Enjoy the reading Daily Devotions *Our Need for Spiritual Discernment Thursday, June 6, 2013 Philippians 1:8-11 Have you ever asked yourself, How do I know this is the right decision? Often there’s no scripture that addresses in detail the particular choice we need to make—for example, what kind of car to buy, the best investment to make, which job to accept, or whether to work or spend time with the family when overtime hours are offered. Rather than specifying exhaustive rules that speak to every possible situation in life, God’s Word contains principles and instructions to guide our decision making. That is not to say God hands us His Book and then leaves us alone. To ensure that our feet remain on the right path, He grants us spiritual discernment—the capacity to judge between right and wrong, wise and unwise, good and best. In cultivating such discernment, we’re inviting God to be intimately involved in all our decisions; there is no matter too insignificant for His consideration and assistance. A plan that is outside the Lord’s will—or even good decisions formulated without consulting Him—can short-circuit His plan to give us His best. Spiritual discernment protects us from making decisions based on what looks good or feels right. We are limited to five senses and our experience, but God views our lives from a vantage point of infinite knowledge. Our instructor, the Holy Spirit, teaches us the wisdom of God’s way and knows precisely how to apply it to our unique circumstances. As we develop a habit of following His promptings, our senses become trained to distinguish good from evil, and we mature spiritually (Heb. 5:14). ----------------------------------- Leading From The Front June 6, 2013 — by Bill Crowder Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn Read: Psalm 23 He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. —Psalm 23:2-3 Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 25-27; John 16 Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers follows the US Army’s Easy Company from training in Georgia through the Normandy Invasion of D-Day (June 6, 1944) and ultimately to the end of World War II in Europe. For the bulk of that time, Easy Company was led by Richard Winters. Winters was an especially good officer because he led from the front. The most commonly heard words from Winters in combat were, “Follow me!” Other officers may have sought the safety of the rear areas, but if Winters’ men were going into combat, he was going to lead them. Jesus is the one true Leader of His children. He knows what we need and where we are most vulnerable. His leading is part of what makes Psalm 23 the most beloved song in the Bible’s hymnal. In verse 2, David says that the Shepherd “leads me beside the still waters,” and in verse 3 he adds, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” These twin ideas reveal why His care is so complete. Whether it is times of refreshing and strengthening (“still waters”) or seasons of doing what pleases Him (“paths of righteousness”), we can follow Him. As the old song says, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow.” My Lord knows the way through the wilderness; All I have to do is follow. Strength for today is mine always And all that I need for tomorrow. —Cox Jesus knows the way—follow Him! ------------------------------------------------- Shine by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk Entertainment Editor "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 It was a year after I had graduated college and I had just moved into my first apartment. The whole process of leaving home had been surreal for me. For the first time in my life I was on my own, making my own meals, working my own job, the sense of independence was almost overwhelming. On top of it all, I was no longer living under the umbrella of the Church. Ever since I was a child there had always been some kind of Christian influence in my life, now it was all left up to me. I suppose I could say this is when I started having wild parties and committing unspeakable sins, but the truth is I’m not that interesting. In fact, nothing about my life really changed except for one small detail: I stopped telling people I was a Christian. I didn’t seem like that big of a deal, and a small part of me had always chaffed at being the "good Christian boy," so I kept my faith quiet as I went out into my new life. I didn’t realize what a stupid mistake I’d made until much later, with a little help from the following verse, "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. ‘For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.’ And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." – Luke 8:16-21 I understand how life is getting more and more difficult for young Christians. We are demonized in the media, called “outdated” by society, and often caught in the crossfire of politics. In this environment it is so tempting to just shut our beliefs behind a door and keep it all to ourselves, but that is not what God has commanded us to do. Like it says in Luke 8, our faith was not meant to be kept secret, but to be held high proudly so that the world may see it. We have a family in Christ, one we should never deny. Intersecting Faith and Life: Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is by his sacrifice that we are saved. Further Reading John 14:4
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:21:54 +0000
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