Daily in the Word Devotional

The Power of Forgiveness

dbass — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Corinthians 2:8–11

John Selwyn was born in New Zealand in 1844. After going to England for his education, he set out for the Melanesian Islands as a missionary. The inhabitants of Norfolk Island were not open to the gospel and often were harsh in their treatment of foreigners. One day as Selwyn was talking to a teenage boy, the boy became angry and struck him in the face. Selwyn said nothing in response, and walked away. After a few years, Selwyn’s health failed, forcing him to return to England. Many years passed, and another missionary was summoned to talk to a dying man who wished to be saved before he met God. When the missionary asked his name, he replied, “Call me John Selwyn, because he taught me what Christ was like when I struck him.”

The choice to forgive is more than just a matter of obedience to God and following the example of Jesus. It is vital both to our own physical and spiritual health, and it is vital to our relationships with others. The things that we hold close and refuse to let go keep us trapped far more than they trap the person who did them. Forgiveness does not mean the offense did not happen or that we deserved what happened or that there are no consequences to the offender. Forgiveness means that we have released it into God’s hands, and we trust Him to deal with the offender as He sees best.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Those who refuse to forgive will never escape the bondage of the past.

You Are Not Alone

dbass — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room….Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:16, 18

After the great victory on Mount Carmel, where God answered his prayer and sent fire from Heaven to burn not only the sacrifice, but even the stones of the altar, Elijah could have rejoiced in God’s power and gone on to his next assignment. Instead, he fled alone into the desert, fearing Jezebel’s threat to take his life. When God confronted him, the depressed prophet complained that he alone had remained faithful to God. “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). God’s response to him, in the verses above, was that he was, in reality, not alone. There were seven thousand people in Israel who had not turned from God to worship Baal.

In a society where believing what God says in the Bible and speaking it out loud can end a career, and where evil and wickedness is not just tolerated but aggressively promoted, it is tempting to think that we are alone. But in truth, there are many faithful Christians all around the world who have not abandoned what is right for what is convenient. We are not alone. Even if it were true that there was no one else doing right, we would still not be alone, for God never leaves or forsakes us. Even in Elijah’s moment of despair, far away from everything he knew, God was there.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Our faith is not based on the actions of others, but the character of God.

Don’t Grow Accustomed to Sin

dbass — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

John 2:14–16

Because we live in a world that is increasingly turning its back on God, we are constantly surrounded by a sea of wickedness. And because that wickedness is being praised and promoted, it is easy for us to adopt a casual attitude toward sin. We would not do those things ourselves, but we are lulled into thinking sin is really not that bad. It is. In the time of Christ it had become common practice for the Temple to be filled with commerce rather than worship. That grieved Jesus greatly, and He physically reacted by driving the sellers out with a whip.

In the days of the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah, the Israelites found a similar response from their leader to the accepted practice of intermarriage with the heathen nations around them. “And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves” (Nehemiah 13:25).

Of course we should love sinners, but we must still hate sin. Our reaction should be driven by what God thinks rather than by how it may seem to us. Matthew Henry said, “If we would be angry and not sin, we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.”

Today’s Growth Principle:

It does not take long to move from acceptance and toleration of sin to participation in it.

Be Kind

dbass — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:29–32

Everett Dirksen represented the state of Illinois first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate from 1932 until his death in 1969. Though he was a gifted speaker, Dirksen was best known for his ability to form close friendships that allowed him to work across the divisions that often appear in politics. One of the secrets to his success was the help he provided to others. Dirksen famously said that when there was a controversial issue up for a vote that did not have a direct bearing on his constituents or his principles, he would figure out which side was going to win and then vote for the other side. Dirksen said, “My friend, the winners never remember and the losers never forget.”

Acts of kindness should not be rare, particularly within the body of Christ, but in too many cases callousness and even cruelty are more commonly displayed instead. There is no shortage of people who could use a kind and encouraging word. There are plenty of people struggling to make it from one day to the next, who wonder if anyone cares for them. There are many who echo the lament of David: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). It takes very little to be kind, but kindness has a powerful impact.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Touching someone’s life in kindness is one of the most important things you can do today.

The Key to All the Rest

dbass — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Mark 12:28–30

Though locks have been around since ancient times, with examples being found in archaeological excavations in Nineveh, among other cities, the modern secure lock as we know it today got its start in the early 1800s. Disturbed by theft of naval property, the British announced a contest for someone to create a lock that would withstand the attempts of burglars to open it. Jeremiah Chubb presented his lock to the government in 1818, and after three months effort, a trained lock-picker could not open it. Chubb received a prize of £100 for his invention and went into business making locks and safes. Chubb’s lock could only be opened with the proper key.

The key to living as God commands is found in our love. If He is first in our hearts and minds, obedience to the rest of what He tells us to do will come easily. But if we love anything or anyone more than we love Him, the door to obedience will not be unlocked. Being a good Christian is not a matter of keeping a list of rules. Judas did such a good job looking good outwardly, even though he was a thief and a traitor inwardly, that the other disciples trusted him to keep the money for the whole group, not suspecting that he was stealing from them the whole time. Growing in our walk with God is a matter of the heart. If we do not love God above all, we are missing the master key.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Unless we love God as we should, we cannot expect to live as we should.

The Importance of Maintenance

dbass — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”

Titus 3:8–9

Henry Ford introduced the Model T car in 1908, but sales didn’t really take off until a few years later with the development of the automated assembly line. By the 1920s, Ford was selling more than a million Model Ts each year. In the early days of automobiles, it was often difficult to find someone competent to repair any problem with the car, so Ford started issuing an owner’s manual with each vehicle. This laid out simple steps that could be taken to perform basic maintenance and extend the life of the car.

God has given us an instruction manual in His Word, with things we must do and things we must avoid in order to live as He wills. There are no optional items in God’s book—these are not the Maker’s recommendations, but His instructions. And they must be followed, not just now and then, but on an ongoing basis. Many people fall because after they have done right for a while, they let down their guard and try to take it easy.

Spiritual victory demands continued and careful maintenance of the things God has commanded. It does not come naturally for us. But it must be done, over and over again. Ellen Sturgis Hooper wrote, “I slept, and dreamed that life was beauty: I woke, and found that life was duty.” Just as with a car, it is possible to skip the maintenance that is needed in our spiritual life, but it will have negative results. Instead, we need to continue our spiritual disciplines and do right day after day, being “careful to maintain good works.”

Today’s Growth Principle:

It is not enough to do right occasionally. It is something we must maintain day after day.

An Unfailing Grip

dbass — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

John 10:27–30

There are about twenty different contests held around the world each year to determine who has the strongest hands. One of the most common competitions is the “pinch grip” where a weight is held only between the fingers and the thumb, and is not allowed to touch the palm of the hand. In 2010 at the World of Grip championships, David Horne set a new world record, lifting more than 260 pounds with just his fingers. He then went on to win the championship in five of the next six years as well.

While David Horne’s hands are certainly very, very strong, they are nothing compared to God’s hands which hold His children safe and secure. Many Christians live with insecurity, doubt, and fear when God wants them to live in perfect confidence. The idea that someone who has been saved can then somehow lose that salvation is contrary to what Jesus taught. Anyone who has genuinely trusted Christ as His Saviour is as safe as if he were already in Heaven.

There are certainly things we can do which will displease God and bring difficult consequences into our lives. We surely must not use the fact that we are secure to indulge in sin. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1–2). But when we sin God does not turn His back on us. He does not take away the free gift of salvation that He has given to us.

Today’s Growth Principle:

The same God who provided our salvation protects our membership in His family.

An Absence of Worship

dbass — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Revelation 5:11–13

The vision of Heaven that John was given reveals a place that is filled with praise and worship. Nothing less would be fitting for the King of kings and Lord of lords. But if Heaven is filled with worship to the only One worthy of it, Earth certainly is not—not even in many churches. A Barna survey revealed that, “Most Americans go to church to satisfy or please themselves, not to honor or please God.”

Church and worship, and indeed all of life, is meant to be about God rather than about us. He alone is to be praised and worshiped. The fact of His goodness and graciousness does not automatically create worship and praise. We must be reminded again and again to keep our focus on Him. Four times in one psalm we find this instruction: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31). This is not a repetition to fill space, but rather a powerful admonition to us to give thanks and honor God for all that He has done for us. Expressing our gratitude to God is a powerful protection against the temptations we face.

Today’s Growth Principle:

If our hearts are not filled with worship, our lives will be filled with sin.

Building Strength before Battle

dbass — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

Jeremiah 12:4–5

The people of Israel in Jeremiah’s day were confident that they could make their way without God’s help. But they found themselves defeated again and again. And Jeremiah warned them that what was coming next would be an even greater challenge as he asked pointed questions: If you can’t outrun the people who work with the horses, how will you outrun the horses? If you grow weary during relatively peaceful times, how will you handle it when a flood comes?

The point of these questions was to point people to God as their source of strength. But where many people fail is that they do not build up strength ahead of time. R. A. Torrey said, “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came... Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”

Just as physical exercise strengthens our muscles, spiritual exercise strengthens our faith and our obedience. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). Spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, church attendance, and witnessing strengthen our spiritual muscles so we can accomplish God’s plan and purpose in our lives.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Do not wait until the day your faith is severely tested to begin building it—do it today.

Don’t Ignore the Warnings

dbass — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.”

Deuteronomy 11:22–24

The largest nuclear accident in history occurred at Chernobyl in 1986. The massive release of radiation and fallout was not the result of a design flaw or an equipment failure. Two electrical engineers in the control room decided to find out how long a turbine would “free wheel” with the power turned off. To accomplish their purpose, they manually overrode six separate systems and alarms. The disaster was not the result of a lack of warning, but rather a failure to heed the multiple warnings that were given.

Before the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses told them that they faced a choice. If they would follow God, He would give them complete and total victory. Any student of history knows that Israel, even at its greatest size by land mass, only possessed a small portion of the land God promised to give to them. God fought battles and gave them victories while they were obedient, but soon they turned aside from following Him and began worshiping idols instead.

The defeats that Israel suffered were foretold ahead of time. Again and again prophets warned of the consequences of disobedience. And again and again they ignored them and were punished. If we ignore what God has commanded us to do and not do, the result will be the same. Someone said, “You can sow wild oats and pray for crop failure, but it won’t work.”

Today’s Growth Principle:

If we do not heed and follow the warnings of the Bible, we will suffer the consequences.

The Mirror that Changes Our Reflection

dbass — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 1:22–25

Most of us look at ourselves in the mirror on a regular basis. We have mirrors in our homes, our offices, and our cars. All of those mirrors show a reflection of what is in front of them. Sometimes we are pleased with what we see, and sometimes we realize that some kind of change needs to be made, but the mirror never makes those changes for us. In fact, if one of our mirrors tried to comb my hair or straighten my tie, I’m pretty sure I would head for the door.

But when James compared the Bible to a mirror, he noted that by looking into the Word of God and doing what it says, we will be changed in such a way that we will receive God’s blessing. The purpose of God for our lives is for us to become more and more like Jesus. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). The means God has given to us to complete that process is His Word. Only as we fill our hearts and minds with the Scripture and meditate on it day and night will we walk as God wants us to walk.

Today’s Growth Principle:

If you invest your time in the Bible and let it dwell in your heart, you will be transformed into Christ’s image.

A Neglected Duty

dbass — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Colossians 3:15–17

There have been times through the years when I’ve had to call someone into the office to correct them about something in their job performance. Perhaps it was an assigned task they had failed to carry out, or a job they had not accomplished in an acceptable manner. I’ve never found those conversations to be particularly fun. I don’t enjoy having them, and people don’t enjoy having things pointed out that they need to improve. But correction is vital because without correction, nothing ever improves.

And this is not just something for employers or parents or pastors. Paul tells us that Christians in the church are to admonish—to warn or correct—each other. This is something most of us just don’t want to do. We worry that people will think we are being Pharisees or judgmental or cruel, so we remain silent rather than speaking up. But all of us have blind spots, and we need people in our lives who are willing to step forward and take the risk to admonish us when we need to be corrected.

The key to admonishing in the right way so that it is effective is found in the first part of the verse—God’s Word must richly dwell in our own hearts before we are competent to admonish others. Those whose minds are filled with the Bible will correct only things that need correcting, and do so in the right spirit.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Be willing to speak out in love to help those who are in danger of going astray.

Under the Influence

dbass — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

Ephesians 5:18–21

Dr. Curtis Hutson used to tell the story of a drunk man speeding down the road. When he was pulled over, he asked the policeman how much the ticket was. Hearing the reply he said, “Go ahead and write up two tickets. I’ll be coming back through in about an hour, and that way you won’t have to stop me again!” He would never have said something like that if he had been sober. But he was “under the influence” of alcohol.

Paul uses drunkenness to contrast and compare the effect of being filled with the Holy Spirit. A person who is intoxicated does not behave as he normally would. Instead his words and actions are being guided and shaped by the force that is controlling his brain. In the same way, although for a completely different reason, being filled with the Holy Spirit means that we are no longer in control, but rather we have surrendered that control to God so He can guide our steps.

Many people have had more to drink than they realize, and become drunk because of it. But it is not because someone forced liquor down their throat. Rather, they choose to give themselves over to drink, and drunkenness results. Likewise, we cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit unless we yield ourselves to His control. The choice must be ours. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Today’s Growth Principle:

The continuing process of being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential to victorious Christian living.

The Motivation That Never Stops

dbass — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Philippians 2:1–4

God greatly blessed the work of Missionary Hudson Taylor in China. As hundreds accepted Christ as Saviour, the need for more workers became pressing. Taylor made it a habit as much as possible to interview all the candidates who were interested in joining the China Inland Mission. The story goes that he would ask, “Why do you want to go as a foreign missionary?” Various answers were common, especially things like, “Because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel,” or “Because millions are perishing without Christ.” Taylor would say, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing—namely, the love of Christ.”

Only love will keep us going when things go wrong, when others turn against us, when opposition increases, or when disaster strikes. Some people serve for a time and then stop, and that is normally because they had an insufficient source of motivation. Often we are on guard against wrong motives like pride, but forget that even good motives that are not the right motive are insufficient. If our work is driven by the fact that Jesus loves us and we love Him, there is no sacrifice that is too great to make for Him. He deserves the very best that we can offer, and love compels us to give it to Him.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Love for Christ will keep us going when other motives would fail us.

Continuing the Work of Jesus

dbass — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 14:10–12

There is a beautiful story that tells of a group of German students who volunteered to go to England not long after the end of the Second World War. In an effort to help heal the rift between the two nations, they planned to help restore an English cathedral that had been greatly damaged by German bombs during the Blitz. One of the items they worked on most was a statue of Jesus with His arms spread wide that bore the inscription, “Come unto Me.” They were able to repair most of the damage, but they had great difficulty with the hands. After talking it over with the church officials, they decided to leave the hands off the statue, and change the inscription to read, “Christ has no hands but ours.”

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the will and purpose of His Father during His life on earth. The night before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Though Jesus did all that was planned for Him, it was not all that would ever need to be done. So He left His work for us to finish. God certainly does not need our help or our talents to make up anything He lacks, but He has chosen to let us be part of His plan for our world.

Today’s Growth Principle:

No one else can do exactly what you can do for God.

Individuals, but Not Isolated

dbass — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Dr. Paul Brand, who was born to missionary parents in India and later went there for nearly twenty years of ministry as a medical doctor working with leprosy patients, wrote about the use of the Bible’s analogy of the church to a human body. Brand said, “The Body of Christ, like our own bodies, is composed of individual, unlike cells that are knit together to form one body. The joy of the body increases as individual cells realize they can be diverse without becoming isolated outposts.”

Statistics say that between 60 and 100 churches close every week in the United States. While some of these are churches that long ago turned away from Bible truth, others were churches that preached the truth but for one reason or another failed to continue and grow. One of the major problems is self-focus.

We live in an increasingly isolated society. Despite all the connections made possible by social media, many people are actually lonely in real life. They are missing the meaningful connections they need, and this can be true in the church as well. It is vitally important for us to truly care for each other. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Today’s Growth Principle:

Each of us have a duty to care for the needs and burdens of our fellow church members.

The Problem of Pride

dbass — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

Galatians 6:1–3

While many parents of athletes and entertainers have been heavily involved in their adult children’s lives and careers, often with negative results, perhaps none of them have been more famous recently than LaVar Ball. He has worked to turn his three sons, all talented basketball players, into a brand in their own right. But even as he promoted them, he couldn’t resist adding a little self promotion as well. In March of 2017, Ball was asked by an interviewer about his own playing career. Ball boasted, “Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one.” His actual record shows that in his single year playing collegiate basketball, Ball averaged just two points and two rebounds per game.

Pride often leads us to deceive ourselves about our talents, gifts, abilities, and importance in the world. However, it seldom fools others, who see through our facade and self-importance and have a more rounded assessment. The problem with pride is that it is never satisfied. We must continue feeding it by achieving, or sometimes inventing accomplishments. It blinds us to the reality of the world around us, and to what God values—a humble heart.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Do not desire to be the principal man in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother who does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified.” If we only look for things that will satisfy our pride, we may miss our greatest opportunities for service.

Today’s Growth Principle:

The humble servant is far more valuable to God’s work than the proud boaster.

“Members in One Body”

dbass — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Romans 12:3–5

In May of 1863, near Chancellorsville, Virginia, the Union Army under the command of “Fighting Joe” Hooker outnumbered the Confederates under Robert E. Lee almost two to one. They were confident of victory, but a daring decision by Lee to split his forces changed that. Lee sent nearly half his outnumbered troops on a long march under the command of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to strike the Union forces from behind. The surprise attack worked, winning one of the biggest victories of the entire war. But it came at a very high price.

When the fighting ended on the evening of May 2, Jackson and some of his aides rode out to scout the field of battle. When they returned, they were mistaken in the darkness for Union cavalry attempting a raid and their own troops opened fire on them. Jackson was hit by three bullets. Doctors amputated his arm in an effort to save his life, but on May 10, Lee's best and most effective general died—killed by his own men.

Too often Christians forget that they are all members of one body. Churches are riven with dissension and discord, when they are meant to be sources of encouragement and strength. That help we give and receive is one of the primary reasons behind the command God gave us to faithful church attendance. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Today’s Growth Principle:

God's people need to be supporting and encouraging, rather than destroying each other.

Fully Committed

dbass — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth 1:15–17

Ruth had married a young man from Israel in Moab where she lived, but after both her father in law, her husband, and his brother died, she faced a crossroads decision. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, had been left without support with her husband and both sons dead, so she decided to return to her people in Bethlehem. While Orpah chose to remain in Moab where her family lived, Ruth insisted on going to Bethlehem with Naomi. This meant that she was leaving behind her family, her language, and her religion on a permanent basis.

We live in a mobile society, so it is easy for us to undervalue the commitment Ruth was making. She had no plans to turn back. She was fully committed to staying with Naomi no matter what happened. Before she started down the road to Bethlehem, she had decided it was a lifelong choice, and that she would even be buried there in Israel rather than among her family in Moab. God rewarded her faith and she eventually married Boaz and became the great grandmother of the great king David.

The Lord strongly condemned those whose commitment to Him was only halfhearted. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

Today’s Growth Principle:

It does not require great talent for our service to be approved by God, but it does require great faithfulness.

Sparkling Bright Tombs

dbass — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Matthew 23:25–28

Leona Helmsley was famous for two things. She was fabulously wealthy, and she was mean. Helmsley was so harsh to those who worked for her that she was called “The Queen of Mean.” She even used her image as a demanding perfectionist in advertising for her hotels. Helmsley’s relationship with her family was no better than the one with her staff. In fact, the largest beneficiary in her will was her beloved dog Trouble, to whom she left $12 million. Also in her will was the instruction that the dog be buried next to her in a mausoleum. She even left money to have the mausoleum washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year.

Many people are more concerned with outward appearance than with what is on the inside. While appearances do matter to our testimony, they are far less important than our character. No matter how successfully we may conceal what is within our hearts, God sees and knows every thought and desire we have. And no matter how often we wash and scrub or even steam clean the part that people see, if we are dirty on the inside, the best that we can accomplish is to be sparkling bright tombs. The heart is where God looks, and it should be our focus as well.

Today’s Growth Principle:

If we make sure that what is in the heart is right, the outside will require far less effort.

Forgiven and Set Free

dbass — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

John 8:9–11

In an attempt to trap Jesus, the religious leaders brought an adulterous woman before Him and asked what should be done. They thought they had placed Jesus in a no-win situation. If He said she should be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Roman law. If He said she should not be stoned, they would accuse Him of breaking Jewish law. Instead of falling into their trap, Jesus pointed out that they were not following the law of Moses which required those who testified against someone in a capital case to carry out the sentence themselves. “The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you” (Deuteronomy 17:7).

After the ashamed accusers (who were not really interested in following the law) had left, Jesus gave the woman two things that she desperately needed: forgiveness for past sins and the ability not to be bound by her past life. When we trust Christ as Saviour, we are not just forgiven but also set free. Paul wrote, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6–7). No believer is compelled to sin, but instead can walk in freedom.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Walk victoriously in the power you have been given to reject the bondage of sin.

The Wounded Hands of Jesus

dbass — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

John 20:26–28

In 1867, Rose Hartwick Thorpe wrote a poem called “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight.” Thorpe set her poetic account of an old English folktale in the days of Oliver Cromwell and the English civil war that took place in the 1600s. A young woman named Bessie learns that the love of her life has been sentenced to be executed when the church bells ring at sunset to announce the curfew. Determined that the bell not ring, she begs the church sexton to abandon his duty, but he refuses. Undaunted, she climbed to the bell tower and wrapped her hands around the clapper. Though the sexton pulled on the rope, the bell did not ring. The poem ends with these lines:

O’er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie saw him; and her brow,
Lately white with care and anguish, glows with sudden beauty now,
At his feet she told her story, showed her hands, all bruised and torn;
And her sweet young face, still wearing traces of the anguish borne,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light.
“Go! your lover lives,” cried Cromwell. “Curfew shall not ring to-night.”

Jesus Christ owed no debt for sin, because He lived a perfect life. But He paid the debt that we owed, and the marks are still visible on His body. His great love for us provides the offer of salvation, but we must accept it. Salvation is a free gift, but must be received.

Today’s Growth Principle:

The price has already been paid for our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

When Liberty Leads to Destruction

dbass — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13–15

One of the men chosen to represent Maryland at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, to set up a new government for the United States was James McHenry. McHenry was a doctor who immigrated from Ireland and served in the Revolutionary War with George Washington. The fort in Maryland where Francis Scott Key saw the Stars and Stripes still waving after a night of British bombardment is named for him.

Much of what we know about the discussions and agreements that led to the passage of the Constitution comes from a diary McHenry kept during the proceedings. On September 18, 1787, the day after the members of the body signed the Constitution and adjourned, McHenry recorded this exchange (with his original spelling and capitalization intact):

a lady asked Dr. Franklin
well Doctor what we got
a republic or a monarchy—
A republic replied the Doctor
if you can keep it.
The lady here aluded to was
Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia

Continuing freedom is not a guarantee, in either the political world or in the spiritual realm. It can easily be lost. Paul warned, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). There are many ways in which freedom can be lost, but one of the most common in both human government and individual spiritual lives is for people to become selfish and focused only on themselves. When liberty becomes license, it will not be long before it is lost.

Today’s Growth Principle:

When we use our liberty to serve others rather than ourselves, we keep it from being lost.

Beyond our Understanding

wlofgren — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:12–14

Senator Daniel Webster was known for his eloquence, his devotion to the United States, and his unshakable faith in God. The story goes that he was dining with some literary men in Boston. During the dinner, the conversation turned to Christianity, and Webster clearly stated his belief in the deity of Christ and his dependence upon the atonement. One of those present said to him, “Mr. Webster, can you comprehend how Christ could be both God and man?” Mr. Webster promptly replied, “No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. If I could comprehend Him, He would be no greater than myself. I feel that I need a super-human Saviour.”

Faith is a requirement for the Christian life because even having the Bible and the Holy Spirit within to help us understand and apply it to our lives, God's nature is beyond our understanding. The mind of man is not able to comprehend an unlimited, eternal deity. When we do not understand, we must accept that what He says is true and act accordingly.

This is what faith in action looks like. We not only give mental assent to what God says, but we allow it to control what we do. Paul reminds us, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Corinthians 5:7). God has the right to demand our obedience without explanation. He is always right, and we are safe when we follow and obey Him in faith.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Even when what God says is beyond what we can understand, we must believe it and act on it.

The Eleventh Commandment

wlofgren — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:33–35

As Jesus spent time with His disciples on the night before the crucifixion, He knew that they would soon be launched into a new beginning as they took up the work and ministry for which He had been preparing them. Yet even on that last night, the disciples were still focused on their own selfish interests. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest” (Luke 22:24). As Jesus ate the Passover with them, they still did not grasp what He had told them was coming.

After Jesus’ powerful example of service to others that night—when He washed the disciples' feet— Jesus gave them a new command to follow: to love each other in the same way that He loved them. Some people call this the “eleventh commandment.” Then Jesus said that love would be the defining characteristic by which His followers would be known. Our world speaks of love frequently, but only rarely are those who use the word talking about the kind of love God commands us to have. And sadly too often the world does not see that love on display in the church either.

Jesus said that the love Christians have for each other would be the evidence that would convince others we are following Him. We often focus on outward expressions or evidence of conduct, but though those are important, the most important test of whether or not we will be seen as genuine disciples is our love for each other.

Today’s Growth Principle:

The love that we display toward each other is a vital part of our witness to the world around us.

Ready for the Reckoning

wlofgren — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Luke 19:15-17

One of the final parables Jesus taught before His crucifixion was the story of a nobleman who trusted his servants with money before taking a long journey. The primary purpose of this parable was to address God's plan for the future—that Jesus had come as a Saviour rather than to set up an earthly kingdom. But, one of the main applications of the parable is that each of us has been trusted with gifts and abilities and resources by God. One day we will stand before Him to give an account of how we have used our gifts.

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, 2018 will close forever. There will never be an opportunity to go back and recapture time wasted, money poorly spent, opportunities to witness lost, unkind words spoken in anger or deeds we regret doing or not doing. But, that realization should not fill us with despair, but hope. When the sun comes up, a new year will start. Each of those days can be used to good purpose.

The certainty of the time when we must give account to God for our service should encourage and motivate us to stop worrying about other people and instead focus on how we can best serve Him each day. Paul reminds us, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).

Today’s Growth Principle:

Use each day to the fullest and you will not face God with regrets.

Trusting God for the Unseen

wlofgren — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:8-10

Charles Spurgeon routinely spoke to crowds of 6,000 or more at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. On New Year's Eve in 1891, he spoke to only a handful of friends who were with him in Mentone, France, where he had been seeking treatment for his painful illness. Spurgeon did not know when he spoke that night that in less than a month he would see the Lord, for whom he had faithfully preached, face to face. Although, Spurgeon did know that he trusted God.

Spurgeon said, “Could we procure a telescope which would enable us to see to the end of the year, would we be wise to use it? I think not. Great mercy has hung up a veil between us and the future; and there let it hang.” The following morning he preached a brief New Year's sermon at his hotel. “The vista of a praiseful life will never close, but continue throughout eternity. From psalm to psalm, from hallelujah to hallelujah, we will ascend the hill of the Lord where we will bow before the Divine Majesty in the bliss of endless adoration.”

While God does not expect us to be foolish or unwise in our lives, He does expect us to trust Him regarding the future. The path ahead will not be clear to us until we see God face to face. But, every day of our lives is already known to Him. We can trust Him even when we cannot see Him.

Today’s Growth Principle:

The hope of eternity in Heaven with God gives us strength to face any challenge or trial.

Diligent Effort for God

wlofgren — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

Proverbs 27:23-26

When D. L. Moody decided to give up his lucrative business career and enter full-time ministry, he had no formal training and had not even finished high school. But, he had a burning passion in his heart to reach people with the gospel. Ministry for Moody was not a casual pursuit but a whole-hearted, dedicated, and committed effort. When none of the churches in Chicago expressed interest in his help, Moody began his own Sunday school program, reaching young people in poor neighborhoods where many churches were not active.

One of Moody's biographers, Laird Simons wrote, “Already one thousand scholars were members of his [Sunday] school, and three hundred adult converts attended his regular services. He found himself pastor of an earnest congregation [which] he kept engaged in distributing tracts, and testifying for the truth in byways and amid their neighbors. No pastor ever looked more faithfully after the welfare of his individual members. On New Year's day it was his custom to visit every attendant...from house to house...and praying tenderly for the welfare of each. In this manner, he has been known to visit two hundred families in the course of a single day.”

No great work for God has ever been accomplished by those who are not willing to labor diligently in His harvest. He deserves nothing less than the very best we can give Him. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Today’s Growth Principle:

Commit yourself anew to serving God with all of your strength, energy, and passion in the New Year.

Face it with God

dbass — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.”

Isaiah 41:10–12

Most of Frances Ridley Havergal’s life was marked by pain. She suffered from ill health most of her life, and died a painful death at just forty-two years old from complications with peritonitis. In the days before antibiotics and effective and widely available pain medication, it was a grueling life. Yet Havergal never lost the faith she learned growing up in her father’s church as a little girl. To celebrate the start of 1874 she wrote this poem:

What shall I wish thee? Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime, pleasure and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway, skies ever clear?
Would this insure thee a happy New Year?

Peace in the Saviour, rest at His feet,
Smile on His countenance, radiant and sweet.
Joy in His presence, Christ ever near!
This will insure thee a happy New Year.

David spent much of his early life ignored, belittled, and rejected even by his own family. Then when he did become known in Israel, he spent years running from Saul who was jealous of David’s popularity with the people. He knew hardship and battle and danger as daily companions. Yet David wrote, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Today’s Growth Principle:

Those who have true Christian joy do not have it because their lives are easy, but because they have a real awareness of and focus on the presence of God.

Don't Give Up on People

wlofgren — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:9-12

After being thrown out of school at age nine for throwing a desk at his teacher and being sent to juvenile detention at twelve after threatening to kill his mother and brother, the future seemed to hold little for Ryan Green. But there were people who believed in his potential and refused to give up on him. When he was exposed to the world of opera for the first time, a dream took root in Ryan's heart. He devoted himself to studying music and preparing his voice. He won several competitions and performed major roles in operas in concert halls around the world. Today, he is a member of the Vienna State Opera in Austria and continues to travel and sing in major roles.

As we work with people, we will face the temptation to give up—to decide that they are a hopeless case and there is no use spending any more time or energy or resources on trying to help them. But God does not give up on us, and we should not give up on others. Paul and Barnabas took Mark with them on their first missionary trip, but he abandoned their work at one point and went home. Later, Paul refused to take Mark with him because of that failure, which led to the breakdown of his long partnership with Barnabas. Yet, in the final years of his life, in his last letter to Timothy, Paul asked for Mark, because “he is profitable to me.” Barnabas never gave up on Mark, and it made a difference.

Today’s Growth Principle:

Do not give up on the people you are trying to help—a major change may be just around the corner.

God Offers New Beginnings

wlofgren — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:1-2

Though Abraham is called the “father of the faithful” and believed God for impossible things, there were times when even his faith failed. When many years passed without the arrival of the son God had promised, Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands. As a result, Ishmael was born, and a lasting division was created within the family. Though some of the consequences of sin may remain, when we seek God's forgiveness, He provides it, and removes the sin from our record forever.

Thus, when it came time for the great test of Abraham's faith, when God instructed Him to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah, God referred to Isaac as his “only son.” The consequences of Abraham's sin lingered, but the guilt and condemnation were removed, and taken away forever. God does not partially forgive those who seek His pardon and grace. He completely forgives. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:17).

Doubtless there are things about the year that is ending that you would like to forget. There are sins and failures and shortcomings—all of us have them. Although, God does not hold grudges. Instead, He graciously offers a new start and freedom from guilt and shame. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Today’s Growth Principle:

Do not live in shame or regret over past sins you have forsaken and confessed to God.