Max Lucado Daily: Sealed by God
As a parent, when our children stumble, we don't disown them. We may punish or reprimand, but cast them out of the family? We cannot. They are biologically connected to us. Those born with our DNA will die with it.
God, our Father, engenders the same relationship with us. Upon salvation we become, as John 1:12 says, "children of God." He alters our lineage, redefines our spiritual parenthood, and in doing so, secures our salvation. Paul says, "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13). And a soul sealed by God is safe! God paid too high a price to leave us unguarded.
Again, a reminder from Paul in Ephesians 4:30, "He has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." What a difference this assurance makes!
From 3:16
1 Corinthians 1
Greetings from Paul
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.
2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth,[a] to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus,[b] just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul Gives Thanks to God
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters,[c] by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,[d]” or “I follow only Christ.”
13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. 16 (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) 17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
The Wisdom of God
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”[e]
20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,[f] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[g] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[h] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”[i]
Footnotes:
1:2a Corinth was the capital city of Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula.
1:2b Or because you belong to Christ Jesus.
1:10 Greek brothers; also in 1:11, 26.
1:12 Greek Cephas.
1:19 Isa 29:14.
1:24 Greek and Greeks.
1:26 Or high born.
1:28 Or God chose those who are low born.
1:31 Jer 9:24.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Read: John 11:1-4, 38-44
The Raising of Lazarus
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.[a] Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”
Footnotes: 11:2 This incident is recorded in chapter 12.
John 11:38-44New Living Translation (NLT)
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
INSIGHT:
Bethany, which is less than two miles from Jerusalem, was the home of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus (John 11:1). Because Jesus had a very close relationship with this family (v. 3), it is likely that He would stay in their home whenever He came into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:17; Luke 10:38; John 12:1). It is possible Jesus stayed often at their home after His resurrection, for Jesus’s ascension took place “in the vicinity of Bethany” (Luke 24:50). Sim Kay Tee
Jesus Wept
By Poh Fang Chia
The sting of death is sin. . . . But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
I was engrossed in a book when a friend bent over to see what I was reading. Almost immediately, she recoiled and looked at me aghast. “What a gloomy title!” she said. I was reading “The Glass Coffin” in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and the word coffin disturbed her. Most of us don’t like to be reminded of our mortality. But the reality is that out of 1,000 people, 1,000 people will die.
Death always elicits a deep emotional response. It was at the funeral of one of His dear friends that Jesus displayed strong emotions. When He saw Mary, whose brother had recently died, “he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:33). Another translation says, “a deep anger welled up within him” (nlt).
Christ’s empty tomb guarantees our victory over death.
Jesus was troubled—even angry—but at what? Possibly, He was indignant at sin and its consequences. God didn’t make a world filled with sickness, suffering, and death. But sin entered the world and marred God’s beautiful plan.
The Lord comes alongside us in our grief, weeping with us in our sorrow (v. 35). But more than that, Christ defeated sin and death by dying in our place and rising from the dead (1 Cor. 15:56-57).
Jesus promises, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). As believers we enjoy fellowship with our Savior now, and we look forward to an eternity with Him where there will be no more tears, pain, sickness, or death.
Christ’s empty tomb guarantees our victory over death.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Don’t Hurt the Lord
Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? —John 14:9
Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us— astounded at how “un-simple” we are. It is our own opinions that make us dense and slow to understand, but when we are simple we are never dense; we have discernment all the time. Philip expected the future revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in Jesus, the Person he thought he already knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be— it is now, though we look for it to be revealed in the future in some overwhelming, momentous event. We have no reluctance to obey Jesus, but it is highly probable that we are hurting Him by what we ask— “Lord, show us the Father…” (John 14:8). His response immediately comes back to us as He says, “Can’t you see Him? He is always right here or He is nowhere to be found.” We look for God to exhibit Himself to His children, but God only exhibits Himself in His children. And while others see the evidence, the child of God does not. We want to be fully aware of what God is doing in us, but we cannot have complete awareness and expect to remain reasonable or balanced in our expectations of Him. If all we are asking God to give us is experiences, and the awareness of those experiences is blocking our way, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus, because they are not the questions of a child.
“Let not your heart be troubled…” (14:1, 27). Am I then hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? If I believe in Jesus and His attributes, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to disturb my heart, or am I allowing any questions to come in which are unsound or unbalanced? I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
Sincerity means that the appearance and the reality are exactly the same. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 1449 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Thursday, April 21, 2016
You Have No Secrets - #7639
Well, I'm happy to report to you that I have no problem with the paparazzi. Those celebrity photographers have been very respectful of my privacy. In fact, they could care less about anything I do. But, in reality, these freelance celebrity photographers have been the object of some big-time criticism. I mean, think of their pursuit of Princess Diana which some think contributed to the circumstances of her tragic death.
Those prying lenses seem to be everywhere, trying to capture a picture of someone famous doing something outrageous, or sensational, or lurid. And, unfortunately, the personal lifestyles of a lot of people provide those kinds of things to shoot. Of course, when it comes to our lives, we want privacy – no intrusive cameras capturing moments we would rather not have everyone know about. There aren't many people, frankly, who could afford to have a camera capturing everything they do.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "You Have No Secrets."
Actually, there is such a "camera" trained on your life at all times. In the Bible in Psalm 139, one man says, "O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down." Then the sobering bottom line, written by a spiritual leader who thought no one knew about his secret act of adultery, "You are familiar with all my ways." King David learned that there is nothing we do that is missed or forgotten by God.
Solomon put it this way, "A man's ways are in full view of the Lord" (Proverbs 5:21). It's obvious from what God says He knows about you and me that there's no such thing as getting away with any sin. Sooner or later, we're going to face that sin head on and its consequences. In fact, God puts it this way; "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). You might say, "Well, it hasn't yet." Key word: yet. Judgment delayed is not judgment canceled.
Some of the most liberating words in the world are these – nothing to hide. It is so great to be able to live in such a way that it doesn't matter what someone overhears, films, tapes, discovers...to live without worrying about what's coming up behind you in your rear view mirror. When you live with integrity, you've got no fear of discovery. And that is freedom!
But it's very sobering to face the fact that God's eternal judgment is going to be based on His total knowledge of everything we've ever thought, ever said, ever done. There will be no secrets on judgment day. The picture God will show on the screen that day will include everything. For a lot of us, the accumulated guilt of a lifetime of sins is, if we will acknowledge it, an almost crushing weight. It would appear we don't stand a chance with a holy God, not after all we've done against Him and without Him.
But, thank God, there's a way to have that tell-all film destroyed once and for all. Imagine being free of your guilt, and the shame, and the eternal punishment that sin calls for; of knowing that the gates of heaven will be flung wide open for you when you die. It can happen to you.
Our word for today from the Word of God, Acts 10:43, "Everyone who believes in Him (that's Jesus) receives forgiveness of sins through His Name." God's wonderful promise to everyone who has been to Jesus' cross to have their sins forever forgiven, He says, "I will forgive their wickedness and I will remember their sins no more' (Hebrews 8:12). If you want God to forget every sin you've ever done, get to Jesus today.
If God's all-knowing picture of your sin is there when you die, there is no way He can let you into His heaven. But that picture can be destroyed today if you reach out to Jesus and trust Him to be your Savior. This is why He died! "Jesus, I'm yours." Tell Him that today.
Our website is full of information that will help you know how to claim that forgiveness and know you belong to Him. I hope you'll go there. It's ANewStory.com where your new story can begin.
To think that Jesus absorbed all the guilt and all the hell of all those sins when He died on the cross! That's like overwhelming love, and He's waiting right now to pour out that love on you.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Acts 18 , Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Salvation is Found in Christ
John 3:16 says, "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." The phrase, believes in him, doesn't digest well in our day of self-sufficient spiritual food. Believe in yourself is the common menu selection of our day. Try harder. Work longer. Dig deeper. Self-reliance is our goal. In him smacks of exclusion.
Salvation comes in many forms, right? No. Salvation is found, not in self or in them, but in him! Romans 4:5 says, "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness." Our spiritual legs have no strength. Our morality has no muscle. Our good deeds cannot carry us across the finish line…but Christ can!
From 3:16
Acts 18
In Corinth
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Footnotes:
Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Read: Numbers 7:1-9
Offerings of Dedication
On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings. 3 Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 5 “Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle.[a] Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.” 6 So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, 8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.
Footnotes:
7:5 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 7:89.
INSIGHT:
When we read the books of Leviticus and Numbers, we may wonder why so much detail is given about laws, the construction of the tabernacle, and the provisions for the “holy things.” It may seem unimportant for our understanding of the text. Much detail is also recorded about the garden of Eden in Genesis and the New Jerusalem in Revelation. The details capture the beauty of what was required for God to dwell with His people. J.R. Hudberg
God’s Way
By Marion Stroud
They were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible. Numbers 7:9
We really needed to hear from God. Having been asked to foster two young children as an emergency measure just for 3 months, a decision had to be made about their future. With three older children of our own, becoming foster parents to preschoolers didn’t seem to fit with our life plan and having our family almost double in size had been hard work. Our book of daily readings by the veteran missionary Amy Carmichael directed us to some unfamiliar verses in Numbers 7.
“I wonder how the Kohathites felt?” Amy wrote. “All the other priests had ox-carts to carry their parts of the tabernacle through the desert. But the sons of Kohath had to trudge along the rocky tracks and through the burning sand, with the ‘holy things for which they were responsible’ on their shoulders. Did they ever grumble inwardly, feeling that the other priests had an easier task? Perhaps! But God knows that some things are too precious to be carried on ox-carts and then He asks us to carry them on our shoulders.”
If our loving Father has handpicked us for our task, who are we to whisper, “I can’t do this”?
My husband and I knew this was our answer. We had often thought of sponsoring a child from an undeveloped country, but we hadn’t done so. That would have been easier, much like the ox-cart. Now we had two needy children in our own home to carry “on our shoulders” because they were so precious to Him.
God has different plans for each of us. We might feel that others have an easier assignment, or a more glamorous role to play. But if our loving Father has handpicked us for our task, who are we to whisper, “I can’t do this”?
God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Can a Saint Falsely Accuse God?
All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… —2 Corinthians 1:20
esus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
Am I learning how to use my Bible? The way to become complete for the Master’s service is to be well soaked in the Bible; some of us only exploit certain passages. Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of His word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples. Approved Unto God, 11 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Your Defiant Comeback - #7638
It was the final event of the men's gymnastics competition in the 2004 Athens Olympics. American Paul Hamm's hopes for the gold medal seemed to come crashing down. He made a lopsided landing and actually toppled into the judges' tables. That gave him a disappointing 9.137 score that virtually doomed his chances for a first place finish. After some moments of what he described as "depression," he decided to fight back with what would have to be the best two performances of his life, just to win the bronze.
Paul took a deep breath and he began to move powerfully through the air with a routine that was filled with technical challenges. It was a nearly perfect performance with a solid landing at the end. His score: 9.837. At first, he didn't know what that meant in terms of a medal. Then he heard his coach screaming, "Olympic champion!" The gold medal was his.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Defiant Comeback."
Paul Hamm messed up, but he didn't give up. He fell down, but he didn't stay down. Maybe that's a picture of you, or it's going to be a picture of you because you've messed up. You've made some mistakes. That failure could be final if you let it be. Or you can get up and make a defiant comeback. Which is exactly what the devil is counting on you not doing. He got you down, and he's hoping you'll be so discouraged, so defeated, you'll stay down. This is your day to say, "No way, Satan! I belong to Jesus, and in His strength, I am coming back!"
That kind of comeback defiance is powerfully expressed in our word for today from the Word of God in Micah 7, beginning with verse 8. "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Getting up again, coming back – that's a choice, one you need to make this very day. Serve notice that the devil's victory is a temporary victory. You're not staying down.
Micah goes on to say, "Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right." You can't recover unless you repent. The comeback trail really begins at the cross of Jesus where you acknowledge your sin and remember that it took the death of God's Son to pay for it. How will He respond? Hebrews 7:25 says, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." He pleads your case, and your sin is erased from God's Book. After a horrendous sin of immorality, here was David's turning point: He said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord...and You forgave me the guilt of my sin." Out of the darkness; back into the light.
Micah's announcement of a spiritual comeback continues: "He will bring me out into the light; I will see His righteousness. Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame." The devil's been trying to bury you in shame. You need to get up; remove whatever junk might bring you down again, and then declare, "Lord, I am going to make the devil sorry he ever messed with me. I'm going to push back the darkness and I'm going to take prisoners away from him! He's going to be the one who ends up covered with shame!"
You can be walking, talking proof of the grace, the love, and the restoring power of Jesus Christ; turning your fall into a mighty testimony for Jesus. That voice that's telling you, "It's over. What's the use? God doesn't love you after what you've done." That's the voice of hell, and those are lies! The truth is that according to the Bible, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5:20).
And because of God's amazing grace, your fall does not have to be final. You went down, but you're not staying down. You're going to come back more of a winner, and more of a warrior than ever before!
John 3:16 says, "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." The phrase, believes in him, doesn't digest well in our day of self-sufficient spiritual food. Believe in yourself is the common menu selection of our day. Try harder. Work longer. Dig deeper. Self-reliance is our goal. In him smacks of exclusion.
Salvation comes in many forms, right? No. Salvation is found, not in self or in them, but in him! Romans 4:5 says, "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness." Our spiritual legs have no strength. Our morality has no muscle. Our good deeds cannot carry us across the finish line…but Christ can!
From 3:16
Acts 18
In Corinth
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Footnotes:
Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Read: Numbers 7:1-9
Offerings of Dedication
On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings. 3 Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 5 “Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle.[a] Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.” 6 So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, 8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.
Footnotes:
7:5 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 7:89.
INSIGHT:
When we read the books of Leviticus and Numbers, we may wonder why so much detail is given about laws, the construction of the tabernacle, and the provisions for the “holy things.” It may seem unimportant for our understanding of the text. Much detail is also recorded about the garden of Eden in Genesis and the New Jerusalem in Revelation. The details capture the beauty of what was required for God to dwell with His people. J.R. Hudberg
God’s Way
By Marion Stroud
They were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible. Numbers 7:9
We really needed to hear from God. Having been asked to foster two young children as an emergency measure just for 3 months, a decision had to be made about their future. With three older children of our own, becoming foster parents to preschoolers didn’t seem to fit with our life plan and having our family almost double in size had been hard work. Our book of daily readings by the veteran missionary Amy Carmichael directed us to some unfamiliar verses in Numbers 7.
“I wonder how the Kohathites felt?” Amy wrote. “All the other priests had ox-carts to carry their parts of the tabernacle through the desert. But the sons of Kohath had to trudge along the rocky tracks and through the burning sand, with the ‘holy things for which they were responsible’ on their shoulders. Did they ever grumble inwardly, feeling that the other priests had an easier task? Perhaps! But God knows that some things are too precious to be carried on ox-carts and then He asks us to carry them on our shoulders.”
If our loving Father has handpicked us for our task, who are we to whisper, “I can’t do this”?
My husband and I knew this was our answer. We had often thought of sponsoring a child from an undeveloped country, but we hadn’t done so. That would have been easier, much like the ox-cart. Now we had two needy children in our own home to carry “on our shoulders” because they were so precious to Him.
God has different plans for each of us. We might feel that others have an easier assignment, or a more glamorous role to play. But if our loving Father has handpicked us for our task, who are we to whisper, “I can’t do this”?
God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Can a Saint Falsely Accuse God?
All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… —2 Corinthians 1:20
esus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
Am I learning how to use my Bible? The way to become complete for the Master’s service is to be well soaked in the Bible; some of us only exploit certain passages. Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of His word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples. Approved Unto God, 11 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Your Defiant Comeback - #7638
It was the final event of the men's gymnastics competition in the 2004 Athens Olympics. American Paul Hamm's hopes for the gold medal seemed to come crashing down. He made a lopsided landing and actually toppled into the judges' tables. That gave him a disappointing 9.137 score that virtually doomed his chances for a first place finish. After some moments of what he described as "depression," he decided to fight back with what would have to be the best two performances of his life, just to win the bronze.
Paul took a deep breath and he began to move powerfully through the air with a routine that was filled with technical challenges. It was a nearly perfect performance with a solid landing at the end. His score: 9.837. At first, he didn't know what that meant in terms of a medal. Then he heard his coach screaming, "Olympic champion!" The gold medal was his.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Defiant Comeback."
Paul Hamm messed up, but he didn't give up. He fell down, but he didn't stay down. Maybe that's a picture of you, or it's going to be a picture of you because you've messed up. You've made some mistakes. That failure could be final if you let it be. Or you can get up and make a defiant comeback. Which is exactly what the devil is counting on you not doing. He got you down, and he's hoping you'll be so discouraged, so defeated, you'll stay down. This is your day to say, "No way, Satan! I belong to Jesus, and in His strength, I am coming back!"
That kind of comeback defiance is powerfully expressed in our word for today from the Word of God in Micah 7, beginning with verse 8. "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Getting up again, coming back – that's a choice, one you need to make this very day. Serve notice that the devil's victory is a temporary victory. You're not staying down.
Micah goes on to say, "Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right." You can't recover unless you repent. The comeback trail really begins at the cross of Jesus where you acknowledge your sin and remember that it took the death of God's Son to pay for it. How will He respond? Hebrews 7:25 says, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." He pleads your case, and your sin is erased from God's Book. After a horrendous sin of immorality, here was David's turning point: He said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord...and You forgave me the guilt of my sin." Out of the darkness; back into the light.
Micah's announcement of a spiritual comeback continues: "He will bring me out into the light; I will see His righteousness. Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame." The devil's been trying to bury you in shame. You need to get up; remove whatever junk might bring you down again, and then declare, "Lord, I am going to make the devil sorry he ever messed with me. I'm going to push back the darkness and I'm going to take prisoners away from him! He's going to be the one who ends up covered with shame!"
You can be walking, talking proof of the grace, the love, and the restoring power of Jesus Christ; turning your fall into a mighty testimony for Jesus. That voice that's telling you, "It's over. What's the use? God doesn't love you after what you've done." That's the voice of hell, and those are lies! The truth is that according to the Bible, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5:20).
And because of God's amazing grace, your fall does not have to be final. You went down, but you're not staying down. You're going to come back more of a winner, and more of a warrior than ever before!
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Psalm 129, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Your Part is to Trust
Some of us have written our own Bible verse from Popular Opinion 1:1: "God helps those who help themselves." We'll fix ourselves, thank you. We'll make up for our mistakes with contributions, our guilt with busyness. We'll overcome our failures with hard work. We'll find salvation the old-fashioned way…we'll earn it!
Christ, in contrast, says to us; your role is to trust. Trust me to do what you can't. By the way, you take similar steps of trust daily. You believe the chair will support you, so you set your weight on it. You trust the work of the light switch, so you flip it. You daily trust power you cannot see to do a work you cannot accomplish.
Jesus invites you to do the same with him. But just him. Not another leader. Not even yourself. Just Christ. Look to Jesus…and believe!
From 3:16
Psalm 129
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
Let all Israel repeat this:
2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
but they have never defeated me.
3 My back is covered with cuts,
as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
4 But the Lord is good;
he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.
5 May all who hate Jerusalem[a]
be turned back in shameful defeat.
6 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
turning yellow when only half grown,
7 ignored by the harvester,
despised by the binder.
8 And may those who pass by
refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you;
we bless you in the Lord’s name.”
Footnotes: 129:5 Hebrew Zion.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Read: Psalm 42
Book two (Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Footnotes: 42:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
INSIGHT:
Psalm 42 is one of eleven psalms attributed to the sons of Korah—a Levitical family who were responsible for temple worship. Four of the eleven, including Psalm 42, fall into the category of lament. A lament psalm is one that appeals to God for aid in the face of overwhelming circumstances. In this psalm, the sons of Korah lead the people of Israel to publicly and communally declare their desperate need for God’s provision and rescue. Dennis Moles
The God Who Paints
By Keila Ochoa
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2
Nezahualcoyotl (1402–1472) may have had a difficult name to pronounce, but his name is full of significance. It means “Hungry Coyote,” and this man’s writings show a spiritual hunger. As a poet and ruler in Mexico before the arrival of the Europeans, he wrote, “Truly the gods, which I worship, are idols of stone that do not speak nor feel. . . . Some very powerful, hidden and unknown god is the creator of the entire universe. He is the only one that can console me in my affliction and help me in such anguish as my heart feels; I want him to be my helper and protection.”
We cannot know if Nezahualcoyotl found the Giver of life. But during his reign he built a pyramid to the “God who paints things with beauty,” and he banned human sacrifices in his city.
The Living God has revealed Himself through Jesus.
The writers of Psalm 42 cried out, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (v. 2). Every human being desires the true God, just as “the deer pants for streams of water” (v. 1).
Today there are many Hungry Coyotes who know that the idols of fame, money, and relationships can’t fill the void in their souls. The Living God has revealed Himself through Jesus, the only One who gives us meaning and fulfillment. This is good news for those who are hungry for the God who paints things with beauty.
Lord, You are the One my soul needs. Only You can bring meaning and fulfillment to my life. You are the One my heart cries out for. I put my hope in You.
Beneath all of our longings is a deep desire for God.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Beware of the Least Likely Temptation
Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. —1 Kings 2:28
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“…kept by the power of God…”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
No one could have had a more sensitive love in human relationship than Jesus; and yet He says there are times when love to father and mother must be hatred in comparison to our love for Him. So Send I You, 1301 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Surrendering to Win - #7637
I got this wonderful and unusual invitation. Gail, one of our ministry's most dedicated volunteers, invited us to attend her baptism. Now Gail has known and served Jesus for many years, but somehow she had never followed her Lord in His example of being baptized. Part of that might be because she always felt very self-conscious of being in front of a group of people. But when she felt her Lord's urging to take this step, she went for it.
It was in a church that baptizes by immersion, and she was one of several who were baptized that day. Each one was asked if they had accepted Christ as their own Savior. They all said yes, but you couldn't hear most of them very well. But Gail was strong, and she said, "Yes, I have!" It was a beautiful moment when, after all these years, she was lowered into those baptismal waters. Several days later, she was back in our office working and carrying a white handkerchief in her hand. She told me that was the handkerchief she used to cover her nose and mouth when she was baptized. Then she waved it gently adding a touching "p.s." She said, "This is my surrender flag."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Surrendering to Win."
I'm not going to recommend that we all carry a little white handkerchief in our hand necessarily. Some of us guys would look a little strange. But it might be your time for a personal surrender flag – a sign that you're finally willing to give in and do it God's way. I don't know what all has gone on in our friend Gail's heart, but I can tell you that all of us who have known her saw a freedom, a lightness of spirit, and a peace we'd never seen before. Those gifts go with that white flag.
Our word for today from the word of God is from Joshua 5, beginning with verse 13. We're with General Joshua on the eve of what will be the battle he will be known for throughout the ages. Just ahead of the Jewish people is the walled city of Jericho, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path. Joshua is scouting out the situation himself.
Then this startling confrontation. "When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither', he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for His servant?'" Many Bible scholars believe that this angelic commander was actually the Son of God making a pre-Bethlehem appearance. For one thing, no angel would accept this kind of worship.
And notice where Joshua is – face down on the ground before the Lord. Joshua, the mighty general, the undefeated leader, the successful leader, the brilliant strategist face down on the ground in the most powerless position a man could be in. He's not on his feet, he's not on his seat, he's not even on his knees. He's in a position of total surrender. The man who has never surrendered to any man is totally surrendered to heaven's Commander. He is in the most powerful position on earth – powerlessness before the Most High God. And this night of Joshua's white flag is followed by his total obedience to the strange but powerful orders of God, and then by the greatest victory of his life. Surrender led to victory. That's the way it is with God.
That's what it did for my friend with the white handkerchief. That's what it will do for you. That area you have insisted you've got to control; that part of you you've just stubbornly refused to yield in spite of His Holy Sprit's prodding, where you have insisted on things being your way, it is time to drop your sword and raise your white flag. It's time to surrender.
In the shadow of your Jericho, this is your face down on the ground crossroads. When it's Jesus you're surrendered to, surrender doesn't mean you lose. It means you're on the verge of some of the most amazing victories of your life.
Some of us have written our own Bible verse from Popular Opinion 1:1: "God helps those who help themselves." We'll fix ourselves, thank you. We'll make up for our mistakes with contributions, our guilt with busyness. We'll overcome our failures with hard work. We'll find salvation the old-fashioned way…we'll earn it!
Christ, in contrast, says to us; your role is to trust. Trust me to do what you can't. By the way, you take similar steps of trust daily. You believe the chair will support you, so you set your weight on it. You trust the work of the light switch, so you flip it. You daily trust power you cannot see to do a work you cannot accomplish.
Jesus invites you to do the same with him. But just him. Not another leader. Not even yourself. Just Christ. Look to Jesus…and believe!
From 3:16
Psalm 129
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
Let all Israel repeat this:
2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
but they have never defeated me.
3 My back is covered with cuts,
as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
4 But the Lord is good;
he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.
5 May all who hate Jerusalem[a]
be turned back in shameful defeat.
6 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
turning yellow when only half grown,
7 ignored by the harvester,
despised by the binder.
8 And may those who pass by
refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you;
we bless you in the Lord’s name.”
Footnotes: 129:5 Hebrew Zion.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Read: Psalm 42
Book two (Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Footnotes: 42:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
INSIGHT:
Psalm 42 is one of eleven psalms attributed to the sons of Korah—a Levitical family who were responsible for temple worship. Four of the eleven, including Psalm 42, fall into the category of lament. A lament psalm is one that appeals to God for aid in the face of overwhelming circumstances. In this psalm, the sons of Korah lead the people of Israel to publicly and communally declare their desperate need for God’s provision and rescue. Dennis Moles
The God Who Paints
By Keila Ochoa
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:2
Nezahualcoyotl (1402–1472) may have had a difficult name to pronounce, but his name is full of significance. It means “Hungry Coyote,” and this man’s writings show a spiritual hunger. As a poet and ruler in Mexico before the arrival of the Europeans, he wrote, “Truly the gods, which I worship, are idols of stone that do not speak nor feel. . . . Some very powerful, hidden and unknown god is the creator of the entire universe. He is the only one that can console me in my affliction and help me in such anguish as my heart feels; I want him to be my helper and protection.”
We cannot know if Nezahualcoyotl found the Giver of life. But during his reign he built a pyramid to the “God who paints things with beauty,” and he banned human sacrifices in his city.
The Living God has revealed Himself through Jesus.
The writers of Psalm 42 cried out, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (v. 2). Every human being desires the true God, just as “the deer pants for streams of water” (v. 1).
Today there are many Hungry Coyotes who know that the idols of fame, money, and relationships can’t fill the void in their souls. The Living God has revealed Himself through Jesus, the only One who gives us meaning and fulfillment. This is good news for those who are hungry for the God who paints things with beauty.
Lord, You are the One my soul needs. Only You can bring meaning and fulfillment to my life. You are the One my heart cries out for. I put my hope in You.
Beneath all of our longings is a deep desire for God.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Beware of the Least Likely Temptation
Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. —1 Kings 2:28
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“…kept by the power of God…”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
No one could have had a more sensitive love in human relationship than Jesus; and yet He says there are times when love to father and mother must be hatred in comparison to our love for Him. So Send I You, 1301 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Surrendering to Win - #7637
I got this wonderful and unusual invitation. Gail, one of our ministry's most dedicated volunteers, invited us to attend her baptism. Now Gail has known and served Jesus for many years, but somehow she had never followed her Lord in His example of being baptized. Part of that might be because she always felt very self-conscious of being in front of a group of people. But when she felt her Lord's urging to take this step, she went for it.
It was in a church that baptizes by immersion, and she was one of several who were baptized that day. Each one was asked if they had accepted Christ as their own Savior. They all said yes, but you couldn't hear most of them very well. But Gail was strong, and she said, "Yes, I have!" It was a beautiful moment when, after all these years, she was lowered into those baptismal waters. Several days later, she was back in our office working and carrying a white handkerchief in her hand. She told me that was the handkerchief she used to cover her nose and mouth when she was baptized. Then she waved it gently adding a touching "p.s." She said, "This is my surrender flag."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Surrendering to Win."
I'm not going to recommend that we all carry a little white handkerchief in our hand necessarily. Some of us guys would look a little strange. But it might be your time for a personal surrender flag – a sign that you're finally willing to give in and do it God's way. I don't know what all has gone on in our friend Gail's heart, but I can tell you that all of us who have known her saw a freedom, a lightness of spirit, and a peace we'd never seen before. Those gifts go with that white flag.
Our word for today from the word of God is from Joshua 5, beginning with verse 13. We're with General Joshua on the eve of what will be the battle he will be known for throughout the ages. Just ahead of the Jewish people is the walled city of Jericho, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path. Joshua is scouting out the situation himself.
Then this startling confrontation. "When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither', he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for His servant?'" Many Bible scholars believe that this angelic commander was actually the Son of God making a pre-Bethlehem appearance. For one thing, no angel would accept this kind of worship.
And notice where Joshua is – face down on the ground before the Lord. Joshua, the mighty general, the undefeated leader, the successful leader, the brilliant strategist face down on the ground in the most powerless position a man could be in. He's not on his feet, he's not on his seat, he's not even on his knees. He's in a position of total surrender. The man who has never surrendered to any man is totally surrendered to heaven's Commander. He is in the most powerful position on earth – powerlessness before the Most High God. And this night of Joshua's white flag is followed by his total obedience to the strange but powerful orders of God, and then by the greatest victory of his life. Surrender led to victory. That's the way it is with God.
That's what it did for my friend with the white handkerchief. That's what it will do for you. That area you have insisted you've got to control; that part of you you've just stubbornly refused to yield in spite of His Holy Sprit's prodding, where you have insisted on things being your way, it is time to drop your sword and raise your white flag. It's time to surrender.
In the shadow of your Jericho, this is your face down on the ground crossroads. When it's Jesus you're surrendered to, surrender doesn't mean you lose. It means you're on the verge of some of the most amazing victories of your life.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Psalm 128, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: God's Word of Welcome
Whoever-God's wonderful word of welcome! We lose much in life-jobs and chances, and we lose at love. We lose youth and idealism. We lose much, but we never lose our place on God's whoever list.
I love to hear my wife say "whoever." Sometimes it's my favorite fragrance wafting from the kitchen…strawberry cake! I follow the smell like a bird dog follows a trail. Yet I've learned to still my fork until Denalyn gives clearance. "Who is it for?" I ask. She might say, "It's for a friend. Max don't touch it." Or she might throw open the door of delight and say, "Whoever!"
And since I qualify as a whoever, I say "yes!" I hope you will too. Not to the cake, but to God. No status too low. No hour too late. No place too far. However. Whenever. Wherever. Whoever includes you. . .forever!
From: 3:16
Psalm 128
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Monday, April 18, 2016
Read: 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
War with Surrounding Nations
After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[a] declared war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[b] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[c] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)
3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9 They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,[d] plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children,
Footnotes:
20:1 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 26:7); Hebrew repeats Ammonites.
20:2a As in one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions read Aram.
20:2b Hebrew the sea.
20:9 Or sword of judgment; or sword, judgment.
Unconventional Tactics
By Tim Gustafson
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12
In 1980, a woman hopped on a subway during the Boston Marathon. No big deal, except for one small detail. She was supposed to be running the marathon! Later, witnesses saw her jump into the race less than a mile from the finish line. She finished well ahead of all the other female runners, and oddly, she wasn’t winded or even sweating much. For a brief time she looked like the winner.
In a conflict long ago, a people who were losing a battle found a more honorable way to win. When messengers told King Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,” he was terrified (2 Chron. 20:2-3). But instead of turning to typical military tactics, Jehoshaphat turned to God. He acknowledged God’s supremacy and admitted his own fear and confusion. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12). Then the king chose singers to lead the army into battle. Instead of a war cry, they sang of God’s love (v. 21). The result was startling. Their enemies turned on each other (vv. 22-24). In the end, “The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (v. 30).
Our fear and uncertainties give us the opportunity to turn to our all-powerful God.
Life can ambush us with overwhelming challenges. Yet our fear and uncertainties give us the opportunity to turn to our all-powerful God. He specializes in the unconventional.
Lord, You are not the source of confusion or fear, but of strength and peace. We exchange our panicky plans for Your amazing answers. Encourage us as we wait for You.
Our God is never predictable, but He is unfailingly reliable.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Monday, April 18, 2016
Readiness
God called to him….And he said, "Here I am." —Exodus 3:4
When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses’ reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. We are so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes. We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, “Here I am.” Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is rising up to take authority over some great task, we are there, but we are not ready for some obscure duty.
Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing— it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22).
Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready— he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Both nations and individuals have tried Christianity and abandoned it, because it has been found too difficult; but no man has ever gone through the crisis of deliberately making Jesus Lord and found Him to be a failure. The Love of God—The Making of a Christian, 680 R
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Monday, April 18, 2016
The 'No Vacancy' Tragedy - #7636
As our family was growing up and we were driving somewhere for vacation, my travel philosophy was very simple and very male. The purpose of the trip is to get there! Why waste unnecessary time getting there, right? So we would drive along some long stretches and we'd have gas, rest, and food stops down to a well timed drill. We called it "the drill". But, during the busy vacation seasons there was a down side to this and it came at the end of when your body's saying, "Put me down, now!" See, since I didn't know exactly how far we'd be able to make it, I couldn't make a motel reservation. So, I got off where there were some choices of reasonable motels and I drove in hoping I could be horizontal within say fifteen minutes. "No chance." I hate words like these. "Sorry, we're full." Or those dreaded words, "No Vacancy." Or the slightly more comforting sign, "Sorry." They all mean the same thing – no room, I'm not getting in.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The 'No Vacancy' Tragedy."
You know it's hard to be continually greeted with the answer, "Sorry, No Vacancy." Jesus knows that feeling. He's been knocking at the door of many hearts who've constantly told Him, "Not today," "Not tonight," "Sorry." Maybe you've sensed at various times Jesus tugging at your heart, offering you another chance to invite Him in. He's come to the door many times, but He's still outside isn't He. It isn't that you openly rejected Him; it's more like you've neglected Him. You've told Him, "Not yet" or "Maybe later, I'm not ready." Or maybe you haven't told Him anything. It's dangerous business to hang out a "Sorry, No Vacancy" sign when the One seeking to come in is the very Son of God.
Listen to our word for today from the Word of God. Words addressed to people who heard His voice but didn't respond. Proverbs 1:23, "If you had responded to my rebuke," God says, "I would have poured out my heart to you. ...But since you rejected me when I called...since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster when distress and trouble overwhelm you. ...Then they will call to Me but I will not answer; they will look for Me but will not find Me.'" These are hard words to read but we've got to know they're there. God's poured out the life of His Son, Jesus, on a cross to cancel the death penalty for your sin and then your Creator has reached out to you. He's offering that love to you that none of us deserves.
Jesus says He knocks at the door and if you continue to ignore Him or reject Him, there comes a day when He stops knocking. You don't come to Jesus when you're ready; you come when He's ready. Jesus said, "No one comes to Me unless My Father draws him." So, if you feel yourself drawn to Jesus right now, it means He's ready and you can still let Him in, but He won't be ready forever. That's why the Bible says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near." If He's near right now, please don't wait anymore to put your trust in Him. Open your heart to this One who loved you enough to die for you.
Don't you want to make today your day to begin that life-changing relationship with your Creator? Well, tell Him that right now. He's loved you enough to come back one more time, knocking at the door of your heart. This is not another time to say, "Sorry, no vacancy." Make room for Jesus. "Jesus, I'm yours" you could tell Him. I believe when you died on that cross it was for what I have done that has broken your laws, all the wrong doing of my life. You're my only hope of heaven, and I am yours."
Look, go to our website. Right there I have laid out as simply as I can how you can be sure you've established and begun your relationship with Him. ANewStory.com. Can you remember that?
It's time for you to finally reach for that door. Open it and welcome into your life the One who loves you more than anyone else.
Whoever-God's wonderful word of welcome! We lose much in life-jobs and chances, and we lose at love. We lose youth and idealism. We lose much, but we never lose our place on God's whoever list.
I love to hear my wife say "whoever." Sometimes it's my favorite fragrance wafting from the kitchen…strawberry cake! I follow the smell like a bird dog follows a trail. Yet I've learned to still my fork until Denalyn gives clearance. "Who is it for?" I ask. She might say, "It's for a friend. Max don't touch it." Or she might throw open the door of delight and say, "Whoever!"
And since I qualify as a whoever, I say "yes!" I hope you will too. Not to the cake, but to God. No status too low. No hour too late. No place too far. However. Whenever. Wherever. Whoever includes you. . .forever!
From: 3:16
Psalm 128
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Monday, April 18, 2016
Read: 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
War with Surrounding Nations
After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[a] declared war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[b] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[c] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)
3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9 They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,[d] plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children,
Footnotes:
20:1 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 26:7); Hebrew repeats Ammonites.
20:2a As in one Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions read Aram.
20:2b Hebrew the sea.
20:9 Or sword of judgment; or sword, judgment.
Unconventional Tactics
By Tim Gustafson
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12
In 1980, a woman hopped on a subway during the Boston Marathon. No big deal, except for one small detail. She was supposed to be running the marathon! Later, witnesses saw her jump into the race less than a mile from the finish line. She finished well ahead of all the other female runners, and oddly, she wasn’t winded or even sweating much. For a brief time she looked like the winner.
In a conflict long ago, a people who were losing a battle found a more honorable way to win. When messengers told King Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,” he was terrified (2 Chron. 20:2-3). But instead of turning to typical military tactics, Jehoshaphat turned to God. He acknowledged God’s supremacy and admitted his own fear and confusion. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12). Then the king chose singers to lead the army into battle. Instead of a war cry, they sang of God’s love (v. 21). The result was startling. Their enemies turned on each other (vv. 22-24). In the end, “The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (v. 30).
Our fear and uncertainties give us the opportunity to turn to our all-powerful God.
Life can ambush us with overwhelming challenges. Yet our fear and uncertainties give us the opportunity to turn to our all-powerful God. He specializes in the unconventional.
Lord, You are not the source of confusion or fear, but of strength and peace. We exchange our panicky plans for Your amazing answers. Encourage us as we wait for You.
Our God is never predictable, but He is unfailingly reliable.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Monday, April 18, 2016
Readiness
God called to him….And he said, "Here I am." —Exodus 3:4
When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses’ reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. We are so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes. We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, “Here I am.” Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is rising up to take authority over some great task, we are there, but we are not ready for some obscure duty.
Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing— it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22).
Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready— he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Both nations and individuals have tried Christianity and abandoned it, because it has been found too difficult; but no man has ever gone through the crisis of deliberately making Jesus Lord and found Him to be a failure. The Love of God—The Making of a Christian, 680 R
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Monday, April 18, 2016
The 'No Vacancy' Tragedy - #7636
As our family was growing up and we were driving somewhere for vacation, my travel philosophy was very simple and very male. The purpose of the trip is to get there! Why waste unnecessary time getting there, right? So we would drive along some long stretches and we'd have gas, rest, and food stops down to a well timed drill. We called it "the drill". But, during the busy vacation seasons there was a down side to this and it came at the end of when your body's saying, "Put me down, now!" See, since I didn't know exactly how far we'd be able to make it, I couldn't make a motel reservation. So, I got off where there were some choices of reasonable motels and I drove in hoping I could be horizontal within say fifteen minutes. "No chance." I hate words like these. "Sorry, we're full." Or those dreaded words, "No Vacancy." Or the slightly more comforting sign, "Sorry." They all mean the same thing – no room, I'm not getting in.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The 'No Vacancy' Tragedy."
You know it's hard to be continually greeted with the answer, "Sorry, No Vacancy." Jesus knows that feeling. He's been knocking at the door of many hearts who've constantly told Him, "Not today," "Not tonight," "Sorry." Maybe you've sensed at various times Jesus tugging at your heart, offering you another chance to invite Him in. He's come to the door many times, but He's still outside isn't He. It isn't that you openly rejected Him; it's more like you've neglected Him. You've told Him, "Not yet" or "Maybe later, I'm not ready." Or maybe you haven't told Him anything. It's dangerous business to hang out a "Sorry, No Vacancy" sign when the One seeking to come in is the very Son of God.
Listen to our word for today from the Word of God. Words addressed to people who heard His voice but didn't respond. Proverbs 1:23, "If you had responded to my rebuke," God says, "I would have poured out my heart to you. ...But since you rejected me when I called...since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster when distress and trouble overwhelm you. ...Then they will call to Me but I will not answer; they will look for Me but will not find Me.'" These are hard words to read but we've got to know they're there. God's poured out the life of His Son, Jesus, on a cross to cancel the death penalty for your sin and then your Creator has reached out to you. He's offering that love to you that none of us deserves.
Jesus says He knocks at the door and if you continue to ignore Him or reject Him, there comes a day when He stops knocking. You don't come to Jesus when you're ready; you come when He's ready. Jesus said, "No one comes to Me unless My Father draws him." So, if you feel yourself drawn to Jesus right now, it means He's ready and you can still let Him in, but He won't be ready forever. That's why the Bible says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near." If He's near right now, please don't wait anymore to put your trust in Him. Open your heart to this One who loved you enough to die for you.
Don't you want to make today your day to begin that life-changing relationship with your Creator? Well, tell Him that right now. He's loved you enough to come back one more time, knocking at the door of your heart. This is not another time to say, "Sorry, no vacancy." Make room for Jesus. "Jesus, I'm yours" you could tell Him. I believe when you died on that cross it was for what I have done that has broken your laws, all the wrong doing of my life. You're my only hope of heaven, and I am yours."
Look, go to our website. Right there I have laid out as simply as I can how you can be sure you've established and begun your relationship with Him. ANewStory.com. Can you remember that?
It's time for you to finally reach for that door. Open it and welcome into your life the One who loves you more than anyone else.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Psalm 127 , Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Led by an Unseen Hand
For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn't go with me. At least I didn't think he did. Then I read 2 Corinthians 6:1, "…we are God's fellow workers." Fellow workers? Co-laborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. We are always in the presence of God; there's never a non-sacred moment.
Our awareness of his presence may falter, but the reality of his presence never changes. What if our daily communion never ceased? Would it be possible to live-minute by minute-in the presence of God? Is such a goal realistic? Within reach? If we are to be just like Jesus, you and I will strive for constant fellowship with God!
From Just Like Jesus
Psalm 127
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Read: Acts 2:42-47
The Believers Form a Community
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[a]), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[b]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Footnotes:
2:42 Greek the breaking of bread; also in 2:46.
2:46 Or and sincere hearts.
INSIGHT:
Acts 2 describes the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost when God, in fulfillment of prophecies and promises (Joel 2:28–32; Isa. 32:15; Ezek. 36:26–27; 39:29; John 16:7), sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe in Jesus (Acts 2:1–4). This first church was growing, gracious, and generous. Luke says another 3,000 people were added to the 120-member congregation (Acts 1:15; 2:41). These early believers showed remarkable acts of generosity for those in need (2:44–45). Luke describes the elements that keep the church growing and vibrant: instruction in God’s Word, fellowship with believers, and prayer (Acts 2:42–44). Sim Kay Tee
Chameleon Crawl
By Lawrence Darmani
Every day they continued to meet together. Acts 2:46
When we think of the chameleon, we probably think of its ability to change color according to its surroundings. But this lizard has another interesting characteristic. On several occasions I’ve watched a chameleon walk along a pathway and wondered how it ever reached its destination. Reluctantly, the chameleon stretches out one leg, seems to change its mind, attempts again, and then carefully plants a hesitant foot, as if afraid the ground will collapse under it. That was why I couldn’t help laughing when I heard someone say, “Do not be a chameleon church member who says, ‘Let me go to church today; no, let me go next week; no, let me wait for a while!’”
“The house of the Lord” at Jerusalem was King David’s place of worship, and he was far from being a “chameleon” worshiper. Rather, he rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). The same was true for believers in the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:42, 46).
What a joy it is to join with others in worship and fellowship! Praying and worshiping together, studying the Scriptures together, and caring for one another are essential for our spiritual growth and unity as believers.
Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. John Fawcett
Worshiping together brings strength and joy.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Sunday, April 17, 2016
All or Nothing?
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment…and plunged into the sea. —John 21:7
Have you ever had a crisis in your life in which you deliberately, earnestly, and recklessly abandoned everything? It is a crisis of the will. You may come to that point many times externally, but it will amount to nothing. The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage.
Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally.
If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves.
The Place of Help
For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn't go with me. At least I didn't think he did. Then I read 2 Corinthians 6:1, "…we are God's fellow workers." Fellow workers? Co-laborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. We are always in the presence of God; there's never a non-sacred moment.
Our awareness of his presence may falter, but the reality of his presence never changes. What if our daily communion never ceased? Would it be possible to live-minute by minute-in the presence of God? Is such a goal realistic? Within reach? If we are to be just like Jesus, you and I will strive for constant fellowship with God!
From Just Like Jesus
Psalm 127
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Read: Acts 2:42-47
The Believers Form a Community
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[a]), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[b]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Footnotes:
2:42 Greek the breaking of bread; also in 2:46.
2:46 Or and sincere hearts.
INSIGHT:
Acts 2 describes the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost when God, in fulfillment of prophecies and promises (Joel 2:28–32; Isa. 32:15; Ezek. 36:26–27; 39:29; John 16:7), sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe in Jesus (Acts 2:1–4). This first church was growing, gracious, and generous. Luke says another 3,000 people were added to the 120-member congregation (Acts 1:15; 2:41). These early believers showed remarkable acts of generosity for those in need (2:44–45). Luke describes the elements that keep the church growing and vibrant: instruction in God’s Word, fellowship with believers, and prayer (Acts 2:42–44). Sim Kay Tee
Chameleon Crawl
By Lawrence Darmani
Every day they continued to meet together. Acts 2:46
When we think of the chameleon, we probably think of its ability to change color according to its surroundings. But this lizard has another interesting characteristic. On several occasions I’ve watched a chameleon walk along a pathway and wondered how it ever reached its destination. Reluctantly, the chameleon stretches out one leg, seems to change its mind, attempts again, and then carefully plants a hesitant foot, as if afraid the ground will collapse under it. That was why I couldn’t help laughing when I heard someone say, “Do not be a chameleon church member who says, ‘Let me go to church today; no, let me go next week; no, let me wait for a while!’”
“The house of the Lord” at Jerusalem was King David’s place of worship, and he was far from being a “chameleon” worshiper. Rather, he rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). The same was true for believers in the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:42, 46).
What a joy it is to join with others in worship and fellowship! Praying and worshiping together, studying the Scriptures together, and caring for one another are essential for our spiritual growth and unity as believers.
Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. John Fawcett
Worshiping together brings strength and joy.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Sunday, April 17, 2016
All or Nothing?
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment…and plunged into the sea. —John 21:7
Have you ever had a crisis in your life in which you deliberately, earnestly, and recklessly abandoned everything? It is a crisis of the will. You may come to that point many times externally, but it will amount to nothing. The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage.
Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally.
If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves.
The Place of Help
Saturday, April 16, 2016
2 Thessalonians 3, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Surrogate Spirituality
Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time and have not been successful. Others of us have a hard time concentrating. And all of us are busy. So rather than spending time with God, listening for his voice, we'll let others spend time with him and then benefit from their experience. Let them tell us what God is saying. After all, isn't that why we pay preachers? Isn't that why we read Christian books?
If that's your approach, I'd like to challenge you with this thought: Do you do that with other parts of your life? I don't think so. You don't let someone eat on your behalf, do you? Do others take vacations as your surrogate? Listening to God is a firsthand experience. When he asks for your attention, God doesn't want you to send a substitute. He wants you!
From Just Like Jesus
2 Thessalonians 3
Paul’s Request for Prayer
Finally, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.[b] 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
An Exhortation to Proper Living
6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers[c] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received[d] from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.[e]
Paul’s Final Greetings
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
17 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. I DO THIS IN ALL MY LETTERS TO PROVE THEY ARE FROM ME.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Footnotes:
3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:6, 13.
3:3 Or from evil.
3:6a Greek from every brother.
3:6b Some manuscripts read you received.
3:15 Greek as a brother.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Read: Zechariah 2
Future Prosperity of Jerusalem
When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 “Where are you going?” I asked.
He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him. 4 The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls. 5 Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”
The Exiles Are Called Home
6 The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. 7 Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!”
8 After a period of glory, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me[b] against the nations who plundered you. For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.[c] 9 I will raise my fist to crush them, and their own slaves will plunder them.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.
10 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem,[d] for I am coming to live among you. 11 Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. 12 The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. 13 Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
Footnotes:
2:1 Verses 2:1-13 are numbered 2:5-17 in Hebrew text.
2:8a The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
2:8b Hebrew Anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye.
2:10 Hebrew O daughter of Zion.
INSIGHT:
Old Testament prophets Zechariah and Haggai both spoke the word of the Lord to the people who had come back from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. Zechariah encouraged the people with words from visions about God’s love and care and about the glorious future that was in store for His people. J.R. Hudberg
The Apple of His Eye
By Amy Boucher Pye
Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8
A friend’s baby was suffering seizures, so they sped to the hospital in an ambulance, her heart racing as she prayed for her daughter. Her fierce love for this child hit her afresh as she held her tiny fingers, recalling too how much more the Lord loves us and how we are “the apple of His eye.”
The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye.
The Lord loves His people greatly.
Hebrew scholars suggest this phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes one’s reflection in the pupil of another’s eye, with the word “apple” emerging because it’s a common spherical object. So with eyes being precious and fragile, they need protecting, and that’s how the Lord wants to love and protect His people—by holding them close to His heart.
The Lord who dwells in our midst pours out His love on us—even, amazingly, far more than a loving mother who does all she can for her ailing child. We are the apple of His eye, His beloved.
Father God, You love us so much that You gave us Your only Son to die that we might live. May we receive Your love this day and live in it.
A parent’s love for a child reflects our Father’s love for us.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light… —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just do it! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.
The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption
Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time and have not been successful. Others of us have a hard time concentrating. And all of us are busy. So rather than spending time with God, listening for his voice, we'll let others spend time with him and then benefit from their experience. Let them tell us what God is saying. After all, isn't that why we pay preachers? Isn't that why we read Christian books?
If that's your approach, I'd like to challenge you with this thought: Do you do that with other parts of your life? I don't think so. You don't let someone eat on your behalf, do you? Do others take vacations as your surrogate? Listening to God is a firsthand experience. When he asks for your attention, God doesn't want you to send a substitute. He wants you!
From Just Like Jesus
2 Thessalonians 3
Paul’s Request for Prayer
Finally, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.[b] 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
An Exhortation to Proper Living
6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers[c] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received[d] from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.[e]
Paul’s Final Greetings
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
17 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. I DO THIS IN ALL MY LETTERS TO PROVE THEY ARE FROM ME.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Footnotes:
3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:6, 13.
3:3 Or from evil.
3:6a Greek from every brother.
3:6b Some manuscripts read you received.
3:15 Greek as a brother.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Read: Zechariah 2
Future Prosperity of Jerusalem
When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 “Where are you going?” I asked.
He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him. 4 The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls. 5 Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”
The Exiles Are Called Home
6 The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. 7 Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!”
8 After a period of glory, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me[b] against the nations who plundered you. For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.[c] 9 I will raise my fist to crush them, and their own slaves will plunder them.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.
10 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem,[d] for I am coming to live among you. 11 Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. 12 The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. 13 Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
Footnotes:
2:1 Verses 2:1-13 are numbered 2:5-17 in Hebrew text.
2:8a The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
2:8b Hebrew Anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye.
2:10 Hebrew O daughter of Zion.
INSIGHT:
Old Testament prophets Zechariah and Haggai both spoke the word of the Lord to the people who had come back from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. Zechariah encouraged the people with words from visions about God’s love and care and about the glorious future that was in store for His people. J.R. Hudberg
The Apple of His Eye
By Amy Boucher Pye
Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8
A friend’s baby was suffering seizures, so they sped to the hospital in an ambulance, her heart racing as she prayed for her daughter. Her fierce love for this child hit her afresh as she held her tiny fingers, recalling too how much more the Lord loves us and how we are “the apple of His eye.”
The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye.
The Lord loves His people greatly.
Hebrew scholars suggest this phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes one’s reflection in the pupil of another’s eye, with the word “apple” emerging because it’s a common spherical object. So with eyes being precious and fragile, they need protecting, and that’s how the Lord wants to love and protect His people—by holding them close to His heart.
The Lord who dwells in our midst pours out His love on us—even, amazingly, far more than a loving mother who does all she can for her ailing child. We are the apple of His eye, His beloved.
Father God, You love us so much that You gave us Your only Son to die that we might live. May we receive Your love this day and live in it.
A parent’s love for a child reflects our Father’s love for us.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light… —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just do it! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.
The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption
Friday, April 15, 2016
Psalm 125, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: A Simple Exercise
Do a simple exercise with me. Measure your life against just these four standards from the Ten Commandments:
You must not steal. Have you ever stolen anything? A paper clip? A parking space? …you, thief.
You must not lie. Those who say they haven't- just did.
You must not commit adultery. Jesus said, "If you look at a woman with lust, you've committed adultery in your heart" (Matthew 5:28).
You must not murder. Before you claim innocence, Jesus said "Anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder" (Matthew 5:22).
Jesus made his position clear: "Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). So where does that leave us? It leaves us drawing hope from 1 Corinthians 15:3. Christ died for our sins-in place of-on behalf of! So, don't measure yourself by keeping commandments. Measure yourself by the cross.
From: 3:16
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 Lord, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Friday, April 15, 2016
Read: Hebrews 10:5-18
That is why, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”[b]
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day,[c] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[d]
17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”[e]
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
Footnotes:
10:5 Greek he; also in 10:8.
10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 (Greek version).
10:16a Greek after those days.
10:16b Jer 31:33a.
10:17 Jer 31:34b.
INSIGHT:
Hebrews 10:5–7 is a quotation from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. This third-century bc translation was used by many Jews in the first century ad. About 90 percent of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are from the Septuagint. Dennis Moles
Great Sacrifice
By Bill Crowder
The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us. Galatians 1:3-4
W. T. Stead, an innovative English journalist at the turn of the 20th century, was known for writing about controversial social issues. Two of the articles he published addressed the danger of ships operating with an insufficient ratio of lifeboats to passengers. Ironically, Stead was aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. According to one report, after helping women and children into lifeboats, Stead sacrificed his own life by giving up his life vest and a place in the lifeboats so others could be rescued.
There is something very stirring about self-sacrifice. No greater example of that can be found than in Christ Himself. The writer of Hebrews says, “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God . . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:12,14 nkjv). In his letter to the Galatians, Paul opened with words describing this great sacrifice: “The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:3-4).
Jesus’ offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us.
Jesus’ offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us. That willing sacrifice continues to rescue men and women and offer assurance of eternity with Him.
God of love and grace, words can never capture the wonder of the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf. May our love respond to You with faith and worship—for Your Son who was slain is worthy of our praise.
Read more about the sacrifice of Jesus in the Discovery Series booklet The Power of the Cross.
Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Friday, April 15, 2016
The Failure To Pay Close Attention
The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. —2 Chronicles 15:17
Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn’t matter much.” The fact that it doesn’t matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.
Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed. So Send I You, 1330 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Friday, April 15, 2016
Every Day's The First Day - #7635
You remember the first day of school when you were little? New crayons, new pencils with sharp points, a new notebook with nothing written in it, maybe even some clothes you'd never worn before. Then as you got older, that first day of school meant there were no grades in the teacher's book yet, no absences, no tardies. It's a nice feeling. You know what? You have a lifetime of those first days!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Every Day's The First Day."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Lamentations, where we catch the great prophet Jeremiah on an emotional downer. It's Lamentations 3:19-22. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." Now Jeremiah's remembering yesterdays with a lot of garbage and a lot of failure in them. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: (Whoa! The mood is changing here.) Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." I love those words - "His compassions...new every morning."
Now, what's so positive about that first day of school is that it's a brand new beginning – no marks on your record, a lot of opportunities that are untouched so far – a fresh start. But when God is your Father, every day is supposed to be like that – a new beginning. That's the way you were meant to live, waking up each morning and saying, in the words of Scripture, "This is the day the Lord has made." Not the weather, not your boss, not your medical condition, not your mood, not your finances. "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." Yesterday's over, and it can't be changed. Tomorrow's not here yet, so there's no point in trying to live tomorrow's challenges today. You don't have tomorrow's grace, tomorrow's strength yet.
God has made this wonderful promise in Deuteronomy 33:25. "Your strength will equal your days." Now, you'll never have a day for which God will not provide matching strength. If you're facing let's say a 50-pound day, God's going to give you 50 pounds of strength. If tomorrow is going to be a 100-pound day, He'll make sure you have 100 pounds of strength. But if you try to worry about tomorrow with today's strength, you're going to sink. God's emotional, spiritual, and physical resources are measured out in 24-hour injections. So don't try to handle more than today with today's strength.
Now if you will sincerely confess the sins of yesterday to the Lord, you can start this new day with no marks on your record – a fresh start – because you invite Christ to be the Lord of that part of you where you have failed in the past. You can wake up looking for a new mission for this day, new matchups between you and people God wants you to influence. And there'll be new resources for this new day, like those new crayons and the unused pencils of the first day of school. It's what Jesus called "our daily bread."
Maybe you've been overwhelmed lately because you've forgotten the "dailyness" that you were created to live in. You've been letting too much of yesterday and tomorrow become part of your today. We have this tendency to deal with this huge blob called "my life." Why don't you try just dealing with "my day" instead of "my life"? When you wake up in the morning, remember that this 24 hours is a unique, never before, never again gift from God. There's never been a day like it before; there'll never will be another day just like it again. Every day is that first day of school – clean paper, new crayons, sharp pencils, no marks.
Let God make each day a fresh new beginning!
Do a simple exercise with me. Measure your life against just these four standards from the Ten Commandments:
You must not steal. Have you ever stolen anything? A paper clip? A parking space? …you, thief.
You must not lie. Those who say they haven't- just did.
You must not commit adultery. Jesus said, "If you look at a woman with lust, you've committed adultery in your heart" (Matthew 5:28).
You must not murder. Before you claim innocence, Jesus said "Anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder" (Matthew 5:22).
Jesus made his position clear: "Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). So where does that leave us? It leaves us drawing hope from 1 Corinthians 15:3. Christ died for our sins-in place of-on behalf of! So, don't measure yourself by keeping commandments. Measure yourself by the cross.
From: 3:16
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 Lord, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Friday, April 15, 2016
Read: Hebrews 10:5-18
That is why, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”[b]
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day,[c] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[d]
17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”[e]
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
Footnotes:
10:5 Greek he; also in 10:8.
10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 (Greek version).
10:16a Greek after those days.
10:16b Jer 31:33a.
10:17 Jer 31:34b.
INSIGHT:
Hebrews 10:5–7 is a quotation from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. This third-century bc translation was used by many Jews in the first century ad. About 90 percent of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are from the Septuagint. Dennis Moles
Great Sacrifice
By Bill Crowder
The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us. Galatians 1:3-4
W. T. Stead, an innovative English journalist at the turn of the 20th century, was known for writing about controversial social issues. Two of the articles he published addressed the danger of ships operating with an insufficient ratio of lifeboats to passengers. Ironically, Stead was aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. According to one report, after helping women and children into lifeboats, Stead sacrificed his own life by giving up his life vest and a place in the lifeboats so others could be rescued.
There is something very stirring about self-sacrifice. No greater example of that can be found than in Christ Himself. The writer of Hebrews says, “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God . . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:12,14 nkjv). In his letter to the Galatians, Paul opened with words describing this great sacrifice: “The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:3-4).
Jesus’ offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us.
Jesus’ offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us. That willing sacrifice continues to rescue men and women and offer assurance of eternity with Him.
God of love and grace, words can never capture the wonder of the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf. May our love respond to You with faith and worship—for Your Son who was slain is worthy of our praise.
Read more about the sacrifice of Jesus in the Discovery Series booklet The Power of the Cross.
Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Friday, April 15, 2016
The Failure To Pay Close Attention
The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. —2 Chronicles 15:17
Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn’t matter much.” The fact that it doesn’t matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.
Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed. So Send I You, 1330 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Friday, April 15, 2016
Every Day's The First Day - #7635
You remember the first day of school when you were little? New crayons, new pencils with sharp points, a new notebook with nothing written in it, maybe even some clothes you'd never worn before. Then as you got older, that first day of school meant there were no grades in the teacher's book yet, no absences, no tardies. It's a nice feeling. You know what? You have a lifetime of those first days!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Every Day's The First Day."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Lamentations, where we catch the great prophet Jeremiah on an emotional downer. It's Lamentations 3:19-22. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." Now Jeremiah's remembering yesterdays with a lot of garbage and a lot of failure in them. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: (Whoa! The mood is changing here.) Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." I love those words - "His compassions...new every morning."
Now, what's so positive about that first day of school is that it's a brand new beginning – no marks on your record, a lot of opportunities that are untouched so far – a fresh start. But when God is your Father, every day is supposed to be like that – a new beginning. That's the way you were meant to live, waking up each morning and saying, in the words of Scripture, "This is the day the Lord has made." Not the weather, not your boss, not your medical condition, not your mood, not your finances. "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." Yesterday's over, and it can't be changed. Tomorrow's not here yet, so there's no point in trying to live tomorrow's challenges today. You don't have tomorrow's grace, tomorrow's strength yet.
God has made this wonderful promise in Deuteronomy 33:25. "Your strength will equal your days." Now, you'll never have a day for which God will not provide matching strength. If you're facing let's say a 50-pound day, God's going to give you 50 pounds of strength. If tomorrow is going to be a 100-pound day, He'll make sure you have 100 pounds of strength. But if you try to worry about tomorrow with today's strength, you're going to sink. God's emotional, spiritual, and physical resources are measured out in 24-hour injections. So don't try to handle more than today with today's strength.
Now if you will sincerely confess the sins of yesterday to the Lord, you can start this new day with no marks on your record – a fresh start – because you invite Christ to be the Lord of that part of you where you have failed in the past. You can wake up looking for a new mission for this day, new matchups between you and people God wants you to influence. And there'll be new resources for this new day, like those new crayons and the unused pencils of the first day of school. It's what Jesus called "our daily bread."
Maybe you've been overwhelmed lately because you've forgotten the "dailyness" that you were created to live in. You've been letting too much of yesterday and tomorrow become part of your today. We have this tendency to deal with this huge blob called "my life." Why don't you try just dealing with "my day" instead of "my life"? When you wake up in the morning, remember that this 24 hours is a unique, never before, never again gift from God. There's never been a day like it before; there'll never will be another day just like it again. Every day is that first day of school – clean paper, new crayons, sharp pencils, no marks.
Let God make each day a fresh new beginning!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Psalm 124, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Let God Teach You
Jesus invites, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).
Do yourself a favor. Underscore, underline, and accept this invitation. Jesus says, Let me teach you. . . how to handle long Mondays, and cranky in-laws. Let me teach you why people fight, and death comes, and forgiveness counts.
We need answers. Jesus offers them. But can we trust him? There's only one way to know. Seek him out. Lift up your eyes, set your sights on Jesus. No passing glances or occasional glimpses. Search the crowded streets and shadow-casting roofs until you spot his face, then set your sights on him. You'll find the only One and Only!
From: 3:16
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Read: Psalm 118:19-29
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
INSIGHT:
The unnamed psalmist of Psalm 118 tells of God’s rescue in response to his cry for help (vv. 5–16). Because of the rescue theme of this psalm, the Jews often sang it after their Passover meal, which commemorated their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. It is possible that Jesus and His disciples sang this thanksgiving song after the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30). Psalm 118:22 is quoted or alluded to in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:20–22, and 1 Peter 2:7. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted the words of Psalm 118:25–26, proclaiming Jesus as their Messiah and Deliverer (Matt. 21:9). Sim Kay Tee
This Is the Day
By David McCasland
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. —nkjv Psalm 118:24
In 1940, Dr. Virginia Connally, age 27, braved opposition and criticism to become the first female physician in Abilene, Texas. A few months before her 100th birthday in 2012, the Texas Medical Association presented her with its Distinguished Service Award, Texas’ highest physician honor. Between those two landmark events, Dr. Connally has enthusiastically embraced a passion for spreading the gospel around the world through her many medical mission trips while living a life of service to God and to others—one day at a time.
Dr. Connally’s pastor, Phil Christopher, said, “Every day for her is a gift.” He recalled a letter in which she wrote, “Every tour, trip, effort, I wonder if this will be my last and ultimate? Only God knows. And this is enough.”
God made today. Let’s celebrate it!
The psalmist wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24 nkjv). So often we focus on the disappointments of yesterday or the uncertainties of tomorrow and miss God’s matchless gift to us: Today!
Dr. Connally said of her journey with Christ, “As you live a life of faith, you’re not looking for the results. I was just doing the things that God planted in my life and heart.”
God made today. Let’s celebrate it and make the most of every opportunity to serve others in His name.
Lord, thank You for today. May I embrace it as Your gift, celebrate Your faithfulness, and live this day fully for You.
Welcome each day as a gift from God.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Inner Invincibility
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… —Matthew 11:29
“Whom the Lord loves He chastens…” (Hebrews 12:6). How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us to the point where we can have fellowship with Him, only to hear us moan and groan, saying, “Oh Lord, just let me be like other people!” Jesus is asking us to get beside Him and take one end of the yoke, so that we can pull together. That’s why Jesus says to us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Are you closely identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God when you feel the pressure of His hand upon you.
“…to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). God comes and takes us out of our emotionalism, and then our complaining turns into a hymn of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and to learn from Him.
“…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens at all to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.
If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The Christian Church should not be a secret society of specialists, but a public manifestation of believers in Jesus. Facing Reality, 34 R
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Thursday, April 14, 2016
The Cats That Never Pounced - #7634
I was out of the country, and my wife was visiting her father, along with our daughter and son-in-law. My wife convinced her Dad to hike with them back into the woods to see the spring where they used to go to get water when she was a little girl. Eventually, they came upon a scene that was imprinted on her memory like a photograph – that spring gushing from the rocks, just beneath a cave above it.
They spent a few minutes exploring and then they headed back. That night our son-in-law pulled out the video that he'd shot of their little expedition. As the picture panned past that darkened cave, he stopped the video and rewound it to get a closer look. And there, gleaming in the darkness, were the two eyes of a big cat – as in panther or cougar. They had not seen that cat - they had been exploring right beneath that cat - and they never knew the danger they were in.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Cats That Never Pounced."
I wonder how many of those you and I have had in our lives; the things that could have hurt us or destroyed us that we never knew about – the cats that never pounced. In an increasingly dangerous world, isn't it great to know that you are under that kind of protection?
Paul wrote about that security in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Timothy 4:17-18. He said, "I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom." Now there is a pretty powerful antidote to fear! The Lord is going to rescue me from every threat, except one – the one that's designed to take me home, right on time. That's right on time according to the life plan He made for me before there was a me.
That doesn't mean we don't take precautions, the ones that God directs us to. Paul often continued to preach boldly, even when he knew there were forces who wanted to kill him in the city. But other times he left town quickly or sneaked out of the city in a basket. When Nehemiah and his workers were threatened, he said, "We prayed to our God and we posted a guard day and night" (Nehemiah 4:9). Now, look! Our faith is not in that guard but in our God. But sometimes God chooses to protect us through practical steps that He asks us to take.
But ultimately we're safe because Almighty God is watching over us. In just six verses in Psalm 121, it says "The Lord watches over you" five times! It concludes by saying, "The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
So, when is the last time you praised the Lord for all those cats that never pounced? For all those times you've been delivered from danger and never even knew it! Wait ‘till we watch the video in heaven. I think we're going to be amazed at what could have happened that didn't!
By the way, something amazing happens when we finally come to the end of trying to make it to God our own way, and understand that God had to come for us in the person of His Son, Jesus. And the only way that the sin that keeps me out of heaven could be paid for was by His Son dying for me. See, we're totally not safe. We will never be safe forever. We will pay the price for the sin against the God that put us here unless that sin is forgiven by the only One who can, and that's the One who died to pay its' penalty. That's God's Son, Jesus.
What happens when we put our life in His hands is for the first time in your life and finally and forever you are safe in the arms of the Savior. Have you ever given yourself to Him? Let this be the day. You are in great danger. He came to make us safe forever. Open your heart to Him. Go to our website and find out how – ANewStory.com.
You know, when our kids were little, we used to put them to sleep every night singing a little chorus "Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand. Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er, with His love forevermore. No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me, for He keeps both day and night. Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand." If you're in the hollow of His hand, you're really safe forever. If you've never put your life in Jesus' hands, do it today.
Jesus invites, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).
Do yourself a favor. Underscore, underline, and accept this invitation. Jesus says, Let me teach you. . . how to handle long Mondays, and cranky in-laws. Let me teach you why people fight, and death comes, and forgiveness counts.
We need answers. Jesus offers them. But can we trust him? There's only one way to know. Seek him out. Lift up your eyes, set your sights on Jesus. No passing glances or occasional glimpses. Search the crowded streets and shadow-casting roofs until you spot his face, then set your sights on him. You'll find the only One and Only!
From: 3:16
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Read: Psalm 118:19-29
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
INSIGHT:
The unnamed psalmist of Psalm 118 tells of God’s rescue in response to his cry for help (vv. 5–16). Because of the rescue theme of this psalm, the Jews often sang it after their Passover meal, which commemorated their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. It is possible that Jesus and His disciples sang this thanksgiving song after the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30). Psalm 118:22 is quoted or alluded to in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:20–22, and 1 Peter 2:7. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted the words of Psalm 118:25–26, proclaiming Jesus as their Messiah and Deliverer (Matt. 21:9). Sim Kay Tee
This Is the Day
By David McCasland
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. —nkjv Psalm 118:24
In 1940, Dr. Virginia Connally, age 27, braved opposition and criticism to become the first female physician in Abilene, Texas. A few months before her 100th birthday in 2012, the Texas Medical Association presented her with its Distinguished Service Award, Texas’ highest physician honor. Between those two landmark events, Dr. Connally has enthusiastically embraced a passion for spreading the gospel around the world through her many medical mission trips while living a life of service to God and to others—one day at a time.
Dr. Connally’s pastor, Phil Christopher, said, “Every day for her is a gift.” He recalled a letter in which she wrote, “Every tour, trip, effort, I wonder if this will be my last and ultimate? Only God knows. And this is enough.”
God made today. Let’s celebrate it!
The psalmist wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24 nkjv). So often we focus on the disappointments of yesterday or the uncertainties of tomorrow and miss God’s matchless gift to us: Today!
Dr. Connally said of her journey with Christ, “As you live a life of faith, you’re not looking for the results. I was just doing the things that God planted in my life and heart.”
God made today. Let’s celebrate it and make the most of every opportunity to serve others in His name.
Lord, thank You for today. May I embrace it as Your gift, celebrate Your faithfulness, and live this day fully for You.
Welcome each day as a gift from God.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Inner Invincibility
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… —Matthew 11:29
“Whom the Lord loves He chastens…” (Hebrews 12:6). How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us to the point where we can have fellowship with Him, only to hear us moan and groan, saying, “Oh Lord, just let me be like other people!” Jesus is asking us to get beside Him and take one end of the yoke, so that we can pull together. That’s why Jesus says to us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Are you closely identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God when you feel the pressure of His hand upon you.
“…to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). God comes and takes us out of our emotionalism, and then our complaining turns into a hymn of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and to learn from Him.
“…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens at all to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.
If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The Christian Church should not be a secret society of specialists, but a public manifestation of believers in Jesus. Facing Reality, 34 R
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Thursday, April 14, 2016
The Cats That Never Pounced - #7634
I was out of the country, and my wife was visiting her father, along with our daughter and son-in-law. My wife convinced her Dad to hike with them back into the woods to see the spring where they used to go to get water when she was a little girl. Eventually, they came upon a scene that was imprinted on her memory like a photograph – that spring gushing from the rocks, just beneath a cave above it.
They spent a few minutes exploring and then they headed back. That night our son-in-law pulled out the video that he'd shot of their little expedition. As the picture panned past that darkened cave, he stopped the video and rewound it to get a closer look. And there, gleaming in the darkness, were the two eyes of a big cat – as in panther or cougar. They had not seen that cat - they had been exploring right beneath that cat - and they never knew the danger they were in.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Cats That Never Pounced."
I wonder how many of those you and I have had in our lives; the things that could have hurt us or destroyed us that we never knew about – the cats that never pounced. In an increasingly dangerous world, isn't it great to know that you are under that kind of protection?
Paul wrote about that security in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Timothy 4:17-18. He said, "I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom." Now there is a pretty powerful antidote to fear! The Lord is going to rescue me from every threat, except one – the one that's designed to take me home, right on time. That's right on time according to the life plan He made for me before there was a me.
That doesn't mean we don't take precautions, the ones that God directs us to. Paul often continued to preach boldly, even when he knew there were forces who wanted to kill him in the city. But other times he left town quickly or sneaked out of the city in a basket. When Nehemiah and his workers were threatened, he said, "We prayed to our God and we posted a guard day and night" (Nehemiah 4:9). Now, look! Our faith is not in that guard but in our God. But sometimes God chooses to protect us through practical steps that He asks us to take.
But ultimately we're safe because Almighty God is watching over us. In just six verses in Psalm 121, it says "The Lord watches over you" five times! It concludes by saying, "The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
So, when is the last time you praised the Lord for all those cats that never pounced? For all those times you've been delivered from danger and never even knew it! Wait ‘till we watch the video in heaven. I think we're going to be amazed at what could have happened that didn't!
By the way, something amazing happens when we finally come to the end of trying to make it to God our own way, and understand that God had to come for us in the person of His Son, Jesus. And the only way that the sin that keeps me out of heaven could be paid for was by His Son dying for me. See, we're totally not safe. We will never be safe forever. We will pay the price for the sin against the God that put us here unless that sin is forgiven by the only One who can, and that's the One who died to pay its' penalty. That's God's Son, Jesus.
What happens when we put our life in His hands is for the first time in your life and finally and forever you are safe in the arms of the Savior. Have you ever given yourself to Him? Let this be the day. You are in great danger. He came to make us safe forever. Open your heart to Him. Go to our website and find out how – ANewStory.com.
You know, when our kids were little, we used to put them to sleep every night singing a little chorus "Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand. Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er, with His love forevermore. No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me, for He keeps both day and night. Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand." If you're in the hollow of His hand, you're really safe forever. If you've never put your life in Jesus' hands, do it today.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Psalm 123, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals
Max Lucado Daily: Jesus Knows
Denalyn and I have been married for 35 years. We no longer converse; we communicate in code. She walks into the kitchen while I'm making a sandwich.
"Denalyn?" I ask. "No, I don't want one," she says.
I'll open the refrigerator and stare for a few moments.
"Denalyn?" She'll answer, "Mayo on the top shelf. Pickles on the door."
She knows me better than anyone. She's an authority on Max. How much more does Jesus know God? When Jesus says in Matthew 10:31, "You are worth more than many sparrows," you can trust him. Jesus knows the value of every creature. When Jesus says, "In my Father's house are many mansions," you can count on it. He knows. He has walked them.
For God so loved the world. . .that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish.
And when Jesus speaks about God, he is the ultimate authority. Trust him.
From: 3:16
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Read: Luke 12:22-34
Teaching about Money and Possessions
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
INSIGHT:
The familiar words “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34) are found in an interesting context. They are uttered after Jesus tells those listening not to worry about the cares of this world because the heavenly Father will take care of their needs. His provision allows us to seek the kingdom of God and not become excessively preoccupied with our temporary earthly needs. J.R. Hudberg
Heart Check
By Joe Stowell
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34
When commuting into Chicago on the train, I always followed the “unwritten codes of conduct”—such as, no conversations with people sitting next to you if you don’t know them. That was tough on a guy like me who has never met a stranger. I love talking to new people! Although I kept the code of silence, I realized that you can still learn something about people based on the section of the newspaper they read. So I’d watch to see what they turned to first: The business section? Sports? Politics? Current events? Their choices revealed their interests.
Our choices are always revealing. Of course, God doesn’t need to wait to see our choices in order for Him to know what’s in our hearts. But the things that occupy our time and attention are telling. As Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). Regardless of what we want Him to think of us, the true condition of our heart becomes clear based on how we use our time, our money, and our talents. When we invest these resources in the things He cares about, then it reveals that our hearts are in tune with His.
The true condition of our heart becomes clear based on how we use our time, our money, and our talents.
God’s heart is with the needs of people and the advancement of His kingdom. What do your choices tell Him and others about where your heart is?
Lord, I want my heart to be in tune with Yours. Forgive me for giving it to things of far less value, and teach me the joy of investing my time in opportunities to serve You. Thank You.
Where is your treasure?
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
What To Do When Your Burden Is Overwhelming
Cast your burden on the Lord… —Psalm 55:22
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord….” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord….” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “…the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
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
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Unimaginable Love - #7633
One August night every member of our family got a new name. It was the night our daughter gave birth to her first child – a little boy. And that tiny eight-pound bundle made our daughter "Mommy," and our son-in-law "Daddy," and our boys were suddenly uncles, and my wife became "Grandma." And I became "Husband of Grandma." It was quite a night – and my wife and I were privileged to be able to be with our little grandson right in the birthing room only minutes after he was born. Those are moments I'll never forget. Seeing our daughter, the baby we once held, holding her first baby. And his Daddy, not knowing what other children would come, held that little guy in his arms and said five precious words: "My one and only son."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Unimaginable Love."
I'll tell you this, our son-in-law would not have given up his only son at that moment for any cause, any person on earth. Thinking about that makes our word for today from the Word of God all the more amazing. Maybe it's the most famous, and many would say most important statement in the Bible. It's found in John 3:16. Maybe you've heard these words a thousand times. Maybe you've never heard them before. But would you listen as if your life depends on them, because ultimately it does.
"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son." Now why would God make this sacrifice that any of us human fathers would consider unimaginable? It says, "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." As I watched our son-in-law holding and loving our new grandson – his "one and only son" at that point – the love that God has for us seemed greater than ever before.
If you took the message of the entire Bible and summed it up in three little words, here's what they probably would be: God loves you. Maybe you think God is mad at you. Maybe you think God condemns you or He's far from you. But the giving of His one and only Son settles once and for all how God feels about you. God so loves you so much that He would sacrifice His Son for you. He doesn't want to lose you.
The Bible tells us that we're all away from God and we were made for Him, we were made by Him, but all of us have basically run our own lives. And the life with "I" in the middle is sin. That's s-I-n. And that kind of rebellion against our Creator carries the eternal death penalty. God's Book says "we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." All those "my way" choices have put a wall between us and God; a wall that no religion, no spirituality, no moral life can remove.
But listen to the rest of that "gone astray" verse. "And the Lord has laid on Him (that's Jesus) the wrongdoing of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). See, God in His great love for you and for me took our sin and its death penalty and placed it all on His Son when He died on the cross.
And now God is standing ready to give you not the death penalty you deserve, but the eternal life in heaven you could never deserve. If you will put all your trust in His Son to be your Rescuer from your sin, that life is yours. This very moment, God stands waiting to see what you will do with His Son.
This could be your day to have your death penalty canceled, to have the wall between you and God removed forever, and to experience the most awesome love a human being can ever experience. Please reach out to Him now. He's talking to you about it now. He's tugging on your heart now. Tell Him, "Jesus, I'm yours from this day on."
Our website is there to support you, encourage you, and give you the information you need to get started with Jesus. Would you go there right away – ANewStory.com?
God has only one Son and He gave Him to die for you. That's how much God loves you. And He will never forget what you do with His Son.
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