Today’s Devotional |
Today's Devotional
- Memory Verse
- Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:12).
You can’t take it with you.
But you can send it on ahead.
The Bible is clear in its teaching that no one can earn heaven through good works:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus 3:5). Neither are we saved by faith and works: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Salvation is by faith alone: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Equally clear is the truth that the saved can lay up rewards in heaven through faithful service for Christ. And these rewards may be the most underrated possible possessions in the universe.
One of the shocks of heaven will be the revelation of what really should have counted on earth. Riches here compared to rewards there will seem unimportant. We will wonder at our folly and the lack of wisdom in our present priorities.
We must lay down riches here to lay them up in heaven.
Interest rates here will seem small compared to God’s hundredfold paid in heaven. Where are your investments?
Heaven’s dividends are eternal.
Daily Devotionals
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…”
Psalm 42:1, 2
“Soul Food” is a daily devotional written by Dr. Jack Van Impe that brings God’s Word to life.
“The Tender Touch” is a weekly devotional from the heart of Dr. Rexella Van Impe.
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- Soul Food
- Tender Touch
- Memory Verse
- And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).
Millions have joined in singing the great song of fellowship, “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” written by John Fawcett, an English Baptist minister. The song was written to commemorate an experience in Fawcett’s life.
In 1772, after only a few years in pastoral work, John Fawcett was called to a large and influential church in London. His farewell sermon had been preached in his country church in Yorkshire and the wagons loaded with his furniture and books stood ready for departure to the new home and work.
Fawcett’s congregation was brokenhearted.
Men, women, and children gathered about him and his family with sad and tearful faces.
Finally, overwhelmed with the sorrow of those they were leaving, Dr. Fawcett and his wife sat down on one of the packing cases and gave way to tears.
“Oh, John!” lamented Fawcett’s wife, “I cannot bear this! I know not how to go!”
“Nor I, either,” returned her husband. “And we will not go. The wagons shall be unloaded, and everything put in its old place.”
The congregation was filled with joy and their continued fellowship was the basis for the song by John Fawcett that has blessed so many for so long.
The Early Church was strong in fellowship.
The church that is strong in fellowship is strong in its witness in the community.
What are you doing to deepen fellowship in your church?
- Memory Verse
- Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (Acts 3:6).
Luke, the physician, wrote the Book of Acts. It is properly called The Acts of the Apostles. And it is a book of action; the story of the Early Church on the move.
The first Christians had little of this world’s goods. They had no expensive church buildings, none of the things that make a church appear successful in our day.
People are easily awed by trappings that are designed to impress, but spiritual power is far more important. The church at Laodicea, described in the Book of Revelation, looked prosperous but was poor in the areas that really mattered: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked...” (Revelation 3:17).
As Dr. Luke recorded the experience of Peter and John in their encounter with the lame man, he must have felt the pain and frustration of this one who had been afflicted for so long. Luke knew the limitation of man in helping some who are helpless.
“Silver and gold have I none,” said Peter. And the poor man’s heart must have drooped. But then the blessing came...he was healed of his affliction.
Peter had neither silver nor gold and therefore was not accountable to give what he did not have. But what he did have was exactly what the blind man needed.
Let us give “such as we have” that others may be blessed.
- Memory Verse
- Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee (Psalm 73:25).
Upon the death of Anne Sullivan, her patient, painstaking teacher, Helen Keller said, “I look forward to the world to come where all physical limitations will drop from me like shackles; I shall again find my beloved teacher, and engage joyfully in greater service than I have yet known!”
A man of God once sat at our table and reminisced about his son who had died in the service of our country. He had been an only child and had looked forward to entering the ministry upon his return from the war. The good man shared his heart with us and said that he and his wife were looking forward to heaven to see their son.
Many anticipate heaven because a friend or loved one is there whom they long to see. Heaven will be a place of glad reunions but the greatest thrill of all will be our meeting with Jesus... our most faithful friend.
Christians have a friend in heaven. Joseph Scriven said it well: “What a friend we have in Jesus!”
People often boast of having friends in high places. Let one know the President or one of his cabinet and he will announce it to the news media so that all his friends and neighbors will know of his important connection with one in power. Name dropping becomes his favorite pastime. But we have a friend in the highest place in the universe. No earthly sphere of influence compares with the throne of God.
And our friend is there.
Aren’t you glad you have a friend in heaven?
- Memory Verse
- The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men (Psalm 11:4).
Heaven is the focal point of the universe.
God’s throne is in heaven.
Justice and judgment proceed from the throne of God. There are many wrongs in the world as a result of sin. Wars rage. Oppression thrives. Dishonesty is rampant. Evil people seem to prosper. But God will make everything right. There will be a day of reckoning. The Psalmist declared: “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne... “ (Psalm 89:14).
God’s throne is a throne of grace. While none deserve the privilege of prayer, God deals with us in grace. Thankfully, our merit is not a factor. We come to the throne on the basis of Christ’s death for us on the cross: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
The throne of God is a place of breathtaking beauty. John described it as follows: “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald... And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal...” (Revelation 4:2, 3, 6)
The throne of God is a place of praise: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy... “ (Revelation 5:9).
Someday we will join the heavenly choir... and sing His praise!
- Memory Verse
- But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14).
Following a Sunday evening service, I saw a woman crying at the rear of the church. Upon questioning her about her burden, I discovered she had recently lost a child in an accident and that the minister who had conducted the funeral had told her the child was lost because he had not been baptized. How good it was to show her from the Bible that children go to heaven when they die!
Jesus had time for children. The disciples, thinking He was too busy, rebuked those who brought their little ones to the Saviour, but Jesus reversed the action of His disciples and revealed His great love for boys and girls. What a thrill it must have been for the parents standing there to see the Lord fulfill their desires concerning their children. He laid His hands on them and prayed for them as the parents had requested.
And wouldn’t it have been great to be one of those children? Imagine the impact of this experience when it was known later that He had risen from the grave.
The One who came down from heaven had time. The Eternal One. Yet, we often get so taken with our importance that we think we do not have time for others, especially children. When we stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will surprise us to find out how badly we sorted the important from the unimportant. Hours and opportunities that escape us can never be brought back. Learn a priceless lesson from Jesus.
Take time!
- Memory Verse
- Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (Revelation 1:3).
Israel is a nation.
Russia has a form of government built on atheism.
The Common Market moves toward a United States of Europe.
What does it all mean?
To most students of the Bible it means that we are living in the last days.
The weight of evidence for the truth of Bible prophecy is now so strong that any informed person would have to close his eyes to escape seeing its fulfillment.
Christ is coming!
He will come in fulfillment of His promise to the disciples: “I will come again, and receive
you unto myself” (John 14:3).
He will come as promised by the two angels who appeared at His ascension. These heavenly messengers announced, “This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
He will come as described by Paul, the apostle: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).
Yes, Jesus will return.
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
- Memory Verse
- Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (John 12:5).
Judas was a complainer. Though Pilate could find no fault in Jesus, Judas did. Some are specialists at picking flaws. Life will be better if you refuse to hear them.
Refuse to hear the “daily downers.” Some thrive on complaints. They enjoy ill health and spread their contagion everywhere they go. Even God cannot please them and they spend their lives blind to His blessings. Though sometimes feigning spirituality, they know nothing of the Bible command to “do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). Their cups overflow — with vinegar.
Refuse to hear criticism of others. When hypercritical people find fault and gossip in your presence, tune them out. Change the subject. Inject conversation that fits Paul’s call for continual praise: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
So, practice that delightful deafness that breaks the chain of criticism and complaining. If you have been the guilty one, confess this serious sin to the Lord and claim His forgiveness.
Weigh your words; they’ll be weighed again in judgment.
The ancient Greeks loved the theater. Their
writers created elaborate stories -- both comedies
and tragedies -- in the form of plays to be acted out
in their amphitheaters.
Greek actors, skilled at playing many roles,
switched from one character to another by going
backstage and changing masks. When an actor
returned to the stage with a new face he became
another person.
The Greek word for one of these people of many
faces was hypokrite -- or hypocrite in English. It
has come to mean one who acts out a part or
pretends to be what he is not.
In the New Testament Jesus chided the religious
elite of His day, the scribes and Pharisees who
were more concerned with the traditions and
ceremonies of serving God than the meaning and
purpose of God's laws. He said, Well hath Esaias
prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written,
This people honoureth me with their lips, but
their heart is far from me (Mark 7:6).
Today so many who call themselves Christians
have an extensive collection of masks they can put
on and take off at will. They wear many different
faces, depending on where they are, who they are
with, and what they are doing.
Don't misunderstand me -- I'm not talking
about being able to perform different functions as
a person. A man may be a husband, father,
businessman, sports enthusiast, handyman, scholar,
and spiritual leader. A woman may be a wife,
mother, counselor, chef, chauffeur, seamstress,
designer, musician, gardener, etc. But in both
examples, the individual can remain the same
person while performing various functions.
Hypocrisy comes from attempting to be
completely different people according to the
environment or situation in which we find ourselves. And
all of us are tempted to try our hand at role playing
at one time or another.
The real you!
Do you ever find yourself acting one way at
church, another way at home, and still another at
work? Have you ever considered allowing your
values, appearance, vocabulary, personality, and
behavior to change dramatically from Sunday to
Monday... from your work place to your home...
from public to private life?
Are there times when you wonder who -- and
what -- is the real you?
Several years ago, Dr. Van Impe and I knew of a
young evangelist who had enormous ability. He
was handsome, knowledgeable, and articulate.
He spoke with eloquence, diction, and power. It
seemed certain that he would become one of the
most effective ministers in America.
I remember especially his strong messages
about the evils of alcohol and how the devil was
using strong drink to cause untold misery and
destroy countless lives.
Then, in the prime of his life, this young
minister suddenly died! In an instant he was gone.
Later, it was revealed that he had fought an
unending personal battle with liquor. Many nights
after his evangelistic services he drank himself
into an alcoholic stupor. How tragic that he
proclaimed the life-changing, transforming power of
Christ's salvation to multiplied thousands, yet
never accepted God's deliverance from the satanic
bondage that enslaved him.
Mixed signals
One troubled young man in California came to
as after a service and said, "I don't understand my
dad's religion. He's a deacon in the church and he
seems so pious and so holy. But when he comes
home, he yells and swears at my mother." This
boy was troubled at the mixed signals he was
receiving from his father's behavior. He realized
that something was dreadfully wrong.
The Apostle James asked, Doth a fountain
send forth at the same place sweet water and
bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive
berries? (James 3:11,12).
Of course not! Then why is it that we often see
entire casts of characters wrapped up in a single
individual? Sometimes we're not quite sure
which face they will show us next. How can this
happen?
I believe it may be explained by noting that man
loses the awareness of his true identity when he
loses sight of who God is! When man -- either
deliberately or accidentally -- loses sight of God
the Father, he soon loses his way in the resulting
darkness.
The Bible tells how in the beginning the Lord
God himself came into the Garden of Eden to have
fellowship with Adam and Eve. He knew them
personally... and they knew Him.
Then they sinned by disobeying God.
Immediately Adam and Eve changed the way they acted --
they hid themselves from the presence of the
Lord. Ultimately they were driven out of the
Garden... and out of fellowship with God.
From that day on, the human family began to
lose sight of God -- to forget who He was and what
He was really like.
Putting a mask on God
As the years and centuries went by, man created
a picture of God that was so distorted and
mistaken that very few really understood His divine
plan and His tender lovingkindness.
In the eloquent words of Paul the apostle: When
they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, and changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man (Romans 1:21-23).
I like the way The Living Bible expresses verse
21 -- And after a while they began to think up
silly ideas of what God was like and what He
wanted them to do.
In effect, man created a mask -- grotesque and
corrupt -- and used it to cover the face of God. And
darkness again covered the earth and the lives of
men.
It was then that God chose to reveal himself
afresh and anew to all mankind. Paul Scherer
described "the night of all nights when God came
down 'the stairs of heaven with a child in his
arms.'"
Throwing aside the crude mask that man had
placed upon Him, the Father sent His Son, Jesus,
from heaven to earth -- to once again walk among
men and show them who God is and what He is
like. So Jesus came, ministering to the poor,
healing the sick, pouring out boundless love to all
men. "Do you see me and my works?" He asked.
"Then understand that this is the nature of God.
For when you see me, you see the Father."
Identify with God
Oh, my friend, the joy of seeing the Father... of
having fellowship with God! This is the secret of
true self-discovery. For as you find out who God is
and your eternal relationship with Him through
Christ, you will suddenly see yourself in a new
light.
And then, you can strip away all your masks
and faces and go forth in your new identity -- as a
child of God.
Join me in giving thanks for that first
Christmas, when God took off His mask and
revealed himself to us again. If you have not yet
received Him, I urge you now to -- Turn your eyes
upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And
the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the
light of His glory and grace.
All of us at some point in our lives have had
traumatic experiences. Life has a way of forcing us to
cope with difficulty, pain, sorrow, and stress.
Some people seem to come through every test
stronger... and rise above every tumult. Others
appear to be in danger of drowning in their sorrow
...of being totally overcome by seemingly
insurmountable circumstances.
What makes the difference?
I believe a large part of the answer is a matter of
perspective... the point-of-view we have of life and
its challenges.
Let me share with you a beautiful experience of
Dr. Van Impe's and mine which helps reveal the
way I feel we should look at life's problems. It
happened when a special friend of the ministry called
and asked if we'd like to ride in his hot air balloon.
Of course we said yes. And Mr. John Raya, of
Father and Son Construction Co. in Rochester,
Michigan, set a time for us to meet him.
So on a glorious afternoon, we climbed into the
passenger basket and looked up at the beautiful
blue-and-white balloon billowing fifty or sixty feet
above us. My pulse was pounding with excitement
...and I have to admit the tiniest bit of
apprehension gripped my stomach.
But not for long! With a blast of flame from a
propane burner above our heads, additional hot air
was pumped into the balloon... the crew turned
loose of the basket... and we took off -- up, up,
and away!
What a sensation! What a thrill! If you've ever
gone up in a balloon, you know what I mean -- it's
an unforgettable experience.
Ballooning is nothing like flying in an airplane,
enclosed by glass and aluminum. Instead, you
begin to feel like a free spirit -- there is a distinct
sense of physical disembodiment as you feel
yourself floating upward, leaving the earth, rising
higher and higher.
A new way to see!
First of all, I was astonished at what I could see.
There was more sky than earth! Once above the
walls and enclosures of man-made structures, a
panorama of incredible beauty and unlimited
space unfolded all around me. I remember
thinking that this must be like seeing things from
God's viewpoint.
In their now miniature size, things that
appeared so important on the ground seemed
somehow insignificant. Dented car fenders, a
burned-out house, rushing traffic -- everything
seemed to blend into a much larger background.
The walls and fences separating people
diminished before my eyes and faded into mere lines in a
magnificent tapestry of soft color and interwoven
patterns.
I began to see a bigger picture of life itself.
Suddenly I understood as never before how
even events that seem like disasters close-up can
actually disappear into the perfect pattern of
God's master plan for our lives. And rather than
being overwhelmed, it is possible to accept each
circumstance as a purposeful part of God's will...
of His greater good for us!
How good it is to develop our spiritual sight in
faith. If only we would make it a practice to allow
the Holy Spirit to lift us above ourselves and see
our situation from God's viewpoint.
A new way to hear!
The second thing I discovered up in the balloon
was that in addition to a new way to look, there
was also a new way to listen.
As a musician, I am very conscious of sound --
of voices, cries, music. Floating hundreds of feet
in the air, I discovered there was no noise -- no
traffic roar, no barking dogs, no ringing
telephones, no blaring radios or TV sets. There was
only the soft sigh of the wind... and the silence.
It was so quiet I could almost hear my own
heartbeat. I actually had to get used to hearing
nothing. And in the soothing, uninterrupted
silence, I felt a healing, restoring power washing out
my brain and smoothing down the wrinkles in my
inner being.
With crystal clarity, I sensed a message of
reassuring love being whispered inside my heart in a
still, small voice. I recognized that Voice! And
suddenly I thrilled with new understanding of what
my Heavenly Father meant when He gently
commanded, Be still, and know that I am God
(Psalm 46:10).
On that crisp autumn afternoon, drifting
quietly above the patchwork quilts of the earth and
under the brilliant blue of the heavens, I knew God
afresh and anew.
Satisfied!
The Lord ministered to me through all my
senses on that special day. In addition to being
blessed through seeing and hearing, I became so
aware of God's presence that I could almost reach
out and touch Him -- I'm sure I felt Him touch me!
And smell -- the air above our beloved Michigan
homeland was so pure, so unpolluted at that
height. I've never smelled anything so clean. It
was like the very breath of God... exhilarating...
delicious!
I distinctly remember being aware that my
senses were totally filled up -- that I wanted
nothing to be satisfied. I had no need for food or
drink. I could cry out with the Psalmist David, O
taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
All too soon our balloon ride came to an end, and
it was time to descend back to earth. Almost
reluctantly we left the sky and stood once more on the
ground.
But I'll never be quite the same again. How
much I learned about Christian living through
what I experienced that day up in the balloon.
I'm told that in stormy weather, that greatest of
birds, the eagle, does not seek a shelter or place of
refuge. Instead, he flies high into the sky, turns
into the wind and sets his wings so that the very
force of the storm lifts him safely above it.
Surely it is no coincidence that God's Word
declares --
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).
I heard a story recently about a nagging wife
who kept writing complaining letters to her
serviceman husband who was on combat duty in
another country. Finally, after receiving yet
another hateful letter, the husband wrote back,
"Will you please stop writing me vicious letters so
I can fight this war in peace?"
We all want peace, don't we? Personally and
nationally we crave it. Yet, so few of us find it.
I've read that over half the beds in our hospitals
today are filled with people who have mental
problems. These individuals have desperately sought
for peace but haven't found it. At last, they have
reached the place where they can no longer cope
with life, and they have become ill.
A noted doctor once said that if all the
tranquilizers were taken away from the American people,
we would have a national nervous breakdown so
big there wouldn't be enough well people to take
care of the sick ones. People who take
tranquilizers are trying to push the turbulence in
their lives out of their minds. They have to resort
to a little pill to put them in "peaceful" oblivion.
My heart goes out to those who do not know the
meaning of peace. Each day is a repetition of the
previous one, filled with hostility, despair, and
loneliness. They are miserable, frustrated, and
unhappy with themselves and everyone around
them.
A picture of peace
Remember the story of the rich man who
commissioned an artist to paint him a picture
illustrating true peace. The artist painted a
beautiful picture of a lake surrounded by trees. In the
distance were majestic, snow-covered mountains.
When the rich man saw it, he shook his head.
"It's very beautiful," he told the artist, "but it's not
a picture of true peace. Please try again."
This time the artist thought a long time before
he began to paint. On the canvas, he painted a
huge, thundering waterfall. He showed the water
churning over the falls and crashing onto rocks far
below. Then, at one side of the waterfall, he
painted a birch tree whose slender branches
reached out over the roaring water. On one of the
branches, he painted a little bird sitting quietly
and contentedly on her nest, oblivious to the
danger around her.
That is true peace -- not an escape from the
pressures and trials of life but the quiet repose of a
heart at rest with God. Jesus said, These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but
be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
(John 16:33).
Jesus' life was anything but peaceful. Yet, His
last legacy to His disciples and to all those who
would follow Him was the promise of peace. Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John
14:27).
I love the old hymn that goes:
Trust and rest when all around thee
Let no fear or foe confound thee,
Wait for God and trust and rest.
Trust and rest with heart abiding,
Like a birdling in its nest,
Underneath His feathers hiding,
Fold thy wings and trust and rest.
I don't know the things in your life that cause
you unrest and destroy your peace. But I want to
remind you that there is a way to handle them.
God has given us guidelines that can take us
through these troublesome times.
Guidelines for troubled times
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said,
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). What
does that mean to you in your everyday life? It
means that if you will turn your thoughts to God,
He will take control. Then, regardless of the
conditions around you, you have His abiding peace, joy,
patience -- whatever you need at the moment -- to
draw on.
The Apostle Paul tells us that He [Jesus] is our
[way of] peace (Ephesians 2:14). It's only when we
follow after Him that the walls of hostility which
surround us come tumbling down. He is our way
of living at peace with others. Paul also speaks of
those who do not seek after God, and he observes
that they do not know the way of peace (see
Romans 3:17).
A verse that has helped so many who were going
through turbulent times is Isaiah 26:3, Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on thee: because he trusteth in thee. When you
keep your mind on the Lord and trust
unwaveringly in Him, you can truly live in peace though
the world around you be filled with turmoil and
strife.
My prayer for you today is that... the peace of
God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus (Philippians 4:7).