VISIT THOSE IN PRISON

Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
 
Matthew 25:34-36
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch - 04/27/06
 
Kairos #14 for Men at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility begins today. I will be a part of the team. Please pray for us. The weekend will continue through about 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. While you may not be visiting personally, I take you with me in my heart as you pray for us. If at any moment the Spirit prompts you this weekend, pause and pray. You never know what great thing may be happening for the Kingdom.
 
There was no Gospel Pearl yesterday because my DSL was down. Sorry.

Also, if you would like to contribute to the Kairos ministry, it is not too late. There are three weekends taking place this weekend and the financial support (green agape) is greatly needed. (Click on the PayPal link on the right.)

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
My Utmost for His Highest - 04/25/06
 
In the Christian’s life, there will be times of great happiness. Enjoy the moment.
 
There will also be times of sadness. Through those times, God gives the gift of perseverance.
 
Whether times are good or bad, remember the words of the wisdom writer.
 
“God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”
 
God has a purpose for whatever He is doing … good or bad … happy or sad. Trust Him and watch Him make “everything beautiful”.

STUMBLING BLOCK

It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t miss out on anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. But you must be careful with this freedom of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble.

1st Corinthians 8:8-9

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 04/24/06

The reference in this scripture is to ‘what we eat’, specifically food which has been offered to idols. The practice of sacrifice is not common today yet I think the scripture and the principle are still very relevant in today’s society.

How might you ‘cause a brother or sister … to stumble’?

If we stay with food, are you careful about the dietary needs or restrictions of those you entertain? You invite the couple to your picnic or bar-b-queue. You have knowledge that the fellow has been attending AA meetings. What beverages will he find when he opens the cooler? How about what you wear? You may be very comfortable but is the outfit a stumbling block in the eyes of another? What other area might you cause someone to stumble?

We won’t always know what the stumbling block is for those around us. God calls us to ‘be careful’ with our freedom to guard the conscience of others. If we are thoughtful … careful … keeping the best interest of others in the forefront of our actions, we will be pleasing to God.

WITHOUT EXCUSE

For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Romans 1:19-20

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

In Touch - 04/21/06

When you see some of the wonders of the world … Niagara Falls … the Grand Canyon … Hot Springs, the hand of God in creation is evident. Even in the more common occurrences of nature … a beautiful sunrise … a rainbow … a full moon … the constellations … the changes of the seasons, the character of God is revealed.

I observed God the other day as I drove down a Mississippi country highway and saw all the green in the fields and the leaves of the trees. Just a few weeks earlier these same fields were brown and the trees were bare. How God renews and revives nature reminded me of how He renewed me through the gift of His Son on Calvary and revives me through the power of His Holy Spirit.

I truly am without excuse of knowing God. He surrounds me with His wonderful creation.

OUR GOD REIGNS

The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.
 
Psalm 103:13-19
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch - 04/20/06
 
From our beginning as a small child to our end, whenever that may be, God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. Whether we are in a season of blessing or a season of testing and trial, God is ruling over everything. He knows how much of a blessing we need just as He knows how great a burden we can bear. In both the blessing and the trial, we must love Him … trust Him … remember that from His throne in heaven, He continues to reign.
 
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
who brings good news, good news.
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness,
Our God reigns, our God reigns!     

(“Our God Reigns’ by Leonard E, Smith, Jr. Copyright 1970,1974)

KEYS TO LONG LIFE

Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good?
Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

Psalm 34:12-15

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Our Daily Bread - 04/19/06

There are many things mankind has learned which will help increase life span. That is why we are seeing increasing numbers of people live 100 years and beyond. (It is interesting to note all those guys in Genesis who lived 700 … 800 … 900 years. We have a ways to go.)

The psalmist gives us three keys to a ‘long and good’ life.

1. Watch your tongue – control what comes out of your mouth.


2. Turn away from evil – endeavor to do the next right thing.


3. Work hard at living in peace – relationships are important, do the hard work necessary to hold on to them.

God’s keys to long life are what really make a difference.

READY AT A MOMENTS NOTICE

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
 
Matthew 25:1-6
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
My Utmost for His Highest - 04/18/06
 
In every day, we are presented opportunities to witness for our LORD. Sometimes it is with words. At other times we may be called into action. Most often, I suspect our witness for Christ is in the observation of our walk with Him by those who watch us. That means we must always be ready. We must always have oil for our lamps and be ready to light up the dark world we walk through.
 
If you are always prepared to witness for Christ, if your life walk is a constant reflection of Christ living in you, you will be ready at a moments notice when the announcement is made, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” When Jesus comes back, you will be ready.

THE LORD HAS RISEN

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
 
Luke 24:30-34
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Upper Room - 04/17/06
 
Christ has risen.
 
I am told if you count the number of witnesses noted in the Scriptures who had personal contact with the risen Lord, you would find about five hundred. For the two disciples whom Jesus communed with on the Emmaus Road, He was revealed to them as they shared the broken bread. Their hearts were set on fire as Jesus spoke to them, about himself, from the Scriptures. He opened their eyes to the truth of the Old Testament prophesies which Jesus alone fulfilled.
 
The Scriptures not only reveal who Jesus is, they reveal what He has done. God sent His Son to die for the sin of the world and raised Him from the dead with victory over death, hell and the grave.
 
Christ has risen indeed!

GOOD FRIDAY

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6

TODAY’S DEVO LINK

Youth for Christ - 04/14/06

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came, described what makes this Friday in the Christian church good. If there was no crucifixion we would each still owe a sin debt which we could never pay. Instead God sent His Son to pay that penalty for us and that is very good.

Even better is Easter Sunday morning … the tomb found empty … the grave clothes folded and laid to the side … the angels pronouncement.

“He (Jesus) isn’t here. He has risen from the dead.” – Luke 24:6

THE EARTHLY BODY

Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.
 
1st Corinthians 10:31
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch - 04/13/06
 
As pointed out in today’s devotion, down through the centuries, mankind has been asking questions about the resurrected body. Scripture gives us answers to this question and yet we will only gain the full knowledge of the answer when we experience the resurrection. In the meantime it is important that we focus on what has been fully revealed. That is our earthly bodies and the purpose for them.
 
Again, scripture provides the answer … glorify God!
 
The Apostle Paul says, “… whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.”
 
At home, at work, at play, in the community, and in the church, we must bring glory to the Father with our every thought or deed. Think about it. Are we making every effort to glorify God with these imperfect (sin infected) earthly bodies? Just maybe what we are now doing on earth is practice for how we will handle the perfect, resurrected bodies we will get in heaven.
 
Glorifying God with our earthly bodies is preparation for eternity spent in His presence!

HUMILITY

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
 
1st Peter 5:6-9
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Our Daily Bread - 04/12/06
 
It was pride that got the best of Lucifer and if we are not careful, Peter warns us that the Devil is on the prowl to destroy us in the same way. You have heard the saying, ‘misery loves company’. The Devil is busy devouring as many as he can to join him in his fallen and lost condition. He uses pride as a deceiving tool. He deceives you to proudly focus on yourself instead of giving all honor and glory to God. There is nothing we can do save for “the mighty power of God.”
 
Put all your trust in God and “in his good time he will honor you.”

PURPOSE FOR LIVING

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.
 
Philippians 1:20-24
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch - 04/11/06
 
The Apostle Paul settled the matter in his mind. Living for others benefit was his calling in life so he decided to live out his life: (1) being “bold for Christ”; (2) living in a way that would “always honor Christ”; and (3) give “fruitful service for Christ.” As long as you and I have breath in our bodies, we too should have these three as part of our purpose for living.

BECAUSE HE DIED

... we believe that Christ died for everyone ... He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
 
1st Corinthians 5:14b, 15-17
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Upper Room - 04/10/06
 
Because Jesus Christ died, I should view the life of believers in Him in a brand new way. Their sins are forgiven. Their past is no longer important. Their future is secured by the promise of Christ. “A new life has begun!”
 
In like manner, how I regard myself is also in the light of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not only has he made others brand new. He has made me brand new, too. I am no longer a slave (to sin) but rather a son (adopted into the family) and an heir to God’s promise (Galatians 4:28-31).

WITH HANDS RAISED

When Solomon finished making these prayers and requests to the LORD, he stood up in front of the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven. He stood there and shouted this blessing over the entire community of Israel: “Praise the LORD…”
 
1st Kings 8:54-56a
 
TODAY’S DEVO LINK
 
Youth for Christ - 04/07/06
 
King Solomon is known as the wisdom writer of the Old Testament. We don’t often think of him as a ‘praiser’. At the dedication of the Temple we find Solomon with his hands raised, shouting praises to the Lord.
 
When Jesus came into Jerusalem on what the Christian church has come to call Palm Sunday, the crowd lifted palm branches and praised the Lord. Jesus is coming back again. We don’t know when but we know He will because that was His promise. “I will come back and take you to be with me…” (John 14:3). When he comes will you be found with your hands raised in praise?
 
For the ‘praiser’, palms are lifted often, not just on Palm Sunday.

NOTICE THE DISTINCTION

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.
 
1st Corinthians 15:22-24
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
In Touch - 04/06/06
 
Did you catch the not very subtle distinction the Apostle Paul makes in these verses?
 
First he says, “Everyone dies … all of us are related to Adam…” The scriptures say, “…it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). The scriptures say, “…all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard … the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Because of our relationship to Adam, we inherit the sin nature and along with it, our death sentence.
 
Second Paul says, “… all who are related to Christ … all His people…” Do you notice the distinction? The new life … the resurrection life … is reserved for those who have invited Christ into their lives; asked Him to forgive them of their sins; asked Him to be Lord and Savior.
 
“… when Christ comes back…” He is coming for His own. Is your name listed among His own in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

THE WATCHFUL EYE

The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night.
The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life.
The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
 
Psalm 121: 5-8
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
Our Daily Bread - 04/05/06
 
You may be familiar with the line from the old hymn: “His eye is on the sparrow, I know He watches me.”
 
I am privileged to be a school bus driver for about fifty middle and high school kids. As I drive, I have to keep an eye on the road, watching for traffic situations which may arise quickly and unexpectedly. I also have to regularly glance in the mirror on the bus and let the kids know I am watching them and will catch them if they are misbehaving. I am sure I miss more than I catch.
 
God is not watching us to catch us when we sin. He will see when that happens. No, His purpose in watching is to protect; to keep you from harm; to keep you from evil; to preserve your life. It is a comfort to know that “The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

TOO BUSY

But the time is coming—in fact, it is already here—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
 
John 16:32-33
 
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK
 
My Utmost for His Highest - 04/04/06
 
When we struggle with the trials and tribulations of life we can have confidence in God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. We, on the other hand, get so busy with the cares of this world that we leave Jesus.
 
We promise to give God first place in our lives … make Him the priority. He is Lord and He is on the throne of our hearts. Then situations come along … the to-do list of our daily lives gets longer and longer and we allow God to get pushed off the top of the list. Our quiet time … Bible study … prayer time … worship … church attendance slip out of the position of priority. When you get that busy, “… scattered … going his own way, leaving me alone…” you are simply too busy.
 
When you find you have left Jesus, you need to re-order your priorities. You may be busy doing good things but the best thing you can do is return to Jesus.

SAFETY NET

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Romans 6:1-4

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL LINK

Upper Room - 04/03/06

In our struggle with sin (Romans 7:14-25), are we using God’s grace as a safety net? The high wire performer has confidence in his skills; his many hours of practice; his numerous successful previous passes across the wire; yet uses a safety net in his performance. Is that our attitude when we take the risks of a life in sin?

The Apostle Paul advises us, “Of course not!” The new life of the born again believer should be dead to sin and “the glorious power of the Father” can enable us to live without sin.

The high wire performer never wants to fall into the safety net. He wants to stay high above the crowd. So too should be the life of the believer. We know the safety net of grace is there but our motivation is to stay high above the life of sin.