Today's Daily Devotional

[Bugsy]

September 19

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Isaiah 42:3-4

Jesus doesn’t smash the reed that bends under the heat of the sun. Nor does He douse the smoking flax that doesn’t ignite easily. In fact, as evidenced by the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15), Jesus seems to be most interested in the person who is hurting or struggling.

Over and over again, Satan will tell you that if your reed is bruised or your flax is nothing more than smoke that Jesus is really tired of you and about to give up on you. But that’s a lie. Jesus doesn’t break the bruised reed. He doesn’t extinguish the smoking flax. You might look at yourself as hopeless. But He doesn’t. He sees you as you’re going to be. He’s not discouraged because, although you might fail time and again, He won’t.

[Scout]

Ranger Bugsy,

Hello. I may be new to this site but I am already enjoying the Daily Devotional. Please keep them coming. :) This one especially applied to me today. Thanks a lot.

[Bugsy]

September 20, 2008

Is Our Country On Thin Ice?
READ | Romans 2:1-8

Our country was founded on the premise that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are “unalienable rights,â€

[Bugsy]

September 21

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:22

When the children of Israel were bitten by poisonous snakes, the Lord instructed Moses and Aaron to make a brass pole and to place a brass snake upon it. Then they were to tell the congregation that whoever looked at the snake on the pole would be saved (Numbers 21). Brass is the metal of judgment. A serpent is a symbol of sin. Therefore, it was a picture of Jesus Christ, Who bore the judgment for our sins on the Cross. If we simply look to Him and believe in Him, we’ll be saved from Satan’s poisonous sting of eternal damnation.

What do you have to lose by looking to the Lord?

Nothing.

What do you have to gain?

Eternity.

[Bugsy]

September 22, 2008

The Source of Guilt
READ | 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

I once read a survey that asked 500 people what emotions they felt when experiencing guilt. The answers were heartbreaking. People reported feeling punished, depressed, worthless, rejected, and isolated. A general sense of low self-esteem overwhelmed the respondents. There was no joy, no hope, and no vitality. In a sense, it is as though the feelings of guilt had completely blotted out everything else in their lives.

This seems like such a sad way to exist, and yet it’s safe to assume that all of us—even those of us who are believers—have gone through these exact same emotions. In fact, you may be dealing with intense guilt right now. If so, let’s consider one simple question: Where does your guilt come from?

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, we see two forms of guilt. One is a sorrow that comes from God. This call to repentance is a tool the Lord uses to draw unbelievers to Himself through salvation in Christ. It also motivates believers to confess any wrongs causing “interferenceâ€

[Bugsy]

September 23, 2008

What Is Guilt
READ | Romans 5:6-11

Guilt is something with which we’re all familiar. Oftentimes, Christians wear the feelings of guilt like a badge of honor, in some misguided effort to demonstrate humility. But this is a tragic misunderstanding that poisons the church and steals the joy of Christ from believers. We need to stop and ask the question, “What is guilt?â€

[Bugsy]

September 25, 2008

Being a Responsible Christian
READ | Hebrews 11:23-29

The Lord called Moses to a specific task, gave him the authority to carry it out, and promised His unwavering presence. The Israelite leader proved responsible, carrying out the plan in dependence upon God.

Moses had strong faith. He doubted his own abilities but trusted in the Lord. We also need faith that’s confident, courageous, and committed. Our confidence is to come from the knowledge that God is true to His character and promises. Our courage is drawn from the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us. And our commitment grows as we focus on Jesus, who faced great adversity in order to save us.

God prepared Moses for the work through many life experiences. First, he was born to Hebrew parents who were slaves in Egypt—as a result, he identified closely with those God wanted him to lead. Next, he was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, so he knew Egyptian customs and language. He also understood how to conduct himself in the palace; therefore, when God commanded him to approach Pharaoh, he was returning to a familiar place.

Finally, from his upbringing in the king’s court, Moses knew prosperity, but he also experienced seasons of want as a shepherd in a foreign land. In this way, he was could relate to both Pharaoh and the slaves he was sent to free. All of these aspects of his life helped ready him for becoming God’s servant-leader.

The Lord will utilize the events of our lives and grow our faith to equip us for serving Him. Ask God to reveal ways that your background can help you to further His kingdom.

[SkippyOne]

Ranger Bugsy,
I just wanted to thank you both for service to country and service to your fellow Christians! You're doing this on YOUR time. So, thank you,
These are a great blessing!

[Bugsy]

September 30

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:9-10

Here, we see the power given to Jeremiah as the Lord put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Therefore, just as He provided Jeremiah His words, He has provided us with His Word. True power comes not from sharing with people what we think, but what God’s Word says; not from our ideas or philosophies, but what Scripture states with certainty and authority.

The ministry of a prophet is always profitable but not always pleasant. It’s not simply planting and building, but the ministry of a prophet is also pulling down, throwing down, tearing up, rooting out. There had to be a breaking before there could be a building. There had to be a tearing up of the land before there could be a planting of the seed. Jeremiah knew this. He saw it in his father and in the priestly community that ministry wouldn’t always be easy.

“To every thing there is a season,â€

[Bugsy]

October 1, 2008

Using a Wrong Approach
READ | Genesis 3:1-8

God has promised to supply our needs, but that means in His way and time frame. There might be temptations to take a wrong approach in fulfilling those needs, so we must be careful not to push ahead of God or follow a route that leads away from Him.

Some people think their security rests in a bank account, prestige, or possessions. That mindset can lead to becoming a workaholic who sacrifices relationships for financial gain. Or it could tempt certain individuals to engage in illegal or unethical activities. In contrast, by basing our life on the security we have in Christ, we will have peace of mind and heart.

Another unhealthy way to meet our needs involves looking for companionship outside of God’s established boundaries. We may find a momentary thrill in connecting intimately with someone new, but in the end, that road brings pain and disappointment.

The Enemy wants us to provide for ourselves in a way that is independent of God and out of line with His will. Satan deceived Adam and Eve by implying that the Lord was keeping some important information from them; he suggested that his course of action, not the Creator’s, would make them wise. The first man and woman exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and it cost them dearly. When we apply wrong thinking to our situations, we get ourselves into a lot of trouble too.

It’s important to understand what we have received through our relationship with Jesus. Learning to depend on Him will help us avoid wrong approaches to getting what we need

[Bugsy]

October 2, 2008

Investing in Eternity
READ | Matthew 28:18-20

The Christian life is active—one dedicated to working, serving, sharing, and helping. Too often, we think that being a Christian simply means showing up for church each Sunday morning and dropping something into the offering plate. That’s a good habit, but if this is the sum total of your Christian life, you’ve missed the mark.

There is a call that Jesus Christ put on all those who would follow Him. That is, He has called us go into the world and make disciples through baptism and teaching. You may say, “Well, that applies just to ministers and missionaries, right?â€

[Bugsy]

October 3, 2008

16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17: For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." John 3:16-17

Jesus Christ, the Seeking Savior

In this busy and impersonal high-tech world, it seems easier than ever to ignore Jesus Christ. We are led to believe that every need can be met with a few clicks on the computer. After all, if we want to keep our eyes on the future, why seek a Savior from 2,000 years in the past?

As we grow more and more accustomed to looking to ourselves for answers, we can easily fall into a dangerous trap—the idea that just because we don’t care about Him, He doesn’t care about us. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

All through the Bible, God takes the initiative in the salvation of man. None of us who are saved have sought Him out; we’ve just responded to His initiative. He made the first move; He chose to save us and then we chose to respond.

What does Scripture say? In John 3:16, we see that the Father actively gave His Son so that we might be saved. In verse 17, the Word clarifies that the Son was sent not to condemn but to save the world. And think about Jesus’ parting instructions to His disciples in Mark 16:15. Did He say to sit idly by and simply mention His name to anybody who walked past? No! He told them to go out into the world and tell everyone the good news! He wants the gospel to go forth, because He is still seeking the lost today.

Have you been sitting around, waiting for Jesus to show up? Stand up, my friend. Jesus is here, and He’s been looking for you all along.

[Bugsy]

October 4

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 7:11

Through Jeremiah, God refers to the Temple as a den of robbers. Centuries later, Jesus would come on the scene and say the same thing . . .

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-13

Religious leaders were using the people of God and the things of God for their own gain. But before we indict them too severely, we must ask ourselves if we do the same thing. Do we use the things of God to find a girlfriend or a boyfriend? Do we use the things of God to make business connections or even to establish a name in ministry? Do we subconsciously ask ourselves how we can use the Lord rather than how we can honor Him?

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:14

Jesus kicked out those who were using Him, but reached out to those who were choosing Him, those who knew they didn’t see the way they could or walk the way they should. So too, when we realize how blind and lame we are, Jesus will reach out to us as well. In Philippians 2:13 we read that it is God Who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. In other words, He changes our desires and then gives us the ability to carry out the desire He’s placed within us. That’s the beauty of the living Lord. He’s not saying, “Get it together.â€

[Bugsy]

October 5, 2008

God’s Saving Pursuit
READ | Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 is a fantastic key passage that truly sets the Christian faith apart from the other religions of the world. Here, we have a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, patiently knocking on the door of our hearts. What a fabulous illustration of God’s saving pursuit.

You see, in most other religions, the scene would be reversed. The picture would be of you or me knocking on the door of heaven, trying to get in. But here, we understand that Jesus is the one who pursues. When you look at the passage in its original Greek language, you notice that the Lord doesn’t just walk up and knock once or twice. The verb form denotes continual action. He stands there knocking, and He just keeps on standing there and knocking.

We see this active pursuit all through the Scriptures. In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, did they sorrowfully seek out the Lord and ask forgiveness? No, it was the Lord God who called out to them, actively seeking the first couple and giving them a chance to confess their sin (Gen. 3:8-9).

And think about the apostle Paul. Did he come to know the Savior by searching for Christ? No! Instead, Jesus sought out the then-persecutor of the church, meeting up with him on the Damascus Road and calling him into repentance (Acts 9:1-6).

The Savior has allowed us the honor of participating in His pursuit of man. Are you living out that calling? Jesus is at work all around you; join Him today in spreading the Good News everyone needs to hear.

Click here to read the bible verse: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... version=49;

[Bugsy]

October 6, 2008

When the Odds Are Against You
READ | Judges 7:1-7

Have you ever felt backed up against a wall, with the odds stacked against you? In situations like that, Christians too often refuse to acknowledge an important truth. That is, they fail to recognize that God may actually be the one who is orchestrating their challenging circumstances.

You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. The world and Satan are doing this to me. Perhaps. Yet maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell you something—and He first needs to get your attention.

Time and again in Scripture, we see that the Lord uses difficulties to build faith. It’s easy to trust in Him when things are going our way. However, God often removes comforts and false securities from our lives to remind us that He is the true source of our strength.

Consider today’s passage, in which Gideon was ready to lead a powerful militia of 32,000 men into battle against the enemy. However, the Lord stepped in three separate times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of its original size. We may have replied, “What? It’s impossible to defeat enemy forces with just 300 men!â€