ExperiencingGod: The Father Draws You
Daily Devotional for Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." (John 6:65) Throughout Jesus' ministry on earth, He never seemed intimidated by the crowds. Instead, He looked into the multitudes and focused on those whom His Father was sending to Him. Jesus knew that because of sin, no one naturally seeks after God. Sinful man's inclination is to hide from God, rather than to come to Him (Gen. 3:8; Ps. 14:1?3). Therefore, whenever Jesus saw that the Father was drawing a person to Himself, Jesus immediately began relating to that person. Jesus observed the great lengths to which the despised tax collector, Zacchaeus, had gone in order to see Him pass by. In response, Jesus immediately left the crowd and spent time with this man in whom the Father was obviously working (Luke 19:1?10). When Jesus noticed a man following after Him, Jesus spoke to Andrew, ?Come!? (John 1:39). Every time the disciples experienced a new insight into the truths of God, Jesus recognized that it was the Father who had been at work in their lives (Matt. 16:17). As the multitudes gathered around Jesus, He spoke some truths that were difficult for the people to grasp (John 6:60). So challenging were His words that many of His listeners departed, but Jesus did not become discouraged. He saw that the Father was working in the lives of His disciples, and that is where Jesus invested His time.As you desire to spend time alone with Jesus, recognize that this is the Father drawing you to His Son. You do not seek quiet times with God in order to experience Him. The fact that He has brought you to a place of fellowship with Him is evidence that you are already sensing His activity. As you read the Scriptures and pray, trust that God will honor your response to His leading by teaching you more about Himself.
The Father Draws You
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
MyUtmostForHisHighest: "we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses"
Leave Room for God
As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him-to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. Suddenly—God meets our life “. . . when it pleased God . . . .”
Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16
Categories: Basics Of Faith, God, His Will, Relating To God, Relationships,Submission
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
DailtBread: "No More Struggles"
No More Struggles
Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16
Fay Weldon went through what she thought was a near-death experience in 2006 when an allergic reaction stopped her heart. She retold her experience to Elizabeth Grice of the London Daily Telegraph. She said that a “terrible creature” tried to pull her through pearly gates, while doctors tried to pull her back. Later, she said, “If that was dying, I don’t want to do it again.” It’s “just more of the same. More struggle.”
Often the process of dying is a struggle. But death itself need not be feared by the believer in Christ—for it will bring us to heaven. In Revelation, John gives a wonderful description of what eternity with God will be like (21:1-4). He sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. The city of Jerusalem was a physical sign of the people of God and was described as the place where God dwells (Ps. 76:2). The New Jerusalem, on the other hand, will not be made by human hands. It will be a place where God lives with His people eternally, and it will be a place of “no more”—no more pain, sorrow, and sickness.
We don’t know very much about eternity, but we do know that for the Christian, whatever our emotional and physical struggles are now, they will cease then. Life with God will be better by far.
Think of a land of no sorrow,
Think of a land of no fears,
Think of no death and no sickness,
Think of a land of no tears. —Anon.
Heaven’s delights will far outweigh earth’s difficulties.
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
RayStedman: "Leave her alone, said Jesus. Why are you bothering her"
Love's Extravagance
n for January 25th
Leave her alone, said Jesus. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me (Mark 14:6).
Our Lord takes this beautiful incident and shows us the true value of it. He says five things about it that mark it as an extremely valuable act. First, He says, She has done a beautiful thing to me. The beauty of it lay in its very extravagance. This woman did not spare any of the costly ointment but broke the flask and poured the whole quantity out upon Him. Judas, with his practical computer mind, reckoned it up as worth three hundred denarii. A denarius was the day's wage for a laborer. Three hundred days' wages would be a tremendous sum. In the eyes of Judas, this woman wasted an enormous amount of money when she poured out the ointment upon Jesus. It was such a lavish act, and therein lay the beauty of it.
Second, He said that it was a timely thing she had done. It was something that could only be done now. Any time you want to do good to the poor you can, because they are always around. And it is right to help the poor. But there are opportunities that come in our life that must be seized at the moment. Mary had sensed this and seized the moment to offer this gift, for such a time would never occur again. It was out of the sensitivity of her heart that she realized that the timing was right, and Jesus recognized this.
Then, she did that which was feasible. That is, she did what she could. She could not fix Him a meal; there was no time for that. She could not make a garment for Him; there was no time for that. There was nothing else she could do to show her love but this. She did what she could. I am sure our Lord has called our attention to that because it is so practical for us. Someone said, I'm only a man, but I am a man. I can't do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do I ought to do. And what I ought to do, I'm available to do.
The fourth element of this act was that it was insightful. Our Lord says, She has anointed my body beforehand for burying. Many times Jesus said to these disciples that He was going to die. Not one of them believed him--except Mary of Bethany. She understood that He was heading for burial. And since she could not be sure she would ever have the opportunity later to find His body and anoint it for burial, she did it now, as a loving act of service. What a comfort this must have been to our Lord! Of all these friends who were around Him at this time, only this one had the sensitivity of heart to understand what was happening.
Finally, what she did was deserving of being remembered. It was memorable. Jesus said,The story of this beautiful act will be told in memory of her wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world. Here we are today, two thousand years later, fulfilling this very word, telling again of the act of Mary of Bethany when she anointed our Lord's head and feet.
Father, help me to understand that Mary is but depicting a far greater sacrifice. May that act of love grip my heart and strengthen me all the days of my life.
Life Application: The Lord Jesus Christ has taught and exemplified extravagant, timely, self-giving love. What will it look like when we allow Him to love others through us?
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
CharlesStanley: " Hope is a healthy attitudel"
Devotionals by In Touch
Hope is a healthy attitude. Anticipating good brings comfort to the mind and heart. In contrast, a state of hopelessness is a terrible condition in which to find oneself. It's overwhelming and depressing to think that what you're facing cannot be changed or resolved. For the person who has lost all hope, life looks like a long dark tunnel going nowhere.
Included in Proverbs is a verse that describes the result of this oppressive feeling: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12). Emotional, physical, and even mental illness haunt a person who feels trapped in a bleak situation. But I want to tell you, my friend, that as long as there is a God, no situation is hopeless. In Him, we have the promise of the second half of that proverb: "Desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Believers have a hope that anchors their souls. Our relationship with Jesus Christ brings us close to the throne of heaven, where we can cast all our burdens before an omnipotent God. Moreover, we can cling to Him through whatever trials are facing us. Because of the Lord's great love, He provides strength for weary bodies, peace for anxious minds, and comfort for grieving hearts. In short, He lights that darkened tunnel and tenderly guides us through trying situations.
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
Alistair Begg: "The Steadfast Love of the Lord"
And can you not do this? Are there no mercies that you have experienced? What! Though you are gloomy now, can you forget that blessed hour when Jesus met you and said, "Come unto me"? Can you not remember that rapturous moment when He snapped your fetters, dashed your chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break your bonds and set you free"? Or if the love of your conversion be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which you can read a happy memorial of His mercy toward you. What! Did you never have a sickness like that which you are suffering now, and did He not restore you? Were you never poor before, and did He not supply your wants? Were you never in difficulties before, and did He not deliver you?
Arise, go to the river of your experience and pull up a few bulrushes and fashion them into an ark, in which your infant-faith may float safely on the stream. Forget not what your God has done for you; turn over the book of your remembrance, and consider the days of old. Can you not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with you at Hermon? Have you never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Have you never been helped in time of need? I know you have. Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past--they shall glitter through the darkness, and you shall trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away. "Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old."
Family Bible reading plan
verse 1 Genesis 26
verse 2 Matthew 25
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
GraceThruFaith: Law And Grace
Q. How do you understand the relationship between the law and grace? A. Simply put they are opposites. The Law tells us we can’t become righteous no matter what we do. We can only discover our need for a Savior. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20). Grace tells us we can become righteous, but only by believing we have a Savior who has made us so. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:21-22)
Law And Grace
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
DailyHope: Start the Day Remembering Who God Is
|
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
JoyceMeyer: "You're Just Passing Through"
You're Just Passing Through |
| January 25 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4 The psalmist David said he walked through the valley of the shadow of death. That’s what you must do in all the situations and circumstances of this life. You must remember you are just passing through. When you feel as if you’re stuck in a situation that will never change, you must allow God to guide you through it. When the devil says, “You’re trapped,” boldly say to him, “Wrong! I’m just passing through!” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the fiery furnace, but God brought them safely through the fire (see Daniel 3). God’s Word says He will provide that same protection and deliverance to all who put their faith and trust in Him. So believe it as you walk through the valley of your own situation. |
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
JonCourson: “ He who tried to rebuild the walls of Jericho would pay a steep pricet,”
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
BobCoy: "who know God as He has truly revealed Himselfr"
"God" is the Hebrew word Elohim, which is the plural form of the word El, which was the common word used to describe the resident deities in many ancient cultures and civilizations. It was a relatively generic designation, the same way "God" is tossed around and used today.
"LORD" is the Hebrew word Jehovah, which is the personal and covenantal name by which the true and living God revealed Himself to His chosen people. It's absolutely unique and not found in any of the other cultures that used the word El. This is specific and personal. It's addressing God according to His own personal name and not according to a general title.
Now look at the verse again: "Happy are the people whose God (El, i.e. general) is the LORD (Jehovah, i.e. personal)." It's saying that blessing comes not to those who just know God in a general sense but to those who know God as Jehovah—who know God as He has truly revealed Himself in a personal sense.
Blessings abound in the lives of those who are in relationship with the Lord, who have entered into the covenant of His Son's blood, who know Him by His personal name and not just by His general title. If you know Him by name, if you know His Son, Jesus, then you can attest to the blessings He has brought into your life. But if God is generic and nameless to you, it's time to pursue a personal relationship with Him.
Jehovah God, may we know You as personally as we possibly can, and draw those who don't yet know You into a real relationship with You.
If you don't know God personally, please read "The New You" article towards the back of this booklet.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
GodCalling: "Complete surrender of every moment to God is the foundation of happiness."
|
The Way of Happiness |
| |
| "Complete surrender of every moment to God is the foundation of happiness." Complete surrender of every moment to God is the foundation of happiness, the superstructure is the joy of Communion with Him. And that is, for each, the place, the mansion, I went to prepare for you. My followers have misunderstood that, and looked too often upon that promise as referring only to an After-Life, and too often - far too often - upon this life as a something to be struggled through in order to get the reward and the joy of the next. Seek to carry out all I say, and such understanding, insight, vision, and joy will be yours as shall pass indeed all understanding. The plans of God are very wonderful - beyond your highest hopes. Cling to thoughts of protection, safety, guidance. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 blessings to you and yours this day and always ... Have you seen the free classic Christian books Contact by email: servant@twolisteners.com You may also choose to receive Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 |
Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest