The Carpenter's Chapel (9)

The devotional readings today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF20 Feb 2012''...Draw your strength from Him...'' Ephesians 6:10Don't be surprised when God calls you to step out in faith and do something you don't feel qualified to do. That tends to be His standard operating procedure. He does it so that you will lean more on Him, and less on yourself. Does that mean you won't make mistakes? No, it means you probably will. But instead of being discouraged, you'll see them as part of the learning curve and go on to greater things. Often we look at a task and think, 'There's no way I can do that.' Hold on there; you're looking through the wrong end of the telescope! You're looking at yourself instead of God. When God called Joshua to take the place of Moses, He promised Him, '...As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee...' (Joshua 1:5). Now if God promises to be with you, and He does, then that is all you need. His strength is actually showcased through your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Whatever ingredients you lack in the natural realm, you can withdraw from your account in the spiritual realm: 'Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].' What kind of might is available to you? Boundless might! And where do you draw it from? The ultimate source-God! You are empowered and equipped as you work with Him, so stop selling yourself short. Armed with His might you have more capabilities than you think, and you are able to do a lot more than you've done in the past. So put your confidence in God and stop doubting yourself.

Our Daily Bread

The Remedy For Fear

In his first inaugural speech in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the newly elected president of the US, addressed a nation that was still reeling from the Great Depression. Hoping to ignite a more optimistic outlook regarding that economic crisis, he declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!”

Fear often shows up in our lives when we are at risk of losing something—our wealth, health, reputation, position, safety, family, friends. It reveals our innate desire to protect the things in life that are important to us, rather than fully entrusting them to God’s care and control. When fear takes over, it cripples us emotionally and saps us spiritually. We’re afraid to tell others about Christ, to extend our lives and resources for the benefit of others, or to venture into new territory. A fearful spirit is more vulnerable to the enemy, who tempts us to compromise biblical convictions and to take matters into our own hands.

The remedy for fear, of course, is trust in our Creator. Only when we trust the reality of God’s presence, power, protection, and provision for our lives can we share the joy of the psalmist, who said, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4).


Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. —Berg


Trust in the Lord is the cure for a fearful spirit.

 

The devotional readings today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

KNOWING WHAT'S 'RIGHT' FOR YOU21 Feb 2012''...It would not be right for us...'' Acts 6:2The New Testament church grew so fast that the apostles couldn't keep up with it. So they said, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word' (vv. 2-4 NIV). As a result the Word of God spread, the church kept growing, and key leaders in the city of Jerusalem were won to Christ. It's vital that you discover the area where you add the most value-and stay there. Why don't we? 1) Turf guarding. We think, 'This is my job; nobody does it but me.' Just because you've always done a particular job doesn't mean you should keep doing it. What if God wants to write a new chapter in your life? 2) Being overloaded. People with too much on their plate tend to reject the very thing that will help them, thinking it's just one more burden to carry. 3) The martyr complex. When complaining about your lot in life gets you the attention of others, you make it a lifestyle. But it doesn't work. People begin to avoid you because they don't see you doing anything to change the situation. 4) Not knowing what's 'right' for you. Only when the apostles delegated the administrative side of things to others and got back to what they were called to do, did things start to go right. Think about it.

Our Daily Bread

Slacker?

While studying the book of Proverbs in my small-group Bible study, our leader suggested that we change the description of a lazy person from a sluggard to a slacker (6:6,9). Ah, now he was speaking my lingo. I immediately started thinking of all the people I consider to be slackers.
Like the men and women who fail to teach and discipline their children. Or that guy who refuses to help around the house. Or those teenagers who neglect their studies and play Internet games day and night.

If we’re honest, we’re all susceptible to this. What about being a “prayer slacker” (1 Thess. 5:17-18), or a “Bible-reading slacker” (Ps. 119:103; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), or a “non-exercising-of-our-spiritual-gift slacker” (Rom. 12:4-8), or a “non-witnessing slacker”? (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).
If we are not doing what we know God wants us to do, we are certainly spiritual slackers. In fact, when we refuse to obey God, we are sinning.
Listen to these challenging and convicting words from the book of James: “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (4:17 NLT). Let’s not be spiritual slackers.


When we know what God wants us to do,
But then we refuse to obey,
We’re ignoring the voice of the Lord,
And sinfully choosing our way. —Sper


We may make excuses for not obeying God,
but He still calls it disobedience.

 

The devotional readings for today come from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org). I hope they will be a blessing to you.

Word For Today

YOUR HABITS DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE22 Feb 2012''...Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed...'' Daniel 6:10Your habits either work for you or against you. Take any habit you practice, multiply it by 365 days, then multiply it by seventy or eighty years and you can write your own obituary. Simply stated: great people have great habits. One billionaire says, 'I arrive at my office at seven a.m. It is a habit.' A best-selling author says, 'I get up at the same time every day. I start writing at eight a.m. and quit at four each afternoon. I do it every day. It is a habit.' Jesus was a creature of habit. 'And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his [habit] was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day...' (Luke 4:16). Daniel prayed three times a day. His prayer life was so predictable that his enemies used it to trap him. When measured by the same standard, how is your prayer life? It's said that if you can do something consistently for twenty-one days you have proven that you can do it for twenty-one years. Will you slip at times? Sure, you're only human. But once you have tasted success it's hard to be satisfied with less. Jesus said, 'If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine' (John 8:31 NAS). Note the word 'continue;' it's the secret of true greatness. Your success can be found in your daily routine. If you're serious about changing your life you must stop practicing bad habits and start instituting good ones.

Our Daily Bread

An Ordinary Guy

Steve was just an ordinary guy. He quietly served in a church I attended years ago. He helped prepare communion, shoveled the church sidewalks in the winter, and mowed the lawn in the summer. He spent time with teenage boys who had no fathers in the home. I often heard him telling people at church in his quiet way how good the Lord was to him. During prayer meeting he didn’t talk much about himself but would ask us to pray for those he was telling about Jesus’ forgiveness and love.

A verse in John 10 about John the Baptist makes me think of Steve. People said of him: “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man [Jesus] were true” (v.41). John didn’t perform miracles as Jesus did. He didn’t talk about himself but came to “bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe” (1:7). He said of Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29). My friend Steve bore witness of that Light as well.

Our aim, as followers of Jesus, is to do the same—to “bear witness of the Light.” We’re just ordinary people, serving God in our little corner of the world. With our quiet deeds and words, let’s point others to the Light!


Just what do Christians look like?
What sets their lives apart?
They’re ordinary people
Who love God from the heart. —D. De Haan


Christians are ordinary people who are committed to the extraordinary person of Christ.

 

Today the devotionals are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

STEP OUT IN FAITH AND DO IT!23 Feb 2012''We walk by faith, not by sight.'' 2 Corinthians 5:7It's not that you don't know this, it's that you keep forgetting it and need to be reminded of it: God can use you! Yes, the same God who worked through Moses and Esther, Deborah and Paul, works today through imperfect people like you. He can give you victory in the place of defeat and turn last year's humiliation into this year's celebration. All the great achievers in the Bible had one thing in common: they were just ordinary folk who took risks in obedience to God, believed Him and ended up doing amazing things. Can you imagine trying to fill Moses' shoes? God had used him to dry up the Red Sea, wipe out the Egyptian army, receive the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and feed millions of Israelites every day in the wilderness. How would you like to follow someone like that? The thought of it must have shaken Joshua to his core. But God reassured him: 'No man shall be able to stand before you...as I was with Moses, so I will be with you...' (Joshua 1:5 NKJV). Once he heard those words he had the confidence needed to pick up where Moses left off. The Bible says, 'We walk by faith, not by sight.' The devil doesn't mind you speaking words of faith as long as you don't take steps of faith. So trust God. When He says something to you it's always for a good reason. When He tells you to do something, He will give you the strength and resources to do it. What's God asking you to do? Step out in faith and do it!

Our Daily Bread

Help Needed

During World War II, the British Isles represented the last line of resistance against the sweep of Nazi oppression in Europe. Under relentless attack and in danger of collapse, however, Britain lacked the resources to see the conflict through to victory. For that reason, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill went on BBC radio and appealed to the world: “Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.” He knew that without help from the outside, they could not endure the assault they were facing.

Life is like that. Often, we are inadequate for the troubles life throws at us, and we need help from outside of ourselves. As members of the body of Christ, that help can come at times from our Christian brothers and sisters (Rom. 12:10-13)—and that is a wonderful thing. Ultimately, however, we seek help from our heavenly Father. The good and great news is that our God has invited us to come confidently before Him: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

At such times, our greatest resource is prayer—for it brings us into the very presence of God. There we find, in His mercy and grace, the help we need.

God has given you His promise, That He hears and answers prayer, He will heed your supplication If you cast on Him your care. —Bernstecher

Don’t let prayer be your last recourse in time of need; make it your first.

 

The devotional readings today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

Suffering Because of...24 Feb 2012''If anyone suffers...'' 1 Peter 4:16The Bible says, 'Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God...' (vv.15-17 NKJV). When satan attacks you for doing God's will, it's both a compliment and a sign of respect. Clearly, you're a high-value target and you represent a threat to his kingdom. But when you suffer as a result of your own foolishness, there's only one thing to do: acknowledge it and repent. Don't say you're being attacked for being a Christian when you're really being attacked for being a 'busybody.' Note the words 'murderer' and 'busybody,' and make the connection! When you speak evil of someone and are persecuted for it, you're not suffering for the Lord, you're suffering the consequences of your own behaviour. So what should you do? Go back and deal with it; say, 'I was wrong.' Don't try to act 'spiritual' and say, 'Well, I just don't understand why they don't like me.' Yes, you do! You can't do what's wrong, try to vindicate yourself and then claim God's promises. It doesn't work that way. 'The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.' It begins with you. God says, 'If you fix this yourself, I won't have to fix you. I only fix people who refuse to fix themselves.' Don't wait for consequences to bring you to your knees.

Our Daily Bread

Fresh and Flourishing

In Psalm 92, the poet begins with a commendation of praise: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.” Good for what? Good for you and me. It does our soul a world of good to turn from anxious thoughts and fill our days with prayerful praise; good to greet each morning with songs of thanksgiving, for such praise makes us glad. It lifts us out of gloom and replaces our sadness with cheerful songs at the “works of [His] hands” (v.4). And what is that work? The work He is doing in us!

Here’s one of my most cherished metaphors: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (vv.12-14).

Palms are symbols of towering beauty and cedars of unbending strength. These are the characteristics of those who have been “planted in the house of the Lord” (v.13). Their roots go down into the soil of God’s unquenchable love.

Do you think your usefulness to God is over? Continue in God’s Word, rooted and grounded in Christ, drinking in His love and faithfulness. Then, no matter your age, you will bear fruit and be “fresh and flourishing.”

From your heart give God your praise For His blessings all your days; Lift your voice to God above— God of mercy, God of love. —Hess

Praise comes naturally when you count your blessings.

 

The devotionals for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and My Utmost For His Highest (http://utmost.org).

Word For Today

God Is Giving You Another Chance25 Feb 2012''...God has appointed another [future] for me...'' Genesis 4:25Satan's plan was to infect Adam with the virus of sin before his first son was born; that way he could get all the rest of us. And it almost worked. Cain, Adam's first son, murdered his brother Abel. But God wasn't finished. 'Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel.' 'For everything you've loved or lost, God has something else. For everything that's been stolen from you, God has something else. Your 'seed' is your future, and God has another one in mind for you. The situation you are in right now is not the end of the story; God wants to write a new chapter. The devil knew God had a plan for you; that's why he tried so hard to wipe you out. He doesn't want you to live long enough to fulfil it. But the fact that you're still here and able to read this says he failed, and that God's not through with you! Notice the word 'appointed.' There's an appointment on God's calendar with your name on it. 'God has appointed another [future] for me.' There's something good just over the horizon - something for your life, your marriage, your family, your career, your ministry. God has an appointed task for you to accomplish, and appointed blessings for you to enjoy. He has called you with an 'eternal purpose' and He will bring it to pass.

My Utmost For His Highest

The Destitution of Service

. . . though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved —2 Corinthians 12:15


Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.

 

Today the readings are taken from My Utmost For His Highest (http://utmost/org) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

My Utmost For His Highest

Our Misgivings About Jesus

The woman said to Him, ’Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep’ —John 4:11


Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ’Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water— no means to be able to give us these things.” And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t.

My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly— “Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”


Our Daily Bread

The Devil In Court

The Devil and Daniel Webster” is a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet. In it, Jabez Stone, a New England farmer, has such “bad luck” that he sells his soul to the devil to become prosperous. Eventually, the devil comes to collect Jabez’s debt. But the eminent lawyer Daniel Webster is called in to defend him. Through a skillful series of arguments, Webster wins the case against the devil, and Jabez is saved from perdition.

Of course, this tale is only fiction. But the Bible records a vision in which Satan accuses a believer before the Divine Judge. Joshua, a high priest, stands before God. As a picture of his personal sin and guilt, the priest is dressed in filthy clothing. Nearby, Satan accuses Joshua. But the Angel of the Lord rebukes him and says to Joshua: “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes” (Zech. 3:4).
Only God can make a sinner acceptable to Him. And the New Testament tells us how: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

Do you feel unworthy to enter the presence of God? Remember, as Christians, our Savior’s blood has cleansed us, and Christ Himself represents us.

The power of God can turn a heart From evil and the power of sin; The love of God can change a life And make it new and cleansed within. —Fasick

Justification means our guilt gone, Christ’s righteousness given.

 

The readings for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

RAHAB (1)27 Feb 2012''By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish...'' Hebrews 11:31For the next few days let's look at the story of Rahab the harlot. She lived in a doomed civilisation. God told Abraham, 'I give to you and your descendants...all the land of Canaan...' (Genesis 17:8 NKJV). Since Rahab lived on the 'wall' of Jericho, in a sense she lived on the 'brink of doom.' So do we. Today leaders are scrambling to stop the spread of nuclear weapons because in the wrong hands they have the power to destroy the world. The Bible speaks of a rider on a red horse with a weapon of such destructive potential, it could remove peace from the earth (Revelation 6:4). Could that be a nuclear device? Peter writes: 'But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...?' (2 Peter 3:10-12 NKJV). Should we be frightened? No, the death throes of this old order are just the birth pangs of a new one. 'Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, without spot and blameless' (vv. 13-14 NKJV). What God has in store for His redeemed people-is awesome!

Our Daily Bread

Not My Kind

In the Star Wars trilogy there’s a scene that reminds me of some church people I know. At an establishment somewhere in a remote corner of the galaxy, grotesque-looking creatures socialize over food and music. When Luke Skywalker enters with his two droids, C3PO and R2D2 (who are more “normal” than anyone else there), he is surprisingly turned away with a curt rebuff: “We don’t serve their kind here!”

That strange scene captures the malady that we all struggle with in our relationships here on planet Earth. We are always more comfortable with people who are just like us. But think of where you would be if Jesus had felt that way. He was divine, perfect in every way, which makes Him far different from us. Yet He came to dwell among us and to die for us.

Those of us who follow Christ shouldn’t have “they’re not my kind” in our vocabulary. As Paul reminds us, in Him “there is neither Jew nor Greek, . . . slave nor free, . . . male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). So, whether others are different in attitude, perspective, race, class, political slant, or social standing, it should make no difference to those of us who call ourselves by Jesus’ name.

Find someone who is not your kind and share Jesus’ love with them today!

I pray, O Lord, reveal to me If I have caused disunity, For You would have Your children one In praise and love for Your dear Son. —Branon

Love your neighbor— even if they aren’t your kind!

 

The readings for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

RAHAB (2)28 Feb 2012''I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good...'' Jeremiah 29:11While everybody else was preparing to fight, she was preparing to surrender. Somehow Rahab had heard about the things God had done for Israel; how He'd turned the Red Sea to a red carpet, converted rocks into drinking fountains, made breakfast for them every morning in the wilderness, and dried up the waters of the Jordan River. Rahab may not have been wise when it came to her body, but she was wiser than everybody else in town when it came to her soul. She wasn't about to fight God, for she knew it's a fight you can't win. For her the path to victory was surrender! And that is the right path for you too. If only you'll stop trying to 'run the show' and turn your life over to Christ, He will take you to places of blessing you've always dreamed of, longed for, but didn't know how to get to. God had a great future for Rahab. He planned to make her a progenitor to King David, and also our blessed Lord Jesus. How's that for recycling? And God, who loves both the down-'n'-outer and the up-'n'-outer, will do the same for you regardless of the spiritual condition you may be in today. Read this: 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me...I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes' (vv. 11-14 NLT).

Our Daily Bread

A Man Of Warmth and Wisdom

When Dr. Vernon Grounds, former president and chancellor of Denver Seminary, went to be with the Lord at age 96, tributes and remembrances poured in from former students, colleagues, and friends. Almost everyone recalled a time when Dr. Grounds had personally encouraged them through his teaching, his counsel, or simply his warm smile. He believed in the value of training pastors, teachers, and counselors who had a vital relationship with Christ and a willingness to serve others.

A vivid portrait of Vernon Grounds is seen in a selection of verses from Proverbs 15: “A man of understanding walks uprightly” (v.21). “A word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (v.23). “The words of the pure are pleasant” (v.26). “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer” (v.28). “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom” (v.33).
Dr. Grounds’ counsel grew out of his character, and his wisdom came from God. The warmth of his life was fired by his purity of heart. The result is a model for us from the Word of God and the example of a man who humbly followed his Savior.

Vernon Grounds ran well and finished his race. May his example of wise and compassionate living challenge us as we continue to run.

Life’s truest heroes never carve their name On marbled columns built for their acclaim; They build instead a legacy that springs From faithful service to the King of kings. —Gustafson

A good leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way.

 

The devotional readings for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

RAHAB (3)29 Feb 2012''...You were redeemed from the empty way of life...with the precious blood of Christ...'' 1 Peter 1:18What she trusted in stood, when what everybody else trusted in fell. What did Rahab trust in? Her morality? No, the Bible says she was a harlot. Her nationality? No, she was a Gentile, and therefore excluded from the blessings of Abraham. So what did she trust in? A scarlet cord! What a beautiful picture of the power and protection afforded us by Christ's shed blood. 'You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.' Notice what the blood of Jesus has rescued you from: 'The empty way of life.' Do you remember when you had no interest in church because your soul was at war with God; the God who brokered peace between you and Himself? 'And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled' (Colossians 1:21 NKJV). How did it happen? '...Having made peace through the blood of His cross' (Colossians 1:20 NKJV). You say, 'But I still fall far short of God's standards.' We all do. And God has made provision for that: 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1John 1:9 NKJV). When Joshua's troops saw the scarlet cord flying from the window of Rahab's home it meant she was accepted by God. And Christ's blood does that for you.

Our Daily Bread

How To Get A New Heart

A friend who is a heart transplant cardiologist has an appreciation of Ezekiel 36:26 that not many of us can understand. Mike manages the pre-operation and post-operation care for heart-transplant patients. He’s often in the operating room as surgeons remove diseased, discolored hearts and replace them with vibrant, pink “new” donor hearts.

Mike explains that the process for selecting who gets a “new” physical heart is similar to who can get a “new heart” from God (Ezek. 36:26). In both cases, need alone is the criterion.

Ezekiel’s mention of the people of Israel someday getting a “new heart” is a foreshadowing of the change that takes place at salvation. Ephesians 4:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 refer to it as “new man” and “new creation.” For the Israelites of Ezekiel’s day and for those of us living today, only one criterion must be met for us to acquire a “transplant.” We must need it. It matters not whether we’re rich or poor, respected or scorned. Citizenship, social status, and ethnicity are inconsequential. If we need a new heart from God, we can have one through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

What indicates that need? As sinners, all of us need a new heart. Have you had a spiritual heart transplant?

Christ asks you for nothing— Come just as you are; Come sinful, come guilty, Come give Him your heart. —Anon.

We need more than a new start— we need a new heart!

 

The readings for today are from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today
Rahab (4) 01 Mar 2012
'If anyone goes outside your house...his blood will be on his own head.' Joshua 2:19
She was safe as long as she stayed in the house. Before conquering Jericho, Joshua sent two spies in on a reconnaissance mission. That's when they met Rahab and she befriended them. As a result they gave her a scarlet cord to hang from her window, identifying her house as 'off limits' to the invading army. But notice the instructions that were given to her: 'If any one goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head.' There's a lesson here: if you're a procrastinator the lesson is: 'Get into the household of faith while you still have time!' If you're drifting away from God the message is, 'Don't leave the house.' When it comes to the importance of staying under God's protection, here are two great Bible illustrations: (1) 'You shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood...And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning' (Ex 12:22 NKJV). (2) 'Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved' (Ac 27:31 NKJV). Are you getting the message? Stay in church. Stay in God's Word. Stay in the place of prayer. Stay in the company of those who can build you up spiritually. The hour is too late and the attack is too great. 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' (Ps 91:1 NKJV).


Our Daily bread

Can I Trust You?

According to lie-detection experts, “Our natural tendency is to trust people.” However, not everyone is trustworthy all the time. Signs that someone may be lying include fidgeting, lack of eye contact, and noticeable pauses in speaking. Even with these clues, experts warn that it is still quite tough to tell deceivers from honest people.

Joshua needed to know if he could trust the Gibeonites. When they discovered that God wanted him to get rid of some neighboring nations (Josh. 9:24), they pretended to be from a faraway land. They arrived in worn-out tunics and patched sandals, claiming, “Our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey” (v.13). The Israelites were suspicious (v.7), but they “did not ask counsel of the Lord” (v.14); and Joshua unwisely made a peace treaty with the deceivers.

Many want to gain our trust: salespeople, financial advisors, or estranged family members. If we wonder: “Can I trust you?” we shouldn’t decide quickly, based only on what seems right to us. It’s better to seek counsel from God’s Word (Ps. 119:105), godly people (Prov. 11:14), and God Himself (James 1:5). Wisdom from above will help us decide who to trust.

Protect us from deceivers, Lord,
Who lie and plot to take
Advantage of us and confuse
Decisions we must make. —Sper

A desire for discernment is God’s call to prayer.

 

The readings for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

REFUSE TO PULL BACK! 02 Mar 2012

'You will spread out to the right and to the left.' Isaiah 54:3
Has all the gloom and doom in the news caused you to become fearful and begin to pull back? Take a moment and read this: 'Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child...shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband...Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right hand and to the left...Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood' (vv. 1-4 NIV). Satan will try to plant all kinds of fear in your mind about things that are not even likely to happen. He will tell you that your children are going to be lost; that because cancer, Alzheimer's or heart disease runs in your family, you too are going to get it. His goal is to stop you dead in your tracks. He knows God's plan for you is to 'spread out to the right and to the left,' not pull back. 'How long will this attack last?' you ask. At least as long as the longest stand you've taken against Satan in the past! What can you do? 'Take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day' (Eph 6:13 NKJV). Stand squarely on God's Word and refuse to pull back.


Our Daily Bread

I'm Good

When someone asks, “How are you?” it has become common for the response to be, “I’m good.” When we say this, we are really saying, “I’m well” or “I’m doing fine,” speaking of our general well-being and not our character. I have answered with that response more times than I can count, but lately it has begun to bother me. Because, whether we realize it or not, we are saying something specific when we use the word good.

Jesus once encountered a wealthy young man who called Him “Good Teacher” (Matt. 19:16). The young man was right, for Jesus is both good (completely perfect) and the Teacher. He is the only One who can truly make that claim.

The Lord, however, challenged the man to think about what he was saying in using that term good. “So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’” (v.17). Jesus wanted the man to understand that the assertion he was making needed to be taken seriously. Jesus can be called “good” because He is God.

Next time someone asks you, “How are you?” it is great to be able to say, “I’m well.” But remember, only Jesus is good.

Eternal with the Father, One,
Is Jesus Christ, His own dear Son;
In Him God’s fullness we can see,
For Jesus Christ is deity. —D. De Haan

God is great and God is good, but without Him we are neither.

 

The Word For The Day (www.ucb.co.uk) is the first of our readings, followed by My Utmost For His Highest (http://utmost.org).

Word For Today

ALWAYS DO WHAT'S RIGHT 03 Mar 2012
'This is what [God] requires...to do what is right.' Micah 6:8
Focusing solely on what you can do, without first deciding what kind of person you should be, is a mistake. Your talent may make your name known, but your character will determine what people associate with it. Your talent may dictate your potential, but your character will determine your legacy. What is character? It's the will to do what's right, even when it is not easy. It's deciding ahead of time what's truly non-negotiable. Count on it, the day will come when so-called 'progress' calls for compromising your convictions. In that moment, what hangs in the balance is your moral authority. So you must be clear about your convictions. You'll be tempted to believe that once you reach a certain level of success, these challenges disappear. No, success doesn't make anything easier, it just raises the stakes. What was once applauded is now simply expected. It's a lot easier to win the title than defend it. Furthermore, with success comes the inclination to see yourself as the final authority on right and wrong. Look around you and you'll see that it's not uncommon to find leaders playing by a different set of rules. Everything really does look different at the top! Once intoxicated by success you start to believe that the rules don't apply to you. And that can be fatal. In the final analysis your reputation is how you're known before men but your character is how you're known before God. You say, 'But why cling to something that's outdated or has the potential to slow me down?' The Bible answers: 'This is what [God] requires...to do what is right.'


My Utmost For His Highest

His Commission To Us


Feed My sheep —John 21:17


This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.

 

The readings for today are from My Utmost For His Highest (htp://utmost.org) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

My Utmost For His Highest

Is This True Of Me?

None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself . . . —Acts 20:24

It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.

Our Daily Bread

In This Very Room

At our church we often sing the beautiful song by Ron and Carol Harris: “In This Very Room.” It begins, “In this very room there’s quite enough love for one like me.” This song reminds me that although there is great encouragement in gathering with other Christians for worship, the important thing is that Christ is present. But it goes beyond that. He is with us not just at church but in every room of our lives.

I wonder where you’re reading this—a kitchen, a coffee shop, a prison cell, a military post? Perhaps you’re in a hospital or a courtroom. It may be a room that reflects everything that’s right in your life or a place that represents all that’s wrong. And you might be afraid.

In the aftermath of the awful reality of Jesus’ crucifixion, His followers met in a familiar room. John records that “when the doors were shut [locked] where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19). A week later it happened again when Jesus entered through locked doors to bring peace through His presence (vv.26-29).

Wherever you are today, “There’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom, for Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room.”

When in the midst of life with its problems,
Bent with our toil and burdens we bear;
Wonderful thought and deep consolation:
Jesus is always there. —Lillenas

Our loving God is always near—forever by our side.

 

The Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) is the first of our readings todoay, followed by Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

YOU'RE QUALIFIED! (2) 05 Mar 2012
'If you're content to...be yourself, your life will count.' Matthew 23:12
Do you remember Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to surrender her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus? There was more at stake that day than just a ride home from work. By simply being herself, Rosa suddenly moved to centre stage. She wasn't playing games. She was the real thing, and God shone a light on her soul that day that changed history. That's how it works: when God's light shines on your efforts, little becomes much. Jesus said, 'If you're content to...be yourself, your life will count.' Now, since God is the only One who knows when your time will come, you must be prepared. 'How do I do that?' you ask. The Bible answers: 'Be content with who you are...don't put on airs. God's...hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time' (1Pe 5:6-7 TM). Allow the Holy Spirit to be your agent and advance man. Don't get ahead of Him. Just be faithful; when the time is right God will shine His spotlight on the next stage and assign you an even bigger role. And when the moment comes for you to stride confidently into the spotlight and fulfil your God-given role, try to remember that there's no room for self-importance and pretence. This moment calls for: (1) stripping away all lesser roles you've acted out and settled for; (2) discovering who you are and what your life is really about; (3) depending totally on God to help you give the most authentic performance of your career.

Our Daily Bread

The Dalton Gang

The Dalton brothers were infamous outlaws during the late 1800s in the US. They started out on the right side of the law as officers. But then they followed a gradual descent into crime and became known for bank and train robberies. Their day of reckoning came when they tried to hold up two banks at once. Hearing of the robberies, the townspeople armed themselves and began to fire on the Dalton Gang. When the smoke cleared, Emmett Dalton was the sole survivor.

After serving 15 years in the penitentiary, Emmett was pardoned and set free. While in prison, he had come to see the error of his ways. So when he was released, he wanted to deter young people from a life of crime. Drawing from his own experience, Emmett wrote and starred in a film about the Dalton Gang in which he showed the folly of being an outlaw. In many ways, Emmett’s film was telling others: “Do not enter the path of the wicked” (Prov. 4:14).

In a similar way, when we have sinned but have genuinely repented and experienced God’s forgiveness, we can tell our own story. We can encourage others not to make the same mistakes we have made. James wrote, “He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death” (5:20).

If others learn from our mistakes,
And it saves them from the pain
That we ourselves experienced—
Then it wasn’t all in vain. —Sper

When we learn from our mistakes, we are less likely to repeat them.

 

The readings for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

YOU'RE QUALIFIED! (3)06 Mar 2012'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' Psalms 127:1In God's Kingdom, centre stage is not for those who think they've got their act together and deserve public recognition. Nor is it limited to those in leadership and public ministry. It's a call to action, to you, whoever and wherever you are today. When you trust God's timing He grooms you for bigger and better parts. But there are some things you must, and must not do: (1) Don't try to make it on your own. Popular wisdom says, 'Fake it till you make it,' and you'll be tempted to debut in your own strength. Don't do it! If you do, you will get in the way of a much greater production. The Bible says: 'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' Trust God, and when your moment comes He will give you your cue. (2) Leave the shadows. Are you ready to transform 'acting' into an authentic performance that reveals the real you? Fear of rejection is powerful. It takes courage to be yourself. But you gain strength from the struggle and power from the pain when you are willing to risk moving from the shadows into the light. (3) Confront your inner critic. We are all subject to the little voice within that says, 'You'll never be smart enough, rich enough, pretty enough or good enough to stand in the spotlight.' But when God raises you up, nobody can put you down. So remind your inner critic of God's promise: 'You shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak' (Jer 1:7 NKJV).

Our Daily Bread

Dingo The Dog

Harry Tupper is a fishing legend here in Idaho where I live. There’s a spot on Henry’s Lake over on the east side of the state that’s named for him: “Tupper’s Hole.”

The thing I remember most about Harry, aside from his rare ability to catch those huge Henry’s Lake trout, was his dog, Dingo. Now there was a dog! Dingo used to sit alongside Harry in his boat and watch intently while he fished. When the old fisherman hooked a trout, Dingo would bark furiously until the fish was netted and released.

Dingo’s enthusiasm taught me something: It’s better to get more excited about what others are doing than what we are doing.

So, as I read Philippians 2:4 and think about Dingo, I ask myself: Do I spend time thinking about “the interests of others”? Do I get as excited about what God is doing in and through a friend as I do about what He is doing in and through me? Do I long to see others grow in grace and find success, though it may have been my efforts that made them prosper?
This is the measure of greatness, for we are most like God when our thoughts for ourselves are lost in our thoughts for others. Paul said it best: “Let each esteem others better than himself” (2:3). Is that how we live?

Love feels the sorrows others feel,
It longs to give support,
And love is quick to take delight
In every good report. —D. De Haan

A life filled with love for the Lord and for others is a fulfilling life.

 

The Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org) are the devotional readings for today.

Word For Today

WHO ARE YOU RELYING ON? 07 Mar 2012
'We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.' 2 Corinthians 1:9
Jesus said, 'Here on earth you will have many trials' (Jn 16:33 NLT). You solve one problem, and another one comes along to take its place. They're not all big, but they're all necessary to your spiritual growth. How do you assess the strength of something? By testing it! The Bible says: 'Don't be...shocked that you are going through testing...It will prepare you' (1Pe 4:12-13 CEV). Some of your most life-enriching experiences will come during your worst moments-when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when your pain levels go through the roof-and you turn to God. That's when you learn to pray heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers. When you're in pain you don't have the energy for superficial ones. And that's when you discover, 'The Lord is close to the broken hearted' (Ps 34:18 NLT). God could have kept Joseph out of prison, Daniel out of the lions' den, Jeremiah out of the slimy pit, and Paul from being shipwrecked, but He didn't. As a result, each one of them was drawn closer to God and impacted the world around them. Your problems force you to look to God and depend on Him instead of yourself. This is especially hard on super achievers like Paul. 'We...saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us' (2Co 1:9 TLB). You'll never know what God can do until God is all you've got. So place your needs into His capable, loving hands, and watch what happens.

Our Daily Bread

Handle With Care

We live in a society that’s overrun with warning labels. From disclaimers on pills, to “use-by” dates on soup cans, to danger signs on chain saws—warning labels draw our attention to impending hazards. Recently I received a box with a precious gift inside. The sender had attached a big red sticker to the package that said, fragile: handle with care. When I think about life and its fragility, I wonder if we shouldn’t all wear one of those red stickers.

It’s not a good idea to cruise through life thinking that we are invincible and that everything is going to be just fine—only to discover that we are far more fragile than we thought. It takes only a call from the doctor telling us that we have a life-threatening disease, or the swerve of a careless driver in front of us to remind us that life is extremely uncertain. There are no guarantees! None of us can be certain of another breath. So the psalmist has an important piece of advice . . . a warning label of sorts: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).

Let’s choose to live as though this were our last moment on earth by loving more deeply, forgiving more readily, giving more generously, and speaking more kindly.

That’s how to handle life with care.
To run the race of life in Christ,
This must become your daily goal:
Confess your sins, trust God for strength,
Use discipline and self-control. —Sper

Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is uncertain; today is here. Use it wisely.

 

The devotionals for today are from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily bread (www.odb.org).

Word For Today

GOSSIP 08 Mar 2012
'Troublemakers listen to troublemakers.' Proverbs 17:4
The moment somebody begins to gossip stop them and ask, 'Why do I need to know this? Have you talked to the person you're talking about?' Wise up; people who gossip can't be trusted! The Bible says that when you listen to gossip you are a troublemaker: 'Troublemakers listen to troublemakers.' And Jude adds: 'These are the people who divide you, people whose thoughts are only of this world' (Jude v.19 NCV). Those are serious charges. And the Internet has only made the problem worse because now you can spread gossip faster and wider, and remain anonymous while you are doing it. Paul speaks about those who 'devour one another...[and your whole fellowship]' (Gal 5:15 AMP). He says they should be avoided and disciplined. When was the last time you saw that happen in church? Solomon said, 'A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler' (Pr 20:19 NRS). In other words, 'keep clear of them.' The quickest way to end gossip is to confront those who are spreading it. The church is not a 'tell all' television show where we expose people and hang out their dirty linen for all the world to see. Quite the opposite: 'Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops' (Pr 26:20 TLB). Jesus taught us how to deal with personal difficulties when they arise: (1) 'Work it out between the two of you.' (2) 'If he (she) won't listen, take one or two others along.' (3) 'If he (she) still won't listen, tell the church [leadership]' (Mt 18:15-17 TM). That's Christ's way, and it must be our way too.

Our Daily Bread

The Enemy of Trust

Military commanders always want to have enough troops to accomplish their mission. Most would prefer having too many not too few, but not everyone agrees on just how many troops will be enough.

When Gideon recruited an army of 32,000 men to stand against those who oppressed the Israelites, the Lord told him, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me’” (Judg. 7:2).

So the Lord began to reduce Gideon’s army. When the fearful were allowed to leave, 22,000 men went home (v.3). A second reduction cut the force from the remaining 10,000 to 300 troops, of whom the Lord said, “By the three hundred . . . I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand” (v.7). And so it happened (vv.19-23).

In our life of faith, our resources can become the enemy of trust. God wants us to depend on Him, not our own strength, whether physical, financial, or intellectual.

When the Lord reduces our resources from “32,000 to 300,” it is not punishment. It is preparation for Him to be glorified through our lives as we acknowledge and trust His power.

Trust in God and you will know
He can vanquish any foe;
Simply trust Him day by day—
He will be your strength and stay. —D. De Haan

When God gives us an impossible task— it becomes possible.

 

The devotionals for today are taken from Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org) and Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk).

Our Daily Bread

Acts of Gratitude

Few people knew me better as a boy than Francis Allen, the pastor who led me to Jesus Christ. A fire-and-brimstone preacher in the pulpit, he was a near-perfect example of the gentleness of God’s love outside of it.

Early on, Francis recognized a tendency in me to try to “buy” approval by working harder than expected and doing more than people asked. “These are good traits to give as gifts to others,” he would tell me, “but you should never use them to buy acceptance and love from people—or from God.”

To help me understand this, he told me to read Jesus’ promise in Matthew 11:30 that His “yoke is easy”—a statement that sometimes seems too simple to be true. Then, pointing to Micah 6:6-8, he said: “Now read this and ask yourself if there are any gifts you can give God that He doesn’t already have.” The answer, of course, is no.

Then he went on to explain that God cannot be bought—the gift of grace is free. Since this is true, what should be our response? “To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (v.8). I learned that these were acts of gratitude—not of purchase.

Let Micah 6 be a reminder that grace is free and that faithful living is our grateful response.

We’re saved by grace through faith alone,
Good works can have no part;
But God rewards each loving deed
That’s done with all our heart. —D. De Haan

Good works are not the means of salvation but the result.

Word For Today

REEDS AND WICKS 09 Mar 2012
'A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.' Matthew 12:20
Reeds. Few things are more fragile than a bruised reed. In Christ's day, children playing beside the river made music pipes out of them. They were hollowed out and holes bored in them. But afterwards they were bruised and discarded. Perhaps you once stood tall and strong, nourished and rooted in the riverbed. But now you are hidden in the rushes, bruised by hurtful words, a mate's betrayal, your own failure, or harsh religion. Wicks. Nothing is closer to extinction than a smouldering wick. When the oil in primitive lamps was gone and the wick burned low, it was extinguished, thrown away as worthless and replaced. Did you once burn with faith, lighting the path for others until the icy winds of criticism, unforgiveness and judgmentalism left you in darkness? What do all these people have in common: A woman trembling before an angry mob threatening to stone her? A house surrounded by people and a paralyzed man on a stretcher begging his friends not to give up until they get him to Christ? A blind man crying out for his sight and disciples telling him to be quiet? They are all bruised reeds and smouldering wicks that Jesus refused to give up on. The world thinks it knows what to do with you-break you off and snuff you out! But not Jesus: 'He does not crush the weak, or quench the smallest hope' (TLB). No matter how far gone you may feel today, you're not beyond the reach of God's grace. Come, He will treat you gently. He will make you whole again.

 

The reading for today is taken from My Utmost For His Highest (utmost.org).

Be An Example Of His Message

reach the word! —2 Timothy 4:2


We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.

There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).

Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.