Draw Near / THE MASTER RACE

THE MASTER RACE

An insignificant paperhanger, dedicated to a new political idea, stood before huge enthusiastic crowds telling them they were a master race. Many of the German people became drunk with power and flattery. They believed Adolf Hitler and made him their leader. It took a world war and the blood of thousands before the evil deeds of this man and that nation was righted.

Peter recognized there really was a master race. In today's reading, he tells about it. This is not the flattery of an ambitious leader or the empty promises of a power-hungry tyrant. This is God's eternal truth. The followers of Jesus Christ do have a power unknown to mortal men. However, Peter hastens to add that they are chosen and given this power to exalt Christ, not to be used as a source of willful pride.

Today, men often live below their privileges. Someone should tell us we are a master race--the Master's race. We need to be reminded that we can change the world, and He has chosen us for that purpose. There is much we can do if we will use the power He has given and realize He has called us as a special people to do His special work. The Bible says: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are not the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).

“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Conquering in Conflict by John MacArthur

Conquering in Conflict

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days" (Heb. 11:30). Faith is the key to spiritual conquest. Forty years had lapsed since the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land. That unbelieving generation had perished in the wilderness. Now Joshua was leading a new generation into the land. The first obstacle they faced was Jericho—a well- fortified city that was near the mouth of the Jordan River. Some city walls of that day were wide enough at the top to allow two chariots to ride side-by-side. That was probably true of Jericho because of its strategic location. That, coupled with the caliber of its army, made the city virtually impregnable— especially to unsophisticated Israelites, who lacked military training. But what is impossible for man is easy for God. And the stage was set for Him to demonstrate His power and for the Israelites to demonstrate their faith and humility. One can only imagine how embarrassed the Hebrew people felt as they marched around Jericho once a day for six days. That certainly is not your typical military strategy. But on the seventh day, after marching around the city seven times with the priests blowing their rams' horns, the priests gave one final blast, the people all shouted out loud, and the walls of the city collapsed (Josh. 6:20). Faith had reduced a formidable obstacle to a crumbled ruin. Can you identify some spiritual obstacles you've faced recently? How did you handle them? You'll always have them to deal with in your Christian walk, but don't fret. See them as opportunities to exercise faith and see God's power on display in your life. Continue to trust the Lord and demonstrate your faith by courageously doing what He has called you to do. Suggestions for Prayer Ask God to help you humbly trust in God's power when you face spiritual conflicts. For Further Study Read about the conquest of Jericho in Joshua 6:1-21. Note each occasion where the people obeyed one of Joshua's commands without hesitation. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com

Lord of the Moment / Our Daily Bread

Lord of the Moment

James Banks

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

2 Kings 8:1–6

Not long ago I was working on a construction project at my son’s home three hours away. The job took days longer than expected, and each morning I prayed we would finish by sunset. But every evening there was more to be done.
I wondered why. Could there be a reason for the delay? An answer came the next morning. I was picking up a tool when my phone rang and a stranger’s voice spoke urgently: “Your daughter was injured in an accident. You need to come immediately.”

She lived near my son, so it took just fourteen minutes to reach her. If I had been home, I would have been three hours away. I followed the ambulance to the hospital and comforted her before surgery. As I sat holding her hand I realized if my project hadn’t been delayed, I wouldn’t have been there.

Our moments belong to God. This was the experience of a woman whose son God had resurrected through the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:18–37). She left the country because of famine and returned years later to beg the king for her land. At precisely that moment the king was conversing with the prophet’s servant Gehazi. “Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored” her son, the woman walked in (8:5). Her request was granted.

We don’t know what even the next second brings, but God is graciously able to use any situation for good. May God give us grace to walk with Him expectantly into His appointments for us today.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of my life. Help me to be Your faithful servant.

Our lives are better off in God’s hands than in our own.

The Bounty Of The Destitute by Oswald Chambers

The Bounty Of The Destitute Being justified freely by His grace…  ROMANS 3:24 The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God; we must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there Our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves; we have to enter into His Kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are rich, possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is made effectual in us by the Holy Spirit; He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, which puts “the beyond” within, and immediately the beyond has come within, it rises up to “the above,” and we are lifted into the domain where Jesus lives (John 3:5). From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS The vital relationship which the Christian has to the Bible is not that he worships the letter, but that the Holy Spirit makes the words of the Bible spirit and life to him. from The Psychology of Redemption, 1066 L

The Influence of Our Convictions by Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 1:8-14

We usually think of influential people as those who have authority, position, or power in the world, but in reality, we all have influence to one degree or another. The term describes the capacity to have an effect on someone else’s character, development, or behavior.

This is exactly what Christ has called believers to do by proclaiming the gospel and encouraging one another in the faith. However, in order to have a godly impact on others, we must first be convinced that the Bible is true. Then as we grow in knowledge of the truth, we can help others know Jesus, understand scriptural principles, and live obediently by them.

Paul advised Timothy to “retain the standard of sound words” in the faith (2 Timothy 1:13), and these same truths have been delivered to us. 

1. The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. There are no mistakes in it, and it is wholly true (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17).

2. There is one God, and He exists in three persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all members of the triune Godhead (Matt. 28:19).

3. Eternal life is received only through faith in Jesus. Salvation cannot be earned by good works (John 14:6; Eph. 2:8-9). 

4. Jesus will one day return for those who believe in Him, and He’ll take them to heaven (John 14:2-3). But unbelievers will remain under divine wrath.

As the culture around us becomes more resistant to Christian influence, holding to these convictions will require solid commitment and steady courage. So determine not to let compromise steal your godly influence.

Accepting God's Provisions by John MacArthur

Accepting God's Provisions

"By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned" (Heb. 11:28-29). The man or woman of faith gratefully accepts all God’s provisions, no matter how pointless some of them may seem. When the time came for Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, everything on the human level said it couldn't be done. Pharaoh wasn't about to let two to three million slaves just pack up and leave. His formidable army was ready to insure that no such exodus occurred. But when God devises a plan, He always makes the necessary provisions for carrying it out. On this occasion, His provision came in the form of ten terrifying plagues designed to change Pharaoh's mind. The tenth and worst plague was the death of all the first- born (Ex. 11:5). To protect themselves from this plague, the Israelites sprinkled the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. When the angel of death saw the blood, he passed over that house. Thus the Passover was instituted. The blood from those first Passover lambs had no intrinsic power to stave off the death angel, but its presence demonstrated faith and obedience, thus symbolizing the future sacrifice of Christ (cf. John 1:29). Pharaoh got the message and allowed the Israelites to leave. But soon afterward he changed his mind and commanded his army to pursue them. Again God intervened by parting the Red Sea, allowing His people to walk across on dry land. He then drowned the entire Egyptian army when it followed the Israelites into the sea. That was a graphic demonstration of a lesson every believer must learn: God's provisions are always best. They may sometimes seem foolish to the human intellect—just as "the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness" (1 Cor. 1:18)—but the man or woman of faith trusts God and receives His provisions gratefully. Suggestions for Prayer Thank God for the wise and gracious provisions He has made for your salvation and ongoing Christian walk. For Further Study Read the account of the Passover and the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 11-14. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Draw Near / DON'T GIVE UP

DON'T GIVE UP

One day, the famous writer Eugene Fields went to his editor and announced, "I'm quitting. There will be no column tomorrow. I'm giving up." The editor replied, "Gene, there is a printer downstairs who has three children dangerously ill with scarlet fever, and he's not giving up." The columnist got the point and said, "I'm not giving up either." That day, he wrote one of the most stirring columns of his colorful career.

There is great power in example! The early Christians had become discouraged. There were so many trials and persecutions. It was then James wrote them saying: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Then he mentions they should remember that many others before them had also been tested but stood firm in trial. They, too, got the point. They didn't give up; and, today, we have the vibrant church of Jesus Christ moving on.

When we become discouraged with problems of life, may we remember that thousands of others have suffered similar hardships and stood true. Today, all over the world, there are thousands of faithful Christians who are facing severe persecution but they are not giving up. May we always remember that because Christ, our Great Example, overcame, so can we. James adds: My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience (James 5:10).

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Courage

Courage

 

Courage is uncomfortable.  Courage is not just life threatening actions we read about, but it is taking that step outside our comfortable, familiar activities and habits to do something worth it.  To become better at something, forgive someone, serve on a church committee, volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen, go on a mission trip, or go against the peer pressure to criticize, and gossip, takes courage.   

 

Most of the time, we see a worthy objective, but we don't want to accomplish it bad enough to endure the discomfort that comes with the courage of taking action.  To act, we need enough courage to tip the balance toward action.  In ways, courage is delicate. 

 

We can affect each other in this process.  When we discourage someone, we make it more difficult for them to take the action,  but alternatively, when we encourage them we make it easier for them to go outside their comfort zone and accomplish something valuable.

 

Hebrews 10:24-15 tells us,  "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

 

This is one of the important reasons we attend worship services and fellowship with other Christians.  We can encourage them, and they can encourage us to move the balance toward Christian action.

 

Dear Lord, help us remember the importance of encouraging each other to "acts of love and good works."  We may never know the power our simple encouragement may have on someone to do great things to your glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Conspiracy that Wars Against Your Soul by Adrian Rogers

The Conspiracy that Wars Against Your Soul

NOVEMBER 28

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having your conversation [behavior] honest among the Gentiles [unsaved]: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

The unsaved love to bad-mouth the church, and if you're a Bible believer, they especially love to lampoon and ridicule you. You are to live a righteous, godly life. There is to be in your heart and life none of what the Bible calls here “fleshly lust.” Renounce and abstain from everything that is wrong. Then you must embrace everything that’s right. 

Certain things war against the soul. The word “war” here is not the idea of hand-to-hand combat, but speaks of a strategy, a conspiracy. There is a conspiracy born in hell, my dear friend, that wars against your soul, the soul of your family, the soul of your church, the soul of this nation. We are at war with unseen forces from the very pit of hell, and to be prepared for the battle, first of all you must be absolutely and totally clean. A child of God ought to be pure and clean as the driven snow. 

Be mindful every day to live such a pure, godly, clean, righteous, honest, forthright life, that even those who hate you will grudgingly have to admit there is a differen

November 28 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

Thou makest the outgoing of the morning and evening to rejoice(Ps. 65:8).

Get up early and go to the mountain and watch God make a morning. The dull gray will give way as God pushes the sun towards the horizon, and there will be tints and hues of every shade, that will blend into one perfect light as the full-orbed sun bursts into view. As the King of day moves forth majestically, flooding the earth and every lowly vale, listen to the music of heaven's choir as it sings of the majesty of God and the glory of the morning.

In the holy hush of the early dawn
I hear a Voice
"I am with you all the day,
Rejoice! Rejoice!"

The clear, pure light of the morning made me long for the truth in my heart, which alone could make me pure and clear as the morning, tune me up to the concert-pitch of the nature around me. And the wind that blew from the sunrise made me hope in the God who had first breathed into my nostrils the breath of life; that He would at length so fill me with His breath, His mind, His Spirit, that I should think only His thoughts, and live His life, finding therein my own life, only glorified infinitely.

What should we poor humans do without our God's nights and mornings?
--George MacDonald

"In the early morning hours,
'Twixt the night and day,
While from earth the darkness passes
Silently away;
"Then 'tis sweet to talk with Jesus
In thy chamber still
For the coming day and duties
Ask to know His will.
"Then He'll lead the way before you,
Mountains laying low;
Making desert places blossom,
Sweet'ning Marah's flow.
"Would you know this life of triumph,
Victory all the way?
Then put God in the beginning
Of each coming day."

Equal Blame—Equal Blessings by Stephen Davey

Equal Blame—Equal Blessings

Galatians 3:28-29

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Pastor Gary Tolbert told the story of a little boy who had come to see the sights of Washington, D.C., with his parents. When they arrived at the Washington Monument, the boy was speechless as he stared at the obelisk stretching into the sky. He noticed a guard standing by and walked up to him, saying, "I want to buy it," pointing at the monument erected in memory of our first President.

The guard said, "Excuse me?" The child said a little louder, "I want to buy that!"

The guard bent down and asked, "Well now, just how much money do you have?" The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. The guard said, "I'm sorry son, that's not enough."

The boy replied, "I thought you'd say that," and he reached into his other pocket and pulled out a nickel and four pennies, holding his hand up to the guard for him to count the money.

The guard looked at the boy, then squatted down and said to the disappointed negotiator, "Listen son, you need to understand three things:  First, you don't have enough money to buy this thing—34 cents or 34 million dollars wouldn't be enough to buy the Washington Monument; second, you need to know that the Washington Monument is not for sale; third, you need to know that, if you are an American citizen, the Washington Monument belongs to you—it's already yours."

What a wonderful picture of Christianity! No matter what kind of person you are—red, yellow, black or white; tall or short; fat or thin; rich or poor; Baptist or Presbyterian; pessimist or optimist (and I could go on and on!)—you are an equal shareholder in God's kingdom if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ.

In fact, your half-dollar and your neighbor's fifty dollar bill are on equal par when it comes to earning favor with God—you can't tip Him. You can have His favor and all its rewards freely through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already purchased salvation and offers it to you through the sacrifice of His Son.

Just as the Washington Monument belongs to both a little boy with pocket change and a millionaire businessman, so also the promises of God belong to every believer.

The truth is, we are equally deserving of condemnation, but by God's grace we have become equally endowed with an inheritance that will never pass away . . . claim it today!

Prayer Point: How are you reaching out to those who are different from you? In what ways are you developing relationships with men and women who have a different ethnic, social, or family background from you? Ask God to give you opportunities to develop strong relationships with those who are different from you outwardly, but share oneness with you in Christ.

Extra Refreshment: Matthew 20.

Seeking the Best for the Church by Alistair Begg

Seeking the Best for the Church

He sought the welfare of his people.
Esther 10:3

Mordecai was a true patriot, and so when he was promoted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus who, upon His throne of glory, does not seek His own but spends His power for His people. It would be beneficial if every Christian would be a Mordecai to the Church, striving according to his ability for its prosperity. Some are placed in positions of affluence and influence; let them honor their Lord in the high places of the earth and testify for Jesus before great men.

Others have what is far better, namely, close fellowship with the King of kings. Let them be sure to pray daily for the weak among the Lord's people, the doubting, the tempted, and the comfortless. It will redound to their honor if they make much intercession for those who are in darkness and dare not draw close to the mercy-seat. Instructed believers may serve their Master greatly if they offer their talents for the general good and impart their wealth of heavenly learning to others by teaching them the things of God.

The very least in our churches may seek the welfare of God's people; and such a desire, if they can give no more, will be acceptable. It is at once the most Christlike and the most happy course for a believer to stop living for himself. He who blesses others cannot fail to be blessed himself. On the other hand, to seek our own personal greatness is a wicked and unhappy plan of life; its way will be grievous, and its end will be fatal.

Here is the place to ask you, my friend, whether you are to the best of your power seeking the best for the Church in your neighborhood. I trust you are not doing the Church mischief by bitterness and scandal, nor weakening it by your neglect. Friend, unite with the Lord's poor, bear their cross, do them all the good you can, and you will not miss your reward.

Living by Faith by David Jeremiah

Wednesday, November 28 Living by Faith    But while [Joseph] thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20    We would love to know more about the personal lives of biblical characters. Take Joseph, for instance—the earthly father of the Son of God.

Recommended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:7

How spiritually mature was Joseph? Was he a faithful Jew—a worshiper of the God of Israel? It appears he was, given his response to the very unusual situation he was in. His betrothed, Mary, was pregnant and his first response was to divorce her respectfully (Matthew 1:19). But the greater test came when an angel from God appeared to him in a dream and counseled him to stay with Mary, to marry her, and to become the father of her child. Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord commanded” (Matthew 1:24). Joseph was a living example of walking by faith, not by sight.  Submitting to God by faith is the ultimate test of faithfulness. Like Joseph, “do not be afraid” to take God at His Word.  To bring our minds under Christ’s yoke is not to deny our rationality but to submit to His revelation.  John R. W. Stott

Sensing the Urgency by John MacArthur

Sensing the Urgency

“‘“You have left your first love”’” (Revelation 2:4). A wise person loves Christ supremely. Because the days were evil, the apostle Paul wanted the church at Ephesus to make the most of their time and walk wisely (Eph. 5:15-16). A little more than thirty years after Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian church, the apostle John wrote more to them, saying, “You have left your first love. . . . Repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I [Christ] am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). But the Ephesians did not repent, and the lampstand was removed. Their time was shorter than they believed, because the evil was so great. Their church fell prey to the time in which they lived and, not sensing the urgency to return to its first love, eventually went out of existence. I believe we need to have a sense of urgency in the evil days in which we live. I don’t know what’s going to happen to Christianity in America, but I’ve asked God that if it takes persecution to bring us to the place where we get a grip on what we ought to be, then let it happen. In many cases throughout history,the church has thrived better under persecution than it has under affluence. As the church father Tertullian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” I’m not specifically asking that the church be persecuted. I’m saying that sometimes we don’t sense the urgency of our evil day because we are sucked into the world’s system, and the lines of conviction aren’t clearly drawn. It’s an evil day in which we live, and the time is short. We need to realize that “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse” (2 Tim. 3:13). The situation is not going to become better. The world is blacker and more expressive of its vices than ever before. We must have a sense of urgency and redeem the time. Suggestions for Prayer In Psalm 145, King David expressed his love for the Lord. Make his psalm your prayer and an expression of your love to God. For Further Study Read in Revelation 2—3 what the Lord says to the seven churches in Asia, noting what He approves and disapproves. From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.