Daily Devotions

[Berean]

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JACOB DESHAZER PRISONER OF WAR, PART 2 

After DeShazer and the rest of his crew parachuted into China, they were soon captured by the Japanese and transported to Tokyo—but not before being subjected to a harsh examination, replete with a brutal beating. In Tokyo, they were reunited with several other Doolittle raiders from another bomber.

For more than three years, these eight men were repeatedly beaten, tortured, and interrogated. They were transferred to several different sites in both Japan and China, held in solitary confinement, and slowly starved.

Three of the raiders, two of them from DeShazer’s own crew, were eventually executed by firing squad—and Jacob was supposed to have died with them. The death sentence for the four prisoners had been passed; their names had been given out and even announced in America. But unbeknownst to Jacob, his mother, upon hearing the news, again prayed to God to spare her son’s life from the awful penalty. And God answered her prayer. Jacob, for reasons unknown, was spared.

Jacob may not have died that day with his three friends, but he was dying on the inside, filled with a most intense hatred of his captors. So vehement was his hatred that it nearly drove him mad.

But one day, fellow prisoner Lieutenant Robert J. Meder, co-pilot of the other B-25, began talking to Jacob about Jesus. It was the first time in a long time that anyone had done that.

“Jesus Christ is the key to all of this,” the lieutenant said.

Jacob was bemused. He knew who Jesus was, of course. But what He had to do with any of this—with the torture, the humiliation, the dark loneliness— Jacob had no idea.

Soon after, Meder died. The Japanese had starved him to death. And Jacob’s hatred wormed its way even deeper into his heart, like a canker.

But his friend’s words stuck with him; and as the days passed, he continued to ponder them. And in that black and filthy hole, buried deep in enemy country, a seed began to grow …

Reflect: Have you experienced extreme and prolonged suffering? Have you understood the meaning of your suffering? What happens to your pain once you understand?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 

God bless 

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[Berean]

Hi to all

 

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

JACOB DESHAZER PRISONER OF WAR, PART 3 

After Meder’s death, there began to grow in Jacob a longing to understand the hatred that was eating him alive. He remembered his family’s faith—it had been said that it had the ability to transform hate into love. How desperately he wished for a Bible to learn how that was so!

Then came a thread of mercy from the most unlikely of sources—Emperor Hirohito. Japan’s monarch was not in favor of the inhumane treatment the American prisoners had been receiving. This meant that DeShazer and his companions were now given one Bible to share.

When he was finally able to hold the precious tome in his gaunt hands, Jacob drank in the heavenly words, reading and rereading. He was given the Bible for only three weeks, but during that time, he memorized as many passages as he could, including the Sermon on the Mount and even the entirety of John’s first epistle.

But it was when he read this verse that he finally understood: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). This was it—Meder’s key. It was not the faith itself that transformed hearts; it was who the faith was in—Jesus Christ. Jacob’s captors did not know Christ, and if they did not know Christ, then how could they know how to love?

Jacob decided to take his newfound faith to a practical level. One day, a guard began to hit and kick him repeatedly, screaming at him to move faster. His first thought was one of hate, but then he thought of Jesus and His instructions in the Sermon on the Mount.

The next morning, when the guard walked by, Jacob smiled at him and greeted him in Japanese. The next day he did it again, and the day after and the day after. A week later, the guard gave him a gift: one beautifully boiled sweet potato.

God continued to change Jacob’s heart in prison. On August 20, 1945, at the end of the war, Jacob was released. He went on to become a missionary and serve his former enemies, the Japanese, for the next 30 years. Among those he helped bring to Christ was Mitsuo Fuchida, the captain who had led the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Reflect: Have you seen an act of love change someone’s attitude toward you? Remember, love will awaken love in the heart of another.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 

God bless
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[Berean]

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ELIJAH’S EXAMPLE

Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James 5:17, 18.

When upon Mount Carmel he [Elijah] offered the prayer for rain (1 Kings 18:41-45), his faith was tested, but he persevered in making known his request unto God. Six times he prayed earnestly, and yet there was no sign that his petition was granted, but with a strong faith he urged his plea to the throne of grace. Had he given up in discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he persevered till the answer came. We have a God whose ear is not closed to our petitions; and if we prove His Word, He will honor our faith. He wants us to have all our interests interwoven with His interests, and then He can safely bless us; for we shall not then take glory to self when the blessing is ours, but shall render all the praise to God. God does not always answer our prayers the first time we call upon Him; for should He do this, we might take it for granted that we had a right to all the blessings and favors He bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we should become careless, and fail to recognize our dependence upon Him, and our need of His help.

The servant watched while Elijah prayed. Six times he returned from the watch, saying, There is nothing, no cloud, no sign of rain. But the prophet did not give up in discouragement…. As he searched his heart, he seemed to be less and less, both in his own estimation and in the sight of God…. And when he reached the point of renouncing self, while he clung to the Saviour as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came. The servant appeared, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.”

Elijah did not wait for the heavens to gather blackness. In that small cloud, he beheld by faith an abundance of rain; and he acted in harmony with his faith…. Faith such as this is needed in the world today—faith that will lay hold on the promises of God’s word, and refuse to let go until Heaven hears.

From God’s Amazing Grace – Page 88

God bless 

[Berean]

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IS IT POSSIBLE TO PREACH JESUS’ ENDTIME TRUTH WITHOUT INCLUDING THE THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES? 

The book of Revelation is built on a promise: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). The messages within this sacred book were not intended to be locked away or ignored. They are to be spread throughout the world. This is reinforced once more at the end of the book: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (22:7).

Pastors who are faithful to the Word of God will not neglect preaching on the prophecies found in John’s apocalypse. This includes the special messages of Revelation 14:6–13. Notice that the message of the first angel is called the “everlasting” gospel. It is not a temporary sermon for just a few people. It is to go to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (v. 6).

The message of the second angel states, “Babylon is fallen” (v. 8) and warns people to come out of Babylon (vv. 1, 2, 4). Unless you understand that Babylon is a false religious system, you cannot leave her. This is a message of preparation for the soon coming of Christ. The third angel’s message warns against worshiping “the beast and his image” (14:9–11). It is a sobering warning that there will soon come a time when a false religious power will seek to force everyone to break God’s fourth commandment.

These three angels’ messages are summed up by identifying God’s people: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (v. 12). In the face of the overwhelming deception and persecution that is soon to come, how could any genuine religious leader not want to warn people?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Revelation 1:1  

 

God bless 

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[Berean]

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BLOBFISH

 

One of the weirdest of all fish in the world is the strange-looking blobfish. This deep-sea fish lives in the waters off the coasts of mainland Australia and Tasmania. If you think you’ve had a bad day, just take a look at this interesting fellow. He actually does look like a blob!

The sad expression on the face of this fish might match the overfishing by trawlers that are threatening to make it extinct. Humans rarely see this deep-sea creature that grows to about 12 inches in length. It’s not edible, but happens to get caught by fishermen seeking other ocean organisms at the same depth.

The female blobfish lays thousands of eggs at one time and will stay with her eggs, floating above them or sometimes actually resting on them. It’s not uncommon to find a group of blobfish mothers watching over their eggs right next to each other. Scientists are unsure if they strategically hang together for protection or if they are simply too lazy to move away from each other. The blobfish is not one known for expending a lot of energy on anything.

Blobfish live between 2,000 and 3,900 feet deep. There is a lot of pressure on sea creatures at this depth. Instead of using a gas-filled bladder to maintain buoyancy, the blobfish has flesh that is like gelatin that is a little less dense than water. This keeps the blobfish floating just above the ocean floor, so it does not expend a lot of energy while slowly moving along the bottom looking for crabs and sea pens to eat. Without much muscle, this fish sort of just eats whatever happens to float in front of its face.

The blobfish describes how some Christians live. Instead of actively seeking spiritual food, they eat just about anything that floats by. And when you look at the blobfish, a fish with virtually no muscle, you can understand why some Christians are weak. In order to stay healthy as a church, the apostle Paul encourages every member to exercise their spiritual gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12). When some members do not use their God-given gifts, the body becomes weak. So use your gifts to build up the body of Christ. Don’t let your church turn into a … blob!

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 

 

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[Berean]

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PARADISE

Where is the best place in the world to live? According to an annual survey of the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vancouver, British Columbia, has hit the top for the fifth year in a row. Cities are rated in five areas: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Second place went to Melbourne, Australia, and third to Vienna, Austria. But wait a minute!

The United Nations listed Norway as the most desirable country in the world in which to live, followed by Australia and Iceland. At the bottom of its list are Niger, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone, especially because of war and AIDs epidemics. Except that CNN reports that International Living magazine voted France, for a fifth year in a row, the best place in the world to live! You can get 12 months of paid maternity leave in France, guaranteed by law. Finally, Forbes shares the research of international human resource consulting company Mercer, which puts Vienna, Austria, at the top. In fact, not one place in the United States makes the list.

So where is paradise? Where is the perfect place to live? It depends. Most people are pretty happy right where they are at this moment. The environment is certainly nicer in some parts of the world than others, though toxins have touched our entire planet wherever you go. The biggest problem with finding the perfect place to live is that any place that has a human being will be imperfect, including your own home—that includes the person who looks back at you from the mirror every morning.

Paul writes about an acquaintance who apparently had a vision of paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4), also known as the garden of Eden. This special place was our first home, but our planet has undergone some changes since God first created the perfect place for us to live. Someday Eden will be restored (Revelation 2:7). When that day comes, we will have no doubts about the best place in the world to live.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”
Genesis 2:8 

God bless

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[Berean]

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<span style=”color: #ff9900;”>DOUG BATCHELOR THE RICHEST CAVEMAN, PART 1 </span>

What kind of a childhood do you think the son of an aviation magnate and a “show biz” maven had? If you think it was a happy one, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Doug Batchelor grew up with a millionaire for a father and a film critic for a mother. As a child, he quickly learned one thing: Money and fame did not equal happiness. He and his older brother, Falcon, who were both named after airplanes, barely saw their parents.

Their father was chasing business deals and drinking himself to sleep every night; their mother, who had begun her career as a songwriter before venturing to Broadway, yearned after celebrity. They were two people who could not be more different: Republican versus Democrat, businessman versus artist, Baptist versus Jewish—though eventually they both became atheists. But neither of them was happy.

And Doug was not happy either. He always felt that he was in the way.

When Doug was only three years old, his parents divorced, and the children were sent to boarding schools and summer camps. In all, Doug went to 14 different schools. You name it, he went to it—public school, Catholic school, Jewish school, even a free school with coeducational dorms. At age five, he was put in his first military school.

At age seven, he began thinking of committing suicide. While in New York, where his mom now lived, he would often find himself on the rooftops of skyscrapers, sticking his toes as far off the edge as possible. Later on, he also began to regularly smoke pot with his mom, who thought it would be safer for her children to use drugs in a controlled environment.

So it was not long before Doug began his first career—in troublemaking. By the time he was 13, he and his friends were robbing homes on one of the Sunset Islands, the exclusive neighborhood off of Miami Beach where his father now resided. He had been to jail and had even stolen from his friends. He did it because he was bored, because he wanted attention, and because he thought no one cared about him.

But all these things that might seem so exciting only made Doug unhappier, so much so that he ran away to Boston when he was only 15 years old.

Reflect: Are you looking for happiness in the things of this world, in other people, in your own achievements?
<p style=”text-align: center;”><span style=”color: #ff9900;”>KEY BIBLE TEXTS</span>
<span style=”color: #ff9900;”>Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:15 </span></p>
God bless

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

DOUG BATCHELOR THE RICHEST CAVEMAN, PART 2 

Despite the stereotype, many burglaries actually occur during broad daylight. Just ask Doug Batchelor, who spent his time in Boston, ironically, as a thief during the day and a security guard at night.

He had a fake driver’s license; he had rented an apartment all for himself; and he had left his family behind.

He knew his dad was disappointed. His dad had expected to pass the aviation business on to him instead of Falcon, who had been born with cystic fibrosis. But at this point Doug did not care. He had had enough of that life.

So he lived life his own way, abiding by one rule of thumb: He never stole from the people whose homes he guarded. Everything else was fair game.

But one day, a fellow security guard and friend had a few words of warning for him. His friend, who knew about his other favorite pastime, believed heavily in karma. Doug was a thief; he would get what was coming to him, his friend predicted.

Doug brushed it off as nonsense, but he could not help but notice strange things beginning to happen. When he woke up one morning, he found his entire apartment had been ransacked. When he plugged in a stereo he had stolen earlier that day, he discovered it was broken. He would stash away money around his room and then, after getting high and drunk, could not remember where he had hidden it. Gradually, he began to get the sneaking suspicion that his friend had been right. There had to be some supernatural being somewhere orchestrating all this!

But it was when he stole a box of Krusteaz whole wheat pancake mix that he was convinced. Later that day, some friends visited unannounced and proceeded to down his brand-new jug of Tang, that nostalgic form of instant breakfast. Doug, looking forlornly at the empty jug, spied the white lid next to it; on it, stamped in blue was the price, $1.19. Amazed, he looked at the Krusteaz box; stamped on it was the exact price, $1.19.

And he thought to himself, “There has to be a God!”

Reflect: Doug’s friend called it “karma,” but that concept was actually stolen and distorted from the Bible. Scriptures instead tell of a universal principle, commonly labeled the Golden Rule. Have there been instances in your life that you thought were too odd to be coincidences? They very well could have been divine providence instead.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 

 

God bless

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[Berean]

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DOUG BATCHELOR THE RICHEST CAVEMAN PART 3

There may be as many as 4,200 different religions in the world—and Doug went through quite a few of them.

After his supernatural comeuppance, Doug, convinced that God existed, was terrified. He had heard of heaven and hell and, with the way things were going in his life, he could predict which of those places he would be going to. So he decided he had better at least try to learn about how this “God” thing worked.

He watched Christian televangelists, but his mom had always assured him that the Bible was just “fairy tales.” Plus, all the Christians he knew about were hypocrites. He was quick to move on.

He visited a Hare Krishna temple, but they overpromised and underdelivered: Their “free meal” turned out to be yogurt and raisins. He partook in transcendental meditation; he tried the Jewish faith, the Catholic faith, and he even attempted the Silva Method of mind control. It was like going to a store and trying on a bunch of clothes. The ones he did not like, he tossed aside. In the end he took a little bit from each and made his own religion.

Doug was now 16 years old and still on his own in Boston. But when his dad actually visited, pleading with him to return to school, he relented and allowed himself to be enrolled in a program of his father’s choosing. Unbeknownst to Doug though, the Flint School specialized in reforming “bad eggs” like himself. Classes were held on board a ship where, bereft of their passports, the rotten children of rich tycoons were corralled into doing menial chores, like washing dishes, in order to build character.

Well, Doug was having none of it. He caused such a ruckus that finally the captain, also the school’s director, made a deal with him just to get him to leave. But before it could reach home, the ship was trapped in a vicious storm. With the main sail in shambles and frigid winter waves and nausea galore, everyone—even the atheists—began to pray for deliverance.

And it was then that Doug learned a very important lesson: God could not be served out of fear. But it was some time before he learned that God needed to be served out of love.

Reflect: Why should we not serve God out of fear? Remember that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 

 

God bless

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[Berean]

 

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DOUG BATCHELOR THE RICHEST CAVEMAN PART 4

Hitchhiking, a once-popular form of transportation, is actually banned in several states. But fortunately for Doug, it was not banned in Oklahoma.

After surviving the Flint School storm, Doug returned to his father’s home for the holiday break. He knew (and so did the captain) that he was not going back aboard that ship. But his father thought otherwise. So when it came time for school to start up again, Doug sold whatever belongings he had to his brother and took off for Palm Springs, California.

He had a plan. He was going to find God in nature. And what better way to do that than in the beautiful desert mountains of the West Coast?

First though, he made a stop in Virginia to visit some friends and promptly lost all of his newly acquired cash to pool and alcohol. Old habits die hard. He made it as far as Oklahoma, but there he remained, broke and stuck—two things that were definitely not in his original plan.

He was a pitiful sight on the side of Interstate 40, dressed for hot Miami in the dead of a “Sooner State” winter. After eight solid hours and no ride, Doug was frozen, sick, and defeated. Finally, even though he knew it would probably not do any good, even though he had been so awful to so many people and did not deserve any mercy, he decided to pray.

He had four very specific petitions: a ride, food, money, and lastly, for that ride to be with a relatively harmless, mentally sound person. His prayer was answered.

The man who picked him up was a born-again Christian who drove him all the way to his destination, all 2,000 miles of it. Doug, the perfect captive audience, was forced to listen to the man’s preaching day after day. Along the way, the man paid for every one of Doug’s meals, and when they finally arrived in Palm Springs, he gave Doug $40. Doug was floored. All four of his requests had been met. God had taken care of it all—God had taken care of him—and had given him even more than he had been expecting!

But Doug was only just beginning to experience God’s abundant mercy.

Reflect: Has the Lord been waiting patiently for you to notice Him? His persistent love is beyond anything you’ll find in this world.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

 

God bless

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[Berean]

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DOUG BATCHELOR THE RICHEST CAVEMAN PART 5

 

Looking for a rustic getaway? Try The Rockhouse Retreat in Worcestershire, England, a fancy rental property hewn by hand from a 700-year-old sandstone escarpment that costs upwards of $240 per night to book.

A young Doug Batchelor found a much more affordable alternative. Nestled in the heart of Mount San Jacinto at the end of a grueling 4,000-foot climb was Doug’s new home, a cave that he lived in for about a year and a half.

He discarded all his clothes and let his hair grow long. Once or twice a week, he would traipse back down the mountain to panhandle or dumpster dive behind the market in town. Over time, he made his cave into a tidy, humble abode, with a sleeping bag for a bed and buckets for his food and even an oven. But it was what had been left in the cave that turned out to be the real treasure.

His cave had, before he moved in, apparently been occupied by someone else. He knew because that someone had left something behind—a Bible.

At the time, he did not think much of it. But as time passed, he dusted it off and began to read. Every morning, he would wake up and munch on some banana bread, warm out of the oven, and read.

When he arrived at the gospels, he began to feel a strange burning in his heart. In his mind was a singular thought that he could not quite avoid, that all he was reading was absolute Truth. Some of the concepts and words were difficult to understand, but when he finished, he knew two things for certain: He was a great sinner and Jesus Christ was the great Savior.

It was then that he fell to his knees and prayed, truly understanding how wretched he was and truly asking God for forgiveness. He knew to whom he was praying now—to Someone who would forgive him and make him as new. Afterward, what peace he felt, what humility, what love.

That hermit of a hippie went on to become a Christian, a pastor, a husband, and a father—and president of Amazing Facts International

Reflect: It was when Pastor Doug realized his own filthiness that God was able to change him through His Word. The Lord can remake anyone for His glory.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25

God bless

 

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[Berean]

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WHEN AFFLICTION COMES

When he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 2 Chronicles 33:12.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33), says Christ; but in Me ye shall have peace. The trials to which Christians are subjected in sorrow, adversity, and reproach are the means appointed of God to separate the chaff from the wheat. Our pride, selfishness, evil passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters. We must overcome through His strength and grace, that we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. “For our light affliction,” says Paul, “which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). Afflictions, crosses, temptations, adversity, and our varied trials are God’s workmen to refine us, sanctify us, and fit us for the heavenly garner.

Many of your afflictions have been visited upon you, in the wisdom of God, to bring you closer to the throne of grace. He softens and subdues His children by sorrows and trials. This world is God’s workshop, where He fashions us for the courts of heaven. He uses the planing knife upon our quivering hearts until the roughness and irregularities are removed and we are fitted for our proper places in the heavenly building. Through tribulation and distress the Christian becomes purified and strengthened, and develops a character after the model that Christ has given.

Let the afflictions which pain us so grievously become instructive lessons, teaching us to press forward toward the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ. Let us be encouraged by the thought that the Lord is soon to come. Let this hope gladden our hearts.

 

God bless

 

[Berean]

 

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DOESN’T THE BIBLE TEACH THAT KING DAVID’S HOUSE WOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER?

 

The Bible also says that Saul’s kingdom was promised to last forever (1 Samuel 13:13), but obviously it ended. The same is true with David’s kingdom. Because his descendants were unfaithful to God, the final person in David’s lineage to be king, Jehoiachin, died in Babylon. The promises to David’s literal kingdom were conditional.

Notice the words “if” and “then” in these words to David’s son: “Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statues and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever” (1 Kings 9:4, 5).

The Lord’s words were even stronger in what followed: “But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples” (vv. 6, 7). That’s exactly what happened.

But the conditional promises to literal Israel have now been fulfilled spiritually through Christ. Where the Jewish nation failed, Jesus succeeded in perfectly keeping the law. “ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute righteousness in the earth’ ” (Jeremiah 23:5). This Branch is Christ!

When Israel completely turned from Jesus, the kingdom was taken from them (Matthew 21:43). The promises to literal Israel are now given to spiritual Israel and all who exercise faith in Christ are children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7, 9). Christ’s kingdom will last forever.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.”

“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”
2 Samuel 7:15-16

God bless

from Amazingfacts.org

[Berean]

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HOW CAN I LIVE WITH MORE CONFIDENCE?

It is not God’s plan for you to live in constant fear. It can paralyze you from making good choices or facing difficult circumstances. You are not alone when it comes to feeling fear, anxiety, or worry. And not all fear is bad. It can keep us on alert for possible dangers around us. The Lord created us with a “fight or flight” response to help keep us safe. The problem with fear is when it becomes unmanageable or unreasonable.

One of God’s most courageous men in the Bible was afraid. King David faced many giants in his life. Goliath and King Saul wanted to take his life. He once wrote, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God … I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3, 4). The key to coping with fear for David was trust. He put his fears in perspective by remembering the power of God to protect him.

Nothing can melt our fears like keeping God’s love in our minds and hearts. The Bible teaches us that when love abides in the heart, fear is cast out. Solomon also reminds us, “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:24–26).

When your fears seem overwhelming, stop and pray. Breathe deeply and slowly, asking God to surround you with His love. Write down and memorize key Bible verses about fear. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19 

God bless

 

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

SHOULD WE STILL HONOR OUR PARENTS IF THEY ARE ABUSIVE? 

All of the commandments are a reflection of God’s loving character, so I don’t believe we can safely ignore any of them, regardless of the circumstances.

However, we need to understand what honoring our parents really means. It doesn’t necessarily mean condoning all their actions. Abuse in any form is wrong, evil, and against the principles of Scripture. That said, there is a certain inherent respect that should always be shown to a parent. Even when we disagree with them, we can do it respectfully.

I do believe that where abuse is involved, a person can respect a parent and still take action against that parent, such as the time King Asa removed his mother from power because she had set up an idol (2 Chronicles 15:16). Obviously, if a parent asks you to break one of God’s commandments, you should decline. God must be honored above a parent.

Sometimes it might be necessary for adult children to keep a distance for a time, especially if the parent continues the abusive behavior or if you’re clashing continuously. Separation is also appropriate when parents are meddling, perhaps trying to interfere in the raising of a grandchild or in the marriage (see Genesis 2:24).

However, we should avoid cutting off all ties with our parents if it’s possible to retain some type of cordial relationship. “I never want to see you again,” is pretty harsh and usually unnecessary. People change—they change and we change. As a Christian, you want to have a redemptive relationship and learn how to resolve conflict.

Being a Christian means sometimes you have to be kind and loving to people who aren’t lovable. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44). Through the grace and power of Christ, the Christian can show mercy even to those who “spitefully use” them.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

God bless

From Amazing facts*

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

HOW CAN I HELP A FRIEND WHO HAS QUIT ATTENDING CHURCH?

Most people who quit church do so because of a relational issue within the congregation or they are trying to cope with a challenging situation. Some do leave because of doctrine, but the majority have had a conflict with someone in the church or something happened in their life that is leaving them discouraged. It might be that they lost their job, are going through a divorce, had a car accident, or are taking care of an ill relative.

When people stop attending church, many of them are wondering if the church really cares about them. They might be discouraged with their own failures, but they might also focus on the lack of genuine love coming from others. Of course, this all begins to take a toll on their spiritual life. Bible study and prayer time can start to slip. They begin to question whether church is even relevant to their lives anymore.

That’s why it’s important for members to take initiative and reach out to missing members. Like the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, Jesus pursues those who wander away.

When making contact with someone who has stopped coming to church, put away any critical or condemning attitudes you might have and focus on being kind and understanding. If they are going through a difficulty, try listening without being judgmental. It might be tempting to start lecturing them on their lifestyle, but it would be better to demonstrate love and acceptance at this starting point.

You might eventually ask a couple of open-ended questions. “Tell me about growing up in the church. What was it like for you?” Another question is, “I understand you used to attend church. I’m interested in what led to you stopping.”

Eventually you can share your own story of coming to know Jesus and what the church means to you. You can share appropriate literature with them or even get together with them outside of church. At some point, as the Holy Spirit leads you, you can invite them to come back.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 

God bless

From Amazing facts

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

BACK FROM DEATH 

 

Michelle Funk was only left alone for a few minutes that day in June 1986. It was long enough. She fell into the icy, runoff-swollen waters of Bell Canyon Creek, which winds through southeast Salt Lake County near her parents’ home. Sixty-six minutes later, when a diver pulled Michelle from the creek approximately 150 feet from where she had fallen in, she was lifeless. Her small body was frozen by the 40 degree water.

It was the icy temperature of the water, along with its cleanliness, that allowed Michelle to be saved by doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. She was rushed to the hospital, where a machine warmed up her blood. When her temperature reached 91 degrees F her heart started beating and she opened her eyes. Michelle entirely recovered and showed no signs of her traumatic experience. The resuscitation of this two-and-a-half-year-old girl, submerged for more than an hour, was rare. Even the Journal of the American Medical Association described it as “miraculous.”

It was not only the longest documented submersion with a positive outcome (she grew in a healthy and normal way), but it’s also the first successful use of a heart-lung bypass machine to re-warm a child whose temperature had dropped extremely low from hypothermia.

What is amazing about this story is that the doctor that saved her life, Dr. Bolte, pondered the idea of using a heart-lung machine to warm the blood of victims of hypothermia just a few months before Michelle’s accident. When she arrived at the hospital, they worked for three hours to warm her up. After coming back to life it was another two months before she was able to return home.

Though many children die from drowning, usually from backyard swimming pools that do not have protective fences, there are some fortunate cases like Michelle’s. Someday, when Jesus returns, all those who are asleep in death will be miraculously resurrected and live forever. Even the Old Testament prophets described this spectacular day. “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19).

Not everyone will have another chance like Michelle to awaken from being close to death. But we all may have hope in the resurrection if we seek to follow the Lifegiver.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14 

From Amazing facts

God bless

 

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

A GREAT NOISE

One of the loudest sounds in world history was the terrific volcanic explosion of Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883. The blast’s power was equivalent to about 100 megatons of dynamite and could be heard more than 3,000 miles away! The sound could be heard by the human ear over 1/10th of the earth’s surface.

As a result of this explosive eruption, more than 36,000 people were killed, and 165 coastal villages were destroyed—mostly by giant sea waves that reached heights of 120 feet. The deadly waves roared at 316 miles per hour, devastating everything in their path and hurling coral blocks ashore that weighed as much as 600 tons.

In addition, the tremendous explosion blew five cubic miles of debris into the atmosphere and settled over an area of 300,000 square miles. The massive dust cloud blocked out sunlight, plunging Jakarta (100 miles away) into complete darkness. For more than three years, the residual produced some of the most beautiful, unusual, and brilliant-red sunsets the world has witnessed. In fact, three months after the eruption, the vivid flaming sunsets were still so intense that fire engines were often called out to quench imaginary infernos.

The Bible says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). God once destroyed the Earth with water, but the Bible tells us that at the end of time it will be cleansed by fire. The Krakatoa volcano blast gives us only a small taste of that great and dreadful day.

Will you be with the Lord on that day?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:11 

From Amazing facts

God bless

[Berean]

Hi to all

 

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

PRICELESS TALENTS 

A biblical talent was the largest unit of Greek currency and was equal in value to between 6,000 and 10,000 days of wages. Each coin was worth many years—even decades—of earnings. A talent was a lot of money! The man in the parable handed out a total of eight talents to his three servants, the equivalent of millions of dollars. He must have had a great deal of confidence in them.

The master in the story distributed the talents according to each person’s ability to handle the responsibility. Two of the servants recognized the extreme value and potential in what was given to them. They saw that it must be used for good without delay. They lived up to their abilities and doubled the talents given to them. But the third servant hid his talent and squandered the opportunity. In the end, he lost even the talent he had tried to hide.

The talents God entrusts to us are priceless. With each talent, He gives us the ability to use it intelligently and responsibly. Using our talents wisely blesses us. And each talent gives us a special opportunity to honor the
Master who gave it.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. Matthew 25:14-18 

 

From Amazing facts

God bless

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

How to grow in grace

And God can shower you with all kinds of graces, so that, having always in all things the means to satisfy all your needs, you will still have plenty for every good work, as it is written: He gave largesse, he gave to the needy; his righteousness endures forever. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 9)

How many of us, who long to grow in grace, pray for it and wonder if our prayers are not answered! The Master has given them a work to do and this work will serve for their perfection.

What use are your prayers when work rushes you? The important question is this: Are you seeking to save the souls for whom Christ died? Your spiritual growth is a function of the light you give to others after receiving it from God. You must nourish the best feelings to do good in your church, in your family, in your entourage. Instead of being tormented by the idea that you are not growing in grace, just do the work that comes your way, take on the burden of souls, and try in every way possible to save the lost. Be good, merciful, kind. Speak of the blessed hope with humility; talk about the love of Jesus; share with others his goodness, his mercy, his justice and stop wondering anxiously whether you are growing in grace or not. Plants have no conscious effort to make to grow. […] They do not continually care about their growth; they only grow under the control of God.

Only by carrying out with the greatest care the precise work that Christ has commanded us – showing also the greatest interest, and to the limit of our possibilities, in those who need to be helped and blessed. that we will grow in grace. . . . Christians who continually grow in zeal and love never apostatize. […] Their wisdom and capacity for work develop. They seem to be considering the grandest projects; they are ready to engage in the most daring undertakings and they have no time to indulge in laziness, nor the opportunity to remain idle. The treasures of grace are absolutely limitless.

 

God bless

[Author]

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