July 31
Water In The Desert
“…the water I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:14
If you’ve ever traveled through the desert, you’ll notice that it’s mile after mile of dry and barren landscape. Then suddenly, there’s a spot of green, some trees, bushes, and flowering plants. It always means there’s some kind of water source nearby. With water, the desert blossoms and comes to life.
The same is true in our lives. Without God, we tend to dry up when life gets hard. It saps us of all our energy, creativity and drive. We eventually feel beaten down, worn out, and dried up. But Jesus says, “I am living water; anyone who accepts me will never be thirsty again.” He wasn’t talking about physical thirst. He was talking about satisfying our spiritual thirst so we can blossom and come to life.
What about it? Do you sometimes feel like a dry, dusty shrub in a desert of emptiness? Come to Christ and enjoy a cool drink of water whenever you need it.
July 30
Back In Church
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement”
Hebrews 9:27
Will it take six strong men to get you back in church again?
Six strong men to carry your body in a casket down the aisle?
The church is a place to worship, be encouraged, spiritually rejuvenated, and a place to learn what it means to have a true relationship with God. There’s no perfect church ‘cause there are no perfect people. And imperfect people need God and the forgiveness and salvation He offers in Jesus. I encourage you to find a church. If six strong men have to carry you there, it will be too late.
July 29
The New Number One Objection To Christianity
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’.”
John 14:6
In the last twenty years, a new number one objection to Christianity has emerged: “Why do Christians think you have the only way to God and heaven?” In our pluralistic world, this is hard to take. In a world of “tolerance,” this seems intolerable.
But here’s the problem: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” Was Jesus really that narrow-minded and egocentric? A natural question, but the wrong question.
The key question is this: “Was He telling the truth?” If He wasn’t, we certainly don’t want to believe in Him. But, if He was, many have a problem with that. For if we feel there are many ways to heaven, we’re calling Jesus a liar, and wrong. Our problem is really with Jesus, more than with Christians who believe Him.
So what do you believe? Do you believe Jesus tells the truth? That’s the decision we must deal with if we are open and honest.
July 28
Understanding Our Wives
“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way…”
I Peter 3:7a
It had been a fun day of vacation. I had gotten up early and jogged on the beach, joined some friends for a round of golf, had time for a couple of sets of tennis and finished off the day with a refreshing swim in the ocean. After showering and dressing for dinner, I happily exclaimed to my wife, “Man, it’s been a great day!” But the look she gave me was not filled with love. You see, our boys were young—one still in diapers; she was exhausted caring for them by herself. In classic “airhead husband style,” I had been oblivious to the needs of my wife.
God’s Word says, “Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way.” We don’t naturally understand our wives needs when we are wrapped up in our own little world. Understanding means love, unselfishness, compassionate listening without giving advice, partnering in parenting, and much, much more.
Men: Ask God to help you be what you just can’t be on your own—understanding of your wife.
July 27
Know Thyself
“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
Romans 12:3
The person you spend the most time with is you, so we tend to be pretty interested in ourselves. I ask you: Do you really like yourself? Would you rather be somebody else? Are you realistic about your strengths and weaknesses?
Socrates gets credit for saying, “Know thyself,” even though what he really said, was, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Either way, the message is clear. Knowing ourselves is a key to the meaningful life.
Let me go a step further. Since God is your Creator and He knows you better than anyone, why don’t you get to know God personally and then you’ll get to know yourself—the real you—better than you ever could on your own. God gives us the way to know Him through Jesus and His Word. If you get to know Him, you’ll come to know yourself and why you’re here. You’ll be on the road to a very meaningful life.
July 26
Dad’s Greatest Priorities
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her”… Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:25 & 6:4
Let’s take a moment to remember the Bible’s three greatest priorities for Dads:
1. Husbands, love your wives. Ephesians 5:25 The best way to be a good father is to be a loving husband. Our children need that more than anything. Remember, the Biblical word for love means more than a feeling, it means a commitment.
2. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. Ephesians 6:4 Every child’s psyche is fragile. We dads can expect too much at times and come down too hard on them. Worst of all, we can shut our kids out emotionally. We are to build them up and not destroy the spirit and self-image of our children.
3. Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 To do this, we need to be godly men who know the Book, who live it, and teach it to our kids. Kids need to know their boundaries. It gives them security. They also need instruction and teaching on what is right and wrong.
To sum it up, the best fathers love their wives, their kids, and the Lord. Fathers, may this be our goal every single day.
July 25
Window Washer
“For the Lord will be your confidence…”
Proverbs 3:26
Have you ever looked up and noticed window washers at work on a skyscraper? Why do you suppose they can work so confidently suspended so high above the ground? They are secure because they know that their safety harnesses are fastened to the building itself and their harnesses will hold even if the platform should fall.
Your life can be lived on the edge, with confidence like that. When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, He becomes our safety and our security. Because of Him, we can risk living life to the fullest and be all that we were created to be. He keeps us secure, even though life is often insecure, even though we get disappointed, even though the bottom falls out.
How about you? Do you have security for today, no matter what challenges and dangers you face? How about tomorrow?
Why not try living life with Christ one day at a time for a life that’s secure and yet full of excitement.
July 24
The Invitation
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”
Revelation 3:20
I don’t know whether you’ve ever been invited to the White House or ever been asked to make an appearance at Buckingham Palace, but wouldn’t it be amazing to have the President of the United States or the Queen of England desire to visit your home? Even more amazing, there is a King who represents royalty and power, greater than anyone, who desires to do just that.
The Bible tells us that it’s Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Jesus talks about our life like it’s a home. He says He is standing outside the door of our life. He’s knocking and hoping we’ll invite Him in. If you do open the door and invite Him in, He promises to enter. When He comes into your life, He brings meaning, companionship, strength and love to face the demands of life. He brings everything you need to live a complete and purposeful life.
How about it? Why not open the door today and you can have dinner with the King of Kings, forever and ever.
July 23
Honor Mom And Dad
“Honor your father and your mother…”
Exodus 20:12
One of the more important commandments of God is “Honor thy father and mother.” It is lived out in three phases of the parent-child relationship:
1. When a children are growing up in the home, he is called to obey. Parents have to teach their children to obey, but children honor their parents through obedience.
2. The second phase begins when the children become young adults. They aren’t as dependent on their parents and they are no longer called to obey, but to respect their parents. This is usually the longest phase.
3. The third phase of honoring parents is caring for them in their old age when they are no longer able to care for themselves. This is a tough transition when children become parents to their parents.
Obedience, respect, and care—the three stages of honoring Mom and Dad. The welfare of the family is dependent on us obeying God’s command.
July 22
Let The Good Times Roll
“ …’Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good’…But that also proved to be meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 2:1
Jerry Seinfeld, that famous philosopher of the nineties, has said, “Everybody is looking for good sex, good food, and a good laugh because they are little islands of relief in what’s often a very painful existence.” Does that describe you?
Constantly seeking pleasure will mean finding life empty and unfulfilling. Look at the gurus of pleasure such as Madonna, now a mother, and Hugh Hefner, who tried marriage (it didn’t last long) and having children. Obviously their actions speak volumes about the fact that this pursuit of pleasure alone does not bring the sense of fulfillment in life that so many desire.
Here’s the shocker – seeking pleasure without God always leads to emptiness and futility. To really experience the joy and fulfillment of living, we have to plant both feet firmly with God. Trust Him and do things His way. It’s the key to enjoying life!
July 21
Definition Of Success
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:7
How do we become a lasting success? What would your definition be?
Ann Landers, the great guru of newspaper advice, once wrote, “To a great many people, money is a measure of success. If they are living on a lavish scale, they think they are successes. And yet many are dismal failures.”
Og Mandino, the author of The Greatest Salesman In The World, says, “The only difference between success and failure is good and bad habits – success is a state of mind.”
What is your definition of success? Let me suggest this one: Success is the process of fulfilling your purpose in life and doing it well. In short, success is a by-product of a life well lived.
I propose to you that the most successful person who ever lived is Jesus Christ. He knew what His purpose was: to reveal God to us in a person and to offer himself as our Savior by dying for our sins. He fulfilled it perfectly. Jesus Christ was the most successful man who ever walked this earth. Why don’t you look to Him in faith? He’ll put you on the road to success—God’s way.
July 20
Sexual Freedom
“Stop depriving one another…”
1 Corinthians 7:5
Sexual freedom is an obsession for many. But God, the inventor of sex, tells us the best kind of sexual freedom is found in marriage. Listen to His Word: “The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body.” These words were radical for the first century and they’re still radical today.
This concept of mutual submission leads to tremendous sexual freedom between a husband and wife. It also teaches us that husbands and wives should take care of their bodies—not just for the Lord and not just for their health—but also for the enjoyment of their spouse.
Note that the key words are between a husband and wife. All other sexual intimacy is out of bounds. Sex outside of marriage is simply not what the inventor of sex had in mind. So remember, God’s way is the best way to true sexual freedom.
July 19
Sex And Sexuality
“We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did…”
1 Corinthinians 10:8
On a recent trip to Eastern Europe, I went to workout in the fitness center. Two of the five TVs were parked on MTV and VH1, with their beautiful, half-naked seductive dancers. I then went to have breakfast, and a large flat-screen TV was the central focus, as American music videos with more beautiful, scantily-clad dancers filled up the screen. Our waiter was so entranced I couldn’t even get a cup of coffee.
The dominant export of American culture, in the name of freedom, is our entertainment industry. Freedom to do what you want, rather than freedom with responsibility, honor, and character. We’re assaulted 24/7 with sex and sexuality and exporting it around the world.
But God had a different idea. When he invented sex, it was designed to be enjoyed to the fullest between a man and woman in marriage. And God’s idea is still the best. It’s radically counter-cultural and it takes great faith and courage to live it out. Yet, God’s plan for sex is best. All the others are counterfeits.
July 18
Sheep Or Goats
“…I will show you my faith by my works.”
James 2:18
Jesus says that when He comes again all mankind will be divided into two camps—the sheep and the goats. The sheep are in his eternal kingdom. The goats are not. He says the sheep feed the hungry, clothe the needy, and care for those who are sick and in prison. Does this mean we get to heaven by good works? Absolutely not! God’s Word says, “For by God’s grace we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves. It is a gift of God, not as a result of works.”
But what Jesus is saying is that true faith always results in good works, especially to the needy. We can’t do it all, but the church can. When we have saving faith and begin to give and serve through a local church, we take part in all types of ministries as a part of the body of Christ.
If Jesus comes today, which group will you be in—His sheep or the devil’s goats?
July 17
How Can God Be Three In One?
“…God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts…”
Galatians 4:4-6
How can God be three in one—Father, Son and Holy Spirit? This belief is central to Christianity.
Some argue Christianity teaches belief in three Gods, or polytheism. Not true. Christianity, like Judaism and Islam, is rigidly monotheistic. Yet Judaism and Islam do not believe God is three in one. No other religion does.
I can try to explain by saying I’m a father to my three sons—they know me one way. I’m a son of my parents—they know me another way. I’m the husband of my wife—she knows me another way. Three roles, but all the same person.
That may help, but it’s still inadequate. For how we do explain God the Son, praying to God the Father, as Jesus did. It is unexplainable to the human mind because we are not God. The Trinity will always be a mystery that reflects the unfathomable greatness of God. Yet, when you believe, you begin to know the fullness of God.
July 16
Faithfulness
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.”
Luke 16:10
I don’t know many qualities that are more appreciated than faithfulness. Faithfulness is about dependability, loyalty, trustworthiness, and consistency.
Faithful people are faithful all the time, not most of the time. I’ve been married over 34 years. That’s over 12,308 days. How do you think my wife would feel if I prided myself on being faithful to her 12,308 days? She wouldn’t be happy. Just one day of unfaithfulness can ruin all the days of faithfulness. For you see, faithfulness is about being faithful all the time.
The longer I live, the more I appreciate people who are faithful and especially those who are faithful to Christ. That leads them to be faithful to their spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, church members, co-workers, or those with whom they serve in a ministry or an organization. The longer we live, the more we appreciate faithfulness.
July 15
Parenting Teens Isn’t Easy
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Luke 2:52
Mark Twain said, “When a child turns thirteen, put them in a barrel and feed them through a hole. When they get to be sixteen, plug up the hole.” That’s not a very positive view of parenting teens but one that everyone can relate to. Parenting teens isn’t easy.
David Gelman writes, “Today’s teenagers face more adult-type stresses than their predecessors did at a time when adults are much less available to help them.” So here are a few suggestions:
• Education is not the goal, wisdom is. Education helps, but teaching kids to sort out information is the key.
• Teach them how to take care of their bodies with a good diet and good exercise. And remember—safe sex isn’t safe, only abstinence is.
• Help them develop a relationship with God. Recognize that much of their development will come from the relationship with God they see in you.
• Teach them that there are moral absolutes based on Scripture. Teens need these guidelines.
• Help them make wise decisions about the company they keep. Positive peer pressure is a key.
• Pray—Teens, and parents of teens, need lots of prayer!
Parenting teens isn’t easy but what an opportunity to shape a life.
July 14
THE MYTH OF QUALITY TIME
“He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive…”
1 Timothy 3:4
There can be nothing more important than the different experiences that we share together as families, where we have the opportunity to talk, to listen and to really understand one another. In contemporary culture, one of the biggest lies of the devil is this – “it doesn’t matter about the quantity of time, it’s the quality of time that’s important.” What a lie! There is no such thing as quality time unless there is a quantity of time with our children! Because only in a quantity of time do we have the opportunity to respond to our children as they are dealing with everyday issues of life. It is through spontaneous conversations when we experience everyday life together that we can teach our children our values and faith. It is through unplanned dialogue that our children can ask random questions or share a thought that just pops into their heads. We just can’t plan for these times; we have to be there when they happen.
So, whether you use a Blackberry, a Daytimer, or just a plain calendar, make it a point to schedule plenty of quantity time with your family. In time, you’ll be amazed at the quality.
July 13
Eternal Life
“…for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
John 8:24
The late baseball great, Ted Williams, and his son paid a company $136,000 to store Ted’s body in liquid nitrogen so that when science discovers a way to beat death, his frozen body will be ready to claim the cure. Sometimes wealthy people without God go to bizarre extremes to have a shot at beating death. So far no scheme has worked.
But I have good news. One man has beaten death and He offers us the key to victory over death, and eternal life. It won’t cost you a nickel. But you have to be willing to entrust your life in His hands. You have to believe that He is God, Who became a man to die for your sins, and rise from the dead. In short, you have to entrust your life to Jesus alone for victory over death.
Otherwise, it’s no deal and death wins. Jesus has exclusive rights to victory over death. Trust Him and claim the victory.
July 12
Wisdom Of God Vs. Wisdom Of Man
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.”
Psalm 111:10
Have you ever thought about mankind’s endless search for truth in this world? Think about it. Even in the twenty-first century, in a time of the greatest knowledge in the history of man with all the technological developments that have accelerated the rate of acquiring knowledge, the restless mind of man still struggles with discovering the reason for his existence.
Part of the trouble is looking for that answer through worldly wisdom versus Godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom leaves you empty and a bit cynical. But Godly wisdom is different. It reveals to us ultimate truth and that truth is found in a person: Jesus Christ. Take time to pursue ultimate truth in the person of Jesus and in the teachings of His Word, the Bible and you will find wisdom that is out of this world. Discover the wisdom of God over the wisdom of the world, and in the process you will have discovered your answer for life. I promise you—this is the truth.
July 11
Is Wealth Worth It?
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 6:24
What amount of money separates you from happiness? Is it a raise or winning millions in the lottery? It is a common misconception that man can find contentment in money.
John D. Rockefeller, at one time the world’s richest man, was asked, “How many millions would it take for you to be satisfied?” He replied, “The next one.”
Now that’s a clear example of how the pursuit of money can become such a preeminent concern that it creates an insatiable appetite of never being satisfied with what we have.
Jesus said, “…man cannot serve God and money.” That’s tough. Can’t we serve them both? The answer is no. Jesus teaches that if we don’t choose God, we’ll become slaves to our desire for money and possessions. One course ends in futility and bondage and the other ends in fulfillment and freedom for living. Choose Christ and He will fully meet your needs. You will find riches beyond anything you possess.
July 10
God’s Clock
“…with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
2 Peter 3:8
Have you ever thought about how God doesn’t see time as you and I do? The Bible tells us that to God, one day is as 1000 years and 1000 years are as one day. He sees the past, present, and future all at once – for He is over time. That blows my mind. We are so finite. We begin, we end. God always was, is, and will be. Isn’t that amazing?
When we get to heaven, there will be no clocks, no calendars – just unlimited time. That unsettles me. Clocks and calendars give order to my life. A place with no time just boggles my mind. But we’ll never be tired. That will be great.
Even though God is over time, in the perfect time He became one of us – as a baby boy. He invaded history right on time – BC/AD – it was the zero hour – to show us Himself and save us from sin and offer us eternal life with Him – timeless life. Isn’t that amazing. Won’t you take time to consider this?
July 9
Smorgasbord Religion
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1
It is so trendy to practice smorgasbord religion – a little dose of Jesus, a little pinch of Buddha, a little Mohammed here and a little New Age thought there. It makes you sound so “with it”…so spiritual.
But it is fundamentally dishonest. It is an insult to each religion, for it is like spiritual looting. It is a classic refashioning of God into your own chic image. And it is a reminder of the many intellectual airheads today. Make a decision for crying out loud! But don’t be a phony for every faith. They don’t say the same thing. They don’t believe the same things.
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” Either He lied or was terribly insane – or is who He said He is. This is in direct conflict with every other religion. With Him, it’s all or nothing. I believe He is the truth about God.
So, make a decision about Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or whomever. But don’t insult them all with this airhead pseudo-sophisticated practice of smorgasbord religion.
July 8
Tradition or Biblical?
Matthew 15:1-3
Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Sometimes we have to get outside of our own traditions to notice some of the legalisms we have embraced. During our seminary days, my wife and I were serving as missionaries at a Scottish Baptist church. I soon noticed that there was no specific time at the end of the sermon for people to “walk the aisle” to make a decision to join the church or to accept Christ. I went to the pastor and expressed my concern. “This is not good,” I told him. “Why are you not doing this?” He looked at me with that rather condescending smile that Englishmen specialize in and said, “Well, Bryant, would you show me in the Bible where it says you’ve got to ‘walk the aisle’ to become a Christian or join a church?” And then he added, “Bryant, would you do a little study and see how the Bible teaches us to make a public confession of our faith in Jesus Christ? The only thing you’ll see is baptism.”
So often we elevate tradition to the level of the Bible. Tradition can be meaningful, but when we elevate it to the level of the Bible, we make it idolatry and ignore the 2nd commandment. Let’s be sure that in following Christ, the Bible is our ultimate authority on how to live for Him.
