Day 24---Good Stewards

Day 24---Good Stewards
Read: 1 Peter 4:10-11; Luke 12:41-48

Have you ever wondered... What stewardship is? What God expects you to do with your possessions?

It's no secret that our society is materialistic. God has a different perspective. When you consider God's part in creating the world, you'll realize that everything you "own" is really God's. Not yours-- God's.While you are here on earth, he is entrusting you with it.
Because all you have is on loan from God, you know not to cling to your possessions. They will only slip through your fingers. When God entrusts you with possessions, he expects you to honor him with what you have.
The Bible teaches that we are to give God our firstfruits--meaning the first and best of all we have. Is that because God needs your money? You must be kidding. Why, then, is giving so important? When you give, you put your possessions in proper perspective. Giving helps you participate in God's work. Giving helps you and your heart condition far more than it helps God.
Good stewardship means that you work and give cheerfully. Take inventory of your gifts, talents, and possessions. Invest them in the world around you so that with a glad heart you can report back to the giver.

Each one should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Day 23---Spiritual Gifts

Day 23---Spiritual Gifts
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4

Have you ever wondered... What spiritual gifts God has given you? How you can use them?

Since God is the giver, he chooses what gifts to give each person. He selects from his infinite pool of talents and blessings and chooses something appropriate for you. Every gift is good. You can't walk away slighted. It's up to you to discover what gifts he's placed in your heart and to use them.
Perhaps you wonder why God gives special gifts. In a "fair" economy, every person would receive the same gifts, in the same measure, at the same time. But God's economy operates differently. To some, he gives the gift of teaching. To others, he gives the gift of hospitality. These are very different gifts, right? God's family needs all of the gifts in order to function smoothly. We are dependent upon each other.
Study Romans 12:3-8 and ask God which gifts he has given you. Ask your family, friends, pastor, and yourself. Consider your talents and your passions, and pray that God would show you how he wants you to serve the family. Then snatch up your prize and use it for God.

We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us (Romans 12:6A).

Day 22---Christian Friendships

Day 22---Christian Friendships
Read: Acts 14:21-22; Ephesians 2:19

Have you ever wondered... How to develop friendships with other Christians? About the importance of having Christian friendships?

God never intended for us to struggle through life alone. You'll notice a pattern in the Scriptures that God provides friends for our support. During tough times, King David turned to his dear friend Jonathan. When Naomi lost her husband and sons, she leaned on her daughter-in-law Ruth. And even Jesus, when he felt anxious about dying on the cross, asked his three closest friends, Peter, James, and John, to come pray with him.
Friends share our joys and sorrows. Friends pray for us. Friends balance us out. Friends help us see beyond our immediate circumstances to God's grand, sweeping plan. And we can do the same for our friends.
So do we need Christian friends? When we truly love Jesus more than anything else, then we want to be able to share what's most important to us with our closest friends. Only other believers can fully understand our passion for Christ.
Let's face it--we need each other. And that's just what God had in mind.

The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father   (John 15:13-15)

Day 21---Justification: Your Ticket into Heaven

Day 21---Justification: Your Ticket into Heaven
Read: Romans 4:16-25

Have you ever wondered... What you have to do to be admitted into heaven? How you can have a right relationship with God?

As high school students prepare for college, they face four years of late-night study, rounds of admissions tests, and long-term career planning. The stress and strain of their preparation and decisions builds up to a single goal. They anxiously wait, day after day, checking and rechecking the mail box, looking for just one item: the college acceptance letter.
But what if they didn't need a letter? What if getting a spot at the most prestigious school in the country simply required signing up? What if degrees were given away as freely as coupons? This would be a student's dream!
Instant admission into heaven, however, isn't just a dream--it is a reality for all who turn to Jesus. Heaven doesn't require a test or a class. Nothing we do can make us good enough for God or heaven. Jesus does it all. He took the test for us and already filled out our paperwork. The one thing he requires is that we believe that he'll uphold his end of the bargain.

I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God                      (Ephesians 2:8)

Day 20---Getting to Know a New Friend

Day 20---Getting to Know a New Friend
Read: 1 Samuel 3:2-10, 19; Proverbs 3:1-4

Have you ever wondered... How to get to know God?

Making time to get alone with God may seem tough--at times even impossible. Stress, deadlines, relationships, and responsibilities compete for your time. How can you set aside time to pause, open the Bible, study, and listen to God? Those are the meetings that God longs for. He wants to meet with you for your sake, so that you can get to know him and his Word better.
When the prophet Samuel was young, he had never heard God's voice before. Actually hearing God speak was a rare occurrence in those days. The boy had not yet met God in a personal way (1 Samuel 3:7).
But God was eager for Samuel to meet him, so he called his name. Once Samuel's ears were open, he listened for God's voice. From that moment on, he formed a special friendship with God.
Once you hear God, don't hesitate to invite him in. Just as you would spend time getting to know a new friend, spend that kind of time with your Lord. Ask him to sit and chat. Ask him more about himself, and learn about his past, his family, and his plans. Tell him all about your situation, your goals, and your struggles. Once you've shared those heart-to-heart conversations, never grow apart. Let him be more than a mere acquaintance.

Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Day 19---Holy and Clean

Day 19---Holy and Clean

Read: Leviticus 11:45; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Corinthians 7:1

Have you ever wondered... What it means to be holy? How you could ever be considered holy?

Holiness is one of those intimidating religious words that we always hear but generally don't understand. Holiness means set apart, sinless, and perfect. God is holy; we are not.
God loves us despite our dirty, sin-soiled clothes. He wears his holiness like a dazzling, spotless, white robe. These verses encourage us to purify ourselves so that we can be holy, just as God intended us to be.
See that big black spot on your collar? That's lust. Don't forget that smear on the right sleeve. That's jealousy. There's a spot on your cuff and streak on your lapel. Those are pride and dishonesty. What an eyesore we are next to God's purity!
But we can wear holiness, too. We don't wear our own; we wear Christ's. We are covered in his holiness. Once we have been cleansed white as snow, we can stand next to God in pure, holy garments.

But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. It is written in the Scriptures: "You must be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Day 18---Becoming Like Jesus

Day 18---Becoming Like Jesus
Read: John 17:17-19; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2

Have you ever wondered... What sanctification is? How you become sanctified?

Sanctification is the ongoing process of growing toward holiness. Once you've accepted Christ as your Savior, your salvation is secure, but God isn't finished with you yet. As long as you're alive, he wants you to become more like him. Sanctification is the Holy Spirit's job. Through his leading, you become more and more like Jesus each day.
Sanctification lasts a lifetime. While you're on earth, you'll never be perfect, but you should become more perfect with each passing day. God gives you the tools--the handbook (the Bible), the guide (the Holy Spirit), and the companions (the church).
You don't have to do anything to get salvation. You just embrace it. It's a gift, pure and simple. But from that moment on, God does expect something from you. He expects you to abandon your old lifestyle and grow into Christ's likeness. It's your part in God's plan.

*You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God (Colossians 3:10)

Day 17---Getting Right with God

Day 17---Getting Right with God

Read: Romans 3:19-26; 1 John 2:1-2; Proverbs 2:7-8

Have you ever wondered... How you can become righteous? If following the rules is good enough for God?

Try to think of someone who was righteous, someone who never did anything wrong. Mother Teresa? No. The Apostle Paul? Hardly. The Pope, Joan of Arc, or John the Baptist? None of these characters were righteous of their own accord, and neither are you. There's nothing you can do to make up for your foul behavior.
Sin stinks, and God hates it. Face it: Flowers won't appease him. Gifts and apology cards won't cut it.. The grander tributes--an afternoon serving at the city mission, a fat check in the offering plate--won't make you look any better or any more righteous. We always want to do what is right, but somehow, it just doesn't happen.
God's not surprised. Reading Romans chapter three may help you breathe a little easier. Deeds aren't the way to righteousness--Jesus is. He frees you from your sin when you hand over your life to him. Righteousness is a free gift. Take it. Wear it confidently by obeying God's Word. Then you'll receive all the positive things that God wants to give you along with it.

*But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy (James 1:25)

Day 16---Freedom to Obey

Read: James 1:22-25; Romans 6:22; John 8:31-32

Have you ever wondered... Why God asks you to obey him? If obedience will ever become easier and more natural for you?

Sometimes it seems that rules are posted everywhere to limit our fun. "No running." "No diving." "Shirt and shoes required." Some people equate Christianity with a list of rules and regulations. They assume that God surrounds his children with rules just as the fun is getting started. These verses clarify that God's commands aren't meant to limit you. On the contrary, God's instructions free you. His motivation is love, and his goal is to enhance your life, not limit it.
When you live within God's boundaries, you're free--free to enjoy your life without worry, free to approach God without guilt, free to begin relationships without pain. Because of his blessings, obedience becomes fun. You obey not because you have to, but because you want to.

But now you are free from sin and have become slaves of God. This brings you a life that is only for God, and this gives you life forever
(Romans 6:22)

Day 15 Cheering on the Church

Read: Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 4:32-35

Have you ever wondered... Why you should go to church? What Christ's church is supposed to be like?

Joe was tired of the complaints. Every time his crew of little baseball players ran off the field, he was bombarded with grumbling. "Mark keeps dropping the ball!" "Why can't I play pitcher?" "I'm tired of being in the outfield!" "I won't catch if Timmy pitches!" Joe wasn't at all surprised that his team had yet to win a game.

The church is a team. The success of the church depends on the commitment of the players. The church can only win when its members cheer each other on. Our Captain knows that if his team isn't unified, we will fail. Every time we take the field of life, we can choose to cheer or complain, encourage or criticize, laugh or groan. If we listen carefully to our Coach, we can beat Satan's team in a shutout!

The church team isn't complete without you. God designed it that way. You're the number one draft pick for God's roster. He wants you to be bold and step up to the plate. On God's team, you have the ability to hit a home run

Day 14 The Creator

(Nehemiah 9:6; Job 26:7-14; Acts 14:15)

Have you ever wondered... If the story of Creation is true? Why God bothered to create you?

In the beginning, God breathed life into Adam. God formed each living thing out of nothing. God's color palette is richer than any human artist's. His brush strokes are light and precise. The Bible praises God for his creativity. He left his stamp of craftsmanship on each one of us.
When he created you, he deliberately chose the shape of your face and the color of your eyes. In addition to your physical features, he combined a unique mix of talents and traits. And since that initial moment of creation, he has watched you ever since. Anyone who would labor so much to form you would naturally care enough to lead you the rest of the way through life. You are his child, his artwork.
Perhaps you've wondered why he bothered creating you. What can you possibly give to God that he doesn't already have? Certainly, you can't bring him power, glory, or holiness, but you can bring him one thing that he dearly wants--yourself. You are the masterpiece that the Great Artist treasures.

It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen (Hebrews 11:3)

FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: PSALM 8

Day 13 A Heavenly Home

(John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-4)

Have you ever wondered... What happens after you die? What heaven is like?

Many people believe in heaven, but what is it really like? Is it somewhere up in the sky? What will eternity feel like? Actually, heaven is far greater than we can imagine. The Bible doesn't tell us exactly what heaven will be like, but today's reading gives us an idea. Heaven is a place where there is no more pain, a place where you'll never be lonely and you'll never grow old. Heaven is like nothing that we've ever seen or experienced. But best of all, heaven is where Jesus lives, and we'll be there with him. He is waiting for the perfect time for us all to be there together.
Before Jesus returned to heaven, he promised that he was going to prepare a place for us--in one of his Father's mansions! As a believer, your name is in the Book of Life. Your place will be worshiping God, and you will never grow tired of it. Heaven is a sigh of relief, a warm hug of welcome, the end of the journey...home.
We know that our body--the tent we live in here on earth--will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever. But now we groan in this tent. We want God to give us our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15

The Loss of Joy

     What are the things, then, that cause us to sometimes lose our joy? The first item is sin. Joy depends on our having unbroken fellowship with God, but sin separates us from Him and causes Him to hide His face (Isaiah 59:1-2).
     The second item is grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). When we are saved, we become God's temple and have His Spirit indwelling us (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19; Romans 8:9, 11, 16). This Spirit within is not a "force" or a "thing,"  (1 Corinthians 15:45; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 13:5). Like every living person, he has feelings and attitudes. Thus, when we speak or do things contrary to him, he is grieved within us. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, our spirit, which is joined to God (1 Corinthians 6:17), is grieved, and we lose our joy.

Good Morning 6:26 A.M. Bremen, Georgia United States

Dear Lord, thank you so much for another day of life on Earth.  Thank you for another beautiful sunrise to enjoy.  Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature, from the cool breeze brushing through the trees to the birds singing melodies.  You are a wonderful God, full of grace and mercy.  I praise you for allowing me another day to spend with my family.  I love you Father!  Amen.

Bedtime is Time to be Thankful

Bedtime is Time to be Thankful

Dear God,

My head is heavy, the body weary. It’s time for sleep and I succumb. I am thankful O God  for rest and renewal. A time to re-charge. A time to dream. A time of quiet. I am thankful for all I have.

~Amen

The Joy Of Salvation

    We have seen the assurance of our salvation, that is, how we know that we are saved. We have also seen the security of our salvation, that is, how we can never lose our salvation. But is that sufficient? Unfortunately, many Christians are content to go only this far--having salvation, but having little joy or enjoyment of that salvation.
     Our friend with millions in the bank may have the assurance that he is rich, and he may have the security of knowing that his deposit is safe. But if he never spends a dime and is content to live a pauper's life, we can hardly say he has the enjoyment of those riches. Objectively speaking he is rich, but in his practical experience he has nothing.

     This is the condition of many Christians today. They are saved, but in their daily life they have little experience of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8). However, God's intention is that we not only have Christ, but that we enjoy him (John 10:10; Phil 4:4). The normal condition of a Christian is to "exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).
     But nearly all of us will admit that there are times, even many times, when we do not have this overflowing joy. Does this mean that we have lost our salvation? Absolutely not! Our salvation is based upon God, not upon us. But although we cannot lose our salvation, we can lose the joy of that salvation.

THE SECURITY OF SALVATION (PT. 2)

We Have Become God's Children:

     When we were saved, we not only received something; we also became something. We became children of God, born of His eternal life (John 1:12-13). A human father may be able to take back a gift he has given to his child, but he can never take back the human life which he has imparted. Although the child may misbehave, the child is still the father's. In the same way, we are God's children. Although we may have many weaknesses and may require His discipline, our sins and weaknesses cannot change the fact that we are His children. The life we received by our second birth is the eternal life, the indestructible life, the life of God, the life that can never die. Once we are born again, we can never be "un-born."

God Is Strong:

     Another reason for the security of our salvation is God's strength. God is unwilling to allow anything or anyone to snatch us from Him. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). The hand of the Father and the hand of the Lord Jesus are two strong hands holding us fast. Even if we try to run away from our Father, it would be impossible. Not only is God stronger than Satan, He is also stronger than we are.

God Never Changes:

     If it were possible to lose our salvation, many of us would have lost it long ago. As human beings, we go through many changes. One day we are hot; the next, cold. But our salvation is not based upon our erratic feelings. It is rooted and grounded in a God who is unchanging in His love and faithfulness toward us (Mal. 3:6). James 1:17 says, "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows." Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The LORD's love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD your loyalty is great." If He loved us enough to save us, He surely loves us enough to keep us in that same salvation. Great is His faithfulness!

Christ Has Promised:

     Finally, Christ himself has promised to keep us, uphold us, and never leave us. Although men often are unrighteous in keeping their promises, Christ will never fail to accomplish what he pledges. Listen to his promise: "The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them" (John 6:37); "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never forget you" (Heb. 13:5). The Lord's promises here are unconditional. By no means and under no circumstances whatever, will he ever cast us out or cease to uphold us. This is faithful promise.
     What powerful security our salvation has! We have God's selection, God's predestination, His calling, His love, His grace, His righteousness, His life, His strength, His unchanging faithfulness, and His promises as the foundation, guaranty, and security for our salvation. We can all declare with Paul, "I am suffering now because I tell the Good News, but I am not ashamed, because I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with until that day" (2 Tim. 1:12).

THE SECURITY OF SALVATION

After a Christian has received the assurance that he is really saved, he may consider, "I know that I am saved today, but how do I know that I will be saved tomorrow? Is it possible for me to lose my salvation?" For such a one, it is no longer a question of assurance, but one of security. 
     A man with millions in the bank has the assurance that the riches are his. But if the bank insists on leaving their vault unlocked, our rich friend will have a real problem with the security of his riches. He knows he is rich today, but he does know about tomorrow.
     Is our salvation like that? Is it something which we have today but may lose at any moment? The answer is, unequivocally, no. We can boldly say, "I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him." (Eccl. 3:14).
     One wonderful fact regarding our salvation in Christ is that it is irreversible, that is, it cannot be undone. Once we are saved, we are saved forever because our salvation has as its basis the very nature and person of God Himself.

SALVATION WAS INITIATED BY GOD:
     Jesus told his disciples, "You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name." (John 15:16). In other words, salvation was God's idea, not ours. In eternity past we were chosen and even predestined (marked out) by Him (Eph. 1:4-5). Furthermore, it was He who called us (Rom. 8:29-30). Since it was God's plan to save us in the first place, it is also His plan to keep us in that salvation. Could God choose us, mark us out, call us into salvation and then abandon us? No, God's salvation is eternal.

GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE ARE ETERNAL:
     Furthermore, God's love and grace toward us are not conditional or temporary. It was not love from our side that saved us, but love from His (1 John 4:10). He loved us with an eternal love (Jer. 31:3). His grace was toward us in eternity past, before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). When God and Christ love us, they love us to the uttermost (John 13:1). No sin, failure, or weakness on our part can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS:
     But our salvation is based not only upon God's love and grace, but even more upon God's righteousness. Our God is a righteous God. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne (Psa. 89:14). If God were to be unrighteous, His throne would lose its foundation. Therefore, if our salvation in any way involves God's righteousness, it is very strong indeed.
     Suppose you run a red light and are given a $25 ticket. That $25 fine is a righteous penalty, and the law of the land demands that you pay it. If a civil judge simply overlooks your offense and releases you without paying, he is an unrighteous judge. It is not a matter of whether or not the judge loves you; he is bound by law to collect the fine.
     In the same way, our problem before God before we were saved was a legal one. We had broken God's law by our sin and has thus incurred the law's righteous judgment. According to the law of God, where transgression of the law is, death must take place (Rom. 6:23; Ezek.18:4). It is not a matter of God loving us, overlooking our sins, and forgetting about the law's judgment. If God were to do this, His very throne would topple. God is bound by His own law to judge sin. What can He do?
     Since God desired to save us and since we could not pay the debt of sin ourselves, He in His mercy decided to make a way for us. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came to die on the cross to pay the debt for our sin. Having no sin himself, he alone was qualified to die this substitutionary death. His death, being reckoned by God as ours, was acceptable to God, and God raised him from the dead. Now when we believe in Christ, his death is counted in God's sight as our own. Thus, our debt of sin is righteously paid, and we are saved.
     Now, can God take back this salvation which Christ has purchased? Absolutely not! Since the debt was paid, for God to demand it again from us would be unrighteous. The same righteousness which formerly called for our condemnation now calls for our justification. What powerful security this gives to our salvation! Even a worldly judge would not demand the same fine to be paid twice. Certainly God, the source of all justice and righteousness, cannot do so.
     Thus, the Bible declares that when God saves us, He shows us forth His righteousness (Rom. 1:16-17; 3:25-26).

THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

  If you recently have had the experience of receiving Christ, you may have had times when you doubted the reality of that experience; that is, you may have questioned whether you were really saved. Without the real assurance of salvation as a solid foundation, it is difficult for a new Christian to grow and experience the deeper things of the Christian life. Nevertheless, the Bible says it is possible to know absolutely, unreservedly, that you are a saved person. How can this be? Let us read 1 John 5:13: I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know that you have eternal life.
It is not, "that you may think," not, "that you may hope," but "that you may know."  We do not need to wait until we die to find out; this assurance is for us to enjoy today. How can we have the assurance of salvation? There are three means:

1. God Says So:

     Our first means of assurance of salvation is God's Word. While man's word may be untrustworthy, God's Word remains sure and steadfast. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18; Num. 23:19). Whatever God says stands firm forever (Psa. 119:89). What God has said is not a matter of conjecture. His Word is neither vague nor intangible. It comes to us today in written form, the Bible. The Bible is God's very Word, inspired by Him (2 Tim. 3:16). We can take this Word, believe this Word, and trust this Word. What then does God say about salvation? He says that the way of salvation is a person, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 10:43; 16:31). He says that whoever believes that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord is saved. He says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-13). Have you done this? Have you believed in Christ and confessed openly that He is your Lord? Have you called on His name? If so, you are really saved. God says so. That settles it.
2. The Holy Spirit Bears Witness:

     Not only do we have God's Word outside us telling us we are saved, we also have a witness inside us, telling us the the very same thing. What the Bible speaks to us from without, the Spirit confirms within. First John 5:10 says, "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. Anyone who does not believe makes God a liar, because that person does believe what God told us about his Son."
     Sometimes, after we have received Christ, we may not feel saved. Nevertheless, if we check within the deepest part our being, with our spirit, we will find a kind of inner witness, an assurance, that we are children of God. "The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). If you doubt that you have this inner witness of the Spirit, try this simple experiment: try declaring boldly, "I am not a child of God!" You will find it very difficult to even whisper such falsehood. Why? Because the Holy Spirit within you bears witness, "You are a child of God!"

3. Our Love for the Brothers Is Proof:

     The third means of assurance is our love for other brothers and sisters in Christ. First John 3:14 says, "We know we have left death and have come into life because we love each other. Whoever does not love is still dead." A saved person undoubtedly senses a kind of love for others who are also saved. You sense a desire to fellowship, to enjoy Christ with others. This is the spontaneous result of being saved, one of the clearest signs of a saved person. This love transcends the cheap, selfish "love" of today's age. It is a love that is impartial--it loves those who are alike and those who are different. This is the real oneness and harmony the world longs for. Yet it is ours when we receive Christ. "It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace!" (Psa. 133:1). This is the testimony of a saved person. 
     By these three witnesses--God's Word, the Spirit's inner witness, and our love for the brothers--we may know and be sure that we are really saved.

Your Thoughts Run Your Life

To listen to our vocabulary you'd think we are the victims of our thoughts. "Don't talk to me," we say. "I'm in a bad mood." As if a mood were a place to which we were assigned rather than an emotion we permit.
Or we say, "Don't mess with her. She has a bad disposition." Is a disposition something we "have"? Like a cold or the flu? Are we the victims of the emotional bacteria of the season? Or do we have a choice?
Paul says we do: "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage-"capture every thought," "make it give up" and "obey Christ"? You get the impression that we are soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. "This heart belongs to God," we declare, "and you aren't getting on board until you change your allegiance."
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren't allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn't bear the thought of it. "Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that....Jesus said to Peter, 'Go away from me Satan! You are not helping me! You don't care about the things of God, but only about the things people think are important' " (Matthew 16:22,23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, "Get away from me." As if to say, "You are not allowed to enter my mind." 

 What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life" (Proverbs 4:23). (From A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado)

The Mystery of Human Life

Have you ever wondered why you are living in this world and what the purpose of your life is? There are six keys that unlock this mystery.

1. God's Plan: God desires to express Himself through man (Rom. 8:29). For this purpose, He created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26). Just as a glove is made in the image of a hand to contain a hand, so also man is made in the image of God to contain God. By receiving God as his content, man can express God (2 Cor. 4:7).

2. Man: To fulfill His plan, God made man as a vessel (Rom. 9:21-24). This vessel has three parts: body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). The body contacts and receives the things of the physical realm. The soul, the mental faculty, contacts and receives the things of the psychological realm. And the human spirit, the innermost part of man, was made to contact and receive God Himself (John 4:24). Man was created not merely to contain food in his stomach, or to contain knowledge in his mind, but to contain God in his spirit (Eph. 5:18).

3. Man's Fall: But before man could receive God as life into his spirit, sin entered into him (Rom. 5:12). Sin deadened his spirit (Eph. 2:1), made him an enemy of God in his mind (Col. 1:21), and transmuted his body into sinful flesh (Gen. 6:3; Rom. 6:12). Thus, sin damaged all three parts of man, alienating him from God. In this condition, man could not receive God.

4. Christ's Redemption for God's Dispensing: Nevertheless, man's fall did not deter God from fulfilling His original plan. In order to accomplish His plan, God gave His son Jesus Christ to us, to die for our sins. Christ died on the cross to redeem man. (Eph. 1:7), thus taking away his sin (John 1:29) and bringing him back to God (Eph. 2:13). Finally, in resurrection, Christ became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b) so that he could dispense his unsearchably rich life into man's spirit (John 20:22; 3:6).
 
5. Man's Regeneration: Since Christ has become the life-giving Spirit, man can now receive God's life into his spirit. The Bible calls this regeneration (1Pet. 1:3; John 3:3). To receive this life, man needs to repent to God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 16:31).

6. God's Full Salvation: After regeneration, a believer needs to be baptized (Mark 16:16). Then God begins the lifelong process of gradually spreading Himself as life from the believer's spirit into his soul (Eph. 3:17). This process called transformation (Rom. 12:2), requires human cooperation (Phil. 2:12). The believer cooperates by allowing the Lord to spread into his soul until all desires, thoughts, and decisions become one with those of Christ. Finally, at Christ's return, God will fully saturate the believer's body with his life. This is called glorification (Phil. 3:21). Thus, instead of being empty and damaged in each part, this man is filled and saturated with the life of God. This is God's full salvation! Such a man now expresses God, fulfilling God's plan! After receiving this life a believer needs to attend Christian meetings in order to be nourished and supplied by the life of God that he may grow and mature in this life. In fellowship with other believers in the Body of Christ a believer can enjoy the riches of the presence of Christ.

Day 12 Too Good to Be True

Have you ever wondered...

• If you can lose your salvation?
• If you have to repent over and over again?

Read: John 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39

Some things just seem too good to be true. For you, heaven might be one of those things--unattainable and out of reach. Maybe you feel like you could never be good enough to deserve going there. The Bible, however, tries to erase that insecurity from your mind. These two verses shout, "Don't worry everybody, God has got you!" Once we yield our lives to him, God holds us with his strong arm. He never lets go of us, no matter what. It's not our job to keep our souls from slipping outside of heaven's bounds--it's God's! He is the ultimate protector who grips our souls for eternity.

Having surrendered yourself to God, your salvation is a done deal. Your prayer is signed, sealed, and delivered straight to God. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done." The Bible reassures you that at the moment of your repentance, you became God's child. Nothing you can do will change God's mind.

And this is the boldness we have in God's presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him     (1 John 5:14-15)

For a more in-depth study, read: 1 John 1:5-2:5

Day 11 No More Than We Can Bear

(1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 4:1-11)

Have you ever wondered...
*How to respond when you're tempted?
*What God expects of you?

The question isn't if you'll be tempted to sin. It's just a matter of when, what, and how creative Satan will be. First Corinthians describes temptation as something everybody faces. We're vulnerable, and Satan knows it.
Jesus is our lifeline out of temptation. He sees the storm coming. He watches us struggling to stay afloat as wave after wave crashes over us. Just when we are about to drown, Jesus reaches in and offers his hand to pull us to safety. It is our choice to either take his strong hand or to sink.
God's Word is our harbor from the storm. When we recognize temptation approaching, then we can gear up for it by asking for God's help. He knows our weaknesses. He understands our pressures and temptations. Jesus himself was tempted, and he is strong enough to overcome it all.

And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted... Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it
(Hebrews 2:18; 4:16)

Day 10 Confession: A Sure Win

(Psalm 32:5; James 5:16)

Have you ever wondered...
*If God could ever forgive your sin?
*Why you should confess?

Thirty thousand runners. Twenty-six miles. Thirteen water stations. Two tired feet. The olympic marathon--a colossal challenge that dares runners to attempt its course.
The Christian life is like a marathon. It's a lifelong, often grueling race for which we train, sweat, and persevere. We condition ourselves to prepare for the race. We find ourselves running among countless other runners with the same goal in mind: complete the race.
But not everyone makes it to the finish line. Some runners allow sin to begin piling up on their backs, slowing their strides until they eventually collapse on the curb. The course is difficult enough without having to carry around the heavy burden of unconfessed sin.
Confession is the only way to unload it from your back. God is watching and waiting for you at the finish line. He wants to see you run across it free of injury. There is no sin that he won't forgive. Can you hear him calling your name?

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done
(1 John 1:8-9)

Day 9 Forgiveness

(Genesis 45: 4-15; Matthew 18:21-35)

*Have you ever wondered how you could forgive an enemy?
*What sins are unforgivable?

It goes beyond our human nature to forgive the unforgivable. We hold grudges and harbor resentment. We battle and bicker among ourselves. It is God's nature, however, to forgive anything and everything. The worst crime ever committed? God can forgive that. Your worst mistakes and harshest moments? God can forgive those, too. Even when you feel that God would never accept you as you are, he invites you to come just as you are, and he forgives you completely.
Joseph's brothers did the unforgivable--they sold their little brother into slavery. What an awful thing to do! They did not deserve to be forgiven. As readers, we long for a moment of vengeance, when Joseph can get back at them for the years of pain and rejection they caused him. But Joseph held off. He could have gloated, mocked, yelled, or punished. Instead, he embraced them. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he forgave them. As Jesus taught in Matthew 18:35, Joseph managed to forgive his brothers from his heart.
Perhaps you can empathize with Joseph's situation. Maybe you're face-to-face with someone who doesn't deserve to be forgiven. Through Jesus' grace, you can forgive. Only when you are bathed in God's forgiveness can you extend that same, rich, ungrudging forgiveness to others.

But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we still sinners
(Romans 5:8)

FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: GENESIS 37 AND 42

Lord,

You are the wind in my sails
You guide me as I steer and find direction.
You give me the strength to keep on going.
You watch over me as I navigate stormy seas.
You are the harbor where I stop for rest.
You are my encourager when I lose hope.
You are the lighthouse that keeps my path safe.
You are with me always.

Thank you.
Amen.

Day 8 On Your Feet in Praise

Read: ( Psalm 150; Luke 19:36-40)

 *Have you ever wondered why worship is so important?
*How to praise the Creator of the universe?

We shouldn't hesitate to give God a standing ovation. We should always be on our feet, lifting our hearts and our voices to him in praise. Psalm 150 clearly tells us that he deserves all the credit. Creation cannot help praising the Creator. Jesus said that if people did not praise God, then the stones would cry out a hearty "Bravo!" to their God.
We can spend hours in worship of our Lord, but if our praise comes from an insincere heart, our efforts are wasted. God listens attentively, his head resting in his hand, peering into our hearts. He isn't impressed if our lips move without our hearts moving as well. Worship isn't a duty. It's a privilege, an act of obedience, an urge to satisfy a heart that longs to praise God.
God is the focus, the reason, and the joy of our worship. No matter what problems you're facing, don't let them distract you from your focus. Because of his work on the cross--for that reason alone--he deserves an unending stream of praise from our lips forever.

The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth
(John 4:23-24)

FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ PSALM 36:1-7; 40:3; 104:33-34

Day 7 The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:26-27; John 14:17; 1 John 4:13)

Have you ever wondered...
* What the Holy Spirit's role is in your life?
* What the Holy Spirit is like?

Before he left earth, Jesus promised to send someone to be with us continually. He promised to send the comforter, one who would bear our burdens, warm our hearts, and urge us to pray. He knows our worries, desires, feelings, and thoughts. At those times when you feel like you can't express your thoughts to God, the Holy Spirit acts as your liaison.

The Holy Spirit is not a ghost that haunts churches. He is God. He is equal to and synonymous with the Father and Son, but he plays a different role. He knows you better than anyone else on earth does. He lives in you, so you are never alone. When you struggle with feelings of pain and depression, the Holy Spirit comforts you. When you're listening hard for God's voice, the Holy Spirit speaks to you. When you're down to your last ounce of strength, the Spirit lifts and carries you.

Jesus didn't leave us to fend for ourselves when he returned to heaven. He left us with the Holy Spirit. He lives in you, understanding every thought, emotion, and desire that you ever feel. You can't earn his services. As soon as you embrace Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you.

I ask the Father in his glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and built on love
(Ephesians 3:16-17)

Day 6 No Appointment Necessary (Mark 11:20-24; James 5:15)

*Have you ever wondered how to talk to God?
* If God really listens to you?

Maybe it seems too good to be true that you have immediate access to the Creator of the universe. No appointment is necessary. You don't need to ask his secretary if he is busy. You can bypass the lobby, phones, and security guards and walk right into his office. His focus is completely on you, and his time is unlimited.

You would expect nothing less from your father, right? God doesn't treat you like a stranger or a business partner. You are his child, dearly loved and cherished. If you believe that God loves you, then you can trust that he will listen to your prayers.

In Mark 11, Jesus told us not to waste our words in prayer if we do not believe that God will answer us. But, if we are confident that he will meet our requests, then be ready! Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams.

So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you
(Mark 11:25)

Day 5 The Bible: God's Scrapbook (Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:9-18)

*Have you ever wondered if God's Word is any more than a bunch of good stories?

The Bible comes even more alive when we realize that it's God's scrapbook. Paging through it, you learn more about him with each turn. It overflows with collages of pictures, stories, poems, and letters. You'll discover a piece of music that David wrote for him and a prayer God received from Job. You'll glimpse a snapshot of God's face as he watched his Son die.
What makes the Bible a unique scrapbook is that it doesn't just commemorate the past--it provides guidance for today and hope for tomorrow. You can find your name and face in its pages. Next to each Bible promise is a picture of you. The same hope, the same gifts, and the same salvation recorded in the Bible apply to you. This scrapbook isn't a nostalgic keepsake. It's a living, dynamic, hopeful expectation of God's plans for the future.

All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Day 4 Growing in God

Have you ever wondered how to grow in your faith?

Read: 2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Peter 2:2

There's more to Paris than the Eiffel Tower. If you walk on the main tourist paths, you'll discover quaint cafe's waiting to be enjoyed, fragrant flower shops tucked away, private bed and breakfasts unlisted in the tourist's guides.
Ironically, visiting Paris has many similarities to the Christian walk. You can't miss salvation. It looms high above the skyline. It's what really makes your trip. But you'll find even more places you can visit to get to know God in a deeper way.
That's what the Bible reveals. Inside are countless passages of insight for you to consider so that you can learn more about God's personality. As you spend time with other Christians, in the Word, in prayer, and in accountability, you can draw from their strengths and experiences and share yours as well. Search the pages of Scripture to discover new places in God's Word.
Most of all, be willing to take the trip and grow in your relationship with God. You'll be surprised at what awaits you around the next corner!

But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.
(James 1:25)

Day 3 God's Love

Have you ever wondered...
*Just how much God really loves you?
* If you can fall out of God's love?
* Why you deserve to be loved so much?

Read: John 13:1; Ephesians 3:14-19; Romans 8:35-39

God's Word is the most beautiful expression of love ever written. Shakespeare's sonnets pale in comparison to the Bible's descriptions of love. His love transcends every kind of earthly love. His love is stronger than any bond between parent and child or husband and wife. No earthly image can accurately portray God's love for us. Galatians 2:20 explains that Jesus loved you enough to die in your place. He chose to accept your punishment so that you could spend eternity with the father. In his death, Christ committed the greatest act of love ever seen by human eyes.
With a love so devoted, so sacrificial, so extreme--nothing can ever interfere. Nothing can squelch or diminish that love. You cannot fall beyond the reach of his love. You can't lose it. You can't change it, win it, or control it. His love extends before and beyond time, and he loved you before you knew him. When you choose to accept his love, you begin the most amazing relationship of your life.

And from far away the LORD appeared to his people and said, "I love you people with a love that will last forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness"
(Jeremiah 31:3)

Day 2 Coming Home to Your Father:

Have you ever wondered...

• What it means to be a child of God?

• If you've run too far to come home?

Read: Romans 8:15-16; Luke 15:11-32; 2 Corinthians 6:18

     When you hold up your arms to your heavenly Father, he reaches down to scoop you up. These passages remind us that accepting God's gift of salvation is not a formal business deal. It's the picture of a father welcoming home his rebellious child, just like the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.
     Just like the ungrateful son, we have run far from God. At some point in our lives, we've tried to live on our own. apart from him. We packed a knapsack, bought a bus ticket, and took off for the lights of the city. Somehow, the plan didn't work out as we expected. But God, your Father, was waiting up for you when you came home.
     With joy in his eyes, God adopted you as soon as you held up your arms to him. He's your Abba Father. It doesn't matter how far you've run or how long you've been gone. His love doesn't change. You are his child.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son who was born of a woman and lived under the law. God did this so he could buy freedom for those who were under the law and so we could be his children.
                                                                                                                                      (Galatians 4:4-5)

Day #1

November 7, 2014 at 7:14pm

Good evening everyone. I hope you all had a blessed day. As stated yesterday, today we will begin our 30-day Bible study program for new believers. Even if you're not a new believer please feel free to join us as we gain knowledge of our heavenly Father and His Son whom he sent forth. Again, I am using the The Devotional Bible New Century Version.

Jesus Our Savior

Have you ever wondered...

• Why Jesus came to earth?

• If there are other ways to get to heaven?

Read: John 10:10; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:15

     Many people search for faith like they shop for clothes. They browse the racks of religion, pick an item, and try it on for size. If it doesn't fit, they throw it right back on the rack. If it's comfortable and makes them look good, then they buy it. Besides, it can always be returned.
     Some people claim that Christianity is too narrow. Jesus clearly said that there's only one way to heaven and one narrow path that leads to God--and he is the way. He's not the least bit tolerant or accepting of other methods, sincere as they might be.
     Why is that so hard to accept? In every other area of life, we accept absolutes. When we bake, we put in the exact ingredients. When we drive somewhere, we follow the directions. When we seek God, he requires only one thing--Christ--and that's the only way to God.
     We're not saved by a system of religion. Salvation is beautifully, incredibly simple. Jesus is the one Savior, and he's free for the taking.

The woman said, "I know that the Messiah is coming." (Messiah is the One called Christ.) "When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus said, "I am he--I, the one talking to you"          (John 4:25-26).

Some personal applications:

• Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father?

• Why do some people struggle with this concept?

For a more in-depth study, read: Hebrews 5:7-9

"Let us ask our Father humbly, yet confidently in the name of Jesus, to remind us of the empty tomb. Let us see the victorious Jesus: the conqueror of the tomb, the one who defied death. And let us be reminded that we, too, will be granted that same victory!"
                                                                                                                                         -----Max Lucado

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