March, 2008 Devotions
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Acts 20:24
Saturday, March 1
Paul's Ministry Aim
KEY VERSE: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God," Acts 20:24.
Sam enjoyed life. He dearly loved his wife and children. He had a good job which allowed him to have many luxuries. He was faithful to attend church and serve the Lord. Sam realized the Lord was calling him to preach the gospel. At first, he resisted because he did not want to give up his quality of life. He then realized there would be no quality of life if he did not answer God's call. Sam has never regretted surrendering to the call to preach the gospel.
The apostle Paul was a persecutor of Christians before he accepted the Lord as Savior. After he became a child of God, he was called to preach the gospel. Paul made the gospel ministry his main focus in life. The apostle sacrificed his personal will and ambitions to answer God's call. He preached the gospel to both kings and the common man. He traveled to distant lands to proclaim the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul counted it a blessing that God called him to preach the gospel.
There is nothing more worthwhile a person can do than serve the Lord. It brings joy and blessings that the world cannot match. Serve the Lord and give it your best effort.
JUST A THOUGHT: Serving the Lord makes life more joyful.
Marc Shultz
Galatians 1:6-9
Sunday, March 2
There Is No Other Gospel!
KEY VERSE: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed," Galatians 1 :8.
The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The proclamation of the gospel leads to the conviction of the Holy Spirit concerning the need of salvation. There is no other message than the gospel that leads sinners to the grace of God.
Paul wrote the book of Galatians to saved people.
They had experienced the grace of God that comes in salvation. Some members of the church at Galatia had forsaken the gospel by which they had been saved and turned to false gospels. The false gospels did not have the power to save. Their belief in a false gospel did not remove their opportunity to receive God's grace if they would trust Him.
Paul was grieved that the Galatian believers had removed themselves from belief in the one true gospel. Not only were they not being faithful to God, but they were not faithful to the Galatian churches. The unfaithful Galatians were not winning souls to the Lord because they proclaimed a gospel that was not of God. It was a different type of gospel than the one written in the inspired Scriptures and proclaimed by the apostles and faithful preachers.
Believers should have no confidence in anyone who proclaims a false gospel. Those who proclaim a false gospel will face the wrath of God.
JUST A THOUGHT: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only gospel that leads to salvation.
Marc Shultz
Monday, March 3
The Model Prayer
KEY VERSE: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name," Matthew 6:9.
You receive a love letter from someone important in your life. Which type of letter would you rather receive: a copy of a love letter someone else wrote, or one that came from one's heart? No doubt you would rather receive a love letter from the heart.
The Model Prayer is meant to be a pattern for prayer and not a prayer to recite. Prayer is communication with God. Prayer should be a personal time of communicating with God and also seeking His will. Prayer can be a time of contemplation on God and His holiness. Prayer should not become routine.
Our prayers should be addressed to the Heavenly Father. He has the power to influence and bring good into our lives. The Model Prayer teaches us to pray for the return of the Lord and for His will to be accomplished. We are to pray for the daily needs of life. This teaches us to trust in God. We should pray for divine strength not to give into the temptation to sin. We should pray seeking the forgiveness of God as well as the strength to forgive others.
Prayer should be a time when Christians shut out the world to communicate with God. Set aside a daily time when you shut out the world and communicate with God. Do not allow anything to interfere with your personal prayer time with God. Praying Christians are growing Christians.
JUST A THOUGHT: Those who do not pray to God will stray from God.
Marc Shultz
Tuesday, March 4
Prayer That Avails
KEY VERSE: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," James 5:16.
When you asked one of your parents for money, which would you probably receive, a quarter or a one hundred dollar bill? Most children would be fortunate to receive the quarter. Believers sometimes complain that God does not answer their prayers. When in reality God has answered their prayers, He just did not give them what they wanted. When God does not give believers what they pray for, it is because they do not make the proper requests. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3). They ask God to grant their selfish greeds instead of His perfect will.
What type of prayer does God want to hear from His children? He wants to hear the prayer of repentance of sins. God is anxious to forgive the repentant sinner. God desires to hear us pray for our needs instead of our greeds. Many of the things we pray for are selfish in nature and do not fit in God's will. We should pray for God's will not our own. God wants us to pray for one another. We are not the only ones who have spiritual and physical needs. If we want others to pray for us, we should pray for others.
JUST A THOUGHT: When we pray for the proper things, we are more likely to receive our requests.
Marc Shultz
Wednesday, March 5
Praying for Leaders
KEY VERSE: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God," Romans 13:1.
The American electorate is almost evenly divided along political party and ideological lines. This means that almost half of the voters are going to be unhappy over the outcome of any election. The voters whose candidates did not win the election should continue to be good citizens and participate in the political process.
Saved people should be good citizens. They should be subject to higher powers. God is the highest authority, and we must obey Him. They should obey the laws of the land and cooperate with those empowered to enforce those laws. They should give due honor to elected officials, even those with whom we disagree. Believers should participate in the political process. Patriots have fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy. The best way to honor their sacrifice is to vote and let our voice be heard.
Believers should pray for those in authority. Ronald Reagan said one of the things that comforted him when he was President of the United States was knowing that people were praying for him. We should pray that our leaders will have the courage to make the right decisions and to look to God for guidance. It is important for Christians to pray for the elected officials even those with whom they disagree. Most are honorable officials who have a different opinion than ours.
JUST A THOUGHT: When Christians pray for their leaders, God's will can be done in the nation.
Marc Shultz
Thursday, March 6
Another Model Prayer
KEY VERSE: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding," Colossians 1:9.
Mothers nurture their infant children toward physical growth. At the appropriate time a mother will begin feeding a child baby food. As the child matures, she will begin feeding him solid food. This nurturing comes from a desire of the mother that her child grow strong physically.
Paul wrote this letter to the members of the Colossian church to further their spiritual growth. He prayed that they would know God's will and grow in spiritual understanding. Paul knew that the more they grew spiritually, the more faithful they would be to serve God and live righteously. The epistle was written in a spirit of love for the Colossian church members. The apostle's love for the Colossian church members motivated him to pray for their spiritual growth.
Prayer requests should be made for spiritual concerns as well as physical blessings. Christians who make spiritual matters a priority will discover that God will help them take care of the physical matters (Matt. 6:33). Those who make spiritual matters a priority will please the Lord in their lives and succeed in every endeavor to which God has called them. Christians need God's help to grow spiritually. Christians should not only pray for their own spiritual growth but also the spiritual growth of other true believers.
JUST A THOUGHT: It is most comforting to know someone is praying for us.
Marc Shultz
Friday, March 7
Whatsoever We Ask
KEY VERSE: "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight," 1 John
3:22.While still living with my parents, it was my duty to mow the grass during the spring and summer. It was not something I particularly enjoyed doing, but there was one asset to the chore. When I asked my parents for something I wanted, I usually received it from them as long as it was within reason. If I had been negligent in mowing the yard, I usually did not get what I wanted.
Some people misinterpret this verse as being a blank check from God. They falsely believe that, if they obey God, He will give them their every desire. Nothing could be further from the truth. God desires to bless His children. He will not grant them anything that does not fit within His will. Christians cannot use obedience to God as a bargaining tool to get what they want. Christians should obey God without expecting anything in return. They should temper their requests to God by asking His will be done regardless of what they want.
Christians should desire for God's will to be done in their lives, even when it is contrary to their personal desires. Christians who pray for God's will to be done will see God answer their prayers favorably. God answers every prayer, but He does not grant every request. Pray that God's will be done, knowing it is for the best.
JUST A THOUGHT:
God gives us what is best, even when it is not what we want.Marc Shultz
Saturday, March 8
Prayer That Pleases God
LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight," Proverbs 15:8.KEY VERSE: "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the
President John Kennedy was discussing important policy matters with a diplomat in the oval office. Suddenly the door of the office swung open and another person entered the room. The President immediately interrupted his discussions with the diplomat to speak with the visitor. The visitor was not another diplomat or a member of the President's cabinet. The person who had the President's full attention was his daughter Caroline. President Kennedy allowed his children to interrupt him anytime they felt they needed to speak to him. The President was never too busy to give his children his full attention.
God is never too busy to hear from His children. No matter how many people are praying to Him at any moment He hears every prayer. He answers every prayer according to His perfect will.
God does not delight in the sacrifices of the wicked but in the prayers of the upright. Those who want to find the favor of God should obey His will. The upright seek the will of God and follow it. The sacrifices God desires from His children are a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). The broken and contrite heart admits sin, asks for divine forgiveness and turns away from sin. God never refuses to acknowledge the prayers of His children. Those who pray in the right attitude will find spiritual profit in prayer.
JUST A THOUGHT: God is anxious to hear from you. Have you talked with Him lately?
Marc Shultz
Sunday, March 9
Confidence in Prayer
KEY VERSE: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us
," 1 John 5:14.A child who asks his parents for something by saying "I know you will say no but ... " is not likely to get what he or she wants. A believer can pray with confidence knowing God will do what is best. The prayer of confidence seeks the perfect will of God. When appropriate, God will decline to grant our desires for our own good. We can pray with confidence knowing God will hear our prayers, but will do His will.
Believers can have confidence that God will hear their prayers regardless of their petitions. God does not ignore our prayers when our petitions are not His will. He answers our prayers in a different way than we requested. However God answers prayers is for our best. It would be wrong to insist that God grant our requests when it is not His will. God will not bargain away His perfect will.
The desire of God's children should mirror the desire of God. The Model Prayer teaches us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matt. 6:10). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed not His will but the Father's will be done (Luke 22:42). Prayer should not be a time to make demands on God but it should be a time to seek His will. When Christians pray for the will of God to be done, their petitions will be granted.
JUST A THOUGHT: Pray with confidence that God knows what is best.
Marc Shultz
Monday, March 10
In Hope of Eternal Life
KEY VERSE: "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began," Titus 1:2.
Medical science has dedicated itself to finding ways to extend the average life span. Not many generations ago the average life span was fifty years. Today the average life span is approaching seventy years. There are occasionally reports of people living well over one hundred years old. The lengthening life span has put stress upon the governmental safety net designed to help assure a high quality of life. Despite the lengthening of the average life span, death cannot be postponed forever.
It
is possible for a person to live forever and have the highest quality of life possible. The eternal life the Bible speaks of is not in this mortal body. Everyone will die because of his sin nature. Believers in Jesus spend eternity in Heaven after death. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life (John 3:16). This eternal life is assured to everyone who confesses the Lord as Savior in repentance and faith (Eph. 2:8, 9). This eternal life will not be of this wicked world but in Heaven (John 14:1-4). Every child of God is assured of eternal life in Heaven.The person who is not a child of God also has eternal life. This person will not live eternally in Heaven but in hell. The person who dies lost will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
JUST A THOUGHT: Life in this world is the time to prepare for life in the next world.
Marc Shultz
Tuesday, March 11
Holding Fast the Faithful Word
KEY VERSE: "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers," Titus 1:9.
A Baptist pastor was asked about the differences in the major religions. This pastor shook his head and replied there were not really any differences. In reality, this pastor was Baptist in name only. He was more interested in programs and numbers than in doctrine. He did not holdfast to the inspired Word of God.
The Word of God is perfect in its message and faithful in its instruction. The Word of God is able to accomplish God's intended purpose in the life of the reader. One should not just hear the Word preached but one should also heed its instructions (James 1:23). The Word of God is not left to private interpretation but to be accepted as inspired by God (2 Peter 1:20).
The Bible student should not believe what someone says about the Word of God. He could be wrong in his interpretation. Judge what he says about the Word of God by the Word of God. Believe it because it is the Word of God, not because someone else said it. Churches should not entrust the teaching of the Word of God to novices but should entrust it to seasoned Bible students who are grounded in doctrinal truth. Churches should center the message and the Great Commission in the Word of God on training present and future generations (2 Tim. 2:2).
JUST A THOUGHT: Be faithful to the Word of God and nothing but the Word of God.
Marc Shultz
Wednesday, March 12
Church Leaders Bishops and Deacons
KEY VERSE: "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons," Philippians 1:1.
Eleven players participate in an offensive play in football. Some of the players are more noticeable than others. The quarterback passes the football, the running back rushes the football and receivers catch the football. None of these players could do their job if the lineman did not block the defensive players. Each player has a job to perform for the good of the team.
One person cannot do all the necessary work in church ministries. The pastor is the most noticeable participant in church ministry. He is the one preaching the sermons and leading in the church ministry. The pastor does not have enough time to adequately do everything that must be done in church ministry, he needs helpers. The office of deacon was instituted to enable the pastor to perform his calling and the local church to fulfill its commission. Each person is a team member in church ministry.
Pastors and deacons are not to perform their wills in church ministry; they are to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. They should perform their duties with due diligence. The qualifications for pastors and deacons are outlined in the Bible. Local churches do not have the authority to change these qualifications. The duties of pastors and deacons are also outlined in the Bible. The Holy Spirit will not lead them to do anything contrary to the instruction of Scriptures.
JUST A THOUGHT: Pray daily for church leaders.
Marc Shultz
Thursday, March 13
The Work of Overseers
KEY VERSE: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood," Acts
20:28.President Harry Truman had a plaque on his desk that stated, "The buck stops here." His advisors would give him the best information and advice about any proposed policy, but the final decision was his, and he accepted responsibility for the outcome of the decision. In the local church, the final decision rests with Christ and not man.
The pastor of a local church does not work for the church or for himself, but he works for Christ. The Lord has given him the responsibility of being the undershepherd of the church. He is not to lead according to his desires; he is to lead according to the will of God. He is accountable to Christ for his work and leadership.
One of the responsibilities of the pastor is to feed the flock of God. Sheep cannot be driven like cattle, but can be led by the shepherd. The pastor must show great care for the congregation he serves. He should practice what he preaches. What he preaches will fall on deaf ears if he does not lead by example. He is to feed the flock spiritual food. He should be a student of the Word of God and should teach the whole council of God's Word. The pastor should lead the flock to seek God's will. The emphasis should not be on the pastor, but the emphasis should be on the Lord.
JUST A THOUGHT: The pastor should serve at the discretion of the Lord.
Marc Shultz
Friday, March 14
The Work of Deacons
KEY VERSE: "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith," Acts 6:7.
Which scenario would accomplish the most, one person doing the work of ten people or ten people doing their own duty? Of course ten people working can accomplish more than one person working alone. There is too much work in ministry for one person to do alone.
The office of deacon was instituted because the apostles were too busy doing common work to fulfill their calling. There were widows who required daily care. The apostles recognized the need caring for the widows, but it was taking away time they could have spent in prayer, Bible study and seeking God's will. Instead of neglecting the needs of the widows, the office of deacon was instituted. The deacons took care of the widow's daily needs, so the apostles could concentrate on spiritual matters.
Deacons are an asset to the work of the pastor and the ministry of the church. The work of deacons and pastors are different in scope but are in harmony with the work of pastors in fulfilling the Great Commission. The word deacon means "servant." Deacons serve at the direction of the church. As with the pastor, the qualifications of deacons are outlined in the Scriptures and cannot be changed. Churches and pastors benefit from faithful deacons.
JUST A THOUGHT: Faithful deacons help churches grow.
Marc Shultz
Saturday, March 15
Leader in the Home
KEY VERSE: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the
LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD," Joshua 24:15.Some parents say that they do not want to force religion on their children, so they do not train them in spiritual matters or in the house of God. Do they allow their children to choose whether or not they will go to the doctor's office if they are sick? Do they allow them to choose whether or not they will attend school? Is not the spiritual training of a child as important?
The home is a spiritual body instituted by God. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were the first married couple. God then told them to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28). In God's order for the family, the wife is to look toward her husband for spiritual leadership (Eph. 5:22). The children are to be under the authority and discipline of their parents (Eph. 6:1). The spiritual welfare of the family is their greatest need. When husbands and wives seek God's will together, the marriage is enriched. When the parents create a spiritual atmosphere in the home, the children are more likely saved at an early age. The spiritual needs of the family must not be neglected.
JUST A THOUGHT: The spiritual family makes for
a harmonious home.Marc Shultz
Sunday, March 16
Elders-Feed the Flock!
KEY VERSE: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind," 1 Peter 5:2.
Pastors should not be revered but should be respected because of their calling and position in God's work. They are sinners saved by grace and then called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. They make great sacrifices to fulfill their calling. Few thought God would call them to preach the gospel, but they surrendered to God's will. They should be lifted up in prayer and encouraged as they minister.
The duty of the pastor is to feed the flock of God through the Word of God. The Bible is nourishment to the soul as food is to the physical body. Spiritual growth comes through the instruction of and obedience to the Word of God. The pastor must be a student of the Word of God to feed the flock of God. The Bible is God's instruction book for mankind. Books written about the Bible should not take the place of Bible study. The effective preacher of the Word of God spends much time in prayer and Bible study in sermon preparation.
The God called pastor does not preach the gospel for material gain. He willingly sacrifices personal gain to do God's work. He is ready to preach the gospel anywhere he is given the opportunity.
JUST A THOUGHT: Part of the respect for pastors is making sure their needs are met as they feed the flock.
Marc Shultz
Monday, March 17
The True and Living God
KEY VERSE: "But the
LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation," Jeremiah 10:10.A teenager claiming to be God was interviewed by a newspaper reporter. He offered no proof of his claimed deity. He was seen as an oddity and no one took him seriously. The reporter then asked a local pastor for his reaction to the young man's claim. The pastor simply stated, ''There is but one God, and he ain't Him."
There are many false gods who are worshiped by foolish people. Some people worship Muhammad, Buddha and Confucius. These and all other false gods have no power to positively affect the lives of their worshipers. The worship of false gods offers no hope.
Christians should not worship false gods. The most popular idol is materialism. It would be foolish to gain the whole world and give up hope for the soul (Matt. 16:26). Christians should not worship the god of tradition. God must be worshiped "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Christians should not worship the god of convenience. Discipleship requires self-denial and obedience to God (Matt. 16:24).
There is one true God. He is a jealous God, and He will not tolerate the worship of false gods (Ex. 34:14). God alone has the power to forgive sins and positively affect lives. God alone should be worshiped. Man needs no other God but the true God.
JUST A THOUGHT: Worship the God of Heaven and do not worship the gods of the world.
Marc Shultz
Tuesday, March 18
The King's Decree
KEY VERSE: "I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end," Daniel 6:26.
A pastor gave a woman one of his business cards and invited her to church. She took the card but told him in rude language she had no need for church. He did not confront the woman because of her rudeness but walked away singing "Amazing Grace." A few weeks later, the woman called the pastor. She was facing a life threatening surgery and decided she needed God's help. The pastor led the woman to accept the Lord as Savior.
Darius signed a decreed forbidding anyone from praying to God for thirty days. Anyone who violated the decree would be thrown into a den of lions, which meant certain death. Daniel disobeyed the decree and was thrown into the den of lions. God did not allow the lions to harm Daniel. Darius then decreed that everyone should fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. The boldness of Daniel and the power of God to protect him was a testimony of the true God. Christians should not allow anything or any person to prevent them from worshiping God. They should be bold in their worship and service to God. Christians should be a living testimony of the power of God.
JUST A THOUGHT: Do not hide your love for and faithfulness to God.
Marc Shultz
Wednesday, March 19
The Temple of the Living God
KEY VERSE: "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people," 2 Corinthians 6:16.
The church sanctuary was being torn down to make way for a new one. The pews had been removed, and the suspended ceiling had been taken down. The windows had been taken out and the brick had been removed from the exterior of the building. Though it was just a shell of a building, there was still a spiritual atmosphere inside it. Thousands of sermons had been preached and countless baptismal services had been conducted within the building. God had been honored in that special place.
The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer. Everything the child of God does, every word he speaks, every thought he thinks and everyplace he goes is a reflection, not only of the testimony of the individual Christian, but the church of his membership and the God he serves. Church members should treat the body with the same respect as they do the house of God. Sins you would never consider doing in the house of God, should not be done away from the house of God. Words one would never utter in the house of God should not be uttered away from the house of God.
JUST A THOUGHT: Christians should present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God and honor Him in every way (Rom. 12:1).
Marc Shultz
Thursday, March 20
From Idols to the True God
KEY VERSE: "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God," 1 Thessalonians 1:9.
Ergun was raised a Muslim. A friend invited him to attend a neighborhood Baptist church. Ergun was intrigued by what he heard and kept attending services. One Sunday, Ergun responded to the preaching of the gospel and accepted Christ as Savior. Today, he is a Baptist preacher proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel can convict even the hardest of sinners to accept the Lord as Savior. Zacchaeus was a crooked tax collector who was saved while in a sycamore tree. Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians but later became a child of God and preacher of the gospel. God will save anyone who accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior.
As long as there is life in the body and reason in the mind there is hope for the soul. I once knew a man who was a member of a outlaw motorcycle gang. He lived a ungodly life-style. Because of the persistent invitation of his brother, he began to attend church services. In time he accepted the Lord as Savior and left the motorcycle gang. One of the first people I led to the Lord was a young lady who had lived a promiscuous life. Her family was amazed at the dramatic change she made in life after her conversion.
JUST A THOUGHT: It is important for Christians to pray for the salvation of the lost people they know.
Marc Shultz
Friday, March 21
An Habitation of God
KEY VERSE: "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit," Ephesians
2:22.Many things identify the house in which you live as your home. There is the legal address of the house. It identifies the location of the house from other houses. The presence of your belongings in the house identifies it as your home. Your physical presence in the house also identifies it as your home.
What identifies a believer as a child of God? A public profession of faith identifies a person as a child of God. Following the Lord's example in baptism identifies the child of God. Once a person accepts the Lord as Savior, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit identifies him as a child of God. The Holy Spirit does not dwell within a lost person. Obedience to God identifies the child of God. The person who does not know the Lord as Savior will not be motivated to obey His will.
Every dwelling has an intended purpose. It would be as difficult to hold a concert in a bowling alley as it would be to bowl in a symphony hall. The child of God should glorify God. Those who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit should honor God in their bodies. They should honor God by serving His purpose. They should honor God by sharing the gospel with the lost. They should honor God by living a life well pleasing to Him. Believers should serve God's will instead of their own.
JUST A THOUGHT: Remember the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Act accordingly.
Marc Shultz
Saturday, March 22
The Test for False Teachers
KEY VERSE: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction," 2 Peter 2:1.
Good cowboys wear white hats. Bad cowboys wear black hats. People cheer the guys in the white hats and boo the guys in the black hats.
It
is easy to tell the false prophets from those who proclaim gospel truth. Not everyone who claims to have a message from God speaks the truth. Christians should not automatically believe everything they hear proclaimed as God's Word. They should judge the message by the inspired Word of God.False prophets are easily recognized by their false doctrine. The Word of God is clear in its message. The Bible is not to be interpreted to conform to the desires of fallible man but is to be interpreted according to the intent of the infallible God who inspired its writing. False prophets do not hold to doctrinal truth.
False prophets offer no spiritual benefit through their deception. False prophets who teach salvation by works instead of by grace are putting souls in danger of eternal condemnation. False prophets will answer to God for their doctrinal deception. Those who hold to false doctrines will answer to God for not holding to doctrinal truth.
JUST A THOUGHT: Base your beliefs on the perfect Word of God not the thoughts of imperfect men.
Marc Shultz
Sunday, March 23
Marks of False Prophets
KEY VERSE: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world," 1 John 4:1.
An
alligator on the river bank spots his prey in the river. The alligator quietly slips into the water and sneaks up on his dinner. His prey never knew what hit him. It is the same with false prophets. They do not come flamboyantly into a church seeking to change doctrinal truth. They seek change quietly and slowly so as not to draw attention to themselves.False prophets pretend to be spiritual. They may believe in their mind that they have a mission from God, but their words and actions tell a different story. They do not know God, His truth or His will. They deceive many by their pretense of doctrinal truth. Their spiritual deception places their followers in danger of eternal condemnation.
False prophets have the spirit of antichrist instead of the living God. Their mission does not conform to the Great Commission because they do not hold to doctrinal truth. Their message does not conform to the truths of God's inspired Word. They manipulate their message to seem to conform to the truth, while, in fact, deceiving their followers from the truth. They deceive many because they falsely claim to be God's messengers.
False prophets are of the world and speak a message the world wants to hear. They conform to the image of the world instead of conforming to the image of God.
JUST A THOUGHT: Those who are not grounded in doctrinal truth will be deceived by false prophets.
Marc Shultz
Monday, March 24
The Minister's Spiritual Discipline
KEY VERSE: "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible," 1 Corinthians 9:25.
Runners in the Olympic Games train four years for their races. Not only must they run in practice races, they must also live disciplined lives. They cannot eat certain foods which hinder their physical condition. They condition themselves for a peak performance because the difference between victory and defeat is often measured in thousands of a second, a distance equal the width of a fingernail.
Each child of God is a minister of the love and grace of God. We represent Christ to a lost and dying world. We must not only speak about our testimony, we must also live it. Failure to maintain a godly life-style brings a Christian's testimony into question.
The foundation of the disciplined Christian life is prayer and Bible study. Bible study reveals the type of life God expects from His children. Prayer seeks the courage and strength to apply the instructions of God's Word. Prayer reveals the will of God and the Bible instructs believers how to follow the will of God.
Christians who do not walk the talk are a negative example of godliness to the world. Why should the world listen to a child of God who proclaims the virtue of living a moral life when he or she does not obey God's moral standard themselves? Christians should practice what they preach.
JUST A THOUGHT: Christians who do not practice what they preach do not have
a spiritual influence on the world.Marc Shultz
Tuesday, March 25
The Blessing of Reading Scripture
KEY VERSE: "When all Israel is come to appear before the
LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing," Deuteronomy 31:11.A Nicaraguan soldier was taken prisoner by the Sandinistas during that country's civil war. The treatment of the prisoners of war was so severe that fifty-one of the fifty-seven soldiers he was imprisoned with died from the torture. In his dark cell he discovered a small pocket sized New Testament. He began reading the New Testament even though he knew that doing so placed his life in jeopardy. During the time the soldier was imprisoned, he read the New Testament twenty-seven times. He discovered reading the New Testament helped him endure the daily torture. He eventually accepted the Lord as Savior. Once freed from prison, he became a preacher of the gospel. He did not know who left the New Testament in his prison cell but gave thanks to God for finding a copy of the Scriptures during his darkest hours in life.
The Bible is a book for the ages. It has the power to help readers change their lives for the better. The Bible must be read for its power to be unleashed. Do not allow your Bible to gather dust in a closet. Read your Bible daily and apply its principles. Daily Bible study helps a person grow spiritually and face the daily stresses of life.
JUST A THOUGHT: The Bible is good for the ages leading toward eternity.
Marc Shultz
Wednesday, March 26
Suffering-A Part of Ministry
KEY VERSE: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair," 2 Corinthians 4:8.
A soldier was fighting in a war far away from home.
He was bitter at not being home with his family. His wife was expecting their second child and he would not be there for the birth. His wife was attempting to buy a new car to replace the old one that was no longer repairable, something he normally would do. He then remembered he was not alone. His wife's parents would be with their daughter when it came time for her to give birth to the new baby. He would have time to bond to the baby once his tour of duty was over. The family banker would help his wife get the best deal possible on a new car. He prayed God would give him courage on the battlefield.
Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare against the forces of evil. Much like the soldiers on the battlefield, soldiers in the Lord's army must face times of doubt and discouragement. The battlefield of the Lord is no place to be timid. Satan is a formidable enemy. He cannot defeat God, so he seeks to defeat the warriors in God's army. His main weapon is to cause suffering to discourage the soldiers in the Lord's army from fighting the good fight of faith. Only a lack of faith in God can defeat the child of God. Satan is defeated before the battle begins.
JUST A THOUGHT: Focus on the inevitable victory not the present suffering.
Marc Shultz
Thursday, March 27
Consider the Reward
KEY VERSE: "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," Hebrews 11:25.
Wally announced his call to the ministry while still in high school and began to prepare to fulfIll that calling. He planned to go to college and then to seminary. Wally enjoyed being a member of the school debate team. One of the judges of a debate that Wally engaged in made an extraordinary offer. His law firm would pay Wally's way to law school if he would consent to join the firm after graduation. As tempting as the offer was, Wally turned it down immediately. He would rather pay his own way to college and do what God called him to do than to have someone else pay his way and not fulfill God's will in his life.
Satan tempts people of God to deny their faith and follow the will of the flesh. Moses gave up his power and authority in Egypt because of the godlessness of Pharaoh's regime. He found more pleasure in tending sheep and following the Lord than to enjoy the trappings of sin. Moses' character allowed God to use him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
It
is better to be destitute of worldly goods and power and follow God than to have all the material wealth one could lust after and not have God. The blessings of godliness far outweigh the temporal pleasures of sin. Weigh the consequences of sin against the blessings of godliness. It is no contest.JUST A THOUGHT: Satan cannot offer you what God can.
Marc Shultz
Friday, March 28
Examples to the Flock
KEY VERSE: "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock," 1 Peter 5:3.
A woman was pulled over by a local policeman for speeding. In an effort to get a warning instead of a ticket, she mentioned she was the daughter of the mayor of the town. The policeman then replied she needed to set the proper example by obeying the speed limit laws. The citation she received reminded her to set the right example.
God has the same expectations for all His children.
He does not condemn sin for one person while excusing the same sin for another person. To whom much is given much is expected (Luke 12:48). Believers should not expect a higher standard for others than they expect of themselves. God expects all His children to live by the high standard of godliness.
Christians need to practice what they preach. They must set the right example before the world. If they do not practice godliness, their preaching of righteous living will fall on deaf ears. When Christians practice what they preach, it adds validity to the power of the Word of God. Believers should not live by the premise of "do as I say, not as I do."
Christians must set the proper example in every aspect of life. They should set the right example in the words they speak, the deeds they commit, the places they go and the thoughts they think. Believers must walk their talk so others can see Jesus in them.
JUST A THOUGHT: You are setting an example for others.
Is it
a good example or a bad example?Marc Shultz
Saturday, March 29
Heed Sound Doctrine
KEY VERSE: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein," Hebrews 13:9.
In the height of the Cold War, tensions were high between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world. Students in public schools were instructed that, in the event of a nuclear attack, they should take refuge under their desks. In retrospect this was foolish advice. Sitting under a school desk would not offer safety from a nuclear attack.
It
is as foolish to believe in false doctrine as it is to trust a school desk to offer you protection from a nuclear attack. False doctrine cannot lead the lost to salvation, offer peace with God or instruct in spiritual growth. False doctrine cannot foster fellowship between Christians or promote true church growth. False doctrine has no spiritual benefits.It
is also foolish to believe that religious tradition can foster spiritual growth. God desires obedience more than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). Tradition often confounds truth. The message of the gospel is more important than tradition.Christians must hold to sound doctrine. Biblical doctrine is its own best defense. A person does not need to understand heretical doctrine to defend the truth. The best way to learn doctrinal truth is by Bible study. The best way to be grounded in truth is by obeying the standards of the Scriptures.
JUST A THOUGHT: Those who are grounded in truth stand tall in life.
Marc Shultz
Sunday, March 30
The Ministerial Requirement
KEY VERSE: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful," 1 Corinthians 4:2.
A person does not become perfect when he accepts the Lord as Savior. A person begins a process of spiritual growth that is never complete. The most spiritually mature person still has weaknesses of the flesh. Moses was a valiant man of God when he was called to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses did not want to answer God's call because of a speech impediment. Moses had boldness of speech when it came time to speak to the Israelites.
God has entrusted His children with a stewardship of His work. He does not expect perfection, but He does expect faithfulness. Jesus told a parable of a master who was going on a long journey and entrusted three of his servants with talents (Matt. 25:14-30). Upon his return the master called the servants in to give account of their stewardship. Two were wise and gained additional talents. The third was fearful and buried his talent in the ground. The two who gained additional talents were wise stewards. The master told the unwise steward the least he could have done was put the talent in the bank to gain interest.
God does not ask His children to do the impossible, but He asks them to perform reasonable service. Christians must be wise stewards of the resources and abilities God has granted them. Those who are wise stewards of God's blessings will be used greatly of God.
JUST A THOUGHT: Those whom God calls to special service must first be wise stewards of His blessings.
Marc Shultz
Monday, March 31
Caring for Widows
KEY VERSE: "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed," 1 Timothy 5:16.
The state of welfare is so much a part of life today, even in the life of Christians, that it is difficult to make a present-day application of this passage. We must remember that early Christians in the Roman empire had no access to aid from the government, local or otherwise. By declaring themselves Christians, they became virtual outcasts as far as the secular community was concerned. Because of this, churches took care of their own needy, and Paul in this passage gives them instructions on how to do so.
At this time in the church, widows were of special concern. You will no doubt recall that the responsibility of caring for the widows had necessitated the choosing of deacons to handle the matter. It was up to the church to care for those in need. However, Paul placed certain restrictions on this responsibility. They were to be at least sixty years old, married only once, with no children or grandchildren to care for them.
As we deal with this principle, we must take into account the existence of insurance policy proceeds, possible Social Security availability and the ability of children or grandchildren to give the care that is needed. We need to get away from the idea that the government can take care of it and accept our responsibility as Christians.
LIVING IT: Accept your share of the responsibility in the care of widows in need.
Mary McCalister