heavenly light
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Marriage Rights (3)
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THE ARROGANT
THE ARROGANT Wednesday – September 22, 2010
“Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.” – Zephaniah 3:4
In his book “The Twilight of Atheism”, Christian author and ex-atheist Alister McGrath describes what has happened to atheism in the past 40 years. “There’s lots to find. Hopelessly overstated arguments that once seemed so persuasive — such as “science disproves God” — have lost their credibility. Anyway, our culture’s criterion of acceptability is not “Is it right?” but “Does it work?” And the simple fact is that religious belief works for many, many people, giving direction, purpose and stability to their lives — witness the massive sales and impact of Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life. Atheism, already having failed to land the knockout punch by proving that God does not exist, has not even begun to engage with this deeper question; instead it mumbles weary platitudes about mythical “God-viruses” or mass “God delusions”.
It may once have been bold, brave and brilliant to argue that religion was an infantile delusion or a pernicious superstition. Now, atheism seems arrogant and uncomprehending; incapable of even the most basic act of intellectual empathy that tries to grasp why intelligent, articulate people might choose to believe something which we disagree with — and which might even be right.”
Arrogance is pride; it does not seek the Truth. Today in prayer, pray for those who do not know Jesus and ask the Lord to give them a desire to seek the truth that can only be found in the Lord.
“The ‘world’ means the organization and the mind and the outlook of mankind as it ignores God.” – M. Lloyd-Jones
God’s Word: “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” – Ezekiel 22:26
“Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.” – Zephaniah 3:4
In his book “The Twilight of Atheism”, Christian author and ex-atheist Alister McGrath describes what has happened to atheism in the past 40 years. “There’s lots to find. Hopelessly overstated arguments that once seemed so persuasive — such as “science disproves God” — have lost their credibility. Anyway, our culture’s criterion of acceptability is not “Is it right?” but “Does it work?” And the simple fact is that religious belief works for many, many people, giving direction, purpose and stability to their lives — witness the massive sales and impact of Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life. Atheism, already having failed to land the knockout punch by proving that God does not exist, has not even begun to engage with this deeper question; instead it mumbles weary platitudes about mythical “God-viruses” or mass “God delusions”.
It may once have been bold, brave and brilliant to argue that religion was an infantile delusion or a pernicious superstition. Now, atheism seems arrogant and uncomprehending; incapable of even the most basic act of intellectual empathy that tries to grasp why intelligent, articulate people might choose to believe something which we disagree with — and which might even be right.”
Arrogance is pride; it does not seek the Truth. Today in prayer, pray for those who do not know Jesus and ask the Lord to give them a desire to seek the truth that can only be found in the Lord.
“The ‘world’ means the organization and the mind and the outlook of mankind as it ignores God.” – M. Lloyd-Jones
God’s Word: “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” – Ezekiel 22:26
Grace to See
Grace to See
"One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
John 9:25b
Recommended Reading
Matthew 13:13-17
Seemingly miraculous advances are being made toward restoring sight to the blind. Tiny electronic lenses have been developed that receive light waves (images) and transmit them to the brain, hopefully allowing the blind to "see"--at least partially. But one kind of blindness will never be cured on the operating table, and that is the spiritual blindness of the human heart.
Jesus said He came to restore spiritual "sight to the blind" (Luke 4:18) and went about restoring physical sight to the physically blind as an object lesson to show the reality of the kingdom of God (John 9:1). Jesus physically healed a paralytic to show that He also had power to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12)--and did the same in the realm of physical and spiritual sight, healing eyes to prove He could heal hearts. The nation of Israel collectively lost its spiritual sight in the Old Testament for its failure to believe God (Isaiah 6:9-10), and Jesus came to restore sight--if only the people would believe.
Because we are born spiritually blind, it takes an act of God's grace for our eyes to be opened. If you have believed, thank God for His grace. If you want to believe, open your eyes of faith so you can see Jesus.
Faith is the sight of the inward eye.
Alexander MacLaren
Monday, 20 September 2010
BE HUMBLE BEFORE THE LORD
BE HUMBLE BEFORE THE LORD Tuesday – September 21, 2010
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.” – Zephaniah 2:3
In 1903, 14-year-old Sadhu Sundar Singh became a Christian in his native India. He was from a Sikh family and they cast him out of the house for his new found faith. He felt the call by the Lord to be a missionary. "I am not worthy to follow in the steps of my Lord," Singh said, "but, like Him, I want no home, no possessions. Like Him I will belong to the road, sharing the suffering of my people, eating with those who will give me shelter, and telling all men of the love of God."
He was a tireless servant. After completing a tour in Europe, Singh was asked about the acclaim he was getting as a missionary. He was asked if he was tempted by pride.
He answered: "No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job."
Are you humble person, or do you wrestle with pride? Today in prayer, seek the Lord with all of your heart and seek to be humble in all that you do.
“He who knows himself best esteems himself least.” – H.G. Brown
God’s Word: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” – 1 Peter 5:5
“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.” – Zephaniah 2:3
In 1903, 14-year-old Sadhu Sundar Singh became a Christian in his native India. He was from a Sikh family and they cast him out of the house for his new found faith. He felt the call by the Lord to be a missionary. "I am not worthy to follow in the steps of my Lord," Singh said, "but, like Him, I want no home, no possessions. Like Him I will belong to the road, sharing the suffering of my people, eating with those who will give me shelter, and telling all men of the love of God."
He was a tireless servant. After completing a tour in Europe, Singh was asked about the acclaim he was getting as a missionary. He was asked if he was tempted by pride.
He answered: "No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job."
Are you humble person, or do you wrestle with pride? Today in prayer, seek the Lord with all of your heart and seek to be humble in all that you do.
“He who knows himself best esteems himself least.” – H.G. Brown
God’s Word: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” – 1 Peter 5:5
Marriage Rights (2)
| Marriage Rights (2) |
| Live joyfully with the wife whom you love... Ecclesiastes 9:9 |
| In discussing marriage on his TV sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld tells his friend why he's not married: 'No healthy person would want the neglect I have to offer.' Let's face it, even the best marriages are made up of two imperfect people who sometimes neglect each other. And when you've been hurt it's easy to react in the flesh instead of responding in the Spirit. Some hurts go deep. At this point we must remember that forgiveness is a decision, but trust is a process; when it's been torn down, it takes time to rebuild. Men and women often perceive trust differently. When a woman's been hurt, her husband may think an apology should immediately enable her to trust him again, move on, and not talk about it. That's not so; two things need to happen. First, the offending partner needs to acknowledge what they've done. Don't just tell your partner to 'get over it'. Validate their feelings, even though they act like they don't want you to. Acknowledge their pain. When others rationalise or trivialise what's hurting us, it only makes us angrier. Only when we feel validated do our wounds begin to heal. Second, the offended partner needs to make sure that bitterness doesn't creep in. 'How can I do that?' you ask. By refusing to stay hurt any longer than is absolutely necessary, and by allowing God to heal your heart and restore your love. The Bible says, '..."If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn!"' (Hebrews 4:7 CEV). When God gives you the grace to forgive and release the hurt, you need to seize it! |
Grace for All
Grace for All
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Recommended Reading
Acts 14:14-17
Christians are very familiar with the grace of God--it is a staple of the biblical diet upon which we are nourished. But non-Christians have received the grace of God as well. Why? Because God's gift (His grace) is extended to every person on earth in a general sense. There is general grace for temporal life and there is saving grace for eternal life.
What is general grace? It's what Paul and Barnabas described to the crowd at Lystra: "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17b). In other words, everything we take for granted in our world is a result of the grace of God: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17a). But there is also the specific grace--the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17). It is that grace-gift that awakens in man the need for salvation. General grace causes us to think of God (Romans 1:19-20), but specific grace causes us to call upon Him.
You have already received God's general grace. Be sure to receive His saving grace in Christ as well.
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul the Apostle
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Recommended Reading
Acts 14:14-17
Christians are very familiar with the grace of God--it is a staple of the biblical diet upon which we are nourished. But non-Christians have received the grace of God as well. Why? Because God's gift (His grace) is extended to every person on earth in a general sense. There is general grace for temporal life and there is saving grace for eternal life.
What is general grace? It's what Paul and Barnabas described to the crowd at Lystra: "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17b). In other words, everything we take for granted in our world is a result of the grace of God: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17a). But there is also the specific grace--the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17). It is that grace-gift that awakens in man the need for salvation. General grace causes us to think of God (Romans 1:19-20), but specific grace causes us to call upon Him.
You have already received God's general grace. Be sure to receive His saving grace in Christ as well.
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul the Apostle
It's No Surprise to God
It's No Surprise to God
"But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph…"
(2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP)
(2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP)
In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. Just because we're believers, just because we're good people or doing the right thing doesn't make us exempt from trouble. The scripture says, "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." In times when something unexpected happens, or you find yourself facing a crisis, you don't have to go into "panic mode" or fall apart emotionally. Remember, that crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has solutions to problems that you haven't even had. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you making your crooked places straight.
Today, focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good! He always leads us in victory, so keep moving forward trusting in the good plan He has for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I come to You with an open and humble heart. I thank You for the victory that You have in store for me even when I can't see it. I choose to trust You and Your goodness knowing that You are faithful. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Marriage Rights (1)
| Marriage Rights (1) |
| Live joyfully with the wife whom you love... Ecclesiastes 9:9 |
| Sonja Ely writes, 'I was watching my five-year-old granddaughter play with her toys. At one point she staged a wedding, first playing the role of the mother who assigned specific duties, then suddenly becoming the bride with her "teddy bear" groom. She picked him up and said to the "minister" presiding, "Now you can read us our rights." Without missing a beat, she became the minister who said, "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be held against you, you have the right to have an attorney present, you may kiss the bride."' To know what your marriage rights are, you must understand that, first, marriage is God's idea. In Eden He said, '..."It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him"' (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). The word 'comparable' means 'compatible with his (or her) needs'. When you marry someone, you marry everything they've been through. Each of you brings your own baggage. Unless you sort out what to keep and what to discard, things can quickly erode. You must also understand that when you leave God out, you have problems. Satan has made marriage one of his prime targets. He loves to promote strife. When it comes to marriage we must learn to forgive, 'Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices' (2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV). God's plan for your relationship is strength and harmony, not strife and confusion. He wants to help you build a strong, loving union that glorifies Him. To do that, you must show grace, and resolve to make Jesus Lord of your relationship. |
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH Monday – September 20, 2010
“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” – Habakkuk 3:19
In 1899, the Boxer Rebellion erupted in northern China. The rebellion was primarily against Westerners and missionary evangelism. One of the rebellion’s leaders was YU Hsien who was the Governor of Shansi. He was especially cruel and beheaded Christians as a warning to others.
Writing at the time was missionary J. Hudson Taylor, who commended the Christians in Shansi for their faith. He said:
“In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.”
We cannot rely on our own strength; it will fail us. Today in prayer, pray that the Lord will be your strength in all that you do.
“We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need. If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall; but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey.” – Warren Wiersbe
God’s Word: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” – Habakkuk 3:19
In 1899, the Boxer Rebellion erupted in northern China. The rebellion was primarily against Westerners and missionary evangelism. One of the rebellion’s leaders was YU Hsien who was the Governor of Shansi. He was especially cruel and beheaded Christians as a warning to others.
Writing at the time was missionary J. Hudson Taylor, who commended the Christians in Shansi for their faith. He said:
“In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.”
We cannot rely on our own strength; it will fail us. Today in prayer, pray that the Lord will be your strength in all that you do.
“We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need. If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall; but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey.” – Warren Wiersbe
God’s Word: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
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