A Countercultural Christmas Crosswalk.com | Monday, November 28, 2016 By Sarah Phillips
"Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." Romans 13:11-14
The first purple Advent candle will be lit today. The once dark wreath now shines unevenly with one solitary light.
Advent is one of my favorite seasons in the Christian year. It's a special time where we reflect on the darkness and trials of this world in the light of our hope in Christ. We remember how, after centuries of waiting on the part of the faithful, God bridged the chasm between humanity and divinity through the humble birth of Jesus.
I've always loved Advent for its joyful anticipation of the Christ-child, but I also love it because it's a bit countercultural. Its sparse purple and pink decorations stand in stark contrast to the glitz the rest of our culture displays often weeks before Thanksgiving arrives. You see, Advent was not designed as a simple memorial of a past event, to bring us up to Christmas day and leave us there. Its purpose is to point the faithful towards a future event - Christ's second, glorious coming. This is why churches that celebrate this liturgical season read about the Lord's coming in both the Old and New Testament throughout the month of December.
The dramatic imagery found in these readings is far removed from the quaint Christmas decorations that currently surround us. They have a jolting effect as they remind us that our lives now should be lived in light of eternity, not in keeping with the current standards.
In this first Advent reading, Paul's words to the faithful carry a tone of urgency. He uses the image of awakening from a deep sleep. But notice he is not shaking his brothers and sisters out of their sleep at sunrise, but while "the night is advanced." In other words, it's not enough to simply wait for Christ to show up, but we must prepare beforehand. We need to seek God's grace now to help us eliminate sin from our lives
This is where the hard work of Advent comes in. This joyful season requires an examination of conscience. It's a time to reflect on the areas where we lack or on the recurrent sins in our lives, and to seek God's grace to help us to change.
Perhaps this seems like a real downer of an activity during the most wonderful time of the year. But let me share with you why, for me, it's never really been a downer. Have you ever failed to prepare for a big event (or had nightmares that you did?). Have you ever found yourself awake at night, panicking because you're envisioning yourself without a dress on your wedding day or lacking your PowerPoint slides for an important presentation? Needless to say, the joy and success of these events would seriously be compromised should these nightmares come true.
Surely, all good things in life require preparation. And God, in His mercy, has given us the gift of time to prepare for His arrival, which no doubt, will be the most important event we ever experience.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Take time this week to reflect on the joy of Jesus' first arrival and then, confident in His love for you, ask God to reveal to you the ways in which you need to prepare your heart to meet Him on Christmas Day.
Advent Week 1: Preparing to Celebrate Christ’s Birth Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministry | Sunday, November 27, 2016 By Billy Graham
The word Advent means arrival, and it refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world. The “Advent season” usually starts four weeks before Christmas and concludes with the celebration of Christ’s birth. Some churches emphasize the Advent season more than others, but all Christians look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth during this season of the year.
Why was Jesus’ birth so important? The reason is because slightly over 2,000 years ago, God stooped down from Heaven and became a human being: Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).
Think of it: God became a man! He did it because He loves us—and that’s what we should celebrate as Christmas approaches. Take time between now and Christmas to reflect on this great truth.
Week One: November 27-December 3
Read Isaiah 9:6—In this Scripture we find the message and meaning of Christmas. Isaiah the prophet gave five awe-inspiring names of our Lord that encourage us, thrill us and fill us with hope at this Christmas season.
1. Wonderful. When He did His many miracles, the Scripture says, “The people wondered.” (Luke 11:14)
2. Counselor. The officers said, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46)
3. The Mighty God. He is the God-Man. He said that He and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
4. The Everlasting Father. It was by Him, the living Word, that all things were created. He is the designer of the whole universe. (John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3)
5. The Prince of Peace. There will never be lasting peace on earth until He comes again to reign in righteousness. But He is also the Prince of Peace in other ways. None can have peace with God apart from Him and the peace that He made through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20)
The full meaning of these words from Isaiah should give us enough strength, hope, and joy to face any crisis, endure any sorrow and meet any temptation. How has Jesus shown you recently that He is “Wonderful, Counselor … the Prince of Peace”?
Chastity DCLM - Daily Manna | Tuesday, November 22, 2016 By Deeper Christian Life Ministry
SONG OF SOLOMON 8:8-14
Key Verse: "We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar" (Song of Solomon 8:8,9).
True believers are called upon to conduct themselves in utmost purity. The standard for all Christians is that not even a hint of immorality should be mentioned among them, worse still, practicing it (Ephesians 5:1-3). The young women should be chaste and enter their marriage beds as chaste virgins.As the woman in our text remembers her girlhood home, she thought of what her brothers said about her when she was very young. They didn't think she was matured for marriage then. The metaphor of the wall and the door has to do with the girl's chastity. If she was a door, a woman of easy virtue, then she would not be fit to be a bride in Israel, but if she kept herself pure, behind a wall, as it were, then she's suitable for marriage.
She entered her marriage as a pure virgin after she developed physically and was admired by her husband. The subject of sanctity before marriage is very important. In Israel, it was an abomination and shameful for one's daughter not to be found a virgin by her husband on her first night of marriage. If the tokens of her virginity are not found, she could be stoned to death as punishment for her defiled status. Today, the story is different as chastity has been thrown into the winds. In this age of girlfriends and boyfriends, dating and relationships, most ladies are defiled before coming to their matrimonial homes. If that was restricted to the world, it could be bearable, but alas, this menace is gradually getting into the church! As believers, we must present our bodies a living sacrifice, a home that Christ can dwell in.
Thought for the day: Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
What About You? Our Daily Bread | Monday, November 21, 2016 By Anne Cetas
Read: Ephesians 4:25–32 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 16–17; James 3>
The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21
Emily listened as a group of friends talked about their Thanksgiving traditions with family. “We go around the room and each one tells what he or she is thankful to God for,” Gary said.
Another friend mentioned his family's Thanksgiving meal and prayertime. He recalled time with his dad before he had died: “Even though Dad had dementia, his prayer of thanks to the Lord was clear.” Randy shared, “My family has a special time of singing together on the holiday. My grandma goes on and on and on!” Emily’s sadness and jealousy grew as she thought of her own family, and she complained: “Our traditions are to eat turkey, watch television, and never mention anything about God or giving thanks.”
Right away Emily felt uneasy with her attitude. You are part of that family. What would you like to do differently to change the day? she asked herself. She decided she wanted to privately tell each person she was thankful to the Lord that they were her sister, niece, brother, or great-niece. When the day arrived, she expressed her thankfulness for them one by one, and they all felt loved. It wasn’t easy because it wasn’t normal conversation in her family, but she experienced joy as she shared her love for each of them.
The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21
“Let everything you say be good and helpful,” wrote the apostle Paul, “so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Eph. 4:29 nlt). Our words of thanks can remind others of their value to us and to God.
Dear Lord, show me how I can be an encouragement to others with my words.
The human spirit fills with hope at the sound of an encouraging word.
INSIGHT:
At first glance, today’s Scripture can look like a list of rules. Stop telling lies, quit stealing, don’t use abusive language, stop being bitter or angry. But it’s important to remember that these instructions aren’t just about changing behavior. They are about a change in identity. This list flows out of Paul’s earlier exhortation for the Christians in Ephesus to live according to their new identity as children of light (4:17–21). They used to participate in all kinds of sinful behavior. But when the Spirit opened their minds and softened their hearts (v. 18) to the truth of Christ, they were no longer dead but became alive in Christ. The Spirit renews our thoughts and attitudes, making an inward change that has outward effects.
Winning Wars Our Daily Journey | Friday, November 18, 2016 By Roxanne Robbins
Read: Proverbs 12:1-15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15).
Yesterday, someone wrote and asked me to help with a large event she’s overseeing. Time constraints made it easy for me to reply, “Sorry, but I’m unavailable.”
Later, as I thought about my response, I realized it wasn’t just my tight schedule holding me back; it was also my discomfort with the way she sometimes speaks of others. Hearing from her caused me to replay hurtful things she’s said over the years. More than merely saying “no,” a part of me wanted to revisit past wrongs.
Self-righteous motives can lead to foolish actions (Proverbs 12:15). It’s therefore wise to listen to godly advice (Proverbs 12:6,14)—something, thankfully, that I did. I contacted a friend and (without mentioning names) told her of my dilemma and the hurt I was holding on to. My friend replied, “It’s important for you to remember that your co-worker apologized and that you forgave her. Now, you need to live out this forgiveness. It doesn’t mean you need to help with the event, but it does mean you need to refrain from bringing up the past. Move forward by displaying kindness and grace instead.”
Whether through words or actual combat, Scripture exhorts us, “Don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers” (Proverbs 24:6). My wise friend kept me from contributing to conflict by improper use of words. She guided me to victory through good counsel.
“A wise man will hear and increase learning” (Proverbs 1:5 nkjv). This includes learning how to cultivate relationships and properly address conflicts with other believers in Jesus (Matthew 18:15-17). Rather than surrounding ourselves with people who advise us to engage in battles with others, let’s pursue those who will help us succeed relationally to God’s honor!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 28:1-14
More: Read Proverbs 15:22 and think about who might be one of the “many advisers” to give you godly advice today.
Next: How has God equipped others to help you make wise decisions? What’s the difference between healthy conflict and unhealthy relationship wars?
Half Empty, Half Full christiandevotions.uS | Thursday, November 17, 2016 By Barbara Duncan
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NCV
I’d heard the scenario too many times.
Lunch break at last. It had been a long morning. The scene was the break room. Tense bodies huddled around the small table because the boss wouldn’t turn up the heat. Tony’s teenage son had talked back to him for the last time. Harry’s old lady smashed the back of the car, and he expected her to pay for it. Jessie knew what they meant since her family was always giving her grief. All they wanted was to get through the day and go home to the television.
Attitudes seem to come from our spiritual base—not just from the occasional bad day. The glass is half empty or half full. I’m a pessimist or an optimist who is negative or positive. The environment casts a spell on my spirit. Either I will live in the victorious hope of the risen Christ, or I will wallow in the downtrodden spirit of this world. I try to choose Jesus every day.
Tony could have more patience with his son, Harry could forgive his wife and realize she is upset also, and Jessie could change the tone she uses with her family. All these folks could allow the love of God to wash over them each night.
For me, the Bible has been a wonderful, refreshing resource for feeling God’s love in my life, for hearing God’s amazing promises for the future, and for learning to forgive. It also helps me to love, to follow God’s path, and to know the joy of an eternity with Him.
Open your Bible or a good devotional book, and spend time with God daily so you will have a hopeful glow that only comes from Jesus. Your glass will soon be full.
Still Human! My Utmost For His Highest | Wednesday, November 16, 2016 By Oswald Chambers
…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31
In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them.
The Place of Help
Integrated in Jesus CBN | Tuesday, November 15, 2016 By Dr. Bob Segress
" ...that they may be as one as we are one." John 17:11 NIV
Skin cancer can teach a person a lot about Jesus.
Recently, I was sitting out on our back deck with my wife looking at our Hibiscus flowers and watching our hummingbirds fight over their feeding jars. Suddenly, I felt a strong itching on the lower part of my left jaw. Thinking it was just a bug bite, I tried to ignore it. That didn’t work.
Inside, I discovered a little pink volcano that was as smooth as a baby’s bottom and the color of bubblegum.
I tried to squeeze it and tried all I knew, nothing helped. I thought that I was going to have to show it to my wife whether I wanted to or not. My philosophy is if you ignore things they will go away; her approach is deal with things and they’ll go away. I’m sure glad our Lord has given her the job of being my earthly pro-active angel; I wonder where I would be without her.
A few days later at my skin doctor’s office, I didn’t like the grim look on his face when I told him the story. He scheduled me for surgery immediately, putting me into a daze as to what was happening. I’ve found in the past that I should take stunned moments to my Lord so I quoted Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”, and took His prescription for anxiety.
The four words for prayer in these verses have meant a lot to me over the years as they have taught me what prayer is. We are to come to our Father in a worshipful supplicant’s attitude and then ask for things from a position of thankfulness. In other words, “He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NASB).
The four words for prayer on the prescription pad of Philippians 4:6-7 struck me again, but in a flash I saw that they were just parts of the whole. The healing that I trusted my Lord for was going to come from His love for me. The peace of God calmed my entire being: my heart, my mind, and my soul. I relaxed and uttered, “My Father, You know best, but I’m going to claim healing, in Your Son’s name.”
Strangely, the whole process became interesting, not frightening. I was awake during the surgery, I just couldn’t move. My vision was clouded, but I could watch the doctor open up my throat.
Thankfully, later he told me that he had gotten all of the cancer and I was now cancer free. This whole process is one of my most treasured experiences. Let me share with you some of the blessings that I received because of this cancer experience.
Heartwarming joy comes from having a complete body, soul, and spirit experience in which all we need is Jesus. We become one, even as He is One. Jesus’s prayer for us becomes a reality, one we will never forget. We find all we need in the arms of Jesus. We find complete love and fulfillment because He brings us peace with an eternal flavor. I felt living cool water satisfying my parched spirit as it cleared my vision. I found that I understood the oneness contained in the words: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” of John 14:6. It is a wonderful experience to allow the Holy Spirit to integrate us into the personality of Jesus and teach us that He is all and all we need.
The Lord gave me a little poem about my experience with cancer that I would like to share with you that is called “Integrated in Jesus”:
Integrated in Jesus, we find oneness with people of other races; the Spirit of God makes us one.
Integrated in Jesus, we are one with God’s desires; building His Kingdom is a daily blessing.
Integrated in Jesus, family relationships are honest; love refuses to fail as it builds on the good and the bad.
Integrated in Jesus, we find peace and our hearts become warm; we come to understand that He is all and all we need.
Dear Father, help us to be homogenized, not pasteurized. Open our hearts, souls, and minds as one to your presence and instruction. Bless us with the power of the Holy Spirit as You integrate us into the personality of your Son. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Unbreakable Billy Graham Evangelistic Association | Monday, November 14, 2016 By Billy Graham
. . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua 24:15
The basic unit of any society is the home. When the home begins to break, the society is on the way to disintegration. Thousands of homes are almost on the rocks. Many couples are fearful lest their home, too, will be broken some day. There is one great insurance policy that you can take out, in order to guarantee the unity and happiness of your home. It is simple: Make Christ the center of your home.
A home is like a solar system. The center, the great sun, holds the solar system together. If it were not for the sun, the solar system would fly to pieces. Unless the Son of God is put at the center of your home, it, too, may fly to pieces.
Prayer for the day:
How easy it is to push You to one side, Lord, and superficially remember Your blessings. May we always keep You at the center of all that we do in our homes.
God's Ordered Authority Christianity.com | Thursday, November 10, 2016 By Dr. Charles Stanley of InTouch Ministries
1 Samuel 15:1-23
God's plan for each one of us has our best interest in mind. His way leads to fullness of life. Yet He did not create us to be robots that blindly and lifelessly live their godly life. No, the Lord grants us the choice of whether or not to obey Him. Our human nature tends to choose a self-centered path that turns away from God's authority. But in doing so, we miss His best for us.
Consider the life of King Saul. God chose this man to be king and provided guidelines for him to follow. Though Saul knew the Lord's instructions, he chose to do things his own way. At times his sin was unquestionably deliberate, such as his attempt to kill David out of jealousy. At other times, however, his rebellion seemed less clear-cut. For example, despite God's order to "utterly destroy" the Amalekites and their animals, Saul spared the best of the herd, with the justification that they were "to sacrifice to the Lord" (1 Sam. 15:3, 21).
Each day, we face the same types of choices. Though the details are different, both large and small temptations lure us. We can live according to Christ's will, following His lead and listening for His voice. Or we can refuse. Choose today to live God's way--which leads to fullness of life.
Battling Impatience DCLM - Daily Manna | Wednesday, November 09, 2016 By Deeper Christian Life Ministry
Key Verse:"And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver" (2 Kings 6:25).
One enduring lessons you get for being in God's school is patience. Not possessing it amounts to failing a critical test as a believer. This was the undoing of Israel's first king, Saul. He would not wait for Samuel to perform the sacrifice when a challenge came his way. This led to his fall. Many years later, lack of patience was the undoing of another king and two women in the northern kingdom of Samaria during a time of severe famine following a siege by Syria. The women resorted to cannibalism. After one of them had offered her son for meal as the food shortage bit hard, the other refused to give up her own child.
Both were impatient to wait for God's intervention. King Jehoram was not spared the disease of impatience. He sought to kill Prophet Elisha, whom he erroneously blamed for Israel's predicament. All the land was afflicted and the people ate what came their way. An ass head, which even in peace time nobody would eat, became a delicacy. Yet all they needed was to simply pray and dwell on God's unfailing promises and how He took care of similar situations in the past.
In the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, drought drove the people to God and He did not disappoint them. If these people of Samaria and their king had exercised patience and faith in God, they would not have taken the rash decision that compounded their troubles, because just after they did this, God stepped into their predicament and brought "a day of good tidings" that even lepers ate and drank and possessed silver, gold and raiment.
God used His prophet to bring the good news, but unbelief, a manifestation of impatience, cost a king's aid his life. The impatient Christian has not absorbed the full teaching in God's College. He needs to take one more trip to the cross at Calvary and be washed clean of the hasty spirit governing him.
Thought for the day: Be patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12).
Mark 4:7 – The Sower: We Love Our Thorns Short Daily Devotions | Tuesday, November 08, 2016
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. (Mark 4:7 ESV)
No one likes thorns, right? They’re sharp, prickly, and generally to be avoided. Weeds and thorns often go hand in hand, neither being the type of growth a gardener likes to see. However, as we continue in the book of Mark, Jesus reveals a surprise about these thorns. It is written that “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19). The thorns here represent the things in the world we care about, and are generally thought of as good or appealing.
Many of us spend our adult lives in pursuit of a bigger, better, more; and the list could go on indefinitely. When we center our energy and focus on things other than Jesus and the Gospel, those good things become idols, they become “God things”. They choke the life from our spirits and keep us from bearing fruit, useful and good (Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 6:7). The point is this: in actuality, we like thorns, we like them a lot. The problem we continually face is when, instead of using the things in our possession or the status our wealth grants us for the Kingdom, we use them for our kingdom. At the center of our hearts should lie Jesus and His mission, and how He’s called us to serve Him. When we don’t live like this, we are in great danger of loving our thorns more than our God.
Read the story of the rich man in Mark 10, and work through clinging to Jesus instead of the cares of this world.
A Difficult Hill Our Daily Bread | Monday, November 07, 2016 By David Roper
Read: Psalm 110 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 40–42; Hebrews 4
He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high. Psalm 110:7
At the beginning of the climb, however, there is a brook—a spring that seeps out of soft, mossy earth and flows through a lush meadow. It’s a quiet place to drink deeply and prepare for the hard climb ahead.
In John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the Christian life, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian arrives at the foot of a steep ascent called the Hill Difficulty, “at the bottom of which was a spring . . . Christian now went to the spring and drank to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill.”
Perhaps the difficult mountain you face is a rebellious child or a serious medical diagnosis. The challenge seems more than you can endure.
Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear, and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.
Father, at this moment I turn to You for strength in my weakness, energy for my weariness, and faith in my doubt.
To help strengthen your trust in God, read Hope: Choosing Faith Instead of Fear at discoveryseries.org/q0733
He who overrules all things . . . enabled Christian to . . . continue on his way. John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
INSIGHT:
Psalm 110 is one of many Messianic psalms. These prophetic Hebrew hymns are called Messianic because they predict the coming of God’s anointed king or Christ (Messiah means Christ) which is Jesus. This particular psalm reaches both back and forward in the biblical text to teach us something about who Jesus is and the role He plays in bridging the gap between God and humanity.
Strong Conqueror Our Daily Bread | Friday, November 4, 2016 By Tim Gustafson
Read: John 18:10–14, 36–37 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 32–33; Hebrews 1
My kingdom is from another place. John 18:36
Most of us hope for good government. We vote, we serve, and we speak out for causes we believe are fair and just. But political solutions remain powerless to change the condition of our hearts.
Many of Jesus’s followers anticipated a Messiah who would bring a vigorous political response to Rome and its heavy-handed oppression. Peter was no exception. When Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ, Peter drew his sword and took a swing at the head of the high priest’s servant, lopping off his ear in the process.
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Jesus halted Peter’s one-man war, saying, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11). Hours later, Jesus would tell Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders” (v. 36).
Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength
The Lord’s restraint in that moment, as His life hung in the balance, astonishes us when we ponder the scope of His mission. On a future day, He will lead the armies of heaven into battle. John wrote, “With justice he judges and wages war” (Rev. 19:11).
But as He endured the ordeal of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus kept His Father’s will in view. By embracing death on the cross, He set in motion a chain of events that truly transforms hearts. And in the process, our Strong Conqueror defeated death itself.
Father, how prone I am to reacting quickly rather than wisely. Show me Your will for my life so that I will purposefully choose the path You have for me.
INSIGHT:
At Gethsemane Jesus restrained and conquered (or overcame) His own natural inclinations that wished He would not have to undergo the excruciating agony of crucifixion (Luke 22:42). Restraint is not always a high priority in our lives, but we all need help to overcome our natural inclinations. One aspect of the Spirit’s control over us, according to Galatians 5:23, is self-control. Peter tended to be an “open-mouth-insert-foot” kind of guy (Matt. 16:22; 17:4–5). And on impulse he cut off an opponent’s ear (John 18:10). Even as a stallion must be harnessed to do its master’s bidding, so Peter had a lesson to teach us about the value of restraint.
Celebrating Scripture Our Daily Journey | Thursday, November 3, 2016 By K. T. Sim
Read: Nehemiah 8:1-12 - They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage (Nehemiah 8:8).
This month, believers in Jesus can participate in two special ways to show their solidarity with others around the world. The first two Sundays are International Days of Prayer for upholding those persecuted for their faith. And November 14 is designated the International Day of the Bible for us to celebrate Scripture publicly. Participants are asked to read any passage of the Bible at noon and to promote the Bible on social media using the hashtag #BibleCelebration.
With the walls rebuilt, and having settled down in safety, the Jews asked for “their own national day of the Bible” (Nehemiah 6:15-16, 7:73–8:1). “Assembled with a unified purpose,” they wanted to hear Scripture read. “From early morning until noon [Ezra the priest and scribe] read aloud to everyone who could understand” (Nehemiah 8:1-3).
The people honored the Scriptures. Everyone “listened closely to the Book of the Law.” And the moment Ezra “[opened] the book, they all rose to their feet” (Nehemiah 8:3,5).
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This public Bible reading was also a “Bible conference” for the more than 40,000 people gathered in the city square (Nehemiah 7:66). The teachers “then instructed the people in the Law . . . and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage” (Nehemiah 8:7-8).
Riveted, “everyone remained in their places.” Convicted, the people repented, “weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.” Instead of sadness, Nehemiah called them to “go and celebrate,” to rejoice in their new beginnings (Nehemiah 8:7-10).
Repentance is definitely an appropriate response. But true engagement with Scripture ultimately leads to rejoicing “with great joy because [we hear] God’s words and [understand] them” (Nehemiah 8:12).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 17:1-15
More: What does Psalm 119:9-16 say about the priority and necessity of Scripture for our lives?
Next: Why is it significant that it was the people who asked for the Scriptures to be read and taught to them? How do you show your desire to read and hear God’s Word?
SEEK TO DO GOD'S WILL (kayannan@gmail.com/024 642 5541) | Wednesday, November 2, 2016 By Pastor K. Essibrey-Annan
"And constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain (1 Tim 6:5)."
There are laws that regulate the world in which we live in. There are scientific laws, for example, "the law of floatation states that when a body is wholly or partially immersed in a liquid, it floats if the weight of the liquid displaced is equal to the weight of the body". There are also spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God.
If we abide by spiritual laws, we will have an effective relationship with God. For example, Matthew 6:31-33 say we should seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and our basic needs shall be met as well. It implies that if we win souls, make disciples and pursue righteousness, we will be blessed.
Some of us rather, put the cart before the horse by seeking the needs first. Exhibiting that attitude, is an indication that one has been robbed of the truth so they think that godliness is a means to financial gain (1 Tim 6:5). Such Christians are not well informed. They think that worshiping God is a means to get rich
.
God answers the prayer of new Believers of 'give me, give me' but with time, God expects them to mature. Maturity means seeking God's will of priority first. Thereafter, our needs and wants are met.
The LORD owns the world and its riches and for our sake, Jesus became poor for us to be rich (2Cor 8:9). God "who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom 8:32). God really loves us and will do everything for our comfort, but we have to know and do His will first. Thereafter, our needs and wants will be provided as well.
Those who are not properly thought the word of God, do wrong things and misinterpret it by thinking that God is blessing them. They end up having corrupt minds and even in the Church, constantly have friction with everybody. They have been robbed of the truth. Seeking and doing the will of God is the key that opens the door of prosperity.
Prayer
I thank you, Heavenly Father for the grace of knowing the truth-hence I am set free. Holy Spirit, help me to always seek and do the will of God. Thank you God, for an answered prayer. In Jesus' name I have prayed.
Further Studies
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32)
Triumph in Affliction Billy Graham Evangelistic Association | Tuesday, November 1, 2016 By Billy Graham
You don't understand now why I am doing it; some day you will. — John 13:7 (TLB)
May I remind you that physical illness is not the worst thing that can happen to you? Some of the most twisted, miserable people I have ever met had no physical handicap. Some of the world’s greatest and most useful people have been handicapped.
“The Messiah” was composed by Handel, who was suffering from a paralyzed right side and arm. Catherine Booth, in the last year of her life, said that she could not remember one day free from pain.
Helen Keller has written, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work, and God.” Some of the most radiant Christians I have ever met were “wheelchair” saints. May God give you grace to “triumph in affliction.”
Prayer for the day
When physical afflictions come into my life, may they draw me closer to You, my beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
