Peace with God..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Peace with God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 5:1-2

One day I posed a question to the waitress at my table: “If you could ask God for anything, what would your request be?” Her answer was immediate. “I want to feel at peace.” She tearfully explained that her grandmother had died and emotional turmoil resulted.

Many in our world are like this young woman, in that they desire inner calmness but have no relationship with the Lord. People often seek contentment by trying to improve their appearance, physical fitness, financial situation, or social status—or by abusing substances. But such things can’t bring tranquility of heart or mind. Only a relationship with Jesus leads to true peace.

Prior to salvation, we were slaves to sin and living in opposition to God (Col. 1:21). Our transgressions had formed a barrier of hostility between Him and us, which we were helpless to cross on our own. Without God’s intervention, we could not have found the way of peace. But our heavenly Father provided the perfect solution to our sin problem. He sent His Son to pay for our iniquities and remove the separation that existed between us and Him.

When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we were reconciled to the Lord (Rom. 5:10) and no longer at odds with Him. In Christ, we have peace with the Father.

Our triune God has provided everything we need for inner tranquility. The Father opened the way for us to be in His family. Jesus continually offers His peace so we can experience serenity of mind and heart (John 14:27). And the Holy Spirit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives (Gal. 5:22).

The Blessing of Spiritual Poverty..... Craig Denison

 

The Blessing of Spiritual Poverty

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

The biblical concept of being poor in spirit is foundational to every aspect of the Christian life. Foundational to salvation is a heart-level acknowledgment of our need for a Savior. Foundational to experiencing God’s love is acknowledging our great need of love. Foundational to heavenly peace and joy is an acknowledgment that this world truly offers us neither. If we want all that God in his grace offers, we must pursue a lifestyle of being poor in spirit. May you experience more of the depth of God’s love this week as you discover God’s heart to minister to those desperate for him.

Scripture:“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

Devotional:

To be rich in spirit based on our own accomplishments is to bear the weight of our own spiritual growth. In comparison, when we acknowledge our spiritual poverty before God, thereby contributing all that we do and are to his limitless grace, the weight of our spirituality is lifted off and placed squarely on the shoulders of Jesus, where it belongs. To be spiritually poor is to be incredibly blessed.

I’ve spent much of my Christian life seeking to do good. I’ve gone to church, Bible studies, small groups, accountability groups, and have played in worship bands. I’ve gone on mission trips, fed the homeless, served at food pantries, given up sleep, spent nights out to invest in others, and even dedicated my career to God. But it seemed like with every good work I was doing I had to continually look to the next. I couldn’t take time to rest or enjoy God because the weight of my righteousness and the fruit of my life rested solely on my shoulders. I didn’t know how to live by grace, so instead I filled every waking moment with a fight to do all I could on my own.

Now it’s not that any of those works were inherently bad. In fact, I am continuing to do most of those things today. The difference is found in John 15:5-9 where Jesus says,

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

When we live in acknowledgement of our immense need for God’s help, we place ourselves on the path to abiding. Just as a sheep cannot find food, shelter, or water without abiding in the help of a shepherd, we are in immense need of our Good Shepherd. Problems arise when we see ourselves as more than helpless sheep and try to go our own way by living in our own strength. Pride covers up our true state of need. Being poor in spirit opens our eyes to see our true state of helplessness and helps us lean on the ever ready, capable, and available help of our good and faithful Father.

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15). May your day be blessed by abiding in a God who is “high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy,” but is “with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.” May your spiritual poverty lead you to a life filled with the glorious, incomprehensible presence, grace, and love of your Good Shepherd. And may you abide in the loving arms of your heavenly Father as he wholly enriches your life with his loving-kindness.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the blessing of being spiritually poor. Allow Scripture to fill you with courage to look at the state of your life and acknowledge your need of God.

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

2. Where have you been living life in your own strength? Where is your life not marked by the fruit of abiding in God’s grace and presence?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:5-9

3. Take time to cast the weight of your spirituality on the shoulders of your Good Shepherd. Abide in the love of your heavenly Father. Allow him to take the weight of all you’ve been working toward and replace it with the joy of simply knowing him.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” Psalm 40:17

It is a process to learn to bear fruit out of abiding in God. It’s a place of trust to begin good works by simply enjoying the love of your Father. But Scripture is clear that it is only in resting in the grace and help of our Shepherd that we will bear any form of good fruit. God has good works in store for you that will extend far past the reach of this life. He has an amazing plan to use you to bring his kingdom to earth all around you. But the blessing of making a deep and lasting impact all begins by continually enjoying the love of a good God who would come down to meet you even in your weakness, need, and sin. Rest in the love of your Father today and allow him to plant desires in you that he will come and fulfill by his limitless grace.

Extended Reading: John 15

Did Your Daddy Ask You To Carry That?..... ALICIA BRUXVOORT

 Did Your Daddy Ask You To Carry That?

ALICIA BRUXVOORT

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Years ago, I glanced through the kitchen window and noticed my little boy struggling to walk across the lawn. Minutes earlier, he'd raced out the door with a happy hop to help his daddy with yard work.

But the boy I watched through the glass was no longer skipping. He was stooping and stumbling, swaying and wobbling.

I abandoned my post at the sink and rushed toward my struggling boy. As I drew near, I noticed he was carrying a giant rock that appeared to weigh as much as his gangly 4-year-old frame. His face was flushed. His knees buckled. And his shoulders sagged.

When I spoke his name, he flopped on the grass and surrendered to quiet sobs. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

With a mixture of anger and sorrow, he told me he couldn't take another step. I studied the big rock on the ground beside him and nodded in understanding. Then I gently voiced a simple question: “Did your daddy ask you to carry that?”

A quiet pause dangled between us. My son glanced at the rock and met my gaze with sober eyes. “No,” he admitted with a sheepish shrug of his shoulders. “But I wanted to show Daddy how strong I was.”

My littlest boy is no longer little, but sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed by the load I’m carrying, I remember that long-ago moment in our yard. And I sense the Holy Spirit echoing the same question I once asked my preschooler: “Did your Daddy ask you to carry that?”

It’s an inquiry that drives me to prayer. And more often than not, when I take an honest look at the pieces of life that are weighing me down, I discover I’m carrying things my Father never asked me to pick up.

I'm lugging around worries He's asked me to yield.
I’m hauling around hurts that aren’t mine to heal.
I’m exhausted by assignments He’s never asked me to complete.
I’m collapsing beneath expectations that aren’t mine to meet.

And it’s there, in that place of humble contemplation, that the words of Matthew 11:28-30 offer me relief:

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

While the agrarian language in this passage may seem outdated, Jesus’ invitation is still relevant for us today.

A yoke is a device used to join a pair of animals that are working together. When Jesus beckons us to take His “yoke,” He’s inviting us to do life with Him rather than for Him. He’s making Himself available to partner with us, side by side and step by step.

While the phrase “easy to bear” (v. 30) may sound like a proclamation for a problem-free life, Jesus isn’t promising a detour around challenge or pain. He’s actually offering to make our load the right size for the journey. The original word for this little phrase can be translated as “manageable” or “well-fitted.” It paints a picture of a pack that is suited for the one who carries it.

What an amazing proposition! When we share our steps with Jesus — walking in His presence and following His Word — He promises that the load He places upon us will be fitted to the strength He imbues within us.

So, if the weight you’re carrying feels cumbersome, perhaps it’s time to sidle up to Jesus and ask Him to show you what was never yours to hold.

We have a Savior who has fashioned our load in love. A Father who doesn’t ask us to prove our strength. He simply invites us to rest in His.

Dear Jesus, I’m overwhelmed by the load I’m bearing. Help me set down what isn’t mine to carry. And teach me how to rest in Your strength rather than futilely strain in mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When Do You Thank God?..... By: Anne Peterson

 When Do You Thank God? (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

By: Anne Peterson

Today’s Bible Verse: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God tells us godliness with contentment is great gain, but being content is not always easy to do (1 Timothy 6:6). It’s often difficult because we’re looking around at others, wondering if what we have compares with what they have.

Paul said he learned how to be content in whatever state he found himself (Philippians 4:11). Paul didn’t just talk about it, he showed us. There he was in prison, all shackled up, and what was he doing? Having a pity party? No, he was singing praises to God. Too often we choose to praise God after has answered our prayers. And while there’s nothing wrong with thanking God for answered prayer, we miss out, if that’s the only time we praise him with thanksgiving. God is good. It’s impossible for God to be anything less than good. It’s his character.

I often think of when Jesus visited Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus died. Even though Jesus went there after Lazarus was already dead, he still had a plan.

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” - John 11:41-4

I always found it interesting that Jesus thanked God for hearing his prayer before Lazarus took one step. Years ago, I made a mental note of that. God is worthy of praise. We don’t have to wait to see if God delivers on something we ask him before we thank him. And if God chooses to say, “No,” that doesn’t mean God is less worthy of our praise.

God’s Word tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). When we choose to be thankful and praise God at all times, we are exercising faith. We are praising God because we know God is capable of doing everything we ask and then so much more. When we thank God, we are pleasing our heavenly Father.

God is worthy of praise. Just because he’s God. It pleases God when we praise him ahead of time because we’re saying, God, whether or not you choose to answer my prayers, I praise you for who you are. I thank you for all you’ve given me. And Lord, even when you choose to say “no” to my requests, I know you have your reasons. You know the beginning from the end. Your thoughts are much higher than my thoughts and your ways are higher too (Isaiah 55:8-9). And Lord, if you withhold something I’m asking you for, then maybe the thing is not good for me, or the timing is not right.  I know it’s not good because you’ve said you will not withhold any good thing from me (Psalm 84:11). God, I trust you.

We can choose to be thankful in all things. Simply because God is all-wise and he allows what he does with his wisdom. And when things look like they will never work out, those impossible times are God’s specialty. The things that are impossible with man are possible with God (Luke 18:27). I love it when God does what seems impossible, because there’s no question at all who did it. And when we get discouraged because of our circumstances, God promises that in all things he can work for the good, for us (Romans 8:28).

We can rejoice always because we know the Almighty God, the everlasting Father. We can pray continually, because he invites us to bring our cares to Him, because he cares for us (1Peter 5:7). And we can give thanks in all circumstances because it is God’s will. We also know none of God’s plans can be thwarted (Job 42:2).  I’m pretty certain that when Paul sang to the Lord from behind bars, it was one of the most beautiful praises ever heard. And we can do the same.

Safely Through

“I don’t know which way to go,”

I told the Lord, today.

He answered, “That’s the problem,

You keep trying to find your way.

My thoughts are different than your thoughts,

My ways are higher, too.

So you just need to take my hand;

I’ll see you safely through.”

The Time for Radical Action Is Now..... by Alex Crain

 The Time for Radical Action Is Now

by Alex Crain

"...if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."- Romans 8:13 

Aron Ralston's grisly experience during a climbing expedition illustrates a spiritual truth that makes me wince. If you aren't familiar with the story, take a look at his book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place (© 2004 Simon & Schuster), which is a detailed tell-all of his ordeal that occurred in late April 2003.

The experienced 27-year-old outdoorsman jumped into his truck that spring morning, bringing just enough food and water for the day. He took off by himself, driving 150 miles south of Salt Lake City to his favorite spot—a remote canyon area that used to be the hideout for wild-west outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

By afternoon, he was suspended seventy-five feet high off the canyon floor—climbing in a crevice that was just a few feet wide. It was a near perfect day. But then without warning, a boulder suddenly broke loose from the rock wall above him, hurtled down and trapped Ralston's right arm against the wall, completely crushing his hand. At that instant, Aron's hand—one of his greatest assets—had now become his greatest liability.

Five whole days passed as he tried various ways to free himself—all to no avail. His efforts to chip away at the boulder with a pocket knife only made a small dent. Rigging up a pulley system to move the boulder proved fruitless.

Finally, a moment of decisive clarity came. The thoughts came fast and furious: he could break his forearm, cut through the muscle with his dirty pocket knife, detach his arm, and use a piece of rope as a tourniquet.

Aron explains that he was driven by "some sort of autopilot" as he went about the gruesome task of amputating his own right arm just below the elbow. After he was finished, Aron lowered himself down and began trudging slowly in the direction of his truck. Later, he stumbled across two hikers who used a mobile phone to call in a rescue helicopter. Amputating his right arm was a radical act, but it was one that saved his life and reunited him with his family.

God calls us to deal with sin in our life in a way that is surprisingly similar. The Bible doesn't offer a laid-back, live-and-let-live approach at all. It's so radical, that we don't really like hearing about it or talking about it. Recall what Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." While Jesus was not literally talking about physical amputation, He was saying that sin's deadly effects call for extreme measures. Even though it hurts, we must rid sin from our lives. In fact, our eternal destiny hinges on how we deal with sin.

Really? Well, why else would Jesus talk about hell in the same breath that He talks about how we are to deal with sin if He didn't mean to teach that our eternal destiny hangs in the balance? Clearly, it's a matter of preferring one destiny over the other. Outward behavior indicates what the heart primarily loves. If Aron Ralston had stayed there on the canyon wall with his hand pinned down by the boulder, he would have died. But because he was willing to kill his hand, his life was saved.

The same goes with us as we deal with sin. It really comes down to what we value most. Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The world may tell us to laugh about sin, to lighten up about it, to tolerate it, and just let it be… that it's not idolatry; it's not an issue of worship. God says the opposite is true.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What has you pinned down? What are you trying to hang on to that is robbing you of the blessings of abundant life or, perhaps, preventing you from being restored to a brother or sister in Christ? What is keeping you from treasuring the Lord above all other things? Read the first two links below as you have time, but most of all pray for grace to heed God's radical call to amputate sin from your life.

Further Reading
Romans 8:10

A Prayer for When You Have Regrets..... By: Kristine Brown

 A Prayer for When You Have Regrets

By: Kristine Brown

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)

It had been a year since we relocated, and my husband still struggled to find a job. After making the decision to move closer to family, the career opportunity that brought us here fell through, leaving him unemployed. We’d prayed over this decision. We sought God’s guidance. Yet every day I carried a weight of regret for wanting to move. If only I could go back and do things differently.

Regret isn’t always a bad thing. It can point us toward God and beckon us to seek forgiveness when we’ve done something wrong. But when we don’t deal with the regret we have over past choices, it can create heaviness in our hearts. And the longer we hold on to regret, the more condemned we feel.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives the key to letting go of regret and living in freedom. He had shared some hard truth with the church— things they needed to hear. But then Paul encouraged them by acknowledging the sorrow they showed for their actions. The kind of sorrow that leads to repentance. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Verse 11 goes on to show the value of allowing our regret to point us to Jesus, “See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.” When we deal with regrets the right way, God produces good fruit in us.

Let’s acknowledge the regret that weighs us down today, then take our cares to God with this prayer. He is ready and willing to help us find healing when we have regrets.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your powerful Word that offers hope when I feel weighed down with regret. Thank you for showing me the difference between worldly sorrow and the Godly sorrow that leads me back to you. Whether I’m holding on to regret for past sins or regret about decisions made, you’ve made a way for me to find forgiveness and freedom.

Help me, Lord. I realize I’ve been carrying around regrets for my mistakes. I bring those to you today. Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness. Thank you for your son Jesus, who takes away my sin so I can have life.

In His name I pray, Amen.

Ready for Christmas?..... Sharon Jaynes

 Ready for Christmas?

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2 NIV).

Friend to Friend
It seems like everywhere you go during the month of December people ask the same question.  At the grocery checkout counter - "Are you ready for Christmas?"  At the bank drive through window - "Are you ready for Christmas?"  At the doctor's office - "Are you ready for Christmas?"

I think the answer to that question depends on how you define "ready." Let me ask you this question:  "Are you ready for Jesus?"  Now that puts the idea of being ready in a completely different Christmas light, doesn't it?

John the Baptist was sent by God to get the people ready to meet Jesus. Here's what Matthew had to say about him:

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for him.'"…"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River" (Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6).

We don't like the words "repent" or "repentance" very much.  They mean "to make a radical change in one's life, to turn and go in the opposite direction from sin (another word we're not too fond of today) to God".  Repentance involves an element of grief over the way we have lived apart from God and a decision to run toward the Father. That was God's idea of the way to prepare for Christ's arrival in the book of Matthew, and it is still God's idea of preparing to worship Him today. Now that's what I call getting ready for Christmas!

Let's reflect for a moment on the words to this poem and then answer the question, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high…
Then wearily sat for a moment AND READ
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father! Forgive me, I see what You mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him. 

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I want to be ready for Jesus today and every day.  I come to You now in repentance for my sins: my sin of selfishness, stubbornness, and rebellion.  I turn from my self-centeredness today and commit to keep my focus on You.  God, I cannot do this on my own.  I am not able.  So I ask that You fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Now It's Your Turn
What do you think it means to be "ready for Christmas?"

What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

Go back and read the parable of the ten virgins in Matthews 25:1-13. Notice the difference between the five who were ready and the five who were not.  Which group more resembles your readiness for Christ?