Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: charles stanley daily devotion

Training Our Children - Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (January-18-2023). Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

We can’t afford to overlook children or to think of them as unimportant; they are the future. Girls and boys are always observing the behavior of the adults in their lives, which means we have a wonderful opportunity to be examples of godliness and influence them for Christ. 

We start by investing our time. Whether it’s through outdoor activities, reading together, or playing games, we’re modeling Christian living. As we listen to them closely, we’ll understand the way they think and the struggles they face. Then we can offer scriptural guidance to influence them toward righteousness. By sharing something of our past and admitting our mistakes, we’re making it easier for them to identify with us and accept our counsel. 

Showing children God’s love is a great way to help them grow in godliness. Although we can’t do this perfectly, each time we love them unselfishly and unconditionally, we’re helping them realize how much the heavenly Father loves them.  

Born-again parents, family members, teachers, and friends can all help to raise godly Christ-followers. So whether it’s at home or in your neighborhood or church family, look for opportunities to spend time with children. Listen to what’s on their heart, and demonstrate Christ’s love for them. You may influence a young life for the Lord.

Charles Stanley (January-09-2023) Daily Devotional: Idols in the Life of the Believer. 

Until we fully trust the Lord to meet our every need, we’ll be tempted by other gods.

Colossians 3:1-5 - Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Idolatry isn’t limited to the past but is still prevalent today in various forms. Many religions worship false gods—some with tangible images and some without. But idolatry is actually a matter of the heart, so it is possible for believers to sin in this way. That’s why John says, “Guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21 - Little children, guard yourselves from idols).

If we treasure anything or anyone above the Lord, we’re practicing idolatry to one degree or another. What we value most is often revealed by the amount of time we devote to it, the sacrifices we make for it, and the money we spend on it. Idols distract us from wholehearted devotion to God and deceive us into thinking satisfaction and fulfillment are found in them rather than in Him. 

Ridding ourselves of idols of the heart will be futile until we learn to value the Lord more than anything or anyone else. It’s like playing Whack a Mole. As soon as we push one idol down, another pops up. The key to overcoming idolatry is learning to develop greater love and understanding of the one true God through His Word. When He is the ultimate desire of our soul, all other gods will be pushed out of our heart.   

Charles Stanley (September-12-2022) Daily Devotional: Fulfillment for the Empty Life.

Others are drawn to Christ when we live what we believe.

John 4:3-18 - He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.

And He had to pass through Samaria.

So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;

and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ``Give Me a drink."

For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, ``How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered and said to her, ``If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

She said to Him, ``Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?

``You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?"

Jesus answered and said to her, ``Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

The woman said to Him, ``Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw."

He said to her, ``Go, call your husband and come here."

The woman answered and said, ``I have no husband." Jesus said to her, ``You have correctly said, `I have no husband';

for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly."

Charles Stanley (April-13-2023) Daily Devotional: Learning From Failure

We're bound to make mistakes in our journey with God, and we must respond with repentance.

Luke 22:54-62 - Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, ``This man was with Him too." But he denied it, saying, ``Woman, I do not know Him." A little later, another saw him and said, ``You are one of them too!" But Peter said, ``Man, I am not!" After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, ``Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too." But Peter said, ``Man, I do not know what you are talking about." Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ``Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter was a man of great faith and bold action, but his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, he probably felt like a failure rather than a faithful disciple. 

I’m sure we can all relate when it comes to falling short of our own expectations. Learning to obey God is a process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God’s authority, we soon realize that sin has few rewards. 

We’d all prefer to grow in our faith without any missteps at all, but we can’t deny that our failures are instructive. They teach us humility, which is an essential character trait for those who follow Jesus. To eliminate pride, it’s important to admit that we can’t do life on our own—we need a God whose ways and purposes are higher than ours. 

The Lord doesn’t reward rebellion or wrongdoing, but He blesses those who repent and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth (Proverbs 28:13 - He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion). So make it your goal to be a pliable student in the Lord’s hands, and thank Him for using your failures to benefit you while bringing Him glory.

Charles Stanley (January-09-2023) Daily Devotional: Sunday Reflection: Decisions, Decisions

When facing any sort of decision, we should follow and trust the solid principles of Scripture.

What do you do when you’re facing a decision? Do you approach it logically or simply go with what feels right in the moment? Many of us do the latter and “go with our gut.” This approach isn’t necessarily wrong, but you must be sure your gut is informed by the right principles and teachings—all of which can be found in the Scriptures. Every page of the Bible is filled with principles by which the Lord wants us to live (Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path).

James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 - But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him). This year, make time to prayerfully study God’s Word and listen to what the Holy Spirit is teaching you through it. Then, when the time comes to decide, you will know the best course of action—from the top of your mind all the way down to your gut.

Think about it - Are you making time to study Scripture daily? If not, begin with something manageable—perhaps five to 10 minutes a day—and go from there. Put Bible reading on the calendar, and integrate it into your routine.

Charles Stanley (October-03-2022) Daily Devotional: Sunday Reflection: Love for One Another

At the last supper, Jesus said to the disciples, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 - By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.", emphasis added). Notice that He could have generalized by simple saying “love people.” But the Lord was being specific. He was talking to a particular group of men who knew each other well and spent time together day after day.

Charles Stanley (September-30-2022) Daily Devotional: God Is at Work in You

Philippians 2:12-13 - 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

God’s Saving Initiative - Charles Stanley Daily Devotion (October-10-2022). God pursues a relationship with us, even when we run from Him.

Acts 9:1-9 ( 1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord?" And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

The Gift of Forgiveness - Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (May-12-2020). We forgive because we're forgiven, and because God promises to handle judgment.

God Is at Work - Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (March-25-2023). God is always working, whether or not we can perceive the evidence.

John 5:16-23 ( 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. )