The end of the commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an undissembled faith. - 1 Timothy 1:5 WE are to have clearly before our minds the fact that the ultimate object of all the divine dealings for us and with us, and the ultimate significance of all the divine promises made to us, is the development of love, which is Godlikeness, for God is love. And to have this love developed in us, in the sense and to the degree intended by the Lord, it is necessary that it shall come from a pure heart, in full accord with the Lord, and His law of love, and wholly antagonistic to the Adversary and his law of selfishness.

March 12, 2017 It's Not Me Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11 |   Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 17–19; Mark 13:1–20 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others . 1 Peter 4:10 While on vacation recently, I gave my razor a rest and grew a beard. Various responses came from friends and co-workers—and most were complimentary. One day, however, I looked at the beard and decided, “It’s not me.” So out came the razor. I’ve been thinking about the idea of who we are and why one thing or another does not fit our personality. Primarily, it’s because God has bestowed us with individual differences and preferences. It’s okay that we don’t all like the same hobbies, eat the same foods, or worship in the same church. We are each uniquely and “wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). Peter noted that we are uniquely gifted in order to serve each other (1 Peter 4:10–11). God may call us out of our comfort zone, but He does so to serve His own purposes. Jesus’s disciples did...

Outside of Yourself By Billy Graham • March 12 • HomeDaily Devotion Out side of YourselfbabyDear brothers, I have been talking to you as though you were still just babies in the Christian life . . . —1 Corinthians 3:1 (TLB) Some people have received Christ but have never reached spiritual maturity. They have been in church all their lives, and yet they have never become mature Christians. They are still considered “ spiritual children ” and “ babes in Christ. ” They know little Scripture.  They have little desire to pray, and bear few of the marks of a Christian in their daily living. To say, “I will resolve to do better, I will muster all my will power and revise my way of living,” is noble, but futile. A corpse could as well say, “ I will-through sheer effort-rise out of this coffin and be a living man again.” You need a power outside yourself. You cannot get over the habits and chains that are binding . You need outside help. You need Christ. The Bible tells ...

Open Heavens 12 March 2017:-  He lifts material burdens HE LIFTS MATERIAL BURDENS – Sunday March 12th 2017 Memorise: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Read: Luke 13:10-17 (KJV) 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one ...

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017 CALMING ANGER TEXT: PROVERBS 15:1 BIBLE TEXT: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). An angry person feels very grieved and displeased about someone or something. Anger causes some people to do bad things that they would later regret. Sometimes anger leads to quarrel, fight or murder. It has broken many friendships and other relationships. That is why Horace said that, "Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you." The biblical story of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, depicts the effective way of calming anger. David would have killed Nabal and all the males in his family for insulting and dishonouring him if Abigail had not humbly gone to appease David (1 Samuel 25: 22). Avoid anger like a plague. Be careful with angry people. Be silent when you are confronted by an angry man. Be calm and answer such a one in a pleasant way. "Let your speech be alw...

Two Infinitely Strong and Tender Truths  by John Piper “ . . . declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:10) The word “sovereignty” (like the word “Trinity”) does not occur in the Bible. We use it to refer to this truth: God is in ultimate control of the world from the largest international intrigue to the smallest bird-fall in the forest. Here is how the Bible puts it: “I am God, and there is no other. . . . ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9–10). And: “[God] does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35). And: “He is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me” (Job 23:13–14). And: “Our God is in the heavens; he does...

Don't Fret—Rejoice! by Joyce Meyer - posted March 11, 2017 Rejoice in the Lord always…again I say, Rejoice!...Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in…everything, by prayer and petition…with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. —Philippians 4:4,6 Twice in this passage the apostle Paul tells us to rejoice. He urges us not to fret or have any anxiety about anything but to pray and give thanks to God in everything—not after everything is over. If you wait until everything is perfect before rejoicing and giving thanks you won't have much fun. Learning to enjoy life even in the midst of trying circumstances is one way to develop spiritual maturity. Live in the fullness of the joy of the Lord by finding something to be glad about besides your current circumstances. You must learn to derive your happiness and joy from the Lord who lives inside you. Decide you will not fret or have anxiety about anything but will give thanks and praise t...