Opening the Word

Live Peaceably

Read Genesis 13:5-18
“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren” (v. 8).
The story is told of a young Christian soldier who faithfully knelt in prayer each night. The sergeant, who wanted nothing to do with God, disdained this “religious stuff!” One night, the disgruntled man reached for his own muddy boots and threw them at the young soldier, striking him on the head. The following morning a pair of beautifully clean and polished boots was lying neatly by his bed! How did his boots change from muddy to clean overnight? Ah, yes, it was the young soldier's doings! He was astonished to think that this young man returned a peaceful gesture instead of rage. The sergeant was so swept away by this kind deed that he eventually came to know Christ as his Savior. What would we do if we were the soldier? Are we endeavoring to live peaceably with others or do we adamantly attempt to stir up strife? When dissension comes our way, how do we react? Do we retaliate with ugly words and insensitive actions or do we demonstrate the love of Christ? Others are watching us! (Sharonda Baker)

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,Live in me from day to day,By His love and pow'r controllingAll I do and say.— Kate B. Wilkinson

We will not influence sinners to find Jesus by acting like the devil. Allow the mind of Christ to live in us.

This devotional is the Monday, August 7, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-08-09T09:28:00+00:00August 9th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Peace|0 Comments

A Pattern for Ministry

Read Luke 10:1-12
“The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (v. 2).
The harvest . . . the laborers. Christ's harvest is great both in its immensity and its intensity. The sheer population of eternal souls needing Jesus today is staggering. Missiologists tell us that there are an estimated 2.2 billion self-professing Christians worldwide. Even if these figures are accurate, that leaves two-thirds of the world still unreached. But not only is the harvest great in its immensity; it is great in its intensity. The needs of people are so deep and the chains of sin so strong that the task often seems overwhelming and impossible.
Pray . . . the Lord of the harvest that he will send. The project of human redemption is truly the most ambitious task ever undertaken. Due to both its immensity and its intensity, it cannot be accomplished by mere human intervention, creativity, or even sheer hard work. It will require divine intervention. The most powerful tool we have is prayer. Ironically, the disciples became the answer to their prayer for harvesters. (See Luke 10:3.) We cannot pray for harvesters without becoming one ourselves. If you want to see more done for the kingdom, begin with prayer and prepare to go! (Don D Callaway)

Here am I send me;Here am I send me;Use me in your harvest, Lord.Send me where you desireFill my soul with holy fire,Here am I, O Lord, send me!— Don Callaway

This devotional is the Tuesday, August 1, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-08-02T09:17:00+00:00August 2nd, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Ministry|0 Comments

The Gifts for Leadership

Read Ephesians 4:1-10
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (v. 7).
To be a leader there must be followers, but what is it that inclines others to follow the leader? Some might say charisma, or a strong personality, a vision, or enthusiasm. While these may contribute pieces to the equation, what are the necessary gifts for leadership? As Christians picking up lead-ership roles in the church or community, what matters most?
The first verse of our study passage puts an emphasis on role modeling as it says, “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Then the writer lists areas in which a leader is to be exemplary, such as: humility, meekness, patience, and forbearance. The objective is to spawn and maintain unity or harmony. While all of these may be considered gifts for leadership, the gift that enables these is the “grace” mentioned in verse seven. This is more than “unmerited favor,” it is “divine influence on the heart that is reflected in the life.” This is the most crucial gift for leadership. (Rodney Stearns)

We trust not in our native strength,But on His grace rely,That, with returning wants, the LordWill all our need supply.Lord, guide our doubtful feet aright,And keep us in thy ways.— Benjamin Beddome

The best leaders carefully follow the Leader!

This devotional is the Thursday, July 27, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-07-26T09:03:00+00:00July 26th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Leader|0 Comments

Ministry by the Spirit

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (v. 11).
Radical individualism is arguably the most deeply held belief of the majority of Americans. The solitary hero strides boldly across the pages of our history, literature, and mythology, most often hacking out a living in a dangerous wilderness populated by savage weather, animals, and people. Though the wilderness is now largely settled, we still want to live by this core belief. A few years ago the U.S. Army tried to tap into this sentiment with the campaign slogan, “An Army of One.” How effective would a one man army actually be?
In his book, Holiness for Ordinary People, Keith Drury has a chapter entitled “A Sanctified Church.” He makes the shocking statement that a church can be made up of sanctified individuals and itself not be holy. This happens when personal time with Jesus fails to impact corporate worship, prayer, and other functions. God has designed us to grow together.
I am an introvert, which means that I need a great deal of alone time to recharge my batteries. I find it very easy to cut myself off from people for extended periods of time. However, I have noticed that my greatest periods of spiritual growth come when I am consistently around the people of God. There are no effective Lone Ranger Christians. (Randy J Bland)

No man is an island,Entire of itself,Every man is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.— John Donne

Do you regularly allow other Christians to be a part of your life?

This devotional is the Monday, July 17, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-07-21T08:51:00+00:00July 21st, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Ministry|0 Comments

A Desire To Worship

Read Psalm 42:1-2
“My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (v. 2).
The writer has apparently been prevented from attending the temple due to uncontrollable circumstances. His enforced absence has brought pain akin to the excruciating pangs of thirst. He longs to be in the house of God with the people of God. John Phillips contrasts this attitude with the “many excuses people invent for absenting themselves from the place of public worship.” It was not so with the psalmist. But the craving for the house of God perhaps is reflective of his inner soul need for the living God. Charles Spurgeon identifies the soul as “his very self, his deepest life” which had an insatiable desire for the divine presence. Deny him his Lord and “his heart heaves, his bosom palpitates, his whole frame is convulsed like one gasps for breath or pants with long running.” Spurgeon then sagely observes, “The next best thing to living in the light of the Lord's love is to be unhappy till we have it.” This desire is both learned in experience and instinctive in God's created children. Pascal, a French mathematician, physicist, and Christian philosopher penned these lines: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator through Jesus Christ.” May our daily prayer seek His presence in heart and sanctuary. (William Snider)

*“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find rest in you”* (St. Augustine).

This devotional is the Tuesday, July 11, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-07-12T09:32:00+00:00July 12th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: worship|0 Comments

Brethren Together

Read 1 Corinthians 16:15-20

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” (v. 15).

Through our years of ministry, we have known many saints who “have addicted themselves to the ministry.” They could be counted upon to make things go smoothly in the church. They were there to teach a class of rowdy juniors, drive a church van, or to clean the facilities (even when no one asked them to do this). When someone was sick, they would take a pot of soup and have prayer with them. These same “saints” would be found knocking on doors inviting families to worship. They put God first and considered it a privilege to serve. Possibly, you may be thinking of someone you know who fills this description! What is the motivating cause of these types of believers? What causes them to consistently and constantly seek to minister to others? They have become “addicted” to serving in Christ's name. May God give us more saints who are addicted to ministry! (James Baker)

Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand'rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if Thou wilt be my Guide,

I'll say what You want me to say. — Mary Brown

The best addiction is to be addicted to ministry.

This devotional is the Monday, July 3, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-07-05T09:18:00+00:00July 5th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Ministry|0 Comments

The Power of Unity

Read Nehemiah 4:7-9

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (v. 9).

Dad and I were constructing a deck at our home in Overland Park, Kansas. In compliance with the strict building codes of the city, we had to have some rather significant post holes into which we were to pour concrete, so we rented a powered post hole digger. It really wasn't too difficult to operate in the rich, black soil of Overland Park. However, we once encountered a problem. I could not seem to get the post hole digger to go any deeper and asked Dad what seemed to be the problem. He said, “Deeper? I've been trying to pull up on this thing!” We simply weren't communicating. Thus we weren't working in unity. Working in unity is not only a mark of maturity, it is empowerment for progress. Of course, unity begins with a common focus or goals. A number of things are desirable in formulating a course for common ground: mutual encouragement, a desire to please Christ above all, a desire to touch the lives of others with the gospel, just to name a few. Another significant goal is guarding against the enemy's encroachment upon the work of God. We can do that by maintaining fervency of spirit and dogged desire to please God. (Lonnie Witt)

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before. — Sabine Baring-Gould

This devotional is the Monday, June 26, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-06-29T09:23:00+00:00June 29th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Unity|0 Comments

Unity Is Blessed
Unity Is Blessed

Unity Is Blessed

Read Psalm 133:1-3
“As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (v. 3).
A New York family bought a ranch out west hoping to raise cattle. Later a friend asked what they named their ranch. The new rancher answered, “I wanted it to be the Bar-J. My wife wanted it to be the Suzy-Q, one son wanted the Flying-W, and the other the Lazy-Y. We finally de-cided on the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y. We have only had one problem. None of our cattle survived the branding.”
Sometimes making everybody happy does not mean that you have unity. The Moravian brethren discovered this in the midst of internal conflict in 1747. Count Zinzendorf arranged to have a conference so they could discuss the issues causing the controversy. When the representatives arrived, they did not immediately begin to have debates as they had assumed. Instead, he instructed them to first spend time in prayer and the study of 1 John. By the end of the week, they had realized again that one of the main lessons of the book was “love for all the brethren.” On Sunday they agreed they should observe the Lord's Supper, remembering that being many they were one Body. Compromise or debate would have failed. Looking to God for guidance, they once again became the unified functioning Body of Christ. They now experienced what they had forgotten they cherished — the blessing of unity. Prayer with purpose, submission to God's Word, and a humble spirit brought the blessing of unity to the Moravian brethren. It is time for God's people to use this simple formula today. (L Gayle Woods)

Whereas compromise and debate will usually fail, looking to God for His guidance, the people of God can once again become the unified functioning Body of Christ.

This devotional is the Monday, June 12, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-06-13T08:53:00+00:00June 13th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Unity|0 Comments

Promise of a Universal Gospel
Promise of a Universal Gospel

Promise of a Universal Gospel

Read Isaiah 60:3-7
“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (v. 3).
As an insect is drawn to light, the conversion of souls is described here as they fly to Christ, to the Church, and to His Word. As we embrace the wonderful light of salvation, we become a lighthouse for the gospel. The gospel message is universal, reaching around the globe to extraordinarily transform lives for God's glory. Sowing seeds for the Master will always result in a harvest. His Word is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” God's Word assures us that when we are busy doing His work, He will give an increase, an abundant harvest (Isa. 55:11). God is no respecter of persons. As He has faithfully dealt with us through conviction, He will speak to those for which we pray. He created us and knows the best way to get our attention! We can confidently bring our burden for lost souls to Him. He will break down language barriers whether we are in China or Chinatown. We can pray on the continent of Asia, and He can answer our prayers for someone in Europe. Prayer is the original WiFi connection available 24/7. The gospel has no boundaries as its followers carry the good news throughout the world. (Beverly Tatum)

Bear the good tidings all over the world,
Let the bright banner of love be unfurled,
Wherever sorrow and sin shall be found,
There let the news of salvation resound.
— Eliza Edmunds Hewitt

Let Him shine brightly through you!

This devotional is the Thursday, June 8, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-06-07T09:23:00+00:00June 7th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Gospel|0 Comments

Lord of the Atonement
Lord of the Atonement

Lord of the Atonement

Read Hebrews 9:11-15
“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (v. 15).
He had messed up. Now the police were involved. Next came the court appearance. He entered a guilty plea, and a hefty fine was levied. The fine was more than he could pay, but a friend offered to pay the balance of the fine for him. That is the way atonement works. We messed up. The correct terminology is we sinned. Declared guilty in the court of heaven, the penalty for our sins was much more than we could pay; we deserved to die. That is when the best friend we could ever have stepped to our side to represent us. More than paying a fine, our best friend, Jesus, died for us. His sacrificial, substitutionary death satisfied God's righteousness and holiness and atoned for our sins. Only by faith in the offering that Jesus made for us can we find forgiveness of sins, cleansing of the sinful nature, and the new and eternal life that Jesus provides. Who could plan such an atonement! Only God could do it. While it is beyond our comprehension, this atonement was planned for us before God created the world. In the person of Jesus Christ, the atonement was completed at Calvary. (Mark Avery)

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. — Robert Lowry

*Jesus made atonement for my sins and yours.*

This devotional is the Friday, June 2, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2017-05-30T09:10:00+00:00May 30th, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Atonement|0 Comments