The Carpenter's Chapel (9)

[following-Him]

My apologies for the lateness in posting.

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

Word For Today

Knowing Where You Stand with God24 Aug 2011'But Christ gave himself... one sacrifice for all time.' Hebrews 10:12Notice how God dealt with sin in the Old Testament. The priest took a lamb, shed its blood and offered it on the altar. As the sacrificial smoke went up, the priest would sprinkle the ashes on the ground, then stand on them. At that moment the person's sin was atoned for and their guilt removed. What a beautiful picture of your salvation! At Calvary, the fires of God's wrath were fully expended on Christ. In that moment, He was both your High Priest and your sacrificial lamb. When He cried, '..."It is finished"...' (John 19:30 NIV), your sins were paid for - from the cradle to the grave. And the minute you trust in Christ as your Saviour, your standing before God is altered; you are '...made righteous...' (2 Corinthians 5:21). In the early days of the American West one of the greatest fears the wagon train masters had was prairie fires. The hot sun could start them, and before you knew it you were engulfed in flames. But a wise wagon train master would immediately give the order to back up the horses and wagons on to the ground that had already been burned. Why? Because the fire could not come where the fire had already been! Charles Wesley wrote, 'Payment God will not twice demand; first at my bleeding surety's hand, and then again at mine.' Jesus 'took the heat' for every one of us. 'He... bore our sins in his body on the tree...' (1 Peter 2:24 NIV). So today, if the devil is beating you up because of your faults and failures, tell him, 'I may not be perfect, but I'm redeemed, loved and accepted by God!'

Our Daily Bread

Birds, Lillies and Me

In the episodes of an old television show, the veteran police lieutenant always said this to the young officers on their way out to the street for their day’s assignments: “Be careful out there!” It was both good advice and a word of compassion because he knew what could happen to them in the line of duty.
Jesus gave His followers a similar warning, but in even stronger terms. Luke 11 ends ominously with these words: “The scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things” (v.53). In the continuation of this account, Luke says that Jesus compassionately instructed His disciples to “beware” (12:1) but not to worry or be afraid (vv.4-7,22).
Jesus was promising to guard, protect, and care for them as they went out into the world. He assured them that because He cared for simple things like birds and lilies, they could be certain that He would take care of His “little flock” of believers (vv.24-32).
We cannot know the future. But we can know this: No matter what comes, we are under the loving, caring, watchful eye of our great Shepherd, who also happens to be the Son of God!



I walked life’s path with worry,
Disturbed and quite unblest,
Until I trusted Jesus;
Now faith has given rest. —Bosch



If Jesus is concerned about flowers and birds,
He certainly cares about you and me.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals are taken from Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org).

Our Daily Bread

Bring It On

A TV program on the History Channel featured the world’s most extreme airports. The one that caught my attention is no longer open, but it is one I had flown into. I agree that Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport was definitely a thrill ride for passengers and surely a challenge for pilots. If you came in from one direction, you had to fly over skyscrapers and then hope the plane stopped before it plunged into the sea. If you came in the other way, it seemed as if you were going to smack into a mountain.
I found it surprising that a pilot who used to take planeloads of people into Kai Tak said, “I miss flying into that airport.” But I think I know what he meant. As a pilot, he relished the challenge. He had a confidence based on his ability and his reliance on those who guided him into the airport.
Too often, we run from challenges. Yet the people we love to read about in the Bible are impressive because they battled challenges. Consider Paul. With the confidence of God’s help, he faced troubles head-on—and conquered them. Christ’s promise to Paul and to us is: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Like Paul’s example, in the confidence of God’s care we can say to the next challenge: Bring it on!



I do not ask for easy paths
Along life’s winding roads,
But for the promised grace and strength
To carry all its loads. —Meadows



If God sends you on stony paths,
He will provide you with strong shoes.


My Utmost For His Highest

I have called you friends . . . —John 15:15


We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if . . . !” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.
But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.
Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . .” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2).
Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.
“I have called you friends. . . .” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

Looking Forward to Better Days26 Aug 2011'I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord...' Psalm 27:13When a player begins to score, the opposing team assigns their best players to block him. So the attack you're experiencing right now could be an indication of your value to God. Paul wrote, 'I've had to... struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labour, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches...' (2 Corinthians 11:26-28 TM). How did Paul handle these experiences? By '...Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead' (Philippians 3:13 NLT). Now, Paul didn't forget any of it; he could remember names, places, faces, and even record it. But here's the difference: he refused to let what was done to him affect his outlook. That's the attitude you need! When your desire to go forward becomes greater than the memories of your past, you'll begin to live again. 'Where there is no vision, the people perish...' (Proverbs 29:18). Until you have a vision of tomorrow, you'll live in yesterday's struggles. The very fact that God is putting desire back into your spirit means that better days are coming! So rise up and say with the Psalmist, 'I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.'


Our Daily Bread

The Goodness of the Lord

Some years ago I came across a short essay written by Sir James Barrie, an English baron. In it he gives an intimate picture of his mother, who deeply loved God and His Word and who literally read her Bible to pieces. “It is mine now,” Sir James wrote, “and to me the black threads with which she stitched it are a part of the contents.”
My mother also loved God’s Word. She read and pondered it for 60 years or more. I keep her Bible on my bookshelf in a prominent place. It too is tattered and torn, each stained page marked with her comments and reflections. As a boy, I often walked into her room in the morning and found her cradling her Bible in her lap, poring over its words. She did so until the day she could no longer see the words on the page. Even then her Bible was the most precious book in her possession.
When Sir James’ mother grew old, she could no longer read the words of her Bible. Yet daily, her husband put her Bible in her hands, and she would reverently hold it there.
The psalmist wrote, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (119:103). Have you tasted the goodness of the Lord? Open your Bible today.



The Bible, the Bible! more precious than gold;
Glad hopes and bright glories its pages unfold;
It speaks of the Father and tells of His love,
And shows us the way to the mansions above. —Anon.



A well-read Bible is a sign of a well-fed soul.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org). I hope they will be a blessing to all who read them.

The Word For Today

You'll Win!27 Aug 2011'To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me...' Psalm 3:4Regardless of when or why you stumbled, God wants to pick you up and put you back on your feet. People who have never experienced failure usually don't accomplish much. There's a certain security in playing it safe. Nothing's lost, but nothing's won. They never get out of the boat and walk on the water. Wouldn't it be better to almost drown and have to be saved, than never to experience God's power working through you? Adversity is like yeast; when the heat is turned up, it rises. And the hotter it gets, the more it rises. The truth is that every opportunity God gives you will come with obstacles, and you'll have to rise above them. Look at the children of Israel in Egypt: '...the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew...' (Exodus 1:12 NKJV). Often the bad times do more to strengthen your faith than the good ones. You say, 'But I blew it!' God says, '...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...' (2 Corinthians 12:9). You say, 'But the people I trusted let me down, and those I thought were for me were really against me.' The Psalmist said, 'Many are saying... "God will not deliver him." But...To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me...' (Psalm 3:2-4 NIV). It's hard to accept that some people don't want you to succeed. But many people 'saying' it doesn't make it so! The most secure place in the world is in the will of God. If you align your plan with His purpose, ultimately you'll win, and there's nothing they can do to stop you!

Our Daily Bread

A Modest Proposal

As a college student, I heard count- less engagement stories. My starry-eyed friends told about glitzy restaurants, mountaintop sunsets, and rides in horse-drawn carriages. I also recall one story about a young man who simply washed his girlfriend’s feet. His “modest proposal” proved he understood that humility is vital for a lifelong commitment.
The apostle Paul also understood the significance of humility and how it holds us together. This is especially important in marriage. Paul said to reject “me-first” urges: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition” (Phil. 2:3). Instead, we should value our spouses more than ourselves, and look out for their interests.
Humility in action means serving our spouse, and no act of service is too small or too great. After all, Jesus “humbled Himself . . . to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (v.8). His selflessness showed His love for us.
What can you do today to humbly serve the one you love? Maybe it’s as simple as leaving brussels sprouts off the dinner menu or as difficult as helping him or her through a long illness. Whatever it is, placing our spouse’s needs before our own confirms our commitment to each other through Christlike humility.



In marriage, we will honor Christ
By following His lead
Of sacrificial love and care
To meet the other’s need. —Sper



If you think it’s possible to love your spouse too much,
you probably haven’t loved enough.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

The Story of George McCluskey28 Aug 2011'...Pour out your heart... for... your... children...' Lamentations 2:19When George McCluskey started a family, he decided to invest one hour every day in prayer because he wanted his children to follow Christ. Then he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every day between 11am and noon he prayed for the next three generations. As the years went by his two daughters committed their lives to Christ and married men who went into the ministry. These two couples produced four girls and one boy. Each of the girls married a minister and the boy became a pastor. The first two children born to this generation were both boys. After leaving secondary school, the two cousins chose the same college and became roommates. During their second year one boy decided to go into the ministry. The other didn't. He undoubtedly felt lots of pressure to continue the family legacy, but he chose instead to go his own way and pursue his interest in psychology. He earned his doctorate and eventually wrote books for parents that became bestsellers. Eventually he started a radio programme that was heard around the world each day. The man's name? James Dobson. So now you know the story of George McCluskey! He was just an ordinary man, but his prayers had an extraordinary effect on much of the world. If you are a parent or a grandparent, the Word for you today is, 'Arise, cry out in the night... pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your ... children.'




Our Daily bread

Failure To Discipline

We live in the woods, so we get very little prolonged sunlight in the summer. But we love fresh tomatoes, so I decided to try growing them in pots set in a few sunny spots.
The plants started to grow right away and really fast. I was thrilled—until I realized that their fast growth was due to their efforts to reach out to the limited sunlight. By the time I figured out what was happening, the vines were too heavy to support themselves. I found some stakes, lifted the vines carefully, and fastened them in an upright position. Even though I tried to be gentle, one of the twisted vines broke when I tried to straighten it.
This reminded me that discipline must begin before character is permanently bent and twisted.
Eli the priest had two sons whom he failed to discipline. When their wickedness got so bad that he could no longer ignore it, he tried gentle rebuke (1 Sam. 2:24-25). But it was too late, and God announced the dire consequences: “I will judge [Eli’s] house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them” (3:13).
Being straightened out is painful, but being left crooked will ultimately hurt even more.



Lord, even though it’s painful, we’re thankful that
You, in love, discipline us as Your children.
Help us to respond with repentance and obedience
to Your ways. Amen.



God’s love confronts and corrects.

 

[following-Him]

The devotionals for today are taken 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

Hold Steady and Let God Work29 Aug 2011'...our light affliction... is working for us...' 2 Corinthians 4:17There are times in your life when everything you attempt to do will seem to go wrong. Your faith may be strong and your commitment deep, yet adversity will come knocking on your door. In such times, the power of prayer will strengthen and stabilise you. But you can't pray away life's seasons! God has a purpose for not allowing you to be fruitful all the time. Real growth requires seasons of struggle as well as seasons of success. Your seasons of struggle destroy pride in your own ability, increase your dependence on God, and cause you to say, like Paul did, 'Not that we are sufficient of ourselves... our sufficiency is from God' (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV). These are humbling experiences, but you need them. Your life is like a tree: in winter it silently refurbishes its strength, preparing for the next season of fruitfulness. As you look back on your life's accomplishments you'll notice that they are seasonal. There are seasons of rain as well as sunshine, and each season serves an important purpose. That's why it's a mistake to make a permanent decision based on a temporary circumstance or changing emotion. '...the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal' (2 Corinthians 4:18). The word temporal means 'subject to change'. Hold steady, it's not always going to be this way! Sometimes the situation doesn't call for action, it calls for patience and trust in God. Paul writes, 'Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us.' In ways you cannot understand, God is making the circumstances you're in today work for your good.



Our Daily Bread

A Matter Of Persepective

Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Whether that question is posed during a business meeting, a church council, or a family discussion, it often springs from a sense of exasperation in trying to comprehend why someone has acted in a certain way. More often than not, the answer is a matter of perspective.
If we had been among the Israelites leaving Egypt after 400 years of slavery, we would likely have seen Pharaoh as part of the problem—and he was. Yet God saw something more.
Inexplicably, the Lord told Moses to take the people back toward Egypt and camp with their backs to the Red Sea so Pharaoh would attack them (Ex. 14:1-3). The Israelites thought they were going to die, but God said that He would gain glory and honor for Himself through Pharaoh and all his army, “and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord” (vv.4,17-18).
When we simply cannot understand why God allows circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us, it’s good to remember that He has our good and His glory in mind. If we can say, “Father, please enable me to trust and honor You in this situation,” then we will be in concert with His perspective and plan.



Your words of pure, eternal truth
Shall yet unshaken stay,
When all that man has thought or planned,
Like chaff shall pass away. —Anon.



Faith helps us to accept what we cannot understand.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today



It's Time to Move On!30 Aug 2011'Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea.' Exodus 15:4For 400 years Pharaoh had enslaved Israel. Then just when they thought they'd escaped him, he showed up again at the Red Sea. And that's when God intervened, causing them to sing, 'Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea'. And God wants to do the same for you. Regardless of what has happened, He can bring you through it and give you a new song. Will it happen quickly or easily? No, we get through it in different ways and at different rates. How did the Israelites get through the Red Sea? One step at a time! But when they got to the other side that body of water became the dividing line between their past and their future. But to get beyond your past you must forgive, and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold over you. You must rise up and declare by faith that the power those old issues had over you is broken. Jesus promised that when His word on the issue becomes your word on it, your circumstances will begin to change (Mark 11:23-26). So make God's Word the final word! But look out, old memories will try to negotiate another deal to see if you're serious about moving on. Paul writes, 'Reckon yourselves to be dead' (Romans 6:11 NKJV). Now, death alone doesn't bring closure; you need burial. So establish a time, a place and an epitaph that reads, 'The past ends right here!' Tell Pharaoh, 'Your hosts and your ghosts can't hurt me any more', and move on!



Our Daily Bread

Christ Living In Us

The Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. It is not an easy feat for anyone to accomplish. But Dick Hoyt participated in the race and completed it with his physically disabled son Rick. When Dick swam, he pulled Rick in a small boat. When Dick cycled, Rick was in a seat-pod on the bike. When Dick ran, he pushed Rick along in a wheelchair. Rick was dependent on his dad in order to finish the race. He couldn’t do it without him.
We see a parallel between their story and our own Christian life. Just as Rick was dependent on his dad, we are dependent on Christ to complete our Christian race.
As we strive to live a God-pleasing life, we realize that in spite of our best intentions and determination, we often stumble and fall short. By our strength alone, it is impossible. Oh, how we need the Lord’s help! And it has been provided. Paul declares it with these insightful words, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20).
We cannot finish the Christian race on our own. We have to do so by depending on Jesus living in us.



With longing all my heart is filled
That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell,
That Christ liveth in me. —Whittle



Faith connects our weakness to God’s strength.

 

[following-Him]

I am away from home for a few days and internet access isn't too easy. I will post when I can.
Today the devotional is from Word For Today, which is taken from www.ucb.co.uk


Purity.

In the tabernacle there was a large washbasin called the laver (Exodus 30:18). Its bronze base acted like a mirror letting the priest see the dirt on his feet. Before he could approach God he had to stop and be cleansed, otherwise he would die. The Psalmist writes, '...Who may stand in [your] holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... He will receive blessing from the Lord...' (Psalm 24:3-5 NIV). God's blessings are contingent upon the condition of your heart. Does that mean you must be sinless? No, it means you must be conscious of your sin and deal with it right away. Why the big deal about purity? Because Jesus said, 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.' The problem is not God's inability to be seen, but our inability to see Him. No wonder David prayed, 'Create in me a pure heart...' (Psalm 51:10 NIV). This word pure is from the Greek word katharos, which means 'to clean out'. When you've heard too much and seen too much, you need a spiritual catharsis. Only a pure heart can understand God's will and discern His ways. Unidentified, unconfessed, unforgiven sin will block your spiritual arteries. A heart that's not pure will keep you seeking the wisdom of those around you rather than the ways of God. It will keep you needing prayer instead of offering prayer for others. Don't carry around what God wants discarded. Get rid of '...every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares...' (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). What God wants to show you is worth cleaning up for.

 

[following-Him]

The devotionals for today are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk)

In life, relationships come to an end. How you handle such moments can influence and shape your future. You can't enter the next season of your life properly if you don't exit this one properly. So, try to close the door with grace - you may need to walk back through it some day. Close the door with forgiveness. Resentment will poison your attitude and your memories and destroy you from within. Leave the judging to God; He knows both sides. Close the door with your promises fulfilled. At great personal cost, Jephthah said, '...I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break' (Judges 11:35 NIV). Your character is on the line here; whatever the price tag, keep your word, because God is listening when you give it! Try to close the door with courage. It's not easy to face tomorrow when you feel alone, but remember, you are not alone. Jesus said, '...I am with you always, even unto the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). Close the door in God's timing. Grieve your losses, but don't get stuck in the past. King Saul represented the past but David represented the future. When God rejected Saul because he had displeased Him, God said to the prophet Samuel, '..."How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him... go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king from among his sons"' (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV). Endings bring new beginnings. It's all right to acknowledge the past and learn from it, but when God shuts the door it's time to move into the future He's prepared for you.

and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org)

Our Daily Bread




Ant World



September 4, 2011 — by Joe Stowell



Read: 2 Timothy 4:9-18
Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world. —2 Timothy 4:10
Bible in a year:
Psalms 143-145; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40


One of the highlights of my work as a college president is commencement. One year, while walking to the graduation ceremony, I was excited by the thought that our graduates were ready to go out to engage the world with the transforming power of the kingdom of Christ. On my way, I noticed some industrious ants busily going about their routine. I thought, There are much greater things happening than the building of sand piles!
It’s easy for us to get lost in “ant world”—to be so busy with our routines that we miss the joy of personally embracing the bigger picture of God’s great work around the world. The work of the Spirit is sweeping across South America, thousands in Africa are coming to know Christ daily, persecuted Christians are thriving, and the Asian Rim is throbbing with the pulse of the gospel! Do those thoughts ever capture your heart? Your prayer life? Your checkbook?
Our preoccupation with lesser things reminds me of Paul’s report that “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). I wonder if Demas regretted abandoning the gospel for the sand piles of this world?
Let’s get out of “ant world” and engage our hearts and lives in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ

Lord, I love You and want to be a part of Your work
around the world. Give me an open heart to know which
opportunities You want me to be a part of and wisdom
in knowing how to carry that out. Amen.

Don’t let smaller things distract you from
the bigger work of God around the world.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals are taken from Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily bread (www.odb.co.uk) I hope they will be a blessing to you.

Word For Today



Give it All You've Got!07 Sep 2011'...this one thing I do...' Philippians 3:13Ask yourself two questions. First, do I want God's best? It's not easy to rise up early while others sleep, and prepare for the challenge. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, you'll discover it's hard to find people who will stand with you while you're in preparation. But there can be no celebration without preparation. Not everybody can handle success. Some would rather have tranquillity; they don't like criticism and they can't take the pressure. But if you want God's best you can have it. If you've the passion, the price won't stop you! You'll be drawn and driven toward the goal. Second, ask yourself: how strong is my desire? If you don't have the passion for it, you'll never overcome the obstacles. Real power comes from desire kindled in the furnace of unfilled longing. Long-distance runners take steady strides and focus on endurance, not just speed. They run each lap, stretch to their limits and give themselves to one thing - winning. Perspiration pours out of them. The taste of exhaustion is in their mouths. As they near the finishing line a final burst of energy kicks in. It's the last lap. No excuses; it's now or never! At least one time before they lay you in your casket, you owe it to God and yourself to experience that last-lap feeling of giving it all you've got. Victory doesn't come cheap. Paul writes, 'Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet...' (Ephesians 6:13-15 TM).



Our Daily Bread

A Focus On Fairness

During the past 135 years of Major League Baseball, only 20 pitchers have thrown a perfect game. On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers would have been number 21 but an umpire’s mistake denied him what every pitcher dreams of. The video replay showed the truth. Even though the umpire later acknowledged his error and apologized to Galarraga, the call made on the field could not be changed.
Through it all, Galarraga remained calm, expressed sympathy for the umpire, and never criticized him. Armando’s refusal to retaliate amazed fans, players, and sportswriters alike.
If we insist on fair treatment for ourselves, we can become angry and frustrated. But when we embrace the Bible’s wisdom, we will seek the welfare of others. Proverbs calls us “to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity” (1:2-3). Oswald Chambers said of our personal dealings with others, “Never look for justice, but never cease to give it; and never allow anything you meet with to sour your relationship to men through Jesus Christ.”
When we experience unfairness, it is our privilege and responsibility as followers of Christ to respond with honesty and integrity, doing what is right, just, and fair.



How others handle justice
May not be up to me;
But when I react to others,
I must show integrity. —Branon



Life is not fair, but God is always faithful.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

Knowing Your True Identity

08 Sep 2011'...his father called him Benjamin.' Genesis 35:18When people label you, those labels can cause you to shrink instead of to stretch to your full potential. But the God who gave Jacob a new identity can give you one too. Are you struggling with the old names people called you and the old images you have of yourself? Nothing will change in your life until it first changes in your mind. Jacob's wife Rachel died in the desert in childbirth. Just before she died she named her son Ben-Oni, which means 'son of my sorrow'. When the midwife handed him to his father Jacob, he said, 'He shall not be called Ben-Oni, the son of my sorrow; he shall be called Benjamin, the son of the right hand' (the son of power). Guess which name prevailed? Benjamin! Hear this: you are who God says you are, not who others say you are! If God didn't give you the name, it's not yours. Only believe what God says about you. Nobody understood better than Jacob the power of a name change. It was in God's presence that Jacob the trickster was renamed Israel, '...a prince... with God...' (Genesis 32:28). Christ breaks the power of every negative thing that attaches itself to you. 'You're a saint, not a sinner; not a loser but a winner.' When people try to label you, tell them you don't answer to that name any more. Tell them the person they're talking about died, was buried, and rose brand new in Christ. God sees you as a new creation, so start thinking, talking and acting like one!


Our Daily Bread

Grandfather's Clock

In 1876, Henry Clay Work wrote the song “My Grandfather’s Clock.” The song describes a grandfather’s clock that faithfully ticks its way through its owner’s life. Childhood, adulthood, and old age are all viewed in relationship to his beloved timepiece. The refrain says:
Ninety years without slumbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
His life’s seconds numbering,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
But it stopped, short,
Never to go again,
When the old man died.
The relentless ticking of the clock reminds us that our time on earth is limited. Despite the joys and pains of life, time always marches on. For the believer, our time on earth is an opportunity for gaining wisdom. The psalmist writes, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).
One way of numbering our days is to ask ourselves these kinds of questions: How can I become more like Christ? Am I reading the Word regularly? Am I devoting time to prayer? Am I meeting together with other believers? The way we answer these questions is an indicator of the progress we’re making in gaining wisdom and becoming more like Christ.
No matter the phase of life—childhood, youth, middle age, or our senior years—life always affords us opportunities to grow in faith and wisdom. Numbering our days is the wise response to life’s inevitable progress.

How are you progressing on your journey?


Don’t spend your time—invest it.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

'Teacher, Are You Motivated?'09 Sep 2011'God has appointed... teachers...' 1 Corinthians 12:28Howard Hendricks points out that good teaching involves giving people responsibility with accountability: 'Our problem in the churches is that we don't do that. The United States government takes multi-million-dollar planes and puts them in the hands of kids 19 years old; and when those same kids come to church we don't even let them take up the offering. Ever been in a courtroom where a will is being read? The reader is mumbling his way over the legal jargon, and everyone else in the room is half asleep - everyone, that is, except the person named in the will as the beneficiary... When your teaching has the learner's name written all over it - when he sees that, in effect, his name occurs throughout the book - it will make a big difference in his level of motivation... I am convinced that everyone - no exception - can be motivated to learn. But not at the same time, and by the same person, and not in the same way. The timing is crucial. Teaching is the assembling of a time bomb... marked for explosion at a later date and at a different location. That is why you need to walk by faith to be a good teacher, and you need a lot of patience. And you aren't God's answer to every individual. That is what the body of Christ is all about... I'm asked over and over again, "How do I get a person motivated?" I answer, "When you sock someone with twenty thousand volts of electricity, they don't turn to you and ask, 'Did you say something?' No, they move!"' The question is, 'Teacher, are you motivated?'



Our Daily Bread

You Never Know

During my seminary years, I directed a summer day camp for boys and girls at the YMCA. Each morning, I began the day with a brief story in which I tried to incorporate an element of the gospel.
To help illustrate that becoming a Christian means to become a new creation in Christ, I told a story about a moose that wanted to be a horse. The moose had seen a herd of wild horses, thought them elegant creatures, and wanted to be like them. So he taught himself to act like a horse. However, he was never accepted as a horse because he was . . . well, a moose. How can a moose become a horse? Only by being born a horse, of course. And then I would explain how we can all be born again by believing in Jesus.
One summer I had a staff counselor named Henry who was very hostile to the faith. I could do nothing but love him and pray for him, but he left at the end of the summer hardened in unbelief. That was more than 50 years ago. A few years ago I received a letter from Henry. The first sentence said: “I write to tell that I have been born again and now, at last, I am a ‘horse.’ ” This confirmed to me that we need to keep praying and planting the seed of the Word (Mark 4:26) so that it may bear fruit one day.



You think your word or deed is very small,
That what you say will hardly count at all;
But God can take the seed that you have sown
And nourish it until it’s fully grown. —Hess



We sow the seed—God produces the harvest.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals 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

Give Them Another Chance!10 Sep 2011'..."how often shall... I forgive him...?"' Matthew 18:21When people are upset they say and do the wrong things. At times such as these it's easy for you to become critical of them and arrive at the wrong conclusion. Instead, slow down; ask God for patience and understanding. Don't force others to live by their past while you expect yours to be forgotten. Whatever you sow in mercy you'll reap a hundred times over. Everybody makes mistakes, so give them a chance to come back into the relationship with dignity. How long has it taken you to correct the mistakes in your life? Aren't you still working on some of them? Aren't you glad people don't know the whole story of your struggles? So give people time; give them an opportunity to explain themselves. They may not even know the right words at first, so be willing to listen a little longer. Jesus put up with Peter's weaknesses because He knew what Peter would one day become. Interestingly, when someone upset Peter he came to Jesus and said, '..."how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him..."Seventy times seven"' (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV). If they have a flicker of hope, fan that flame, don't extinguish it. They don't need a critic, they need a cheerleader. When Nathaniel Hawthorne was fired from his job he was devastated. But his wife said to him, 'Now you can start that book you've always wanted to write.' Out of that came The Scarlet Letter. James Whistler failed at West Point. He also failed in business. But a friend encouraged him to try painting. And the rest is history. So give them another chance.


Our Daily Bread

Good Neighbours

When US airspace was closed after the September 11, 2001, attacks, planes had to land at the closest airport available. Nearly 40 planes landed in Gander, Newfoundland. Suddenly this small Canadian community almost doubled in size when thousands of frightened passengers arrived. People opened their homes, and officials converted high schools, lodges, churches, and meeting halls into places to stay. Stranded passengers were overwhelmed with neighborly generosity and kindness.
The people of Gander showed the kind of love described in Hebrews 13: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (v.2). This is probably referring to Abraham when he entertained three men who came to tell him that he would soon have a son (Gen. 18:1-16). Two of the “men” were angels, and one was the Angel of the Lord. Bible commentator F. F. Bruce says about Abraham, “Among the Jews, Abraham was regarded as outstanding for his hospitality as [he was] for his other virtues; a true son of Abraham must be hospitable too.”
God calls believers to show their love and gratefulness for Him in their good works of hospitality and compassion.
How will you answer His call today?



How many lives shall I touch today?
How many neighbors will pass my way?
I can bless so many and help so much,
If I meet each one with a Christlike touch. —Jones



Christlike love is seen in good works.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

Start Praying!11 Sep 2011'...Noah, warned by God... [saved] his household...' Hebrews 11:7Are you close enough to God to hear His warnings when danger approaches? Noah was, and he saved his family. Are you close enough to your family for them to have confidence in what God has spoken to you? You can change the direction of your family without argument or discussion. How? Through prayer. Your loved ones need to be sheltered under the covering of your prayer life. If you don't have one, get down on your knees and say, '...Lord, teach me to pray...' (Luke 11:1). We are emotionally overwhelmed and spiritually depleted because we haven't learned the power of prayer. The lack of it has left us weak and anxious. We blindly make decisions for our businesses, our relationships and our ministries without taking time to talk it over with the Lord. The story of Noah teaches that you can't prepare for trouble without a warning from God. That means staying close to Him and hearing what He has to say. You can do great things after you've prayed, but you can do nothing of eternal value until you've prayed. 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). God promises to intervene on behalf of the person who prays in His will. '...if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him' (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).

Our Daily Bread

The Mercy of God.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. It’s hard to think about that date without mental images of the destruction, grief, and loss that swept over America and the world following those tragic events. The loss of thousands of lives was compounded by the depth of loss felt corporately—a lost sense of security as a country. The sorrow of loss, personal and corporate, will always accompany the memory of the events of that day.
Those horrific events are not the only painful memories of September 11. It also marks the anniversary of my father-in-law’s death. Jim’s loss is felt deeply within our family and his circle of friends.
No matter what kind of sorrow we experience, there is only one real comfort—the mercy of God. David, in his own heartache, cried to his heavenly Father, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body!” (Ps. 31:9). Only in the mercy of God can we find comfort for our pain and peace for our troubled hearts.
In all losses, we can turn to the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who alone can heal our brokenness and grief.



We have a Friend who’ll never leave,
Who’s closer than a brother;
He’s there to meet our deepest needs,
To comfort like no other. —Sper



When God permits suffering, He also provides comfort.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

Live!12 Sep 2011'They will still bear fruit in old age...' Psalm 92:14Have you noticed that no matter how old certain people get, they never lose their attractiveness? It just moves from their face to their heart. Today, you get the impression that a person's usefulness ends at 65 or70. What nonsense! What a waste of potential! Picasso produced some of his greatest works at90. Rubinstein gave one of his greatest recitals at 89. Marjorie Stoneham Douglas, who's credited with saving the Florida Everglades, was still fighting for the cause at 100. Read your Bible: 'Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated' (Deuteronomy 34:7). '...the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning...' (Job 42:12). Noah built the ark when he was 500, went into it for a while, then came out and started the world all over again. 'It ain't over till God says it's over', and if He 'ain't said so' live every moment He gives you to the fullest! 'The older the violin, the sweeter the tune', so pick up your bow and make some music. When someone told the 89-year-old poet Dorothy Duncan that she had lived a 'full life' she replied sharply, 'Don't you dare "past tense" me!' If you're not too old to learn and you haven't outlived your enthusiasm, you can 'still bear fruit in old age'. It's up to you. If you can breathe, pray! If you can speak, encourage others! If you can recall, share your wisdom. Remember creation? It's wonderful what God can do in just one day. So give Him all the days you have left.

Our Daily Bread

Blessed Assurance.

As I was talking with a gentleman whose wife had died, he shared with me that a friend said to him, “I’m sorry you lost your wife.” His reply? “Oh, I haven’t lost her; I know exactly where she is!”
To some this may seem like a rather bold or even flippant assertion. With so many after-death theories, one might wonder how we can be really sure where our loved ones go after death, let alone where we ourselves will end up.
Yet, confidence is appropriate for followers of Jesus Christ. We have the assurance from God’s Word that when we die we will immediately be with our Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Thankfully, this is more than just wishful thinking. It is grounded in the historic reality of Jesus, who came and died to cancel our penalty for sin so that we could receive eternal life (Rom. 6:23). He then proved that there was life after death by exiting His grave and ascending into heaven where, as He promised, He is preparing a place for us (John 14:2).
So, rejoice! Since the benefits of this reality are out of this world, we can boldly say with Paul that “we are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Lord, when I take my final breath
And see You face to face in death,
Then shall my heart forever sing
The heavenly praises of my King. —Raniville


For the follower of Jesus, death means heaven,
happiness, and Him.

 

[following-Him]

The Word For Today (www.ucb.co.uk) and Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org) are our devotionals for today. I hope you will find them a blessing.

Word For Today

Blessing Comes by Association13 Sep 2011'"...the Lord has blessed me for your sake."' Genesis 30:27There is a principle in the Bible you need to learn if you are to enjoy God's best in your life: blessing comes by association! The Bible says, 'He who walks with wise men will be wise...' (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV). The story of Israel entering the Promised Land teaches us that we can keep company with people such as Joshua and Caleb and go in and possess it, or hang around with the other ten spies who believed it couldn't be done and die in the wilderness. When Joseph entered Potiphar's house, he brought great blessing with him. When he went to Pharaoh's palace, the entire nation prospered. When Jacob wanted to return home to his own family, Laban, his father-in-law, said, 'Please stay... for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake.' The Philippian church had a long partnership with Paul in spreading the Gospel. They supported him financially and he ministered to them spiritually. He writes, 'I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now' (Philippians 1:3-5 NIV). And what was their reward? Paul says, 'All of you share in God's grace with me' (Philippians 1:7 NIV). This word 'grace' simply means 'all of God you'll ever need, for every situation you'll ever face'. How wonderful! Paul got it from Jesus, and the Philippians got it from Paul. Learn to recognise those who walk in the blessing of God and get as close to them as you can. Blessing comes by association!


Our Daily Bread

Character Amnesia

It seems that young people in China are beginning to forget how to write the characters that comprise the beautiful calligraphy of their traditional language. Some are calling the phenomenon “character amnesia.” Heavy usage of computers and smart phones often means that writing is neglected and some can no longer remember the characters they learned in childhood. One young man said, “People don’t write anything by hand anymore except for [their] name and address.”
Some people appear to have “character amnesia” of a different sort. When faced with a dilemma, they seem to “forget” the right thing to do and instead choose the easy way out.
God called Job “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). God allowed Satan to take everything Job had—his children, his wealth, and his health. But despite his heart-wrenching circumstances, Job refused to curse God. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (v.22). Satan had challenged God’s assertion of Job’s blameless character, but he was proven wrong.
Character amnesia? No. Character is who we are; it’s not something we “forget.” Those who have a loss of character make a choice.


It isn’t the tranquil and placid seas
That bring out the sailor’s skill;
It’s the wind and waves that pound his ship
And toss it about at will. —Ritter



When wealth is gone, little is lost; when health is gone, something is lost; but when character is gone, all is lost!

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

God Is Getting You Ready14 Sep 2011'...first sit down and estimate the cost...' Luke 14:28Before God gives you more, He observes you with what you already have. Furthermore, when He speaks a word over your life it's like a seed; it needs time to take root and sprout. If God has planned it for you, don't be impatient; '...wait for it; because it will surely come...' (Habakkuk 2:3). Patience develops in us the ability to stand up to the pressures that accompany blessing. Look back; aren't some of the things you've been through the very things that have equipped you to handle what you have now? Had God given them to you sooner you couldn't have handled them, and He loves you too much to let that happen. Think: if you're having difficulty handling criticism from a few people, how would you cope if God made you pastor or company president? Are you ready to pay the price? And, more importantly, are you able to pay it? The more God gives you, the more He holds you responsible for. Jesus said, 'No man builds without counting the cost.' Sometimes we want things because others have them. You say you want a husband and children, for example, but are you ready to start living sacrificially? You say you need a wife, but are you ready to give yourself for her? (Ephesians 5:25) Whatever you're going through today, there's great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can pre-empt God's plan. So, 'Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing' (Psalm 37:34 TLB). Rejoice; God is getting you ready.


Our Daily Bread

Rising To The Top

“Lacks ambition.” That is not a phrase you want to see on your performance review. When it comes to work, employees who lack ambition seldom rise to the top of an organization. Without a strong desire to achieve something, nothing is accomplished. Ambition, however, has a dark side. It often has more to do with elevating self than with accomplishing something noble for others.
This was the case with many of the kings of Israel, including the first one. Saul started out with humility, but he gradually came to consider his position as something that belonged to him. He forgot that he had a special assignment from God to lead His chosen people in a way that would show other nations the way to God. When God relieved him of duty, Saul’s only concern was for himself (1 Sam. 15:30).
In a world where ambition often compels people to do whatever it takes to rise to positions of power over others, God calls His people to a new way of living. We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition (Phil. 2:3) and to lay aside the weight of sin that ensnares us (Heb. 12:1).
If you want to be someone who truly “rises up,” make it your ambition to humbly love and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).


Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things:
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings. —Merrill


Ambition is short-sighted if our focus is not on God.

 

[following-Him]

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

Word For Today

Singles15 Sep 2011'He who finds a wife finds a good thing...' Proverbs 18:22Single people need three things. First, they need acceptance. 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing.' But what if you can't find 'a good thing'? By placing all our emphasis on marriage and family, the church can make single people feel like 'a spare part. 'God places the lonely in families...' (Psalm 68:6 NLT). So let's include them, motivate them and make them feel at home. Second, they need healing. People who've been through divorce have been through hell, and they don't need to be treated like second-class citizens. Regardless of who's 'guilty' or who's 'innocent', hearts need to be mended and lives need to be reclaimed. We're in the 'oil and wine business'. The Good Samaritan poured oil, which speaks of spiritual empowerment, and wine, which speaks of joy, into the badly injured man's wounds. And Jesus said that we are to '..."Go and do likewise"' (Luke 10:37 NIV). Third, single people need hope. God '...brought Eve to Adam...' (Genesis 2:22-23). Let's encourage our single friends not to be driven by loneliness and unmet needs, but to be led by God. If you are single, here is a prayer: 'Lord, reassure me that I'm believing according to Your will. Teach me the difference between what I must pursue and what I must wait on You for. They say You are never late. In these days of waiting, keep me strong in faith. Don't let me stop short of my blessing. Remind me that I must not throw away my confidence for it will be richly rewarded. In Christ's name. Amen.'

Our Daily Bread

Heavy Lifting

One day I found my son straining to lift a pair of four-pound barbells over his head—an ambitious feat for a toddler. He had raised them only a few inches off the ground, but his eyes were determined and his face was pink with effort. I offered to help, and together we heaved the weight up toward the ceiling. The heavy lifting that was so hard for him was easy for me.
Jesus has this perspective on the stuff that’s hard for us to manage. When life seems like a carousel of catastrophes, Jesus isn’t fazed by a fender-bender, troubled by a toothache, or harassed by a heated argument—even if it all happens in one day! He can handle anything, and that is why He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 11:28).
Are you worn out from ongoing problems? Are you weighed down with stress and worry? Jesus is the only real solution. Approaching the Lord in prayer allows us to cast our burdens on Him so that He can sustain us (Ps. 55:22). Today, ask Him to assist you with everything. By helping you with your burdens, He can supply rest for your soul, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:29-30).



O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. —Scriven



Prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals are taken 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
Memorise the Scriptures16 Sep 2011'..."The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart."' Romans 10:8Nothing pays greater spiritual dividends than memorising Scripture. Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be more effective. Your counselling will be in demand. Your outlook will change. Your mind will become more alert. Your confidence will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified. Even if you've tried memorising Scripture and given up, try again using these seven simple steps. 1) Choose a time when your mind is free from outside distractions. 2) Learn the reference by repeating it every time you say the verse. Numbers are more difficult to remember than words. 3) Read each verse through several times - both in a whisper and aloud. Hearing yourself say the words helps cement them in your mind. 4) Break the passage into its natural phrases. Learn the reference, then the first phrase. Then repeat the reference and the first phrase as you go to the second phrase. Continue adding phrases one by one.) Learn a little bit perfectly, rather than a great deal poorly. Don't go on to the next verse until you can say the previous one perfectly. 6) Review the verse immediately. About 20 to 30 minutes later repeat what you've memorised. Before the day has ended, firmly fix the verse in your mind by going over it 15 to 20 times. (You can do this as you drive or do your job.) 7) Use the verse orally as soon as possible. The purpose of Scripture memorisation is a practical one, not academic. Use the verse in conversation, in correspondence, in everyday opportunities. Relate what you've learned to your daily situation. You'll be thrilled with the results!


Our Daily Bread

Be An Armor-Bearer

The Israelites and the Philistines were at war. While Saul relaxed under a pomegranate tree with his men, Jonathan and his armor-bearer left camp quietly to see if the Lord would work on their behalf, believing that “nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6).
Jonathan and his helper were about to cross a path between two high cliffs. Armed enemy soldiers were stationed above them on both sides. They were two men against who knows how many. When Jonathan suggested they climb up after them, the armor-bearer never flinched. “Do all that is in your heart,” he told Jonathan. “I am with you, according to your heart” (v.7). So the two climbed the cliff, and with God’s help they overcame the enemy (vv.8-14). We have to admire this courageous young armor-bearer. He lugged the armor up that cliff and stayed with Jonathan, following along behind and killing those Jonathan wounded.
The church needs strong leaders to face our spiritual foes, but they must not be left to face them alone. They need the help and support of everyone in the congregation—loyal “armor-bearers” like you and me who are willing to join them in battle against the “enemy of our souls.”


We give the help that pastors need
For burdens they must bear
When we entrust them to the Lord
And hold them up in prayer. —D. De Haan


Leaders are their best when people get behind them.

 

[following-Him]

Today the devotionals are taken from Our Utmost For His Highest (http://utmost.org) and Word For Today (www.ucb.oc.uk).

My Utmost For His Highest

Is There Good In Temptation?


No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man . . . —1 Corinthians 10:13


The word temptation has come to mean something bad to us today, but we tend to use the word in the wrong way. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human. Not to be tempted would mean that we were already so shameful that we would be beneath contempt. Yet many of us suffer from temptations we should never have to suffer, simply because we have refused to allow God to lift us to a higher level where we would face temptations of another kind.
A person’s inner nature, what he possesses in the inner, spiritual part of his being, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the true nature of the person being tempted and reveals the possibilities of his nature. Every person actually determines or sets the level of his own temptation, because temptation will come to him in accordance with the level of his controlling, inner nature.
Temptation comes to me, suggesting a possible shortcut to the realization of my highest goal— it does not direct me toward what I understand to be evil, but toward what I understand to be good. Temptation is something that confuses me for a while, and I don’t know whether something is right or wrong. When I yield to it, I have made lust a god, and the temptation itself becomes the proof that it was only my own fear that prevented me from falling into the sin earlier.
Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else–what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations–He sustains us in the midst of them (see Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 4:15-16).



Word For Today

God Will Bring You Through17 Sep 2011'...I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.' Acts 27:25On his way to Rome, Paul - and 276 others - were shipwrecked. We can learn three important lessons from their story. First, that we must listen to God. If we don't, we'll experience heartache and loss: '...Paul warned them, "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss"... But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and... the majority decided that we should sail on...' (Acts 27:9-12 NIV). Notice, being in the majority doesn't make somebody right. Who are we listening to? Do they know God? Are they walking by faith or by human reasoning? Jesus said, '...he who receives whomever I send receives Me' (John 13:20 NKJV). Second, that the purposes of God will always overcome the plans of men and women. God can actually make mistakes work for our good. Through this shipwreck Paul landed on Malta and introduced the Gospel to its people. Instead of beating ourselves up over mistakes, or arguing about who's right and who's wrong, try to see the hand of God in it. Finally, whatever we've lost, God can restore it. '[The people of Malta] honoured us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed' (Acts 28:10 NIV). Don't limit God. He will use people to bless us - people we haven't even met yet. Jesus said, 'Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom...' (Luke 6:38). Let's be encouraged; God will bring us through!