DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 5.15.21

Mom's the Word by Laura MacCorkle Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs9:9-10, NIV Spelled forwards or backwards, there's no mistaking the word mom. We all know what it stands for. Turned upside down, it also reads wow. And that's something I wholeheartedly agree with-especially now that I'm old enough to understand everything that my mom did and has done for me over the years. All I can say is "Wow!" I also think of the word instruction when I think of my mom - or any maternal figure who was influential in my life. I probably didn't like it at the time. Okay, I know I didn't like it at the time, as I always seemed to have my own agenda. But years later, I greatly appreciate the words of instruction that were given to me. My mom's words included, but were not limited to: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. When in doubt, don't. Chew with your mouth closed. Because I said so. So? Sew a hole in the ground. (Not really sure what that was for.) Do your best. Did you wash your hands? Let me smell them. Try it. You might like it. Hide God's Word in your heart that you might not sin against him. Now what did Mommy say? I continue to hear these words of instruction in my head as an adult. They're part of my mom's imprint on my life. They impart lessons of kindness, perspective, right and wrong, responsibility, attentiveness and obedience. And if I show any signs of thebeginning of wisdom, I'll continue to heed these words and hopefully someday impart them to my future children. ---------------------------------------------------- Selfish Christianity John 6:22-27 Which interests you more—who Jesus is or what He can do for you? I’m afraid that too many of us are more concerned about what He can give us than we are about getting to know who He is. But this is nothing new—Jesus had this problem when He walked on earth. The crowds often sought Him out for what He could do for them. Even though their needs were quite often legitimate, Christ knew their motives. There is a fine line between selfishly trying to use the Lord to get what we want and humbly coming to Him with our needs and struggles. Some of the issues we bring to Him are so pressing and urgent in our minds that our desire for Him to take action inthe way we want becomes greater than our willingness to submit to His will. At times, what we call “faith” is really a demanding spirit. We must remember that our needs will come to an end, but Jesus Christ will remain forever. If our prayers have dealt only with presenting our requests to the Lord, we’ve missed a great opportunity to get to know the One with whom we’ll spend eternity. Let’sinvest time in pursuing intimacy with Christ. Then we can enjoy the benefits of that relationship forever. How much of your communion with God is devoted to your needs—even legitimate ones? Are you spending any time getting to know the Lord? Although God delights in our prayers and tells us to pray about everything, He also wants us to come to Him just because we enjoy beingwith Him. ------------------------------------------------ Things Worth Knowing “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, whenhe shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) Although the book of 1 John is well known for its use of the word “love,” various words such as “know,” “perceive,” and “behold” occur almost as often. Several of these words refer to the work of Christ in salvation. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins” (1 John 3:5). “We know that wehave passed from death unto life” (1 John 3:14), and “hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us” (1John 3:16). This knowledge brings great comfort and assurance: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1John 5:13). This knowledge should bring us into a life of submission and service: “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1John 2:5). Similarly, “he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1John 3:24; see also 1 John 4:13). This gives us confidence in prayer: “And this is the confidence that we have in him,...if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us,...we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1John 5:14-15). The culmination of a life marked by salvation, assurance, empowering, and victory will be that we will be with Him and be like Him. “Behold [same word as ‘know’], what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Altar-Call Christians? by Debbie Holloway, Crosswalk.com Contributor Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching” (John 14:23-24). I’ve watched a lot of altar-calls in my day. The church in which I grew up routinely had altar-calls at the end of Sunday morning services. “If you’ve never asked Jesus into your heart, and you want to now, raise your hand. Come to the front. Pray this prayer…” Granted, not every church and every denomination does the whole altar-call thing. But it’s a pretty recognizable event in the land of “Christianese.” And it’s not baseless. After all, Paul wrote to the Romans: "If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). And, "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame’" (Romans 10-11). But I wonder sometimes if we grasp those verses a little too tightly, and forget about the kind of life that Jesus was calling us to live. Are we living like Christians – like those “belonging to Christ” or “members of Christ’s household” – or are we simply living like people who prayed the Sinner’s Prayer that one time? Take a look at a few of these verses: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person” (Matthew 5:38-39). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Comfortable Church Matthew28:16-20 I think it’s fairly evident that the society we live in is very self-centered, and this same characteristic can be present in a church. Whenever a local body of believers develops an inward focus, its fruitfulness in ministry begins to decrease, and eachmember’s Christian walk is hindered. Many believers want their church to be cozy and comfortable. They come to listen to a nice sermon, fellowship with friends, and have their needs met. But Godnever intended for the gathering of His people to be like a country club; He calls us to join anarmy that will bring the gospel into enemy territory. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JesusIs the Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....And the Word was madeflesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John1:1, 14) Most of us would be familiar with the Greek term used by God to convey this unique title of the Lord Jesus: logos. Its basic meaning is “that which can be communicated.” Sometimes it is used to embrace a collection of ideas expressed in a speech, or a thought in the sense of an idea, or the logic behind a concept. Jesus is all of that: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John1:18). Not only did the Lord Jesus declare what the Father said but what the Father was like. It is obvious that Jesus was the Spokesperson: “Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John12:50). “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John6:68). Much of the active ministry of the Lord Jesus was doing what God would do. His healing, His preaching, His gracious ministry to the poor and needy were all a picture of what God was like. But the miracles, the works of creation, were absolutely the “declaration” of God. Turning water into wine, feeding the 5,000, creating a new hand and new eyes—only the Creator could do that. In fact, Jesus said, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John14:11). Jesus is the Word of God in every sense that can be spoken, understood, seen, and experienced (Colossians2:9). HMM III -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Ways My Mom Reminds Me of Jesus by Debbie Holloway “Her children rise up and call her blessed…” (Proverbs 31:28). I've got a good family. And while I love all my family members so much that it hurts, and in vastly different ways, it's May, so I've been thinking a lot about my Mama. I have always known my mom was the actual greatest, but the older I grew, the more Ibegan to recognize really concrete reasons for it. How much I had learned from her. How much her example has shown me about being a wife, or dealing with kids. How to keep a good face and a good heart when you’re in uncomfortable or distasteful situations. Some of the things she’s imparted to me may seem small, or silly. When I’m outside and it’s sunny, I always think about soaking up Vitamin D. I never let my students get away with using the phrase “the reason is because…” in their essays. But more than those little things, my mom has made such a big impact on me because she reminds me of Jesus. Here are three Christ-like messages she has ingrained in me (whether by her words or simply her actions): iBelieve.com: 3 Reasons Why My Mom Reminds Me of Jesus from ibelievedotcom on GodTube. “You are Always Loved.” Of course my mom loves me. I suppose for most of us, that’s a given. But it makes such a difference when she tells me that every time she sees me. No matter what mistake I make, no matter how grumpy I am, no matter how grumpy she is, I know that nobody will ever love me as much as my Mama loves me. I have a unique relationship with my mom because I was her first daughter, and one she had wanted and prayed for many years before my birth. Whenever we’ve gone through a rough conversation, or even if I’m just feeling downtrodden, she’s never hesitatedto remind me that she has loved me and wanted me since before I was even born. And I know that my mom never stops praying and hoping for her children. This persistent, unrelenting love reminds me so much of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And whenhe comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'” This portrait of God that Jesus paints is simple: God loves you so much that he will never give up on you. Likewise, my mom is a mom who never gives up on me. “You are Always Welcome.” I used to assume that all families pretty much work like this, but the older I get, the more I realize how rarely we exhibit true, pure, hospitality even to our closest family members. Growing up, outsiders were routinely welcome to join us for meals, forsleeping over, or for jam sessions. Every time I talk with my mom, she reminds me that I’m welcome to pop by, expected or not, anytime I want. If I ever need something, or even just need to talk, I know she’s there for me. But more than just welcoming me into her home, my mom welcomes me into her heart and life, totally unconditionally. Sure, she taught me manners and morals, and hopes and expects I’ll live by them. But none of her children has turned out perfect. And shehas never given me ultimatums on our relationship, or implied that I would be kicked out, unwelcome, or treated as an outsider if I said certain things, dressed a certain way, hung out with certain people, or even believed certain things. She lets me livemy life, and I know she’ll always be a phone call away. She’ll always leave the front door open when she knows I’m coming over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two Mothers “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke1:46-47) Two Jewish ladies, each carrying children recently conceived, met to discuss their circumstances. Perhaps billions of mothers, before and since, have had similar encounters, but since this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth was so special and precious, perhapswe can all profit by its study. The first thing we notice is that their conversation turned immediately to God, to praise of Him for His goodness and grace. No doubt each one experienced all the common difficulties and discomforts of these months but chose instead to dwell on their blessingsand the greatness of God. Mary especially, in the discourse introduced by our text, burst forth in a torrent of praise, singing of the virtues of her Savior and reveling in His grace (vv. 46-55). He had chosen her despite her unworthiness. Her present misunderstood circumstances werenot in view at all, just her precious communion with her Lord and His gracious dealings with mankind. In all these things, she “rejoiced.” Note that there is no hint of doubt in her song, neither is there a shrinking back from His holiness. In these verses are no fewer than 15 quotations from the Old Testament. Mary knew God’s Word well and sang it back to Him. Furthermore, she sings in humility,not calling herself “mother of God,” as some do today, but sings of “God my Saviour.” These two mothers provide a model for each of us, especially those blessed with childbearing. May each encounter focus on Him, not just on temporal events. May our fellowship be centered in Him and in His Word, not just with friends or family. May prayer andpraise burst forth from our lips, not just idle conversation. May we know all the joy and confidence of Mary and join in her song. JDM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Only One Way to Achieve Patience By: Shawn McEvoy The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. - Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV Our senior pastor came into the room for a pre-arranged talk with all of us high school senior guys. He wanted to share something with us as we moved off into the next phases of our lives. Out of all the applications and biblical wisdom at his disposal, what one topic was on his heart? What advice did he wish to impart above all? He began by asking us to envision where we'd be in five, 10, 25 years. I'm just now coming up on that 25th year; I'm amazed at how differently some things have turned out, and how similar to my goals other things are. But that's not the point. Our pastor next told us that the one thing we ought to pursue more than any other was... not holiness, not righteousness, not prayer... but patience. "Boys, raise your hand if you want to be a man of patience." Okay, sure. Sounds good. Patience, yeah, that could be helpful to me. Hand up. "Great. I'll tell you what, boys, can I pray with you now? But be aware, only agree with me in this prayer if you mean it, if you really want patience. Because do you know what it takes to develop patience? Problems. Only problems - and the way you reactto them and trust God through them - can develop patience. Do you understand? So that's what I'm going to ask God for right now, that He'll bring you all problems. Are you ready?" Sure. Why not? Oh boy. Looking back, the last quarter century hasn't been hell on earth by any stretch, but its sure been full of its share of problems. As of this writing, I've got one that's forcing me to wait... and wait... and wait for an answer. I feel shamed when I go through a study about Abraham and how long he waitedand waited for God to fulfill a direct promise, because I can't imagine waiting any longer than I already have. The only reason I continue to do so is because of the patience and wisdom I've built up having passed through earlier problems and trials, the outcomesof which inform me to keep waiting. What's the moral here? Be careful what you pray for? Hmmm... maybe... but I think I prefer the lesson in today's verse, that patience (trusting God's way and waiting on His promise) is better than pride (my idea of the best way). To me, it's really eye-openingto think of those two concepts - patience and pride - as opposites. But that’s exactly how this verse sets them up. It suggests patience is akin to humility, and pride the brother of instant gratification. And I guess that makes sense. But why is patiencebetter? Especially in this day and age when so much is there for the taking? When the respected thing to do is reach out and go for it? What had my pastor so convinced that doing the opposite was the most important lesson to send young men out into the world? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Service of Motherhood Philippians 2:1-11 Children are a blessing from the Lord (Ps. 127:3-5). Motherhood is a great honor and privilege, yet it is also synonymous with servanthood. Every day women are called upon to selflessly meet the needs of their families.Whether they are awake at night nursing a baby, spending their time and money on less-than-grateful teenagers, or preparing meals, moms continuously put others before themselves. Sometimes this constant serving can be exhausting and even discouraging—particularly for a first-time mother. But you can take real encouragement from Jesus. One of the best examples of gracious servanthood is found in John 13:3-16. By kneeling to wash His disciples’ feet, the Lord showed that the key to true leadership is humility. And it is humility that leads to eternal reward. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No news is good news except when you know Good News � Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com There is an old saying that �no news is good news.� It can be taken several ways. That not hearing anything about a certain circumstance is good, or that, as in today�sheadlines, no news can actually be good news. This is the story brought about by our ministry that is truly good news. It begins in the rural underserved community of Dodowa in Ghana, where a young boy not only was hungry for food, but also for the Word ofGod. Our ministry partner, Pastor William Agbeti, relates how the hunger and thirst of an 11-year-old boy for the gospel blessed an entire community of children in a place where larger churches fear to go and where many will learn to read for the first timeby learning the Word of God. Agbeti reports: �The story begins with only one male child who boldly contacted our ministry and requested a Bible! Besides his need, he also said he wanted another forhis brother, too! Interestingly, he said he could not read but still wanted the Bible so he could learn how to read it! What great faith from such an 11-year-old boy! Instead of serving the spiritual needs of only the two children, we decided to find out theneed for Bibles among the children in their entire community. It was good we did! We found out that as many as fifty (50) children didn�t have Bibles and have been desirous of having them for quite a while! As Christ once said, �Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.� �It�s always a great joy to see children that we serve with free meals and foodstuffs also yearn for spiritual food! To satisfy this yearning, our ministry freely donated50 Bibles to these underserved children. A few years from now and in the foreseeable future, when the recipients begin to read a Bible, become pastors or are used of God in many ways, they are going to trace the genesis of it all to the donation they receivedSunday! It�s awesome to see how the Bibles ended in the hands of 50 children, who will definitely be used of God to grow His Kingdom and Glorify His name. It began with God touching the hearts of donors in the US, the Lord directing a child in Africa, andthen serving 50 rural children with His word. Just imagine the rippling effect this is going to cause in this part of the Kingdom!� As in Romans 10:13-15, �For whoseoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shallthey believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of goodthings?� Pastor Agbeti points to the very lifeline of true ministry�Those far away having a heart for others, giving freely that those in need can be fed, clothed and also receive the gospel of Christ. This is the sowing of prophetic seeds by faith and theharvest will be bountiful as these young people know the good news of the Gospel and begin sharing it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Running on Empty? - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches usto do what is right. �2 Timothy 3:16 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/running-on-empty/- Listen If the Devil can undermine the family, he can undermine the nation. I could point to almost every societal problem today, from addiction to abortion to incarceration, andin almost every case, I could trace it directly to the breakdown of the family. We need to understand that our culture isn�t supportive of marriage. In fact, the culture we�re in today is, in many ways, hostile toward it. The family is under attack,and for good reason: the family is the foundation of our country. That�s why it�s so important for families to draw the line and say, �No matter what this culture does, we�re going to do what God tells us to do.� Yet sadly, I think many Christian marriages today are running on empty. Couples aren�t taking advantage of all the resources and power God makes available to them for ablessed, happy, successful, and lasting marriage. Sometimes we think that marriage has a life all its own. We see a couple and think, �Oh, they have a marriage made in Heaven, don�t they? Look at them.� However, a successful marriage doesn�t happen by accident. Rather, it�s because two people have put a lot of effort into it and are applying biblical principles. You determine whether your marriage is strong or weak. You determine whether your marriage is successful or failing. If you want your marriage to stand the test of time, then you need to do what God says. That�s because a strong and happy marriage is a result of obedience to God and HisWord. I believe that every Christian couple can have a blessed marriage. God has told us how to do this. It�s all there in the Bible for us to apply. If you stop waiting for your emotions and start doing what God tells you to do, you will see a difference in your marriage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TheIndwelling Holy Spirit �But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if anyman have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.� (Romans8:9) Note that in this one verse the Holy Spirit is called both �the Spirit of God� and �the Spirit of Christ.� Thus, the two terms are synonymous, which means that Christ is God, and so is the Holy Spirit. Note also that we �have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father� (Romans8:15). In fact, our text assures each of us that we are actually living �in the Spirit,� because He has come to �dwell in you.� All of this has come about �not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy,...by the washing ofregeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost� (Titus3:5). This glorious new birth, with sins forgiven and eternal life, is accomplished by the Holy Spirit in response to our faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. But also note that �if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.� It is absolutely vital that we have the Holy Spirit, �for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God� (Romans8:14). The question is, just how do we know that we have the Holy Spirit? The answer is because His Word says so! �He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me,� said Jesus, �hath everlasting life� (John5:24). Furthermore, we have the testimony of internal peace and assurance. �The Spirit [Himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God� (Romans8:16). Finally, the indwelling Spirit will increasingly be growing His eternal fruit in our lives�the ninefold fruit of �love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance� (Galatians5:22-23), and this will testify to others also that we do indeed have the Holy Spirit. HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet Frog by Ryan Duncan ForI know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11 One Presidents Day weekend, my father and sister drove from Illinois to visit me in Virginia. It was a great weekend, one of the best I'd had in a while. We toured Richmond city, ate at some of the best local restaurants, saw two movies, and spent our timeas a family. On their last day in Richmond, the three of us traveled to a small part of the city known as Carytown where we stopped for frozen yogurt in a neon-colored shop named "Sweet Frog." That's when it happened. I should have known, should have seen it coming.The brightly colored walls, quaint setup, even the concept -- frozen yogurt -- how could I have missed it? But no, I was totally blindsided when my dad leaned over to me and said, "You know, Ryan, this would be the perfect place to take a girl on a date." To be fair, I love my Dad and giving good advice is what Dads do, but I am more than aware of how painfully single I am. Jon Acuff, author of Stuff Christians Like, once wrote an article about what happens when young, twenty-something guys are asked if they're dating. "If you answer �yes', I imagine fireworks go off, confetti cannons fire and you get a ribbon that says "1st place" but when you answer �no,' three things happen: My friend's mom brings up my last High School girlfriend, a prom date, or "that one girl your mom was telling me about at school" and proceeds to ask, "what happened with �that'?" Then I awkwardly explain why those relationships didn't wind up with mebeing on one knee, pledging my life to that female. A generic clich� like, "Life was just taking us in different directions" usually gets the job done. My friend's dad hears I am single, which causes him to give me an abundance of "Dad's trying to be cool" fist pounds and references to me being a single man and "free." Once the high fives stop, he gives me a ten-step action plan on how to meet womenbased on what he did to meet his wife. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Influences from Childhood Isaiah 61:1-3 No one's childhood is perfect. What we experienced during those years has a profound impact, even into adulthood. Things we saw, heard, felt, and even things we did not feel can affect us later in life. As one might expect, external influences do help to shape our personality. However, the result is not always predictable. For example, early years full of painful experiences leave deeps wounds in some, but in others, they contribute to the development ofdepth and perseverance. Whether your younger years were joyful or painful, it can be valuable to consider what their impact was, back then as well as in the present. You might start by exploring your responses to key childhood events. Next, identify traits that you appreciatedin your parents and others--qualities you'd like to nurture in your own life. Finally, think about people with characteristics that impacted you negatively. Ask God for healing and freedom from the patterns you may have developed in response. Then shift yourfocus to godly attributes you want to exhibit instead, such as peace, grace, and gentleness. The heavenly Father wants to free you from any negative trends that took root early in life. He can break any unhealthy pattern and replace it with hope and deep satisfaction in Him. As you explore the effects of childhood experiences, pray to see through a lens of truth. When you recognize ways that others negatively influenced you, pray for strength to forgive and God's help in mending areas of brokenness--whether spiritual, emotional,relational, or mental. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sacrificial Love - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. �Ephesians 5:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/sacrificial-love/- Listen Of all the pictures God could have chosen to show His love for the world, and of all of the pictures God could have chosen to show how much His church loves Him, He chosemarriage. How do we know this? Because God says to husbands, �Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her� (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV). AndHe says to wives, �Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord� (verse 22 NKJV). Essentially the Lord is saying: �Hey, Planet Earth, do you want to know how much I love My people? Check out the way that Christian husband loves His wife. That�s what it�slike. And do you want to know how much My church loves Me? Look at the way that wife loves her husband. That�s how much my church loves Me.� Our love for God is a response to God�s love for us. The Bible says, �We love Him because He first loved us� (1 John 4:19 NKJV). Despite our sinfulness, wickedness, and shortcomings, despite all the horrible things we�ve done, God loves us. And His love wins us over. In the New Testament story of the prodigal son, the father ran to his wayward child. And by the way, in that culture it was considered undignified for an older man to run.That�s not to mention the fact that it�s harder for an older man to run. (I know this from experience.) Jesus told this story to show us what God is like. Effectively He was saying that God is like a father who�s willing to lose his dignity, if you will, to get to his waywardsons and daughters and forgive them. It�s because He loves us. God loves us so much that He left his comfort zone to reach us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deathby Sin �Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men,for that all have sinned.� (Romans 5:12) This very important verse conveys several vital truths. First of all, death came into the world only when sin came into the world. Suffering and death of conscious life, whether animal or human, were not a part of God�s �finished� and �very good� creation (Genesis1:31�2:3). There was an abundance of food and all other provisions for both people and animals. There was certainly no �struggle for existence� or �survival of the fittest,� for every creature was created �fit� for its own environment. When Adam sinned, however, it became necessary for God to bring the curse of decay and death not only upon Adam but also upon all his dominion (Genesis 3:17-20;see also Romans 8:20-22; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Furthermore, there remains no warrant for the notion that �Adam� is simply a generic term representing the human race. He was �one man.� In fact, he was �the first man� (1Corinthians 15:45), and Eve was �the mother of all living� (Genesis 3:20). There was certainly no population of evolving hominids becoming �Adam.� Infact, Christ Himself made it clear that Adam and Eve were there �from the beginning of the creation� (Mark 10:6, quoting Genesis 1:27). The entire argument here in Romans 5:12-21 becomes irrelevant if the Genesis record of the creation and fall of Adam did not happen precisely as recorded in Genesis 1�3, and this would mean that there is no reality in the saving work of Christ either. Such a rejection of the Christian faith is hardly warranted by the fragmentary fossils that have been alleged to support the notion of human evolution. No one should stake his eternal soul on such a will-o�-the-wisp as that! HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Presentwith the Lord �We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.� (2Corinthians 5:8) This verse has proved of great comfort to many a sorrowing believer who has just lost a loved one. Especially if they know that the parent or child or friend was also a believer in the saving work and person of Christ, then�although they sorrow�they �sorrownot, even as others which have no hope� (1Thessalonians 4:13). For that loved one, though no longer in that old body that had perhaps been filled with pain, is now with the Lord. That is, he or she has been given a somewhat indescribable spiritual body in which to function in heaven until the coming resurrection day. Althoughthat may not yet be the wonderful life that awaits them in their glorified, resurrection bodies in the ages to come, they will be �with Christ; which is far better� than this present life (Philippians1:23). There are a number of sincere believers who argue that dead Christians will simply �sleep� until He comes again to raise the dead. While a certain case can be developed for this �soul sleep� concept, it is hard to see how that could be �far better� than thispresent life. Paul said that he had a �desire to depart, and to be with Christ,� and also that �to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain� (Philippians1:23, 21). But what �gain� could there be for him in simply �sleeping� instead of continuing to live in Christ? The Scriptures do not reveal much about that �intermediate state,� as it has been called. But there is that intriguing verse about being �compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses� who perhaps are somehow watching us as we �run with patience the racethat is set before us� here on Earth (Hebrews12:1). That possibility can be a real incentive to do just that. HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Against Church Shopping by Mike Pohlman And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV A survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life details just how fluid religious commitment is among Americans. The survey, however, only confirms what the casual observer of religon in the U.S. alreadyknows: we are a fickle people when it comes to religious affiliation. Here's how the survey opens: Americans change religious affiliation early and often. In total, about half of American adults have changed religious affiliation at least once during their lives. Most people who change their religion leave their childhood faith before age 24, and many of those who change religion do so more than once. These are among the key findings of a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life. The survey documentsthe fluidity of religious affiliation in the U.S. and describes in detail the patterns and reasons for change. Responding to the survey Time magazine's Amy Sullivan summarizes why some people switch religious homes: With all those options, choosing a church (or mosque or synagogue or temple) isn't just a matter of theology for many Americans. They might decide where to worship because they adhere to a broad tradition � like Protestantism � or because they are drawnto a particular denomination, subdenomination or even an individual congregation. Or they might choose based on location or children's activities or the quality of preaching or music or potluck offerings. The concept of church-shopping itself is uniquely American. Our consumer-oriented culture has trained us to think choosing a church is like picking a cell phone plan: find the one that meets all my needs while offering me the best "deal." But choosing a church is not like picking a cell phone plan or restaurant ormovie or television show. It is one thing to switch from Coke to Pepsi because one of the two happens to be on sale, but quite another when we leave a church simply because one down the street has a better coffee bar in the foyer. In other words, choosing a church should be primarily"a matter of theology." This requires a whole new way of thinking. A consumer-oriented mind-set by definition holds weak loyalities to any one thing. The consumer mind must be ready to move quickly to the latest best deal or new thing. The theologically-orientedmindset is strongly tied to foundational doctrines and is not easily moved. The former is fickle and mobile; the latter is committed and grounded. So how do we begin to treat church unlike the way we determine what coffee to buy at Starbucks? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission of the Church - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. �1Corinthians 1:21 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-commission-of-the-church/- Listen One thing that both believers and nonbelievers have in common is they�re uptight about evangelism. Nonbelievers are uptight about being evangelized, and believers are uptightabout evangelizing nonbelievers. However, if we want to grow as Christians, then we must go into all the world and preach the gospel. We call this the Great Commission, and we find two variations of itin the New Testament. Mark�s gospel states it this way: �Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature� (16:15 NKJV). And in Matthew 28 we read, ��Go therefore and make disciplesof all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.� Amen� (verses 19�20 NKJV). So where is Jesus calling us? He�s calling us into the world. He�s calling us to go to all people everywhere. Because the primary way people come to Jesus is through hearing the gospel. Who is supposed to do this? All of us. Jesus directed these words to all of His followers. Everyone is supposed to do this�not just the so-called professionals such as pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. And what are we supposed to do? We�re supposed to preach the gospel. So here�s my question for you: Are you doing your part to fulfill the Great Commission? Jesus commands us as His followers to share our faith. But honestly, for some Christians, this has become the Great Omission instead of the Great Commission. The commission of the church isn�t to wait for the world to show up. Rather, the commission of the church is to go to the world. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More Wormwood than Honey by Shawn McEvoy My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech; But in the end she is bitteras wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. - Proverbs 5:1-5 For about 20 hours late in 1998, I had AIDS. I was a month from getting married. My wife-to-be had saved herself for me, and as such, she had a request: that I, who had regrettably failed to remain chaste in my youth, get tested for HIV before we exchanged vows. Happily I agreed. The nurse who drew my blood told me one thing several times: "We can't call everyone back, so we will only contact you in the event of a positive test. No news is good news." Fair enough. A week later, on a Friday afternoon, I returned home from work and checked my voice mail. One message. "Mr. McEvoy, this is Nurse Jones from the clinic. I'll need to talk to you very soon, but I am leaving for the weekend. I will attempt to contact you againon Monday." Oh... no... My mind raced. The first thought was, "No way on earth I can wait all weekend to talk to her!" Talk about torture. That was followed with most of my past catching up to me. What had I done? Could I still get married? Even if Valerie still wanted me as ahusband, would we ever be able to be intimate? Who would I have to contact from the past? Was I going to die? Val's apartment was two floors up from mine. I called her, she came right down, and I told her the news. "Surely not...," she said encouragingly, but we both had to admit that the nurse had made it completely clear that I would only hear from her if... ifit were a positive test. What else could it be? I spoke to my parents, who put up a strong front for me but I would later learn sat over their pizza staring blankly at each other and muttering, "No... Shawn can't have AIDS..." That night, as you might imagine, I didn't sleep. All I could think about was my total need for deliverance. I'd long before now dealt with my sin and sought forgiveness - from God, and from my fiance. But here was a very real, very possible, very damagingconsequence staring me in the face. Had it been worth it? What could we do? Valerie was prepared to give me her everything in marriage; what was I giving her? I prayed, I read the Bible, I sweat, I couldn't eat. Valerie is a woman of action. She certainly wasn't going to wait several more days to learn our fate. On Saturday afternoon, she finally tracked down my nurse at another clinic, and got her on the phone. The woman was chuckling. "Mr. McEvoy? I didn't scare you too much did I? I just need to ask you a question, because you tested positive for syphilis." "Great," I said to myself in my morbid way. "I'm not gonna die, I just have VD. Swell." "Did you happen to be ill at the time your blood was drawn?" asked the nurse. "Or shortly thereafter?" "Uh... yes! Two days later I developed an awful cold. Why?" "Ah. Okay. Well, that explains it. You were on your way to that cold when you got tested. It happens. It's called a biologic false-positive. Nothing to worry about, I just needed to make sure. Sorry again to worry you. Best wishes on your marriage!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Faith Worth Passing Down 2 Timothy 1:3-5 The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith--the confident conviction that God is who He says and will do all He has promised. Timothy's strong relationship with Christ didn't materialize out of thin air; it grew as a result of hismother and grandmother's example. Here are ways we, too, can hand down a rich legacy to the next generation: 1.Teach practical biblical principles. Kids need to know God's views on material wealth (Ps. 24:1), meeting needs (Phil.4:19), and direction in life (Prov. 3:5-6). 2.Model character through lifestyle. How we live--whether with transparency, peace, and perseverance, or with fear, anxiety, and self-reliance--loudly communicates what we believe about God. 3.Serve God by serving others. Actions show that our faith is real (James 2:26). If we want kids not to develop a self-centeredperspective, servanthood is key. 4.Intercede for them. Children won't forget hearing us pray regularly for them. 5.Communicate love. Young people need to know we love them the way God loves us--unconditionally rather than based on what they do or don't do. Spoken words of love breathe life into their hearts. And as we affirm them for trusting God, theysee that we value their spiritual growth. As parents, we must be intentional about leading and inspiring our sons and daughters to follow Christ. But even those without children of their own can leave a legacy. The example to follow is Paul: though neither married nor a natural parent, he was aspiritual father to many (1 Cor. 4:14-16). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Best Recommendation - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. �James 4:17 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-best-recommendation/- Listen I�m opinionated about everything. For instance, if you�re going to a restaurant that I�m familiar with, I�ll have an opinion about what you should order. And if you�re like me, when you�re thinking about trying out a new restaurant, you�ll go online to see whether other people recommend it. A recommendation carries weight, doesn�t it? Now let�s take that idea and apply it to sharing the gospel. What if you were to say to someone, �Here�s the best thing you can do for life and eternity: believe in JesusChrist�? We�re willing to talk about our favorite restaurants, but are we willing to talk about Jesus? To not share the gospel can be a sin because there are sins of commission and sins of omission. Sins of commission include breaking a commandment, crossing a line, or doinga wrong thing. On the other hand, sins of omission involve notdoing the right thing. The Bible says, �Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin� (James 4:17 NKJV). So how could failing to share our faith ever be a sin? To illustrate, imagine that you were in a house that catches fire. You rush out to save your own life, but you know there are other people inside, innocent people who can�tget out. But you don�t lift a finger to help them. You don�t even call the fire department. You just walk off and act as though it didn�t happen. Is that wrong? Yes, it is. That�s even a criminal act. So how much worse is it for us to know the way to Heaven, to know the way for people to be forgiven of their sins and find meaning and purpose in their lives, but not tellthem? We need to share the good news of Jesus Christ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ThePerfect Priesthood of Christ �If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood...what further need was there that another priestshould rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?� (Hebrews7:11) As good as the Levitical priest system was, it was imperfect and the priesthood would need to be changed. Jesus Christ became the perfect priest who would never change. Hebrews 7 describes the old priesthood as mortal: �And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered [allowed] to continue by reason of death� (v. 23). There would no doubt be some breakdown of knowledge or interest on behalf of a personwhen his priest moved or died. Not so with the Lord Jesus Christ, �because he continueth ever� (v. 24), and because He is �the Son, who is consecrated for evermore� (v. 28). Therefore, we approach Him with confidence, knowing He �is able to save them to theuttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them� (v. 25). The priesthood of men was also fallible. Daily they needed �to offer up sacrifice, first for [their] own sins, and then for the people�s� (v. 27). A system of sinful men offering imperfect animals whose blood was incapable of washing away sins musthave left some of the priests longing for something more assuring and fulfilling. Jesus ushered in a priesthood so perfect and infallible that nothing would ever be the same. For Christ �needeth not daily� to offer sacrifices as Levitical priests did, �for this he did once, when he offered up himself� (v. 27). The one-time-only work of Christ was sufficient because of who offered it and what was offered: �Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us� (Hebrews9:12). RJG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM