DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 9.7.24

 People of Purpose - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. —Psalm 25:21 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/people-of-purpose-3/- Listen As Hebrew captives in Babylon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a culture that was largely hostile to their beliefs. And we live in a similar culture today. As followers of Jesus Christ, we’re constantly under pressure to compromise, cave in, shut up, and do what everyone else tells us we ought to be doing. We need to be people of integrity andprinciple because our culture will challenge our principles in every way. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were supposed to eat at the king’s table. But they declined. It almost seems minor. Why would they not do it? Probably because some of those foods wereoffered to false gods. In the minds of these four young Hebrew men, it would have been a compromise of God’s commandments. Daniel 1:8 tells us, “But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptablefoods” (NLT). He basically said to the chief of staff, “I’ll make you a deal. Let my friends and me just eat vegetables and water. Everyone else can eat all this other stuff, and we’ll see who fares betterafter a period of time.” And as time passed, sure enough, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel did well. They were more robust than those who had been eating at the king’s table. These four made a stand in a seemingly small area. When they were tested later in bigger ones, their character, which had been formed well earlier in life, withstood the tests. A question people often ask me as a pastor is whether it’s okay for a Christian to do this or that. I am always a little concerned with questions like this. We might loosely paraphrase themthis way: How much can I get away with and still technically be a Christian? Is it all right to listen to this? Is it all right to go do that? Is it okay to do this with my friends? Those are not always easy questions to answer. But when it comes to those so-called gray areas of life, here are four questions we should ask ourselves: Does this build me up spiritually?Does this bring me under its power? Do I have an uneasy conscience about this? Could this cause someone else to stumble? The apostle Paul wrote, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial” (1 Corinthians10:23 NLT). For Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel, refusing to eat at the table of the king meant putting themselves in jeopardy. Yet the Bible tells us, “Daniel was determined not to defile himselfby eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods” (Daniel 1:8 NLT). That is what we need today. More people of purpose. ---------------------------- A Long-Standing Habit Continued - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. �2 Samuel 22:26 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-long-standing-habit-continued/- Listen What is character, or integrity? It is who you are when you�re all alone, when there is no one around to impress. It has been said that the measure of real character is how someone would behaveif they knew they never would be found out. We could apply that principle to a lot of things in life. Why do we not do this, or why do we not do that? It�s usually because we don�t want to get caught doing something wrong. For instance, why do people observe the speed limit? It�s because they don�t want to get pulled over by the police, evidenced by the fact that when the highway patrol shows up, everyone slowsdown. We obey the law for fear of the repercussions. That is where integrity comes in. It picks up where the fear of being caught leaves off. Fear is a fine deterrent, and it has its place. But a better deterrent�or a better motive, if you will�iswanting to do what is right. D. L. Moody defined character as �what we are in the dark.� What do you think about the most when you�re all alone? What shows do you watch? What websites do you visit? What would they tellpeople about you? What makes you sad? What makes you mad? And what makes you laugh? An old German proverb says, �A man shows his character by what he laughs at.� Everyone has character of some kind. When we�re young, we lay a foundation that we will build on for the rest of our lives. If you are doing the right thing now, you will likely do it right later. And if you are not doing theright thing now, chances are you won�t do it right later, either. In other words, if you cheat in practice, you will cheat in the game. If you cheat on the test, you will cheat later with the r�sum�. If you cheat on your boyfriend or girlfriend, then youprobably will cheat on your husband or wife later. You see, what you are doing now only will be magnified tomorrow. Character is simply a long habit continued. The Old Testament Book of Daniel includes the story of four young people who had strong character and integrity. Their names were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Now, when we thinkof Daniel, our minds usually race to the account of Daniel in the lions� den. And when we think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we usually think of them being thrown into the fiery furnace. These were dramatic displays of faith on their part. But early on, when they were very young, they laid the foundation for the decisions they made later in life. When you�re young, you develop habits that will continue throughout your life.You are setting your course. You�re making big decisions, but you�re also developing patterns for the way you live and what you do. You can accomplish a lot of things in life, but in the end, if you don�t have integrity, your accomplishments will amount to little. --------------------------- SpeakingEvil of Dignities �But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuousare they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.� (2Peter 2:10) In context here, Peter is speaking of the false teachers who would later come into the Christian community, leading many to �follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of� (2Peter 2:2). Among other characteristics, these teachers would �despise government� and �speak evil of dignities.� In context, it seems clear that the �government� Peter has in mind primarily is the divine government that was established by God for the universe (the �principalities and powers in heavenly places��Ephesians3:10) and the �dignities� refer to the angels�even those that have rebelled and now follow Satan. Jude notes in a similar passage that even the archangel Michael spoke respectfully to Satan, the premier fallen angel (Jude1:8-9). Therefore, it is carnally arrogant and dangerous for men to insult or ridicule such powerful beings. They are for God to judge and deal with in His own time and way. And the same must be true of human �dignities� and �government.� We must remember that �the powers that be are ordained of God� (Romans13:1) and that �the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will,� and sometimes He even �setteth up over it the basest of men� (Daniel4:17). Even if we live in a republic and can participate in the selection of our leaders, our main responsibility is to �be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle,shewing all meekness unto all men� (Titus3:1-2). HMM ------------------------ Growin Grace �But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both nowand for ever. Amen.� (2Peter 3:18) These last words of the apostle Peter urge us to grow in each of two important phases of the Christian life�grace and knowledge. Such growth into Him in all things (Ephesians4:15) will indeed give glory to Him, now and forever. When we first become Christians, we are newborn babes (Greek brephos, 1 Peter 2:2). Our spiritual birth has been by the Word of God (1Peter 1:23) on the basis of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1Peter 1:3). As the Christian life began with the Word, it can only grow on the Word. �As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby� (1Peter 2:2). Here, �of the word� is the Greek logikos, elsewhere used only in Romans 12:1 where it is translated �reasonable.� It is the source of our English word �logical.� New Christians must feed on unadulterated, logical truth if they are to grow, and this can be found only in the Holy Scriptures. There is another word used for babes: Greek nepios, �without speech.� This word is used for toddlers, old enough to walk but not yet able to speak plainly or to act unselfishly. It is used for �carnal� Christians. �I, brethren, could not speak untoyou as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat� (1Corinthians 3:1-2). Carnality in Christians is arrested growth at the �babes in Christ� stage and is clearly abnormal. Such stumbling, quarrelsome babes need to be fed with meat as well as milk if they are to grow: �For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:for he is a babe� (Hebrews5:13). May the Lord enable us to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! HMM ---------------------- ThePower of the Saints �The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe.� (Ephesians1:19) The power of the triune Creator, as displayed in the resurrection of Christ, is directed toward us! We will never fully comprehend that, but the Scriptures provide several clear statements that will help us gain a small grasp on this magnificent resource. •We receive power when the Holy Spirit indwells us (Acts1:8). The Holy Spirit takes up residence in everyone who is twice-born (John14:17) and is therefore readily accessible to all believers (Ephesians3:20). •We use the power of God every time we preach the gospel (Romans1:16), whether to one person or to thousands (1Corinthians 1:18). •We learn of the power of God through �great and precious promises.� Indeed, those promises involve �all things that pertain unto life and godliness� (2Peter 1:3-4). •We see the results of God�s power in our lives when we are �strengthened with all might� so we demonstrate �all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness� (Colossians1:11). The Lord desires �that [we] might be filled with all the fulness of God� (Ephesians3:19) and be �strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man� (v. 16). The purpose of this empowering is to be �rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith� (Colossians2:7), �able to comprehend...the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know [!] the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge� (Ephesians3:18-19). �Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen� (vv. 20-21). HMM III ------------------------ WhosoeverWill May Come �And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for inmount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.� (Joel2:32) �God is no respecter of persons� (Acts10:34). Yet in the above �whosoever� passage of the Old Testament, it is clear that those who �call on the name of the LORD� were the same as �the remnant whom the LORD shall call.� Those who call on the Lord have first been called by the Lord. He accepts all those who call on Him from every nation, but no doubt their geographical location to a large extent determines whether they will even hear of Him, and �how then shall they callon him...of whom they have not heard?� (Romans10:14). Theologians of great intellect have wrestled with these questions for centuries without resolving them, at least to the satisfaction of those of different mental persuasion. On the practical level, however, the Holy Spirit led Peter to quote this passage inhis great sermon on the Day of Pentecost: �And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved� (Acts2:21). Peter was speaking only to Jews, but they had assembled at Jerusalem �out of every nation under heaven� (Acts2:5). Then Paul made it forever plain that �whosoever� applied to everyone when he also quoted Joel. �For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call uponthe name of the Lord shall be saved� (Romans10:12-13). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on the very last page of Scripture, says: �Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely� (Revelation22:17). So, whosoever will may come! One can contemplate later, with deep thanksgiving, the mysteries of the divine call, but first he must come, and if he so wills, he may! HMM --------------------------- Conformedto His Image �And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.� (1Corinthians 15:49) One of the most amazing promises of the Word of God is that those who �love God� and are �the called according to his purpose� are those whom �he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans8:28-29). Adam and Eve were created in His image in the beginning. �So God created man in his own image...male and female created he them� (Genesis1:27). Perhaps part of this means they were created in the physical form that God knew He would assume when, in the fullness of time, the Son would become man Himself, Jesus Christ. That image was marred when Adam (and, in Adam, all men) sinned. Nevertheless, it can be restored spiritually when we receive Christ and �put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him� (Colossians3:10). But this is not all. As our text reveals, we who now bear a fallen, earthly image (both physically and spiritually) will also in due time receive a heavenly image. This will take place when Christ returns. At that time, �we shall all be changed, in a moment,in the twinkling of an eye...and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed� (1Corinthians 15:51-52). In what way shall we be changed? The Lord Jesus Himself �shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body� (Philippians3:21). After His resurrection, His body was still His physical body, but it was no longer subject to pain or death and could speed rapidly from Earth to heaven. That is �the image of the heavenly� to which we shall be conformed some day soon! For �we knowthat, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is� (1John 3:2). HMM ------------------------- TheGlory of the Lord �So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filledthe house of God.� (2Chronicles 5:14) With the coming of the Shekinah glory cloud into the great house, God showed His acceptance of Solomon�s beautiful temple as His symbolic earthly dwelling place. This had happened once before in the wilderness. �Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle� (Exodus40:34). But as the glory once departed when the Ark of the Covenant was taken from the tabernacle by the Philistines (1Samuel 4:22), so it later also departed when Solomon�s temple was plundered by the Babylonians and the people carried into exile (2Chronicles 36:17-20; Ezekiel 10:18; 11:23). It returned for a time when �the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [literally, �tabernacled�] among us, (and we beheld his glory),� at least in a spiritual sense (John1:14). On one occasion, Christ�s glory shone through in a physical sense: �And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and...they saw his glory� (Luke9:29-32) on the Mount of the Transfiguration. There is also a great day coming when the ascended Lord will return with His heavenly temple, �coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory� (Matthew24:30), even as �the glory of the Lord shone round about them� (Luke2:9) at His first coming. His glory will be present forever when the heavenly tabernacle, the New Jerusalem, comes to Earth (Revelation21:3-10), �having the glory of God� (v. 11). In this present age, the body of each believer �is the temple of the Holy Ghost,� and he must �therefore glorify God in [his] body� (1Corinthians 6:19-20). �For God...hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ� (2Corinthians 4:6). HMM -------------------------- WhosoeverWill May Come �And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for inmount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.� (Joel2:32) �God is no respecter of persons� (Acts10:34). Yet in the above �whosoever� passage of the Old Testament, it is clear that those who �call on the name of the LORD� were the same as �the remnant whom the LORD shall call.� Those who call on the Lord have first been called by the Lord. He accepts all those who call on Him from every nation, but no doubt their geographical location to a large extent determines whether they will even hear of Him, and �how then shall they callon him...of whom they have not heard?� (Romans10:14). Theologians of great intellect have wrestled with these questions for centuries without resolving them, at least to the satisfaction of those of different mental persuasion. On the practical level, however, the Holy Spirit led Peter to quote this passage inhis great sermon on the Day of Pentecost: �And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved� (Acts2:21). Peter was speaking only to Jews, but they had assembled at Jerusalem �out of every nation under heaven� (Acts2:5). Then Paul made it forever plain that �whosoever� applied to everyone when he also quoted Joel. �For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call uponthe name of the Lord shall be saved� (Romans10:12-13). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on the very last page of Scripture, says: �Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely� (Revelation22:17). So, whosoever will may come! One can contemplate later, with deep thanksgiving, the mysteries of the divine call, but first he must come, and if he so wills, he may! HMM ------------------------ TheBeliever's Judgment �For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shallthe end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?� (1Peter 4:17) There is a terrible day of judgment coming for those who reject Christ, but for those who do believe the gospel and trust the Lord Jesus for salvation, �there is therefore now no condemnation [i.e., judgment]� (Romans8:1). Yet, our text tells us that judgment actually begins with those who obey the gospel! This apparent contradiction vanishes when one realizes that it is merely for the purpose of preparing those who are already saved to serve Him in eternity. When a believer sins, he should judge and confess that sin. �For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged� (1Corinthians 11:31), and God will forgive (1John 1:9). If he does not, however, the next phase of judgment is the chastening of God. �But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world� (1Corinthians 11:32). The classic passage on the believer�s chastening (Hebrews12:5-11) concludes with the assurance that its purpose is to yield �the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby� (Hebrews12:11). But when such chastening fails to work, the next judgment may even be physical death. �There is sin unto death� (1John 5:16). �To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus� (1Corinthians 5:5). Finally, all Christians must �appear before the judgment seat of Christ� (2Corinthians 5:10), where �every one of us shall give account of himself to God� (Romans14:12). There, some �shall suffer loss.� Nevertheless, each person at this judgment �shall be saved� (1Corinthians 3:14-15). But, as our text continues, �if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?� (1Peter 4:18). HMM ------------------------- Labor �We beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do yourown business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.� (1Thessalonians 4:10-12) On Labor Day, we traditionally take time to recognize the great workforce here in America. From factories to restaurants, from typing pools to machine shops, from schoolrooms to gas stations, laborers help make the economy run, and on this day America honorsits workforce. The Bible likewise frequently commends those who work. For example: �Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth� (Ephesians4:28). Several of the words in our text are significant. The verbs �increase...study...be...do...work...walk...lack� are all in the tense implying a habit or lifestyle. We are thus commended to have a mindset of work, not laziness or expecting others to do for uswhat we can do for ourselves. The word �honestly� elsewhere is translated �decently� or �properly� and is emphasized in the Greek. There is a proper way to walk. Perhaps Paul was referring to his own example: �For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you� (1Thessalonians 2:9). Note that an admonition to continue in �brotherly love� (v. 9) is the context of our text. For one who refuses to work and becomes a burden to society exhibits a lack of brotherly love and is a reproach to the community of Christ. Laborers are honored in Scripture, and so is labor. JDM --------------------------- TheGlory of the Lord �So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filledthe house of God.� (2 Chronicles 5:14) With the coming of the Shekinah glory cloud into the great house, God showed His acceptance of Solomon�s beautiful temple as His symbolic earthly dwelling place. This had happened once before in the wilderness. �Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle� (Exodus 40:34). But as the glory once departed when the Ark of the Covenant was taken from the tabernacle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:22), so it later also departed whenSolomon�s temple was plundered by the Babylonians and the people carried into exile (2 Chronicles 36:17-20; Ezekiel 10:18; 11:23). It returned for a time when �the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [literally, �tabernacled�] among us, (and we beheld his glory),� at least in a spiritual sense (John1:14). On one occasion, Christ�s glory shone through in a physical sense: �And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and...they saw his glory� (Luke9:29-32) on the Mount of the Transfiguration. There is also a great day coming when the ascended Lord will return with His heavenly temple, �coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory� (Matthew24:30), even as �the glory of the Lord shone round about them� (Luke 2:9) at His first coming. His glory will be present forever when the heavenly tabernacle,the New Jerusalem, comes to Earth (Revelation 21:3-10), �having the glory of God� (v. 11). In this present age, the body of each believer �is the temple of the Holy Ghost,� and he must �therefore glorify God in [his] body� (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). �For God...hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ� (2 Corinthians 4:6). HMM ----------------------------- TheBeliever's Judgment �For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shallthe end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?� (1 Peter 4:17) There is a terrible day of judgment coming for those who reject Christ, but for those who do believe the gospel and trust the Lord Jesus for salvation, �there is therefore now no condemnation [i.e., judgment]� (Romans8:1). Yet, our text tells us that judgment actually begins with those who obey the gospel! This apparent contradiction vanishes when one realizes that it is merely for the purpose of preparing those who are already saved to serve Him in eternity. When a believer sins, he should judge and confess that sin. �For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged� (1 Corinthians 11:31), and God willforgive (1 John 1:9). If he does not, however, the next phase of judgment is the chastening of God. �But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord,that we should not be condemned with the world� (1 Corinthians 11:32). The classic passage on the believer�s chastening (Hebrews12:5-11) concludes with the assurance that its purpose is to yield �the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby� (Hebrews12:11). But when such chastening fails to work, the next judgment may even be physical death. �There is sin unto death� (1 John 5:16). �To deliver such an one untoSatan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus� (1 Corinthians 5:5). Finally, all Christians must �appear before the judgment seat of Christ� (2 Corinthians 5:10), where �every one of us shall give account of himself to God� (Romans 14:12). There, some �shall suffer loss.� Nevertheless, each person at this judgment �shall be saved� (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). But, as our text continues, �if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodlyand sinner appear?� (1 Peter 4:18). HMM ----------------------- EvenThere - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. �Psalm 139:8 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/even-there/- Listen I believe there is an epidemic of suicide today. But suicide doesn�t solve problems; it simply hurls a person immediately into eternity, into the presence of God Almighty, with all their problemsunresolved. Meanwhile, it leaves their loved ones grieving and often blaming themselves. Death does not hide us from God. God is present everywhere, on both sides of the grave. The psalmist David wrote, �If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there� (Psalm 139:8 NLT). Distance does not separate us from God. David went on to say, �If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strengthwill support me� (verses 9�10 NLT). No matter where we go, He is there. He is watching over us. Of course, Jonah discovered this truth about God after he thought he�d successfully escaped from God. He was asleep on a boat when a great storm arose, and God snatched him up and put himinside a fish He had prepared to get Jonah back in line. In that case, this act of God was a disciplining one. The day will come in the future of the church when we will be taken into the presence of God. We call this the Rapture. Jesus said, �There is more than enough room in my Father�s home. Ifthis were not 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 14:2�3 NLT). The phrase �I will come and get you� also could be translated �I will take you by force� or �I will snatch you.� Jesus was saying there will be a generation on this earth (and we may be that generation) that will not see death but will be taken immediately into the presence of God. He will snatch themaway. So, not only will Jesus hold us while we are on this planet, but it just may be that He will come and pull us off this earth in the Rapture if it happens in our lifetime. David also pointed out that darkness does not separate us from God. He wrote, �I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night�but even in darkness I cannot hidefrom you� (Psalm 139:11�12 NLT). We think of darkness as covering everything. But God sees in the darkness. It�s like daytime to Him. He sees everything and knows everything. Yet if your life is right with God, it�s comfortingto know that God sees you. Have you ever noticed that strange people come out late at night? The later it gets, the stranger they get. Of course, the question arises: What are they doing out at that hour? Somehow, peoplethink that when they turn out the light, no one will see them. But God sees. Nothing escapes His attention. There are no secrets with Him. ------------------------------ On �Finding Yourself� - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? �Luke 9:25 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/on-finding-yourself-2/- Listen In a culture that puts so much emphasis on self-image, self-worth, self-love, and self-esteem, the words of Jesus in Matthew 10 don�t go over well. He said, �If you cling to your life, youwill lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it� (verse 39 NLT). Jesus was saying, �Do you want to find yourself? Then lose yourself.� In Luke�s Gospel He said something similar: �If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life,you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it� (Luke 9:23�24 NLT). Statements like these don�t play well in our society. And we�ve even brought that thinking into the church. We hear preachers say, as though it were gospel truth, that we need self-esteem. And we are told that we need to love ourselves. People will cite Scripture, saying, �You know, the Bible tellsyou to love your neighbor as yourself. But before you can love your neighbor, you must love yourself. And our problem is that we don�t love ourselves.� But is that true? Maybe the problem in our society is not that we fail to love ourselves but that we love ourselves too much. We already do love ourselves. That�s obvious. It�s an establishedfact. Therefore, the Bible is telling us to love our neighbors in the same way that we love ourselves. Remember, the apostle Paul wrote, �No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church� (Ephesians 5:29 NLT). How often have we heard the statement �I�m trying to find myself�? However, Jesus said, �If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.� This simply means that we take our plans, our goals, and our aspirations, and we place them at the feet of Jesus Christ. Then we say, �I want Your will more than mine. Nevertheless, not mywill, but Yours, be done.� Don�t ever be afraid to pray that, because God says, �For I know the plans I have for you. . . . They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope� (Jeremiah 29:11NLT). God is thinking about you, and His thoughts are very good. They�re about your future, and they�re thoughts of giving you hope. He is not against you. Therefore, when you come to the Lord,say, �Here are my plans. But if You have something different in mind, I surrender to You because You know best.� God wants us to love Him more than anyone else. He wants us to want His will more than anyone else�s will. And what God does in our lives will be better than what we ever could have done onour own. ------------------------ The Sweetest Burden - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Then he said to the crowd, �If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.� �Luke 9:23 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-sweetest-burden-2/- Listen We seem to have lost the meaning of the cross today. It has become a mere religious symbol, an icon shrouded in religiosity. But in the first century when someone was carrying a cross through the streets, it meant only one thing: that person was going to die. So, when people heard Jesus say, �If any of you wantsto be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me,� they would have easily understood what He meant. Sometimes we think of a cross to bear as a trying relationship, a health problem, a challenging job, or some other tough circumstance. Those may be difficulties in life. But they are not ourcrosses to bear. The cross we must bear is the same for each of us. It speaks of dying to ourselves. And what that means, simply, is laying ourselves at the feet of Jesus and saying, �I want Your will morethan my own.� Of course, when we talk about bearing the cross and living a crucified life, it sounds morbid and unappealing because we have a false concept of what it means. We think it means isolating ourselves in an ivory tower somewhere and never having fun, smiling, or laughing. That is how we imagine ourselves living the crucified life. But is that what it really means? Writing to the churches in Galatia, the apostle Paul said, �My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body bytrusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me� (Galatians 2:20 NLT). As Jesus said, if you want to find your life, then lose it (see Luke 9:24). Thus, when we live the crucified life, it isn�t a morbid, miserable experience. It doesn�t mean that we�ve ruinedour lives when we start walking with God. Rather, it�s when life begins to really happen, when life becomes full and meaningful. Because we want God�s will more than our own, we�ll have the abundant life that Jesus promised, (seeJohn 10:10). We�re living life as it was meant to be lived. It is life to the fullest. Samuel Rutherford, a seventeenth-century theologian, said, �The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that ever I bore. It is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, tocarry me forward to my desired haven.� And he was right. The cross of Christ is no burden because God�s will is better than our own. Are you bearing the cross and following Jesus? For some, this could mean suffering persecution. For others, it could mean a major change of lifestyle. It could cost us friends. But we willlive life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God. So let�s commit ourselves to being disciples of Jesus Christ�not mere fair-weather followers, but true disciples. ------------------------------- Completinga Good Work �Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until theday of Jesus Christ.� (Philippians 1:6) In his introductory comments to the Philippian church, Paul reminds them of his thankfulness for them (v. 3), his prayer for them (v. 4), and as we see in our text, his confidence in God�s continuing work in their lives. This �good work� is not the sort of work that men and women are able to accomplish. Paul identifies this as God�s work, as yet not completed�that is, the transforming work of grace. �For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure� (2:13). The work of grace takes several forms. It includes the redemption of our lost souls, having been fully accomplished by Christ on Calvary. It also includes our ultimate sanctification, transforming our character from that of a redeemed sinner to one of Christ-likeness.He is working toward this goal on a daily basis and will finish the task in His presence. But the work of grace also includes our service for Him�not our work but His that He does through us. He grants us, through His grace, the distinct privilege of participatingin His work here on Earth. Paul writes that the ultimate completion of this �good work� of grace awaits �the day of Jesus Christ.� In a similar prayer for the Corinthian believers, he writes of their �waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto theend, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ� (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). Meanwhile, we can rest in His faithfulness, fully convinced of His intention and ability to complete His work. �The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands� (Psalm138:8). JD ----------------------------- No Turning Back - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org So, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven�except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. �Matthew 12:31 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/no-turning-back-2/- Listen As Christians, we know and serve a God who is forgiving. The Old Testament abounds with teachings about His forgiveness. David declared in Psalm 86, �O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help� (verse 5 NLT). In another psalm, David reminds us, �He forgivesall my sins and heals all my diseases� (Psalm 103:3 NLT). Daniel 9:9 tells us, �But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him� (NLT). And God described Himself this way to Moses: �The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin� (Exodus 34:6�7 NLT). The prophet Micah, reflecting on God�s forgiveness, said, �Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stayangry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love� (Micah 7:18 NLT). Even when Jesus hung on the cross, He said, �Father, forgive them, for they don�t know what they are doing� (Luke 23:34 NLT). Again and again, we read in the Bible of the forgiveness of God. He will forgive all sin if it is confessed, no matter what it is. As Pastor John MacArthur pointed out, �There is no forgiveness of even the smallest sin unless it is confessed and repented of; but there is forgiveness of even the greatest sin if those divineconditions are met.� But according to Jesus, there is one sin that even God will not forgive. And what is this unforgivable sin? It is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. It�s the point when there is no turningback. When people deliberately choose not to believe in Jesus Christ because they don�t want to change the way they live, ultimately, it can lead them to the one sin that even God will not forgive. People don�t reject Jesus Christ for any other reason except that it�s a threat to their lifestyle. They hate the light and know their deeds will be exposed. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of nonbelievers is to speak to them and lead them to Jesus Christ. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, �And when he comes, he will convict the world of itssin, and of God�s righteousness, and of the coming judgment� (John 16:8 NLT). In other words, the Holy Spirit works to bring nonbelievers to their senses, to show them their need for Jesus Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is incredibly patient and persistent. But there comes a point when the Spirit will no longer be patient because we continue to resist Him. This leads to the ultimate, unforgivablesin: the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.