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The Three Assurances of Christ’s Sacrifice:
1. By His stripes (wounds), we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
2. By His precious spilt blood on calvary, we are redeemed, and have a right standing with God, the Father (Ephesians 1:7).
3. By His resurrecting power, we have life eternal in heaven (paradise) (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
If you have accepted Christ Jesus as the only way to healing, salvation, and eternal life, then your lifestyle will reflect that. Upon acceptance of the Lord Jesus, God – the Father will begin shaping (by the indwelling Holy Spirit) our thoughts, words, actions, and deeds into the image of Jesus Christ – the Son. As a believer, it is paramount that we read the Word (Bible – Old and New Testaments) and allow the Holy Spirit to instruct us in the path to follow. It doesn’t happen overnight – but, as we devote ourselves to learning more about the character of Christ Jesus, we will begin to more closely resemble Him – if indeed, we have been saved.
There is much deception in the world – just as the Scriptures said that there would be. You can’t walk, talk, and act like the world does (against biblical principles), and claim to be a Christian.
Closing thought: Life is like a vapor, and eternity is forever.
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Equipping by Example
~ If you want to lead well, follow Jesus.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:21-24
There’s an adage about parenting that says more things are caught than taught. In other words, our children will pick up more from what we do than what we say. To lead those in our care well, two things are required: right teaching and a right attitude. While the principles we work to instill in our children are vital, the attitude with which we approach those lessons (and all of life, in fact) is key. For the best example of the right attitude to have, we need look no further than Jesus.
Parents are called to lead those in their home, modeling Jesus’ love and sacrifice for the people entrusted to their care. Our kids need to see us spending time with God, turning to Scripture when making decisions, being generous with our resources, and showing love to the people around us. Children learn to walk with God as they watch us apply His principles in daily life. Our right example will build their confidence and trust in His ways.
Even if you aren’t a parent, it’s likely you’re leading others in your circle of influence. Remember that Jesus is the perfect model for us to emulate as we share God’s truth with those around us (Mark 10:42-45). Lean into His example of servant leadership as you teach, train, and love others well. And ask Him to help you grow in godliness each and every day.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/equipping-by-example
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Amen to the Lord’s Prayer! Good to have you back around plugger!
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Little Becomes Big
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” ~ Matthew 10:42
We often think a successful life of faith requires credentials or an extensive skill set. We compare ourselves with the accomplishments of others and feel inadequate.
But Brother Lawrence became famous for discovering the depths of faith while performing ordinary tasks in the kitchen. His life of devotion was focused on the “little” things. The everyday, mundane tasks we so often take for granted or approach with annoyance.
God provides all we need to live a life of meaning, joy, service, and fulfillment even in the routines of life. Success does not come through comparison, but through faithfulness in small things. When viewed over a span of time, the accumulation of small tasks performed faithfully loom large.
Every day we face the decision to perceive God in our lives and in the world. Each sweep of the broom. Each line at the coffee shop or morning walk to the mailbox. Each step and each breath. They are all ripe with opportunity.
The key is not the perceived importance of the task, but our motive. Even a tiny thing like providing a cup of water for a “little one” is huge in God’s eyes when it is done in the service of discipleship.
The plains are an arena, a terrain of life, in which this perspective can display who we are and who God is. We do not need a massive event or season. Daily activities performed in faithful service are great events in God’s Kingdom.
______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Persecuted
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:12
One of the marks of a faithful disciple is perseverance. We may try to shortcut the process of success and side step troubles. But difficulties arising from living faithfully are not reasons to step away from a godly life; they are the very evidence of a life of faithfulness.
Cinderella found herself in the most troubling of circumstances. She was taken advantage of, discarded, ignored, and devalued. She was pushed aside. Yet she remained kind and compassionate, caring and humble. She refused to become what she despised. She behaved in a royal manner while living among the cinders.
It turns out Cinderella was made for royalty. And, amazingly, so are we. But we currently sit among the cinders of the world. And the world does not recognize our calling. The world will abuse us. It will attempt to beat us down, silence us, and strangle our potential into its own mold. It will not stop unless we join it, and become fellow abusers.
Like Cinderella, we were made for more. And, like Cinderella, we can refuse to succumb. We can choose a “godly life,” a life fit for family members of the King of all creation. Persecution is an expected part of living in a Christ-like manner. The world will not understand the faith of the disciple. But this world is not the disciple’s fate. Our true citizenship is in heaven.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Prayer
~ May God do a mighty work in us today as we discover the power of prayer.
God makes an amazing promise to us in Philippians 4:6-7. Scripture says:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
How incredible! If we will make our requests known to God in prayer, giving our burdens and anxieties over to Him, then He will swap those burdens for a guarding peace that surpasses all understanding.
• How much do you need His peace today?
• What areas of your life feel burdened?
• What do you feel anxious about?
God has an endless reservoir of peace that’s available to you when you place your trust in Him through prayer. As we open our hearts to God in prayer, the Spirit produces the fruit of peace. When you lay your burdens at God’s feet, trusting that He will take care of you as He promised, peace overflows as a fruit of the Spirit’s work in your life. That’s the assurance of your Father and the power of prayer.
For most of us, something like trusting God and handing over all our burdens is much easier said than done.
• How can you pray effectively?
• How can you have communication with God?
E.M. Bounds said, “The goal of prayer is the ear of God, a goal that can only be reached by patient and continued and continuous waiting upon Him, pouring out our heart to Him and permitting Him to speak to us. Only by so doing can we expect to know Him, and as we come to know Him better, we shall spend more time in His presence and find that presence a constant and ever-increasing delight.”
Effective prayer is a process, but it is a process completely worthy of your efforts. Corrie ten Boom said, “Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Make a daily time to set aside for prayer. Fight to keep it at all costs. Connecting to God through prayer, hearing His voice, and experiencing His presence will lead you to a satisfied life. The Christian life without prayer is no different than a relationship with a person without communication. While your God will never fail you as people do, abundant relationship with Him requires constant communication.
Prayer is more about making time and space to commune with God than it is about what you do or say. God can guide, speak, and give you His presence if you simply make space for Him to do so. Don’t let a feeling of insecurity, doubt, or lack of knowledge keep you from talking with God. He delights in the simplicity, vulnerability, and honesty of you just wanting to talk with Him.
Open your heart to God as you enter into a time of prayer. Make space to listen to the voice of your Helper, the Holy Spirit. And receive the wonder and peace that comes from casting your burdens on a loving Father who is waiting right now to spend time with you.
The Bible tells us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
The more you practice prayer and see it work in your life to bring peace and change to your circumstances, the more prayer will become a natural overflow for you. A simple thought to God at a tough or important time or even a quick act of giving God thanks for the good things around you are all powerful prayers. Have a continual conversation with God and allow Him to transform lonely times into continuous communion with Him.
________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
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Accountable to the Father
~ Because God is perfect in love and wisdom, we can fully trust that His boundaries are for our good.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:1-3
Those of us who are parents have a great responsibility to teach and train our children in the way they should go. We have been given authority over them for their protection and benefit. We make sure they brush their teeth, eat their vegetables, do their homework, and say their prayers. We teach them to be respectful, patient, and kind. We train them to know and do the right thing in difficult situations (Proverbs 22:6). While all of this is important, there’s one principle we must teach that surpasses all the rest: They are ultimately accountable not to us but to the living God — His authority in their life is higher than ours will ever be.
One day, our children won’t have to answer to us anymore. So it’s essential that they learn God loves them more than we ever could — and that they’re accountable to Him for everything they do (including behavior, words, and choice of friends). Then our kids will be more likely to continue following Him and His ways even when no longer under our watchful eyes. Their obedience to the Lord will be borne out of their relationship with Him, not based on our expectations. And they’ll recognize He’s always with them, wherever they go (Matthew 28:20).
A true understanding of God’s deep love and their accountability to Him will shape our children’s relationship with Him and the ultimate direction of their life.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/accountable-to-the-father
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Amen brother - good word!
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He’s Always There
"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6
Toddlers love to launch out on walks by themselves. They walk ahead of their parent without looking back — except when they do look back. Without fail a toddler will glance backward or even stop and turn around as if to say, “Are you still with me?” Once assured of the parent’s presence, they forge ahead.
We are like toddlers in that we need to be assured of God’s presence, especially during difficult times. We can’t turn around and see Him, but we can read the promises of His presence in Scripture. When the Israelites were about to invade the Promised Land, Moses assured them that God would be with them (Deuteronomy 31:6).
The psalmist David wrote that God was with him even in “the valley of the shadow of death” where “goodness and mercy” were always following him (Psalm 23:4, 6). And Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
You are never alone if you belong to Christ. He is there to share your burdens and guide your steps.
"I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.” ~ Mary G. Brainard
_________________
~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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My Most Precious Possession
Scripture Reading: Psalm 19:7-11
In a devotional in the Mississippi Baptist Record many years ago, Bill Rittenhouse wrote that while on a vacation trip, he found a suitcase on the side of the road. Trying to determine who owned it, he opened the suitcase, only to find the usual items you would expect to find in a man’s luggage. There was only one clue as to who the owner was: a white box with a rubber band around it had a $20 gold piece between two layers of cotton inside. Around the gold piece was a band with the words, “Twenty years loyal and faithful service” on one side. On the other was printed “Presented to Otis Sampson by Northwestern States Portland Cement Company.”
Bro. Rittenhouse mailed seventy-five letters before he received a reply from a Portland Cement Company, saying that several years before there had been a Mr. Otis Sampson in their employment, but that he had retired. They sent his address. Rittenhouse wrote Mr. Sampson to tell him that he had his suitcase. Mr. Sampson replied immediately, identifying the contents. He asked that Rittenhouse dispose of the suitcase and all contents, except the gold piece. Several times in the letter, Mr. Sampson referred to the gold piece as his “most precious possession.”
Bro. Rittenhouse returned the gold piece, and used the opportunity to tell Mr. Sampson of his most precious possession - his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t hear from Mr. Sampson until a year later, when he sent a Christmas box to the Rittenhouse family. Inside the box was a smaller white box with a rubber band around it and the $20 gold piece inside. A note was enclosed, which read: “Last Sunday my wife and I were baptized in a little church here in Colorado. We want you to have the gold piece to carry with you at all times. We are two old people; I’m 84 years old, my wife is 82. You are the first one who told us of Jesus Christ. Now, He is our most precious possession.”
"They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold;” ~ Psalm 19:10
________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Three Stages of Faith
~ Are you ready to grow in faith? All you have to do is ask.
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:18-21
We know we should trust the Lord, but it can seem overwhelming at times, can’t it? God doesn’t expect us to instantly have great faith. In fact, throughout the Gospels, Jesus met people where they were — from Thomas, for whom faith depended on seeing nail marks in the Savior’s hands, to the centurion, who believed his servant could be healed by a word from Christ (John 20:24-27; Matthew 8:5-13). And then there’s Peter, who trusted Jesus enough to get out of the boat but found the wind and waves too mind-boggling to continue (Matthew 14:28-31). Each time, Jesus displayed only grace and understanding.
Though it’s not a linear progression, there are three basic stages of faith. First, there’s little faith, which says, “I know He can but I’m not sure He will.” Next, as God proves Himself trustworthy, our faith grows and we begin to focus more on Him than on our circumstances. Finally, we should graduate to perfect faith, which says, “I believe what God says, so I’m going to act!”
Do you want to grow your faith?
Spend time with God. Ask Him to help you trust more. When Peter became afraid of the waves, Jesus immediately reached out and caught him — and He’ll be there for you as well.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/
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Discovering God’s Path
~ The Lord wants to show you His will — do you want to know what it is?
Scripture Reading:
"Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.” ~ Psalm 25:4-5
• Perhaps you have wondered, Does God have a specific plan for my life?
• And if He does, is it possible to know what the plan is?
These are questions many Christians have grappled with at some point. And there’s good news — the answer to both is a resounding yes! God has a plan for each believer’s life. Moreover, He wants us to know and walk the path He has for us.
Sometimes we make the idea of finding the Lord’s will more complicated than it needs to be. He’s not playing hide and seek with His will.
There are three simple things we can do to discover His best path for our life:
1. We must have a sincere desire for God’s guidance, trusting that He will direct us in His perfect timing.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears [from God, the Father]. He will also declare to you what is to come.” ~ John 16:13
2. We should seek the Lord through His Word. After all, the Bible is one of the primary tools He uses to make His will and His ways apparent to us.
“All Scripture is inspired by God [breathed out] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man and woman of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. We are to pray continually, fully expecting that our Father has something to say to us, His beloved children.
“Pray constantly.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17
As we seek the Lord in these ways, we’ll be able to perceive His direction for our life. Then, we can live with the confident hope that we are walking in His will.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/discovering-god-s-path
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Beyond Our Grasp
~ Love motivates us to move toward others — even when there are obstacles.
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus was the perfect model of servanthood. He “emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant ... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:7-8). In other words, Jesus laid aside His divine nature to redeem us and save us from our sins.
In verse 5, Paul tells us that we, too, should have this attitude. But we aren’t called to sacrifice ourselves for mankind’s salvation, so is this same kind of humility even possible for us? Yes, by refusing to let our need for certainty and security keep us from approaching and, more importantly, loving and accepting those around us.
As Christians, we know that others have not yet embraced the reality and promise of the gospel. Ask yourself, How would Jesus approach them?
Today’s passage tells us: He was God, but He emptied Himself. He humbly reached out in love and humility to meet others exactly where they were.
Like Jesus, we can move toward others in love and mercy. It’s a self-sacrificial way of being. Though our obedience won’t lead to physical death, we must die to old ways of living so others can know Christ and experience the abundant life He offers.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/beyond-our-grasp
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A Prayer For the Enemy
The first statement Jesus made from the cross was, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). Maybe we would have understood it more if He had said, "Father, condemn them," or "Father, judge them." But the first thing Jesus said from the cross was a prayer for His enemies: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Jesus was practicing what He preached. Remember, in the Sermon on the Mount He said, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).
And Jesus also was fulfilling a Messianic prophesy. Isaiah 53, written hundreds of years before Christ died, said that the Messiah would make intercession for the transgressors. And that is exactly what Jesus was doing. He was interceding for all the people who played a role in His death.
Pilate himself knew Jesus was innocent. He said, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:4). But because he was so concerned about his career and position, he would not pardon Jesus and let Him go. The religious rulers knew that no legitimate charge could be brought against Christ. Even the Roman centurion at the cross said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39). Judas Iscariot knew he had done wrong, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4).
So Jesus was essentially saying, "Father, forgive them. They don't realize how bad this is. Forgive them, because they need forgiveness so desperately. Forgive them, for they have committed a sin that is beyond all comprehension. Forgive them, for they have done something that is beyond bad. Father, forgive them."
When was the last time you prayed for your enemies?
_________________
~ by Greg Laurie
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Verse of the Day
"Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is Yahweh — and rejoice before Him. God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows.” ~ Psalm 68:4-5
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Tilling the Soil of the Heart
~ May your heart become more responsive to the presence, will, and love of God this week as you cultivate good soil with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 13:22-23 says:
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s Word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s Word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
The concept of good and bad soil is something Jesus’s listeners would have understood well. Planting in good or bad soil meant having food or going hungry. It meant having money or not. For their agrarian culture it was a matter of survival.
While Jesus’s parable might not have as direct a correlation to us, its principle remains just as relevant. We all have spiritual soil. Through our mindsets and postures of the heart we can receive the seed of God’s Word which will in turn yield life-giving fruit. Or, we can allow the soil of our hearts to make us unreceptive to the powerful work God in our lives.
It’s incredibly important for us to understand that God never forces His desires on us. He waits patiently — beckoning us to open our hearts fully to Him. He gently shows us His love, whispers His perfect plans to us, and waits for us to trust and surrender. With the grace of God, we can till the soil of our hearts, living receptively and surrendered to His loving kindness and perfect will. If we will cultivate a willing heart, God will mold and shape us into children free from the cares of the world and empowered to live Christ-like, fruitful lives.
Take time today to assess your own life:
• What parts of your heart are hard to God?
• Where do you feel unreceptive to His goodness?
• Where do you need to say yes to God today in a fresh, transformative way?
God is calling you to a lifestyle of trust and surrender that He might lead you to green pastures and still waters. There is abundant life for you in store this week as you cultivate good soil. May the Holy Spirit help you look honestly at the posture of your heart today as you enter into a time of prayer.
Tilling our hearts into good soil is an important daily exercise. The more often you do it, the more you’ll realize the need to have good soil. Having our hearts fully open to God takes the mundane and makes it wonderful. It takes sunsets, conversations, prayers, work, and church and fills them with life, value, beauty, and joy. Take what you’ve learned today and continue to put it into practice. Choose to live a life positioned to receive all that God has in store for you. May your day be marked by the fruit of the Spirit.
________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
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In the Interest of Others
~ When we put the welfare of others before our own, we are loving like Jesus.
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:3-4
We live in a world where taking care of yourself first is often top priority. But in his letter to the Philippians, Paul suggested that Christians are to operate differently. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,” he wrote, “but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves” (2:3).
Today, it might be easy to miss how radical this statement was in the first century. Let’s look at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount for a moment (Matthew 5:1-48). In order to get to the gospel’s higher standard for humility, the Lord pushed beyond what His followers might have expected. Treating others as well as you treat yourself is a start, but go further and you will see how radical Jesus’ humility was (Philippians 2:5-8).
Cultivating this kind of humility requires more than simply acting humble. That’s what Paul means when he says we should “do nothing from … empty conceit” (Philippians 2:3). Anyone can feign humility if it suits or benefits them. As believers, our call is to truly consider others first and to look out for their interests before our own.
Imagine how our communities would be transformed if everyone put others before themselves.
What’s one step you can take to make that happen?
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/in-the-interest-of-others
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Hallelujah! The Lord is my Shepherd
The Trinity
~ God is beyond our comprehension — and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:13-17
While the term trinity doesn’t appear in Scripture, it’s how we describe God, who consists of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They’re all eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and immutable — but each one has a unique role.
The Father is our Creator, who called creation good. In His hands rests control of the universe and every aspect of our life. The Father oversees all circumstances so that everything can be used for our good.
The Son is our Savior. Jesus Christ became fully man while remaining fully God. He came to earth specifically to die on the cross and thereby rescue us from the consequences of our sin. Today, Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand and intercedes for us.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper, who resides within every believer, starting at the moment of salvation. From the Spirit, we receive divine wisdom, spiritual gifts, and the power to carry out the work the Father calls us to do.
Together, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love you perfectly and meet all of your needs. No matter where you’re at in your spiritual journey today, you can turn to our triune God for love, protection, salvation, and guidance.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/
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Issues Of Trust
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Choice is the great power and the great responsibility of each person. The most vital choice we make is about where we place our faith: the landing pad for our trust. There are a thousand choices we make every day that inform and reflect that vital decision.
When we choose to trust God, it is like knocking over the first domino. We can then move through the world, one foot in front of the other, one decision at a time, with effective purpose.
When, instead, we choose to trust our circumstances, it is like wrapping ourselves in a straitjacket. We are forfeiting our ability to choose. The circumstances choose for us. We cast ourselves as the victim and can’t seem to get the dominoes to line up right.
God is trustworthy. He remains faithful. He invented faithfulness. His patience guides and directs us, catching us when we fall. He protects us from being tempted beyond our ability.
Trusting in God prevents our hearts from drifting into oblivion. It frees us from the shackles of bondage, most often self-imposed. It gives us confidence to face whatever lies ahead.
Trust is a decision. And it allows us to decide.
The only way to break free of the straitjacket of trusting circumstances is to perceive God for who He is, put our trust in Him, and perceive our circumstances for what they are worth – the arena for continued choices.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Daily Article — June 13, 2024
~ Yahya Sinwar’s “brutal calculation”: Civilian bloodshed in Gaza helps Hamas.
When a group gathered in New York City this week to honor those slain by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, anti-Israel protesters descended on the event. One of them shouted, “I wish Hitler was still here, he would’ve wiped all you out.”
Imagine a scenario where terrorists massacre any other group in the world and the world sides with the terrorists. But that is what is happening to the Jews:
• There has been a “steep” jump in antisemitic attacks following October 7.
• Online antisemitism has increased five-fold since the invasion.
• Antisemitism has “skyrocketed” in the US.
• Antisemitic incidents on college campuses have increased 700 percent.
• Antisemitic attacks in the UK are at an all-time high.
Much of this is fueled by outrage over Palestinian casualties resulting from the IDF’s attempts to eradicate Hamas in Gaza to keep the terrorists from staging another attack on Israeli civilians, something the group promises to do if it can.
• But here’s what those who hate Israel don’t understand: Hamas’s leader wants Palestinians to die.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s military leader in Gaza, told Hamas officials recently, “We have the Israelis right where we want them.” He calls civilian deaths “necessary sacrifices.” He has said of such deaths, “We make the headlines only with blood,” adding, “No blood, no news.”
Intelligence analysts believe Sinwar is primarily motivated by a desire to take revenge on Israel and to weaken it. The well-being of the Palestinian people or the establishment of a Palestinian state is secondary.
In his strategy, Palestinian casualties will mobilize the global community against Israel, pressuring them to stop the war without eradicating Hamas. According to the Wall Street Journal, “his ultimate goal appears to be to win a permanent cease-fire that allows Hamas to declare a historic victory by outlasting Israel and claim leadership of the Palestinian national cause.” The article calls this strategy Sinwar’s “brutal calculation.”
I would never suggest that Israel, a nation and army comprised of fallible humans, has made no mistakes in this war. And I would hasten to add that every Palestinian casualty resulting from this conflict is a tragedy to God and should be to us.
Nonetheless, Jewish people the world over are facing this tragic and contradictory scenario:
• Israel is doing all it can to minimize Palestinian casualties, both because it recognizes the calculus we’re discussing today and because its worldview emphasizes the sanctity of every life.
• Yahya Sinwar is doing all he can to maximize such casualties for his personal advancement and that of Hamas.
The world blames the former for the sins of the latter.
_______________
Now let’s take this discussion up a spiritual level.
According to Jesus, Satan “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Consequently, when we see stealing and killing and destroying, we know that our spiritual enemy is at work.
Here’s a subtle and often-overlooked part of his nefarious strategy: leading us to blame ourselves for his work in our lives and world.
In this sense, Yahya Sinwar is doing what those who serve Satan’s purposes have done for millennia. Just as Satan has convinced Sinwar that the deaths of innocent Palestinians serve the cause of Palestine, so he convinced the religious authorities of Jesus’ day that executing Him was in the best interest of the Jewish nation they purportedly served (John 11:50–52). He likewise convinced the Judaizers who opposed the conversion of Gentiles that they were protecting the purity of God’s people (Acts 15:1–5).
How is Satan similarly seeking to deceive Christians today?
He tempts us to sin and then wants us to blame ourselves for being tempted. He temps us to pride so that if we resist him, we’ll be proud of our humility. He brings persecution against us, hoping that we will then consider ourselves morally superior to those who persecute us rather than loving and praying for them as Jesus taught us (Matthew 5:44–47).
I have found this strategy to be especially problematic: Satan seeks to convince Christians living in our transactional, materialistic culture that our worth to God is based on our works for Him. In this way, we focus not on the Source of our worth and works but on the works themselves. Then, when we inevitably fail, we focus on our failures rather than our Lord and distance ourselves even further from His empowering love and transforming grace.
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Today would have been my father’s one-hundredth birthday. He died at the age of fifty-five when I was a senior in college. Like most sons, I wanted most to please him. His opinion of me mattered on a more powerful and visceral level than that of any other.
Over the years, however, I have begun to learn that I already have the blessing that matters even more — that of my [heavenly] Father. Henri Nouwen wrote in “Adam: God’s Beloved”:
“Each one of us is unique, known by name, and loved by the One who fashioned us.”
He added:
“Unfortunately, there is a very loud, consistent, and powerful message coming to us from our world that leads us to believe that we must prove our belovedness by how we look, what we have, and what we can accomplish. We become preoccupied with “making it” in this life, and we are very slow to grasp the liberating truth of our origins and our finality. We need to hear the message announced and see the message embodied, over and over again. Only then do we find the courage to claim it and live from it.”
Will you find such “courage” today?
_______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/yahya-sinwars-brutal-calculation/
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For God So Loved the World
“For God loved the world in this way [so much]: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because they have not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God."
“This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the Truth comes to the light, so that their works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
~ John 3:16-21
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Comfort And Control
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
Choosing a true perspective is not the same as the cultural fad of "positive thinking".
Positive thinking is just another way we try to control our circumstances, believing we can manifest the good and expel the negative by focusing on one and ignoring the other.
This is not pursuing truth. Some circumstances are hard and some are easy. Some we label good and some bad. Some we want to hold on to and some we long to cast aside. Adopting a true perspective is about acknowledging all circumstances as terrain for the journey.
The aim is that we might see above the circumstances into what God is doing. His comfort is not in eliminating negative circumstances but in His persistent presence. Comfort comes by adjusting our proximity to Him, not by controlling our proximity to specific circumstances.
In order to discover truth, we need to face the very real and very challenging fact of negative circumstances. Just like we need to evaluate positive ones. We cannot control life by obsessing over one kind of circumstance or another.
Our only hope is to find rest in Him. In the presence of Jesus, our comfort abounds. No matter what is happening around us.
__________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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A Godly Example for Father's Day
Summer was here. For Craig, that meant he'd be going on an annual camping trip with his Grandpa and his cousin Scottie. Craig loved spending the summers at his grandparents' farm. But the annual campout was the highlight of his year. He was all packed - couldn't wait to go.
Craig sat anxiously on the porch swing, waiting for Grandpa to pull up in his beat-up jeep. He noticed a few clouds in the darkening sky. "Looks like rain," he muttered, hoping the clouds would blow over. Then, just as Grandpa pulled into the driveway, it began to pour.
"Looks like this trip is going to be ruined." Craig whined, as he threw his gear into the back of the jeep.
"Well, I don't know about that." replied Grandpa with a wink. "By the time we get to the lake, it's likely this rain will have cleared up. Besides, the best fishin' comes right after a change in the weather."
Craig hopped into the jeep and after a quick stop to pick up Scottie, they were on their way.
As they arrived at the lake, the rain had slowed to a slight drizzle. Setting up the tent was a messy job. Though he had mud splattered everywhere, Grandpa never complained. He was grateful that God had sent a little water to make driving the stakes into the ground a little easier.
Once the tent was set up, it was the boys' job to gather firewood. "This wood's all wet, Grandpa." yelled Craig. But wet wood wasn't enough to discourage Grandpa, either. As Grandpa carefully arranged the wood for a campfire, he told the boys a story from the Bible about Elijah calling down fire from heaven to consume not only wet wood, but an altar also.
After Grandpa got the fire going, the boys had a wiener roast. The mixed smells of the wood burning and the hot dogs roasting just above the flickering flame had the boys mouths watering with hunger. The hot dogs were delicious. Both boys ate heartily. Then Grandpa pulled out a big bag of marshmallows and they roasted them, too.
Scottie's first marshmallow burst into flames so Grandpa showed the boys how to slowly and steadily toast them just above the fire. By this time, it was getting rather late. The boys sat close to Grandpa and watched the stars come out after the clouds had blown away. After a brief lesson in astronomy, the boys gazed into the heavens while listening to the sounds of nature.
"What was that?" asked Craig, hearing an old owl hooting in the nearby woods. "It's just an owl." replied Grandpa, who found himself identifying a number of other sounds to the boys. Together they learned to recognize the sounds of frogs croaking, crickets chirping and even a cougar's scream.
"Grandpa, how'd you get so smart?" Scottie questioned.
"Oh, Scottie, I'm not all that smart." Grandpa replied. "I just happen to know the One who has all the answers."
"Me too, Grandpa." Craig shot back. "And do you know why we say our prayers every night before we go to bed?"
"Why's that, Craig?"
"Because we know God's home when we see His lights come on." came Craig's reply.
And then with a chuckle, Grandpa explained to the boys that God is omniscient. "Now I know that's a mighty big word for you boys to understand, but let me put it this way. God is all knowing. He knows your thoughts before you ever put your prayers into words."
"Wow!" came Scottie's reply. "That's awesome." said Craig.
"Awesome," replied Grandpa. "I can't think of a better word to describe Him."
"And Grandpa," Scottie piped up. "We wouldn't know much about Him, if it hadn't been for you."
The Bible says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children..." (Proverbs 13:22).
The most important thing you can give your children or grandchildren is a godly example of a life well-lived for Jesus!
_______________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Heaven on Earth
~ Open your heart and mind to God’s will for your life, and allow Him to fill you with excitement and joy today.
In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus taught us to pray:
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
To seek God’s kingdom coming to earth is to declare our great need for God’s presence, provision, love, and redemption. We have been given a mandate of the highest importance from our King of kings. We are to carry the kingdom of God with us everywhere we go and release this kingdom through everything we do. We are called by Jesus to bring heaven to earth.
In Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells his disciples:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
• What would it look like for the people of God to release the kingdom of heaven everywhere they go?
• What would it look like for even just a few of us to truly say yes to the calling of God on our lives to live for more than just worldly pleasure and comfort, to step outside of ourselves and live with an eternal perspective?
You are made to make an eternal impact far greater than you can imagine. God has placed within you keys to the doors of heaven, and He longs to use you to release His love, grace, peace, mercy, and redemption to others in desperate need of Him. He longs to call you out from the daily grind of life into a higher pursuit of seeing the earth transformed by His goodness.
Seeing heaven come to earth all starts with declaring your need of God. It all starts with drawing a circle around yourself and allowing God to transform you from the inside out. You are not called to minister to others in your own strength. You are not called to figure out how to best love people. You aren’t even called to muster up a desire to bring God’s kingdom to earth. All the weight of eternal impact rests on the shoulders of your heavenly Father. All that is required of you is to take time to let God love you, fill you with the desires of His heart, and follow His leadership into the fulfillment of those desires.
God wants to take your five loaves of bread and two fish and multiply it to feed the souls of thousands. Say "yes" to partnering with the Holy Spirit, and allow God to use you to change the world by bringing His kingdom to earth through simple acts of love and obedience. Take time in prayer to allow God’s Word and His Spirit to teach you, empower you, and release you into the calling of bringing heaven to earth today.
Being used by God to bring heaven to earth is meant to be a part of the normal, daily Christian life. We are called to more than simply working a job, going to school, hanging out with friends, and trying to enjoy life. No matter what job you work, God wants to bring the kingdom to earth through you. No matter who your friends are or where you find yourself, God wants to bring the kingdom to earth everywhere around you. If you will say “yes” every day to the adventure of being used by God, your life will begin to take on a whole new purpose, so much more fulfilling than anything you’ve previously experienced.
May you live to see God’s kingdom come to earth through your life today.
_______________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
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Fellowship in the Spirit
~ Are you experiencing deep connection with other believers and participating in God's work on earth?
Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:1-4
Most churches have a fellowship hall — a space where members gather for all kinds of events other than worship services. Getting out of the pew and interacting with our brothers and sisters in Christ fosters a deep sense of community.
Paul describes this kind of togetherness as “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). Our Bibles usually translate it as “fellowship of the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1).
But today, the word fellowship has lost some of its original impact. To recapture what it was meant to convey, let’s examine the word Paul uses in that verse. The Greek term “koinonia" means what we use the English word fellowship to express — that is, connection and camaraderie with others.
What’s more, koinonia carries a sense of participation in what God is doing. This seems reasonable, given that the church and its members are Christ’s body (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27). Together, we enjoy His life and love in certain ways that we understand — and in others we don’t fully grasp yet.
Remembering our fellowship in the Spirit can help bring about unity in the family of faith. How can you foster this kind of fellowship in your own church and friendships?
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/fellowship-in-the-spirit
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Morphing Troubles
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
There are unavoidable pains and avoidable ones. Too often we allow the latter to follow the former. We act out, blame, and reciprocate in order to either rationalize, punish or pacify the hurt.
Sometimes difficulty is unavoidable. Circumstances are tough or confusing due to no fault of our own. Our fallibility struggles to make sense of things. Certain aspects of life we cannot control.
We can also have avoidable pain. Ironically, avoidable pain often stems from attempts to circumvent unavoidable suffering. The paradoxical solution is to feel our pain honestly, for all it is worth. That can be a positive step toward discovering what is real and true.
In either case, avoidable or unavoidable, our pain is an opportunity. To learn. To grow. To see in new ways. To develop character and intimacy with God and others. When pain finds its way into our lives, we can make the choice to acknowledge it truthfully.
The pains of life can be pathways to blessing, if we have eyes to see. The momentary afflictions of this life can achieve an eternal benefit for us when we embrace the daily renewal offered by the resurrection power of Jesus residing within us.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Glory To Glory
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” ~ John 15:7-8
God’s glory is the visible reality of who He is. All around us, this truth is being proclaimed. In nature. Through lives. And through the Spirit within our hearts. Glory is simply the essence of something being observed. God’s glory is something in which we participate.
We participate when we observe and see God. And we participate when we abide in the vine that is Jesus, and thereby show God to others by living in obedience. Abiding is the fruit of our choices, an action verb of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Body of Christ.
When we adopt a true perspective, we experience glory. It surrounds us like a swimmer diving in the ocean and runs through us like the marathoner chugging a drink. He is the living water. The well that never runs dry.
We show others the glory of God as we make decisions that honor the truth of who He is. That in turn shapes who we are. No circumstance can disqualify us from this opportunity. God’s promise shines through every opportunity. Sometimes it is mundane. Sometimes it is just a glimmer. Sometimes it is so brilliant we cannot look directly at it.
God is offering us the glory of His perspective. The refreshing abundance of truth. There is nothing greater in all of creation than the Presence of God. And He has decided to share it with and through us.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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To Wait Is to Wait
~ God is always working for our good — even when the answers we want are delayed.
Scripture Reading:
"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Amen.” ~ Psalm 40:1-3
It’s likely we’ve all had the difficult experience of praying for something and wondering how long God would take to respond. We express our desire, pray sincerely, and sometimes get impatient when we don’t get our answer. We might even begin to create a backup plan if it seems He’s taking too long to come through.
Learning how to wait patiently on the Lord is an acquired skill — and an essential one. David, who learned to do so in times of joy, exile, and conflict, wrote in Psalm 40:1 that he “waited patiently” for God. In fact, the Hebrew word “qawa" is repeated, which gives the verse a literal sense of “to wait, I waited on the Lord.” That repetition also lets us know the writer is stating something important. David recognized that patient stillness helped his faith to grow — a truth he emphasized by writing it twice.
The psalmist was saying that he persevered in prayer and anticipated God’s answer. For us as well, waiting develops perseverance. Then, as Romans 5:3-5 teaches, perseverance will lead to character, and character will bring about hope. If, while waiting, we look to God for wisdom and direction, we will begin to see His work in our life and recognize His goodness. Not only does waiting patiently express our trust in and reliance on God; it also helps us develop greater faith.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/to-wait-is-to-wait
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Buckets
“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” [which means “Yes”] ascends to God for His glory.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20
No circumstance disqualifies us from hearing (and saying) “Yes” to the kingdom of God.
Humans love to compartmentalize. We wade through our days and load up circumstances into the two buckets of what we call “good” and “bad”. We toil through life trying to control the flow of water into the good bucket. In our frazzled efforts, one thing we rarely do is stop to evaluate our perspective on the buckets – what we define as good and bad.
All circumstances are an opportunity. All of them. They are all valuable, all useful. At a minimum, every circumstance is an opportunity to exercise faith, an amazing activity we will only be able to do in this life. No event can be discarded as unimportant. From the mundane to the tragic, everything that happens to us opens an avenue of availability to exercise faith in relationship with God and one another.
God is transcendent over our compartmentalizing. He is there through it all. We might say “no” to God’s promises with our attempts to control or compartmentalize. But God’s promises are always “Yes” anyways. His invitation is there for us to say “Yes” as well. The choice to perceive His truth belong to us. The choice to participate in “Yes” is ours.
___________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Provider
“I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:12-13
The plains can seem boring. It is easy for us to compartmentalize the seasons of life. It makes it simpler to cipher what is fun and what is hard and what is in between. What is in between becomes a kind of apathy. A complacency that undermines the value of daily living.
God provides in mysterious ways. Within every moment, He provides all that we need for life and for righteousness. His goodness is in abundance. It is even in sorrow. As strange as it sounds, His provision can be found even among the most “boring” of circumstances.
After all, boredom is a matter of perspective. If we are bored, it is no one’s fault but our own. Boredom is an inability or unwillingness to see and celebrate God’s provision. The Israelites got bored in the desert. Bored with manna. Bored waiting on Moses to come down from the mountain. Because of this they missed God’s blessing and incurred God’s wrath.
In all that we are and all that we face, God has already provided. The question is whether we have eyes to see. The Apostle Paul learned to be content no matter the circumstance. That means he learned to adopt a perspective that he was being blessed no matter his surroundings. He didn’t learn this through radical independence, but radical dependence. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” applies to every situation, even the routines of daily life.
_________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
~ this is a 31-minute read – alternatively, read the article at the following website link: (https://www.denisonforum.org/resources/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality)
Homosexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, and same-sex marriages are divisive issues in today’s culture, especially within American Christianity. This leads many people to wonder, “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?”
Denison Forum has compiled the following resource to help you know more about God’s Word on this issue.
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Whether it’s the pejoratively named “Don’t Say Gay” bill from a few years ago in Florida or similar stories in the years since, it is difficult to discuss this issue rationally and in a way that leads to fruitful discussion. And the degree to which the conversation has shifted from adults to children is one of the main reasons why. It seems that the acceptance of homosexuality is so widespread that schools are teaching it in sex-ed at younger and younger ages. Some Americans are actively raising and guiding their children toward queer relationships as young as toddlers.
But that leaves the question, how should Christians respond to this issue?
• Although same-sex marriage has been legalized and accepted in American culture, should it stay legal?
• Should practicing homosexuals be ordained into Christian ministry?
• What does the Bible say on this controversial and emotional issue?
• Does the Bible allow for these relationships, and is it even a big deal to God?
On such a controversial and emotional issue, we need to know whose word we are going to trust. We can find scholars who support any of the variety of positions that are advocated on the subject.
It is not my intention to treat fully the multitude of interpretive comments that deal with the biblical texts on the subject. My goal is simply to review what the Bible says about homosexuality, as clearly, succinctly, and practically as possible. And, at the end of the day, champion love first and foremost.
Seek the intended meaning of the Bible:
And so, I must begin with an interpretive word.
When I taught principles of biblical interpretation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I often told my students, “The Bible can never mean what it never meant.” We must seek the intended meaning of the text as understood in its original context.
I also said often, “The only word God is obligated to bless is his word.” What matters to us today is not my opinions or yours, but God’s.
Such a position is not held universally on this subject:
For instance, Dr. Walter Wink states in his thoughtful booklet, Homosexuality and the Bible, “Where the Bible mentions homosexual behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct” (p. 12).
Dr. Wink then compares homosexuality to the issue of slavery: he argues that the Bible condones slavery, states that the Bible was wrong on that subject, and concludes that it is equally wrong on the issue before us (pp. 12-13).
I greatly respect Dr. Wink’s enormous contributions to New Testament studies, especially on the subjects of spiritual warfare and nonviolence. But I could not disagree more strongly with his assertion, “The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct.”
Without digressing into an extended defense of biblical authority, I wish to state clearly that I believe every word of the Bible to be the word of God. I believe the Scriptures to possess the same authority for our lives today as they possessed for their first hearers and readers.
For my purposes, the only question we’ll seek to answer is: What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
Does “the sin of Sodom” condemn homosexuality?
The Supreme Court made history on June 27, 2003, when it struck down the “sodomy laws” of the state of Texas. In a 6-3 decision, the justices reversed course from a ruling seventeen years ago that states could punish homosexuals for private consensual sex. Such activity is typically called “sodomy” because of the text we’ll study today.
In a survey of passages typically cited on the divisive issue of homosexuality, Genesis 19 and the sin of Sodom is usually listed first. Lot entertained two angels who came to the city to investigate its sins. These angels appeared as men. Before they went to bed, “all the men from every part of the city of Sodom — both young and old — surrounded the house. They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them’” (vv. 4-5 NIV). For such sin, “the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah” (v. 24), destroying them.
Is this text a condemnation of homosexuality?
Dr. Walter Wink believes not: “That was a case of ostensibly heterosexual males intent on humiliating strangers by treating them ‘like women,’ thus demasculinizing them” (p. 1). However, Dr. Wink offers no textual evidence that the men were “ostensibly heterosexual.” His view is only conjectural and stands against the vast majority of interpretation across the centuries.
Dr. Peter Gomes, the minister at Harvard’s Memorial Church and Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard College, offers a different approach. He has written an extremely erudite introduction to the Bible and its message, The Good Book. Dr. Gomes, himself a homosexual (p. 164), treats this passage as an attempted homosexual rape and argues that it does not condemn homosexuality per se (pp. 150-52).
A third approach is suggested by D. Sherwin Bailey in his influential book, Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition. Dr. Bailey argues that the Hebrew word for “know,” translated “have sex” by the New International Version, relates not to sexual activity but to hospitality. The word appears more than 943 times in the Old Testament and only twelve times in the context of sexual activity.
However, ten of these twelve times are in the book of Genesis, the context for our text. Lot’s response to the crowd, offering his daughters so they can “do what you like with them,” makes clear that he interpreted their desires as sexual (v. 8). Everett Fox’s excellent translation of Genesis includes the note, “the meaning is unmistakably sexual” (p. 80). And Jude 7 settles the question as to whether sexual activity is meant by our text: “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.”
It is also the case that Jewish and later Christian interpretation of the passage has historically and commonly seen the sin in Sodom as homosexuality itself, not just attempted rape. While this fact does not settle the interpretative question, it is worth noting as we proceed.
What about Leviticus 18:22?
The next text typically cited on our subject is Leviticus 18:22, and it is far less ambiguous: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” The Hebrew is as clear as the English translation.
The obvious sense of the command seems to be: homosexual sexual relations are forbidden by Scripture. This is the way the text has typically been understood by Jewish and Christian interpreters across the centuries. It is the way most read the text still today.
But those who advocate homosexuality as an acceptable biblical lifestyle have found ways to dissent. Dr. Walter Wink admits that this text “unequivocally condemns same-sex sexual behavior.” But he theorizes that the ancient Hebrews saw any sexual activity which could not lead to the creation of life as a form of abortion or murder. He adds that the Jews would have seen homosexuality as “alien behavior, representing yet one more incursion of pagan civilization into Jewish life.”
He then cites the penalty for homosexual behavior: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads” (Leviticus 20:13). In his reasoning, if we see this punishment for homosexuality as obsolete today, we should see its prohibition of this behavior as equally outdated. He concludes his argument against making Leviticus 18:22 normative for sexual ethics today by citing a list of other biblical ethics he considers to be obsolete or in need of reinterpretation, e.g., intercourse during menstruation, polygamy, concubinage, and slavery among them.
And that’s not all. Other critics see the Levitical laws as expressive of worship codes, not universal moral standards. And they argue that all such laws were intended only for their day and time, such as kosher dietary laws and harvest regulations.
Is there an objective way to respond to these assertions?
First, let’s consider the claim that this Old Testament law has no relevance for New Testament believers but should be classified with kosher laws and such:
A basic rule of biblical interpretation is that any Old Testament teaching repeated in the New Testament carries the weight of command to the Christian church and faith. And the prohibition against homosexual activity is most certainly present there (see Romans 1:26-27, a passage we will consider in due time).
Even those Old Testament statements that are not repeated in the New Testament carry the force of principle. For instance, kosher laws tell us, at the least, that God cares about our bodies and health.
Second, it is claimed that the Leviticus passage expresses a worship code, not a moral standard:
The logic is that Leviticus is written with regard to the Levitical priests and their duties of worship preparation and leadership and does not apply as such to the larger family of faith. However, the chapter in question begins, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them . . . .’” (18:1).
Nothing in the chapter limits its application or significance to the Levites. Rather, the chapter exhorts all Israel to “keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them” (v. 4). It proceeds to forbid incestuous relationships, child sacrifice, and bestiality — standards I presume critics of Leviticus 18:22 would consider universal.
Third, it has been argued that the Leviticus prohibition of homosexuality is to be classed with other biblical statements that can be considered obsolete, such as the apparent biblical endorsement of slavery. This claim is cited frequently, so much so that we need to consider it next.
Slavery and the Scriptures:
My move to Atlanta in 1994 gave me my first exposure to the remarkable colonial history of the East Coast. When people living in South Carolina speak of “the War,” they could mean the Civil War (though they’ll say “there was nothing civil about it”) or the Revolutionary War.
It is a fascinating region. With one exception:
While traveling in Charleston one day, my wife, Janet, and I came upon the “slave trading warehouse,” the place where slaves were brought to America on ships and sold at market. I can still remember the building and my revulsion upon seeing it.
I believe that racism is the greatest sin in America, the failure that keeps us from addressing our other failures. Racism makes crime in south Dallas a “black” problem and drug abuse in north Dallas a “white” problem — when they’re all our problems.
Given our tragic history with racism, treating the subject of slavery in the Bible is a bit repugnant for us. However, a very common assertion regarding the topic of homosexuality and the word of God is that the biblical injunctions against this lifestyle are outdated, as is its acceptance of slavery. If we can prove that the Bible was wrong on the latter, we can believe that it is wrong on the former.
The issue of slavery in the Bible is a large and comprehensive subject, far more wide-ranging than we will consider in this article. I’ll try to limit our study to the barest of essentials so we can relate it to the larger question that brings it to our attention.
Slavery was an accepted part of life in Old Testament times. We know of no culture or ancient literature that questioned its existence or necessity. Persons became slaves in a variety of ways:
• They were born to enslaved parents (Genesis 17:23).
• They were purchased (Genesis 37:28).
• They sold themselves to pay a debt (Leviticus 25:39-55).
• Breaking into a home was punished by enslavement (Exodus 22:3).
• Prisoners of war were commonly enslaved (Joel 3:6).
• And the children of Israel enslaved the Canaanites they had conquered in the Promised Land (Judges 1:28).
Slaves in Israel were considered to be property and could be bought and sold (Exodus 21:32). They were granted protection against murder, permanent injury, or undue physical labor (Exodus 21:20, 26; 23:12). Hebrew household slaves were circumcised (Genesis 17:12) and included at religious meals (Exodus 12:44).
Why did the Old Testament not decry slavery in general and move to free all those enslaved?
In many ways, it did.
There were several ways a Hebrew slave could be freed (a process called “manumission”):
• An individual could be purchased and set free (Exodus 21:8).
• A slave permanently injured by his master was to be set free (Exodus 21:26).
• Hebrews were to be held as slaves for no longer than six years (Deuteronomy 15:12).
• And the Jubilee Year, which occurred every forty-nine years, was to free all Israelite slaves (Leviticus 25:50).
But still we ask: Why did the Old Testament sanction this practice at all?
In fact, it simply recognized a fact of all ancient civilization. And its rules minimized this evil, protected its victims more fully than did any other society, and provided means for their eventual freedom. But the New Testament would bring God’s word on the subject to much fuller expression.
In the Old Testament era, the primary way persons were enslaved was through capture in war. But in the first century AD, the breeding of slaves swelled their numbers enormously. And large numbers of people sold themselves into slavery as a means of improving their quality of life. Owning and using people as slaves was so commonplace in the Roman Empire that not a single ancient writer is known to have condemned the practice. But all that would begin to change with the advent of the Christian movement.
What was the New Testament attitude toward slavery?
And how does this stance affect our study of the issue of homosexuality?
Slavery in the Roman era was dramatically different from the despicable practice as we know it in American history. If you had been walking through any first-century Roman city, you would not have been able to distinguish between slaves and free. Patterns of work, relationships, or faith were no different between the two. Slaves served not only to do manual labor but also as doctors, nurses, household managers, and intellectuals. They administered funds and cities. They were typically given an excellent education at the expense of their owners so that philosophers and tutors were typically slaves.
Even more amazing to us, it was common for people to sell themselves into slavery to secure such privileges. A person who desired citizenship in the Empire could achieve it by enslaving himself to a citizen, then purchasing his freedom. Slavery was more a process than a condition.
While there is no doubt that many slaves were abused physically, sexually, and socially, it is also true that at least as many were part of the more privileged strata of society. And the total dependence of the Roman economy upon the labor of slaves made it impossible for the Empire to conceive of abolishing this institution. If an economist were to propose that we refuse all goods and services imported from outside America, we’d be equally surprised.
Does the New Testament then argue for slavery? Absolutely not.
In summary, what is the New Testament’s view of slavery?
No writer attempted to lead his readers to end the institution per se, as this was not possible in the Roman Empire. Those initiating such an uprising would have been quickly annihilated as rebels and threats to Caesar. But several other facts should be noted as well.
First, Paul abolished even the possibility of racial or social discrimination for followers of Jesus:
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” ~ Galatians 3:26-28
Every believer is our sister or brother. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Second, wherever the apostolic church spoke to this issue, it did so with a view to freedom and equality:
Paul appealed to Philemon to see his slave, Onesimus, “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother” (v. 16).
Clement, a friend of Paul, wrote in his letter to the Corinthians (ca. AD 90), “We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds, in order that they might ransom others. Many, too, have surrendered themselves to slavery, that with the price which they received for themselves, they might provide food for others”.
And Ignatius (died AD 107) wrote to Polycarp: “Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty.”
Third, the New Testament church gave those who were enslaved a family and a home:
This was one reason why so many of the earliest believers were slaves. Pastors and congregational leaders were drawn from the ranks both of slaves and free. Christians made no distinction between the two, for their Father welcomed all as His children.
Last, not a single New Testament leader owned slaves or condoned such, even though many had the means to purchase them:
Examples: Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or Barnabas. Their example inspired William Wilberforce and countless other Christians to do all they could to abolish slavery, and we thank God that they were successful.
It is therefore an extremely unfair accusation to claim that the Bible was “wrong” or “outdated” on the issue of slavery and thus on the subject of homosexuality.
The Bible and the punishment of homosexuals:
One objection to the Leviticus statement remains. Dr. Walter Wink and others point out its punishment for homosexuality: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads” (Leviticus 20:13).
If we no longer execute those who practice homosexuality, are we justified in ignoring the prohibition against such activity entirely?
Those who argue that homosexuality is a biblical lifestyle point to this “outdated” penalty as reason to consider the prohibition to be equally irrelevant to society today.
No one I know would argue that homosexual practice should result in the death penalty today. But let’s consider two facts.
First, the Levitical code was given to Israel at a crucial time in her early formation:
The nation had no functional law process or court system. Her moral character was not yet formed. And so, the Lord gave the nation clear and enforceable standards that would help solidify and preserve her spiritual future. The spirit of the Levitical prohibition is clear: homosexuality is not to be practiced or accepted by the nation.
Second, a reinterpretation of the penalty prescribed by a law does not justify the decision to ignore the law itself:
Leviticus also prescribes the death penalty for child sacrifice (20:2), adultery (v. 10), and bestiality (vv. 15-16). I presume we would not accept these practices as moral and lawful today on the basis that their prescribed punishments are not prosecuted by our society.
And so, we have surveyed arguments for ignoring the Levitical prohibitions against homosexual practice and have concluded that these laws are indeed timeless in import, expressive of moral standard, relevant to our culture, and a valid basis for moral standards today. An objective reading of the Levitical prohibitions leads to the clear conclusion that this part of God’s word considers homosexual practice to be wrong.
A survey of the biblical materials relating to this issue would also include Deuteronomy 23:17-18, which outlaws prostitution, whether male or female. But interpreters are divided as to whether the passage relates to homosexuality in general.
What does the New Testament say about homosexuality?
Turning to the New Testament, three passages are typically cited.
1. Homosexuality in the New Testament: Romans 1:26-27
The first is Romans 1:26-27: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”
At first reading, Paul seems clearly to consider homosexual activity to be unbiblical. But there is another way to interpret the passage, suggested by those who support homosexuality as a biblical lifestyle.
In their reading, Paul is addressing the issue of heterosexual men and women who choose homosexual activity, which is “unnatural” for them. If this is true, Paul’s statement bears no relevance to those who consider themselves homosexual by innate or “natural” orientation.
Is such an interpretation the most objective way to read the text?
No, for two reasons.
First, Paul describes homosexual acts themselves as “shameful lusts” (v. 26), “indecent acts,” and “perversion” (v. 27). To suggest that his descriptions relate only to the (supposed) decision to engage in such activity by heterosexuals is to strain the Greek syntax beyond its meaning.
Second, Paul states that men who engage in homosexual activity “abandoned natural relations with women,” making clear the fact that he considers heterosexuality to be “natural.” Likewise, he describes lesbian activity as “unnatural.”
One can conclude that Paul was wrong, that homosexual orientation can be “natural” and its sexual expression therefore “natural relations.” But one cannot argue on the basis of this text that homosexuality is biblical, for Paul’s scriptural words clearly state the opposite.
2. Homosexuality in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
The next New Testament text typically included in our topic is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
“Male prostitutes” could refer to men who sold themselves sexually, either in heterosexual or homosexual activity. As translated by the New International Version, the word would not necessarily speak to our subject, as prostitution of any kind is almost universally understood to be immoral.
But the Greek word so translated is more likely a technical term for the passive partner in homosexual activity (Fritz Rienecker, A Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, 2:56). And so it may well refer to one who engages in homosexuality, without a necessary connection to prostitution. The activity it describes makes it harder to assert that Paul had no concept of homosexual orientation but meant his words only for heterosexuals who practice (for unexplained reasons) homosexual behavior.
The other term germane to our discussion is translated by the NIV as “homosexual offenders.” The Greek word is defined by Fritz Rienecker as “a male who has sexual relations with a male, homosexual.” Here the word has no connection with prostitution. Again, one can claim that Paul was wrong in his understanding of human sexuality. But it seems to me that we cannot read his words in their intended meaning as accepting of homosexual activity.
3. Homosexuality in the New Testament: 1 Timothy 1:8-11
The last passage for our study is part of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Here is the paragraph in which our verse is found: “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me” (1 Timothy 1:8-11).
The phrase in question is found in verse 10, translated by the NIV as “adulterers and perverts.” “Adulterers” renders the root Greek word “pornos", from which we get “pornography,” and means one who practices sexual immorality. When accented on the second syllable, it frequently refers to one who operates a brothel. When accented on the first syllable, as in our text, it can refer to homosexual activity.
“Perverts” renders the Greek word “arsenokoites”, typically translated as “homosexual.” We see it in 1 Corinthians 6:9, where it is translated by the NIV as “homosexual offenders.” The word means literally “one who has sexual relations with men.” While some attempt to interpret the word as it is found in 1 Corinthians 6 with reference to prostitution, such a connection is even more difficult to maintain in the present text.
And so, once more, we find Paul addressing the subject at hand with what appears to be the clear position that homosexuality is an unbiblical practice or lifestyle.
Such is the consistent teaching of the New Testament on the subject.
Does the Bible endorse homosexuality?
"I am not gay, have no family members who are, and have no experience with this lifestyle. So, who am I to judge?”
"Why don’t we just let consenting adults do what they wish so long as no one else is hurt?"
Many in our society take this approach to the subject, whatever their own sexual preferences might be. To do otherwise seems to be intolerant and judgmental, two words our postmodern, relativistic society condemns.
On the other hand, believers and those interested in the Christian faith do well to ask what God’s word says to every subject present in our culture. An objective reading of history and Scripture will inform our faith and make it more relevant to our problems and issues. For many paragraphs, we’ve considered such a survey. Now let’s summarize what we’ve found and ask how it all applies to our lives and relationships.
We have surveyed the seven passages typically cited with regard to this issue.
In Genesis 19, we find the attempt by men in Sodom to “have sex” with Lot’s angelic visitors (v. 5) and God’s consequent punishment against the city. While homosexual practice is clearly part of the text, the passage is less clear as to whether God’s judgment is against homosexuality itself or the crowd’s abusive attempt to commit homosexual rape.
Next, we found Leviticus 18:22, with its clear prohibition against homosexual activity, and Leviticus 20:13, with its prescription of the death penalty for such activity.
Since some consider these passages as “outdated” as the Bible’s (supposed) endorsement of slavery, we next took a brief side journey through the latter issue. After noting the biblical abolition of social and racial discrimination (Galatians 3:26-28) and the fact that followers of Jesus were the leaders in abolishing the institution of slavery, we concluded that the Bible is being unfairly interpreted by its critics on this issue.
We briefly considered Deuteronomy 23:17-18, which outlaws all prostitution, whether male or female. And we focused at some length on Romans 1:26-27, with its description of homosexual acts as “unnatural” and “indecent.”
We closed our survey with brief studies of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-11, passages that are considered by some to refer to homosexual prostitution but which seem more objectively to forbid homosexual practice in any context.
As we have seen, proponents of homosexuality as a biblical lifestyle have arguments by which they attempt to reinterpret these passages. It may be of interest, however, to note that no biblical passage can be cited with confidence as an endorsement of this activity. No biblical leader or ethical model taught by the Scriptures can be effectively construed as practicing this lifestyle.
The Old Testament prohibitions we have discussed in our survey are too unambiguous to ignore, and are renewed in the New Testament. A basic principle of biblical interpretation is that an Old Testament teaching that is renewed or endorsed in the New Testament retains the force of precept and principle for Christians today (see Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth, 2d ed. [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993] 153).
So, in completing our brief biblical survey of this issue, it seems clear to me that Scripture intends us to see homosexual practice as unbiblical.
Practical questions about homosexuality:
Several questions come immediately to mind.
1. What about the argument that homosexuality is inherited?
If this is true, at least for some, how can such activity be wrong?
“God made me this way” is a typical testimony. A very brief response would be that the connection between genetics and homosexuality is tenuous at best.
Where research has seemed to indicate some physical propensity toward homosexual orientation, others in the field have refuted such a conclusion. It is widely believed that alcoholism can be an inherited genetic propensity, but no one would therefore endorse its practice. While this is a very unfortunate analogy regarding homosexuals, it perhaps illustrates the fact that not every genetic tendency should be endorsed (if homosexuality is, in fact, such).
2. What about environmental conditions?
Studies have been conducted of identical twins who were separated at birth, where one developed a homosexual lifestyle but the other did not. Particular family or circumstantial patterns are sometimes seen in these cases to contribute to sexual orientation. But again, other interpreters disagree with such conclusions.
3. What does all this mean for those who deal with homosexuality on a personal basis?
Those who practice homosexuality seem to fall into two categories:
• Some can remember decisions, choices, and circumstances by which they moved into this lifestyle.
• Others believe this lifestyle to be a sexual orientation which, for them, existed from birth or prior to conscious choice and intention.
It is obviously both impossible and wrong for me (or any other person) to say which category is appropriate to a specific individual.
At the same time, it seems clear to me that homosexuality is an unbiblical lifestyle. So, what practical conclusions can guide those who interpret Scripture as I do as we seek to relate biblically and positively to those who are homosexual?
First, I need to state clearly that homosexuality is not the “unpardonable sin” (Mark 3.29):
The only sin God cannot forgive is that sin that rejects his forgiveness. To be more specific, the Holy Spirit works to convict us of our need for salvation through Christ. If we refuse this offer of saving grace, God cannot forgive us, as we have rejected the only means by which His forgiveness can be given.
As a result, whether homosexuality is a person’s choice or orientation, he or she does not stand outside of the grace and love of God. Such sexual activity is no more unbiblical than many other sins listed in Scripture, including hatred, slander, gossip, and gluttony. We are wrong to reject the person because he or she is practicing a lifestyle we consider unbiblical. In other ways, so are we.
Second, and in contrast to my first statement, we do others no good if we endorse that which is unbiblical or hurtful to them:
There are twin temptations here. One is to refuse any statement that might appear judgmental with regard to homosexuality, lest we appear to be rejecting the individual. The other is to condemn the person rather than the behavior.
Our Father never falls into either mistake. He always exposes that which hurts His children, all the while loving them as His children.
And so we are to maintain that difficult balance that loves the person while opposing that which is unbiblical in his or her life. We want others to do the same for us, don’t we?
How should Christians respond to homosexuals?
I’m writing today with several personal friends especially in mind: a mother of a gay son, a brother of a gay sister, a son whose father is divorcing his wife and announcing his homosexuality, and a close college friend who several years ago declared his homosexuality and is no longer in vocational Christian ministry.
What would I say to these four people if they were reading this essay?
Two comments are easy to make, the other two not as much so:
1. God loves each of us.
He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in his Son (2 Peter 3:9). He so loved the world that he gave his Son for us all (John 3:16). Nothing we do, no matter how unbiblical, can separate us from his love for us.
Your son, sister, father, or friend is loved by our Father in heaven.
2. A homosexual person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
He or she is acting out a lifestyle that many of us understand to be unbiblical — but so are any of us who practice slander, gossip, heterosexual lust, or egotistical pride.
So-called “gay bashing” is always wrong. Any action or attitude that demeans a person or makes them less valuable is the opposite of the grace and unconditional love of Christ.
3. While we wish to offer the dignity and respect of Christian grace to all persons, we cannot truly love them while endorsing that which is unbiblical in their lives.
As intolerant as the next sentence may seem, it is honestly motivated by a sincere desire to speak the truth in love: we can and should pray for those in the homosexual lifestyle to come to repentance and transformation.
After including homosexuality in his list of sins (1 Corinthians 6:9), Paul next told the Corinthians: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (v. 11).
I recognize that some will read this paragraph as bigoted prejudice. However, any of us would want to help those we care about to practice a biblical lifestyle that leads to the fullest abundance of Christ’s joy (John 10:10). This is the honest motivation behind my suggestion that such intercession is appropriate for the gay people we know and love.
I must offer one last suggestion, a statement that will engender further resistance from many in the gay community:
4. Those who consider themselves to be homosexual by sexual orientation should practice sexual celibacy.
Many will counter that I have no idea how difficult such a lifestyle decision would be. They’re right.
But given that I understand the Bible to teach clearly that homosexuality is an unbiblical lifestyle, the only conclusion I can draw is that the practice of this lifestyle will lead the person out of the will of God and into harmful behavior.
Abstinence is, by this logic, the option that is in that person’s best personal interest. I can only hope that my heart is clear in offering this suggestion. My desire is not to condemn but to offer biblical truth as I understand it.
This article is offered with the prayer that the Lord of Scripture will use his word to bring healing, hope, and help to hearts and homes troubled by the issue of homosexuality. To the degree that these thoughts have shed more light than heat, my prayer will be answered.
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~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/resources/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality/
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Amen Brother! Have a blessed weekend!
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Hope vs. Faith
To have hope is a good thing – to have faith is a better thing.
There is nothing wrong with having hope: we hope that everything will work out okay, or that our friends and family members will be saved, or that we will have enough this week to make ends meet, or that one day we will get to go to heaven after our mortal lives end, etc., etc.
Now let’s consider the same concerns and replace hope with faith in God: by faith we know everything will work out according to God’s plans for our lives (if we allow Him) – and that is okay. By faith we know that one day – before they die – our friends and family members will be saved. By faith we know that God is our sole-provider, and we will have enough food on the table, and fuel in the vehicle, and a way to pay those bills when they are due. By faith we know that we can have the blessed assurance of going to heaven after we die – if we have given our heart, body, mind and soul to the Lord.
What the Word says about faith:
“Now faith is the reality [assurance] of what is hoped for, the proof [conviction] of what is not seen.” ~ Hebrews 11:1
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6
Today, and every day of our mortal lives, let us faithfully receive all that God has biblically declared for His children in Christ. Amen.
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From the Pastor’s Heart – June 2024
~ When the storms of life come, our response reveals what and whom we’re trusting.
Here at the year’s halfway point, it’s a good time to pause and assess how things are going.
• What challenges are you facing this year?
• And how are you getting through them?
Dr. Stanley often reminded us of the countless ways God provides for us to grow strong in the Christian life. This month, we’d like to share some of his thoughts on that topic.
We hope they’ll encourage you through the rest of the year and beyond.
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How do you know if you’re a strong person?
I’m not talking about your physical body, but the inner qualities of a vibrant spiritual life. In Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus told a story that vividly demonstrates the source of spiritual strength. He said those who hear and obey God’s Word are building their lives on a rock-solid foundation, while those who hear the Word and don’t obey have a foundation like sand.
What we’ve built our lives on may not be externally obvious. But when the storms of life come, our response reveals what and whom we’re trusting. If it’s not God, we’ll fall apart under the pressure. To help you evaluate whether you’re building well, I want to share a few characteristics of a strong spiritual life.
First, your life must be built on the teachings and application of God’s Word.
The Bible becomes a treasured possession when you recognize that it’s the Lord’s voice speaking directly to you. Obeying its principles should be a constant in your life, not an exception.
When you consistently feed on God’s Word, the Holy Spirit brings passages to your mind to help you respond correctly in every situation. That’s why Jesus said the Spirit will “remind you of all that I said” (John 14:26).
What’s more, as you read the Bible, you are “transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is” (Romans 12:2). The Word transforms you to think biblically about your circumstances. Then you can make good decisions and act rightly in trials.
Second, spending time alone in prayer is a priority.
Prayer is your connecting point with God and an essential means of strengthening your relationship with Him. Through the discipline of prayer, we learn how to communicate with the Lord about anything and everything. When His disciples needed the strength to stand firm, Jesus told them, “Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). A prayerless life is a powerless one.
Third, the spiritually fit see the Lord Jesus as the source of strength in their lives.
We are continually tempted to forget this perspective and think our strength comes from ourselves — the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” approach. Yet when the apostle Paul was suffering with what he called “a thorn in the flesh,” Christ told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7,9). The path to spiritual strength is humble dependence on God.
Fourth, if your life is characterized by obedience to God’s Word, you’ll be able to view troubles and afflictions as ways to strengthen your faith.
I wouldn’t change the pain, heartache, trials, and disappointments I’ve experienced, because God used each one to grow my faith. Instead of complaining and questioning God’s love in times of hardship, we can seek to understand His purpose and trust Him. The Lord’s goal is not to remove all our trials, but use them to transform us into godly people and equip us for His will (James 1:2-4).
Finally, our spiritual strength increases greatly through involvement in a local church that faithfully teaches the Bible.
Believers grow in church through hearing of the Word, love for one another, corporate worship, selfless service, and encouraging fellowship. That’s why, if possible, you should seek connection with other believers in a church body. We need each other.
Each of us is building our life on something — either God’s firm foundation, or the unstable sands of this world.
• What have you built your life on?
No matter what you’ve done in the past or how old you are, it’s never too late to step away from the sand and start building on rock. It’s the one building project that won’t end until the day the Lord takes you home — stronger and better than you could ever have been on your own.
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We hope you’ve been blessed by Dr. Stanley’s reminders of the many ways to build strength as you walk with the Savior each day. A few pages of God’s Word, read tonight, will not be wasted. A few moments in prayer tomorrow could strengthen you more than you think. And leaning on Jesus will carry you through to eternity.
Till next time, God bless you.
For His Glory,
Your Friends at In Touch Ministries
P.S. This month we recognize Father’s Day, a day on which Dr. Stanley often spoke of his loving heavenly Father, having lost his earthly dad at nine months old. He knew the difficulty of overcoming a gap like this, and the immense value of men who lead others in godliness, righteousness, grace, and wisdom. In Dr. Stanley’s memory, we wish you a happy Father’s Day.
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/june-2024
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Not Just About Us
~ When believers love each other well, people are drawn to Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32
Imagine yourself sitting on a park bench enjoying a gorgeous day. You see two people walking toward each other, and they’re both distracted. One is looking down at a phone, thumbs flying over the screen. The other is juggling keys, a briefcase, and a cup of coffee. Before you can say anything, they run into each other. No one is hurt, but things crash to the ground and spill everywhere.
There are many ways this scene could play out. Each person could get angry at the other for not paying attention, or they could accept blame and apologize. They might even ignore each other and keep walking (though that’s highly unlikely). How they choose to react reveals what their character is — and has the potential to color onlookers’ opinions of them, for better or worse.
This is especially important with regard to those of us who follow Christ. Our behavior should reflect who we are becoming in Him and demonstrate that we are indeed transformed people. If we lash out in anger or frustration, we aren’t following Paul’s call to “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven us” (Ephesians 4:32). However, if we choose the way of peace, kindness, and compassion, others will see the Lord through us and be drawn to His light:
"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord.” ~ Hebrews 12:14
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/not-just-about-us
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Seeking Justice
“Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” ~ Micah 6:8
Faith superheroes, just like the heroes in comics and movies, are called to a purpose. They are tasked with upholding justice.
The responsibility of our power brings us to the question of justice and our part to play in upholding truth. Both individually and corporately, we have been given the gift of faith, not solely to feed the internal desires of our own flesh but to pursue the greatest good available to all of us. And to do it together.
Justice is much more than upholding the laws of the land. And it certainly is not about the arbitrary judgment and sentencing many comic book heroes employ.
Justice is harmony. It is each member of the body of Christ doing what it was made to do to the best of its ability. If the arm is acting like the leg or the toenail like the elbow, the body is out of harmony.
We were each created to do our part. With Christ as the head, we are a body designed to uphold the system by participating properly in the Kingdom of God. The justice we seek cries out in our bones. It is the harmony of a chorus all of creation sings together. Placing things in their proper place is the heart of justice.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Impact of Deeper Growth
~ A close and personal relationship with God gives us the strength needed to endure whatever life brings.
Scripture Reading:
"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.” ~ Colossians 2:6-7
After a hurricane a few years ago, a photographer captured an interesting picture of a tree. It stood tall above the ground on what looked like stilts. Upon closer examination, however, it was easy to see that those “stilts” were actually the exposed root system. The tree had grown deep and wide, and that strength held firm, even as storm-tossed waves washed away the sand and soil around its trunk. The tree survived because of the patient work it had done creating its base.
We, too, can be hardy like this tree, able to withstand life’s many challenges. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and meditate on His Word, the roots of our faith grow and stretch more deeply. When we delve into God’s Word, though the winds blow and the sands shift beneath us, we can focus on His character instead of our worries. Then we’re able to experience His great love and mercy amid our fears (Luke 8:22-25).
When we know the Lord is with us, we can endure all things. So spend a few moments in prayer today, asking God to help you grow like that tree standing tall and strong on its roots, whatever comes.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-impact-of-deeper-growth
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Be Kind
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23
Think of a time when someone was kind to you. Don't you remember every detail of that warm moment? Likewise, those around you will remember when you treat them with such kindness.
Kindness shouldn't be something we express only when we feel like it. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and should be a defining characteristic of who we are as children of God. Just as the Lord pours out His goodness upon us, He expects us to be kind and loving in our interactions with others (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32).
The apostle Paul tells us:
“...clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:12-14
Notice how he describes these traits as clothing: something we can wear, something we can grow into.
Kindness may not be innate but, thank God, it can be learned. Ask the Holy Spirit to point out times when someone needs to receive a gesture of appreciation, or a word of encouragement. And remember that this not only blesses others, but it also delights our Heavenly Father.
Suggested Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for this precious day. I ask you today, through your Holy Spirit, to lead me to those around me who need an act of kindness. Help my actions always be an example that leads others to you. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
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~ by Rosina N.
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Things Unseen
~ We are so easily bogged down by the weight of the world, and today God wants to lift our chin and point our eyes upward to things unseen, the things of heaven.
We have been trained through the prideful perspective of many that we are only to look to and believe that which we can see and physically experience here on earth. We’re told that there couldn’t possibly be more to life than what we’ve seen because the unseen can’t be experienced in the physical. What a self-centered perspective!
• Why do we have to know and be able to presently experience all there is in order for it to be real?
• Why are we, with our limited capacities, the ultimate judge in the debate of what is real and important?
In Ephesians 1:18-20, Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus praying:
"Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened . . . .”
• What does it mean for our hearts to have eyes?
• And what does it mean for those eyes to be enlightened?
The truth is that all of us are given spiritual eyes. All of us know and experience things that can’t be physically seen. We’ve all received and given some type of love. We’ve all had an intuition or belief that couldn’t be physically proven. And as believers, we’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit who longs to guide us to a perspective that far exceeds the span of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:18 says:
“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Our Savior is calling us to a life lived for that which is unseen: the eternal. He is calling us out of the cycle of worldly pursuit into a greater calling of eternal significance. To live for heaven is to cast off that which is fleeting and temporary and seek that which can only be found with our heavenly Father.
Take time in prayer to look to that which is unseen. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart. Ask Him to give you spiritual insight into your own life and the lives of others that you might call all those around you to live for heaven. Cast off those pursuits which tie you down to this world, and ask the Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. May you discover the abundant life available to you in the Spirit as you worship your Father in both spirit and truth today.
Looking to that which is unseen is the door through which we experience the fullness of God’s presence available to us on the earth. As Jesus taught us, “God is Spirit,” and to truly experience Him we must cultivate a lifestyle of opening the eyes of our hearts. Our Father longs to lead us to a lifestyle of continual and transformational encounters with Him. He longs to meet us at the doors of our hearts every morning that we might let Him in to love us, speak to us, fill us, and transform us. May looking to that which is unseen guide you into deeper and more impactful encounters with the living God.
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/
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