Max Lucado Daily: When a Heart Turns to Christ - November 12, 2021
The story of Aleksandr began in 1918 in Russia. By early adulthood he was a disciple of Marx and Lenin. In World War II, he was drafted into the military. He was falsely accused of spying, and arrested. Over the next eight years in prison, his faith in the communist regime diminished. The decisive moment came in January 1952 when he received a visit from a Jewish doctor who had recently become a Christian.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn soon followed in the steps of the doctor. He described his conversion in the book The Gulag Archipelago. Who would have ever imagined that deep in a prison built on atheism a heart would turn to Christ and would touch the world?
Exodus 40
“Moses Finished the Work”
God spoke to Moses: “On the first day of the first month, set up The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting. Place the Chest of The Testimony in it and screen the Chest with the curtain.
4 “Bring in the Table and set it, arranging its Lampstand and lamps.
5 “Place the Gold Altar of Incense before the Chest of The Testimony and hang the curtain at the door of The Dwelling.
6 “Place the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering at the door of The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting.
7 “Place the Washbasin between the Tent of Meeting and the Altar and fill it with water.
8 “Set up the Courtyard on all sides and hang the curtain at the entrance to the Courtyard.
9-11 “Then take the anointing oil and anoint The Dwelling and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings so that it becomes holy. Anoint the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering and all its utensils, consecrating the Altar so that it is completely holy. Anoint the Washbasin and its base: consecrate it.
12-15 “Finally, bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Dress Aaron in the sacred vestments. Anoint him. Set him apart to serve me as priest. Bring his sons and put tunics on them. Anoint them, just as you anointed their father, to serve me as priests. Their anointing will bring them into a perpetual priesthood, down through the generations.”
16 Moses did everything God commanded. He did it all.
17-19 On the first day of the first month of the second year, The Dwelling was set up. Moses set it up: He laid its bases, erected the frames, placed the crossbars, set the posts, spread the tent over The Dwelling, and put the covering over the tent, just as God had commanded Moses.
20-21 He placed The Testimony in the Chest, inserted the poles for carrying the Chest, and placed the lid, the Atonement-Cover, on it. He brought the Chest into The Dwelling and set up the curtain, screening off the Chest of The Testimony, just as God had commanded Moses.
22-23 He placed the Table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of The Dwelling, outside the curtain, and arranged the Bread there before God, just as God had commanded him.
24-25 He placed the Lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the Table on the south side of The Dwelling and set up the lamps before God, just as God had commanded him.
26-27 Moses placed the Gold Altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, just as God had commanded him.
28 He placed the screen at the entrance to The Dwelling.
29 He set the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering at the door of The Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting, and offered up the Whole-Burnt-Offerings and the Grain-Offerings, just as God had commanded Moses.
30-32 He placed the Washbasin between the Tent of Meeting and the Altar, and filled it with water for washing. Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet there. When they entered the Tent of Meeting and when they served at the Altar, they washed, just as God had commanded Moses.
33 Finally, he erected the Courtyard all around The Dwelling and the Altar, and put up the screen for the Courtyard entrance.
Moses finished the work.
34-35 The Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Moses couldn’t enter the Tent of Meeting because the Cloud was upon it, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling.
36-38 Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on their travels, but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn’t set out until it did lift. The Cloud of God was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Friday, November 12, 2021
Today's Scripture
Job 38:1
,
4–18
(NIV)
The Lord Speaks
38 Then the Lord spoke to Jobw out of the storm.x He said:
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?b
Tell me, if you understand.c
5 Who marked off its dimensions?d Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring linee across it?
6 On what were its footings set,f
or who laid its cornerstoneg—
7 while the morning starsh sang togetheri
and all the angelsa j shouted for joy?k
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doorsl
when it burst forth from the womb,m
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,n
10 when I fixed limits for ito
and set its doors and bars in place,p
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;q
here is where your proud waves halt’?r
12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,s
or shown the dawn its place,t
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wickedu out of it?v
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;w
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,x
and their upraised arm is broken.y
16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?z
17 Have the gates of deatha been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?b
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?c
Tell me, if you know all this.d
Insight
An important answer to Job’s crisis of faith hinges on the words, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm” (Job 38:1). Instead of answering in a gentle whisper (see 1 Kings 19:12), God showed up from within blinding flashes of lightning and the roaring voice of dark clouds (Job 37:1–5, 14–16). God also didn’t tell him about the accuser, Satan, that our preamble to Job explains for us (chs. 1–2). Instead, from within the power and violence of a thunderstorm, the God of creation used the beauty and wonder of the world He’d made to help the servant He loved trust Him. By: Mart DeHaan
God’s Amazing Creation
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Job 38:4
What began as a simple spring nature walk turned into something special as my wife and I trekked along our hometown’s Grand River. We noticed some familiar “friends” on a log in the rippling water—five or six large turtles basking in the sun. Sue and I smiled at the amazing sight of these reptiles, which we hadn’t seen for many months. We were delighted that they were back, and we celebrated a moment of joy in God’s magnificent creation.
God took Job on quite a nature walk (see Job 38). The troubled man needed an answer from his Creator about his situation (v. 1). And what he saw on his journey with God through His creation provided the encouragement he needed.
Imagine Job’s amazement as God reminded him of His grand design of the world. Job got a firsthand explanation of the natural world: “Who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (vv. 6–7). He got a geography lesson regarding God’s imposed limitations of the seas (v. 11).
The Creator continued to inform Job about the light He created, snow He produces, and rain He provides to make things grow (vv. 19–28). Job even heard about the constellations from the One who flung them into space (vv. 31–32).
Finally, Job responded, “I know that you can do all things” (42:2). As we experience the natural world, may we stand in awe of our wise and wonderful Creator. By: Dave Branon
Reflect & Pray
How can nature bring you closer to God? How does it remind you of His great creative power and love?
Dear God, thank You for creating such a magnificent, diverse, fascinating world. Help me to appreciate Your workmanship and realize that You’re in control.
To learn more about the book of Job.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Friday, November 12, 2021
The Changed Life
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17
What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is— has God changed the things that really matter to you? If you still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born from above— you are deceiving yourself. If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your real life and thought. And when a crisis comes, you are the most amazed person on earth at the wonderful difference there is in you. There is no possibility of imagining that you did it. It is this complete and amazing change that is the very evidence that you are saved.
What difference has my salvation and sanctification made? For instance, can I stand in the light of 1 Corinthians 13 , or do I squirm and evade the issue? True salvation, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit, frees me completely. And as long as I “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7), God sees nothing to rebuke because His life is working itself into every detailed part of my being, not on the conscious level, but even deeper than my consciousness.
If there is only one strand of faith amongst all the corruption within us, God will take hold of that one strand. Not Knowing Whither, 888 L
Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 9
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Friday, November 12, 2021
Rescue Insurance - #9090
We had heard so much about the Stealth bomber, and it comes under the radar at night, you know, virtually invisible to ground defenses. So, some years ago, we were shocked when we heard that one of those had been downed during NATO's bombing of Serbia. We saw the burning plane wreckage on Serb TV, but there was no mention of the pilot. Well, my wife and I stopped as soon as we heard the news and we prayed for the safety of that pilot wherever he was. And as it turned out, our military launched an all-out search for him as soon as they learned his plane was down. In fact, their rescue tactics are so sophisticated no one really told the whole story of how they went about it. But I was impressed, not to mention all the other pilots who were risking their lives every day over Serbia...at how they were committed to the rescue, whatever it took. Boy, you know, the pilot knew it. And they brought him out!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Rescue Insurance."
The good news is you have someone committed to your rescue - whatever it takes. Human rescuers will do all they can to attempt a rescue. We see it on the news again and again. Your Rescuer? Well, He always accomplishes His rescues. Just ask David.
As he writes our word for today from the Word of God, he's hiding in a cave, knowing the king and his army are scouring the area looking for him. When they find him, they will kill him. Hiding in a cave, David - desperately needing a rescue - writes these powerful words in Psalm 34 beginning at verse 4. "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears." Okay. Now, an emotional rescue while the situation is still very dangerous there, God rescues him from his fear...from his anxiety. He's pretty amazing!
Verse 7: "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them." Verse 9: "Those who fear Him lack nothing...those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Now, that's the promise that God will rescue us from the need that may seem un-meetable. Now here's verse 18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." So, this Heavenly Rescuer shows up in the middle of our brokenness.
Then there's Psalm 34:19, David sort of summarizes and says, "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." Notice, he doesn't say the righteous man doesn't have troubles - he does. But he also has an all-powerful Deliverer! You can dare to fly your mission, you can dare to risk, you can find the strength to fight back, and you can find the strength to go on. Why? Because you know you have a Rescuer who will do whatever it takes to bring you out!
No, not always in the time frame you want. Not always in the way you think He should. Sometimes He'll deliver you from the situation. Other times He'll deliver you from being defeated and controlled by the situation. Either way, you've got a miracle.
If you're down in enemy territory, there is no rescue beyond the power of your Savior, whether the rescue you need is emotional, or medical, or financial, reputational, relational, or even a rescue from your own mistakes. In one way or another, your Savior will pull you out. He promised. There's no need to run, there's no need to panic, there's no need to surrender, there's no need to be depressed. You have a Savior who is committed to rescuing those He loves.
Maybe all you can see right now is a very dark night, enemy troops nearby, and no way out. But hang on! Your Rescuer from heaven is on His way!
From my daily reading of the bible, Our Daily Bread Devotionals, My Utmost for His Highest and Ron Hutchcraft "A Word with You" and occasionally others.