Strength for the Moment - By Greg Laurie -
So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." -Matthew 6:34
After she and her family were caught hiding Jewish people in their home in the Netherlands during World War II, Corrie ten Boom was sent to a Nazi concentration camp. The ten Booms were a Christian family who risked their lives because of their belief in the Scriptures and that the Jewish people are God's chosen people. They were arrested and sent to concentration camps, where both her father and her sister died.
When Corrie was a little girl, she would read stories about the martyrs of the faith. But as she struggled with the thought of her own family dying, her father told her, "Corrie when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give you your ticket?"
"Just before we get on the train."
"Exactly," he said. "And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. . . . When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need-just in time."
Maybe you know someone who is going through a time of hardship, and you've thought, "I could never handle that." Right now you couldn't. But you are not there. And if the Lord lets you get there, He will give you the strength you need, when you need it.
God was with the apostle Paul in the middle of a violent storm. Paul told the crew, "Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar!'" (Acts 27:23-24 NLT). Paul could face that storm because he knew that God was with him.
God always will give us what we need, when we need it.
Godliness
Matthew 9:11-13There is a common misconception that believers should be perfect. Pretending to have our lives in order, many of us wear happy faces and speak words that sound acceptable. At times we’re ashamed to admit our shortcomings, as if they should not exist. Salvation through Jesus, however, doesn’t change the fact that sin is present in our life. When we’re born again, God forgives us and sees us as righteous. Yet our battle with sin continues till we arrive in heaven.
In fact, striving for perfection actually can be a trap that pulls us away from living a godly life. Functioning in this way is a form of relying on our own capability. Jesus said that He came to heal the spiritually sick because they recognized their weakness. With an awareness of our inadequacy comes the realization of our need for Him.
We should accept our neediness and seek God passionately. Doing so allows the following attributes to develop: a hunger for God’s Word, faithful service, deepening trust, and decision-making based upon principle rather than preference. Patiently and mercifully, God matures us.
Be careful not to cover up your sins in order to look like a “good Christian.” Without recognition and confession of our sinfulness, we are unable to rely fully on God. It is only with this awareness that we can passionately seek Him, obey in His strength, and confess with repentance when we miss the mark.
Godly Living in an Ungodly Age
Titus 1
Our Founding Fathers created a governing framework based upon biblical principles. Slowly, we have changed from “one nation under God” to a group of people who no longer want Him to be involved.
Tragically, we’ve become, in numerous ways, an ungodly nation: many are driven by materialism and power; immorality and rebellion are prevalent; empty philosophy and false doctrine are widely acceptable. Underlying it all is a vocal decision to take God out of the nation’s “official business.”
The Word of God is a compass that keeps us headed in the right direction—even in the midst of confusing messages all around. We need to be consistently filled with truth by reading, believing, meditating upon, and applying Scripture. God also tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). If our minds are focused upon Him, unholy beliefs will not be able to take root.
The Word is our guidebook. We will still face difficulty as we live in this imperfect world—it is a confusing, dark place that entices us but never fulfills our true longings. Yet God’s truth will bring confidence and boldness, and His Spirit will direct and strengthen, enabling us to live victoriously.
Storm-Tested - By Greg Laurie -
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. -2 Corinthians 11:25
I don't know whether you've ever been shipwrecked. I haven't. But the apostle Paul was shipwrecked three times. Paul wrote to Timothy, "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked" (1 Timothy 1:19 NLT).
I have seen people like this-people who have had their faith shipwrecked. When they experience a tragedy, they say they've lost their faith. I would suggest that maybe they didn't have real faith to begin with, because the faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.
I think all of us hope for clear sailing in the sea of life. But we will all have shipwrecks in life, things that happen that don't make sense. The Bible says, "When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing" (James 1:3-4 NLT).
If your faith can't stand a test, then it isn't real faith. Get rid of it and replace it with real faith in a real God. I believe that when Christians go through a crisis, their faith should not be destroyed. They should not lose their faith. Their faith should grow stronger because they're clinging to the Lord in the midst of it.
There are times in life when there are no storms at all. There are no shipwrecks. Thank God for those days. But after you have lived a while, you know something about storms. One is always on the way-maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week, maybe not for a month, or maybe not for a year. But a storm will come. So be prepared for it.
Safe Passage - By Greg Laurie -
"Men," he said, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on--shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well." -Acts 27:10
The apostle Paul knew what was coming. He had warned the ship's officers, but they didn't listen. But in the middle of the storm, they suddenly were paying attention to what he had to say:
"Take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.' So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said." (Acts 27:22-25 NLT)
That was good news. Their hearts probably started to leap. They would survive the storm. They weren't going to die. Then Paul added, "But we will be shipwrecked on an island" (verse 26 NLT).
We want to avoid shipwrecks, of course. We want to avoid the storms. But sometimes there are lessons we learn in the shipwrecks of life that we would not learn otherwise.
On one occasion Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake" (Mark 4:35 NLT). The seasoned sailors got into their little boat and started rowing away, making their way across the Sea of Galilee. But then a great storm hit, which was not unusual for Galilee. As they were panicking, Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping. So they woke Him up and said, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" (verse 38 NLT).
So Jesus rebuked the storm-and He rebuked them as well: "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (verse 40 NLT). Jesus did not promise smooth sailing. But He did promise a safe passage.
January 16Seeking God's Will 1 John 5:14-15
Parents train their children to do many tasks�from knowing which clothes match to handling money. Perhaps the most important skill we can teach is how to follow God�s direction.
We are blessed that our omniscient and mighty Father is willing to make His way known to us. He wants to reveal exactly what to do in every situation. In fact, He promises this: �I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you� (Ps. 32:8). Let�s explore how to discern God�s will at each crossroad of life.
The first step is to make sure that we have repented of all sin. Listening to God while holding onto iniquity in our heart is like using a foggy and unreadable compass. After confessing and repenting, we can ask for direction.
Next, we should read Scripture regularly with a seeking, open heart. The Bible is like a lamp on a dark path (Ps. 119:105). The last step involves God�s indwelling Holy Spirit�the wonderful gift that the heavenly Father has given each of His children. The Spirit provides truth and guidance as we read the Word and pray. We should listen patiently for His leading, which is often communicated quietly to our hearts as we spend time with Him.
When asking the Lord to reveal His will, we shouldn�t expect instant answers. The discipline of waiting builds character, and besides, rushing the process may lead to a path that misses God�s best. Take the time to seek Jesus� plan for your life, remembering He'll provide all you need to follow Him.
Developing a Vibrant Faith
Acts 9:1-16
The apostle Paul had a strong commitment to know and serve Jesus Christ. His passion and love for the Lord was obvious�Jesus was always central in his thinking, whether he was working as a tent maker, preaching to the crowd, or even sitting in chains at prison. What fueled his love for the Lord?
Paul's conversion experience on the Damascus Road was a motivating force in his life. Grateful for the gift of grace he had received at salvation, the apostle told many people about his encounter with the resurrected Christ and its impact on him. We, too, have a story to tell of God's mercy in saving us and of the new life we have in Him.
Paul's zeal also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message was true and available to everyone (John 3:16). On the cross, Jesus took all our sins�past, present, and future�upon Himself (1 Pet. 2:24). He suffered our punishment so that we might receive forgiveness and be brought into a right relationship with God. Through faith in Christ, we've been born again, and the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us every day (John 14:26). The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our passion to share the gospel.
Developing a vibrant faith requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Regularly studying the Bible will strengthen your beliefs and give you courage to speak. Caring about the spiritual welfare of others will move you into action. Do you have a passion to serve Jesus wherever He leads?
Go to the Ant
Proverbs 6:6-8
God is a masterful Creator. He has integrated many of His principles into the fabric of nature so that we can see His handiwork and learn of Him (Ps. 19:1-6). If you desire to acquire wisdom, do not neglect to look outdoors for His lessons.
Now, of course, the outdoors sometimes comes inside. If you�ve ever battled ants in your kitchen or pantry, wisdom probably isn�t the first trait you would attribute to them�you probably would choose a description more like determination. But to the lazy person, God points out these tiny creatures as an example of wise living. Simply consider how many characteristics of the ant people would be smart to adopt: preparation, cooperation, perseverance, diligence, unity, and the list goes on. So interacting with righteous men isn�t the only way to acquire wisdom. God also wants us to observe the lowly ant that He created to work in community.
There�s much to learn from the created world. By directing attention to the birds, Jesus challenges His followers to consider the folly of anxiety (Matt. 6:26). Birds do not reap or gather grain but rather assume their food will be supplied as it always has been. The lesson in this observation of nature is that the Lord who provides for birds can be trusted to meet His people�s needs as well.
Our quest for wisdom is to be rooted in Scripture and covered in prayer. But don�t overlook the many lessons unfolding right outside the front door. Ask God for �eyes to see� (Mark 8:18). Then take every chance to grow in understanding so your capacity to live by His principles will be strengthened.
Assurance Before God
�And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.� (1 John 3:19)
There is a chain of reasoning in this context that is important to understand. Our hearts will be �assured� before God (1 John 3:19) if we love the brethren in �deed and in truth� (v. 18). A lack of that heart assurance condemns us (v. 20). If our heart does not condemn us, then we will have �confidence toward God� (v. 21).
It is worth noting that John uses the word �love� 26 times in this little letter. The word �know� is used 31 times, but the word �assure� is used only once (our text) and the word for �confidence� just four times. In each case, the promises of boldness in prayer or trust in answered prayer are based on our obedience.
Apparently, the key to an effective relationship with God, especially the key to a confidence in our prayer life, is a ready, visible, and instant response to God�s requirements for the believer. To the degree that we abide in Him (2:28), we will be confident when He returns. Our ready love for the brethren will keep us bold before God in our prayers (3:21), and our Christlike lifestyle will give us boldness at the judgment (4:17).
Meanwhile, absolute and steady belief in God�s salvation will remove any doubt that God hears us when we pray (5:14).
There is a continuing loop in these messages. We gain confidence as we �do� truth. We find more boldness as we understand God�s answers to our needs and prayers for others. That, in turn, increases our confidence that God is listening to our prayers, making our hearts all the more confident in our relationship with our heavenly Father. HMM III
The Gods Shall Perish
�Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.� (Jeremiah 10:11)
This is a unique verse. Jeremiah, the second-longest book in the Bible, is written in Hebrew except for this one verse! Why would Jeremiah make this remarkable exception here?
This verse was written in Aramaic, which was the official language of the great Babylonian empire�the world�s chief nation at that time. The Babylonians, as prophesied by Jeremiah, were soon to be used as a weapon in God�s hand to punish His chosen people, carrying them into exile and captivity, and the main reason for such punishment was apostasy. God�s people had corrupted the worship of the true Creator God with the teachings and idols of the Babylonians and all the other nations around them who had rejected God.
Jeremiah had repeatedly condemned this apostasy, showing that God�s people were to be punished by the very nations whose religious philosophies had so attracted them.
But those nations needed also to understand that this was not because of their own strength nor the merits of their own gods. Thus, Jeremiah appropriately inserted a special word to be conveyed to the Babylonians, in their own official tongue. Only the true God, who made the heavens and the earth, is in control of the heavens and the earth.
The same type of warning, delivered in the �official� language of the modern world (�science?�), is needed even more today than it was in Jeremiah�s day. Today�s �gods��Marx, Darwin, etc.�are even less deserving of trust than Zeus or Baal, and yet professing Christians have gone after them in droves. It is urgent that we call them back to the true Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, urging them�before God�s judgment falls once again�to repudiate every vestige of evolutionary humanism. HMM
Where Is Jesus Now?
�Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.� (Matthew 24:26)
The above warning was given by Christ in His famous Olivet discourse about His future second coming, right after He had predicted that many �false Christs� would first come, deceiving many (v. 24). That prediction has been fulfilled many times during the following centuries, but He Himself has not yet returned, in spite of the claims of these latter days.
However, His present location is no secret. After His resurrection and final instructions to His disciples, �he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God� (Mark 16:19). We must remember that He arose bodily from the grave, then ascended bodily to God�s throne, and that �this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven� (Acts 1:11), will return. Until He returns, therefore, He is seated bodily at the right hand of the presence of the triune God in heaven. In fact, there are no less than 21 references in the Bible to the Lord Jesus now being at the right hand of God.
It is not strictly correct to say or sing that Jesus can come into our hearts, unless it is clearly understood that He is there symbolically in the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. In this way, �God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts� (Galatians 4:6) so that �Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith� (Ephesians 3:17).
In the physical sense, however, the Lord Jesus Christ, still in His physical, but now immortal, body, is at �the right hand of the Majesty on high� (Hebrews 1:3) and will remain there until He returns physically back to fulfill all the remaining promises in the Scriptures and to establish the kingdom for which He created us. HMM
Our Convictions Our Defense
Romans 14:20-23
A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his beliefs are true. Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction. They choose to believe something based on certain conditions and circumstances. When the situation changes, so does their loyalty. In other words, a lot of people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve.
Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Despite many years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure Israel�s survival (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (3:29).
As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions can withstand the changing winds of opinion and the persuasive arguments of opponents. If we are grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs. Confidence breeds the courage to remain strong amid conflict.
Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live by godly conviction. The Bible has much to say about the most important aspects of your life. See if God�s principles and promises hold true. Through prayer and study, allow Him to firmly root you in solid biblical convictions.
Parents train their children to do many tasks�from knowing which clothes match to handling money. Perhaps the most important skill we can teach is how to follow God�s direction.
We are blessed that our omniscient and mighty Father is willing to make His way known to us. He wants to reveal exactly what to do in every situation. In fact, He promises this: �I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you� (Ps. 32:8). Let�s explore how to discern God�s will at each crossroad of life.
When asking the Lord to reveal His will, we shouldn�t expect instant answers. The discipline of waiting builds character, and besides, rushing the process may lead to a path that misses God�s best. Take the time to seek Jesus� plan for your life, remembering He'll provide all you need to follow Him.
Developing a Vibrant Faith
Acts 9:1-16
The apostle Paul had a strong commitment to know and serve Jesus Christ. His passion and love for the Lord was obvious�Jesus was always central in his thinking, whether he was working as a tent maker, preaching to the crowd, or even sitting in chains at prison. What fueled his love for the Lord?
Paul's zeal also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message was true and available to everyone (John 3:16). On the cross, Jesus took all our sins�past, present, and future�upon Himself (1 Pet. 2:24). He suffered our punishment so that we might receive forgiveness and be brought into a right relationship with God. Through faith in Christ, we've been born again, and the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us every day (John 14:26). The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our passion to share the gospel.
Developing a vibrant faith requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Regularly studying the Bible will strengthen your beliefs and give you courage to speak. Caring about the spiritual welfare of others will move you into action. Do you have a passion to serve Jesus wherever He leads?
Go to the Ant
Proverbs 6:6-8
God is a masterful Creator. He has integrated many of His principles into the fabric of nature so that we can see His handiwork and learn of Him (Ps. 19:1-6). If you desire to acquire wisdom, do not neglect to look outdoors for His lessons.
Now, of course, the outdoors sometimes comes inside. If you�ve ever battled ants in your kitchen or pantry, wisdom probably isn�t the first trait you would attribute to them�you probably would choose a description more like determination. But to the lazy person, God points out these tiny creatures as an example of wise living. Simply consider how many characteristics of the ant people would be smart to adopt: preparation, cooperation, perseverance, diligence, unity, and the list goes on. So interacting with righteous men isn�t the only way to acquire wisdom. God also wants us to observe the lowly ant that He created to work in community.
Our quest for wisdom is to be rooted in Scripture and covered in prayer. But don�t overlook the many lessons unfolding right outside the front door. Ask God for �eyes to see� (Mark 8:18). Then take every chance to grow in understanding so your capacity to live by His principles will be strengthened.
Assurance Before God
�And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.� (1 John 3:19)
There is a chain of reasoning in this context that is important to understand. Our hearts will be �assured� before God (1 John 3:19) if we love the brethren in �deed and in truth� (v. 18). A lack of that heart assurance condemns us (v. 20). If our heart does not condemn us, then we will have �confidence toward God� (v. 21).
It is worth noting that John uses the word �love� 26 times in this little letter. The word �know� is used 31 times, but the word �assure� is used only once (our text) and the word for �confidence� just four times. In each case, the promises of boldness in prayer or trust in answered prayer are based on our obedience.
Apparently, the key to an effective relationship with God, especially the key to a confidence in our prayer life, is a ready, visible, and instant response to God�s requirements for the believer. To the degree that we abide in Him (2:28), we will be confident when He returns. Our ready love for the brethren will keep us bold before God in our prayers (3:21), and our Christlike lifestyle will give us boldness at the judgment (4:17).
Meanwhile, absolute and steady belief in God�s salvation will remove any doubt that God hears us when we pray (5:14).
There is a continuing loop in these messages. We gain confidence as we �do� truth. We find more boldness as we understand God�s answers to our needs and prayers for others. That, in turn, increases our confidence that God is listening to our prayers, making our hearts all the more confident in our relationship with our heavenly Father. HMM III
The Gods Shall Perish
�Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.� (Jeremiah 10:11)
This is a unique verse. Jeremiah, the second-longest book in the Bible, is written in Hebrew except for this one verse! Why would Jeremiah make this remarkable exception here?
This verse was written in Aramaic, which was the official language of the great Babylonian empire�the world�s chief nation at that time. The Babylonians, as prophesied by Jeremiah, were soon to be used as a weapon in God�s hand to punish His chosen people, carrying them into exile and captivity, and the main reason for such punishment was apostasy. God�s people had corrupted the worship of the true Creator God with the teachings and idols of the Babylonians and all the other nations around them who had rejected God.
Jeremiah had repeatedly condemned this apostasy, showing that God�s people were to be punished by the very nations whose religious philosophies had so attracted them.
But those nations needed also to understand that this was not because of their own strength nor the merits of their own gods. Thus, Jeremiah appropriately inserted a special word to be conveyed to the Babylonians, in their own official tongue. Only the true God, who made the heavens and the earth, is in control of the heavens and the earth.
The same type of warning, delivered in the �official� language of the modern world (�science?�), is needed even more today than it was in Jeremiah�s day. Today�s �gods��Marx, Darwin, etc.�are even less deserving of trust than Zeus or Baal, and yet professing Christians have gone after them in droves. It is urgent that we call them back to the true Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, urging them�before God�s judgment falls once again�to repudiate every vestige of evolutionary humanism. HMM
Where Is Jesus Now?
�Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.� (Matthew 24:26)
The above warning was given by Christ in His famous Olivet discourse about His future second coming, right after He had predicted that many �false Christs� would first come, deceiving many (v. 24). That prediction has been fulfilled many times during the following centuries, but He Himself has not yet returned, in spite of the claims of these latter days.
However, His present location is no secret. After His resurrection and final instructions to His disciples, �he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God� (Mark 16:19). We must remember that He arose bodily from the grave, then ascended bodily to God�s throne, and that �this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven� (Acts 1:11), will return. Until He returns, therefore, He is seated bodily at the right hand of the presence of the triune God in heaven. In fact, there are no less than 21 references in the Bible to the Lord Jesus now being at the right hand of God.
It is not strictly correct to say or sing that Jesus can come into our hearts, unless it is clearly understood that He is there symbolically in the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. In this way, �God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts� (Galatians 4:6) so that �Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith� (Ephesians 3:17).
In the physical sense, however, the Lord Jesus Christ, still in His physical, but now immortal, body, is at �the right hand of the Majesty on high� (Hebrews 1:3) and will remain there until He returns physically back to fulfill all the remaining promises in the Scriptures and to establish the kingdom for which He created us. HMM
Our Convictions Our Defense
Romans 14:20-23
A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his beliefs are true. Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction. They choose to believe something based on certain conditions and circumstances. When the situation changes, so does their loyalty. In other words, a lot of people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve.
Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Despite many years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure Israel�s survival (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (3:29).
Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live by godly conviction. The Bible has much to say about the most important aspects of your life. See if God�s principles and promises hold true. Through prayer and study, allow Him to firmly root you in solid biblical convictions.
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