Max Lucado Daily: NAME THE PROBLEM - May 1, 2024
Hard as it may be, it’s time to shine a light on that one weakness, that one bad habit, that one rotten attitude where Satan has a stronghold within you. And it begins by naming it. Try these steps:
Lay claim to the nearness of God. “…Never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)
Cling to his character. The qualities of God—like his faithfulness, love, mercy, goodness—are promises you can rely on in the midst of the change you desire in your life.
Confess your sins. The Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)
And lastly, walk as a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
Jeremiah 27
Harness Yourselves Up to the Yoke
1–4 27 Early in the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah received this Message from God: “Make a harness and a yoke and then harness yourself up. Send a message to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Send it through their ambassadors who have come to Jerusalem to see Zedekiah king of Judah. Give them this charge to take back to their masters: ‘This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel. Tell your masters:
5–8 “ ‘I’m the one who made the earth, man and woman, and all the animals in the world. I did it on my own without asking anyone’s help and I hand it out to whomever I will. Here and now I give all these lands over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have made even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will be under him, then his son, and then his grandson. Then his country’s time will be up and the tables will be turned: Babylon will be the underdog servant. But until then, any nation or kingdom that won’t submit to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon must take the yoke of the king of Babylon and harness up. I’ll punish that nation with war and starvation and disease until I’ve got them where I want them.
9–11 “ ‘So don’t for a minute listen to all your prophets and spiritualists and fortunetellers, who claim to know the future and who tell you not to give in to the king of Babylon. They’re handing you a line of lies, barefaced lies, that will end up putting you in exile far from home. I myself will drive you out of your lands, and that’ll be the end of you. But the nation that accepts the yoke of the king of Babylon and does what he says, I’ll let that nation stay right where it is, minding its own business.’ ”
12–15 Then I gave this same message to Zedekiah king of Judah: “Harness yourself up to the yoke of the king of Babylon. Serve him and his people. Live a long life! Why choose to get killed or starve to death or get sick and die, which is what God has threatened to any nation that won’t throw its lot in with Babylon? Don’t listen to the prophets who are telling you not to submit to the king of Babylon. They’re telling you lies, preaching lies. God’s Word on this is, ‘I didn’t send those prophets, but they keep preaching lies, claiming I sent them. If you listen to them, I’ll end up driving you out of here and that will be the end of you, both you and the lying prophets.’ ”
16–22 And finally I spoke to the priests and the people at large: “This is God’s Message: Don’t listen to the preaching of the prophets who keep telling you, ‘Trust us: The furnishings, plundered from God’s Temple, are going to be returned from Babylon any day now.’ That’s a lie. Don’t listen to them. Submit to the king of Babylon and live a long life. Why do something that will destroy this city and leave it a heap of rubble? If they are real prophets and have a Message from God, let them come to God-of-the-Angel-Armies in prayer so that the furnishings that are still left in God’s Temple, the king’s palace, and Jerusalem aren’t also lost to Babylon. That’s because God-of-the-Angel-Armies has already spoken about the Temple furnishings that remain—the pillars, the great bronze basin, the stands, and all the other bowls and chalices that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he took Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim off to Babylonian exile along with all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. He said that the furnishings left behind in the Temple of God and in the royal palace and in Jerusalem will be taken off to Babylon and stay there until, in God’s words, ‘I take the matter up again and bring them back where they belong.’ ”
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Today's Scripture
Matthew 28:16-20
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
18–20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
Insight
In the Gospels, Jesus is described as a man who “taught as one who had authority” (Matthew 7:29) and “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (9:6). The Greek word exousia carries the meaning of “authority, power, the right to control or govern; dominion, the area or sphere of jurisdiction.” Christ called twelve men, discipled them, and then “sent them out to preach” (Mark 3:14). He “gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” and instructed them “to proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:1-2). As the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), for God granted “him authority over all people” (John 17:2). We’re also armed with His authority—although ours is limited—to go into the world and tell others about Him and disciple them (Matthew 28:19-20). By: K. T. Sim
The Authority of Jesus
All authority . . . has been given to me. Matthew 28:18
Even after Jesus had set my son Geoff free from years of substance abuse, I still had worries. We’d been through much together and my focus sometimes remained on his difficult past instead of the future God had for him. Parents of addicts often worry about relapse, and one day at a family gathering, I pulled Geoff aside. “Remember,” I told him, “we have an adversary, and he’s powerful.” “I know, Dad,” he responded. “He has power, but he has no authority.”
In that moment, I was reminded of Jesus’ incomparable authority to rescue us from our sins and transform our lives as we look to Him. Immediately I thought of His words to the disciples shortly before He returned to His Father in heaven: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go . . .” (Matthew 28:18-19).
The crucified and risen Jesus has made a way for us to come to Him no matter what our past may be. He holds both our past and our future. Because He’s promised to be with us always (v. 20), we can be assured that He’ll accomplish His purposes and that our lives are in His unfailing hands. Jesus gives us unparalleled hope, a hope so good we can’t keep it to ourselves. The devil and the world may have some power for a little while, but “all authority” belongs to Jesus forever. By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
How does Jesus’ authority give you hope? What has He done for you that you can share with someone today?
Thank You, dear God, for calling me to You in love. Please lead me to someone I can share Your love with today.
For further study, read Hope: Discovering the One True Source.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Faith, Not Emotion
For we live by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (moffatt)
At times, we are conscious of receiving God’s attentions; we feel the light of his inspiration shining upon us, and we delight to do his will. But when he begins to use us in ways we don’t like, putting us to work at tasks that seem lowly or unimportant, we take on a pathetic attitude. We begin to talk about trials and difficulties, not understanding that God wants us to do our duty in obscurity.
None of us would work in spiritual obscurity if we had the choice. We’d prefer to be illuminated saints, with gilded haloes shining about our heads, on display for all to see. But gilt-edged saints are no good. They are unfit for daily life and completely unlike God. We are men and women, not half-fledged angels. We are here to do the work of the world, and to do it with an infinitely greater power of endurance than those who haven’t been born from above.
Can we do our duty when God has shut up heaven? If we’re always trying to recapture rare moments of inspiration, it’s a sign that it isn’t really God we’re after. Instead, we’re making a fetish of a feeling, insisting that God deliver that feeling to us again and again. How many of us simply refuse to do anything until God inspires us? He never will—not until we take action. God wants us to walk by faith. He wants us to get up on our own, without the touch of his inspiration. When we do, we have the surprising revelation that God was there all along.
Never live for the rare moments. They are God’s surprises. God will give us the touch of inspiration when he sees we aren’t in danger of being led astray by it. We must never make moments of inspiration the standard for our lives. Our standard is our duty.
1 Kings 10-11; Luke 21:20-38
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Rescue in Seat 9B - #9733
Mr. T. Murdoch. "Face." And the man with the plan, Hannibal Smith. If you're a child of the '80s, you'll recognize those names - as "The A Team." I can tell you the Hutchcraft boys never missed a show. These guys came to the rescue of people who couldn't find anybody to help, assignments that seemed virtually impossible. But their leader, Hannibal Smith, always had a plan that seemed almost unbelievable. He didn't always explain his plan - he just gave his men their assignments. And, of course, it was always mission accomplished! And Hannibal would celebrate that unlikely victory with his trademark expression - "I love it when a plan comes together." So do I. Especially when it's from the MASTER Planner!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Rescue in Seat 9B."
Apparently, the word "random" does not appear in heaven's dictionary. Ephesians 1:11, our word for today from the Word of God, says, we have been "predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." And Peter makes clear that "He is not wanting anyone to perish" (2 Peter 3:9). His plan often comes together around the rescue of one lost soul. And that plan can be astonishing at times.
My son was supposed to go with me on a recent ministry trip. The day before, he had to cancel because of illness. I was in seat 9A. He was to be in 9B. At the last minute a young mother named Cindy ended up being assigned there. We had a few laughs about the window seat guy usually coming last and pretzels for dinner.
As we flew, she asked about what I do. I mentioned radio and writing and our work with Native Americans. When I asked about her trip, she told me she and her three sisters do a special fun trip together each year. Her tone changed when she said, "This year will be just two of my sisters." The other sister had died tragically a few months before, and Cindy was still struggling with grief.
That was my first hint that a divine plan might be coming together here. I told her about suddenly losing the love of my life since I was 19 - the day my precious Karen died of a heart attack. Cindy and I were in that club no one wants to join - those grieving over the loss of a loved one.
But God was answering the 3-open prayer I've learned to pray, based on Colossians 4:3-4 - "Pray that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ...Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." Three "opens" - "Lord, open a door," then "Lord open their heart." Then, "open my mouth."
I shared my Hope Story about the anchor that the unlosable love of Jesus gave me when my world was falling apart. How I knew He loved me because He actually died to forgive the sinning I've done against Him. And how I found hope in His victory over death.
Her eyes were moist. She said, "I used to believe things like that when I was a teenager. Until the most important person in my life died - my dad. And I walked away from God." Then she blew me away. "My dad was Native American - and here I am sitting next to you." And then, looking at my turquoise watch, she said, "He had a watch just like that!"
Our verse for today says, "He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." Down to my watch! I said, "Cindy, you know Who assigned our seats today? It wasn't American Airlines. God wanted to tell you how much He loves you." Before we landed, surrounded by a plane packed with passengers, we had prayed together to the God she had left. Who pursued her to Seat 9B.
My friend, if you know Jesus, start praying that amazing 3- open prayer - open a door, open their heart, open my mouth. And be amazed with how you become part of God-moments to help someone go to heaven. This is our mission. This is our calling.
And you will love it when you see His plan coming together. To bring someone lost to the Cross through you.