Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 28, 2018
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:26-27
A deceived mindset is a soul that flirts with spiritual death. Indeed it is from our soul that we first embrace hope or despair, truth or lies, faith or fear, security or insecurity, acceptance or rejection, love or hatred, God or Satan. A soul that gives up on God gives in to the god of this world–the devil. Thus, a soul is at risk when it is preoccupied with vain imaginations that leaves out, even betrays the Lord. A soul that does not care about Christ is in need of serious soul care.
Judas, though familiar with matters of faith, decided that faith did not matter. His conflicted soul surrendered to short term selfish desire rather than riding out the storm with righteous motives. He would learn the painful lesson that consequences last when the deeds are past. Jesus found him out, even before He was outed by His betrayer. The Lord Christ knew God’s bigger purpose was at work, so He let him go. Judas sacrificed his soul at the altar of Satan’s shenanigans.
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:4-5).
A nation’s soul is at risk when Christ continues to be pushed out of the culture’s conversation. Tolerance for everything but the truth of Scripture will kill the soul of our country. If the ideals that once made America great are put to death, we will no longer be great, but a shell of what we used to be. The soul of a nation can avoid spiritual sacrifice by remaining loyal to the Lord God Almighty. If our actions betray Jesus we lose God’s favor, but if we obey Jesus we gain God’s favor!
The good news is a soul who receives the love of their heavenly Father finds life. Life with purpose. Life with love. Life with joy. Life with peace. Jesus provides the best soul care. Our churches who rediscover their souls will flourish with the salvation of lost souls. Disciples will multiply, families will be fortified and God will be glorified. As we pour out our soul in praise to the Lord we are energized by eternal matters. A soul who hopes in God is made alive for Christ. The cross is Christ’s invitation for a lost soul to be found and to find rest in His forgiveness.
“These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:4-5).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, my hope is in You. Make my soul alive to Christ and His ways.Application
Who can I invite to church this Easter to hear of the hope in Christ?Related Reading
1 Samuel 1:15; Psalm 103:1-2; Lamentations 3:18-26; Mark 14:34Post/Tweet today
The cross is Christ’s invitation for a lost soul to be found and to find rest in His forgiveness. #alostsoul #wisdomhuntersWorship Resource
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I am trying to share this particular devotion on FB, but it’s not the one that comes up when
I hit the Share button!
I really love Wisdom Hunters. I really do. The things that I read are extremely inspirational and right on time. I am an African-American female; aged 42. I have education beyond a Bachelor’s degree. I found Wisdom Hunters about 2 years ago because I was looking for daily inspiration for my inbox, as I am always working on my computer. The issue is, that as of late, I have noticed things that have been incorporated within the Wisdom given that have the ring of politics. That is something that I do not approve of. I have read at least three “Wisdoms” that made me feel uncomfortable regarding the rhetoric. I am not the type to try to read to much into things but this is something that has stood out to me. Sayings such as “America great again” , allude to the politics of a president that has been nothing but divisive. I feel that America is already great but could always be much, much better. Please tell me the period you are referring to when America was “great”.
Dear Laura,
Thank you for reaching out to us. I am sorry you had trouble sharing the devotion on FB. Unfortunately, we have had this issue before. We are looking into to it and appreciate your patience as we try to figure it out. In the meantime, you can go to our website:
http://www.wisdomhunters.com and click on the devotionals link. When you find the one you would like to share you can email it or share with others with the links at the bottom of the page.
We are grateful that you wanted to share the devotional with others. We are thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter!
Happy Easter! HE IS RISEN!!
Gwynne
P.S. For whatever reason, the devotionals are “time-delayed” a day or two when you share them on FB. Try to share tomorrow and it may work out to be the one that was posted today. Otherwise, your best bet would be to go to our website. Thank you again for your patience.
Dear Tahara,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. First of all, please let me thank you for being a fellow wisdom hunter. We are grateful you have been blessed by the Wisdom Hunter’s devotionals from time to time and we give all the glory to our Heavenly Father!
Your comments prompted me to go back through some of our devotionals and study the content as it pertains to your concerns. (I thank you for that, too, because I always enjoy going back and re-reading the devotionals that meant a lot to me, too.)
One in particular stood out to me that I think may shed some light on Boyd’s love of this nation and his hope that we as (as believers and as a nation) draw together and keep God front and center. I believe his use of the term “that once made America great” has no reflection on a specific political leader, but instead references a time when our nation (including our leaders) openly relied on the Lord more and in doing so, found God’s purpose and direction.
Tahara, I am emailing you a devotional from Jan 1, 2018 titled “How Can Our Nation Find God’s Purpose and Peace?” It is so rich with reminders of what a nation can look like when God is first. We are also reminded of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and problems they had when they put other “gods” before the One True God.
I agree with you, “I feel America is already great but could always be much, much better” too. But I know that the author of this devotional, Boyd Bailey, loves our nation so much, and writes these devotionals out of that love and the Love he has for our God. I am so thankful that we have God’s Word for a “rule book”, too, so that we can go back and seek out His wisdom for our lives and for guidance in all areas of our lives.
Tahara, please read this past devotional and a few others I will email you and let me know your thoughts. The emails will come from gwynne@wisdomhunters.com and I would love to hear what you think.
While I do understand your apprehension at reading anything political into the devotionals, please know they are never meant to represent a certain political party. They are to represent a love of country and a deep desire that we join together and worship the God that created us all.
Thank you Tahara. So thankful for you and I would love to hear from you again!
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 26: 1-4