DECEMBER 24

Boldly Proclaiming Good Tidings of Great Joy

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Luke 2:10

The angel said that we have received “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” God wants this message known around the world.

Now I know that you may not be a preacher, but you can be a “reach-er”! What would happen if every believer went out into their neighborhood and said, “Jesus is Lord!” How will the world know if we don’t tell them? Oh, we need to be bold for Jesus.

The skies are going to split open, and the trumpet is going to sound. The dead in Christ will rise, and the angels will once again be heard! “He’s returned!” The Savior born in a manger will return as a Monarch to rule and to reign!

Are you joyfully sharing the Good News of Christ this Christmas? Will you be bold and share His Good News with someone today?

DECEMBER 8

Bank Breakers

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. 1 TIMOTHY 6:18

If you could leave each of your children one million dollars as an inheritance, would you?

I imagine that for most of us, our first response to this question would be favorable. After all, the Bible says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children" (Proverbs 13:22). But there's more to blessing our kids than leaving behind large quantities of money for them. In fact, far too many adults who receive an inheritance windfall act like lottery winners, unable to handle the pressure and temptation of having too much all at once.

So perhaps this would be a good time to ensure that the financial priorities and perspectives you're handing down to your children are anchored in a biblical foundation. Teach them:

1. God owns it all. Some in the Christian community have taught their children that the tithe (10 percent) is the Lord's, but the other 90 percent is theirs to spend as they please. Our children need to learn that money is the EKG of our hearts—a track record of what we value.

2. Giving is the privilege and the responsibility for every follower of Christ. There's more than one way to instruct your children to give. My dad used to sit down at our dinner table and make out his check for the church every Sunday. He never said a word to me about giving, but he modeled how to give. Our children need to see us setting aside portions of our income to help Kingdom causes and needy people. Allowing them to participate in these decisions offers them hands-on, generational training in how good it feels to give.

Leaving your children an inheritance is more than just giving them money.

Give and train them with the ultimate inheritance: God's perspective on money.

DISCUSS

How does your checkbook reflect your true values that you will pass on to your children? Talk about how well you are doing in passing on God's perspective on money, giving and wealth.

PRAY

Pray that you will never feel ownership, only stewardship, of the money that God entrusts to you.  

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Week of December 2

Surprised by Jesus
By Skip Heitzig

I have a confession to make: I am a practical joker. When I hear one of the staff coming, maybe with a cup of coffee, sometimes I will hide behind something, and I’ll jump out and scare them with a loud voice. And they’ll often spill the coffee. I know that one day it’s all going to come back on me!

But with that picture in mind, I think you can understand John’s reaction in Revelation 1 when Jesus Christ appeared to him on the island of Patmos. John says His voice was like a trumpet. It was loud, “as the sound of many waters” (v. 15). It must have startled him, much like my practical jokes startle the staff as I jump out. And John fell at Jesus’ feet.

But I want to draw your attention to what Jesus says about himself. Verse 8 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” He calls Himself “the First and the Last” in verse 11, and again in verse 17, and He goes on in verse 18, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore.” When Jesus introduces himself to John he unmistakably says that He is deity; He is God. Any Jew who heard this would know that this is reserved only for God. He’s speaking of His eternal nature.

I say all this because I think the modern church needs a new awareness of Jesus Christ, high and lifted up, and in charge. There’s a dangerous lack of reverence in many Christians’ lives. When you see Jesus in glory I think He’s going to surprise you. John’s description of “His eyes like a flame of fire” sounds like a very penetrating gaze, seeing into everybody’s heart. One day the loving, saving Jesus will stand as the judge over all mankind.

Whenever people really encounter God, they get humble. Isaiah said, “Woe is me, I am undone,” and when Peter saw Jesus’ power displayed, he said “Depart from me, I am a sinful man.”

So as we enter the Christmas season, we should remember the true identity of the baby in the manger. You might not be aware of it, but when Isaac Watts wrote the hymn “Joy to the World” he was writing about the second coming of Christ, not the first. As you sing words like “He rules the world with truth and grace,” keep that in mind. Remember to reverence Him, because He is God.

Copyright © 2011 by Connection Communications. All rights reserved.

Grace from Heaven's Bank

Romans 2:4

Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Understanding grace doesn't mean that you can sin without penalty. Understanding grace means that you never want to sin again. It is the goodness of God that motivates us to repentance and holy living. 

I read of a rather unusual accountability partnership that demonstrated the power of grace over sin. Paul was trying to break his habit of using profanity. Swearing had become a second language to him and he desperately wanted to overcome it. He began meeting with another man from his church, and with Bill's help, set up an aggressive plan for purifying his speech.

Here's the plan: each Sunday Paul would report to Bill the number of times he had used profanity during the week and would put five dollars in the offering plate for each incident. The first week cost Paul one hundred dollars! Although the following weeks improved to some degree, he was not having the success that he desired, not to mention the fact that he was quickly running out of money!

After a few weeks, Bill had an idea that he thought might make the difference. He informed Paul that things were going to change the following Sunday, but he wouldn't tell him how they would change. Curiosity gnawed at Paul all week. A few times he tried to find out what the new plan was, but each time Bill simply responded, "Trust me, Paul. This new strategy will cost you less and challenge you even more."

Sunday finally arrived, and before the worship service began Paul looked more discouraged than ever. Bill knew his friend had failed again. This time Bill put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Paul, my new plan is called grace." Bill then took out his own checkbook, wrote in the church's name, dated it, signed it, and left only the amount blank. He handed the check to Paul and said, "Your sin still costs something, but you can go free on my account; just fill in the numbers—I'll take care of the cost. Oh, by the way, next week there will be more grace."

That first week of grace cost Bill fifty-five dollars, but the second week cost him only twenty. And there was no third week . . . Paul was so overwhelmed by the grace of Bill that his heart broke to think of his friend having to write another check to cover his sin.

It was only after the discovery of Bill's grace and love toward him that Paul was able to overcome his life-long, sinful habit of swearing.

If you are feeling overcome by sin today, look again to the cross. Counseling sessions, accountability, personal discipleship, and twelve-step programs won't be enough to ward off the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Only when you gaze upon the grace of God, realizing again that He paid the debt for your sin with the blood of His Son, will you find enough motivation to consciously quit your sin.

Christ handed you a blank check . . .  how much will it cost Him today?

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for His goodness—it leads to repentance. Thank Him for His grace—it is undeserved favor and love. Thank Him for His mercy—it withholds eternal punishment, which we so clearly deserve.

Extra Refreshment: Read Isaiah 53. 

Discipling and Disciplining

The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries and Dr. R.C. Sproul is to help people grow in their knowledge of God and His holiness. For more information, please visit www.ligonier.org or call them at 800-435-4343.
© R.C. Sproul. All rights reserved.

November 18th 2011

Trusting Beyond Understanding

¹To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
²O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
³Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. ⁴Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
⁵Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. —psalm 25:1-5

If you've never been at the place where the trials are so significant that you don't even know what to do, then you won't understand Psalm 25. David is pleading, God, I'm not seeing it. I know You have ways, but I have to learn them because everything that's happening makes no sense to me at all. A big part of trusting is learning this truth: trust must extend past understanding.

In August of '09 I taught Psalm 25 in my church. 98 percent of our people knew nothing about what I was facing and dealing with, but my circumstances sure caused me to understand verse 5 where David says: "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation." The word salvation can have many meanings in Scripture. Most literally, it means to “make wide.” It's contrasted with a person who is in a narrow place full of trouble and distress. I'm stuck here. I can't move. It's too tight, God. It's closing in. It's very dark. And he's saying here: You're the God who gets me out. That's what he's claiming by faith. If you've ever been in the I-need-God-to-get-me-out-of-this place, that's what this is about. I wait for You. No one but You can get me out of this. You are the God of my salvation.                     

Well, when you say that you're waiting, that means that you're accepting God's timing and the wisdom of it. You're confessing this: I'm not fussing. I'm not fuming. I'm not fixing. You’re not thinking in the back of your mind, Oh, I could do a few things to get me out of this situation. I've got some insights. I could say some things. I could get some balls rolling. I could take hold of this if I had to.

Waiting means you’re no longer relying on what you can figure out or even understand. It is deliberately relying on God through prayer and flat-out trust. This is way beyond me, Lord. I’m leaving it in Your hands. I know I don’t have to understand in order to trust You. I'm waiting on You for my salvation; You have to get me out of this narrow place. —James MacDonald

Journal

·         Where are the “narrow places” in my life and how am I waiting on the Lord regarding those matters?

·         What have I learned about waiting?

Day 15 Theme: Decision Making
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you– Matthew 6:33

Life can often seem very complicated. Career decisions, family dynamics, academic ambitions — every area and issue of life has its own challenges.

However, Jesus spotlights for us the one overriding, all-encompassing priority for living and, buy doing so, simplifies our complicated decisions considerably. Seek first the kingdom, Jesus says, not personal advancement, financial security, or self fulfillment.

Should you accept this promotion? Seek first the kingdom. Where should you send your children to school? Seek first the kingdom. Should you pursue this relationship? Seek first the kingdom.

While this directive does not provide the specific answer to every problem, it certainly does eliminate a great number of possible options. If it does not further the kingdom of God and reflect his righteousness, then it does not meet your basic criteria and need not be considered any further.

When we single-mindedly seek the welfare of the kingdom, then Jesus promises that God will seek our welfare, as well: all these things will be added to you. What things are these? Everything that is necessary and good for you, everything that will assist you in your goal of advancing the kingdom of Christ.

As you face difficult and convoluted questions today, filter your thoughts and decisions through this all-important objective: seek first the kingdom of God.

The Blues

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read 1 Kings 19:1–9

Elijah was a heroic prophet, without question. He was also a man of great humility, as we have seen. But let's keep in mind that he was just a man—a human being, subject to the human condition, as we all are. He suffered discouragement, despondency, and depression. On one occasion, he couldn't shake it.

It is not surprising that at this point in Elijah's life the great prophet hit bottom. For several years he had stood strong amidst and against almost insurmountable odds and circumstances. But now, after a great victory, he dropped into the throes of discouragement and total despair.

He's a man, he's human, just like us, remember. Since this is true, we shouldn't be shocked to read that

He was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." (1 Kings 19:3–4)

I'm glad that this chapter has been included in Scripture. I'm glad that when God paints the portraits of His men and women, He paints them warts and all. He doesn't ignore their weaknesses or hide their failures.

Elijah had to get his eyes back on the Lord. That was absolutely essential. He had been used mightily, but it was the Lord who made him mighty. He stood strong against the enemy, but it was the Lord who had given him the strength.

Often we are more enamored with the gifts God gives us than with the Giver Himself. When the Lord brings rest and refreshment, we become more grateful for the rest and refreshment than for the God who allows it. When God gives us a good friend, we become absorbed in that friendship and so preoccupied with the friend that we forget it was our gracious God who gave us the friend. How easy to focus on the wrong things.

Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.

Morning...

2 Corinthians 5:14
The love of Christ constraineth us.

How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer. How will you feel when your Master comes, if you have to confess that you did nothing for Him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant pool, neither flowing forth to His poor or to His work. Out on such love as that! What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Why, they say, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Who will accept a love so weak that it does not actuate you to a single deed of self-denial, of generosity, of heroism, or zeal! Think how He has loved you, and given Himself for you! Do you know the power of that love? Then let it be like a rushing mighty wind to your soul to sweep out the clouds of your worldliness, and clear away the mists of sin. "For Christ's sake" be this the tongue of fire that shall sit upon you: "for Christ's sake" be this the divine rapture, the heavenly afflatus to bear you aloft from earth, the divine spirit that shall make you bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord's service. Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus. May the divine loadstone draw us heavenward towards itself.

October 19

The Miracle of the New Birth

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Nicodemus was so impressed with the miracles Jesus had done that he wanted to find out more. He asked Jesus about miracles, and Jesus began to talk to him about births. It’s as if Jesus were saying, “Nicodemus, if you want to understand miracles, you’re going to have to become a miracle.”

Now Nicodemus was an intelligent man. He was a ruler of the Jews and a member of the Sanhedrin. Yet with all of his learning, he heard Jesus say to him, “Except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” People simply can’t understand spiritual things until the Holy Spirit of God turns the light on in their souls.

Do you know someone who has a lot of education but no salvation? I challenge you to share this same Good News with him or her today.