Not Ashamed (Romans 1:16)

Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Paul was not ashamed or embarrassed of the “gospel of Christ.” It is the greatest blessing known to man. Romans 1:16 became key in the life of 27-year-old evangelist George Whitfield. In 1742, Whitfield was invited to preach at the fair at Marylebone Field, west of London with the condition that they would build him a platform. When the evangelist and his wife arrived at the fair-grounds, the sun was already down and the crowds were wild and rowdy. Muscular prizefighters challenged all comers to bare-fisted fights in the boxing ring.

Whitfield seldom displayed fear, but on that night, he was obviously nervous as he mounted the rickety little platform prepared for him. As George raised his powerful voice, people began to gather around him. The crowds at the gambling booths began to thin out toward Whitfield as he preached louder. Shortly into the sermon, George saw a group of bare-chested fighters strutting straight toward him. George's voice began to falter, but he suddenly felt a tug on his trousers. It was his wife Elizabeth who said to him, "George, play the man of God!"

Boldness shot through the veins of God's man as he firmly proclaimed without hesitation, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! It is the power of Christ to everyone that believes!" He threw out his arms in a dramatic gesture and the platform nearly collapsed upon him. The fighters noticed the wobbly platform and tried to bring it down, but a group of Christians huddled around George. He continued to preach like a man trying to stand on the deck of a tossing ship. The people began to throw things at Whitfield. He was hit by a rock, a rotten egg, and manure, yet, he continued to preach on. When the evangelist finished his message, he was escorted to his wagon. A man lunged at George with a sword, but it was deflected by the cane of a friend. In spite of the pressure and harassment, Whitfield was a man of God that was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Not to the same degree of harassment as Whitefield endured, but 13 years of street preaching on Beale Street in Memphis, TN came very close. May we learn from his courage and his example to not be ashamed of the Lord and His Word.

While there were some things Paul regretted in life, there was no such shame in Paul concerning the Gospel! Paul had received and proclaimed that which was precious to his heart. Paul's confidence in the power of the Gospel, a massive theme of the book of Romans, is revealed here in two of the most powerful verses in all of the Bible (Romans 1:16-17). There is absolutely no doubt, the Gospel is precious! We must never be ashamed! Especially when we consider the truth that God is not ashamed of us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Luke 19:10). No greater treasure do we have than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have never experienced anything that compares to the power of the Gospel. God can take a lost sinner, save him by His grace, and create a new creature in him (II Corinthians 5:17). All of the programs man has developed can only offer temporal change to a man's heart, but the Gospel, the power of God, brings eternal change and life! (I Corinthians 1:18). The heart of man's problem is a problem of the heart. Until the heart is changed, there is no genuine change. We cannot receive that in ourselves, but Christ can bring eternal, effective change through the Gospel.

We should never be ashamed of the Gospel, “good news”, that brings the message of hope and life for all people. The message of the Gospel is what God has done and will do for us. He doesn’t say it brings power or has power, but that it actually is power. The Gospel’s power is seen in its ability to completely change minds, hearts, life’s course, our understanding of everything that happens, the way people relate to one another, and so on. Most of all, it is powerful because it does what no other power on earth can do: it can save us, reconcile us to God, and guarantee us eternity with God in Heaven. Too many are ashamed of Jesus and His Gospel. They are embarrassed and uncomfortable being identified and speaking up for Christ. Luke 9:26, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.” II Timothy 1:8, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” Paul stood for Christ with a holy boldness because of his unwavering trust in Him. II Timothy 1:11-12, “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Many are ashamed and deny Christ because of peer pressure and intimidation. They are concerned about what others might say. They speak of sports, politics and world events, but they are silent concerning Christ. God help us to speak up for Christ.

The Bible says we are not to be ashamed of several things.

• The Gospel (Romans 1:16).
• Suffering for the Lord (II Timothy 1:12).
• Being Called a Believer (Hebrews 11:16).

The Gospel Saves:
· It saves from sin’s penalty (doom) through justification.
· It saves from sin’s power (dominion) through sanctification.
· It saves from sin’s presence (domain) through glorification.

PRAYER: Lord, knowing that only in You is there love, hope, and life; help me to boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ to whomever I encounter. In Jesus name, Amen.

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God’s Plan of Salvation Seen in the Book of Jonah

As your reading this devotion, you are one of three kinds of people. Maybe you have heard this message before and when you did, you received it and believed and were saved. Maybe you heard it and refused it then but will be ready to receive it today. Perhaps you have never heard it. As strange as it may sound, there are men and women in this area who have never heard God's plan of salvation. They have heard wonderful sermons, they have heard some list of do's and don'ts, and they have tried to keep it! But they have never heard God's plan of salvation. I want you to know this morning that it is not my plan, it’s not a Baptist plan, it is His plan.

I. God’s Plan is a Divine Plan: We see that this plan originated with God. This was no accident or coincidence but was the very hand of God. God's plans are always the best plans, and it is wise if embrace them and not resist them. God always knows best and He always will, so it is important that we learn to trust Him.

1) The heart of God: God wanted to reach the people of Nineveh with the Gospel. This is the desire that He has for all of His creation, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This great love that Jesus has for mankind has not changed since He created us. The whole idea of our creation was so we could fellowship with God. Revelation 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” God had a desire to create mankind so He could enjoy beautiful fellowship with Him. It is amazing that a holy God desires to share His love with us and that He made us the crown of His creation. God made mankind alone in His image. Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” No other part of God's creation was made in the image of God. This makes mankind unique and special. Mankind alone has a soul and the ability to communicate with God. Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” If Jonah was interested in what was in God's heart, he would have been eager to do the will of God. Are you fulfilling the purpose of your creation and spending time with God each day?

2) The hand of God: The city of Nineveh had developed into a wicked and ungodly city. The culture was corrupt, and the conduct of its citizens was wicked. Unfortunately, the desire of mankind of mankind is to run away from God. Thankfully, the love that God had for us did not disappear because of our imperfection. God did not give up on mankind but made a plan for His redemption. Jesus sought us and we were the main concern of His earthly ministry, Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” God wanted to reconcile us back to Himself to restore our fellowship with Him. God wanted to use Jonah as an instrument to share His love with the people of Nineveh. II Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” which is a ministry that Jonah wanted no part of.

3) The honor of God: What happened in Nineveh was for the honor of God and not of man. God wants to use human instruments, but He will not share His glory with them. Judges 7:2, “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” God wanted to rescue His people and give them a great deliverance. However, God did not want there to be any mistake on how the victory was won and who should get the credit. We should seek to live our life for the glory of God and have no interested in trying to uplift our unworthy name.

II. God’s Plan is a Detailed Plan: God is meticulous about the details of His great work. We see it in everything that He does. We see in creation the beauty of God's handiwork and that everything that He does is good. Genesis 1:31, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” When you look at the tabernacle or the temple you see very specific details about each item in there. They all have practical value, and they teach great spiritual truth's that we can glean from in our life today. Every single detail here with Jonah was planned by God and provides us with some great object lessons for our Christian life. If you think that God does any less detailed planning for your life you are mistaken. God has made a great investment in each of us and we are accountable for that before God. Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

Joppa was the place where Jonah embarked on a journey that would lead him away from preaching to a Gentile nation. Eight-hundred years later, this is the exact place the Lord tells Peter to receive the Gentiles (Acts 10). Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh to preach God’s message to the Gentiles. Jonah reflects the Gospel message later being taken to gentile nations through the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Jonah was a Hebrew who was unwilling to preach to gentiles. Yet, through his eventual preaching, the city of Nineveh, in large measure, repented of their sin. If we can learn anything, may we learn the truth that God only has one plan of salvation. It is not a Jewish plan, nor is it a Baptist plan, it’s God’s plan. If we expect to miss Hell and to go to Heaven when we leave this world, then we must come to God on His terms. We must reject every work of the flesh and every attempt to get there on our own.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. Although I strive to live righteously, I still fall short of perfection. I thank You that my standing is “in Christ” and His shed blood has washed my sins away. In Jesus name, Amen!

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Beware of Deception (Matthew 24:4-5)

Matthew 24:4-5, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Iraq is one of the most heavily mined nations in the world. As of early 2003, it was estimated that there were over 10 million mines in its ground. Heavy use of planting mines began during the 1960s and 1970s. During that period, the central Iraqi government attempted to subdue Kurdish demands for autonomy through the use of mine warfare. Then with the Iran-Iraq war and the two Gulf Wars with the United States, planting of mines spiraled out of control. During the first Gulf War, 20 U.S. soldiers died as a result of land mines. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, there were no loses due to land mines. However, after the cessation of conflict with the regular Iraqi army in April 2003, the U.S. found itself engaged in a guerrilla war against terrorists. The terrorists started making booby traps and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These IEDs have accounted for a majority of those killed in Iraq. The IEDs are hidden in everything from rusty oil drums, to plastic toys, to dead animals, to heaps of rotting refuse.

"A bomb can be hidden anywhere," said Captain Jean-Pierre Brown of Hampton Roads, Virginia, a fire control officer with the First Armored Division who lost a friend in a roadside blast. "I have come to hate garbage in a whole new way," Brown said. "Everywhere else in the world, litter is unsightly and garbage smells. But in Iraq, it kills." The world is a "minefield" of deceptive, garbage philosophies and religions. There is only one safe place and that is found in Jesus Christ.

Often we do not see problems in our own lives, although we can be quite skilled at detecting the problems of others. This tendency to judge others while giving ourselves a pass can lead to both a harsh spirit toward others and a tolerance of sin in our own lives. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 19:7). If we are depending on our ability to evaluate ourselves, we are heading for trouble. Instead, we need an absolute standard of truth that is reliable against which we can measure ourselves. That standard is the Word of God. It is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). To properly judge ourselves we must truly be diligent students of the Bible and apply what we read to our lives.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8. This statement is full of truth. To be “pure in heart” is to have a clean heart. To have a clean heart is to be blessed. It is also to have an undivided heart which is able to clearly see God. With nothing else competing with God for attention, God is able to lead, encourage, teach, and convict this kind of Christian. If the Christian’s foundation is strong, then the rest of the building will stand firm.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to keep a discerning heart that I may not be deceived. Help me to walk closer with You that I may grow closer in discerning Your purpose for my life. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Finding Purpose (Psalm 32:8)

Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

One of the most common questions people ask me is, “How do I know God’s will for my life?” God has a plan and design for your life. You are not a leaf that fell by chance to be scattered by the wind. Scripture says the steps of a good man are “ordered” by the Lord. (Psalm 37:23). The Lord desires many qualities from us. A couple of these are a humble and a teachable spirit. May we value His presence and counsel (Psalm 32:7), trust him completely (Psalm 32:10), rejoice in him and continue to do what is right (Psalm 32:11).

What a blessed promise from God! God has promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go. Notice: This guidance is by His omniscient eye. Psalm 73:24 and Proverbs 3:5-6 point to the same promise. We should also be comforted to know that the Lord’s eye is always upon us. We are never out of His sight. God knows everything about us, even our hearts. His diligent, all-seeing eye assures us that He knows our way and will do what He must to guide us along the path of righteousness (Romans 8:28). We are never outside of His loving care (Romans 8:35-39). God, who knows all and sees all, knows far better than we and He is pleading with us to follow His instructions. Unfortunately, every day many reject His guidance.

Joy and fulfillment are ultimately only found in that one goal. Everything good comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. The starting place for that kind of joy begins with kneeling before Him as Lord of your life. God’s will for you is to be a Christian. I Timothy 2:3–4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God’s will for you to be Spirit-filled. Ephesians 5:17–18, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Being Spirit-filled is not an emotional experience or high. It is not fasting and praying. Being Spirit-filled means to be completely submitted to the authority of Scripture in your life.

Everyone searches for meaning and fullness to life. The Bible teaches that the purpose of life is to know Christ and to make Christ known. Daily seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life. Every day ask God to help you accomplish your life's mission. Pray for opportunities to fulfill that purpose by asking for boldness to tell others of God's love. God has a unique plan and purpose for your life. Seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life every day.

We are not left to our own resources when it comes to obeying the Lord and walking righteously. God promises to provide sufficient instruction and guidance. How does the Lord teach and direct His children? Through His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit. People need a plan in their life. God has a plan for your life, and He is pleading with us to find, to follow, and to fulfill this purpose. How do we receive this direction from the Lord? Here are at least three ways the Lord instructs us in the way that He is leading us.

1. His Scriptures: God uses His Word to instruct us. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). In the darkness of our uncertainty, God uses the light of His Word to direct our steps.

2. His Spirit: God has also given us His Holy Spirit, who lives within us from the moment we receive Christ as Saviour. God uses His Spirit to instruct us. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (I Corinthians 2:12). There are some things in life that we will not discover any other way than the Holy Spirit teaching them to us through personal study of and the preaching of God’s Word.

3. His Servants: God also uses godly counsel to instruct us. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:20–21).
God has provided everything we need to live in obedience to Him (II Peter 1:3-4) with His Word to instruct us, His indwelling Spirit to lead us, and His watchful eye over us. Reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word are all essential in order to achieve victory over sin.

Prayer, Father, I am deeply grateful today that You are willing and ready to assume Your rightful place in my life. As my Creator, only You understand the detail and destination of my life is such a way that I can trust You completely. Teach me to do that in a big way and then renew it each day as I live for You. Thank You for making all this possible through Your Son, Jesus, who saved me and in whose footsteps I can follow. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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God is Faithful and Satan is Frustrated (Deuteronomy 7:9; James 4:7)

God is Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations…”
​
God is holy and just and faithful. Holiness is His fundamental attribute, and Christians should emulate Him and live pure lives. Today, God continues to pour out His blessings on us. Opportunities are opening for the ministry globally. Churches are being planted around the world. People are coming to the Lord. Souls are being won to Christ all over the world. Particularly, people in Muslim countries. All of this we couldn't possibly orchestrate on our own without Him. God's doing it and we get to have a part in His work.

Satan is Frustrated (James 4:7)
James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The existence of a personal Devil is scoffed at by many, and doubted by more. Modernists believe evil exists, but not an “evil one.” Satan is often regarded as an impersonal force, an imagination, a medieval invention designed to scare people into the “church,” or an excuse on which to blame our shortcomings. None of these is so, for the Bible clearly teaches the existence of a personal, malevolent, evil one, the Devil. It is the duty of each Christian ‘soldier’ to know as much about his or her adversary as possible II Corinthians 2:11. Ignorance on this subject is a dangerous thing.

The word submit is a military term that means "to yield; arrange oneself under" like a good soldier places himself under one of higher rank. We submit to God by recognizing His authority. Submission means we offer all we are and have to God without any reservations. When we do, the devil will flee from us. Never in the Bible are we told to attack the devil. He does the attacking; we must do the resisting. The devil wants to destroy your marriage, your church, and all your good relationships, and he does it most effectively through conflict. When we give in to the Evil One, we argue, cause confusion, hurt one another's feelings, and get angry. He loves to get us to do these things, and he is successful when he plays on our pride. He will do this by whispering in our ears things like, "You don't have to put up with this kind of stuff." "Who do they think they are?" "You need to give them a piece of your mind." He tells us what our pride loves to hear. However, we resist him the same way Jesus did—by quoting Scripture. Christ destroyed the works of Satan in I John 3:8, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” This means He has frustrated, or undone, the works of the Devil. Those in Christ can overcome Satan and live fruitful, productive lives. According to the following Scriptures, Christ sealed Satan’s doom on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; John 16:11).

Satan knows his time is short. As a result, Satan scratches and claws. As the ministry impacts more lives, he roars. I John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We have deepened our prayer life, helped each other resolve stress, and kept our eyes fixed on Christ. We must submit ourselves to God and stop trusting in the power of our flesh or human resources to bring victory. We must recognize the authority of God as our king and submit to it. If we stand for God we can see the victory. Satan will not get the victory if we do not compromise with him. We need to seek the Lord with all our heart. God is not hiding He wants us to come to Him. When we surrender to God and follow Him by faith, He will exalt us for His glory. In spite of all the opposition of this world toward Jesus Christ and Christians, we have overcome this world which is at enmity with God. The conflict between Satanic forces and Christians seem to never cease. When God is doing a work through His people, Satan raises up opposition. During the ministry of John Wesley during the 1700s, Satan raised up men like Voltaire and Thomas Paine to oppose Christianity. During the 1800s, God used men like Spurgeon and Moody, yet, Satan raised up rivals such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young to found the Mormon cult. Charles Russel started the Jehovah’s Witness cult and Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Science movement. These cults continue to deceive people today. The 1800s also spawned great missionary ministries pioneered by men like William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone. Satan raised up Karl Marx whose seeds of unbelief spawned Communism that swept the people of Russia and China into deep darkness and spiritual death. As Christians, we have overcome Satan’s opposition because we are God’s children. How did that happen? A person becomes a child of God when he or she places faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. Christians are victors in Christ. We are overcomers because Jesus Christ, who lives within us, is greater than this world. We are on the victory side!

Questions to Consider:
Are you standing on the truth of God’s Word today?

Points to Ponder:
You will be tempted and attacked, but you must take your stand and leave the results with God.

PRAYER: Father, lead me in this spiritual warfare to stand strong and never surrender. Help me to be wise to Satan’s snares and his temptations. Direct my steps that I may not get sidetracked in pursuing Your will and work. I ask that You would confound the devil and give me courage in times of testing. I know that You are with me and that You will never forsake or fail me. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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The Believer’s Identity (I Peter 1:13-19)

I Peter 1:13-19, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”

When beginning a new job, one of the first things a company provides the new employee is a list of requirements. Whether in an official document or through verbal instructions, a company tells the employee what is required, how he or she should act, and what guidelines he or she should follow. When you became a Christian, you weren't handed a job description or a list of requirements, but God does give us a clear description of what He desires from His children in the Bible. Three of those requirements deal with the believer's interaction with the world around him or her.

1.To Be holy.
God desires that His children would be holy in all areas of life - thought, speech, and actions. The carnal person has no guidance in what they say or do, but God desires that believers would show forth holy words and actions. God has revealed to us a one-word description of the Christian life; holiness. Peter explained it this way: “ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:14-15).

2.To Be Set Apart.
God set us in this world to be a testimony to others. While it's easy to be caught up in the day to day grind, God desires that we would remember we are in the world but not of it. That word conduct means, “in all you do, in your behavior.” Being holy means “being set apart.” It means different—not weird, bizarre, or obnoxious—but set apart. Peter basically said, “Don’t be squeezed into the pattern of the world the way you used to be when you lived in ignorance.”

Before you knew the Lord, you didn’t know any better. You may have thought that sensual or selfish pursuits would make you happy, but now you know they’re like quicksand. Maybe you used to think that being a Christian would be restrictive and stiff, but now you see that God’s laws are established for your own good. When God says, “Don’t,” He means, “Don’t hurt yourself.” The standard of holiness is a protection of your happiness, given by a loving Father.

You’re a different person than you once were. You have different priorities, passions, pastimes, and practices. Your goals have changed. You now want what God wants for you. You have heard the call to holiness, and because of God’s Spirit in you, it’s what your heart hungers for. Seek to change the world around you rather than the world changing you.

But remember, “be holy” actually means, “be becoming holy.” It’s a process. Holiness is formed over a lifetime; it’s not like poof, the moment you turn to Jesus, you’re the final thing. Holiness comes by trying, failing, and continually learning to live a life set apart from the world’s mold. Holiness takes root in your life as you get into God’s Word and with God’s people, increasingly surrendering your mind and your body to the life God has called you to.

3.To Fellowship With Him.
What will help us speak and act holy and stay apart from the world's influence? Daily fellowshipping with God through prayer and Bible reading guards us from sin and guide us in God's will. If someone were to describe your life as a believer, what characteristics would they mention? Take account of your life and how you interact with the world around you. Daily spend time with God and seek to be a shining light of God's holiness to others. Here’s the good news. It’s happening today. God is pouring His character into you with every righteous decision you make to be like His Son.

As you study God’s Word, if you hear God calling you to a pure life, will you respond? If the Spirit of God exposes an impure habit, will you break it off? It would be good to get this issue settled. Are you willing to give God’s Word and God’s Spirit the authority to change the way you live? Allow the Lord to lead and direct your life to pure living. You’ll never be satisfied with life mixed with any of the world’s ingredients again. As I review my life, in what ways can I say I am not the person I used to be? If I were to ask someone close to me, would they notice these changes?

Prayer, Father, it’s amazing that You are not only saving me, You are also transforming me into the likeness of Your Son. However, I need Your help to make the right decisions and live a life that is set apart. I long to “be becoming” holy. Forgive me when I fail, and give me Your strength to succeed. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Where’s My Joy Gone (Matthew 7:3-5)

Matthew 7:3-5, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”

Jesus condemns the habit of criticizing others while we ignore our own faults. Believers must first submit to God’s righteous examination and to the standards of His Word before attempting to evaluate and influence the conduct of others, particularly other Christians. It is very easy to see the minor faults in those about us, while being oblivious to major faults in our own life. Jesus illustrates this truth by a mote, which literally refers to a piece of straw or a fleck of debris. He contrasts that to a beam which refers to a construction timber. He draws attention to the irony by exaggeration. The greater context is of avoiding a critical attitude. When we find fault in those around us while ignoring our own faults, Jesus said that we are hypocrites.

The one person standing between you and joy could be in the mirror. A husband and his wife had been married for many years when the husband began to notice his wife’s hearing was fading. He didn’t want to talk with her directly about it at first, so he shared the problem with his family doctor. The doctor told him to stand 40 feet away and call to his wife to see if she would respond. Then he was to get closer and closer, until she was finally able to hear his voice. When the husband arrived home, he thought he would try the test on his wife. Sitting in his den, he called to her in the kitchen, “What’s for dinner, Honey?” There was no response. The husband took a few steps closer and called his wife again. Silence. This continued until he was right behind her in the kitchen as he asked the question. Suddenly, his wife whirled around with a knife in her hand and said, “For the fifth time, it’s spaghetti with meatballs!” The husband discovered he was the one with the problem. Have you ever accused someone of something, only to find you were at fault? We’ve all done it from time to time. The key to moving forward is to acknowledge our faults. The problem is, instead of doing this, we often shift the blame.

Consider the consequences of blame-shifting:
·The guilty person escapes taking responsibility, thus never changing their behavior.
·With behavior never changing, old patterns continue.
·Shifting the blame, combined with old, dysfunctional patterns, creates chaos, altering the conversation from the guilty person’s actions onto the innocent party.
·The innocent party feels false guilt from the shifting of responsibility.
·True repentance does not occur.

Shifting the blame is, at its deepest level, an act of immaturity and creates frustration, anger, and confusion. Judgmental people lose sight of the fact that they, too, will be judged. And the same measuring stick they use will be used against them (Matthew 7:2). Pass judgment on others, and your standard will be used to judge you. It’s a boomerang effect. In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus compared having a judgmental attitude to noticing a tiny mote that is in thy brother's eye while being unaware of the beam that is in thine own eye (Matthew 7:3-4). Imagine straining to see a nearly invisible speck, but being oblivious to the board protruding from your eyeball! Notice, Jesus’s remedy to the situation. He didn’t say you shouldn’t help the brother with the speck in his eye. He says, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye (Matthew 7:5). It’ll hurt, but you’ll see clearly. Instead of being judgmental toward others, allow God’s standard to be applied to your own life. If you’re honest, you’ll discover that you fall short. When you’ve addressed your own sin, you’ll be more understanding, compassionate, and righteous in your assessments and better able to help a brother address his own sin.

Could you be the reason why you lack peace and joy? Search your heart. Moreover, ask God to search your heart for sins you need to confess to Him. There may even be things you need to make right with a friend or family member. Don’t put it off. Joy begins with Christ and ends with you. Let nothing stand in your way.

Prayer: Father, help me to be mindful that it is not my place to judge others. Help me to see people the way You see them, and to be filled with compassion, even as someone is doing wrong to me. Help me to respond with love instead of anger and bitterness. I repent of the pride in my life that is evident every time I have a critical, judgmental thought. You have commanded me to walk in forgiveness and love, to rise above offenses, and to walk humbly with You. I choose that road today. I submit all my thoughts to You for approval, choosing loving thoughts and not condemning thoughts, compassionate thoughts not critical thoughts. And kindly remove the log in my eye. In Jesus name, Amen.

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The Watchman (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7)

​Ezekiel 3:17, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” Ezekiel 33:7, “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

The Titanic is one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The British luxury liner Titanic (46,000 gross tons) of the White Star Line, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, struck an iceberg about 95 miles south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland just before midnight on April 14, 1912. Of the more than 2,220 persons aboard, about 1,513 died. The ship had been proclaimed unsinkable because of its 16 watertight compartments. Nevertheless, the iceberg sufficiently damaged the Titanic to make it sink in less than three hours. Investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters and that lifeboat space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew. Warnings came, however, the response was, “You’re jamming up our signals.” The Californian, closest ship to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep. A warning can be a matter of life and death.

The Intelligence Agency of a nation is of critical importance in protecting its people. Whether a satellite or a plane in the sky, a mechanical or human spy, or a soldier or guard on the border, a nation’s ability to gain intelligence determines its capability to protect itself. In ancient history a nation protected itself by establishing fortified cities and outposts along its borders as well as by posting military patrols at key locations throughout the land. But most important of all were the watchmen who were strategically posted along the walls of a city. It was the watchman’s duty to scan the horizon for any approaching enemy and to be alert to any danger within the city, such as fire or civil disturbance. As God’s man, I must take the Word of God forth to the world, proclaiming the glorious message of salvation to every human being of every generation.

As a watchman, God gave Ezekiel some warnings regarding his ministry. According to Ezekiel 33:6, God will hold a watchman accountable. A watchman (one positioned in a tower or on the city wall to look out for invaders or approaching disaster) who saw destruction coming and did not sound an alarm to warn the people would be held responsible for their deaths. In God’s kingdom, a pastor who does not warn those who are uncommitted or rebellious against God about the danger of judgment will be held accountable for the people’s spiritual destruction. All Christians have the responsibility to share their faith with people who are spiritually lost or without a personal relationship with God and to help fulfill the mission Jesus gave to the church (Matthew 28:19). We will give an account to God if we refuse to obey Jesus’ Great Commission (Acts 20:26).

Ezekiel was to be a watchman, warning that all who continued to resist God would be punished with death (Ezekiel 3:18). If Ezekiel failed to warn the wicked, he would be held accountable for their deaths. Faithful men of God today embrace Ezekiel’s example by warning those in their congregations who are behaving in ungodly ways that they will be excluded from God’s kingdom if they do not repent (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:5). God’s people are to be taught that they must admit their sins, turn from their own selfish ways and begin to follow God’s purposes. Those who fail to warn the unfaithful will themselves be accountable to God for their spiritual destruction. We must always remember that God has given us the responsibility to take His message of forgiveness and new life through Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). This message includes the warning of eternal death for all who refuse to accept Christ’s forgiveness. God has made all of Christ’s followers his watchmen (Matthew 18:15). According to Ezekiel 33:7, God had made Ezekiel His watchman. God emphasizes again that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. Today the church and its pastor must help spread the message of spiritual salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations (Ezekiel 3:18).

I believe we all are accountable for giving the Gospel to the lost. We have a responsibility to try to tell people how to be saved either by witnessing to them or giving them a gospel tract. Do you have friends or loved ones that need the Lord? If so, make an effort to tell them about Jesus Christ and how to be saved. If you don't know Christ, you can turn to Him right now. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man's predicament and said, "It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this." Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man's plight be a lesson to the rest of the world." Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, "Alas, it is the will of God." Finally, Jesus appeared and said, "Take my hand, brother, and I will save you." If you know not the Lord, He will save you if you will ask Him.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for those You sent my way to share the Gospel with me. Help me that I may share the Gospel with those You allow me to connect with. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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The Pony Express and the Bible (Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Our world is now connected by the Internet, but in 1860, the fastest way to send a message was by the newly developed Pony Express. This innovative enterprise was created by the Russell Majors Waddel company. Adventurous young men were hired to ride 8 hours and 80 miles per day on horseback. The 1,946 miles between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California were linked together by 190 stations so the mail delivery could be reduced from 25 days to just 10. They rode six days per week for a very lucrative salary of $125 a month. Each man was outfitted identically with a bright red shirt and blue trousers. Their gear included an ultra-light saddle, Colt revolver, a lightweight rifle, and a Bible. Interestingly enough, although every piece of mail was required to be written on thin paper so as to reduce the weight, a Bible was still included in every man's saddlebag. Who knows if this priority played a role in the incredible success of traveling 650,000 miles, delivering 34,754 pieces of mail, and losing but one bag during its 19 months of existence? The new technology of telegraph communication made the Pony Express obsolete, but for a year and a half it provided excellent service and the reminder of the Scripture's value.

I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Psalm 55:17, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” When you value the role of God's Word in your life, and spend time with Him in prayer, such actions will go a long way in helping you to stay close to the Lord. It will help you to have worship that is genuine and not fake, growing and not faltering. Neglecting spiritual habits such as Bible study, prayer, tithing, and attending a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church will hinder you in your walk with God. Sooner or later, it will cause your heart to cool off spiritually and drift from God. This is why we are urged to walk with God daily and develop habits like Bible study, praying, giving, witnessing, and church attendance.

There are many books in the world today that are based on man's opinion of something. Whether the topic is politics, sports, the weather, self-help, or society, sometimes not everything published in a book is true. But there is one book we can trust. We know God's Word is true because it comes from God. In a day when so many things are based on opinion, God's Word is based on truth. All 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament. Every one of 1,189 chapters. All 41,173 verses and 3,566,480 letters--all Scripture is God-breathed. God’s Word is inspirational, instructional, incorruptible, and inexhaustible.

The greatest verse about Biblical inspiration is also a great verse about Biblical application. II Timothy 3:16-17 not only tells us who gave us the Bible but also why it was given. God breathed out His Word for our benefit. Every part of it is profitable. Waiting in its pages is a wealth of blessings ready to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness. We call the Bible “God’s Word” because it contains what He wants to say. He speaks into our lives through it. Each verse and every word accomplish at least one of the purposes listed in today’s passage. No matter what our need, God has provided a response in His Word. All that God has for you in His Word may come to you if you dig into it. But if your Bible remains closed, though the benefits are all there, you have not accessed them. Amazing things can happen when you open your Bible. Get familiar with it. Figure out how to find your way around. Ask for help. The spiritual maturity you long for will never be a reality until you practice regular, careful study of Scripture.

Becoming a disciple of Jesus, one who is equipped to carry out the tasks He places before you, will always involve His Word. When you are reading His inspired thoughts, the Lord is breathing into you His truth, loving reproofs, gracious correction, and the guidance you need.

Questions to Consider:
What parts of Scripture do you gravitate to most often?
Which ones do you tend to avoid?
Since it’s all profitable, how do you think you could benefit by taking time to familiarize yourself with books and chapters in the Bible you have rarely visited?

Prayer, Lord, thank You for breathing out Your Word and using faithful servants to record it for the rest of us. Thank You that I can hold it in my hands, open it at will, and anticipate that the words my eyes fall on are for my benefit, to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me. I desire that every time I read the book You wrote I would delight myself in it. I thank You today, for the precious gift of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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