June 27, 2011 … Integrity Accepts God’s Will

Passage of the Day: Daniel 6: 18 – 22 … 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

My Journal for Today: As we read in today’s passage, it was God’s will that Daniel be delivered from the mouths of the lions. And it was undoubtedly Daniel’s steadfast integrity of faith and his open witness to King Darius prior to this incident which caused the King to have regrets in Daniel’s predicament, and at the same time hope that Daniel’s God would deliver Daniel, the king’s loyal servant. However, Darius, the King was stuck by the wiles of his advisors and his own laws and decrees. That’s why it’s so easy, as a believer these days, to be concerned by the laws that are being drafted or the rulings of judges which restrict or persecute Christians.

And, as John MacArthur points out in his devotional for this date in Strength for Today, it is not always God’s will that the faithful be delivered from the jaws of death as was the case for Daniel or for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego earlier. MacArthur reminds me and his readers that Isaiah was a faithful witness to God; and he was sawn in half by God’s enemies; and how faithful was Stephen, who was stoned to death as he declared his loyalty to God to the end? Finally, we know that both Peter and Paul were martyred in very cruel deaths for their faith. All of these men had incredible Spirit-led integrity; and all of them were bold and assertive witnesses to their faith … just like Daniel. Yet, they were not delivered from their individual “lion’s den” experience and were martyred for their faith.

Yes, as MacArthur writes, “Trusting God means accepting His will, whether for life or for death.” And as Paul wrote in Phil. 1: 21, “… to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” My primary goals in this life as a Christian are to know God and to live according to His will. And oh how I desire to be like these men of faith who held on to their integrity in Christ in their lives and in the face of death!

And right now, in my morning time with God, as His timing would have it, and as I listen to my ITunes music collection of Christian favorites, the version of the great praise song, I Will Follow Christ, performed by my dear friend, Clay Crosse, and two of his fellow Christian artists, Bob Carlisle and Bebe Winans has come up for me to listen to here in my quiet time. What a great song about following Christ no matter what the circumstances of life. And so that you, my fellow Christians reader, can hear my brothers singing this song, here’s a link to a You Tube performance by these great singers of that powerful song of praise and witness. Watch, listen, and be inspired to greater integrity and witness.

My Prayer Today: O, my Lord, to live or to die in You is my witness. Amen

June 20, 2011 … Integrity Is A Powerful Witness

Passage of the Day: Daniel 3: 26 – 27 … 24 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

My Journal for Today: You probably know the story; and as one might expect, the outcome of the three Hebrew lads being taken from the fiery furnace, unscathed and not even singed, had a profound impact on Nebuchadnezzar. He immediately, as we will review tomorrow [I read ahead in MacArthur’s devotional], declared that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served a very powerful “God,” even ordering his kingdom to worship their God [see Dan. 3: 28 - 29].

Now the king’s conversion to real faith in the one true God as the ONLY God would not happen until later (see Daniel 4); but the witness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as well as God’s deliverance of these boys from the fire certainly laid the groundwork for that later conversion experience. We see here that any time we stand in faith against the odds, we become a living display of God’s hope and promises to others; and we become witnesses of God’s power in the world, which is what we are commanded to be by our Lord and Savior (see Acts 1: 8).

Jesus taught (see Matt. 5: 14 – 16) that His disciples should be lights that reflect His Father’s glory into a darkened world; and when and where we do that, the prevenient grace of God will draw the lost to God like moths to a light in the night. And when unbelievers really see Christ’s light radiating from our lives as Christians, they will want to come to that Light. That was Bill Berry in 1982-83, responding to the witness of real Christians when I was walking in a fog of agnosticism, searching for light in my darkness. And when I saw the light of Christ shining in and through the witness of these Christians, I finally relented, repented and surrendered to THE LIGHT, Who is Christ.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were lights shining their integrity and faith into a world darkened by idolatry and pride (sound familiar?), even from the hell fires of life, allowing the world to see their faith, which, in turn, glorified their Father in Heaven (see again Matt. 5: 16).

My Prayer Today: Let me be a beacon, Lord, shining Your light into the darkness even today. Amen

June 11, 2011 … Integrity Results in Fruitful Witness

Passage of the Day: Daniel 1: 21 … And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

My Journal for Today: Today’s highlight verse seems like such an innocent tag line to the end of the first chapter of the book of Daniel. However, upon analysis, and later reading in the book, we discover that Daniel was blessed by God’s favor to have great influence over the Babylonian nation/culture in those times for many years and through three kings … well into the take-over of the Medo-Persian Empire under King Darius (also known as “Cyrus”). This was a full seventy years after Daniel had come to a position of influence under Nebuchadnezzar and later Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, most certainly illustrating just how much God blessed Daniel, the young man whom we read about and are using as a biblical character model of spiritual integrity.

Now, we might not have the socio-political influence of a Daniel in our post-modern culture and world, especially in the highest office in America as I write this; but as believers in the same God Daniel worshipped, we can hold the same degree of integrity, faith, and commitment to THE one true God. And thereby, like Daniel, being obedient to our God, we can expect God’s grace to favor us … maybe not in the same way; but most certainly we can expect God’s blessing in HIS way and in His time to be ours.

John MacArthur, in Strength for Today, points out in his devotional for this date, that we should all live expectantly to hear the words of The Messiah, as I’m sure Daniel heard from the Lord in heaven when he departed this earth, …“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!.” [Matthew 25: 23] Could there be any more motivating truth to guide our lives, seeking after Christlike integrity, than the anticipation of these words from Jesus when we enter into His presence in glory?

My Prayer Today: That is my prayer, Lord, … to be Your faithful servant and to be an effective witness in Your Name. Amen

January 10, 2011 … Worthy Witness of Christlikeness

Passage of the Day: Hebrews 13: 1K [NIV] – Keep on loving each other as brothers.

Hebrews 13: 1 – [NASB] – Let love of the brethren continue.

My Journal for Today: We’ve been looking at Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians in Eph. 4: 1 [see devotionals for Jan. 1-8] for Christians to walk-the-walk of worthiness in Christ; and here, in today’s passage, the Author of Hebrews, which some scholars say was also the Apostle Paul, begins to get personal and practical about the issue of worthiness as a Christian, saying that believers will never be seen as any different from the world unless unbelievers AT LEAST see Christians loving one another. And actually, there were other similar challenges in the New Testament of this exhortation toward mutual love and Christian living. Besides the Author of Hebrews, there was Paul’s instruction to the Church and of Paul’s younger protégé, Titus, as we read in Titus 2: 7- 8 …

>>> SCRIPTURE: Titus 2: 7 In everything set them [the world of unbelievers] an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Also, the Apostle Peter wrote to the Asia Minor churches, exhorting them in 1st Peter 2: 15 …

>>> SCRIPTURE: 1st Pet. 2: 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

And Jesus Himself, was pretty emphatic about Christians being walking examples of His Way of love, when He said the following in John 13: 34 - 35 …

>>> SCRIPTURE: John 13: 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

Okay, … I’m both convinced and convicted! If we’re to be worthy Christians, we (I) need to be living for Christ and like Christ, loving one another and shining His light of good (and Godly) works (including mutual love) to the world in such a way that they see our [my] genuine love for one another and our concern for the world (see Matt. 5: 16 - you look that one up for yourself). … And I’m afraid that all too often I fall short of the mark set by God’s word and the Model of Christ Himself in this regard.

Yes, I fall short; but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t see the Mark and hold myself to it, or should I rather say, to “Him.” Christ is the Mark, of course; and all that I am, I should be for Him and in Him. With this said in writing, I move on toward my Mark [i.e., my “goal” of Christlikeness] as Paul stated in Phil. 3: 13-14 …

>>> SCRIPTURE: Phil. 3: 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

My Prayer Today: Lord, You are my Mark; help me be like You; and especially to love other Christians as You have shown Your love for me! Amen

2010 – December 1 – With Freedom and Responsibility

BLOGGER'S NOTE: On January 1, 2010 I set a convenant goal with God and a number of my Christian accountability partners to read/study through the Bible this year. My "tool" to accomplish this was to use a Bible edited by Dr. F. LaGard Smith, The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, which, to the editor's campability and study, exposes the Bible in logical/chronological order. Dr. Smith also has a companion tool, a devotional book, The Daily Bible Devotional, which follows along with the Bible he has edited and presents daily topical snapshots for his readers to glean biblical truths for their lives. Thus far this has been a daunting discipline for me; but here I am, coming down the stretch in the last month of 2010; and GOD WILLING, on Dec. 31st, I'll be here bragging on God's enabling grace for giving me the discipline to finish my trek through His word. For those who've come along with me, all the way or part of the way, I hope this journey has been as uplifting for you as it has for me.

Study from God’s Word… Continuing on in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (his second letter which we call his first) 1st Corinthians, Chapters 5 – 10 and 1Cor 11: 1 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Corinthians 10: 23 - 24 … NIV 23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

My Journal for Today: What should we, as Christians do; and what should we avoid? Christian freedom versus Christian discipline: Isn’t that one of the most perplexing and challenging confrontations we must deal with as disciples of Christ? Well, that was one of the main issues to which the Apostle Paul addressed in his letter to the Corinthians (and of course, extended to all Christians today in our Bible). And there were some tough issues the people and the Church in Corinth were dealing with in those days, … such things as idolatry, sexual immorality [such as homosexuality and even incest], and human greed, not to mention “smaller” categories of sin (though any/all sin, of course, is an affront to God).

And the Corinthians Christians, Jews and Gentiles alike, were also dealing with how to decide to live out their new found freedom from God’s Law with the responsibility to live in accord with God’s will. It’s like children who must have rules and discipline to prevent them from danger and even death; but then the kid grows up and has to learn how to handle the freedom he has in not needing the strict rules as an adult. It’s a matter of having the right to do X, Y, or Z; but knowing that doing X, Y, or Z will not honor God or give Him glory. Therefore, as today’s highlight passage depicts, there may be things I have the right to do; but I won’t do them because they can be dangerous to my health or certainly dishonor my God as an improper witness.

For example, you may have the freedom to cross a very busy six-lane highway where vehicles are traveling 70 miles per hour; but would you choose to exercise that freedom? Today in our permissive culture the laws may say that I have the right to engage in sexual relations with another man. Some may even say that such behavior is “normal;” … and yet if I had a desire to have sex with another man and I knew he was HIV+, would I exercise my “freedom” to do so? Of course, I wouldn’t; but am I FREE, as a Christian male, to have sex with any other male, even if he were not HIV+? Big debate going on in our culture today, isn’t it? And it was so back in Paul’s day as he addressed what the Corinthians were confronting in their world too.

Maybe you’re saying that my examples are too extreme. Well, let me take it down to a very human, and very personal level. When I go through a serving line at any of the buffet type restaurants, once I pay my front-end price, I’m “FREE” to eat anything on display there in the restaurant. And I can go back as often as I want to exercise that pre-paid freedom. But the question, as a Christian is, should I, as a disciple of Christ, who happens to be a diabetic, exercise my freedom in that restaurant and gorge myself on many, many dishes which could be or are hazardous to my health. And another serious question is … should I put my sin-weakness of gluttony on display for anyone to see, especially others who might know that I’m a Christian minister?

Yes, my dear ones, we are free from God’s Law as Christians; but Paul wanted the Corinthians – and God wanted us, through Paul’s letters – to know that our freedom as Christians can only be exercised to the extent of the perception of how others, especially non-believers, perceive our behavior. As Dr. Smith reminded his readers today: "There is a saying in law that your right to swing your fist ends at my nose." And I’ll leave you to contemplate that truth as well as the truth of what the Apostle Paul is relating to the Christians at Corinth, which is so applicable to our culture today.

Maybe it would be a good exercise for you to go back, as I’m being led to do by my devotional trek, and read – in depth – Paul’s admonition to the Christians in Corinth. I’ll leave you to that study; but I know it will be as productive for you as it is for me.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, You are my freedom; so help me to know that my freedom to be shines Your light for others to see; and I want them to see YOU and not me. Amen

2010 – November 6 – The Imperfect Hostess

Study from God’s Word… Luke 9: 51-56 [Matt 19: 1,2 – Mark 10:1]; Luke 17: 11-19; Luke 10: 1-16 [Matt 11: 20-24]; Luke 10: 17-20; Luke 10: 21-24 [Matt 11: 25-27]; Matt 11: 28-30; Luke 10: 25-37; Luke 10: 38-42: Luke 11: 1-13; John 10: 22-42 … Passage for Reflection: Luke 10: 41-42 … NIV 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

My Journal for Today: If you were to go back and study the passages Dr. Smith has edited/extracted for chronological study from the New Testament, listed today above, as I have, you’ll see that Jesus was on His way inexorably to Jerusalem, encountering people, friends and strangers, along the way and trying to do all He could to declare and show His identification as The Messiah, The Christ, … the Son of God. But as in today’s highlight story, many people, even dear friends like Martha in the house of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, too often let their religious traditions and beliefs stand in the way of total surrender and worship of THE CHRIST.

We see in this scenario from today’s text that Martha’s sister, Mary, somehow got it and was in total surrender and worship to her Lord, even to the point of neglecting what would be considered traditions of hospitality in that middle eastern culture of the day. Martha, on the other hand, was hindered by her need to be “traditional,” even though she had a head-belief that this man, her friend, was THE Messiah.

What Dr. Smith, my devotional shepherd, is trying to illustrate today comes out in what he calls a “worrying question,” which is stated today to challenge those of us reading his devotional. He writes, ”In what subtle ways does my view of religion affect my view of everyday activities?” And I might go further, in self analysis, to ask myself [and any reading here], ”How do I let my social agenda and habits get in the way of being in total surrender and 24/7 worship of my Savior and Lord?”

Do I look down upon someone who might be sitting in the spot in my church pew where I normally sit; or do I worship my Lord by welcoming the person and getting to know them to let the light of Christ shine through me? >>> Do I scowl when I see someone dressing in what I consider inappropriate attire when I see them enter our church sanctuary on Sunday morning? >>> Am I prideful when I put my tithe and offering envelope in the offering plate, wanting others to see me do it. Am I there on Sunday morning as a Mary or a Martha?

What Jesus wanted the people to recognize as He was taking the route the Father led Him upon, on the way to the Cross, was for the people to see Him and to believe in Him to the point of making their lives what Paul later wrote about in Romans 12: 1. You know it [I hope] …
==============
• Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
==============
When Jesus entered the house of Lazarus, Mary, the one sister was there, at Jesus’ feet, with the type of “living sacrifice” to which the Apostle Paul would later exhort all believers to have; but Martha wasn’t quite there yet.

I think we all need to determine if our lifestyle of worship is characterized by Mary or Martha. We may be believers at the head level; but is our life truly a living sacrifice at the heart level, shining the light of Christ, by the way we live as worship to the One who went to the Cross – as a total living sacrifice – that we might have eternal life?

My Prayer for Today: Lord, may my life be my worship to You. Amen

2010 – July 13 – The Importance of Tone

Study from God’s Word… Isaiah, Chapters 41 – 43 … Passage for Reflection: Isaiah 42: 3 … NIV He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

My Journal for Today: The prophesies of THE Messiah are wondrous, … by Isaiah and others, … hundreds of years before He was born in Bethlehem; and some of these prophesies spoke of the very way Jesus would bring the message of the Gospel to God’s chosen people. Yes, we know that the close Disciples of Jesus didn’t quite get it until the cross and His resurrection; but even the tone of Christ’s life was like that described by Isaiah in prophesying of the way the Messiah would bring His message.

As you read today’s prophetic words about the tone of Christ’s message, we certainly know that Jesus was no wimp - as evidenced by the two times he ripped apart the Temple as He expelled the robbers who had desecrated His Father’s House. But looking at the way Jesus gently went about the land during His ministry, the tone of His message fits perfectly with what was described by Isaiah almost seven centuries before His birth. Jesus quietly, but powerfully, went about telling the people about His coming kingdom. And Jesus would not be silenced. He could not be snuffed out by the religious leaders of His day. He was burning with God’s truth; and He spoke the truth in a way that could not be broken by those of His day.

And we know how He quietly, but with infinite strength, went to the cross, not even speaking a word against those who mocked Him and unjustly sent Him to His death. And that, my friend, is our model of tone when it comes to living and expressing the truth of the gospel message. We are to quietly, but strongly, live out the truth of the gospel in our lives. When people see and hear the way we live our lives and the testimony we witness to the world, they should see/hear Jesus in and through us. The tone of our lives should be quiet surrender, just as was Jesus life and words about His Father in Heaven.

And as I contemplate my life – as I hope you are doing right now if you’re reading this – I am convicted that too often I can get too harsh, or even too silent, with the tone of my life. I need to be even-toned and straight forward with how I live my life, ever trying to do as Jesus commanded me in Matt. 5: 16, … to shine His light in an ever darkening world so that they may see His light shining through me.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, that is my prayer today … to quietly – but powerfully – shine Your light for all to see. Amen

2009 – Day 347.Dec 14 – An Urgent Charge

Passage for Study: 2nd Timothy 1 - 16 … Passage linked for study …

My Journal for Today: Paul closes out his life, writing a letter to a young mentee and pastor, Timothy, giving him a charge, which we read in today’s passage, … a challenge we all should take to heart. And I can just sense some of you saying, “But Bill, I’m no Pastor; … I’m not a preacher.” And yes, most certainly Paul’s charge to Timothy is for those who are called to preach from the pulpit or to pastor a church or to teach God’s word. However, as Swindoll points out this morning, in another sense the charge is for all of us because of another charge we Christians have been given by Jesus, Himself, in the Great Commission and Commandment (see Matt. 28: 19 – 20 and Acts 1: 8). And I won’t link you to those passages; because I hope you have them memorized as the charge from God, Himself, for ALL CHRISTIANS to share the Gospel, to know and teach God’s truth, and to witness the life-changing power of Christ to any and all in our lives.

And to support this, I also refer you to go to the charge made by another Apostle, Peter, in 1st Peter 3: 15, where he wrote … ”But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

My friend, in a sense we’re all to be like Timothy from Paul’s charge to take Christ’s Gospel truth to anyone and everyone in our lives. We’re all to live the truth and speak the truth; and that means we’re to take what we glean from our churches and most certainly from our in depth study of God’s word and tell anyone who’ll listen how Christ has changed our lives. We’re all to share the truth that God can change the life of anyone who believes and confesses that our Lord came to save them from their sins.

And Swindoll is also right today as he indicts the post-modern church, which all too often is presenting a watered-down, seeker-friendly, and lukewarm message, which tickles the ears of those who come to church to be entertained rather than to be challenged by the mirror of God’s truth. Even the preachers and Pastors of churches today are falling way short of Paul’s charge to Timothy. But we all can be and should be preachers, teachers, and pastors in our worldly sphere of influence. We all can be the Bible for those at work who will only know God’s truth and learn of His Gospel by observing how we Christians live and from hearing our testimonies. All Christian parents can be pastors, preachers, or teachers in our homes and families to our kids and grandkids who need to see/hear God’s truth being lived out in the lives of their parents and grandparents.

My dear fellow Christian, we all have a mission field in our friends or neighbors, our co-workers, and most certainly in our families. And most fellow believers who read this know of someone in our lives who needs to hear our testimony or who needs to know the truth of God’s salvation message. There are those in our lives who need to “read” the Gospel by seeing it lived out in our lives where they can hear our testimony – a story of how Christ changed us and how we now have the hope of heaven rather than the reality of hell for eternity.

As this year closes out, will we take Paul’s challenge to Timothy to heart and go share Christ with someone who needs to hear about Him?

My Prayer for Today: Lord, give me Your divine opportunities to share Your truth and Your good news with others; and give me the boldness and words to do so in Your Name and for Your glory. Amen

Blogger’s Note: Today Pastor Swindoll ends his devotional study and exposition of the life of the Apostle Paul. Tomorrow and through the remaining days of December, he concentrates on a few messages involving three more brief character studies of some men of the Bible who illustrated pertinent and powerful points we all need to learn.

2009 – Day 342.Dec 9 – Standing Tall

Passage for Study: Acts 26 … Acts 26 linked for study …

My Journal for Today: Today, Pastor Chuck Swindoll, becomes very personally challenging for his devotional readers, making reference to any or all of his readers (like me), asking if we’re willing to stand tall when the moment arises, as did the Apostle Paul before the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Roman Governor, and the Hebrew King in today’s repeated passage. And then Swindoll made reference to a now famous moment when the gracious Nun from Calcutta, Mother Theresa, now with Christ, confronted President Clinton and pro-choice Washington politicians at the 44th National Prayer Breakfast with a quiet. In a resoundingly powerful speech, she openly but lovingly rebuked any worldly government authority for any policies in the political world which promoted abortion. It was one of those great God moments in history as this diminutive Godly woman stood tall for Christ in a God-ordained and God-anointed moment; and President Clinton and pro-choice Washington squirmed with discomfort that day as God’s truth was declared by one who stood tall for God.

And then Swindoll, with these examples, gets personal, asking some probing questions to his readers. He writes, “The challenge comes in those private, unguarded moments when you face opposition to truth, … in a company board room, at the school PTA meeting, … or while seated on a plane. In those times, will you stand tall and speak the truth when a principle is at stake? Will you announce what you believe, graciously, yet firmly?” Personally, convicted by these examples and sitting here in my comfort zone, I would hope that I’d stand firmly for Christ; but I have to admit, from my past performance, I have chickened-out too many times, staying quiet when I knew God had given me the opportunity with a “divine appointment” to stand tall for Him and the Father’s glory.

God challenges us (see Matt. 5: 12 - 16) to be salt and light, doing what He pre-ordains for us to do to give witness in and to the world (see also Acts 1: 8). Oh, how I how I would desire to be bold enough to respond as the Apostle Paul or Mother Theresa did, even if it were not in such politically charged moments, as God gave me opportunities to witness to family, friends, or others.

I can recall a time when I actually did stand for Christ to those whom I loved in my family, to my parents, whom years ago I perceived were nominal “christians.” My Dad was even an Elder in his church; but didn’t have a clue as to what it took to be saved. And I felt he and my mother were lost. Well, a few years of pressed witnessed yielded first my Dad and then my mother coming to surrender their lives to Christ and be saved, my mother only 6 hours before her passing. That comfort, which came from me sharing “THE Truth” with my parents, will always remind me of the importance of standing tall when God provides the opportunity for us to witness to/for Him.

I pray that we can all STAND TALL when God gives us those moments to witness to His Name and for His truth.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, give me Your enabling grace to be salt and light in this world. Amen

2009 – Day 341.Dec 8 – An Heroic Moment

Passage for Study: Acts 26 … Acts 26 linked for study …

My Journal for Today: In the chapter accounted today from Doctor Luke’s Book of Acts, we definitely read of a bold, heroic encounter between the rabble rouser evangelist, Paul, and the powers that be of that day, the Hebrew King and the Roman Governor. These leaders just didn’t know what to do with this man who would not stand down from his Christian witness, even though there were those in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council of the day, who wanted Paul killed. And so, we see the Roman Governor bringing the Hebrew King to Caesarea to hear Paul’s testimony. And that’s exactly what Paul presented, … the facts and his testimony.

Paul, to the Hebrew King, simply recounted the truth and gave his testimony; and this is a model for how any of us should speak when we have an opportunity to share our Christian witness with others, especially skeptics. As I learned years ago, no one can argue with a testimony. It is a personalized story of truth; and it cannot be denied because it’s your story and no one else’s. And the skeptic cannot deny the facts of what happened to you. If you quote the Bible, though its truth, a skeptic can simply deny its relevance. But he/she will never be able to deny the relevance of something which happened to you.

So, Paul was able to boldly stand before Agrippa and tell his story, appealing to Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish Scripture and his sense of reality, being a Roman citizen in front of a Roman Governor with Paul having an undeniable right to go before the Emperor in Rome with his case. And Paul’s witness was very compelling. As we read in Acts 26: 28, Agrippa was very close to surrendering to Christianity (go back and read just how close). But we don’t know just how much Paul’s witness that day ultimately did for God’s kingdom. We only know that it had an impact on two government officials of his day. Paul planted some powerful seeds that day; and that cannot be denied.

If I might have a writer’s license to share a similar moment in my personal life, I can recall a time when my wife, Elly, and I were asked by leaders in our church to give our testimony of deliverance to about 350 people at a large dinner. And we were asked to do so because the church leaders knew how God had transformed my life, saving me and delivering me from a past life of infidelity and sexual sin. And they also knew how God had restored and renewed our marriage. Well, we were hesitant to stand, “emotionally naked,” and tell the whole truth about our past, especially with our daughter being in the audience. But we did. And because we took that God ordained appointment to share our story, truthfully and openly, many others came to us and have been ministered to, allowing God into their lives and marriages to heal, restore, and renew their marriages as well.

Anyone can be a “hero” for God, when he/she is given a divine appointment to share a testimony or give witness to how God can change a life – your life. I pray that when God opens the door for you to be His witness that you’ll follow Christ’s command of Acts 1: 8 and be the Lord’s witness, remembering that God is not only with you; but He will give you the thoughts and words to say.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, may I boldly tell my story, which is Your story, whenever and wherever You lead me to do so. Amen

2009 – Day 313.Nov 10 – Tangled in the Tangibles

Passage for Study: Acts 13: 45 - 48 … 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: “ I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” [Is. 49:6]
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

My Journal for Today: I really like Swindoll’s title for today’s devotional, “Tangled in the Tangibles.” It certainly expresses where we 21st century Christians find ourselves all too often. But it certainly didn’t define the lives of Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys to Asia Minor. In our text story for today we read how, though it was their custom to preach/teach in the synagogues first in any new town, they ended up evangelizing mostly to the Gentiles, who were positively disposed to hear rather than getting hung up in religious issues or cultural hang-ups.

In other words the Jews got tangled in the tangibles; but the Gentiles did not. And Paul and Barney certainly did not as they witnessed for Christ; because they were not deterred by either pursuit of riches or fame. These two had a calling and they didn’t want to dampen their anointing or spiritual power by letting themselves get wrapped up in tangible pursuits, cultural legalism, or the opinions of others.

Oh, how much more potent would the witness be of Christians in today’s Church if we disciples of Christ could avoid getting “tangled in the tangibles.” I admit that many times I either enjoy the applause or the accolades of others too much; or I become restrained in my witness out of fear of the opinions of others. That’s entanglement in the tangible elements of life; and when they hold me back, I’m responding to the lies of Satan, the pressures of the world, or the siren call of my own flesh.

But when, like Paul and Barney, I can break free from these tangibles with the Christlike attitudes of humility and meekness exhibited by these two men, I am empowered by God’s grace to be witnesses for the calling placed upon all Christians (see Acts 1: 8 and Matt. 28: 19-20). Again, if we can memorize and internalize God’s truths, such as those in 2nd Tim. 1: 7, Phil. 4: 13, 1st Cor. 10: 13, and/or 2nd Cor. 12: 9, which come to mind as I write this, we can become untangled from the tangibles and move forward empowered by God’s intangibles (i.e., the Spiritual fruit we are all given in Christ (see Gal. 5: 22-23).

That is my prayer for all of us today.

My Prayer for Today: Lord God, untangle us from the tangibles of life; and empower us with your intangible grace so that we can witness Your truth and be salt and light in this world. Amen

2009 – Day 309.Nov 06 – Standing for God

Passage for Study: Acts 13: 6 - 12 6 Now when they had gone through the island[a] to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

My Journal for Today: We’re in a war, my friends! Can I get a witness? I hope I’m sensing an emotionally loud “AMEN!” from you. And today, Swindoll uses this passage about Saul, becoming the Apostle Paul, who had to confront evil head-on, … face-to-face. And he did so, immediately, forthrightly, and without hesitation.

Now, some may say that going to battle for what he believed in was part of Saul’s confrontational M.O.; and you’d be right. However, though it may have been more like a Saul of Tarsus (from his past) to step out and go to battle, Paul still had to do this by trusting in the Holy Spirit to back him. Note that in this scenario he’s witnessing his faith and taking action in the presence of the local Proconsul, a man who had the power to represent Rome and the Emperor. This man, hearing the incantations of a local false-prophet and sorcerer, could have had Saul and Barnabas crucified; but Paul stood for Christ and preached the Gospel none-the-less. And then when he needed to, he confronted the sorcerer and God was there to pour His power into Saul as he stood for truth.

When it comes to standing and fighting in this everyday spiritual warfare we’re living in, how’re we doing? Unfortunately, today we may be losing ground to the so-called “tolerance” culture, which espouses a message of relativism … tolerance at all costs. If you believe something which openly defies Godliness, the culture would say that I’m supposed to stand back and let you have your way. However, as you no doubt have seen, about the only thing this “tolerance culture” is totally intolerant of is Christianity. And this world is doing all it can to eradicate “CHRIST” or “GOD” from the public arena under the guise of “tolerance.” So, we find ourselves in a battle much like that of Paul and Barnabas when they came to Cyprus.

This is why the teaching of Ephesians 6: 10 – 18, which I hold to so often in these days of spiritual warfare, means so much to me. I won’t teach on them here today; but you know this passage as teaching the “full armor of God” and our need – at times – to stand and fight in Christ’s Name, for what is right and righteous in our world. Today, Swindoll ends his devotional with a truth statement which we all must stand by. He writes, ”When you stand FOR God, you stand WITH God!”

And my dear one, that is powerful and pertinent truth in today’s world. So, the question becomes, what are we doing to step up and be heard in the face of so much ungodliness today? When was the last time you wrote or called your representatives when pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage legislation was being voted on by Congress? When did we witness for Christ when we know of someone in our lives, like the Proconsul in today’s passage, who needed to hear of the Gospel? My friends, we’re under the command of the Great Commission (see Matt. 28: 19-20). So, are we acting under its admonition? Or, are we cowering and backing off from the war which rages around us?

Yes, I know how scary it can be to stand for God in the midst of so much evil. My wife and I have been called to the front lines of this warfare, taking on Satan’s XXX weapons, like internet porn and Christians falling prey to sexual sin; and it can be a lonely battle at times with Christian churches wanting to keep this type of battle muffled and quiet. So, I know these battles … first hand.

But stand we must, dear ones! And we simply have to do what Saul did in today’s passage. Knowing that our power is that of the living God; and realizing the truth of 1st John 4: 4 (you look it up!), we can know and believe what Swindoll teaches today. And I repeat that statement for emphasis to close out my devotional entry for today: ”When you stand FOR God, you stand WITH God!”

My Prayer for Today: Lord, stand with me as I stand for You. Amen

2009 – Day 146.May 27 – Special People For Special Times

2009 – Day 146.May 27 – Special People For Special Times

Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 16: 29 – 17: 1 … 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. … 34 In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
1 Kings 17 : 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

My Journal for Today: Yes, if you were with me yesterday, you’re probably saying, “That’s the same Bible passage.” And it is; … because Swindoll is trying to drive home the point that our culture needs many Elijahs; and Pastor Chuck asks some pretty tough questions in his devotional message for today, … not the least of which is whether we would feel comfortable being in the court of Ahab.

In other words, if you were living in the times of Ahab and Jezebel, would you merge right into the anti-Godly culture where you worshipped idols and followed Ahab; or would you be willing to come behind or stand along side a man whose name and words declared openly, “The Lord is my God!”

Swindoll says it in truth; and I’ll just quote him to make the point that … "In our culture – our schools, our offices and factories, our lunchrooms and boardrooms, our ivy halls and our halls of justice – we need men and women of God, including young people of God. We need respected professionals, athletes, homemakers, teachers, public figures, and private citizens who will promote the things of God, who will stand alone, stand tall, stand firm, and stand strong!”

That’s why it’s so refreshing when you see entertainment or athletic winners, like Hollywood stars or professional athletes, who will take the opportunity when a commentator puts a microphone in their face to openly witness their faith or praise God so that all can hear them standing in the gap for their faith. These stand up Christians are, unfortunately, not as numerous in the public eye as those who support idolatrous causes like abortion or same-sex marriage. However, now and again you might hear an “Elijah” in our culture who will stand up and give testimony to their stand for God.

As I read Swindoll’s devotional today, I know where I stand; and I know that God does raise up special people for special times; and my friends, THESE ARE SPECIAL TIMES! These are the times of Ahab revisited. The question becomes are we God’s special people to stand in the gap for God’s truth and grace. And if you are saying, “I don’t think I’m one of those people,” you can take heart from many in the Bible who didn’t think they were the special ones God could choose for His special tasks.

Think about the reluctance of a Moses, who balked when God even showed him a burning bush. Think of a young Gideon, who was hiding in fear in a wine barrel when God came to him and called him a “man of valor.” And yes, even Elijah, at one time later in his life doubted God’s choosing him when he sat beneath a broom tree and prayed to have God take his life. We’ll likely be looking at that episode later in our study of Elijah; but if you feel God calling you to stand up in the culture and take a stand for God’s truth, remember this truth - GOD’S CALLING IS HIS ENABLEMENT! God will never call you to take a stand unless He gives you the enabling grace to carry out that task. That is the lesson Joshua had to learn in Joshua 1: 1 – 9 [linked]; and he was willing to move forward toward God’s promised land even when it was scary to do so. We can too; but we’ve got to be willing to take up God’s banner and carry it for Christ in our culture.

And so, when we have any opportunity to stand for truth over injustice, … for Godliness in the face of sinfulness, … or for forgiveness in the face of anger and hatred, let’s be an Elijah and let’s lend our voices to stand against the Ahabs of this world.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I repeat my prayer from yesterday … “raise up the Elijah in me … that I may be willing and able to stand for You, … no matter what! “ Amen

2009 – Day 145.May 26 – Elijah - Alone in the Gap

Transition Note: Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility is our new study, again using Chuck Swindoll's devotional book, Great Days with the Great Lives as my devotional guide. I pray we all can grow closer to God and become more like our Lord in this study.

===================

2009 – Day 145.May 26 – Alone in the Gap

Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 16: 29 – 17: 1 … 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. … 34 In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
1 Kings 17 : 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

My Journal for Today: Here was the scene. It was a day when the gap between God being Lord of all in Israel had widened to its greatest extent. Ahab and Jezebel ruled the Northern tribes of Israel; and Baal was their little-g “god.” The one true God, Jehovah, had faded in the minds and hearts of God’s “chosen” people, and somewhat quietly, but significantly, we are introduced, in Verse 17: 1 of our study passage today, to “Elijah,” who came from a small town, called Tishbe, likely located about 20 miles south of the Sea of Galilee, which was in the area controlled by Ahab.

Then Chuck Swindoll introduces his devotional readers and yours truly to the significance of Elijah’s name, which, in Hebrew, is a composite of the word “El,” which is a short of “Elohim” or the Hebrew word for “God” and “jah,” which is a short for “Jehovah,” or “The Lord” in Hebrew. These two words are separated by the Hebrew letter “I,” which refers to “my” or “mine.” So, when we put this all together we see that Elijah’s name declares, “my God is Jehovah,” or “The Lord is my God,” which would have been a very brash declaration in a country where worship of the god Baal was required.

It’s not difficult to see some parallels between the times in which Elijah stepped on the scene in Israel and today’s world. Today we live in a world permeated by false “gods;” and the concepts of “God” or “Christ” are becoming more and more hostile to the culture as time goes by. And so, anyone who stands in the gap declaring that “The Lord is my God” stands out as being in opposition to the running tide of our world. Elijah was just such a man in his day.

Swindoll points out that it doesn’t take too much interpretation to see that our Lord, God, … the same God as the one, true God who had chosen those people in Israel in Elijah’s day, desires to have men and women of God who’re willing to stand alone – if need be – to declare “The Lord and Savior, Jesus, is my God!” Elijah, just by his very name, was just such a man in his day, and Swindoll goes immediately to illustrate this by a few modern day “Elijahs,” who stood in the gap for God at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, a few years ago. Here were a few students who, where challenged as to their faith, were gunned down because they were willing to say, “Yes, I’m a Christian.” And their courage became loud witnesses in our times for someone who was willing to stand in the gap for God.

Elijah was such a man; and so I look forward to a concentrated study into the life of one who would stand up for God in a world which was hostile to our Lord.

My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, raise up the Elijah in me … that I may be willing and able to stand for You, … no matter what! Amen

2009 – Day 128.May 09 – Our Epitaph

2009 – Day 128.May 09 – Our Epitaph

Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 31: 1 – 13 … Linked to 1st Samuel 31 for your study …

My Journal for Today: Chuck Swindoll poses a thought provoking question after one reads today’s passage about the passing of Saul and his sons in 1st Samuel 31. He asks the rhetorical question, “What words will be used in the eulogy to sum up your life?”

In today’s passage we read of the tragic demise of a man who could have been, as Swindoll points out, David’s role model and mentor; and yet, as we’ve been studying these past days, Saul ignominiously pursued Israel’s anointed one to try to kill him. And then today, we read how he took his own life to avoid being killed by uncircumcised pagans. What a sad legacy!

And as I pondered Swindoll’s question about my potential eulogy, I thought about what might have been said at my funeral had it taken place over 30 years go when I didn’t know Christ as my Savior, … when, as some Southerner might say, “He was as lost as a ball in high weeds!” And at that time, because of the politeness at funerals, no one probably would have likely spoken the truth that I had denied my daughters a lot of my presence and parenting as a father because of my brain being consumed in a bondage to pornography. My wife would have likely been thinking, but probably would not have said the truth, … that I had abandoned her emotionally and physically as a husband.

But God mercifully and gracefully reached into my sin-dead life; and He broke me to a place where I could, and did, receive Him as my Lord and Savior. And now over 25 years after I have become my Lord’s disciple, I would hope that someone would say, should I go home to be with the Lord, “Bill was a devoted Christian husband to Elly since 1983 when he gave his life to Christ.” And I hope that someone would say, “The Berry Patch, as they call their family, has two strong Christian daughters, their two devoted Christian husbands, and five Christian grandkids, all of whom are thriving in the example set by Bill, who was a Christian who led his family to the Lord.” And then I pray that someone might recount how I was called into the Ministry and became an Ordained Christian Minister, who was affectionately nicknamed “Elder Berry,” and who was called to found and lead a Christian ministry, BattlePlan Ministry, to help Christians walk free from habitual sexual sin and into a fruitful walk of freedom in Christ.

Whatever anyone would say in my eulogy besides the above, which underlines my life in Christ, would be icing on the cake which has become my life. But as you have read of king Saul’s life in 1st Samuel and from my witness above, have you asked yourself what one might say in your eulogy down the road of life, … after you’ve had some time to let God’s Spirit be used in and through your life to give glory to God? I shudder to think what my eulogy could have been like or would have been like from those years before I was given the opportunity to turn my life around with God’s grace enabling and empowering me to do so.

My dear one, … if you’ve given your life to Christ (see Romans 12: 1 – 2), then you now have the same power in you to live fruitfully for Christ which was the power that raised our Savior from the grave. Even if you were just saved yesterday, you could begin tomorrow to intentionally and purposefully shine Christ’s Spirit-empowered light into a very dark world, letting others see Christ giving you that light for God’s glory (see Matthew 5: 16). And one day, whenever you go home to be with your Lord, someone might give a eulogy of purpose and Christian power, which would be a testimony of glory for Your God.

And that is my prayer today for all of us … that we leave a eulogy of purpose and fruitfulness which trumpets the glory of God for all to hear.

My Prayer for Today: And my powerful Holy Spirit, let Your Light shine through my life for all to see You, precious Savior, and so that my eulogy will glorify You, my Father in Heaven. Amen

2009 – Day 65.Mar. 7 – And The Answer Is …

2009 – Day 65.Mar. 7 – And The Answer Is …

Passage of the Day: Exodus 4: 1 – 10 … Read passage from this link …

My Journal for Today: Swindoll’s right again. After one reads this scenario of Moses trying to apply his human weaknesses to the potential of trying to be God’s spokesman before Pharaoh, the excuses Moses comes up with are pictures of our own feelings as we are called by Christ by the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) or God’s charge to be His witness to the world (Acts 1: 8).

But just as in those New Testament callings, God gives us, as he did with Moses, His power to take away all of our excuses. But our first reaction, when we think of God calling us to be His spokesperson here on earth, is to balk in fear. And why is that? And Swindoll nails it again, our feeble excuses and fearful back peddling always comes from the mother of all fears, … the parent emotion of all sin, … and that is PRIDE.

We rightfully imagine that our own strength or intelligence in trying to witness for God will not be strong enough; and we simply don’t want to seem like a fool in front of our family, friends, or fellow humans. Ironically, as I indicated, the first part of our assumption is accurate. We are not smart enough or strong enough, in and of our own abilities, to be God’s witness. But where do we get the idea that saying, “I don’t know,” will be put down by others to whom we witness about God in our lives.

No, when we are confronted by someone who has to admit weakness or error, the truth is that we don’t disrespect another who says, “I don’t know.” Admit it. When we pump them with logical questions about something, and we back them into a logical corner, when they admit their weakness, we don’t disrespect them for admitting weakness, do we? No, the truth is that honestly admitting ignorance or weakness is viewed with empathy and respect when someone else is courageous enough to admit he or she can’t handle a situation. But because of pride we let our imaginations run wild when we think of trying to witness for God, thinking that others will see us as stupid or weak.

The reality, which I’ve come to discover over the years, is that when I’m witnessing for God, especially with my testimony, no one can argue with me. Oh, my antagonists may be able to pump unanswerable questions at me or challenge the logic of Scripture, if I were to quote it. However, NO ONE can argue with a personal testimony. So, when I witness as to how God has changed my life, there’s no smart comeback to challenge me; and in situations like those God’s power is in my testimony.

And the other point I’ve come to understand and trust is the truth that God will not only never leave me in the lurch when I’m witnessing for Him; but He has always goes on ahead of me to set the ground for me as I stand for Him. That’s the promise of Deut. 31: 6, 8 from the Old Covenant as well as Hebrews 13: 5 in the New Testament is that God will NEVER forsake me. Just as Moses discovered that God will allow us to be His witness with the Lord’s power speaking, we can go forth and witness to the world with the Holy Spirit preparing the way for us and being there in our testimonies.

Oh, it may not be a rod turning into a serpent or the hand in the bosom slight of hand as it was for Moses; but it will be God standing with us when we stand for Him. We simply have to set aside our human pride and fears; and trust that God will be there with us when we become witnesses for Him. As we’ll be seeing in upcoming devotionals, Moses would learn that truth; and he would come to stand with and for God against Pharaoh. But right now we need to be asking ourselves why we don’t or can’t go forth in faith to witness for our Lord; and we need to do so with the faith that God will never put us in a situation we cannot handle with Him being there with us (see 1st Cor. 10: 13). When we learn that lesson, we can be just as “dangerous” for God as Moses was about to become in Pharaoh’s court.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I go forth to witness for You. Amen

2009 - Day 13 - The Turning Point

January 13, 2009 … Swindoll’s Topic for Today: The Turning Point

Passage of the Day: Genesis 41: 1 - 16 ... Please read and study this passage to which you are linked here.

My Journal for Today: And after I read that this morning, Charles Swindoll in his devotional makes a good point. That day when Joseph woke up I doubt if he had an inkling that his day would be a turning point in his life. Swindoll reminds me that the day Moses would witness the burning bush probably looked like any other dull and dreary day in the life of a shepherd when he woke up. And young David, who was out there in the fields watching over his daddy’s flocks, on the morning before he was to be anointed king by Samuel as the king-elect, probably had no clue that the day was to be a turning point in his life.

I remember that day on April 13, 1983 when I woke up to head in to work. And little did I know that when I plunked in a cassette tape in my car’s tape player to listen on the way to work that what I was to hear, and what was to happen shortly thereafter, would change the course of my life forever – yes, even my eternal life. Because on that morning I heard a story and some things transpired shortly thereafter that broke me to the point of me being able to receive Christ as my Savior and Lord. Yes, for me that morning, which started out as just another day, was THE TURNING POINT for my life.

And for Joseph, his day, depicted in Gen. 41, when he woke up as a prisoner in a dungeon in Egypt, had spent two full years there and had been passed over by the very man he was about to see in Pharaoh’s court again. But as events unfolded, Joseph began to see that that things would never be the same for him again.

You’ve read it in today’s highlight passage above. Joseph was brought to the king’s court because FINALLY Pharaoh’s butler, prompted by the king having a dream which couldn’t be interpreted by all the Egyptian wise men, remembered that Joseph, two years before, had interpreted his dream accurately. And so, Pharaoh called for Joseph and laid out the dream, telling him, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”

And don’t you just love Joseph’s humble witness, as he retorts, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” As Swindoll point out, most of us, being put in Joseph’s place would probably have said something like, “Yeah; good Pharaoh; … and if that dude over there (pointing to the Butler) had just remembered me two years ago, I would have been here a lot earlier to help you with your dreams” But there were no sour grapes from Joseph. No, this was a man, as we pointed out yesterday, who had been put through the caldron of heat for two years; and he was ready for this TURNING POINT moment. And his reply was cool and calculated … humble to the core, conditioned by his readiness from the previous two years.

I’m thinking about that this morning as I sit here in my quiet time with God. I say to myself, “What could happen today which could be a turning point for me or for someone else?” Yesterday, our cleaning lady told me that she’d like for me to help a friend of hers come to receive Christ into her life. Who knows, maybe on that day, God might use me to be part of His design in the turning point in someone’s eternal life. Yes, who knows? Well, God knows; … and that’s all I need to know.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I’m in your hands. If this is to be a turning point day; I’m ready! Amen