DAILY BREAD #33

 Our Daily Bread #33

Moving on to more Godliness

ABSOLUTE NEEDS Read: John 4:7-15 My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19      From our first breath until our last, we have few truly essential needs. Without oxygen, we would perish in minutes. We must have food and water. Our bodies, when exhausted, require rest. And in harsh weather, we must seek shelter. So, while we are needy creatures, our basic needs are few.      When it comes to our wants, however, there seems to be no limit. Indeed, the entire advertising industry is devoted to expanding our "needs."      But what about those basic needs we overlook? What about our need for the Bread of Life and the living water of God's truth? What about our need for spiritual fellowship that gives strength, hope, peace, and comfort? The vague dissatisfaction so many people experience is really spiritual malnutrition and thirst. Jesus told a Samaritan woman about water that would become "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4: t4), He had what she truly needed - what Peter later called "the words of eternal life" (6:68).      Have we been ignoring the words of Jesus: "Man shall not live by bread alone"? (Luke 4:4). Have we been failing to nourish our souls while pursuing our wants? "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt.6:33). - Vernon Grounds I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lend, No tender voice like Thine can peace afford; I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. - Hawks JUST AS OUR BODY NEEDS DAILY FOOD, SO DOES OUR SPIRIT.                           JESUS' DIFFICULT WORDS Read: John 6:44-58 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. - John 6:66      Recently, a company advertised a "huggable, washable, and talking" Jesus doll that recites "actual  Scripture verses to introduce children of all ages to the wisdom of the Bible." Its sayings include, "I have an exciting plan for your life," and "Your life matters so much to Me." Who wouldn't want to follow a Jesus like this?      Jesus does offer a wonderful plan - for our lives. But He doesn't serve as a cosmic genie or cuddly doll to meet our every whim. John 6 gives us a picture of a Jesus who is not so cuddly in fact, He's often offensive. Instead of fulfilling the selfish desires of His followers, He disturbed their expectations. He offered Himself as spiritual bread from heaven and said, "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life" (v.54).      This message was offensive and difficult. The image of eating flesh and drinking blood did not give His heaters "warm fuzziest." Many stopped following Him (v.66). He wasn't the conquering Messiah-King they had expected.      Sometimes we want a Jesus who meets our selfish needs. But the wonderful life He offers is found only in radical obedience to His commands. Let's ask Jesus to show us what His words mean, and for the courage to act on His truth. - Marvin Williams "We love You, Lord Jesus," we often may say, But are we as ready His will to obey? Let's heed what God's Spirit would have us to do, For that's how we show Him a love that is true. - DJD THE WAY OF JESUS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.                               SAYING GOODBYE Read: Matthew 11:7-19 There has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. - Matthew 11:11      If you've ever been asked to say a few words at a memorial service, you know how difficult, yet important, it can be. C yrus M. Copeland, com- piler of two books of tributes to famous people, said., "A great eulogy is both art and architectrue - a bridge between the living and the dead, memory and eternity."      The Bible contains little that corresponds to our modern eulogy. Yet Jesus paid a great tribute to John the Baptist when he faced the looming threat of execution by Herod. From prison, John sent his disciples to confirm the identity of Jesus the Messiah (Matt.11:2-6). Jesus talked with them, then told the listening crowd, "Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (v.11).      Jesus' tribute captured the essence of the desert-dwelling, straight-preaching John, who was maligned and misunderstood as he prepared the way for the Son of God John's greatness was more than personal; it was wrapped up in the kingdom of God. He wrote his own eulogy by his actions.      As we ponder what we might say about others at their passing, it's also good to ask, "What will people say about me when it's time to say goodbye?" - David McCasland The way we live our lives each day Makes up our eulogy; So ask yourself, "When I pass on, What will be said of me?" - Sper LIVING FOR THE LORD TODAY LEAVES A LASTING LEGACY WHEN WE'RE GONE.                               MINISTER MENTOR Read: Exodus 18:13-24 Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. - Exodus 18:24      In 1959, when Lee Kuan Yew assumed the position of Prime Minister of Singapore, his leadership began a long process of national transformation. disagreements between ethnic groups and a weak economic base made the future of this tiny nation uncertain. By 1990, when Lee stepped down from his position, Singapore had become a model country for ethnic harmony and a thriving economy.      After serving as Senior Minister, Lee became Minister Mentor in 2004. Since then he has been an invaluable resource to Singapore's cabinet and to other leaders around the world.      Insights from the older generation can greatly benefit the younger generation. Although Moses had been used by God to perform miracles and deliver Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he still listened to the advice of his fatherin-law Jethro (Ex. 18:24).      Jethro had watched his son-in-law care for the concerns of the people and observed: "Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you" (v.18). Moses followed Jethro's advice to select, train, and delegate others to share the workload (vv.22-24). Whom has God placed in your life to advise you as a "minister mentor"? - Dennis Fisher Following  Through: What are your weakest character traits? Do you know a fellow believer who is strong in these areas? Could that person become your spiritual mentor? THOSE WHO ARE MATURE IN THE FAITH CAN HELP OTHERS TO MATURE IN THE FAITH.                              BEST IN THE SHOW? Read: Matthew 23:1-12 Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7      I enjoy watching dog shows an TV. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with then pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners.      But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they're mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul?      More important, what are we really like when nobody's watching?      In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him - even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God's focus is on what we're like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son.      We're not in a competition with other Christians. God will never ask us to compete for "best in show." He measures us by the perfect standard of His Son (Eph.4:13). And in love, He provides the righteousness we need so that we can be blameless before Him (Col.1:21-23). - Cindy Hess Kasper Just live your life before your Lord, It matters not what others do - Your actions will be weighed by Him Who metes out judgment just and true. - Roe LIVING FOR GOD'S APPROVAL IS BETTER THAN LIVING FOR MAN'S APPLAUSE.                                IT LOOKS BAD Read: Psalm 12 I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. - Psalm 12:5      King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn't need the Internet to paint a bleak picture of society or The New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the had news, he saw the evil. He looked around and saw that "the godly man ceases." He noticed that "the faithful disappear." In his world everyone spoke "idly" to his neighbor "with flattering lips and a double heart" (Ps.12:1-2).      This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life, circa 1,000 BC. While we may view society's evils as much worse than anything before, David reminds us that evil is not a 21st-century innovation.      But David's words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. In verse 1, he turned to God and cried "Help!" Then he implored God with specific needs. The response he got was positive. God promised that because He rules righteously, He would provide protection and safety (w.5-7).      When you are discouraged by all the bad news, cry out for God's help. Then bask in the confidence of His assurance. Three thousand years after David God is still, and always will be, in control. - Dave Branon When through life's darkened maze I go, And troubles overwhelm my soul, Oh, grant me, Lord, the faith to know, That You are always in control. - D. De Haan WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL.                             UNLOCKING THE GATE Read: Numbers 5:5-8 When a man or woman commits any sin ... against the Lord ... then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. - Numbers 5:6-7.      Researchers at the University of Toronto reported in 2006 that people who are suffering from a guilty conscience experience "a powerful urge to wash themselves!" To study this effect, the researchers asked volunteers to recall past sins. They were then given an opportunity to wash their hands as a symbol of cleansing their conscience. Those who had recalled their sins washed their hands at "twice the rate of study subjects who had not imagined past transgressions."      The Bible proposes the only effective way of dealing with sin--confession. In the Old Testament, one of the ways the Israelites were supposed to cleanse themselves and maintain purity before God and in their community, was by confessing their sins (Num.5:5-8). To confess means "to speak the same; to agree with; to admit the truth."      When the people confessed to God, they were not telling Him anything He did not already know. But their confession was a demonstration of a change of heart. Refusing to confess their sins allowed sin to take deeper root within their lives and community.      Admitting our sin unlocks the gate so that we can have forgiveness, joy, and peace. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). - Marvin Williams If we would know God's power to heal, And cleanse us from within, We must acknowledge when were wrong, Confessing it as sin. - Fasick CONFESSION IS AGREEING WITH GOD ABOUT OUR SIN.                               ...............