DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 9.11.21

A Promising Future - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Don�t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. �John 14:1 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-promising-future/- Listen Do you have any unused gift cards lying around? I do. In fact, billions of dollars in gift cards sit unused in drawers, wallets, and cars all around the United States. It can be that way with the promises of God. We have thousands of promises that are left unclaimed. Personally, I love this promise that God gave to the nation of Israel, which I think in principle applies to every believer: �For I know the thoughts that I think towardyou, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope� (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV). Here�s another one. Jesus said, �Don�t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father�s home. If this werenot so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am� (John 14:1�3 NLT). The word troubled can be translated as �agitated� or �stressed out.� So Jesus was saying, �Listen to Me, stressed-out people. I�m coming back again, and I keep My promises.� Some have wondered whether the coronavirus is a sign of the end times. In a broad sense, the answer to that question is yes. But you might say that it�and other signs ofthe times�foreshadow what is to come. They�re setting the stage for the end times. So no matter what you�re going through, remember that God loves you and has a future and a hope set out for you. If you�re a follower of Jesus Christ, then your future isbright. Your best days are ahead of you because Heaven is the future destination of every follower of Jesus. ----------------------------- Not Scared but Prepared - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. �Revelation 1:3 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/not-scared-but-prepared/- Listen I have no interest in puzzles. I have no desire to take out a puzzle and put it back together again. But my wife, Cathe, loves puzzles. If she sees a puzzle on a table,she�ll sit down and start putting it together. When we look at the events of the end times, it can seem like a puzzle. We might think, �I have no idea how all this fits together.� God however, lives in the eternal realm. Not only can He look at the past and see it with clarity, but He also can look at the future and see it in the same way. He seesit all as a continuum. So when God tells us what will happen, it isn�t as though God is taking a risk. He�s simply telling us what the facts are. Therefore, we can trust the Bible when we cometo this subject of the end times or the last days. The Bible is the one book that dares to predict the future, not once, not twice, but hundreds of times with 100 percent accuracy. Some would say, �You know, it isn�t really important to study Bible prophecy. No one can figure it out anyway.� But that isn�t true. God wants us to understand what�s happening. I would also add that Revelation promises a special blessing to the person who reads, hears, and keeps the words that are written in it (see Revelation 1:3). And by theway, I�ve read the last page of the Bible, and we win in the end. God has it all under control. Understand, God does not give us Bible prophecy to scare us; He gives it to prepare us. We don�t read these words about the end times so we�ll be scared. Rather, we readabout the end times so we�ll be prepared. ------------------------------------------------------- 3 Things I've Learned about Work by Debbie Holloway “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (John6:27). Since I've been old enough to babysit, I've always been working at something, whether a project for school, a part-time restaurant gig, or my current office job. And over the years I’ve come to learn many lessons about work. For example, work can becomea joy and a passion if it’s something you truly love and you’re surrounded by like-minded partners. Or, on the other hand, even a job you like can become a drudge if you can’t see eye-to-eye with your co-workers. As I prepare to celebrate a day off work this upcoming Labor Day, I've been pondering three things that God has been teaching me about work in the past year or so. 1. A Christian never clocks out It's easy and refreshing to hop in the elevator at 5 p.m. and not worry about work until the next day. But as a follower of Christ, I recognize that I’m called to carry his banner 24/7. When I’m grumpy? Yep. When I’ve been out all day and come home to amessy house? Absolutely. When I'm on Facebook and somehow everything in my feed is making me frustrated and irritable? Even then. Perhaps that's why we call ourselves "soliders" in God's army. Everything's a battle… one we must remember to fight with loveand peace! 2. God is the boss, not me As easy as it is to judge another person's work (or seeming lack-thereof) I've had to be reminded a lot lately that it's simply not my job to critique other people's lives. Just as my supervisor has given me tasks to complete, and that's between the twoof us – so God has a personal relationship with every single one of us, and he hasn't asked us to poke our noses into each other’s to-do lists. And boy, don’t we all have plenty of thoughts on the matter? Why do they go to THAT church? Why is that woman constantly panhandling on that same streetcorner? Why doesn't he just get a spine and break off that harmful relationship? If only I ruled the world. But I don't – and thank God I don't. Someday we’ll all stand before The Boss and our choices will be evaluated. But for now, it’s my job to do MY job, to love people where they’re at, and to remember that life sometimes looks reallydifferent inside someone else's shoes. 3. Your work does make a difference It’s common for me to feel small and powerless. Maybe you feel that way too. But when small people like us put our minds to something, amazing things truly do happen. Even something as small as a smile or a word of encouragement can make all the differencein someone’s day… maybe even in someone’s life. So whether you teach, write, or clean up trash; whether you sit in a cube crunching numbers or you bag groceries – God wants to use your work to not only bless others, but grow you closer to him. Further Reading Why Your Work Matters...and Why it Doesn't 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Luke 10 Deuteronomy 15:1-18 1 Corinthians 15:58 Matthew 25:14-30 ------------------------------------ Sojourners “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are asa shadow, and there is none abiding.” (1Chronicles 29:15) All of God’s people, whether ancient Israelites or latter-day Christians, need to recognize that we are mere “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews11:13). This world is not our home, as the old gospel song puts it, and we must not let our roots get down too deep in this materialistic world. The words of our text are in David’s last recorded prayer before his death. He was a great king and very wealthy in material things, but he still recognized that his real home was not in the earthly Jerusalem but in heaven. So should we. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our conversation [the Greek word here literally means ‘citizenship’] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians3:20). We are merely serving in this world as “ambassadors for Christ,” and our business here, representing the court of heaven, is to urge men, “in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2Corinthians 5:20). Why should we spend time and money beautifying a home on Earth when Christ has gone to prepare a mansion for us in heaven (John14:2)? Remember Abraham, who by faith “sojourned...in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles” (Hebrews11:9). “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews11:16). Also remember Paul, who had “no certain dwellingplace” (1Corinthians 4:11), not to mention the Lord Jesus Himself, who had “not where to lay his head” (Matthew8:20). We do well, therefore, to “pass the time of [our] sojourning here in fear” (1Peter 1:17)—that is, reverential fear of God (never fear of man), as good citizens of our heavenly country. HMM -------------------------------------- Toys into Tools by Shawn McEvoy From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.Luke 12:48 With the start of football season this month, I've heard the phrase, "to whom much is given, much is required" used a lot... and that's a good thing. A great thing. Athletes, profiled on sports shows, have been given chances to explain how they are usingtheir celebrity and money to help mankind, or even spread the gospel. One prominent football player was interviewed about wanting to use what he's been given as a platform to further the Kingdom of God. His goals were reminiscent of the parable Jesus told about the difference between faithful and unfaithful servants, stewardsof the kingdom. Faithful servants are to be about their master's will, not doing their own thing, not squandering what they've been given. They realize how much they've been granted, and understand there are punishments awaiting those who knowingly disobey(and even for those - albeit less severely - who unknowingly disobey. Seem harsh?). ----------------------------------- Our Needs Philippians4:19 Jim saved for a long time to take an Alaskan cruise. At last he was on board with two carefully packed suitcases. The first evening, when he heard "Dinner is served" announced over the loudspeaker, he took peanut butter crackers from his suitcase and satat the table in his small cabin. Every day at mealtime, he repeated the ritual. It wasn't that Jim didn't like the ship's tasty banquets. He simply didn't know that his meals were included in the price of the ticket. For two weeks he enjoyed beautiful sceneryoff the decks but ate dry, stale food in his cabin. This sad story is a metaphor for how some believers live the Christian life. God has promised to meet every need of His children—His riches are included in the price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph.1:18). Yet many folks are trying to live out of their own resources. They don't know that the wealth of God's love, power, and provision is on their menu. -------------------------------- Yokefellows “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clementalso, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Philippians4:3) Although the word “yokefellow” is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew11:29-30). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus. Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as “joined together” (same term) with a yoke (Matthew19:6). Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who labored with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he describes them as sunathleo, or those who are “engaged in the contest” with him, like “a man also [strives] for masteries” (2Timothy 2:5). Then, Paul uses sunergos to describe those who have accomplished meaningful work alongside him. Titus is described as Paul’s “partner and fellowhelper” (2Corinthians 8:23). These women had evidently earned Paul’s respect for their commitment to the Kingdom work. Although the picture drawn by these synonyms rests on the work aspect, surely there is the assumption that those who are yoked together are anticipating a common goal. Jesus, with “the joy that was set before him endured the [work of the] cross” (Hebrews12:2). And we labor in the Kingdom since our “names are in the book of life.” HMM III ------------------------------------------------- Sacrificeand Service “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians2:17) Paul saw himself as “poured out” as an offering (Greek spendo) on the “sacrifice and service” of these precious friends. This special word is used only one other time, when Paul was “ready to be offered” at his death (2Timothy 4:6). Paul’s ministry among the Philippians resulted in the godly lifestyle of the church. They became sacrifices (Greek thusia) much like the Lord Jesus “hath given himself for us” (Ephesians5:2) and as we are all told to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Romans12:1). The service that is commended of the Philippians is a public service undertaken at one’s own expense (Greek leitourgia). Several men in the church at Antioch were noted for their ministry (Acts13:2 uses the same word), and some in Macedonia and Achaia were also acknowledged for giving contributions to the saints at Jerusalem (Romans15:26-27). Paul’s joy and rejoicing at the godly activity of the faithful saints at Philippi are the key to understanding the tone of the entire book. He had “poured out” himself, even being “shamefully entreated” during his ministry there (1Thessalonians 2:2). Yet while writing this poignant letter back to the church, he gives joyful greetings to them at the certain knowledge that his ministry among them has resulted in their sacrifice and service. Would God that all of us could see our offerings for the sake of others with the same passionate expectation. Often our Lord calls on us to give of ourselves in selfless ways so that others may learn from our example. Sometimes, we must even pour out our ownsouls (1Thessalonians 2:8) for the sake of the gospel. HMM III -------------------------------------------- TheDoctrine of the Few “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;for ye were the fewest of all people.” (Deuteronomy7:7) Modern people—even Christians—tend to measure success in terms of bigness. God’s measure, on the other hand, is based on quality, not quantity. There were undoubtedly millions of people on the earth, for example, when the Flood came in the days of Noah, butonly “few, that is, eight souls were saved” as the waters lifted up the Ark (1Peter 3:20). A few centuries after the Flood, populations had again increased, and great nations developed in Egypt, Sumeria, and elsewhere. But God called one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation, and he obeyed. Many great nations (Arabs, etc.) came from Abraham, butagain God chose only one, Israel, to inherit the promise. Israel did grow, but as our text shows, even this chosen nation was nearly always insignificant compared to other nations. In Israel’s history, many instances are recorded when God used just a few to battle many. God used Gideon’s 300 men to defeat 135,000 Midianites (Judges7:7; 8:10). Similar deliverances occurred in the days of David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and others. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew18:20). He also said to them: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke12:32). God’s criterion is that of motivation rather than multiplication. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew7:14). But those few will be faithful servants and will someday hear Him say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew25:21). HMM --------------------------------- TheDoctrine of the Few “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people;for ye were the fewest of all people.” (Deuteronomy 7:7) Modern people—even Christians—tend to measure success in terms of bigness. God’s measure, on the other hand, is based on quality, not quantity. There were undoubtedly millions of people on the earth, for example, when the Flood came in the days of Noah, butonly “few, that is, eight souls were saved” as the waters lifted up the Ark (1 Peter 3:20). A few centuries after the Flood, populations had again increased, and great nations developed in Egypt, Sumeria, and elsewhere. But God called one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation, and he obeyed. Many great nations (Arabs, etc.) came from Abraham, butagain God chose only one, Israel, to inherit the promise. Israel did grow, but as our text shows, even this chosen nation was nearly always insignificant compared to other nations. In Israel’s history, many instances are recorded when God used just a few to battle many. God used Gideon’s 300 men to defeat 135,000 Midianites (Judges 7:7;8:10). Similar deliverances occurred in the days of David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and others. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew18:20). He also said to them: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). God’s criterion is that of motivation rather than multiplication. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew7:14). But those few will be faithful servants and will someday hear Him say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew25:21). HMM ------------------------------------- Faith,Substance, and Evidence “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews11:1) The 11th chapter of Hebrews, known as the great Hall of Fame of Faith reciting the faith and resulting action of many Old Testament heroes, begins with a description of what faith is. First, we see that it is the “substance of things hoped for.” Biblically, we know that the Christian “hope” is a hope so real it has substance in the present. None of the people of faith recited in this chapter actually saw the promises made to them come tofruition, but they so believed in them that they lived in the present as if the future were reality. The word “substance” occurs only two other times in Hebrews. It is used to speak of Christ as the exact representation of God’s essence and nature, “who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person [i.e., substance]” (Hebrews1:3). It is also translated “confidence,” “for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews3:14), and speaks of a deep assurance. Putting this all together, our text could then be rendered “faith is the essence of our assurance of things yet in the future.” The word “evidence” could be translated “conviction,” or even “proof.” The word implies a logical, airtight argument. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof [same word as ‘evidence’], for correction, for instructionin righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). This sort of evidence is something we know to be true, something about which we have such conviction we act accordingly. The first half of the verse brings a future truth down into the present; the second half commits our lives to that truth. JDM ---------------------------------------------- The Doorman by Ryan Duncan "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 Once upon a time, there lived a wise and righteous king who cared deeply for his people. In order to ensure that his kingdom prospered, the king summoned one of his servants and gave him this decree, "Go and stand at the door of the palace. If someone comes and asks to see me, open the door and allow them in so I may speak with them." So the servant went and did as the king commanded. People came from far and wide to see the king. Some were rich men, some were great scholars, others were from noble families, and when they asked to see the king the doorman gave them entry. Then one daya poor beggar came to the palace door and asked to see the king. The doorman looked him over and frowned. The beggar's clothes were dirty and torn, he wore no shoes and was unpleasant to look at. "Surely my king would not wish to meet with such a man as this," the doorman said to himself, and turned the beggar away. Soon the doorman began turning others away; people he deemed too poor, or too sick, or too strange. When the king discovered what wasbeing done he summoned the doorman to him. ------------------------------------------ God's Clear Instructions Joshua6 Joshua needed guidance as he faced one of the most crucial moments of his life. Because the Lord had promised him success in conquering Jericho, he knew the outcome of the battle, but as the day of combat approached, he needed a specific strategy for victory.What he heard the Lord say must have made his jaw drop. Can you imagine the soldiers' thoughts as they carried out this bizarre battle strategy? In confusing times like this, it's good to remember three requirements for benefiting from God's instructions. We need: • Faith to believe the Lord • Courage to obey Him • Patience to wait for His timing. When God gives us clear instruction through His Word or His Spirit within us, our response shows how much we trust Him. If we truly believe Him and His promises, precise and complete obedience will follow. His victory in any area of struggle is availableonly to those who act upon His directions. Submitting to the Lord's timing is also an essential part of obedience. What would have happened if the army decided to bypass God's plans for the first six days and skip straight to the seventh day's march around Jericho? They would have missed the victory. How often do we beg the Lord for guidance, yet hesitate to obey when He finally gives it? Living by faith can seem like a huge risk when His instructions make no sense or require a lengthy wait. But knowing His eternal perspective and unlimited power canstrengthen our resolve to obey. ---------------------------------------- MyEvery Prayer “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making requestwith joy.” (Philippians1:3-4) The letter to the Philippian church stands as perhaps the most personal of the epistles, with Paul’s love for the believers being obvious. He expressed his love with heartfelt prayer for them every time he thought of them. These prayers are constant in the sense that the Philippian believers were never far from his thoughts. Often Paul resorted to prayer for their personal needs and their relationship to God. His prayers are described by at least two Greek words of interest tous. First, he tells that he “thanked [his] God” (Greek eucharisteo) each time they came to mind. To another church he similarly wrote, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 1:4). The word implies a sincere statement of genuine gratitude for their fellowship in being with him in serving God and partnership in the ministry. Likewise, he used the word “supplication” (Greek deesei), an expression of gratefulness for his needs having been supplied. Paul’s needs were often provided for by those to whom he ministered, and he was profoundly grateful. The Christian ministeris enjoined to remember his followers with “joy.” Paul remembered them in thankfulness to God for them and to them for their response. We should strive to arrive at a balance between our ministry goals in evangelism and ongoing care for believers’ Christian growth and steadfast doctrinal purity. What is the state of our harmony among church members, as well as our prayers for them? JDM. ---------------------------------- What is True Spirituality? by Alex Crain "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." - Genesis3:6 NASB It seems clear to me that the root of all human sin is unbelief. Doubt. I've heard people argue that the most basic sin is pride, and well, I suppose that's somewhere lurking on the other side of the coin. But if we start at the beginning of the Bible, the Genesis 3 account shows that Eve first doubted God. That was her sin. After her unbelief came the outward act of disobedience. Francis Schaeffer, commenting on this, said: "By her doubting she called God a liar. Eve doubted… mankind in revolt doubts God" (chapter seven, True Spirituality). On the contrary, the person who is at peace with God does not doubt Him. Rather, he/she trusts God. Schaeffer says this is the simplest way to describe true spirituality: it is believing God. But it is more than just believing God at one isolated point in life. It is believing God and having ongoing belief in Him. There must be moment-by-moment personal communion with Him. God created us to be relational, not mechanical. Healthy relationships depend on good communication. But communication is an always-in-flux, moment-by-moment kind of thing. That is why all our mechanical efforts at the Christian life fail. It's not aboutreading a set number of chapters of the Bible each day. It's not about praying for so long. No. What is needed first, and what inspires trust is, throughout the day, seeing before us the most basic teachings of the Bible: God exists and He is personal. God is holy and sin will be judged, but Christ's atonement removes the guilt of sinners. We are saved from condemnation by the finished work of Christ, and we are brought into a proper relationship with God in a personal way. ----------------------------------------------- Our Heavenly Home Revelation 21:22-27 As enjoyable as traveling may be, most of us would admit to having a sense of security and delight upon arriving back home. There's just something comforting about opening the door, seeing familiar things, and feeling we're where we belong. The apostle John was given a vision that included glimpses inside our future home, the new Jerusalem. You may be surprised to know that some things from our old abode will be missing. But what replaces them will be infinitely better. For one thing, there were no church buildings in John's vision, "for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev.21:22). No longer will denominations divide up the body of Christ. Nor will the sun or moon shine on the city in that day, "for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb" (v. 23). Imagine--no need for electricity, flashlights, or candles. One other difference is that the city gates will always be open. Since sin will not be a factor, locks will be unnecessary in our heavenly home. Death and decay will also be absent. In fact, nothing impure will ever enter that future residence--utter holinesswill characterize the heavenly place, and suffering will be a thing of the past. What we have to look forward to is the abundant life in Christ, pure and unmarred. Think about the comfortable feeling you have as you open your front door. That's but a hint of what we'll feel some day on arriving at the place our Father has lovingly and personally prepared for us in heaven. We will finally--and permanently--be "at home" in a way that defies description. ---------------------------------------- Heed the Warnings - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. �2 Peter3:11�12 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/heed-the-warnings/- Listen I heard about some Christians who were standing by the side of a road, holding up a hand-lettered sign with these words: The End Is Near. Turn around before It�s Too Late. Someone drove by them, hit the brakes, rolled down his window, and shouted, �You stupid Christians! Why don�t you just leave people alone?� Then he rolled up his window and hit the accelerator. A couple of moments passed, and they heard a loud splash. One of them turned to the others and said, �Maybe we shouldjust put up a sign that says bridge out instead.� We can find a lot of signs, a lot of warnings, that are saying one thing: get ready because Jesus Christ is coming back. Just look at our world today. New terms have enteredour vocabulary such as pandemic, social distancing, and herd immunity. Here�s another word that we�re hearing more often: plagues. We�ve heard the Old Testament story of the plagues that came upon Egypt. But we�ve also had plagues throughouthistory. And the Bible tells us that in the last days, there will be an increase of plagues. A headline last March in The Jerusalem Post asked, �Why do some Christians believe coronavirus is an apocalyptic prophecy?� The answer is because the Bible says we would see this sort of thing in the last days. In fact, the Bible tells us to look for a lot of things. It compares end-times eventsto labor pains that get closer and closer together when a woman is ready to give birth. The Bible says that when you see these things not only happen, but happen with more intensity, that�s a sign the end is near. When we�re right with God, we look forward to His return. It keeps us on our toes spiritually. And it causes us to want to live godly lives. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM