The Greatest Act of Love..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Greatest Act of Love

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 5:6-11

What do you think about when you see a depiction of Christ on the cross? Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured—the scourging, beating, thorns, nails, mocking, and shame. We are horrified at the cruelty of the Romans and the hard hearts of the Jewish rulers.

But during the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything we need for salvation:

1. Redemption. Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin.

2. Forgiveness. God could now release us from the punishment we deserved.

3. Propitiation. Christ’s payment satisfied
the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us.

4. Justification. On the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty. Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed.

5. Reconciliation. The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ’s death on our behalf. We’re now God’s children—we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him.

The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the cross would have been a grotesque display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called the greatest act of love by both the Father and the Son.

The Spirit and the Heart ..... Craig Denison

 The Spirit and the Heart

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

So often we view God as an enforcer of religious rules. We see the commands of Scripture as a list of to-dos rather than a path leading to abundant life. But those perceptions aren’t the truth of Scripture. Those beliefs are founded on misguided notions of God’s character. God is after the heart. More than he wants us to do right, he wants us to see him rightly. He wants going to church, reading the Bible, worshipping, serving the poor, and living righteously to come from a heart filled with a true revelation of his loving-kindness. May your heart be wholly God’s this week.

Scripture:

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Devotional:    

Abundant life is given in the communion of the Spirit and the heart. It’s our hearts the Spirit speaks to. It’s our hearts he fills with love, joy, peace, and hope. It’s our hearts in which he dwells. To acknowledge the communion between the Spirit and the heart is to open ourselves to the wellspring of life abundant. And to live seeking a greater awareness of the union that was formed in us with the Spirit at salvation is to position ourselves to receive all that God longs to give us.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” Scripture tells us of a greater level of communion with God than we are right now experiencing. Scripture tells us that when Jesus died God tore the veil in two from top to bottom. Prior to Jesus’ death, God’s glory had to be contained within the temple. Now through the sacrifice of Jesus we have become the temple of God. We now have union with our Creator in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” To say that God dwells in our hearts isn’t just a figure of speech. If you are a believer, you have been sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit. You have constant communion with God. All that’s left is to grow in your understanding of this wonderful, supernatural union you have with your heavenly Father.

The Spirit longs to reveal how near he is to you. He longs to make you more aware of his manifest presence. He longs to lead you, speak to you, fill you, satisfy you, heal you, set you free, and empower you. He longs for your heart to find freedom and security in him. He longs to be your best friend, companion, and teacher.

Take time today as you enter into guided prayer to gain a greater revelation of God’s nearness. Ask him to reveal himself to you that you might know to greater depths how unified you are with him. May your time be filled with a greater measure of God’s presence and love.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on what Scripture says about the Spirit and the heart. Reflect on the communion you already have available to you with the Holy Spirit.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Romans 8:9

2. Ask the Holy Spirit for a greater revelation of his nearness. Open your heart to God and receive his presence. Take notice of how close he is to your heart.

3. Rest in the presence of God. Allow a revelation of his nearness to establish within you a new reality founded on God’s manifest presence.

Allow the Spirit to permeate everything you do today. Seek to live in constant awareness of his presence and love. You don’t have to strive to be with God. You don’t have to strive to encounter him. He is already with you. He is already in you. All that’s left is for you to simply open your heart to him moment by moment. Don’t live as if God is separate from you. Don’t talk to him or worship him as if he is distant. Rather, live in light of Scripture and experience all the abundant life he has for you in his nearness. May your life be changed by the powerful, constant, unfailing, and wholly satisfying presence of God.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11

Extended Reading: 1 Corinthians 6

The Making of You..... BINU SAMUEL

 The Making of You

BINU SAMUEL

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

If there is anyone in this world who enjoys being at home, it’s me … but my son is a close second. (If you look up “homebody” in the dictionary, you might even see our pictures.)

So when it came time for him to decide on a college, my husband and I were very surprised he chose a school away from home.

Of course, I had encouraged him to explore all options. Isn’t that what a good mama is supposed to do? But I didn’t actually think he would select one of those out-of-town schools.

Once he announced his decision, butterflies churned in my stomach. Everything in me wanted to change my son’s mind, especially with the uncertainty of COVID-19 still upon us. But every time I tried to open my mouth to convince him to stay local, I could hear God say, “Letting go is as much about you growing as it is about him growing.”

In Genesis 12:1-2, God tells Abram, “… ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you …”. The great patriarch Abram (whose name would eventually become Abraham) not only believed God, but also stepped out in faith and obeyed God. One step of faith led to a lifelong journey of faith, and Abraham learned to trust God as Jehovah Jireh, his Provider. It was the making of Abraham.

Twenty-five chapters later, in Genesis 37, Abraham’s great-grandson Joseph also left the land of his forefathers (this time by force). Joseph went from a pit where he was meant to die, to a palace, to prison and back to the same palace. Along the way, he learned a valuable lesson: What the enemy intended for harm, God meant for good. (Genesis 50:20) It was the making of Joseph.

In Ruth Chapter 1, Ruth chose not to return to the comfort of her homeland after the death of her husband. Rather, she remained faithful to Naomi, her mother-in-law. The two traveled to Bethlehem, where God allowed Ruth to meet Boaz and changed the trajectory of their lives, putting them in the ancestry of Jesus Christ. It was the making of Ruth.

So many examples fill our Bible.

God asks both men and women to step out of what’s known, easy and comfortable and step in to what’s unknown, difficult and even painful.

In the months leading up to my son’s departure (when I knew things were getting real), I did a lot of praying … both for him and for me.

And you know what? The dread turned to excitement. God reminded me of my own parents. After my sister and I left for college, God gave them a project: to create the first chronological Bible in their native language, Malayalam. It took years, but they did it!

I’m not sure what kind of projects God has planned for me, but I know one thing. My son isn’t the only one entering new and exciting territory. I am too.

Is there a tug-of-war going on in your heart today?

Has God been nudging you to go somewhere or do something outside of your comfort zone? I encourage you to take a small step in that direction. Or perhaps, like me, your next step is to let go and trust God to lead someone you love.

Whichever side of the equation you are on, I believe God has growth in store for each of us.

It just might be the making of you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many ways You direct our steps. Help our hearts to be attentive to Your guidance. Give us the peace we need to let go and to trust You … not only with our lives but with those we love. We place it all in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (NIV)

Are You a Spiritual Fighter?..... By Dick Woodward

 Are You a Spiritual Fighter?

By Dick Woodward

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Heavenly Father, how can we possibly comprehend your will? In times of uncertainty, help us to put our trust in you.

When we read in the Bible about the great men of God we find that they all seem to have deep experiences with God. The details of their experiences vary greatly but the results are very similar.

Jacob wrestled all night with an angel. The angel forced Jacob to look up and wrestle his way through to God. Then the angel forced Jacob to look in and confess that he was a rascal who lived up to his name. The name “Jacob” meant “Grabber.” He was a mover, shaker, doer kind of man who was always running and would not stand still long enough for God to place a blessing upon him.

God could not get Jacob to wait on his Lord. He had to cripple him so He might crown him with His blessing. We might call it: “The cripple crown blessing of God.” When a man is crippled what else can he do but wait?

When God won the wrestling match He pronounced a blessing upon this man – the one quoted above from the book of Genesis. By changing his name to “Israel” God declared that Jacob was a fighter. He had fought his way through to his God and confessed to what he saw when he looked in. He was then ready to look around and fight through his relationships with people.

When we read in the Bible about the great men of God we find that they all seem to have deep experiences with God. The details of their experiences vary greatly but the results are very similar.

Jacob wrestled all night with an angel. The angel forced Jacob to look up and wrestle his way through to God. Then the angel forced Jacob to look in and confess that he was a rascal who lived up to his name. The name “Jacob” meant “Grabber.” He was a mover, shaker, doer kind of man who was always running and would not stand still long enough for God to place a blessing upon him.

God could not get Jacob to wait on his Lord. He had to cripple him so He might crown him with His blessing. We might call it: “The cripple crown blessing of God.” When a man is crippled what else can he do but wait?

When God won the wrestling match He pronounced a blessing upon this man – the one quoted above from the book of Genesis. By changing his name to “Israel” God declared that Jacob was a fighter. He had fought his way through to his God and confessed to what he saw when he looked in. He was then ready to look around and fight through his relationships with people.

God Will Keep Your Way Secure..... By Debbie McDaniel

 God Will Keep Your Way Secure

By Debbie McDaniel

"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." - 2 Samuel 22:33

I was sitting outside early one morning just before dawn. Rainstorms were all around, I could hear the distant thunder and feel the strong winds. But my little place under the roof awning with a hot cup of coffee, Bible, and favorite blanket was secure, safe, undisturbed, though all around me it was stormy.

God's reminder came: "You are secure in Me. You are held strong by My protection overhead though the storms of life may surround you. The winds can blow, the rains can beat down hard, the times may look dark, but My Presence surrounds and I am greater than the storm."

Just because I was under the roof awning, it didn’t stop the storm. But it did provide protection during the storm.

Just because we are under God’s care, it doesn’t stop the storms from happening around us. But it does provide incredible strength and protection for every battle we face in this life.

Many of you might find yourselves facing huge storms in life right now. Maybe your storm is caused by circumstances that are out of your control. Maybe your storm is caused by people, broken relationships, and betrayal or hurt that has wounded you deeply. Maybe the biggest storm you face is caused by the enemy himself whose main goal is simply to bring you down, stop you in your tracks from being a light in this world. God reminds us in His word, that the enemy's intent is always to steal, kill, and destroy. He will do all he can to prevent truth from being shared, and he is ruthless and cruel.

But the storms never have full reign, for right in the midst He reminds us: You are held secure by a Mighty God. You may feel some wind, you may hear the loud thunder, and see darkness or rain all around. But His covering of protection and love surround, you don't face it alone. And in just a short time the storms will pass, the light will shine again, and you will be strengthened for a greater work ahead.

Press on my friends who are facing hard times.

He knows your way and has a plan.

You are held, and He is with you.

Peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Write down a storm you’re facing right now. Then after it, write down this verse, "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure." 2 Samuel 22:33. Put it in a place you’ll see it daily, maybe tucked in your Bible, or hang it up on the bathroom mirror, or keep it in your car. But choose to remind yourself daily, that you are not facing this battle alone. God is the One who is with you, strengthening you daily, keeping your way secure. He gives peace and joy right in the midst of the toughest times. Trust Him, even though you can’t figure it all right now. He knows what’s up ahead, and He is building greatness within you.

Further Reading:
James 1:2-3
John 16:33
Psalms 91

A Prayer for Hard Days..... By Christina Fox

 A Prayer for Hard Days

By Christina Fox

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8

We all have hard days. Challenging days. Days that stretch us, sometimes beyond what we can bear. Sometimes these days appear as a series of little irritating events that build up to one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Other days we wake up to find one huge unexpected event that lands like a bomb in our life.

Sometimes those hard days find us busy and distracted as we try to fix everything that has gone wrong. Or we get so caught up in our thoughts and feelings about our circumstances that it consumes us. Or perhaps we attempt to hide away from the struggle of the day in the hopes that if we don't think about it, maybe it will all go just away.

Instead of such responses, hard days are opportunities for us to draw near to God. They are opportunities for us to rely on him, depend on him, and receive more of his grace. Such days remind us how desperate we are and how much we need our Savior.

A Prayer for Hard Days

Father in Heaven,

Help me! I am so weary and worn down by this day. So many things are happening all at once and I don't know what to do. I am overwhelmed. It feels like I am standing in a fierce wind that is whipping and swirling around me. I can't move; the force is so strong. It may just knock me down flat. And worse of all, what if I can't get back up again?

Father, I can barely lift my eyes to you. It's all I can do to cry out for help. Please extend your grace to me this day. Help me to see that you are in this and that you are with me. Help me to remember that you are not surprised or taken off guard by the events of this day.

As I dwell and meditate on who you are, I am amazed and filled with wonder that you would love and care for me. No other religion in all the world has a God that loves his people. No other religion has a God that listens and cares about the cries of the human heart. No other religion has a God that would humble himself and take on frail human flesh and live in this sin-stained world. No other religion has a God that would lay down his life for his people.

But you are that God. You are God alone. Your word tells me that before time began you chose me to be yours through your Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4). You set your love on me and made me yours. Ephesians also says that through Christ, I have "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (1:7).

Forgive me for my fears about this day. Forgive me for how I have complained and muttered about how hard this day has been. Forgive me for forgetting that you are with me. Forgive me for forgetting who I am because of what your Son, Jesus Christ, has done. Forgive me for failing to remember the glorious truths and riches I have because of the gospel.

It is these truths that I am focusing my heart on in the midst of this hard day. I pray the words of Paul and claim them as my own that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give me the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of my hearts enlightened, that I may know what is the hope to which he has called me, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Father, hear my prayer. Grant me gospel hope in the midst of this hard day. Help me to cling to your grace, your wisdom, and your strength.

Through Jesus and because of Jesus and in His name I pray, Amen.