DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.23.21

All the More Urgent - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. �Romans 13:11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/all-the-more-urgent/- Listen I think we could make a very good case for finding Russia in Bible prophecy. I think we could make a pretty good case for finding China in Bible prophecy. And we certainlycould make an airtight case for finding Iran in Bible prophecy�and Israel as well. But we cannot find the United States of America. How is it that the reigning superpower on the planet today doesn�t seem to be mentioned? No one knows the answer, but let�s consider an option. What if the Rapture were to take America out of its lead role? There are approximately 328.2 million people in the United States. For the sake of illustration, I�ll round that number to 300 million. I don�t know how many are followersof Christ, but I read recently that 65 percent of Americans identify as Christians. To be very conservative, let�s say that 10 percent of the people in the United States of America are Christians. Now, imagine for a moment what would happen if 30 millionpeople suddenly were to leave Planet Earth in the Rapture�people who work in industry, government, the military, and every area imaginable. Do you think that would affect our nation? Of course it would. Effectively, America would collapse overnight. I don�t know the reason our nation isn�t mentioned in Bible prophecy, but I do know this: Jesus Christ is returning. The Bible says, �This is all the more urgent, for youknow how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed� (Romans 13:11 NLT). If you�re believer who�s living a compromised life, you need to repent and get right with God. And if you don�t have a relationship with Jesus Christ, then you�ve got towake up and get right with God. Wake up. Jesus is coming. Are you ready? ----------------------------------------------------------- ThePrayer of Moses “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Psalm90:14) This majestic yet reflective psalm is the oldest of all psalms. The superscript of the psalm identifies it as “a prayer of Moses, the man of God.” While we are not directly told to do so, it is helpful to consider this psalm as the dying song of this man ofGod as he reflected back on his long life, including the 40 years in Egypt, the 40 years in Midian, and most importantly the recent 40 years of wilderness wanderings. As we survey this psalm, think of Moses pondering his life’s work shortly before he died. The first stanza of the psalm (vv. 1-2) contrasts the unchanging eternity of the Lord, “even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (v. 2), with the perpetual changes of the recent wilderness wandering in which the people had no “dwelling place” (v.1). The next stanza (vv. 3-6) notes the frailty of man and the death of a whole generation. But God is the ever-living One; His years do not fail (v. 4). God is also a holy God, justly exercising righteous wrath. The open iniquities and secret sins of allmankind, particularly the people of God, merit His judgment (vv. 7-8). In verses 9-12 we see the transient, carnal experiences of man contrasted with the permanent, spiritual nature of God. We need to recognize the intensity of His anger (v. 11) and govern our lives accordingly. “So teach us to number our days, that we may applyour hearts unto wisdom” (v. 12). Perhaps the climax of this psalm is reflected in verses 13-15, where we see the beauty of the Lord our God described as the crowning adornment of human character. The only assurance of the permanent establishment of the work of a man is in its identity withthe work of God. Our request of God should be: “Establish thou the work of our hands upon us” (v. 17). JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Spiritual Lightweight - by Greg Laurie on Jan 22, 2021 Tekel means �weighed��you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. �Daniel 5:27 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-spiritual-lightweight/- Listen The other day I was at the gym, and an employee asked me if I wanted to step onto their scale. It was a very fancy scale, so I said okay. Then he measured me to see howtall I was. I discovered that I was shorter than I originally thought, and I weighed more than I was supposed to weigh. On God�s scales, though, we want to weigh more, not less. The Bible tells us about a spiritual lightweight, the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar. His name was Belshazzar, and he went out of his way to mock God. One day during a feast, King Belshazzar asked for the gold and silver cups that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. Then Belshazzar and the others drankfrom them and praised the false gods of Babylon. While they did this, a hand appeared and began writing on the wall. Then a terrified Belshazzar summoned Daniel to interpret the message. Daniel told him, �This is the message that was written: Mene, mene, tekel, and Parsin. This is what these words mean: Mene means �numbered��God has numbered the days ofyour reign and has brought it to an end. Tekel means �weighed��you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. Parsin means �divided��your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians� (Daniel 5:25�28 NLT). Belshazzar stepped onto God�s scales, and there was nothing there. So that was the end for him. I believe that God is giving us a warning today. He�s telling us that our time is short. I don�t know when the end of the world will be, but the end of your world or minecould come sooner than we expect. So don�t be a fool like Belshazzar. Don�t be a spiritual lightweight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm Happy for You... (Not) by Kelly Givens Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 “Just installed our kitchen countertops! They’re GORGEOUS.” I rolled my eyes as I glanced at the pictures someone - no older than me - had just posted online. Picture after picture of their sparkly new kitchen, inside their custom built (custom built, I tell you!) house. I looked up from screen and intomy own tiny apartment kitchen with its plain, generic countertops. Nothing custom-built in my place. I tried not to think about it, but it was too late - jealousy had flooded my heart. It’s scary how natural it flowed in. All I wanted in that moment was tobe OUT of my apartment and into some glamorous space of my own. Can you relate? I love it when the Bible is black and white. There’s no confusion surrounding Romans 12:15 - we’re called to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Pretty simple... except when it isn’t. I bet most of us wouldn’t have to think too hard to remember a time we failed pretty miserably at rejoicing over someone’sjoy, or weeping as another wept. Why do we have this challenge? When we fail to rejoice with those who rejoice, there could be several reasons why, but here are some I thought of off the top of my head: insecurity, jealousy or envy, discontent, bitterness. What about when we fail to weep with those who weep? Here are some reasons (excuses, really) that come to mind: lacking compassion, both generally in life or toward a certain individual; perhaps not taking the time to listen orreally put yourself in the person’s position; too busy to notice the suffering of others, distancing yourself emotionally from pain. I’ve thought of some scenarios that may indicate we’re failing at Romans 12:15: •Instead of rejoicing at someone’s news, we immediately begin to compare how our circumstances measure up. •We’re quick to say “Oh yes, that happened to me once, too” instead of silently listening and acknowledging the hurt of others. •We try to come to the rescue in every situation, rather than acknowledging that some suffering isn’t solvable or explainable (think Job and his friends). •We brush off the pain of others because we think they are “taking things too hard.” •We’re quick to say, “Well at least you’ve never experienced this" (insert whatever horrible thing we’ve experienced). •We think they cheated their way to the blessings, just got lucky or don’t deserve the good thing they received (their parents are totally paying for that custom-built house!). So what’s at the root of all of this? What’s the “sin beneath the sin,” so to speak? I think central to our failure to rejoice and weep with others is a preoccupation with self. We can’t step outside of ourselves long enough to truly step into both the blessings and sufferings of those around us. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve tried tomake a habit of acknowledging the joys and sufferings of others without immediately inserting myself into the situation. This isn’t a natural inclination for me. Satan is the master of deception and loves to make us fall for one of the oldest tricks in thebook: that everything is about us. Ultimately, the key to mastering Romans 12:15 isn’t just thinking about ourselves less. We’ve got to think about God more. People are most successful at eliminating bad behaviors or habits from their lives when they replace them with a good habit or behavior. So, I notonly have to stop focusing on myself, but I have to replace all that time I spend thinking of myself with thinking of God. This is life-transforming; this is the key to killing pride - not simply humbling yourself, but exalting God - who is the only thingworthy of our exaltation. When I’m thinking about God, and not about myself, he reminds me of some powerful truths: I’ve come from dust and I’ll return to dust. Genesis 3:19 reminds me that no matter how much I get ahead in life, eventually, I’m going to die. And nothing on this earth is worth coveting when I acknowledge that I can’t take it with me. I am beautifully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139 reminds me that God made me perfectly, intentionally, knowingly- so I need to stop comparing the body I have to others. He made me just right. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 reminds me that envy is a crippling sin; I could literally waste my life away being envious of others. Contentment, on the other hand, brings life. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 reminds me that our part of our calling as Christians is to care for those burdened and help carry the burdens of others. I don’t get to “pass” on this part of my faith if it doesn’t come naturally to me or if I feel inconvenienced or uncomfortable by it. I don’t get to ignore the sufferings of others; I’m called to step into it. After meditating on God’s promises and blessings, I am able to recall all the wonderful things about our apartment (hello, cheap rent!) and the many, many ways God has blessed and provided for me. Proverbs 30:8 says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” As Christians, contentment in our own circumstances is the surest way to reflect the all-satisfying power of Christ to those who may need to be reminded of wheretheir joys and sufferings begin and end. Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you struggle to rejoice with those rejoicing or weep with those weeping? Check yourself - what’s stopping you? Pray that God would help uncover the “sin beneath the sin” - the ways you’re focusing on yourselfinstead of focusing on Him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer for the Word “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, andI shall keep thy testimonies.” (Psalm 119:145-146) One of the great privileges we have is the ability to speak directly to our heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe! However, our prayers are often “amiss” (James4:3) and lack faith (James 1:6). Not so with this psalmist! He prayed with his whole heart, begging that he “might be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians1:9). His petition shows a deep spiritual connection to God “with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). Note that although the prayer of need recorded in this stanza (Psalm 119:145-152) mentions those who “follow after mischief” (v. 150), most of his conversationwith the Father verifies his love for and his hope in God’s Word (v. 147). This prayer was not routine. “I prevented the dawning of the morning,” the psalmist wrote, and his “eyes prevent the night watches” (vv. 147-148). The matters that drove him to his knees to seek God’s face had kept him awake all night! Songwriter Mosie Lister wrote “How Long Has It Been?” based on this stanza of Psalm 119: How long has it been since you talked with the Lord And told him your heart’s hidden secrets? How long since you prayed, how long since you stayed On your knees till the light shone through? Fortunately, Jeremiah recorded this promise from our Lord: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).HMM III ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Creations by Ryan Duncan “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” – 1Peter 1:23 Have you ever done something embarrassing? I know I have. In fact, you could say my entire childhood (and a good portion of my adult life) has been one long string of embarrassing moments. I am still haunted by the memory of when I threw up during my Englishfinal, or the time I tripped while skiing and caused a massive, ten-man pile-up in front of the ski lift. The worst part is your brain never lets you forget it. The difficult news is it’s not just embarrassing moments we seem unable to forget, it’s our mistakes. Many of us have done things in our lives that we regret. We’ve acted selfishly, or violently, and other people have been hurt because of it. The Devil lovesto use our past mistakes against us; they are by far his favorite weapons. He will always wait until we’re vulnerable, then take our dirty laundry and rub it in our face. It’s at moments like these that I always turn to 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 and reminded myself about the truth behind Christ’s ministry. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world tohimself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5: 17-19 When we choose to follow Christ, our slates are instantly wiped clean. All the mistakes we’ve made all the stupid things we’ve done, embarrassing or otherwise, no longer matter to God. We may still have to accept the consequences of our actions, but we cantake comfort in knowing that in God’s sight we are new creations. So do not allow Satan to guilt you with past mistakes, you are a child of God and he will never see you as anything less. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Blindness of Israel “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and therest were blinded.” (Romans 11:7) One of the saddest aspects of our world is the blindness of Israel. Even the Orthodox Jews, who strongly affirm their belief in the Old Testament Scriptures, seem unable to see what the Scriptures clearly show, that their Messiah has come and gone. In the firstbook of the Torah, we read: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis49:10). Ancient Jewish commentators agreed that Shiloh was another name for Messiah, but this very fact should prove to modern Jewish expositors that Messiah has already come, for the scepter (the symbol of national leadership) did depart from Judah, verysoon after Jesus was crucified. King David was the first descendant of Judah to attain the scepter of leadership among the tribes of Israel, and the divine promises were clear that Messiah would be in David’s lineage. That Jesus’ legal father, Joseph, and human mother, Mary, were both inthat lineage was shown in the genealogies of Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38, respectively, both of which were written when the genealogical records in the Temple were still intact. No one at that time ever questioned their validity, in spite of intense opposition by the Jews to the claims of Jesus and His disciplesthat He was the Messiah. In 70 AD, the records and the Temple were destroyed so that no later claimant to the title could ever prove his right to the throne. Messiah had come, and was slain, so the scepter departed from Judah until He comes again. It is certainthat Jesus was, indeed, the Jews’ promised Messiah, and we should pray that God will soon open their eyes to see and believe. HMM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Only Way to Shut Up the Devil Is at the Cross by Whitney Capps Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col.2:15). Living a life unashamed is a hard thing to grab a hold of. I mean, live confident in the work of Jesus? I get that. Forget the mountain of debt I had against God? Live completelyfree from the guilt and shame of that? So much harder, right? Shame is a stubborn weed that comes back no matter how many times I pull it, you know? When the devil begins to attack us, it’s best not to argue with him. I've lost quite a few arguments with the devil. I know I have authority over him, but when he starts reading my rap sheet of crimes against God and comparing me to other women,I can get sucked into a “me” spiral. When this starts to happen, the only solution is to take me out of the equation. The only way to shut up the devil is at the Cross. The church at Colossae knew about having an attacked, vulnerable faith. One of the purposes of Paul’s letter to the Colossians was to firm up their faith and remind them of their confidence in the Cross. In Colossians 2:14-15 (NIV) Paul says, “Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacleof them, triumphing over them by the cross.” The only way to shut up the devil is at the Cross. In the Ancient Near East, agreements and business transactions between two parties were handwritten into formal contracts—not unlike today, but with a few more brush strokes rather than keystrokes. When one party was indebted to another, his namewould be written below the agreement. When the debt was satisfied, the name would be scratched out, a line drawn through it, or one would hammer a nail, piercing the name, signifying the debt had been canceled. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Developing Convictions Jeremiah 17:5-8 An acorn needs nutrients and time to grow into a tall, sturdy oak tree. Likewise, men and women of conviction develop gradually through committed Bible study and prayer. Ready to get planted firmly in biblical truth? Here’s how: Make a list of issues for which you need to form a conviction. Here are questions to help you get started: Do you consider the Bible true and trustworthy? Do you think that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of believers and unbelievers? Are we to forgive others in every situation? How should Christians approach finances? What’s your purpose in life? What is your role in the church and at work?How should you think and act regarding social issues like capital punishment, abortion, and racism? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Better and an Enduring Substance “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36) Christians have certain heavenly possessions, and this knowledge helps put our earthly possessions and welfare in proper perspective. Evidently, some to whom this was written had been imprisoned, and others impoverished for their faith. “For ye...took joyfullythe spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (v. 34). Peter called it “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1Peter 1:4). These possessions are attainable; they are not in question; they are ours, given to us by the One whose name is “Truth” (John 14:6) and whose Wordis trustworthy. We “know” (Hebrews 10:34) this beyond all doubt. Furthermore, these possessions are valuable. We must “cast not away therefore [our] confidence, which hath great recompense of reward” (v. 35). With this assurance, we are able to bear up under any suffering or persecution that comes our way (see also Romans 8:18). Knowledge of these possessions is prescriptive, for it helps us cope with longstanding troubles. In our text, we “have need of patience” to get through them and do “the will of God.” “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James5:7-8). Lastly, realization of these possessions is imminent. “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37). “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). JDM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DivineLogistics “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many,or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.” (2Chronicles 14:11) Asa was one of the better kings of Judah (great-grandson of Solomon), and his prayer is a beautiful model of how a servant of God can pray when all the human odds are against him. Asa’s army consisted of 580,000 foot soldiers, whereas the invading Ethiopianshad a million-man army with 300 chariots. Yet “the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa” (2 Chronicles 14:8-9, 12), and his prayer prevailed. The Bible has many such examples: Abraham (Genesis 14:1-16); Gideon (Judges7:7; 8:10); King Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:14, 19, 35). Before King Saul gained a great victory over the hordes of the Philistines, it was the courageoustestimony of Jonathan, his son, that led the way. “It may be that the LORD will work for us,” he had said, “for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few” (1Samuel 14:6). Later, David won many battles against all odds, including his personal victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40-49). The servants of the Lorddo not need a majority to prevail in the battle against sin and Satan, for “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). That is the key, ofcourse. We must not beseech the Lord to fight on our side. He will be for us if we are first on His side! This was the message of the prophet Azariah to the godly King Asa: “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2Chronicles 15:2). Political power, military might, financial resources—all are futile. “Our help is in the name of the LORD” (Psalm 124:8). HMM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keeping the Best Things First by Katherine Britton And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best… - Philippians 1:9-11 How often do we resign ourselves to the "tyranny of the urgent"? If you're me, it's a daily struggle not to use that little phrase as an excuse for losing sight of the big picture. It's so much easier to take care of what's immediately in front of me insteadof what should be first in my life. I'm a task-oriented Martha, so concerned with getting the job done that I forget to focus on Him first. I can tell myself that I'm doing my work "as unto the Lord" as much as I want, but I don't serve anyone when I get harried. You probably know the feeling;you tell yourself that you're cooking a wholesome dinner as a supreme act of service and love for your family - if they only appreciated how many other things you have to do besides stand over a stove! - when little Anne asks if you'll help her find a favoriteCD. Something boils over, and it's not the pot on the stove. In taking care of dinner, you've forgotten to feed a godly attitude of patience and love. That's me to a fault. James makes it clear that faith is constantly looking for ways to serve; like Martha, however, we can get so busy that we forget why we're doing it. I often catch myself thinking that if I'm not busy, I'm not "doing enough" for God. But then the act becomes its own end, insteadof an outworking of love. Imagine Martha in the kitchen, fluttering around and looking for that special recipe to serve Jesus, while Mary just sat, soaking up His words. Martha's response to this was probably well-intentioned - that is, from a human pointof view. She was serving and wanted others to serve with her! But Jesus called her bluff. "Only one thing is needed," Christ said, "and Mary has chosen what is better" (Luke 10:42). Better? Lord, you mean that sitting atyour feet and being quiet is better than my idea of being busy serving you? That's right. I think I got a double-portion of Martha's spirit. Too often, I think that sitting and listening to Jesus is the same thing as sitting and doing nothing. I think it's laziness. Satan whispers that my time could be better spent doing than learning, and then the tyranny of the urgent takes over. But even Olympic acts of service are as nothing if not done in love (1 Corinthians 13), and only time at the feet of Jesus can teach methat. Love leads to action, as Paul writes to the Philippian church, not the other way around. I can't "discern what is best" in my work and words unless I keep the very best in front of my eyes, like Mary. My prayer this week is that I will focus on Jesus andsee how to love. Then the priorities will fall in line. Then I see what is best, because I see Jesus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Convictions Our Defense Romans14:20-23 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 ensureIsrael’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). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father of Believers “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis15:6) The key New Testament doctrine of imputed righteousness, received through saving faith in the Word of God, is foreshadowed beautifully in the life of Abraham. Because of his strong faith, demonstrated again and again in difficult acts of obedience, Abrahamhas been called “the father of all them that believe” (Romans 4:11). Our text verse is quoted four times in the New Testament (Romans4:3, 22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23) and is made the basis of the great gospel theme of salvation and righteousness. This is obtained not by one’s good works but by imputation, and is received through faith in the gracious promises of God through Jesus Christ. “For he hath madehim to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure...to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans4:16). Just as “Jerusalem which is above...is the mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26), so faithful Abraham is “the father of us all.” Spiritual Jerusalemspeaks of salvation by grace rather than by law, and Abraham testifies of righteousness through faith rather than by works. And yet, 12 of the 40 verses of Hebrews 11, the great “faith chapter,” deal with the outward evidences of Abraham’s inner faith. There is still another reference to Abraham’s spiritual seed: “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians3:7). As Abraham’s spiritual children, therefore, we also ought to believe God’s Word at whatever cost, demonstrating the reality of our faith to the world—as did father Abraham—by obeying God. HMM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are You in the Belly of a Big Fish? by Fred Alberti But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 Being a homeschool family we sometimes have some rather interesting experiments that we get to enjoy as a family. George is one such experiment. George is a goldfish whose bowl-mate sadly perished. My son's task was to teach the goldfish to come to the topof the bowl when he tapped on the glass. After several weeks of tapping and feeding and tapping and feeding the fish finally learned to come to the top of the bowl. Big deal right? Right, that is until the fish started to do more. Anytime someone would walk by the bowl he would get all excited and start moving his mouth like he was yelling at whoever it was that was walking by the bowl. This became rather normal andwe would just ignore him or comment that he was yelling at us in Spanish. Then one day my kids were listening to an FFH song titled "Big Fish." It was then that George decided to really show off what he could do. When the song played George would begin to swim around like he wasdancing in the water and would seemingly move his mouth to the words (move over Ashlee Simpson). I particularly like the first verse of the song which goes like this: Are you in the big fish Are you sitting in the belly of a world gone mad Have you turned your back in His wish On His will for your life, have you made Him sad Do you want to get out of the big fish Listen to God and follow His plan And you won't be part of the main dish He'll spit you out on to dry land I've sometimes felt like I was in the belly of a big fish. I had decided to do something my way instead of first seeking the Lord's guidance and leading. You, whoever you are, God has a plan for your life. Maybe you feel like you are wasting your time at a dead-end job. Or perhaps you have no job but would desperately like one. Maybe you think you have the dream job but the Lord has been speaking to you ina still small voice to give it up for something else. Like Jonah, you may not particularly like the mission God has for you but He has the intention of making you ideally suited to carry that plan out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 outdoorsfor 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 lazyperson, 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whosoever Will “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirstcome. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17) One could not imagine a more clearcut invitation to receive God’s free gift of eternal life than this final climactic invitation of the Bible. Anyone who is thirsting for the water of life may come and drink freely, for Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let himcome unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). Whosoever will may come! “There is no respect of persons with God” (Romans2:11, plus about seven other references), and the Scriptures abound with “whosoever” assurances. “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans10:13). “Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:26). “Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts10:43). “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). “Jesus Christ the righteous:...is the propitiation...for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). Therefore, “by the righteousness of one the free giftcame upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18). Such promises as these (and many more in the Word of God) make it very clear that the substitutionary death of Christ is sufficient to “[take] away the sin of the world” (John1:29), that salvation and eternal life are offered as a free gift of God’s grace to anyone who will accept it, and that anyone who will may come! It is only the voluntary act of our own wills that is required, but there are many of whom Jesus must say: “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). HMM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When I Grow Up by Katherine Britton "Instead, you ought to say, �If the Lord wills, then we will live and also do this or that." - James 4:15 "You can be anything you want when you grow up, sweetie." My parents profoundly ignored that phrase when I was growing up. I never heard them say those words, although the self-esteem trend was certainly making its way through the schools and Saturday morning cartoons. That's not to say that they told me the oppositeor never encouraged my efforts. On the contrary, my mother carted me to ice skating practice, art lessons, piano lessons, debate club, and even soccer (for one pathetic season). She pushed me to do my best at whatever activity or homework assignment came myway, because it was a matter of "doing all things for the glory of God." And that's exactly why she and my father never told me I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. My parents knew better. Instead of the infinite-potential catchphrase, they would tell me things like, "If God wants you to be a concert pianist, then you will be," or "God gave you this talent for a reason, so we're going to cultivate it." That took the focus off of what I "wantedto be" and onto how God had gifted me. For that reason, my mother pushed me into writing tutoring even though I absolutely hated it at the time. I certainly had no intentions of being an editor when I grew up. Little did I know. Can we really be anything we want when we grow up? The famous verses in Proverbs suggest otherwise. "In his heart a man plans his course," says Proverbs 16:9. Sure, I can make plans to be anything I want. "But the Lord determines [my] steps," as the verse concludes. My parents understood this from their own crazy life stories. So they told me not about my endlesspotential, but about God's ability to take me to places unknown and undreamed of. I laugh inwardly when people ask me where I want to be in five or ten years, because Heaven only knows where I actually will be. Besides, I'm still inexperienced in all this career and marriage stuff, and still figuring out my goals. How comforting it is to know that it's my responsibility to cultivate the little talents I have and let God decide where to take them. Even at this point in my life, I can look back and see the long line of events, circumstances, character-building chances (oh boy!), and opportunities that I couldn't have orchestrated myself. I see now that I couldn't have been anything I wanted. Instead,I have become - and will become - whatever God wants me to be. After all, He knows me more intimately than I know myself. He knows exactly how I can serve His kingdom best. Yes, that's what I want to be when I grow up. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But First the Bad News - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! �Isaiah52:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/but-first-the-bad-news/- Listen A few years ago, Dr. Erich Voigt, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, was watching a reality television program when he noticed something. A woman on the show had a lump onher neck that concerned him. When his efforts to contact her failed, he posted a message on Facebook with a screenshot of her on the program. A family friend saw it and passed along Dr. Voigt�s message.Soon the woman was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, thanks to the eagle-eyed surgeon. It can be that way with sharing our faith. Sometimes people don�t want to hear about Jesus. But let�s say, for instance, that we were on a plane that was about to make an emergency landing, and I wanted to tell you where the emergency exits were. I think you�dbe interested in what I had to say. In the same way, when I share the gospel, I�m trying to warn people and help them. The word gospel means �good news.� But before we can fully appreciate the good news, we first have to know the bad news. Here�s the bad news: We�re all sinners. We all have fallen short of God�s standards, and there�s nothing we can do personally to make this right. And because of our sin,we�ll face judgment one day. The good news is that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, on a rescue operation to Planet Earth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived a perfect life,died a perfect death, and then rose from the dead. He stands at the door of your life and knocks. And He�s saying that if you�ll hear His voice and open the door, He will come in. You don�t have to be crippled by your past. You can put it behind you and be changed today by Jesus Christ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Devil�s Word - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! �2 Corinthians 5:17 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-devils-word/- Listen What do you think is life�s most dangerous word? Is it diet? Exercise? No. Life�s most dangerous word is tomorrow. It sounds so innocent. But tomorrow is the road that leads to a town called Never. Tomorrow is the barred and bolted door thatshuts people out of Heaven. Tomorrow is the Devil�s word, and he has ripped-off so many people with his strategy. Yet the Bible says, �Today is the day of salvation� (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT). King Nebuchadnezzar had a full year to get his act together, a full year to repent. But he blew it off. Then one day he looked out from his balcony and said, �Look at thisgreat city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor� (Daniel 4:30 NLT). The Bible says that �while these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, �O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer rulerof this kingdom�� (Daniel 4:31 NLT). Then he lost his mind and went out into a field and ate grass like an animal. But God was gracious to Nebuchadnezzar, and he returned to his senses. Then he believed inthe Lord and told his entire kingdom about it. Nebuchadnezzar was like a tree that had been chopped down. But then he came back to life, like little shoots of branches growing out of a tree stump. So maybe you�re wondering, �Is it too late for me?� No, it isn�t. Maybe you feel cut down in life, and you think there�s no hope. Jesus Christ can change your story no matter what you�ve done. Don�t put it off another day. Don�t live another day without Jesus Christ. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thy Light and Thy Truth �O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thytabernacles.� (Psalm 43:3) This old troubled world desperately needs light to find the way out of its darkness and truth to rightly plan its future. But they must be God�s light and God�s truth, not the seductive lights and humanistic philosophies of man�s fabrications. God has, indeed, already sent out His light and His truth, but �men loved darkness rather than light� (John 3:19) and, although they profess to be �everlearning,� they yet are �never able to come to the knowledge of the truth� and, in fact, �turn away their ears from the truth� (2 Timothy 3:7; 4:4). That was true in the psalmist�s day, and perhaps even more so in our day, although we surely have far more light and access to truth today than the psalmist ever had. We now have, for example, God�s complete written Word (Genesis through Revelation). Anotherpsalmist had promised: �Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path� (Psalm 119:105), and also had promised: �For the commandment is a lamp;and the law is light� (Proverbs 6:23). God�s truth surely is what we need�in fact, all we need�for our faith as we look to our future. This also is revealed in the light of His Word, both His inspired written Word and His incarnate living Word. The Lord Jesus not only claimed �I am...thetruth� (John 14:6), He also prayed for us, saying: �Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth� (John17:17). And for all who believe His revealed truth: �God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ� (2Corinthians 4:6). HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------