Daily Devotional by Max Lucado
“the One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaks”
June 19
Faithfully Present
The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.
Luke 19:10 (NCV)
Our God is the God who follows. Have you sensed him following you? He is the one who came to seek and save the lost. Have you sensed him seeking you?
Have you felt his presence through the kindness of a stranger? Through the majesty of a sunset or the mystery of romance? Through the question of a child or the commitment of a spouse? Through a word well spoken or a touch well timed, have you sensed him?...
God gives us himself. Even when we choose our hovel over his house and our trash over his grace, still he follows. Never forcing us. Never leaving us. Patiently persistent. Faithfully present. He uses all his power to convince us that he is who he is and he can be trusted to lead us home.
Daily Devotional by Max Lucado
“the One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaks”
June 19
Faithfully Present
The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.
Luke 19:10 (NCV)
Our God is the God who follows. Have you sensed him following you? He is the one who came to seek and save the lost. Have you sensed him seeking you?
Have you felt his presence through the kindness of a stranger? Through the majesty of a sunset or the mystery of romance? Through the question of a child or the commitment of a spouse? Through a word well spoken or a touch well timed, have you sensed him?...
God gives us himself. Even when we choose our hovel over his house and our trash over his grace, still he follows. Never forcing us. Never leaving us. Patiently persistent. Faithfully present. He uses all his power to convince us that he is who he is and he can be trusted to lead us home.
Luke 8
The Story of the Farmer
1 After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God's kingdom. The Twelve were with him. 2 So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her. 3 Another was Joanna, the wife of Cuza. He was the manager of Herod's household. Susanna and many others were there also. These women were helping to support Jesus and the Twelve with their own money.
4 A large crowd gathered together. People came to Jesus from town after town. As they did, he told a story. He said, 5 "A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some seed fell on rocky places. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water. 7 Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted."
When Jesus said this, he called out, "Those who have ears should listen."
9 His disciples asked him what the story meant.
10 He said, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God's kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way,
" 'They see, but they will not know what they are seeing.
They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.' —(Isaiah 6:9)
11 "Here is what the story means. The seed is God's message. 12 People on the path are those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won't believe. Then they can't be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are put to the test, they fall away from the faith. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth.
15 "But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. They hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.
A Lamp on a Stand
16 "People do not light a lamp and then hide it in a jar or put it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand. Then those who come in can see its light. 17 What is hidden will be seen. And what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known.
18 "So be careful how you listen. If you have something, you will be given more. If you have nothing, even what you think you have will be taken away from you."
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you."
21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and do what it says."
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and left.
23 As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake. It was so bad that the boat was about to sink. They were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke Jesus up. They said, "Master! Master! We're going to drown!"
He got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop. The storm quieted down. It was completely calm.
25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
They were amazed and full of fear. They asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him."
Jesus Heals a Man Controlled by Demons
26 Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don't hurt me!"
29 This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. His hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.
30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it.
33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.
34 Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside. 35 The people went out to see what had happened.
Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid.
36 Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed. 37 Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you."
So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman
40 When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him.
41 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house. 42 His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her. 44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped.
45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
They all said they didn't do it. Then Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you."
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me."
47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant.
48 Then he said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," the messenger said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore."
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed."
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.
52 During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. "Stop crying!" Jesus said. "She is not dead. She is sleeping."
53 They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.
54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"
55 Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Genesis 39
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
1 Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar had bought him from the Ishmaelite traders who had taken him there. Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. He was the captain of the palace guard.
2 The Lord was with Joseph. He gave him great success. Joseph lived in Potiphar's house.
3 Joseph's master saw that the Lord was with him. He saw that the Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did. 4 So Potiphar was pleased with Joseph. He made him his attendant. He put Joseph in charge of his house. He told Joseph to take good care of everything he owned.
5 From that time on, the Lord blessed Potiphar's family and servants because of Joseph. He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field.
6 So Potiphar told Joseph to take good care of everything he owned. With Joseph in charge, he didn't have to worry about anything except the food he ate.
Joseph was strong and handsome. 7 After a while, his master's wife noticed Joseph. She said to him, "Make love to me!"
8 But he said no. "My master has put me in charge," he told her. "Now he doesn't have to worry about anything in the house. He trusts me to take care of everything he owns.
9 "No one in this house is in a higher position than I am. My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. You are his wife. So how could I do an evil thing like that? How could I sin against God?"
10 She spoke to Joseph day after day. But he told her he wouldn't make love to her. He didn't even want to be with her.
11 One day Joseph went into the house to take care of his duties. None of the family servants was inside.
12 Potiphar's wife grabbed hold of him by his coat. "Make love to me!" she said. But he left his coat in her hand. And he ran out of the house.
June 19, 2009
The Tempted Brothers
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READ: Genesis 39:1-12
How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? —Genesis 39:9
Two brothers—both far from home —faced similar temptations. One, working away from the family, fell to the schemes of a younger woman. His sin led to embarrassment and family turmoil. The other, separated from loved ones because of family turmoil, resisted the advances of an older woman. His faithfulness led to rescue and renewal for the family.
Who are these brothers? Judah, who fell to the desperate scheme of his neglected daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen. 38). And Joseph, who ran from the arms of Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39). One chapter, an ugly story of irresponsibility and deception; the other, a beautiful chapter of faithfulness.
The stories of Judah and Joseph, presented back-to-back in the midst of “the history of Jacob” (37:2), show us that temptation itself is not the problem. Everybody faces temptation, even Jesus did (Matt. 4:1-11). But how do we face temptation? Do we demonstrate that faith in God can shield us from giving in to sin?
Joseph gave us one way of escape: Recognize sin as an affront to God and run from it. Jesus gave another: Answer temptation with truth from God’s Word.
Facing temptation? See it as an opportunity to make God and His Word real in your life. Then run! — Dave Branon
For Further Study
To gain insight into how to say no to temptation, check out Resisting The Lure: Recognizing The Dangers Of Sexual Temptation at www.discoveryseries.org/q0707
We fall into temptation when we don’t stand against it.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
June 19, 2009
My Utmost for His Highest
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READ:
. . . do you love Me? . . . Tend My sheep —John 21:16
Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep, to see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Him. We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate . . . , he cannot be My disciple" ( Luke 14:26 ). In this verse, there is no argument and no pressure from Jesus to follow Him; He is simply saying, in effect, "If you want to be My disciple, you must be devoted solely to Me." A person touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says, "Now I see who Jesus is!"— that is the source of devotion.
Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not really want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who only want Him to be their Friend, and who are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. Our Lord’s primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people— the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a "doormat." The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls into the ground and dies"— it will spring up and change the entire landscape ( John 12:24 ).
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
The Sweetener - #5855
Friday, June 19, 2009
A friend of mine and his son love to take off backpacking along the beautiful river near their house. And they've learned some interesting "tricks of the trade" to make sure they have clean water to drink without the weight of having to carry water with them all the time. They take iodine pills with them on their hikes. Apparently, they can collect some water from the river, dissolve iodine in it, and the water comes out clean. But then who would want to drink it? Iodine-flavored water I don't think is exactly the taste sensation that's sweeping the nation, right? But that's where the Kool-Aid comes in! They mix in some Kool-Aid. It actually makes that bitter water sweet, they tell me!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Sweetener."
When God's people were navigating the wilderness in the Old Testament, well, of course, Kool-Aid had not been invented yet. But they did have a bitter water situation and a miracle that changed everything. The story is in Exodus 15, beginning with verse 22. It's actually our word for today from the Word of God.
Here's what it says. "For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter...So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What are we to drink?' Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood He threw into the water, and the water became sweet." Amazing! God miraculously changes what was bitter into something sweet. You know, He's still doing that miracle today - with bitter people, with bitter feelings, with bitter situations.
And that might be exactly what you need to be praying for right now. Actually, "crying out to the Lord for," as it says Moses did. That's not just a casual, trite little prayer. That's a desperate cry to God for something so hard that only He can do it. Right now, you may be thinking of someone in your personal world who is bitter. There's resentment, sarcasm, cynicism, anger, and maybe un-forgiveness. The good news is that God is the world's leading Heart Surgeon; He can change a heart in ways that no human could ever dream. But you need to be faithfully, fervently, praying for God to do whatever it takes to change the heart of that bitter person. Especially if that bitter person is you.
The Bible makes it clear that you "miss the grace of God" when you let a "bitter root" grow in you. And your bitterness will, according to God, "cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15). But maybe your bitter pond isn't a person; it's a situation you're in right now. God has the power to sweeten a bitter situation, as well as a bitter person.
But God may have a "piece of wood" that He wants you to throw into the bitter waters. Maybe it's that apology you need to give, a letter that you need to write, or an email you need to send, some forgiving you need to do, a healing step that you know you need to take. As you pray about the bitter, ask God if there's a step He wants you to take in bringing about a sweetening miracle.
Don't underestimate the power of Almighty God to sweeten what you thought would always be bitter. If you'll trust and you'll obey; trust God to change things and obey His orders to make it happen. With a God as powerful and loving as ours, no bitter pond has to stay bitter. Not when God does His miracle of making bitter things sweet.