DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 10.24.20

Our Growth as Christians Galatians 2:20 There's a goal to the Christian life, which God expresses this way: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom.8:29). This refining process is called sanctification. And there are several identifiable stages en route to this goal, but sadly, most believers are unfamiliar with them. Let me offer some definitions so you can identify where you are on the journey andunderstand what to expect. Salvation isthe first stage of the Christian life. This describes our redemption from sinfulness through Jesus' atoning sacrifice. What results is forgiveness of sin, which lets us have a relationship with Almighty God. Next, God gives us opportunity to serve (Eph. 2:10). We were created to do good works in Jesus' name. But at some point, we notice something isn't working. This is the start to stage three: frustrated inadequacy. This unpleasant but necessary part of the journey can last varying amounts of time. Without it, we'd undoubtedly experience self-sufficiencyand pride. But we should recognize this difficult phase as beautiful because it leads us into the best part of our spiritual lives: total dependency upon Jesus as Lord of our life. And we will be fulfilling our ultimate goal: becoming a reflection of Christ. Sadly, many Christians don't reach a point of complete reliance on the Lord. Pride, discouragement, and distraction can ruin focus and perseverance. Paul reminds us to fix our eyes on the goal of maturity in Christ (Phil.3:14). Learning to die to self is painful, but ironically, it's the only true way to life. Avoiding Compromise Proverbs 2 Although the temptation to compromise threatens every believer, we don't have to give in. If we're aware of the danger and understand the downward progression and ultimate consequences, we can determine to be vigilant in obedience to the Lord. The first step in learning how to avoid compromise is understanding why it is so tempting. When others pressure us to take part in in what we know God has forbidden, it's easy to give in because we don't want to feel rejected. But anyone who's committedto living a godly life must be willing to stand alone and face ridicule or even persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). At other times, we consentto activities that violate our conscience just to avoid conflict, but peace at any price means we have to sacrifice obedience to God. However, the temptation to compromise doesn't always originate with others. In fact, James 1:14 says we are tempted when we're carriedaway by our own lusts. How many Christians have fallen into sexual immorality or pornography by desiring a second look? Greed is another motivation that drives us to compromise. If you fudge on your income tax or take a few things home from the office, you'vestepped over the line of obedience to God. Our choices should be based on scriptural truth, not on our feelings and desires. In order to stand firm against compromise, we must make God's Word the standard for our conduct. If you begin each day with the Lord in His Word, He will guide your way. Then when the Spirit gives a warning, obey immediately, because giving considerationto the temptation opens a door for Satan. Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians2:3) Paul had just promised the twice-born that they would be endowed with the “riches of the full assurance of understanding” that would enable them to possess an acknowledgment of the triune Godhead. The ability to understand and the profound awareness of theTrinity is possible because all “the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are in Christ—who is in us! In Colossians 1:9, Paul prays that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” a sufficient awareness of information that will enable them to have “understanding in all things” (2Timothy 2:7). Jesus explained to His apostles that His parables were devices to reveal to them “the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand” (Luke8:10). This wisdom and knowledge is the “treasure” of the Lord Jesus, not of the world (1 Corinthians 1:17-31), nor is it contained in the intellect of the “natural” man (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). The understanding and acknowledgment that comes through the world’s philosophy out of the reasoning of the unsaved mind is “earthly,sensual, devilish” (James 3:15). Thankfully, “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James3:17). God’s work is “very good.” When the creation of our new man is executed (Ephesians 4:24), we are given the “mind of Christ”—not His omnisciencebut the kind of mind that can now understand spiritual matters (1 Corinthians 2:16). Truly, we have been made friends with God. Jesus said, “Forall things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). HMM III Turn with Me to Your Next Prayer by John UpChurch According to Hollywood, most funerals should include the pastor intoning the morbid notes of the twenty-third Psalm. All the black around the pastor makes it seem that much more depressing. Usually, there’s rain. But there are two things about this that strike me as odd. First, Psalm23 isn’t depressing. Yes, it mentions the “shadow of death,” but it’s chock full of hope and paths of righteousness ... and oil pouring over heads. You can’t be depressed when oil’s dripping down your nose … at least in biblical terms. Second, I don’t really hear people pray from the Bible. Sure, they toss in a verse or two about being “more than conquerors” or “God working all things for our good.” But I’ve never seen a pastor reach for Psalm23 or any Psalm for that matter when praying in public. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve heard plenty of great prayers from pastors and other believers. Some of them have hit home hard. But it seems as if Evangelicals especially are averse to anything that isn’t somehow unique when it comes to praying. It’s as ifwe think that just praying from the Bible isn’t quite spiritual enough. We have to say something original. Full Assurance of Understanding “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assuranceof understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Colossians2:2) There are two key aspects to this message. Our hearts need encouragement by “being knit together.” The result will produce a “full assurance of understanding” and an acknowledgment of the mystery of the triune Godhead. The comforted hearts are to be “knit together.” The Greek term sumbibazo means “to force together, to compact.” Paul uses this term to illustrate the impossibility of teaching God anything. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” (1Corinthians 2:16). Positively, the strength of the church body comes from being “joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth” (Ephesians4:16). Those “joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Colossians2:19). The result of the encouragement is wonderful: We should attain to the riches of “full assurance.” The Greek term plerophoria is only used four times: promising understanding in our text, a full assurance of the gospel (1Thessalonians 1:5) and of hope (Hebrews6:11), and the full assurance of faith (Hebrews10:22). The Greek synonym plerophoreo identifies “sure belief” among us (Luke1:1), being “fully persuaded” of God’s promises (Romans4:21). We should be “fully persuaded” in our own mind (Romans14:5) while making “full proof” of our ministry (2Timothy 4:5). All of this makes our testimony “fully known” in the world (2Timothy 4:17). Perhaps the goal of “full assurance” is that we “may speak boldly, as [we] ought to speak” (Ephesians6:20). HMM III Christin You “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; whichis Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) The New Covenant includes a mystery Paul had the privilege of revealing to the Gentiles (Colossians 1:24-29). The history and prophecies of the Old Covenantcontained a few hints of God’s plan for the last days, but the focus was centered on the “fulness of time” when the Messiah would come (Galatians 4:4). Paul seemed thrilled to “preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8) and to have the responsibility of unveiling “the graceof God which is given me to you-ward” (Ephesians 3:2). More than the obligation, Paul felt a dread judgment if he failed (1Corinthians 9:16). It follows that we should be clear in our own declaration of this mystery. Simply put, the mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Obviously, that is the result of salvation. The new message is the completed work and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The promises of the prophets and the long history of Israel tend to obscurethe eternal plan of God (Ephesians 3:11)—thus the detailed effort of the New Testament writers to amplify the “whosoever will” aspect of the gospel message. “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferingsof Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven” (1 Peter 1:10-12). Now it is possible for the whole world to have a personal and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. HMM III TheWisdom Mine “Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?” (Job28:20) In one of his monologues, the patriarch Job compares his search for spiritual understanding to human explorations for metals and precious stones. “There is a vein for the silver,” he said, “and a place for gold....Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass ismolten out of the stone” (vv. 1-2). These all are easier to find than true wisdom. “It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be madeof coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold” (vv. 16-19). Neither have animals discovered it. “The fierce lion passed by it....it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air” (vv. 8, 21). “The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me” (v. 14). “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?” (v. 12). Job is driven to ask: “Where must one go to find and mine the vein of true wisdom?” It is certainly “not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought” (1Corinthians 2:6). The mine of evolutionary humanism that dominates modern education and scholarship will yield only the fool’s gold of “science falsely so called” (1Timothy 6:20). Job found true wisdom only through God, and so must we, for only “God understandeth the way thereof...unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job28:23, 28). The Lord Jesus Christ is the ever-productive mine “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians2:3). HMM Seasons of Hope by Sarah Phillips There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time toweep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” Ecclesiastes3:1-8 It’s the time of year when nature inspires a sense of awe in us. As leaves die, they give forth one final burst of color brighter than the paint on an artist’s palette. The sky takes on an unusually crisp blueness and the sun’s low, golden rays cast whimsicalshadows. We feel energized as autumn breezes stir up the color around us and chase away the dense summer air. For me, autumn has always been a “second spring.” A playful time, promising us that life, although soon to be hidden in the dead of winter, will only be invisible for a short while. When the days are gray, cold, and hard, I remember that only a few shortweeks ago, the world was light and lively and in only a few weeks more, color will return. As the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us, God designed life to run in cycles or seasons. Yet how often do we approach this life with expectations of perpetual summer, only to struggle with anxiety and disappointment when winter inevitably interrupts? I know I am guilty of this. I spent time with my twin sister over this beautiful Fall weekend, and in the course of conversation, she revealed to me how approaching life as a series of seasons gives her perspective as a young wife and mom. “I’ve seen couples apply much pressure totheir family life, expecting every week to live to the standard of the last, just as happy or productive, just as evenly paced. I think it takes a lot of burden off when you accept that this week will not necessarily look like last week, and that some seasonsof life will be better than others.” God's Call to Repentance Luke 15:11-24 In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother asked to receive his inheritance early so he might live as he chose. Once the father gave him his share, he made many unwise choices that led to hunger and destitution. What happened next illustratesthe principles of godly repentance. After squandering all his money, the young man found work feeding pigs, a bottom-of-the-barrel kind of job. One day he came to his senses and recognized his terrible plight. His repentance began with an awareness of his wrong choices and the fact that hisbad situation was due to them. Knowing that his difficulties came from his sinful behavior, the prodigal grieved over his mistakes and acknowledged that he had sinned against the Lord (v. 18). He declared he was no longer worthy to be his father's son. Godly sorrow and confession ledthe young man to leave that place and go home. His repentance was made complete when he turned away from his old ways and returned to his father. The Lord likewise calls us to repent and return to Him. What a welcome the prodigal son received. Upon seeing him, the father was filled with compassion and ran to embrace him. Forgiveness and acceptance were extended to the son. Both are blessings that God freely offers to whoever asks Him. The prodigal son did not clean himself up before returning home. He simply left his old life, turned toward home, and trusted in his father's mercy. The heavenly Father calls us to repent and offers us forgiveness when we turn away from our self-centeredways and move toward godliness (1 John 1:9). God's Call to Repentance Luke 15:11-24 In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother asked to receive his inheritance early so he might live as he chose. Once the father gave him his share, he made many unwise choices that led to hunger and destitution. What happened next illustratesthe principles of godly repentance. After squandering all his money, the young man found work feeding pigs, a bottom-of-the-barrel kind of job. One day he came to his senses and recognized his terrible plight. His repentance began with an awareness of his wrong choices and the fact that hisbad situation was due to them. Knowing that his difficulties came from his sinful behavior, the prodigal grieved over his mistakes and acknowledged that he had sinned against the Lord (v. 18). He declared he was no longer worthy to be his father's son. Godly sorrow and confession ledthe young man to leave that place and go home. His repentance was made complete when he turned away from his old ways and returned to his father. The Lord likewise calls us to repent and return to Him. What a welcome the prodigal son received. Upon seeing him, the father was filled with compassion and ran to embrace him. Forgiveness and acceptance were extended to the son. Both are blessings that God freely offers to whoever asks Him. The prodigal son did not clean himself up before returning home. He simply left his old life, turned toward home, and trusted in his father's mercy. The heavenly Father calls us to repent and offers us forgiveness when we turn away from our self-centeredways and move toward godliness (1 John 1:9). Let Me Take Care of That for You by Debbie Holloway Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). I recently had a bit of a three-ring-circus to deal with trying to pay a toll. Our lovely Richmond, VA is indeed a beautiful city, but we sure do have some tolls. In fact, depending on where you’re going and from where you’re coming, you may have to pay3 or 4 tolls in one trip. That happened to me a few weeks ago. As I left the office (right in the middle of the city) and headed southside to visit a friend, I realized too late that I didn’t have enough cash to pay the final toll. With a sigh, I asked fora receipt from the toll booth and went on my way. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say I talked to far too many people on the phone, hand-delivered my toll payment in some city office, and still got a “Toll Violation” notice in the mail. This resulted in mild deflation of my spirits.My family said, “Debbie, don’t worry. Just call them and explain.” I tried to, but was informed that not only was there no record of my payment, but that I would be forced to pay an extra $13 (on a 70 cent toll!) for a vague “Administration” fee. Come on, I kept thinking. I’m just trying to live my life and pay my toll. In one last valiant move to get some help, I walked back to the aforementioned office on my lunch break the next afternoon. As it so happened, a high ranking administrator happened to be there right when I was. As I explained the situation, he made a copyof my toll notice and immediately got someone on the phone. “I can dismiss this for you,” he said. “What do I need to do?” I asked, skeptical. “Who do I need to call and follow up with?” “Nope. Nothing,” he said. “Here’s my card. If you get another notice, just call me.” Mixed Metaphors by John UpChurch “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” - Colossians 2:6-7 If you grew up in America, you probably heard somewhere along the line that sentences should never end with prepositions, infinitives should never be split, passive voice is taboo, and metaphors should never be mixed. We have those rules, for the most part,to preserve clarity as writers learn the craft. But sometimes grammar rules need to be broken, just as Paul does here by cramming metaphors right up against each other—and for good reason. So walk in Him: It all begins with a walk. Jesus put splinters in His back to stumble up a hill, and He expects no less of us (Matthew 16:24). We sometimes struggle over the rocky ground, and obstaclesdefine the journey as much as the path itself (Psalm 37:24). But God laid out the lines (Psalm 16:11), emblazoned the roadway with clear markers (Psalm 119:35),and provided a Helper to go alongside us (John 16:13). To get to the goal, we have to shake off the things that wrap around our legs and hold us back (Hebrews 12:1). Rooted [in Him]: All the while, we’re connected to the True Vine (John 15:1). He sends the sustenance we need to not only survive, but thrive in a barren world (John 10:10).God wants us to be fruitful—to the point that He actually prepared fruit beforehand for us (Ephesians 2:10). Sometimes He has to prune us a bit but that’s only so we’ll break forth in more fruit later (John15:2). Built-up in Him and established in faith: But we need structure to make all this happen, a steady trellis. Christians—walking, fruitful Christians—rely on a sure foundation (Isaiah 33:6), a rock-solid Cornerstone(Ephesians 2:20), and the living walls of fellow believers (1 Peter 2:5). Apart, we’re just a piece of drywall, but, together, we’re an impressive, if imperfect, house (Hebrews3:6). Our Incomparable Companion John14:16-18 Most of us don’t like being alone for extended periods of time. In fact, we are not designed to live in isolation. Even at the very beginning, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen.2:18). But sometimes situations in life leave us separated from others. Or perhaps we simply feel lonely, even though we live with our mate or family. But whatever your situation may be, if you are a believer, you’re never alone. Knowing His followers could feel abandoned after His crucifixion and ascension, Jesus promised to send them a Helper who would never leave them—the Spirit of truth. The same One who came to them at Pentecost still abides within every believer. He has beensent to walk alongside us as our comforter, enabler, and guide. The Great Physician “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that aresick.” (Matthew 9:12) It almost goes without saying that a person who is seriously ill would do anything to regain health. But the sad fact is, few people really pay attention to their health until they are threatened with its loss. On the other hand, testimonies without number have been chronicled that relate an individual’s refusal to acknowledge the claims of Christ until he or she had been stricken with personal problems or physical illness. “You’ve got to be on your back before youwill look up,” so the saying goes. But what does the Great Physician have to offer the one whose health seems to be strong from an outward perspective? Instead of being well, however, the Bible says that everyone is born into this world with a dreadful disease in our souls called sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans3:23), “and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). The sin disease is most tragic when we do not feel it and do not know we haveit. “Because thou sayest, I... have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).Jesus Christ is the only One who can heal us: “Neither is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12). And just as He never sent anyone away who came to Himon Earth for physical healing (Matthew 12:15), so “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John6:37) when he comes seeking salvation. Certainly one of the most important steps in this process of being healed of our sin sickness is recognizing our desperate need for healing. When we say, “Be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee” (Psalm41:4), He will respond with forgiveness, grace, and healing. JDM The Blinding Factor of Sin - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Then she cried out, 'Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!' When he woke up, he thought, 'I will do as before and shake myself free.' But he didn't realize theLORD had left him. -Judges 6:20 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-blinding-factor-of-sin/ - Listen One of the saddest statements in the Bible is this one: "But he didn't realize the Lord had left him" (Judges 6:20 NLT). This refers to Samson, who lost touch with God. It culminated with Delilah shaving his head as he slept. Samson's power, however, was not in his long hair. Rather, it wasin his commitment to God, which his long hair symbolized. Samson didn't know it, but he already was in a state of decline that had been taking place over a period of years. This is so typical of a person who's in a state of spiritualdecline. Sometimes, they're the last to know. That's because sin blinds us. And that's why we need Christian friends who will tell us the truth, friends who are willing to say, "I see this area in your life, and youneed to be extra careful there." We should thank God if we have friends like that because we can have blind spots in our lives. For example, I know of men and women who left a loving spouse and childrenfor some stupid fling. That's the blinding factor of sin. There can be an excitement the first time you do the thing you're not supposed to. But you're not thinking it through. You're not thinkingabout the repercussions that are about to come. Samson ultimately faced the repercussions of his sin. The Bible tells us, "So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was boundwith bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison" (Judges 6:21 NLT). Then we read, "But before long, his hair began to grow back" (verse 22 NLT). What is this verse really saying? It's saying that God gives second chances. There's hope-even after you fail. Your Life Is Your Time Ephesians5:14-17 Our lives are governed by time. That's why we're surrounded by clocks and calendars that dictate our activities. As the minutes tick by, we wonder where the day went. When responsibilities and pressures mount, we complain, "I just don't have time to getit all done!" But the reality is that God has given us enough time to do exactly what He's planned for our lives. Perhaps the bigger issue is whether we are using our time to do our will or the Lord's. Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes. We have only two options—to spend it temporally on our own interests or invest it eternally. Since time can never be retrieved or reversed,it's critical that we make the most of every opportunity the Lord provides. Obedience or Preference Matthew26:36-42 Every believer must choose whether he will live by the principle of obedience or follow his preferences. When a person commits to doing the Lord’s will, then every situation and decision is sifted through the standard of "God said it, so I’m going to doit—and that’s the end of it." He may complain, weep, or try to argue. But in the end he will be obedient, no matter what. The Context of Stillness By Katherine Britton "Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10 How many times have you heard this verse? A hundred? A thousand? This snippet of a psalm is a pet verse of mine. It constantly pops into my head when I start getting too busy or stressed out. Ironically, I hadn't taken time to read the whole psalm in monthsuntil the other night, and I had no recollection of the verses surrounding my favorite one-liner. Here's a sampling of the other verses in Psalm 46: "Though the earth gives way…" (vs. 2) "Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea…" (vs. 2) "The nations rage, the kingdoms totter…" (vs. 6) "Be still and know that I am God… I will be exalted in the earth!" (vs. 10) "The God of Jacob is our fortress." (vs. 11) Beguiled and Enticed �And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.� (Colossians2:4) Any man can beguile us with words that are designed to capture our reason. The unusual word chosen by the Holy Spirit to describe the process is paralogizomai. The basic meaning is �alongside of reason.� It is used only one other time, in James 1:22: �But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.� That self-deception is accomplished through �enticing words� (Greek pithanologia), used only here in Colossians. It couples the term for �reason� with �persuasion� and contains the foundation for the English word �analogy,� a very similar process ofusing familiar words to transfer a known idea to something else. It is deception accomplished by transferring truth onto an untruth. During His training of the disciples, Jesus often warned that it was possible for His followers to be deceived by those who would come and make attempts to claim some role with His authority. �For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceivemany� (Matthew24:5). �Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many� (Matthew24:11). �For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect� (Matthew24:24). The stated purpose for gifted leaders in churches was to prevent the immaturity of disciples who would be �tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive� (Ephesians4:14). Although God has made provision for our stability in �wisdom and knowledge� (Colossians2:2-3), we are warned that we can be beguiled by listening to the �enticing words� of those who deny Christ. HMM III Be Still by Sarah Jennings Phillips Be stilland know that I am God. (Ps.46: 10) The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. -- St Vincent de Paul The past several weeks have been filled with jam-packed schedules, crowded airports, chattering children and blaring cell phone ring tones -- a never ending stream of noises, technology, and motion. It seems the older I get, the more those lazy summer daysof childhood feel like fairy tales from another life. If you're American, you're probably just as busy if not busier than I am right now. We're a country filled with activity. Studies show we're some of the most sleep-deprived people in the world. We work long hours, come home to more work (completed with thetelevision blathering on in the background) before collapsing into bed to repeat the process again the next day. Why do we live such frantic, hyper stimulated lives? Sometimes it's out of a sense of obligation - we feel it's a sin to say "no" so we overextend ourselves trying to fill the roll of Savior for everyone around us. Sometimes our frenzied lives stem froma sense of inadequacy - "If I work hard and accomplish such-and-such, I will have value." Sometimes it's a mode of escape - burying ourselves in work or in a TV program keeps our minds off life's disappointments. And sometimes we've just lost sight of ourpriorities, defaulting to the heightened pace of the culture around us, unaware that we've let our down time slip away little by little. Regardless of why we're living in the fast (and loud) lane, deep down we all know we need to get out of it. Our souls crave peace, stillness, and silence. And even if we can ignore the cries of our souls for awhile, our bodies demand it when they eventuallywear out. Why do we crave that stillness? It seems the "noise" of life is more often man-made than God-ordained. In Scripture we see that time and again, God calls us to find peace in Him, to lighten our burden with Him, to set aside our anxieties and meaninglessbusiness. We see God speak to the prophet Elijah through a "gentle whisper" and tell an anxious Martha that her sister Mary chose the "better" part when she abandoned household duties to sit at Jesus' feet. (Luke10: 41-42) After a long day of running here and there, I find myself longing to be peaceful Mary whose only job is to be with Christ. So how can we become more like Mary when the vast majority of us more closely resemble worried Martha? I love the opening Scriptureverse -- it's so simple, it cuts through all the junk clanking around in my brain. Be still. In the midst of the activity surrounding her, Mary made a simple choice. To sit and be still. You and I can make that simple choice too, even when life seems to be pressing on all sides. It may be awkward at first - we may be tempted to grab for the remoteor cut our time with God short. But by seeking stillness we are effectively saying, "Nothing else is as important to me as You at this moment, Lord." When I've spent time at our local Adoration chapel - a place void of constant noise and movement - I findI am never sitting in an empty room doing "nothing" but a place filled with God's presence and love, a place I can truly know God. Shun the Bait - by Greg Laurie - www.harevst.org But before long, his hair began to grow back. -Judges 16:22 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/shun-the-bait/ - Listen The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. I've seen people return to the same pattern of sin repeatedly, yet they'reshocked by the way things turn out. If we can learn from our mistakes, if we can recognize where we've messed up and be more careful so we don't stumble again, we can change the cycle of sin in our lives. That's what Samson did. After his enemies, the Philistines, captured him and blinded him, his hair began to grow again. His strength began to return. Now, Samson's strength didn't come from his hair. He'd taken the vow of a Nazirite, and part of that vow was to never cut his hair. His long hair symbolized his commitmentto God. One day, the Philistines held a festival to worship their false god, Dagon. They were getting drunk, and someone came up with the idea to bring Samson in for entertainment. As they brought him in, Samson said to the young servant who was guiding him, "Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them" (Judges16:26 NLT). Then Samson put one hand on one pillar and one hand on the other, and he prayed for strength. When Samson pushed, the temple began to collapse, and the floors caved in. After it was all over, Samson had killed more Philistines that day than he had throughout hisentire life. Even so, Samson died with the Philistines. Temptations will come to every Christian, but Samson's story teaches us that it's better to shun the bait than to struggle on the hook. Every temptation is an opportunityto flee to God. Are you flirting with sin? Are you playing with fire? Watch out. Learn the lesson of Samson. No One's Life Verse - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. -2 Timothy 3:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/no-ones-life-verse/- Listen How should we as Christians react when people attack us for what we believe? And what if someone hurts us? Should we forgive them, even if they don'tdeserve it? Romans 12 gives us the answer: "Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them" (verse 14 NLT). We should bless thosewho are against us. Of course, we all know people who give us a hard time because of what we believe. Maybe it's a spouse, a coworker, or your boss. Or it might be a professoror a teacher in your classroom. It could be an internet troll who continues to harass you when you post about what you believe. The Bible tells us, "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12 NLT). By the way, that'sno one's life verse. No one displays that statement in calligraphy on their living room wall. Even so, it's very true. Every follower of Jesus will, in time, experience persecution in some way. And make no mistake about it: persecution is aliveand well. The Pew Research Center did an extensive global survey and found that Christians are the most persecuted religion and people in the world. No one comes close to facing the persecution that followers of Jesus Christ face globally, including discrimination, verbal assault, physical attacks,and arrests. Every single day, our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer barbaric treatment in nations where it's very difficult for Christians to live. They're hounded, tortured, and executed for simply believing in Jesus Christ. Some might say that's a good enough reason to walk away. However, I say that it's a good enough reason for us to double down in our commitment and realize the Christian faith is not only worth dying for;it's also worth living for. Orderand Steadfastness �For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order,and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.� (Colossians2:5) Apparently, the church at Colossae had a reputation for structure. No doubt godly elders kept vigilance on their behalf. Perhaps they were guided by the clear rules in Proverbs 4:20-26. •�Incline thine ear unto my sayings.� •�Keep them in the midst of thine heart.� •�Keep thy heart with all diligence.� •�Put away from thee a froward mouth.� •�Let thine eyes look right on.� •�Ponder the path of thy feet.� •�Let all thy ways be established.� There was an obvious steadfastness to their faith�a �stiffened� and even �obstinate� faith, as the Greek term implies. These believers were not babes in Christ, nor were they easily swayed by �enticing words� (Colossians2:4). But as important as those attributes were, it was necessary to extend the church atmosphere and function into a lifestyle that each member embraced (Colossians2:6). The reader may remember that the disciples were first labeled �Christians� in Antioch (Acts11:26). The name was meant as a derogatory comment, but it was given because the lifestyles of Christ�s followers reflected His teachings. The basis for this identity is �that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowshipone with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin� (1John 1:5-7). �Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light� (Ephesians5:8). HMM III Stain on the Brain by Fred Alberti I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.- Psalms119:11 I watched Caleb as he sat there in deep concentration just staring at the book. Finally, I asked him what he was doing. His response was one I had never heard before. He said, "I'm staining it into my brain." He was memorizing Scripture verses for AWANA Club. The thing is he knew what he was doing. He knew that he was trying to burn the words into his memory so he could pass on to the next challenge. I like how today's verse applies to Caleb's staining power. The psalmist gives the reason why he is hiding God's Word. What is it? So that he will not sin against God. The reason for Bible memorization is to help us to abstain from sinning. Oftentimes we resist Bible memorization. Instead we choose to stain our brain with TV shows depicting adultery, murder, and obscenity. Then we get ourselves into a moral bind and we wonder how we got into that place. We shouldn't wonder. We should realizethat what we choose to watch and/or memorize is what is going to stain into our brain. "Oh, that sex scene isn't so bad, at least they muted the sounds." Making Disciples Matthew28:18-20 Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers. Many don't know where to begin reading in the Bible or how to spend time with their heavenly Father. Of course, God takes each person's spiritual journey seriously, and He won't leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience. Let It Go - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,' saysthe LORD. -Romans 12:19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/let-it-go/- Listen When someone hits us, we want to hit back, don't we? When someone hurts us, we want to hurt them. We want payback. We want to settle the score. But if you're a Christian, that isn't the way you should live. Don't avenge yourself. God says, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back" (Romans12:19 NLT). If anyone knew what it was like to be mistreated, the apostle Paul did. In fact, I would say that no other leader in the first century suffered morethan Paul. Yet he wrote, "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God" (Romans 12:19 NLT). And Paul modeled this principle as well. When he was arrested with Silas for preaching the gospel, their Roman jailer was especially cruel. He had them severely beaten with rods, fastenedtheir feet in stocks, and put them into the deep recesses of a filthy, horrible dungeon. Then we read, "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening" (Acts 16:25 NLT). Youmight say they brought the house down, because an earthquake shook the place. The jailer realized he was dead because in those days if you lost your prisoners, the Romans would execute you-and maybe even your family. But Paul called out to him and said, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!" (verse 28 NLT). And ultimately, this Roman jailer and everyone inhis household put their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul could have allowed him to take his own life, but he extended grace to him instead. Is there someone you can think of who has hurt you? It's timeto forgive. When you're hurt or wronged, let God settle the score, not you. Let it go. "You Never Do Anything You Don't Want to Do" by Shawn McEvoy Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. - Galatians 6:5, The Message If I try, I can remember my friends from 10th-grade Sunday School. In fact, I'm still tight with two of them. I remember our church, our youth group, and our youth minister. What I don't remember so well are the individual lessons we learned from the Bible each week. As I realize that, I give myself another kick for not having gotten into note-taking and journaling. I'd like to have those things to review now. What I do recall from one particular class session, however, has always stuck with me. And it wasn't even a quote from the Bible. To show how much I've forgotten, I don't even remember the name of the teacher who said it! He was tall, well-accomplished inbusiness, but still wanting to give of his time to young men. And one day he looked at us and said the following: "Today's lesson is going to be very short. Look at me, because whatever you remember from today, remember this. Whatever you remember from your time in this youth group, remember this: You never do anything you don't want to do." That was it. Obviously I still remember it. Why? I also remember challenging the teacher on that day, most of us scoffing and saying things like, "Yeah, right... I can honestly tell you I do not want to do my homework tonight." "Yes you do." "No, I really don't." "What will happen if you don't?" "Well, I guess I'd be embarrassed when it was time to turn it in, I'd probably have to lie to my parents when they asked if I'd done it yet, and I wouldn't be prepared for the upcoming quiz." "So I guess the reason you're going to do your homework is because for the motives you just stated, you DO want to do it." Snap. I wanna do my homework? ... Wow, I want to do my homework! What a relief to not have to dread it, but to face it gladly because I recognize my want. A dozen high school boys just got handed a logic lesson in responsibility, desire, and motivation. All around the room you could see eyes and minds opening to new possibilities. A Way Through - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org And they said to Moses, 'Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt?What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?' -Exodus 14:11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-way-through/ - Listen I spent part of my childhood living with my grandparents. Sometimes we'd go to their cabin in Yucca Valley, which is in the desert,and it was freezing cold. This cabin didn't have electricity or a bathroom, so we had to use an outhouse. Today the thought of spending time in the desert isn't all that appealing to me. When the Israelites left Egypt, they weren't excited about spending time in the desert, either. After God sent a series of plagues,Pharaoh finally agreed to release the Israelites. But as they made their way to a new land, they came to what looked like an insurmountable obstacle: The Red Sea. To make matters worse, they looked up to see Egyptian army coming after them. They went to Moses and said, "Why did you bringus out here to die in the wilderness? . . . It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!" (Exodus 14:11-12 NLT). So Moses began to pray, and the Lord effectively told him, "This isn't a time to pray; this is a time to move." He told Mosesto lift his staff over the Red Sea, which he did. The waters parted, and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. Then the waters collapsed on the pursuing Egyptian army. Sometimes we find ourselves in a desert of sorts, and we don't know why we're there. It's a time of trial and hardship, and wecan't make any sense out of it. We're trying to figure out why this has happened, and we don't see a way through. The Bible tells us, "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2 NKJV). If you have a need, bring it to God. There's nothingwrong with praying about whatever you're in need of. So pray about it, but don't complain about it. Regeneration �That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.� (John3:6) Perhaps the greatest purpose of Christianity is to take that which is only flesh and see it reborn as Spirit�to see spiritual life born where before there was only death. But then, even in the most mature of believers, there remain aspects of the old naturemixed in with�even at war with�the new. In frustration Paul cried, �I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me� (Romans7:21). But each Christian should, through the power of God, be winning that war. Christ came to regenerate the spiritual side of people. �There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from thelaw of sin and death� (Romans8:1-2). Too many Christians still have their spirits buried deeply within the flesh, having �yielded [their] members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity� (Romans6:19). But Christ came to change all that. �God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit� (Romans8:3-4). Through faith, �according to his abundant mercy [He] hath begotten us again� (1Peter 1:3). To �beget� means to reproduce a like kind. Since He has �begotten us,� we should be becoming like Him in attitudes and aims. �Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus� (Philippians2:5). �And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it� (1Thessalonians 5:23-24). This is the object of Christianity. JDM VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM