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July 4
The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place
Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It’s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a place of worship. It’s a desecration! The church is a sacred place.
I’m saddened by the fact that many Christians don’t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit—their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight of stress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It’s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn't true.
First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord’s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He’s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit—of the three aspects, the body is the one that allows us to interact with our environment. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. What good are education, talent, and gifts if we’re too tired or sick to complete tasks well?
Here in the world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. Since it is the only one we’ll have in this life, we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believers should also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly frame like the sacred and special dwelling place that it is.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
And Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley at OnePlace.com!
Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2019 All Rights Reserved.
July 202207/04/2022
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06/27/2022
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Jesus commanded that we serve one another, but obeying this mandate in humility is not natural for us.
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I want to challenge you this week, when something threatens to steal your contentment, choose to draw from God.
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Does it surprise you that Paul wrote about "the secret of being content" when he was in prison, unsure of his future?
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Feeling inadequate is not a sin, but using it as an excuse is.
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May 202205/31/2022
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Life is full of options. Many decisions involve a choice between following God's way or our own.
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The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith.
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Motherhood is a great honor and privilege, yet it is also synonymous with servanthood.
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People who scurry about flaunting religiosity are missing out on the deeply satisfying and joyous intimacy between a believer and the Lord.
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To serve others before serving yourself is to practice authentic Christianity.
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We can understand why those without Christ are unable to comprehend biblical concepts, but why do those who know Him struggle?
April 202204/30/2022
The Bible clearly defines the following as ministries of the church: worshiping the living God, instructing and edifying believers, making disciples of all nations, and serving the needy.
04/29/2022
04/28/2022
Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life.
04/27/2022
04/26/2022
04/25/2022
Think of patience as a muscle that you have to use in order to see it build.
04/23/2022
If we truly desire to walk in the center of God's perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame.
04/22/2022
04/21/2022
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest.
04/20/2022
04/19/2022
04/18/2022
God's grace is not a license to sin; instead, it's a reason to pursue righteousness.
04/16/2022
04/15/2022
04/14/2022
What do you live for each day?
04/13/2022
04/12/2022
04/11/2022
Paul was single-minded in the message he preached. The cross was not only his primary subject; it was also his motivation for living.
04/09/2022
It had appeared to be such a wonderful day for them—and it was, but for different reasons than they realized.
04/08/2022
04/07/2022
04/06/2022
The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity.
04/05/2022
04/04/2022
It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives.
04/02/2022
Nobody wore a miniature cross around the neck or displayed one in a place of worship in Christ's day. The cross was a torturous means of execution, and the mere thought of it was repulsive.
04/01/2022
March 202203/31/2022
The cross is a place of brokenness, but it's necessary because there's no other way we'll ever bear fruit. But those who willingly die to themselves will produce an abundance of spiritual fruit.
03/30/2022
03/29/2022
Great faith begins with little steps.
03/28/2022
03/26/2022
We may have many acquaintances, but we all have a deep need to feel truly known by those we love most. This is because we were created in God's image--He also desires to be intimately understood and loved by us.
03/25/2022
03/24/2022
03/23/2022
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender (Prov. 22:7). Every dollar you borrow costs you a measure of freedom.
03/22/2022
Service is no substitute for an intimate relationship, but modern believers continue to fall into this subtle trap.
03/21/2022
03/19/2022
We will be encouraged and strengthened in our faith when we recognize the ways in which God is operating.
03/18/2022
We can rest confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.
03/17/2022
03/16/2022
03/15/2022
Glorifying the Lord is not limited to worshipping in church; praise ought to permeate the believer's life.
03/14/2022
His presence within us isn't something we have to earn or acquire. Rather, it is a marvelous privilege.
03/12/2022
03/11/2022
03/10/2022
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Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence
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Are you letting the Lord use His character-shaping tools in your life?
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03/02/2022
When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? (Matt. 25:39). Stop for a moment and consider the purpose of your life. Are you living to pursue your own interests or success?
03/01/2022
People are saved when they trust Jesus Christ as Savior and choose to follow Him.
February 202202/28/2022
02/26/2022
It's probably not possible to fully count all the spiritual seeds that God used to draw you to Him.
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02/24/2022
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02/22/2022
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02/21/2022
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02/16/2022
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02/15/2022
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02/14/2022
02/12/2022
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02/10/2022
02/09/2022
Disunity is found in marriages, churches, and international alliances. Yet there's one relationship that is sure and permanent.
02/08/2022
What causes us to be such reluctant servants?
02/07/2022
02/05/2022
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02/04/2022
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02/03/2022
02/02/2022
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02/01/2022
The Bible clearly instructs us to keep coming to the Lord with our concerns.
January 202201/31/2022
01/29/2022
What a privilege to be able to approach the King's throne, knowing He listens, understands, and cares!
01/28/2022
01/27/2022
01/26/2022
If you’re a believer, you are part of the awesome body of Christ!!
01/25/2022
01/24/2022
01/22/2022
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01/21/2022
01/20/2022
01/19/2022
All of us have areas of weakness. God wants these character flaws to show us how totally dependent we are upon Him.
01/18/2022
One of our highest callings as believers is to tell others about Christ.
01/17/2022
01/15/2022
Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction.
01/14/2022
01/13/2022
The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our passion to share the gospel.
01/12/2022
When asking the Lord to reveal His will, we shouldn’t expect instant answers.
01/11/2022
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (Rom. 15:13). Each new generation has high hopes for reconciliation among people and nations but in the end faces disappointment.
01/10/2022
Even in an unbelieving society, people can, as individuals, follow Jesus.
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Be careful not to cover up your sins in order to look like a "good Christian."
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At salvation, you become a part of the body, no matter what your local church's membership rules may be.
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The Lord's assuring hand at our shoulder can lead us down right paths to good choices.
01/03/2022
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The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently.
December 202112/31/2021
12/30/2021
12/29/2021
12/28/2021
When Jesus walked this earth, a vast multitude followed Him. They came for all sorts of reasons—some noble, some selfish. The same is true today.
12/27/2021
Our true identity is defined not by our past actions but by the Savior's.
12/25/2021
Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related to our faith in the following truths...
12/24/2021
12/23/2021
Jesus desires that we be willing to humble ourselves to serve others.
12/22/2021
12/21/2021
12/20/2021
Talk about Christmas memories: you can be sure that all of the people who experienced the first Christmas never forgot it.
12/18/2021
Waiting upon God is not passive. It is not lazy. It is not an excuse to be careless. In fact, the opposite is true.
12/17/2021
12/16/2021
Practicing a lifestyle of obedience doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes. But it does require diligence if we are to succeed.
12/15/2021
12/14/2021
Is there something God has told you to do that seems just too difficult?
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12/11/2021
When you’re in love with Jesus, you can’t keep to yourself the joy that comes from knowing Him.
12/10/2021
On the Christian journey, there will be temptations to stray, falsely promising to satisfy longings. Stay closely connected to Jesus through prayer and Scripture.
12/09/2021
12/08/2021
12/07/2021
The cross is so common in our culture that most people don’t think twice when they see one on a church.
12/06/2021
Teaching children to sing of their friendship with Jesus is a wise idea. But I wonder when some grown believers will learn to sing of that special relationship again?
12/04/2021
The names given to Jesus tell a great deal about His ministry.
12/03/2021
12/02/2021
12/01/2021
November 202111/30/2021
The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord.
11/29/2021
Many Christians know they're saved, but they don't really know what to think about themselves. Let's take a little test.
11/27/2021
Anyone who thinks of himself as a pretty good person ought to take a look at God’s assessment of humanity. He says we all come into the world spiritually dead and are ruled by Satan, his world system, and our own sin nature, or flesh.
11/26/2021
11/25/2021
The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth.
11/24/2021
11/23/2021
One day I posed a question to the waitress at my table: "If you could ask God for anything, what would your request be?" Her answer was immediate. "I want to feel at peace."
11/22/2021
11/20/2021
Christian lives are to testify that Jesus is the source of our peace. Does your life communicate this message?
11/19/2021
11/18/2021
A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks.
11/17/2021
Grace builds our confidence in the sovereign Lord.
11/16/2021
11/15/2021
11/13/2021
In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true?
11/12/2021
11/11/2021
11/10/2021
A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ.
11/09/2021
11/08/2021
Isaiah 66:1-2 teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor.
11/06/2021
God's plan for each one of us has our best interest in mind.
11/05/2021
11/04/2021
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11/03/2021
11/02/2021
11/01/2021
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A promise is valuable only if the one making it has trustworthy character and the ability to carry through.
10/29/2021
10/28/2021
There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
10/27/2021
10/26/2021
10/25/2021
The rich man in Luke 16 made the tragic choice of living for himself without regard for the Lord. He also made two other mistakes...
10/23/2021
God created you for specific tasks to further His kingdom.
10/22/2021
10/21/2021
Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers.
10/20/2021
10/19/2021
Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it.
10/18/2021
10/16/2021
Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes.
10/15/2021
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever (Ps. 138:8). The key to David's victorious attitude was his strong faith in the Lord.
10/14/2021
The heavenly Father calls us to repent and offers us forgiveness when we turn away from our self-centered ways and move toward godliness (1 John 1:9).
10/13/2021
10/12/2021
Let's look at God's three goals for communicating with believers...
10/11/2021
10/09/2021
The Holy Spirit, unlike human companions, is perfectly adequate to meet our every need.
10/08/2021
10/07/2021
The Lord knows what we really desire--and more importantly, what we need--even when cloudy judgment leads us astray
10/06/2021
10/05/2021
10/04/2021
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14). When do I pray? Is it only during emergencies or when I need something?
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What would you like to see the Lord do within you?
10/01/2021
No one can have intimacy with Christ without daily communication.
With In Touch monthly devotional, you’ll have a consistent guide for your daily time with God. Each issue includes daily scripture readings, a Bible reading plan, and devotions from the biblical teachings of Dr. Charles Stanley. Always free!
