God has given us this Book so that we might know Him. If you pick up the Bible only when you have a question or emergency, then you won’t have a true picture of who the Lord is or what He wants you to know. Scripture is a treasure trove of God’s thoughts. Spend time there every day – starting today – to discover new truths and insights.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, December 31, 2020.
Today our Father speaks to us primarily through His Word. The Scriptures are fully reliable because the Holy Spirit of God literally breathed His truth upon the minds of men, who recorded it precisely.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, December 31, 2020.
So often when trouble strikes, we turn to some friend or counselor. That is good to do, since God does speak through godly men and women. But the first place we should turn is to His Word.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, December 31, 2020.
Scripture is our source for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. If we want to know and understand God’s will, we should ask Him and search the Bible.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, April 2, 4, 2019.
We are each called to ministry in one form or another. Although we tend to think of ministry as something that’s done inside a church, in reality it encompasses everything we do all week long, no matter where we are. In God’s eyes, there’s no division between sacred and secular activities.
Each of us has been created and fitted by God to fulfill the particular ministry He’s chosen specifically for us.
Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, January 30, 2017.
King Solomon’s life illustrated the peril of compromise (1 Kings 11:1-7). Concession begins in a seemingly insignificant way. For instance, someone might want you to make a financial decision that you know in your heart is unwise. But you go along with the plan because you don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings. You have compromised the message of the Holy Spirit, who warned you.
Small compromises lead to more serious ones. With each successive concession, our conscience is weakened. Ultimately, whenever we give way to evil – whether we let go of a doctrinal belief or simply listen to music that taints our thoughts – we always lose.
We compromise for a variety of reasons. Many do so from fear of rejection or of being unappreciated. Some choose this route to avoid conflict. Still others may begin to doubt God’s trustworthiness or goodness; as a result, they give up on Him, compromising their basic beliefs and undermining their reason for assurance.
To be men and women who are strong enough to resist making concessions, we need to develop some essential armor. First, we must have strong convictions about the Bible and depend on it as a guide for daily living. Next, we need to have faith in God’s promise to supply all of our needs. Finally, we must find the courage to trust in Him, even when we are misunderstood, persecuted, or falsely accused. When we surrender our life to God, He replaces enslavement to compromise with security in Him.
Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, January 29, 2018
Before we knew Jesus Christ, our life was full of godlessness and wickedness – we had self-seeking ways and stubborn, unrepentant hearts (Romans 1:18; 2:5, 8). Like our strife-filled world, we clamored for peace and tried to find it, but our efforts failed.
When we came to faith in the Savior, all of that changed. We were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Every one of our sins – past, present, and future – was forgiven. Divine justice was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice, and God’s wrath upon us (because of sin) was removed. We became a new creation, washed clean by Jesus’ blood (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now that sin’s power over us has been broken, we can become members of God’s family rather than His enemies (Romans 5:10). He sent His Holy Spirit to be our personal guide in this new life, helping each of us experience Christ’s peace (8:6). We also can look forward to an eternity spent in heaven, where righteousness, tranquility, and joy abound (14:17).
The story of the Prodigal Son’s return is a picture of our reconciliation with the Lord (Luke 15:11-32). The young man had chosen to leave his father, living instead to please himself. Repentant, the son eventually returned home; his father joyfully greeted and forgave him, and there was harmony between them. God has done all this for us.
Our unity with the heavenly Father came at a great price – the sacrifice of His only Son.
Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, November 30, 2017.
All people have a belief system whether they realize it or not. Even those who claim there is no God have faith that He does not exist. What we believe affects every area of our life and shapes each decision we make, yet few of us take the time to really think about what we accept as true.
All belief systems have a foundation. Some people base their convictions on what fits their lifestyle, reasoning, and desires. But that is not to be the case with Christians – Jesus calls His followers to adapt life to their faith in Him and the authority of His Word.
Anytime we add other philosophies or ideas to Scripture or pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe, we create our own version of faith, based on personal reasoning. God’s Word is the only true and reliable foundation for belief, because it contains the recorded thoughts of an eternal, omniscient God. All other concepts must be measured against Scripture to determine their validity.
Knowing what the Bible says is essential for developing a sound system of beliefs founded on the truth and wisdom of the Lord. This world offers many philosophies that sound good but are laced with lies. A faith anchored in what Scripture teaches is your protection against deception.
Each time you face a problem or decision, search God’s Word for the answer. Begin your day by reading the Bible and asking God to help you understand what He is saying. He loves communicating with His children and as you spend time with Him, He’ll open your mind to know His thoughts.
Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, November 26, 2017.
-Word- pictures by DLink 