DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 11.21.20

Marked for Life - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. �Psalm 119:11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/marked-for-life/- Listen Most American homes today have a Bible, but ironically, fewer than half of all American adults can name the four Gospels. And in a survey about Americans� knowledge of theBible, most participants could name all four Beatles, but they couldn�t name one of the Ten Commandments. But it gets worse. One in 10 people thought Moses was one of Jesus�s 12 apostles. In addition, 12 percent of American adults thought that Joan of Arc was Noah�s wife. And50 percent of graduating high school seniors thought Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. Although many people own a Bible, they don�t read the Bible. The number one reason people give for not reading the Bible is they don�t prioritize it. And if they do readit, they�re reading without any comprehension. However, we would be better off reading 10 verses from the Bible with comprehension than reading 10 chapters without grasping what we�re reading. The Bible often uses the word meditate. This has nothing to do with the Eastern version of meditation, which is to clear the mind. The biblical meaning of meditation is �to ponder and consider.� It�s sort of like chewing your food. When you meditate on Scripture, it helps you internalize it more deeply. Think about it. Consider it. Contemplate it. Take your time;don�t rush through it. And if you want to take it to the next level, read your Bible multiple times throughout the day. The psalmist said, �I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might notsin against you� (Psalm 119:11 NLT). It isn�t enough to go through the Word of God; the Word of God needs to go through you. It isn�t how you mark your Bible; it�s how your Bible marks you. So let God�s Wordimpact your life. Heavenly Goals - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person�s work has any value. �1 Corinthians 3:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/heavenly-goals/- Listen A while back I went to my grandson�s soccer game, and I noticed a problem with sports for kids today: they don�t keep score. The rationale is that everyone is a winner.However, this doesn�t prepare kids for real life. In real life there are actual winners, and there are actual losers. And by the way, God doesn�t say that everyone is a winner. In fact, the Bible teaches that the Lord will judge Christians one day in Heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ.There He will reward us for our faithful service to Him. He will give rewards to those who have achieved things for Him. And those who didn�t achieve much for Him won�t receive any rewards. The apostle Paul described this judgment in 1 Corinthians 3: �But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if aperson�s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames� (verses 13�15 NLT). We will go to Heaven because of what God did for us in sending Jesus to die on the cross. The Bible tells us, �God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can�ttake credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it� (Ephesians 2:8�9 NLT). Although God has saved us by His grace, do we really want to have nothing to show for our lives when we�re in Heaven? We want God to reward us because of our faithful serviceto Him. Sufficient Grace 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I thought the Christian life was going to be easier than this. Have these words ever entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family of God thinking that our heavenly Father will fix all our problems and devote Himself to our happiness andcomfort. However, that is not the reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom the Lord used greatly, and yet his life was anything but easy. In fact, at one point, the apostle thought his pain was too much to bear, and he begged God to remove it. There’s nothing wrong with asking the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what should our response be if He doesn’t? Paul probably had no idea that Hisexperience would find its way into the Bible, to comfort and guide believers throughout the ages. The promise God gave him applies to us as well: “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9). God’s grace could be defined as His provision for us at the point of our need. The problem is that sometimes it doesn’t seem as if the Lord truly is meeting our need. But He frequently sees deficiencies, outcomes, and complications that we don’t. His goalsfor us involve spiritual growth, the development of Christlike character, and strong faith. And trials play a vital role in achieving these. The important issue is how we respond. If all you want is relief, you could descend into anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become the person God wants you to be, you’ll see each trial as an opportunity for Christ to display His character and strengthin you. What Does God Love? by Debbie Holloway I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave (Psalms86:12). There is a very famous passage in Proverbs detailing what God hates. Indeed, throughout the Bible God never shows reluctance to speak against behaviors he finds detestable. This should come as no surprise to us, being that he is holy and man has amassed a large amount of sinful tendencies since he first came into the world. But what does God love? While avoiding the �bad� list � is there a �good� list toward which we can be working? Let�s dissect Proverbs 6:16 to discern the things which God loves. God hates �haughty eyes.� Therefore, God loves eyes which gaze with humility. Not a false or broken humility of despising oneself, but a genuine, Christ-like choice to serve others, not draw undue attention to oneself, and treat others with great honor and respect. God hates �a lying tongue.� Therefore, God loves a tongue which speaks truth. Note that this does not say a brash tongue, or a loud tongue, or a tongue which speaks its opinion at any and every possible moment. Rather, he loves a tongue which, when it does speak, valueshonesty and artlessness. God hates �hands that shed innocent blood.� Therefore, God loves hands which protect the innocent. Throughout Scripture, God�s compassion for the defenseless and the innocent is clear. He commends his children (in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Covenant) to protect the defenseless(Psalm82:3-4), welcome the alien (Matthew25:35), care for the widow (James1:27), defend the orphan (Deut.24:17), and mourn with those who are mourning (Romans12:15). We are to be peaceful citizens, not bloodthirsty citizens, and our hands should therefore strive to protect innocence. God hates �a heart that devises wicked plans.� Therefore, God loves a heart which devises good and righteous plans. God loves our desires to serve, our desires to help, our desires to minister. When our hearts long to carry out God�s plans for goodness, righteousness, and peace, it delightshim. God hates �feet that run rapidly to evil.� The Ultimate Father-Son Relationship John 5:19-20 God is called by a variety of names in the Bible, and each one sheds light on an aspect of His nature. Jesus' favorite title for Him was Father. Surprisingly, this name for God is used only 15 times in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, it's recorded 245 times! Many of God's names speak of His majestic and lofty attributes that separate Him from mankind, but Father conveys intimacy. Jesus used this name not only because He was God's Son, but also to help people realize that Jehovah isn't some unapproachable Deity gazing down on them from a distance. Rather, He is their loving heavenly Father, who cares about them and wants to be involved in their everyday lives. Throughout His time on earth, Christ revealed by example what this kind of love relationship was like. He depended completely on His Father for daily direction, power, and provision and obediently carried out every instruction. He often left the demandsof ministry just to find a secluded place to be alone with Jehovah. We know Jesus successfully conveyed the riches of this relationship to His disciples, because in John14:8, Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father"�he wanted to know Him the way Christ did. Do you long for that kind of intimacy with God? He wants to relate to you as a Father to His child, and He's given you the privilege of drawing near to Him. In fact, He chose you before the foundation of the world and waits with open arms for you toenter His loving embrace. BusinessStructure: Masters �Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.� (Colossians4:1) Kurios is the common Greek word for a person with authority. It is most often translated �lord� and is used frequently as part of the title and descriptions of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The most obvious focus of the term is the right to exercise thatauthority. The short sections in Colossians and Ephesians about basic human relationships include the relationships between servants (employees) and masters (bosses). The employees are expected to work consistently and maintain loyalty as if they were working directlyfor the Lord Jesus Himself. The bosses are expected to behave toward their employees with �just and equal� treatment (our text) and to forbear any �threatening� that might be the result of favoritism, since there is no �respect of persons� with the Lord Himself (Ephesians6:9). For those �masters� among the family of God, prompt payment of earned wages is required (Leviticus19:13). Nor is the focus to be centered on becoming rich (Proverbs23:4), particularly not if the focus is to get rich quick (Proverbs28:20-22)! Rather, those to whom the Lord has granted wealth (through diligence�Proverbs10:4) are to �do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate� (1Timothy 6:18). Finally, our Lord Jesus made it abuntantly clear that none of His leaders are to �exercise dominion� or seek to �exercise authority� over others. But in contrast, �it shall not be so among you: whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; andwhosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant� (Matthew20:25-27). HMM III Watchin Prayer �Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God wouldopen unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.� (Colossians 4:2-3) This strong command is composed of two very similar Greek terms�gregoreuo, meaning �vigilant� or �alert,� and agrupneo, meaning �be awake.� A similar emphasis is at the end of the classic passage identifying the armor of God: �Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints� (Ephesians 6:18). Our watching must also be with a conscious attitude of thanksgiving during �every remembrance� of each other (Philippians 1:3), particularly since the intercessoryrequest should be focused on asking our Lord Jesus to provide an open door (Revelation 3:8). The Lord is indeed the One who opens the door, but the processfor obtaining His action is recorded in Luke 11:9-11. We must ask for the gift of the open door, seek to find the door that He is opening, and then knock once we are at the door that He is ready to open for us. However, as Paul notes, when the Lord opens a �door of utterance,� the spoken Word of God conveys the power of God�and that message and its power will bring the attention of the Enemy. �For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries� (1 Corinthians 16:9). Any fear that might lurk in our minds should be overridden by the necessity to be spokespeople for this wonderful �mystery of Christ.� There is no �salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved� (Acts 4:12). HMM III The Very Words of God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermostthoughts and desires. �Hebrews 4:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-very-words-of-god/- Listen Before a shepherd discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest completed Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament had an approximate date of A.D. 900. But the DeadSea Isaiah scroll has a date of 200 B.C., and when it was translated, it had no major changes from the text we already have. God gave the Scriptures to the Jewish people. That�s no small thing. The apostle Paul wrote, �What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Muchin every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God� (Romans 3:1�2 NKJV). The word oracles means �the very words of God.� Jewish scholars and scribes painstakingly wrote out the words of Scripture on scrolls. They preserved that Scripture, and now we have both the Old and New Testaments, whichwe call the Bible. There are three ways you can look at the Bible: One, you can see it as a book filled with good ideas and moral lessons�just a general guide to life. Two, you can look atit as a book from God written by man, which may have contradictions but has a lot of good things to say. Or, three, you can believe it�s the very Word of God, inspired by God and given to us by God�total truth. I hold the third position. It�s the one Paul held, and it�s the one the Bible effectively holds. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, �For the word of God is alive and powerful. It issharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires� (NLT). As important and vital as the Bible is, we must do more than simply read it. If you�re a follower of Jesus Christ, you should read it, you should study it, and you shouldknow it. God's Reminder for Today: Don�t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled by Debbie McDaniel "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1 Sometimes we face circumstances in life that are just out of our control. No amount of our own planning and effort can make it better, or could have even prevented it from occurring. Hard things happen. We feel at a loss in how to fix it all. Sometimes itseems too broken. We may try hard to regain some sense of order, but life can still feel unbalanced, uncertain, even chaotic, because of the pressures that cling too tightly. Jesus Himself understood these pressures. Over and over in His Word, He reminds us not to worry, not to fear, not to be "troubled" in our hearts. And on the heels of the Last Supper, before His difficult journey to the cross, Christ offers comfort to His disciples, for He knew what lay ahead. He knew the trials they would all soon face. He could have said so manythings in that moment, but these are the words He chose then, and the words that have such power for us still today: "Do not let your hearts (inmost part, center of your spiritual life and physical being), be troubled (agitated, restless, disturbed). Trust (believe, to have full confidence) in God, trust also in me." John 14:1 4 Truths from this verse to help us live wisely: - Many around us will have troubled hearts in this world, troubled souls, but Jesus reminds us, don't let "your" heart be troubled. Don't follow the crowd, stand apart, for we know where our true peace and security are found. - Take care of your "heart" for it is "the fountain and seat of all the thoughts, passions, affections, and purposes" in our lives. Our hearts compel us in every action, thought, and decision. He reminds us to guard our hearts for "everything we do flowsfrom it." Grace to Keep Going Acts 15:7-11 As believers, we readily attribute our salvation to God�s grace, but what does �this grace in which we stand� mean to us now (Rom. 5:2)? How does it work out in everydaylife, especially when we�re going through periods of trial or suffering? 1.The Lord�s grace releases His supernatural power within us so we can endure life�s hardships with a godly attitude. In fact, we�ll even be able to rejoice in what He is doing in us through the adversity. 2.Grace builds our confidence in the sovereign Lord. Nothing looks hopeless when we focus on Him instead of on our problems. 3.We discover the assurance of God�s sustaining presence as He walks with us every step of the way. 4.Because we�ve experienced His care for us, we are able to show empathy and love to others facing hard times. 5.During fiery trials, grace works to transform our character so that others can see Jesus reflected in us. Difficulties in life are unavoidable. So we need a daily dose of God�s grace if we are to walk through trials with confidence that there is great reward on the other side. If we rely on our own strength, however, obstacles will appear insurmountable, leavingus discouraged and ready to give up. Too often believers rely on Christ for their salvation but then try to go solo. If God�s grace was needed to save us, then logic says we would also need it for the rest of our days. Only through a continuous infusion of His sustaining power can we live avictorious Christian life. GodlyExamples �Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.� (Colossians4:15) Some Pauline epistles, which included the letter to the church at Colossae, were written during Paul�s imprisonment in Rome approximately 60 through 62 AD. Three cities (Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae) were close together and were near Laodicea. Paul instructsNymphas to read the Colossians letter to the church at Laodicea. There is a group labeled �fellow workers� (Colossians4:11)�Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Marcus, and Justus. They were the men who ministered to Paul in Rome. There were also friends from the third missionary journey: Epaphras, Demas, Nymphas, and Archippus from the cities around Colossae who kept inclose contact and probably supported Paul financially. Luke, the �beloved physician,� apparently joined Paul on the second missionary journey on the trip to Rome (Acts16�the �we� passages). Several godly attributes are identified. �Beloved brother� is used to emphasize the intense relationship that Paul had with some of these men. �Faithful minister� (a �deacon�), along with �fellow servant� and �fellow worker,� stresses the service Paul enjoyedwith them. �Fellow prisoner� is an obvious identification. �Labouring fervently� (the Greek word agonizomai) is used to speak of Epaphras (Colossians4:12), who was always praying for the church at Colossae with great zeal. This and other lists such as the 16th chapter of Romans give us precious insight into the lives of godly men and women who shared the lives of key leaders and made their ministrymore effective. May it please the Lord Jesus to have us so named in �the books� of eternity (Revelation20:12). HMM III For the Days You Feel Overwhelmed: There's a Rock that Is Higher By Debbie McDaniel �When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.� - Psalms 61:2 For the times when you feel overwhelmed, there's a Rock that is higher. Stable, sure, faithful, true...a place you can trust, a place you can rest. We often long for a more simplified life, free of mess or clutter, and struggles. Yet most days we strive just to keep our heads above the demands of work, family responsibilities, and all that calls our name. It�s hard sometimes, feeling like we can neverget it all done. Our minds are in a constant mode of �go� from the moment our feet hit the floor in the morning. This is life. Real life. And God longs to be right there in the center of it all. In the mess. In the full days. In the craziness and times when we feel overwhelmed. Because the truth is, the reality that we can ever get everything done we feel like we need to do, is not even areality for most of us. And that�s not where true success is found anyway. It�s found in spending time with Him. Our Rock. Our stability. Our hope. Our peace. Maybe today is the day to rise above. Maybe we�ve been stuck down too long. Maybe we�ve been drowning or fighting the �overwhelm.� All the struggles and stuff won�t ever go away, but they don�t have to defeat us. He is the One who brings hope in the chaos, the clutter, and demands. Because most days don't look like a Pinterest post or page fresh out of a magazine for Simple Living. Sometimes they're messy and full, and we can hardly keep up. The to-do list doesn'tget done, again, and we might be feeling a few steps behind. Pressures cling. We feel hurried and stressed. Battling defeat and discouragement, wondering why we can't just get it together. Gratitude in Affliction Psalms119:65-72 At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing�such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change? A grateful heart is most preciousto God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks. By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation. Believe and trust the Lord. Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them. A Change of Heart - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. �Titus 3:5 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-change-of-heart/- Listen In Paul�s day, the religious Jews were turning to legalism. They thought because they practiced such things as circumcision, they were right with God. Now, God had commandedcircumcision for Jewish males, so it was an important rite. But the apostle Paul called them out when he said, �In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God�s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God�s law butdon�t obey it� (Romans 2:27 NLT). The �uncircumcised Gentiles� Paul referred to were essentially nonbelievers who came to faith in Christ. Paul was saying, �If they�re doing what the Word of God says, thenthey�re better off than you who have been circumcised and aren�t doing what God�s Word says.� In other words, doing outward things won�t save us. Paul went on to say, �No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heartproduced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people� (Romans 2:29 NLT). In our day we might say, �I was baptized� or �I was raised in the church� or �My parents are Christians.� I�m glad to hear that. And I�m glad your parents are Christians.But those things don�t make you a Christian. In fact, Jesus criticized the Pharisees for publically doing spiritual things so they would receive applause from other people. It�s never about the things we do that make us right with God. Rather, it�s about what God has done for us. God sent His Son to die on the cross in our place and make usacceptable to Him, not through what we�ve done, but through what Christ did for us. More Loved Than You Know - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. �Romans 3:22 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/more-loved-than-you-know/- Listen There are a lot of things people believe the Bible says that it actually doesn�t. For instance, people think they�re quoting the Bible when they say, �Money is the rootof all evil.� Actually, the Bible doesn�t say that. Here�s what it does say: �For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in theirgreediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows� (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV). Here�s another one: �God helps those who help themselves.� Not only is this falsely attributed to the Bible, but it�s also not biblical. The truth is that God helps thosewho can�t help themselves. To put it another way, God helps the helpless. The apostle Paul establishes this truth in the first three chapters of Romans. He systematically destroys every defense that nonbelievers may offer as to why they don�tbelieve. He shows us that we�re all guilty before a holy God whom we have offended. And then he shows us where the answer is: �But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writingsof Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ� (Romans 3:21�22 NLT). Humanity, with all of its rituals, regulations, and religion, hasn�t been able to reach God. But God reached out to us by sending His son, Jesus, to die on the cross andrise from the dead. Despite our shortcomings, God has extended His grace (unmerited favor) toward us. Despite our sin, God has never stopped loving us. You�re more loved than you ever thought you were. Why We Need God�s Armor of Protection Every Day By Debbie McDaniel "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil�s schemes.� Ephesians 6:10-11 We may forget at times but one thing is true - this world is a battlefield. Day by day, hour by hour, we face a spiritual war and an enemy who�s real. He wants nothing more than to bring defeat, for his main aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. God has a plan for our lives. The enemy has a plan for us too. We just have to decide which voice we�re going to listen to, and who we're going to choose to follow each day. And chances are, if we don't make a determined choice to follow God, we may eventuallyfall into the evil one�s trap. If you're a believer who is living like salt and light in a dark world, you won't go for long without encountering obstacles and attacks the enemy will hurl your direction. He's real and fierce, and he will stop at nothing to try to bring you down. Don't let him win. If you find yourself there today, know that you're not alone. Neither are you left to fight on your own. Many of us are in the battle with you, and God is the One who fights on your behalf, constantly shielding, protecting, strengthening, even when you'reunaware. He's given us His words that are true and powerful, so that we'll have the wisdom to stand against the enemy. Focusing here today, putting on His armor, staying alert, and praying, that God will equip believers everywhere to "stand strong." Remember, our battle today may be more about what is unseen than what we see before us. And when we resist the enemy, God�sword says he has to flee. Stand strong friends. God has the final victory over our lives. And He is surely with us. Resisting Fleshly Appetites Ephesians 2:1-7 The Holy Spirit guides believers to make wise and righteous decisions. But when Christians fail to listen, they can make choices that appeal to the flesh instead. After the serpent spoke to Eve, she no doubt took a long look at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17; 3:3). Whatevershe might have thought about the tree before, she now saw it with new eyes�flesh-focused eyes. Genesis 3 tells us that the forbidden tree appealedto Eve in three ways: 1) it was good for food, 2) it was a delight to the eyes, and 3) it was desirable to make one wise. In other words, the tree could fulfill three legitimate human appetites: the desire for tasty meals, beauty, and wisdom. There is nothing wrong with these God-given yearnings. The Lord created a variety of food and an earth packed with breathtaking sightsso that people could enjoy them. He also offers the Holy Spirit as a source of His true wisdom and knowledge. In fact, it is the Spirit who teaches believers to keep fleshly appetites under control and in balance. Meanwhile, Satan works very hard at corrupting healthy desires. He abhors seeing people's appetites satisfied. What he wants is to watch a person lusting after a good thing until he or she is controlled by the impulse to have it. The Devil is pleased when people make themselves slaves to a desire that�in the proper context�the Lord intended to be enjoyed freely. A believer walking in the Holy Spirit rejects gluttony, preferring desires that are within God's boundaries instead.That's how we get His very best. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM