Daily Devotion

[boldstardex]

"Jesus answered ...'Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'" - John 18:37b

It All Begins by Defining the Truth
April 23, 2015

In order to understand absolute or universal truth, we must begin by defining truth. Truth, according to the dictionary, is “conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true.” Some people would say that there is no true reality, only perceptions and opinions. Others would argue that there must be some absolute reality or truth.

In the spring of 2001, the collision of an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet caused both governments to blame each other. The Americans felt certain that their version of the incident was true and, of course, the Chinese felt their version was correct. Yet, by the very definition of truth, both could not be right.

So, if there can only be “truth” and not versions of truth, how is it that people from every religious persuasion have embraced universalism: the idea that every religion is equally valid and all men can get to God and heaven their own way?

Consider what Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” If all religions are a valid way to God, then Jesus was not telling the truth. And if Jesus was not telling the truth, He is not the only way. Truth, by definition, means that one statement is true and a contradicting statement is false.

Either Jesus is truth or universalism is truth. What do you believe? I believe Jesus.

 

[boldstardex]

Hope Lives
April 24, 2015

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 19-20; Luke 18:1-23


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
Your faith, being much more precious than gold . . . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 1:7
When unspeakable tragedy shatters people’s lives, they search for answers. Recently, a mother who had lost a teenager said to me, “I can’t figure it out. I don’t know if I can believe anymore. I try, but God doesn’t make sense to me. What does it all mean?” There are no easy answers to such big concerns. But for those who have trusted Christ, there is hope—whether we are basking in blessings or grinding through grief.

Peter spells this out in his first letter. In glowing terms, he praises God for our “new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3 niv) through our salvation. That hope can bring joy even in the middle of tragedy. He also assures us of the permanence of this hope (v.4). He then tells us of the heart-breaking reality that we may “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (v.6 niv). Those who have suffered loss turn hopeful hearts toward Peter’s next words: These come so that “your faith . . . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v.7).

Trials—seemingly random and inexplicable—can be seen differently in the light of these words. In the midst of tragedy, the power and beauty of our salvation can shine through because of our great Savior. And that may be just enough light to get a troubled person through another day.

Lord, You assure us that the grand salvation You provided is proved genuine in our pain and that it leads to glory for You. Help us to begin each new day with renewed hope in You.
The light of salvation shines clearly even in the darkest night.
INSIGHT: The hope that Peter describes in today’s reading is also a major theme of Paul’s letter to the Romans. In Romans 5:5 he describes this hope as a reality that flows from our growth in Christ. In Romans 8 he discusses our hope as something we anticipate from our salvation. Romans 12:12 reminds us that hope is grounds for great joy. Romans 15 describes hope as something we learn through trials, yet something that is characteristic of our God (v. 13). Clearly, to Paul and to Peter, hope is very important in the life of faith.

 

[boldstardex]

Love And Light
April 27, 2015

Read: Deuteronomy 11:8-15 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 1-2; Luke 19:28-48


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
The land which you cross over to possess is a land . . . for which the Lord your God cares. —Deuteronomy. 11:11-12
Friends are starting to plan their summer vegetable gardens. Some get an early start by planting seeds indoors where they can control the conditions and provide the best environment for sprouting. After the danger of frost has passed, they will transplant the seedlings outdoors. Once the garden is planted, the work of weeding, feeding, watering, and guarding against rodents and insects begins. Producing food is a lot of work.

Moses reminded the Israelites of this before they entered the promised land. While living in Egypt, they had to do the hard work of irrigating crops by hand (Deut. 11:10), but in the place where God was taking them He promised to ease their work by sending spring and autumn rains: “I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains” (v.14 niv). The only condition was that they “faithfully obey the commands” He gave them—“to love the Lordyour God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (v.13 niv). The Lord was taking His people to a place where their obedience and His blessing would make them a light to those around them.

God wants the same for us and from us: He wants our love to be displayed in our obedience so that we might be His light to people around us. The love and obedience we have to offer, though, is far less than He deserves. But He is our provider, blessing us and enabling us to be a light that the world will notice.


Loving God doesn’t make life effortless, but having His strength makes it easier.
INSIGHT: The word deuteronomy means “second law.” This word describes the content of the book and its purpose. After the law was first given to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Israelites rebelled and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Now, 40 years later, they were about to enter the land of promise, and the laws given at Sinai were repeated in order to prepare them to be a people of God in their new home.

 

[boldstardex]

In The Same Boat
April 28, 2015

Read: Matthew 8:23-27 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 3-5; Luke 20:1-26


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
When He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. —Matthew 8:23
When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile.

In Matthew 8, we read about another trip on the water (vv.23-27). Jesus got into the boat and the disciples followed Him (v.23). Then a terrible storm arose, and Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives. They awakened a sleeping Jesus, who they assumed was unaware of the crisis.

While Jesus was literally in the same boat as His followers, He was unconcerned about the weather. As the all-powerful Creator, He had no fear of a storm. “He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (v.26).

But we are not all-powerful, and we are oh-so-prone to fear. So what are we to do when the storms of life rage around us? Whether they quickly blow over or last for a long time, we can be confident in this: We are in the same boat with the One whom even the winds and the sea obey.

Heavenly Father, this life is full of uncertainty. But You have promised us Your unfailing presence. May we see You today—especially when we are tempted to panic or to do things in our own strength.
No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.
INSIGHT: Today’s passage contains a beautiful story of Jesus’ power when He commands the winds and the waves to obey Him, giving further evidence that He is the Creator (see Col 1:16). Jesus’ question in Matthew 8:26 may seem harsh, but the disciples had been with Jesus long enough now that they should have had a better understanding of who He was. Immediately following the account of the calming of the wind and waves is the account of Jesus’ power over demons (vv. 28-34). This would have been another reminder that the disciples should have faith in Him.

 

[boldstardex]

Access To God
April 29, 2015

Read: 1 John 5:6-15 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 6-7; Luke 20:27-47


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
Technology is a blessing in so many ways. Need a bit of information about a health problem? All you have to do is access the Internet where you instantaneously get a list of options to guide your search. Need to contact a friend? Just send a text, email, or Facebook post. But technology can also be frustrating at times. The other day I needed to access some information in my bank account and was asked a list of security questions. Unable to recall the exact answers, I was blocked from my own account. Or think of the times when an important conversation is cut off because of a dead cellphone battery, with no way to reconnect until you find a plug to recharge it.

All of this makes me delighted with the reality that when I need to access God in prayer, there are no security questions and no batteries required. I love the assurance that John gives when he says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

God is always accessible, for He never slumbers nor sleeps! (Ps. 121:4). And thanks to His love for us, He is waiting and ready to listen.

Lord, thank You for desiring communication with me and for the reassurance that You are indeed listening and ready to help in time of need. Teach us to come to You with confidence in Your attentive love for us.
God is always accessible in our time of need.
INSIGHT: In this letter John refutes false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ (2:22). He says, “Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross” (5:6 nlt).

 

[boldstardex]

"...hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts..." - Romans 5:5

Keep On Keeping On!
April 29, 2015

The dictionary defines discouragement as a “feeling of despair in the face of obstacles; or a state of distraught and loss of sense of enthusiasm, drive or courage.”

So, have you ever felt discouraged? Of course you have. Everyone will have their share of discouragement at some point in their lifetimes. However, the approach we take in dealing with our discouragement will distinguish us from others.

I have some suggestions for you. Start by looking outside. Look up. Oak trees abound, and they cause us to look up. That oak tree is pointing to heaven. Then, focus on God, our Creator. He promises that we can do all things in His strength.

But there’s more:

• Practice prayer as the first resort, not the last. God is interested in anything that interests you. Talk to Him about your concerns. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, the Encourager and Comforter.
• Get enough rest. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. When our bodies and minds are rested, we view circumstances differently.
• Refuse to quit. Keep on keeping on! Perseverance produces character, and character, hope. Hope comes in trusting God to see us through. And remember: an oak tree is just a little nut that refused to give up!

If you’re dealing with discouragement, look to God. He’ll give you the strength to knock discouragement on its face.

 

[boldstardex]

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10:13

Nothing is too Great for God



There is a wonderful Bible story that describes a much greater God. It’s the story of three Hebrew boys who refused to worship the idols of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. You can find it in the Bible in the book of Daniel, Chapter 3. Even though they were threatened with being thrown in a furnace, they held fast in their devotion to God. Their response, “God can spare us from the fiery furnace; He has that power. But, even if He does not, we’ll never serve your gods or bow down to your statue.” They chose to trust God even when it made no earthly sense to do so. And God repaid that faith by seeing that they were not harmed by the fires in the furnace.

God will never take us through a time of testing that is too tough for us to deal with.

No matter how difficult your trials, you can bank on His promise.

No trial is too great for us with the power of God.

He will give us a way to endure it, to resist it, or to get through it.

 

[boldstardex]

"They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you." - 2 Peter 2:19 NLT

Just Listen – God Will Lead the Way
May 4, 2015

When I first came across the story of Charlie Wilks*, I did a double take. A blind football player? Really?

Close your eyes. Count to 10. Open your eyes.

Imagine every second, every minute, every day of your life is visually blank.

Charlie Wilks is 100 percent blind. He can sense only extreme light. He is a smart, witty teenager who even finds time to tell blind jokes.

At age 5, a brain tumor crushed Charlie’s optical nerve and stole his eyesight. After multiple surgeries, Charlie was completely blind by age 6. He saw football on television before he went blind and heard plenty of stories from his grandfather, Al Reynolds, who played in Super Bowl I for the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, Charlie plays football himself and he plans to become a professional football player. When asked “How are you able to do that?” he said, “I listen.” I wonder if he realizes just how profound that statement is.

In an age of self-indulgence and a victimized mindset, this player stands out as an example of hard work and perseverance. He has accepted and overcome his adversity, and is using it as a motivation rather than an excuse. By doing so, this young man challenges each of us not to be defeated by our limitations.

Wouldn’t all of our lives be more fulfilled and effective if we followed his example? It can happen in each life with God’s help. With God as our strength, we won’t see ourselves as victims but as overcomers. Jesus Christ says, “In this world you’ll have problems, but take heart. I have overcome the world.” All we have to do is listen. God will lead the way.

 

[boldstardex]

The School Of Pain
May 6, 2015

Read: Psalm 119:65-80 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. —Psalm 119:75
In his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis observes that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Suffering often helps us to redirect our focus. It shifts our thinking from immediate circumstances so we can listen to God concerning His work in our lives. Life as usual is replaced by a spiritual schoolroom.

In the Old Testament, we read how the psalmist maintained a teachable heart even during painful circumstances. He accepted them as orchestrated by God, and in submission he prayed, “In faithfulness You have afflicted me” (Ps. 119:75). Isaiah the prophet viewed suffering as a refining process: “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10). And Job, despite his laments, learned about the sovereignty and greatness of God through his troubles (Job 40–42).

We are not alone in our experience of pain. God Himself took on human form and suffered greatly: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). The One with nail-scarred hands is near. He will comfort us and teach us in our suffering.

Dear Lord, life is so hard sometimes. I confess that I don’t always see Your purpose in my trials. Help me to trust You, and teach me to become the person that You desire me to be.
We learn the lesson of trust in the school of trial.
INSIGHT: Psalm 119 speaks of the priority and sufficiency of God’s Word in the daily life of the believer. Here the psalmist admitted that he had strayed, but having been disciplined by God, he now resolved to “keep [His] Word” (v. 67).

 

[boldstardex]

Remind the believers to . . . show true humility to everyone. —Titus 3:1–2 nlt
In a typical week, many of us receive a number of emails reminding us of appointments or upcoming events or requests to pray for someone. All of them are needed reminders.

When Paul wrote his “papyrus mail” to Titus, he ended his note by saying, “Remind the believers . . .” (3:1 nlt). We can assume from Paul’s word choice that he had already written about these things. But they were of such importance to the people in the church that he repeated them so they wouldn’t forget.

Notice what Paul didn’t want them to miss. He reminded the people— living under the oppressive Roman rule—“to be subject to rulers and authorities” (v.1). It was important to be known for obedience; for doing what is good; for not slandering; for being peaceful and considerate; and for humility rather than for complaining. Their behavior was to showcase the change made in their lives by following Christ (vv.3-5).

How could they—and we—do that? “The Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us . . . through Jesus Christ” enables us to “devote [ourselves] to doing what is good” (vv.5-6,8 niv). It is through Jesus’ great gift of salvation that we are equipped to influence our world for good. That’s a reminder we all need.

Lord, remind us how important it is that we obey You and treat others the way we want to be treated. Remind us that Your salvation enables us to live as lights in a dark world.
A Christian’s life is a window through which others can see Jesus.
INSIGHT: Twice Paul asked his protégé Titus to remind believers to always be ready to do good works (vv. 1,8). Although we are saved by God’s mercy and grace and not by what we do (vv. 4-7), our works are the evidence of our faith. Paul taught in Ephesians 2:8-10: “God saved you by his grace . . . . Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. . . . He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT).

 

[boldstardex]

Tell Your Story
May 11, 2015

Read: 1 Timothy 1:12-20 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 13-14; John 2


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim Your greatness. —Psalm 145:6 nlt
Michael Dinsmore, a former prisoner and relatively new Christian, was asked to give his testimony in a prison. After he spoke, some inmates came to him and said, “This is the most exciting meeting we’ve ever been to!” Michael was amazed that God could use his simple story.

In 1 Timothy, after Paul had charged Timothy to stay the course preaching the gospel (1:1-11), he shared his personal testimony to encourage the young man (vv.12-16). He told about God’s mercy in his own life. Paul said that he had mocked the Lord, but He changed him. In His mercy, God not only counted him faithful and gave him a job to do, but He also enabled him to do His work (v.12). Paul considered himself the worst of sinners, but God saved him (v.15).

The Lord is able! That is what Paul wanted Timothy to see, and what we need to see too. Through Paul’s testimony, we see God’s mercy. If God could use someone like Paul, He can use us. If God could save the worst of sinners, then no one is beyond His reach.

Our story of God’s work in our lives can encourage others. Let those around you know that the God of the Bible is still at work today!

Father, thank You for the salvation You offer and that no one, including me, is beyond the reach of Your mercy, grace, and transforming power. Help me share my story with others so that people can see Your love.
No one is beyond the reach of God’s love.
INSIGHT: Before Paul’s conversion he put Christian believers in prison and was present for at least one murder—that of Stephen, who was stoned for preaching about Christ (Acts 7:59–8:1). Yet after his conversion Paul sums up his former life in just three words, telling Timothy that he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man” (1 Tim. 1:13). He then tells what God has done for him (vv. 13-17), reminding us that it is not who we were that is important; it is what God has done for us.

 

[boldstardex]

"But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." -Matthew 5:28

Pornography is Not a Victimless Crime
May 11, 2015

What’s so bad about pornography? It’s not really hurting anyone. It’s really a victimless crime. Right?

Wrong.

The fact is that looking at porn is an incredibly addictive behavior. It has even been called the crack cocaine of sexual addiction; dabbling in porn carries the same dangers as dabbling in cocaine or heroin. It’s the same kind of addictive draw, especially in a man’s life. And this addiction can have a devastating effect on both the men that engage in it, as well as their families.

Pornography cheapens what God invented as a beautiful thing to be enjoyed between a husband and wife. It creates a mindset where a woman is seen as an object to be used, like a bottle of booze, and when it’s over, throw it away; discard it. Find another one!

Porn creates a fantasy world – totally out of touch with reality – that can cause a sense of dissatisfaction with a man’s wife. There’s just no way his wife can compete with this fantasy world. And the effect of the divorces caused by porn addiction is catastrophic to the man, his wife, his family, and to society as a whole. Victimless crime? Not on your life. Our communities are saturated by the tears of devastated victims.

 

[boldstardex]

The Riches Of Obedience
May 13, 2015

Read: Psalm 119:14,33-40 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 17-18; John 3:19-36


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. —Psalm 119:14 nlt
Publicly operated lotteries exist in more than 100 countries. In a recent year, lottery ticket sales totaled more than $85 billion in just the US and Canada, only part of the total sales worldwide. The lure of huge jackpots has created a mindset among many that all of life’s problems would be solved “if I won the lottery.”

There’s nothing wrong with wealth itself, but it has the power to deceive us into thinking that money is the answer to all our needs. The psalmist, expressing a different point of view, wrote: “I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. . . . I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word” (Ps. 119:14,16 nlt). This concept of spiritual treasure is focused on obedience to God and walking “in the path of [His] commandments” (v.35).

What if we were more excited about following the Lord’s Word than about winning a jackpot worth millions? With the psalmist we might pray, “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way” (vv.36-37).

The riches of obedience—true riches—belong to all who walk with the Lord.

Dear Lord, may I commit each day to standing on the unchanging truth of Your Word and to growing in my relationship with You, the only measure of success in this life and in eternity.
Success is knowing and loving God.
INSIGHT: Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Its 176 verses are presented in 22 stanzas of 8 verses each, and each stanza corresponds to the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Because it is an acrostic song, Spurgeon said it could be called “the alphabet of love,” for it unfolds God’s loving provision of wisdom for His children.

 

[boldstardex]

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10:13

No Trial Is Too Great
May 14, 2015

“There is only one question which really matters to a lot of people: Why do bad things happen to good people?” This question, which all of us ask from time to time, became the title Rabbi Harold Kushner’s best-selling book, Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. Sadly, Kushner’s book paints a picture of a very small God, although it did help a lot of people going through tough times.

There is a wonderful Bible story that describes a much greater God. It’s the story of three Hebrew boys who refused to worship the idols of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. You can find it in the Bible in the book of Daniel, Chapter 3. Even though they were threatened with being thrown in a furnace, they held fast in their devotion to God. Their response, “God can spare us from the fiery furnace; He has that power. But, even if He does not, we’ll never serve your gods or bow down to your statue.” They chose to trust God even when it made no earthly sense to do so. And God repaid that faith by seeing that they were not harmed by the fires in the furnace.

God will never take us through a time of testing that is too tough for us to deal with. No matter how difficult your trials, you can bank on His promise. No trial is too great for us with the power of God. He will give us a way to endure it, to resist it, or to get through it.

 

[boldstardex]

The Great Healer
May 19, 2015

Read: Genesis 2:7-15 | Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7-9; John 6:22-44


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
I am the Lord, who heals you. —Exodus 15:26
The doctors I know are smart, hard-working, and compassionate. They have relieved my suffering on many occasions, and I am grateful for their expertise in diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medication, setting broken bones, and stitching up wounds. But this does not mean that I place my faith in physicians rather than in God.

For reasons known only to God, He appointed humans to be His partners in the work of caring for creation (Gen. 2:15), and doctors are among them. Doctors study medical science and learn how God designed the body. They use this knowledge to help restore us to a healthy condition. But the only reason doctors can do anything to make us better is that God created us with the ability to heal. Surgeons would be useless if incisions didn’t heal.

Scientists can learn how God created our bodies to function, and they devise therapies to help restore or cure us, but they are not healers; God is (Ex. 15:26). Doctors simply cooperate with God’s original intent and design.

So I am grateful for science and doctors, but my praise and thanksgiving go to God, who designed an orderly universe and who created us with minds that can discover how it works. I believe, therefore, that all healing is divine because no healing takes place apart from God.

Father God, You are the Great Physician, and I ask for healing, whether mind, body, spirit, or in all of these. I believe You will give what is best. Thank You for Your goodness, kindness, and love in all things.
When you think of all that’s good, give thanks to God.
INSIGHT: Genesis 2:7-15 gives us a glimpse into the perfect living environment of Adam and Eve before the fall. God provided everything necessary for their sustenance and enjoyment—food (v. 9), water (v. 10), and other natural resources (vv. 10-12)—and gave man the responsibility to manage these resources (v. 15). God had originally intended for humanity to live forever, but after the fall Adam and Eve were prevented from eating from the Tree of Life so that they would not live forever in their sinful condition (3:22-24).

 

[boldstardex]

"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" - Psalm 91:2

We Trust Others Every Day
May 22, 2015

In this day and age, we often hear people say, “I just can’t trust anyone anymore!” And on the surface, that might sound true. But think about all the different people to whom we entrust our lives without giving it a second thought. We trust pharmacists to give us the right pills from a prescription we can’t read. We trust pilots we don’t know to take us to the right destination, believing that they know how to fly that baby exactly where we need to go. As we sit in traffic on the interstate, we trust our lives to engineers and road construction crews, believing the bridges will hold.

Yet, people have trouble trusting God. They often say, “I can’t see Him.” Do we see the engineers who designed the bridge? Do we know the pilots? Do we really know what the pharmacist is putting into our prescriptions? Not usually. Yet God, our Creator, who loves us more than anyone, who even sacrificed His Son for us to have forgiveness of sin and eternal life, is difficult to trust. It’s amazing. It just doesn’t make sense to trust imperfect men and not to trust a perfect God.

Let’s change that today. Get to know God in Jesus Christ. We can always trust Him – with our lives now and forever.

 

[boldstardex]

"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" - Psalm 91:2

We Trust Others Every Day
May 22, 2015

In this day and age, we often hear people say, “I just can’t trust anyone anymore!” And on the surface, that might sound true. But think about all the different people to whom we entrust our lives without giving it a second thought. We trust pharmacists to give us the right pills from a prescription we can’t read. We trust pilots we don’t know to take us to the right destination, believing that they know how to fly that baby exactly where we need to go. As we sit in traffic on the interstate, we trust our lives to engineers and road construction crews, believing the bridges will hold.

Yet, people have trouble trusting God. They often say, “I can’t see Him.” Do we see the engineers who designed the bridge? Do we know the pilots? Do we really know what the pharmacist is putting into our prescriptions? Not usually. Yet God, our Creator, who loves us more than anyone, who even sacrificed His Son for us to have forgiveness of sin and eternal life, is difficult to trust. It’s amazing. It just doesn’t make sense to trust imperfect men and not to trust a perfect God.

Let’s change that today. Get to know God in Jesus Christ. We can always trust Him – with our lives now and forever.

 

[boldstardex]

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." - Psalm 37:7a

Stuck Like Glue
May 24, 2015

I don’t know about you but I hate to wait. Do you hate to wait? You know you can go and have an appointment at a doctor’s office, say at 9:00 am. You get in there, sit down, 5, 10, 15 minutes go by, and they haven’t called you. You go over to the magazine rack and start looking around and all you find is a 2005 Psychology Today and it may be another 30-45 minutes, or even an hour before they get to you. I hate that.

I also don’t like to wait in long lines at restaurants, being stuck in traffic during rush hour, or being put on hold by a computer. In our culture, waiting is a waste of time. But one thing’s for sure: What we need to do is to trust God and be willing to do His will, in His timing, not our own, for the right action at the right time equals the right result.

So, what does it really mean to “wait on the Lord?”  I’ll tell you one thing, it doesn’t mean just to stand still and do nothing, that’s not the idea. I know that is the way we wait in many areas of our life. We have to stand still and be quiet and not do anything. The word ‘wait’ in the original Hebrew means, “to be bound like a rope or twisted or bonded together.” So to wait on the Lord means that you trust Him, that you humble yourself and rely on His strength, that you obey His word and commands. It conveys all those meanings. Sometimes it’s very difficult to wait on the Lord for things to happen, for things to take place, but if we will do those things, if we will trust the Lord and if we will humble ourselves under His mighty hand and make sure we obey His will, then we will be blessed. Waiting on God is tough, but God’s timing is always best for us and for others.bB

 

[boldstardex]

Calming The Storm
May 26, 2015

Read: Mark 4:35-41 | Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 28-29; John 9:24-41


Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes
He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. —Mark 4:39
While Hurricane Katrina headed toward the coast of Mississippi, a retired pastor and his wife left their home and went to a shelter. Their daughter pleaded with them to go to Atlanta where she could take care of them, but the couple couldn’t get any money to make the trip because the banks were closed. After the storm had passed, they returned to their home to get a few belongings, and were able to salvage only a few family photos floating in the water. Then, when the man was taking his father’s photo out of its frame so it could dry, $366 fell out—precisely the amount needed for two plane tickets to Atlanta. They learned they could trust Jesus for what they needed.

For the disciples, trusting Jesus in a storm was the curriculum for the day in the dramatic narrative of Mark 4:35-41. Jesus had instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and then He went to sleep in the boat. When a quick and violent storm blew in, the disciples dripped as much with fear and anxiety as water from the waves. They woke Jesus, saying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (v.38 niv). Jesus stood up and with three words, “Peace, be still!” He muzzled the storm.

We all experience storms—persecutions, financial troubles, illnesses, disappointments, loneliness—and Jesus does not always prevent them. But He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He will keep us calm in the storm.

Are you in a storm? What do you know about God’s character that could help bring calm to your heart?
In the storms of life, we can see the character of our God.
INSIGHT: Mark 4:35–5:43 records four miracles that answer the question asked in 4:41: “Who can this be . . . ?” They demonstrate Jesus’ absolute power over nature (4:35-41), the spiritual world (5:1-20), physical illnesses (5:21-34), and death (5:35-43). Each miracle shows Jesus as the Omnipotent Sovereign God. In Jewish minds the power to control the sea and the waves was exclusive to God (Job 38:8-11; Ps. 65:5-7; Isa. 51:10; Nah. 1:3-5). It’s interesting, however, that in today’s passage Mark provides an amazing contrast. Just before Jesus displayed the awesome powers of His deity by calming the sea, we are given a touching picture of His frail humanity: Jesus was so tired that even the violent tossing of the waves did not wake Him (4:38).

 

[boldstardex]

Want to See How God Can Bring Good Evil? Read on…
May 26, 2015

Jesus was hanging on the cross; the religious leaders were mocking Him as He died a tortuous death. It couldn’t get any better for Satan. With God’s Son dead, Satan’s problems were over! But wait! Jesus died and was resurrected! Suddenly Satan realized that he was a defeated, wounded enemy destined for eternal destruction. Had Satan known that a resurrection and ascension were ahead, he would have done all in his power to keep Jesus alive. How God brought good out of evil baffled Satan.

Fast forward. Could there possibly be a more vivid example of evil than Adolph Hitler and his effort to exterminate the Jews? Yet, God was able to bring good from Hitler’s horrific evil. Because of the world’s reaction to this horror, the nation of Israel was reborn after not existing for almost 2,000 years. Once again, the Jews had the permanent homeland God had promised their forefathers thousands of years before.

But, as described in the first paragraph, the most powerful example of good coming from evil is still the story of the cross. Each one of us, because of our sinful nature, is responsible for murdering the innocent Son of God. This was truly the most evil act in all history. Yet, God took our evil and turned it into the greatest act of good. He did this by offering us salvation and forgiveness of sin. He used this great evil to offer us a relationship, a oneness, and a reconciliation with Himself.

The cross gives us hope that no matter what evil we have done, or what evil others have done to us, God has the ability to turn evil into good and to accomplish His intended purposes.