Monday, August 1, 2016
Learning About His Ways by Oswald Chambers
Learning About His Ways
He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.
He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master…let us make three tabernacles…” (Luke 9:33).
Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.
He works where He sends us to wait. “…tarry…until…” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.
These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God.
Not Knowing Whither
Not Knowing Whither
The Requirements of Faith by Charles Stanley
The moment we trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we enter into a life of faith. In other words, we live by the assurance that God is all He claims to be and will do everything He promises. Salvation is instantaneous, but it takes a lifetime to learn and understand what that entails.
As soon as we are saved, God begins what is known as sanctification, teaching us to be like Him. This is a process, as it takes time to learn to walk by faith, trusting what we cannot see.
Even with God’s Holy Spirit living inside of us, we nonetheless battle our flesh. We desire to do what God says and to see as He sees, but because we have behavior patterns left over from our old sinful nature, we will falter and do things in our own strength, according to our own rationale. We must choose daily to follow His way.
To grow in godliness, we must learn to listen to our Father. But since this is not a natural tendency, self-discipline is needed. It is best to set a specific time each day to meditate upon God’s Word. Eagerly expect Jesus to speak to you, and listen to what He is saying. Write notes in your Bible with the date and what the Lord has impressed upon you. Then, apply the truth you learn, and observe the results.
Hearing God’s voice and being in tune with His Spirit are vital parts of walking in faith. But these things don’t just happen; they require determined persistence. As with physical exercise, the more we strengthen our spiritual “muscles,” the more the process becomes part of who we are.
Beautiful Messes by Hillary Scott
Love Remains | A 13-Day Devotional By Hillary Scott |  |
Day 1 of 13
"Beautiful Messes"
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? How would you describe yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally? Broken? Wounded? Weary? Messy? Not many of us take an honest look in the mirror and see our reflection radiating with beauty. We see all of the ugly parts of us glaring back. The good news is, how we see ourselves does not determine how God sees us.
Full of fragile broken pieces
We're all rough around the edges
Scripture says Jesus came to "heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all who mourn…to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes" (Is. 61:1-3). In Christ, the broken are healed, the captives are free, the mourning are comforted and the ashes are turned to beauty.
Even at our worst, to Him we ain't lost causes
Just beautiful messes
Christ is the beautiful savior who came to meet us in the middle of our mess-not before we got messy, or after we cleaned ourselves up-but right in the middle of our messiest moment when we had nothing to offer but ashes. He met us there and gave us beauty in return. He told us we were no longer slaves, but adopted children of God (Rom. 8:15). And that is our true identity, a promise that says no matter our mess, Christ has come, and he has made us beautiful.
Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified. Romans 8:15 KJV
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
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The Gnat vs the Bee by Adrian Rogers
August 1
The Gnat vs. the Bee
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” - >James 1:25
James 1:23-24 paints a picture of a man in a hurry. He has a lot on his mind. He takes a casual glance at himself and rushes on. If the Bible is like a mirror, then this man is simply getting a glimpse into the Word and not really applying it to his life.
Most Christians I know today are this kind of Bible student. They are like a gnat bouncing here and there instead of being like a bee and diving in and staying long enough to extract the sweetness.
Contrastingly, the man in verse 25 gazes into the Word. This is someone who delights in God’s Word, who applies God’s Word, who cherishes God’s Word.
Are you like that? Or do you take a passing glance at God’s Word and move on to the next thing on your TO DO list?
Which sounds more like you...the passing glance or the careful gaze?
August 1 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
And do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.(Rom 6:13)
I went one night to hear an address on consecration. No special message came to me from it, but as the speaker kneeled to pray, he dropped this sentence: “O Lord, Thou knowest we can trust the Man that died for us.” And that was my message. I rose and walked down the street to the train; and as I walked, I pondered deeply all that consecration might mean to my life and--I was afraid. And then, above the noise and clatter of the street traffic came to me the message: “You can trust the Man that died for you.”
I got into the train to ride homeward; and as I rode, I thought of the changes, the sacrifices, the disappointments which consecration might mean to me and--I was afraid.
I reached home and sought my room, and there upon my knees I saw my past life. I had been a Christian, an officer in the church, a Sunday-school superintendent, but had never definitely yielded my life to God.
Yet as I thought of the darling plans which might be baffled, of the cherished hopes to be surrendered, and the chosen profession which I might be called upon to abandoned--I was afraid.
I did not see the better things God had for me, so my soul was shrinking back; and then for the last time, with a swift rush of convicting power, came to my innermost heart that searching message:
“My child, you can trust the Man that died for you. If you cannot trust Him whom can you trust?”
That settled it for me, for in a flash I saw that the Man who so loved me as to die for me could be absolutely trusted with all the concerns of the life He had saved.
Friend, you can trust the Man that died for you. You can trust Him to baffle no plan which is not best to be foiled, and to carry out every one which is for God’s glory and your highest good. You can trust Him to lead you in the path which is the very best in this world for you.
--J H. McC
--J H. McC
“Just as I am, thy love unknown,
Has broken every barrier down,
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine ALONE,
O Lamb of God, I come!”
Has broken every barrier down,
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine ALONE,
O Lamb of God, I come!”
“Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world.”
Saving Grace by Max Lucado
| He has patience without limit. — 1 Timothy 1:16 |
| Saving Grace by Max Lucado, Grace Happens Here |
Jesus already knows the cost of grace. He already knows the price of forgiveness.
But He offers it anyway. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 God didn’t look at our frazzled lives and say, “I’ll die for you when you deserve it.” No, despite our sin, in the face of our rebellion, He chose to adopt us. Jesus Died for Our Sins As a young boy, I read a Russian fable about a master and a servant who went on a journey to a city. Many of the details I’ve forgotten, but the ending I remember. Before the two men could reach the destination, they were caught in a blinding blizzard. They lost their direction and were unable to reach the city before nightfall. The next morning concerned friends went searching for the two men. They finally found the master, frozen to death, face down in the snow. When they lifted him they found the servant — cold but alive. He survived and told how the master had voluntarily placed himself on top of the servant so the servant could live. I hadn’t thought of that story in years. But when I read what Christ said He would do for us, the story surfaced — for Jesus is the Master who died for the servants. ~And the Angels Were Silent I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that He has patience without limit. - 1 Timothy 1:16 Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, He reaches out in kindness and says, “I can clean that if you want.” And from the basin of His grace, He scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin. Our faith does not earn God’s love any more than our stupidity jeopardizes it. The cross was heavy, the blood was real, and the price was extravagant. It would have bankrupted you or me, so He paid it for us. Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don’t call it easy. Call it what it is. Call it grace. Watch the Video for Grace Happens Here |
The Soul's Demands by Billy Graham
Day By Day With Billy Graham | |
Day 215 of 366The Soul's Demands
The soul demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless. Many people turn to alcohol to try to drown the cryings and longings of the soul. Some turn to a new sex experience. Others attempt to quiet the longings of their souls in other ways. Nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul is made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment. The first step to God is a realization of your spiritual poverty. The poor in spirit do not measure the worth of life in earthly possessions, which fade away, but in terms of eternal realities, which endure forever. Wise is the man who openly confesses his lack of spiritual wealth and in humilty of heart cries, "God, be merciful unto me, a sinner."
Daily Prayer
As I look to You, my Lord and my Redeemer, the strivings of my soul will be satisfied. You alone bring lasting joy.
Isaiah 58:11 KJV
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
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NIV 365 / The Comforter of the Brokenhearted
The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan | |
Day 214 of 365The Comforter of the BrokenheartedGod's Story
Psalm 31: Enemies are conspiring to take David's life. He begs God to deliver him, knowing that God has stored up good things in abundance for the people who trust in him.
Psalm 32: For a while David didn't confess his sin to God, so God's heavy hand of conviction rested on him. But now David confesses and sings a song about the goodness of God's forgiveness.
Psalm 33: An unknown author composes a declaration song: Trust in the Lord. God reigns over the world with love, has his eyes on every person and delivers those who trust in him.
Psalm 34: "Taste and see how good God is!" David proclaims. God is the Protector of the righteous.
Psalm 35: David needs the Warrior King. His enemies are too strong for him. He asks God to ensnare them in the same traps they've set for him.
Psalm 36: God's unfailing love is priceless. The psalmist has experienced the feast at God's house and has drunk of his "river of delights." The fountain of life springs from the Lord.
The King's Heart
Hardship has a way of making people run. Pain is uncomfortable, awkward. It's a reminder of our powerlessness.
But "the Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18). God dwells in the pristine perfection of heaven where life is constant, abundant joy. He has no need to burden himself with our hurts. Yet in our heartaches, God draws near. It is what he chooses to do.
God is working for good in whatever we're facing. But even though he's aware of that reality, he doesn't minimize or devalue our pain. He comes close. He stands with us in the midst of it. For many heartaches, drawing near is the act of deepest comfort.
The One who thoroughly knows how good life is supposed to be really, truly understands our grief. He, more than anyone, knows how far things have fallen. The comfort that he offers in his closeness comes from a heart that understands - far more completely than we do.
If you're hurting, if the world has stepped on your soul, hear the words of the God who loves you: I'm here."
Insight
Hebrew writers often used a literary technique where they put the most important content of the psalm in the center. In Psalm 34:8 - 14, David focuses on God's goodness (verse 8), explaining that people who follow his good ways (verses 13 - 14) will live many good days (verse 12). God wants us to live in his goodness. That is his intention.
Taken from NIV Discover God's Heart Devotional Bible
Psalms 34:8-14 KJV
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord , ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord . 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. |
Life Dots by David Jeremiah
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The Best is Yet to Come / Our Daily Bread
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The Best Is Yet to Come
August 1, 2016
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The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. —Deuteronomy 33:27
Are the best days of your life behind or in front of you? Our outlook on life—and our answer to that question—can change with time. When we’re younger, we look ahead, wanting to grow up. And once we’ve grown older, we yearn for the past, wanting to be young again. But when we walk with God, whatever our age, the best is yet to come!
Over the course of his long life, Moses witnessed the amazing things God did, and many of those amazing things happened when he was no longer a young man. Moses was 80 years old when he confronted Pharaoh and saw God miraculously set His people free from slavery (Ex. 3-13). Moses saw the Red Sea part, saw manna fall from heaven, and even spoke with God “face to face” (14:21; 16:4; 33:11).
Throughout his life, Moses lived expectantly, looking ahead to what God would do (Heb. 11:24-27). He was 120 years old in his final year of life on this earth, and even then he understood that his life with God was just getting started and that he would never see an end to God’s greatness and love.
Regardless of our age, “the eternal God is [our] refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27) that faithfully carry us into His joy each day. —James Banks
O Lord my God, I praise You for all You have done in the past. I look forward with thankfulness for all You will do in the future. And I thank You for today and all Your blessings.
When we walk with God, the best is yet to come.
INSIGHT: Although Moses walked with God, he wasn’t perfect. In response to the grumbling Israelites, he got angry and acted in disobedience. Instead of speaking to the rock, he struck it. This impulsive act called attention to him rather than to God, and he lost his opportunity to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:1-12). Bill Crowder
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Living Waters by Kristyn Getty
Living Waters
by Kristyn Getty
Even those of us who have tasted the goodness of the Lord find ourselves trying to make streams out of dust. We so easily put the weight of our hopes and affections on the jobs we keep, the people we love, the things we hold … but everything we worship apart from Christ will always leave us thirsty, leave us broken-hearted.
 Many spend their whole life avoiding this life-giving stream because they do not want to face the “lion.” Humbling our hearts, confessing our sin, taking the step of faith can be hard. But the pierced hands that reach to lift us from the dry and broken ground we try to grow our lives in are forgiving not condemning, strong not fragile, filled with compassion and not malice. He invites us to drink in unending waters that well up to eternal life. Not coming to the stream is so much harder.Recently, I’ve been challenged about how easy it is to tell my children that life is found in knowing and serving Christ, and then let my conversations, recreations, shopping lists, and time management suggest that I’m actually finding my main life source in other places. When we drink of His grace, we taste the difference, and our calling is to live this difference so that others—especially our children—know that “there’s a river that flows with mercy and love bringing joy to the city of our God …” (“Living Waters” from Facing a Task Unfinished). There is no other stream. I don’t want myself, my family, or my friends to be thirsty. We don't have to be. Come and drink deeply. Praise the Lord of living waters! | |
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