The Daily Readings for November 11, 2016

Joel 2:28-3:8
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. For then, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down. What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads swiftly and speedily. For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border. But now I will rouse them to leave the places to which you have sold them, and I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away; for the LORD has spoken.

James 1:16-27
Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-- they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Luke 16:1-9
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 88 Domine, Deus
1   O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you.
2   Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
3   For I am full of trouble; my life is at the brink of the grave.
4   I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I have become like one who has no strength;
5   Lost among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
6   Whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.
7   You have laid me in the depths of the Pit, in dark places, and in the abyss.
8   Your anger weighs upon me heavily, and all your great waves overwhelm me.
9   You have put my friends far from me; you have made me to be abhorred by them; I am in prison and cannot get free.
10   My sight has failed me because of trouble; LORD, I have called upon you daily; I have stretched out my hands to you.
11   Do you work wonders for the dead? will those who have died stand up and give you thanks?
12   Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
13   Will your wonders be known in the dark? or your righteousness in the country where all is forgotten?
14   But as for me, O LORD, I cry to you for help; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
15   LORD, why have you rejected me? why have you hidden your face from me?
16   Ever since my youth, I have been wretched and at the point of death; I have borne your terrors with a troubled mind.
17   Your blazing anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me;
18   They surround me all day long like a flood; they encompass me on every side.
19   My friend and my neighbor you have put away from me, and darkness is my only companion.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 91 Qui habitat
1   He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2   He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust."
3   He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence.
4   He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5   You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6   Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7   A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8   Your eyes have only to behold to see the reward of the wicked.
9   Because you have made the LORD your refuge, and the Most High your habitation,
10   There shall no evil happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11   For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12   They shall bear you in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13   You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14   Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15   He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16   With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Psalm 92 Bonum est confiteri
1   It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2   To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3   On the psaltery, and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp.
4   For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5   LORD, how great are your works! your thoughts are very deep.
6   The dullard does not know, nor does the fool understand, that though the wicked grow like weeds, and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
7   They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
8   For lo, your enemies, O LORD, lo, your enemies shall perish, and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
9   But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; I am anointed with fresh oil.
10   My eyes also gloat over my enemies, and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who rise up against me.
11   The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12   Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13   They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent;
14   That they may show how upright the LORD is, my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

The Daily Meditation for November 11, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Richelle Thompson

James 1:19-20 (NRSV) You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.

Sure, James was writing to the Jewish Christians in the Diaspora, but he might as well have been sending a missive to parents of teens. The sleepless nights of caring for a baby, the crazed days of chasing a toddler…those we were prepared for. The whiplash emotions of a teenager? Not so much.

Those of us who are in the midst of raising teenagers would do well to heed these words from James: to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slower still to anger. We might find that if we can abide by these words from James, it becomes as if our ears are on a pulley line to our hearts: When we open ears to hear, the heart opens too. It is a good lesson as we move through the parenting of challenging, independent, and precious teens—and an even more important one for our journey of faith.

James calls the early church—and all of us today—to hear what God is saying to us. To be changed and transformed so that we, as children of God, might be brought into nearer relationship with God the Father.

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Our Daily Bread - Seeing Well

By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Read: John 15:12–17 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14

Raleigh looks like a powerful dog—he is large and muscular and has a thick coat of fur. And he weighs over 100 pounds! Despite his appearance, Raleigh connects well with people. His owner takes him to nursing homes and hospitals to bring people a smile.

Once, a four-year-old girl spotted Raleigh across a room. She wanted to pet him, but was afraid to get close. Eventually, her curiosity overcame her sense of caution and she spent several minutes talking to him and petting him. She discovered that he is a gentle creature, even though he is powerful.

The combination of these qualities reminds me of what we read about Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus was approachable—He welcomed little children (Matt. 19:13–15). He was kind to an adulterous woman in a desperate situation (John 8:1–11). Compassion motivated Him to teach crowds (Mark 6:34). At the same time, Jesus’s power was astounding. Heads turned and jaws dropped as He subdued demons, calmed violent storms, and resurrected dead people! (Mark 1:21–34; 4:35–41; John 11).

The way we see Jesus determines how we relate to Him. If we focus only on His power, we may treat Him with the detached worship we’d give a comic book superhero. Yet, if we overemphasize His kindness, we risk treating Him too casually. The truth is that Jesus is both at once—great enough to deserve our obedience yet humble enough to call us friends.

Jesus, thank You for the privilege of knowing You. I acknowledge Your gentle power. I worship You as the Son of God—full of grace and glory.

What we think of Jesus shows in how we relate with Him.

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Ver bien

Por Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Leer: Juan 15:12-17 | La Biblia en un año: Hebreos 8

Vosotros sois mis amigos, si hacéis lo que yo os mando ( Juan 15:14).

Ringo parece un perro fuerte; grande, musculoso, con pelo grueso, ¡y pesa más de 45 kilos! Aun así, su dueño lo lleva a hogares de ancianos y a hospitales para hacerlos sonreír.

Una vez, una niña de cuatro años lo vio y quiso acariciarlo, pero tenía miedo de acercarse. Al final, su curiosidad superó su temor, y pasó un rato hablándole y tocándolo. Así descubrió que, aunque era fuerte, también era manso.

Esta combinación de cualidades me recuerda lo que dice el Nuevo Testamento sobre Jesús: era accesible, ya que recibía a los niños (Mateo 19:13-15); fue amable con una desesperada mujer adúltera (Juan 8:1-11); y tuvo compasión al enseñar a las multitudes (Marcos 6:34). Al mismo tiempo, su poder era asombroso: ¡la gente miraba boquiabierta cuando Él echó demonios, calmó tormentas y resucitó muertos! (Marcos 1:21-34; 4:35-41; Juan 11).

Nuestra manera de ver a Jesús determina cómo nos relacionamos con Él. Si nos enfocamos solo en su poder, podemos adorarlo de manera distante, como si fuera un superhéroe de historietas. O, si exageramos en cuanto a su bondad, corremos el riesgo de ser irrespetuosos. Lo cierto es que Jesús combina ambas cosas: es lo suficientemente grande como para que lo obedezcamos y humilde como para llamarnos amigos.

Señor, gracias por ser como eres y por conocerte.

Nuestra manera de relacionarnos con Cristo muestra lo que pensamos de Él.

© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Richtig sehen

Von Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Lesen: Johannes 15,12-17 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jeremia 50; Hebräer 8

Ihr seid meine Freunde, wenn ihr tut, was ich gebiete. Johannes 15,14

Raleigh ist ein großer, kräftiger Hund mit dickem Fell und wiegt fast 50 Kilo! Doch er kommt gut mit Menschen zurecht. Sein Besitzer geht mit ihm in Pflegeheime und Krankenhäuser, um die Menschen zum Lächeln zu bringen.

Einmal sah ein vierjähriges Mädchen ihn schon von weitem. Sie wollte ihn streicheln, hatte aber Angst, ihm zu nahe zu kommen. Schließlich überwog die Neugier alle Bedenken und sie entdeckte, dass er trotz seiner Kraft ein sanftmütiges Wesen hatte.

Raleigh erinnert mich an das, was wir im Neuen Testament von Jesus lesen. Jesus war nahbar—er hieß kleine Kinder willkommen (Matth. 19,13-15). Er war freundlich zu einer frisch ertappten Ehebrecherin (Joh. 8,1-11). Mitleid ließ ihn zu der Menge predigen (Mark. 6,34). Doch gleichzeitig verfügte er über erstaunliche Kraft. Köpfe drehten sich und Münder standen offen, wenn er Dämonen austrieb, Stürme stillte und Tote auferweckte! (Mark. 1,21-34; 4,35-41; Joh. 11).

Wie wir Jesus sehen, entscheidet darüber, wie wir mit ihm umgehen. Sehen wir nur seine Kraft, bringen wir ihm vielleicht distanzierte Bewunderung entgegen wie dem Superhelden aus einem Comicheft. Betonen wir vor allem seine Freundlichkeit, sehen wir in ihm womöglich nur den Kumpel. Aber Jesus ist beides—so groß, dass er unseren Gehorsam verdient, und demütig genug, um uns Freunde zu nennen.

Herr, hab Dank, dass ich dich kennen darf. Du bist sanft und mächtig. Ich bete dich an als den Sohn Gottes—voller Gnade und Herrlichkeit.

Was wir von Jesus denken, zeigt sich daran, wie wir ihm begegnen.

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Правильный взгляд

автор: Дженифер Бенсон Шульдт

Читать сейчас: Иоанна 15:12-17 | Библия за год: Иеремия 50; 1 Тимофею 1

«Вы – друзья Мои, если исполняете то, что Я заповедую вам». — Иоанна 15:14

Ральф – огромный мускулистый пес с густой шерстью. И весит он немало – больше пятидесяти килограммов. Однако, вопреки грозной внешности, Ральф дружелюбен и охотно знакомится с новыми людьми. Хозяин берет его с собой в приюты и больницы, чтобы порадовать пациентов.

В одном из таких мест Ральфа увидела четырехлетняя девочка. Ей хотелось погладить собаку, но подойти было страшно. Наконец любопытство взяло верх над страхом, и она несколько минут разговаривала со своим новым знакомым и гладила его. Оказалось, он очень ласков, хотя и силен.

Сочетание этих качеств напоминает мне образ Иисуса Христа в Новом Завете. Он был доступен, принимал маленьких детей (Мф. 19:13-15). Он был добр к согрешившей женщине, застигнутой врасплох (Ин. 8:1-11). Сострадание вело Его навстречу толпам (Мк. 6:34). И в то же время Он обладал невообразимой силой. Люди приходили в ужас и изумление, когда Он изгонял бесов, успокаивал бури и воскрешал умерших (Мк. 1:21-34; 4:25-41; Ин. 11).

Наш взгляд на Иисуса Христа определяет наше отношение к Нему. Если мы сосредоточены только на Его силе, то будем испытывать благоговейный трепет и страх. Если же мы уделяем чрезмерное внимание Его доброте, то можем начать относиться к Нему слишком вальяжно. Господь сочетает в Себе то и другое. Он достаточно велик, чтобы повиноваться Ему во всем, но и достаточно смирен, чтобы находиться с Ним в близком общении.

Господь Иисус, благодарю за великую честь знать Тебя. Я признаю Твой кроткий характер и могучую силу. Поклоняюсь Тебе как Божьему Сыну, полному благодати и славы.

То, что мы думаем о Христе, показывает наше отношение к Нему.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

Notre Pain Quotidien - Bien voir

par Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Lisez : Jean 15.12‑17 | La Bible en un an : Jérémie 50 et Hébreux 8

Vous êtes mes amis, si vous faites ce que je vous commande. (Jean 15.14)

Il se dégage de Raleigh une impression de grande force. Ce gros chien musclé au pelage épais pèse plus de 45 kilos ! Malgré son apparence, Raleigh se fait aimer des gens. Son maître l’amène dans des maisons de santé et des hôpitaux pour mettre un sourire aux lèvres des malades.

Un jour, une fillette de quatre ans a vu Raleigh de loin et a voulu le caresser, mais redoutait de s’en approcher. Sa curiosité ayant eu raison de son sens de la prudence, elle a fini par lui parler et le caresser plusieurs minutes, découvrant ainsi en lui une gentille créature malgré sa grande force.

Cette combinaison de qualités rappelle Jésus. Il était d’un abord facile, accueillant même les petits enfants (MT 19.13‑15). Il a usé de gentillesse envers une femme adultère au désespoir (JN 8.1‑11). Par compassion, il enseignait ses voies aux foules (MC 6.34). En même temps, sa puissance laissait pantois. Lorsqu’il imposait sa domination aux démons, qu’il apaisait de violentes tempêtes et qu’il ressuscitait des morts, les témoins de ses miracles en restaient bouche bée (MC 1.21‑34 ; 4.35‑41 ; JN 11) !

Notre perception de Jésus nous dicte notre relation avec lui. Si nous ne nous concentrons que sur sa puissance, nous risquons de lui vouer la sorte d’adoration distante que susciterait un super héros de bédé. Par contre, si nous nous attachons trop à sa bonté, nous risquons de le traiter avec sans-gêne. Jésus est donc à la fois assez grand pour mériter notre obéissance et assez humble pour nous appeler amis.

Notre perception de Jésus transparaît dans notre relation avec lui.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

Standing Strong Through the Storm - REMEMBER

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Exodus 17:14

Joshua led the Israeli army in the fight against their long-time enemies, the Amalekites. Moses went up to the top of the nearby hill. As long as his hands were held up, the Israelis were winning. When he grew tired of holding up his hands, he sat on a rock and Aaron and Hur each held up one of Moses’ arms till sunset when Joshua finally overcame the enemy.

The Lord instructs this event to be “remembered.” It was to be written down—the first time in scripture—as a permanent reminder. God’s people are explicitly called to remember both God’s deliverance and His judgment of the wicked.

The Bible records a number of events that people remembered. After Jacob’s dream at Bethel, he used the stone pillow on which he slept as a pillar of remembrance. After the Israelis finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan and set them up as a memorial about which they were to tell their children. Memorials help us to remember what God has done and enable us to trust Him for the future.

Esdras is a church leader in southern Mexico. He is also a lawyer and therefore is able to stand up for the rights of many indigenous people who are persecuted for their Christian faith.

He will always remember a significant event when God’s protection was evident. He says, “I was visiting in Mitziton, an area where more than half of the community are Christians. The authorities wanted to turn two hundred Christians out of their homes and drive them out of the town. I intervened and was able to prevent them from having to leave. After this, I was publicly threatened with death. That day I was not able to return to my hometown and we spent the night in the home of a Christian. It was outside the town and there were no houses nearby.

“At about eleven o’clock in the evening, a strange sensation came over me. Something seemed wrong, but I didn’t know what the matter was. At a quarter to twelve, two trucks turned up with twelve men. They were heavily armed with guns. I was completely alone with Marilene and our little baby. That day, we happened not to have any connection to the radio or mobile phone. I couldn’t phone anyone and there was no chance of calling for help. The attackers came closer and closer. They called out, ‘Now we’ve got him. He can’t get away now. Now we’re going to shoot him dead.’

“Suddenly something unexpected happened. The gardener, an old man who lived in the grounds, turned on the lights around the house. I hadn’t asked him to do anything. When the attackers saw all those lighted lamps, they cried, ‘Where have all those guards come from?’

“They slunk off and we were spared. Maybe they saw angels, who had come to guard us.” Esdras now travels the world and remembers publicly God’s great deliverance.

RESPONSE: Today I will commit to remember the acts of God in my life and record them for the future.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for remembrance days we have of Your blessings and Your deliverance.

NIV Devotions for Men - Word Choice

Proverbs 15:1–15

Recommended Reading: Psalm 34:13–14; James 3:1–12

The ability to master our mouths, watch our words and tame our tongues demonstrates a level of spiritual and emotional maturity. The opposite is true as well. An inability to control our speech shows immaturity, and it can inflict great harm on our relationships.

Solomon addresses the importance of controlling our words by contrasting positive and negative speech. In each case, the effects end up as opposites: peacefulness or wrath, knowledge or folly, healing or a crushed spirit. In other words, when we fail to control our tongue, we don’t just fail to give, or be, a blessing. We also cause a wound that can rupture a relationship.

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, states that he asks audiences whether they can go 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to anyone. Invariably, a few people answer “yes,” but most call out “no!” He responds, “Those who can’t answer ‘yes’ have a serious problem. If you can’t go 24 hours without drinking liquor, you’re addicted to alcohol. If you can’t last 24 hours without smoking, you’re addicted to nicotine. And if you can’t make it 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you’ve lost control of your tongue.”

How can you tell whether your tongue is under control? You won’t say anything about an individual that you can’t say directly to that person. You resist the urge to exaggerate. You consciously examine your thoughts and remove gossip and rumors from your conversations. You keep in confidence a personal matter that someone else shares with you. Further, you learn to speak positive words. Appropriate words communicate affirmation, comfort and healing.

When was the last time you said something to another person that you instantly regretted? Maybe it was something intended as a joke that was instead taken as an offense, or perhaps it was a sharp word spoken in anger that you wish you could have taken back. Think of a specific situation, and then challenge yourself to rectify the hurt. While you may not be able to take back the words themselves, you can humbly submit yourself to that person and begin to rebuild the relationship.

To Take Away

• Do you think most men struggle with controlling their words? Why or why not?
• How would others evaluate your speech? Would they say that your words more frequently heal or wound?
• What steps can you take to gain tighter control over your tongue?

Girlfriends in God - When Mercy Meets Messy

by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ (John 8:10, NIV)

Friend to Friend

A four-year-old girl was overheard reciting the Lord’s Prayer, “and forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who pass trash against us.” When I first heard that story, I smiled. Then I thought of a conversation I had had recently with a girlfriend.

She is a Christian friend. But though she has “emptied her trash basket” of sin before the Lord in sincere repentance, she has not emptied it of self-condemnation. Not completely. She holds the trash basket lid on tightly.

She is haunted by shame. Haunted by mistakes that are no longer remembered by a holy God. Haunted by sins that have been cast as far as the east is from the west.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:11-13)

These memories haunt her regularly like a spine-chilling horror film monster. As much as she would like to move forward in forgiveness, she just can’t find the courage to scare the monster away.

In the New Testament book of John, chapter 8, we meet a woman caught in the act of adultery. The legalistic teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her before Jesus. They publicly humiliated her in front of all the town’s people, saying to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4-5)

Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger as they continued to question him. Finally, “He straightened up and said to them, ‘“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground” (John 8:7-8).

The crowd eventually thinned to nothing. The older, wiser men cleared first. Then the younger ones trickled away. When the adulterous woman and Jesus were the only ones remaining:

“Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:10-12).

My sister, do you see that our holy Lord delights to show us mercy? He does not condemn us as we deserve. The woman in this story was guilty when she was brought to face Jesus, but as she left His presence, her guilt was forgiven. Her trash basket was empty.

When we turn to face Jesus with repentant hearts, our guilt is forgiven as well.

TOSS YOUR TRASH

This account of the adulterous woman teaches us about forgiveness and about judging and condemning others. But what does this lesson teach us about judging ourselves?

While my friend's trash basket contained junk from other people, the lingering condemnation came from memories of decisions she'd made, things she'd done, and brokenness she has experienced because of her own choices. In her heart, she accepts the forgiveness of Jesus, but she can’t bear to forgive herself.

So many women won’t forgive themselves.

I know that self-loathing. I’ve lived it. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that forgiving yourself is easy. It’s hard—and, in a lot of ways, it should be! But I can testify that it wasn’t until I prayerfully allowed the stubborn, strong, and unconditional love of Jesus to pry my fingers off the lid of my trash basket and empty the condemning contents, that I experienced true freedom and complete forgiveness.

Is there something that you have not been able to forgive yourself for?

My friend, we need to stop beating ourselves up for sins of our past.

We need to stop allowing guilt and shame to chain us to unproductive living.

Jesus humbled Himself by becoming human, endured an excruciating death, and then defied the grave in His resurrection so that we could be restored to a place of complete healing.

Complete healing.

Second Corinthians 5:21 states that “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” If you are in Christ, the Bible says that your guilt was paid for on the cross of Calvary. Jesus carried the sins of the world on His shoulders so that you would not have to carry them on yours.

If you are holding on to un-confessed sin, the time has come for you to release your grip. God’s Word promises that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

None of us are perfect, just perfectly forgiven in Christ.

Take your hand off the lid and allow the Lord to empty your trash basket of every last condemning voice once and for all. Embrace the freedom that Jesus intends for you to live in.

Let’s Pray

Holy Father, Your mercy defies logic. I don’t deserve it, and I don’t understand how You could possibly forgive me for all that I have done. Please take my trash basket and empty it. Forgive me today and help me to forgive myself, and others, so I can live freely in Your amazing grace.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Recite, write, and memorize these verse: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Prayerfully share this with a friend who might need to read this message.

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from Gwen’s book Broken Into Beautiful. Every step of forgiveness begins with the heart of God. If you’d like to learn more about how your brokenness can be transformed into a picture of God’s beauty, get your copy today. To order the book go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen’s web store.

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Un Dia a la Vez - Jamás los conocí

«No todo el que me dice: “Señor, Señor”, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino solo el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre». Mateo 7:21

Vamos llegando al final de nuestros veintiún días de aprendizaje, o solo de repaso, a fin de poder tener muy presente las cosas que nos alejan de Dios. De seguro que ahora todos estamos con el mismo deseo: Hacer su voluntad.

Cuando analizo las siguientes palabras del Señor: «Jamás los conocí» (Mateo 7:23), solo digo: ¡Qué terrible!! A veces nos creemos muy sabios, muy espirituales, y que tenemos el cielo ganado. Incluso, hay quienes dicen tener a Jesús, pero nunca le han entregado su vida, a pesar de que hacen y dicen cosas en su nombre, pero es en vano.

Por eso la lectura de estas palabras del Señor nos pone a pensar y a reflexionar en lo que hacemos o dejamos de hacer en nuestra vida cristiana. Aunque muchos digan «Señor, Señor», o por más cosas que hagan en la tierra en su nombre, no todos estarán en su presencia. Y aquí quiero que prestes mayor atención. La salvación, o sea, la vida eterna, es un regalo inmerecido que recibimos por la gracia de Dios. Así que mi llamado es a que seamos honestos, transparentes y sinceros delante de Dios, ya que a Él no lo podemos engañar. Él conoce nuestro corazón.

Verse of the Day - November 10, 2016

Job 37:5-6 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

Read all of Job 37

Martin Luther, Father of Protestantism

Born on this date, November 10th, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther, known as the Father of Protestantism. Luther had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the church. His challenge of 95 theological issues in 1517, intended to spark debate to reform the church, eventually led to a separation instead. The term "Lutheran" was the name applied to Luther and his followers. Although intended as an insult, it quickly became a badge of honor.

On October 31, 1517, Luther posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg University to debate 95 theological issues. Luther's hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible.

What started as an academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled by fiery temperaments and violent language on both sides. As a result, there was not a reformation of the church but a separation. "Lutheran" was a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a badge of honor by them instead.

Luther died at the age of 63 on February 18, 1546, in Eisleben, Germany