admin
01-13-2009, 08:46 PM
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9
-----
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, 'Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?' He answered, 'Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.' Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.' Mark 2:23-28
-----
Give me oil in my lamp
Oh Lord!
Send to me Your Spirit of Peace, restore to me the joy of my salvation and rekindle within me love for Thee and for all others.
Oh Lord! Keep my spiritual lamp burning brightly.
Don't let it go out, but keep it shining, keep it shining, Oh Glorious Father of Lights.
Give me oil in my lamp, Oh Lord, give me oil in my lamp.
The oil of gladness and the oil of joy pour out upon me that the light of rejoicing would shine out through the windows and doors of my heart.
The oil of goodness and the oil of faith, pour out upon me that others would see the resulting light of goodness and the flame of your miracle working power and glorify You, Oh Father, who dwells in the Heavens.
Let your light shine through me. Let it shine!
Shine on!
Amen!
©01/14/2001 Jim Welch
-----
Hand in Hand
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Have you ever knelt beside a stream of water to take a drink and use your hands, cupped together, to draw the water to your mouth. Even if you haven't, I'm sure you can picture doing so. One hand does all right, but when the two are brought together the amount of water that is held increases quite a bit more, making it easier to carry the water to your mouth without it all going down the front of your shirt.
I remember a preacher who desired very much to see his church grow, both spiritually and in number. He really cared. Yet, out of his concern he tried to do everything that had to be done. He took it upon himself to lead, plan and approve any and all activities within the church. It was not long before his efforts led to his own fatigue. His concern gave way to the undue pressures he placed upon himself and his work of love soon became nothing more than a task to be accomplished. The church's response was to see him as a dictator, and before long they asked him for his resignation.
A lot of good intentions are at the root of many efforts for doing God's work. Sure, our heart is in it and we want to see God's work done--we want to see lives changed. But to go it alone was never God's intent for any of us. We need the support and prayer of others, no matter how great or how small the work we do. Sometimes we need the help of others--along side of us--working hand in hand. We most definitely need God no matter what we are doing. We simply were not intended to do it on our own.
How many times have you felt that you were alone in your cause, your work, or your beliefs? Did you ever feel stronger because of it? Or did you feel isolated and like you just wanted to withdraw from the world for a while so you could get your strength back? Maybe you felt like your thoughts were yours alone and that no one else understood, and so you would just keep your mouth shut and wait for everything to blow over.
The only thing that comes from such feelings of personal aloneness is that we become even more isolated than before. We want to be effective and fruitful in the work for the Lord, yet we cripple our efforts by standing on our own two feet.
God's plan for us is to have a support group of which He is the coordinator. He (not us), directs the course of His work. He shows us the what, where, who and how of something to be done. Then He provides us with people in our lives that will encourage and pray for us, and sometimes work right along side of us.
First, find out what God is wanting you to do. Secondly, rely on Him to empower you to do it (trust in His abilities--not your own). Third, have at least two or three people who will support you, advise you, pray for you and encourage you. Report to them the progress of the work, and keep them aware of how they can be praying for you. The increase will come and you will know more than ever before that you are not alone.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Day by Day Devotionals
-----
Read Genesis 40 -- 42 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ge+40-ge+42§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
It's hard to put the Bible down as we read the thrilling events of Joseph's dramatic rise to become second only to Pharaoh as ruler of Egypt.
From foreign slave to service as the Egyptian king's prime minister is the story of Joseph's life. There were many years of cruel suffering before he became the savior of his people. It appears from Ps. 105:17-18 that he suffered permanent physical injury as well as three betrayals. First, the violent jealousy of his brothers; next, the perverted passions of Potiphar's wife; and also, the cruel forgetfulness of the chief butler. But regardless of his many adverse circumstances and disappointments, Joseph maintained a steadfast loyalty to God.
Joseph confidently told Pharaoh that God ruled over the affairs of earth, although, from all outward appearances, the events which took place in Joseph's life would seem to contradict that fact. Two years earlier, two of Pharaoh's officers were in prison and depressed over their dreams (Gen. 41:11). Even in that situation, Joseph pointed out how God ruled by asking: Do not interpretations belong to God (40:8). When he was telling them about his own circumstances, he did not blame his brothers for his situation. He simply stated: I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon (40:15). In every crisis, Joseph acknowledged that God was with him.
God is in control of the affairs of our lives. However, even when we remain faithful to Him, we may endure months, or even years of testing, when it may appear that God either does not care about us or will not do anything about our circumstances. The life of Joseph points out that the enemies of God cannot defeat the person whose supreme desire is to be obedient to Him, regardless of adverse situations. Pity the faithless critic who blames God for his problems and, in self-pity, complains: "Why me?" God has amazing ways of developing our talents, maturing us spiritually, and honoring all who remain faithful to Him (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10).
There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity or to preparation for being used by the Lord. The discipline of hardship is necessary to develop spiritual strength, but it is never one hour longer than needed to develop His plan for our lives.
This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps (I Pet. 2:19-21).
Thought for Today:
Our tests and trials are never allowed for a whim or for sport, but God always has a higher purpose for our lives that he is developing.
Christ Revealed:
By the wisdom of Joseph (Gen. 41:39). Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2-3).
Word Studies:
40:1 butler = cupbearer, chief servant officer; 40:3 in ward = in custody; 41:3 ill favoured = very skinny; brink = bank; 41:5 rank = large full grain; 41:6 blasted = blighted; 41:18 fat fleshed = fine looking; 41:33 a man discreet = of wisdom and discernment; 41:35 hand = authority; 41:47 by handfuls = abundantly; 41:54 dearth = famine; 41:56 waxed sore = became severe; 42:7 made himself strange unto them = acted as a stranger to them; 42:15 proved = tested; 42:21 besought = begged; 42:34 traffick-do business.
-----
God Planned You as a Master Creation
Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!
David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
-----
1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 13, 2009
The Pain of Loving Support
"His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!' He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." - Job 2:9-10
One of Satan's great tools is discouragement, for if the devil can get us discouraged, we will often turn on God. We can see this happening in the book of Job; the devil is attacking Job with catastrophe after catastrophe, and there seems to be no hope of any relief. So what advice did he get from those who loved him the most? Look at his wife's response, "Do you still hold fast [to] your integrity? Curse God and die!"
Now before you judge Job's wife too harshly, understand this: the toughest temptations we face in life will sometimes come through people who love us the most. That's because these people have genuine concern for us and don't want us to hurt. So, oftentimes, they urge us to take the easy way out - man's way. The devil knows this and enjoys using those who love us to lead us into temptation and out of the will of God. Jesus certainly experienced this when Peter urged Him not to talk about going to the cross. Jesus knew the source of Peter's thinking and responded angrily, "Get out of here, Satan!"
That's why Christian spouses and friends have an incredibly important responsibility. When we see a brother or sister in Christ facing a crisis or temptation, we must avoid inadvertently becoming a pawn of the evil one. We must realize that we must help the loved one fight the temptation to take the easy way out, or to give up, or to give in. Become your loved one's partner in his or her difficult struggle and patiently encourage them to do things the Lord's way - even when it's the hard way - because His way is always the best.
-----
1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 14, 2009
Why God Hates Divorce
"I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel..." - Malachi 2:16a
God could not be clearer, He hates divorce. Scripture actually lists four specific reasons why He feels this way.
1. First, He observes that divorce so often springs from adultery - a complete violation of the marital bonds.
2. Secondly, He notes that divorce is sometimes the result of a man who deals treacherously with the wife of his youth - in other words, he casually trades her in for a newer model.
3. God hates divorce because it treats the sacred institution with contempt, as the couple disregards the covenant commitment they made before God.
4. But perhaps God's greatest reason for hating divorce is because of the harm it brings to children. The Scripture refers to "Godly offspring," and how difficult it is to have Godly offspring with the children of divorce. Why is this? Because these children have seen the most sacred human relationship trivialized and destroyed. They have been disillusioned. And what do children do when they are disillusioned? They become confused and angry, and they often blame God; even worse, they blame themselves.
Human nature tends to turn against God, rebel against God, and blame God for the sinfulness of man. The best way to have Godly offspring is to have Godly parents who believe it is worth the time and effort it will take to save their marriages.
-----
Controlling Anger
Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1-8; Proverbs 29:11,22; 30:33; James 1:19-20.
A lot of movies today advise to let your anger take control. Take revenge, let yourself hate, let it all hang out. Be a "Terminator". The first murder, which involved brothers and jealousy, was a direct result of anger. Cain's offering did not please God. Abel's did. Cain became enraged, and let his anger consume him. Anger is a powerful emotion. It must be controlled. Having a "temper" is nothing to be proud of. If you don't learn to control your anger, it will destroy you.
Moment of Meditation: The road called Anger is a direct route to hatred and murder.
A Talk with Jesus: Jesus, check my anger with Your Spirit of Peace. Amen.
For Further Study: Proverbs 15:1; 21:23; 22:24-25; Matthew 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5; Ephesians 4:26-27.
-----
Today
Daily Devotional for January 14
Mark 11:22 "Have faith in God"
* Our heart today; is it in love with the Lord?
* Do we get excited when we hear His name?
* Do we wonder what heaven will be like today, or are we too busy with worry?
* Have we prayed today for his guidance, or have we just stepped out on our own way?
* Today have we hugged our children and shared the love of God, or have we just hurried off to work?
* There is a blessing or a cursing set before us. How have we chosen today?
* Have we shared the love of Christ today, or kept Him for ourselves?
* Today did we tell our wife how much we love her?
* Today did the wife share her love with her husband?
* The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. Have we taken the time today to read and study it's wonderful words of life?
* There is still time today to give your life to Christ Jesus our Lord.
* Remember, today is the day of your salvation.
-----
The Necessity Of The Cross
January 14th
READ: Mark 8:22-33
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31).
Christianity without the cross is not Christianity at all, but a shabby, slimy substitute. The word of the cross is what makes it Christian. What does it mean? Three elements, which will come out as we continue our study in Mark.
First, it means the end of the natural, the end of what we call "self-sufficiency." That is the philosophy of the day, and how the world despises this message that it must be done away with! Not only does the world not understand it, it literally despises it! Anyone who preaches it is regarded as preaching nonsense. As Christians, we are called upon either to believe our Lord or the voices that whisper in our ears--one or the other. Which is right? The word of the cross means the end of all our reliance upon ourselves, and we do not like that. It means wiping out the natural life. Nothing that we have by virtue of being born is ever worthwhile or acceptable in the sight of God. A cross wipes people out. It does not improve them, does not better them in any way; it wipes them out.
Furthermore, the second element involves pain and hurt. It always does, because we do not like being cut off. Which of us, if allowed to choose the program by which we serve God, would ever include in it defeat, disaster, despair, disappointment, disillusionment, and death? Yet these are the very elements that God finds absolutely essential to working out His plan for us. Difficulty and danger? Yes, we include them. They challenge the flesh and make it appear to be something when it surmounts these. But defeat? Never! Dishonor? Never! Disaster? Disappointment? No! Death? Inconceivable! But they are what God chooses.
The third element of the way of the cross is that it leads to a resurrection. Is it not strange that the disciples never seemed to hear Jesus when, every time He spoke of the cross, He said that after three days He would rise again? They seemed arrested by the cross and could never get beyond it. They rejected it, refused to listen to it, and so they never came to an understanding of what the glorious event of the resurrection would mean, until it actually happened. But the way of the cross always leads to a resurrection, to a new beginning, on different terms. It leads to freedom, to being set free from natural catastrophe and disaster, to having your spirit peaceful and at rest, despite what is happening to your body or your person. This is what people really want. How we long for and dream of being free, whole, adequate, able to handle life, able to cope with whatever comes, undisturbed at heart.
Father, I ask that You will help me understand that Jesus is in the hurts, in the disappointments, in the disasters, that He is leading me on, setting me free from that which is shackling me-all my "self-sufficiency" and "self-reliance," all my desire to be exalted, to be made much of.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons
-----
The True Character of God in Christ
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Gen. 3:15, RSV.
The enmity referred to in the prophecy in Eden was not to be confined merely to Satan and the Prince of life. It was to be universal. Satan and his angels were to feel the enmity of all mankind. "I will put enmity," said God, "between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed."
The enmity put between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman was supernatural. With Christ the enmity was in one sense natural; in another sense it was supernatural, as humanity and divinity were combined. And never was the enmity developed to such a marked degree as when Christ became an inhabitant of this earth. Never before had there been a being upon the earth who hated sin with so perfect a hatred as did Christ. He had seen its deceiving, infatuating power upon the holy angels, and all His powers were enlisted against it.
The purity and holiness of Christ, the spotless righteousness of Him who did no sin, was a perpetual reproach upon all sin in a world of sensuality and sin. In His life the light of truth was flashed amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world. Christ exposed Satan's falsehoods and deceiving character, and in many hearts destroyed his corrupting influence. It was this that stirred Satan with such intense hatred. With his hosts of fallen beings he determined to urge the warfare most vigorously; for there stood in the world One who was a perfect representative of the Father, One whose character and practices refuted Satan's misrepresentation of God. Satan had charged upon God the attribute he himself possessed. Now in Christ he saw God revealed in His true character--a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Him in repentance, and have eternal life.
Intense worldliness has been one of Satan's most successful temptations. He designs to keep the hearts and minds of men so engrossed with worldly attractions that there will be no room for heavenly things. He controls their minds in their love of the world. Earthly things eclipse the heavenly, and put the Lord out of their sight and understanding. . . .
Satan reached only the heel; he could not touch the head. At the death of Christ, Satan saw that he was defeated. He saw that his true character was clearly revealed before all heaven, and that the heavenly beings and the worlds that God had created would be wholly on the side of God. . . . Christ's humanity would demonstrate for eternal ages the question which settled the controversy (Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 254, 255).
From Lift Him Up - Page 20
-----
MIRACLES RIGHT HERE WITH ME
“The age of miracles is still with us.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 153
“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” Psalm 66:5
For what it's worth: If there were miracles, they happened to good people, not sinful, self-centered drunks like me. After all, why would a supreme being with supreme intelligence waste anything of value on a supremely worthless, empty being such as me? So, I can not understand why I was chosen to be rescued from the ruins of alcoholism and carried to a place of miracles, Alcoholics Anonymous. And, indeed, in AA there are miracles, all manner of miracles. Whenever I am together with a group of recovering alcoholics in an AA meeting, convention or on a retreat with AA people, the sharing that occurs during those get-togethers overwhelms me with the reality that miracles are all around me. I am right there seeing and listing to living, breathing, talking miracles. I love to reach out and touch them, shake their hand, put my hand on their shoulder; they are real. They have been raised out of their own hell and hopelessness to this place of miracles and peace – AA - right here with me at this precious moment in my sober life. And we are all most grateful to our God as we understand Him.
God bless you!
Joe W.
21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9
-----
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, 'Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?' He answered, 'Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.' Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.' Mark 2:23-28
-----
Give me oil in my lamp
Oh Lord!
Send to me Your Spirit of Peace, restore to me the joy of my salvation and rekindle within me love for Thee and for all others.
Oh Lord! Keep my spiritual lamp burning brightly.
Don't let it go out, but keep it shining, keep it shining, Oh Glorious Father of Lights.
Give me oil in my lamp, Oh Lord, give me oil in my lamp.
The oil of gladness and the oil of joy pour out upon me that the light of rejoicing would shine out through the windows and doors of my heart.
The oil of goodness and the oil of faith, pour out upon me that others would see the resulting light of goodness and the flame of your miracle working power and glorify You, Oh Father, who dwells in the Heavens.
Let your light shine through me. Let it shine!
Shine on!
Amen!
©01/14/2001 Jim Welch
-----
Hand in Hand
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Have you ever knelt beside a stream of water to take a drink and use your hands, cupped together, to draw the water to your mouth. Even if you haven't, I'm sure you can picture doing so. One hand does all right, but when the two are brought together the amount of water that is held increases quite a bit more, making it easier to carry the water to your mouth without it all going down the front of your shirt.
I remember a preacher who desired very much to see his church grow, both spiritually and in number. He really cared. Yet, out of his concern he tried to do everything that had to be done. He took it upon himself to lead, plan and approve any and all activities within the church. It was not long before his efforts led to his own fatigue. His concern gave way to the undue pressures he placed upon himself and his work of love soon became nothing more than a task to be accomplished. The church's response was to see him as a dictator, and before long they asked him for his resignation.
A lot of good intentions are at the root of many efforts for doing God's work. Sure, our heart is in it and we want to see God's work done--we want to see lives changed. But to go it alone was never God's intent for any of us. We need the support and prayer of others, no matter how great or how small the work we do. Sometimes we need the help of others--along side of us--working hand in hand. We most definitely need God no matter what we are doing. We simply were not intended to do it on our own.
How many times have you felt that you were alone in your cause, your work, or your beliefs? Did you ever feel stronger because of it? Or did you feel isolated and like you just wanted to withdraw from the world for a while so you could get your strength back? Maybe you felt like your thoughts were yours alone and that no one else understood, and so you would just keep your mouth shut and wait for everything to blow over.
The only thing that comes from such feelings of personal aloneness is that we become even more isolated than before. We want to be effective and fruitful in the work for the Lord, yet we cripple our efforts by standing on our own two feet.
God's plan for us is to have a support group of which He is the coordinator. He (not us), directs the course of His work. He shows us the what, where, who and how of something to be done. Then He provides us with people in our lives that will encourage and pray for us, and sometimes work right along side of us.
First, find out what God is wanting you to do. Secondly, rely on Him to empower you to do it (trust in His abilities--not your own). Third, have at least two or three people who will support you, advise you, pray for you and encourage you. Report to them the progress of the work, and keep them aware of how they can be praying for you. The increase will come and you will know more than ever before that you are not alone.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Day by Day Devotionals
-----
Read Genesis 40 -- 42 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ge+40-ge+42§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
It's hard to put the Bible down as we read the thrilling events of Joseph's dramatic rise to become second only to Pharaoh as ruler of Egypt.
From foreign slave to service as the Egyptian king's prime minister is the story of Joseph's life. There were many years of cruel suffering before he became the savior of his people. It appears from Ps. 105:17-18 that he suffered permanent physical injury as well as three betrayals. First, the violent jealousy of his brothers; next, the perverted passions of Potiphar's wife; and also, the cruel forgetfulness of the chief butler. But regardless of his many adverse circumstances and disappointments, Joseph maintained a steadfast loyalty to God.
Joseph confidently told Pharaoh that God ruled over the affairs of earth, although, from all outward appearances, the events which took place in Joseph's life would seem to contradict that fact. Two years earlier, two of Pharaoh's officers were in prison and depressed over their dreams (Gen. 41:11). Even in that situation, Joseph pointed out how God ruled by asking: Do not interpretations belong to God (40:8). When he was telling them about his own circumstances, he did not blame his brothers for his situation. He simply stated: I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon (40:15). In every crisis, Joseph acknowledged that God was with him.
God is in control of the affairs of our lives. However, even when we remain faithful to Him, we may endure months, or even years of testing, when it may appear that God either does not care about us or will not do anything about our circumstances. The life of Joseph points out that the enemies of God cannot defeat the person whose supreme desire is to be obedient to Him, regardless of adverse situations. Pity the faithless critic who blames God for his problems and, in self-pity, complains: "Why me?" God has amazing ways of developing our talents, maturing us spiritually, and honoring all who remain faithful to Him (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10).
There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity or to preparation for being used by the Lord. The discipline of hardship is necessary to develop spiritual strength, but it is never one hour longer than needed to develop His plan for our lives.
This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps (I Pet. 2:19-21).
Thought for Today:
Our tests and trials are never allowed for a whim or for sport, but God always has a higher purpose for our lives that he is developing.
Christ Revealed:
By the wisdom of Joseph (Gen. 41:39). Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2-3).
Word Studies:
40:1 butler = cupbearer, chief servant officer; 40:3 in ward = in custody; 41:3 ill favoured = very skinny; brink = bank; 41:5 rank = large full grain; 41:6 blasted = blighted; 41:18 fat fleshed = fine looking; 41:33 a man discreet = of wisdom and discernment; 41:35 hand = authority; 41:47 by handfuls = abundantly; 41:54 dearth = famine; 41:56 waxed sore = became severe; 42:7 made himself strange unto them = acted as a stranger to them; 42:15 proved = tested; 42:21 besought = begged; 42:34 traffick-do business.
-----
God Planned You as a Master Creation
Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!
David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
-----
1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 13, 2009
The Pain of Loving Support
"His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!' He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." - Job 2:9-10
One of Satan's great tools is discouragement, for if the devil can get us discouraged, we will often turn on God. We can see this happening in the book of Job; the devil is attacking Job with catastrophe after catastrophe, and there seems to be no hope of any relief. So what advice did he get from those who loved him the most? Look at his wife's response, "Do you still hold fast [to] your integrity? Curse God and die!"
Now before you judge Job's wife too harshly, understand this: the toughest temptations we face in life will sometimes come through people who love us the most. That's because these people have genuine concern for us and don't want us to hurt. So, oftentimes, they urge us to take the easy way out - man's way. The devil knows this and enjoys using those who love us to lead us into temptation and out of the will of God. Jesus certainly experienced this when Peter urged Him not to talk about going to the cross. Jesus knew the source of Peter's thinking and responded angrily, "Get out of here, Satan!"
That's why Christian spouses and friends have an incredibly important responsibility. When we see a brother or sister in Christ facing a crisis or temptation, we must avoid inadvertently becoming a pawn of the evil one. We must realize that we must help the loved one fight the temptation to take the easy way out, or to give up, or to give in. Become your loved one's partner in his or her difficult struggle and patiently encourage them to do things the Lord's way - even when it's the hard way - because His way is always the best.
-----
1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 14, 2009
Why God Hates Divorce
"I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel..." - Malachi 2:16a
God could not be clearer, He hates divorce. Scripture actually lists four specific reasons why He feels this way.
1. First, He observes that divorce so often springs from adultery - a complete violation of the marital bonds.
2. Secondly, He notes that divorce is sometimes the result of a man who deals treacherously with the wife of his youth - in other words, he casually trades her in for a newer model.
3. God hates divorce because it treats the sacred institution with contempt, as the couple disregards the covenant commitment they made before God.
4. But perhaps God's greatest reason for hating divorce is because of the harm it brings to children. The Scripture refers to "Godly offspring," and how difficult it is to have Godly offspring with the children of divorce. Why is this? Because these children have seen the most sacred human relationship trivialized and destroyed. They have been disillusioned. And what do children do when they are disillusioned? They become confused and angry, and they often blame God; even worse, they blame themselves.
Human nature tends to turn against God, rebel against God, and blame God for the sinfulness of man. The best way to have Godly offspring is to have Godly parents who believe it is worth the time and effort it will take to save their marriages.
-----
Controlling Anger
Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1-8; Proverbs 29:11,22; 30:33; James 1:19-20.
A lot of movies today advise to let your anger take control. Take revenge, let yourself hate, let it all hang out. Be a "Terminator". The first murder, which involved brothers and jealousy, was a direct result of anger. Cain's offering did not please God. Abel's did. Cain became enraged, and let his anger consume him. Anger is a powerful emotion. It must be controlled. Having a "temper" is nothing to be proud of. If you don't learn to control your anger, it will destroy you.
Moment of Meditation: The road called Anger is a direct route to hatred and murder.
A Talk with Jesus: Jesus, check my anger with Your Spirit of Peace. Amen.
For Further Study: Proverbs 15:1; 21:23; 22:24-25; Matthew 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5; Ephesians 4:26-27.
-----
Today
Daily Devotional for January 14
Mark 11:22 "Have faith in God"
* Our heart today; is it in love with the Lord?
* Do we get excited when we hear His name?
* Do we wonder what heaven will be like today, or are we too busy with worry?
* Have we prayed today for his guidance, or have we just stepped out on our own way?
* Today have we hugged our children and shared the love of God, or have we just hurried off to work?
* There is a blessing or a cursing set before us. How have we chosen today?
* Have we shared the love of Christ today, or kept Him for ourselves?
* Today did we tell our wife how much we love her?
* Today did the wife share her love with her husband?
* The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. Have we taken the time today to read and study it's wonderful words of life?
* There is still time today to give your life to Christ Jesus our Lord.
* Remember, today is the day of your salvation.
-----
The Necessity Of The Cross
January 14th
READ: Mark 8:22-33
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31).
Christianity without the cross is not Christianity at all, but a shabby, slimy substitute. The word of the cross is what makes it Christian. What does it mean? Three elements, which will come out as we continue our study in Mark.
First, it means the end of the natural, the end of what we call "self-sufficiency." That is the philosophy of the day, and how the world despises this message that it must be done away with! Not only does the world not understand it, it literally despises it! Anyone who preaches it is regarded as preaching nonsense. As Christians, we are called upon either to believe our Lord or the voices that whisper in our ears--one or the other. Which is right? The word of the cross means the end of all our reliance upon ourselves, and we do not like that. It means wiping out the natural life. Nothing that we have by virtue of being born is ever worthwhile or acceptable in the sight of God. A cross wipes people out. It does not improve them, does not better them in any way; it wipes them out.
Furthermore, the second element involves pain and hurt. It always does, because we do not like being cut off. Which of us, if allowed to choose the program by which we serve God, would ever include in it defeat, disaster, despair, disappointment, disillusionment, and death? Yet these are the very elements that God finds absolutely essential to working out His plan for us. Difficulty and danger? Yes, we include them. They challenge the flesh and make it appear to be something when it surmounts these. But defeat? Never! Dishonor? Never! Disaster? Disappointment? No! Death? Inconceivable! But they are what God chooses.
The third element of the way of the cross is that it leads to a resurrection. Is it not strange that the disciples never seemed to hear Jesus when, every time He spoke of the cross, He said that after three days He would rise again? They seemed arrested by the cross and could never get beyond it. They rejected it, refused to listen to it, and so they never came to an understanding of what the glorious event of the resurrection would mean, until it actually happened. But the way of the cross always leads to a resurrection, to a new beginning, on different terms. It leads to freedom, to being set free from natural catastrophe and disaster, to having your spirit peaceful and at rest, despite what is happening to your body or your person. This is what people really want. How we long for and dream of being free, whole, adequate, able to handle life, able to cope with whatever comes, undisturbed at heart.
Father, I ask that You will help me understand that Jesus is in the hurts, in the disappointments, in the disasters, that He is leading me on, setting me free from that which is shackling me-all my "self-sufficiency" and "self-reliance," all my desire to be exalted, to be made much of.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons
-----
The True Character of God in Christ
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Gen. 3:15, RSV.
The enmity referred to in the prophecy in Eden was not to be confined merely to Satan and the Prince of life. It was to be universal. Satan and his angels were to feel the enmity of all mankind. "I will put enmity," said God, "between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed."
The enmity put between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman was supernatural. With Christ the enmity was in one sense natural; in another sense it was supernatural, as humanity and divinity were combined. And never was the enmity developed to such a marked degree as when Christ became an inhabitant of this earth. Never before had there been a being upon the earth who hated sin with so perfect a hatred as did Christ. He had seen its deceiving, infatuating power upon the holy angels, and all His powers were enlisted against it.
The purity and holiness of Christ, the spotless righteousness of Him who did no sin, was a perpetual reproach upon all sin in a world of sensuality and sin. In His life the light of truth was flashed amid the moral darkness with which Satan had enshrouded the world. Christ exposed Satan's falsehoods and deceiving character, and in many hearts destroyed his corrupting influence. It was this that stirred Satan with such intense hatred. With his hosts of fallen beings he determined to urge the warfare most vigorously; for there stood in the world One who was a perfect representative of the Father, One whose character and practices refuted Satan's misrepresentation of God. Satan had charged upon God the attribute he himself possessed. Now in Christ he saw God revealed in His true character--a compassionate, merciful Father, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Him in repentance, and have eternal life.
Intense worldliness has been one of Satan's most successful temptations. He designs to keep the hearts and minds of men so engrossed with worldly attractions that there will be no room for heavenly things. He controls their minds in their love of the world. Earthly things eclipse the heavenly, and put the Lord out of their sight and understanding. . . .
Satan reached only the heel; he could not touch the head. At the death of Christ, Satan saw that he was defeated. He saw that his true character was clearly revealed before all heaven, and that the heavenly beings and the worlds that God had created would be wholly on the side of God. . . . Christ's humanity would demonstrate for eternal ages the question which settled the controversy (Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 254, 255).
From Lift Him Up - Page 20
-----
MIRACLES RIGHT HERE WITH ME
“The age of miracles is still with us.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 153
“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” Psalm 66:5
For what it's worth: If there were miracles, they happened to good people, not sinful, self-centered drunks like me. After all, why would a supreme being with supreme intelligence waste anything of value on a supremely worthless, empty being such as me? So, I can not understand why I was chosen to be rescued from the ruins of alcoholism and carried to a place of miracles, Alcoholics Anonymous. And, indeed, in AA there are miracles, all manner of miracles. Whenever I am together with a group of recovering alcoholics in an AA meeting, convention or on a retreat with AA people, the sharing that occurs during those get-togethers overwhelms me with the reality that miracles are all around me. I am right there seeing and listing to living, breathing, talking miracles. I love to reach out and touch them, shake their hand, put my hand on their shoulder; they are real. They have been raised out of their own hell and hopelessness to this place of miracles and peace – AA - right here with me at this precious moment in my sober life. And we are all most grateful to our God as we understand Him.
God bless you!
Joe W.