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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2019 16:07:52 GMT -5
Precious By Monica Brands
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You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. Psalm 16:2
Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 16:1–11 “My precious . . .” First portrayed in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, the image of the emaciated creature Gollum in his maniacal obsession with the “precious ring of power” has become an iconic one today—for greed, obsession, even insanity.
It’s also a troublingly relatable image. In his tormented love-hate relationship with both the ring and with himself, Gollum’s voice echoes the hunger in our own hearts. Whether it’s directed at one thing in particular, or just a vague longing for “more,” we’re sure that once we finally get our own “precious,” we’ll be satisfied. But instead, what we thought would make us whole leaves us feeling even emptier than before.
There’s a better way to live. As David expresses in Psalm 16, when the longings in our hearts threaten to send us on a desperate, futile quest for satisfaction (v. 4), we can remember to turn to God for refuge (v. 1), reminding ourselves that apart from Him we have nothing (v. 2).
And as our eyes stop looking for satisfaction “out there” to gaze instead on God’s beauty (v. 8), we find ourselves finally tasting true contentment—a life of basking in the “joy [of God’s] presence,” walking with Him each moment in “the way of life”—now and forever (v. 11 nlt).
Reflect & Pray What’s the thing you often turn to for satisfaction when you lose sight of God? Who can be a source of support and love for you when you feel trapped in your addiction to “more”?
God, forgive me for thinking I can find what I need apart from You. Thank You for always being there even when I forget to look for You. Draw me to Your side to live in the joy of walking with You.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2019 16:48:01 GMT -5
Victory Parade By Lisa M. Samra
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But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Corinthians 2:14–17 In 2016 when the Chicago Cubs baseball team won the World Series for the first time in more than a century, some sources said that five million people lined the parade route and gathered at a downtown rally to celebrate the championship.
Victory parades are not a modern invention. A famous ancient parade was the Roman Triumph, in which victorious generals led a procession of their armies and captives through crowded streets.
Such parade imagery was likely in Paul’s mind when he wrote to the Corinthian church thanking God for leading believers “as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession” (2 Corinthians 2:14). I find it fascinating that in this imagery, followers of Christ are the captives. However, as believers we’re not forced to participate, but are willing “captives,” willingly part of the parade led by the victorious, resurrected Christ. As Christians, we celebrate that through Christ’s victory, He’s building His kingdom and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
When we talk about Jesus’s victory on the cross and the freedom it gives believers, we help spread the “aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14). And whether people find the aroma to be the pleasing reassurance of salvation or the odor of their defeat, this unseen but powerful fragrance is present everywhere we go.
As we follow Christ, we declare His resurrection victory, the victory that makes salvation available to the world.
Reflect & Pray What does Jesus’s victory on the cross mean to you? How are you living out the power of His resurrection?
Jesus is our victorious King.
For further study, see christianuniversity.org/NT109-06.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2019 17:07:02 GMT -5
Wise Aid By Mike Wittmer
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Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15 As I stopped my car at a red light, I saw the same man standing beside the road again. He held a cardboard sign: Need money for food. Anything helps. I looked away and sighed. Was I the kind of person who ignored the needy?
Some people pretend to have needs but are actually con artists. Others have legitimate needs but face difficulties overcoming destructive habits. Social workers tell us it’s better to give money to the aid ministries in our city. I swallowed hard and drove past. I felt bad, but I may have acted wisely.
God commands us to “warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). To do this well we must know who belongs in which category. If we warn a weak or disheartened person, we may break her spirit; if we help an idle person, we may encourage laziness. Consequently, we help best from up close, when we know the person well enough to know what he needs.
Has God burdened your heart to help someone? Great! Now the work begins. Don’t assume you know what that person needs. Ask her to share her story, and listen. Prayerfully give as seems wise and not merely to feel better. When we truly aim “to do what is good for each other,” we will more readily “be patient with everyone,” even when they stumble (vv. 14–15).
Reflect & Pray When have others most helped you? What did you learn about how best to help others?
Father, help me to help wisely, and often.
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Post by John on Jul 18, 2019 17:15:55 GMT -5
That is a difficult situation that we all face, who to help. If I know a person really needs money for food and I have it to spare, I am happy to help them out, but on the other hand, if that person is just panhandling when they could be working at a job earning their money, I don't think it is good to keep giving to them. The Bible says that if a man won't work, neither should he eat. If you are dealing with a person with a handicap or are in a place where they lost their job and there is nothing available, but they are trying, of course we should help them. To me, it is a case by case basis that we provide assistance.
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Post by frienduff on Jul 18, 2019 17:17:40 GMT -5
I got a trivia question for lesbrewer . Now I already know the answer. And its a very simple answer . Okay . IS it possible to LOVE GOD and DENY JESUS . Remember what JESUS told the jews . Remember this well . For he told it even to the jews . Answer away lesbrewer . And let all know and understand , NO JESUS and there is NO ETERNAL LIFE , only death and the second death awaits . Lesbrewer , you put those hands up , I got a feeling you know this simple answer . truly this is a necessity to know .
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2019 17:35:34 GMT -5
No, it's not possible to Love God and deny Jesus.
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
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Post by frienduff on Jul 18, 2019 17:38:31 GMT -5
No, it's not possible to Love God and deny Jesus. Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Exactly . And what spirit denies that JESUS is THE CHRIST .............ANTI CHRIST . so all unbelieving jews and all other religions are in darkness . . For if we LOVE NOT JESUS , WE LOVE NOT GOD either . And JESUS made sure to say , HE IS the ONLY WAY unto the FATHER . SO , we wont be heeding pope francis or his men who preach their stuff . Like I said , it don't matter what the Vatican would say or think about you , WE loves ya , lesbrewer . SO let all praise the LORD and In all that we do or say , LET IT HONOR THE LORD .
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Post by John on Jul 18, 2019 17:42:03 GMT -5
No, it's not possible to Love God and deny Jesus. Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. There is also the obvious matter that Jesus is God. He is God the Son.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2019 18:17:44 GMT -5
No, it's not possible to Love God and deny Jesus. Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. There is also the obvious matter that Jesus is God. He is God the Son.
Amen- Thomas the disciple declared concerning Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him. Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also 2 Peter 1:1). In Hebrews 1:8, the Father declares of Jesus, “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as “O God,” indicating that Jesus is indeed God.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2019 15:53:06 GMT -5
Who Is He? By Xochitl Dixon
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Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:10
Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 24 On our way home from our honeymoon, my husband and I waited to check in our luggage at the airport. I nudged him and pointed to a man standing a few feet away.
My spouse squinted. “Who is he?”
I excitedly rattled off the actor’s most notable roles, then walked up and asked him to take a photo with us. Twenty-four years later, I still enjoy sharing the story of the day I met a movie star.
Recognizing a famous actor is one thing, but there’s Someone more important I’m thankful to know personally. “Who is this King of glory?” (Psalm 24:8). The psalmist David points to the Lord Almighty as Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of all. He sings, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters” (vv. 1–2). In awestruck wonder, David proclaims God is above all, yet intimately approachable (vv. 3–4). We can know Him, be empowered by Him, and trust Him to fight on our behalf, as we live for Him (v. 8).
God provides opportunities for us to declare Him as the only Famous One truly worth sharing with others. As we reflect His character, those who don’t recognize Him can have more reasons to ask, “Who is He?” Like David, we can point to the Lord with awestruck wonder and tell His story!
Reflect & Pray What has the Lord shown you about Himself? How might you share that with someone?
Lord, thanks for blessing us with the pleasure and privilege of seeking You and giving us opportunities to share You with others every day.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2019 16:14:22 GMT -5
Hands-On Learning By Amy Peterson
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Imitate me, as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Today's Scripture & Insight: Titus 2:1–8 My six-year-old son, Owen, was thrilled to receive a new board game. But after a half hour reading the rules, he was frustrated. He couldn’t quite figure out how it worked. It wasn’t until later, when a friend came over who already knew how to play, that Owen finally got to enjoy his present.
Watching them play, I was reminded of how much easier it is to learn something new if you have an experienced teacher. When we’re learning, reading the instructions helps, but having a friend who can demonstrate makes a huge difference.
The apostle Paul understood this too. Writing to Titus about how he could help his church grow in faith, Paul emphasized the value of experienced believers who could model Christian faith. Of course teaching “sound doctrine” was important, but it didn’t just need to be talked about—it needed to be lived out. Paul wrote that older men and women ought to be self-controlled, kind, and loving (Titus 2:2–5). “In everything,” he said, “set them an example by doing what is good” (v. 7).
I’m thankful for solid teaching, but I’m also thankful for the many people who have been hands-on teachers. They’ve shown me by their lives what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ and have made it easier for me to see how I can walk that path too.
Reflect & Pray What lessons have you learned from those who have taught you about living for Jesus by their words and actions? What are others seeing as they view your faith in action?
God, thank You for graciously giving us mentors who can show us by example how to live for You, and thank You for giving us Your Son, the only perfect model of faith.
For further study, see christianuniversity.org/HR202 .
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2019 17:33:16 GMT -5
Never Too Late By Peter Chin
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Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:36
Today's Scripture & Insight: Mark 5:35–43 During the anxious moments that followed my mother-in-law’s heart attack, she was fortunate to receive immediate medical care. Later, her doctor told me that treatment within fifteen minutes of a heart attack results in a survival rate of 33 percent for critical patients. But just 5 percent survive if treated beyond that time frame.
On the way to heal Jairus’s desperately ill daughter (someone definitely needing immediate medical care), Jesus did the unthinkable: He paused (Mark 5:30). He stopped to identify who touched Him, and then spoke gently with the woman. You can imagine what Jairus was thinking: There’s no time for this, my daughter is dying! And then, his worst fears came true—Jesus appeared to have delayed too long and his daughter passed away (v. 35).
But Jesus turned to Jairus and offered a word of encouragement: “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (v. 36). Then, calmly ignoring the mockery of onlookers, Christ spoke to Jairus’s daughter and she came back to life! He revealed that He can never be too late. Time can’t limit what He’s able to do and when He chooses to do it.
How often do we feel like Jairus, thinking that God was simply too late to accomplish what we had hoped for. But with God, there’s no such thing. He’s never too late in fulfilling His good and merciful work in our lives.
Reflect & Pray How have you recently experienced the reality of God’s timing? Why is it vital for you to rest in God’s sovereignty—acknowledging that His plans are the best?
Jesus, help me to remember that You’re sovereign even over time itself, and that You’re never too late to accomplish Your perfect plans.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2019 16:52:44 GMT -5
Faithful in Captivity By Estera Pirosca Escobar
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While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Genesis 39:20–21
Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 39:6–12, 20–23 Haralan Popov had no idea what turn his life would take when the doorbell rang early one morning in 1948. Without any warning, the Bulgarian police took Haralan away to prison because of his faith. He spent the next thirteen years behind bars, praying for strength and courage. Despite horrible treatment, he knew God was with him, and he shared the good news of Jesus with fellow prisoners—and many believed.
In the account from Genesis 37, Joseph had no idea what would happen to him after he was mercilessly sold by his angry brothers to merchants who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian official. He found himself in a culture surrounded by people who believed in thousands of gods. To make things worse, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. When Joseph refused repeatedly, she falsely accused him, leading to his being sent to prison (39:16–20). Yet God didn’t abandon him. Not only was He with Joseph, but He also “gave him success in everything he did” and even “showed him kindness and granted him favor” with those in authority (39:3, 21).
Imagine the fear Joseph must have felt. But he remained faithful and kept his integrity. God was with Joseph in his difficult journey and had a master plan for him. He has a plan in mind for you too. Take heart and walk in faith, trusting He sees and He knows.
Reflect & Pray What difficult situation have you experienced—perhaps one in which you were falsely accused? Why is it vital for you to maintain your integrity?
God, thank You for being with me always, even when life’s circumstances cause me to be uncomfortable. Help me to be faithful to You.
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Post by joseph on Jul 23, 2019 15:14:37 GMT -5
Faithful in Captivity While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Genesis 39:20–21
Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 39:6–12, 20–23 Haralan Popov had no idea what turn his life would take when the doorbell rang early one morning in 1948. Without any warning, the Bulgarian police took Haralan away to prison because of his faith. He spent the next thirteen years behind bars, praying for strength and courage. Despite horrible treatment, he knew God was with him, and he shared the good news of Jesus with fellow prisoners—and many believed.
In the account from Genesis 37, Joseph had no idea what would happen to him after he was mercilessly sold by his angry brothers to merchants who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian official. He found himself in a culture surrounded by people who believed in thousands of gods. To make things worse, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. When Joseph refused repeatedly, she falsely accused him, leading to his being sent to prison (39:16–20). Yet God didn’t abandon him. Not only was He with Joseph, but He also “gave him success in everything he did” and even “showed him kindness and granted him favor” with those in authority (39:3, 21).
Imagine the fear Joseph must have felt. But he remained faithful and kept his integrity. God was with Joseph in his difficult journey and had a master plan for him. He has a plan in mind for you too. Take heart and walk in faith, trusting He sees and He knows.
Please show any Scripture indicating Joseph was ever afraid. Or that the Apostles were afraid when they were chained in a stone cave prison...... (singing psalms / songs of praise to Yahuweh the Creator Almighty) Or that Stephen was afraid while or before being stoned to death...... (his face was seen by his executioners - shining like an angel!)
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Post by John on Jul 23, 2019 17:10:28 GMT -5
Faithful in Captivity While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Genesis 39:20–21
Today's Scripture & Insight: Genesis 39:6–12, 20–23 Haralan Popov had no idea what turn his life would take when the doorbell rang early one morning in 1948. Without any warning, the Bulgarian police took Haralan away to prison because of his faith. He spent the next thirteen years behind bars, praying for strength and courage. Despite horrible treatment, he knew God was with him, and he shared the good news of Jesus with fellow prisoners—and many believed.
In the account from Genesis 37, Joseph had no idea what would happen to him after he was mercilessly sold by his angry brothers to merchants who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian official. He found himself in a culture surrounded by people who believed in thousands of gods. To make things worse, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. When Joseph refused repeatedly, she falsely accused him, leading to his being sent to prison (39:16–20). Yet God didn’t abandon him. Not only was He with Joseph, but He also “gave him success in everything he did” and even “showed him kindness and granted him favor” with those in authority (39:3, 21).
Imagine the fear Joseph must have felt. But he remained faithful and kept his integrity. God was with Joseph in his difficult journey and had a master plan for him. He has a plan in mind for you too. Take heart and walk in faith, trusting He sees and He knows.
Please show any Scripture indicating Joseph was ever afraid. Or that the Apostles were afraid when they were chained in a stone cave prison...... (singing psalms / songs of praise to Yahuweh the Creator Almighty) Or that Stephen was afraid while or before being stoned to death...... (his face was seen by his executioners - shining like an angel!) It is speculating to some degree, but not entirely. Look at how he reacted to his brothers throwing him in the pit. I can show he was afraid. Notice what his brothers said when reflecting back. Genesis 42:21
And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
In this instance, the comparison was completely valid. There will be times where a comparison will possibly be an embellishment to make a point. I have seen that happen, but unless it is something serious, I don't see the point in being overly critical unless it is being used to promote something that is wrong. I have used examples in times past and later thought that I could have found something better to get my point across. Nobody is perfect, but again, in this case, I know that Joseph was scared, as most people would have been. He had no idea what was coming. In the situation with Potiphar's wife, and the consequences, who knows, but he was a human being, and even if it is just speculation, I see no problem with it.
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