DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 5.28.22

Evidence of Your Faith - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. �2 Corinthians 5:10 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/evidence-of-your-faith/- Listen Although I�ve given Bibles away, I don�t think I�ve ever thrown one away. So, I have a stack of Bibles on my desk that spans decades. Those Bibles aren�t evidence that I�m a Christian; the evidence is found in the way that I live and the things that I say. It�s what the Bible describes as spiritual fruit. The Bible says that we should bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance (see Matthew 3:8). Some people say they�re Christians, but they�re contradicting it by the way they�reliving. They�re getting drunk and partying the weekends away, they�re in an immoral relationship, or they�re doing some other things they shouldn�t be doing. But if other Christianstry to talk with them about it, they�ll say, �Don�t judge me. The Bible says, �Judge not, that you be not judged.�� However, the Bible also says, �You will know them by their fruits. . . . Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit� (Matthew 7:16�17 NKJV). So, thinkof it mostly as a fruit inspection. Producing spiritual fruit is important because something will happen in Heaven that some Christians don�t know about. It will take place after the Rapture and before the SecondComing � it�s called the Judgment Seat of Christ. Every Christian will be present. Describing this judgment in 2 Corinthians 5:10, the apostle Paul wrote, �For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for thegood or evil we have done in this earthly body� (NLT). Think of this more like a heavenly awards ceremony. Do you want a participation ribbon or a winner�s trophy? If you�re a real Christian, there will be spiritual fruit in yourlife. There will be evidence that confirms you�re a follower of Jesus Christ. ------------------------ When a Nation Turns Its Back on God 2 Chronicles 33 Hezekiah was a god-fearing king who brought about reformation among the Israelites. His son Manasseh, however, was an evil ruler. He had watched his father walk with God and live according to Scripture. Yet he chose to ignore the Lord. Manasseh worshipped false gods, even to the point of sacrificing his sons by fire in order to praise Molech. He practiced much evil—including witchcraft and sorcery— and led Israel astray, thereby provoking God to anger. The king, along with the people,paid a high price for his rebellion. This story illustrates the Lord’s intolerance of a nation’s disregard toward Him. Now consider our country. We, too, are a nation that pushes God aside—one that has turned away from the only true God and embraced idols. Perhaps these aren’t statues of stone,but we worship money, sports ability, fame, and reputation, to name a few. The United States of America was founded on biblical principles with the intent to guarantee freedom of worship. But over time, we have removed the Lord from many aspects of public life. Prayer in schools, for instance, was deemed unconstitutional. What was once a “nation under God” has turned into a country that tolerates a growing number of sins and yet belittles absolute truth. If a nation turns its back on the Lord, His judgment is inevitable unless the people repent and make Him Lord once again. As believers, our responsibility is to pray that God would draw the heart of our country back to Himself—and to help the gospel andtruth spread through our land. ---------------- Sweet-SmellingSacrifice “I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell,a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” (Philippians4:18) The reference in this text goes back to the “sweet savour” that God smelled when Noah offered his initial sacrifice after disembarking from the year-long Flood. That offering triggered a promise from God that He would never again curse the earth or destroyevery living thing with water, as the Flood had done. Furthermore, the Lord promised to maintain the seasons and functions of the earth until the end (Genesis8:20-21). Later, Moses would bring the Lord’s instructions for those laws of Israel that would keep the nation separate from the rest of the world and constantly remind them of the very personal relationship that the Creator of all things was establishing with them.Some of the sacrifices would be an “offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD” (Numbers15:3). It is interesting to note that the twice-born are “unto God a sweet savour of Christ” (2Corinthians 2:15). Our very existence as His children smells good to our heavenly Father! We are also compared to living stones that are being built into a spiritual house that is “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). Our bodies are to be “living sacrifices” (Romans12:1) that render the “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews13:15), while God Himself is making us “perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews13:21). HMM III ---------------- Living in Grace By Kyle Norman “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” - 2 Corinthians 13:14 As an Anglican, the words “The Grace” are ingrained in how we do Church. Many of our church services either begin or end, with these words. These words do not just appear in our services; they are also the standard close for any Bible study, meeting, orpotluck. In fact, so familiar are we with these words, that some may not even recognize them as a passage of scripture. Of course, when Paul penned these words, he did not have in mind potlucks, Bible studies, or liturgical services; nor were these words designed simply to conclude his letter in a crisp and poetic fashion. Rather, in writing these words, Paul pronounces areality which encompasses the lives of all Christians. Simply, the words of the grace declare a truth about your life. This truth has three components. Firstly, the grace of Jesus Christ is upon you. Scripture uses the word “grace” as a shorthand for the entire redemptive activity of our Lord. The entire arc of salvation history is contained in this small 5-letter word.Grace is Jesus entering your world in the most vulnerable of fashions; It is him walking toward you amid threatening storms; It is Jesus touching you in the place of your brokenness and offering his healing presence. Grace is Jesus weeping with you as youmourn the losses and struggles of life; It is Jesus journeying into the place of death and sin, violence and pain, to dethrone their power over your life; It is Jesus rising in the power of God, and extending that resurrection like a blanket over you. Graceis the intimate presence of the Lord precisely in the places where you feel that you do not, or cannot, deserve it. When Paul writes “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. . .be with you” everything stated above is declared to be a truth for your life. In hearing these words, you are invited to live in this reality and to allow these promises to enfold you. Jesus,the exalted Lord, surrounds you. Paul does not stop there. Paul also writes about the reality of God’s love over you. I encourage you to sit with the awesomeness of this proclamation. Consider the sheer delight in being able to declare, under the authority of scripture, that the love ofthe creator surrounds you. The declaration of God’s love isn’t just something quaint we say. It is not a slogan of faith that sounds nice but lacks reality. No, God’s love is extended to you. This is a fact. Scripture is replete with declarations regarding the activity of God’s love upon our lives. No matter what is going on in life, no matter how far off course one may have gone, God surrounds us with the deepest expression of love that we can ever imagine.And to top it all off, such love will not change or diminish. It will not lessen in degree or intensity. The love of God is constant. Lastly, Paul concludes this life-giving verse by invoking the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. This statement refers to an active engagement with the Holy Spirit in our lives. This flows naturally out of the other two statements.If we truly recognize that we are immersed in our Lord’s redemptive work, and rooted in the sacrificial love of God, then how can we not see ourselves as filled with the power of Spirit? The Spirit invites us to participate in God’s activity in the world. We are invited to share in the work of the Kingdom. Intersecting Faith and life: How might you embody the words of The Grace in a deeper way? Perhaps the place to start is by acknowledging the area that you find most difficult and then choosing to live as if the words were true. For example, if you have a hard time accepting God’s love,simply choose to live as if God’s eternal love was a full reality for your life. Dare to believe that God’s eternal love is powerful and effective in your life. You may decide to make a list of biblical verses that speak of God’s love, and then wilfully readyourself into such verses. You just might be surprised at the transformation that takes place. The grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the activity of the Spirit surround you. There are no moments in your life where this is not the case. The fact is, the more you live as if these words are true, the more you experience their reality in your life. ---------------- Communicate Well “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.” (Philippians4:14) “Communicate” is one of the older words from the era of the King James Version that takes some reconnecting in order to clarify the term. Our use today normally means speaking, understanding one another, or simply passing on instructions. The Greek word is sugkoinoneo, a compound of the preposition “with” and the primary word for “participation.” The basic term is often translated “partner” or “partake” and is frequently connected with the act of sharing finances in the ministry of others. That is the application in the context of today’s verse. Paul commends the Philippian church for partnering withhim over his journeys and recognizing time and again the needs that were necessary to fulfill for the success of the ministry. Today, there are a vast array of charity-based organizations, from large hospitals and universities to local food and clothing distribution efforts. Most of those, by the way, were started by Christian groups as a way to “communicate” to the “affliction” ofmany. But how do we determine who among the many, or at what ratio, to attempt to distribute “to the necessity of saints” (Romans 12:13)? Two main principles must guide our “communication” in the Kingdom. First, it is clear that our New Testament responsibility is first to the church in which our Lord has placed us. Some disagree, but “storehouse” tithing appears to claim our first priority.Then there is opportunity to follow the specific leading of God among those ministries with which we are familiar and of whom we are confident that first seek the Kingdom of God (Matthew6:33). HMM III ---------------- Loving God Wholeheartedly By Anne Peterson “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13 Did you ever look for something you’ve lost? You’re retracing your steps, trying hard to remember when you last saw that item, and yet, you’re coming up empty. Maybe it’s because you’re not really engaged, just trying to go through the motions. Or how about when you are with someone, and they are having a conversation. You are there with them, but not completely. And you think you’re pulling it off, till they ask you a question, and then you’re forced to confess you weren’t really listening. Or here’s an even better example. You’re on the phone with someone and they’re explaining something to you in detail, when suddenly you interrupt and say, “Hey, listen to this!” And you share something you saw on the internet. Yes,I did this just today. And how did my brother feel? Unimportant. There have even been times when I’m reading the Bible, but when I get to the end of the passage, I don’t remember what I’ve read. It’s possible to do many things half-heartedly. Maybe that’s why God tells us that we’re to trust Him with our whole hearts(Proverbs 3:5). My Bible teacher had this gift I thought was rare. No matter who she was with, Lois made them feel as if they were the only one on earth. For that time we spent with her, we felt special. Like we really mattered. Do you know what really helped me know how to be present? A sweet baby granddaughter who now lives in heaven. Olivia was born with a genetic disorder, Trisomy 18. There would be many things she would never do, according to the doctors. But in her short 14months here on earth, she taught us the importance of being where we are. I learned if I wasn’t present with Livie, I might miss something. In Psalm 139, David describes how fully God knows him. God knows our thoughts before we verbalize them. And not only does he know our thoughts, but he knows our every movement. God studies us. Which reminds me of when I first knew my husband. I hung on every word he said. Wow, that has somehow changed through the years. But God is always leaning in to hear even words we whisper. This wonderful, loving Father, who doesn’t want to miss a thing, just like me and Livie. No wonder, as parents andgrandparents, we love those God gives us. He shows us how. God tells us we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). I heard a speaker expound on this passage sayingthat we are God’s poem. That seeped deep into my heart since I’m a poet. Actually, I’m a poem God knows by heart. David was called a man after God’s own heart. Maybe because David sought the Lord with his whole heart. It’s true, David made mistakes in his life, but when he did, he knew where to go—to God. Sometimes when we blow it, we don’t go to God, we try to hide. And yet, eventually, we realize that there is no place we can hide from God. He is omnipresent. And even the dark won’t hide us, because God is light, and there is no darkness in him (1John 1:5). I love to walk. One of my favorite places to walk is in the cemetery by my house. I can walk there in the morning and it feels like it’s only me and God there. And sometimes He’ll even have a deer or two show up. I like seeing the dew on the morning grass,making it shine like diamonds. It’s a time where I can’t help but remember the old hymn, In the Garden. It’s about walking with God, holding hands. I’ve walked in that cemetery for years. Through times when my heart was light and full of gratitude. Other times when I tried to process still another loss. And each and every time, I neverwalked alone. He and I walked together. Sometimes I start out by just praying and letting him know what’s on my heart. And often I will end up singing. It’s funny. Even on hard days when my heart has been burdened, I leave feeling lighter. Maybe I’m learning how to love God wholeheartedly. Intersecting Faith & Life: Yes, sometimes it may seem easier to love God with our whole hearts. While at other times we get swallowed up in the circumstances surrounding us. And yet, even in those times when we offer him half of our hearts, He still is attentive to us, ever patient, always loving. I’m so glad that we can read about David who knew he was loved by God and knew the door to God was always open. Father, I pray for anyone who may be struggling today. Perhaps they feel distance from you and don’t realize you are always there. The circumstances of their life are clouding their vision. Lord, draw them near to You. I pray this in Your Son’s preciousand Holy name. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Your Biggest Smile God, with all you have to do, I’ve never heard you say, “I’m sorry, but I’m busy now, come back another day.” You listen to my lengthy prayers, though others need you everywhere. You always wear your biggest smile, like I’m your only child. ---------------------- Christ's Strength “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians4:13) This little verse gets quoted out of context a lot. It is used to justify bizarre plans and dreams, as well as to suggest that every Christian should be rich and healthy all the time. Not only are such applications without any support in Scripture, they arecompletely out of the context of this passage. In the previous verses, Paul lists a variety of circumstances that he had faced, from poverty to wealth, learning to be “content” in each of these developments. Then he notes that he “can do all things” through the strength that the Lord provides during conflictingcircumstances. The “do” of this text is the prevailing of the power of God in which and by which we minister. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). The early church experienced a stunning growth in converts as it preached and testified of the resurrected Christ. This result, however, is due to the fact that the Word of God grew “mightily...and prevailed” (Acts19:20). Our fight is not a physical one. We wrestle against the great spiritual powers of wickedness that have their source in the heavenlies. The history of God’s people is replete with the battle that was begun in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve lost because theysought to deal with the issue on their own. We win or prevail only when we arm ourselves with God’s armor and become “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians6:10). HMM III ----------------- I Will Be with You By Emma Danzey Isaiah43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” When You Pass through the Waters Sometimes we need to be reminded that life is hard. There will be times when we pass through the waters. This means that there will be difficulties and challenges that we cannot avoid. Just like a sailor on a ship who is stuck in the midst of a storm on thewater, we too must face the trials of life. We do not get to escape hardship because we follow Christ. In fact, there is a guarantee that we will have hard times. When implies that everyone is going to go through tough times. We do not ever look forward to this, but the next line in Isaiah 43:2 brings the blessing and the comfort. It says, “I will be with you.” The Holy Spirit’s constant presence in our lives is the greatest gift. He is our great comforter. We find our peace and stability in Him even when life is chaotic around us. When You Pass through the Rivers The second part of verse 2 says, “When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” I cannot help but think about the Israelites coming to two very specific bodies of water, The Red Sea and the Jordan River. Both times, the Lord miraculouslyparted the waters for them to walk through. The first was in escape from their enemies, the second was in getting them to the promised land. When God makes a way for us in a seemingly dangerous place of uncertainty, we have to trust Him as we walk steps of faith forward. He promises that they will not sweep over you. Although we face trials, they cannot ever take away the faith and the salvation that we have in Jesus. He is our anchor. --------------------- Be Content “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians4:11) The English word “content” can bring up thoughts of indifference and mild temperament. Modern usage tends to give “content” a negative connotation, as though such an attitude has little ambition or drive. Not so of the Greek term that the Holy Spirit chose for this passage. It is composed of the pronoun for “self” and the noun for “sufficiency.” Both in Scripture and in secular Greek literature, the word demands an ability to conquer whatever circumstances thatmay oppose one’s purpose or goal and to continue through in spite of difficulties. The context of our text is a prime example. Paul had experienced hunger and satisfaction. He knew what it meant to be obscure and to be a celebrity. There were times when he had more than enough resources to accomplish what he understood God had called himto do, and other times when resources were very scarce. In whatever state he found himself, Paul had learned to be self-sufficient. Our problem is that we often are looking only at the physical and circumstantial issues and have not learned that our Lord Jesus provides grace that “is sufficient for thee: for [His] strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Corinthians 12:9). The resources of the omnipotent Godhead are enough for us to “be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews13:5). The self-sufficiency of the twice-born rests on the eternal fact that God “worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).HMM III ------------------- What to Do When Worry Comes By Betsy St. Amant Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things,and in him all things hold together. My teen daughter went to a concert in Dallas a few nights ago with her best friend and her best friend’s mom. This was a Big Deal, as you probably remember your first “real” concert and how cool it was—and how cool you felt! I was excited for her—but notso much for me. As a mother, I struggle with anxiety, especially when I’m away from my kids. I think we all do in some form because mothers are wired that way—to nurture, to protect. Sometimes, though, that natural, God-given wiring can glitch a little into full-blown anxiety. When my daughter left on this trip, I expected the worry to come. I anticipated it, even. I knew that having worrisome thoughts did not mean it was a premonitionof disaster. It was simply anxiety, it was normal, and it would pass. I was all fired up to walk this out well and overcome my typical patterns of worry. The plan was that after the concert, the three of them would drive back to the friend’s house in townand crash for the night, then I’d pick up my teen the next morning after they’d slept in and recovered. After the concert was over, they texted me as expected to let me know they were in the car and heading home. It was around 10:30 p.m., and it would be a good three-hour drive. I knew the mom in charge was trustworthy and competent (and a good friend of mine!),and I had no reason to worry. In fact, you might even say I basked in the fact that I wasn’t worrying at all as I tracked my daughter’s progress down I-20 on a phone app. I marveled at how non-panicky I was as I watched them inch their way down the gray highwayline on my map. I was doing so great! At 10:45, they told me they were heading to a well-known truck stop/souvenir shop to gas up and get snacks, and they would let me know when they arrived safe and sound back at the friend’s house. After monitoring their progress on my app for about an hour,I finally fell asleep around 11:30. At 12:30, I abruptly woke up. I immediately checked my app, but it wasn’t updating. No matter how many times I refreshed the page, it simply would not give me my daughter’s location after 11:30 p.m. That’s when the worry struck. I knew, deep down in the logical part of my heart and brain, that nothing was wrong, that she was probably just in a bad service area, or that her phone had run out of charge after spending hours taking video and photos of theconcert. I texted the mom, who was driving and likely not going to see the text anyway and waited. Nothing. That’s when the not-so-logical part of my heart and brain immediately assumed that surely, they’d all three been kidnapped at the gas station and their phones smashed. That was the only remaining option. (Illogical fears make so much more sense in the middleof the night!) I tried to go back to sleep, but my thoughts refused to stop churning and generating various new disasters that could explain the silence. (Sometimes, it’s really difficult to be a fiction author with a good imagination!) Finally, I remembered I also had the best friend’s phone number, so I shot her a quick text. Within three minutes, she wrote back. All was well. They were sugared up and halfway home. Oops. can watch what’s happening from afar when we have information exactly when we want it, and when all is going according to plan. It’s a lot harder to trust when we’re stripped of our resources and suddenly very aware of how much we’re not in control. I was no longer proud of myself. And then I realized (thank you, Holy Spirit!) that my pride was based on illusion, anyway. All those hours prior, I wasn’t overcoming anxiety—I was simply believing I was in control. Everything was going my way. That’s a huge difference! It wasn’t that I was trusting God—I was trustingmyself and technology and communication. Oops again. Colossians 1 reminds us that in Christ, all things hold together. They’re not held together in smartphones. Or in tracking apps. Or in padded bank accounts or thriving romantic relationships or in corporate ladder climbing. In today’s world of upgraded technology, instant communication,and easy access, it’s tempting to trust in the wrong things. Where is your trust today? If you struggle with anxiety and worry, you’re not alone. And for believers, there’s no condemnation in Christ, so don’t beat yourself up over those middle-of-the-night fears. Instead, learn from them. Create a resource of Scripture that you can go to whenthe worry strikes (because it will). Reassure yourself that God is in control, and that’s exactly how it should be. After all, at the end of the day, I don’t think you and I truly want that responsibility! He’s much better at it than us. And He doesn’t evenneed an app. -------------- When a Fellow Christian Stumbles Galatians6:1-5 The Lord doesn't want the members of His body to live in isolation; believers are intended to function as a loving family who actively care for each other. One of our responsibilities as part of God's household is to come alongside a brother or sister whohas stumbled. Paul specifies that those "who are spiritual" are to restore the fallen ones to fellowship with the Father and the family. "Spiritual" doesn't mean some elite group of pious leaders; it refers to any Christians who are living under the Spirit'scontrol. A key element in this process is the attitude of the one who seeks to restore a fellow Christian. A Spirit of Gentleness: This isn't a time for harshness, anger, judgment, or condemnation. Our goal is not to heap pain and guilt upon a hurting brother or sister but to show mercy and forgiveness (2Cor. 2:5-8). -------------------- When a Fellow Christian Stumbles Galatians 6:1-5 The Lord doesn't want the members of His body to live in isolation; believers are intended to function as a loving family who actively care for each other. One of our responsibilities as part of God's household is to come alongside a brother or sister whohas stumbled. Paul specifies that those "who are spiritual" are to restore the fallen ones to fellowship with the Father and the family. "Spiritual" doesn't mean some elite group of pious leaders; it refers to any Christians who are living under the Spirit'scontrol. A key element in this process is the attitude of the one who seeks to restore a fellow Christian. A Spirit of Gentleness: This isn't a time for harshness, anger, judgment, or condemnation. Our goal is not to heap pain and guilt upon a hurting brother or sister but to show mercy and forgiveness (2Cor. 2:5-8). ---------------- Dressed for the Wedding - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. �Revelation 19:8 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/dressed-for-the-wedding/- Listen On more than one occasion the Bible compares the church to a bride and Jesus to the groom. In fact, Jesus used this illustration many times in His parables. For example, Hetold the story about the wedding of a king�s son. But there was a wedding guest who wasn�t wearing the proper garment, so the king cast him out. This is a picture of people who think they don�t need to believe in Jesus to get into Heaven�s great Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Jesus also told a parable about ten bridesmaids. Five were wise and five were foolish. The wise bridesmaids had oil in their lamps when the cry went out that the bridegroomwas coming. At weddings today, we place a great emphasis on the bride. With the guests in their seats, the music begins, and everyone stands up to see the bride coming down the aisle,usually escorted by her father. Then she�s joined to the groom. But at first-century weddings, everyone waited for the groom, not the bride, and no one knew when he was arriving. If you happened to be asleep when the bridegroom showedup, you would miss the wedding. Jesus used this illustration to show us that we need to be ready for His return. The book of Revelation, referring to Marriage Supper of the Lamb and His bride, tells us, �And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints� (19:8 NKJV). This doesn�t mean that we must live a perfect life to go to Heaven, because we�re not saved by human effort. Jesus purchased our salvation. But �the righteous acts of thesaints� are what we�ve done in light of that fact. Works don�t save us, but they are good evidence that we are saved. ---------------- A Judgment of Faithfulness - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Don�t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! �1 Corinthians 9:24 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-judgment-of-faithfulness/- Listen I have five grandkids, so I�ve noticed the trend in youth sports today is to not keep score. This is to stress the idea that there are no winners or losers. Everyone is awinner. That sounds good, but it isn�t true in life. And it isn�t true in the Bible, either. In the Bible there are winners, and there are losers. On more than one occasion, Scripture compares the Christian life to running arace. For instance, the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24, �Don�t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!� (NLT). If you�re competing in the Olympics, you go for the gold. And if you�re living as a Christian, you should go for the gold as well. Run to win. That doesn�t mean we�re competingwith our fellow believers. Our competition, if you will, is the world, flesh, and Devil. Again, Paul wrote, �For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whethergood or bad� (2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV). In the original language, the word �bad� isn�t referring to evil but to worthlessness. God will ask about our faithfulness on that final day and what we�ve done with the opportunitiesthat He set before us. If we were faithful, we will hear Him say, �Well done, good and faithful servant,� not �Well done, good and successful servant.� God will hold me accountable for what He has called me to do, and He will hold you accountable for what He has called you to do. So, we need to be faithful and do the bestwe can do. God wants you to be a winner in the race of life. ---------------------------- God Is Always in Control Isaiah 45:5-7 I admit that I often don�t understand why bad things happen. Even so, I believe that God has a purpose for everything He does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Ps. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe,the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours. When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, �God, Why is this happening?� Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don�t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even ourmost painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to �cause all things to work together for good to those who love God� (Rom. 8:28). Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn�t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father�sgood handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours. As believers, we must accept that God won�t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isa.55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin. -------------------------- Call on Jesus Because He Cares for You By Clarence L. Haynes Jr. �The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, �Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!� � Matthew 20:31 If you are not familiar with the whole story here is the skinny. Jesus is leaving Jericho and two blind men were on the side of the road. When they heard Jesus was coming by, they shouted out for Jesus� help. The crowd told these men to shut up and be quiet.Despite the size of the crowd and their rebuke, these men ignored them and shouted even louder. When they shouted louder, Jesus heard them and came to help them. When my son was born, he had to go into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) because of some issues he faced after birth. If you have never experienced this, it takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Your child is born, you can hold him briefly,but then he is whisked away and put on machines to help him breathe. You can imagine the myriad of emotions that you go through, from the excitement of your child entering the world to concern wondering if he is going to make it. As a parent, especially ofyour firstborn child, this is a ride you don�t expect, nor do you want to stay on very long. If there was ever a time to yell stop the ride I want to get off, this was it. --------------------- The Dangers of False Teaching Galatians 1:6-9 The Word of God is truth that's living and able to penetrate human souls (Heb. 4:12). Consider how powerful Scripture is: it can changehearts, save lives from eternal condemnation, and give hope to the hopeless. Is it any wonder, then, that the Bible is a battlefield of Satan? The Devil will do his best to destroy its message and truth. In fact, this has been our Enemy's continuous goal since he chose to turn from God. Our heavenly Father has graciously let us know in advance the outcome of this ongoing battle: Truth will prevail. But while the Lord has the ultimate victory, Satan can gain ground among individuals. His tactics are dangerous and deceptive to the unsuspecting.For this reason, we should carefully guard against his attacks, which are hard to recognize unless we are prepared. False teaching is one of Satan's preferred tactics for leading us astray. At first glance, such instruction often seems to align with Scripture, but do not be misled by the deception. Two things are essential for standing firm against these slippery falsehoods:to be well grounded in the truth of God's Word and to listen to His Spirit. Only then can we recognize the error and avoid the pitfalls of Satan's lies. The Enemy longs to mislead believers so they'll be ineffective for the kingdom. He also wants to keep all unsaved souls far from salvation through Jesus Christ. Friends, prepare for battle. Grow in the knowledge of truth, and lean on God's Spirit to guide you moment by moment. --------------------------- God'sGrace �The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.� (Philippians4:23) The basic form of today�s verse appears 13 times in the New Testament. In Scripture, repetition is not for lack of something to say but the Holy Spirit�s intentional emphasis on something. God extends His grace to the very creation itself by merely keeping the universe together (2Peter 3:7), intending thereby to �speak� and supply knowledge (Psalm19:1-4) sufficient to display His very nature and power in such a way that there can be �no excuse� about His existence and care for humanity (Romans1:20). In seven of the 13 times, this �grace of our Lord Jesus Christ� is focused on �you.� God�s grace is very personal. Everything that He has done is because He loves you and me beyond any grasp of our earthly imagination. No one is beyond the touch of God�s grace: �For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men� (Titus2:11). �We love him, because he first loved us� (1John 4:19). Once, in contrast, God says some will turn �the grace of our God into lasciviousness� and deny Him who has bought and paid for all the horrible sin that they embraced to spite such grace (Jude1:4). No wonder the apostle Paul calls such people �abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate� (Titus1:16). The Lord twice focuses His grace on our spirits, indicating God�s intimate knowledge of our innermost thoughts (Romans8:26). Paul noted that God�s grace is �exceeding abundant with faith and love� (1Timothy 1:14), and he insisted that His grace is designed to be �glorified in you� (2Thessalonians 1:12). Like today�s verse, most of the prayers for us end in �Amen.� And that�s the way it should be. HMM III ------------------------ Monkeys in the middle � Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com Joe Biden in Japan Monday said that America is �going through an incredible transition� to �be less reliant on fossil fuels.� And herein is why, according to the US Departmentof Agriculture, a family of four on a thrifty food plan will pay $917 for groceries in May, up about 65% from a year ago. It�s also why gasoline prices have jumped over 53% from $2.46 a gallon when Biden first took office to $4.56 a gallon on Monday. A �transition,� as he calls it away from fossil fuels. This isn�t a transition, it is a blunt force political hammer that smashes the budgets of families around the world and causes hunger, malnutrition and starvation. This is inhumane stupidity. A �transition� would be enactinga plan over a reasonable time. Biden also has been working under the radar to turn over America�s sovereignty to the World Health Organization. Biden wants to allow WHO to establish world governing authorityunder the guise of a health emergency. This unprecedented expansion of powers is an addition to international regulations agreed to in 2005 in response to the SARS epidemic of 2003 where the 194 WHO member countries agreed to submit their sovereignty to WHOwhen it comes to handling pandemics such as COVID. This places WHO in the position of a world dictator using self-defined health �emergencies� to decree travel, religious worship, privacy and body autonomy (read: forced vaccinations and social credit system). We saw how WHO handled COVID with forced protocols, mandates, quarantining of healthy people, coerced vaccinations, banning effective treatments, and censorship. Lives weredestroyed by WHO�s governance and the Centers For Disease Control�s strict adherence to WHO�s brand of science. Just look at what WHO is doing with the new fake crisis�Monkeypox. WHO issued a statement Saturday, ��cases have mainly but not exclusively beenidentified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM)�The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries.� Now the United Nations is cautioning people about how they discussmonkeypox because it doesn�t want to �reinforce homophobic and racist stereotypes and exacerbate stigma.� What? And Biden told a news conference in Japan that monkeypox �is something that everybody should be concerned about.� But Joe, not everyone is homosexual. White House nationalsecurity adviser Jake Sullivan later told reporters that the US has vaccines ready to deploy that are �relevant to treating monkeypox.� I bet they do. And the cycle begins again. Biden and Global organizations are playing keep away with fundamental human freedoms.We are the monkeys in the middle. Proverbs 29:2 says, ��when the wicked rule, the people mourn.� Whether it�s food, gas, or disease, the pox on many a house is brought by these leaders and those who put them in office�say it with me�Stupidocrisy. --------------------------------- I Am the Door By Emma Danzey John 10:9-10 says, �I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.� Why Does Jesus Call Himself the Door? In claiming that He is the door, Jesus is saying that He is the only way to heaven. He is the only way to receive forgiveness for sins. He is the only way in. The context of this verse is found just before Jesus makes that statement that He is the Good Shepherd.The original Greek word in Strong�s concordance is thyra, meaning �a door.� Jesus is referencing a gate to the sheep to enter through. Believers in Christ are the sheep in HIs pasture. He is our Good Shepherd who welcomes us in. A door indicates that not everyone can come inside. When we think about our modern-day homes, most of us have front doors with locks on them. Those who we know who know us are welcome to come in, but we would never allow a stranger to come inside our houseuninvited. Jesus is saying that He is inviting all people to Himself. He is welcoming all people to come and knock on the door of salvation and receive His free gift. However, not everyone chooses to accept His invitation. Those who remain on the outside might see the door as offensive or exclusive, but in reality, the dooris open for them if they knock. -------------------------------- Lazarusand the Rich Man �And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham�s bosom: the richman also died, and was buried.� (Luke16:22) Many scholars believe that the episode reported in Luke 16:19-31 actually happened, that it is a true story. If it is a parable, it is not identified as such, and it is the only one in which the name of a participant is given. Christ related the story as ifit were true. But whether history or parable, we can learn much from the contrast between these two dramatically different men, their deaths and destinies. The rich man, of course, surrounded himself with luxury (v. 19) while Lazarus struggled each day just to survive until the next poverty-filled and pain-wracked day (vv. 20-21). No one can escape the grave, however, and in the passage of time both died. But, rather than reducing those two different individuals to the commonality of death, their differences actually are heightened. The rich man, �being in torments� (v. 23), was awareof the comfort of Lazarus in �Abraham�s bosom� (v. 22). The interchange between the rich man and Abraham, and the timeless instruction Christ gave, are well known. Note also the contrast between �carried� and �buried� in our text. The beggar�s body was no doubt unceremoniously dumped into a pauper�s grave, while the rich man�s corpse was placed in a costly sepulcher and his funeral attended by many friends and mourners.But look beyond the earthly spectrum. While the rich man begs for mercy and relief from torment, the poor man�s eternal spirit is �carried� (literally �carried off� or �borne away�) by a convoy of angelic beings into the presence of God, where �now he is comforted� (v. 25). For Lazarus, and indeed for all who die in the Lord, �death is swallowed up in victory� (1Corinthians 15:54). JDM ----------------- God Keeps His Promises - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True. �Revelation 19:11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/god-keeps-his-promises/- Listen We all have our happy places; things we like to do. Some people think that judgment is God�s happy place. In the nonbeliever�s mind, God is never fair in what He does. When people go out and break the laws that God gave usfor our own protection and then face the inevitable consequences, they shake a fist in His face and blame Him. But the fact is that He is faithful and true. The Bible says, �Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True� (Revelation19:11 NKJV). And God keeps His promises. Jesus said, �I will never leave you nor forsake you� (Hebrews 13:5 nkjv). He said, �Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as theworld gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid� (John 14:27 NKJV). Has the Lord not kept His promises to you? He will keep all His promises, including His promise to come again (see John 14:2�3). This is in contrast to the Devil, who lies. As Jesus said to the Pharisees, �For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies� (John 8:44 NLT). We read in Scripture that God is �not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance� (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) and that He has �no pleasure in the death ofthe wicked� (Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV). Our Lord is faithful and true.