DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 6.19.21

Romans 8:28 Does Not Mean Giving Thanks with a Plastic Smile by Alex Crain And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Catastrophes like earthquakes, hurricanes, and even terrorist attacks remind us that, indeed, we live in a sin-cursed world. Not only do tragedies like these cause many to lose their lives, they often leave countless others in their wake---roiling in doubtand disbelief. The horrors of human suffering can stain our minds and souls and often obscure our vision of the God who is there. How are we supposed to respond? Closer to home, we experience the curse of sin in personal ways through losses or disappointments that grieve the heart. We may wonder in all honesty at such times what verses like Romans 8:28 mean. Does Christ call His followers to simply put on a plastic smile and somehow grin and bear it? Hardly. Francis Schaeffer offers a helpful explanation for this dilemma in the first chapter of his classic book, True Spirituality. In fact, he says that a proper grasp of Romans 8:28 is crucial to understanding the world. First of all, he takes care to point out that the Bible's view of life in the world is clear-eyed and realistic: At the Fall of man, everything became abnormal. The whole world is not what God made it to be. Therefore, Scripture verses like Romans 8:28 cannot be calling us to think… "…that in some magical way everything is really fine when it isn't. Rather, we are to say "thank You Lord" knowing that God will somehow bring good ultimately, though we may not know how all the pieces fit together. "It is not that Christians are to give thanks with a plastic smile, saying things are wonderful when they are hard. It is knowing that the hard things are really hard things, a result of the abnormality of the Fall, yet not revolting againstGod when the hard things come." ---------------------------------------- Standing Before God’s Open Door 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 The apostle Paul had passion and vision to reach the world with the good news about salvation. As he followed the Spirit’s leading, his determination proved effective. There’s no telling how many lives the Lord transformed through this man. And his influence is still impacting people today. Paul knew that Jesus had instructed His followers to “make disciples of all the nations,” teaching them to observe everything He had commanded (Matt.28:19). God led and enabled the apostle to do his part in carrying out this divine mission. But think about life back then—that was a big task for a time when there was no mass communication. Paul could only teach, write, or train others to share the truth. In spite of limited means, however, he obeyed fervently and effectively. God’s command is still relevant for us today. He has given us the work of telling all nations about redemption through Christ’s blood and resurrection. Compared to Paul, we have an abundance of communication capabilities—including radio, television, Internet, and cell phones—which provide easy access into countries all over the world. We could make moredisciples by better utilizing these technologies. But how tragic if we get busy and fail to obey God’s command. We stand at a critical moment in history for the church. The door of opportunity is wide open for us to share. --------------------------------------- Others'Things “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians2:4) Our responsibility is to think like the Lord Jesus, part of which requires “looking” (marking, identifying) matters beyond our own concerns. Part of that responsibility is caution. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark [same Greek word for ‘look’] them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans16:17). Another part is being aware of godly examples. “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians3:17). Surely that responsibility also includes that “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans15:1). And in cases of necessary discipline: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians6:1). Also consider these: •“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24). •“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1Corinthians 10:33). •“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1Corinthians 8:9). Finally, written by the same apostle who instructed the stronger Philippian church, there is this gentlesummary statement recorded for the struggling Corinthian assembly: “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed” (2Corinthians 6:3). HMM III ------------------------------------------------ How I Came to Enjoy Raisins by Shawn McEvoy Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. -- 1 John 2:10 Worst advertising slogan ever: "Two scoops of raisins in Kellogg's Raisin Bran." Blech. But apparently it worked on my mother, who bought the stuff like it was going out of style, while referring to delicious breakfast desserts such as Lucky Charms and Crunchberriesas "cardboard." So unfair. So there I sat, choking down my raisin bran, or even oatmeal cookies with raisins in them, always suffering the same horrible fate: the bran or cookie part would be chewed and swallowed before the gooey chewy raisins, leaving mea mouthful of not-nearly-as-tasty goop. I despised raisins. Thought about writing Kellogg's and telling them that backing off to one scoop would be plenty (nothing like getting to the bottom of the bowl and finding no flakes, only 10 little black things. Ew). Flash-forward a quarter-century. I'm having a similar issue to the raisin problem with people. Specifically, I'm loathe to admit, some Christian people. No, I haven't been eating them, but sometimes, I do find us hard to swallow. Part of the problem, ironically,is my job! Here at Crosswalk we often receive angry emails from fellow Christians who don't like the movie we reviewed, the way we said something, the ad we ran, or the author we allowed to appear on the site. Criticism's fine, even justified; I just havea hard time when it comes with a "You call yourself Christian?" or a "Have you even read the Bible?" punch to the gut. Sometimes it feels as if we Christians are concerned more with hammering home truth no matter how bluntly, or railing against _(fill in the blank)_ than genuinely loving people and meeting needs. Of course, the obvious irony here is that I then, looking in the mirror, find myself in short supply on genuine love myself. Which is not where Christ wants any of us to be. In fact,in Revelation 12:10, the title "Accuser of the Brethren" is given to our enemy Satan at his judgment. Do I really want to claim that monicker for myself? So what does this have to do with raisins? Well, recently I discovered I kinda like the shriveled little things! I pack 'em for snacks, and eat them with the kids. I like the nutritional value, the fiber, the chewiness. What's changed? My tastes? No. Theraisins? No. Not the packaging, not the flavor, not even my effort (I'm not choking them down because they're good for me, I genuinely like them). I realized that what has changed is my perspective. It didn't happen overnight, but about the time "Craisins"(dried Cranberries) came on the scene, I began enjoying all sorts of dried fruits. And here's what I noticed: I like cranberries, ergo I like dried cranberries. I like apricots, therefore I like dried apricots. I love grapes, so obviously I... hate raisins?That didn't seem to make logical sense. Maybe it was time to give raisins another try. Maybe I shouldn't even think of them as raisins. Maybe I should just think of them as "dried grapes!" That may sound extremely silly... but it worked! I felt like I had come into the light. The texture was suddenly different. The way I savored them changed... everything. And a fun new world of food possibilities has re-opened to me, simply thanks to a differentway of looking at something. ------------------------------------------------------------------- TheProverbial Tongue “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Proverbs10:19) The book of Proverbs has much wise counsel concerning the use of the tongue. It contains, for example, no less than 27 sober warnings against speaking lies! There are also at least eight condemnations of gossiping. For example: “A talebearer revealeth secrets:but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (11:13). Then there are warnings against using the tongue to criticize, or to slander, or to hurt. A good example is in 12:18: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health,” and also in 18:8: “The words of a talebearerare as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Too much talking is also dangerous, as our text for the day points out, for it often results in sin. In this connection, one of the most picturesque proverbs is the following: “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike” (27:15).The virtues of silence are graphically pointed out in 17:27-28: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words:... Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Similarly, there are many promised blessings to those who speak carefully and graciously: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (25:11). “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning” (16:21). “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life” (15:4). “The tongue of the just is as choice silver” (10:20). “A soft answer turneth away wrath” (15:1). “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (15:23). May we, indeed, learn to make our speech like choice silver, apples of gold, and a tree of life! HMM ---------------------------------------------------------------- Maybe Those Words Mattered by Debbie Holloway "Maybe those words never really mattered at all But lately those words run with me wherever I go…" Those lyrics are from a Keane song that I’m currently listening to as I write. Do you ever reflect on the power of words? Words have so much influence, even when we don’t intend for them to. I’m currently dealing with a rocky relationship, and words haveplayed a key role in the hurt and confusion. “Rocky” probably isn’t the best description… frayed, torn, broken, sporadic, and unraveling might be more accurate – but you get the idea. The worst part honestly just might be that I have no idea how to deal with it. I don’t envy people who’ve always had to deal with crazy drama, but I envy their preparation and their ability to keep it together after years of practice. I don’t have a background in Dealing With Crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever had a heated, angry, yelling-typefight with anyone outside my immediate family. And in dealing with family, all arguments have always ended with jam sessions or forgiveness or just a resolve to move on. So when a relationship I thought was secure starts pumping venom in my direction, I sort of lose it. I’m an ugly crier, too. And my times of panic are bewildered, because I’m not usually a panicked person. To boot, I was often told growing up “you should be a lawyer” because of my passion for rightness and justice. So when my sense of “how the world is meant to work” gets thrown back at me in a situation I can’t control…. well… it’s hard. I have a soft and fierce heart. This season has helped me grow in ways, though. It’s helped me think twice about judgments I make on people when I don’t know their story. It’s helped me remember to measure my own words. It’s helped me realize that I have no control over what someone will do with my words once they leave my lips. It’s helped me remember that love and loyalty must be kept up like a well-trimmed garden. Leaving relationships to take care of themselves sometimes results in a beautiful, out-of-control wisteria vine… buttoo often, it results in chaos, decay, and weeds choking out the flowers. James writes, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Drawing from the Source Jeremiah2:13 For us as believers, contentment should be governed by inner attitude and the decisions we make rather than by external circumstances. Because Paul had learned this secret, he was able to experience joy and peace in any kind of situation--whether he wassurrounded by friends or isolated in a Roman prison; whether he had plenty or was in great need. The apostle understood what it meant to live in Christ and to have Christ living in him (John15:1-9; Gal.5:22-23). He had made a simple but profound faith decision to draw his life from the Lord and, as a result, had the calm assurance that what he possessed inside could never be stolen. He was confident in his identity as a child of the Almighty, with full access to the abundant life Jesus offers. ---------------------------------------------- The Worst Kind of Pain - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org But Jesus said to him, �Friend, why have you come?� Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. �Matthew 26:50 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-worst-kind-of-pain/- Listen I think the worst kind of pain is the betrayal of a friend. When someone you love and care about turns on you, it hurts. The emotional pain of betrayal was just the beginning for Jesus as the time of His crucifixion drew near. Then came the physical pain. Let�s not miss the point that thedisciples weren�t just His followers; they were His buddies. They were His friends. Especially Judas Iscariot, believe it or not. Why would I say that Judas was the friend of Jesus? Because Jesus himself said it. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas ledthe temple guard to arrest Him, Jesus actually said to Judas, �Friend, why have you come?� (Matthew 26:50 NKJV). Friend? Didn�t Jesus know what Judas was about to do? Of course He did. He�d already predicted it in the Upper Room. But it still broke His heart because Judas was his friend. How easily Jesus could have said, �You know what? I�m done with all of you. I mean, My own disciples have betrayed Me. Everyone hates me. I�m just done.� But He didn�t say that. Instead, He went through with it. So what kept him going? We find the answer in Hebrews 12: �Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the righthand of the throne of God� (verse 2 NKJV). Joy? There was joy because He was looking past the pain and anguish to what He would accomplish. He was thinking of you and me when He carried that cross through the city.He was thinking of you and me when He bore the sin of the world. We need to look to Jesus because He has always been looking out for us. And we need to live for Jesus because He died for us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Be a Better Father By Terence Chatmon Ephesians6:4, "Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Since I recognized my own shortcomings as a father about 15-20 years ago, I�ve been doing a lot of research and study of the fatherhood crisis in America. One thing I�ve discovered is that, more than anything else, and no matter the kind of father you are,there is never a time in a child�s life when he or she doesn�t crave a father�s love. You may not be able to spend much time with your child because of a broken marriage or business travel, or whatever it may be, but I think the number one way to be a better father is to make sure that in every single interaction you have with your child, you are assuring him or her of your love. Maybe it�s just an email or textonce a day if you�re not able to see them in person, but they need to lay their head on the pillow every night assured and confident in their father�s love. After assurances of their father�s love, the next thing children need to hear is their father�s belief in them. No matter what their friends or their teachers or even their mom says to them about what a capable and special person they are, it never carriesthe weight that it does coming from Dad. If you express your belief in your child, regularly and specifically, it serves as a great deterrent to the doubts that can creep in and rob them of their self-confidence and positive outlook about themselves. This is vitally important in the older elementary and middle school years, where we are seeing so many tragic instances of bullying and social media shaming. No matter what the world says about them, if a child knows inside �my father believes in me andsees value in me, no matter what anyone else says,� they are more able to filter out and put less stock in those external negative opinions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus Christ Is Lord �And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.� (Philippians2:11) Throughout the New Testament, we find there are three names in primary usage for the Son of God: Jesus, Christ, and Lord. The name Jesus, meaning �Jehovah is the Savior,� is His human name, linking Him with humanity whom He came to save. Christ, meaning �anointed,� is His Messianic name, linking Him with the prophecy that He came to fulfill. The New Testament equivalent to the Hebrew word Jehovah is the word �Lord,� linking Him with deity whom He came to represent and reveal, and to whom is due homage. These three names have a chronological emphasis, for until His crucifixion He was known primarily as �Jesus,� but after His resurrection and ascension He was preeminent as �Christ.� When He returns, it will be as �Lord� to reign. To be sure, there is overlap,for He is simultaneously all three and has been throughout history. But the general pattern is clear. The three names also indicate His threefold office and work. �Jesus� suggests His career as a prophet, teaching men the truth, while �Christ� suggests His priesthood, atoning for sin, and �Lord� His Kingship, ruling over men. Mankind�s relationship and responsibilityto Him follow this same pattern: obedience to Him as prophet, faith in Him as priest, surrender to Him as King. There is no effort on the part of the Scripture writers to separate these names into different individuals, for on many if not most occasions two or three of the names are combined, showing that these three names reference one and the same person. �Thereforelet all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ� (Acts 2:36). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TheIncarnation of Christ �Christ Jesus...being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himselfof no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.� (Philippians2:5-7) �Great is the mystery of godliness,� Paul exclaimed as he summarized the incarnation (1Timothy 3:16). No mere words, even those inspired by God Himself, can completely express what transpired when �the Word was made flesh� (John1:14). There are, however, a few clues in this marvelous Philippians passage. The choice of the Greek word morph� to express what Jesus possessed prior to His becoming the God-man is important. This �form� of God is not the Greek word that one would choose to express the visible or outward shape�that word would be sch�ma. Morph� emphasizes the character, the being, that makes the being what it is. Interestingly, morph� is also used to tell us that Jesus took on the �form� of a servant: �[He] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men� (Philippians2:7). Jesus �voided� the morph� that He rightfully possessed as God and �received� (passive) the morph� of a servant or slave (doulos). Then, �in the likeness [homoi�ma, similitude] of men� He came to be [ginomai, to come into existence]. We may never fully understand what transpired in the councils of Triune eternity. But this we can know and believe: Jesus became man for men, and He alone saved us from our sin and justly granted us eternal life. HMM III ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ollowingthe Father�s Example Ephesians 6:1-4 Do you have a strong relationship with your children? The way we first think about God has much to do with how we were parented�especially by our father. What image of the Lord are youportraying? Many men struggle in their role as dads because their own fathers were either absent�physically or emotionally� or poor examples. But regardless of what a person experienced in the past, the best thing any parent can do is imitate God the Father. But howdo we know who He really is? We get our best glimpse of what the heavenly Father is like by looking at His Son. Speaking with the disciples, Jesus said, �I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father� (John 14:6, 9). Not only is Christ our path to relationship with God; He is also the way we come to knowthe Father�s true character. When we look at Jesus� life, what do we see? He was merciful, patient, gentle, compassionate, kind, and full of goodness toward all people (Matt.9:10-13). The Savior healed the sick, provided for needs, and offered forgiveness�regardless of the offense (Matt.14:14-21; Luke 23:34). But in love, He didn�t hesitate to discipline or correct others when required. More than a solid education or material possessions, your child�s greatest need is a role model of devotion to God through prayer, Bible reading, and holy living. If you make knowing and following the heavenly Father your first priority, you won�t have to worry about what kind of parent you will be. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Focus on Jesus - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org His lord said to him, �Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.� �Matthew 25:21 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/focus-on-jesus/- Listen In the ancient Olympic Games, the winners didn�t receive gold, silver, or bronze medals like they do today. Instead, they were crowned with laurel leaves. So if you were a runner nearing the end of your race, you�d see the emperor standing there holding the laurel leaves you hoped would be placed on your head. That was yourreward. Sometimes when people set goals, it helps them stay motivated by choosing a reward for themselves if they reach them. When I was in track and field in high school, I hatedgoing to practice. But if I knew there was a pretty girl watching, it always helped my motivation. In the race of life, we have an even better motive. Jesus Himself is watching us. The writer of Hebrews tells us, �Let us run with endurance the race that is set beforeus, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith� (Hebrews 12:1�2 NKJV). That is the key: looking unto Jesus. We�re not doing it for applause or fame or any other thing. We just want to hear Him say to us one day, �Well done, good and faithfulservant� (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). But what does it mean to look to Jesus? It means turning your eyes away from other things and fixing them on Him. For instance, if you really focus on something, everythingelse becomes somewhat blurry. It�s the same when you�re using a camera. When you get your subject dialed in, the focus blurs out other elements so your subject stands out more clearly. That�s what it means to look to Jesus. By looking to Him, you�re putting Him first. You�re filling your mind with the Word of God. And that can help you get through whateveryou�re going through. Focus on Jesus. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharisees on Facebook by Ryan Duncan A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. � John 13:34-35 I have a friend who loves starting debates. Every once in awhile, he'll post an article or question on his Facebook page, then send out a request asking people to share their thoughts. These questions can cover every topic from politics to pop-culture, andtypically generate good discussion. There was one post however, where things got pretty grim. It all started when my friend posted an article about a group of Christians who went to a Gay Pride parade holding signs that read "We�re sorry for how the Churchhas treated you." Personally, I was pretty touched at the article, but as you might expect on such a hot button issue, not everyone felt the same way. It didn�t take long before the whole discussion exploded into a big honking argument and I remember leaving the thread in disgust, both by what others had written and how I had responded. The most unnerving part however, happened three days later when Ipicked up my Bible and read a passage where the Pharisees interrogated a man Jesus had just healed. Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out. � John 9:26-34 We like to think we are different from the Pharisees, but the truth is we're not. The Pharisees were the religious elite of the day, but they were so full of pride at their own self-righteousness, they could not even see the work of Christ when it was literallystanding right in front of them. Instead, they argued and hurled insults at their enemy, a man who had done them no harm at all. I hate to say it, but that sounds a lot like me sometimes. ----------------------------------------------- The Power of God's Grace Romans 5:1-5 Grace is one of God's most amazing gifts. It provides us with everything we need to live in perfect freedom: pardon for our sins, healing for our hearts, the companionship of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, and access to freely cultivate our relationship with Him. We work, worship, and enjoy life surrounded by His unconditional love. His grace upholds us, fills us, and sustains us. Since we are forgiven people, the Lord responds to us not as enemies but as His dearly loved children (Rom. 8:15; Eph.5:1). He hears our prayers, speaks to us, and acts on our behalf. The knowledge that we live under the covering of God's grace gives us... •Security about our position. No one can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). •Boldness to live for Christ. Nothing anyone does or says can shake our confidence in who the Lord is or who we are in Him. •Peace for today because we can fully trust in His sovereignty. The Lord is carrying out His perfect will--and we can be sure that nothing is able to thwart His plans when we cooperate with Him. •Hope for the future. This life is just the beginning. One day we'll see Jesus face to face, be perfected as the individuals He created us to be, and live with Him in our true home forever. The Lord is committed to transforming each of us according to His special plan for our lives. Even His correction is an expression of His loving favor (Heb.12:10). When we falter or fail, we can rest assured that His amazing grace hems us in and always offers us redemption. -------------------------------------------------- Travel Light - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. �Philippians 3:12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/travel-light/- Listen I don�t know about you, but I always take too much stuff with me when I travel. I have a bag with wheels, and no matter what size it is, I�ll still manage to fill it up.I don�t even need everything I put into it. And then I drag around my bag on wheels. Some of us are like that in life. We�re just wheeling our burdens around. We take them with us everywhere, but we need to cast those things aside. The Bible tells us to �strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up� (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). The J. B. Phillips New Testament renders it this way: �Let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet.� In other words, we need to castaside the sin and weight that holds us back. And sometimes what slows one person down won�t necessarily slow another person down. For instance, some people have a metabolism that allows them to eat anything they wantand never gain weight. I don�t have that kind of metabolism. I did when I was in my 20s, but I don�t anymore. So the weight that slows us down can vary from person to person. But sin is sin, and you know what may dull your spiritual appetite. You know what issues can distract youfrom your faith. You know what relationship will pull you down spiritually. And you certainly know what God doesn�t want you to be involved in. Maybe today you�re carrying a lot of weight, and I don�t mean physical weight. I�m talking about burdens, hardships, difficulties, and problems you�re dragging around. Lay aside the things that are holding you back. And keep your eyes on Jesus. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Tale of Two Prodigals by Steve Arterburn ��My son,� the father said, �you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.���Luke 15:31-32 In The Return of the Prodigal Son, one of Rembrandt�s most emotionally-charged paintings, you see a father and his two sons. But if you look more closely, you�ll see a tale of two prodigals./p> At first glance of the oil painting, you will see the rebellious son who takes center stage. Remember him? He is the wayward son that demands an early inheritance, leaves home to see all that the world has to offer, and comes to his senses in a smelly pigsty.In spite of his sin, he returns home. When the younger son sees his father, he humbly admits, ��Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,�� (Luke 15:21). The father recognizes that he is truly repentant,forgives him, and celebrates his homecoming. But if you gaze carefully at Rembrandt�s masterpiece, you will see the older son who lurks in the shadows. He is the son that does everything right and always obeys�at least, on the outside. But deep down inside, bitterness and anger consume him. Listen to what the brooding brother says: ��Look! All these years I�ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders�But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!�� (Luke15:29-30). Out of these two prodigals, which one do you identify with the most? Perhaps you�re like the wayward son who acted out; yet, believe it or not, you might actually relate more to the envious son who acted in. ------------------------------------------------------------ The Call to Serve Galatians 5:13 Jesus commanded that we serve one another, but obeying this mandate in humility is not natural for us. Sure, there are times we like to help others. But service that involves self-sacrifice--especially for someone we deem undeserving--much more difficultto do. What does it mean to serve? Consider Christ's example. He gave up everything in heaven to live among us, subjecting Himself to dishonor and human frailty. And He loved even those who rejected Him. Think about how He humbled Himself and washed the disciples'feet at Passover. This was a disgusting, lowly task that a slave might be assigned--far from anything a king should do. He even knew these men were about to abandon Him but served them anyway. ------------------------------------------------------------- Reasonable Service �I beseech you therefore...by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.� (Romans12:1-2) For those who would know God�s will for their lives, these verses provide the definitive answer. The key is sacrifice, not conformity. It is paradoxical, but wonderfully true, that real living is dying�dying to the world and living unto Christ! This great themeis emphasized repeatedly throughout the New Testament (Galatians 2:20, etc.). Whether paradoxical or not, the principle of sacrificial living for Christ is eminently reasonable service! �Reasonable� is the Greek logikos, from which we derive our word �logical.� �Service� is the Greek latreian, referring to service as a priest. We have been made �an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ� (1Peter 2:5). It is perfectly logical that we render such lifelong service to the great Friend who laid down His life for us in order to take away our sins and give us everlasting life with Him in the ages to come. It is also logical that we should not conform our lives to the standards of this present evil world. Why should we imitate this world�s materialism or humanism, in dress or music or morals or anything else? We have far higher and more lasting standards, guidedby the Word of God and by minds renewed in Christ. Our minds once were �blinded� by �the god of this world� (2 Corinthians 4:4), but now they can be guided by �the mind of the Lord� (Romans11:34; 1 Corinthians 2:16). Here is the key to knowing that good and acceptable and perfect will of God! HM -------------------------------------------- His Comforting Presence - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. �Mark 16:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/his-comforting-presence/- Listen If I were Jesus rising from the dead, the first person I would have appeared to was Pontius Pilate: �Hey, Pilate, how�s it going? By the way, you can�t keep a good man down.� Or, I would have appeared to Caiaphas, the high priest who played a hand in the crucifixion of our Lord. But Jesus didn�t appear to any of those people. The first person to actually see Him after the Resurrection was Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was first at the tomb and last at the cross. When all the courageous men were hiding, she stood at the cross along with Mary, the mother of our Lord, andothers. And then she was at the tomb to anoint his body. So God rewarded Mary Magdalene for her faithfulness and persistence. God says in His Word, �And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart� (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV). After Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, He then made an appearance to what seemed to be two random people on the Emmaus Road. And not only did He appear to them, but Hehad an extended conversation with them. Mark 16:12 tells us that Jesus �appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country� (NKJV). We don�t really know what �another form� means,but we do know that Jesus was unrecognizable to them at the moment. Remember, the last sight they had of Jesus was His beaten and bloodied body. He was virtually unrecognizable. The last thing they ever expected was to see Him alive again,so at that moment, it didn�t occur to them that they were walking with Jesus. Jesus was walking with them, but they didn�t know it. And He�s walking with you as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember the Sabbath Day The fourth commandment is not only the longest of the Ten Commandments, but it also begins differently from the other nine. The other nine start with "You shall" or "You shall not." (The first commandment may be an exception, but many consider its opening sentence�Exodus20:2�to be a preamble to the whole Decalogue. Thus, the first would also begin with "You shall.") The fourth commandment, though, stands out by beginning, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). God could have made it conform to all the others, but He did not, making His departure from the norm significant. He could have said, "You shall keep the Sabbath dayholy" or "You shall not work on My Sabbath day." But, no, He charges His people to remember the Sabbath day. Something about remembering is vital to understand what the Sabbath day is all about. The Hebrew word in question is zākar (Strong's #2142), a primitive root that means "to remember, think of, mention." It can also carry the sense of "meditate upon," "pay attention to," "proclaim," and "commemorate," among others.Like other Hebrew terms (for instance, �āmaʿ, "to hear," which implies "to obey"), it blends a mental activity (remembering, thinking about) with an external one (in this case, observing the Sabbath). It is not enough to remember; remembrance mustflow into observing the day as holy. English verbs, including "remember," sometimes possess this internal/external property too. The intent behind the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" was not just to reminisce over the heroism of the Texans who defended it but to encourage braveryand martial spirit to avenge those who had died there. When an English bartender told his patrons, "Mind your ps and qs," he wanted them not just to recall how many pints and quarts they had drunk but also to pay up before they left the pub. When a teacher tells her students, "Remember the test tomorrow," she is not just reminding them of the exambut encouraging them to study for it. God wants us to remember His Sabbath and respond by keeping it holy. The command implies that if we remember the Sabbath day properly�that is, with godly understanding�then our only appropriate response is to keep it holy. A thorough, accurate conception of God's intent in commanding us to hallow the seventh day will leave us no option but to observe it with the utmost reverence. Why? The Principle of First Mention provides enlightenment on this point. Zākar appears first in Scripture in Genesis 8:1 during the Flood: "Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided." We recognize at once that the internal/external propertyof the Hebrew verb is in play. God remembers them and acts by sending a wind to dry up the water covering the earth. What is not so obvious is why God, amid all His re-creative activity after destroying the earth in the Flood, even remembered Noah and the other still-living creatures on the ark. The ultimate reason for God's remembrance is that Hehad made a promise in the form of a covenant with Noah about this very thing in Genesis 6:17-19: And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into theark�you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. God's remembrance of Noah�and eventually bringing the ark to rest on the mountains of Ararat�was His response to the agreement He had made with Noah. He remembered the terms of their covenant and acted appropriately, ensuring their survivalthrough the Flood. In the same narrative, the next use of zākar verifies this implication of the word: ". . . and I will remember My [rainbow] covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again becomea flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9:15). We see it again in Genesis 19:29, where God remembers His covenant with Abraham and so saves Lot from the destruction of Sodom. In Exodus 6:5-6, He remembers the covenant and promises to bring Israel out of their Egyptian slavery. When Jerusalem was about to fall, Jeremiah cried to God, "Remember, do not break Your covenant with us" (Jeremiah14:21). These instances of zākar encourage us to see "Remember the Sabbath day" in Exodus 20:8 in a covenantal light. Since the Ten Commandments stand at the beginning of the Old Covenant, we would be foolish to ignore it. The people had already promised, "All that the LORDhas spoken we will do" (Exodus 19:8), so God reminds them in the fourth commandment that they have a weekly observance to perform as a solemn duty under the covenant. Ifthey wished to receive all the promised blessings, they had to keep the Sabbath holy. God reinforces the importance of the Sabbath as a covenantal responsibility in Exodus 31:12-17. Notice verse 16: "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." The Sabbath itself is a separate covenant within the covenant! As in the Ten Commandmentsitself, God makes a particular point of distinguishing Sabbath-keeping from other covenant responsibilities. What is so special about keeping the Sabbath holy? The answer appears in the same passage: "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you" (Exodus 31:13; emphasis ours). The upshotof keeping the Sabbath under the covenant is that doing so ensures that we remain holy or sanctified. The Sabbath not only acts as a sign of who God's people are, setting them apart from other peoples who do not keep His laws, but it is also the day in whichGod's people meet with Him in holy convocation to learn and grow in holiness and righteousness, which is the ongoing process of sanctification. If we fail to meet with Him on His day, we will eventually lose our understanding of what is godly and slip back into the world from which He called us. As God's chosen people, we must remember that observing the Sabbath day is our solemn responsibility under the New Covenant we have made with Him. Understanding its importance to us and our great hope to attain the Kingdom of God, we can do nothing but keep it Holy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When You Can't Catch a Break... and You Want to Know Why by Meghan Kleppinger Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James1:2-4 When it rains it pours; it is feast or famine; everything bad comes in threes; it always go from bad to worst; I can't seem to catch a break... I don't have to ask if you've ever felt like a walking version of one of these clich�s - if you're human, you have. Just the other day, I had an unfortunate run-in with a Papasan Chair - I went to sit down and the top wasn't situated on the base correctly, so I sort of slid off with the top part, fell on my face, and twisted my ankle. Normally, even I would have laughed at the ridiculousness of this scene, but it came at the end of a very bad day. Like any mature adult, I called my mother to complain about life in general... and that stupid chair. She said, "Well, isn't that the thirdthing to happen today?" It was - and I called her each time an unfortunate event had occurred that day. She finished with, "Remember things happen in threes, so you should be good now!" That's not exactly how life works, but naming some rhyme or reason seems to help. The truth is that we can't always explain the "why," and thank goodness, our job isn't to solve the mystery behind our pain. If we embrace the reality of suffering in our lives,however, we can learn about ourselves, God, and how to mature in the Christian walk. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Gifts for His Kingdom 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Many people hear the word "serve" and feel that they do not have the necessary qualities to make a difference in others' lives. This is true - apart from God. But He has gifted each of us in unique ways with a purpose in mind. His plan for us involves usingthese talents to serve Him for the good of others. Satan would like us to believe otherwise. Our Enemy wants us to notice what others are doing and then to feel inferior. For instance, I have heard women say, "I am just a homemaker." They see people preaching and singing in the choir and wish they could accomplish something so great for God. Friends, there could be nothing further from the truth. An enormous responsibility rests with those who train their childrenin righteousness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TheObedient Christ �And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the deathof the cross.� (Philippians2:8) The only begotten Son of God substituted Himself for all humanity to save them from the righteous judgment of a thrice-holy Creator. Jesus found Himself �in fashion as a man,� which therefore made it possible for Him to humble Himself and to become obedient to the death that had been ordained for Him prior to the very foundation of the world (1Peter 1:20). Perhaps it is too much to suggest that Jesus �woke up� when He �found� Himself in Mary�s womb, but it is certain that He �increased in wisdom� (Luke2:52) as He grew in �stature.� Basically, because He �became� human, He experienced the normal increase in awareness and experience that all of us do. The difference was, obviously, that He �humbled� Himself, even though He �was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin� (Hebrews4:15). Christ�s sinless behavior could have easily �exalted� Him as His wisdom and miracles became known throughout Israel. Indeed, many tried to make Him king. Isaiah prophetically records the mindset of the Lord many years before He actually entered Jerusalem: �I set my face like a flint� (Isaiah50:7). Later, Jesus told His disciples, �I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!� (Luke12:50). Finally, the obedience of our Lord Jesus, understood fully and deeply at Gethsemane, was fully accomplished, �even the death of the cross.� May our hearts never forget or tire of these great truths. HMM III ----------------------------------------------------------- A Step in the Wrong Direction - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things whichhad happened. �Luke 24:13�14 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-step-in-the-wrong-direction/- Listen The two disciples on the road to Emmaus still felt devastated by what they saw in Jerusalem. They had witnessed Jesus hanging on that cross, and they wanted to get away.They wanted to get away from the pain, away from the trauma. We don�t know who these two were, but we do know that one of them was named Cleopas. At the empty tomb, Jesus had given this message to the women: �Don�t be afraid! Go tellmy brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there� (Matthew 28:10 NLT). But these two weren�t waiting in Galilee or hanging out in Jerusalem. They were just leaving town. And what was true of these first-century disciples is also true of ustoday: every step away from the cross is a step in the wrong direction. When you�re feeling down, when you�re hurting, or when you�ve failed spiritually, that is not the time to walk away from the cross. That is the time to run to it. Here�s the devil�s strategy. He�ll whisper something in your ear along the lines of, �Hey, you�re doing great spiritually. You�re awesome! Look at how much you read theBible. Look at how strong you are. You don�t even need to go to church this week. You don�t need to pray. You�re good. You�re solid.� But what he�s really saying to you is �stay away from the cross. Don�t go to the cross and repent of your sin.� These are all lies. The devil will tell you to stay away from the cross while the Holy Spirit tells you to run to it. Go to the Father through Jesus Christ, and rememberwhat He did for you. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin because, whether you realize it or not, you sin every day. We always need to go to the cross. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM