THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THE CROSS

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

I heard a story about a couple who visited a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various crosses, the woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”

That’s what many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense—one that will look cool with their outfits. But the hard truth is that if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross.

The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to humiliate a person. The crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). In other words, salvation and eternal life can be found only through Him. Many people today object to His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of exclusivity and narrow-mindedness. But Jesus was simply explaining God’s plan of salvation.

Humankind’s decision to disobey God and pursue sin created an existential crisis with only one solution. To satisfy God’s perfect justice and wrath, a perfect sacrifice had to be offered in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die in the place of everyone else who had. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. Only He had the power to conquer death. So, only He could save us.

If there had been any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like that? If there had been any other way that we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.

Jesus Himself prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). He was talking about the cross and the unimaginable suffering that lay ahead. But God did not take it away from Him because there was no other way.

If living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.

If you ever were tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross; His love did.

God bless you!

LOVE THAT OVERCOMES

There’s an interesting story in Numbers that contrasts two ways of looking at obstacles. The Israelites have escaped slavery in Egypt and traveled to the edge of the Promised Land. And before they all enter, Moses sends 12 men to spy it out.

One spy named Caleb comes back with this report:

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

What a great faith statement! Unfortunately his confidence was not shared by others.

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. There we saw the giants; … and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:31, 33)

Why did they have that viewpoint? Because of how they viewed themselves. If we look at a problem and say, “I’m just a grasshopper,” then we fail before we start. We defeat ourselves if we think we can’t go somewhere or do something that God has commanded.

In our world today, we can face all kinds of threats and fears. Yet we need to resist and declare, “We can overcome this.”

What image are we made in—a grasshopper's? No. We are made in the image of God.

So now the question is, do we act like Him? Do we think like Him? And most importantly, do we love like Him?

As John 3:16 says,

“God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son.”

Let His heart of love resonate through everything that you do.

Love casts out fear. Love overcomes all obstacles. Faith works through love. When you have that, you are reflecting the image of the Father. You’re truly becoming like Him.

Paul, who faced incredible persecution, wrote,

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

When we do this, we are more than overcomers. As Romans 8:37 explains, we are more than conquerors through the love of Christ given to us. We need to view ourselves as God’s love extending to a hurting world. And when we overflow with His love, no obstacle can stand—for His love never fails.

God bless you.

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THANKFULNESS

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful.
Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas.

Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas.

If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial.

Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness.

This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so.

Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit.
Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad.

First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life.

God bless you!

ARE YOU A PHARISEE?

MATTHEW 16:6,12 NKJ 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why did Jesus warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisees? What did they do wrong?

(An entire chapter of the Bible (Matthew 23) is Jesus' teaching against the Pharisees.)

The Pharisees were conservative, faithful "church" members. They accepted the Bible as the written Word of God. They paid tithes. They believed in miracles (at least in days past). They wouldn't dream of stealing, committing adultery, or such things. You would like living next to a Pharisee as they were model citizens.

But instead of having a living relationship with God, the Pharisees took the Word of God and made just another dead religion out of it.

The Pharisee way of thinking is: keep up appearances. "It doesn't matter so much what you are on the inside, as long as you keep the rules (at least publicly)."

Notice that Jesus likened their teaching to leaven, or yeast. Why? Yeast spreads easily and rapidly. Humans are very susceptible to approaching God in this manner, "Keep the rules. Just do these 10 things and you are OK."

Different groups may have different rules, but we all accumulate them. It may be how many times each week you must attend church meetings, or what kind of clothes you must wear, or how you must wear your hair. Or, it may be a list of things you cannot do. But, as long as you meet these requirements, you are in good standing with your group (or denomination).

But, good standing with God is based on only one thing according to the New Testament: faith in what Jesus did for us. That alone is what makes us right with God. Not our works, but Jesus' work.

LUKE 12:1 NKJ 1 ... He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The Pharisees were hypocrites. That is, they put on an act. What they pretended to be in public was not really what they were like in private. They claimed to be perfect in keeping God's law, but as humans they were all sinners, just like the rest of the people were. Yet, in public, they insisted that others keep the Law perfectly, or be condemned.

They were quick to pass judgment on others, and slow to extend mercy or help. The Pharisees had a legalistic view of God's Word and did not realize that God was merciful and wanted to help people.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 NKJ 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Using God's Word to "kill" instead of using it to minister life is wrong. God's Word is meant to help people and lift them up, not place such hard demands on them that they cannot ever measure up. When we load people down with heavy loads of rules to keep in order to be right with God, we are ministers of death.

MATTHEW 23:1-5 NLT 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 "Everything they do is for show. . . .

If your "Christianity" is nothing more than a list of "do's and don'ts" then you are missing real Christianity, which is a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

SAY THIS: Jesus does not want me to act like a Pharisee.

God bless you!

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

It has been said, “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

This statement reminds me of the account in Matthew 19 of the rich young man who came to Jesus seeking answers. Here was a man who, of all men, should have been content and fulfilled. He had great influence and affluence. Yet despite all his accomplishments, there was something missing in his life. He asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (verse 16 NLT).

“‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments’” (verse 17 NLT). Jesus was not implying that by keeping the Ten Commandments, a person would be saved. Rather, Jesus held the Ten Commandments up as a mirror to show this man his sin.

“‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments,’ the young man replied. ‘What else must I do?’” (verse 20 NLT).

I think Jesus probably smiled at this. He saw what this man was really all about. So, He took it up a notch and said, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21 NLT).

Verse 22 says, “But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (NLT).

Jesus knew the problem with this young man was that possessions had possessed his soul. But Jesus just as easily could have said something completely different to someone else. What is really holding someone back from Christ and from further spiritual progress can vary from person to person.

Jesus revealed the hard truth about discipleship in Luke 14:33: “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own” (NLT). Nothing should be more valuable, more precious, or more important to us than our relationship with Christ.

Jesus drives this point home further in Luke 14:26–27. “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” (NLT). Nothing should ever be more important to us than our walk with Christ.

That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly come before Jesus and ask, “Lord, is there anything in my life that is getting in the way of my relationship with You?” We must be willing to do what the rich young man would not and sacrifice anything that gets in the way of our spiritual growth.

God bless you!

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT JESUS` SACRIFICE
He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” —Mark 14:34
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever felt as though your friends and family had abandoned you? Have you ever felt like you were misunderstood? Have you ever had a hard time understanding or submitting to the will of God for your life? If so, then you have an idea of what the Lord Jesus went through when He agonized at Gethsemane. 
book of Hebrews tells us, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (4:15–16 NLT). 
Book of Isaiah tells us that Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (53:3 NLT). But the sorrow He experienced in Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion seemed to be the culmination of all the sorrow He had ever known and would accelerate to a climax the following day.
The ultimate triumph that was to take place at Calvary was first accomplished beneath the gnarled, old olive trees of Gethsemane. Jesus shared His agony with His disciples. “He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me’” (Mark 14:34 NLT
It’s interesting that the very word Gethsemane means “olive press.” Olives were pressed there to make oil, and truly, Jesus was being pressed from all sides that He might bring life to us.
I don’t think we can even begin to fathom what He was going through. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (NLT).
That’s the hard truth of our salvation: Jesus had to suffer and die in our place. He had to endure the punishment that we deserved.
He was crushed and beaten for our sake. He could have walked away, but He submitted to His Father’s will so that the plan of salvation could be accomplished. 
His crushing and beating brought about your salvation and mine. Because of what Jesus went through at Gethsemane and ultimately at the cross, we can call on His name. Though His suffering and death were unfathomably excruciating, they were necessary for God’s ultimate goal. 
Maybe you’re at a crisis point in your life right now—a personal Gethsemane, if you will. You know what you want, yet you can sense that God’s will is different. Would you let the Lord choose for you? Would you be willing to say, “Lord, I am submitting my will to Yours. Not my will, but Yours be done”? You will never regret making that decision. 

God bless you!

ONE THING NECESSARY

LUKE 10:42 (WEYMOUTH) 42 and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."

This is the word of Jesus. Someone who knows more than we do -- and loves us more than we love ourselves. So, we need to listen and take heed. (After all, we should realize that Jesus did not say things for His own benefit, but to help us.)

It is easy to get busy in life and let ourselves be distracted from what we know is important. That was the case with Martha, the sister of Mary, in the scripture quoted from above. Martha knew she needed to hear what Jesus had to say -- but she also knew that she was responsible for preparing something to eat. What could she do?

We all face such problems -- which are actually choices.

WE choose what our priorities are. WE decide what we will spend our time and energy on. And we should choose wisely.

(Here's a tip: if it won't be important one hundred years from now, it's not that important now, either.)

In this situation, Jesus brought a calming -- not a condemning -- word to Martha. (Jesus is still not interested in condemning people, but in helping them.) In effect, Jesus said to not worry, but to put hearing what God has to say first, and then somehow things will work out with God's help.

Jesus is saying the same message to you, today.

The most important and productive way we can spend time is in getting God's wisdom, guidance, and help. Hearing and heeding His Word will pay rich dividends in this time, as well as for eternity.

Never forget that God can do more for you in one minute, than you could accomplish in a lifetime by yourself.

Don't make the wrong choices.

SAY THIS: I will listen to God's Word. Then, with God's help, I will make it.

God bless you!

IF GOD BE FOR US!

“Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?”

This was Joshua’s cry to God in Joshua 7:7 (NLT).

The Israelites had just fought Ai and suffered a humiliating defeat. But why?

God had made a covenant with Israel. So, in theory, they should have won. But that’s not what happened. Israel had sinned. One of them had not followed God’s instruction at the previous battle of Jericho. Achan had taken from the battle what had been dedicated to the Lord. This broke the covenant. God was now out of the equation. On top of that, no one asked God what to do concerning the battle at Ai. Spies were sent in and a plan was made, but God was not consulted. Therefore, in the end, Israel was defeated.

Joshua 7 tells us how God exposed the sin and commanded consequences for Achan and his family. Thus restoring the covenant between God and the Israelites. Then, in Joshua 8, Israel goes on to defeat Ai in a second battle.

We also have a covenant with God, and it is a new covenant!

Mark 14:24 says:

And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”

Jesus came to create this new covenant with us and take on Himself the consequences of our sin.

Hebrews 9:14-15 says:

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

The consequences for our sin (death) were paid once and for all by Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we do fall short and sin, and we will, we must confess and repent [turn away] and God forgives. What a tremendous new covenant.

1 John 1:9 says:

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

What a good God we have! He says to us in Romans 8:31 b:

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

I’ve seen God win so many battles in my life. I encourage you to trust Him so He can win them in yours!

God bless you!

LIVE, DWELL, REMAIN, ABIDE
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” —Psalm 91:1
Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). 
But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required. 
Let’s look at the words of verse 1 again: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).
The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means “quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.” It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means “to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.” 
Here’s what God is saying: “If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91—My protection, My provision, and My blessing—you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.” 
Believers have a relationship with God because we’ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren’t. And they’re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence. 
Psalm 91 also includes these promises: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (verse 4 NLT). “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (verses 14–16 NLT).
And that’s still only scratching the surface. God is interested in a relationship with you—not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him. 
God bless you!

GOD'S MERCY TO NINEVEH
JONAH 1:2 NKJ2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." Remembering what happened with Nineveh will give you a clearer picture of God's mercy. God told Jonah that Nineveh would be destroyed. But when the people of Nineveh changed and repented before God, things changed
.JONAH 3:3-10 NKJ 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
The people of Nineveh were very wicked, but when they heard God's Word of judgment they humbled themselves and turned toward God. Because of their response, God changed His judgment and their lives were spared. When people repent and turn toward God -- no matter how evil they have been -- God shows mercy.
God is still the same. He delights in mercy.
MICAH 7:18 NKJ18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
SAY THIS: My God delights in mercy! 
God bless you!

C`MON YOU`VE GOT THIS

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 8-9 NIV, emphasis mine)

The time for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land had come. Joshua, following the death of Moses, was now the leader of Israel. As the Lord had been with Moses, He promised to be with Joshua. He exhorts Joshua multiple times to “be strong and courageous,” and to meditate consistently on the Book of the Law.

Joshua takes the message to heart and commands his officers to prepare the Israelites to cross into Canaan. He also reminds the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh of the promise they made. These tribes had requested for their allotments of land to be on this side of the Jordan; yet they made a covenant to cross with the Israelites and conquer their enemies before returning to their families who would stay behind.

Once reminded, their reply to Joshua was one I don’t think I ever took note of before. They promised to support Joshua the same way they had supported Moses, saying:

"Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:18, emphasis mine)

Did you catch it? They spoke over Joshua the same thing that Yahweh had spoken over him, to “be strong and courageous.” In other words, “C’mon, you’ve got this!” God’s desire was that Joshua be filled with confidence to lead Israel to conquer the land He had promised them.

It is interesting that God made sure their response was recorded – He could have simply included what He said to Joshua, and that would have been more than enough. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Yet God saw it as important that their encouragement to Joshua be included in the Scriptures.

Why? He delights in using others to be the voice of encouragement that we need to hear! We are all part of His body, and together we are stronger—we can go farther. While recognizing God’s voice through the Word and time in prayer is essential, many times He is also speaking through those around us. May our hearts be sensitive to His Spirit today to recognize when He is communicating to us this way!

God bless you!

GROWING A CHOKE-PROOF FAITH

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.” —Luke 8:14

I’ve always been amazed by weeds. You can take a little flower, plant it in the perfect location, water it, and make sure that there are no pests to threaten it. You can do everything possible for that flower, and it will slowly grow. But then, in the same amount of time, a weed can spring up and choke out the flower.

The weed doesn’t suddenly burst out of the ground, grab the flower, and start shaking it. The process is gradual. First, the weed appears in the vicinity of the flower. The next day, the weed grows a little closer. And on it goes until the weed starts to wrap itself around the flower and choke out its growth.

That is what Jesus was describing in the parable of the sower when He said, “The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT). The “cares and riches and pleasures of this life” are the weeds that choke our spiritual growth. As with the weeds in nature, the process doesn’t happen overnight; it happens over time.

Also, as with weeds in nature, the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” aren’t always immediately identifiable as weeds. In fact, the things that prevent the seed of God’s Word from maturing and producing fruit in our lives aren’t necessarily bad things in and of themselves. Some are good things that become the most important things and choke out the spiritual things. They also create distance between us and God.

The picture that Jesus paints in His parable is not one of someone who says they don’t want to pray, read the Bible, or go to church. Rather, it’s someone who thinks those are good things to do. But over time, they start losing interest, and the things of this world become more important to them than the things of the next world. That’s what chokes them out spiritually and causes them to feel distant from God.

It’s essential, then, that we examine our priorities frequently. Not our idealized priorities, the things we say are important to us, but our actual priorities, the things that get the lion’s share of our time, energy, and interest.

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT). God wants you to treasure the things that are truly important. The things that will last for eternity. The things that bring genuine joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. God wants your heart. If you give Him that, He will give more than you can possibly imagine in return.

God bless you!

THE PROBLEM WITH SHEEP

“Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” —1 Peter 2:25

On more than one occasion, the Bible compares Christians to sheep. I don’t know if I’m really happy about that because sheep aren’t the most intelligent animals on earth. It would have been nice if God had compared us to dolphins. Now, there’s an intelligent animal. I once had the opportunity to talk to a man who trained dolphins. I asked him, “Are dolphins really as intelligent as they seem?”

He said, “In some ways, yes, and in some ways, no. They are very intelligent in many ways because a dolphin can read a symbol and understand what it means.” That is amazing to me.

But Jesus didn’t compare us to dolphins. He compared us to sheep. And sheep are some of the stupidest animals around. They are vulnerable, easily spooked, can’t run very fast, and lack any means of defending themselves. What’s more, they are in constant need of care and attention. Sheep are known to follow each other even to their own death. It has been documented that if one sheep walks off a cliff, others will follow.

The Bible says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT). And, you have to admit, that description hits pretty close to home. Think about how many people have bought into the same lies, generation after generation. They fall into the same junk, the same addictions, and the same traps again and again. If we’re honest with ourselves, we must admit that we are strayers. We put distance between ourselves and God.

Of course, our Shepherd will not stand idly by while we get lost following our own path. Jesus makes that clear in His parable of the lost sheep. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep’” (Luke 15:4–6 NLT).

Psalm 23, one of the best-known passages in all of Scripture, reminds us that there are advantages to being sheep. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (verses 1–3 NLT).

We are like sheep. There’s no getting around that. The question is, are you going to be a smart sheep or a dumb one? Smart sheep stay close to the Shepherd. And that’s where we all need to be.

God bless you!

THE FOUNDATION IN THE WORD

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” —Matthew 24:35

One reason believers may start to feel shaky in their relationship with God is that they haven’t built a solid foundation for their lives. So, when circumstances threaten their well-being, they don’t always know where to turn. And that leaves them feeling distant from the Lord.

Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite website? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You’ll need something to give you strength and direction in your time of despair. Here’s a tip: You won’t find a better resource than the Word of God.

As one pastor said, “One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.” Just a single gem from the ocean of God’s Word can make all the difference when tragedy or hardship strikes. How many people in their affliction have found comfort from Scripture?

Trusting in what God has said in His Word can sustain us and give us direction, hope, and comfort when we need them most. Inspirational platitudes or clever sayings won’t help—at least, not for very long—but the Word of God always will. It’s been said that those who reject the Bible have nothing to live by. Neither do they have anything to die by.

Ideas and philosophies go in and out of style with the passing of years, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning’s news. The Word of God will always be relevant.

That’s why C. S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.” And it’s why Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Matthew 24:35 NLT).

Jesus emphasized the importance of having a solid foundation grounded in God’s truth in His parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24–27. The wise man built his house on the rock. When the rains came, when the storms of life threatened his well-being, it did not fall. The structure may have been shaken to its core, but it withstood everything that was thrown at it. Because it had a strong foundation.

The foolish man, on the other hand, built his house on sand. He didn’t prioritize a strong foundation. When the rains came, his house collapsed with a great crash.

I urge you to get a good foundation in God’s Word because it’s only a matter of time until the storms of life rain down on you and hardship strikes. It happens in every life, without exception. But if you have a good foundation in the Word of God, then you’ll be ready for difficulty when it comes. Don’t wait until then to try to catch up.

Get that foundation now.

God bless you!

LIVING IN TRUTH
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body
Ephesians 4:25
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about the fundamental importance of truth and trust. He uses the imagery of changing clothes to explain how we should live. Just as we are called to clothe ourselves with Christ, we are also told to put off our old garments of falsehood. This does not only refer to major lies. It includes exaggeration, white lies, and wearing a mask to appear a certain way to others. When we pretend to be someone we are not for the sake of reputation or status, we are wearing a garment of falsehood.

Speaking truthfully to our neighbor is the standard that God sets for us. This is not an invitation to be rude or mean. Truth should always be spoken in a way that represents God and His love. It is not about being right or winning an argument. Instead, it is about getting closer to Jesus and pointing others toward Him. We are reminded that we are all members of one body with Jesus as our head. Just as the parts of a physical body do not work against each other, we are called to work together in unity.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we serve Him and we serve others for His sake. We do this regardless of whether people deserve it or have earned it. Operating as one body means laying down our own pain, insecurity, and the need to be right. We choose to forgive and surrender our opinions because of what Jesus has done for us. As we behold His beauty and glory, it becomes much easier to act as a unified body under His leadership.

Jesus gave His life for us and paid the ultimate price to make us His own. Our response is to surrender our rights and our desire for validation to Him. By living in truth, we reflect the character of our Savior to the community around us. We honor the head of the body by walking in the honesty and love that He modeled for us.

Are we seeking pleasures that fade or are we seeking His face?
God bless you!

LOSING WEIGHT

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” —Hebrews 12:1

Feeling distant from God is not a unique experience. At some point in their lives, all believers—including the heroes of the faith in the Bible—experience it. Jesus Himself cried, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT).

In this week’s devotions, we’re going to look at ways to close the distance between us and God. We’re going to start by looking at the personal baggage that keeps us from reaching our God-given potential and experiencing the kind of relationship with God that He desires.

When we’re running the race of life, we need to travel light. Sometimes we tend to drag along a lot of excess weight. The author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

Sin is sin, and it will always trip us up and cause us to fall. But there might also be other weights in our lives—weights that aren’t necessarily sins, but nevertheless trouble us, slow us down, and impede our spiritual progress. These weights might include such things as certain habits, misplaced priorities, or seemingly harmless distractions. Often, they weigh us down without us realizing it.

That’s why I periodically take stock of my life as a Christian and look at the things I’m doing with my time. I ask myself questions such as, “Is it a wing or a weight? Is it speeding me on my way spiritually, or is it slowing me down? Is it increasing my spiritual appetite, or is it dulling it?”

Often, we allow ourselves to become busy doing a lot of things that aren’t really all that important. They just seem important at the time. We must ask ourselves if we need to do those things. Are they slowing us down? Are they keeping us from running the race God has given us?

Lay aside the weight and the sin that hinder your progress, and see how the Christian life changes for you.

God bless you!

LOVE GIVES
JOHN 3:16 NKJ16 "For God so loved the world that He gave . . . .GALATIANS 2:20 NKJ20 ". . . I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
EPHESIANS 5:25 NLT25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving, there is no evidence that love exists.
The only proof of love is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love. So, the measure of your giving is the measure of your love. The more you give -- of yourself, your time, your attention, your affection, your patience, your treasure -- the more you love.
This is what Jesus meant in John 15:13.JOHN 15:13 NKJ13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. Why did Jesus say there was no greater love than to give your life? Because you can't give any more. That's total commitment!
So, whenever you see "love" in a sentence, you may substitute "giving" and express essentially the same meaning.
JOHN 13:35 NKJ35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
By understanding that love results in giving, we see that Jesus indicated His disciples would be known for their giving. We are to be famous for our giving! This is the way Jesus indicated people would know His true followers: by their giving. (Not our fighting, our preaching, or even our correct doctrine.)
We see in the early days of the church, this is exactly what happened.
ACTS 4:34-35 NKJ 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Don't think that your gifts should only go to churches and preachers. Jesus made it clear that giving to any believer was the same as giving to Him.
MATTHEW 25:40 NKJ 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' But God has not called us to give to others just so we could end up poor, also. NO! God has promised to multiply what we give, so we will have more to give in the future.
LUKE 6:38 NKJ38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NLT 6 Remember this -- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
So, based on God's promises, we can give to others in faith, with confidence that God will continue to supply all we need.
EPHESIANS 4:28 NKJ 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.(This verse gives us an idea of how giving was paramount in the thinking of early Christians.)
JOHN 15:12 NKJ 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
If you desire to follow Jesus, love (giving) is not optional.
SAY THIS: As a disciple of Jesus, I will be a giver. 
God bless you! 

STOP CONDEMNING OTHER CHRISTIANS

ROMANS 14:10 NLT 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Many Christians seem to have the idea that their job is to evaluate others and point out errors and shortcomings. But our job is not to condemn other Christians!

ROMANS 14:4 ESV 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

We can share truth with an attitude of humility, respect, and concern for other's well-being, pointing out areas where we think they may not yet have a correct understanding of Scripture. But name-calling, fighting, and public ridicule should never happen among Christians!

Privately correcting someone in humility is quite different from arrogantly condemning another brother or sister publicly.

We can teach truth without mocking, ridiculing, and condemning others. Those who resort to such tactics often do so because they cannot convince based on the facts.

Whatever we do should be done in the spirit of Christ, to help people, not condemn them.

Jesus said the world would know we are His followers by our love. So our enemy tries to stir up strife between believers.

JOHN 13:35 ESV 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

We are all in the same family. Instead of attacking our brothers and sisters, love should protect them and defend them.

ROMANS 14:1-3,13 NLT 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 13 So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

There are many differences among Christians. We are all growing and learning. Not one of us knows everything. Even Paul, who wrote down much of the New Testament, said he only knew in part (1 Corinthians 13:9).

We all have much to learn. So we should be slow in telling others how wrong they are. The Lord may have taught them something He has not yet taught us.

Many are too quick to label all those who do not agree with them on every point of doctrine as a cult or some other name to put them down.

Usually, those who are in the habit of putting down others do so in an attempt to elevate themselves. But God has already elevated us in Christ, so we don't need to fall into this trap.

ROMANS 14:19 NLT 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

SAY THIS: My job is not to condemn people and call them bad names, but to bless them, help them, and pray for them.

God bless you!

IS IT WORTH IT?
I’m frugal. I’m the bargain-shopper that my mother raised me to be. It’s not like I don’t like spending money. I just really like saving money.

Before any big purchase, I spend days (sometimes weeks!) comparing different brands and options to see if I can get a similar value for a lower cost. Before making the final purchase I always ask myself, “Is this worth it?”

While I am often very proud of my bargain shopping, one place where I don’t want to count costs or look for a better deal is in my walk with Christ. Walking with Christ often requires different kinds of sacrifice. Whether it be our finances, free time, personal plans, or social status, there are many things we may need to fully surrender to Christ. When I know I need to surrender something to the Lord, I might ask myself, is it worth it?

Mark 14:3-9 is the account of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany. An unnamed woman pours a flask of pure nard over Jesus’ head. In other words, this woman used an entire year’s worth of wages in very expensive oil to glorify Christ as her King and Savior. Some sitting around the table are furious about what they’ve just seen:

Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why waste such expensive perfume?" they asked. "It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly (Mark 14:4-5 NLT).
But Jesus doesn’t scold her.

But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? … Wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:6,9).
This was a beautiful, sacrificial act of worship, exalting Jesus as the Messiah, that we still talk about today! But it came at a very high cost. She didn’t use just some of the oil. She didn’t try to do just enough to get by. She spared no expense when it came to Jesus.

Are we willing to do the same with our lives? Maybe we’re afraid to give our lives fully to Christ because we’re afraid of looking foolish. When we make sacrifices to honor Christ, others may not understand. Just like those at the table in Bethany, they might think of it as a waste of time, money, or energy. But Christ says:

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).
When we love God and live for Him, we get to spend eternity with Him. We can spend days, weeks, and even years trying to replace a relationship with Christ with the things of this world, but in this case, there is nothing of similar value for a lower cost. No better deal exists!

God bless you!

A CROWD OF WITNESSES

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” —Hebrews 12:1–2

Over the past few weeks, we looked at several Old Testament characters. In Hebrews 12:1–2, the significance of their lives, their experiences, their struggles, their victories, and their testimonies is brought home to us. One chapter earlier, the author of Hebrews recapped many of their stories in what’s often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

The placement of the exhortation in Hebrews 12:1–2 seems to suggest that these “hall of famers,” these heroes of the faith—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Daniel, and others—take a rooting interest in our spiritual race. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (NLT).

These people of faith who went before us gave us models to follow so that we might live and exercise our faith as they did. Reading about the lives of these men and women who walked with God and trusted Christ and stood strong in the face of trials and persecutions can add steel to our souls.

But they didn’t just give us templates to follow. They are also observing us and taking note of our progress in the faith. This “crowd of witnesses” is watching us and cheering us on, if you will.

That’s just one interpretation of the passage, of course. We don’t know for certain that there are heavenly grandstands where people monitor the progress of loved ones living out their lives on earth. But it wouldn’t surprise me if that were true. I do, however, know this much: We are in the race of our lives on earth, and none of us knows how long it will last. So, we must make the most of it. We must live our lives to please not the bystanders but the Lord Himself. We must make decisions and interact with others in ways that honor and pique curiosity about Him.

We must leave a legacy that inspires other believers—the ones we will cheer on when we join the crowd of witnesses.

God bless you!

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

GALATIANS 6:7 NKJ 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

The Bible says it, so you can count on it.

EPHESIANS 6:8 NKJ 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ 38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

The world has a saying for this, "Whatever goes around, comes around."

If you are unkind, you can expect unkindness to come toward you.

If you are merciful, you can expect others to be merciful to you.

If you are generous, others will be generous with you.

You cannot expect to plant carrot seeds and harvest tomatoes. It does not work in the physical realm, neither does it work in the spiritual realm. You will reap what you plant, and only what you plant.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

PROVERBS 11:24-25 NKJ 24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Whatever you need, or whatever you desire in your life -- give that to someone else.

If you desire friendship, be friendly to others. If you desire forgiveness, forgive others. If you desire to be loved, show love to others. If you desire money, give some money away.

MATTHEW 7:12 NKJ 12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

SAY THIS: I will reap what I sow.

God bless you!

DAYS OF DOUBT

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” —Psalm 42:11

It’s not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have days of doubt. Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances. After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT).

Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was overwhelmed by his circumstances, discouraged, uncertain, and filled with doubt. First Kings 19:3–4 says, “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died’” (NLT).

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah struggled occasionally, too. He was ridiculed and harassed for sharing the Word of God—so much so that he wanted to stop. He prayed, “O LORD, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jeremiah 20:7–9 NLT).

Even the great Apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).

So, if you struggle with doubt, uncertainty, anxiety, or depression, you’re in good company. And, like the heroes of the faith, you need to be reminded that we can’t always see the big picture of God’s plan. But we can echo the words of the psalmist who said, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT).

Remember: We can always trust God’s heart, even when we can’t trace His path.

God bless you!

THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING UP
“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’” —Romans 4:1–3

The Bible doesn’t teach that if you’re a Christian, you’ll never stumble or periodically fall short. But it does teach that if you’re a true believer, when you’ve had a lapse or a stumble, you will always get up and move forward. That’s the way to determine whether a person is really a believer or not.

When God came to Abraham in Ur and told him to break away from his family, Abraham basically refused and didn’t go for years. Even after he left, he only partially obeyed God by dragging his nephew Lot along. This only resulted in more friction down the road, when he and Lot eventually parted company.

Abraham told his beautiful wife, Sarah, to say that she was his sister because he was afraid someone would kill him if they realized he was indeed her husband. He did that on two occasions.

After God promised him a son—an heir to continue his lineage—Abraham tried to force the Lord’s hand by fathering a child with Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. That decision resulted in immeasurable heartache and strife.

These were just a few of the lapses of faith and acts of disobedience that marked Abraham’s life. It’s important to note, however, that although Abraham deviated from God’s path on occasion, he always came back. He never drifted too far from the One who made a covenant with him. That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Romans 4:3 NLT).

No stumble is too great, no fall is too steep to recover from. First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). Acts 3:19 says, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away” (NLT). When you turn to God and away from the sin that caused you to stumble, you regain your forward momentum on the right path, just as Abraham did time and time again.

If a person says he or she is a believer and falls away and never comes back, then that person is not a believer. The Apostle John put it this way: “When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us” (1 John 2:19 NLT). But if a person is a true believer, then he or she will be miserable in sin and eventually will beat a quick path back to the cross of Calvary.

God bless you!

WHAT IS THE DEVIL`S AUTHORITY?
The devil obviously had access to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Scripture does not tell us why God allowed this. One theory that makes sense involves mankind being allowed to judge the devil, possibly after the devil complained that God was not just or fair in condemning him. First Corinthians 6:3 does say that Christians will judge angels — and the devil is a fallen angel.
If this theory is correct, God would have to allow the devil access to influence mankind, or be seen as unfair by all.
The devil gained a certain amount of control over mankind by Adam's disobedience, which plunged Adam and all his descendants into spiritual death. At the time of the temptation of Christ, recorded in Luke 4,the devil obviously had a great amount of authority in the world system.
LUKE 4:4-7 NKJ 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.7 "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the devil and stripped him of his authority (Colossians 2:15, Hebrews2:14-15). Because Jesus announced that He had all authority after His resurrection (Matthew 28:18), the devil evidently retained no authority. However, in the Epistles, the devil is still called the god of this world, or age (2 Corinthians 4:4). This does not mean that the devil is the god of the earth, but of the ungodly world system.
He has this control through the yielding of ungodly people to speak his words and do his deeds.
The devil gains a measure of authority through any human being who will yield to his ideas and speak them, or act on them.
Even Christians can, like Peter in Matthew 16:23, fall into this trap.
A perverted use of this authority is exercised when people "curse" or "damn" things or people. We should use our authority to bless — not curse.
All authority the devil may be using now is illegitimate. Only through deception and ignorance is he able to carry out his evil plans in the earth. If the Church of Jesus Christ fails to exercise its God-given authority against the devil, he will operate virtually unhindered. This is because unsaved people are already under his dominion, and find it hard to resist him (John 8:44, 1 John5:19).
As members of the body of Christ, we have been delegated the use of His authority on earth to see that God's will is carried out (Matthew 16:19, Luke 10:19, Philippians 2:10).
We must exercise that authority.
SAY THIS: My Lord Jesus defeated the devil, stripped him of his authority, and gave authority to me over all the power of the enemy as a member of the Body of Christ on earth. 
God bless you!

DROPPED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

“One day David asked, ‘Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” —2 Samuel 9:1

Mephibosheth was only five years old when his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, Saul, were killed on the battlefield. Imagine, if you will, life as he had known it up to that point. The privilege and potential of his pampered life as a prince could not have prepared him for the hard life he would face in the future. Mephibosheth enjoyed life in the palace as a young prince, with people waiting on him hand and foot. He enjoyed the further blessing of being raised by his godly father, Jonathan. Life was good for this young boy.

But there were dark clouds gathering in his world. In one moment, through no fault of his own, his entire life would change forever. His father, Jonathan, anticipated that things were going to change. That’s why he persuaded David to make an agreement to look out for his descendants after he was gone. He made David promise to show kindness to his family forever. David willingly made that promise, and he kept it.

When news hit the palace that Saul and Jonathan had been killed on the battlefield, the nurse who was caring for Mephibosheth, in her frenzied state, dropped the little boy on the ground. As a result, he was crippled for life.

Perhaps you’ve gone through hardships in your childhood. Maybe something traumatic has happened to you. Maybe you’ve been dropped in life, so to speak. Maybe you wonder if anything good can come out of your life. The answer is a resounding yes—thanks to God’s love, compassion, and mercy.

Mephibosheth was dropped in life, but God intervened. In fact, God specializes in taking people who have been dropped and picking them up again. God prompted David to ask, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1 NLT).

And when David learned of Mephibosheth’s plight, he showed extraordinary kindness to the man who had suffered so much. Not only did David make sure that Mephibosheth was cared for and provided for, but he also made sure that his life had purpose and meaning. He gave Mephibosheth the land and servants of his grandfather. He invited Mephibosheth to dine at his table. Through David, God picked up the one who had been dropped. And if you’ve been dropped, God will do the same for you.

This story from 2 Samuel 9 offers comfort to those in need. But it also presents a challenge and opportunity to God’s people. Though we aren’t bound by a promise as David was, we have a responsibility to reach out to people in need. We have the opportunity to be instruments of God’s love and compassion to lift those who have been dropped.

God bless you