DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 2012

DEVOTION,   WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  19, 2012

“A mistake we make”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” —Matthew 7:1 (NKJV)

It’s one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. Even people who rarely read the Bible know the warning Jesus gave: “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But in addition to being one of the most familiar passages in Scripture, it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

What exactly is Jesus warning us about here? Here’s what He’s not warning us about: exercising judgment. We know that because in this very same chapter He goes on to warn us about false prophets and tells us to examine the fruit of their lives and then discern whether they are speaking the truth (Matthew 7:15-20). So the Lord does expect us to discern and make judgments when the occasion calls for it.

But the warning here, “Judge not,” speaks to something different. When you read a little further, you recognize that Jesus isn’t prohibiting us from exercising judgment. He’s telling us how we’re to exercise judgment. He does so by sharing a parable of someone who has a beam of wood in his eye yet is intent on pointing out a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). It’s a comical yet powerful picture of the mistake we make when we exercise judgment.

Oftentimes we are quick to see problems in another’s life, but we’re blind to the glaring sins in our own. In essence, Jesus is warning us against focusing on the problems of others without first dealing with our own. Judgment needs to start with us. We need to examine our own heart before we make any attempt to examine anyone else’s heart. And when we do, we often find we’re guilty of the very things we’re quick to criticize in others, which opens the way for confession and cleansing.

There is a time for us to exercise judgment, but it’s always after we exercise it on ourselves.

DEVOTION - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

DEVOTION,  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18, 2012

“The Greatest Text Message”

BY

RON MOORE

1 Samuel 16:1-13
The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Does God speak directly to people today? I hear that question a lot. The answer is “Yes” and “No.”

God does not speak to people today like he spoke to Samuel and the rest of the prophets. Samuel had an unmistakable conversation with God. And when Samuel writes, “The LORD said,” he does not mean he felt an urging from God or heard a faint hint of God’s voice. He meant “The LORD said.” What follows then is the inerrant, infallible, unmistakable, undeniable word of the living God. Today, no one possesses that same gift of prophecy. Some do claim that gift and many of these cultish leaders lead their followers into tragic endings.

God does speak to us through His word. Scripture is living and active. The Spirit, living within us, speaks to our spirit as we read and study these love letters from God—the greatest text message ever. Now, here’s the question—can a believer hear from God directly? The answer is “Yes.” But what we hear cannot contradict the standard of Scripture or it is not from God. In fact, most of what we hear will be guidance in an application of Scripture.

I have never heard God speak to me in an audible voice. But I have often sensed and heard in my soul His voice of comfort, conviction, correction, teaching, and training as I have read the word and spent time in prayer.

God will speak to you through His powerful word. Read it and hear His voice.

Join us on The Journey at www.oneplace.com 

DEVOTION - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

DEVOTION,  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17, 2012

“Add No Stumbling Blocks”

BY

ALISTAIR BEGG

Psalms 5:8

The enmity of the world is bitter in its assault against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offense in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us make it work for us, and since so many are watching for our collapse, let it be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the watching world will soon see it, and multiple tongues will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander.

They will shout triumphantly, "See! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to everyone." And so great damage will be done to the cause of Christ, and His name will be greatly maligned. The cross of Christ is in itself an offense to the world; let us take care that we add no offense of our own. It is "a stumbling block to Jews"¹: Let us ensure that we put no stumbling blocks where there are enough already. "Folly to Gentiles": let us not add our folly to give apparent reason for the scorn with which the worldly deride the Gospel. How concerned we should be with ourselves! How rigid with our consciences!

In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds and impugn our motives if they cannot censure our actions, we should be circumspect! Like pilgrims we travel under suspicion through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we imagine, at home and at work. If we fall into the enemies' hands, we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf or mercy from a fiend than anything like patience with our infirmities from those who spice their infidelity toward God with scandals against His people. Lord, lead us always; do not allow our enemies to trip us up!

¹1 Corinthians 1:23

DEVOTION - SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

DEVOTION,   SATURDAY,   SEPTEMBER  15, 2012

“God Honors Our Commitment to Him”

BY

DR CHARLES F STANLEY

Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel and his friends faced the same dilemma we do--how to live a holy life in a godless culture. At one time, our society readily accepted Christian values and standards, but that era is quickly passing. Our challenge today is to live under God's authority while remaining in submission to the law of the land. At times we are forced to choose between the two, but if we'll seek the Lord's guidance before marching defiantly forward, He may open an alternative approach for us.

Had Daniel bluntly declared, "I won't eat this food!" he wouldn't have lasted long, and we wouldn't have the book of Daniel in the Bible. But the Lord gave him the wisdom to humbly seek permission from the person who was in a position of authority over him. God honored his commitment and provided a way for him to live righteously in a pagan world.

We tend to hold up Daniel and his three friends as extraordinary people who lived amazing lives. But have you ever wondered what the Lord could do in the life of an ordinary person like you? The determining factor is not the greatness of the individual but, rather, his commitment to a God who can do remarkable things in a life fully devoted to Him. That's the kind of people our Lord is looking for.

Although we don't know all that God could do in our lives if we'd radically commit ourselves to Him, the thought of missing out on His plans should be enough to motivate us to obey. You don't want to arrive in heaven and discover you forfeited blessings because you weren't fully devoted to Him.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

DEVOTION - FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

DEVOTION,   FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  14, 2012

“The Impact of the Gospel”

BY

GREG LAURIE

“Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.” - (Acts 19:26)

The city of Ephesus plays a prominent part in the New Testament church, especially in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. He spent two years in this city.

Ephesus was a center of worship for the false goddess known as Artemis, or Diana. The residents of Ephesus made money selling artifacts of the goddess, and it was very profitable for them. Everything was going along fine until the apostle Paul showed up and began to preach the gospel. As God began to work, people were being healed.

In Acts 19, we find the account of a demon-possessed man and some exorcists who tried to cast the demon out of him in the name of “the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

The response was, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (verse 15). Then the man attacked them, and they ran away, wounded.

Then verse 17 says, “This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” As a result, the people brought out their parchments with their writings about false gods and occultism and burned them. The city was impacted by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because all this was bad for the idol-making business, one of the craftsmen stood up and said, “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands” (Acts 19:25–26). This stirred up a riot, which spilled into the massive stadium that still stands today.

That is the power and the impact of the gospel.

Summary sentence: Do you know firsthand the power of the gospel message?

DEVOTION - THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

DEVOTION, THURSDAY,   SEPTEMBER  13, 2012

“The LORD is His name.”

BY

DR ED YOUNG
Exodus 15:3

To call God Adonai—Lord—is to acknowledge that someone is in control, and that it is Him. Some non-believers see history as careening through time, like a car without a driver. “History,” said Henry Ford, “is more or less bunk.” Marx and his followers believed history to be under the control of economic dynamics. But the name Adonai means that history is neither hapless chance nor controlled by impersonal forces. The throne of the universe is occupied by the One whose name is Lord.

Retrieved from http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Henry_Ford/.

DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2012

DEVOTION, WEDNESDAY,   SEPTEMBER  12, 2012

“Take It!”

BY

BAYLESS CONLEY”

The seventh and final key to regaining your cutting edge is found in verse 7 of 2 Kings 6, the passage we have been looking at over the last several days.  Here is what that verse says,

Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself."  So he reached out his hand and took it.

The sixth key was something that only God could do, and that is to make the ax head float; that is, to restore your cutting edge.

Now we see what we must do in response.  You and I must receive what God is offering.  Unless you take hold of what God is offering, your spiritual edge will never be restored.

Perhaps over the last several days, as we have looked at how to restore your spiritual edge, God has been speaking to you.  Maybe you have come to realize that you are not where you should be in your relationship with God.

Maybe you have lost that sensitivity.  Maybe you have lost your cutting edge.  I am telling you, you can reach out and take what God is doing to restore your cutting edge.

I want to challenge you to take some time today to search your heart.  If you have lost your cutting edge, stop swinging an empty handle and just going through the motions.

Be honest and admit you have lost that edge, determine where it fell, look to the Master, listen to His voice, take responsibility, know that the cross of Christ is completely sufficient to restore you, and then take hold of what God is doing to restore your edge.

God can work that miracle in your life if you will only do your part!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God