The Bandit of Joy

The Bandit of Joy
by Max Lucado

The bandit of joy is Fear.  Fear of death, fear of failure, fear of God, and fear of tomorrow.  His arsenal is vast.  His goal?  To create cowardly, joyless souls.

We try unsuccessfully to face our fears with power, possessions, or popularity.  Only inward character creates courage.  And it is those inward convictions Jesus is building in the Beatitudes.  The result of this process is courage—“they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  No longer shall the earth and its fears dominate us, for we follow the one who dominates the earth.

If you are in Christ, you are guaranteed that your sins will be filtered through, hidden in, and screened out by the sacrifice of Jesus.  That means failure is not a concern for you. Your victory is secure.  How could you not be courageous?

Believing God For Things That Seem Impossible

Believing God For Things That Seem Impossible
KIA STEPHENS

“Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:14 (NIV)

For more than two decades I prayed the same prayer. Desperately, I pleaded for God’s intervention in a close family relationship.

Crouched down on my knees, I fumbled around for words that would somehow touch the heart of God in a way I had not done before. Some days the words flowed like water from a broken faucet, and other days they were nonexistent, replaced by tears.

I was in a waiting period, sandwiched between my prayer request and God’s answer to it. Seasons passed, both in nature and my life, as I waited on God to bring calm to the end of my storm. I met and married my husband, birthed two sons and watched them grow — all while waiting on answered prayer.

Growing accustomed to the wait, I still believed God was able to do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine. I just wasn’t sure He would do it for me.

I imagine this is where Sarah found herself. She, too, was familiar with the waiting place. For several decades of her marriage, she waited on God to make her a mother.

When Abram was 75 years old, God established a covenant with him. He promised to make Abram into a great nation. (Genesis 12) However, this promise would not be fulfilled for another 25 years — and several unanticipated delays later. (Along the way, he and his wife even got new names: Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17.)

Scripture offers us a glimpse into how this waiting impacted Sarah. In Genesis 16:2, Sarai suggested Abram sleep with her maidservant to build a family through her. Sarai’s unimaginable actions were her attempt at obtaining the offspring she longed for.

Devastating heartache preceded this daring move. She was driven to manipulate the circumstances of her life because she saw no other way. 

Then in Genesis 18:12 (KJV), Sarah described herself as “waxed old” as she questioned whether she would have a child the following year. This phrase in Hebrew means worn out and decayed. She had more faith (or lack thereof) in her physical condition than she did in the words of God.

God challenged Sarah when He responded to Abraham in Genesis 18:14 by questioning, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son” (NIV). Despite Sarah’s disbelief, God kept His promise.

She became pregnant and bore a son, whom she named Isaac. This promised child was the embodiment of what Sarah perceived to be “too hard for the LORD.”

Is there anything in your life that seems impossible?

Lingering for days and sometimes years, these things tempt us to believe they are beyond the reach of God. It may be a sickness, a financial need, a wayward family member or a difficult relationship (as it was in my case). No matter what it is, or how God chooses to bring about a resolution, things that seem impossible are possible with Him.

I experienced this a few months ago when the relationship I had been praying about for decades suddenly took a dramatic turn for the better. God met me in my waiting place — just as he met Sarah — and began a process of healing that I previously deemed unlikely. He is able to do the same for you.

Although we cannot control how or when God answers prayer, His words to Abraham respond to our doubt as well: “Is there anything too hard for the LORD?” The answer to this question is a resounding, “No, nothing is too hard for Him.” He is able to do what seems impossible.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that nothing is too hard for You. When I’m in a waiting season, help me to trust in You and believe that You can do what seems impossible in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (NIV)

Building Bridges to the Kingdom

Building Bridges to the Kingdom

By Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 25:31-34

Scripture refers to "the kingdom of God" frequently, but many people are unclear as to its meaning. Let's look at the past, present, and future reality of this concept.

The first thing we must realize is that the heavenly kingdom refers to everything under Christ's control. At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus. And we are eternally secure in Him.

As today's verses explain, Jesus' kingdom and reign have been planned since the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God has been preparing mankind for what is to come. One way was by using prophets to foretell how He would redeem humanity and sovereignly rule over heaven and earth.

Once Jesus came and gave His life, He established the "present" kingdom. This isn't a geographical locale; it's a term describing the heart, where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, counsel, and empower.

But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, which we can anticipate with excitement. You are probably familiar with the words "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2 kjv). This speaks of the new heaven and new earth, where we will enjoy freedom from pain and sin. There, we will worship Jesus with gladness and joy for all eternity.

As God's kingdom ambassadors, we who are His children have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the good news: Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, all who trust in Him are forgiven of sin and assured of eternal life with God. Whom can you tell about this amazing gift?

Why Grace is the Most Powerful Gift of All

Why Grace is the Most Powerful Gift of All
By John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy

Paul could have ended 2 Thessalonians in dozens of ways; instead, he focuses on one thing alone: grace. Because grace is the most powerful concept of all.

Often, all we need is a little grace. Grace is renewing. It reaches deep inside us. It finds the despair and pain and offers love. It says, “Yes, you may be unworthy but you are loved and forgiven.”

Paul devoted much of his writing to the concept of grace. It is the grace of God, as shown through Jesus’ death and resurrection—for our sins, so that we could have relationship with God—that drove Paul’s entire life. Grace is what Paul himself had experienced as a redeemed sinner. It is grace that I have experienced as a redeemed sinner. It is grace that we all need.

How different would our world be if we all offered people the grace we have received? If instead of holding grudges and demanding apologies, we lived with a spirit of forgiveness? If instead of hoping that people would fall on their sword, we offered grace and love? If instead of being bitter we offered hope? If instead of considering ourselves better than others, we noted the incredible and unmerited redemption we have in Christ?

Imagine what could be if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is what we proclaimed to everyone. Imagine what could be if grace drove our entire lives and if it’s what we wished for each and every person.

What parts of your life need to be transformed by grace today? Who can you show incredible grace to today, in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ? Drop me a comment, I would love to hear from you.