Saying Yes to God’s Purpose

“I must preach the kingdom of God…because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Luke 4:42-43 NKJV

After Christ’s forty-day pause in the wilderness, the people of Capernaum “tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’”

He resisted the undertow of the people by anchoring to the rock of his purpose: employing his uniqueness to make a big deal out of God everywhere he could.

And aren’t you glad he did? Suppose he had heeded the crowd and set up camp in Capernaum, reasoning, “I thought the whole world was my target and the cross my destiny. But the entire town tells me to stay in Capernaum. Could all these people be wrong?”

Yes they could! In defiance of the crowd, Jesus…said no to good things so he could say yes to the right thing: his unique call.


From: Max Lucado

God’s Gift to Us

Daily Devotional

devo Devotional Archivesfree magazine Subscribe to Magazine
God’s Gift to Us

READ | 1 Romans 8:1-11

Imagine this courtroom scene: After a long trial, emotions are running high, the most noticeable one being hostility toward the convict. The judge issues his verdict: guilty of murder in the first degree. Then a punishment is decided—the death penalty. Tearfully, the mother of the victim rises, puts her arms around the murderer, and says to the judge, “Let me die in his place.”

Who’d do such a thing? What mom would take the punishment of one who had wronged her so grievously? But while the anecdote is fictional, here’s a true story that’s even more amazing: the Lord—Creator of all—died in our place while we were His enemies who deserved death (Rom. 5:8-10).

And His gift encompasses far more than removal of our punishment. Once we receive Jesus as our personal Savior, we are flooded with blessings. Our sins are forgiven, and we are also freed from condemnation, clothed in righteousness, and promised eternal life in the Lord’s presence. In addition, as His adopted children (Eph. 1:5), we are heirs who will “obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven…” (1 Pet. 1:4).

What’s more, the Holy Spirit—God Himself—lives in believers to guide, comfort, and teach. He seals us until the day of redemption, which means that nothing can undo our salvation (John 10:29). In other words, we are free from the bondage of insecurity and fear.

When we start to grasp all that the Lord has given us, gratitude will naturally flow. Tell Him how thankful you are.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

He Didn’t Quit

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
John 1:11 NIV

Lee Lelpi is a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter. He gave twenty-six years to the city. But on September 11, 2001, he gave much more. He gave his son. Jonathan Lelpi was a fireman as well. When the Twin Towers fell, he was there.

Firefighters are a loyal clan. When one perishes in the line of duty, the body is left where it is until a firefighter who knows the person can come and quite literally pick it up. Lee made the discovery of his son’s body his personal mission. He dug daily with dozens of others at the sixteen-acre graveyard. On Tuesday, December 11, three months after the disaster, his son was found. And Lee was there to carry him out.

The father didn’t quit. Why? Because his love for his son was greater than the pain of the search. Can’t the same be said about Christ? Why didn’t he quit? Because the love for his children was greater than the pain of the journey.


From: Max Lucado

The Blessing of Gratitude

READ | Colossians 2:6-7

Believers have the amazing privilege of praying to their heavenly Father. But it may come as a surprise to some that bringing requests to God is just one aspect of our communication with Him. Another important part of prayer—which, sadly, is often overlooked—is thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6).

In fact, the Father wants His children’s lives to be characterized by gratefulness. His Word tells us that an appreciative attitude should be evident in our worship (Ps. 95:2-7; Col. 3:16), giving (2 Cor. 9:12), relationships (Phil. 1:1-3), and even the way we approach spiritual battles (1 Cor. 15:55-57). In other words, thankfulness to the Lord should permeate everything we do (Rom. 14:6). In the Scriptures, the Lord mandates our gratitude (1 Thess. 5:18), which some people find perplexing. But He knows how a grateful attitude affects our hearts. Thanking Him . . .

• Keeps us aware of His presence.

• Focuses us on Jesus Christ; pride diminishes when we remember life is about Him.

• Drives us to look for His purpose in our challenging situations.

• Reminds us of His goodness, which leads to hope and submission to His will, even when we don’t understand the reason for our pain.

• Encourages continued dependence on Him. • Replaces anxiety with peace and joy.

When we maintain an attitude of thanksgiving in both happy and difficult seasons, our lives will feel purposeful and fulfilling. But more importantly, God will be glorified. Ask Him to bring blessings to mind so you can say “Thank You.”


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

A Useful Vessel

“If you give up your life for me, you will find true life.”
Matthew 16:25 NLT

When you’re full of yourself, God can’t fill you.

But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel. Your Bible overflows with examples of those who did.

In his gospel, Matthew mentions his own name only twice. Both times he calls himself a tax collector. In his list of apostles, he assigns himself the eighth spot.

John doesn’t even mention his name in his gospel. The twenty appearances of “John” all refer to the Baptist. John the apostle simply calls himself “the other disciple” or the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Luke wrote two of the most important books in the Bible but never once penned his own name.


From: Max Lucado

The Importance of the Bible?

READ | 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The importance of Scripture cannot be overstated. It is the source of all truth about God and about ourselves.

A primary purpose of the Bible is to lead us to salvation. Without the Scriptures, we would never discover that we have a spiritual problem which separates us from the Lord: we are sinners from birth (Rom. 3:23) and have no way to rescue ourselves. The Father wants us to know that Jesus died to save us, and if we accept His sacrifice as payment for our sin-debt, we’ll be forgiven. The Word also makes clear that God desires to adopt us into His family so we can live with Him forever. Faith in Christ—not good works—is the one and only means of salvation and eternal life (John 14:6; Eph. 2:7-8; ). Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus will be saved (Acts 16:31).

Another purpose of the Bible is to provide instructions on how we are to live. A godly life is characterized by surrender to the Lord’s control, submission to His plan, and a daily yielding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance (Gal. 2:20). The Scriptures also reveal the Creator’s standard for living—namely, what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

If you earnestly seek to know the Father better and please Him, time spent in His Word will never be wasted. Through it, you will experience both the joy of a personal relationship with God and the power to affect our world for Him. Have you accepted His gift of salvation? If so, how does He manifest His transformational power in your life?


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

I WILL BE YOUR GOD

"Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people."
Jeremiah 7:23

What a simple statement, yet how profound are the results when we follow the covenant God offers us. Obedience is not following the Lord and regarding His Word with casual consideration. It's not applying its truth to our lives according to how it fits our life-style. God does not speak to us in generalities but in direct specific commands. This verse gives the basic principle of how we can be His people and how He will be our God. "Obey my voice!"

Obedience is the starting point in our relationship with God. It is also the constant virtue God demands in the life of anyone who seeks to be His disciple. It is the hallmark of Christian character that enables God to manifest His hand of blessing upon our life and His power in our walk and ministry to others. Obedience is initiated and born of love, is inspired by it, and opens the way for God to reveal Himself to us as in no other way.

"If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever...He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:15-16, 21, 23). Can you fathom the incredible truth these verses reveal to us? They also reveal the unmistakable value Christ puts on obedience. We cannot please God in any other way than through childlike obedience. It is the foundation on which our whole spiritual relationship rests. God will not coerce us, nor will He impose Himself upon us to obey. He has set the "standard" upon which rests our relationship and upon which determines the manifestation of Himself to us. That's why the Lord used the conditional "IF" regarding those who would follow Him. He said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Obedience is the fruit of love, and love leads us to unwavering obedience, and obedience opens the floodgates of God's presence and power in our lives!

There are numerous examples in the Scriptures of the response of those to whom God spoke. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac upon the altar, we read, "By faith Abraham obeyed" (Hebrews 11:8). Obedience was the watchword of Noah when God spoke to him to build the ark, to Moses when God spoke to him out of the burning bush, to Isaac when he wrestled with the angel at Bethel, to Saul on the way to Damascus, and to all the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. The measure of their usefulness to God was in direct proportion to their obedience to His commandments.

Oswald Chambers writes so meaningfully in regard to our obedience. He says, "When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in an element that is not of God." Obedience coupled with faith means we step out where I see no evidence on which to lean. We simply dare to trust Him regardless of circumstances, with a deliberate commitment to Jesus Christ when I see no way.

When we live in childlike obedience to God, it is but the fruit of walking daily in the reality of a committed life to the person of Jesus Christ, initiated by His love to us and governed by our love to Him. "Obey my voice, and I will be your God."


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

Operation Shoebox

James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows.”

Friend to Friend
Before you hit the malls and plunge into the Black Friday frenzy, set aside some time to pray, asking God to direct your shopping trip and give you insight as you purchase each gift. Interesting thought, isn’t it? I have to admit that I tend to plan, think and worry about Christmas gifts more than I pray about them. However, I recently heard a true story that has changed my perspective on Christmas giving.

Each Christmas, Operation Shoebox collects and sends over eight million shoeboxes stuffed with small gifts such as candy, school supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo to children across the world. In Mexico, hundreds of boys and girls gathered at the church in a small village, excitedly anticipating the arrival of their precious shoeboxes.

Delightful chaos erupted as bulging shoeboxes, wrapped in brightly colored paper and ribbon were passed into the small, eager hands of each child. Wrapping paper was hurriedly ripped into pieces and tossed aside, a smile spreading across the face of each child as their long awaited Christmas treasures were revealed.

However, one little boy dissolved into tears as he lifted the lid of his box and peered inside to see what he had received for Christmas this year. One of the Operation Shoebox volunteers spotted the little boy and hurriedly made his way across the church to see what the problem could possibly be. With the help of an interpreter, the volunteer asked the now sobbing little boy, “What is wrong? What is in your box?” With tears streaming down his face, the little boy said, “Socks!” The worker instantly understood and assured the little boy that he could trade his box of socks for another box that might have crayons or a piece of candy in it. Alarm spread across the face of the child as he vigorously shook his head and quickly jerked the box away from the now somewhat confused worker.

Clutching the shoebox to his chest, the boy began sobbing out an explanation to the interpreter who listened for a few moments and then, with tears spilling out of his own eyes, turned to the volunteer and said, “You won’t believe this!” Taking a deep, steadying breath, the interpreter explained, “This little boy has a rare skin condition with which he was born. It seems to affect his feet more than any other part of his body. The doctors have tried various medications and treatments but finally told the little boy that nothing will work and his feet will never heal unless he begins wearing cotton socks. His parents cannot even afford food for this boy; much less provide socks for their son. So, all year long, he has been praying for socks.”

Have you ever considered the idea that your Christmas gift may very well be an answer to someone’s prayer? I have to admit that I have rarely, if ever, made a Christmas gift list with that criterion in mind. Always in a hurry, my first thought is usually how to find the greatest deal at the lowest price in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of effort and hassle at the first store I enter – and hope the person likes it – because that is what he or she is going to get. Ah, yes. That is certainly the heart of God, isn’t it?

Join me in making this Christmas season different. Do not allow television ads, catalogues or shopping fliers dictate the gifts you give this year. Turn your Christmas list into a prayer list and you may very well end up giving an “operation shoebox” gift to someone you love.

Let’s Pray
Father, I so want to make this Christmas all about You. I pray that the gifts I give this year will be encouraging and truly helpful and not just items checked off of a list or obligations that have been met. Please direct my thoughts, my heart and my shopping trips. Help me to spend wisely, in a way that pleases and honors You. Give me Your heart, Lord, and remind me that Christmas really is all about You.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Why Did He Do It?

“He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.”
Philippians 2:7

Holiday travel. It isn’t easy. Then why do we do it? Why cram the trunks and endure the airports? You know the answer. We love to be with the ones we love.

The four-year-old running up the sidewalk into the arms of Grandpa.

The cup of coffee with Mom before the rest of the house awakes.

That moment when, for a moment, everyone is quiet as we hold hands around the table and thank God for family and friends and pumpkin pie.

We love to be with the ones we love.

May I remind you? So does God. He loves to be with the ones he loves. How else do you explain what he did? Between him and us there was a distance—a great span. And he couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t stand it. So he did something about it.

“He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.”


From: Max Lucado

Who Is Jesus?

READ | 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Most people are familiar with the name “Jesus,” but relatively few truly know who He is. This is tragic because a right understanding of the Savior’s identity and mission is directly related to every person’s eternal destiny.

How is it possible to know who Jesus Christ is and what He did? The Father has provided a completely trustworthy source: the Bible. The wise person will regularly spend time in the Word to gain knowledge of the Savior and develop a deep relationship with Him. Scripture tells us that Jesus is God:

1) Christ existed before His own birth—in fact, even before time began. The prophet Micah spoke of His ancient origin (5:2), and Paul named Him as the Creator (Col. 1:5-6).

2) Jesus claimed equality with the invisible God and was the perfect reflection of Him (John 10:30; 14:9).

3) The Savior performed miracles—such as restoring the dead to life—that were possible only by supernatural power (John 11:43-44).

4) The Lord received worship and forgave sin, two acts that are acceptable only for Deity (Matt. 9:2-8; John 9:38).

Think about Jesus coming to earth as a baby. Imagine the power resting in that little manger—the omnipotent God was lying in a trough made from trees He had created, under stars He Himself had strewn across the sky!

Scripture makes it clear that there is only one way to eternal life: by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior (Acts 4:12). Weigh the evidence, and then make a wise decision to follow Him.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant....He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him."
Philippians 2:5-9

Have you ever asked yourself why you get so upset or offended when someone crosses you or rubs you the wrong way? Have you ever thought how little of the love of Christ we manifest to others, or how indifferent we are to the devastating need of others when they are hurting? How about our hasty criticism and judgment of others when they don't measure up to our standard of conduct? When you stop long enough to think through these selfish actions, you will find they are but the response of the hateful pride that has controlled us. We have yielded to the "pride of life" that has dominated our thoughts and actions. How sad!

How different is the heart that reacts in compassion and kindness, tenderness and meekness, longsuffering and gentleness. These virtues are the fruit of His indwelling that finds expression through our life, because the love of God has its rightful place "enthroned" in our heart. They are the fruit of being humble before God. Peter said, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). Our pursuit toward a life of holiness will be in the same proportion as we are clothed in humility.

How awesome was the vision of Isaiah when he "saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up and his train filled the temple." When he heard the seraphim crying one to another..."Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory" He recognized, as never before, the majesty of God, and his immediate response was complete humility. "Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:1-5).

One of our greatest spiritual problems is that we are so occupied with self that we cannot see the King! When we, in a measure, see the King in all His majesty, have a glimpse as to who God is, we will, as Isaiah, recognize the wretchedness of our own selves, bow in humility at the foot of the cross and confess the hateful pride that encompasses our hearts. Only then can the Holy Spirit move fully and freely in our lives to make us what God wants us to be.

Job went through this same encounter and he finally cries out to God, "I have heard thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6). Abraham, Moses, Paul, and all those whom God mightily used had seen the King and their response was all the same. They saw the awfulness of their own sinful pride and self-righteousness and bowed in full surrender to the sovereignty of God.

As long as pride reigns within our hearts, faith is impossible. Faith recognizes our "nothingness" and places unwavering confidence in the all-sufficiency of our Almighty God. O, that we might find our place at the foot of the cross with contrite hearts, laying before Him the sin and wretchedness of our life and receiving from Him the fullness of His grace to embrace the whole of our life. May the desire of our hearts be that the Holy Spirit fill the whole of our personality with the adequacy of Christ!

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...."

From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

True Feelings

"Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains." Proverbs 14:13 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Most of us have some degree of trouble admitting our true feelings and being able to express them, especially if we are struggling with life-controlling problems. But throughout the Bible, God encourages us to know our feelings and not keep them hidden inside. Jesus set an example for us: He had emotions and he expressed them. He cried. He got angry. He was sad.

We often hide the way we feel behind a defense to keep our real self from showing through. Inside we may feel fearful or angry or sad, but we hide those feelings by joking … or acting superior … or being silent … or using some other defense. We may try to cover our sadness with laughter, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

Hiding our feelings can give them control over our lives. Unexpressed anger or fear or guilt can have a destructive influence on everything we do. Hidden shame and sadness are roadblocks to hope and healing.

Consider this…

If you have been hiding your true feelings, has your "cover-up" helped? Or have you learned firsthand that when the laughter ends, the grief remains? Admitting your feelings can be a turning point. Be honest with yourself. And with God. And then with a friend. Being real will open the door for healing.

Prayer

Lord, I have been hiding my feelings for a long time, but I know now it is time to be honest. Help me to be real. Help me to share my real feelings with my loved one. Set me free. In Jesus' name …


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Discerning God’s Voice

READ | 1 John 4:1

Believing that the Lord still speaks to His followers, we must learn how to hear His voice. We have to develop discernment—many voices claim to be His and yet have nothing whatsoever to do with the true God.

For example, just think of the many cults around today. No doubt, you’ve seen news reports or televised specials dissecting the odd-sounding belief systems of different faith-based groups. Many of them profess to be based on Scripture, yet they often have certain doctrines that are radically foreign to us; the God of the Bible is completely unrecognizable in their creeds. Obviously, this can pose a problem for those of us in the church who are eager to hear from our Father.

When confronted by different voices that claim to be “true” and clamor for our attention, we remember two absolute truths:

First, we know that the Lord will never say anything that contradicts Scripture. For example, suppose a religious group claimed that extra-marital affairs were somehow acceptable in the Lord’s sight. We would know immediately that this wasn’t from God, as it directly contradicts Exodus 20:14.

Second, we know that God won’t add to or take away from the Bible. It is His complete and reliable Word. Therefore, anyone claiming to have “more” scriptures or another Testament is a fraud.

Two of the Enemy’s best weapons are distraction and deception. Don’t fall for his lies. Test every voice against Scripture, and ask God for the wisdom to discern His voice among the impostors.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Daily Victory in Battles

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

To understand the battle, we need to begin with acknowledging that we are in a war. Battles make up smaller components of the bigger picture. By definition, battles involve combat between two persons, between factions, between armies and they consist of any type of "extended contest, struggle, or controversy" (Webster-Merriam). As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle of some sort on a daily basis. In warfare, battles are fought on different fronts, for different reasons, and with varying degrees of intensity. The same is true in spiritual warfare. Our spiritual battles are real, even though we cannot physically see the attacker. But, we can educate ourselves on how the battles are fought and how they impact our lives on a daily basis.

We have to ask ourselves, "Why do we even want to fight?" It will do us no good to educate ourselves on the battle if we see no reason for the fight. War is very controversial today in the physical realm. Those attitudes, beliefs and convictions will transfer over to the spiritual realm. However, in the spiritual realm, there is a battle going on regardless of our opinion. We are either victors or victims. Jesus has come and conquered. The war is already won in the heavens. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:18 that, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." We now have the privilege of having an eternal relationship with God. Many of us enter into that covenant of salvation by grace. But Matthew 28:18 is not only about our salvation; but also it is about our every day victory, which adds up to victorious living in Christ. Every day victory is achieved by knowing, believing and understanding the battles that we are enduring daily, regardless if we are passive or active in the battles. Do you want all that God has for you on this earth right now, or do you want to wait until you get to heaven to receive the victory and blessings?

We can only receive the abundant life by understanding the battles that we are facing every day. We need to pray for spiritual eyes and we need to understand what weapons the Lord has given us to not only fight the battles but to win the war.

Yes, Lord, I want all that You have for me on earth as it is in heaven. Give me spiritual eyes to see the world as You see it and do not let anything stop me from receiving good gifts from You. Educate me to live a victorious life in Christ because of Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD'S LOVE

"Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
Jude 20-21

Ungodly men, who have sought to usurp the principles and truth upon which the church is founded, have grievously dishonored the gospel and have attacked the church in every age. It is against this background that Paul challenges the believers "to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jude says it is imperative that you "build yourselves up in your most holy faith." It is always an effort to build. It takes time, preparation, commitment, and perseverance. God has already laid the foundation: "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). We cannot rest in complacent satisfaction of being saved without any effort to "grow in grace and in knowledge of Him."

Paul says, "As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7). Our faith is a "most holy faith," in its nature, in its tendency, and in all its practical effects. It is our responsibility as believers to appropriate all He has provided us in perfecting that which He has begun through the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit.

He adds that we should be "praying continually in the Holy Spirit." We must realize our utter limitations to do anything in this building process: our sufficiency must be of God alone. Thus, we are admonished by Paul to "Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18). It is through prayer--our constant communication with God--that He gives us the needed grace and sufficiency for every encounter.

These two elements are necessary if we are to "keep ourselves in God's love." That is not in reference to being snatched from His love, for Paul said "no one is able to separate us from the love of God." Jude is speaking to the believer of having a sense of God's love shed abroad in our heart (Romans 5:5), to have the light of His countenance on us (Numbers 6:26), to be going to Him continually as our Father (Romans 8:15), to walk with Him as Enoch (Genesis 5:24), to commune as Abraham with Him as a friend (James 2:23), to "set him always before us" (Psalm 16:8), to have no wish or desire but to please Him (Colossians 1:10, Hebrews 13:21) and to be "delighting ourselves in Him" (Psalm 37:4) as "Our God, our portion, our eternal great reward." Thus, we will find ourselves drawing from Him strength, grace and all things that will enable us to walk worthy of the Lord and please Him in all things.

As we view the whole of our life, we cannot help but recognize that all we are is by His grace alone. God in His condescending love reached out with His plan for our redemption. Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, paid the debt of our sin through His atonement on Calvary. The Holy Spirit awakened us to our sin and drew us unto the Father, all by His grace. God's mercy withholds the judgment we rightly deserve. His grace gives us everything that we do not deserve. "Oh the love that drew salvation's plan. Oh the grace that brought it down to man. Oh the mighty gulf that God did span AT CALVARY!" Keep yourselves in God's love.


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

The Best Way to Face Life

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.”
Psalm 90:12

In a life marked by doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and school appointments, there is one appointment that none of us will miss, the appointment with death. “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God” (Heb. 9:27 tev). Oh, how we’d like to change that verse. Just a word or two would suffice. “Nearly everyone must die…” or “Everyone who forgets to eat right and take vitamins must die…” But those are not God’s words. In his plan everyone must die, even those who eat right and take their vitamins.

Exercise may buy us a few more heartbeats. Medicine may grant us a few more breaths. But in the end, there is an end. And the best way to face life is to be honest about death.


From: Max Lucado

The Loss of Hope

READ | Acts 27:13-26

Life doesn’t always meet our expectations. Even when making plans according to God’s lead, we may run into something that interrupts them. Frustration over the obstacle can lead to discouragement and loss of hope. Then, if the hindrance should persist, our spirits may plummet toward despair.

Circumstances which seem impossible to overcome are often the ones that trip us up. Think about Paul’s voyage to Rome by sea. When a bad storm arose, the sailors worked hard to save the ship. But since they couldn’t control the weather, they gradually gave up all hope of being saved (v. 20). There are times when we can’t change what has happened—whether it’s a job loss, a loved one’s death, or a devastating diagnosis. In such situations, feelings of hopelessness can overtake us.

Postponed plans can also be disheartening. Hannah is an example of someone who became dejected because of “hope deferred” (Prov. 13:12). She saw other women bearing children, but her own maternal desires had not yet been fulfilled (1 Sam. 1:11). When things do not go according to our schedule, we may experience emotions like hers.

Feeling abandoned by the Lord can throw believers off track. I remember a season of life when I felt all alone. My mind said God was with me, but my feelings said He wasn’t. To counter those emotions, I pursued the Lord through Scripture meditation and prayer.

In times of discouragement, you have a choice. Will you focus on your circumstances, or will you fix your gaze on our loving Father and trust Him?


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Timely Help

“We will find grace to help us when we need it.”
Hebrews 4:16 NLT

God’s help is timely. He helps us the same way a father gives plane tickets to his family. When I travel with my kids, I carry all our tickets in my satchel. When the moment comes to board the plane, I stand between the attendant and the child. As each daughter passes, I place a ticket in her hand. She, in turn, gives the ticket to the attendant. Each one receives the ticket in the nick of time.

What I do for my daughters God does for you. He places himself between you and the need. And at the right time, he gives you the ticket. Wasn’t this the promise he gave his disciples? “When you are arrested and judged, don’t worry ahead of time about what you should say. Say whatever is given you to say at that time, because it will not really be you speaking; it will be the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11, emphasis mine).

God leads us. He will do the right thing at the right time.


From: Max Lucado

Better Than Life

In Psalm 63:1-4, the psalmist makes an incredible statement,

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

What does the psalmist mean when he says that God’s lovingkindness is better than life? Let me try and explain.

First, lovingkindness literally means merciful love. It is God’s unfailing, merciful love.

And this is the love the psalmist says is “better than life.” This merciful and unfailing love of God is better than life at its best without that love.

When I think of my life without Christ, I can remember many high times, laughter I shared with people, and great relationships. But the least of God’s mercies far outweighs the best of those times.

My life before coming to know Christ was chasing shadows. It was doing the best with a counterfeit because I had never experienced the reality. It was eating freeze-dried food when the Master Chef had prepared this sumptuous feast with the finest ingredients.

His lovingkindness is indeed better than the best of life without it. The natural response to such merciful love, to such an abundant life, is praise. Which means that every day, until your dying day, should be a thanksgiving day.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Pursuing Holiness

READ | 1 Peter 1:15-21

God’s children are called to live holy lives that are marked by a deep reverence for Him. One strong motivation for righteous living is the cross and what it represents.

First, the cross is a reminder of our original position as outsiders, separated from God because of sin. Second, it points to our need for a Savior. Divine justice decrees that the penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23); however, the only acceptable payment is the shedding of innocent blood (Deut. 17:1). Since we are all guilty, we cannot pay for our own sins. Third, it was on the cross that Jesus took our place and endured God’s wrath so we could be forgiven. Fourth, the crucifixion marks the time when God’s justice was satisfied and His mercy was demonstrated. Finally, it points out the way to be reconciled to the Lord and adopted into His family. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we be saved (John 14:6).

Sadly, many have forgotten about God’s requirement of holiness (v. 15). Instead of holding fast to His standards of attitude and behavior, we embrace some worldly values that seem more comfortable or self-satisfying. We pursue secular ideals such as pleasure and material wealth instead of godly ones like servanthood and obedience. These goals are encouraged by our culture, which has little fear of the Lord and regularly ignores His warnings and commandments.

To counteract the culture’s influence, keep the meaning of the cross before you. Then you’ll be motivated to pursue holiness in honor of the One who gave His life to save you.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Preach The Word

2 Timothy 4

Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word of God and offset the ministry of false teachers.

INSIGHT

We think of Paul as being one of the great spiritual giants of the ages. Because of this, most of us don't expect to receive the same reward that he will. However, we need to realize that the Lord does not reward talent or results - He rewards motive and faithfulness. At the end of his life, Paul wrote: "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (v. 8). That means you and me!

PRAYER

How wonderful it is to know that God will reward our simple faith:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world (Psalm 19:1-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes (Psalm 119:124).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah (Psalm 3:3-4).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
purity in your thoughts,
love for the unlovely,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3).


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Getting Ready

READ | 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Yesterday we learned two ways to prepare for life’s difficulties: biblical thinking and balanced judgment. First Peter 1 has further instructions, which include . . .

Fixing our hope on Jesus (v. 13). No matter how hard the circumstances, life has purpose and meaning in Christ. The Savior has promised always to be with us and to keep watch as a shepherd cares for his sheep (Matt. 28:20; John 10:14). Through the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, troubled times can become opportunities to learn more about God’s faithfulness, draw on His strength, and experience personal growth.

Resisting our former lifestyle (v. 14). When troubles come, it is tempting to revert to ungodly habits or take up new ones. In these seasons of life, Satan will encourage us to pursue any path that leads away from the Lord. We need to remember that we are new creations whose lifestyles are to match our position as God’s children. That old behavior does not fit us anymore.

Making holiness our goal (v. 15). Being “holy,” or “set apart,” begins with giving up control over our life to the Holy Spirit. As we submit to Him, He will begin to express the life of Christ through us. By learning what pleases God and acting accordingly, we cooperate with His efforts to conform us to the Son’s image.

While struggles are part of everyday life, we do not have to be overcome by them. Think about a specific step you can take to start carrying out these instructions today.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

When Love Is Real

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15 NASB

The summer before my eighth-grade year I made friends with a guy named Larry. He was new to town, so I encouraged him to go out for our school football team…

The result was a good news-bad news scenario. The good news? He made the cut. The bad news? He won my position. I tried to be happy for him, but it was tough.

A few weeks into the season Larry fell off a motorcycle and broke a finger. I remember the day he stood at my front door holding up his bandaged hand. “Looks like you’re going to have to play.”

I tried to fell sorry for him, but it was hard. The passage was a lot easier for Paul to write than it was for me to practice. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

You want to plumb the depths of your love for someone? How do you feel when that person succeeds?


From: Max Lucado

Praise and an Untrue Heart

Pride is not the only thing that can keep us from praising God. An untrue heart can squelch both the desire and the ability to develop a life of praise. An untrue heart is a heart that is insincere, hypocritical, or filled with doubt. The writer of Hebrews said:

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).

There are some people who try to honor God with their lips while their hearts are full of anger, bitterness, or envy. However, God knows the status of our hearts and our weaknesses.

We cannot develop a life of praise alone or in our own strength. Instead, we must surrender our intellect, feelings, and will to the Lord. As we do this, God will empower us to develop a habit of praising Him—regardless of our circumstances.

In Genesis 22, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, He was asking him to surrender the object of his love. He was asking Abraham to give up something that meant more to him than anything else.

Did God want Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? No. God wanted to be certain that Abraham was willing to surrender everything to Him. Like Abraham, God wants us to surrender to Him. He wants us to praise Him. Praise is a sacrifice that costs us our pride, our plans, and our desires. True praise requires that we place everything on the altar to the Lord.

Don’t let pride or an untrue heart keep you from a life of praise. Yield to the Lord, come before Him in humility, and God will give you His strength and power to live a victorious life.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Take Heart!

“May the Lord lead your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s patience.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5

The majority is not always right. If the majority had ruled, the children of Israel never would have left Egypt. They would have voted to stay in bondage. If the majority had ruled, David never would have fought Goliath. His brothers would have voted for him to stay with the sheep. What’s the point? You must listen to your own heart.

God says you’re on your way to becoming a disciple when you can keep a clear head and a pure heart.

Do you ever wonder if everything will turn out right as long as you do everything right? Do you ever try to do something right and yet nothing seems to turn out like you had planned? Take heart—when people do what is right, God remembers.


From: Max Lucado

No Other Gods Before Me

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

What is an idol and how does it come to be?

An idol is created when a man takes his own ideas and puts them into the work of his hands and begins to worship that. What he is really worshiping is himself.

You may say, “I’m not guilty of idolatry.” Well, let’s see about that.

* Is there anything you love more than God?
* Is there anything you fear more than God?
* Is there anything you serve more than God?
* Is there anything you trust more than God?

Am I getting hot? You say, “Well, I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want just a place in your life. Then, you say, “Well, I give God prominence in my life.” God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less.

Is there anyone or anything in your life that takes precedence over God? If so, confess it and repent of it. Now, put on the throne the rightful Master — the Lord Jesus!


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Being Ready for Rough Times

READ | 1 Peter 1:13-14

The apostle Peter knew that hard days lay ahead for his fellow believers. So he reminded them about their security as children of God: they were chosen by Him, born into a living hope, given spiritual protection during this life, and guaranteed eternity in heaven with their Father. Peter then gave them specific ways to prepare for the coming trials. His words, divinely inspired by the Lord, can guide us as well.

His first instruction relates to our minds: What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life’s problems. If we trust that God is looking out for us, then we will feel less threatened by hard circumstances. But if we decide we must rely on ourselves, then we are more likely to react poorly to situations beyond our control. A negative attitude—whether from anger, fear, worry, or jealousy—can make a hard time worse. Preparation for the future starts with developing biblical thinking.

A second lesson from Peter is to be “sober in spirit”—in other words, to maintain our balance in the midst of crises (v. 13). That requires resisting quick fixes to problems and refusing to embrace ungodly ideas or philosophies. Our enemy Satan is quick to offer suggestions designed to trip us up or turn us away from God’s path. With the Spirit’s help, we can learn to stand firm in a crisis and steadfastly follow the Lord.

Our culture is increasingly distancing itself from Jesus Christ and opposing His followers. Are you preparing spiritually for whatever the future holds?


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Cast Thy Bread Upon The Waters

"Cast thy bread upon the waters:for thou shalt find it after many days."
Ecclesiastes 11:1

This has been an encouraging promise to many involved in the ministry of God's Word. Missionaries often labor on foreign fields, struggling with the language, adjusting to strange customs, enduring harsh environments and working among people in hostile places with little if any fruit from their labor. Often it is years before they see any tangible results from their labor of love. They have responded in obedience to God's call upon their lives and now are casting the bread of life upon the waters of an unbelieving and often hostile people.

In Egypt, where the Nile overflows the countryside during the rainy season, it is said that the farmers cast their seed (rice) upon the waters even while they are in a flooding stage. Instead of losing their seed, they find it again after many days after the water subsides, growing into an abundant crop.

Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to interior China back in the late 1800s is typical of those who spend years casting their bread upon the waters while waiting in persevering faith to see the fruit of harvest. Burdened down with the many responsibilities, the climate and difficulties of venturing into this vast country entirely by faith, he labored for many years before experiencing the birth of souls being won to Christ. A fellow missionary wrote him a letter in reply to Hudson Taylor's burden of striving and struggling and a feeling of failure. He said, "I too, had the same problem until I exchanged 'my' inefficiency to trusting Him for present power. I rested in the love of an Almighty Savior. I was willing that His will should be truly supreme. Looking off to Him, not striving after faith, but resting on the Faithful One."

This was the glorious awakening in Hudson Taylor's life. After 26 years of casting the bread upon the waters, the harvest had come. There were now 70 mission stations with as many missionaries. He trusted God for 70 more missionaries within the next three years, and by faith and prayer the answer came. He trusted God for 100 more missionaries to come in the next four years. They came with their support assured. Remember this was a Faith Mission without any promise of monetary support. In 70 years this faith mission grew to 1083 missionaries, and 1968 paid Chinese helpers. More than 2000 volunteer Chinese workers labored in the 250 mission stations, 1600 chapels, 11 hospitals and a hundred dispensaries. Nearly 500 schools for the natives were conducted and more than a 100,000 converts had been baptized! The "return after many days" of "casting the bread upon the waters" is inestimable for this initial missionary effort in China back in 1880. The only conclusion for the magnitude of Hudson Taylor's ministry in China is, God did it through one completely committed to His will. [Information of Hudson Taylor was taken from "How They Were Won" by V. Raymond Edman.]

A friend of ours had just lost his job but he and his wife were determined to fill a commitment at a weekly Bible conference. Money was scarce but they felt they had enough to pay for their weekly expense. At the end of the conference they went to the office to pay their bill. When they were given their bill these words written across the bottom, "PAID IN FULL" with this verse, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." They had been faithful in casting their bread upon the waters, now they were reaping a measure of the harvest. God wants us to be found faithful in what He has committed to us. We are responsible to be obedient...the results are His responsibility. "To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18). Dare to trust God! Cut the shorelines, launch out into the deep waters, and see the works of the Lord! "Cast thy bread upon the waters..."


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

The High Cost of Compromise

READ | 1 Kings 11:1-11

We all occasionally succumb to a case of the “I’d never-s”: I’d never cheat on my spouse, I’d never steal from an employer,

I’d never betray a friend, etc. While uttering the words, we are confident of living up to them. What believers often don’t realize is that the journey from I’d never to I did is made up of small steps, each one a compromise.

A young, spiritually fervent Solomon certainly would have said, “I’d never be a lust-driven slave to false gods.” Yet he ended his life with a multitude of wives and lovers who demanded his allegiance to their deities. Neglecting the laws and principles of the true God cost him dearly.

Solomon knew all the warnings against marrying foreigners: “They will turn your sons away from following [God] to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you” (Deut. 7:4). But the political advantages of an alliance with Egypt convinced him to compromise those high standards (1 Kings 3:1). The fact that God didn’t instantly react to his rebellion must have made rationalizing the next marriage even easier—after all, a nation was more secure if its king’s harem included daughters of potential enemies. But just as God foretold, Solomon’s thousand-strong harem lured his heart away. He broke a divine covenant and forfeited his family’s claim to Israel’s throne.

God’s commands are meant to protect us from sin and heartache. Compromise can look tempting and even advantageous, but taking one step off the high road makes the next step even easier.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

A Strong Witness

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
-Acts 4:13 (NIV)

ONE miracle recorded in the book of Acts is the healing of a crippled beggar. Peter and John spoke words of faith in Jesus Christ, and the man began to walk and leap. This miracle provided the opportunity for Peter to boldly proclaim the message of salvation to those who looked on. When the authorities recognized that Peter and John "had been with Jesus," they wanted to silence their powerful testimony. It was evident that these common, uneducated men personally knew Jesus, by whose power the lame man was healed.

Since I am one who knows Christ, it is my desire and responsibility to share the gospel message with others. It is not my education or speaking ability but my relationship with the Savior that enables me to share my faith with conviction. The time I spend with Christ in prayer and Bible study strengthens me and gives me confidence to speak out. A bold testimony of my personal faith can bring the miracle of new life to another. Will my life be evidence that I, too, have been with Jesus?


Prayer
Lord, help us arrange our daily activities in order to spend time with you. By your grace, equip us to share the gospel courageously. Amen.


From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Cathy Thomas

God of Comfort!

Life is unpredictable, everything could happen anytime, anywhere.

This week was a real tragedy. I am supposed to enjoy my grandmothers time but unfortunately she passed away. I don't know what to do, how to act, what to say. In this kind of situation, the first thing we could probably say is "why?". I even post a question in my mind, why can't God get a person alive when his / her life span is over.
But ofcourse, we don't need to question God about His plans. In fact, we all believe that God is all knowing and His plan is beneficial for all.

I truly grieved for my grandmothers death. He is my favorite and I think I'm one of her favorite grandson. As I reminisce those memories and stories we had, it made me cry more. I guess those happy moments is over, but my life must go one.

Then it made me realized that there is no 100% peace in this world, purely 100% comfort from God. I really felt how God comforts us. God reminded me of my favorite verse, Psalms 46:10, "Be still and know that I Am your God".

It's true, no matter how bad situations are, we should with all our heart adore God for what His doing. Our minds our limited capacity and we can't understand everything that's happening. What we could only do is to trust God even though life seems to be confusing.

We should not question God, He knows BEST!

Praying With Authority

READ | 1 Kings 18:19-39

God has given His children the privilege of calling upon Him for all they need, and what’s more, He’s promised to respond. He has also included the right to petition Him on behalf of others. Scripture tells us that the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5:16).

To be righteous in the Father’s sight, we must have accepted His offer of salvation. Before redemption, we were unrighteous people under His judgment (Eph. 2:1, 3). Through faith in Christ as our Savior, we are made new and declared holy in His sight. Then, for our petitions to be powerful and effective, they must be in agreement with His will (1 John 5:14-15). Getting to know our Father’s character and priorities is the key to making requests aligned with His plan.

Elijah is a good example of someone who prayed with authority. The Lord sent him into battle against evil King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal. This was a spiritual conflict to prove who was the real God—Baal or the Lord of Israel. Elijah’s weapons were his knowledge of the Father’s plan and the authority he had in prayer as a prophet of God. His request, made publicly before his opponents, matched the Lord’s will—that Jehovah would make Himself known (1 Kings 18:37). And when God responded to Elijah’s prayer, the people declared, “The LORD, He is God!” (v. 39).

Are you a child of God? If so, you can pray with spiritual might by making sure your requests are in agreement with His will.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Claim God’s Forgiveness

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27 RSV

You read right. We have “put on” Christ. When God looks at us he doesn’t see us; he sees Christ. We “wear” him. We are hidden in him; we are covered by him. As the song says, “Dressed in righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”

Presumptuous, you say? Sacrilegious? It would be if it were my idea. But it isn’t; it’s his. We are presumptuous not when we marvel at his grace, but when we reject it. And we’re sacrilegious not when we claim his forgiveness, but when we allow the haunting sins of yesterday to convince us that God forgives but he doesn’t forget.

Do yourself a favor. Remember…he forgot.


From: Max Lucado

Courteous Conduct

“Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers.”
Colossians 4:5

Those who don’t believe in Jesus note what we do. They make decisions about Christ by watching us. When we are kind, they assume Christ is kind. When we are gracious, they assume Christ is gracious. But if we are brash, what will people think about our King? When we are dishonest, what assumption will an observer make about our Master? No wonder Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should” (Col. 4:5-6). Courteous conduct honors Christ.

It also honors his children. When you surrender a parking place to someone, you honor him. When you return a borrowed book, you honor the lender. When you make an effort to greet everyone in the room, especially the ones others may have overlooked, you honor God’s children.



From: Max Lucado

Brokenness: The Process

READ | Romans 8:29-31

How tempting it is to think we need very little improvement. Ask around, and you’ll hear many people concede they could probably use a bit of “maintenance” on one or two problem areas (preferably without being caused any discomfort). Yet most will add, “But I’m a good person.” Don’t be fooled—the Father refuses to settle for humanity’s meager vision of “good enough.”

God sees each believer as the person he or she will be when fully yielded to Jesus Christ. He then sets about achieving that complete renovation by transforming the individual’s present self into the image of His Son. We could say that God is our “interior designer.”

An essential step in remodeling involves removing whatever is unnecessary, damaged, or outmoded. In our case, what must go are the areas of self-will. I can tell you from experience that being a man under construction is uncomfortable! God targets habits, attitudes, and even relationships wherein we act independently of His purposes. Then He applies pressure to direct our attention there as well. The Lord takes hold of interests that are dear to our hearts in order to coax from us the rather humbling question, “What more would You have me submit to You?”

Conforming our will to God’s changes who we are. In the midst of our transformation, pain from His tools may temporarily obscure the beauty of His design. But nothing is more splendid to God than a committed, obey-at-all-costs follower. Submit to Him so that He might remake you into the servant He desires.


From: InTouch Ministry - Early Light Devotional

Hidden Treasures

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
-2 Corinthians 4:7 (NRSV)

IN the natural history museum we visited in Washington, D.C., our son's favorite section was an extensive geological exhibit. Its first display consisted of rocks found in deep, cold, dark, and practically forgotten places. The next showed rocks of incredible shapes and sizes, filled with exquisitely colored crystals created by heat pressure deep in the earth. Farther along in the exhibit were more common rocks - discolored or malformed or hollow. Upon closer inspection, however, I could see in them the beginnings of the beautiful colors of delicate, polished, fine crystal.

As I admired these wonders, I could sense what God already knows: this is the way we may appear, as common rocks shaped by the experiences of life's trials and challenges. But inside us lies a treasure waiting to be formed and polished by the very same pressures of the struggles that mark our everyday lives.

If we persevere, that treasure is perfected so that others may see our example and be drawn to Christ. Instead of deforming us, our struggles can refine us, shaping us into better servants of God.


Prayer
Lord, help us to see how struggles in our lives can help us grow and make us more like Christ. Amen.



From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Miriam Piñero

The Landmine of Compromise

READ | Psalm 119:1-8

Compromise injures a believer’s spiritual life as surely as landmines wreak havoc upon the body. Our testimony is damaged or destroyed when we bend God’s principles.

For example, suppose a young Christian woman meets an attractive man who doesn’t share her beliefs. For years, she has known Paul’s caution, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers” and recognizes the apostle’s intention to protect Christians from worldly influences (2 Cor. 6:14). But she rationalizes that one date won’t hurt her. Actually, she is probably right. However, a first date leads to a second and third and then to a relationship. He offers marriage, she accepts, and the bent principle becomes a broken rule.

To navigate a spiritual minefield, we must look a few steps ahead for possible danger. Even choices that seem trivial may have far-reaching consequences. But the Lord equips us with a “divine GPS” (God’s Positioning System): the Holy Spirit sounds an alarm in our spirit if we veer into dangerous territory.

For us to hear these warnings, our heart must be tuned to the Holy Spirit’s wavelength through Scripture study. Relying on our own understanding can lead to trouble. But those who trust the Lord and apply His principles will find straight paths through potentially explosive situations (Prov. 3:5-6).

The young woman in the above example knew Scripture and felt the Spirit’s cautionary nudge, but she ignored it. For safe travel through this dangerous world, decide to obey His initial warning so you can steer clear of compromise.


From: InTouch Ministry - Early Light Devotional

The Shepherd Leads

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”
Psalm 23:2 NKJV

In the second verse of the Twenty-third Psalm, David the poet becomes David the artist. His quill becomes a brush, his parchment a canvas, and his words paint a picture. A flock of sheep on folded legs, encircling a shepherd. Bellies nestled deep in the long shoots of grass. A still pond on one side, the watching shepherd on the other. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He makes me…He leads me…

Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The shepherd selects the trail and prepares the pasture. The sheep’s job—our job—is to watch the Shepherd.



From: Max Lucado

Intimate Theology

Do you believe this? —John 11:26



Martha believed in the power available to Jesus Christ; she believed that if He had been there He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a special intimacy with God, and that whatever He asked of God, God would do. But— she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha’s theology had its fulfillment in the future. But Jesus continued to attract and draw her in until her belief became an intimate possession. It then slowly emerged into a personal inheritance— "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ . . ." ( John 11:27 ).

Is the Lord dealing with you in the same way? Is Jesus teaching you to have a personal intimacy with Himself? Allow Him to drive His question home to you— "Do you believe this?" Are you facing an area of doubt in your life? Have you come, like Martha, to a crossroads of overwhelming circumstances where your theology is about to become a very personal belief? This happens only when a personal problem brings the awareness of our personal need.

To believe is to commit. In the area of intellectual learning I commit myself mentally, and reject anything not related to that belief. In the realm of personal belief I commit myself morally to my convictions and refuse to compromise. But in intimate personal belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ and make a determination to be dominated by Him alone.

Then, when I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me, "Do you believe this?" I find that faith is as natural as breathing. And I am staggered when I think how foolish I have been in not trusting Him earlier



From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

Truly Living

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life."
-John 6:47 (NRSV)

AFTER my father's funeral, I stopped by the house I grew up in, to spend time with my mother. As I was leaving, she asked if I wanted anything of my father's. I asked if I could have his old wallet. When I was a kid, I loved to look through his wallet. Breathing in its leathery smell and touching its texture, and knowing my dad had touched it, made me feel close to him.

When I got home later that evening, I looked through the wallet. In one of the pockets, I found an old, folded piece of paper on which my father had written, "Lord Jesus Christ, I confess to you my sins. Come into my heart and forgive me for all the sins I have ever done. Thank you for forgiving me, Lord Jesus." As tears began to roll down my face, I heard the quiet voice that I had come to know well as God's voice within me. He's truly living now were the words whispered to my heart. I was reminded of the scripture: "I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life" (TEV).

At that point I knew that I would see my dad again. How wonderful that we have the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ!


Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise of eternal life offered to all. Amen.


From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Jay Wollenburg

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

Today’s Truth
Luke 2:16-20 (NIV) “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.”

Friend to Friend
Are you ready for the holidays? For some people, that question spurs exciting thoughts of beautifully decorated tables filled with scrumptious meals, festive shopping trips, extended family time, brightly wrapped gifts under a tree … the “Walton” kind of holiday. For others, the holiday season is a very difficult and dark time that is to be endured rather than enjoyed. According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress-related causes each week. During the holiday season, another one million people battle what experts refer to as the "holiday blues". I am very familiar with depression and the pain it holds and must constantly battle to stay out of that pit.

Depression is an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual disorder. Something is out of balance. We have buried some pain instead of confronting it. We have misplaced our trust and sought help from impotent sources. In order to deal with depression, we must first come to a place of total and complete surrender to God and His plan of healing – even if we cannot see or do not understand that plan. The bottom line of God’s heart toward His children is always restoration and healing.

While I am not a big fan of television, I do enjoy watching a few select home improvement shows. On a recent program, an interior decorator and home owner were discussing a list of changes that needed to be made in order to update the home. “First, we have to do something about those windows,” the decorator announced. I was surprised that she had listed this task first – until I saw the house. The existing glass was not only an ugly shade of gold but was thick and chunky as well. The windows let in no light and made it virtually impossible to see in or out. The result was a dark, isolated home. The distressed homeowner protested, “But I like my privacy. And if I thought anyone could see in, I would feel totally exposed.” When it comes to dealing with depression, many people feel the same way.

We construct walls over which no one can climb because the cost of friendship is too high. We fill the windows of our soul with emotional excuses in order to avoid dealing with pain. The result is darkness, loneliness and missed opportunities for restoration. We don’t want to understand depression or find the treasures of that darkness; we simply want to be rid of it. Many people try to understand and deal with depression on a surface level – refusing to face painful experiences, difficult relationships and, in general, the broken places where darkness lives. We look for the nearest exit, hoping to bypass transparency because the price is just too much to pay. Emotional integrity is an essential step to recognizing, understanding and dealing with depression. We must be real before we can be right, and until we are willing to risk being transparent, we can neither understand nor effectively deal with depression during the holidays or any other time of the year.

The holidays seem to tug at the masks we carefully hold in place or push the emotional buttons we desperately try to hide. The arrival of family members can resurrect painful issues that have never really been resolved. Financial pressure opens up like a sink hole waiting to steal our joy and destroy our peace. Schedules demand every ounce of energy and false expectations leave us empty and hollow. Before we realize it, the dark, slimy pit swallows us up. It is not supposed to be that way, girlfriend! Now is the time to do something about it!

Thanksgiving can be a time of praise if we choose to focus on the victories and joys we have experienced during the year and then find ways to share that victory and joy with others. Christmas can be a true celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings, if we choose to focus on a tiny baby born in a manger, come to save us and give us true life. The darkness can be destroyed if we choose to face and deal with whatever it holds. Right now, get ready for the holidays by choosing an attitude of joy, by focusing your mind on the things of heaven – not earth, and by fixing your heart on Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray
Father, I want this holiday season to one that is filled with light instead of darkness. Please help me discard my emotional masks and be real before You as well as with my family and friends. Give me the courage to be obedient to You in every holiday setting. Give me eyes to see those You bring into my life that need my encouragement because they are on the same journey. Father, prepare and enable me to make this holiday season an offering of praise to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals - Girlfriends in God

Glimpses of God’s Image

“Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything for his glory.”
Romans 11:36 TLB

The breath you just took? God gave that. The blood that just pulsed through your heart? Credit God. The light by which you read and the brain with which you process? He gave both.

Everything comes from him…and exists for him. We exist to exhibit God, to display his glory. We serve as canvases for his brush stroke, papers for his pen, soil for his needs, glimpses of his image.


From: Max Lucado

Humbling Ourselves

[Christ Jesus] emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.
-Philippians 2:7-8 (NRSV)

WE were on our way to church when we saw the brand new ambulance in the distance. Two neatly dressed paramedics stepped out of the ambulance with a stretcher. As we got closer to the scene, we observed the paramedics placing a disheveled, very dirty, drunk man on the clean stretcher.

My immediate comment was, "What a waste! All that medical training and experience, and for what - to give aid to such a disgraceful character!"

No sooner had the words left my mouth than I heard inwardly: And who are you? Do you believe you are better than this poor soul, even as you come before the One who descended from heaven to rescue you from your wicked ways?

Deep shame and hurt filled my soul, and I asked forgiveness for my insensitivity and haughtiness. When I arrived at church, it did not come as much of a surprise for me to learn that the sermon was based on the scripture found in Philippians 2. That day, every word in the passage took on profound, new meaning for me.


Prayer
Merciful God, forgive us when we look down on others. Thank you for opening our eyes to see our brothers and sisters and ourselves as you do. Amen.


From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Virtudes T. de Tosoni

Unveiling the Hidden

READ | Jeremiah 33:1-3

Every decade, it seems as though there’s a fresh crop of books on the topic of communication. We can walk down the aisle of any bookstore and take our pick from the many volumes dedicated to public speaking, preaching, verbal delivery, and even interpersonal communication. Learning how to speak is definitely a big industry these days.

What tends to be lacking, however, is good teaching on how to communicate with the Lord. Too often, we take what we learn about mass communication and try to apply it to prayer. We carefully craft each word of our petitions, laboring over every phrase and peppering in some fancy “biblical” words like “thou,” “thee,” and “shalt.” Sometimes, we seem to believe that it’s possible to unlock the mysteries of heaven if we just learn how to phrase our prayers.

Friend, this is a misguided approach. We should never come before God’s throne with the presumption that we just have to find the right combination of words in order to get Him to speak. The power is not in what we say, but in what He says.

Our role in prayer is not to impress the Lord with our fine phrasing and fancy vocabulary. Rather, it is to cry out to Him, to express our needs, and then to listen. Sadly, we often miss out on what God wants to say because we’re too busy doing all the talking!

This week, take a different approach to prayer. Practice solitude and quiet meditation in your time with God, and open yourself up to what He may be telling you.



From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

The Authority of Truth

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you —James 4:8

It is essential that you give people the opportunity to act on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual—you cannot act for him. It must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message should always lead him to action. Refusing to act leaves a person paralyzed, exactly where he was previously. But once he acts, he is never the same. It is the apparent folly of the truth that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Once I press myself into action, I immediately begin to live. Anything less is merely existing. The moments I truly live are the moments when I act with my entire will.

When a truth of God is brought home to your soul, never allow it to pass without acting on it internally in your will, not necessarily externally in your physical life. Record it with ink and with blood—work it into your life. The weakest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is liberated the second he acts and God’s almighty power is available on his behalf. We come up to the truth of God, confess we are wrong, but go back again. Then we approach it again and turn back, until we finally learn we have no business going back. When we are confronted with such a word of truth from our redeeming Lord, we must move directly to transact business with Him. "Come to Me . . ." ( Matthew 11:28 ). His word come means "to act." Yet the last thing we want to do is come. But everyone who does come knows that, at that very moment, the supernatural power of the life of God invades him. The dominating power of the world, the flesh, and the devil is now paralyzed; not by your act, but because your act has joined you to God and tapped you in to His redemptive power.


From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

THE DELIGHT OF SACRIFICE

"I will very gladly spend and be spent for you." 2 Corinthians 12:15

When the Spirit of God first awakens us, draws us unto Christ, and His love begins to penetrate our lives, we begin to identify with Jesus Christ. The more we surrender to His lordship and His authority, the more we begin to know the "mind of Christ." Paul said, "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus." He emphasized that we should be "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose, doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:2-3). Now, that's easier said than done. We struggle with that as we seek "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29).

How does that relate to our daily walk? If we say with Paul, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you," it means, we will be willing to give of ourselves in whatever measure, at whatever cost, to come alongside of others and show them the love of God. This may mean the sacrifice of our time in order to be used of the Lord in someone's life. It may mean sharing hospitality in an unexpected way to our neighbor. It may mean giving of our talents or gifts to improve the life or ability of someone. "To be spent" has no bounds.

Paul's attitude exemplifies what this verse means, and the demand it will put on us if we are to be so committed to the Lord. Paul said, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means win some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). There was no restraint with Paul in the "giving of himself" to others. Our spiritual need is to put to death our disposition to sin...our claim of our rights to ourselves. When we act on this moral decision, then all that Christ did "for" us on the Cross is done "in" us by the Holy Spirit. It gives the Holy Spirit complete freedom and access to the whole of our life, and imparts to us the holiness of Jesus Christ.

Our lives start the spiritual journey of "becoming" like Christ. Our vision is enlarged, no longer confined to "our" interests and "our" concerns, but HIS. We no longer "strive" to live a victorious life, HE begins to live HIS LIFE through us. "To spend and be spent" is not a burden, but a glorious opportunity of seeing the Holy Spirit accomplish through us things beyond our capability that glorify our Lord. Thus, the "supernatural life of Christ within" responds "naturally" to His leading and working through us. The striving now becomes a "resting in Him"...the fruit is the result of HIS doing, not ours.

It all starts with OBEDIENCE. It then takes on PRESENTATION. Behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God. Paul said, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to PRESENT your bodies as living sacrifices, holy, and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).

With surrendered heart and life, God impacts others through you. This is the "delight of sacrifice"...HIS LIFE living freely and fully in and through you! What a blessing and a joy!


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

The Black Hole

2 Corinthians 12:9
..."My grace is sufficient for you..."

If you are older than 35, you may recall the early days of the space program. I remember the early spacecraft launch with John Glenn. One of the most exciting and tense moments of his return to earth was his reentry to the earth's atmosphere. I recall the diagram on television of the heat shield on the capsule that had to withstand incredible temperatures to avoid complete destruction. There was a blackout period for several minutes in which mission control had no radio contact. He was in the "black hole." It was a tense time. Either he would make it through, or the spacecraft would burn up in the atmosphere. There were several minutes of silence that seemed like an eternity. Then, mission control shouted with joy when they reestablished contact with the spacecraft. It was a time of rejoicing.

Have you ever had a time when you were in a spiritual black hole in your life? I have. The pressure was unbearable. No sense of God's presence. No sense of anything going on around me. God was about as far away as the man in the moon-at least from my perspective. I think every Christian who is called to make a significant difference in his world experiences times like these. These are the times when we question the reality of God, the love of God, the personal care of God. And He demonstrates to us that He was there all the time. These are "faith experiences" that God does in every person who is called to a higher level of relationship with Him. These times are needful in order to know that we have the "heat shield" that can withstand the incredible heat that comes when we follow Him with a whole heart-a heart that is radical in a commitment to fully follow His ways. Elisha had that spirit. He slaughtered his 12 oxen and burned his plowing equipment so that he would not have the opportunity to return to anything if God didn't come through (see 1 Kings 19:21).

The apostle Paul asked God to remove the heat from his own life one time. God's answer was not what he wanted to hear.

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP)

How's your heat shield today? Can it withstand the heat that would want to burn up everything in your life not based in Him? Christ said, "My grace is sufficient." Is that really true in your life? Let His grace be your shield today.



From: CrossWalk Devotionals

Obedience or Independence?

If you love Me, keep My commandments — John 14:15


Our Lord never insists obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an "If," meaning, "You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so." "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . ." ( Luke 9:23 ). In other words, "To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me." Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26 ). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.

The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.



From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

God Entered Time

“They will sing about what the LORD has done, because the LORD’s glory is great.”
Psalm 138:5

When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound…For more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.

I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness?…When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?

If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave into them…Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word he could’ve transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didn’t. With a wave of his hand, he could’ve boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didn’t. With an arch of his brow, he could’ve paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown of thorns. But he didn’t.


From: Max Lucado

When In Need

READ | Hebrews 4:16

We all have needs, which range from physical and emotional to spiritual. When you require some essential—whether food, water, acceptance, or understanding—where do you turn?

When something basic is missing in your life, it’s very easy to feel alone. But remember, God knows what you need even before you tell Him. Hebrews 4:13 states, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him…”

Some people might find this intimidating, as if a “big brother” is watching. But the Lord is a compassionate and loving heavenly Father who cares for His children. He is our shepherd, guiding us gently through life and redirecting us when we stray (Ps. 23). Furthermore, He desires to meet our needs and always does what is best for us (Rom. 8:28).

Our Father is ready and able to work in our lives. And He tells us to come confidently to His throne, bringing our requests to Him. In other words, because we, as Christians, have access to Him through Jesus, we are able to present our desires and struggles freely and without fear. And we can expect an answer. We might receive exactly what we ask, or perhaps God will tell us to wait. Sometimes the answer will be no. But we can be sure that even then, He is acting in our best interest—in His omniscience, He will withhold what He knows would ultimately harm or hinder His children.

The Lord knows where you are and what you need. Share your hurts and desires honestly with Him.



From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

IS MY SERVICE FOR GOD...OR WITH GOD?

"Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48

There seems ingrained within our nature the attitude that we must "do" things in order to be accepted, to prove ourselves worthy, even to ourselves, that we have done something that should be commended by others. We find this same attitude in our spiritual journey. Someone has wisely said, "It is much easier to "do" something than to trust in God. We would far rather work 'for' God than 'believe in Him.'" Whatever will redound to His glory must be what "He does through us," not what we do "for" Him in our strength. The focus of service and our walk must be redirected from all that "we" are, to all that HE IS. HE must be the source for all our endeavors.

The skeptics in the days of Christ sought for signs and wonders to establish their faith. Our faith cannot, and will not, be established by what we see or do. Our faith is not founded upon creeds, traditions, and customs, but the person of Jesus Christ. When evidence is present, faith is impossible. Our faith is not only generated by what Jesus says, but also in WHO HE IS. When we get lost in the wonder of His majesty, and live in the reality of a personal relationship with Almighty God, our faith will be enlarged and activated, established and secured, as we behold all that GOD IS.

This needs to characterize our service. When I was in the business world, I always told those who were my assistants..."You do not work 'for' me, you work 'with' me. We are bonded together to be successful in the work entrusted to us. The closer our bond, loyalty, and dedication, the more successful we will be." This is so true in our spiritual journey. God said, "I have chosen you." It is a constraint we cannot get away from. We are His--supernaturally born again by God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and entrusted to walk, live, and serve in the might of His power.

We have been drawn to Him by the supernatural grace of God; we can disobey His constraining tug upon our hearts, but we cannot initiate it. As we surrender to HIS control, we will discover that we are not in service "for" the Lord, but in service "with" Him. It will be a bond of love born of God, responded to through the penetration of His Spirit in our hearts, and made effective and fruitful by the Holy Spirit working through us. The service is now not one of "striving within" ourselves, but "resting in" the might of our all-sufficient Savior. The fruit is the result of "abiding in Him" who manifests His plan and purpose through us. The emphasis has turned from "doing" to "being." We often recognize as service to God "what we do" in our spiritual realm for God. Jesus recognizes service as "what we are to Him." Eternal fruitfulness is the natural outcome of our obedience to Christ. Behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God!

When we are reconciled to Him, He creates within us a new life. We now draw from the well that never runs dry. Our "doing" is now prefaced by unreserved commitment to HIM as the Lord of our life. We serve with renewed confidence in HIS leading, HIS power, and HIS sufficiency for every encounter. Our service then becomes the result of our intimate relationship with Christ, characterized by a walk of obedience!


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell