Daily Devotion

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June 28
A Friend of God’s Friends
Bible in a Year:

• Job 11–13
• Acts 9:1–21

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Matthew 10:40
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Matthew 10:1–11, 40–42
Something so cordial can happen in first introductions when two persons discover that they have a friend in common. In what may be its most memorable form, a big-hearted host welcomes a guest with something like, “So nice to meet you. Any friend of Sam’s, or Samantha’s, is a friend of mine.”
Jesus said something similar. He’d been attracting crowds by healing many. But He’d also been making enemies of local religious leaders by disagreeing with the way they were commercializing the temple and misusing their influence. In the middle of a growing conflict, He made a move to multiply the joy, cost, and wonder of His presence. He gave His disciples the ability to heal others and sent them out to announce that the kingdom of God was at hand. He assured the disciples: “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me” (Matthew 10:40), and, in turn, welcomes His Father who sent Him as well.
It’s hard to imagine a more life-changing offer of friendship. For anyone who would open their house, or even give a cup of cold water to one of His disciples, Jesus assured a place in the heart of God. While that moment happened a long time ago, His words remind us that in big and little acts of kindness and hospitality there are still ways of welcoming, and being welcomed, as a friend of the friends of God.
By: Mart DeHaan
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Reflect & Pray
What could you do through the Holy Spirit’s leading that might give others a chance to open their hearts to you? How could this point them to the Savior?
Father, thank You for giving us a chance to be part of the good news that has its source in You.

 

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June 29
Run From Sin
Bible in a Year:

• Job 14–16
• Acts 9:22–43

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 39:11–23
Twice this summer I suffered the scourge of poison ivy. Both times it happened, I was working on clearing away unwanted plant growth from our yard. And both times, I saw the nasty, three-leafed enemy lurking nearby. I figured I could get close to it without it affecting me. Soon enough, I realized I’d been wrong. Instead of getting nearer to my little green nemesis, I should have run the other way!
In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we see modeled the principle of running from something worse than poison ivy: sin. When he was living in the home of Egyptian official Potiphar, whose wife tried to seduce him, Joseph didn’t try to get close—he ran.
Although she falsely accused him and had him thrown in prison, Joseph remained pure throughout the episode. And as we see in Genesis 39:21, “The Lord was with him.”
God can help us flee activities and situations that could lead us away from Him—guiding us to run the other way when sin is nearby. In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul writes, “Flee the evil desires.” And in 1 Corinthians 6:18, he says to “flee from sexual immorality.”
In God’s strength, may we choose to run from those things that could harm us.
By: Dave Branon
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Reflect & Pray
What’s your “poison ivy,” something that can infect you if you don’t run from it? What can you do to run from it?
God, You know what I’m getting too close to right now. Help me to run from it and not look back. Please give me the courage and wisdom to not let anything get between You and me.

 

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GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!
June 29, 2022
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.” Matthew 16:23
Adoniram Judson was one of the first foreign missionaries to go out from North America.

He and his wife, Ann, set sail for Burma (also called Myanmar) in 1812. In 2022, it’s not uncommon for a church to send missionaries to a foreign country. But in 1812, this was a very foreign concept (pun intended). Numerous well-meaning people tried to sway Judson from leaving. He should be a pastor. He should teach in a university. Seminaries were just forming. Why would he give up everything for heathens? But thankfully, Adoniram showed laser focus. Nothing would distract him from God’s clear calling, his purpose.

Judson is not the only example of laser focus. Take a moment to read Matthew 16:21-23. Jesus is revealing more and more about His ultimate purpose, to follow the path to the cross. Peter, one of the disciples, rebuked Jesus. In Peter’s mind, there was something wrong with the plan. In verse 23 Jesus responds, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.”

One of the things we can learn from this interaction is Jesus knew exactly who He was and exactly where He was going. He didn’t need anybody trying to pull Him away from what God had called Him to do. He wasn’t called to be a political revolutionary. He wasn’t called to have a religious revolution. Jesus was called to save all mankind and He was not going to be deterred. Nothing would keep Him from accomplishing His mission.

Sounds like laser focus to me.

The disciples only heard what they wanted to hear. And they thought they were being helpful. But ultimately, they were acting as a stumbling block for Jesus. Their good was distracting from God’s best. The author of Hebrews calls us to lay aside the sin and things that so easily entangle (12:1).

The challenge for each of us is twofold:

• First, are you clear on God’s calling and purpose for your life? Or are you listening to all the distractions and stumbling blocks that so easily fill our minds? You may not be called to sail to Burma, but God still wants to use you to reach and disciple others.
• Second, are you distracting others from God’s best? Today be laser-focused and help others fix their eyes on God’s best.

Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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July 1
Celestial Communion
Bible in a Year:

• Job 20–21
• Acts 10:24–48

Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
When Apollo 11’s Eagle lunar module landed on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969, the space travelers took time to recover from their flight before stepping onto the moon’s surface. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin had received permission to bring bread and wine so he could take Communion. After reading Scripture, he tasted the first foods ever consumed on the moon. Later, he wrote: “I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup.” As Aldrin enjoyed this celestial Communion, his actions proclaimed his belief in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the guarantee of His second coming.
The apostle Paul encourages us to remember how Jesus sat with His disciples “on the night he was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Christ compared His soon-to-be sacrificed body to the bread (v. 24). He declared the wine as a symbol of “the new covenant” that secured our forgiveness and salvation through His blood shed on the cross (v. 25). Whenever and wherever we take Communion, we’re proclaiming our trust in the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice and our hope in His promised second coming (v. 26).
No matter where we are, we can celebrate our faith in the one and only risen and returning Savior—Jesus Christ—with confidence.
By: Xochitl Dixon
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Reflect & Pray
What has kept you from prayerfully taking Communion in remembrance of Christ? How does it make you feel to know that a fellow believer took Communion to honor Jesus on the moon?
Jesus, please help me live boldly for You until You come again!

 

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July 4
No Greater Love
Bible in a Year:

• Job 28–29
• Acts 13:1–25

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 15:9–17
Commemorations of the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day in 2019 honored the more than 156,000 troops who took part in the largest seaborne invasion in history to liberate Western Europe. In his prayer broadcast over the radio on June 6, 1944, President Roosevelt asked for God’s protection, praying, “They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate.”
A willingness to put one’s self in harm’s way to restrain evil and liberate the oppressed brings to mind Jesus’ words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). These words come in the midst of Christ teaching His followers to love each other. But He wanted them to understand the cost and depth of this type of love: a love exemplified when one willingly sacrifices his or her life for another person. Jesus’ call to sacrificially love others is the basis of His command to “love each other” (v. 17).
Perhaps we could show sacrificial love by giving time to care for the needs of an aging family member. We could put the needs of a sibling first by doing their chores during a stressful week at school. We might even take extra shifts with a sick child to allow our spouse to sleep. As we sacrificially love others, we demonstrate the greatest expression of love.
By: Lisa M. Samra
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Reflect & Pray
What is one way you could demonstrate sacrificial love today? What holds you back from loving sacrificially?
Dear God, please help me to look for ways I can love others sacrificially each day.

 

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July 5
Wisdom and Understanding
Bible in a Year:

• Job 30–31
• Acts 13:26–52

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Proverbs 2:1–11
In 1373, when Julian of Norwich was thirty years old, she became ill and nearly died. When her minister prayed with her, she experienced a number of visions in which she considered Jesus’ crucifixion. After miraculously recovering her health, she spent the next twenty years living in solitude in a side room of the church, praying over and thinking through the experience. She concluded that “love was his meaning”; that is, that Christ’s sacrifice is the supreme manifestation of God’s love.
Julian’s revelations are famous, but what people often overlook is the time and effort she spent prayerfully working out what God revealed to her. In those two decades, she sought to discern what this experience of His presence meant as she asked Him for His wisdom and help.
As He did with Julian, God graciously reveals Himself to His people, such as through the words of the Bible; through His still, small voice; through a refrain of a hymn; or even just an awareness of His presence. When this happens, we can seek His wisdom and help. This wisdom is what King Solomon instructed his son to pursue, saying he should turn his ear to wisdom and apply his heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2). Then he would “find the knowledge of God” (v. 5).
God promises to give us discernment and understanding. As we grow in a deeper knowledge of His character and ways, we can honor and understand Him more.
By: Amy Boucher Pye
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Reflect & Pray
How does God reveal Himself to you most often? When He does, how do you come to understand what He’s revealed?
Gracious God, help me to grow in Your wisdom.

 

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IF YOU’RE GONNA BOAST, BOAST ABOUT JESUS
July 05, 2022
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
No one likes a braggart.

Or a showoff. Or a conceited ego-maniac. Or a loudmouth who loves to sing their own praises.

To be in the presence of such a person is off-putting. And that is putting it mildly.

But while we are bothered by the blatant boasting of others, we are often oblivious to a similar arrogance within our own hearts.

Now, if you hung out with me one weekend, you would hopefully conclude that I am not an arrogant, boastful person. And in one sense, you’d be right, since I’m not in the habit of bragging about how incredible I am.

At the same time, however, you can’t hear the train of prideful thoughts that continuously run through my mind.

But the Lord does.

And He hears your prideful thoughts too.

You see, most of us are far more boastful in our thinking than we are in our speaking. We boast silently to ourselves, not audibly so others will hear.

Where does this boasting come from?

All boasting, whether in thought or word, is born from our own insecurity.

We crave recognition for our talents and achievements. And in one way or another, no one is exempt from this struggle.

So each of us (not just braggarts) should be deeply challenged by Paul’s declaration that he boasts only “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Notice he’s not saying that he stopped boasting per se. Paul’s boasting, rather, has taken on a new shape and form: the shape of a cross.

For the Jesus-follower, the focus of our boasting has fundamentally changed. Our boasting is no longer centered around self but around Jesus.

In Jesus, we are a “new creation,” made alive by His touch, breathing the life of His Spirit within (Galatians 6:15). And remember, this life transformation wasn’t the result of anything we did. It was 100% by His grace.

Grace, by definition, extinguishes any reason to boast in ourselves, but gives us every reason to boast in the astonishing gift we’ve received (Ephesians 2:9).

As such, we don’t want the world to know how great we are, but how great He is.

But do you want to know something? This kind of boasting will always sound strange to the world.

Why?

Because we are rejoicing in the cross of Christ! The cross, from the world’s standpoint, is nothing but a symbol of execution, humiliation, and defeat. But Jesus’ resurrection changed that message. He opened our eyes to see the glory of the cross.

Because of Him, our desire for the world’s recognition can be replaced by a desire to boast in the cross.

This doesn’t happen overnight. Our insecurity is too entrenched in our hearts.

But gradually, as we follow Jesus in faith, we learn to surrender our need to be noticed by others.

So, the next time you feel a boastful thought bubbling up within you, pause and redirect it.

Don’t boast in your own accomplishments, but in what Jesus accomplished on your behalf.


Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH

 

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July 7
Hurry Up and Wait
Bible in a Year:

• Job 34–35
• Acts 15:1–21

Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Samuel 22:1–5
“What will we do with all our spare time?” That thought was at the heart of an essay published in 1930 by the economist John Maynard Keynes. In it, Keynes proposed that within a hundred years, technological and economic advances would bring humans to a point where we would work only three hours a day and fifteen hours a week.
It’s been more than ninety years since Keynes published his famous essay. But technology, instead of creating more leisure, has made us busier than ever. Our days are full, and while everyday tasks like travel and meal preparation take less time, we’re still in a hurry.
One striking incident from David’s life shows us how to stay steady in life’s rush. When he was fleeing King Saul (who was trying to kill him), he asked the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” (1 Samuel 22:3, italics added). David had his hands full. He was trying to escape Saul’s murderous pursuits and also provide for his family. But even in his hurry, he took the time to wait on God.
When life’s frenetic pace sweeps us along, we can trust the One who can keep us in His peace (Isaiah 26:3). David’s words sum up the matter well: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).
By: James Banks
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Reflect & Pray
In what ways can you wait on God even when life’s busy? Where do you need His help to trust Him today?
You are my calm in every rush, Father. Thank You for giving me Your p

 

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WHEN YOU FEEL MISUNDERSTOOD
July 07, 2022

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

One of my biggest fears is being misunderstood.

When I confess what’s weighing on my heart, I worry others will look down on me.

When I express my beliefs based on Scripture, I fear being viewed as hateful.

When I share with vulnerability, I brace myself for shame and rejection.

Sadly, sometimes those fears become reality. For as often as I’ve been met with love, compassion, and understanding, I have also felt the sting of being misunderstood and misrepresented. And it hurts.

When people respond disapprovingly to our words or actions, it can lead us to despair or make us question our own beliefs. And while it’s good to evaluate whether we are behaving in a way that reflects the love of Christ and the truth of God’s Word, a negative reaction doesn’t always mean we are in the wrong. In those moments, our hope is not in convincing others we have the right motives or in restoring our reputation. Our comfort is in knowing that we are not alone.

Jesus Christ is the only sinless man to ever live. His motives were always pure, His beliefs always true, and His actions always good. He quite literally did everything right. He did not sin. Yet Jesus was rejected, misrepresented, and disowned. Even His own disciples abandoned Him in His darkest hour. The perfect Son of God was convicted as a criminal.

Jesus knows what it means to be misunderstood.

When we are misunderstood, Jesus empathizes with our pain because He has felt it Himself. Jesus reminded His disciples in John 15:18 that if the world hates them, it hated Jesus first. He knows. He understands. When the pain of rejection is too great to bear, Jesus invites us to come to Him. There we find grace to help us press on with hope in our time of need. There we find mercy where others offer only condemnation. As we pour out our hearts to the Lord, Jesus comforts us by His Spirit with a peace beyond our understanding.

So if you are feeling rejected, reviled, or misunderstood, do these two things:

1. Pray. Pour out your heart to the God who sees and knows your heart. Tell Him your pain and ask Him for the grace you need to continue.
2. Remember. Meditate on the truth that Jesus not only cares for you in your suffering, but He has experienced it Himself. You are not alone.

My prayer is that in the midst of the pain of being misunderstood, you will experience the comfort of the One who knows you fully.


Written by Joanna Kimbrel, Guest Contributor

 

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July 11
True Freedom
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 1–3
• Acts 17:1–15

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 10:24
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1
While reading on the train, Meiling was busy highlighting sentences and jotting down notes in the margins of her book. But a conversation between a mother and child seated nearby stopped her. The mom was correcting her child for doodling in her library book. Meiling quickly put her pen away, not wanting the toddler to ignore her mother’s words by following Meiling’s example. She knew that the child wouldn’t understand the difference between damaging a loaned book and making notes in one you owned.
Meiling’s actions reminded me of the apostle Paul’s inspired words in 1 Corinthians 10:23–24: “ ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”
The believers in Jesus in the young church in Corinth saw their freedom in Christ as an opportunity to pursue personal interests. But Paul wrote that they should view it as an opportunity to benefit and build up others. He taught them that true freedom isn’t the right to do as one pleases, but the liberty to do as they should for God.
We follow in Jesus’ footsteps when we use our freedom to choose building others up instead of serving ourselves.
By: Poh Fang Chia
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Reflect & Pray
Why does it honor God when you’re careful in what you say and do around others? How can you be more considerate of others in the exercise of your freedom?
Jesus, thank You for setting me free. Give me wisdom and grace to exercise my freedom in ways that truly honor You and bless others.

 

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July 12
A Teachable Spirit
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 4–6
• Acts 17:16–34

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

Proverbs 1:5
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Proverbs 1:1–7
It has become sadly “normal” to attack not only the opinions of others but also the person holding the opinion. This can be true in academic circles as well. For this reason, I was stunned when scholar and theologian Richard B. Hays wrote a paper that forcefully took to task a work that he himself had written years earlier! In Reading with the Grain of Scripture, Hays demonstrated great humility of heart as he corrected his own past thinking, now fine-tuned by his lifelong commitment to learning.
As the book of Proverbs was being introduced, King Solomon listed the various intents of this collection of wise sayings. But in the midst of those purposes, he inserted this challenge, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5). Like the apostle Paul, who claimed that, even after following Christ for decades, he continued to pursue knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:10), Solomon urged the wise to listen, to learn, and to continue to grow.
No one is ever hurt by maintaining a teachable spirit. As we seek to continue to grow and learn about the things of faith (and the things of life), may we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth (John 16:13), that we might better comprehend the wonders of our good and great God.
By: Bill Crowder
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Reflect & Pray
In what areas of life or spiritual growth have you become stale or stunted? How can you become more teachable, allowing God to grow you beyond where you are at this moment?
Loving God, give me a humble, teachable spirit that I might continually be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
For further study, see Why Read the Bible?.

 

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WILL YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE?
July 12, 2022
‘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
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.

But, here’s the problem…you like to be in charge. You like to be the boss, the lord of your life. That’s a difficult mindset to change.

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?


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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July 19
A Humble Snack
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 23–25
• Acts 21:18–40

Clothe yourselves with humility.

1 Peter 5:5
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Peter 5:1–6
The bag of snack chips was small, but it taught an American missionary a big lesson. Working one evening in the Dominican Republic, she arrived at a church meeting and opened her chips when a woman she hardly knew reached and grabbed a few from the bag. Others helped themselves, too.
How rude, the missionary thought. Then she realized a humbling lesson. She didn’t yet understand the culture where she’d agreed to serve. Rather than emphasizing individualism, as in the United States, she learned that life in the Dominican Republic is lived in community. Sharing one’s food and goods is how people relate to each other. Her way wasn’t better, just different. She confessed, “It was very humbling to discover these things about me.” As she began to recognize her own biases, she also learned that humbly sharing with others helped her serve them better.
Peter taught this lesson to church leaders: treat others with humility. He counseled the elders to resist “lording it over those entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:3). And those younger? “Submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility” (v. 5). As he declared: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Therefore, “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6). May He help us humbly live before Him and others today.
By: Patricia Raybon
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Reflect & Pray
What cultural biases do you harbor? How could you let God transform those attitudes so you humbly serve all?
Father, exchange my arrogance regarding others with Your humble love.

 

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YES, PURITY STILL MATTERS
July 19, 2022
“Blessed are (happy are) the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8
Purity seems to be a lost cause in our culture today.

Who even talks about it anymore? Isn’t this an old-school, old-fashioned conversation? Is it even possible to walk in purity in a culture that seems obsessed with flaunting impurity everywhere we turn?

We are the “sexually enlightened” generation. We have redefined marriage and today, there are shows on network television that wouldn’t have been allowed on late-night cable ten years ago. Here are a few examples of new cultural ‘norms.’

• Porn: In spite of the research showing how devastating pornography is to relationships and sexual health, porn usage is at an all-time high. Roughly half of all internet searches are porn-related. Smartphones and high-speed internet have only brought porn closer to home, now almost considered normal behavior.
• Living Together: Cohabitation is at an all-time high. A recent article in The Atlantic reports that over the last 50 years, the number of couples living together before marriage has increased by 900%. Today, the majority of couples getting married have already lived together. In 2012 two-thirds of all couples who got married lived together for more than 2 years before tying the knot.
• Unwed Mothers: For the past few years, over 50% of all children born in the US have been born to single-parent families. If a child is growing up in a home where mom and dad are married, they are now in the minority.

This is not about laying on a guilt trip. This is to show a snapshot of how things are changing in our culture as we place very little value on purity. So, why are we even talking about this at all?

Because Jesus did. Jesus spoke very clearly and candidly about the importance of purity. When Jesus addressed purity, He never bashed anyone for their decisions, their history, or their baggage. His message was always delivered with compassion and grace while leading to the all-important question: Do you want to see God?

Do you want to know God’s plan for your life? Do you want to know what God desires for you? Do you want to see God’s best for your life? Then walk in purity. It’s the pure in heart who will see God. Jesus points us to a very important truth: sexual impurity clouds our vision and leads us to doubt God’s best for our lives. Those who walk in purity can see clearly that God’s way is the best way for us to live.

Jesus is inviting us to walk in purity, in a culture that mocks and belittles those who choose to do so. And yet, Jesus says it is purity that leads to clarity. It is purity that invites us to see God at work in our lives. So the question is, do you want to see God?


Adapted from a sermon by Senior Pastor, George Wright, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

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AN IMPURE HEART LEADS TO UNCLARITY
July 20, 2022
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8
Happy are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

In the Bible, the heart is the center of our whole being. It’s the core of who we are and the source of what is most important to us.

When it comes down to it, the topic of purity is a heart issue.

The Bible links purity and the heart to show that those who value God above all else will be revealed in how they live. Purity flows from a heart that has been transformed by the love and grace of God. No matter how hard you try, you cannot disconnect your sexual behaviors from your heart. For this reason, Jesus says that only the pure in heart can see God. James says those with clean hands and a pure heart are able to draw near to God. What does this mean?

An impure heart leads us to live in a fog or a haze where we cannot see clearly. Sexual sin clouds our vision and makes us blind, deaf, and dumb to the ways and workings of God. You cannot draw near to God while deliberately walking away from what God says is best for your life. Purity leads to clarity. Impurity leads to double-minded idolatry. This means when our hearts and our thoughts are clouded by impurity, it can quickly lead to some ungodly logic:

• “I love God, but I love porn more so I will keep the secret habit going.”
• “I love God, but I love my boyfriend/girlfriend more so it is fine for us to mess around.”
• “I love God, but I love my freedom more. So, I’ll move in with my significant other rather than waiting until marriage, because I am not ready to be tied down and I want to save money.”
• “I love God, but I want to do things my way and ignore what God says is important.” It just doesn’t make sense.

It’s amazing how quickly we can walk away from God’s design and God’s best by concluding that we know better, all the while in this fog of impurity. Simply put, sexual impurity leads to a fog where it is very difficult to see the goodness and glory of God. It is the pure in heart who will see God.

However, the good news of the Gospel shows us that purity can be a reality for all who trust in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Our sin can be forgiven and we can be called pure and clean in the sight of God if we will turn from our sin and trust in His grace!

Take a moment to honestly examine your heart. Are you lacking spiritual clarity? Are you living in a fog of impurity? Ask God for help surrendering any area where you’re struggling with purity and putting something else before God.

Step out on faith and step into the clarity of purity as you trust in the forgiveness and grace of God.


Adapted from a sermon by Senior Pastor, George Wright, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

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July 30
Puddles of Sunshine
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 51–53
• Romans 2

On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Matthew 4:16
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 1:1–5
It was a warm summer day and my four-year-old granddaughter Mollie and I were taking a break from playing ball. As we sat on the porch with our glasses of water, Mollie looked out at the yard and said, “Look at the puddles of sunshine.” The sunlight was filtering through the thick foliage to create a pattern of light amid the dark shadows.
Puddles of sunshine. Isn’t this a beautiful image for finding hope in dark days? In the midst of what can often be challenging times—when good news seems in short supply—instead of concentrating on the shadows, we can focus on the light.
The Light has a name—Jesus. Matthew quoted Isaiah to describe the brightness that came into the world when Jesus arrived: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16; see also Isaiah 9:2). The effects of sin are all around us as we live in the “land of the shadow of death.” But shining through that shadow is Jesus, the grand and glorious light of the world (John 1:4–5).
The sunshine of Jesus’ love and compassion breaks through the shadow—giving us “puddles of sunshine” to illuminate our day and brighten our hearts with hope.
By: Dave Branon
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Reflect & Pray
What darkness is clouding your day? How can you allow the light of Jesus’ presence and love to bring you joy and hope?
Jesus, while we struggle through a world full of trouble, I need Your presence. I need Your uplifting love to take me out of the shadows and help me stand in the light of Your magnificence.

 

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PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN
July 31, 2022
“For this reason also, we have not ceased to pray for you.” – Colossians 1:9
Do you pray for your children?
God has given us our children on loan for us to raise in His image.
It’s almost impossible to do that without praying for them.
For many years, my wife prayed a prayer from scripture over our three sons.
Here are some ideas for you to try:

1. Pray that they will increase in the knowledge of God. The greatest hope most parents have for their children is that they will be happy, but a fulfilled life comes from knowing God. Without God, there is a nagging emptiness. Lots of people know about God, but knowing Him personally is different. We all know a lot about our nation’s President, but only a few know him personally.
2. Pray that they live a worthy life. Teach them that their lives should have an impact for good and that they will be people of trustworthy character.
3. Pray that they’re strengthened in God’s power. The world and evil influences will seek to pull our children down. They need God’s power to be strong, resist temptation, and do the right thing.
4. Thank God for each child. Each child is a unique creation of God.

If you’ve never regularly prayed for your children, I hope these ideas act as a starting point.
There are few things we do for our children that are more important than our prayers.
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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SURRENDER – WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
August 01, 2022
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”– John 15:4-7
In the eyes of the world, to surrender equates to humiliation.

No one wants to give up and give in to the more powerful side, waving that white flag of surrender. So, no wonder the idea of surrender is often deeply resented. But here’s the irony and the paradox of the Christian faith:

Surrender is the beginning of the victorious Christian life!

When we realize how much God loves us and how He shows us that love by what Christ has done – by literally dying in our place on the cross, paying the penalty for all our sins – past, present, and future – and then rising from the dead, we realize our sinfulness. It’s when we’re convicted of our sin, that we can finally surrender our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him all that we have. This means handing over all of our desires, our goals, our dreams, our priorities, and our possessions. Then, and only then, do we begin the first and most important step in the victorious Christian life. It all begins with surrender.

Anything we hold onto that hasn’t been surrendered to Christ is worthless to the Kingdom of God. Worthless!

So, how do we surrender?

1. Spend time alone with Him and study God’s Word – Meditate on His teachings to learn more about God’s will in your life. Pray to discover His will for your life, not to tell God what you want.
2. Abide in Him daily – In other words, stay close to God every day, trusting and obeying Him.
3. Join a community of believers – Commit to a local church to worship, serve, and have fellowship with other believers.
4. Share your faith – This is Christ’s mission for the church, to share our faith with others through words and deeds.

This type of total surrender equals total trust, which ultimately leads to living a life of true meaning and purpose.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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August 3
When Prayer Shakes the Earth
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 63–65
• Romans 6

The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God.

Revelation 8:4
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Revelation 8:1–6
Dr. Gary Greenberg has magnified and photographed sand from beaches around the world, often revealing surprising, vibrant splashes of color from the minerals, shell, and coral fragments contained within.
He’s discovered there’s more to sand than meets the eye. In arenology (the study of sand), the microscopic analysis of sand’s mineral content can reveal much about erosion, shore currents, and their potential effects on coastlines. Even a little sand can yield information of great worth!
A single prayer, like a grain of sand, can be a weighty thing. Scripture indicates prayer’s powerful role in the coming of God’s kingdom. In Revelation 8, John sees an angel standing at the altar before His throne holding a golden censer containing “the prayers of all God’s people.” “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (vv. 3, 5).
Immediately after the angel hurled the censer filled with fire and prayer, seven angels with seven trumpets “prepared to sound them” (v. 6), heralding this old earth’s last days and Christ’s return.
Sometimes we may not feel like our prayers add up to much, but God doesn’t miss one. He so values them that they somehow even play a role in the consummation of His kingdom. What may seem like the smallest prayer to us can have earth-shaking weight with Him!
By: James Banks
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Reflect & Pray
Why do you think Jesus wants us to pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10)? In what ways can you stay faithful in prayer today?
Heavenly Father, please help me to be faithful in prayer today.
To learn more about the act of prayer, visit https://odbu.org/courses/sf120/?utm...app,+web&utm_campaign=Prayer+Basics+ODBU-ODB+https://odbu.org/courses/sf120/?utm...app,+web&utm_campaign=Prayer+Basics+ODBU-ODB+.

 

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August 8
Discerning Right Paths
Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 74–76
• Romans 9:16–33

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Proverbs 22:6, 17–21
No one would have believed sixteen-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Felipe Gustavo would become “one of the most legendary skateboarders on the planet.” Gustavo’s dad believed his son needed to pursue his dream of skating professionally, but they didn’t have the money. So his dad sold their car and took his son to the renowned Tampa Am skating competition in Florida. No one had heard of Gustavo . . . until he won. And the victory catapulted him into an amazing career.
Gustavo’s dad had the capacity to see his son’s heart and passion. “When I become a father,” Gustavo said, “I just want to be like 5 percent of what my dad was for me.”
Proverbs describes the opportunity parents have to help their children discern the unique way God has crafted their heart, energy, and personality—and then to direct and encourage them toward the path that reflects who God made them to be. “Start children off on the way they should go,” the writer said, “and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (22:6).
We may not possess vast resources or profound knowledge. With God’s wisdom (vv. 17–21) and our attentive love, however, we can offer our kids and other children within our sphere of influence an immense gift. We can help them trust in God and discern the paths they can follow for a lifetime (3:5–6).
By: Winn Collier
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Reflect & Pray
Where have you encountered a parent attentive to their child’s heart or energy? How has God revealed His attentive ways to you?
Heavenly Father, as I consider how good parents pay attention to their children, I know You’re the truest parent. Thank You for seeing and guiding me.