DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 9.18.21

That Verse before 'All Things' by John UpChurch “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians4:12 I’d rather live a Philippians 4:13 type life. But that verse before it always gets me. I’d rather jump right into the “doing all things through him who gives me strength” without slogging through the “content in any and every situation” part. The second verse makes for suchgreat posters, but now, when I read it, all I can think is “whether living in plenty or in want.” Talk about a buzzkill. But God’s plans come in a larger size than my earthly satisfaction. He wants my sanctification, my being-made-more-like-Jesus-ness. He wants me to see that His riches don’t come with dour-looking presidents or expiration dates or limited warranties. Theyaren’t earned by the sweat of my brow. Instead, His riches come pouring down in my contentment. Paul told Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6), and he’s driving at the same thing here in Philippians. “Strength,” according to the world, boils down to laying claim to the most stuff—power, model spouses (emphasis on the plural), houses, and influence. But those who think that way can never be content no matter the situation. When their “strength” disappears,they wilt. Some do whatever it takes to get back to where they were; some end up in rehab; and some see no reason to live. Some strength, huh? Jesus doesn’t play by our rules, though. His Beatitude bunker busters make that pretty clear (see Matthew 5). The weak, the poor, the hungry—those are the ones who receive the treasures. You see, Jesus does want us to get to Philippians 4:13, but to do that, He has to demolish our strongholds by taking us through Philippians 4:12. We’re strong through Him only when we’ve learned to clear the detritus of what we think we need in this world and see Him for the all-sufficient treasure that He really is (Colossians2:3). We can do all things through Him who strengthens us. But to get to that point, we have to learn satisfaction in His “all things,” the plans He has for us. That’s because it’s His strength, not ours. Intersecting Faith & Life: God’s plans for us don’t always send us down the paths we might choose. Okay, they rarely do. That’s why true contentment becomes so vital for the Christ follower. And the only way we can get there is to die and die and die. Everyday we die to the things that supposedly make us strong in this world. Every day we kill the need to have more, to be more. Every day we die for Him. You are strong—right where your contentment in Christ begins. -------------------------------- God Acts On Our Behalf Philippians 4:6-7 We have become so accustomed to this hurried world that we've begun to demand speed in our spiritual life too. However, God "acts on behalf of those who wait for him" (Isa.64:4 niv). Wise believers endure until the fruits of His labor appear. In this devotion, we'll look at three reasons believers are called upon to wait. First, God may be preparing us to receive His blessings. Perhaps we need new skills or greater maturity. Sometimes people require fresh spiritual insight before their handsare ready to hold what their hearts desire. For example, David waited years to sit on his appointed throne. But when he did, he was a wise, strong, and battle-tested king. Second, the Father is often teaching His children to have confidence in Him. How would believers ever learn faith if God immediately fulfilled their every request? In my own life, the Lord has often said two words: "Trust Me." And He has never been late to meet my needs. No matter how we justify rushing ahead of God, doing so amounts to saying, "I don't trustYou." Finally, the Lord will at times withhold blessing to protect us from harm we can't see. We may never find out what caused the delay. But be assured that God examines the object of our desire closely before placing it in our hands. Waiting is rarely easy, particularly in this instant-everything world. But rushing ahead of the Lord short-circuits His plan. Believers who do are left unsatisfied, and they often must live with terrible consequences. Be patient while the Lord works outdetails. His best is on the way. ------------------------------------------- TheGod of All Comfort “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” (2Corinthians 1:3) The apostle Paul uses two important titles for God in this passage, “the Father of mercies” and “the God of all comfort,” that give us unique insight into the character of our mighty Creator and Redeemer. First, God is noted as the fountainhead of all fatherlymercies that were ultimately expressed in the sacrificial death on our behalf of His perfect sinless Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we are introduced to this important theme of “comfort,” which is used a total of 10 times in this section of the epistle as either some form of the noun paraklesis or the verb parakaleo (vv. 1:4, 6-7). Paul goes on to elaborate on his declaration of God as the source of all true comfort in the next verse as the one “who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort themwhich are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” The participle form of the verb “comforteth” (parakaleo) is given in the Greek as a timeless present tense that conveys ongoing encouragement, support, and exhortationin all kinds of affliction and distress. Indeed, Paul goes on to say, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation [paraklesis] also aboundeth by Christ” (v. 5). But this comfort and consolation in the midst of our trials is not just for our own benefit but that we might also be agents of “the God of all comfort” to His church and a lost and hurting world. Paul emphasizes this in verse 6: “And whether we be afflicted,it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” JPT ---------------------------------------- Walking the Floodwall By Ryan Duncan “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” – Luke2:52 I have a confession to make; last Sunday I skipped church. I actually had a very good excuse: I wanted to spend more time with God. I know that sounds pretty strange, and I’m certainly not saying Christians should start ditching on Sundays, but that morningas I was getting ready to leave I couldn’t help feeling (much to my surprise) that the Holy Spirit didn’t want me to go to Church that day. So instead, I stayed home and started reading the Bible. I’d only planned on reading two chapters that morning, but I ended up reading eight. Occasionally I’d re-read passages to let the words sink in or underline verses that stood out to me. After I’d finished,I went outside and started walking. There’s a floodwall near my apartment that acts as a kind of jogging trail, and as I made my way across it, I talked with God. ------------------------------------------------ The Riches of God's Grace Ephesians 1:1-14 Do you think of yourself as rich? No matter how much money you have, if you're a believer in Jesus, you're extremely wealthy because God has lavished the riches of His grace upon you. At the moment of salvation, He deposited into your account "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (v. 3). Why, then, do so many believers live in spiritual poverty? 1. Ignorance. Some Christians don't know about this unlimited spiritual "bank account," and, therefore, they never draw upon it. 2. Confusion. Too many believers just don't know how to access the treasures of God's grace. As a result, they worry and complain about their needs and problems or in desperation come to the Lord begging and pleading for help, never realizingHis abundant supply has already been deposited into their account. 3. Competing Interests. Distraction by things of this world may be the most common reason. Christians in this category focus on possessions, pressing responsibilities, and advancement but lack interest in God's spiritual blessings. The riches of God's grace supersede any earthly wealth. They give the peace and contentment that money can never buy, and their benefits reach all the way into eternity. The only way to access God's spiritual riches is by faith. We don't have to beg or persuade the Lord to give what He has already made available to us. Instead, we simply choose to believe that we are who He says we are and can do what He has called us to accomplish. ----------------------------------------------- The Gate of Praise “But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” (Isaiah60:18) Walled cities were standard measures in the time of the Old Testament to protect the inhabitants from attack by enemy forces. In this Scripture in Isaiah, the city wall represents the protective salvation of God available to those who put their trust in theLord Jesus Christ. Concerning city walls, there were two types of openings in them. One was a breach in the wall that allowed enemy forces to come in and wreak havoc on the city. In this respect, the apostle Paul warned us in Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil,” and in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” The other type of opening was a controlled gate that could be opened or closed at the will of the ruler of the city. Isaiah likens these gates as “Praise.” It’s interesting that in regard to the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:21, we are told, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls.” As most people know, pearls are formed by irritation in which a foreign particle becomes lodged inside the shell of an oyster, and over time a beautiful pearl is formed by the secretionof minerals accumulating around the particle. Indeed, Acts 14:22 says, “That we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Giving praise to God in the difficult trials and irritating circumstances of a sin-cursed world is one thing you can’t do in heaven but is highly needful for the sojourning believer in this present life. Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer thesacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” And David says, “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem…to give thanks unto the name of the LORD” (Psalm122:2, 4). JPT ---------------------------------------------- Words of Jesus Warn Us to Stay Alert in this World By Debbie McDaniel Reading through Mark chapter 13 again late last night, have read it over and over this past year, and it's seeming more real now. In it, Jesus reminds us that when we see certain signs that indicate we are in, or are entering into the end times, we don't have to be alarmed. Because He's told us ahead of time what to expect, we know from His Word, "such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Mark 13:7 He reminds us that we will know these are prophetic words coming to pass when we hear of "wars and rumors of wars," when we see certain events unfolding, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in variousplaces, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains." Mark 13:7-8 And also, in this one chapter where Jesus is telling us of all that's to come, signs of the end times, He says this over and over, 7 different times throughout these verses... He warns us to stay aware. His words are true are they are for now, right now, in this day and time, and throughout all future days until he comes again. May we be faithful, wise to listen, and may He help us to apply them to life: - "Watch out that no one deceives you..." v. 5 - "You must be on your guard..." v. 9 - "So be on your guard, I have told you everything ahead of time." v. 23 - "Be on guard!" v. 33 - "Be alert!" v. 33 - "Therefore, keep watch..." v. 35 - "If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!" v. 36 As believers, we have hope in Christ, we know beyond a doubt He is at work in this world and He will come again. Let's keep working while it is still day... Praying for His mercy through the storms and floods, through the earthquakes, through the fires, may God draw many to Himself in these days. And may we be found living as light in a world that needs His great peace. Intersecting Faith & Life: Many around us may be feeling worried and fearful in these days. Choose to trust and believe that God is working in our world, even behind the scenes where we can’t fully see. Ask Him for His Presence of peace to fill your life today,ask for His help in staying aware and alert. Pray that God will help us all, as believers, to be a light to others who need His hope in dark times. --------------------------------------- TwoFaithful Friends “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, whenI know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.” (Philippians2:19-20) Paul cited Timothy and Epaphroditus as two faithful ministry friends (Philippians2:19-30). Their activities provide a great inventory to follow as we “work out [our] own salvation” (Philippians2:12). •Likeminded: The Greek word is isopsuchos, or “equal in soul.” Effective ministry friendships agree in purpose (Amos3:3). •Genuine Care: The Holy Spirit used merimnao, a burden for others’ needs. Philippians 2:2-4 lists the restrictions. •Seek Christ’s Things: Edify each other (1Corinthians 14:12), focus on heavenly ideals (Colossians3:1), and crave the kingdom and God’s righteousness more than our welfare (Matthew6:33). •Serve Together: Timothy was to Paul like a “son with the father” serving with him “in the gospel” (Philippians2:22). To be acceptable, that service must be in “righteousness, and peace, and joy” (Romans14:17). •Companion in Labor: Similarly, Epaphroditus is said to work with Paul (Philippians2:25). As with Timothy, their focus was “to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith” (1Thessalonians 3:2). •Fellow Soldier: Military metaphors abound in the Bible, with a common thread of the spiritual warfare defined in Ephesians 6:10-18. We must “endure hardness” when we assist in the ministry (2Timothy 2:3). Not every Christian meets the excellence of these faithful friends. “Most men will proclaim every one hisown goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs20:6). HMM III --------------------------------------- Where Were You When 9/11 Happened? by Veronica Neffinger "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 “Where were you when 9/11 happened?” This is a question that seems to come up in discussions every once in a while. I think it’s because we all realize that, though we may not have known it at the time, almost all of us now remember vividly what we weredoing the moment we found out about the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I still have a clear memory of sitting in my fourth-grade class. My teacher had a somber look on his face as he told us that school was being let out early and all extra-curricular activities for the day were cancelled. The classroom became abuzz with questionsof what happened, to which our teacher replied, “Your parents will tell you.” I remember being surprisingly angry at my teacher in that moment -- if this was such a big deal, why couldn't he tell us what happened? I don't remember the ride home, but the next thing I remember is seeing footage of the plane flying into the Twin Towers. Like many people, that footage has been seared into my mind and I can still see it, even though we were nearly 900 miles away from NewYork City. It always leaves me with a sense of awe and wonder at the country's connectedness as I have met people years after September 11, 2001 and we have talked about where we were and what went through our minds on that day. My husband grew up in New England andhis father, as a firefighter, knew colleagues who were called in to Ground Zero. It boggles my mind that someone so far away from me geographically at the time was thinking about the same event at the same time I was. On the anniversary of this tragic day, I think I know why so many of us recall 9/11 so vividly and why it has impacted us so greatly: it's the power of a shared experience. As I write, the after-effects of Hurricane Harvey wreak havoc on southeast Texas, and I'm reminded that even tragedies and terrible disasters, whether manmade or acts of God, have great power to unite people and to dispel differences. "That's why America is so amazing," my husband often says, "when something like 9/11 happens, people from Los Angeles and people from rural Montana and people from New York City and everywhere else come together." That is truly amazing. And truly beautiful. And I can't help but think that this also applies to the Christian faith. No matter your faith journey, no matter how you came to find Jesus, no matter how windy your road, as believers, we are all sons and daughters of God and we have a shared experience that is more monumental than anything else. At some point in timewe all made the same decision and we are all on the same road, with the same Savior leading us. There is a lot of tragedy, a lot of suffering, a lot of sin in our world. We see it in obvious ways like the evil that was carried out on September 11, 2001, and we see it in more subtle ways in our own hearts, but we can rejoice because God’s Word tellsus that He is greater than all of it. Christ has overcome the world and the sin that weighs it--and us--down. Intersecting Faith & Life: We can be united as believers in the assurance that, no matter what darkness and trials come, our God “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposefor them” (Romans 8:28). ------------------------------------------- The Judgment 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Every Christian is answerable to Jesus for how he or she lived life. We will not stand before the Great White Throne of Revelation20:11--that is where unbelievers will be judged. Instead, we will go before Christ's judgment seat and give an account of ourselves. Perhaps this seems like a contradiction: Believers will not be judged but will stand before Christ's judgment seat. The Greek word that 2 Corinthians uses for "judgment seat" is bema, which means a place of accountability. So those who believe in the Saviorwill not be condemned to death but will live and be accountable to Him. Do not confuse accountability with giving a defense. We won't defend our worthless actions--those things we said and did that brought no honor to the Lord or shamed His name. God likens our selfish works to wood, hay, and stubble, which are items fit onlyfor the fire (1 Cor. 3:13). The valuable thoughts, words, and deeds that serve the Lord are exchanged for rewards in heaven. What we'll be judged on is the quality of our work. God has given every believer an individual purpose, along with the personality, talents, and spiritual gifts needed to fulfill it. The question that will be answered at Christ's judgment seat is, Did Ilive out my purpose to honor and glorify God? Standing before Christ's judgment seat is something to look forward to. We need not fear, since we are beloved co-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17, 34). Because of His sacrifice, we have a right to the treasures of heaven. He is eager to bestow them as a reward for faithfulness and obedience. ----------------------------------- EvilMen “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no rewardto the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.” (Proverbs24:19-20) Many of us remember the horror of September 11, 2001. The United States had not been attacked on its continental soil since the Civil War, and the whole country stood glued to their TV sets in stunned agony at the evil atrocity of the terrorists’ hostility. Loud and often have been the vows of retribution since then, but “wars and rumours of wars” continue unabated (Mark13:7). Nothing (according to the Scriptures) will stop the hatred of evil men against that which represents the name and lifestyle of the Lord Jesus (John15:18), but the vengeance belongs to God alone (Hebrews10:30). The challenge for most of us is that we forget that the Enemy is not merely this or that terrorist group (there have been countless such groups over the millennia), but “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). If we are constantly in turmoil over the latest iteration of evil displayed in living color every day on our evening news, our souls will never gain peace. It is the “joy of the LORD” that brings us strength (Nehemiah8:10). It is the delight of being “rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1Timothy 6:18) that allows us to sense something of the unilateral love of the Lord Jesus. Seeking “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” first (Matthew6:33) is what brings our heavenly Father’s steadfast supply of all that we may need (Philippians4:19). Perhaps when evil days creep into our lives or our memory, we would do well to focus our “affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians3:2). HMM III --------------------------------------------------- Give Me Fruit, or Give Me Death by John UpChurch “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruitof righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 For the last several years, my wife and I have dabbled in gardening. I say “dabbled” because each year has brought more frustration than juicy cucumbers. First, we realized the importance of finding a spot that gets enough sunlight. Then, we discovered thejoys of unfit or exhausted soils. Most recently, we’ve found how much deer like to nibble on just-about-to-bloom plants. Master gardeners we are not. All those visions of vegetables and fruits dancing in our freezer have met the brown reality of stunted corn and shriveled peas. ------------------------------------ The Judge Acts 10:42-48 During our life on earth, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. However, as our days here draw to a close, and especially at the end of time, He takes His seat as Judge and prepares to reward believers for the good things they did in His name. I think there is a widespread misconception that God the Father will be our judge. But it is Christ who gave us, His followers, the charge to go into the world and make disciples (Matt.28:19). Therefore, He has been given the right to determine which of our actions and thoughts furthered His goal (John 5:22). Christ is an impartial judge. He is not influenced by what others think or say, but rather, He determines what is right and good based on His honorable, just standard. We'll be stripped of our worthless works--in other words, the actions and words we usedfor selfish ambition or vain conceit. All that will remain are the worthwhile things we thought, said, and did to honor God. These are the valuable parts of our lives for which we will be rewarded. Reward is the whole point of placing believers before the judgment seat of Christ. Shame and guilt over past sin and mistaken motivation have no place there (Rom.8:1). Our loving Savior is eager to show us our heavenly treasure. Christ will expose the real you at the judgment seat by casting away the worthless things you've done. What remains will be the man or woman who endeavored to please the Lord. Let us determine to be powerful reflections of our Savior, both on earth and inheaven. ----------------------------- ChooseLife “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessingand cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deuteronomy30:19) Shortly before his death, Moses restated the law and the covenant between God and His people summed up in the greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy6:5). Furthermore, Moses claimed that “this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven...Neither is it beyond the sea” (Deuteronomy30:11-13). Nothing about it was hard to understand. “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it” (Deuteronomy30:14). Indeed, the evidence that God is Creator, Judge, Provider, and Redeemer is all around us. Our text informs us that “heaven and earth” are witnesses of God’s nature. We have more than enough information than we need in order to respond. In fact, these things “from the creation of the world are clearly seen” so that those who reject are “without excuse” (Romans1:20). Indeed, to ignore the evidence of creation and the Flood, one must be “willingly...ignorant” (2Peter 3:5). Rejection is foolishness. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil” (Deuteronomy30:15). The choice is between blessing (v. 16) and cursing (v. 19). All lines of reasoning point toward the God of the Bible as the one true God. “Therefore choose life,” as our text encourages us, “That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thoumayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life” (v. 20). JDM ------------------------- The Rapture and the Second Coming - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.com For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. —Matthew 24:27 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-rapture-and-the-second-coming-2/- Listen “Was that the Second Coming or just a really bad storm?” No one will have to wonder whether the Second Coming has taken place because everyone will know when the Lord comesback to Planet Earth to establish His kingdom. John describes the Second Coming this way: “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly andwages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. . . . He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses” (Revelation 19:11–14 NLT). And Jesus said, “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:27 NLT). Sometimes, however, people confuse the Rapture and the Second Coming. It’s important that we understand the difference between the two. In the Rapture, Jesus comes before judgment, and in the Second Coming, He returns with judgment. In the Rapture, He comes as a thief in the night, and in the Second Coming,every eye will see Him. In the Rapture, Jesus comes for His people, and in the Second Coming, He returns with His people. The second coming of Jesus Christ will be a happy day for Heaven but a sad day for Earth. Specifically, Israel will mourn as they realize that Jesus was their Messiah allalong (see Zechariah 12:10). But first, Jesus is coming for His followers in the rapture of the Church. What if He were to come back today? Would you be ready? Or would you be left behind? It’s entirelyup to you. ------------------------------------------------ Won�t You Revive Us Again? - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Won�t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? �Psalm 85:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/wont-you-revive-us-again/- Listen It wasn�t easy being a Christian in Ephesus, which was a center of pagan idolatry. In fact, when Paul went there to preach the gospel, a riot broke out. Jesus said to the church of Ephesus, �But I have this complaint against you. You don�t love me or each other as you did at first!� (Revelation 2:4 NLT). The apostle Paul, and possibly the apostle John, had been pastors of the church of Ephesus. But when Jesus was speaking to this church, they were in the second generationof faith. In other words, they were born to parents who came to Jesus right after His earthly ministry. Therefore, this church was living in the aftermath of the first Jesus Movement. As it happens sometimes, that wonderful truth was not passed on to the next generation. So they were losing it. They were missing it. It isn�t always easy to be a Christian in a godless city or state. I�ve been a pastor in Southern California for almost 50 years, and I know people who have left this state and moved elsewhere. But I feel called to live in California. Ifeel called to preach the gospel here, to teach the Word of God here, and to be a pastor here. When someone tells me they�re leaving California, I jokingly reply, �Well, someone has to stay here to turn the lights off.� But the fact is that I�m staying here to turnthe lights on. The psalmist wrote, �Won�t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?� (Psalm 85:6 NLT). The last great American revival took place in California, and it was called the Jesus Movement. I�m praying that we�ll have another Jesus Movement because California influencesthe rest of the nation. I�m praying we�ll have another spiritual awakening�and I hope you�re praying for that.............. ------------------------------------------------------------ Seventy-Seven by Ryan Duncan Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. � Romans 12:17-18 In a perfect world, Christians would be people without any disagreements. Unfortunately this isn�t a perfect world, it�s a fallen one, and even the Church sees its share of conflict between members. Pastors argue, Churches split, and professed Christians hold grudges against their brothers and sisters. This last one is something I particularly struggle with. A few years ago I was in a really bad place; I was feeling hurt and angry because of somethingsome other Christians had said to me. When I finally confided this to one of my friends, I can remember saying, �I just hate them so much.� It wasn�t until later that I learned the disciple Peter had been in a similar situation. Look at what Jesus said to him, Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. � Matthew18:21-22 But Jesus didn�t stop there, he continued by telling the parable of the Servant and the Master. It begins with a kind man who dismisses his servant�s enormous debt, "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." � Matthew18:28-35 ----------------------------------------------------------- Accountability Is Scriptural James 5:13-16 There are plenty of biblical directives about making ourselves accountable to one another. But for many, the idea of revealing personal information seems restrictive or even an invasion of privacy. Such confession seems a hindrance to the pursuit of pleasure,prosperity, and prestige. Most people prefer to keep to themselves and not involve others in their business. The Bible, however, makes it clear that Christians are to support each other in this regard: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed" (James5:16). Accountability in the body of Christ is a biblical principle. Church members take direction from their pastor (Heb. 13:17). Paul tellsus to be subject one to another (Eph. 5:21). Yet he was answerable to the church (Acts14:27), just as Timothy was subordinate to him (1 Tim. 4:13-16). The apostles were certainlyunder the authority of Jesus (Luke 10), even as Jesus was subject to the Father (John8:28-29). Of course, the Bible tells us that the whole church is obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:24). Regardless ofone's position, everybody is accountable to somebody. And this holds true for the entire family of faith--from the congregation to the ministers to Jesus Himself, who served God the Father. People avoid accountability for various reasons, including pride, ignorance, fear, and self-reliance. This is a dangerous approach to life. Our Enemy knows our weaknesses and how to exploit them. But we can prevail with the support of friends. There is strength in the body of Christ. ----------------------------------------------------------- God Is Love �And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in lovedwelleth in God, and God in him.� (1 John 4:16) God is clearly �the Lord, the righteous judge� (2 Timothy 4:8), but He is also �the God of love and peace� (2Corinthians 13:11). Not only in our text verse but also in another place, we are reminded that �God is love� (1 John 4:8). Of all the attributes ofGod, His nature of love is the most definitive. God is love! It was not His omnipotence nor His omniscience that constrained Him to create men and women in His image. It must have been His nature of love, the desire for fellowship with beings like Himself. There is not much revealed on this question�only hints. �I havecreated him for my glory� (Isaiah 43:7). �The LORD hath made all things for himself� (Proverbs16:4). But fellowship is a two-way relationship and requires freedom to choose on the part of both. When man volitionally broke that fellowship, sin came into the world and God�s creation purpose was to all appearances set aside. But God is love! He had not only a plan of creation but also a plan of salvation already in process. He �saved us,... according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began� (2Timothy 1:9). And so �God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us� (Romans 5:8). �For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life� (John 3:16). �Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us� (1 John 3:1). God is, indeed, a God of love! HMM --------------------------------------------------- The Happiest Place on Earth by Ryan Duncan In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. � John 14:2 When I was in the fourth grade, my parents decided it was time for that rite of passage all families must one day undertake. On Friday morning, as my sisters and I prepared for school, they informed us that we would be leaving class an hour early today.Naturally, my sisters and I were excited to get a jump start on the weekend, but we also couldn�t help but wonder why. �It�s a surprise,� was all my parents would say. That gave us pause. In my family, a �surprise� could mean anything from a baseball game, to getting our Hepatitis B shots at the doctor�s office. So it was with more than a little trepidation that we enteredour family van that afternoon and began speeding toward the city. After about forty minutes of driving, my Dad pulled off the road into a crowded parking lot. -------------------------------------------------------- TheRiches of His Grace �In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.� (Ephesians1:7) The attributes of God are characterized by the �riches of His grace.� This amazing grace led Him to shed His blood as the price of our redemption. No wonder men have developed the familiar acrostic for GRACE��God�s Riches at Christ�s Expense.� �For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich� (2Corinthians 8:9). Paul seems again and again to try to find descriptions for these riches. To the Romans he wrote of �the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering� (Romans2:4) and of His plan to �make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of [his] mercy� (Romans9:23). Speaking of God�s mercy, he exclaims, �O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!� (Romans11:33). The inexhaustibility of these infinite depths of grace and mercy led Paul to call these attributes �the unsearchable riches of Christ� (Ephesians3:8). Desiring that all believers might learn to appreciate the tremendous future they have in Christ, he prayed that �the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,� somehow we might come to appreciate even now �the riches of the glory of his inheritancein the saints� (Ephesians1:18). Yet, marvelously rich and full though His grace is now, there is much more to come. �God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,...That in the ages to come he mightshow the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus� (Ephesians2:4-5, 7). HMM ------------------------------------------------------- A New Heaven and Earth - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org �Then He who sat on the throne said, �Behold, I make all things new�� �Revelation 21:5 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-new-heaven-and-earth/- Listen It�s always exciting to get a new version of something. We love new things. In fact, advertisers have figured out that if they put the words �new and improved� on a product,it will make us want to buy it. Maybe the only thing that�s new and improved is the packaging, but still, we�re attracted to the idea of newness. God loves new things as well. And there�s a new world coming for all of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ. In my opinion, the next event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church. That is the moment when Christ will come for His people, and in the twinkling of aneye, we�ll be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. After that, a world figure will emerge on the scene whom we call the Antichrist. Effectively he will inaugurate the Great Tribulation period, which will end with the Battleof Armageddon. This will end with the second coming of Jesus Christ, which will lead to what we call the Millennium�one thousand years of peace on Planet Earth. Then Heaven and Earth will become one. New Jerusalem, like a bride adorned for her husband, will come down from Heaven to Earth, and Heaven and Earth will merge together. As we look at the unrest and violence in our culture right now, these are signs of the times. Also, the Bible tells us that in the last days there will be more plagues,or what we might call a pandemic. So God is telling us what our future is, and itreally will be new and improved. Therefore, we should be thinking about the afterlife. The only way to live the best life today is to always be aware that the afterlife is near. A better world is coming. ---------------------------------------------------------