A Devotional for Women 02-03-14

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT

The first few verses of Ecclesiastes 3 remind me of a song from my distant past. Long before I knew what it meant to have a personal relationship with the Lord, Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds was played at my high school graduation ceremony. The song begins by quoting a version of these words from Solomon. I liked the song, but I don't remember ever wondering what all the "turning" was about. I probably would have guessed it had to do with the seasons turning. I didn't know the source of the song. What I didn't realize then is that God is the source of all life (Num. 16:22). He makes everything perfect in its season. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Rom. 8:28). When Solomon says in verse 1, "there is . . . a time," I appreciate just how fleeting that time is. He doesn't say, "there is time"; he tells us there is "a time." Psalm 102:11 points out that life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. When the Scripture refers to "everything," I'm reminded there is nothing new under heaven. God has seen all that has happened, is happening, and will happen under heaven. Whatever our circumstances, they are not unique. It is also a comfort to think of our shameful, difficult, or unhealthy situations as lasting only a period of time or for a "season." Solomon writes later in chapter 3 that God has planted eternity in the human heart. Eternity cannot be found in life's cycles. The secret to peace with God is to determine, accept, and value God's perfect timing. We have to keep turning back to him. To doubt God's timing is to move ahead without his advice. All things apart from God are empty and pointless. Solomon affirms the value of knowledge, relationships, work, and pleasure, but only in their proper place. No joy or contentment is possible without God. We should strive to know and love God. He is the giver of wisdom, knowledge, and joy. Every moment and every season is another opportunity to turn, turn, turn back to him.

Positive Thought For 02-03-14

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 147:3, NLT

A Precious Cornerstone

A Precious Cornerstone

Isaiah 28:1-29

Read God has told his people, "Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest." But they would not listen. So the LORD will spell out his message for them again, one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there, so that they will stumble and fall. They will be injured, trapped, and captured. Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD, you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem. You boast, "We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception." Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away. (Isaiah 28:12-17)

Reflect Judah was afraid of the Assyrians, the "coming destruction." Instead of trusting God, the Judeans turned to other sources for security. God accused them of making a covenant with death. This passage may refer to Hezekiah's alliance with Pharaoh Tirhakah against Assyria (2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9). God would cancel this agreement—Egypt would be of no help when Assyria attacked. So, what help could Judah count on? Isaiah speaks of a "foundation stone"—a "precious cornerstone" that will be laid in Zion (11:16). This cornerstone is the Messiah, the foundation on whom the wise build their lives.

Respond If you're building anything, you need a firm foundation. Otherwise, whatever structure you're building will collapse. A life also requires a foundation. If you want lasting peace and protection, turn to the only one able to deliver you from eternal death—God. Is your life built on the flimsy base of your own successes or dreams? Or is it set on a firm foundation (see Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:8)?

Our Daily Bread For 02-03-14

READ: Romans 14:1-13

Resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. —Romans 14:13

I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions since 1975. I haven’t needed any new ones—I’m still working on old ones like these: write at least a short note in my journal every day; make a strong effort to read my Bible and pray each day; organize my time; try to keep my room clean (this was before I had a whole house to keep clean).

This year, however, I am adding a new resolution that I found in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (14:13). Although this resolution is old (about 2,000 years), it is one that we should renew annually. Like believers in Rome centuries ago, believers today sometimes make up rules for others to follow and insist on adherence to certain behaviors and beliefs that the Bible says little or nothing about. These “stumbling blocks” make it difficult for followers of Jesus to continue in the way of faith that He came to show us—that salvation is by grace not works (Gal. 2:16). It requires only that we trust in His death and resurrection for forgiveness.

We can celebrate this good news of Christ in the coming year by resolving not to set up hurdles that cause people to stumble. —Julie Ackerman Link

Thank You, Lord, that You sent the Holy Spirit
to do the work of convincing and convicting.
May I be content with my own assignment:
to do what leads to peace and edification.

Faith is the hand that receives God’s gift, then faith is the feet that walk with God.

Bible in a year: Exodus 31-33; Matthew 22:1-22

Insight

The judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:9-10) is believed to speak of a time in the future when followers of Christ will be held accountable by the Savior for their lives lived in His name—resulting in either receiving rewards or losing rewards

Of hobbies and gossip

Leviticus 19:11-18

A woman became engrossed in a new hobby. The activity itself was a healthy one, but the devoted wife and mother soon began to neglect her family and friends—even her walk with God.

Her pastor’s wife, a friend, expressed disapproval of her behavior. But rather than reach out to the woman directly, she asked a friend to pass along her words of condemnation. Feeling shamed and that she was the victim of hurtful judgment, the woman left the church altogether.

How could Scripture have helped this situation to turn out differently? Leviticus 19:17 reminds us to “confront people directly.” The woman had been engaging in a harmless hobby, but it had led her down a path of irresponsibility. At that point, the activity was no longer “beneficial” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Her new pursuit ultimately resulted in her focusing more on her “own good” than the “good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24).

The pastor’s wife had the opportunity to show love to the woman and restore her through a spirit of gentleness (Leviticus 19:18; Galatians 6:1), but it didn’t happen. And while the prodigal woman might have “rejected the correction” (Proverbs 1:25), the pastor’s wife (or anyone else) could still have followed a biblical, gracious approach. In fact, if the pastor’s wife had simply had a private conversation with her wayward friend—rather than soliciting a third party to deliver her hurtful message—she might not have caused her friend to end their relationship and leave the church (Proverbs 16:28).

How can we more appropriately point out sins we observe in others? It’s vital that people know we truly love them even while we’re seeking to help them turn from the wrong path.

— Roxanne Robbins

Read Proverbs 17:4 and consider the caution about sharing what should be private concerns with other people.

What needs to change in your way of helping people turn from sinful behavior? Why is it important for us to speak the truth in love?

A Devotional for Leaders

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5, NLT

My family had a tree in our backyard that provided two things: shade and countless jars of pear preserves. One day, I asked my mother why she made so many jars every year. Her response was, "If I don't, they will start falling off the tree and go bad." With that, I went outside to take a look for myself. There were pears everywhere--so many, in fact, that the tree branches were beginning to sag and snap under the immense weight of their fruit. It looked to me like my mother's faithful picking was encouraging the tree to produce even more! Jesus told his disciples that God acts as a gardener in the lives of those who claim him as Lord. He wants his followers to be abundant producers of good fruit, showing the world that they are children of God (see John 15:8). But this is not enough. Instead of simply harvesting the fruit that is produced, the Lord grabs a pair of pruning shears and begins to trim the branches. A little here, a little there, until he is satisfied with the end result. This process of subtraction is a good thing. For it is in these times that God rids us of attitudes and actions that limit our effectiveness for the kingdom. In their place, he grants new opportunities to exhibit love, patience, kindness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). As these values are acted upon, what started out as subtraction becomes addition, and more fruit is produced than before the pruning. If the branches are not pruned they may become weakened or stressed, and they will eventually snap. Once that occurs, the branches will wither and die because they are not attached to the tree, leaving wasted fruit behind. But the result of a life lived wholeheartedly for Christ will be an abundance of fruit--fruit that will last.

Positive Thought For 01-30-14

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Ephesians 3:18, NLT | View in context