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Don’t Rush Into This Relationship
“He made…a woman, and…brought her to the man.” Ge 2:22 NKJV Patience is a difficult skill to practice when it comes to relationships. This is particularly so when you feel lonely, empty, and incomplete. When that happens you can jump the gun, and make a choice based on your limited perspective rather than the larger picture that would emerge if only you had sought more information and waited patiently. To keep you from making a mistake that can negatively impact the rest of your life, here are three important steps you should take when it comes to forming a relationship: (1) You must ask the right questions. Be curious, inquisitive, and hungry for all the pieces of the puzzle. Always, always, ask! (2) You must find the answer to those questions. Sift through the surface impressions of what you see and hear and you’ll soon see a clearer picture emerging. This picture must harmonize with two things: (a) your participation in this particular relationship; (b) God’s will and purpose for your life. (3) You must act when the time is right, and know that you are acting on the best and most comprehensive information available. If it doesn’t work out, you can relax in the knowledge that you did everything possible to make a wise decision. Statistically, about half of all marriages today end in divorce. But if you take these three steps, you could finish up in the right half. And even if the relationship fails, you can carry into your next relationship the wisdom gleaned from the last one. “He made…a woman, and…brought her to the man.” God knows just what you need, so seek His guidance.
What Kind Of Christian Are You? (3)
“Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live.” Mt 11:30 TM Jesus said, “[The Pharisees] tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders” (Mt 23:4 NIV). They imposed rules that people couldn’t keep, and on the rare occasion when they could keep them it brought them no joy. Stephen Mosley writes: “Our morality calls out rather feebly. It whines from the corner of a sanctuary; it awkwardly interrupts pleasures; it mumbles excuses at parties; it shuffles along out of step and slightly behind the times…It’s often regarded by our secular contemporaries as a narrow, even trivial, pursuit…Tragically, conventional religious goodness manages to be both intimidating and unchallenging at the same time. Intimidating—because it may involve 101 different rules about so-called spirituality. Unchallenging—because we may exhaust ourselves trying to keep all these rules, yet never experience the true joy Jesus offers. That’s why people inside the church so often get weary. Conforming to such a religion is simply not a rewarding enough experience to fill the void in our hearts.” Have you grown weary of pursuing spiritual growth? Could it be you’ve been pursuing the wrong thing, or going at it the wrong way? If so, consider these words of Jesus: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn how to live freely and lightly” (Mt 11:28-30 TM).
What Kind Of Christian Are You? (1)
“They…recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
Ac 4:13 NLT
The Pharisees were self-appointed experts in matters of dietary laws, dress codes, etc. These practices allowed them to decide who was “in” and who was “out.” And what’s worse, the insiders became judgmental toward the outsiders. Dallas Willard writes, “How many people are repelled by Christians who are unfeeling, stiff, unapproachable, boringly lifeless, and dissatisfied? Yet such Christians are everywhere.” The truth is, when our lives aren’t marked by genuine joy and devotion to Christ we start looking for superficial ways to distinguish ourselves from the people we classify as “worldly.” Jesus didn’t do that! When He was asked to identify what the law was all about, He simply replied, “Love God and love people” (See Mk 12:29-31). Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1Co 13:1 NIV). It’s possible to think you’re becoming more spiritual, when in fact you’re becoming what Mark Twain termed “a good man, in the worst sense of the word.” Winston Churchill had a political opponent called Cripps, an arrogant man who was widely disliked for his smug self-righteousness. The story goes that one day Churchill saw Cripps passing by and remarked, “There but for the grace of God, goes God.” One of the greatest compliments ever paid to the apostles is that they were “recognized…as men who had been with Jesus.” The strongest argument for Christianity—is Christians drawing life from Christ. The strongest argument against Christianity—is Christians who are smug, judgmental, and complacent. So, what kind of Christian are you?
Give Yourself Away!
“They gave themselves first to the Lord…then to us.” 2Co 8:5 NIV
What do people usually value more than your money? You!Think about it. What takes greater effort—writing a check or giving of your time and energy? Which shows a greater level of commitment? Take a moment and recall the people who’ve had the greatest impact on you: a teacher who helped you realize you could think, learn and achieve; a parent who loved you, sacrificed for you and gave you the gift of self-worth; a mentor who painted a picture of your future then equipped and challenged you to reach for it. Next to your salvation, what could be greater? Ponder these words: “When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you brought to other people’s lives than from the times you outdid and defeated them.” Too many of us see giving as more than just an act of love—we see it as a transaction—we only give to get! Sir Wilfred T. Grenfell said, “It is obvious that man is himself a traveler; that his purpose in this world is not ‘to have and to hold,’ but ‘to give and to serve.’ There can be no other meaning.” It’s so easy to live only for yourself. In fact, it’s one of our most basic instincts—one we have to overcome each day. But we can take another path—to be generous with our love and our time. When you give those gifts, you’re being as generous as you can be!
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Don’t Let Fear Stop You (1)
“Whom shall I fear?” Ps 27:1 NAS
Life’s filled with fear-inducing situations: fear of sickness, unemployment, rejection, other people’s opinions. Left unchecked, fear will steal your inner peace. But as Chuck Swindoll reminds us: “David met fear head-on at his front door with two questions. ‘Whom shall I dread? Whom shall I fear?’ And he slammed the door in fear’s face by declaring, ‘My heart will not fear…I shall be confident’ (v. 3). Then he walked back into his house, reminding himself how to counteract fear’s attacks. Prayer:‘I have asked from the Lord’ (v. 4). Vision: ‘I behold the beauty of the Lord’ (v. 4). God’s Word: ‘I meditate in His temple’ (v. 4). God’s protection: ‘In the day of trouble He will conceal me’ (v. 5). Worship: ‘I will sing’ (v. 6). Rest:‘Wait for the Lord’ (vv. 13-14). Determination: ‘Let your heart take courage’ (v. 14). Courage isn’t limited to the battlefield…Its real tests are broader… deeper…quieter…like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking…enduring pain when the room is empty…standing alone when you’re misunderstood…It can be as simple as saying ‘No,’ as uneventful as facing a mountain of laundry, as unheralded as the inner struggle between right and wrong. God’s medal-of-honor-winners are made in secret… where most courageous acts occur…away from public acclaim.” When fear nips at your heels, God says, “Be strong and courageous!” (Jos 1:9 NAS). Dick Mills writes: “Every commandment…comes with the assurance that we can perform it. God doesn’t issue orders we’re not capable of fulfilling…It’s incongruous to say, ‘I’ve lots of courage but no strength,’ or, ‘I’m a powerhouse of energy but I’m afraid.’ Courage and strength were given to you by God. Courage motivates our will, and strength accompanies our effort.”
You can count on God
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17 NIV).
When everything’s changing around you, it’s important to remember that God is a consistent Father. He will never let you down. He can be counted on. He is reliable. He is worthy of trust.
James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”(NIV). God is an unchanging, consistent Father.
Human fathers are often unpredictable. I’ve talked to people who said, “Growing up, I never knew how my dad was going to treat me. I never knew if he was going to be silent or violent. I never knew whether he was going to hug me or slug me. I never knew if he was going to take me in or reject me.” Inconsistent fathers produce insecure children.
But God is not moody. Your heavenly Father is consistent. One of the things you can count on is that God always acts the same toward you.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
We know that the world is changing faster than ever before. Alvin Toffler wrote a book called “Future Shock,” in which he said that in times of rapid change, people need what he calls islands of stability. When everything else is up in the air, you need something in your life that never changes as an anchor for your soul. You need an island of stability in order to handle the stress.
There’s only one problem: On this planet, nothing lasts. There’s only one thing you can count on that is not ever going to change: the consistent, caring love of your heavenly Father.
“My God is changeless in his love for me” (Psalm 59:10a TLB).
You can count on that.
Giving At A Higher Level
“She…has given everything she had.” Mk 12:44 NLT
God doesn’t want your generosity to be restricted by fear. Either you’ll trust Him financially and experience the joy of participating in His purposes on earth, or trust your own earning ability and live with anxiety. The danger of not moving to a higher level of giving is that you can miss out on something great that God wants to do for you—and throughyou. Count on it; at some point He’ll challenge you to give more than you’ve ever given before. And at that moment your faith will cause you to say yes, or your fear will cause you to dismiss it as impractical. That’s a pivotal point in your life, because your response to God’s challenge will determine your future. Some levels of giving are effortless, while others make us uneasy. Sooner or later we all hit a wall called fear, and unless you recognize it you’ll never be able to break through it. As a result you’ll live with less than God intends you to enjoy. What’s the solution? Change your concept of ownership! Adolphe Monod said, “There’s no portion of money that is our money and the rest God’s…It’s all His; He made it all, gives it all, and has entrusted it to us for His service.” If you believe that, there’s no reason not to give. However, getting God involved in your finances means surrendering control of your money to Him. And that can be scary. Jesus’ model for generosity was a widow who gave her last penny, without having anything to fall back on except God’s promise to meet her needs. When you reach that point, you’re on the threshold of the miraculous.
The Secret Of Having Joy (3)
“In thy presence is fulness of joy.” Ps 16:11
The word happiness comes from the old English word happ, which means “chance.” It corresponds to the Latin word fortuna, which means “luck.” Both words suggest that when things happen the way we want them to we’re happy, and when they don’t we’re unhappy. But such happiness is temporary and fickle; true joy is permanent and settled. Some Christians are so serious and solemn they’d lead you to believe God cringes at laughter and hates anything that smacks of joy and delight. The Psalmist wrote, “In thy presence is fulness of joy.” C. S. Lewis observed, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” The truth is, the Bible is one of the most joy-filled books ever written. The words joy and joyful are found there no less than 245 times. The word rejoice shows up 150 times, and we’re instructed to be joyful and rejoice nearly 400 times! That means joy isn’t an emotion, it’s an attitude. An emotion can’t be commanded; no one can tell you to feel happy if you’re not. But you canchoose to be joyful regardless of your circumstances. And neither is joy a commodity that can be bought. Many people find out too late that money can’t buy happiness, much less joy. It’s been said that the poor are better off than the rich, because while the poor keep thinking money will buy happiness, the rich know better. Trying to find happiness and joy in materialism is like drinking salt water: The more you drink, the thirstier you get. The secret to lasting joy is in realizing that you’re unconditionally loved, valued, and accepted by God.
The secret to having Joy (2)
“A merry heart does good, like medicine.” Pr 17:22 NKJV
The Bible says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Do you know that laughter is such good medicine that it can relieve stress, cure headaches, fight infections, and alleviate hypertension? Doctors tell us laughing produces physical benefits similar to the benefits we get from vigorous physical exercise. When you throw your head back and laugh out loud, the muscles in the abdomen, chest, shoulders, and elsewhere in your body contract, while your heart rate and blood pressure increase. Just one burst of laughter can cause your pulse rate to double from 60 to 120, while your systolic blood pressure can shoot from a normal 120 to 200. Then once you stop laughing your heartbeat and blood pressure dip below normal—signaling reduced stress. God created laughter because He knows it’s good for your health. Don’t, however, confuse happiness with merriment. Merriment comes from joy, not happiness, and understanding this is crucial to your emotional well-being. There are times when we can’t and shouldn’t be happy—when people are hurting, going through tragedy, or losing jobs and loved ones. In the face of injustice happiness is inappropriate, if not impossible. Yet the joy that comes from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God enables you to remain joyful. That’s because: (1) Happiness is external; joy is internal. (2) Happiness depends on outward circumstances; joy depends on inward character. (3) Happiness depends on what happens to us; joy depends on who lives within us. (4) Happiness is based on chance; joy is based on choice. So today—choose joy!
📚📝 Bible Study 🙏✏️
The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
— Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
We are never alone. We are believers in God and He is in our midst. Of course, the omnipresent God is everywhere within the created order. For believers, however, God is present in a special way. God dwells with us in our midst. God says, "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people" and He says, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters" (II Corinthians 6:16;18).
What does this mean for us?
For one, it means that there is a mighty God in our midst who will save us. It means that there is an almighty God in our midst for whom nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37) and it means that this almighty God is willing to save us. We have no reason to fear, then, because "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
It also means that our almighty God will rejoice over us with gladness. God is not put out by being in our midst. It is not something that He resents and endures. He enjoys it. He enjoys being with us and He rejoices over us. The prophet Isaiah says, ". . . as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:5). It's good to know that our almighty God likes being with us.
Further, it means that He will quiet us with His love. We are excitable creatures. All the cares and concerns of life can upset us. We are prone to fear and worry. Our faith tends to dissipate under pressure and we may emphatically express our fears and worries frantically. God, however, quiets us. He quiets us with His loving presence. Although our problems may remain for a while, His loving presence comforts us and quiets us down.
Finally, our almighty God exults over us with loud singing. It is difficult to imagine an almighty God so elated about us that He jubilantly exults over us with triumphant joy and loud singing. That, however, is what our verse for today says about our God.
It is a very good thing to have God in our midst
📚📝 Bible Study 🙏✏️
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
— James 5:7 NIV
There are certain events in created reality that are destined to occur, but not before certain other events are played out. A butterfly will eventually emerge from its chrysalis, but not before a butterfly egg hatches into a caterpillar and the caterpillar forms itself into the chrysalis. A salmon will eventually lay its eggs in a stream, but not before it has attained maturity in the ocean and has swum up the stream. A farmer will eventually reap a harvest, but not before he plows the land, plants, and fertilizes the crop.
It's the same with the coming of the Lord. It is destined to occur, but not before certain other events are played out. Jesus' prophecy that the gospel must be preached "to the ends of the earth" must be fulfilled (Acts 1:8). The church, the bride of the Lamb, must make herself ready (Revelation 19:7). And the "man of lawlessness" must be revealed; the man "doomed to destruction" (II Thessalonians 2:1-3). There are a many other events that must occur as well.
Given the temporal structure of created reality, you have to wait for its various events to play themselves out. You can't rush the processes. You can't catch a butterfly for your collection before it emerges from the chrysalis. You can't gather salmon eggs for the dinner table before they're laid. And you can't harvest a crop before it's planted. You have to wait for all these things. You have to be patient and allow things to develop.
It's the same with the Lord's coming. He will surely come, but you have to wait for the antecedent events to play themselves out. Although you may pray like the Apostle John, "Come, Lord Jesus," you can't do anything to force the coming of the Lord. Just because you're ready for Him, just because you're suffering, doesn't mean that the Lord is obligated to make His appearance. There are things that must happen. There are plans that must be fulfilled.
We must be patient, then, like the farmer. We must wait for everything to happen in its time. And we must interpret the times properly, so that we'll know how to live in them (Luke 12:56
📚📝 Bible Study 🙏✏️
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
— Ephesians 6:18 NLT
The context of our verse for today is the Apostle Paul's final word to the church at Ephesus. He says that they should "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). This means, as he goes on to say, that they should "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). They should put on the "belt of truth," the "body armor of God's righteousness," the "shoes" of peace that comes from the Good News, and they should hold up "the shield of faith," put on the "helmut of salvation," and take up the "Sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:14-17).
But being strong in the Lord also means, as our verse for today points out, that they should pray. They, and we by extension, should pray in the following four ways:
First, we should "Pray in the Spirit." That is, our prayers should be prayers born of the help and power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers, to put it in the opposite, should not be prayers born of the sinful self. We should open ourselves to the Holy Spirit so that our prayers come with the sense that the Spirit is praying through us.
Second, we should pray "at all times and on every occasion." Elsewhere, Paul told us that we should "Never stop praying" (I Thessalonians 5:17). Part of being strong in the Lord is to pray for His help. Since we need His help every hour of the day and in every situation, prayer should be a regular and ongoing feature of our lives.
Third, we should pray for all believers everywhere. Our prayers should not be limited to ourselves and our immediate loved ones. Indeed, Paul says that we should "Stay alert" about this. That is, we should be looking for opportunities to pray for all believers.
Finally, we should be persistent in our prayers for all believers. In His Parable of the Persistent Widow Jesus told us that we should "always pray and never give up" (Luke 18:1). With the same kind of persistence as the widow, we should not lose heart or become discouraged in our prayers for all believers.
Today, then, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power through prayer
📚📝Bible Study🙏✏️
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
— II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
The Apostle Paul felt it was necessary to encourage Timothy to utilize the spiritual gift he had been given. He said, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership" (I Timothy 4:14) and he said, "I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (II Timothy 1:6).
Why would Paul feel the need to encourage Timothy in this way?
Whenever a person puts the gifts of the Holy Spirit into action the Kingdom of God is advanced and enhanced. As a result, opposition from the enemy may arise. There is temptation, then, to refrain from using the gifts in order to avoid the opposition. From Paul's point of view, however, yielding to the opposition is unacceptable. In our verse for today he gives four reasons for this.
First, the spirit we have been given is not a spirit of fear. Since the spirit we have been given is the Holy Spirit, the point is well taken. The Holy Spirit has no "gift of fear." If a person experiences fear when faced with opposition, it comes from self or Satan, not the Holy Spirit.
Second, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of power. The Holy Spirit enables us to utilize our gifts. This enablement is a powerful spiritual force working in us in order to help us advance and enhance the Kingdom of God. The whole point of it being given is to help us resist opposition, not to shrink back from it.
Third, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of love. The Holy Spirit fills us with love for the people to which we minister. This love keeps us from shrinking back as well. It impels us to use our gifts so that people will be helped.
Finally, the spirit we have been given is a spirit of a sound mind. When the opposition comes we don't yield to it because we understand what is happening. We act appropriately under the circumstances in order to withstand and overcome the opposition.
Don't shrink back in fear. Rather, step forward with all the power, love, and soundness of mind you have been given.
Don’t Be A Critic, Be A Cheerleader (1)
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Mt 7:1 NKJV
Parent, you can break your child’s spirit by emphasizing what they do wrong rather than what they do right. Church member, you can discourageyour pastor through criticism or encourage him until he enters the fullness of all that God’s called him to be. Why do we choose to be critics rather than cheerleaders? Because it’s easier to point out the faults of others than deal with our own! By dwelling on their shortcomings, we feel better about ourselves. But Jesus doesn’t let us off the hook: “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck in your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite!” (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Think of the person, group, or organization you’re most critical of, and to whom you criticize them. Are you trying to increase your stature in the eyes of others? Are you carrying within you unhealed wounds and unresolved issues, so you vent your anger at anybody who gets in your way? Jesus said: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mt 12:34-37 NKJV). What’s the answer? Pray: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord” (Ps 19:14).
Take The High Road
“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate.” 1Pe 3:9 NLT It’s been said that the depth of your hurt determines the width of your response. So it’s likely that when someone hurts you, your first impulse will be to get even. But any momentary satisfaction you experience will invariably be followed by a lingering sense of regret. Why is that? Because you know you’ve failed God by retaliating. We retaliate in two ways: (1) “Tit for tat.” Before you make your offender suffer, carefully consider these words: “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone…never take revenge. Leave that to…God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord” (Ro 12:17-19 NLT). (2) By involving others. Not only do you not have the right to strike back, you don’t have the right to tear down your offender in front of others. Joseph not only refused to punish his brothers for their betrayal, he refused to publish the details to those who worked in his courts. Why? Because he saw God’s hand at work, and realized that what he’d suffered at his brothers’ hands had made him the man he was. Peter writes: “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it” (1Pe 3:9 NLT). So if you want to walk in the blessing of God today, take the high road.
What Kind Of Christian Are You? (2)
“I have come that they may have life…abundantly.” Jn 10:10 NKJV Here are some questions you should ask yourself regularly: (1) Am I approachable? Speaking of the Pharisees, Jesus said, “They love the place of honor…they love to… have men call them ‘Rabbi’” (Mt 23:6-7 NIV). In Jesus’ day some rabbis had the idea that true spirituality required you to distance yourself from people. Ironically, the only Rabbi the outcasts could touch turned out to be God Himself. Jesus was the most approachable person they’d ever met. (2) Am I gracious? John Ortberg writes: “As soon as we start to pursue virtue, we begin to wonder why others aren’t as virtuous as we are. It reminds us of the reply Homer Simpson’s neighbors gave when Homer asked them where they’d been: ‘We went to a Christian camp; we were learning how to be more judgmental.’ Have you been to that camp? Does a little voice inside you categorize people: ‘This one’s needy and dependent—stay away. That one’s bright and has much to offer—try to connect.’ Why do we constantly find ourselves rating people, as though we were in some kind of contest?” (3) Am I real? A little boy in Sunday school knew the kind of answer he was supposed to give, so when the teacher asked, “What’s brown, furry, has a bushy tail and stores up nuts?” He muttered, “I guess the right answer is Jesus—but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!” Often we try to say spiritual-sounding things to impress people, when they haven’t a clue what we are talking about. So let’s be real with ourselves—and others!
📚📝 Bible Study 🙏📝
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
— Hebrews 1:14 NKJV
Although angels are superior to human beings in terms of intellectual understanding and in terms of power, God has ordained that they should be ministering spirits for those who will inherit salvation. In this capacity they are "sent forth" by God to render aid to Christians as they do their part to advance and enhance the Kingdom of God on earth.
Angels do many different things for the people of God. Here are just four of them:
First, they deliver messages to us from God. Luke 1:30-31 tells us that an angel told Mary about her future role: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS." Luke 2:10-12 tells us that angels told some shepherds about the birth of Jesus: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Acts 1:11 tells us that while the disciples were gazing up during Jesus' ascension to heaven, two angels said: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Second, they defend, protect, and deliver us. Acts 5:19 says that an angel delivered the apostles from prison: "But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out." Psalm 34:7 says that "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And He delivers them." II Kings 19:35 says that an angel destroyed Sennacheribe's army: "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand."
Third, they strengthen us when we are tempted. I Peter 5:8 says that "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The holy angels do the exact opposite. Luke 22:43 says that when Jesus was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him."
Finally, angels apparently escort us to heaven when we die. Luke 16:22 says that Lazarus the beggar "was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom." And although angels are not specifically mentioned, Luke 24:51 says that Jesus was "carried up into heaven" at His ascension.
Given what the Bible says about angels, don't rule them out from your life and experience. Don't rule out the possibility that one may show up and help you just when you need it most.
📚📝 Bible Study 🙏✏️
And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food."
— Numbers 21:5 ESV
Symbolically, the arc of individual Christian experience runs from Egypt, through the Wilderness, and on to the Promised Land.
The ancient Israelite's captivity in Egypt represents the captivity of individual people to sin and the devil and the escape from Egypt represents salvation. The Wilderness represents the journey of purification and training that individual Christians pass through in preparation for the Promised Land. And the Promised Land represents the fulfillment of God's plan for an individual Christian's life in a specific place and calling.
Since the Wilderness is a place of purification and preparation, it has some unpleasant features. Here are a few of them:
For one, it is a journey led by God through desolate and barren places one would avoid under normal circumstances; it is a journey of deprivation that tests one's faith and resolve to follow God to the end. Second, it is a journey in the Wilderness and, as a result, there is no sense of having found a stable position or place in life. Third, it is a place where you must learn how to depend on God for everything. And finally, it is a journey that pressures the buried sin in one's life to the surface so it can be dealt with before entering the Promised Land.
The Promised Land comes after the Wilderness. Thus, it cannot be fully achieved unless one successfully makes it through the Wilderness, unless one passes the tests of purification and preparation. Individuals must have faith in God that He is leading them through this period of life in order to prepare them for what is required in the Promised Land. They must learn to follow God and cooperate with Him along the way.
As our verse for today indicates, however, the Israelites had objections to the terms of their Wilderness journey. Although God had provided food and water for them, it was not the bounty of the Promised Land or even what they had in Egypt. They spoke against God and Moses and they had to be disciplined as a result (Numbers 21:6).
In light of this, take stock today of where you are in God's plan for your life. If you are in a Wilderness, then don't complain about it. It won't help anyway.
Instead, trust God to lead you out of it to your personal Promised Land when you are ready.
Don’t Let Fear Stop You (2)
“I was afraid, and…hid your talent.” Mt 25:25 NKJV
The master of an estate gave each of his servants a sum of money to invest for him. One man got five talents, the second two talents, and the third man one talent. The servants with two and five talents turned a respectable profit, while the man with one talent told his master, “I was afraid, and…hid your talent in the ground.” What’s the lesson here? Simply this: Fear makes you unproductive! A seasoned pastor writes: “Fear will stop you from singing in the choir…witnessing…giving cheerfully…and walking in love with your spouse…The underlying issue is fear that God won’t do what He says. But as believers we should be so full of the Word that fear can’t get a foothold…Jesus said, ‘Take no thought for your life’ (Mt 6:25). Paraphrased: Why would you even think fearful thoughts when I’ve told you I’ll never leave you…I’ll protect you…and give you everything you need to do the job? Bottom line: God is with you even when you can’t feel or see Him, and when others imply He’s abandoned you.” Fear disguises itself behind many different faces. We want to do things our way, or we say we’re not interested, or it’s not the right time. What we’re coming up against isn’t a closed door—it’s repressed fear. If you’re wondering why you’re not progressing in certain areas, see if hidden fear is holding you back. And if it is, ask God to help you release your fears and start trusting what He says.
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LORD, you provide the flame for my lamp.
You, God, turn the darkness around me into light.
— Psalm 18:28 ERV
The situations we find ourselves in as human beings are not automatically clear to us. Like fish in a barrel or hamsters in a shoebox, we don't really understand where we are and what we should do. Apart from some help and explanation coming from the outside, we are lamps without flame, lost in the dark, and having no good idea of what direction to take forward.
It shouldn't have been this way, but it is this way. We should have had some flame in our lamps, but we snuffed them out long ago. We've lost the ability to see our situations for what they are. We've lost our ability to light up the path before us and find our way. We act like we know the way, but we just stumble around in the darkness. We need help. We need help from the outside. We need help from above. We need someone or something to rekindle our lamps.
David knew where to go to get his lamp rekindled. He knew that only God above could light the fire in him that would show the way forward. All the other options, all the other gods that people looked to for flame were dead embers that only darkened the darkness even more. Only the Spirit of God from above could fire up his soul with the wisdom and insight necessary to see through the darkness to the true meaning of his situation and to the way forward.
It was for this reason that David became known as "the lamp of Israel." And it was so the lamp would never be extinguished that his men would not let him go to war anymore (II Samuel 21:17 NIV). When your lamp is rekindled, then people will gravitate to you. The lamp will turn the darkness around you into light and people will follow you because you know the way. People with the fire of the Spirit within them understand. They are wise.
If you are a child of God, then you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Like David, your lamp has been fired up and you have the ability to see in the darkness.
Perhaps you didn't realize this. Perhaps your sinful self was distracted by your situation. If you settle down and look within, however, you will find there the wisdom necessary to move forward.
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The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
but the godly are as bold as lions.
— Proverbs 28:1 NLT
Why do the wicked run away, even when no one is chasing them?
First, they run because they have guilty consciences. The wicked know they are doing wrong. They know that God exists, "because he has made it obvious to them . . . So they have no excuse for not knowing God" (Romans 1:19-20). And they know that God holds them accountable, because "God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18). They run every time something ghastly and appalling rises up against them because they fear the comeuppance of God may have finally caught up with them.
Second, they run because the curses of God come on the disobedient. "You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you" (Leviticus 26:36). The blessings of God have been removed from the wicked and they have been cursed to the fate they deserve. They will run to try and save themselves from their fate, but to no avail. They will flee, but the trouble will overtake them.
Why are the godly as bold as lions?
First, they are bold because they have clear consciences. Although they are not perfect, they know that they're in right standing with God. They know that God is pleased with them and will show them favor. "For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love" (Psalm 5:12). They are as bold as lions even when ghastly and appalling things rise up against them because they know that God is with them, that God is on their side.
Second, they are bold as lions because the blessings of God come on the godly. "Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword" (Leviticus 26:8). The curses of God have been removed from them and His blessings have come upon them (Deuteronomy 28:2). The godly will stand firm before trouble because God has blessed them with the courage necessary to stand firm and He will fill their enemies with fear.
You are godly. You have been made right with God through Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:21). Be bold, then, like a lion � and watch your enemies flee before you.
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And take. . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
— Ephesians 6:17 NKJV
What is the purpose of the word of God? No doubt it has many purposes. II Timothy 3:16-17 says that "it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Other passages from the Bible could be cited in order to add items to the list.
Our verse for today is one of them. It says that the word of God is a weapon. Metaphorically, it is a sword. This is because it is not for use against flesh and blood, "but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Of all the armor of God listed in Ephesians Chapter 6 � the "shield of faith" and the "helmut of salvation" are two of them � it is the only offensive weapon.
The sword is "the sword of the Spirit." This refers to the fact that the word of God was given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It also refers to the fact that the word of God is the most effective weapon against our spiritual enemies. The shield of faith protects us against "the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Ephesians 6:16), but the sword of the Spirit puts the wicked one and his henchmen to flight. We definitely need the defensive pieces of armor to protect us, but it is the sword of the Spirit that does damage to the enemy.
Like a sword in battle, the word of God must be wielded. It is not just for ceremonial use; it is not just to make the one who bears it look good. It is best wielded when spoken out loud against the forces of darkness that attack us. If they attack us with serious illness, for example, we can say "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD" (Psalm 118:17). If they attack us with a thorny financial situation, we can say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). The sword of the Spirit is effective for use against any attack of the enemy.
Don't just stand there anymore. Don't just take the shots of the enemy. Take up the sword of the Spirit and do some damage.
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"Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
— Mark 4:40 ERV
Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a small boat. A very bad storm rose up and water was coming over the sides of the boat. Jesus, however, was asleep on a pillow. His disciples panicked and woke Him saying '"Teacher, don't you care about us? We are going to drown!"' (Mark 4:38). Jesus stood up in the boat and gave the command '"Quiet! Be still!"' and the wind stopped and the water calmed (Mark 4:39). He then spoke the words of our verse for today.
When the storms of life strike, how do you react?
Perhaps, like the disciples, your first reaction is one of fear and panic. After all, storms can be scary and threatening. It is certainly understandable that one would respond to them the way the disciples did. Jesus, however, did not see it that way. The questions He put to His disciples come across as a kind of rebuke. In His view, they shouldn't have been afraid. They should have had more faith. They should have risen above the situation with their faith.
Jesus' reaction to the storm was the exact opposite of the disciples. He slept through it. He was so calm and collected that He could sleep. When He was awakened, He still didn't panic. He was peaceful and calm. He was able to rise above the situation and give the command to the wind and waves. Jesus was not afraid. Jesus had faith. Jesus had the presence of mind to do what was required.
The difference between Jesus and His disciples was that Jesus didn't let the storm get to Him and the disciples did. Jesus didn't let the storm get to Him because He had a peaceful and calm heart, because He had a heart full of faith deep within Him. The storm did not change Him. The storm, rather, brought out the faith that was within Him. The storm, as a result, didn't have a chance.
The disciples, in contrast, were as full of turmoil as the sea around them. They couldn't calm the storm. They were too flustered. Instead of bringing out their faith, the storm brought out fear and panic. The storm won.
When the storms of life strike we have a choice. We can let them get the better of us, or we can rise above them with our faith.
The Secret To Having Joy (1)
“That my joy may be in you.” Jn 15:11 NIV
Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” The joy Jesus is talking about is unique: “My joy.” And it’s fulfilling in a way that the world’s happiness isn’t: “That your joy may be complete.” Being a faithful follower of Christ’s teachings brings inner joy that’s real and resilient regardless of economic indicators, interest rates, government deficits, and even disease or death. You can’t be happy without being joyful, but you can be joyful without being happy! How’s that possible? Jesus had previously told His disciples that we enjoy a love which transcends all others—the love of our heavenly Father that’s unconditionally offered, and once accepted, is permanently experienced. Nothing can compare to the love of God. His love isn’t based on looks, personality, wealth, or even moral goodness. It’s offered without any preconditions. And it’s neither fickle nor failing. You can’t do anything to make God love you more, and you can do nothing to make Him love you less. Furthermore, divine love doesn’t just give you “warm fuzzies.” It’s constantly at work to direct you toward making wise decisions, to protect you from making poor ones, and to correct you when you make bad ones. God’s love guarantees His acceptance when all others have rejected you, His forgiveness when all others have judged you, and His mercy when all others have condemned you. When you bask in His love, you experience a wellspring of joy bubbling up in your heart. And since the world didn’t give you this joy—the world can’t take it away.
How Do You Come Across?
“He made him a coat of many colours.” Ge 37:3
God gave Joseph a dream of future greatness—one in which his brothers would bow down to him. But when he announced his dream, his brothers hatched a plan to kill him. And to make things worse his father “loved Joseph more than all his children…and he made him a coat of many colours.” Try to see it from Joseph’s brothers’ perspective: “How come he gets special treatment? What’s wrong with us?” There are important lessons here: (1) Be careful how you come across to others; your enthusiasm can be interpreted as arrogance. (2) When God blesses you, it’s always for the benefit of other people. One day Joseph would wear a royal robe and ride in Pharaoh’s chariot, but that was just a fringe benefit. His true calling was to preserve his family lineage, from which would come the Redeemer of the world. (3) You must be generous toward those who have less than you. Joseph’s brothers worked hard and deserved their father’s love too. The coat Joseph wore didn’t mean he was better than they were; it simply marked him as having a different destiny. (4) The coat of his father’s favor didn’t exempt Joseph from hardship. Actually, he suffered more than all of them because of it. Why? Because the level of your assignment determines the level of Satan’s attack. (5) Joseph’s character, not his coat, sustained him through years of betrayal, temptation, accusation and imprisonment. How do we know that? Because he was able to look back and see the hand of God at work: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Ge 50:20 NAS).
Self-Control
“Make every effort to add to your faith…self-control.” 2Pe 1:5-6 NIV
If you’ve the faith to believe, the moment you pray for salvation you receive it. It doesn’t work that way with self-control. Yes, you should pray for it, but Peter writes, “Make every effort to add to your faith…self-control.” It only becomes a reality when you “make every effort” to practice it daily. And here are three areas in life that will test you: (1) Your temper. Having red hair and Irish ancestry is no excuse for a short fuse and an explosive temper. The Bible says, “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Pr 16:32 NIV). When you lose your temper, you lose respect and credibility with others. (2) Your time. Time is the stuff life is made of, and wasted time really is wasted life. It takes time to build relationships, learn skills, execute meaningful actions, achieve goals, and fulfill plans. A mismanaged life is often the result of mismanaged time. (3) Your tongue. The Bible says, “Let your speech be always with grace” (Col 4:6). Every day brings new opportunities to control your tongue; if you’re wise you’ll take them! And if you must speak, let this scriptural principle govern what you say: “Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in conversation, not put them down, not cut them out” (v. 6 TM). Benjamin Franklin put it this way: “Would you live with ease, do what you ought and not what you please.” The word for you today is “make every effort” to control your temper, your time, and your tongue.
Love Must Be Based On Trust
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another.”
1Th 3:12 NKJV
The real test of trust in a relationship is to be able to share your secrets and struggles, your inner fears and failures—intimacy based on honesty. It takes courage to be honest with God, and even more to be honest with one another. The relationship between Adam and Eve is described in these words: “They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Ge 2:25 NKJV). They were open and transparent with one another because there was nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Perhaps you’ve been so hurt by a relationship that you’ve said, “I will never trust anyone again.” That’s because you’re not healed yet. To never trust again is like living in a tower. You’re safe from life’s threatening grasp, but you’re so detached from life that you lose consciousness of people, places, dates, and events. You talk only about the past because you stopped living years ago. Good news! “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3 NKJV). God’s healing process can set you free to taste life again, trust again, and live without fear. Don’t isolate, celebrate. Regardless of whether you’ve lost a marriage, a partnership, or a personal friend, you’re still alive! Are you ready to live, or are you going to continue rehearsing what no one, including you, can change—the past? Some of us are graced to live alone and feel complete and fulfilled. If you are one of them, go for it! But if you’re not, trust God to bring the right person into your life at the right time.
Always Tell The Truth
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that…maketh a lie.” Rev 21:27
When it comes to telling the truth, here are two stories: (1) One morning a mother was out shopping when she bumped into her son at a shopping mall. Angry and alarmed that he’d skipped school, she demanded to know why he wasn’t in class. She listened patiently to his explanation and then replied, “I’m not accusing you of telling a lie, but I never heard of a school giving time off for good behavior.” (2) A dentist with a hypodermic needle in his hand says to a patient sitting in his chair, “You might feel a little sting. On the other hand, it might feel as though you have been kicked in the mouth by a mule.” We smile, but the moral of these two stories is clear. Sometimes the truth hurts—but never as much as being told a lie. When you fail to tell someone the truth because you don’t want to hurt their feelings, you risk hurting them more. Truth is like a mirror; it allows those you love to see themselves as they really are and make the necessary corrections and adjustments. And when you fail to tell the truth about yourself you risk losing your credibility. When that’s gone it may take you a long time to get back, if ever. That’s why the Bible says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed” (Jas 5:16). When you open up and share your struggles, you set others free to do the same. And in the process you are both made whole. So, the word for you today is: Always tell the truth.
“We Shall Be Like Him”
“We shall be like him.” 1Jn 3:2 NIV
Let every parent of a Down syndrome or wheelchair-bound child write these words on the bedroom wall. Let the disabled, infected, bedridden, and anemic put themselves to sleep with the promise: “We shall be like Him.” Let amputees and the atrophied take this promise to heart: “We shall be like Him.” We shall graduate from this version of life into His likeness. You’ll have a spiritual body. In your current state your unregenerated flesh battles your regenerated spirit. Your eyes look where they shouldn’t. Your taste buds desire the wrong drinks. Your heart knows you shouldn’t be anxious, but your mind still worries. Can’t you relate to Paul’s confession? “I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge” (Ro 7:22-23 TM). In heaven your “parts” will no longer rebel. Your new body will be a spiritual body, with every part cooperating toward one end. Joni Eareckson Tada, who’s been confined to a wheelchair since age seventeen, says: “I can’t wait to be clothed in righteousness, without a trace of sin. True, it’ll be wonderful to stand, stretch, and reach to the sky, but it’ll be more wonderful to offer praise that’s pure. I won’t be crippled by distractions, disabled by insincerity. I won’t be handicapped by halfheartedness. My heart will join with others and bubble over with effervescent adoration. We’ll finally be able to fellowship fully with the Father and the Son. For me, this will be the best part of heaven.” The word for you today is: “We shall be like Him.”