouldn’t change him.

A few years later, a follow-up article described a different outcome. Since winning the biggest of all lotteries, the man had run into legal problems, lost his personal reputation, and gambled away all of his money.

A thoughtful man by the name of Agur wrote words that anticipate such heartbreak. Brought low by the awareness of his own natural inclinations (Prov. 30:2-3), Agur saw the dangers of having too much or too little. So he prayed, “Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God” (vv.8-9).

Agur saw the special challenges that come both with wealth and poverty, but also with our own tendencies. Each gives us reason for caution. Together they show our need for the One who taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Lord, as we seek Your face today to ask for what we
need, help us to keep in mind that You are as wise in
what You don’t give us as what You do give us. So
often, You rescue us from our own sinful tendencies. Thank You.
Discontentment makes rich people poor, while contentment makes poor people rich.
Insight
The book of Proverbs is known for its practical wisdom. It provides insight into relationships, work ethic, wealth, education, and many other topics. Yet despite the many words of instruction intended to make us wise and help us to live rightly, there are reminders to be humble regardless of our level of wisdom or knowledge. Agur’s humility (30:2-3) came from recognizing who God is and who he is in relationship to God (vv.4-5). Proper recognition of God leads to an appropriate response to Him (vv.7-9).