Weekly Global Media Outreach Prayer Letter

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Psalm 43:3 Please pray for all the unsaved people in the world. All around the world there are people who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Some live near you; others live thousands of miles away. Please pray that they all will have many opportunities to come to know Jesus Christ. You can click here for an article that can help you learn how you can pray with confidence. “What is truth?” Pilate was the Roman king almost 2,000 years ago who asked this question of Jesus Christ. People all over the world are seeking for truth. Who is the source of truth? Jesus Christ said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He said, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Do you want to know truth? Study Jesus. Learn God’s Word. Be a person of truth. Speak the truth to people; speak the truth in love, but do not lie. God loves the truth. This week, can you please pray that God’s truth will be known all around the world God will help our staff at Global Media Outreach walk in faith and overcoming victory God will help you speak the truth in your every day life. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers. May God bless you as you seek His will, Your friends at Global Media Outreach This is an actual response received at one of our Web sites: "I ask the Lord to come into my life and take all the sinful things and thoughts I have had and to forgive me and to bless me. I pray. I thank Him for giving me another day to change." N, Wisconsin (USA)

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Weekly Global Media Outreach Prayer Letter

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26, 27 Please pray for the people of Georgia. You can click here to find out more. This small country, which used to be part of the Soviet Union, has been in conflict with Russia. Please pray that peace will be restored and that troops will return to their bases, and that many people in Georgia will come to know Jesus Christ. At www.iChristianLife.com, you can learn more about God. If you click here you can listen to worship music which can inspire you to worship and love God. Faith is incredibly important in the Christian life. It is how we are saved -- “You are saved by grace through faith.” How does this work? In our human minds, we may think that religion is just trying to be good enough. But Jesus Christ came and died on the cross in your place — and my place. He took our sins. So whatever your sins are, Christ died so you could be set free. The Bible says, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” So God does not love us because we are so good; He loves us because that is His nature. By faith we believe that Christ died for our sins — and our faith is what brings the righteousness of God. This is what makes us a Christian. So this week, let us pray that Millions of people will come to accept Jesus Christ as savior — by faith! All of us here at Global Media Outreach would walk in faith in Christ You will be strengthened in your faith and your knowledge that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior Faith is a wonderful freeing message — because none of us is perfect. God loves us and forgives us in Jesus Christ. “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” May God bless you, Your friends at Global Media Outreach This is an actual response received at one of our Web sites: "thanks for just being on the net i was just browsing being lost and i decided to type in God in search and i found this video....it made my day.....i have lived a Christian life when i was smaller when i got to teens i fell out of His hands and into a lost world...now that i have my children i have found out a better life and it needed more meaning and i know God can help with that thanks again for your time and this video can be such a miracle for people even if its just a video" M, Canada

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Weekly Global Media Outreach Prayer Letter

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 Please pray for the people of Mexico. Mexico is largely Catholic, and Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Please pray that God will pour out His blessing on Mexico and that everyone who is there will truly worship Christ as Lord and Savior. The greatest power in the world is God’s power. You can experience God’s power with the Holy Spirit living in your life. Click here and you can take a short Bible study that can help you learn about being filled with God’s Holy Spirit. “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” Traditional religion says that we must just try harder to be good. True Christianity says that, when we accept Christ as our Savior, Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts and lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is HIM living in us that produces goodness — and love — and joy — and peace — and happiness. When we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, we are doomed to failure. Jesus said His Father would send the Holy Spirit to teach us and live within us. So when you feel lonely and apart from God — know that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, He lives within you by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” God is powerful...just ask Him to live His life through you! So this week, can you join us in praying that God will release His power in your life God will help our staff at Global Media Outreach know His victory through Christ who lives in us God will bless both your finances and our finances here at Global Media Outreach THANK YOU so much for your prayers! Know that the victorious Christ — our risen Savior — lives within all who are Christians. You can have great victory and power in your life when you release His power in your life. May God bless you, Your friends at Global Media Outreach This is an actual response received at one of our Web sites: “I need the love and mercy of God… And I need Jesus as my saviour.” B, Saudi Arabia(Canada)

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Weekly Global Media Outreach Prayer Letter

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31 - 39) Please pray for the people of Kenya. Kenya is one of the largest countries in Africa, with over 37 million people. AIDS has taken many lives here; please pray that those who are sick would be healed. There are many Christians in Kenya; please pray that God would pour out His blessing and that all in Kenya would come to know the true God. Www.iChristianLife.com has many resources to help you grow in your Christian life. If you click here, you can listen to a series by Dr. Bill Bright that talks about God’s character. God is loving, and God is kind, and God is just; He is our wonderful heavenly Father and you can learn about Him here. “My strength comes from the Lord.” Where does your strength come from? If it comes from your bank account — or your education — or your emotions — then these things can fade. “If God is for us, then who can be against us.” As a Christian, your true strength comes from Jesus Christ who lives within you. The good news is — you can never truly be defeated! If someone is stronger than you — they are not stronger than God. If someone is wiser than you — they are not wiser than God. Christ in you is the hope of glory. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.” So you can go into life victorious — because the God of the Bible lives in all those who have truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. This week, let us pray that God will help us reach even more people each week with the gospel of Jesus Christ God will help all our staff at Global Media Outreach to be strong in the power of Christ God will help you know the power and strength that you have in Christ God is in you! He is the source of the greatest power the world has ever known. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Thank you so much for your prayers! Please let us know how we can pray for you. May God bless you, Your friends at Global Media Outreach This is an actual response received at one of our Web sites: "I am interested in become a Christian and am ready to accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. How can I become a Christian?" V, Alberta (Canada)

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Day 29 - NEXT STEPS

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 29 NEXT STEPS What do I do next? The other day I was in a meeting with a woman, now in her eightieth year. She is one of the most godly, mature Christians I have ever known. Yet at one point she said wistfully, "I'm no where near where I want to be in my prayer life." This was not false humility. This was the heart-cry of one who has gone deeply enough with the Lord to know there is so much more. Such a realization should not discourage us, but rather serve as a strong motivator to pursue spiritual growth with undaunted passion. It was toward the end of the Apostle Paul's life, having seen incredible evidences of God's power and provision that he said, "That I may know Him ... " (Philippians 3:10). That same passion is what prompted him to say, as might a great athlete who is straining toward the finish line: Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me ... one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14, emphasis added). T. Austin Sparks describes the wonder and challenge of our growing in Christ this way: The effect of the Holy Spirit's work in us is to bring us to the shore of a mighty ocean which reaches far, far beyond our range, and concerning which we feel -- Oh, the depths, the fullness, of Christ! If we live as long as ever man lived, we shall still be only on the fringe of this vast fullness that Christ is (Sparks, The School of Christ). This study will end tomorrow. You have stayed involved for a full 30 days, and I want to commend you. But I hope I have inspired you to press on -- to go the next step, and then the next. As much ground as we've covered in these 30 days, we have only "come to the shore of a mighty ocean." There is so much more! And God has given us the capacity to receive so much more. By now I hope you have become accustomed to looking up scriptures, at least the ones in this study. I also hope you are beginning to read the Word each day on your own, letting its truths shape your thinking and actions. It would be wonderful to know you've made some Christian friends and are meeting together, praying together, caring for each other's needs. How good it would be to know you are hearing sound, biblically based teaching. Most important of all, I trust you are drawing close to the Lord Himself, sensing His love, being strengthened with the grace only He can give. Finally, some great additional study materials are available through the Internet. Take advantage of these resources to continue your growth. Don't let up, but rather make continual growth your highest priority. Trust the Holy Spirit to provide what you need, remembering that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). An excellent site through which you can connect with a variety of proven, valuable resources is www.looktojesus.com. At this site you will find Ten Basic Steps, Transferable Concepts and other helpful materials. In addition, here are several other websites, some with studies for each day of the year: My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/ Experiencing God: http://swcbc.org/exp_god/ Purpose Driven Life: http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/ John Beckett's study helps: http://www.masteringmonday.com/ Key Scripture I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Key Thought There is so much more! Knowing Christ is a lifelong pursuit.   For more resources to help you grow as a Christian, you can go to iChristianLife   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 28 - NEAR THE CROSS

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 28 NEAR THE CROSS Why is the cross Jesus endured so vital to me? As we near the end of our studies, I want to encourage you to "live near the Cross." This means to live moment by moment in the reality of what Jesus provided for us through His sacrificial death. When I first heard someone urging that I "live near the cross," it seemed strange. The Cross is where a terrible death took place. The Cross is where nearly everyone abandoned Jesus. Why would I want to live in such a place? The reason is that the Cross is the ultimate place of victory, and the nearer we are to the Cross, the closer we are to that triumph. As Isaiah prophesied, and Paul reiterated -- at the Cross "Death is swallowed up in victory" (Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 15:54). The most helpful way I've found to understand the benefits of the cross in my life is to consider the exchanges that took place there (courtesy of a little booklet from Derek Prince Ministries). Through the punishment inflicted on Jesus, we were forgiven (Isaiah 53:4-5). Jesus was wounded at Calvary that we might be healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). Through Jesus' death we are able to receive His life (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance with the Father (Ephesians 1:5-6). Jesus was made a curse that we might enter into blessing (Galatians 3:13). What came from these exchanges defines the contours of your new life in Christ. Consider each with care, for when your faith is tested, when you doubt, when you struggle in a particular area, you can appropriate all that came forth from Jesus' finished work on the Cross. Jesus left nothing incomplete, nothing to be revisited at a future date. Still, you might ask, why is it important to live near the Cross? Think of it this way. The Cross is like the headwaters of a river. As the river flows out, it becomes less like the source. It picks up contaminants. It gets muddied. It is less pure. Is this not the problem of much of contemporary "religion"? Through time, neglect, and the influence of human methods, the central message becomes distorted, leaving only a "shadow," not the "substance" (see Colossians 2:17). You need to go back to the Source, and that source is the Cross of Jesus Christ. How do you live near the cross? Suppose someone offends you. You may not feel the least bit forgiving. You say, "She was the one in the wrong." Or, "He needs to come to me and apologize." But as you come near the Cross you realize you are newly impacted by Jesus' incredible forgiveness towards you when He took the full punishment you deserved. This gives you the capacity to forgive the one who has offended you, regardless of where the fault lies. Even though you may not feel forgiving (that will likely follow), you can, in fact, forgive. You can say, "I forgive my friend." "I forgive my father or my mother." So it is in other areas. Do you feel your life is cursed? At the Cross you realize Jesus actually became a curse for you so you could receive His blessings. Are you struggling with rejection? At the Cross, you encounter His amazing acceptance, even with all you've done wrong, or may do wrong in the future. Thank God your life is not designed for defeat, for despair, for destitution and degradation. Paul says that in Christ you are "more than [a] conqueror" (Romans 8:37). You are designed to "reign in life" (Romans 5:17). You are able to live victoriously for one and only one reason. It has nothing to do with doing good works or observing certain rituals. It's not something you can do for yourself. It is solely because of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Live near the Cross. It is the gateway to freedom. Key Scripture [Jesus], for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Key Thought I will live my life near the cross of Jesus. It’s my place of victory.   Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 27 - WHEN WE STUMBLE

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 27 WHEN WE STUMBLE How do I get back up after I fall? One of the most critical moments in the lives of believers is when they stumble. We're all vulnerable, and it happens to everyone at some point. We are going along, progressing in our Christian walk. We're getting to know God. We're adjusting our thought life. We're overcoming some bad habits. Then, boom! Without warning, we do something "really stupid." Maybe it's an outburst of rage at something, or someone, in unrestrained anger. Or, maybe just as we start to get free of an impure sexual habit, we revert back as though nothing had changed in our lives. Or, maybe we have a nasty moment of gloating over someone else's failure, swelling us with ugly pride. Our next steps after that stumble are really important. Why? Because right after a failure, we will either draw back from our relationship with the Lord, or we will press into Him, drawing closer than ever. We are at a fork in the road. Let's see where each of these opposite paths takes us. On one path you progressively distance yourself from God. You may be overcome with guilt from what you've done, thinking ... "I've blown it. I'm a failure. I'm not worthy. God doesn't want me the way I am." Or, you may become hardened, justifying yourself: "He deserved my tongue-lashing." "She set me up for that moral failure. It's her fault." The further you go down this path, the more difficult it is to recover. Some never do. They abandon their faith and give up on trying to walk further with Jesus. Sadly, the world is full of people who once believed, but have strayed far away. The writer to the Hebrews issues this caution, and it applies to everyone: "Do not drift away" (Hebrews 2:1 NIV). But the other path can restore you to even closer intimacy with God. An earlier scripture promises that God has provided "everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3 NIV). That includes a perfect way back to Him when you stumble. First, it is important to realize you will stumble. Even at your very best, you are completely unworthy when compared to a holy God. Second, when you fail the Lord is watching and protecting. See this assurance from King David, who was no stranger to failure: If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23,24 NIV). Third, you can come to God in complete honesty about your failure, and ask His forgiveness. Remember, He knows all you have done, even what you've been thinking. There are no surprises with Him. But you need to take the initiative in returning. What is God's response when you humble yourself and come before Him? Hear what the Apostle John says: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). What a tremendous promise and wonderful reality. I couldn't put a number to the times I've had to walk this path. But one thing I know -- each time, the Lord has been utterly faithful to forgive. You can be washed clean and restored no matter how grievously you have erred. Finally, it is so much to your benefit when you come quickly. And come as often as needed -- not just for the big slips but also for the small ones. As you do, you will increasingly discover the depth of God's love for you and find your love and trust for Him growing deeper and deeper. Key Scripture If anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1 NIV). Key Thought I am not perfect, but I am forgiven.   Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 26 - IN, BUT NOT OF ...

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 26 IN, BUT NOT OF ... How do I maintain my equilibrium in daily living? One of the great dilemmas of the Christian life is to know how we should relate to the world around us. For me, this has been a lifelong challenge. As I said earlier, I know I have been "called" to the business world. Yet with that call I am functioning daily in a non-Christian environment. I often interact with people who don't know Christ, and may not have the slightest interest (they may even be antagonistic to my beliefs). I have to deal with ideas and ideals that are steeped in materialism, selfishness and greed. I work alongside those with lifestyles and habits that are contrary to biblical patterns. The "fallen world" is never far away. We can err in two ways as we try to navigate the troubled waters of the world around us. One is to isolate -- a direction taken in the extreme by those who have joined various monastic orders down through history. Such an approach may indeed keep us separated from the messy world about us. But if our isolation robs others of the witness of a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus, isn't that selfish on our part? The other error is to assimilate -- to be so much like those around us there is no visible difference. This is often the mindset of believers who are living two lives, a religious life (say at home and on weekends) and a workplace life, where spiritual focus is muted for the sake of work in the "real world." In the closing book of the Old Testament the prophet Malachi prophesied that there would one day be a clear distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, between those who serve the Lord and those who do not (see Malachi 3:18). Our lives should reflect that distinction. We should be different in ways that are important, yet approachable and accessible in ways that engage us in the lives of others. Jesus both modeled and instructed an approach in which He neither isolated nor assimilated. He continually interacted with people where they were, in the "marketplaces" of His day. He drew His closest associates from trades and professional people, and His teachings centered around the everyday world -- "a sower went out to sow," "the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant" (see Matthew 13:3.45). Although Jesus fully engaged the world around Him, He did so without losing one iota of His devotion to His Father or deviating in the slightest from His integrity or values. Jesus' teachings lined up to His personal example. For example, He prayed for His disciples, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). He instructed His followers: "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). (Salt has cleansing, flavoring and preservative qualities, but does no good if it is confined to a box or bottle.) You have not been given a new life in order to isolate, nor have you been transformed only to assimilate. You are called to Christ, first to be His -- heart, soul, mind and strength -- and then commissioned to go out in His power to a needy world. As Paul said, "We are ambassadors for Christ ... workers together with Him" (2 Corinthians 5:20,6:1). Billy Graham likens your role in the world to that of the Gulf Stream as it flows through the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean: "The Gulf Stream is in the ocean, and yet it is not a part of it. Believers are in the world, and yet they must not be absorbed by it." The warmth of the Gulf Stream profoundly affects the climate of many parts of the world. In fact, palm trees grow off the coast of Scotland, while further east, at the same latitude, Siberia experiences some of the world's harshest winters. You, as with the Gulf Stream, are to retain your identity and purpose, but also affect the surrounding climate, where you live and where you work. You are in the world but not of it. Key Scripture As you sent Me into the world I have also sent them into the world (John 17:18). Key Thought I may be the only bible my neighbor ever reads.   Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 25 - CALLING

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 25 CALLING How can I serve God in my work? Our primary "calling" is always to Christ. Os Guinness in The Call says, "First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics, or teaching) or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia)" (p. 31). However, we who are called to Christ are also "called" vocationally. God's plan for us includes our work. There is a common idea in Christian circles that people cannot fully serve God unless they go into some kind of "full-time" Christian work -- as a missionary, a minister or a church worker. The root of this thinking is the long-held view that there is a sharp divide between the "sacred" and the "secular" -- the sacred being higher, more noble, more worthy, and the secular lower, less noble and less worthy. But this is not the view held by Jesus and His followers. A. W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, addresses the issue this way: One of the greatest hindrances to the Christian's internal peace is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas -- the sacred and the secular. But this state of affairs is wholly unnecessary ... It is a creature of misunderstanding. The sacred-secular antithesis has no foundation in the New Testament. Removal of this divide in our thinking has profound implications for our daily work. The reality is that God calls people to a huge variety of honorable endeavors -- from educators to engineers, from sculptors to scientists, from farmers to factory workers, from medical technicians to moms at home with their children. If we receive such a vocational call, we can respond with the same sense of purpose and intensity as to any other call. The challenge is to keep our activities, whether designing a bridge or singing in the church choir, in harmony with God's design, rather than in opposition to that design. We can ask, "Are my motives right? Are my methods right? If Christ were standing right beside me as I operate this machine or paint this picture, would I do anything differently?" After I became a Christian, I wrestled with the tension between the sacred and the secular. Most other believers I knew were employed in church-related work. My interests and background seemed to point toward a career in engineering and business, yet I had the nagging sense such pursuits were less "worthy." How could I find God's highest for my work? I didn't want to be a "second-class" citizen. After an extended time of searching for God's will, I realized He indeed wanted to guide me. I didn't hear an audible voice, but I sensed Him saying, "John, I've called you to business. Do it with all your heart." As you might imagine, this clarity was tremendously liberating. It freed me to wholeheartedly pursue business as my calling in life -- a journey I've now pursued for over four decades. Do you have clarity on your vocational call? I believe the Lord wants to give you confidence in your career choices. Here are some indicators that may help you. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What do I really enjoy? What do my education and experiences point to? Where do I sense God's pleasure? You may see patterns in your life that provide clear direction -- as though an Invisible Hand has been at work, guiding you, even before you fully committed to follow Him. You will spend the majority of your waking hours at work. How important that you respond to a call. Life is more than just doing a job and earning a paycheck. God calls you and gives purpose to your life -- right where you are, right in the workplace. Key Scripture "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Colossians 3:23). Key Thought I can be an "ordained plumber."   p.s. For a more thorough explanation of the sacred-secular divide and how it affects our work, please visit Loving Monday E-Book text, Part Two, at www.LovingMonday.com     Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 24 - AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 24 AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE How do I keep my focus on that which is lasting and most important? It is hard for us, when we are studying for an exam, changing the baby's diaper or closing a business deal, to give much thought to eternity. Most of the time, our focus is on doing the next thing -- that which is right before us. But King Solomon, to whom God gave great wisdom, said, "[God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11NIV). That is why, even in the press of the daily round, something deep within us calls out to understand the eternal -- that which is lasting and most important. (This yearning, by the way, is evident in the search questions that have prompted people to read this study, such as "What is there after this life?") Our window into the eternal dimension is through the Bible. (By the way, I would question any source, other than the Bible, that says it knows what eternity is like, or what the future holds.)  Jesus described eternal life this way: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). The scriptures assert that the promise of eternity is as certain as the reality of this life. When Jesus said, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV), He was affirming a direct and immutable link between believing and eternity. When we give ourselves to Jesus, He joyfully and emphatically opens the way for us to be with Him forever. Eternity profoundly impacts our lives here on earth and on into the next life -- life after death. Our intimate and timeless unity with our Lord and our God is so wonderful, it infinitely overwhelms any price that is paid or any suffering that is endured in this life -- even life itself! Eternity, including the next life, is what we were designed for, a truth the Apostle Paul embraced: [He has] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6,7). For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3:20,21). If you have such a perspective -- an eternal perspective -- it will be your mainspring of true hope, giving you the stamina to persevere, whatever the trial. Paul said: " ... tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5: 3,4). However rewarding or challenging your day-to-day life is, by comparison to God's eternal purpose for us, it is but a moment, a vapor. Thank God that His plan for you is so much larger, so much more extraordinary than you can ever possibly imagine. He has, indeed, set eternity in your heart and will take infinite care that your deepest longings will be eternally fulfilled. Key Scripture Lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24). Key Thought I have been designed for eternity.   For more resources to help you grow as a Christian, you can go to iChristianLife   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 22 - TEMPTATION

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 22 TEMPTATION Why do I keep having these thoughts? We need to be aware of a tenacious and destructive force at work in the life of the believer. It is called "temptation" -- the continuing effect and downward pull of our former life and habits. The end game of temptation is always the same, to keep us from a close walk with the Lord. Temptation is never fatal. But yielding to it can set us back and cause much discouragement. Some mistakenly believe that Christians are immune to evil thoughts and behaviors -- that some kind of protective shield drops over us to keep us from being lured away. That may be a happy notion, but it's not reality. In fact, I have noticed that as a person moves ahead with the Lord, temptations often intensify. The believer is, after all, of great value to the Lord and therefore a target for our adversary, who hates anything God loves. Peter refers to us as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people" (1 Peter 2:9). Credentials like these increase Satan's obsession to pull us down and separate us from the Lord. I find I have to guard myself diligently, especially in three areas of temptation identified by the Apostle John. He cautions, "All that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life -- is not of the Father, but of the world" (1 John 2:16). The lust of the flesh includes improper kinds of self-indulgence, especially in the sexual arena -- and that includes not only our actions but our thoughts as well. The lust of the eyes refers to all that we illicitly crave -- and which, by the way, does little to satisfy should we attain it. The pride of life is perhaps the most insidious -- producing in us self-promotion, selfish ambition, and advancement at the expense of others. Ultimately the pride of life seeks to make us like God -- the very cause of Satan's fall from heaven. No matter how much we battle temptation, we can thank the Lord that He is our way to victory. He is uniquely qualified, for He, the God/man, successfully overcame all that tempted Him and is able to help us as we're tempted: "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Peter echoes this assurance: "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). Paul adds: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13). AN EXAMPLE Let's look at how temptation might arise in your life and how you can respond. Suppose you are traveling and have booked into a hotel. You are tired at the end of a long day and you turn on the TV to relax. As you are channel surfing, you land on a station that portrays blatant nudity (or something else you know is inappropriate). You linger there, and before long you are absorbed in what you are watching. You think, "No one's around. What could it matter?" But the next morning you feel dirty. Images play across your mind. You can't shake them. You find it hard to pray. God seems more distant. How might this confrontation against your mind and spirit be dealt with at various points? Prevention: To avoid randomly landing on a tainted channel, prescreen the channels using the directory found in most rooms. Or decide you have better things to do, and don't turn on the TV at all. Protection: If you land on a channel with questionable programming, call out to the Lord immediately. Ask Him to help you. If you know what you're watching is offensive to Him, click out of it and don't go back. Ask Him to wash away any of the lingering images. Repentance and Restoration: If you do get dragged in and are facing the "morning after," talk with the Lord openly and honestly, no matter how much you don't "feel" like it. Confess that wrong you've done, ask for forgiveness and receive His restoring love. Learn the lesson and don't repeat it. Key Scripture God is faithful ... to make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Key Thought Temptation is inevitable. Whether I resist or yield is voluntary.   Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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Day 23 - TRUSTING GOD FOR THE FUTURE

A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS by JOHN D. BECKETT DAY 23 TRUSTING GOD FOR THE FUTURE Is my future safe in His hands? As we grow in our relationship with the Lord we find we can trust Him for more and more. When Wendy and I were beginning our family, we spent long hours talking about what kind of world our children would encounter. (Probably every generation has had such concerns.) While we still wonder where this troubled world is headed, our confidence has grown that the future is safely in God's hands. More than just trusting Him in whatever happens, we trust Him for whatever happens. Undergirding this trust is an understanding that history is not just mankind's story. It's the Lord's story (His-story!). It has a beginning and an end. It is not circular, as some religions contend, but linear. Three major markers define the trajectory of man's journey. Creation. The Bible's opening phrase is, "In the beginning" (Genesis 1:1) and Jesus was present: "He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2). From that point, history unfolds systematically and progressively. Redemption and Restoration. The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus became the fulfillment of God's plan for a restored relationship with His creation -- and the fulcrum upon which all world events turn. Consummation. History will culminate in what Paul calls the "consummation," or "summing up," when God will "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him" (Ephesians 1:10). We are now in that period leading up to the consummation. The times ahead will likely witness increasing challenge and difficulty throughout the earth, but we can rest securely in the confidence that God is firmly and fully in control. So where do we fit in? From our limited perspective, day-to-day events may seem random and detached from each other, like individual threads on the underside of a tapestry. But from God's perspective, nothing is random. He views the tapestry from above and sees an exquisite pattern. Each person and each event has a purpose, whether a birth, a death, an election result, a military defeat or a technological breakthrough (like the computer you are using right now). How future events will transpire, we simply don't know. But God knows -- and again, we can trust Him implicitly. Not that we should have a passive, "come-what-may" attitude -- but rather the opposite. As Jesus directed, we are to be watchful, very attentive, especially as the end draws near (see Matthew 24:42). One of my favorite scriptures defines the rules of engagement and the focus of our affections as we walk through the present toward the future: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1,2). Just imagine -- pioneers of the faith watching you as you run the race! How timely is the advice that you shed all that weighs you down and keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the One who has already won the victory. Memorize these verses from Hebrews and let them be your daily inspiration. Come what may, be certain that the Lord, who was there at the beginning, who has been present throughout, will write the last glorious chapter. Key Scripture I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 21:6). Key Thought The essence of history is His Story. Because of His love and care for me, I’m part of that story.   Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.   Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett   Use this link to Unsubscribe from this Devotional, or all emails from Global Media Outreach.

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