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Aired on
Mar 22, 2024
Duration
00:01:24 min.
00:01:24 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
How Flexible Are You?
Circumstance should not determine our values, and our convictions should not be subject to change.
~~~
I have been in the midst of several counseling sessions, where I have heard with my own two ears a husband or wife say, “I know that leaving my spouse is what the Lord wants me to do,” even though they know clearly it goes against God’s very own word. What is their basis? Their basis for morality is their own personal situation. They are not happy. They are not getting what they want. It’s not going their way. So they want out.
To live upon conviction of God’s word requires the will of man that has been redeemed by Christ to be yielded to Christ.
“What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place…A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed.”
G.K. Chesterton, in Christian Theology in Plain Language, p. 65. (https://bible.org/illustration/misplaced-humility)
We no longer tend to be people who live by conviction, but by preference so long as the situation is favorable. But as soon as the situation gets difficult, uncomfortable, not to my liking, we often times discover that we what we thought was a conviction is merely a preference.
We see in 1 Samuel 26 that David grew in his trust in God’s word and ability do justice. He does not let circumstance determine his values. His convictions are not subject to change, here at least, based on ease of opportunity.
I wonder, how flexible are your principles?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 22, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:13 min.
00:02:13 min.
Aired on
Mar 21, 2024
Duration
00:01:20 min.
00:01:20 min.
A daily word of encouragement
What are you building your life on?
Are you going to church and doing your quiet time every day but are not applying anything that you're reading?
By: Allison Hawkins
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 20, 2024
Duration
00:01:30 min.
00:01:30 min.
Mental Health Minutes
Close Relationships
Humans have a maximum limit of close relationships.
By: Brian Sheppard
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 21, 2024
Duration
00:00:25 min.
00:00:25 min.
Lori Cline - Red-Letter Words
Wait, Jesus Said What?
If Jesus doesn’t cost us anything, the life we’re living may be lost.
~~~
Did Jesus come to bring peace?
He did say, blessed are the peacemakers. The prophet Isaiah said he would be called the Prince of Peace. Peace I leave with you, peace I give you, peace be still, are all words Jesus spoke. On the night of His birth, the angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. Ephesians 2:14 says ‘for He Himself is our peace’. Yes, Jesus came to bring peace.
Jesus made a way for mankind to be made RIGHT with God. Without Jesus we are enemies of God. (Romans 5:10) The sin that separated us was atoned for, paid for and made right, on the cross. The cross alone made the way for PEACE with God.
Colossians 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
I am so thankful for the cross. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection changed everything. Only Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, could take away the sins of the world. Peace with God, through faith in Jesus, is now for all who will believe. See John 3:16.
Jesus did come to bring peace, but look around, are we at peace? Watch the news tonight and then tell me if our world is at peace. Bring up politics, religion or the injustices of the world in a crowded room and let me know how peaceful that discussion goes.
It seems there is more division than peace. Well, Jesus brings that too.
Matthew 10:34-39
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Wait a minute, that’s not MY Jesus! Friend, if the Jesus someone has been selling you doesn’t include this truth, you need a new truth dealer. Better yet, seek and know for yourself.
So what DOES Jesus mean here? He’s bringing a sword. Households are divided. To follow Him you gotta carry your cross and to find your life you must lose it? That’s not very zen!
In this chapter, Jesus is sending out the twelve apostles. It’s about to get real. They will be sheep among wolves. They will be teaching, healing and persecutions are coming. He is preparing them for the immediate task at hand as well as the future challenges ahead. One big challenge they would face and we face today, is the COST of following Jesus.
Choosing to follow Jesus then and now requires total SURRENDER. Following Jesus means His way over yours. Following Jesus means He is ruler of your life. Following Jesus means dying to your way and following His. THAT kind of surrender to Jesus brings DIVISION. That kind of surrender to Jesus in certain parts of the world brings death. That’s what Jesus was preparing his followers for.
What does it mean for us today? If following Jesus hasn’t COST you anything, then the life you’re living, may very well be LOST.
That’s the truth.
Following Jesus will cost you, but it’ll never compare to the price He paid for you.
I’m Lori Cline.
By: Lori Cline
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 21, 2024
Show
The Lori Cline Show
Duration
00:04:26 min.
00:04:26 min.
Tailgate Talks
We All Need A Little Help
God gives us the church for fellowship, growth, and help.
By: Blake Martin
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 20, 2024
Show
Tailgate Talks
Duration
00:04:36 min.
00:04:36 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
He Protected THE KING
All of God’s providential work was for the purpose of Jesus becoming our King.
~~~
We clearly see that God was moving in and around David’s life, to bring him as King, for the sake of the Israel.
And the providential ways God has been doing this is through conviction of sin in I Samuel 24, the confrontation of a woman in chapter 25, and now, in chapter 26, through a sanctified heart.
But I want us to stop right here and think for just a moment, because this is not the only time God has moved in providential ways in order to protect a soon to be King so that God’s people may have something better. In fact, God acting in this way sets the stage for His doing the same thing in grander fashion for great purposes in the fullness of time. In the bigger story is the story of God’s acting and moving in history in order to protect His chosen One so that He could be provided not just to Israel as a King, but to us as God’s best gift to us. Jesus is the absolute best gift the church could ever receive and cling to.
And so as we read the opening chapters of the gospel story in Matthew, we find Joseph was kept from divorcing Mary by the providence of God; we read about a decree that would go out form Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered, which would land Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem when it was time for her to give birth, so that former prophecy would be fulfilled. We read in Matthew about wise men from the East, who followed a star! And then, when you think about the wise men, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod to tell him where the baby born King of the Jews was located. And then right after that, Joseph was told in a dream to take the baby Jesus into Egypt in order to avoid Herod’s ghastly slaughter.
When we get into the life of Jesus, we discover that all the kingdoms of the world were offered to him by Satan, if he would only take a shortcut. “Don’t take the way of the cross Jesus, take this shortcut, and the result will be the same!” But no. God protected him, and empowered Jesus to trust God’s word. We read several times where either the people wanted to take Jesus in the moment and make him king right then, but he slips away, OR we read about the crowds wanting to throw him off a cliff, but He slips away. All of this is God’s providential working in the life of Jesus so that Jesus could ascend to the throne by way of the cross.
And then think with me for just a moment. Think about how God must have had to restrain the angels as they peered over the balcony of heaven watching him be beaten and crucified. Think about how God must have had to encourage and console them as they laid Jesus in the tomb. How he must have had to stay their tears from flooding heaven. All of it was God’s providence and power, pushing, pulling, protecting, providing, so that His people would have the best gift, the best King.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 20, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:42 min.
00:03:42 min.
Mental Health Minutes
Information Chunks
We break up information into smaller chunks.
By: Brian Sheppard
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 19, 2024
Duration
00:00:22 min.
00:00:22 min.
Lori Cline - Red-Letter Words
Jesus’ Words Turned Things Upside Down
To follow Jesus, we must seek His ways above our own.
~~~
How does Dairy Queen serve a blizzard? The ice cream and fast food chain has served the blizzard upside down since the beginning. Why do they do this? The inspiration actually goes back to 1959 when a 14 year old boy kept asking for thicker and thicker ice cream shakes. Finally the owner, at a point of frustration, flipped a shake upside down and asked, ‘is this thick enough for you’?
Yep, that inspired the DQ flip. The purpose rests in PROVING the ice cream shake is, in fact, so thick, it won’t fall out when flipped upside down.
When our lives are flipped upside down, what do we prove? Do we fall apart or hold fast? That may sound kind of silly, but life does get crazy doesn’t it. What we believe about God and how we respond is proven in those roller coaster moments and seasons of life. When life is not as expected, where IS our hope found?
Jesus turned things upside down during His time on this earth. What was valued was devalued. What was expected was not delivered. The last became first, the poor became rich and the guttural prayers of a dirty sinner, not the calculated words of a white washed saint, moved the heart of the Father.
Do you believe in Jesus? Does your life prove it?
Back in the time of Christ, disciples would follow their rabbis so closely that they would be covered in his dust. "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi" was a blessing commonly given to disciples in Jesus’ day. I love that imagery. I want to follow Jesus so closely and live my life in such a way that it PROVES I belong to Him. I want to walk like Jesus. I want to talk like Jesus. I want to be covered in HIS dust.
Are you dusty with the words and ways of Jesus? All this month at Lifeword.org I’m looking at his words, the red letter ones. Often we highlight only the ones that make us feel good. While the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and His words are recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is present from Genesis to Revelation. He IS the word made flesh.
The ways and words of Jesus turned the world upside down. His followers hoped for a kingdom on earth that would make them free and rich. In His sermon on the mount, Matthew 5, 6 and 7, Jesus served up a kingdom flipped upside down. The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who seek righteousness, mercy and the pure in heart, they are blessed. It’s not simply what you do, but what you think and the condition of your heart that causes you to sin. Marriage is sacred. Love your enemies. Give more than required. Seek the Father’s will over your own. Store up treasure in heaven not on earth and so much more you can read for yourself that should PROVE the ways of a follower of Christ.
Jesus followers should be set apart not only by the LOVE of Jesus but also the WAYS of Jesus. He makes it so clear, but still many are missing the way. I want my life to shine a light that makes the path clear.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are the light of the world. Covered in the dust of Jesus we are a city on a hill in the darkness. And our life, even when turned upside down, should prove we are His people and He is our God.
That’s the truth.
Go read Jesus’ sermon on the mount today. I pray you walk away from it dusty, and if you do, you’ll be blessed.
I’m Lori Cline.
By: Lori Cline
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 19, 2024
Show
The Lori Cline Show
Duration
00:04:33 min.
00:04:33 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
What Kind Of Gift-Giver Are You?
God gives gifts greater than we can understand or that we would choose for ourselves.
~~~
How would the people to which you give gifts rate your gift-giving abilities? Would they say, “He is so thoughtful and knows me so well?” Or is it more like, “He is so interesting in the gifts he gives?”
There have been one or two times when I knocked it out of the park with my gift-giving. And then there are times when I can see the confused look in my wife’s face.
But no matter if you are a great gift-giver, or an “interesting” gift-giver, usually, with gifts, we want to give a gift that will make the life of the receiver better in some way. Or we want to get them a better something of what they already have—a new watch with better features, a better this or better that, socks with no holes, a better scope for their rifle.
Well, what we have been studying in 1 Samuel is that in the Israelites quest for someone to lead them as a king, God is able and willing to provide them with something better…something better than what they had chosen for themselves. But for us as a reader is that we have been getting a behind the scenes view of some things that were taking place. And we have been given this view so that we would see that God, by His divine providence, provides Israel a better King. We see that God gives better gifts. God is the best gift-giver of all time. And He has done the same thing in our time. We need a better king than we can provide. We need a better king than ourself. We need a better king than fame, or popularity, or money, or power. And God gives us that in Jesus Christ. He is the better King.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 19, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:18 min.
00:02:18 min.
Aired on
Mar 18, 2024
Duration
00:01:16 min.
00:01:16 min.
Aired on
Mar 15, 2024
Duration
00:01:30 min.
00:01:30 min.
Day by Day Hacks
Day By Day Hacks
We should observe what love response each Bible passage evokes from us.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 18, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:21 min.
00:02:21 min.
Aired on
Mar 14, 2024
Duration
00:01:26 min.
00:01:26 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
Do You Have Any Thank-You Cards Lying Around?
We should recognize the providence of God in our lives as He makes us more like Christ.
~~~
I wonder if there are some people that you need to write a letter to, or go to, and thank them for their wisdom in your life, how they have kept you from sin, or how they have helped pull you out of sin. How they have helped you on this road of sanctification that we journey.
We see David doing something akin to this in 1 Samuel 25, when Abigail shares wisdom with him. He rejoices over God. He rejoices over God’s servant and God’s wisdom displayed in her, he rejoices over the word she brought him.
As we think about this time of year, I remember another story of seemingly supposed justice stayed. Joseph, it seemed, had every cultural right to put Mary to shame. But God’s providence intervened, didn’t it? It wasn’t an Abigail who showed up, but it was an angel of the LORD. And that angel worked on Joseph’s heart so that God’s people would have a completely, righteous king.
This King was mistreated, but he constantly gave Himself to God, submitting to God’s plan to offer us something better—redemption in Christ, and holiness in this life.
For those who belong to Christ, redemption is secured. But God is continually doing a work of sanctification in our lives, the work of making us look more and more like His son. He is doing that work in you, believer. How are you responding?
Are you recognizing his providence? Repenting of your sin? Rejoicing over the word brought into your life, even though it be a difficult word?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 15, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:50 min.
00:02:50 min.
Outdoors with Shaun Merrell
Food for Thought
On the last episode of Outdoors with Shaun Merrell, the great hunter took down a few squirrels and promised a great recipe with this wild game. Today, he's got something cooking in the kitchen that's definitely some food for thought.
By: Shaun Merrell
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 15, 2024
Duration
00:21:01 min.
00:21:01 min.
Aired on
Mar 13, 2024
Duration
12:08:23 min.
12:08:23 min.
Mental Health Minutes
Dehydration and Electricity
Though the brain is predominantly water, it generates incredible electricity.
By: Brian Sheppard
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 14, 2024
Duration
00:00:22 min.
00:00:22 min.
Doc Talks
"Suicidal Ideology" - ft. Danny Williams
Overcoming suicidal thoughts and depression is possible.
By: Brian Sheppard
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 14, 2024
Duration
00:39:46 min.
00:39:46 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
Our Greatest Lack In Christianity
We should be sure to hate our own sin as much as God does, rather than justifying it.
~~~
One of David’s greatest spiritual characteristics is his sensitivity and receptivity to the conviction of the Spirit of God and repentance. And I also believe it is one of the greatest deficiencies within Christianity today. We lack continual repentance. We lack sorrow for sin. We lack hatred of sin. We don’t see it as an affront to God. We continually self-justify and excuse and play victim cards. We live on the level of the surface and say things like, “Well yeah, but if she hadn’t said that, then I wouldn’t have done this…” without ever addressing the heart, what’s in the heart, the pain you want to inflict on someone else, the humiliation you want to bring. You see, that is where the sin lies. And we might not commit the act that we want to against an offending party, but the bitterness and loathsomeness may still exist. And that is just as damning, and what must be wrestled out of the heart!
When was the last time? When was the last time you did the work of repentance? Really fought and battled with the sin of the heart? When was the last time you mourned over it? When was the last time you yielded to the LORD and prayed, “Lord I want to hate this sin like you do. Show me its damaging cost and affects. Help me to love righteousness. I want to trust you and your way in this.” When was the last time?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 14, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:28 min.
00:02:28 min.
Lori Cline - Red-Letter Words
The Jesus You Seek
When we seek Jesus with a heart willing to surrender, that is when we truly find Him and when we do, we find peace.
~~~
What kind of Jesus do you seek?
When you even hear the name of Jesus, what are your first thoughts? What you’ve heard spoken or read about Jesus is usually what leads you to believe what you believe about Him. Or, maybe you’re thoughts on Jesus are a result of what you think about people who claim to follow Jesus. You might not like what you see so therefore you choose to not have anything to do with the Jesus they follow.
That’s putting a lot of weight into human hands, opinions and worldviews when YOUR soul is on the line. You’re seeking something today. Maybe you’re even running after it. I think if you silenced all the voices in your mind and filtered through all the desires of your heart, the one thing you, or any of us, are seeking is PEACE. Peace is found only IN Jesus, but the key requirement is letting go of everything else YOU hold dear.
Yep, there it is. Surrendering your will for HIS is required. Any other Jesus you or anyone else tries to put out to the world, is an ANTI Christ. Simply meaning, it is a false or counterfeit spirit that actually opposes God and leads people away from the one true Jesus with false teaching. Read more for yourself on that in 1 John 2:18-22. If you deny the one true Jesus for any other form of Jesus you seek, you are LOST and forever without peace.
Jesus made it very clear in what it takes to know and follow Him. We can quickly look at a couple examples we have in scripture of interactions people had with Jesus. They wanted a Jesus that fit into their world. They wanted a Jesus they could feel good about and celebrate all while clenching with white knuckles onto what they held dear. It simply does not work that way. Jesus said it himself and we’ll look at his words about it in just a bit.
First let’s look at the very rich, but left still wanting, rich young ruler. His interaction with Jesus is recounted in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. He desperately wanted eternal peace. He runs to Jesus, kneels before Him and wants to know what he can DO to be saved. While he claimed to be a ‘good’ man, none are righteous apart from Jesus. Still, this man wanted a Jesus that worked into HIS plan, not the other way around.
Mark 10:21-22
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus isn’t who YOU want Him to be and He doesn’t fit into our lives any way we want like those bendable Jesus toys you can buy online. He IS God. He is HOLY. He wants ALL of you.
When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, the interaction looked quite different.
Matthew 4:19-20
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Drop our livelihood? Sure. Leave it all behind? Done. You want ALL of me? You got it. Now in that moment they had NO IDEA the path set before them and what it would all entail, but what they did know was the savior they were seeking, was calling them by name and that was all they needed.
Later they would hear Jesus say, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” They were beginning to see it more clearly every day they spent with Jesus. Less of me. More of Him.
When we seek Jesus with a heart willing to surrender, that is when we truly find Him and when we do, we find the PEACE we were looking for all along.
That’s the truth.
The truth doesn’t bend, but the love God has for you, never ends.
I’m Lori Cline.
By: Lori Cline
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 14, 2024
Show
The Lori Cline Show
Duration
00:04:32 min.
00:04:32 min.
A daily word of encouragement
Don’t lose the flavor of our Savior.
Our saltiness is Jesus within us and our excitement to follow him and tell others about Him.
By: Allison Hawkins
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 12, 2024
Duration
00:01:26 min.
00:01:26 min.
Tailgate Talks
The Drama of the Missing Calf
Ministry can be messy, but getting in the mess allows us to help others.
By: Blake Martin
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 13, 2024
Show
Tailgate Talks
Duration
00:06:34 min.
00:06:34 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
Should We Live With Twisted Justice?
Taking justice into our own hands implies that God is incapable of doing it.
~~~
In the heart of Abigail’s speech to David she says, vs. 26 “Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand…”
And then in David’s response to Abigail’s speech, in the very heart of it, he says in vs. 34, “For as surely as the LORD lives, who has restrained me from hurting you…”
So because of Abigail’s intervention, because of her obedience, because of her being an instrument in the plan of God, David was able to recognize the providence of God restraining him from committing sin. Abigail’s intervention was God’s providence because what she said lined up with God’s word. If David continued in this way, it would be sin
But isn’t that what Nabal deserves? Isn’t this a just retribution? It seems that the male servant that came to Abigail thought this was within the norm of the culture. But that is just it—just because it is within the norm of cultural settings doesn’t necessarily mean it is right for those devoted to the LORD.
The sin David was on the verge of committing was in taking vengeance into his own hands.
How much time could we keep from wasting if we stopped worrying about what others deserve and how we were going to give it to them?
Now, you may be thinking, “But Clif, if we live in a world with twisted justice, then we have chaos. So what you are saying here just doesn’t make sense.” I agree with you that a world without justice leads to chaos. I am not suggesting a world, or a land without justice. I am suggesting letting the God-ordained means of justice and judgment hold their place and that we respect those so far as the Bible allows us. And I am not just talking about government. I am also talking about Biblical institutions such as the church. How much authority does this church have in your life? Or is this just a place that offers worship services and other special events? No, we are not talking about abandoning justice and just waiting until the other side of death for God to dole out vengeance. When we take matters into our own hands, with no self-control, we are saying that God is not able, and will not do as good of a job at administering justice as I can do in this moment.
What is your initial reaction when you are wronged/slighted/take advantage of? Do you lose your mind? Do you begin planning ways to avenge yourself? Be careful, believer, that you do not overstep your area of responsibility.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 13, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:52 min.
00:03:52 min.
Day by Day - 1 Samuel
When Someone Steps In
Jesus stepped in to atone for our sins on our behalf.
~~~
Nabal’s greed and David’s need to avenge himself. This is the big problem we are presented with in 1 Samuel 25. How will this resolve?
Turns out that one of Nabal’s men reports the whole situation to Abigail, the wise and beautiful wife of Nabal. This is the turning point of this story.
So what is going to happen? David is fuming mad; taking matters into his own hand. And now he has Nabal’s wife bowing down at his feet. How easily, once again, it would have been to start administering justice right then and there.
But knowing that perhaps her window of opportunity was closing, she began to speak, and it seems like she doesn’t take a breath until she finishes her speech. It is the longest recorded speech by a woman in the OT.
Think about the risk involved in what she is doing. She doesn’t tell her husband; she’s traveling alone; she has no idea what David or his men might do to her.
And her first words are words of atonement—“On me alone, my lord, be the guilt.” Here is an innocent woman who is willing to step in and take on the guilt of a prideful, harsh, and badly behaved man in order so that man might be saved from David’s wrath.
I can’t help but be aware of the parallel to Jesus. What is it that confronts and is the only cure for my sinful behavior? Who is it that steps in, as an innocent party to assume the guilt that does not belong to Him, in order to absorb and extinguish my unrighteous, over-reactionary anger, bitterness, and hatred?
Here in Abigail’s words and actions, riding in on a donkey, offering herself, and then a celebratory meal, we have an analogy to Christ—who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, offers himself, and then gives us a memorial, celebratory meal to participate in.
The actions of Abigail lay a preparatory foundation for us to see the beauty and need for atonement of our sin, and that when Jesus comes and offers himself, not just for one man’s sin (like Abigail), but for sin for all those who would believe Him. In this story we see hints and shadows that are only filled out and made clear in Jesus.
And you would do well to pay fierce attention to the full story today if you are apart from Jesus Christ. This whole book we have before us, written by different authors over the course of a couple of thousands of years, has been given to us to tell us of one story, one hero, who has come to interrupt your life, to stop you in your tracks to see the dangerous path that you are headed down today if you do not heed His word to you—that if you continue in your sin, you will face in judgment the one who has the power to not only destroy your body but also your soul. And He will do it in complete justice and righteousness.
But if you realize and confess and turn from your sin, and if your heart is being warmed towards Jesus, and you receive Jesus as your atoning sacrifice, you will be made new, cleansed, forgiven, adopted into his family, and given eternal life that begins right now.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 12, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:38 min.
00:04:38 min.
Lori Cline - Red-Letter Words
Listen, Because This Cuts Deep
When presented with temptation, Jesus responded with Scripture.
~~~
Can you hear me now? Good!
Do you remember that? From 2002 to 2011, Verizon Wireless aired commercials which showed a test caller calling from all over the place to check for service. It was brilliant, because now over twenty years later, when a call gets glitchy, what do we say? Can you hear me now?
No one likes to drop a call. We have things to say and words to hear! Listening matters. A friend of mine recently shared these words of wisdom on listening. Listen to understand, not to respond. Let that soak in. Listening to really understand requires silence on our part, not a quick response.
Words are powerful. They reveal so often the depths of our heart and emotions. Sometimes words spoken reveal beauty and depth of wisdom and character, while other words reveal immaturity, foolishness and selfish motives of the heart. Out of the heart the mouth speaks.
All this month I’m focusing on the words of Jesus. You know, the red letter ones. Some people like to ONLY focus on those, listen close to understand, that’s a BIG mistake. Every word, from Genesis to Revelation is God breathed and inspired. Jesus is the word made flesh and He and the Father are one, so EVERY word, is the word. Don’t be foolish and misunderstand that very important truth.
While the words WE speak are powerful, THE Word of God cuts deeper than any.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The word of God is what we take to battle. We are to daily put on the armor of God, we read about in Ephesians 6. The sword of the spirit, is the word of God. We speak the word of God and the Holy Spirit uses its truth to cut deep into the hearts of those who need to see their need for Jesus. Only the power of the holy spirit can convict and draw someone to repentance. That truth and power is what we take into battle.
Jesus fought the devil with that sword. He used the Word of God, in the face of temptation, three times while fasting for forty days and nights in the desert. With each word, Satan was cut deep by truth and ultimately had to flee.
Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:7
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Jesus was slicin’ and dicin’ on the devil right there with the word of God! At a very weak moment physically from his fast, Satan attacked. He dropped temptation bombs left and right and Jesus used countermeasures of scripture and took each one out like a ninja. Make no mistake, this was no easy battle, but Jesus was equipped with the word. He IS the word and in that battle He knew no lie or temptation of the devil could stand against it.
That’s the truth.
Look to the Word of God and join us this month as we lean in and listen to understand the words Jesus spoke, the power they hold and how God wants to use them in our own lives to penetrate our hearts and draw us closer to Him.
I’m Lori Cline.
By: Lori Cline
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 12, 2024
Show
The Lori Cline Show
Duration
00:04:14 min.
00:04:14 min.
Aired on
Mar 11, 2024
Duration
00:01:11 min.
00:01:11 min.
Day by Day Hacks
Day By Day Hacks
We should consider what we can learn from the Bible texts we read, not just immediately jump to application.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 11, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:45 min.
00:02:45 min.
Aired on
Mar 08, 2024
Duration
00:01:19 min.
00:01:19 min.
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