You know something they don't!

 

If you knew that a certain kind of spring water was not pure and healthy as it was advertised to be, but was actually contaminated by a poisonous mold what would your response be to those who were contemplating drinking it?

Would you not warn them explaining the danger and the sure consequence that will follow if they continue? Would you first think of ways you can warn them without offending them? No, there’s no time for that. They are in danger of death and you know the only way they can get out of that danger – don’t drink the water!
People gulp down sin every day and live for themselves, yet consider themselves to be good people who God will forgive in the end. It is a lie. Lost people do not see the seriousness of their sin and the holiness of God. Many people agree that they are a sinner but they don’t understand what sin is.

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4

As I was taking a walk this morning around a lake, I started chatting with a woman walking her dog. We first talked about the weather and the cooler temperatures coming this weekend and then I said to her, “Hey, good news! Jesus Christ is risen!!” Her smile immediately disappeared and she said, “That’s not for me. Im a good person. I don’t need your Jesus.”

Talk about a good morning greeting!

The two of us and her dog walked a ways around the lake. I explained to her what sin is using the 10 Commandments and shared with her how God must deal with sin being that He is holy and just. Sin will be punished wherever it is found. I then told her what God did for us by becoming a man, Jesus of Nazareth. He lived a perfect life and went to the cross and took our sins upon Himself. The fierce wrath of God the Father was poured out on Him. He died and three days later rose from the dead. Jesus paid the price for our sin in His own life’s blood! I told her that if she would humble herself recognizing the sinful condition of her heart and cry out to God for forgiveness, He will have mercy on her as He has had on me. She continued to take refuge in her good works, but I know she will be thinking about this for a while.

We must faithfully share the biblical Gospel. If all we tell people is that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives, they will not understand they are in danger of God’s Judgement and they will not come to a place of genuine repentance.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

When you woke up this morning, you did not see the stars in the sky. Why? Because you can only see those starts against the black backdrop of the night sky. Similarly, the Good News will only make sense to a person when it is presented against the black backdrop of their sin and depravity. It is truly GOOD NEWS!
Hallelujah for the blood of the Lamb that was slain! Go share your faith while you still have time!

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Find Christ

“When men earnestly seek the Lord and are in earnest about their salvation, they will soon find Christ. You do not need to go up to the heights to bring Him down, or down to the depths to bring Him up, or go off to some distant city to find Him. This day He is near to every one of us.” D. L. Moody

Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

An Unseen Battle

Read | Ephesians 6:10-12

Satan does exist—our broken society testifies to his reality. Those who ignore him do so at their own peril. This is also true of Christians, because we are all at war against him. Spiritual warfare is personal; Satan crafts specific attacks for each individual. Though he cannot steal a believer’s spirit from God, he can and does harass us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Every ambush and frontal attack is meant to defeat our witness so we can’t live a victorious Christ-centered life.

Our foe is not omniscient, but he is crafty. He observes our strong and weak points to determine the best areas for attack. As soon as his quarry becomes comfortable and least expects trouble, the Adversary springs a trap. Among his most deceptive tactics is hiding behind familiar faces in order to misguide our fury. For example, he may tempt a husband to make an unwise financial decision that angers the wife and leaves her feeling insecure. But the husband is not her enemy—he needs her love and forgiveness. The enemy is always Satan and his legion of demons.

The first rule of warfare is to know one’s enemy, and thanks to Scripture, we can. The Bible also contains an important assurance: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

The combined forces of hell cannot equal the supernatural power of a single believer. We have Christ living within us—the same Christ who was triumphant on the cross and whose final victory over Satan is prophesied in Revelation. Through Him, we can conquer Satan and win our unseen battles.

Yes, you failed. But God still wants to use you.

I'll never forget the day I heard that a man I've known and admired for years had suffered an emotional breakdown earlier in his life. Immediately, I felt compelled to express my profound respect. But he was embarrassed. To him, the breakdown represented the low-water mark of his past.

I've discovered that my friend isn't alone. We often think we should mask our painful pasts lest people think less of us. But the truth is, the more we peel back the veneer, the more others' respect for us grows.

I love the way the old King James Version renders the words of Isaiah: "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD; look unto the rock, whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged" (51:1). What excellent advice!

Isaiah's words come from a context where God showered grace upon an impossible situation. The prophet is writing to Jews who could easily forget their dark and dreadful beginning. He is urging them to remember how their nation got its start. It all began through the life of one man, Abraham, who lived in the idolatrous land known as Ur of the Chaldeans. What a hellhole of paganism! Out of that dark and dreadful existence, Abraham emerged at the age of 75, along with his wife, Sarah, age 65. And from those two came Isaac, the promised son.

As we read in the New Living Translation, "Abraham was only one man when I called him, but when I blessed him, he became a great nation" (51:2). From the pit of paganism, that one man became the father of the faithful. What hope that gives to us all!

None of us has a lily-white past, and before we get all enamored with ourselves, it's a good idea to take a backward glance at "the hole of the pit" from which Christ has lifted us. Admitting our pasts keeps us all on the same level—recipients of grace.

Even those we admire in the Bible have holes from which they were dug. With Moses it was murder. With Hosea it was a failed marriage. With Joseph it was a dysfunctional family. With David it was lust. With Rahab it was prostitution. Some of God's most effective and respected people have crawled out of the deepest, most scandalous holes anyone can imagine. And it was that which kept them humble, honest individuals. -Chuck Swindoll

Function of the Law

“The First Commandment, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before Me’: My friend, are you ready to be weighed against this Commandment? Have you fulfilled, or are you willing to fulfill all the requirements of this Law? Put it into one of the scales, and step into the other. Is your heart set upon God alone? Have you no other God? Do you love Him above father or mother, the wife of your bosom, your children, home or land, wealth or pleasure? If men were true to this commandment, obedience to the remaining nine would follow naturally. It is because they are unsound in this that they break the others.” D. L. Moody

Deuteronomy 30:10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

A Consuming Fire

If you were to place a dried-out leaf into the presence of fire, you would notice that the fire would not hesitate to consume the leaf in a matter of seconds. The fire must consume the leaf because of its very nature. Even if the fire didn’t want to dispose of the leaf, it wouldn’t matter; it still must consume it because their natures are diametrically opposed to one other.

Our God is a consuming fire. By His very nature, God must consume anything and everything that opposes His nature. We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, or we will be consumed by the ever-pure, burning holiness of the King of kings. In a fire, the only safe place is where it has already burned. On Judgment Day, the only place of safety is where God’s wrath has already been—Christ.

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

A Season of Trials

10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. 11My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. 12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
—Job 23:10-12


Clearly stated, trials have a season. Whether for weeks or months or years, the normal trial lasts for an appointed time. When we’re undergoing a trial, it may seem unending, but there’s a limit, a date stamp, and an end point. Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” And Hebrews 12:11 says that “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant . . .”


In my own trials, I have come to see that a lot of the struggle is about when. Sometimes we think, “If I knew now what the outcomes would be, even if they are not all exactly as I desire, I could begin to deal with it.” But if we are walking by faith and resting in the promises of God, we don’t have a lot of questions about what. We know what God has promised to do—His intention is to bring good out of any trial. So the only thing left to be burdened about is the when. When will God act? When will God plead my case? When will God heal my body? When will God restore that relationship or right that wrong or . . .? When—that’s what we are longing to know!


Job 23:10 assures us the time is coming. There’s going to be an afterward. Hold on—there’s going to be an end to this trouble. God is watching your life and at some point in this trial, He will say enough. That moment may be crystal clear to you or you may realize one day you are now looking back at a trial rather than at it. Afterward is a trial in the rearview mirror.


Job’s assurance can be yours and mine today. Get under it and don’t waste any days. The sooner you and I get what He has for us, the sooner He will bring us out. This painful season is coming to an end.


“When will He do that?” you ask. I’ll let Job answer your question: “When He has tried you.”

Learning to Wait

Read | Psalm 25:20-21

What are we to think when God withholds His answer to a prayer? Most likely, you’ve wondered this at some point. As creatures stuck within time, we can find those ticking seconds very frustrating.

We must realize that God doesn’t see us simply in the here and now; He perceives the big picture all at once—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. He knows exactly how every little decision, action, or blessing will impact our lives.

Do you think God wants to bring some- thing into your life that would absolutely destroy you? Of course not! He knows that what may be a tremendous blessing for you later could completely wreck your life now. For this reason, though the Lord hears your prayer, He often pauses to give you time to prepare for that blessing.

Learning to wait on God demands at least three things of us. First, we must be sensitive to Him. That is, we must nurture our relationship with the Father so we can hear Him when He says “Wait.” Second, we must trust His judgment. Does God know more than we do? Yes. Then we should trust Him. Third, we must be obedient to Him. If we try to make something happen on our own after God tells us to wait, then we’re heading for disaster. The Lord blesses obedience—even obedient waiting.

God doesn’t operate in a vacuum; He works within His relationship with you, on the basis of His omniscience, omnipotence, and love. Never forget He’s actively walking with you, even when He withholds an answer to prayer. It doesn’t mean He’s not there; it means He’s looking out for you even more.

How Will You Live?

And Jesus said, . . . and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
–Mark 14:62

The world in which we live is full of pessimism. No Christian has the scriptural right to go around wringing his hands wondering what we are to do in the face of the present world situation. The Scripture says that in the midst of persecution, confusion, wars, and rumors of wars, we are to comfort one another with the knowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back in triumph, glory, and majesty. Many times when I go to bed at night I think to myself that before I awaken Christ may come. Sometimes when I get up and look at the dawn I think that perhaps this is the day He will come. He has told us Christians to be watching constantly and to be ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). Do you think Christ will come today? “Probably not,” you say. It is on just such a day that He may come. What a glorious time of reunion it’s going to be, when we shall be caught up with Him!

PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Thank You, Jesus, for the hope that even today I may have the joy of seeing You face to face!

Wretched: Paul Washer: How to lead someone to the Lord.

Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook, and become a 'Follower' here, or sign up for email notifications on the bottom right of this page. As always, thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you!-Walking In The Way

Are we committed?

How committed are we to reaching the lost? Too often we creep out into the waters of evangelism, but only up to our ankles. We would find a new liberty if we abandoned ourselves to the task of bringing others to the “pure river of water of life” (see Rev. 22:1).

Ezekiel 47:1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

Surviving our present Culture

Read | 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

When we are called into a new life with Christ, we will encounter obstacles. One of the biggest barriers is the culture in which we live. We may not ever recognize the danger we are in until we fall. Let’s look honestly at our world.

First, it’s a secular culture, which means it has little interest in religious matters or the Bible. It teaches us to trust in ourselves and in the things we can see rather than in our unseen triune God.

Our world is also materialistic. Its primary focus is on accumulating possessions and gaining wealth, not on caring about others and giving sacrificially. Tragically, many of the things our culture values stand in opposition to the way Jesus calls us to live. When Scripture contradicts what our society believes, it’s not uncommon for people to belittle our lifestyle as narrow-minded and extreme.

In many ways, our society is spiritually rebellious, in that it defies both the laws of God and the laws of man; obedience is considered optional. A large percentage of the population rejects God’s viewpoint on intimacy and marriage in order to please self—as a result, immorality is prevalent. But they have been deceived into thinking that they can violate God’s laws without any consequences.

Unless we’re careful, we can fall prey to the world’s traps. The key to avoiding its snares is God’s Word. When we study Scripture, the Holy Spirit will identify lies we are believing and show how we can apply God’s truth to set us free. Are you immersed in the culture or in God’s truth?

Plane Speaking

Two hundred years ago, “rational” thinking folks would have mocked you if you spoke of the possibility of massive jumbo jets floating through the air filled with human beings. Any sensible person knew that massively heavy objects couldn’t possibly float through the air, as though they were lighter than a feather. They “knew” this because of an invisible law—the law of gravity. But we now know that this is possible, because of another law that overcomes gravity. When an object moves at a certain speed, it supersedes the invisible law of gravity and enters into another invisible law—the law of aerodynamics. Gravity remains, but the heavy object breaks free from its influence.

The Bible says that all of humanity is subject to an invisible law—“the law of sin and death.” That law says that the soul who sins will die. Those who deny that it exists should simply take a trip to a graveyard (they will one day). Universal death proves that this law is a reality. However, because of the cross of Jesus Christ, we can break free from the law of sin and death. The moment you repent and trust in the risen Savior, you move into the influence of another invisible law. This is a higher law—“the law of life in Christ Jesus”—and it is simple to prove. You need only to step into the plane. Tragically, most don’t, because of a closed mind. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

New heart and spirit

This is the miracle of the new birth (see John 3:3). Many people, when questioned about their faith, will say that they have been born again. They confuse it with being sprinkled as a baby or having a change of mind about God. So make sure you explain that the new birth comes through understanding the nature of sin and exercising “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21) for eternal salvation. It takes place when God gives a new heart with new desires, gives a new spirit, and makes a sinner a new creature in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Without the new birth (being born again), there is no salvation. See also Ezek. 18:31; 36:26,27; Psa. 51:10,11.

Ezekiel 11:19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and takethe stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

God loves His Law

Notice that the ark was the centerpiece: they “assembled…before the ark,” they “brought in the ark,” etc. Also notice that there was nothing in the ark but the Ten Commandments. God loves His Law (the reason for the cross), and He cannot be separated from it. Scripture calls Him the “habitation of justice” (see Jer. 50:7). We are told that God is perfect, holy, just, and good, and that His Law—the very essence of His character—is also perfect, holy, just, and good (see Psa. 19:7; Rom. 7:12). This is why God came down in such glory. May the Church honor and uphold His Law and have the same experience.

1 Kings 8:9 Nothing was in the arkexcept the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

Feeling the Hurts of Others

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light . . .
–1 John 2:10

This age in which we live could hardly be described as conducive to a sensitiveness of the needs of others. We have developed a veneer of sophistication and hardness. Abraham Lincoln once said, characteristically, “I am sorry for the man who can’t feel the whip when it is laid on the other man’s back.” Much of the world is calloused and indifferent toward mankind’s poverty and distress. This is due largely to the fact that for many people there has never been a rebirth. The love of God has never been shed abroad in their hearts. Many people speak of the social gospel as though it were separate and apart from the redemptive Gospel. The truth is: there is only one Gospel. We must be redeemed, we must be made right with God before we can become sensitive to the needs of others. Divine love, like a reflected sunbeam, shines down before it radiates out. Unless our hearts are conditioned by the Holy Spirit to receive and reflect the warmth of God’s compassion, we cannot love our fellowmen as we ought.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Help me to feel another person’s hurt and be concerned, Father, so that I may shed the light of Your love in an uncaring world.

A Time for Courage

Read | Joshua 1:5-7

Even before the Israelites set out to conquer the Promised Land, the Lord knew everything they would experience—including the unconventional victory at Jericho, the defeat at Ai, and the Gibeonites’ deception (Josh. 6–9). And so He gave a command and a promise to Joshua, His chosen leader of the people. God knows what lies ahead for today’s believers as well, and His words still apply to all who walk with Him.

• The Command: “Be strong and courageous!” (1:6, 7, 9). So many things in this life threaten to overshadow godly hearts and minds. Adversaries assail us in the workplace, our neighborhoods, and sometimes even in our homes. We often have occasion to wonder if we are making a good decision or following the wisest course. Like the Israelites, we face battles, enemies, and trials. And yet God tells us to have courage and strength as we confront what comes.

• The Promise: “I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (v. 5). The Lord’s command would be impossible to obey without His promise. We stand not on our own strength and resolve but on the unwavering power of God. The guarantee of His presence and guidance is ours to claim.

The writer of Psalm 118 trusted in God’s command and promise from Joshua 1. He penned, “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (v. 6). No one can remove God’s love from us, take our salvation, or make us forfeit our right to faithfully abide with Him forever.

Reason for the Storms of Life

Read | 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

The Lord is never taken by surprise. He knows everything we’re going through, and He is orchestrating our circumstances for both our benefit and His glory, according to His good will.

One purpose for hardship is to cleanse us. Because of our own “flesh” nature and the self-absorbed world we live in, it is easy to develop me-centered attitudes, mixed-up priorities, and ungodly habits. The pressures bearing down on us from stormy situations are meant to bring these impurities to our attention and direct us to a place of repentance. Our trials are not intended to sink us but rather to purify and guide us back to the way of godliness.

Another reason for adversity is so we’ll bring comfort to others. God’s work in our lives is not meant solely for us. It is designed to reach a world that doesn’t recognize or acknowledge Him. The Lord uses the pressures we face to equip us for serving others. As we endure suffering, we will learn about God’s sufficiency, His comforting presence, and His provision of strength to help us endure. Our testimony during times of difficulty will be authentic; those to whom we minister will recognize that we know and understand their pain. What credibility would we have with people in crisis if we ourselves never experienced a deep need?

Reflecting on the divine purpose behind our hardships can help us respond to them in a God-honoring way. Take the time to fix your attention on the Lord, and seek to understand what He wants you to learn. His lessons often unfold gradually, but He will be walking by your side the whole way.

Speaking to the dead

Those who attempt to speak to the dead are dabbling with the demonic realm, a forbidden occult practice that is punishable by stoning: “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones” (Lev. 20:27).

Unger’s Bible Dictionary tells us: “[A] familiar spirit is a divining demon present in the physical body of the conjurer...The term ‘familiar’ is used to describe the foreboding demon because it was regarded by the English translators as a secret (famulus), belonging to the family (familiaris), who was on intimate terms with and might be readily summoned by the one possessing it.” God prohibits “one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD” (Deut. 18:10–12). God killed King Saul after he sought guidance through a familiar spirit, rather than through the Lord (see 1 Sam. 28:7). Those who desire the supernatural should seek God through prayer and through His Word.

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 14But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

God's purpose in our Difficulties

Read | Romans 8:28-29

If we could choose the number of difficulties we would face in a month, most of us would pick zero. Yet the Lord sees value in troublesome times. Through His mighty power, He uses trials to achieve His plans.

One of God’s purposes for us is a growing intimacy in our relationship with Him. But He knows we struggle to put Him first over our own interests. Many of us place higher priority on family and friends than on companionship with God. For others, finances, the workplace, or even pleasures interfere. When the Lord sees our attention is drifting away from Him, He might use hardships to draw us back so that we’ll give Him His proper place.

Another reason God allows difficulties is to conform us to the image of Jesus. Pain is a tool that brings areas of ungodliness to the surface; God also uses it to sift, shape, and prune us. The sanctification process—the building of Christlike character into our lives—starts at salvation and ends with our last breath.

A third aim for stressful circumstances is to reveal true convictions. Our faith is tested in tough times. It’s easy to say, “God is good” when things are peaceful. But when everything goes awry, what do we believe about Him? At such times, do our words and actions reveal an attitude of trust?

King David endured many heartaches—a disintegrating family, personal attacks, and betrayal by those close to Him. But through trials, he gained deeper intimacy with God, stronger faith, and more godly character. Won’t you let the Lord use your present situation to accomplish His good purpose?

The Cleansing power of Christ

For if the blood of bulls and of goats . . . sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
–Hebrews 9:13,14

To have a guilty conscience is an experience. Psychologists may define it as a guilt complex and may seek to rationalize away the sense of guilt; but once this has been awakened through the application of the law of God, no explanation will quiet the insistent voice of conscience. Many a criminal has finally given himself over to the authorities because the accusations of a guilty conscience were worse than prison bars. The Bible teaches that Christ cleanses the conscience. To have a guilty conscience cleansed and to be free from its constant accusation is an experience, but it is not the cleansing of the conscience that saves you; it is faith in Christ that saves, and a cleansed conscience is the result of having come into the right relationship with God.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY
I stand in awe of the magnitude of Your forgiveness, Father.

The Beauty of Jesus Christ by Paul Washer

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Living out Your call

Read | 1 Peter 2:9-12

Which term is a better description of your life as a Christian: believer or Christ-follower? A believer can be intellectually certain about a lot of things without necessarily putting them into practice. But saying “I’m a follower of Jesus Christ” narrows life down to a single path.

How can we follow the path to which God calls you? First, we must trust Him (John 14:1), because we will not follow someone we don’t trust. Trust develops as we abide in Him and discover the beauty of His character, the depth of His love, and the perfection of His plan.

Secondly, to follow means to obey Him (John 14:15). When it comes to obeying God, there are only two responses: I will or I won’t. A true follower of Jesus combines trust with obedience, endeavoring to say “Yes, I will” when it’s difficult, “Yes, I will” when it’s unpopular, and “Yes, I will” even when it may cause heartache or suffering.

Lastly, to follow Jesus means to serve Him. As God’s children, we are not to be observers; we’re to participate actively in the Lord’s work. Spectators sit and watch, but we are called to use our spiritual gifts and serve continually. In the body of Christ, each member is called to do his or her part (1 Cor. 12:27-28).

Jesus trusted His Father totally, obeyed sacrificially (Phil. 2:8), and lived a life of service (Matt. 20:28). We are called to emulate Him. In which of those areas do you need to follow Christ more closely? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a trusting servant’s heart and an obedient spirit.

The Function of the Law

The covenant of the Law was given that we might fear God. Those who preach the gospel with no reference to God’s Law will reap “converts” who have no reverence for God. Verse 5 underscores the Third Commandment, which demands reverence for God’s holy name.

The end of these “converts” can be seen in Matt. 7:21–23. They continue to practice “lawlessness” despite doing religious works in His name. The genuine convert, however, will have the Law of truth in his mouth. He will magnify God’s Law and make it honorable (see Isa. 42:21). He has named the name of Christ and departed from iniquity (see 2 Tim. 2:19). Iniquity is not found in his lips, and he turns many away from iniquity because his preaching makes continual reference to the Law that sinners have violated.

Jesus rebuked the lawyers, those who should have been preaching God’s Law to bring the knowledge of sin to Israel. He said, “You have taken away the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52). It is the key of the Law that leads to the door of the Savior. It is a “tutor” to bring us to Christ (see Gal. 3:24).

If you want sinners to be saved, don’t be afraid to confront them with the Ten Commandments.

Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
6The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
7“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8But you have departed from the way;
You have caused many to stumble at the law.
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

What is God like?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there . . .
–Psalm 139:8

I believe it is possible to know what God is like. The Bible declares that God is Spirit, that He is not limited to body; He is not limited to shape; He is not limited to force; He is not limited to boundaries or bonds; He is absolutely immeasurable. Thousands of people are trying to limit God to certain spheres, and relegate Him to certain categories that are the product of their own speculation. There is no limit to God. There is no limit to His wisdom. There is no limit to His power. There is no limit to His love. There is no limit to His mercy. Men change, fashions change, conditions and circumstances change, but God never changes.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY
I limit You so many times, Lord. Forgive my finite mind and fill me with Your wisdom, power, and mercy, so that I can touch those You love this day.

The Blueprint for Being Born Again (John 3:3) John MacArthur

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In His Image

Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.
–Psalm 51:10 (TLB)

You were created in the image and likeness of God. You were made for God’s fellowship, and your heart can never be satisfied without His communion. Just as iron is attracted to a magnet, the soul in its state of hunger is drawn to God. Though you, like thousands of others, may feel in the state of sin that the world is more alluring and more to your liking, some day—perhaps even now as you read these words—you will acknowledge that there is something deep down inside you which cannot be satisfied by the alloy of earth. Then with David, the Psalmist who had sampled the delicacies of sin and had found them unsatisfying, you will say, “Oh God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

PRAYER FOR THE DAY
How I long for You, God, yet so often my heart is drawn away from Your leading. Like David, I desire a clean heart.

Understanding your calling

Read | Luke 9:57-62

Our Father has specific plans for each of His children. Toward that end, He has placed a three-fold call on the life of every believer:

l. We are called to salvation in Jesus. Trusting Christ as our Savior initiates a personal relationship with Him through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. He wants us to lay down the burden of trying to work out salvation ourselves. Instead, He invites us to trust Him to do the transforming work in us. (Matt. 11:28-29)

2. We are called to abide in Jesus. Abiding in the Lord means: listening to Him speak through Scripture; living in growing dependence on Him; learning to know Him more intimately; and drawing upon His power to live a godly life. Jesus calls us to make our relationship with Him primary above all other relationships and to remain with Him without interruption all of our days.

3. We are called to follow Jesus. To follow someone requires knowing his character, his plans, and how he desires to carry them out. The Bible clearly tells us everything we need to know in order to live under Jesus’ leadership. The evidence that we are following Him will show in our attitudes, conduct, character, conversation, and relationships.

Without the Holy Spirit’s presence—which we received at salvation—we can’t abide in Jesus. (John 15:4, 26). Without abiding in Christ, we won’t know Him well enough to follow. If we choose not to follow, we’ll miss out on the joy God has planned for us. Are you living out His three-fold call?

When we feel Inferior

Read | Ephesians 2:10

Many Christians wrestle their whole life with a crippling sense of inferiority. Such feelings, which can be devastating, are a barrier to good relationships and genuine contentment. There is, however, a way out for the believer. Feelings of inferiority can be healed.

After salvation, the first step toward healing is to get God’s viewpoint of yourself. Ephesians 2:10 spells that out clearly: it says you are His workmanship—He is at work in you, and He doesn’t turn out shoddy products. In fact, the word workmanship here means “masterpiece.” Would He allow His masterpiece to end up inferior? Absolutely not! His work in you is perfect. If you doubt that, you might be looking at others and thinking that you don’t measure up to them. Of course you don’t. God has designed something different for them. Because you are unique, there’s no one with whom you can compare yourself. God is fitting you for a purpose like no one else’s.

Another step in the healing process involves understanding what God expects of you. Too many believers set higher standards than God does, and they count on instant maturity. Of course, God wants us to become full-grown and reflect His image, but He doesn’t expect it overnight.

Our Creator knows the weakness of our human frame, and He is supremely patient with us. When we fall, He expects us to come to Him for cleansing and then to keep on moving ahead. Each of us is “a work in progress,” and in due time, God will complete His masterpiece.