Impossible Love Made Possible..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Impossible Love Made Possible

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:22-23

When a lawyer asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt. 22:37, 39). What an overwhelming assignment!

In our own strength, none of us can live up to this obligation, but the Lord has provided a way for Christians to do the impossible. The indwelling Holy Spirit works to produce His fruit in us, and first on the list is love (Gal. 5:22). In fact, the other eight qualities are really just descriptions of its expression.

Whenever we demonstrate kindness, patience, or gentleness, we see the Lord’s love at work through us, especially when the other person has been unkind and doesn’t deserve such pleasant treatment. This fruit is not produced by trying harder to muster good will toward someone who is irritating or hard to get along with. Instead, think of the process more like sap running through a branch on a grape-vine. The branch doesn’t make grapes; the sap does. In the same way, the Spirit flows through us, producing God’s love in us, so that we can pass it on to Him and others.

Agape love is the reason we are able to care for someone who mistreats us—it’s God’s doing, not ours. Even the adoration we offer the Lord is not something that we can produce in our own heart apart from His assistance. Though the command to love is enormous, God’s grace makes it possible.

The Pillar of God’s Presence..... Craig Denison

 The Pillar of God’s Presence

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview: 

God’s presence is real, full of love, and completely transformational. It takes what was broken and brings healing. It takes what was lost and guides us to our rightful place in the Father. It satisfies the weary, brings light to the darkness, and pours out the refreshing rain of God’s love on the dryest, deepest parts of the soul. Scripture contains story after story of God coming down to meet God’s children where they are, and your heavenly Father has the same heart for you as he did them. He longs to make the reality of his presence known to you. He longs to refresh you with his nearness. You were created for encountering God, and you will never be satisfied until you continually live in the experience for which you were created. Allow your desires to be stirred up to encounter the living God this week as we read powerful stories of God’s people encountering his manifest presence. May you respond to God’s word by seeking out that for which you were made: continual encounter with your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Exodus 13:21-22

Devotional:    

One of the greatest realities of God’s presence is the way it guides us. Exodus 13:21-22 provides an illustration for an important truth God would have us know today: when we need guidance we can run to his presence and discover his leadership in abundance. Scripture tells us, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

Even in the Israelites’ sin, God faithfully led them. Even in their lack of faith, he still provided miraculous leadership. And now, through believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have been filled with the presence of God himself. We’ve been given the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit who is always present with us and in us. As amazing as it is that God led his people with pillars of cloud and fire, how much more incredible is it that we have been filled with the very presence of God by the work of Christ? Jesus made a way for us to know the will of God with every moment as we fellowship with the Spirit of God himself.

So, how can we follow the Spirit as the Israelites followed the pillars of fire and cloud? How can we discover the abundance of leadership available to us through the presence of God? First, we must acknowledge our need of his leadership and seek out his counsel. He can only guide those who choose to follow. If you choose to go your own way in life you will step outside the guidance of his presence. It’s in seeking his will that we discover the vast reservoir of the Spirit’s perfect leadership. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Acknowledge him. Acknowledge the reality of his presence in your life in all your ways. Trust in his guidance rather than your own understanding, and watch as he makes straight all of your paths.

Second, you have to believe that God can and will guide you when you ask for his leadership. Isaiah 58:11 says, “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” This world is suffering from a lack of God’s guidance. We live in a world continuously searching, striving, and yearning for some sort of message of leadership. All around us the blind lead the blind into greater depths of darkness, continually searching for what we have already found in God. God longs to satisfy your desire for leadership. He longs to make you “like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” All you have to do is ask him. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God will guide you when you seek him for wisdom. He will lead you to the perfect will he has for you if you humble yourself before him and commit to following him. All you have to do is ask and follow the Spirit’s guidance in however he chooses to lead you. He will make his leadership clear if you stay behind him and listen.

Last, you must follow his leadership to experience the fruit of his guiding presence. The prize of a winning lottery ticket remains worthless until it is cashed in. The contents of a gift remain useless until it is opened. You have been given the most incredible gift of all: God’s guiding presence in your life. Proverbs 3:13-18 says,

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

But until you choose to follow the wisdom of God in your life, you won’t experience an ounce of its value. Until you follow the wise guidance of the Holy Spirit, you won’t experience the incredible, abundant life he has in store for you. James 1:22-25 commands us,

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Persevere today in God’s presence. Seek out his wisdom and counsel during guided prayer. Lay the burden of leading your own life on his mighty and loving shoulders, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the abundant life he has prepared for you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire and ability to lead you.           

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Exodus 13:21-22

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3

2. Now meditate on the value of God’s leadership in your life. Trust in his word. Believe that his wisdom is far greater than your own. Trust in Scripture that what he leads you to is far beyond anything you could discover yourself.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

3. Now ask the Spirit for wisdom and guidance in your life. Where do you need the mind of Christ today? What issue before you do you not know how to handle well? Where do you need the leadership of God? Lay your questions at his feet, and pay attention to how he responds to you. Wait for an answer in his presence and continue to look for his responses throughout your day. Trust that he will guide you perfectly into every good thing he has for you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

The prayer of Paul to the Ephesians is my prayer for you today. May you be blessed with the vast reservoir of God’s wonderful guidance:

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” Ephesians 1:16-19

Extended Reading: Proverbs 3

Silencing That Screaming Screen..... KAREN EHMAN

 Silencing That Screaming Screen

KAREN EHMAN

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)

Tumbling out of bed, I headed to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, hoping it might snap the sleepy out of my brain. I glanced down at my phone next to the coffee maker where I’d plugged it in the night before. I’d begun banishing my phone from the bedroom so it couldn’t tempt me to tap, swipe and scroll instead of falling asleep at a decent hour.

About a dozen or more notifications began their usual morning dance, gliding down from the top of my screen. A few social media followers liked my recent post about my butternut squash soup. There was a news alert from a local television station about an upcoming visit from a well-known celebrity. Five new emails were in my inbox from companies I’d previously purchased from, alerting me to new sales on their products.

This montage of messages screaming at me through the screen threatened to derail my day before it had barely started.

I have an ongoing quandary with my phone. It certainly can be a useful tool — housing my calendar, grocery list and an online banking app. But often it seems my phone becomes the boss of me. If I am not intentional to keep it in check, it can quickly become a tangent. It beeps, dings and buzzes, tempting me to pick it up once again as I lose precious time that could be spent tackling the tasks of the day.

Ephesians 5:15-17 urges us to “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” To help us extrapolate the instructions God is giving us about managing our time, let’s look at the original Greek meaning of a few key words and phrases.

The Greek word for “walk” is peripateó. More than placing one foot in front of the other, it literally means “to conduct your life properly.” And how are we to walk? Carefully. The deeper Greek meaning of “carefully” in this verse is “accurately, diligently and circumspectly.” That final word isn’t commonly used. It means “to fully investigate all circumstances and possible outcomes.”

We are also instructed to make the best use of our time. This Greek phrase conveys the concept of redeeming from loss by making the most of the present opportunity. We are to be proactive and intentional in filling our time.

That can be difficult when our phone provides an ongoing digital distraction. Checking it too often prevents us from the important tasks we have at work and home. It may even keep us from connecting relationally with someone who might need an encouraging word from us, or keep us from connecting with someone God placed in our path to give us encouragement or wisdom.

If you have the same phone struggle as I do, perhaps it’s time for us to set some boundaries. It may be as simple as leaving the phone in another room overnight or turning it off after a certain hour each day. Or it may require something more drastic like turning off all notifications, or even deleting social media apps and only hopping on those sites when we’re in front of our computer. These actions can help us cut down on distractions and carefully navigate our days by doing what God’s called us to do: making the best use of our time.

Let’s take our days to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to help us choose prudently how we interact with our phones, using them as tools rather than allowing them to morph into tangents. He will enable us to spend our time in a way that honors Him as He teaches us what it means to walk wisely.

Father, help me to redeem the time, discerning how You want me to spend my hours each day. I want my actions to honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 31:15a, “My times are in your hands; …” (NIV)

Trusting God’s Timing (Genesis 40:14)..... By Lynette Kittle

 Trusting God’s Timing (Genesis 40:14)

By Lynette Kittle

“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison” - Genesis 40:14

Have you ever experienced feeling forgotten by someone who promised to keep in contact with you, or said they would recommend you for an opportunity, but then seemed to have disappeared and forgotten all about you?

Scripture tells us about the extraordinary life of Joseph, a man who understood what it meant to be forgotten by others. Sold into slavery by jealous brothers who truly did want to forget all about him, their actions led to Joseph’s imprisonment.

While serving time with fellow inmates, Joseph interpreted a dream for the chief cupbearer who was also imprisoned at the time. Joseph asked to be remembered by him when he was released. But, following a quick release, this inmate forgot all about Joseph’s assistance. Genesis 40:23 explains, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.”

So, was the cupbearer just a terrible person who purposely forgot Joseph? Was he a self-absorbed individual totally ungrateful for his help? Or, was his delay in remembering Joseph all in God’s timing? It’s a question we too may want to consider when it seems like we’ve been forgotten by someone we thought for sure would remember us.

Genesis 41:1-13, describes what followed. After two full years had passed, the chief cupbearer’s boss, the Pharaoh, had a dream that he didn’t understand. When all his advisors and consultants couldn’t interpret the troubling dream for him, the chief cupbearer had an “aha” moment where he remembered Joseph.

This “aha” moment led to Joseph being called before Pharaoh to interpret his dream, an act that led to his release from prison and being placed into a high position within the kingdom (Genesis 41:41).

Although forgotten throughout his life by others, God didn’t ever forget Joseph, working through his life in remarkable ways (Acts 7:9-10).

Like Joseph, when we have felt forgotten by others, we can take comfort in knowing God remembers us. We can also trust God is at work in our lives, whether by way of those we are hoping will think of us, or through those who may surprise us.

I have a family member who was praying and asking God for a job, when friends who were thousands of miles away, ones he hadn’t been in contact with for years, “just happened” to be looking through a box that brought him to mind.

In thinking of him, they had an “aha” moment, where they felt prompted to contact him in consideration for an upcoming opening at their organization. In calling to reconnect with him, they discovered he was looking for a job, which led to his being hired for the position.

So, whenever we’re feeling forgotten by others, we can choose to trust God hasn’t forgotten us. We can believe He has a plan for our lives and will bring us to the minds of those who know us, in His perfect timing and according to His will.

Who has God brought to your mind recently? Anyone you haven’t thought about in years? Take time to consider why you’re thinking of them, and ask God if He is prompting you to reach out to them.

What? Jesus?..... by Ryan Duncan

 What? Jesus?

by Ryan Duncan

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." – Matthew 3:16-17

It was Sunday morning, and I was making my way to my seat at church when I happened to glance at the program. The title of the sermon was short and to the point: “Jesus." What happened next embarrassed me more than I can say. I looked at the title again and said to myself,

“Jesus? Why are we talking about that?”

C.S. Lewis once cautioned readers about how easy it is to start using Christianity as a convenience. The center of our faith can easily slip from Jesus' sacrifice to preserving marriage, social justice, tithing, or a hundred other good things Satan can use to distract us from God. The truth is that everything written down in the Bible, everything we believe as Christians, can be summed up in John 14.

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father '? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. – John 14:7-13

Jesus wasn't just a great teacher; He wasn't some vague Jewish mystic; He was God. Through His life and death, we are finally reconciled with our Creator. Nothing else, no politics or policy, is more important than that. As long as we remember that, we will remember Jesus.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you allowed something comparatively minor to take your attention away from Christ? Take a moment to examine where the priorities of your faith lay.

Further Reading

John 14

A Prayer to Show God’s Mercy to Others..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer to Show God’s Mercy to Others

By Betsy de Cruz

“…Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” – Luke 1:78-79

Mercy is not often my first response when someone offends me or does something that irritates me. I know Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful,” but sometimes I want to get back at people, or at least make them understand why they’re driving me crazy.

I forget the mercy God has shown me.

His mercy is what made God send His only Son into the world to redeem sinners. Mercy is what made Jesus Christ, the light of the world, come down to earth to give light to those in darkness. Mercy for sinners is what led Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sin.

I wish I could have been there when Zechariah prophesied at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Moved by God’s Spirit, Zechariah knew John would go before the Lord, who would visit His people to redeem them. He foresaw that John would proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins. All “because of the tender mercy of our God” (Luke 1:78).

So often we come to God asking for our needs and praying He will show mercy and grant our requests. We forget to thank God for the mercy He has already shown us. We know from Scripture that our Heavenly Father invites us to bring our needs before Him, yet He also desires thanks and praise for what He has already done.

As we approach the Lord today, let’s remember the tender mercy He has shown to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s thank Him for countless prayers already answered, countless blessings already given, and the grace Jesus extended to us by giving His life for us while we were still His enemies.

What if we also ask God to make us aware of people in our lives to whom we need to extend mercy and grace? Whether we need to have patience with that person who cuts in front of us at the grocery store checkout or forgive someone who hurt us deeply, God will give us the grace we need. Luke 6:36 calls us to “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father,

I praise you for your great mercy. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Thank you for shining your light into my heart and giving me the gift of eternal life. I praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness to me.

Lord, forgive me for the many times I come to you in prayer, forgetting the mercy you have already shown me. Renew in my heart a deep sense of gratitude for the forgiveness I have in Christ.

Forgive me for all the times I withhold compassion and forgiveness from others. Would you work in my heart and make me more like you? Lord, give me the grace I need to see the people in my life through your eyes. Pour out your compassion into my heart that I may reflect it to others today. Guide my feet in the way of peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.