Daily Devotion

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A Letter from the Battlefield
July 3, 2015

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 | Bible in a Year: Job 25–27; Acts 12

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. —2 Timothy 4:7

For more than two decades, Andrew Carroll has been urging people not to throw away the letters written by family members or friends during a time of war. Carroll, director of the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University in California, considers them an irreplaceable link to tie families together and open a door of understanding. “Younger generations are reading these letters,” Carroll says, “and asking questions and saying, ‘Now I understand what you endured, what you sacrificed.’ ”

When the apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome and knew his life would soon end, he wrote a letter to a young man whom he considered a “son in the faith,” Timothy. Like a soldier on the battlefield, Paul opened his heart to him: “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

When we read the letters in the Bible that the heroes of the Christian faith have left for us and grasp what they endured because of their love for Christ, we gain courage to follow their example and to stand strong for those who come after us.

Lord, give us strength for the spiritual battles we face today, knowing that You have won the ultimate victory and that we will one day live eternally with You.

Run the race with eternity in view.

INSIGHT:
Titus and 1 Timothy were probably written after the apostle Paul was released from house arrest in Rome (ad 61-62) and during his fourth missionary journey (ad 62–63; see Acts 28:30-31). When persecution broke out under Emperor Nero, Paul was imprisoned again. During this second Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote 2 Timothy (ad 65-67). This time he knew his death was imminent (4:6-7). Paul warns that a time is coming when Christians will not “endure sound doctrine” and will turn away from the truth (vv. 3-7). To counter false teaching, Timothy is to “preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (v. 2).

 

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Darkness and Light
July 6, 2015

Read: Psalm 91:1-8 | Bible in a Year: Job 32–33; Acts 14

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, . . . nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness. —Psalm 91:5-6

When I was a boy, I delivered newspapers to about 140 homes on two streets that were connected by a cemetery. Since I delivered a morning newspaper, I had to be out at 3:00 a.m. walking through that cemetery in the darkness. Sometimes I would be so frightened that I would actually run! I was afraid until I was standing safely under a streetlight on the other side. The scary darkness was dispelled by the light.

The psalmist understood the connection between fear and darkness, but he also knew that God is greater than those fears. He wrote, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness” (Ps. 91:5-6). Neither terrors of night nor evil in the darkness need to drive us to fear. We have a God who sent His Son, the Light of the World (John 8:12).

In the light of God’s love and grace and truth, we can find courage, help, and strength to live for Him.

Lord, I come to You, the Light of the World. I want You to bring Your light into the darkness of my fears.

For help in overcoming worry, read discoveryseries.org/q0711

You need not fear the darkness if you are walking with the Light of the World.

INSIGHT:
Psalm 91 celebrates the safety and security of those who trust in God. The psalmist warns of danger from insidious schemes of men, uninvited troubles, physical attacks, sickness, and disasters. But the Lord protects those who trust in Him. This psalm does not promise immunity from danger, but security in the midst of it. Various metaphors are used to describe the safety of the Lord including “the secret place of the Most High,” “the shadow of the Almighty,” a “refuge,” and a “fortress” (vv. 1-2). He will “cover [us] with His feathers,” “under His wings” we take refuge (v. 4), and “His faithful promises are [our] armor and protection” (v. 4 nlt).

 

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"I have sinned against the Lord." - 2 Samuel 12:13a

KING DAVID
July 9, 2015

King David has always been a favorite of mine. He was always so open in his communication with God. When he felt betrayed or alone, he screamed out his pain and displeasure to God. Then, in the very next breath, he would take it back to the main thing with words of adoration and praise for His Heavenly Father. When he sinned against God (and believe me, David sinned – adultery, murder, abuse of power), he begged for forgiveness. He knew he had broken God’s heart with his sin.

Surprisingly, the Bible shows us that King David was a man who found special favor with God, even though he was guilty of all those things. But, as mentioned above, the Bible also shows us that David recognized his mistakes and called them what they were – sins against God. He asked God’s forgiveness and then committed himself to living God’s way.

Even though we may not have done the same things that David did, we have all sinned. God’s Word says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He died to pay the penalty for our sins and to offer us forgiveness.

When you mess up, and you will, confess your sin to God just like David did. Ask for God’s forgiveness and for strength to resist sin in the future. Anything you say won’t be a surprise to Him. He knows everything. And He is the only answer to man’s ultimate problem of sin.

 

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Not Saying Goodbye
July 13, 2015

Read: Philippians 4:1-9 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 7–9; Acts 18


The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. —Philippians 4:9

Francis Allen led me to Jesus, and now it was nearly time for Francis to meet Jesus face to face. I was at his home as it grew time for him to say goodbye. I wanted to say something memorable and meaningful.

For nearly an hour I stood by his bed. He laughed hard at the stories I told on myself. Then he got tired, we got serious, and he spent his energy rounding off some rough edges he still saw in my life. I listened, even as I tried to sort out how to say goodbye.

He stopped me before I got the chance. “You remember, Randy, what I’ve always told you. We have nothing to fear from the story of life because we know how it ends. I’m not afraid. You go do what I’ve taught you.” Those challenging words reminded me of what the apostle Paul said to the believers in Philippi: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do” (Phil. 4:9).

Francis had the same twinkle in his eye this last day I saw him as he had the first day I met him. He had no fear in his heart.

So many of the words I write, stories I tell, and people I serve are touched by Francis. As we journey through life, may we remember those who have encouraged us spiritually.

Who has been your mentor? Are you mentoring others?

Live so that when people get to know you, they will want to know Christ.

INSIGHT:
Paul often showed his appreciation for people who had worked with him, and he often singled out individuals for special mention in his letters (see Rom. 16; Col. 4; 2 Tim. 1:16-18; Titus 3:12-13). It is estimated that he designates some 80-90 people as his “fellow workers” in the book of Acts and in his letters. Included are fellow missionaries and interns, independent ministry associates, traveling companions, fellow prisoners, and supporters. In today’s passage, he urges two women to reconcile and lovingly acknowledges that these women, together with Clement (not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament) and an unnamed list of fellow workers, have labored with him in spreading the gospel (vv. 2-3).

 

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The Likes of Us
July 14, 2015

Read: Matthew 9:35-38 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 10–12; Acts 19:1-20


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Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. —Matthew 9:38 niv

In the late 19th century, William Carey felt a call to travel to India as a missionary to share the good news of Jesus. Pastors around him scoffed: “Young man, if God wants to save [anyone] in India, He will do it without your help or mine!” They missed the point of partnership. God does very little on earth without the likes of us.

As partners in God’s work on earth, we insist that God’s will be done while at the same time committing ourselves to whatever that may require of us. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done,” Jesus taught us to pray (Matt. 6:10). These words are not calm requests but holy demands. Give us justice! Set the world aright!

When we extend mercy to the broken, we reach out with the hands of Christ Himself.
We have different roles to play, we and God. It is our role to follow in Jesus’ steps by doing the work of the kingdom both by our deeds and by our prayers.

We are Christ’s body on earth, to borrow Paul’s metaphor in Colossians 1:24. Those we serve, Christ serves. When we extend mercy to the broken, we reach out with the hands of Christ Himself.

Lord, You have called us Your friends. In some small way, help us to show Your love to this hurting world so they will know You.

Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God. William Carey

INSIGHT:
Matthew’s gospel presents Jesus to the Jewish people as their long-promised Messiah. Matthew primarily uses two methods to make this powerful assertion, both of which were intended to resonate deeply with his audience. First, he repeatedly uses Old Testament Scriptures that describe Christ and are fulfilled in Jesus. Second, a critical part of Matthew’s argument for Jesus as the King of the Jews was Jesus’ compassionate power on display. This is seen in Matthew 9 where Jesus rescues the broken, the hurting, the marginalized, and the hated.

 

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"Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” - John 14:5

IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD? Part 3
July 15, 2015

In Part 1 of this series of devotions, you will remember that Jesus said, “I am the way…” and in doing so, upset a lot of people by His claim. In Part 2, we focused on Jesus’ claim to be the only way to heaven. Today, we see Thomas asked Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

Now, before you get too hard on Thomas, I think he believed that Jesus was the way to the Heavenly Father. He just didn’t understand exactly how he would get to heaven. That is the big question for all of us. How do we find the road to heaven?

Most people feel like they’re going to get to heaven if they are good enough, religious enough, or moral enough. They think that somehow that will do the trick. Unfortunately, the Bible clearly says if we sin one time, we’re not qualified for heaven. ONE time! In other words, we would have to be perfect to get to heaven with good deeds. It should come as no surprise that none of us make it that way. So how can we be sure that we know the way to heaven?

Think about it this way: It’s 1970 (before the age of the GPS) and you’re going to New York City for the first time. You have a meeting in downtown Manhattan. So, you stop and ask somebody for directions and they say, “Just go down about 3 blocks where you’ll see a service station, turn left and go a few blocks, and you’ll see a 60-story building, turn right and go about 5 or 6 blocks, and you’ll come to an intersection…” Well, by that time, your mind is confused, but you then realize you are lost.

But what if that person said, “You haven’t been here before, have you? Come with me. I’ll take you there.” Now, you’ve got a big decision to make. “Can I trust this this guy? Is he going to rob me? Is he going to lead me into trouble?” “Will he really lead me to where I need to go?” That’s the decision we have to make in whether or not we can trust in Jesus to get us to Heaven.

Obviously, the decision to trust Jesus is eternally more important than finding your way in Manhattan. Yet it’s a decision to believe He is trustworthy enough to follow Him with your life. Many of us have decided that Jesus is telling the truth and He is the way to heaven. So, what about you? Will you trust Him? That’s the big decision of life. There’s more tomorrow in Part 4!

 

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“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” - Genesis 2:24

THE BOND BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
July 20, 2015

God has decreed that the most important human relationship in a marriage is our spouse. Men and women, we are to leave our father and mother and be joined to our spouse. It doesn’t mean that we love our parents or our children less, but the priority should always be with our spouse. In other words, the husband and the wife are called to be best friends. There should not be a person on this earth that we are closer to than our spouse. And if there is, our priorities have gotten out of whack and we need to confess our sin to God and ask Him to forgive us and help us reprioritize our life.

I speak often about the importance of a weekly date for a husband and wife. I call it the ‘falling in love all over again’ time. Anne and I still have our weekly date after 40 years of marriage. Every time, it’s like we are bonded together once again. This continues to amaze me that after all these years I can look at her and say, “Anne, isn’t it amazing? We’ve spent all this time together, and there’s nobody we want to be with more than each other.” There is nothing like having your spouse as your best friend. It’s a real key to marriage as God designed it to be.

More on marriage God’s way tomorrow!

 

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"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17

GOD CAN DO SOMETHING POWERFUL IN YOUR LIFE!
August 4, 2015

Do you feel as though everyone else seems to have it all together except you? Are you struggling with a life-crisis caused by a personal character flaw, indiscretion, or misstep? Let me assure you that you’re not alone.

Consider the mess Moses got himself into. At age 39, Moses was at the apex of society, of status, of wealth, of educational pedigree, as the adopted son of the most prominent man in the world – Pharaoh. He was at the pinnacle of all society. And then he murdered an Egyptian he saw beating a slave. He buried the body and thought he had gotten away with it. But Moses was exposed the next day and had to flee for his life in the wilderness. Moses went from high society to desert nomad in just one day. And you’re talking about a drastic change in everything about his life.

Moses probably felt like his life was over and thought there was no chance for him ever again doing anything of significance. But, even though what Moses did was evil and wrong, God did not abandon him. God took Moses’ evil and turned it into a means for good by preparing him for the challenge of his life – calling on Pharaoh to release all the Hebrew slaves.

Perhaps you can relate to what Moses went through. No matter how bad your fall or how serious your character flaw or how much difficulty you face in life – don’t give up. Turn to the Lord with trust and let God do something powerful in your life. Let God develop all the Godly attributes that He wants you to have in your life. Just like He did for Moses, God still has great plans for your life!

 

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"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." - Revelation 2:4

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FELL IN LOVE?
August 6, 2015

As the pastor of a large church, it’s not uncommon for couples to ask my advice on how to save their marriages. In fact, my wife and I come into contact with people whose marriages are struggling on a regular basis. It’s a sad thing when that happens because we know, in reality, that they may not make it. One thing we’ve learned to ask is, “Why did you fall in love in the first place? What was it that attracted you to your mate?” Out of the deadness of lost love, we sometimes see a flicker of hope that can be rekindled.

Jesus makes this comparison in our relationship with Him. When we drift away from loving Him most – more than anyone or anything, He says [my paraphrase], “Remember how it was when you fell in love with Me? There was joy, excitement, and gratitude for forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.” Then Jesus tells His church, “Remember where you have fallen and do the deeds you did at first.” What did a fallen Christian do when they came to Christ in faith and loved Him most? They wanted to be with Him, to know Him, to worship Him. To be with Him equals prayer, Bible study, and worship. They wanted to please Him, trust Him, follow Him and obey Him. They wanted to tell others about Him – like someone in love – to share with others the greatness of Jesus.

Is your marriage struggling? Are you a Christian who is struggling and you’ve drifted away from the Lord? Remember what it was like when you fell in love with your spouse and do what you did back then. Likewise, remember what it was like when you fell in love with Jesus and rekindle that joyful relationship with your Creator. In doing that, you might find that finding joy in your marriage also becomes easier in the process.

 

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A Portrait of Jesus
Aug 12, 2015

Read: Isaiah 53:4-12 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 84–86; Romans 12

We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6

In Portraits of Famous American Women, Robert Henkes writes, “A portrait is not a photograph, nor is it a mirror image.” A portrait goes beyond the outer appearance to probe the emotional depth of the human soul. In a portrait, a true artist tries “to capture what the person is really about.”

Over the centuries, many portraits have been painted of Jesus. Perhaps you’ve seen them in a church or museum of art or even have one in your home. Not one of these is a true portrait, of course, because we have no photograph or mirror image of our Lord’s physical appearance. We do, however, have a magnificent word portrait of Him in Isaiah 53. This God-inspired description captures in vivid detail what He is all about: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering . . . . But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; . . . and by his wounds we are healed” (vv. 4-5 niv).

This passage enables us to see love and sorrow, anguish and pain on Jesus’ face. But His lips do not accuse or condemn. He has no sins of His own to grieve; only ours to bear. And deep inside, He knows that “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied” (v. 11).

What a portrait of our Savior!

What amazing love You have for us, Jesus! As I think of how awesome You are, I bow in silence before You.

Love was when God became a man.

INSIGHT:
Isaiah 53 is the last of four prophecies of Isaiah (42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11; 52:13–53:12) known as the “Servant Songs” because they speak of the “Servant” (42:1; 49:3; 50:10; 52:13). These Songs prophetically identify Jesus the Messiah as the Servant. Sim Kay Tee

 

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Under Siege
Aug 18, 2015

Read: Philippians 2:1-11 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 100–102; 1 Corinthians 1


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Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

During the Bosnian War (1992–1996), more than 10,000 people—civilians and soldiers—were killed in the city of Sarajevo as gunfire and mortar rounds rained down from the surrounding hills. Steven Galloway’s gripping novel The Cellist of Sarajevo unfolds there, during the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. The book follows three fictional characters who must decide if they will become completely self-absorbed in their struggle to survive, or will somehow rise above their numbing circumstances to consider others during a time of great adversity.

From a prison in Rome, Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, saying: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). Paul cited Jesus as the great example of a selfless focus on others: “Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, . . . made Himself of no reputation . . . humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (vv. 5-8). Rather than seeking sympathy from others, Jesus gave all He had to rescue us from the tyranny of sin.

Our continuing challenge as followers of Jesus is to see through His eyes and respond to the needs of others in His strength, even in our own difficult times.

Are you going through something hard right now? What can you still do for another?

Embracing God’s love for us is the key to loving others.

INSIGHT:
The words that Paul penned to the Philippian church while he was under house arrest are some of the most challenging. There is so much in this short letter that goes against our natural inclinations. From prison, Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to “make his joy complete” (2:2 niv). Paul is joyful while in prison because of his faith in Christ, and he encouraged the believers to add to his joy by looking out for one another and counting others as more important than themselves. Paul then uses Jesus as the example of this kind of selflessness. In taking on humanity, Jesus gave up everything that was rightfully His to come to our rescue. J.R. Hudberg

 

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"For You light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness." - Psalm 18:28

HE WILL LEAD US WHEREVER WE NEED TO GO
August 19, 2015

It’s not surprising that adults are afraid of the dark. We are constantly bombarded with stories, movies and even the news, about awful things that happen at night. But why are children afraid of the dark? Maybe it’s an innate fear of being left alone, feeling separated, vivid imaginations, or maybe, just shadows in the dark.

The fact is, children fear the dark for many of the same reasons adults do. It seems many fears intensify in the night–especially sleepless nights. But I have good news: God is with us wherever we go.

Listen to a portion of Psalm 139 (NIV): “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the Heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Like a loving Father, God offers us a hand to hold in life’s darkest hours. He’ll carry all of us through the darkness, and lead us where we need to go.

Of this I am sure.

 

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Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. —niv Proverbs 14:26

My father was critically injured when he took a bullet in the leg as a second lieutenant leading his men on Hill 609 in North Africa during World War II. Dad was never again 100 percent physically. I was born several years after this, and when I was young I didn’t even know he had been wounded. I found out later when someone told me. Although he felt constant pain in his leg, my dad never complained about it, and he never used it as an excuse for not providing for our family.

My parents loved the Savior and raised us to love, trust, and serve Him. Through good times and bad, they simply trusted God, worked hard, and loved us unconditionally. Proverbs 14:26 says that “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge” (niv). My dad did that for our family. No matter what difficulties he faced, he provided a safe place for us spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

God's love for His children is deep & eternal.
We parents can provide a safe haven for our families with the help of our perfect heavenly Father, whose love for His children is deep and eternal.

How has God been a Father to you? In what ways do you honor Him in your family life?

Share your answers to that question in the comments section.

The Father’s love knows no limit.

Insight:
This psalm is the second of a series of “Hallelujah Psalms” (Pss. 111–117), so named because they all begin with“Hahelu Yah” or “Praise the Lord.” Psalm 112 develops the concluding thought of Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the Lordis the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 112 celebrates the blessedness of the person who diligently and lovingly obeys the Lord’s commands (v. 1). That person is honorable, gracious, kind, honest, and known for integrity (vv. 5-9). In contrast, the psalm describes the emptiness and the grievous end of the wicked (v.10). Sim Kay Tee

 

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"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lamp stands, say this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.'" - Revelation 2:1

LOVE JESUS FIRST
August 24, 2015

People in full time ministry have folks who come to us when their marriages are on the rocks. We hear comments like, “I just don’t love him anymore” or “The spark is gone” or “My feelings are dead.” And in almost every case, it didn’t just happen overnight. A marriage falls into trouble because gradually, over time, the husband and wife aren’t prioritizing one another as the primary human relationship here on this earth. When that happens, their love can grow cold. Then a person really feels separated from the one that they originally loved very much. One of the things that Anne and I both of us have learned to ask as we counsel folks struggling in their marriage is, “What was it to caused you to fall in love with that person?” The responses are always amazing.

It’s really quite similar in our relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s very rare that we suddenly rebel against God, wanting to have nothing to do with Him anymore. What tends to happen is over time, often subtly, we begin to drift away from God. He begins to no longer be the priority of our lives. Other priorities creep in. Our hearts begins to grow cold towards the Lord. When that occurs, we find ourselves leaving who should be the first love of our lives – that is Jesus Christ.

Obviously, many of the reasons for leaving our first love, Jesus Christ, are well intentioned. But sometimes, good things cause us to neglect the best thing. Good things like family, a job, or even our ministries. I really believe that perhaps the major temptation for anyone who serves in Christian ministry is to begin to confuse their ministry with their relationship with Jesus Christ. After all, what could more important than doing the work of the Lord? It’s a constant temptation.

Nothing or no one is to come before our relationship with Jesus Christ. The starting point is confessing it and loving Jesus most. Do you remember when you first came to know Him and what you focused on? Get back to doing those things.

 

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The Power of Words
Aug 26, 2015

Read: Proverbs 18:1-8, 20-21 | Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:89-176; 1 Corinthians 8


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Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Nelson Mandela, who opposed the South African apartheid regime and was imprisoned for almost 3 decades, knew the power of words. He is often quoted today, but while in prison his words could not be quoted for fear of repercussion. A decade after his release he said: “It is never my custom to use words lightly. If 27 years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are, and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die.”

King Solomon, author of most of the Old Testament book of Proverbs, wrote often about the power of words. He said, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). Words have the potential to produce positive or negative consequences (v. 20). They have the power to give life through encouragement and honesty or to crush and kill through lies and gossip. How can we be assured of producing good words that have a positive outcome? The only way is by diligently guarding our hearts: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (4:23niv).

Jesus can transform our hearts so that our words can truly be their best—honest, calm, appropriate, and suitable for the situation.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

 

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"Give ear and hear my voice, listen and hear my words." -Isaiah 28:23

GOD SPEAKS IN A STILL, SMALL VOICE
August 27, 2015

NOISE.

IT’S EVERYWHERE.

Ever notice how noise fills our lives? We wake to music or alarms. We get in the car and what’s the first thing we do? We slip in a CD, plug in an iPod, or turn on the radio. When we walk into the house or a hotel room, the first thing we do is turn on the TV. It seems that, with noise, we just don’t feel so alone. Sometimes, we use the noise as a buffer to keep from thinking about our problems or doing things we know we should do.

In the midst of all of this noise, are you missing the most important voice of all?

In 1 Kings, the Bible tells us that God sometimes speaks in a still, small voice. In the busyness and noisiness of our lives, it’s easy to miss Him. The only way to hear Him is to make an intentional effort to quiet the noise of our lives and spend some time listening, through prayer and reading His Word. You will never get a more important phone call or crucial message.

Find some time each day to be alone and quiet, and listen to the most important voice of all. It will enrich your life tremendously.

 

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WEALTH CAN BRING ADDED TEMPTATIONS

August 30, 2015

When a rather selfish TV character was reminded that money doesn’t buy happiness, she quickly replied, “Oh, of course it does. That’s just something we tell poor people to keep them from rioting.” Now, I know that was supposed to be a joke, but the truth is, not only does money not buy happiness, the desire to be rich can add many complications to your life.

The Bible makes it clear that the desire to be rich brings many new temptations into your life. What are some of those temptations? Well, it can be the temptation to lie or to steal. It can be the temptation to use and even run over other people to have more wealth. It can be the temptation to defraud other people to have more wealth. This focus to have more and more money can cause one temptation after another and the next thing you know, we can find ourselves doing things we never thought we’d do. We can make life a mess. When wealth becomes our priority, we are not willing to acknowledge that all we think we own is God’s and that victory with money—be it a little or a lot—is using His money in a way that pleases Him.

Wealth earned honestly can be a blessing. It can do a lot of good. But the desire to be rich so we can spend it or hoard it for ourselves, can cause us to give into all sorts of unhealthy temptations.

 

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“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” - Matthew 5:21-22

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR ANGER AND STRESS?
September 1, 2015

Jesus talks to us about the seriousness of anger, so what are some ways that we can put this into practice? Realize in God’s eyes, we are guilty of the worst crime against man: murder, when we are angry with our brother, when we have a contemptuous attitude, or slander our brother, when we are critical of our brother, this is murder in God’s eyes.

Realize the times that we are most vulnerable to the sin of anger or contempt for our fellowman. Here are a few:

• When we are tired, we tend to get angry a lot easier.
• Discouragement. How often have we seen great athletes trying their best to win, then everything falls apart near the end of the game. All of a sudden fights break out. Why? They’re discouraged about how things are going; they lose their cool and fall into the sin of anger.
• Someone you love hurts you. A spouse finds out their mate has been cheating. Anger rises up and everyone loses his or her cool.
• Fear. Someone pulls out in front of on the freeway and you feel your life is threatened. We tend to be lose our cool and call that person names.

Here’s the point. Keep your guard up when going through a time of stress, times of great fatigue, times of great discouragement, when someone hurts you and you are afraid.

When you find yourself in a situation and your temper begins to rise, and you want to unload on somebody, ask yourself, “Do I want Jesus to hear this?” I assure you, He will. Then say, to the Lord, “Father, help me get a hold of myself.” And when you blow it – and all of us do – seek God’s forgiveness. And if you unloaded on someone and they have felt your wrath, always apologize for losing your cool. There is nothing wrong with confronting a person who has done wrong. That is “tough love,” but losing our cool is always wrong in God’s eyes.

 

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The Babel Project
Sep 2, 2015

Read: Genesis 11:1-9 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 137–139; 1 Corinthians 13


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Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1

Two workmen were asked what they were building together. One said he was building a garage. The other replied that he was building a cathedral. A day later there was only one man laying bricks. When asked where the second was, the first replied, “Oh, he got fired. He insisted on building a cathedral instead of a garage.”

Something similar happened on the ancient worksite of Babel. A group of people decided they would build a city and a tower that would reach to the heavens and unite their world (Gen. 11:4). But God didn’t want them working on a grand, self-centered plan based on the idea that they could rise to the heights of God and solve all of their own problems. So He came down, stopped the project, scattered the people “over all the earth,” and gave them different languages (vv. 8-9).

God wants us to see Him as the solution to our problems.
God wanted people to see Him as the solution to their problems, and He revealed His plan for them to Abraham (12:1-3). Through the faith of Abraham and his descendants, He would show the world how to look for a city “whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).

Our faith does not rise out of our own dreams and solutions. The foundation of faith is in God alone and what He can do in and through us.

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for focusing on my own schemes and dreams. Help me to look to You for guidance in all that I do.

God wants to do what only He can do in and for us.

INSIGHT:
Genesis 11 holds a pivotal place in the early Old Testament story, as it forms something of a bridge from the days of the early patriarchs (Adam, Seth, Noah) to the days of Abraham. In Genesis 1–10 we find not only the creation narrative but also the record of humanity’s early failures, which are proof we need the Rescuer that God promised in Genesis 3:15. This promise will find its ultimate fulfillment through the line of Abraham—in Jesus the Messiah—through whom all the people of the world will be blessed (22:18). Bill Crowder

 

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The Tyranny of the Perfect
Sep 3, 2015

Read: 1 John 1:5–2:2 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 140–142; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20


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If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Dr. Brian Goldman obsessively tried to be perfect in treating his patients. But on a nationally broadcast show he admitted to mistakes he had made. He revealed that he had treated a woman in the emergency room and then made the decision to discharge her. Later that day a nurse asked him, “Do you remember that patient you sent home? Well, she’s back.” The patient had been readmitted to the hospital and then died. This devastated him. He tried even harder to be perfect, only to learn the obvious: Perfection is impossible.

As Christians, we may harbor unrealistic expectations of perfection for ourselves. But even if we can somehow manage the appearance of a flawless life, our thoughts and motives are never completely pure.

John the disciple wrote, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The remedy is not to hide our sins and to strive harder, but to step into the light of God’s truth and confess them. “If we walk in the light,” said John, “as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (v. 7).

In medicine, Dr. Goldman proposes the idea of a “redefined physician” who—in a culture where we are hesitant to admit our errors—no longer toils under the tyranny of perfection. Such a physician openly shares mistakes and supports colleagues who do the same, with a goal of reducing mistakes.

What if Christians were known not for hiding their sins but for loving and supporting each other with the truth and grace of our God? What if we practiced a risky yet healthy honesty with each other and with the watching world?

Father, it’s so difficult for us to share our faults with each other, but You call us to wholeness as Your people. Empower us by Your Spirit to live courageously in love and honesty.

Honesty with God about our sin brings forgiveness.

INSIGHT:
Verse 9 of today’s passage is one of the most well-known verses in the New Testament. It speaks of the faithfulness of God to forgive our sins when we confess them. But it is interesting to note that verses 6-10 begin with the condition “if.” The word if ties results to our actions. John is saying that our condition—walking in darkness or walking in light (vv. 6-7) and being deceived or being forgiven (vv. 8-9)—depends on the choices we make. Although in our standing with God we are eternally forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice, we will miss out on fellowship with God when we neglect confession of sin. J.R. Hudberg