Tag: DEVOTIONAL

Christian

Don’t Judge by Appearances

Cindy Dawson

In 1884 a young man died and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him.  With that in mind they met with Dr. Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University.  Dr. Eliot received the modestly dressed couple into his office and asked how he could help them.

After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial to honor their son, Dr. Eliot impatiently said, “You know, I don’t have much time today, what would you like to give?  Perhaps a partial scholarship?’  The woman replied, “We are thinking of something more substantial than that.  Is it possible to maybe build a building for our son?”

In a patronizing tone, Dr. Eliot indicated the idea was probably a bit too expensive and he asked them to consider giving a scholarship in their son’s name and come back to see him next week when he had more time.  Dr. Eliot never saw them again.

One year later Dr. Eliot learned that this quiet, unassuming couple who were wanting to honor the memory of their son had gone out to California and established a $26 million dollar memorial named after their son.  Then it was called Leland Stanford Junior University.  Today it is simply called Stanford.

We all know the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Perhaps truer words were never spoken. As you can see from the story above, that can be a huge mistake!

Yet perhaps we do it more than we think we do. My sister used to work for a home builder. People would come in and tour beautiful model homes. She told me that some of the wealthiest people looked the most ordinary. You couldn’t tell by appearances who could afford these extravagant homes.

Jesus says in John 7:24: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Only God knows the heart of a person.  Only God knows their motivations.

Assumptions can be dangerous.  Jesus is warning us to beware of making assumptions about other people.

(This post was inspired by a post by Bruce Cooper in Reasoned Cases for Christ which you can read here.)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Friday’s Verse, 6/21/24

Cindy Dawson

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience … ” Hebrews 10:22 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

Verse for Meditation, 6/20/24

Cindy Dawson

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV

An old minister once said, “It’s not what you say, but what you do and who you are that makes the impact.”

Yes, we are to be holy and turn away from sinful desires. That’s true. But is that what he’s talking about? I think he’s talking about loving your neighbor.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 6/14/24

Cindy Dawson

“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 9:14 NLT

My thoughts: We don’t have to live with shame and guilt because Christ has purified our consciences. He has made us NEW! PRAISE HIS NAME!

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 5/29/24

Cindy Dawson

(Satan) is amazingly effective at making lies believable … the only hope we have of being able to spot his lies is to be intimately familiar with the truth. We must be so well versed in the truth, so faithful to the truth, and such a doer of truth that he will not be able to deceive us with his lies. Apart from the Word of God, we are sitting ducks!”

Jim Osman, Truth or Territory?

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 5/28/24

Cindy Dawson

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NIV Read full chapter

Note: Context is important to properly understand verse 13.

“Christian contentment is the God-given ability to be satisfied with the loving provision of God in any and every situation.” Charles Kelley

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

Unveiling David’s Secret: Loving and Cherishing God’s Word

Cindy Dawson

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22

There are no words I would rather hear from the Lord than “She is a woman after my own heart; she will do everything I want her to do.”

I sought to understand how David did this. How was he able to do everything God wanted him to do? How did he know and do God’s will? How was he so different than others that God would say such a beautiful thing about him?

The answer is found in Psalm 119. David repeatedly proclaims how much he loves God’s Word. Here are a few important verses, but I urge you to read the entire Psalm HERE. Notice that this man whom God called “a man after my own heart” loved and cherished God’s Holy Word.

“I will speak of your statutes before kings
    and will not be put to shame,
 for I delight in your commands
    because I love them.” Psalm 119:46-47

I think David is saying, “I will not be intimidated by anyone’s status. I will speak God’s Truth.”

“The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” vs. 72

If we want to be a woman (or man) “after God’s own heart”, we must be a lover of His Word. This is how we will do “everything He wants us to do.” There is no other way.

New Age-influenced “Bible teachers” have taught a way to pray called contemplative prayer. This method teaches Christians to have a conversation or dialog with God. They say, “God said this. I said that. Then God said…” etc.

There is nothing in the Bible to back this up. This is New Age mysticism. The Bible is our treasure. Why must we always search for something more? (Read a brief description of contemplative prayer HERE, or an in-depth description HERE.)

If we want to know God’s will, we must read and study the Word of God: the Bible. Then we must obey what it says.

This may not always be easy. Social pressure to go along with the world is tremendous. But the person who does God’s will is the person who knows His Word and obeys it.

“The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

This verse tells me that God’s Word can and should be trusted. It will make even the simple person wise. But contemplative prayer seeks more than what is written in God’s Word. The person engaging in contemplative prayer seeks a supernatural experience. But God’s Word is sufficient.

“Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.” Psalm 119:43 NIV

“Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
    who have forsaken your law.” vs.53

“I am your servant; give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.” vs. 125

“Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
    for your law is not obeyed.” vs. 136

“My zeal wears me out,
    for my enemies ignore your words.” vs. 139

These proclamations by David reveal his heart, his love for, and his respect for God’s Word. Remember, it is God’s Word that equips you for service.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

All Scripture references are NIV.

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Verses for Meditation, 5/9/24

Cindy Dawson

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Christian

How To Be a Discerning Christian

Cindy Dawson

The Bible warns us about false teachers. Yes, they exist today. But how do we know what is true and what is false? This is an important question. The answer is we must be discerning Christians.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about The Skill of Discernment. (Read it HERE.) Since then, I came across an excellent comparison that I want to share with you. In his book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, Tim Challies compares spiritual discernment with identifying counterfeit currency.

Challies writes, “We can best know what is wrong by first knowing what is right. Experts on counterfeit currency know this as well. They train others first to know the traits of genuine currency because such knowledge will make apparent what is fraudulent.”

Experts in counterfeit money study every aspect of their currency including how it feels and every detail of its appearance and color. Only after they do this are they shown counterfeit currency. And guess what? They know immediately what is not real!

In the same way, it is only after we know the Bible well that we will be able to recognize false teaching. A mature Christian is a Christian who knows the Bible well. This is an important point because the Bible says that the immature Christian can be blown here and there by every kind of teaching (meaning false teaching). That makes sense, right? Ephesians 4:12-14 NASB says,

“… for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the [b]knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature [c]which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 [d]As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness [e]in deceitful scheming;“

One thing about children, they’ll believe almost anything. And like children, immature Christians will believe almost anything, especially if it sounds good.

So the question is: How well do you know the Bible? How many times have you read it from cover to cover? How many times have you read the New Testament? Are you reading the Bible for yourself? Or do you rely on books about the Bible?

I challenge you to read the Bible from cover to cover at least twice before you read the Christian Best Sellers. Otherwise, how can you discern if what you are reading is true? Maybe you are thinking, “Oh I just know.” – I wouldn’t be so sure of that. But don’t take my word for it. Consider what the Bible says.

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:29-31 NIV) Read full chapter

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. …21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Jesus (Matthew 7:15, and 21-24 NIV) Read full chapter

“2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” The Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV) Read full chapter

Remember this: “We can best know what is wrong by first knowing what is right.”

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

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Friday’s Verse, 4/26/24

Cindy Dawson

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV Read full chapter

When faced with a vast enemy attack, Jehoshaphat cried out to God. Read this amazing story about trusting the Lord when YOU don’t know what to do.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel

Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

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