Daily Devotions

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

THE HUNTER VS. THE HUMBLE 

Lions are fierce hunters. Lionesses usually hunt for the pride in coordinated groups. They cannot sustain high speeds for long, so they stalk their prey, relying on cover or darkness to reduce visibility. While lions weigh between 260 and 400 pounds, their usual prey weighs between 400 and 1,200 pounds, such as wildebeests and zebras. When prey is scarce, they have even been known to attack men and even elephants.

The Bible warns us that the devil is like a lion: “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Just as lions prefer to hunt in the dark or from nearby cover, the devil often uses deception to conquer his prey. Revelation says Satan is the one “who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). But the Christian need not be deceived: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). We can avoid his deceptions by carefully searching the Scriptures.

Just as man-eating lions are often either sickly or desperate, the devil knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12). He is desperate, but he can be resisted. However, it is a mistake to think that we can withstand him on our own. James makes it clear that humility is our best defense: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:6, 7). When we resist the devil by humbly submitting our will to God, the devil will flee.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1 Peter 5:6 

From Amazing facts

God bless

 

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

THE HUNTER VS. THE HUMBLE 

Lions are fierce hunters. Lionesses usually hunt for the pride in coordinated groups. They cannot sustain high speeds for long, so they stalk their prey, relying on cover or darkness to reduce visibility. While lions weigh between 260 and 400 pounds, their usual prey weighs between 400 and 1,200 pounds, such as wildebeests and zebras. When prey is scarce, they have even been known to attack men and even elephants.

The Bible warns us that the devil is like a lion: “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Just as lions prefer to hunt in the dark or from nearby cover, the devil often uses deception to conquer his prey. Revelation says Satan is the one “who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). But the Christian need not be deceived: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). We can avoid his deceptions by carefully searching the Scriptures.

Just as man-eating lions are often either sickly or desperate, the devil knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12). He is desperate, but he can be resisted. However, it is a mistake to think that we can withstand him on our own. James makes it clear that humility is our best defense: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:6, 7). When we resist the devil by humbly submitting our will to God, the devil will flee.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1 Peter 5:6 

From Amazing facts

God bless

 

[Berean]

Hi to all *

Here is the Daily Devotional

HEAVENLY BREAD  

The fastest “bun” in the West goes to a team of bakers from Wheat Montana Farms and Bakery, who reclaimed the Guinness World Record in 1995. They harvested and milled wheat from the field and then mixed, scaled, shaped, and baked a loaf in exactly 8 minutes and 13 seconds.

Bread is a basic staple food in the diet of most every culture in the world. Each American consumes, on average, 53 pounds of bread per year. Assuming a sandwich was eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it would take 168 days to eat the amount of bread produced from one bushel of wheat. A family of four could live 10 years off the bread produced by one acre of wheat.

One bushel of wheat will produce 73 one-pound loaves of bread. It takes nine seconds for a combine to harvest enough wheat to make about 70 loaves of bread. In 1997, Kansas wheat farmers produced enough wheat to make 36.5 billion loaves of bread, or enough to provide each person on Earth with six loaves of bread.

One day a crowd of people went looking for Jesus. The Lord had performed a miracle feeding a multitude with bread, and they wanted more. We, too, go searching for material blessings from God and miss the spiritual blessings He also intended. Jesus sought to correct their understanding of what He meant by “bread from heaven.” The crowd said, “Lord, give us this bread always.” Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:34, 35).

If you would know Christ, spiritual bread should be a basic staple of your daily diet. Take time every day to eat from the Word of God and you will never go hungry.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isaiah 55:2

 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

WERNHER VON BRAUN ROCKET MAN, PART 1 

The man largely responsible for landing the first man on the moon was actually a former Nazi.

Wernher von Braun, born into German nobility, had a fascination with space exploration. Though his family was Lutheran, von Braun himself cared more for rockets than God. At 25 years of age, he joined the Nazis and several years later the SS. His passion for rocket engineering, in particular his design of the V-2 “vengeance weapon,” led him into a crucial position in Hitler’s regime.

There still remains much controversy surrounding von Braun’s involvement with the Nazis during World War II. He was a man who did not oppose the use of concentration camp prisoners to build his rockets; but he was also a man whose preference for space travel over German victory led to his short arrest by the Gestapo.

Was this a man whose ambitious pursuit of outer space drove his actions more than any moral or political belief? Whether von Braun became disillusioned with the Nazis at some point during the war or whether he simply used the fascist platform as an opportunistic stepping stone in his career is up for debate.

But by 1945, it was obvious to many that Germany was fighting a losing battle. Von Braun and his team secretly decided to surrender to the United States and devised a plan to do so. It was difficult; von Braun and his team were highly prized by the Nazis and closely guarded, more so as defeat appeared imminent.

It looked like their fate was sealed: The Nazis could not afford to let them live if Germany lost; von Braun’s brilliant mind was too valuable. But after moving locations several times and being separated from the majority of his team, von Braun was finally able to surrender himself, some of his staff, and their work to an American soldier in Austria.

Surprisingly, in a public statement issued after his arrest, von Braun attributed his decision to God. “[W]e felt that only by surrendering such a weapon to people who are guided not by the laws of materialism but by Christianity and humanity could such an assurance to the world be best secured,” he said. Was there, after all, a twinge of faith in this ambitious man? Had an interest in God perhaps been awakened through the horrors of war?

Reflect: Do you use your abilities for God’s glory? Are the fruits of your labor dedicated to Him?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

WERNHER VON BRAUN ROCKET MAN, PART 2 

Operation Paperclip was the top-secret mission that evacuated Wernher von Braun and more than 1,600 other German scientists to the United States. As a result, von Braun and his former team were now employed by the United States Army. They spent the next few years at Fort Bliss, Texas, building weapons and getting used to American life.

For von Braun, the move had been difficult. In Germany he had been respected and highly valued; here in America, there was a decisive suspicion towards him and his team and, from some, even outright dislike. And he still was not any closer to achieving his dream of space travel. His work was confined to boosting U.S. military presence.

But something significant occurred during those early days at Fort Bliss, when a neighbor invited von Braun to church. Von Braun accepted the invite, not because of any personal need but out of a pure curiosity to experience religion in America. What he witnessed drastically overturned his expectations. To von Braun, religion had always been an irrelevant set of cultural rituals, steeped in tradition and uselessness. You would do religion just to say you did it, but it made no real difference in your life.

But when von Braun walked up to that humble, homely church in Texas, he found a group of Christians who truly believed in God and acted like it. It made an impression on him, and there began to be marked changes in his life. He began to speak and write boldly on his views as a creationist scientist, even granting an interview to a pastor entitled “The Farther We Probe into Space, the Greater My Faith.” He became an Episcopalian and throughout his life continued to proclaim the glory of God as our Creator, our Judge, and our Savior.

After multiple failed proposals and requests, von Braun was finally able to divert his work from tools of destruction to tools of exploration—eventually becoming the director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Among the achievements of his illustrious career was the development of the Saturn family of rockets, which included the Saturn V, the rocket that launched Apollo 11 (and other Apollo spacecraft) to the moon.

Reflect: Has your faith been manifested in your life? Has someone else’s faith demonstrated the character of God to you?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

LIVING FOSSIL 

 

A few days before Christmas in 1938, a strange fish was caught in a net near the mouth of the Chalumna River in South Africa. Captain Hendrick Goosen and his crew thought the fish was bizarre enough to alert the local museum in the small town of East London. The director of the museum, Miss Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, described the creature as “the most beautiful fish I had ever seen, five feet long, and a pale mauve blue with iridescent silver markings.”

Marjorie had no idea what the fish was, but knew it must go back to the museum at once. Searching through the few reference books on hand, Marjorie found a picture that, she has said, led her to a seemingly impossible conclusion. Her specimen bore striking similarities to a long-extinct prehistoric fish!

She alerted the prominent South African ichthyologist Dr. J.L.B. Smith to this amazing discovery. Professor Smith came and identified the fish immediately as a coelacanth [pronounced SEE-le-kanth]. The fish would soon be called the “most important zoological find of the century.” It was nicknamed a “living fossil.”

Dr. Smith, Courtenay-Latimer, and the coelacanth became overnight celebrities. When a public viewing was arranged for one day, 20,000 visitors are said to have shown up. Over the years several other coelacanths have been caught, mostly around Indonesia.

This living fossil comes from a species of fish that was firmly believed to have lived long before the time of the dinosaurs, with the fossil record dating them back over 400 million years. They were thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago, which re-dates the dinosaurs by millions of years. How could the coelacanth supposedly disappear for over 80 million years and then turn up alive and well in the twentieth century? It had also been taught that the coelacanth was a “missing link” with its “proto legs” that were evolving into limbs.

The theory of evolution continues to piece together evidence to support a flimsy framework that new scientific discoveries do not support. The best and firmest framework for understanding our world comes from the Bible, which says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Job 41:1 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

THE ULTIMATE TREE OF LIFE 

One tree can absorb as much carbon dioxide in a year as an automobile creates driving 26,000 miles. The longest living organism on our planet is the tree. It’s also one of the greatest natural resources we have. Trees help to keep our air clean. Just one tree can produce about 260 pounds of clean oxygen per year. Over the course of its life, a tree can absorb about one ton of carbon dioxide. An acre of trees can remove 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide in a year.

Trees benefit us in many other ways. If they are well-maintained, trees can increase our property value and the soil quality. Properly placed trees around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent. Wind buffering provided by trees can also lower our heating bills in the winter. Of course, I could talk about lumber and paper products we get from trees, along with fruit to feed our families.

Our text for this evening says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (Proverbs 11:30). People who live according to the wisdom and knowledge of God are a nurturing blessing to others. Their conduct and words bring life, healing, and encouragement to those around them. Perhaps you’ve been next to someone who “drains” you—someone who is usually focused on himself and only wants to get from others.

On the other hand, some folks seem to inspire you when you are in their company. Their presence lifts you and gives you energy. Much like the tree of life in the garden of Eden, people who live according to God’s laws are a gift of life to those close by. Jesus was like this. When men, women, and children were close to Christ, they were transformed. And others could tell.

When Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus, they were brought before the Sanhedrin and questioned. The disciples spoke so courageously about the Lord that the Bible says of the Jewish rulers, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). We win souls by reflecting Jesus to others. The wisest thing we can do is lead others to the cross of Christ, which is the ultimate tree of life.

Additional reading: Proverbs 11:16–31

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

PARADISE LOST AND FOUND

 

We’ve all heard the true account of the Mutiny on the Bounty, but one aspect of the story that deserves retelling is the transformation wrought by one incredible book. Shortly after the famous mutiny in 1789, nine mutineers with six Tahitian men and twelve women went ashore on Pitcairn Island—a tiny island in the southern Pacific Ocean. They burned the Bounty and established a colony.

Things went along all right for a short time. In some respects, it seemed like they were living in a paradise. But some of the mutineers treated the Tahitians disrespectfully and war broke out between them, eventually resulting in the deaths of most of the men on both sides. After that, peace reigned again briefly, until one of the sailors began distilling alcohol from a native plant. Most of the surviving settlers drank excessively. Soon the little colony was plunged into debauchery, vice, and murder.

Ten years later, only one man—John Adams—survived, surrounded by ten native women and a bushel of children. One day this sailor discovered a Bible in an old chest from the Bounty. He began to read it and then teach it to the others. The result was that his own life and, ultimately, the lives of all those on the island were dramatically transformed. In fact, when Pitcairn Island was visited in 1808 by an American whaling ship, the previously crime-consumed colony had become a thriving community with no jail, no whiskey, no laziness, and no crime.

Today the descendants of this colony still live in a moralistic society on one of the most isolated islands in the world. Can Bible principles really transform a culture from vice and crime to tranquility today? I believe they can. The Word of God draws us away from conformity to the world with all of its trouble and vices. By reading and studying the Bible our minds are renewed; they are transformed to become more and more like the mind of Christ. We find that we have peace in our hearts, conformity to God’s will, and a saving relationship with Him. Now that is real paradise!

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2

 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

DOESN’T EZEKIEL 16 ENCOURAGE US TO WEAR JEWELRY?

 

The context of this passage is not about whether we should or should not wear jewelry. It is a figurative picture of God redeeming His people from slavery. The people of God are compared to a bride given many gifts. It calls the attention of Israel back to the exodus, when the Lord instructed them to take from their neighbors jewels of silver and gold (Exodus 11:2, 3). These gifts were then used, not to adorn themselves, but to create the beautiful wilderness sanctuary (Exodus 25:1–8).

The message of Ezekiel 16 is that Israel “played the harlot” and removed her jewels and created idols. This happened when the nation formed alliances with foreign powers that led her away from the worship of the true God. Actually, when calling the people to prepare themselves before God, there are references to the Israelites taking off their jewelry (see Exodus 33:4–6).

When we look at Bible verses specifically addressing the adornment of Christians, the guidelines are quite simple. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:3, 4).

“In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9, 10).

The jewelry that God wishes to place on His people is not outward adornment. The Lord values the pure jewels of modesty that draws people to look at Jesus, not at oneself.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. Ezekiel 16:11

 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily

 

CITIZENS OF ANOTHER WORLD

 

There has been one United States president who, when he died, was no longer a citizen of the United States. It was the country’s tenth president— John Tyler. John Tyler served in office from 1841 to 1845. But more than being an American, Tyler was a Virginian. And so when Virginia, along with the other southern states, seceded from the union, Tyler stayed true to his home state and joined them, renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

Tyler had actually served as the chair of the Virginia Peace Convention, which was held in 1861 in Washington, D.C. It was an effort to prevent a civil war. When no compromise was achieved, however, he viewed secession as the only option and joined Virginia and the other states in abandoning their citizenship.

From there, he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Confederate Congress, but it was a position he would never fill. He died on January 18, 1862, before ever serving one day in office. And thus, he is the only president in the history of the United States to die as a former citizen.

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, shares some interesting news about our citizenship: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Though we might have been born in America or Canada or some other part of the world, as Christians, our true citizenship is in heaven. Thus, we are invited to renounce our allegiance to the world and respond to God’s invitation to take up the mission of our heavenly home—which is to spread the good news to the citizens of this world.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

FORGIVENESS AND PARDONS

An item in the May 2, 1985, Kansas City Times describes the attempt by some fans of O. Henry, the short-story writer, to get a pardon for their hero, who was accused in 1898 of embezzling $784.08 from the bank where he was employed. The question was raised, “Can you give a pardon to a dead man?” Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged.

President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but the convict refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. “A pardon is a slip of paper,” wrote Marshall, “the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.”

The court stated: “A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him.”

A pardon is a form of forgiveness for a crime or cancellation (in whole or part) of the penalty associated with it. Sometimes forgiveness focuses more on letting go of resentment, indignation, or anger. Jesus spoke of forgiving a brother who sins against you. “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). In fact, Christ says, “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (v. 4).

George Wilson was offered forgiveness but refused to accept it. Christ has offered forgiveness and pardon for our sins. Not only would it be wise to accept this gracious offer but also to have this attitude toward others as well. How much better it is to offer it to people who are alive and can accept the pardon.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12

 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

temperance at work

This is what I saw: […] If God hath given a man riches and goods, if he hath made him master to eat of them, to partake of them, and to rejoice in the midst of his work, this is a gift from God. (Ecclesiastes 5:17, 18)

The time spent acquiring and strengthening our physical and mental health is particularly well spent. […] It is easy to lose your health but it is very difficult to regain it. […] We have no right to diminish or injure any of our physical or mental functions by overworking or abusing any part of the human mechanism.

Those who exert themselves selflessly to accomplish a great work in a limited time and who continue to toil when their reason commands them to rest gain nothing. They live on loan capital. They expend the vital forces that they will need later. And when the energy they used so recklessly is called upon, they will be unable to act. […] The time when they would be useful has come, but their physical resources are exhausted. All those who violate the laws of health must one day fall ill to a greater or lesser degree.

Most of the fatigues and labors that wear down and age people are not imposed by God, but are burdens that they have taken on by doing the very things that the divine Word forbids.

Our duty does not require us to overwork ourselves. Sometimes people are put in situations that lead to overwork, but that should be the exception, not the rule. […] If we honor the Lord by doing our part, he will do his part by keeping us healthy. […] If we observe temperance in our food, in our drink, in our clothing, in our work, we can do for our health what no doctor could do.

Don’t try to do the work of two in one day.

God bless

[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

 

KIP ROLLERCOASTER FAITH, PART 1

 

Kip Johnston was a gambler—with cards, his life, and his faith.

He believed he was a basically moral person. After all, his mother had read him Bible stories and took him to a Sabbath-keeping church. He knew right from wrong. His parents also sent him to Christian schools, but the more he looked at teachers and classmates, the more hypocrites he saw. In his own words, he “was not impressed or converted.”

At age 24, a friend confronted his deeply biblical beliefs and led him astray one night. The next day he asked his mother for a Bible and read it for hours. After reading Romans, Kip cried out, “If anybody is out there, I need to know You.”

He believed he had a “born again experience,” and became a Bible student and street preacher. But it didn’t take long for Kip to climb back onto his rollercoaster of rebellion. He went back to motorcycle riding, drugs, and alcohol, and became an accomplished poker player.

At age 30, Kip had $50,000 stuffed in shoeboxes. He read the Bible and prayed by day, but led a corrupt lifestyle by night. Eventually, he lost all his money, but a casino owner hired him to play professionally as a casino insider.

One Saturday morning, Kip was driving home from a shift at a casino still dressed in his suit. When he passed a Sabbath-keeping church, he felt prompted to go inside. By the time he left the service, he had re-embraced Sabbath-keeping. To obey God’s law, he decided he would not buy or sell, or work at the casinos, on the Sabbath. His rollercoaster ride was not yet over.

By his own admission, he was “still not fully converted,” but had started regularly attending a Sabbath-keeping church, teaching Sabbath school, and occasionally preaching to the small congregation. In an effort to earn a legitimate living, he gave up gambling and learned to drive a long-haul semi-truck.

While on one of his long trips, he watched an Amazing Facts broadcast with Pastor Doug for the first time at a truck stop. He recognized the truths from his youth and knew they were right. He sensed the Lord was reaching out to him, although he didn’t fully reach back.

But God was not done reaching out to him.

Reflect: Have you ever practiced religious disciplines like prayer or witnessing to cover up sin in your life? Jesus can see it all and wants to make you entirely clean.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 6:1 

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

KIP ROLLERCOASTER FAITH, PART 2

 

 

Kip loved to gamble, but kept moving back and forth toward God and away from Him. One day, while gambling online, a video advertisement by Pastor Doug popped up. Kip remembered him from the truck stop TV, so he clicked the link and began watching Amazing Facts videos one after another while still playing online poker and using marijuana and tobacco.

Eventually, he surrendered the marijuana, then the tobacco, and through the Amazing Facts videos and studies, he became a vegetarian … and feasted on the Word of God too. Yet he hadn’t quit gambling.

Pastor Doug’s sermons encouraged him to attend church again and “not go it alone with God.” He visited various churches in town, but kept running into “bad theology.” In a misguided attempt at self-redemption, Kip handed out Christian literature in the casinos and to street people.

Eventually, he found a Sabbath-keeping church, got involved, and even did hospital visitations; but he still worked six weeks a year on the professional World Series of Poker tour. His pastor saw through him and refused to baptize him. Eventually, Kip moved to California where he met a pastor who continued to study with him, challenge him, and who eventually baptized him after Kip gave up gambling.

Kip, who was nourished and growing by the spiritual food he was consuming from Amazing Facts, finally prayed, “Lord, I’m tired of this rollercoaster.” God’s still, small voice replied: “Get into My work.”

Kip got his life onto a new track. He has fully turned his back on drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling. He was baptized and, in answer to prayer, later married “a fantastic Christian woman” who wanted to join him in missionary work. Together they spent a year in India building houses, preaching, teaching, and sharing Amazing Facts Bible study materials and copies of Pastor Doug’s sermons. The experience humbled him and he says he finally knows what the Lord wants from him.

Today, Kip’s wife works as a nurse and Kip again has a gospel literature ministry that takes him door-to-door, to flea markets, and big-box storefronts. His favorite materials to distribute are from Amazing Facts. Kip and his wife are planning more overseas evangelism, but also see the need for mission work right in their own community.

Reflect: Do you know someone who quit attending church because it was full of hypocrites? How do you reach a person like this? Start praying for guidance from the Lord.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
Luke 15:6

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

DOESN’T PROVERBS TEACH THAT IT IS OKAY TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES? 

One of the saddest of pastoral visitations is when I’m called to visit and pray for a church member who is dying. Often these precious souls are suffering from a fatal illness that is extremely painful. As they near the end of their lives, it is an act of compassion to provide them with a strong narcotic to deaden their pain and help them endure their misery. Of course, we earnestly pray for them to be miraculously healed, but that doesn’t always happen.

In Bible times, they didn’t have doctors or nurses who could give an injection of morphine to reduce the agony of people with a fatal condition. In Proverbs 31:6, we find an example of how “strong drink” was used back then to dull the throbbing hurt. When Jesus was crucified, He was offered a mixture of vinegar and gall for this same reason (see Matthew 27:34). Obviously, it was excruciatingly painful to be nailed to a cross, so soldiers dipped a sponge in this ancient “narcotic” to help the suffering victims cope with pain. Of course, Jesus refused even this help since He wanted His mind clear during this difficult trial.

Other passages in Proverbs make it clear that strong drink is not something to be freely taken. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. … At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:29, 30, 32).

And so, the Bible speaks of a particular situation when people are suffering under extreme circumstances and are facing death. It is out of compassion that we provide a painkiller to help our suffering loved ones. This is not a license for the recreational abusing of our bodies.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Proverbs 31:6

From Amazing facts

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[Berean]

Hi to all

Here is the Daily Devotional

DOES THE BIBLE SPEAK AGAINST INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES?

 

There is only one incident in the Bible that directly addresses the issue of interracial marriage, and that took place when Miriam and Aaron criticized their brother Moses “because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married” (Numbers 12:1). As a consequence, Miriam became leprous, “as white as snow” (v. 10). Even though she sinned against her brother, Moses pleaded with God to heal his sister. The Lord did heal her, but only after she remained outside the camp for seven days.

There is an issue deeper than skin color or race that is addressed in finding a marital partner. The Bible says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Why is that important? God once told the Israelites to destroy all the people in the land of Canaan and not to intermarry with them because they will “turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods” (Deuteronomy 7:4).

The main factor in a successful marriage is that it is built on a common commitment to follow Jesus Christ. There is no perfect person. Someone once said marriage is not just about finding the right person, but being the right person. When both spouses look to Jesus for guidance, it will help the couple surmount any obstacle.

It is appropriate to reflect on the potential challenges people of different races might face if they choose to get married. While it’s not wrong, it could be difficult. Emotional love can make us blind to potential problems. We live in an imperfect world with less than ideal neighbors and communities. Children born into marriages with mixed race parents face prejudices that are deep. This is not true everywhere, but in some societies it can create tough barriers.

What is plain from our text for today is that there is no segregation of races in God’s eyes. Salvation is a free gift to all people regardless of their ethnicity.

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11

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[Berean]

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IS HOMOSEXUALITY A SIN?

The Bible makes clear statements about the practice of homosexuality. The apostle Paul writes, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Romans 1:26, 27).

In the Old Testament, we find laws about practicing homosexual behavior. “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). The Bible outlines many sexual perversions and teaches that the only pure sexual relationship is between a husband and a wife. All else is a form of adultery.

There are two important points that get lost in the discussion about homosexuality. First, the Bible does not condemn people for having same-sex attractions, but it does condemn the act of homosexual behavior. Being tempted is not sin, but acting on that temptation is sin. Like any other sinful behavior, the Lord asks us to repent and promises to forgive us.

This leads to a final point. There is hope for the person practicing homosexual behavior. God promises to give us power to stop all sinful actions. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul describes different types of sinful activities, including homosexuality. He then states, “Such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

We should treat all people with respect and kindness, regardless of their sexual orientation. At the same time, we can remember, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1 Corinthians 6:9

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[Berean]

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BERNARD FROM SUICIDE TO SERVICE, PART 1

He held the knife, his mind racing. He brought it up to his neck.

Pictures raced through his mind: the drug deal gone bad, the hundreds of thousands of dollars owed, the contracts out on people’s lives—but most of all, his family. What would they do to his wife and kids? If it ended with him right here, right now, maybe his family would be safe.

Then he heard a voice, still and small. “It is not your time yet.” He struggled to listen. But there was another voice too, a different and more persuasive voice. It would be so easy to just go through with it. The knife was so close.

Now he was on his knees, the conflict raging within. Finally, he pushed in the knife.

Suddenly the door burst open, and everything went black.

When Bernard came to, he was in the ICU, staring up at a nurse. If the knife had gone in one more centimeter, he was told, he would have lost his voice box.

Later, he learned that his wife had called the police after she had talked to him earlier that day. She had realized that he was going to do something horrible. It was the police who had found him bleeding on the floor and had raced him to the hospital. After all that, the voice had been right. It was not his time. He had been given a second chance.

Bernard had grown up on the streets of New York City, in gangs, with drugs and alcohol, and in the music scene. His dad was Catholic, his mother a Sabbath-keeper. His parents had divorced and, after her own conversion, his mother began to live out her faith.

After getting out of the ICU, Bernard started attending a non- denominational church. But it seemed like something was stopping him at every turn, including a terrible divorce and six months in jail. Finally, he found himself back in his mother’s home and driving trucks for a living.

His mom would talk to him regularly about the Sabbath, but all he could remember was how she had sneaked them to church on Saturdays whenever his dad was not around. He hated it. Besides, every good Christian knew that keeping the seventh-day Sabbath was just legalism—right?

Reflect: In truth, God has given all of us a second chance … and perhaps more. Now is the time to use your lease on life to be a blessing to others.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
1 Kings 19:4

 

From Amazing Facts

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[Berean]

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Here is the Daily Devotional

 

BERNARD FROM SUICIDE TO SERVICE, PART 2

Bernard struggled to accept the Sabbath truth. One day, the strangest thing happened. He heard that voice again, that same still, small voice: “My Sabbath is the true day.”

Still, he struggled. He had so many questions about the Sabbath and about God. He began to fast and pray.

Then, one day, he made a delivery at a warehouse and spotted a small book. Then he heard the same voice again: “Read the book.” He hesitated, then shook it off.

An hour passed, and someone came to tell him there was a delay with his load. Instantly, there came the voice: “Read the book.” Still, Bernard refused, something raging within him.

The minutes crawled by. Three times the man came to apologize for the delay. Three times Bernard heard that same voice. Finally, exasperated, he picked up the book and read it from cover to cover. And he began to weep. Every question he had about the Sabbath, about who God was, was answered in that little book.

After completing Bible studies, Bernard was baptized into a Sabbath-keeping church. His mother also introduced him to Amazing Facts. Most of all, he wanted to become a trained evangelist at the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE). But he could not afford a cross-country trip and school fees. He was, however, able to go on a funded mission trip to the Philippines. One thing led to another, and years later he was finally able to fulfill his dream—graduating from the Philippines Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (PAFCOE) … along with his new wife!

For their first evangelistic series, Bernard and his wife brought 34 souls to baptism. Since then, they have been instrumental in building the only Sabbath-keeping church in that area of the Philippines, on a plot of land given by a Sunday-keeping pastor who had attended their seminars. Oh, and that pastor—he and his entire family were eventually baptized as well.

Bernard has decided to dedicate his life to full-time ministry, which includes a sponsorship program for others to attend AFCOE. This changed man, once ready to take his own life, now thanks God for his life. “I would not give this life up for anything.”

Reflect: Do you struggle to hear God speaking to your heart? Open the Bible and then get involved in service for others. Helping others will make God real to you.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”
Psalm 103:2 

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[Berean]

 

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Here is the Daily Devotional

PETER HITCHENS THE “ANTI-THEIST’S” BROTHER FOUND FAITH

Millions of people knew the name of Christopher Hitchens before they knew the name of his younger brother, Peter. Ironically, both started out very much as “two peas in a pod.”

Both were writers, and both plied their trade in journalism and by writing books. Christopher had several best-selling titles and was most noted for God Is Not Great, an anti-theist tract that won wide appeal during the “new atheist” movement of the early 2000s.

Peter also wrote best-sellers, most notably his 1998 volume, The Abolition of Britain, which began with a bleak contrast between the public mourning in Britain for both Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales. His concerns were more cultural and political, the latter being poles apart from Christopher’s avowed socialist viewpoint.

It wasn’t only politics where the brothers diverged, however. As noted, Christopher, who died in 2011, was a committed anti-theist who campaigned against religious belief, saying there was “no evidence” for even the possibility of belief in God. Christopher won wide acclaim for his views from other atheists, but Peter dissented, at one point becoming estranged from his brother for several years.

Why the rift? Peter—who once said he and his brother “had grown out of the nursery myths of God, angels and Heaven. We had modern medicine, penicillin, jet engines, the Welfare State, the United Nations and ‘science,’ which explained everything that needed to be explained”—and who’d burned a Bible given him by his family in protest—found faith.

It came as the younger Hitchens drifted back to church attendance, first out of respect for tradition, then for something more. Contemplating Rogier van der Weyden’s painting “Last Judgment,” he saw himself in the images of naked sinners fleeing wrath: Peter saw his sins as worthy of judgment and punishment. If anyone needed saving, he’d later recall, it was Peter Hitchens.

Peter’s return to faith marked a shift in his journalism: He began to use Christian arguments to support and explain his political and social views. He wrote The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith, a book detailing his journey. And he speaks all over the world about his faith.

Christopher Hitchens won fame for opposing God. Peter Hitchens has found life in Christ and shares his experience with millions.

Reflect: Peter Hitchens found faith when he saw himself as a sinner deserving of judgment. Was that your experience? If so, recall how you made that realization.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Psalm 51:4

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