September 9

Psalm 53

 

What is the greatest danger that faces our nation today? ISIS, North Korea, Hillary, Trump, our 19 trillion national debt, Zika, gun control, racial strife, or super size soda drinks?

While all of these problems are serious (maybe not the soda), I would suggest these are not the greatest threats to America. The greatest danger is the causal Christian. Casual Christians say they believe in God but live their lives as though He doesn't exist. The causal Christian is not an atheist but he lives like one. The causal Christian professes to believe in the existence of God and His oracles (the Bible) yet he lives life without connecting to either one.

David says this in Psalm 53:1, "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good."

There is a direct relationship between the existence of God and human morality. A foolish person says there is no God, so therefore, there are no oracles from Him. In such a world there is no absolute revelation. Subsequently, in a world without God, who is to say which values are right and which are wrong? Who is to judge that the values of Adolf Hitler are inferior to those of Mother Theresa? The concept of morality loses all meaning in a universe without God. This means that it is impossible to judge sexual perversion, violence, oppression, or crime as evil. Nor can one praise brotherhood, equality, and love as good. For in a universe without God, good and evil do not exist - there is only the bare, valueless fact of existence. Welcome to the world of Jerry Springer.

We are in a series at Grace called "Becoming World Changers." The way that we can all change the world today is to live as though God is present at each step we take today and  to be obedient to His oracles. Many Christians have subtly, almost imperceptibly, embraced a godless lifestyle. The hope of America is the hope found in the revival of His people. If you want to change the world today, believe that God is there and He has given us the oracles for life. Believe these oracles, live the oracles, and share the oracles.  

 

 

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, September 8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)

In today's reading from 2 Corinthians 10, Paul combats some demeaning commentary that he had heard from some quarters regarding his ministry. He recognizes that this commentary may have emerged partly from pride, but also potentially from spiritually opposing forces.

His admonishment in the verses above stands as a key element of experiencing victory as a Christ-follower. We will all certainly face judgments, slights, and outright lies from others, ourselves, and evil forces that will confuse, frustrate, and wound us. The world might suggest that we should "take it in stride" and simply overlook these words and thoughts. But Paul suggests a more active approach: to "fight"; to "demolish" strongholds, arguments, and every pretension; and to "take captive" our thoughts.

From my observation, it is certain that passivity with our thought life will not yield great results. In some ways, our mind is like a balloon, driven by whatever winds we allow to affect it. For example, if we allow ourselves (in effect, choose) to listen to evil forces, our mind-balloon will face those forces and become blown off course from what God had set in our hearts to do, say, or think. If we submit to the Lord and take this active course of taking every thought captive, then God Himself becomes the main force, and our lives may fulfill the meaning and purpose that He intends for us.

It ultimately involves an active choice on our parts: Will we choose to fight, demolish, and take captive? Or will we allow ourselves to be passively blown by the winds?

How may we actually take action towards achieving these goals? First, we must store up truth in our hearts so that we may discern what is false. Reading Scripture and staying connected to God through prayer will provide us with His godly viewpoint, allowing us to sift between the counterfeit and true. Next, we must recognize the reality of the battle and prepare ourselves daily for that. Ephesians 6:10–18 gives us a great portrait of becoming ready for the battle. In addition, God has given us our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we may seek one another's counsel and encouragement in the battle.

May we choose to fight, demolish, and take captive today, strengthened by the Holy Spirit and protected by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord God, protect our minds and hearts during the battle that rages around us today. Give us eyes and ears of discernment to distinguish between lies and the truth. Fill our minds with truth through Your Word and our time with You. Strengthen our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ so that we may have victory in this battle together. We desperately need You in our lives and in our country. Heal our hearts, and heal our land so that we might honor You and worship You. In Jesus's Name, amen.

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Sept. 7

Psalm 51

David is known for being a man after God's heart.  In his Psalms we often find him crying to out to God for help because he's under attack by an army, or hiding from Saul, but in this Psalm he is under attack by his own conscious. Nathan holds up a mirror to David and he doesn't like what he sees.  Not only has he sinned against Bathsheba, he sinned against her husband and Yahweh.  Uriah can't pass judgement. Bathsheba won't pass judgement, but David knows God can and will pass judgement on him.  So David cries out and appeals to the very character and nature of the God he loves. God is love and David is trusting and asking that God display mercy based on His character.  David knows only God's compassion can blot out his transgressions. It's not that David isn't aware of right and wrong behavior.  He just didn't make the right choice. Haven't we all been there?   On speaking of sexual immorality, Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that not everything is beneficial, even though we think we might have a right to do it. Maybe David should have spoken with the Apostle first.  David shows us though that we too can be people after God's heart, even when we make wrong choices.  First, we acknowledge our sin. "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me" (V.3).  Then, we repent and ask God to purify our heart,as only He can (v.10) David knew that there would be consequences for his wrong choice, but he was more afraid of the ultimate punishment, that God would take His Holy Spirit from him. Without God, we are nothing. We've all made mistakes, but God loves us more than any mistake we've made.  I pray we all take time today in prayer and worship and allow God, who loves us all, to fill us as only He can.  All God wants is our hearts.

Randi 

September 5: Trial and Joy, Poverty and Generosity

Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Psalm 49:1-20

Proverbs 22:20-21

"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity...they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people."

I read through today's readings a couple of times before the verse above stopped me in my tracks.  Can a people be undergoing severe trial and extreme poverty, yet demonstrate overflowing joy and rich generosity?  Apparently, they can.  I'd love to know how to be joyful during times of crisis and stress, and how to be generous during times of extreme poverty.  Because I will be honest - I do NOT know how.  If you're like me, you will have lived much of your life aspiring to be in control...and aspiring to the degree of financial security necessary to maintain that illusion of control (an illusion, because that is all it is).  The OT readings have been telling us how meaningless this all is - the only thing that matters is that we "Fear God and keep His commandments".  Perhaps then trial will not cause worry, and extreme poverty will not preclude generosity.

Father teach us to put our trust in You and You alone, that our relationship with you might bear fruit in joy and generosity, however difficult our circumstances might be.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

September 3, 2016
By Keesha Sullivan

One of my favorite songs to sing as a child was "Lean on me." There was something about having a person there "when you're not strong " and being a friend to help the other carry on that resonated with my spirit. The song continues to make me smile. In life, trouble is eminent. We all go through trials and tribulations, but when we have a friend, it helps. And when God is the foundation of that friendship, it makes that relationship even better and stronger.

In the scriptures from today, it says, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Solomon in his wisdom knew that friends were necessary to triumph over hardships. He then added onto the two strands and said, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12). I believe that third strand is the Lord. When He comes into the relationship, He enhances everything. The love, loyalty, and leaning are increased exponentially.

One of the greatest examples of a three strand friendship in the bible is David and Jonathan. They loved each other. They leaned on one another. Their loyalty to one another was greater than anything, including death. Jonathan saved David's life even though it would cost him becoming the next king. David searched for Jonathan's kin even after Jonathan had died, just so he could continue his loyalty and love for his friend.

I believe that this is the type of friendship that God always desired for His children. He wants us to lean on one another, and He wants to be in the middle of that leaning, so that He can hold the weight that we could never bear on our own. Honestly, we as humans don't have enough strength to completely support our friend in the midst of a trial. We need some supernatural strength that only God can provide. We would be crushed under the burdens that our loved one's carry, but the Lord is all powerful. There is nothing too difficult for Him.

Lord, help us to lean on You so that our friends can lean on us. Lord help us to love You deeply and receive supernatural love from You, so that we can love our friends deeply. Lord help us to be loyal to You and learn from You, so that we can maintain loyalty to our friends. Lord help us to be the cord of three strands that is not quickly broken. Lord, thank You for designing friendship. Thank You for knowing what we need and desire before we even ask. You are truly wonderful. We love You. In Jesus's name. Amen

September 2

September 2, 2016

Ecclesiastes 3 

The book, "The Progress Paradox," was written by New Republic senior editor Gregg Easterbrook. He observes that, by every measure of well-being, our generation is better off than any of our forebearers. We enjoy more leisure time with better health, less air pollution, higher levels of education, higher per-capita income, and greater personal and civil liberties than at any other time in history. Even compared to the peaceful 1950s, our generation has it better in terms of real income and home and car ownership, not to mention mortality, education, environmental quality, and the fair treatment of minorities. Whereas, in the past, these benefits were limited to the rich and privileged, today they are realized by a wide spectrum of society. All these material measures should add up to an increased sense of well-being. But they don't. 

This is the huge paradox of our time; while we have all the outward toys and live lives that would have been considered utopian less than a century ago, unhappiness and depression are at record levels. 

Psychologist Ernest Becker said, "Psychotherapy is such a growing vogue today because people want to know why they are unhappy."  There are now 2 psycho-therapists for every dentist and more counselors than librarians. And today the incidence of depression is over 10 times greater than just 20 years ago. We are living in an age of unparalleled gloom and doom and we need an explanation. 

So how do we explain this? All we need to do is turn to King Solomon and his journal found in Ecclesiastes. Solomon abandoned God for a season in his life and when God disappeared, unhappiness showed up big time. To try to find happiness without God is like chasing after the wind.  

C.S. Lewis observed, "Our ever-increasing craving for an ever-diminishing pleasure," has led more people into more and more extreme (and destructive) behaviors which, in the end, devour, rather than fulfill them. The only key that unlocks the door to happiness is knowing Jesus.   

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

To know Jesus is to have the eternal void in our hearts fulfilled. The Creator has kept the key to happiness himself. We cannot pick the lock. Only He can unlock the door to happiness. We must look to the Eternal One to have the eternal void filled. 

St. Augustine said, "Thou hast made us for thyself and the heart of man is restless until it finds rest in Thee."  All that we need in order to satisfy the emptiness inside is found in Jesus. He alone can quench the thirst of our souls. 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, September 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

One joy of growing older is the collective memory of moments humorous, lovely, and glorious. In this less-than-uplifting election season, I think back to the 1992 Vice Presidential debate when Adm. James Stockdale, a war hero of the first degree, "lost" himself for a moment and uttered: "Who am I? Why am I here?"

Unlike Adm. Stockdale in that moment, Paul didn't struggle with this question. To the Corinthians, his zeal for their hearts may have seemed overwhelming, but he had strong motivation from having experienced the relentless love of Christ.

This summer, we have been studying 1 John during the Chinese ministry's Friday night Bible study times. In this book, the apostle highlights God's amazing love poured out for us and how we demonstrate our connection to Christ through pouring out a similar love for our brothers and sisters. Reflecting on Jesus's heart to "seek and save the lost," this idea of relentlessness has come to my mind repeatedly. How amazing that God would love us so much that He would send Christ to die for us "while we were yet sinners." His unconditional love destroyed the chains of sin and death.

Compelled by Christ's relentless love, Paul lived with abandon and trusted that, even with significant opposition in this world, his living sacrifice would reap eternal rewards. Paul has become fully committed to the ministry of reconciliation, bringing people to consider how they might have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Would you take a moment in prayer this week to ask God: "How may I become involved in Your ministry of reconciliation?" Would you pray to find someone or a group of people to honor and serve so that they might experience the relentless love of God, most clearly communicated through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

Lord Jesus, thank You for making possible the ministry of reconciliation to which You have called us. Thank You for giving us a clear purpose beyond ourselves and for sending the Holy Spirit so that we might be prepared and equipped to play our role in the ministry of reconciliation. Please bring to mind whom we serve and honor. We love You and rejoice in You. In Your Name, amen.

Adm. James Stockdale (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpX-5jQjQ0)