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So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. You might be shocked to know that the average American family owes about $16,000 in credit card debt. That’s astounding. And you would think that this amount among Christians would be significantly lower, but it isn’t! The truth is that countless Christians today are in financial bondage. It’s so bad that many are unable to freely give to the Lord as God would have them. And as you’re thinking about the upcoming Christmas season, maybe you’re really considering doing a little “plastic surgery” by cutting up some of those credit cards. It saddens me when I look at the financial state of many in the American church. They spend so much on temporary pleasures and forget that every penny they have is really God’s. Financial stewardship is about more than simply giving to the church, as you’re able. It’s about spending every penny you have to the glory of God. I’m not saying you can’t have fun or buy nice things, but you should always ask with every purchase, “Is God getting the glory here, or am I?” Do you want to have financial freedom? Then discover what stewardship really is by spending every penny you have for God’s glory. BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP MEANS SPENDING EVERY PENNY LIKE IT’S GOD’S. SO WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SPENDING, GLORIFY GOD IN EVERYTHING YOU BUY AND YOU’LL FIND REAL FINANCIAL FREEDOM!

The Importance of Intercession

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1–4

If we kept careful record of our focus during the time we spend in prayer, most Christians would find that a great majority of our praying is self-focused. Yet while we are invited and encouraged to pray for our needs to be met, and we do so, there are many more commands given to us in Scripture to pray for the needs of others. If there is one single missing ingredient in the prayer life of the modern church that keeps us from seeing God work as we long to see, it is no doubt the lack of intercession. E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer must be broad in its scope—it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men.”
A Christian who prays only for himself is not only self-focused, but he is self-limiting. At his disposal is the incredible opportunity for prayer to impact the lives of others, yet he is using prayer only for his own needs. We need Christians who will pray beyond the confines of their home, their family, their job, and their health.
The night before His death on the cross, Jesus certainly spent time praying for His own strength and the coming trial. But first He prayed, not just for His disciples, but for us as well. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (John 17:20). The Apostle Paul, likewise, prayed regularly and fervently for others. He began almost each epistle sharing that he was giving thanks and praying for the spiritual growth of those to whom he wrote.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The impact of our lives on others will be strongest through prayer.

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For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:14-16 If you could ask God to perform one miracle in your life today, what would it be? Maybe you would ask Him to put your marriage back together. Perhaps you would ask God to bring home a rebellious child. Or, maybe you’d ask for physical healing or a financial miracle. Do you believe God can work those kinds of miracles in people’s lives? I do. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). But sometimes I think many in the church today look at the great stories of the Bible and wonder, “Does God still work powerfully today?” Maybe you’ve even thought, “Well, God’s a lot older now and He just doesn’t do the things that He used to do way back in biblical times.” But let me tell you that this line of thinking is not correct. In fact, you and I have more of the power of God at our fingertips today than many of the heroes of the Bible ever did because we have the Holy Spirit living in us! So whatever difficulty you’re facing, never forget that God is still in the business of doing miracles today and can do one in your life! As a believer in Christ, you have God’s miracle-working spirit inside of you. So whatever difficulty you’re facing today, trust that God can do a miracle in your life.

When Only Prayer Will Do

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17:19–21
While Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, a desperate father brought his demon-possessed son to the other disciples and sought for help. Despite the fact that they had cast demons out of other people, they could do nothing with this one. It was not until Jesus returned, that the young man’s father’s prayers were answered and the boy was delivered. When the disciples asked the Lord what made the difference, He told them it was a lack of prayer on their part.
Dr. John Rice said, “My greatest sin, and yours, is prayerlessness. My indecision, my lack of wisdom, my lack of guidance come directly out of my prayerlessness. All the times I have fallen into sin, have failed in my duties, have been bereft of power, or disconsolate for lack of comfort, I can charge to the sin of prayerlessness. Oh! Horrible sin, the lack of prayer!”
So many Christians are frustrated because they are trying to do in their own strength what can only be accomplished through the power of God. And the means by which God has ordained to release that power in our lives is prayer. Yet despite the fact that we are told this again and again in the Bible, how often we fail to pray? Intense, serious, passionate prayer, even to the point of fasting, is required to deal with the issues that life throws at us. Without prayer we will falter and fail.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s work will not have the power to succeed in our lives unless we are truly people of prayer.

When Only Prayer Will Do

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17:19–21

While Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, a desperate father brought his demon-possessed son to the other disciples and sought for help. Despite the fact that they had cast demons out of other people, they could do nothing with this one. It was not until Jesus returned, that the young man’s father’s prayers were answered and the boy was delivered. When the disciples asked the Lord what made the difference, He told them it was a lack of prayer on their part.
Dr. John Rice said, “My greatest sin, and yours, is prayerlessness. My indecision, my lack of wisdom, my lack of guidance come directly out of my prayerlessness. All the times I have fallen into sin, have failed in my duties, have been bereft of power, or disconsolate for lack of comfort, I can charge to the sin of prayerlessness. Oh! Horrible sin, the lack of prayer!”
So many Christians are frustrated because they are trying to do in their own strength what can only be accomplished through the power of God. And the means by which God has ordained to release that power in our lives is prayer. Yet despite the fact that we are told this again and again in the Bible, how often we fail to pray? Intense, serious, passionate prayer, even to the point of fasting, is required to deal with the issues that life throws at us. Without prayer we will falter and fail.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s work will not have the power to succeed in our lives unless we are truly people of prayer.

Making the personal decision to follow Christ.

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And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 Billy Graham, in my estimation, was one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Christian faith. I once heard him talk about his son, Franklin, who grew up with a very godly mother and father. But when Franklin was about 25 years old, he realized that he didn’t know Christ. Here he had grown up in the home of Billy Graham, but didn’t know the Lord! So Franklin personally received Christ. And now as you know he leads his late father’s ministry and he works in some of the most troubled spots in the world for the advancement of the Gospel. But first he had to realize that being a member of Billy Graham’s family didn’t get him into heaven. Only a personal faith could. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in Billy Graham’s family or Osama bin Laden’s, you must personally receive Christ as your Lord and Savior to be saved. Salvation is a personal decision and each and every person is held to account for it! Maybe you’ve grown up in a Christian home. Or, maybe you’ve been raised in a very un-Christian home. Either way, you have the choice today to personally follow Christ or not to do so. So no matter your background, step out in faith and receive forgiveness through Christ today! WHATEVER YOUR FAMILY BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE A PERSONAL DECISION TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO JESUS CHRIST. SO TRUST IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION FOR FORGIVENESS TODAY!

Silent Christians

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”
Psalm 137:1–4

For God’s people to be surrounded by enemies is not new—it has happened over and over again throughout the centuries. Sadly, however, one of the common responses to hardship and enmity is silence. Instead of publicly declaring our praise of God and our allegiance to Him, we are tempted to put our heads down and try to avoid making waves. At a time when a business or even a church can be sued for trying to practice the faith taught in the Scriptures, it is tempting to avoid taking a firm stand. But it is in the moments of challenge that our voices are most important.
The opening of our mouths in praise and worship to God is not optional in the Christian life. It is not something to practice sporadically or only at certain times. Instead it is to be part of our daily existence, so that all who know us recognize our gratitude toward the God we serve. The silent Christian is a disobedient Christian.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?”
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God created us to praise Him, and this is just as true in difficult times as in times of blessing.

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So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 I was reading an article not long ago about what scientists call ‘parallel realities.’ Essentially, it means an unseen reality that exists alongside something that is seen. You and I may not see it or fully experience it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. You see, every person has his own perceived reality. But beyond that concept of reality there are also unseen realities. For example, a blind person has never seen a cloud, but that doesn’t mean clouds don’t exist. In fact, they’re just as real for the blind person as they are for someone who can walk outside and see them. And certainly, this concept is true concerning faith as well. I’ve never personally seen God. In fact, the Bible says no one has (John 1:18). And I’ve never shaken hands with Jesus Christ. But I believe that God is more real than the words on this page. I’ve heard people say that when it comes to faith, “Give me something of substance. Give me something real.” Well, faith is real! In fact, faith in God will be around long after this world is gone and finished. So when it comes to your faith, get rid of any abstract ethereal concept of God because He is more real than anything you’ll ever experience! GOD IS MORE REAL THAN ANYTHING YOU’LL EXPERIENCE. SO HAVE FAITH THAT HE EXISTS TODAY AND WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU! Recognizing God’s Presence by Dr. Paul Chappell “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:13–14 There never has been a building to compare with the amazing temple constructed by Solomon to provide a place of worship for God. The vision for the building was originally David’s; and when God told the great king it would be his son who would carry out the project, David spent the final years of his life and reign preparing materials and helping Solomon plan for the sacred place that would house the Ark of the Covenant. After years of careful work, when the building was finally complete, Solomon held a great dedication service. During that service, the visible presence of the Spirit of God filled the building in such power that the people could not stay inside. Many people read this story and think how wonderful it would be to see God’s presence displayed like that. Yet in truth, every believer has the same Holy Spirit in his life from the moment of conversion. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16). The problem is not that we do not have God’s presence, but that we often do things that obscure and hinder His work. His glory is present, but we do not see it because of the way in which we are living.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Do not allow anything in your life to hinder the working of the Holy Spirit’s power.

How to Glorify God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:21–23

Billy Bray, the noted English evangelist and preacher of the early 1800s, was saved from a life of drunkenness and sin. In response to the dramatic effect of his conversion, he went everywhere praising God. Bray said, “I can’t help praising God. As I go along the street I lift one foot and it seems to say, ‘Glory!’ and I lift the other, and it seems to say, ‘Amen!’ And they keep on like that all the time I’m walking.”
God delights in hearing the praises and worship of His people. There is nothing that He needs—He is complete in and of Himself, and we cannot add to His wealth or wisdom by anything that we do. Yet He graciously allows us to bring our praise to Him and accepts it as an offering. There are many ways we can glorify God with our lives, but one of the most powerful and most important is to praise Him.
Our praise is important to our own lives, but it also has a powerful impact on those around us. “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them” (Psalm 126:1–2). When we joyfully declare what God has done for us, we create an eagerness in the hearts of others to learn more about Him.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Our culture presents a twisted view of God which we can counter with our honest and heartfelt praise.

The God of Abraham (in the Bible)

Prayer and Overcoming Sin

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.”
Mark 14:37–40

There was a marked difference between Jesus and His disciples the night before the crucifixion. He knew what was coming, but though He had given them warning, the disciples did not recognize the seriousness of what was about to happen. As a result, when it was time to pray, they fell asleep instead. Even after Jesus came back and rebuked them, Peter, James, and John went right back to sleep as soon as He went to pray alone again. Later that very night, because Peter had not fortified himself with prayer, he was vulnerable and failed when the moment of temptation came.
So many times we fill our days and hours with activity—good activity carried out with good intentions—but we neglect to pray. Like Peter we leave ourselves open to temptation when we fail to seek God's face. We must be people of prayer, not just in church or at meals or at bedtime, but on a regular and consistent basis throughout the day. David Brainard said, “Oh! One hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.”
When we do not pray, we are restricted to our own strength. We lose access to the power of God that equips and enables us to overcome the temptations of the devil. Prayer is our protection, and that is why Jesus taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

A Christian who does not pray forfeits the power and protection God offers to overcome temptation.

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My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10 If someone dumped a pile of smelly, dirty trash in your family room, you’d probably be incensed! Yet how many families allow the garbage of our culture into our homes every single day? Did you know the average home today has three TVs, three radios, two CD players, one computer, two DVD players, and one video game system? That’s a lot of the world getting into our family’s heads! And that’s a lot of the impurity and depravity of this world getting into our homes. The best parental control isn’t the movie rating system or the television and video game rating system. The best parental control system is you, moms and dads! Why? Because we’re called to protect our children’s purity. The way we do this is by providing reasonable rules and boundaries regarding media consumption, computer use, dress, and your kids’ friends. First Peter 5:8 says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” This includes your kids and mine! So we must fight the good fight of faith, and that includes displeasing our kids at times in order to protect their purity. WISE FAMILIES ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO LIVE MORALLY PURE LIVES.

No Reason to Fear

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
Psalm 121:3–7

I read about a little girl who was making the transition to sleeping in her own room at night and was struggling with her fear of the dark. She didn’t like being on her own when she wasn’t able to see. When her mother came to tuck her in, the four-year-old pointed to the moon shining outside her window. “Mother,” she asked, “is the moon God’s light?” “Yes,” said her mother. The girl’s next question was, “Will God blow out His light and go to sleep?” And the mother replied, “No, my child. God never goes to sleep.” Then with the simplicity of a child’s faith she said, “Well, so long as God is awake, I am not afraid.”
The basis for our confidence is not a belief that nothing will ever go wrong. The notion that God’s children never suffer the consequences of living in a fallen world sounds attractive, but it is not true. He does not promise to make us comfortable, but to make us like His Son. But He also promises to keep us in His care and only allow us to be touched by those things that are a part of His plan for us. He never takes a day off, and He never leaves us to face trouble on our own. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s unfailing love and care for us give us the basis to trust Him even when we cannot see His plan.

 

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Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 As parents, it’s important to teach your kids to obey you. Because this is how they will learn to obey God! In the verses above, the word instruction is from a Hebrew word that includes the idea of counsel, warning, and correction. Dads, your role in the family is to be firm in instruction, to lay down reasonable rules and fair boundaries, and to give correction and fair discipline. The word teaching in the verses above describes the work of a mom in the house. It’s a word that actually means coaxing or coaching. In other words, moms, your role in teaching is to push the kids a little bit like a mama bird with a nest full of little birds. When it’s time for those baby birds to fly, the mama stirs up the nest, flaps her wings, and coaxes those little birds to elevate! Parents, I want to ask you today, are you teaching your children to obey you? Furthermore, when your kids look at your life, can they see that you’re obeying your heavenly Father?   WISE FAMILIES COMMIT THEMSELVES TO OBEDIENCE. A Proper Sense of Self by Dr. Paul Chappell “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Daniel 4:30–32 The great basketball coach, John Wooden, won a record ten NCAA championships at UCLA. Over the years, he worked with many talented young men, but not all of them reached their potential. In time, he came to realize that the way they viewed themselves determined how they approached both practice and games—and that determined their results. Eventually, Wooden developed the following aphorism he would share with each new team: “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” The devil has taken down many through the snare of pride. It is so easy for us to listen to the voices that tell us we are special and deserve applause and credit. But as the great king Nebuchadnezzar found out when he boasted of his empire, God alone deserves glory and honor. It took him seven years living like an animal to learn his lesson. Pride is a direct attack on God’s divine prerequisites. God hates pride just as much today as He always has. Though He shares good things with us because of His gracious love for us, He will not share His glory. He calls us to praise Him rather than lifting ourselves up in pride. Today’s Growth Principle:  Instead of lifting ourselves in pride, we should lift our hearts and our voices in praise to God.

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Saved Already

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
2 Timothy 1:8–10

Salvation is not something that we will get when we die or when the Lord returns—it is already ours from the moment that we place our faith in Christ as our Saviour. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Believers in Christ Jesus are saved. They are not looked upon as persons who are in a hopeful state, and may ultimately be saved, but they are already saved. Salvation is not a blessing to be enjoyed upon the dying bed, and to be sung of in a future state above, but a matter to be obtained, received, promised, and enjoyed now.”
So many people live with doubts and uncertainty concerning their salvation. They worry about whether they are truly saved, or wonder if they might lose their salvation. God does not want us to live beset by doubt and fear. He not only saves us, but He wants us to know it for certain. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). The Christian who lives without confidence in his salvation will not be an effective worker and witness for the Lord. The devil delights in doubt, but He cannot take away what God has already given.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

If you have put your faith in Christ as your Saviour, live in the glorious assurance and confidence offered to you as a child of God saved by His grace.

God Sees Us All the Same

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”
Ephesians 6:7–9

Among the most unlikely relics recovered after the sinking of the Titanic, was a letter written by first class passenger Alexander Holverson to his mother. Holverson apparently intended to mail it when the great ship reached New York City. But the fateful encounter with the iceberg ended that plan, and the letter was found when Holverson’s body was recovered. The letter was sold in 2017 at auction, fetching a price of more than $165,000. In the three-page letter, Holverson described the ship and his fellow passengers, writing: “Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor is [sic] on this ship. He looks like any other human being, even tho he has millions of money. They sit out on the deck with the rest of us.”
At the time, Astor was one of the richest men in the world. But after placing his expectant wife on the final lifeboat that left the doomed ocean liner, Astor stayed on the deck with most of the other men in first class and perished in the icy waters of the ocean. In the end, despite his great wealth, Astor died just as every person does.
No matter how much we achieve or accomplish, God views us through the same lens—equal in His sight. He does not play favorites or regard some above others. Each person is a fallen sinner in need of His freely-offered grace. Great fame or wealth may gain status in the eyes of the world, but God sees us all the same.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We are commanded to treat all people justly and lovingly without respect of persons just as God treats us.

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“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 I heard about a passive Quaker who had a cantankerous milk cow. And every time he tried to milk that cow, the cow gave him trouble. So on one particular morning, he was trying to get milk and the cow kicked over the milk bucket and spilled it all over the Quaker! So, being the passive man he was, the Quaker didn’t say a word and just began milking again. And about that time the cow reared back and kicked him all the way across the room! He got back up and decided he had had enough. He walked over to the cow and said, “You know that I am a Quaker and therefore, I cannot strike you, nor can I curse you; but I can sell you to a Baptist who will!” Now in the Christian life, you and I are called not to be passive, but to be active for the cause of Christ. And when we read the words of our Lord in today’s passage, they are a call to active Christian living. So, just as Christ was actively obeying His Father during His time here on earth, so you and I are to spend our lives actively living out Jesus’ mission for us!   JUST AS CHRIST LIVED OUT THE FATHER’S MISSION ON EARTH, SO YOU ARE TO ALSO ACTIVELY LIVE OUT THE MISSION JESUS HAS FOR YOU!

Making Much of the Bible

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:1–3

I read about a man in India writing to a friend and giving a report on a mighty work God was doing in his church and his community by saying, “We are having a great rebible here.” His language and grammar may not have been 100 percent correct, but the sentiment is exactly right. What we need is not better methods or new doctrines or cutting edge techniques. What we need is to be “rebibled”—to have the Word of God fill our hearts and minds and to change the way we live.
Thousands of years have passed since the first part of the Bible was recorded. The individual books were penned by a variety of human authors in different countries and different languages. Any human product thus created would be riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions and errors. The Bible, however, is not because each author was inspired by the Holy Spirit so that the words God meant for us to have were faithfully recorded. (See 2 Peter 1:21.)
The Bible is constantly under attack, both from those who deny it and from those who wish to alter it to fit their beliefs and practices. When we set ourselves up to judge what God has said, we destroy our ability to receive His guidance and direction and truth. Exercising faith in God’s Word means more than simply accepting what it says. It is also to follow it in obedience day by day.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God has given us an incredible treasure and resource in His Word, and we must make full use of it.