GOD CAN QUALIFY THE DISQUALIFIED

By Joseph Prince – Posted August 03, 2017

Psalm 103:4

Who (the Lord) redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Four women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1:1–16) Interestingly, they are not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah or Rachel, wives of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Instead, they are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, women who had morally questionable backgrounds.

Tamar resorted to deception and prostitution to produce children through her father-in-law. Yet, it was from her line, the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came. (Genesis 38) Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute in Jericho, who became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Joshua 2:1–21) She also became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. (Ruth 4:13)

Ruth was morally upright. But as a Moabitess, she was a Gentile and therefore considered unclean. Yet, she became the grandmother of David (Ruth 4:13–17), whom the Jews regard as their greatest king. Bathsheba committed adultery with David. (2 Samuel 11:4) Later, she gave birth to King Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24), from whose royal line Jesus descended.

So what is God saying to us here?

He is saying that He is greater than our sins—where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) His grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us to receive His blessings!

God is also saying that He is a God of many chances. These women’s stories show us that even when our troubles are of our own making, they are neither final nor fatal. When we turn to Him, He will turn our situations around until we see His glory upon us!

Finally, God is saying that He is a God of supernatural positioning. Even when all our earthly connections are gone, the moment we turn to Him, He will find ways to turn our captivity into blessings.

My friend, don’t look at your natural circumstances and be discouraged. Trust the One “who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies”. Trust Him who qualifies the disqualified!

Thought For The Day

God’s grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us to receive His blessings!

God’s Construction Crew

By Joyce Meyer - Posted August 03, 2017

We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual death]… 
- 1 John 3:14

Life in this verse is the life of God, or "life as God has it." I don't want to be one of what I call "the walking dead"—someone who lives and breathes, but never truly lives as God desires. Loving others is the only way to keep the God kind of life flowing through you. It has been given to us as a gift; it's in us, but we need to release it to others through words and actions. Left dormant, it will stagnate like a pool of water with no outlet. 

Are you a part of God's construction crew, or part of Satan's destruction crew? Do you build people up with your words and action, or tear them down? Do you strengthen or weaken them? If you ask these questions and get the wrong answers, it is easy to fix. Just simply begin today by making a plan to be a blessing to others. Use your words, facial expressions, and voice tones to lift up others. Smile at people; it will be a sign of approval to them. Live to put smiles on others' faces, and you will always have a smile on yours. 

Love Others Today: Look for the needs around you and let God use you to meet those needs. Make sure you're part of God's construction crew!

It's No Surprise to Him

By Joel Osteen - Posted August 03, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph…"
(2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD:

In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. Just because we’re believers, just because we’re good people or doing the right thing doesn’t make us exempt from trouble. The scripture says, “The rain falls on the just and the unjust.” When something unexpected happens or you find yourself facing a crisis, don’t automatically go into “panic mode” or just fall apart emotionally. Realize that the crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has solutions to problems that you haven’t even had yet. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you to make your crooked places straight! 

Today, instead of focusing on your problem, focus on your God. Focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you, leading and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good. He always leads us in victory. So keep moving forward knowing that He has a good plan for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I come to You with an open and humble heart. I thank You for the victory that You have in store for me even when I can’t see it. I choose to trust You and Your goodness, knowing that You are faithful in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Knowing Whom to Trust

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted August 3, 2017

There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 27:1

Recommended Reading: Psalm 20

Last year when British politicians needed training in self-defense from stalkers, political extremists, and terrorists, they turned to the Israeli Mossad for lessons in security techniques. No one wants to mess with Israeli security forces. That was true 3,000 years ago too, which is why the shepherd-boy David sought refuge among the Philistines when being chased by the armies of Israel under the command of King Saul. According to the story in 1 Samuel 27, David was tired and terrified; and he sought safety in the wrong place.

He learned his lesson. In Psalm 20, he later wrote: “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble…. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Regardless of the level of fear and danger we feel, our ultimate help comes from the Lord, not from horses, chariots, or the Philistines. Perhaps the Lord will use others to help us; but we must always keep our eyes focused on Him. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The Bible assures us, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).

Oh, the blessings of God that will come to you if you will learn to believe God. It is absolutely necessary that you learn how to believe God.
Adrian Rogers

DON’T BE JUDGMENT-FOCUSED

By Joseph Prince – Posted August 2, 2017

2 Corinthians 5:19

…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…

On which two ancient cities did God rain brimstone and fire? If your answer is Sodom and Gomorrah, you are right. But if you think that God was all eager to destroy the two cities, you are wrong!

God wasn’t willing at all. He was not on a sin hunt. He was on a righteousness hunt so that He could spare the cities. (Genesis 18:23–32) And I believe that if Abraham had asked God, “What if You can find just one righteous man?” God’s answer would have been the same: “I will not destroy the place for the sake of one righteous man.”

Today, the righteousness of one Man—Jesus—has come. Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us!

Therefore, no judgment will fall on you today because it fell on Jesus 2,000 years ago at Calvary. And if God was gracious enough to remove Lot and his family before the judgment fell (Genesis 19:12–22), how much more will He do for you who are no longer under judgment!

And because God does not judge you, don’t be like Lot’s wife, who became a pillar of salt when she turned around to look at the brimstone and fire. (Genesis 19:24–26) She wanted to see God’s judgment, even though the angels had warned, “Don’t look back, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:17)

So don’t be judgment-focused and look back at the sins you have committed. God is not against you. He is for you and on your side. He remembers that He has already judged and punished your sins in the body of His Son. And because He is faithful to His Son and to what His Son has done, He will never judge or punish you. Any trouble that you might have today is not from Him. But He will show you a way of escape because He is on your side. He loves you and has your best interests at heart.

Beloved, God is not out to get you. He is out to bless you. And He wants you blessed more than you can ever ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)

Thought For The Day

Don’t be judgment-focused because God is not against you. He is for you and on your side.

A Flourishing Finish

By Joel Osteen – Posted August 02, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD:

Everyone goes through seasons of disappointment or difficulty. We all have unexpected setbacks. Maybe you’re going through something right now that you don’t understand. Here’s the good news: that disappointment is not the final chapter. God never ends in a negative. If you will keep moving forward with your life, God promises that He will bring you to a flourishing finish. Not a defeated finish, a bankrupt finish, a betrayed finish, or a barely-get-by finish. No, in your future, God has a victorious finish. 

That setback, disappointment or betrayal that seems like it’s working against you, God knows how to turn it around and cause it to work for you. The key is that when you’re in difficult times, don’t settle where you are. Don’t put your roots down and think that things are never going to change. No, for every setback, God has already lined up a comeback. For every injustice, He has vindication. For every disappointment, He has restoration. Right now, just begin to thank Him for what He’s going to do. Praise Him for His faithfulness. Rejoice today because He has a plan to bring you into a flourishing finish!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I choose to cast my cares on You. I choose to trust even when I don’t understand. I choose to believe that You have a good plan and will bring me to a flourishing finish in Jesus’ name! Amen.