Lion of Judah

Our Daily Bread

READ: Isaiah 31:1-5

Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed. —Revelation 5:5

The lounging lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve looked harmless. They rolled on their backs in low-lying bushes. They rubbed their faces on branches as if trying to comb their magnificent manes. They drank leisurely from a stream. They strode slowly across dry, scrubby terrain as if they had all the time in the world. The only time I saw their teeth was when one of them yawned.

Their serene appearance is deceiving, however. The reason they can be so relaxed is that they have nothing to fear—no shortage of food and no natural predators. The lions look lazy and listless, but they are the strongest and fiercest of all. One roar sends all other animals running for their lives.

Sometimes it seems as if God is lounging. When we don’t see Him at work, we conclude that He’s not doing anything. We hear people mock God and deny His existence, and we anxiously wonder why He doesn’t defend Himself. But God “will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise” (Isa. 31:4). He has nothing to fear. One roar from Him, and His detractors will scatter like rodents.

If you wonder why God isn’t anxious when you are, it’s because He has everything under control. He knows that Jesus, the Lion of Judah, will triumph. —Julie Ackerman Link

When fear and worry test your faith
And anxious thoughts assail,
Remember God is in control
And He will never fail. —Sper

Because God is in control, we have nothing to fear

Discovering Our True Identity

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Many Christians are experiencing an identity crisis. They know they’re saved, but they don’t really know what to think about themselves. Let’s take a little test. Do you consider yourself a sinner saved by grace or a saint who occasionally sins? Both statements are true, but the first one dwells on your past identity, whereas the second focuses on the Lord’s perception of you.

If you are a believer, God’s Word says that you are a saint (v. 2). But too many of us still see ourselves as the same old sinner, who’s been forgiven and patched up and yet is basically unchanged inside. But the Lord says anyone in Christ “is a new creature; the old things passed away” (2 Cor. 5:17). That’s what being born again is all about. We can never go back to the way we were.

The solution to this identity crisis is to change the way we think about ourselves. If we don’t, we’ll rely on how we feel, and Satan will bombard us with reminders of our failures and sins. He wants to keep us focused on being a sinner, because he knows that the recognition of our sainthood will lead us to live like saints. We’ll be motivated and empowered to obey God, and the Devil will lose his foothold in our lives.

Jesus didn’t come just to save you from hell; He wants to live His life through you. In Christ, you have a new identity which has replaced your old one. If you will focus on who you are now, your actions will follow, and you’ll experience the enjoyment of a victorious Christian life.

Dr. Charles Stanley

A Prophet without Honor

Today God Is First By Os Hillman

“Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6.3, 4). Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to spiritually impact your immediate circle of relationships and family? Jesus warned us of this phenomenon. We often relate to family and friends differently because they have a history with us that no one else has. They most likely have not had the privilege to witness the spiritual transformation that you have experienced and is evidenced by others in your life.

The spiritual authority that others may recognize in you is not there with your own family and friends. “After all, you’re just my sister or brother, with whom I fought, played, and lived everyday life,” is what is thought. Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in his own family and community’s eyes. It was too difficult to change old perceptions of someone they knew so well. So too, is it for your family members.

The sad result of this mindset is that we often do not experience the same fruit of ministry in our family’s lives that we do outside this circle. It is an unfortunate truth. “Jesus still healed a few sick people,” meaning there is still a remnant of faith that can receive from you and I. Ultimately, God determines the fruit of our lives. Do not allow spiritual pride to prevent you from freely giving to your family and friends when they do not receive you in the way you think they should. You don’t know which “few” God will choose to touch through your life.

Many did not receive Jesus. Therefore, many will not receive you. Nevertheless, allow God to touch the few in your circle He chooses to touch through you.

Justice and Mercy

Romans 3:21-26 

The sinful condition of mankind presents us with a dilemma: How can a holy, righteous God forgive our sins? If He deals with us only on the basis of His justice, every human being would suffer the eternal punishment of His wrath, which their sins deserve. But if He extends mercy instead of justice, no one would pay the penalty for sin, and God would then cease to be just.

There was only one way the Lord could stay true to His nature and at the same time forgive our sins. The solution was to satisfy His justice by pouring out His wrath on a substitute. Then the penalty for sin would be paid, and He would be free to extend mercy to sinners. This is the only plan that accommodates both aspects of His divine nature. So Christ came as our substitute; He took the punishment for our sin, enabling us to experience the Father‘s mercy. Now, by placing faith in Jesus, anyone can be justified—that is, declared legally righteous.

God’s plan of salvation is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet at the same time, the complexities of the transaction that occurred at Calvary are far beyond human comprehension. Although we may not fully grasp what transpired there, we can know that the cross is the greatest possible display of the Lord’s love for us.

Can you even imagine the cost of your salvation? The magnificent plan of the Father and the willing cooperation of the Son prove your tremendous value in God’s eyes. From His perspective, you are worth all the pain and suffering that was necessary to secure your eternal presence with Him in heaven.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone

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By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

If you think you’re too ordinary to be used of God, listen closely: God is
not going to do
His last-days work through big-name evangelists or pastors. They alone will not
be able to handle the great moving of His Spirit! The fact is, God is going to
need every housewife, teenager, elderly person and all who love Him to carry
out His mighty work. This last-days army is going to be made up of Christians
who have been weaned from bread alone. Let me explain.

God said through Moses: “Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Bread stands for all natural, material things necessary for this life—food,
shelter, clothes, labor, wages. Bread represents livelihood—those things we
need that are not evil in themselves. Many Christians, however, live only for
the things of this life—they live on bread alone!

Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
But first He said we were to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done”
(v. 10). We are to focus first on God’s interests—praying for His will to
be done!

What have you been thinking about more than anything else these past six
months? What has consumed most of your time and prayers? Has it been mostly
bread issues—personal needs?

If you focus only on bread, then you have no life! You are living in a
wilderness, just as the children of Israel did. They rose daily and began
crying for bread—their personal needs—every day for forty years!

Beloved, that is boredom—drudgery! God never intended for His children to
live like that. Instead, He told Israel through Moses, “You should be living
by every word that proceeds out of My mouth! Yes, I told you I would give you
bread, but don’t stop there. Move on! I have told you there is a land flowing
with milk and honey, with rivers, trees, forests, green pastures—and I want
that place for you!”

God is raising up a people who are focused on His will for this midnight hour!
They are tired of living in a wilderness of mere survival. All they want is to
know and do God’s will. Every member of this last-days army must be ready and
prepared in heart—because God is poised to release His great, final
outpouring!

The Banquet

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By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love”
(Song of Solomon 2:4). In the parable of the Prodigal Son the father’s joy
could not be complete until he was sitting in the banqueting hall with his son.
He had to make sure the boy knew he was forgiven and his sin wiped out. They had
to be sitting at the table—feasting on the lamb!

If you had looked in the window at that moment, you would have seen a young man
who had just come into a true revelation of God’s love: He was dancing! There
was music, and he was laughing and happy. His father was glad over him, smiling
at him! (Luke 15:25)

He was not under a cloud of fear. He wasn’t listening to the old lies of the
enemy: “You’re going to go right back to the pigpen! You are unworthy of
such love . . . .” No, he accepted his father’s forgiveness and had obeyed
his word to come in and take for himself all he needed.

He heard his father whisper to him and to his older brother, “All I have is
yours. There is no need ever to be hungry again. You never need to be lonely, a
pauper, cut off from My storehouse” (Luke 15:31).

Beloved, here is the fullness of God’s love, the very heart of it! It is that
even in our darkest times, God not only embraces us and brings us back in, but
He also says, “Bring forth the fatted calf, and let us eat and be merry! In
My banqueting house, there is a feast of plenty for my loved one!” (see Luke
15:22-24).

Today we have an even better promise: “To know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 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” (Ephesians 3:19-20).Here is God’s love promise to us: “I offer you exceeding, abundant
fullness—provision for every crisis, joy throughout your entire life. You may
go to the storehouse and claim it all!”

A Lamb Without Blemish

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” – John 18:29

 

That was a fair question. The Jews wanted Pilate to put Jesusto death; but Pilate had a right to ask why such sentence should be

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pronounced. No man should ever be condemned without a trial.

We have a right to ask the same now of those who condemn and reject Christ. What wrong thing has He done? What flaws are there in His character? Whom has He injured? The Jews attempted no answer to Pilate’s question; indeed there was no answer possible, for no accusation could be brought against Jesus. He had never injured any one.

A little girl kissed her young brother’s hand as he lay in the coffin, and said, “Mamma, this little hand never struck me.” It could well have been said of Christ when He lay in death, “This hand never struck any one. These lips never spoke a word that gave pain. This heart never cherished an unkind thought of feeling.” On the other hand, the life of Christ was a perpetual blessing to all who knew Him. His hands were ever stretched out in healing – until finally they were stretched out on the cross and fastened to it, but outstretched still in blessing. His lips were ever speaking words of comfort, of love. His heart was ever full of love and grace. Who could ever bring any accusation against Him? In truth no one ever did;

He was hurried to death by men’s hate, without reason or charge of any kind. This same Jesus stands now before men, asking for their love and their faith. What reason is there that He should not be received? What has He ever done to discredit His own claims? What charge of evil can any one, the worst enemy, bring against Him? Has He ever disappointed the hopes of any heart that has trusted in Him? Why, then, should any reject Him?

Jesus-The Source of Peace

Colossians 1:15-20

Before we knew Jesus Christ, our life was full of godlessness and wickedness—we had self-seeking ways and stubborn, unrepentant hearts (Rom. 1:18; 2:5, 8). Like our strife-filled world, we clamored for peace and tried to find it, but our efforts failed.

When we came to faith in the Savior, all of that changed. We were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into Christ‘s kingdom (Col 1:13). Every one of our sins—past, present, and future—was forgiven. Divine justice was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice, and God‘s wrath upon us was removed. We became a new creation, washed clean by Jesus’ blood (2 Cor. 5:17).

Now that sin’s power over us has been broken, we can live in accord with God. He sent His Holy Spirit to be our personal guide in this new life, helping each of us experience Christ’s peace (Rom. 8:6). We also can look forward to an eternity spent in heaven, where righteousness, tranquility, and joy abound (Rom. 14:17).

The story of the prodigal son’s return is a picture of our reconciliation with the Lord (Luke 15:11-24). The son had chosen to leave his father, living instead to please himself. Repentant, he eventually returned home; his father joyfully greeted him and forgave him, and there was harmony between them. God has done all this for us.

Our unity with the heavenly Father came at a great price—the sacrifice of His only Son. Christ gave His life for us so that we could be reconciled to God (Col. 1:20). Christian lives are to testify that Jesus is the source of our peace. Does your life communicate this message?

Dr. Charles Stanley

http://refusingtotiptoe.com/2011/11/23/my-joy-your-joy/

Differing Convictions

 

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Differing Convictions
1 Corinthians 8:1-13

 

Although eating meat offered to idols is not a controversial subject today, 1 Corinthians 8 could cause us to wonder if God has double standards for Christian behavior. How can we reconcile differing convictions among believers?

First, we must acknowledge that some moral truths are evident to everyone. These are fixed and will not change, regardless of the situation. But other convictions are based on knowledge or beliefs. These will vary from person to person.

The conscience does not remain static. Rather, it expands according to the truth a person hears and receives. When you first became a Christian, you probably had no hesitation about activities, thoughts, or attitudes that you now consider unacceptable. As your knowledge of God and His Word has grown, so has your conscience. Since we all mature at a different rates, the Lord gives twinges of conscience to each person based upon his or her own understanding or personal weaknesses. In these variable areas, what is wrong for one believer may be acceptable for another.

So how are we to live with those whose convictions may not match ours? We must first realize that it’s not our job to convict or judge them. The Holy Spirit guides each believer in the way he should go.

What a marvelous display of God’s love for us. He designs a path for each one and gives a conscience with sensitivity based upon His intimate knowledge of that person. Our job is to grow in truth, to listen for His individualized direction, and never to hinder a fellow believer in his walk.

Dr. Charles Stanley

God’s Will is Best

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?” – John 18:11

 

The “cup” is our portion, embracing all the experiences of our earthly lives. Our Father gives us the cup, therefore it must be the very best that the wisest love can provide. When death enters a Christian home there is sweetest comfort in the thought that God has really done the best possible for the friend whom He has taken away. We prayed Him to crown our loved one with His richest blessings, and is not that just what He has done? Here is a little poem which in a beautiful way illustrates this.

There is first a prayer for a friend:-

Give her, I pray, all good:
Bid all the buds of pleasure grow
To perfect flowers of happiness
Where’er her feet may go;
Bid Truth’s bright shield and Love’s strong arm
Protect her from all earthly harm.

Lest there should be some other thing,
Better than all the rest,
That I have failed to ask, I said,
Give thou the very best
Of every gift that thou dost deem
Better than aught I hope or dream.

Then here is the answer which came:-

She lies before me still and pale;
The roses that I prayed
Might bloom along her path of life
Are on her bosom laid.
Crowned with a strange, rapt calm, she lies,
Like one made dumb with sweet surprise.

I Better than I can ask or dream!
This was my prayer, and now
That she is lying still and pale,
With God’s peace on her brow,
I wonder, sobbing, sore dismayed,
If this be that for which I prayed.