The Sun of Righteousness BIBLE MEDITATION(Malachi 4:2 ) “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings...”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Since Jesus is the S-O-N of God, He is also the S-U-N of righteousness. Let me tell you something about the sunrise. The sunrise never comes ahead of time, and it is never late. Isn’t that right? The sunrise operates according to the power of God and the authority of God. You can’t hurry it up, and you can’t stop it! That’s the way the Second Coming of Jesus is. He is coming at a time known only to God. You can’t hurry it up, and you can’t stop it. One day the Lord Jesus Christ shall come with trumpet sound. He will pull back the shade of the night and pin it with a star. Then He’ll open the door of the glorious morning of His millennial reign and flood the world with light.
ACTION POINT: Tomorrow morning, get up with the sunrise and praise God that His timing is perfect and that He is coming again!
The Miracle of the New Birth
BIBLE MEDITATION ( John 3:3 ) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Nicodemus was so impressed with the miracles Jesus had done that he wanted to find out more. He asked Jesus about miracles, and Jesus began to talk to him about births. It’s as if Jesus was saying, “Nicodemus, if you want to understand miracles, you’re going to have to become a miracle.” Now Nicodemus was an intelligent man. He was a ruler of the Jews and a member of the Sanhedrin. Yet with all of his learning Nicodemus was told, “Except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” People simply can’t understand spiritual things until the Holy Spirit of God turns the light on in their souls.
ACTION POINT: Do you know someone who has a lot of education, but no salvation? I challenge you to share this same Good News with him or her today.
Facing Temptation BIBLE MEDITATION Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: When you face temptation, remember it is not a sin to be tempted. Temptation to sin is not sin. If temptation were a sin, then Jesus would be a sinner, because Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus was tempted in all points, just as we are, yet without sin. Jesus felt what you feel. He was just as much a man as though He were not God at all, and He was just as much God as though He were not man at all. He was the God-Man. And praise God, Jesus never sinned, though He knew those temptations.
ACTION POINT: Are you facing a temptation today that you feel no one has ever faced? Turn to Jesus and He will meet you there.
BIBLE MEDITATION: Blessed Is that Trusts in the Lord Psalm 34:8 - "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The Lord Jesus Christ gives us beatitudes — attitudes that ought to be. They are not platitudes. They are attitudes that deal with Christian character. Your reputation is what others think about you, but character is what God knows about you. The beatitudes do not say, “Blessed are what you have,” or “Blessed are what you do,” but “Blessed are what you are.” Most of the people in the world are doing what? They are seeking happiness. If you seek happiness you’ll never find it. But if you get right with God, blessedness will find you.
ACTION POINT: Have you been finding your self-worth in what you have or what you do? Confess it before the Lord and meditate on the attitudes Matthew 5:3-11.To read more
BIBLE MEDITATION: What Happens When You Worry? 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. "DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: What happens when you worry? You bring tomorrow’s difficulty into today. God didn’t give you grace for tomorrow’s difficulties. He only gives you grace for today. When you reach into tomorrow’s troubles, you overload today’s circuit. Worry doesn’t take the sorrow out of tomorrow; it takes the strength out of today. When you meet tomorrow, you’re out of breath because you’re already overloaded from today. Worry, therefore, does not make you ready for the future, it really makes you unready. Yesterday is just a canceled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today has all the cash you can handle. Spend it wisely.
ACTION POINT: Worry will eat your lunch! It’ll eat your breakfast and dinner, too! Confess your worries as sin (because they are). Put your concerns at the throne of Almighty God, trusting Him to provide.
BIBLE MEDITATION: Help Yourself to Happiness Psalm 119:2 - "Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Have you ever thought that if you lived according to God’s laws you were going to miss out? The truth is, if you don’t live according to God’s laws you’re going to miss out! God’s laws are for your welfare. God is not a tyrant in heaven making a bunch of laws to make you squirm like a worm in hot ashes as you try to keep those laws. God loves you. Every time God says “Thou shalt not,” God is simply saying, “Don’t hurt yourself.” And every time God says, “Thou shalt,” God is saying, “Help yourself to happiness.” God has something wonderful in store for those who put their trust in Him.
ACTION POINT: Write the following down on some sticky notes and post them everywhere: God loves me. God knows better than I do. God is in control. God is good.
BIBLE MEDITATION : Who You Are In Christ Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The key to living a victorious Christian life is to discover who you are in Christ. Many Christians have never discovered this. They remind me of the man who had an identity problem and an energy crisis at the same time. He didn't know who he was and he was too tired to find out. God doesn't work from the outside in. He works from the inside out. God doesn't modify our behavior in order to change us. He changes us in order to modify our behavior. You're never going to purify the water by painting the pump. That’s legalism, and that’s a dead end to discovering who you are in Christ.
ACTION POINT:Take God's Word and find the phrase, "in Christ." As you find phrases that apply to your life, write those down, such as "no condemnation" now that you are "in Christ."
BIBLE MEDITATION : Ephesians 4:26 - "Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: God’s Word tells us to be “slow to wrath” (Proverbs 14:29, James 1:19). There’s nothing that will do more damage to your relationships than unwanted, unwarranted anger. If you are given to anger, let me tell you a couple of things the Bible says, and it won’t be flattering. First, the Bible says you are foolish. Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, “For anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Second, you have a weak character. Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Uncontrolled anger is like throwing a rock into a wasp’s nest.
ACTION POINT: Do you have a short fuse? If so, confess it. Don’t let Satan get a stronghold in your life. If you get angry today, ask yourself what need is not being met and give it to the Lord
BIBLE MEDITATION : Hunger for the Word of God Psalm 119:162 - "I rejoice at Thy Word."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). When God’s Word is as important to you as your physical food, then you’re going to start to grow in your Christian life. I wonder if one day the dust on our Bibles is not going to testify against us. The following poetic lines sober my heart: “These hath God married and no man shall part, dust on the Bible and drought on the heart.” Oh, that we would hunger for the Word of God!
ACTION POINT: Fast from one meal today. Sense just a touch of the hunger our hearts are to have for the Word of God, and remember to pray for those who need the pure milk of His Word!ION
BIBLE MEDITATION:The Chief Tool of the Devil Psalm 25:15 - "Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…"
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: There’s a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy. But there was one tool that had a sign under it, “Not For Sale.” Someone said, “What is that tool, and why isn’t it for sale?” “Well,” he said, “I can’t afford to get rid of that one. It’s my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart and once I get in I can do most anything I want.” Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I’ll give it to you in a nutshell – you’ve taken your eyes off God!
ACTION POINT: Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! And find someone who is so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s your next-door neighbor. Maybe it’s a co-worker. Maybe it’s your spouse.
BIBLE MEDITATION: God's Provision in Your Life Matthew 6:11 - "Give us this day our daily bread." DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: A philosopher once said, “To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.” I know what I want, and I know what you want. I want to have some money in the bank, and I want to have something there so that when tomorrow comes, then I don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t that what you want? We call that security. Question: Is that really security? Who is more secure the man who has a warehouse full of stale bread that the rats or thieves can get or the man who has a father who is a very, very rich baker?
ACTION POINT: Begin your prayer time today with the Lord’s Prayer and ask Him to help you to be content. Bow before Him in humble adoration of His provision in your life. Then share the Bread of Life with someone who is hungry today.
BIBLE MEDITATION: Gathering in His Name Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: There is something wonderful about unity. I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her. Do you know what happened? She married the mail carrier! There is nothing like being there. There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that’s not in any other sense. You cannot get it the same way at home.
ACTION POINT: Do you have a church home? If not, I encourage you to find one today. If church attendance isn't important, I wonder why Satan works so hard to keep folks away. If you do have a church home, make a special effort this week to meet a new friend and find a need they have which you can meet.
BIBLE MEDITATION: Psalm 4:6 - "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us." DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God's Word. Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, "This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?" Then, he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight. Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog? Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.
ACTION POINT: Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart. Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears. Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart. Then, get ready for a blessing. Draw up close because when you repent, He’ll reach in with healing forgiveness
BIBLE MEDITATION:Put on the Righteousness of Christ Colossians 3:12 - "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Sometimes people will ask if I'm a preacher. How do they know I'm a preacher before I've said anything "spiritual?" I don’t want them to know that I am a preacher by the way I look. Now, I’m not ashamed that I'm a preacher, but I think a preacher ought to dress and act so that nobody will suspect he's a preacher. We ought to be transparent vessels of the Lord's anointing. We're not posturing, posing, or somehow going through life trying to look holy or trying to act holy. We just simply are what we are by the grace of God.
ACTION POINT: What does your outer appearance say about who you are in Christ? Dress in His robes of righteousness and His countenance of glory today
BIBLE MEDITATION: The Lesson of Prayer Matthew 6:10 - "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Some time ago I was invited to speak at a college in another state, and my schedule was such that I could not come. When they offered to send a private plane, I agreed. As we flew over Arkansas, the pilot asked me if I wanted to try my hands at flying the plane. I said, "Yes." Of course, he was sitting right next to me. He could fly it without me, but I couldn't fly it without him. He had his hands on the controls with me. He allowed me to participate with him. That's the way prayer is. God can do it without you, but God enables you to have fellowship with Him and teaches you a dependency upon Him.
ACTION POINT: Kneel before Him. Meditate on 1 Chronicles 16:23-36. Glory in His presence
BIBLE MEDITATION:How to Know the Will of God John 15:7 - "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Do you want to know the will of God in your life? Here’s a test: how much time do you spend reading the Bible? Do you think God really believes we want to know His will when we don’t take even 15 minutes a day to read the one book above all books that God has specifically written to show you His will, to reveal His will to you, to unfold His will to you? Your first step in knowing His will is the surrender principle — surrendering our will to His. Your second step is the scripture principle. Read His word, meditate upon it, share it, and study it. When you bow to His will and read His will, you’ll know His will.
ACTION POINT: Commit to read God's Word at least 15 minutes a day for 30 days. When the month is over, reevaluate what you have learned and ask God to help you be obedient to daily Bible reading from this day forward.
BIBLE MEDITATION:The Cross of Jesus Bridges the Great Divide Ephesians 2:16 - "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Up in heaven is the holy God; down below is the sinful man. And sin is the dividing rod that separates. Man has an empty void, so man is constantly trying to reach God. But he keeps rebounding off the sin barrier. Then God, moved in mercy by the pitiful plight of sinful man, said, “I will do something.” God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to make a way. And upon the rough hewn timbers of a cross, Jesus gave His life so you and I could live forever and live forgiven. Jesus built a bridge between man and God. It’s a bridge man could never build and a bridge that man can never take away. God made a way that we couldn’t make — for you and for me.
ACTION POINT: Since Jesus built a bridge of love for you to be reconciled to God, it's your turn to build a bridge of love to someone who is lost and searching.
BIBLE MEDITATION: The Voice of the Lord Psalm 29:3 - "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Some people think it’s a waste of time to simply sit at God’s feet and listen. It is not a waste of time to wait on God any more than a woodchopper is wasting time when he sharpens his ax. Charles Hummel wrote a booklet, “Tyranny of the Urgent.” He said, “When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength, we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him….Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service. Like the time-out in a football game, it enables us to catch our breath and fix new strategy…The need is not the call. The call must come from the Lord Who knows our limitations.”
ACTION POINT: Read Psalm 29. Count how many times the phrase the “voice of the Lord” is repeated. Spend at least that many minutes listening for His voice and trusting He will speak His will to you.