“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
Sunday, November 16, 2008
No Other Gods Before Me
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Crosswalk Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Crosswalk Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
“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
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
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Early Light Devotional, God Cares, God's Sufficient Grace, Instant Daily Devotion, Spiritual Encouragement, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Early Light Devotional, God Cares, God's Sufficient Grace, Instant Daily Devotion, Spiritual Encouragement, Youth Devotionals
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
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
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Literature International Ministries, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Literature International Ministries, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
"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
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
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