Max Lucado Daily: God Loves So Much - March 2, 2022
This is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!”
Any serious consideration of Christ must include these words. God so loved the world. We’d expect an anger-fueled God. One who punishes the world, forsakes the world—but loves the world? This world? Heartbreakers, hope-snatchers. But God loves!
And he loves so much he gave his…declarations? Rules? Dicta? Edicts? No. The mind-bending claim of John 3:16 is this: God gave his Son…his only Son. Scripture equates Jesus with God. God then, gave himself. Why? So that whoever believes in him shall not perish.
Luke 4:31-44
31-32 He went down to Capernaum, a village in Galilee. He was teaching the people on the Sabbath. They were surprised and impressed—his teaching was so forthright, so confident, so authoritative, not the quibbling and quoting they were used to.
33-34 In the meeting place that day there was a man demonically disturbed. He screamed, “Stop! What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to. You’re the Holy One of God and you’ve come to destroy us!”
35 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” The demonic spirit threw the man down in front of them all and left. The demon didn’t hurt him.
36-37 That knocked the wind out of everyone and got them whispering and wondering, “What’s going on here? Someone whose words make things happen? Someone who orders demonic spirits to get out and they go?” Jesus was the talk of the town.
He Healed Them All
38-39 He left the meeting place and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was running a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. He stood over her, told the fever to leave—and it left. Before they knew it, she was up getting dinner for them.
40-41 When the sun went down, everyone who had anyone sick with some ailment or other brought them to him. One by one he placed his hands on them and healed them. Demons left in droves, screaming, “Son of God! You’re the Son of God!” But he shut them up, refusing to let them speak because they knew too much, knew him to be the Messiah.
42-44 He left the next day for open country. But the crowds went looking and, when they found him, clung to him so he couldn’t go on. He told them, “Don’t you realize that there are yet other villages where I have to tell the Message of God’s kingdom, that this is the work God sent me to do?” Meanwhile he continued preaching in the meeting places of Galilee.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Today's Scripture
1 Peter 4:7–11
(NIV)
The end of all things is near.e Therefore be alert and of sober mindf so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply,g because love covers over a multitude of sins.h 9 Offer hospitalityi to one another without grumbling.j 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,k as faithfull stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.m If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,n so that in all things God may be praisedo through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Insight
In 1 Peter 4:10, Peter highlights the importance of spiritual gifts: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” All believers in Jesus have been given spiritual gifts to use in service to God. The apostle Paul names a number of these gifts in three of his letters. Romans 12:6–8 includes prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, and leading. First Corinthians 12:8–10 includes a message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, different tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Paul stresses that the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts “just as he determines” (v. 11). Paul’s final list, found in Ephesians 4:11–13, includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts are vital for the church to build each other up in the faith and knowledge of Christ. By: Alyson Kieda
Managing Our Gifts
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.
1 Peter 4:10
In 2013, British actor David Suchet was filming the final TV episodes as Agatha Christie’s beloved Belgian detective Hercule Poirot—and also starring in a stage play—when he took on “the biggest role in [his] life.” Between those projects he recorded an audio version of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation—752,702 words—over two hundred hours.
Suchet, who became a believer in Jesus after reading the book of Romans in a Bible he found in a hotel room, called the project the fulfillment of “a 27-year-long ambition. I felt totally driven. I did so much research on every part of it that I couldn’t wait to get going.” Then he donated his wages.
His recording remains an inspiring example of how to glorify God by stewarding a gift, then sharing it. Peter urged such stewardship in his letter to first-century believers. Persecuted for worshiping Jesus, not Caesar, they were challenged to focus instead on living for God by nurturing their spiritual gifts. “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Like all gifts, we can develop them “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
Suchet offered his talents to God. We can do the same. Whatever God has given to you, manage it well for His glory.
Reflect & Pray
How would you describe your God-given talents and spiritual gifts? What could you do to manage or steward them better for His glory?
Heavenly Father, at times I’ve squandered my gifts and talents. Sharpen my commitment to manage the gifts You’ve given me so the world praises You.
To learn more about your personality and gifting, visit Discover Yourself and Others.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?
He said to him the third time, "…do you love Me?" —John 21:17
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know all things….” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
We are all based on a conception of importance, either our own importance, or the importance of someone else; Jesus tells us to go and teach based on the revelation of His importance. “All power is given unto Me.… Go ye therefore ….” So Send I You, 1325 R
Bible in a Year: Numbers 26-27; Mark 8:1-21
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Generals With Secrets - #9168
It was some weeks ago, but man it had been a week for bombshells. One of America's most revered military leaders, and then the head of the super-secret CIA, resigned because of an admitted affair. For all the secrets of his agency, his personal secret exploded into headlines around the world.
I just groaned when I heard about the sordid revelations. Well, sadly, it doesn't take me long to remember other "generals" whose secrets have blown their world apart, including high-powered politicians and you know, sadly, even preachers. With the scandal spotlight turned on military leaders, my mind raced to another general who had a dark secret. And even though his exploits were in a different time, his story is the story of too many of us guys.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Generals With Secrets."
Now, according to the Biblical history in our word for today from the Word of God, 2 Kings 5:1, Naaman was a "commander of the army" of the king of Syria. A "great man and highly regarded...a valiant soldier." But Naaman was a general with a secret; something that, in spite of all his conquests, he could not conquer. Like most men's secrets: Whether it's an addiction, or an affair, a collapsing marriage, a raging temper, a pattern of deceit, or that ticking emotional time bomb just behind all their smiles and their bravado.
Well, for General Naaman, it was a killer disease - leprosy; that medical monster that eats away fingers and feet and faces, and ultimately life itself. I can only imagine the general's disbelief the morning he saw that first telltale spot as he bathed. The man who had won so many victories was powerless against this one. That's a feeling many of us men know when we face our inner monster.
Well, General Naaman organized a convoy to accompany him to seek out a prophet in Israel who reportedly could help. Of course, champions don't go to country preachers. Oh, no! Naaman went to the king! Who responded, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life?" So General Naaman had no choice but to lead his whole convoy out to the "boonies" where the prophet Elisha lived.
Now, he tried to buy a cure with the fortune he brought with him, but no deal. Elisha was a prophet who had a non-profit ministry. And the prescription he gave this military icon infuriated him. Like most guys, Naaman wanted to do something big to solve his problem. But the prophet told him to go dunk himself seven times in the dirty, stinkin' Jordan River. And even though Naaman was dying from his disease, his reply was simple, "Ain't gonna happen, Rev.!"
Naaman's servants convinced him to give it a try, and what a scene it must have been. One of the Middle East's greatest and proudest, stripped down, holding his nose, walking into a repulsively muddy river. Strange thing about God; He doesn't heal the proud. He heals us when we finally humble ourselves and do it His way.
And the Bible reports the outcome: "So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times...and his flesh was restored and it became clean like that of a young man." And General Naaman announced for all to hear, "I will never again make sacrifices to any other god but the Lord." Wow!
You know, for so many "generals" - "make it happen" guys like me and you maybe - the problem isn't leprosy. It's cancer. Spiritual cancer. That's what drives all the dark things that we hate, but we still do. Things that hurt the people we love - the searing words, the anger; the marital betrayal. Secret or not, our "disease" is no secret to us, and it's no secret to God.
But, thank God, Jesus tells us where to find the cure. And he tells us that God saves us "not by works so no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:9). So much for my pride. He points, not to a dirty river, but a bloody cross where Jesus "carried our sins in His body" and "freed us from our sins by His blood" (1 Peter 2:24, Revelation 1:5). That can happen for you today if you are willing to say, "Jesus, I cannot save myself. I'm coming to You. I'm asking you right now to be my Savior from my sin."
If you go to our website you'll find out how to begin this relationship for sure. It's ANewStory.com. This is the day the man you have been becomes a new creation in Christ.
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