Max Lucado Daily: The Good Shepherd
If the Gospels teach us anything, they teach us that Jesus is a Good Shepherd. In John 10:11, Jesus announces, "The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." Didn't Jesus spread the oil of prevention on his disciples? He prayed for them. He equipped them. He revealed to them the secrets of the parables. He calmed their fears. Because he was a good shepherd, he protected them…and protected them against disappointments.
Jesus tends to his sheep. And he will tend to you. Go to him. Others may guide us to God. Others may help us understand God. But no one can do the work of God, for only God can heal. Psalm 147:3 promises God "heals the brokenhearted." Your first step? Go to God. Then bow before God. Trust in Him. Go. Bow. Trust! Worth a try, don't you think?
From Traveling Light
1 Samuel 30
David Destroys the Amalekites
Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. 2 They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.
3 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, 4 they wept until they could weep no more. 5 David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. 6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
7 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. 8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”
And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
9 So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 10 But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.
11 Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. 12 They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.
13 “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him.
“I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. 14 We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”
15 “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked.
The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”
16 So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. 17 David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. 18 David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. 20 He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.
21 Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 22 But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”
23 But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 24 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” 25 From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.
26 When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
27 The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, 28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 29 Racal,[a] the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, 30 Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, 31 Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.
Footnotes:
30:29 Greek version reads Carmel.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Read: Acts 11:19-26
The Church in Antioch of Syria
Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles[a] about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers[b] were first called Christians.)
Footnotes:
11:20 Greek the Hellenists (i.e., those who speak Greek); other manuscripts read the Greeks.
11:26 Greek disciples; also in 11:29.
INSIGHT: Antioch was a significant city for the early church. An assembly of believers was birthed there, and Barnabas (“the son of encouragement”) was sent from Jerusalem to help them (Acts 11:22). Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, stayed with this growing church for a year, which helped prepare him for his role as an apostle.
Marked By His Name
By Bill Crowder
The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. —Acts 11:26
In July 1860, the world’s first nursing school opened at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Today that school is part of the King’s College, where nursing students are called Nightingales. The school—like modern nursing itself—was established by Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized nursing during the Crimean War. When prospective nurses complete their training, they take the “Nightingale Pledge,” a reflection of her ongoing impact on nursing.
Many people, like Florence Nightingale, have had a significant impact on our world. But no one has had a greater effect than Jesus, whose birth, death, and resurrection have been transforming lives for 2,000 years.
Around the world, Christ’s name marks those who are His followers, going back to the earliest days of the church. “When [Barnabas] had found [Saul], he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
Those who bear Christ’s name identify with Him because we have been changed by His love and grace. We declare to the world that He has made an eternal difference in our lives and we long for that in the hearts of others too.
Father, give me the grace and wisdom to honor You. May my life be so marked by the person of Christ that His great name—and salvation—will be embraced by others as well.
Followers of Christ—Christians—are marked by His name.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
…tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. —Luke 24:49
The disciples had to tarry, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, not only for their own preparation but because they had to wait until the Lord was actually glorified. And as soon as He was glorified, what happened? “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). The statement in John 7:39— “…for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”— does not pertain to us. The Holy Spirit has been given; the Lord is glorified— our waiting is not dependent on the providence of God, but on our own spiritual fitness.
The Holy Spirit’s influence and power were at work before Pentecost, but He was not here. Once our Lord was glorified in His ascension, the Holy Spirit came into the world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revealed truth that He is here. The attitude of receiving and welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive reviving life from our ascended Lord.
It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into their lives through the Holy Spirit. We all too often separate things that the New Testament never separates. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ— it is the evidence of the ascended Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit does not make you think of time or eternity— it is one amazing glorious now. “This is eternal life, that they may know You…” (John 17:3). Begin to know Him now, and never finish.
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
The Art of Following - #7403
Sometimes I think my schedule looks like an episode of Mission Impossible. Some years ago, I was speaking for the Billy Graham Crusade Committee for two pre-crusade leadership rallies. They were in two completely different locations on the same Saturday morning. One was in the heart of Philadelphia and one was in an outlying suburb. They were scheduled back-to-back, and we had to make a very flying trip when I finished speaking in the city to get to the suburbs.
My wife was driving our car, and we were going to leave in that car. So she certainly needed to drive with us, because we had to leave right from that second meeting. I was in the car with the chairman, who happened to be a very respected judge in the area and my wife was following him in terrain that was very unfamiliar to her.
The minute we pulled away from that first location, it was a great adventure for my wife, I'll tell you. She said this chairman was an excellent driver; an excellent leader. But it was just heavy traffic, and the schedule called for some exciting maneuvers to make it in time. My driver was skillful at weaving this time-saving traffic pattern; back and forth through busy traffic. Oh, by the way, we made it safe, we made it on time, and my wife was right behind us.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Art of Following."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 2, beginning at verse 43. I've read this story many times, but I saw something new and almost amusing this time. Here's the story; it's when Jesus was a twelve-year-old boy. "After the Feast was over (where they had gone with twelve-year-old Jesus), while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."
You know what I thought about this? How easy it is to lose track of Jesus if you're not keeping your eyes on Him. I mean, this started early. Later it says He was obedient to his parents. But early on, Jesus demonstrates something that would come out more and more in His life. He is full of surprises!
Like my driver friend in Philadelphia, you've got to keep your eyes on the one you're following, because you never know where he's going to move next. So, here's a fundamental skill of being a Christian. What was Jesus' baseline invitation and command? Two words: "Follow Me."
Luke 9:23, "If anyone will come after Me, let him take up his cross daily and follow Me." But, see, Jesus is a dynamic leader. He knows the road. You don't. And He speeds up sometimes and slows down other times. He goes on one road for a while, then He takes another one. He's not inconsistent. He's not undecided. He's traveling a very sure and certain route that He's planned for you. But it's a route you were made for and only He knows.
It's like my wife following her leader through traffic. You have to keep your eyes on him at all times. John 12:26 says, "Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am my servant also will be." The servant's whole job is to be where his Master is; doing what his Master wants done. So we need to be constantly asking Jesus, "Where are you heading, Jesus? I want to be there right behind you. Where are you heading in my life? Where are you headed with my spouse? Where are you headed with this child? With this business? With this ministry? Where are you going with my future? Where are you headed in this relationship?"
We get from this that there are really two great qualities of a great servant or a great follower. The first is attentiveness; constantly checking to see where your dynamic leader is going, knowing He's the God of surprises. Second is flexibility. If I'm stubbornly tied to where I want to go or to my wonderful plan, or something I won't let go of, chances are I will wake up and find I'm wandering around somewhere because I didn't go where my leader did.
Following Jesus is not a one-time commitment or a static process. You move when He moves. You go where He's going. You keep your eyes on Jesus. His eyes are on you constantly. If you follow faithfully, you're going to get to this wonderful destination that you would have never found on your own.