At The Point of Death

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine..

Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” – Mark 5:22-23

 

There is nothing like trouble to drive people to Christ. When things go well many people do not acknowledge Him; but when great need comes, He is the first one they turn to. This is one of God‘s main uses of trouble. God makes many of His children uncomfortable so that they will look to Him instead of being too self-reliant. There are many in heaven now who would never have repented and been saved had God not sent trouble, sorrow, and difficulty.

This father in Mark said his daughter was “at the point of death.” This is one point which we all must come to. Our paths on Earth run many different ways but they all ultimately reach the “point of death.” It is a point that lies hidden from view. No one knows the day when he or she will come to it, and yet somewhere along the years it waits for everyone. Sometimes this point is struck early in life. Here it is a little twelve year old girl  that lies “at the point of death.” Even children should think about dying, not as a sad and terrible thing, but as a point to which they must come, and for which they should prepare.

It is a touching sight to see this father falling at Christ’s feet. The strongest men break down when their own children are sick or in danger. A man may seem very strong as he works or goes about life. You think he has no compassion in him.  But if one of his children becomes ill or injured that strong man will melt. Behind his strong front there is a warm spot in his heart where he is gentle.

Apply This To Your Life Today… When has trouble or struggle led you back to reliance on God?  How quickly do you fall away when life is easy?  How do you remain reliant when life is going well?

Settling Disputes

Today God Is First By Os Hillman

“Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.”Proverbs 18:18

We prayed about it. We discussed it. My friend had one desire; I had a different one.

“Okay, let’s settle the issue the way the early Church settled matters when an agreement could not be achieved. Let’s flip a coin.”

“You must be joking!” my friend lamented.

“No, the early Church cast lots often to determine a course of direction or even select the disciple who would take Judas‘ place.”

“Okay,” my friend agreed.

We flipped the coin and the matter was quickly settled.

In the Old Testament there are many examples of casting lots for determining a decision. We hear little of this method today. Most of us do not want to release the decision process to this seemingly “flippant” process; yet the Lord says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov. 16:33).

Flipping a coin is the equivalent to casting a lot. It removes our own opinions and leaves the final outcome to the Lord. Pray before you take such an action. It will surprise you who is willing to submit a decision to the Lord and who isn’t. It removes the element of control from both parties.

I believe the Lord would first have us make decisions through agreement and continued prayer for the decision. However, there are times when this approach can be the quickest and simplest. It removes each person’s temptation to lord it over the other. Cast the lot and settle the dispute.

A New Garment

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made. – Mark 2:21

 

Christ did not come into this world to patch-up an old religion, simply to mend a hole here, cover-up a spot there, or add a touch of fresh paint  to this part or that. No, He came to make all things new! And when He saves a  sinner, He does not simply fix him up a little here and  there, to cover over some bad spots in him, and to close up gaping holes in  this character with patches of the new cloth of grace. Christ’s gospel work  is not patchwork of repair jobs. Christ does not sew on pieces – He weaves a brand-new garment.

As humans we try to make our flawed characteristics seem attractive, but sin is in its very fiber, and the  blemishes will expose themselves and spoil our appearance. The only way is to have a new  heart, and then the beauty will be real and enduring. A mother lost  her only child — the most precious thing she knew. To occupy her  heart and hand in some way about her vanished treasure, and thus fill  the empty hours, she took a photograph of her child and began to  touch it up with her skillful fingers. Soon the features  became almost lifelike. The picture was then put aside for a few days, but when she came back to it later she found the eyes were dimmed and the face was  marred with ugly blotches. Patiently she went over it a second time, and  the bewitching beauty came again. A second time it was set aside, and  again the blotches appeared. There was something wrong in the paper on  which the photograph had been taken. There were chemicals lurking in it  which in some way spoiled the delicate colors, and no amount of  repainting could correct the faults.

So is it in our human lives. No outside  reform is enough, for the heart inside is constantly working out its is evil, and its true nature will always be exposed and ruin any appearance of good. The change that is  permanent must be start in the heart.

Apply This To Your Life Today… True change can only come from within when the work is done by Christ. Ask Jesus to work on your heart.

Peace And The Holy Spirit

Image by hickory hardscrabble via Flickr

By David Wilkerson

On whom does Jesus bestow his peace? You may think, “I’m not worthy of
living in Christ’s peace. I have too many struggles in my life. My faith is
so weak.”

You would do well to consider the men to whom Jesus first gave his peace. None
of them was worthy, and none had a right to it.

Think about Peter. Jesus was about to bestow his peace on a minister of the
gospel who would soon be spewing out cursings. Peter was zealous in his love
for Christ, but he was also going to deny him.

Then there was James and his brother John, men with a competitive spirit,
always seeking to be recognized. They asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left
hand when he ascended to his throne in glory.

The other disciples were no more righteous. They simmered with anger at James
and John for trying to upstage them. There was Thomas, a man of God who was
given to doubt. All of the disciples were so lacking in faith, it amazed and
stressed Jesus. Indeed, in Christ’s most troubling hour, they would all
forsake him and flee. Even after the Resurrection, when the word spread that
“Jesus is risen,” the disciples were slow to believe.

But there’s even more. These were also confused men. They did not understand
the ways of the Lord. His parables confused them. After the Crucifixion, they
lost any sense of unity they had, scattering in all directions.

What a picture: These men were full of fear, unbelief, disunity, sorrow,
confusion, competitiveness, pride. Yet it was to these same troubled servants
that Jesus said, “I am going to give you my peace.”

The disciples weren’t chosen because they were good or righteous; that much
is clear. Nor was it because they had talent or abilities. They were fishermen
and day laborers, meek and lowly. Christ called and chose the disciples because
he saw something in their hearts. As he looked into them, he knew each one would
submit to the Holy Spirit.

At this point, all that the disciples had was a promise from Christ of his
peace. The fullness of that peace was yet to be given to them, at Pentecost.
That’s when the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in them. We receive the
peace of Christ from the Holy Spirit. This peace comes to us as the Spirit
reveals Christ to us. The more of Jesus you want, the more the Spirit will show
you of him—and the more of Christ’s actual peace you will have.

God’s Great Concern

By David Wilkerson

In the midst of this worldwide “shaking of all things,” what is God’s: “Behold, the eye of
the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Psalm
33:18).

Our Lord is aware of every move on the earth, by every living thing. And yet
his gaze is focused primarily on the well-being of his children. He fixes his
eyes on the pains and needs of each member of his spiritual body. Simply put,
whatever hurts us concerns him.

To prove this to us, Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Even in the midst of great world
wars, God’s primary focus isn’t on the tyrants. His focus is on every
circumstance in his children’s lives.

Christ says in the very next verse: “Are not two sparrows sold for a
farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father”
(Matthew 10:29). In Christ’s day, sparrows were the meat of the poor and sold
two for a penny. Yet, Jesus said, “Not one of these small creatures falls to
the ground without your Father knowing it.”

Jesus’ use of the word “fall” in this verse signifies more than the
bird’s death. The Aramaic meaning is “to light upon the ground.” In other
words, “fall” here indicates every little hop a tiny bird makes.

Christ is telling us, “Your Father’s eye is on the sparrow not just when it
dies but even when it lights on the ground. As a sparrow learns to fly, it falls
from the nest and begins to hop along the ground. And God sees every little
struggle it has. He’s concerned over every detail of its life.”

Jesus then adds, “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many
sparrows” (10:31). Indeed, he says, “The very hairs of your head are
numbered” (10:30). Simply put, the One who made and counted all the
stars—who monitored every action of the Roman Empire, who keeps the galaxies
in their orbits—has his eye fixed on you. And, Jesus asks, “Are you not
worth much more to him?”

Joy in the Lord

 

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast. - Mark 2:19

 

This was our Lord’s answer to those who thought His religion was too bright and optimistic – that it didn’t have enough days for fasting in it. They thought that religion was only genuine when it made people sad, and that its quality was just in proportion to its gloom. But Christ‘s reply showed that mournful faces are no essential indicators of a reverent and contrite heart. Should His disciples be mournful and sad when He was with men, filling their lives with the gladness of His presence? Should Christians claim to be heavy-hearted, looking as though life is not worth living, when in fact they are really filled with joy, and when there is no excuse for sorrow? Why should anyone who has been saved by the Lord Jesus and who is rejoicing in the fact they have eternal life, go about in sackcloth and ashes? Is there any godliness in a sad face? Does God love to see his children looking miserable? Is human joy displeasing to our Father?

All these questions are answered here in our Lord’s words. He does not wish His disciples to go mourning and fasting when they have no excuse for it. His words are a defense of Christian joyfulness. Christ wants His friends to be happy. There is a complete contradiction in a sad and downcast Christian life. By its very nature true religion is joy-filled! Our sins are forgiven. We are adopted into God’s family. We are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The covenant of love arches its shelter over us continually. All things in this world work together for our good, and then glory waits for us beyond death’s gate. With all this to look forward to, why should we be mournful and sad?

While we enjoy the smile of Christ, the consciousness of his love, the assurance of his forgiveness, and the hope of heaven and eternal life, what should make us sad? We should have radiant faces.

Apply This To Your Life Today… Take a good look in the mirror… do you reflect the joy of Christ or are you a beacon of misery to the world?

The Power Within

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EPHESIANS 3:14-21

 

 

Bertha Smith, a missionary to China, once expressed some of the most discouraging words I’d ever heard. “Charles, I want to tell you that you’re as good as you’ll ever be. You’re as good as you’ve ever been, and you won’t ever be any better than you are.”

 

I had grown up believing a falsehood—that believers were to pour effort into turning their flesh around and doing right all the time. Thankfully, Bertha wasn’t finished. “God never intended for you to get better, because you can’t improve flesh,” she said. “But the Holy Spirit, who is living inside you, will enable and live through you.”

 

She was right. My flesh hasn’t changed one bit. But the Holy Spirit releases His supernatural power in my life, and I find myself going beyond what is inherent to the nature of man. And that’s why He indwells every follower of God.

 

Although the works of the Holy Spirit are many, four are basic to the life of faith: 1) The Spirit illumines the mind, enabling believers to understand the things of God. 2) He energizes physical bodies to serve the Lord. 3) He enables the will to follow through on doing what is right. 4) He quickens emotions to feel and express the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

 

Bertha Smith passed on an important truth to me: Flesh is insufficient. Only the Holy Spirit living inside us has the strength and wisdom to live out the Christian life victoriously. That’s why God gave Him to us. Through the Spirit, we reap all the benefits of a righteous and godly life.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Because

June 24, 2011 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn READ: Job 2 Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? —Job 2:10 One day, my toddler exclaimed, “I love you, Mom!” I was curious about what makes a 3-year-old tick, so I asked him why he loved me. He answered, “Because you play cars with me.” When I asked if there was any other reason, he said, “Nope. That’s it.” My toddler’s response made me smile. But it also made me think about the way I relate to God. Do I love and trust Him just because of what He does for me? What about when the blessings disappear? Job had to answer these questions when catastrophes claimed his children and demolished his entire estate. His wife advised him: “Curse God and die!” (2:9). Instead, Job asked, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (v.10). Yes, Job struggled after his tragedy—he became angry with his friends and questioned the Almighty. Still, he vowed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (13:15). Job’s affection for his heavenly Father didn’t depend on a tidy solution to his problems. Rather, he loved and trusted God because of all that He is. Job said, “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength” (9:4). Our love for God must not be based solely on His blessings but because of who He is. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt Shall we accept the good from God But fuss when trials are in sight? Not if our love is focused on The One who always does what’s right. —Sper Focusing on the character of God

Christ In The Storm

He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. - Mark 4:39

 

Jesus spoke to the storm and to the raging sea as if they were intelligent creatures – just as a boss would speak to his employees. The truth we learn here is that Jesus is Lord of nature – that the elements recognize His voice and obey Him even in their wildest moods. If we fully believe this, it would bring a great deal of peace to our lives. No storm ever breaks free from the control of the one who is our Lord and Redeemer. No wave can roll beyond the point that He permits. There is nothing in this world that is beyond the control of the hands that were nailed to the cross.

There is an old story of a Christian army officer at sea with his family in a storm. There was great panic amongst the passengers, but the officer was calm. His wife however, was not calm and criticized her husband, saying that at a time like this he should at least be concerned for her and the children. He made no reply, but soon came to her with his sword drawn, and with a serious look on his face pointed it at her heart and asked, “Are you not afraid when a drawn sword is at your chest?” “No,” she replied, “not when I know it is in the hands of one that loves me.” He replied, “So why would you expect me to be afraid of this storm when I know it’s in the hands of my heavenly Father, who loves me?”

Even when the forces of nature are at their worst, we should be at peace since our Savior is Lord of nature. Someone tells of being at sea in another storm, and of seeing a little bird fly down and rest on the crest of a wave, where it sat as quietly as if it had been perching on a tree branch in a quiet forest. In the same way, we who place our faith and trust in Christ should find the same confidence in the middle of life’s storms.

Apply This To Your Life Today… Do we still believe God is in control despite the increase of natural disasters in the world?

J.R. Miller

Living an Obedience-Based Life

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Today God Is First By Os Hillman

“They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”- Daniel 3:28b

Have you ever known someone who lived an outcome-based Christian experience? This means that their decisions are made based on the positive or negative outcome, not on absolute obedience.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three men who lived an obedience-based life. When King Nebuchadnezzar passed a law that said all were to worship his idol, these young men determined they would not worship anything other than God. You can be sure these men did not make this decision at the time of the decree. Their decision actually had been made years earlier. Their convictions were already in their hearts.

Each of us must come to a place of knowing what our boundaries are in given situations. What will you tolerate from your employer? What situation crosses the line for you? Where are the boundaries for questionable practices in your life? If these are not worked out ahead, you will live a life of situational ethics, determining what decision to make based on the merits of the situation.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to die for what they believed. In this case, they were delivered from the fiery furnace. God used their faithfulness to impact a king, and they were promoted to higher positions.

Are you an obedienced-based Christian? Or are there situations that can move you based on the outcome? God wants to know that we will stand firm on the issues that are important to Him, no matter what the outcome may be. God is looking for those who are radical in their obedience. Does this describe your commitment to Christ? If not, pray for this kind of conviction. The Lord will honor you for this.