Post by mommadee48 on Sept 27, 2022 8:28:34 GMT -5
OUR DAILY BREAD: READ (JOHN 15: 1-8)
WE NEED JESUS' HELP.
THE DAY FINALLY CAME--- the day I realized my father wasn't indestructible. As a boy, I knew his strength and determination. But in my early adult years, he injured his back, and I realized that my father was mortal after all. I stayed with my parents to help dad to the bathroom, assisting him in dressing, even guiding a glass of water to his mouth---it was humbling t him. He made some initial attempts to accomplish small tasks, but admitted, "I can't do anything without your help". He eventually recovered to his strong self, but that experience taught both of us an important lesson. We need each other.
And while we need each other, we need Jesus even more. In John 15, the imagery of the vine and the branches continues to be one we cling to. Yet one of the other phrases, while comforting, can also strike at our self-reliance. The thought that can easily creep into our minds is, I don't need help. Jesus is clear---"apart from me you can do nothing" (v.5). Christ is talking about bearing fruit, like "love, joy, peace". (GALATIANS 5:22), those core features of a disciple. To bear fruit is the life Jesus call us to, and our total reliance on Him yields a fruitful life, a life lived to the Father's glory (JOHN 15:8).
INSIGHT:
One of the distinctly beautiful features of the gospel of John is its seven "I am" sayings. These statements serve to identify Jesus with Yahweh---the eternal, ever-present, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14: "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you"' "Jesus' declaration in John 15:1-5---"I am the [true]vine"---is the seventh "I am" statement (see also 6:35; 8:12,10:7;11; 11:25; 14:6). On the eve of His death, Jesus reminded His disciples of how essential it was to remain connected to Him. Through Christ's words we understand that "loving obedience" is required to abide in Him: "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love" (15:10).
OUR DAILY BREAD: READ (PROVERBS 22:6,17-21).
DISCERNING RIGHT PATHS.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN SKATE-BOARDER Felipe Gustavo would become "one of the most legendary skateboarders on the planet". Gustavo's dad believed his son needed to pursue his dream of skating professionally, but they didn't have the money. So, his dad sold their car and took his son to the renowned Tampa Am skating competition in Florida. No one had heard of Gustavo...until he won. And the victory catapulted him into an amazing career.
Gustavo's dad had the capacity to see his son's heart and passion. "When I become a father," Gustavo said, "I just want to be like 5 percent of what my dad was for me".
Proverbs describes the opportunity parents have to help their children discern the unique way God has crafted their heart, energy, and personality---and then to direct and encourage them toward the path that reflects who God made them to be. "Start children off on the way they should go," the writer said, "and even when they are old, they will not turn from it"(22:6).
We may not possess vast resources or profound knowledge. With God's wisdom (vv.17-21) and our attentive love, however, we can offer our kids and other children within our sphere of influence an immense gift. We can help them trust in God and discern the paths they can follow for a lifetime (3:5-6).
INSIGHT:
Proverbs 22 opens a window into the world of King Solomon. Beginning verse 17, Solomon provides a collection of thirty "sayings of the wise," which are modeled on the proverbs of an Egyptian sage named Amenemope. A "sage" was the ancient Near Eastern equivalent of a modern philosopher, and Solomon's work in Proverbs shows he was well aware of his fellow sage's approach and wisdom. The striking differences in Solomon's take on Amenemope's work, however, highlight the crucial role of Israel's God in wise living. Wisdom on its own isn't enough, but, as Solomon notes in verse 19, the goal of wisdom is confident trust in God Himself.
Believers in Jesus don't have a monopoly on wisdom. Like Solomon did with the Egyptian sages, we can find wisdom at work across the globe. But we also know that wisdom ultimately must direct humanity back to the God who created us.
NEXT:
IN TOUCH WITH DR. C. STANLEY: READ (JOHN 14: 25-29).
OUR PEACE: GOD's WILL.
SUPPOSE YOU'RE FACED with the most tragic situation you could possibly envision. For some of you, this requires little or no imagination because you're presently in the middle of the toughest trial of your life.
Here's what it looked like for the disciples: Their hopes and dreams were shattered when Jesus broke the news of His imminent departure. Life as they'd known it was coming to an end. Yet Jesus assured them that He was leaving His peace with them. This was His will for them, and it's still what He desires for us today.
The key to experiencing the peace of Christ is to believe in Him (JOHN 14:1). But in addition to believing in Him, we must also trust what He says. God always works for our good, even in hardship. Trusting His motive and purpose is the basis for our peace.
Life is an obstacle course with trouble lurking around every corner. It's not a matter of whether storms and trials will come, but when. Yet we don't have to live in fear and anxiety, because it's God's will that we take hold of His peace by trusting Him.
IN TOUCH WITH DR.C. STANLEY: READ (1 JOHN 2:1-17).
THE IMPACT of KNOWING GOD.
ARE YOU SEEKING TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LORD?
EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION in many ways, God has revealed much of Himself in His Word. And as we search for Him in Scripture, we'll grow in our understanding of His nature. But this isn't merely an academic pursuit. Knowing God practically impacts every area of life.
For one thing, knowledge of God influences our prayers. Instead of asking for whatever we want, we'll seek to ask according to His will (1JOHN 5:14-15). And we won't limit our requests in size or scope because we'll realize that nothing is impossible with God.
Ther way we view the Lord also affects how we think, behave, and relate to other people. Knowing Him intimately transforms our natural tendency toward doubt and sin. Then we desire to walk obediently before Him, with a pure heart. Instead of loving the world, we seek to please Him by loving His people unselfishly and resisting sinful lusts.
Paul thought knowing the Lord was so important that he made it the primary pursuit of his life (PHILIPPIANS 3:8-10).
Could that be said of you?
Self-reformation soon fails, but knowledge of God renews you from the inside out.
A PRAYER by: DAVID WILKERSON.
LEANING ON GOD's PROMISES WITH PRAYER:
Scripture makes it clear that the answer to everything in our lives is prayer mixed with faith.
The apostle Paul writes, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God" (PHILIPPIANS 4:6). Paul is telling us, "Seek the Lord about every area of your life and thank Him ahead of time for hearing you!"
Paul emphasizes that we are always to pray first and not as a last resort---going to our friends first, then to a pastor or counselor, and finally ending up on our knees. Jesus tells us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (MATTHEW 6:33). We are to go to the Lord first!
Our ministry receives heartrending letters from multitudes of broken Christians. Families are breaking up; people who walked faithfully with Christ for years are living in fear and defeat. Each of these people has been overcome by something---sin, depression, worldliness, covetousness---and year after year, their problems seem to get worst.
WHO OR WHAT WILL HELP US?
WE NEED JESUS' HELP.
THE DAY FINALLY CAME--- the day I realized my father wasn't indestructible. As a boy, I knew his strength and determination. But in my early adult years, he injured his back, and I realized that my father was mortal after all. I stayed with my parents to help dad to the bathroom, assisting him in dressing, even guiding a glass of water to his mouth---it was humbling t him. He made some initial attempts to accomplish small tasks, but admitted, "I can't do anything without your help". He eventually recovered to his strong self, but that experience taught both of us an important lesson. We need each other.
And while we need each other, we need Jesus even more. In John 15, the imagery of the vine and the branches continues to be one we cling to. Yet one of the other phrases, while comforting, can also strike at our self-reliance. The thought that can easily creep into our minds is, I don't need help. Jesus is clear---"apart from me you can do nothing" (v.5). Christ is talking about bearing fruit, like "love, joy, peace". (GALATIANS 5:22), those core features of a disciple. To bear fruit is the life Jesus call us to, and our total reliance on Him yields a fruitful life, a life lived to the Father's glory (JOHN 15:8).
INSIGHT:
One of the distinctly beautiful features of the gospel of John is its seven "I am" sayings. These statements serve to identify Jesus with Yahweh---the eternal, ever-present, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14: "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you"' "Jesus' declaration in John 15:1-5---"I am the [true]vine"---is the seventh "I am" statement (see also 6:35; 8:12,10:7;11; 11:25; 14:6). On the eve of His death, Jesus reminded His disciples of how essential it was to remain connected to Him. Through Christ's words we understand that "loving obedience" is required to abide in Him: "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love" (15:10).
OUR DAILY BREAD: READ (PROVERBS 22:6,17-21).
DISCERNING RIGHT PATHS.
NO ONE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN SKATE-BOARDER Felipe Gustavo would become "one of the most legendary skateboarders on the planet". Gustavo's dad believed his son needed to pursue his dream of skating professionally, but they didn't have the money. So, his dad sold their car and took his son to the renowned Tampa Am skating competition in Florida. No one had heard of Gustavo...until he won. And the victory catapulted him into an amazing career.
Gustavo's dad had the capacity to see his son's heart and passion. "When I become a father," Gustavo said, "I just want to be like 5 percent of what my dad was for me".
Proverbs describes the opportunity parents have to help their children discern the unique way God has crafted their heart, energy, and personality---and then to direct and encourage them toward the path that reflects who God made them to be. "Start children off on the way they should go," the writer said, "and even when they are old, they will not turn from it"(22:6).
We may not possess vast resources or profound knowledge. With God's wisdom (vv.17-21) and our attentive love, however, we can offer our kids and other children within our sphere of influence an immense gift. We can help them trust in God and discern the paths they can follow for a lifetime (3:5-6).
INSIGHT:
Proverbs 22 opens a window into the world of King Solomon. Beginning verse 17, Solomon provides a collection of thirty "sayings of the wise," which are modeled on the proverbs of an Egyptian sage named Amenemope. A "sage" was the ancient Near Eastern equivalent of a modern philosopher, and Solomon's work in Proverbs shows he was well aware of his fellow sage's approach and wisdom. The striking differences in Solomon's take on Amenemope's work, however, highlight the crucial role of Israel's God in wise living. Wisdom on its own isn't enough, but, as Solomon notes in verse 19, the goal of wisdom is confident trust in God Himself.
Believers in Jesus don't have a monopoly on wisdom. Like Solomon did with the Egyptian sages, we can find wisdom at work across the globe. But we also know that wisdom ultimately must direct humanity back to the God who created us.
NEXT:
IN TOUCH WITH DR. C. STANLEY: READ (JOHN 14: 25-29).
OUR PEACE: GOD's WILL.
SUPPOSE YOU'RE FACED with the most tragic situation you could possibly envision. For some of you, this requires little or no imagination because you're presently in the middle of the toughest trial of your life.
Here's what it looked like for the disciples: Their hopes and dreams were shattered when Jesus broke the news of His imminent departure. Life as they'd known it was coming to an end. Yet Jesus assured them that He was leaving His peace with them. This was His will for them, and it's still what He desires for us today.
The key to experiencing the peace of Christ is to believe in Him (JOHN 14:1). But in addition to believing in Him, we must also trust what He says. God always works for our good, even in hardship. Trusting His motive and purpose is the basis for our peace.
Life is an obstacle course with trouble lurking around every corner. It's not a matter of whether storms and trials will come, but when. Yet we don't have to live in fear and anxiety, because it's God's will that we take hold of His peace by trusting Him.
IN TOUCH WITH DR.C. STANLEY: READ (1 JOHN 2:1-17).
THE IMPACT of KNOWING GOD.
ARE YOU SEEKING TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LORD?
EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION in many ways, God has revealed much of Himself in His Word. And as we search for Him in Scripture, we'll grow in our understanding of His nature. But this isn't merely an academic pursuit. Knowing God practically impacts every area of life.
For one thing, knowledge of God influences our prayers. Instead of asking for whatever we want, we'll seek to ask according to His will (1JOHN 5:14-15). And we won't limit our requests in size or scope because we'll realize that nothing is impossible with God.
Ther way we view the Lord also affects how we think, behave, and relate to other people. Knowing Him intimately transforms our natural tendency toward doubt and sin. Then we desire to walk obediently before Him, with a pure heart. Instead of loving the world, we seek to please Him by loving His people unselfishly and resisting sinful lusts.
Paul thought knowing the Lord was so important that he made it the primary pursuit of his life (PHILIPPIANS 3:8-10).
Could that be said of you?
Self-reformation soon fails, but knowledge of God renews you from the inside out.
A PRAYER by: DAVID WILKERSON.
LEANING ON GOD's PROMISES WITH PRAYER:
Scripture makes it clear that the answer to everything in our lives is prayer mixed with faith.
The apostle Paul writes, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God" (PHILIPPIANS 4:6). Paul is telling us, "Seek the Lord about every area of your life and thank Him ahead of time for hearing you!"
Paul emphasizes that we are always to pray first and not as a last resort---going to our friends first, then to a pastor or counselor, and finally ending up on our knees. Jesus tells us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (MATTHEW 6:33). We are to go to the Lord first!
Our ministry receives heartrending letters from multitudes of broken Christians. Families are breaking up; people who walked faithfully with Christ for years are living in fear and defeat. Each of these people has been overcome by something---sin, depression, worldliness, covetousness---and year after year, their problems seem to get worst.
WHO OR WHAT WILL HELP US?