A Personal Invitation

“Come to me…and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28


When Jesus says, “Come to me,” he doesn’t say come to religion, come to a system, or come to a certain doctrine. This is a very personal invitation to a God, and invitation to a Savior.

Our God is not aloof—he’s not so far above us that he can’t see and understand our problems. Jesus isn’t a God who stayed on the mountaintop—he’s a Savior who came down and lived and worked with the people. Everywhere he went, the crowds followed, drawn together by the magnet that was—and is—the Savior.

The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.


From: Max Lucado

Witnesses for Christ

Standing up and speaking out for Christ can be a scary thing for many believers. Even if we want to obey the Lord’s call to “Go . . . and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19), we may wonder, What would I do? or What would I say? It can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating if we think we have to do it all on our own. Fortunately, we are not alone.

Look once again at yesterday’s key verses, Matthew 28:18-20. Knowing He was issuing a potentially uncomfortable command, the Lord was intentional in the way He framed it. Notice that this passage has essentially three components:

1. Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth.
2. We are to go and make disciples.
3. Jesus will be with us every step of the way.

This wording, combined with the promise of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8, reveals that the responsibility of making disciples was never intended to be a solo act. Jesus is not only present with us, but He is pouring His power into us so that we may more effectively be His witnesses—His ambassadors—in the world. The work is His and the power is His; we’re just the instruments He’s chosen to use in carrying out His work.

God wants to use us, but He hasn’t left us to tackle the job on our own. The One who holds all the power and authority in the universe is with us step by step, and He has put that power within us through His Holy Spirit. Everything we need is at our fingertips. All that’s left is for us to follow the command to “Go!” Where will that command lead you today?


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotional

God Trouble

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.


God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Verse 1) He is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help whether it’s your first or last day of middle school. He is your refuge whether you get good grades or often fail. He is your help whether you are the most popular guy in school or you wonder if anyone knows your name. God is your source of strength in every situation.


Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Verse 2) Because you have God, you need not fear, though your parents threaten to divorce, though your best friend turns her back on you, or you get cut from the basketball team. You world won’t collapse when you have to stand in front of the class and give a speech, even thought you are shy and unsure of what you’ll say. You will not fear!


There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Verse 4). Though you often struggle with loneliness, worries, and insecurities, God is there. Though things look dark now, a promised new day will come. God is great at changing darkness into light and despair into joy.


The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 7) The Lord Almighty is with you in your situation – no matter what threatens you, no matter how powerful your enemies are. God is your fortress, a strong, impenetrable place of safety.


Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolation's He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. (Verses 8-9) Come and see the works of the Lord! See all the good things He has done in your life! He is your friend. He is with you always. He gives comfort, joy and peace. He makes all things beautiful in His time.


Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Verse 10) God is speaking directly to you. He says, “Stop. Be still. And think about Me. I am your God! I love you! I only want what’s best for you. Will you trust me? Will you praise me at home, at school and when you’re out with your friends this weekend?”


The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 11) The Lord Almighty is with you; God is your stronghold. Praise the Lord!



Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, I come before you with a heart overflowing with praise that you are my refuge and strength. You are my ever-present help in trouble. I will not fear though the news broadcasts speak of war, though my parents are fighting, though my worries are many. You know my fears and troubles. Help me to be still and trust you because you are my God. Help me to praise you in the sunshine and in the storm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


From: Delve Into Jesus - Written by Lenae Bulthuis

The Place of Humiliation

If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us — Mark 9:22



After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23 ).

"If you can do anything . . . ." It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?



From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

LOOK FROM WHERE THOU ART

“Look from the place where thou art.” Genesis 13:14

Abram manifested a most magnanimous spirit in his dealing with Lot, his nephew, letting him choose whatever land he desired for his servants and his vast herd of cattle. The choice was deservedly his, being called of God, and the one whom Abram served. Yet Abram waived his rights in preference to having what God would choose for him. His trust was unreservedly in God…His plan, His purpose, His leading, His timing, and His way.

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him. Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.”

I am challenged by these verses and the committed faith that Abram had in God. But also, by what God said first to Abram…“Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art.” Has the Lord ever spoken these words to you? It is insignificant “WHERE we are." BUT, it is imperative IN WHOM WE TRUST…where we are.

We have all been in circumstances that have been devastating, and we have wondered, what am I going to do now?…there’s just no way I’m going to survive this heart-rending situation...I have no resources, no one to turn to…the only way out is up. God says, “Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are.” “Lo, I am with you always...I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then in “faith” we appropriate the faithfulness of God. He gives to us the reality of His presence and the assurance of His hand upon our life. His Word reminds us that God "always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

The secret is…IN WHOM WE TRUST! Circumstances can be overwhelming, people cut us to the heart, "friends" abandon us. “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).


Faith opens our eyes and understanding to see GOD, AND ALL HE IS…the infinite sufficiency of His grace…the source of our strength…the God of might and power…He who has promised to “do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, through the power that works in you” (Ephesians 3:20).

Let me ask you, “Where are you today?” The Lord said, “Look from the place thou art,” look to Me, let Me be the focus of your walk, the priority of your life, the Lord and authority of all…the sovereign of your life. Let your faith rise and soar away and claim all that the Lord has for you and wants to do in you.

He says to us today, “LOOK…all the land that you see, to you will I give it.” Are we living a “paupers life,” failing to lay hold of the riches of His grace? O, that we would appropriate what He has purchased for us…has provided for us…to be a reality in us. Claim His promises and live the blessing! Then we will cry out in thanksgiving and praise like David…“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).



From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

Every Day, Praise

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
-Psalm 150:6 (NRSV)

ONE fine morning I heard a sweet voice outside my home. Out of curiosity, I peeped through the window and saw a small bird singing joyfully. Its beak was pointed up into the clear sky as if to thank and praise the Lord for the sunny new day.

With grateful hearts, we also give thanks - to those who help us financially in our dire need, to friends who stand by our side in hard times, to those who comfort our sorrowful hearts in times of loss. But how often do we thank and praise God for all the benefits and blessings poured on us every day? The apostle Paul exhorted the Thessalonians: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18, KJV). This verse and others like it remind me to thank and praise my savior, Jesus Christ, for even the smallest gifts. Like the birds who praise God simply for a new day, we too can voice our praise every day.


Prayer
Fountain of all blessings, grant us thankful hearts that always remember your benefits. Help us to give you the glory. In Jesus' loving name. Amen.


From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Jayant Samuel Trajker