DEVOTION - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

“Significant sequence”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

Pay close attention to the sequence of statements in this passage. The first thing we see is that "the Lord is great" and next we see that He is "greatly to be praised." That's the sequence, and it's significant.

"Why is this so significant?" In order for our praise to be real and genuine, it has to be founded on an understanding of who God is. That's the essence of the first statement here. "The Lord is great" is a statement on who God is. It's a commentary on His character and nature. He's great!

Then comes the statement that He is "greatly to be praised." That's our proper response to who God is. He is great, and when we fully understand this we are naturally led to worship Him. That's how our worship has to happen, and that's why this sequence is so significant.

A lot of Christians are stuck in neutral when it comes to their worship life. They know that worship is something they ought to do, and they try their best to muster up what it takes to praise God. But at the end of the day, it's a strain and an effort that isn't much of a blessing at all.

Why? Because their sequence is all out of order. Whether they realize it or not, they haven't put first things first. They haven't spent time on the "the Lord is great" part. When it comes to worship, they haven't allowed the "who God is" to be the engine that drives the "what they do."

Let's observe and honor the significance of the sequence we see here. Let's be people who allow the true character and nature of God to be the thing that fuels our praise and worship…not the other way around.

Great God, You are greatly to be praised, and we worship You simply because of who You are.

Think about it…

What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?

DEVOTION - MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011

“LED AND GUIDED”

BY

DR ED YOUNG

For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. - Psalm 31:3

One of our sons had difficulty riding a bicycle. A buddy learned to ride before he did, so my boy wanted to jump on and catch up with his friend. I worked with him, holding the seat, helping him keep balance, scooting him along. There were minor calamities, with scratches and tears, but I wouldn’t leave his side. As we ride through life, sometimes tottering and uncertain, our heavenly Father holds on, picks us up when we fall, cleans us up, forgives us and sets us rolling again. Just because we fall doesn’t mean He leaves our side.

DEVOTION - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2011

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2011

“Testing Our Faith”

BY

ALISTAIR BEGG

Numbers 11:11

Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to test our faith. If our faith is worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: The imitation gem dreads being touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith that can only trust God when friends are true, the body is healthy, and the business profitable; but it is true faith that rests in the Lord's faithfulness when friends are gone, the body is ailing, spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father's face is hidden. A faith that can say, in the deepest trouble, "Though he slay me, I will hope in him" is heaven-born faith.

The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, who are His own handiwork. When "suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope," the Lord is honored by these growing virtues. We would never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched, nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress, nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten, nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not completely consumed. The wisdom and power of God are discovered by the trials through which His children are permitted to pass.

Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shade in the picture to bring out the beauty of the light. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will peace not be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after labor? Will the recollection of past sufferings not serve to enhance the bliss of the glorified?

There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation; let us think upon it all day long.

Family Bible reading plan

verse 1 1 Kings 10

verse 2 Philipians 1

DEVOTION - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

“Back to the Beginning”

BY

GREG LAURIE

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. . . .” —Revelation 2:4–5

Remember when you first came to faith in Jesus Christ? What a joy it was to pray. You never knew that you could talk to God, and you realized that you could call on Him wherever you were, no matter what you were facing. Prayer was a privilege, and you utilized it.

Then there was the Bible. Now you had the Book that told you how to live your life and, most importantly, told you how to get to heaven.

And church? You couldn’t wait to get to church. You would go to a weekend service, a midweek service, and maybe even another service. You would listen to Bible teaching on the radio. You would read Christian books. You couldn’t get enough in your life.

Sharing your faith was easy. It was the overflow of a Christ-filled life. You were always looking for opportunities to talk to someone about Jesus.

You still study the Bible now, but not as much as you once did. After all, you are not so sure you will read anything that you haven’t read before. You will get to it if you find time in your busy schedule.

Prayer is not so much a time of talking with God as much as it is a quick prayer here and there. And sure, you still go to church. In fact, you sit in the same place every Sunday. But if the pastor goes over his allotted time, you are not happy.

You still share your faith—once in awhile. But now, rather than having a conversation about your faith, you feel as though people should simply look at your example as a follower of Jesus.

Have you left your first love? It can happen so easily. Go back and do the things you did at first.

Summary sentence: Have you left your first love? Do you know what you need to do to return?

DEVOTION - THURSDAY, OCTBER 6. 2011

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011

“GOD’S HEART”

BY

BAYLESS CONLEY

God's Heart

It is easy for us to think of Christ as this majestic, powerful figure in the heavens, unfazed by what is going on in our lives. But Hebrews 4:15 paints a very different picture,

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus sympathizes with you? The King James Version says He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. God is not aloof, distant, and unconcerned, and He does not look at you through some clinical, cold eye. He is moved; He is touched!

I want to show you a verse that, to me, is quite amazing. It is Isaiah 63:9, and it is talking about God and His people. It says,

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.

When you suffer, God suffers. He is not untouched; He is not unmoved; He is not unsympathetic.

Then there is Jeremiah 31 where God says (speaking of Israel as one single person), I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him. I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.

Finally, look at Psalm 145:8-9,

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

God feels and sympathizes. He is moved and touched and afflicted as you walk through the difficulties of life. He understands. And He yearns to give you tender mercy.

That is the compassionate and gracious heart of God!

DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5. 2011

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011

“SITTING BEFORE SERVING”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

Martha was distracted with much serving, and she…said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” —Luke 10:40 (NKJV)

“Chaotic” would be the word to describe the scene. Jesus, along with His twelve disciples, were invited to enjoy a meal at the home of two sisters named Mary and Martha. That’s a lot of extra mouths to feed and a serious challenge for any hostess to meet—especially in a society where preparing a meal was an extremely timely process.

So we can just imagine Martha doing her best to bring everything together for her guests. Making sure the fires were burning properly, testing the flavor of this and that, seeing that there was going to be enough on the table for everyone, etc.

Something happened, though. Or rather, something didn’t happen. Martha’s sister, Mary, didn’t help her prepare the meal. Instead, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to what He was saying. This frustrated Martha. She actually told Jesus to tell Mary to get up and get serving! Christ’s response is very insightful:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)

Jesus was warning Martha that although serving seemed so important to her, something mattered more…resting in Christ’s presence and receiving from Him. She had made the classic mistake of prioritizing service for Jesus above spending time with Jesus.

Let’s be clear. There is a time and place for us to be actively engaged in service. But it should never be esteemed or placed ahead of spending time in the Lord’s presence, because what we receive when we’re before Him enables us to effectively serve in His name.

Sitting must always come before serving, and the examples of Mary and Martha warn us of what happens when these two things get mixed up.

DEVOTION - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

“GIVING, GIVING, GIVING”

BY

DR ED YOUNG

October 3

It is more blessed to give than to receive. - Acts 20:35

A man visited a church each Sunday for a month or so during the annual stewardship campaign. He listened to tithing testimonies and appeals for pledges and contributions. “All I’ve heard in this church is ‘giving, giving, giving,’” he wrote the pastor. “Thank you for your note,” the pastor replied. “You have given me the most practical definition of Christianity I ever heard. This is exactly what a real Christian is—giving, giving, giving.” God gave us His Son, who gave us His life. To be in the image of God is to be a giver.