By Dr. James MacDonald
Salvation
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:12-15
On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, D. L. Moody was preaching the gospel in downtown Chicago. He challenged the listening crowd to go home and “think about what I’ve said about the gospel and come back tomorrow and tell me what you’ve decided about following the Lord.” Sounds OK, right? “It’s a big decision. Don’t rush into it. Weigh your options.”
About the same hour that meeting was breaking up, a few blocks west of downtown, a blaze had begun in Patrick O’Leary’s cow barn. By midnight the fire had jumped the Chicago River’s south branch and by 1:30 a.m., the entire business district (where Moody had been preaching) was in flames. By 3:00 a.m., the inferno had raced northward, jumped the main river, and devoured over 100,000 homes. Not until after midnight the following day was the fire extinguished as a steady rain left Chicago smoldering and in rubbles—with hundreds dead.
Many of the people who had heard the gospel on Sunday night perished in the flames. By not deciding to follow Jesus the moment they heard the invitation, they had missed their opportunity to respond to God’s good news.
D.L. Moody’s ministry was changed forever. He said, “From now on, every chance I get I will urge upon people a decision today, today. Today, sir, make a decision today. Although you can choose your actions; you cannot choose the consequences.”
“Today if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart.” The writer of Hebrews repeats that warning three times (3:7, 3:15, 4:7). And while it applies to those who would respond to God’s call of salvation, it also applies to followers of Christ at some point of obedience.
It all comes down to this: when you hear what God’s Word says, do something about it. God often uses this in my own heart. If you want to go further with God than you have in years gone by, decide today that every time God shows you something, you’re going to get after it. If He lays it out for you, don’t put it off.
What action or point of surrender has God been prompting you to make that you haven’t acted on yet? What are you waiting for? Do you feel the weight of obedience right now in some area of your life? Don’t ignore His prompting. How quickly this life will end; how soon eternity will begin.
Get on doing God’s thing right away. You don’t know how long the opportunity will be yours.
12 So brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God.13 But encourage each other every day while it is "today."[a] Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.14 We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning. 15 This is what the Scripture says: "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn as in the past when you turned against God." — see Psalm 95:7–8
[Via The Weekly Walk]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Recognizing God’s Voice
Read John 10:14-16
Children seem to have special hearing when it comes to their parents’ voices. They recognize when their mother or father is talking, regardless of how many other people are around.
In a similar way, Jesus assures us that we will be able to distinguish His voice among the insistent cries and conflicting opinions of our world (John 10:27). He promises we will be able to “hear” Him, even though He doesn’t speak in audible words—one reason is that He has given us His Holy Spirit, who knows exactly what Christ is saying and will provide us with the wisdom to understand.
Have you ever noticed the way some children pretend not to hear their parents so they won’t have to obey? Sometimes we can be like that—we might fail to recognize the heavenly Father’s direction because of our own self-centeredness. We intently focus on what we want and ignore any opposing instruction.
There is another obstacle to hearing the Lord: impatience. Just like the culture we live in, we want answers right now. This tendency can cause us to listen to the wrong speaker. Surrendering our personal desires and fixing our attention on what matters to God will make it easier for us to discern His voice.
When Peter acted on his own ideas, he encountered difficulty. But when he gave up his way and listened to Jesus, he became a disciple to whom Christ could entrust kingdom work (John 21:17). Have you learned to distinguish the Lord’s voice from the noise around you?
[via Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Children seem to have special hearing when it comes to their parents’ voices. They recognize when their mother or father is talking, regardless of how many other people are around.
In a similar way, Jesus assures us that we will be able to distinguish His voice among the insistent cries and conflicting opinions of our world (John 10:27). He promises we will be able to “hear” Him, even though He doesn’t speak in audible words—one reason is that He has given us His Holy Spirit, who knows exactly what Christ is saying and will provide us with the wisdom to understand.
Have you ever noticed the way some children pretend not to hear their parents so they won’t have to obey? Sometimes we can be like that—we might fail to recognize the heavenly Father’s direction because of our own self-centeredness. We intently focus on what we want and ignore any opposing instruction.
There is another obstacle to hearing the Lord: impatience. Just like the culture we live in, we want answers right now. This tendency can cause us to listen to the wrong speaker. Surrendering our personal desires and fixing our attention on what matters to God will make it easier for us to discern His voice.
When Peter acted on his own ideas, he encountered difficulty. But when he gave up his way and listened to Jesus, he became a disciple to whom Christ could entrust kingdom work (John 21:17). Have you learned to distinguish the Lord’s voice from the noise around you?
[via Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Christians in the Workplace
Read Philippians 2:5-8
One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel’s effectiveness is Christians who act one way at church and another way elsewhere. The way we live for God should permeate all areas of life. The workplace is no exception.
The way we act reflects our faith. So if we claim to be Christians, our coworkers, bosses, and employees will equate our attitudes and actions with Jesus. Do those around you at the office see a positive reflection of God in your work ethic?
Let’s look at a scriptural model for the believer to follow. For one thing, we should view ourselves as servants. Next, our true boss is Christ; therefore, we work diligently and with integrity, knowing that our reward
is from Him. Then, since all authority on earth is God-given (John 19:11), we should obey our superiors gladly—unless, of course, our boss tells us to do something that goes against Scripture. And finally, all those we work with and for have worth from the Creator, and we should treat them with respect.
Think about how the golden rule—“Do unto others as you’d have others do unto you”—applies here. Putting it a different way, imagine yourself as the boss and ask, How would I like employees to work, even when I wasn’t watching them?
Even when jobs or coworkers are hard to like, we are to work as though God is our boss. That means doing tasks with joy, a servant attitude, respect for others, diligence, and obedience to those in authority. Imagine what the workplace could be if all believers approached their jobs this way.
Be Blessed!
Dawn
One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel’s effectiveness is Christians who act one way at church and another way elsewhere. The way we live for God should permeate all areas of life. The workplace is no exception.
The way we act reflects our faith. So if we claim to be Christians, our coworkers, bosses, and employees will equate our attitudes and actions with Jesus. Do those around you at the office see a positive reflection of God in your work ethic?
Let’s look at a scriptural model for the believer to follow. For one thing, we should view ourselves as servants. Next, our true boss is Christ; therefore, we work diligently and with integrity, knowing that our reward
is from Him. Then, since all authority on earth is God-given (John 19:11), we should obey our superiors gladly—unless, of course, our boss tells us to do something that goes against Scripture. And finally, all those we work with and for have worth from the Creator, and we should treat them with respect.
Think about how the golden rule—“Do unto others as you’d have others do unto you”—applies here. Putting it a different way, imagine yourself as the boss and ask, How would I like employees to work, even when I wasn’t watching them?
Even when jobs or coworkers are hard to like, we are to work as though God is our boss. That means doing tasks with joy, a servant attitude, respect for others, diligence, and obedience to those in authority. Imagine what the workplace could be if all believers approached their jobs this way.
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, November 4, 2010
When Faith Falters
Mark 9:17-29
James 1:5 tells us that God offers wisdom to anyone who asks. However, he goes on to warn that if we doubt, our prayers will not be answered. But at times, don’t all of us struggle with some degree of doubt?
Let’s explore some reasons for our disbelief. First, faith usually defies human reasoning. For example, when we are in financial difficulty, logic says to save every penny, whereas God says He will bless the generous giver. Second, feelings of fear, inadequacy, or guilt can interfere with trusting biblical truth. Third, we often focus on the circumstance rather than our heavenly Father. He is at work, yet we fail to notice His hand. And finally, uncertainty about God’s will can lead us to doubt Him.
Wavering faith has severe consequences: missed blessings, lack of peace and joy, and a heart that is easily thrown off course when difficulty arises. How, then, can we avoid faltering in our faith?
In Mark 9, a man pleaded with Jesus to rebuke the spirit possessing his son. When Christ replied that “all things are possible to him who believes,” the father said, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (vv. 23-24). And Jesus granted his request. Like that man, we can ask the Lord to increase our faith. But we should also spend time reading God’s Word and meditating on His promises.
From the story in Luke, we know that doubt is common—and that God is patient and understanding. Faith comes from Him. So when you are at a crossroads and the right response requires faith, or when you pray and notice doubt, ask Him to help you believe.
[via Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
James 1:5 tells us that God offers wisdom to anyone who asks. However, he goes on to warn that if we doubt, our prayers will not be answered. But at times, don’t all of us struggle with some degree of doubt?
Let’s explore some reasons for our disbelief. First, faith usually defies human reasoning. For example, when we are in financial difficulty, logic says to save every penny, whereas God says He will bless the generous giver. Second, feelings of fear, inadequacy, or guilt can interfere with trusting biblical truth. Third, we often focus on the circumstance rather than our heavenly Father. He is at work, yet we fail to notice His hand. And finally, uncertainty about God’s will can lead us to doubt Him.
Wavering faith has severe consequences: missed blessings, lack of peace and joy, and a heart that is easily thrown off course when difficulty arises. How, then, can we avoid faltering in our faith?
In Mark 9, a man pleaded with Jesus to rebuke the spirit possessing his son. When Christ replied that “all things are possible to him who believes,” the father said, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (vv. 23-24). And Jesus granted his request. Like that man, we can ask the Lord to increase our faith. But we should also spend time reading God’s Word and meditating on His promises.
From the story in Luke, we know that doubt is common—and that God is patient and understanding. Faith comes from Him. So when you are at a crossroads and the right response requires faith, or when you pray and notice doubt, ask Him to help you believe.
[via Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Truth
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. " - John 17:14-17
I would suggest to you that John 17:17 is a great verse to put to memory. It has three little parts to it. Jesus prayed, Sanctify them. The word sanctify means change. Sanctification is God's transforming process in the life of every believer. Jesus prayed, "Change them, Father, all My disciples."
The second phrase is, in the truth. Do you want to change and grow? The fuel for transformation has always been and always will be truth. Sanctify them in the truth.
Where is truth found? Jesus didn't leave any doubt about that. The last phrase in verse 17 was, your word is truth. This is the Son praying to the Father. Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is absolute, authoritative, binding truth.
The world can shout that it has discovered other truth, but what God says is still true! Within the last few years psychology has promoted the concept that if you really want to get healthy, if you want to get healed from the past, you have to dig it up. Joseph in the Old Testament and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament make God's heart abundantly clear: freedom from my past comes not from remembering and reviewing, but from forgetting and putting behind me and forgiving and moving on. This is the living, abiding, Word of God – always true, always reliable:
"But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true" (Psalm119:151).
"The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever" (Psalms 119:160).
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Luke 21:33).
This is the greatest book that has ever been written because it is the only book that God has written. He has preserved, protected, and promoted it. It has the endorsements of the greatest minds of human history. This book has never been tried and found lacking. Never!
[via Walk in the Word]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
I would suggest to you that John 17:17 is a great verse to put to memory. It has three little parts to it. Jesus prayed, Sanctify them. The word sanctify means change. Sanctification is God's transforming process in the life of every believer. Jesus prayed, "Change them, Father, all My disciples."
The second phrase is, in the truth. Do you want to change and grow? The fuel for transformation has always been and always will be truth. Sanctify them in the truth.
Where is truth found? Jesus didn't leave any doubt about that. The last phrase in verse 17 was, your word is truth. This is the Son praying to the Father. Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is absolute, authoritative, binding truth.
The world can shout that it has discovered other truth, but what God says is still true! Within the last few years psychology has promoted the concept that if you really want to get healthy, if you want to get healed from the past, you have to dig it up. Joseph in the Old Testament and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament make God's heart abundantly clear: freedom from my past comes not from remembering and reviewing, but from forgetting and putting behind me and forgiving and moving on. This is the living, abiding, Word of God – always true, always reliable:
"But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true" (Psalm119:151).
"The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever" (Psalms 119:160).
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Luke 21:33).
This is the greatest book that has ever been written because it is the only book that God has written. He has preserved, protected, and promoted it. It has the endorsements of the greatest minds of human history. This book has never been tried and found lacking. Never!
[via Walk in the Word]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
How to Apply Biblical Principles
Read
Psalm 119:17-24
The idea of applying biblical principles is often misunderstood. It is not so simple as hear, believe, apply—as if one were putting on a new doctrine like a borrowed overcoat. Two steps are missing between believe and apply: explore and discover.
To explore a biblical principle means studying Scripture to understand 1) what the surrounding context is, 2) what the principle means for you, and 3) what it reveals about God. Furthermore, we must consider how this lone principle relates to rest of the Bible. Digging in the Word softens hearts and minds so that the new doctrine gets planted deep.
As we plow further into Scripture to explore, the new concept rises off the page and becomes real to us. We discover how the principle works and the way to apply it properly in our life. In this way, the rich truth becomes our own. It isn’t simply tacked onto our actions as an external influence; rather, we take the truth into our hearts and minds so that it impacts us from the inside out.
Making God’s principles an integral part of our lives is a delightful experience. Instead of feeling a passing fancy for a new concept, people who make an idea their own rejoice in it. And they dig back into the Word to learn more of the Lord’s statutes.
A believer who has little to say about God’s work in his life is probably not applying Scripture. Simply hearing and believing doesn’t make a concept yours. A principle is yours when you explore the truth, discover its place in your life, and apply the concept so that God can make it work.
[By Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Psalm 119:17-24
The idea of applying biblical principles is often misunderstood. It is not so simple as hear, believe, apply—as if one were putting on a new doctrine like a borrowed overcoat. Two steps are missing between believe and apply: explore and discover.
To explore a biblical principle means studying Scripture to understand 1) what the surrounding context is, 2) what the principle means for you, and 3) what it reveals about God. Furthermore, we must consider how this lone principle relates to rest of the Bible. Digging in the Word softens hearts and minds so that the new doctrine gets planted deep.
As we plow further into Scripture to explore, the new concept rises off the page and becomes real to us. We discover how the principle works and the way to apply it properly in our life. In this way, the rich truth becomes our own. It isn’t simply tacked onto our actions as an external influence; rather, we take the truth into our hearts and minds so that it impacts us from the inside out.
Making God’s principles an integral part of our lives is a delightful experience. Instead of feeling a passing fancy for a new concept, people who make an idea their own rejoice in it. And they dig back into the Word to learn more of the Lord’s statutes.
A believer who has little to say about God’s work in his life is probably not applying Scripture. Simply hearing and believing doesn’t make a concept yours. A principle is yours when you explore the truth, discover its place in your life, and apply the concept so that God can make it work.
[By Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wandering from the Word
Read
Psalm 119:9-16
Stan bought his grandchildren a new toy. After glancing at the directions, he set the booklet aside to get busy building. A few frustrating hours later, Stan humbly opened the instructions again and followed the steps to assemble the toy. Soon he was done, and the grandkids were playing happily.
Stan knew that the manufacturer had a plan for putting together the toy. But he’s a smart fellow, so he assumed he could figure it out too. Many people take the same approach to the Scriptures that Stan took to those directions. Instead of treating God’s Word like a manual to live by, they glance at it occasionally when they aren’t sure what to do next.
The Bible is like the Father’s diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is also God’s instruction book for living. I emphasize reading it every day because believers cannot be spiritually successful or victorious without it. In today’s passage, we read that if a person wants to be righteous, his or her life must comply with the principles of Scripture. Of course, the only way to know what those principles are is to read, study, and meditate upon the Word.
God’s Word is our most valuable possession. Casting it aside is as foolish as tossing away a wallet full of money. Among the Bible’s riches are stories teaching us how to serve the Lord and principles about pleasing Him. And there is a wealth of instruction for building a righteous and meaningful life.
[via Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Psalm 119:9-16
Stan bought his grandchildren a new toy. After glancing at the directions, he set the booklet aside to get busy building. A few frustrating hours later, Stan humbly opened the instructions again and followed the steps to assemble the toy. Soon he was done, and the grandkids were playing happily.
Stan knew that the manufacturer had a plan for putting together the toy. But he’s a smart fellow, so he assumed he could figure it out too. Many people take the same approach to the Scriptures that Stan took to those directions. Instead of treating God’s Word like a manual to live by, they glance at it occasionally when they aren’t sure what to do next.
The Bible is like the Father’s diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is also God’s instruction book for living. I emphasize reading it every day because believers cannot be spiritually successful or victorious without it. In today’s passage, we read that if a person wants to be righteous, his or her life must comply with the principles of Scripture. Of course, the only way to know what those principles are is to read, study, and meditate upon the Word.
God’s Word is our most valuable possession. Casting it aside is as foolish as tossing away a wallet full of money. Among the Bible’s riches are stories teaching us how to serve the Lord and principles about pleasing Him. And there is a wealth of instruction for building a righteous and meaningful life.
[via Dr. Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
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