Wholly and Holy (Featured Devotion)

Day 16

Thursday

Wholly and Holy

2 Chronicles 16:9

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him.

Historians have marveled how an uneducated, rugged boy like Dwight Moody could sway great crowds and lead thousands to Christ.  Responding to these questions, Dr. R. A. Torrey wrote a tract after Moody’s death in 1899, entitled, Why God Used D. L. Moody.  He said, in part, “The first thing that accounts for God’s using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully-surrendered man.  Every ounce of that 280-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had belonged wholly to God.  Now, I am not saying that Mr. Moody was perfect; he was not… nevertheless I know that he was a man who belonged wholly to God.”

Torrey went on to say that Moody was greatly moved by this statement by Henry Varley: “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him.”  Moody replied, “Well, I will be that man.”

We can all be that man or woman.  God wants to use us, but we must give ourselves wholly to Him.

Recommended Reading: 2 Chronicles 16:7-10

Quote

If you and I are to be used in our sphere as D. L. Moody was used in his, we must put all that we have and all that we are in the hands of God, for Him to use as He will.

R. A. Torrey

From: “Turning Points” Magazine and Devotional.

Turning Points

Our Sufficient Shepherd (Featured Daily Devotion)

Day 15

Wednesday

Our Sufficient Shepherd

2 Corinthians 2:16

And who is sufficient for these things?

Dr. B. Raymond Edman, former president of Wheaton College, wrote of being forced from the mission field by illness as a young man.  His weight had fallen from 165 pounds to 120, and he had to sail from Ecuador.  Aboard ship, he comforted himself in 2 Corinthians.  When he came to the last paragraph of chapter 2, the verses struck him like nails.  He was shaken by the thought that “God…always leads us in triumph in Christ” (verse 14), and diffuses through us the fragrance of Christ” (verse 14).  Verse 16 asks: “Who is sufficient for these things?”

Those versed led Edman to make a renewed surrender of himself to Christ, one that changed the course of his life.  He realized only Christ was all sufficient to lead him in triumph as he said to him, “Anywhere, Anything.”

We aren’t sufficient in ourselves to do anything by ourselves, but praise the Lord---our sufficiency is in Christ who always leads us in paths of righteousness.  He leads us in triumph.

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Quote

If the Lord is your shepherd, He is sufficient for all your needs.

Tony Evans

From: “Turning Points” Magazine and Devotional

Turning Points

Lotta Joy (Featured Daily Devotion)

Day 14

Tuesday

Lotta Joy

Galatians 6:10

As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Lotteries are pickpockets.  They stick their hands into our purses like a street-corner thief.  Even those rare souls who “win” the lottery often lose.  Psychologist tell us that people who win vast sums often lose their sense of purpose.  Their money distracts them from their life’s agenda.  They quit their jobs, change habits, go on sprees, and confuse their goals.  That’s why we hear stories like the man in Texas, who, two years after winning 31 million dollars, killed himself.  Strange feelings of worthlessness befall those with deep pockets but shallow hearts.

The richest life imaginable is awaking every morning with a sense of purpose, knowing God has something for us to do.  He has people for us to reach, cheer for us to spread, smiles for us to share, tasks for us to tackle, and souls for us to influence.  Knowing what we’re called to do is a greater blessing than striking it rich.  Take each opportunity daily to do His good will, and you’ll be truly rich.

Recommended Reading

Galatians 6:7-10

Quote

Christ is gloriously rich?  Oh?  There is abundance yea, a redundancy of grace and riches in Christ.  He is full of grace as the sea is full of water or the sun is full of light.

Benjamin Keach

Seventeenth-century British pastor

From: “Turning Points” Magazine and Devotional
Turning Points

Needed Courage (Featured Daily Devotion)

Day 13

Monday

Needed Courage

Numbers 27:18

And the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”

There is no shortage of tools available to help pick the right person for the right job.  Does the task require numbers ability?  Managerial ability?  Big-picture ability?  How about Courage?  When it came to picking a successor for Moses, courage was at the top of the list.

From a human perspective, Joshua had already demonstrated the kind of courage necessary to invade and settle the land of Canaan.  Joshua defeated the Amelekites in Israel’s first fight after leaving Egypt (Exodus17).  And Joshua (along with Caleb) wasn’t afraid to tackle the giants in the land that the 12 spies observed (Numbers 13).  So when it came time to pick a leader for Israel’s invasion of Canaan, Joshua was the obvious, courageous choice.  It is interesting that Moses changed Joshua’s name from Hoshea (“salvation”) to Jehoshua (“Yahweh is salvation”) (Numbers 13:16).  Was it to remind Joshua that his natural courage needed to remain dependent on the Lord?

Courage may not appear on modern job descriptions, but it is a requirement for being a Christian.  Courage is nothing more than faith and trust in God.

Recommended Reading Exodus 17:8-13

Quote

There can be no courage in men unless God supports them by his Word.

John Calvin

From: “Turning Points” Magazine and Devotional

Turning Points