God's Clear Instructions..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 God's Clear Instructions

Dr. Charles Stanley

Joshua 6

Joshua needed guidance as he faced one of the most crucial moments of his life. Because the Lord had promised him success in conquering Jericho, he knew the outcome of the battle, but as the day of combat approached, he needed a specific strategy for victory. What he heard the Lord say must have made his jaw drop.

Can you imagine the soldiers' thoughts as they carried out this bizarre battle strategy? In confusing times like this, it's good to remember three requirements for benefiting from God's instructions. We need:

• Faith to believe the Lord
• Courage to obey Him
• Patience to wait for His timing.

When God gives us clear instruction through His Word or His Spirit within us, our response shows how much we trust Him. If we truly believe Him and His promises, precise and complete obedience will follow. His victory in any area of struggle is available only to those who act upon His directions.

Submitting to the Lord's timing is also an essential part of obedience. What would have happened if the army decided to bypass God's plans for the first six days and skip straight to the seventh day's march around Jericho? They would have missed the victory.

How often do we beg the Lord for guidance, yet hesitate to obey when He finally gives it? Living by faith can seem like a huge risk when His instructions make no sense or require a lengthy wait. But knowing His eternal perspective and unlimited power can strengthen our resolve to obey.

Once a Child Always a Child..... Craig Denison

 Once a Child Always a Child

Craig Denison

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

Scripture:“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” - John 10:28

Devotional:

As a disciple of Jesus we have full assurance of eternal, face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father. John 10:27-30 says,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

Once we have become a child of God by confessing with our mouth and believing in our heart that Jesus Christ truly is Lord of all, we are the child of God forever (Romans 10:9). No sin, struggle, trial, or rebellion can pluck us from the Father’s hand. And as children of God, we no longer look to this world but to our total restoration, redemption, and glorification as our source of hope.

There is peace and transcendent joy in the truth that this world is not our final resting place. Your pains and trials are temporary and pale in comparison to the incredible life that awaits you in heaven with your Father. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rest in the fact that you are fully and constantly loved by your Creator. Nothing you or anyone else could ever do has the power to pluck you from his hand. God made salvation as simple and complete as possible. Once you have been saved and brought into the kingdom of God, you are forever saved.

Titus 3:4-7 says, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Your salvation is about the grace of your Father, not your own works. If salvation ever became about our own strength, it would cease to be rooted in God’s loving grace and rest on our shoulders instead of the death of Jesus.

Placing our hope in eternal relationship with our Father is the path to freedom from the cares and burdens of this world. We will never truly know abundant life until we live surrendered to our King and Savior and lay the crowns and cares of this life at his feet. This world is not your home. This world is not meant to be your highest satisfaction. Pursue greater depths of relationship with your Father and watch as the stress and cares of the world fall off in light of his glorious grace. Place your hope in him alone, and follow his leading to an abundant life free from the worries, doubts, and fears that come from living for the world instead of Jesus.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s promise of your eternal salvation as a believer. Allow Scripture to guide you to place your hope in the Father alone.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:27-30

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” - Romans 10:8-10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

2. Where have you been placing your hope? What have you been pursuing as your source of satisfaction apart from Jesus?

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” >Jeremiah 17:7

3. Take time to confess and surrender any ways in which you have been seeking satisfaction over Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you place your hope and trust in God alone.

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”  - Lamentations 3:24

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” - Romans 15:13

May Romans 5:2-5 ignite a lifestyle of continual surrender and pursuit of restored relationship with your Father:

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Extended Reading: John 10

Well, To Be Honest With You..... KAREN EHMAN

 Well, To Be Honest With You

KAREN EHMAN

“They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” Psalm 12:2 (AMP)

A few years ago, a new acquaintance from church invited me out for coffee. Although she was not someone I’d ever met before in real life, I had known who she was for years. She had an important position in our community, and I was quite thrilled that she wanted to get together to chat.

Although usually not at a loss for words, I found myself a bit awkward during the first few minutes of our meeting. I wanted to make a good impression and so I decided to tell her how very much I loved her earring and necklace set. Sounds like a fine way to kick off a conversation, right? Maybe so, if that really were the truth.

The truth was I didn’t think her jewelry was cute. However, I did think a little false praise might usher me into her good graces, and then I’d be counted among her circle of friends.

There is a cliché about giving excessive or insincere praise: “Flattery gets you nowhere.” Still, we sometimes feign and fawn in hopes that flattery will indeed get us somewhere!

While gossip can be defined as saying something behind someone’s back you’d never say to their face, flattery is the reverse. It is uttering words to someone’s face you’d never say behind their back … because those words are totally untrue.

When we flatter, we lie, although we might not so readily admit it. The pages of Scripture are chock-full of warnings against this deceptive tool of flattery — a tool that often backfires.

Read these words found in Psalm 12:2: “They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.”

The word rendered “flattering” in English is the Hebrew word chelqah, meaning “smooth, slippery and agreeable.” It is also used in many places to mean a portion of ground or the ground one is presently standing on. Combine these together, and the picture becomes clear. We are surely standing on a slippery slope when we choose to flatter with our lips.

The other part of this verse that intrigues me is the notion of a double heart. The concept conveyed here is that someone who is flattering with their lips really has two hearts: one that is true to their inner soul, and one that is portrayed to the person hearing the lies.

Usually we only have in mind what flattery can do for us — the immediate results we seek when we falsely inflate the ego of another person. But what does flattery do to us? Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking flattery doesn’t harm us.

Proverbs 26:28 identifies one of the consequences: “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (NIV).

The Hebrew word for “ruin” in this verse is midcheh. Interestingly, this is the only occurrence of this word in the entire Bible. It means “a method for, or occasion of, stumbling.” When we work our flattery, we are in for a fall.

Have you ever felt a prick in your heart when you used words of flattery or failed to tell the truth when asked for your opinion by a friend? We might think we are looking out for the best interests of others. However, solid and lasting friendships are built on a foundation of honesty.

Our human connections — whether with family, friends or coworkers — can become strengthened when we decide to be truthful. We can adopt a new habit of shooting straight while simultaneously expressing our love and care for others.

Learning to express honesty tucked in an envelope of kindness can become one of the greatest areas of growth in our lives. Ultimately, it will propel us to deeper, more authentic and healthier relationships with others.

Father, help me not fall prey to utilizing flattery to obtain favor in my relationships. Help me kindly and gently speak the truth to others, knowing that not only is honesty the best policy, but also it pleases You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You Are Not Your Own..... By Lynette Kittle

 You Are Not Your Own

By Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” - Jeremiah 10:23

When Adam rebelled against God in the garden, he didn’t understand it meant he would be giving up his power and authority over the earth to the devil (Genesis 3). His sin against God caused the whole world to come under the evil one’s dominion (1 John 5:19).

From that point on Adam became a sinner and passed his fallen legacy on to all future generations, placing mankind in opposition to God.

Romans 5:12 explains what happened stating, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

However, in today’s culture, countless individuals mistakenly believe if they don’t choose God, then they belong to themselves but it just isn’t true. There is no middle ground between good and evil. No third choice, no neutrality to choose from.

Jesus came to earth to pay a high price for your sin (1 Corinthians 6:20). But it’s still your decision whether or not you accept His payment and receive the “Paid in Full by Jesus Christ.”

In accepting God’s free gift of salvation, 1 Corinthians 6:19 explains how the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, taking up residence within you. When He does, your life no longer belongs to you but to God.

If you choose to reject Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin debt, the devil has a claim to you.

By not choosing God, you’re making a choice, whether you realize it or not.

So if you, like multitudes of others, believe not choosing God’s way is choosing your own way, you are misinformed.

Many are unaware of the spiritual forces at work on the earth, as Ephesians 6:12 explains “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Unknowingly, individuals are daily carrying out the devil’s desires, unaware they aren’t free agents like they believe, but rather being influenced and led by the evil one (John 8:44).

1 John 3:8 also describes how, “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Jesus came to free you from the devil’s claim to you but it’s still your choice to accept it or not. If you refuse to take Him up on His offer, by default, you belong to the evil one.

Yet, know it’s God’s heart and desire for all people to be saved  (1 Timothy 2:4).

The Doorman..... by Ryan Duncan

 The Doorman

by Ryan Duncan

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

Once upon a time, there lived a wise and righteous king who cared deeply for his people. In order to ensure that his kingdom prospered, the king summoned one of his servants and gave him this decree,

"Go and stand at the door of the palace. If someone comes and asks to see me, open the door and allow them in so I may speak with them."

So the servant went and did as the king commanded. People came from far and wide to see the king. Some were rich men, some were great scholars, others were from noble families, and when they asked to see the king the doorman gave them entry. Then one day a poor beggar came to the palace door and asked to see the king. The doorman looked him over and frowned.

The beggar's clothes were dirty and torn, he wore no shoes and was unpleasant to look at.

"Surely my king would not wish to meet with such a man as this," the doorman said to himself, and turned the beggar away. Soon the doorman began turning others away; people he deemed too poor, or too sick, or too strange. When the king discovered what was being done he summoned the doorman to him.

"Why have you been turning people away from the palace?" the king demanded angrily. The doorman was surprised and replied meekly, "My king, I was only performing the duty you gave me."

"Your duty was to open the door for those who would see me," said the king, "not decide if they were worthy to do so."

It's unfortunate when we behave like the doorman in this story. We style ourselves the "Watchmen on the Wall," and if we see someone who doesn't quite fit our definition of worthy, we slam the door in his or her face. But God's grace is not ours to give away, and true forgiveness belongs to Christ alone. Our job is to open the door that leads to Christ, through prayer, through friendship, and through service. Remember, we all stand on equal footing at the door of Christ's mercy.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you been turning away people who are looking for God? Or lighting the way to the narrow path? Take some time to consider.

Further Reading
Luke 14:15-24

A Prayer for Peace in Relationships..... By: Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer for Peace in Relationships

By: Victoria Riollano

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Live at peace with everyone.

I have always considered myself a friendly person. I am the friend who texts when I haven’t seen you in a while and sets up meals when someone is in need. I do all that I can to be loyal and try to never be hurtful to those that I care about. At first glance, living at peace with everyone seems an easy task. Yet, as I reflect on my personal journey with people, I am confronted with the betrayals, heartaches, and even rejections that have brought more hurt than I could imagine. I have asked myself; how can I live at peace with the friend who talked poorly about me when I wasn’t around? How can I be at peace with a family member who only talks to me when they need something? How can I be at peace with a person who treats those I love with disdain? 

It is with great intention and a choice to forgive that helped me overcome these personal battles. However, living at peace is more than just being cordial when encountering the person you are irritable with. It took time and praying for those who hurt me to move forward from the pain experienced. When I took a moment to study the Greek word for “peace” found in Romans 12:18, I learned this word means to cultivate harmony. To cultivate means to intentionally prepare and develop. In other words, living at peace requires not just kind words or fake smiles but action that can purposely create a harmonious atmosphere for all.

As easy as it may sound, this can be the hardest thing to do when our heart is truly broken. I can imagine that, even Jesus, could relate to the pain of not being treated as he deserved. He was rejected as He healed the crowd, betrayed by His friend, and even put to death by His own people. Yet, in His dying breath, His words remind us of what it looks like to love beyond the pain.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

My prayer today is that we would learn to forgive. We need to do all that we can to create atmospheres of peace. Perhaps the intentional phone call, the invite to coffee, or the text message to say, “I’m sorry” will open the door to a new start. Although your efforts won’t always be seen or received, we can rest well knowing that we did all that was possible to reconcile with one another and walk in love. When we do so, we free ourselves from the burden of bitterness and can be an example to others who may be struggling as well. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for being a loving and forgiving God. I thank you for your example of how to live and walk in peace and forgiveness. I look forward to opportunities to live at peace with everyone. Although the world may teach me to hold a grudge, I choose to follow your way instead. Lord, search my heart, and show me any person that I may have negative feelings towards. I ask for wisdom on how to cultivate peace and walk free from bitterness. Give me a heart for those that I don’t understand and help me to always walk in your love.

Help me to do my part in living at peace with everyone. 

In Jesus Name. Amen.