Walk With Me - Devotionals: Billy Graham

'Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus'

Billy Graham — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

'Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus'

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 31st January 2022

Passage: Jude 3

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We are used to hearing about wars, brutality and racial unrest in so many areas of the world. These conflicts are usually far away from us and perhaps they may not affect us too much. In our own country we enjoy peace and stability. The wars, for the most part, are confined to our TV screens.

But there is a war going on — and it is right here in Scotland as well as throughout the world. It is a war that is not fought with guns or bombs, and the enemy may look very like ourselves. It is a spiritual war. It has been going on for a very long time and the aim of the enemy is to destroy the purity of the church and the authority of God's Word, the Bible. That is why Jude wrote this warning letter. He saw the enemy attacking the church in his day and it is still the same now.

Jude tells us about the enemy's tactics. He says certain ungodly people had wormed their way unnoticed into positions of influence in the church and began misleading Christian people with false teaching leading to immorality. This kind of situation is still with us. You see it when people deny the authority and teaching of the Bible and allow ways of living which the Bible condemns. Jude calls us to defend the truth of the Good News. We have to stand up for Jesus and the truth the Bible teaches us. This takes courage but God will be with us as we stand up for him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, give me courage to stand for truth and for you. Amen.

A Fitting Memorial (2)

Billy Graham — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A Fitting Memorial (2)

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 28th January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:12

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Can we honestly give a good reason why the people in the Old Testament and we ourselves today should enjoy any good thing from God? People in the Old Testament times were often griping, disloyal and ungrateful to God. And in the New Testament and down to today, people turn their backs on Jesus Christ, God's son. All people, including us, do not deserve any good thing from God - we are all sinners in his sight.

Yet Samuel was right to erect this memorial stone, the 'stone of help' because it was true that God had helped the people; indeed God tells us that not only did he help the people, he loved the people (Deuteronomy 7:8) The New Testament tells us that God so loved the world that he sent his son to be our Saviour. God's dealings with us are not based on what we deserve but on his grace. Samuel knew that and so do we. By grace we mean God's free and loving help to us as sinners and it comes by means of all that Jesus Christ has done through his sinless life, his death on the cross, his resurrection and now his place in heaven at God's throne. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this is a tremendous comfort and encouragement because without God's grace we would have no hope of salvation.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for all you have done for me, although as a sinner I don't deserve a thing. Help me to appreciate your grace more and more. Amen.

The Ideal City

Billy Graham — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Ideal City

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 25th January 2022

Passage: Hebrews 11:10

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All over the world there is a movement of people from rural areas to cities and towns in the hope of finding a better way of living. But there is, however, no ideal city on this earth, no matter how beautiful it may be. The Bible speaks in many places about the ideal city; it is a heavenly one but it is no less real for that.

This ideal city has God as its architect and builder and is the destination of every true believer in Jesus Christ. It is the place that they can truly call home, because it is the city specially prepared by God for all who are his children. There is perfect freedom and perfect security in God's city; no restrictions, no second class citizens, no fear because there is no sin. The city's gates are never shut and it will never be overthrown.

There is also perfect contentment in God's city because everyone will have all they need. The Bible speaks about the abundance of fruit, of water, and all good things in the city to give the people all they will ever need.

And there is joyful and heartfelt worship in the city. God's people will for ever enjoy singing the praises of the Saviour through whom they reached this ideal place How do I get there? The key to the city is found at the cross where Jesus died for us sinners. By accepting his salvation our heavenly citizenship is guaranteed.

Prayer

Yes Lord, I do look forward to life in your city.

Facing Our Giants

Billy Graham — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Facing Our Giants

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 22nd January 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 17:32

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David and Goliath — kids' stuff? Not on your life! This was real blood and thunder battle, and it was a battle that no one in the Israelite army was prepared to fight. They were all too scared of the nine foot giant who challenged them to fight day after day. But there was one person prepared to fight Goliath, and he did so not because he was big and strong or an experienced soldier. No, but he went out to fight 'in the name of the Lord.'

It was not easy for David. When you read the story you find that David had to fight the evil gods of the Philistines; this was a spiritual battle. David faced the ridicule and opposition of his own brothers and the cowardice of the soldiers of Israel. David was given ill-fitting armour to wear, which he rejected. And David faced the giant alone — but God was with him.

We all have to face giants of one kind or another as Christians — challenges and temptations that seem far too big for us to deal with. We must never underestimate the power and craftiness of Satan as he tries to make us do things we would later be ashamed of. But Satan can be defeated just as Goliath was, and in the same way. We must face each trial and temptation in the name of the Lord and not in our own strength alone.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I need your help to face up to the challenges and temptations in my life. Help me to resist the devil so that I may be clean before you. Amen

Jesus Christ Is A Unique Person

Billy Graham — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus Christ Is A Unique Person

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 19th January 2022

Passage: Philippians 2:5-8

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There have always been special people in the world — great soldiers, great statesmen, great sportsmen and women, great religious leaders. Jesus Christ, however, is unique. There has never been anyone like him, and there never will be.

One reason why Jesus is unique is that he is both the eternal son of God and also the perfect 'son of man', a truly human being. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians chapter 2 how Jesus, although he was divine, left heaven and was born as a person. Jesus humbled himself in doing this, but he did it in order that he would be obedient to God the Father, even going on to die on the cross for us poor sinners.

So Jesus had a divine nature and a human nature. These two natures 'lived', as it were, in perfect harmony in the one sinless person, Jesus Christ. When Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion it was proof of his uniqueness. Charles Wesley puts it like this 'Love divine! What have you done? The immortal God had died for me. The Father's co-eternal Son Bore all my sins upon the tree.'

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you became a person like me in order to save me. Amen.

Jesus, The Light Of The World (1)

Billy Graham — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus, The Light Of The World (1)

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 16th January 2022

Passage: John 8:12

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Winter days are mostly dark days with long, very dark nights. In the Bible too, darkness had a very negative feel about it. In Genesis 1:1-3 we read what things were like in the beginning: "The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep." There was no light and there was no life.

That is also a picture of us when we don't know Jesus Christ — darkness and lifelessness. And that is why Jesus Christ came into the world to be the Saviour of those "living in darkness and in the shadow of death" (Matthew 4:16). It is a sad truth that those who don't know Jesus do love darkness rather than light which would show up their evil deeds and thoughts. Without Jesus as our Saviour the judgment of God rests upon us.

But remember what happened in Genesis 1. God said "Let there be light, and there was light." So it is with Christ, the light of the world. When we believe in him and follow him, we become 'light in the Lord'; we will not 'walk in darkness but will have the light of life.' Where there was darkness there was no life. In Jesus the Light of the world, we have life in all its fullness, now and for evermore. Are you walking in the light?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you came into our darkness to take away our sin. Help me to follow you, walking in the light of your salvation. Amen

What Happens When We Live God’s Way?

Billy Graham — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What Happens When We Live God’s Way?

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 13th January 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:25

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I've tried to grow tomatoes but the fruit I got for my efforts looked nothing like the fruit on the label that came with the young plants. Mine were poor specimens! God does not want us to be poor specimens of Christians, and the Holy Spirit has been given us to help us to develop a really fruitful Christian character that will truly look like the real thing. We read about this in Galatians 5:22-24. There we read what the fruit of the Spirit will look like in your life and mine when we ask for the Spirit's help. The end result will be a life that becomes more and more pleasing to God, because it becomes more and more like the life of Jesus Christ — that's what the Holy Spirit wants us to develop.

The life he wants in us is one dominated by love, both towards God and other people. It is a life full of joy and peace — both gifts left by Christ among his people when he ascended to heaven: "my joy, my peace I leave with you" (see John 14:27 and 15:12). Patience, goodness and gentleness show the way we should behave towards other people. Faithfulness, meekness and self-control are three ways in which we should 'manage' our lives before both God and others. In all of this we need the Spirit's help and it is his joy to give it.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that the Holy Spirit’s fruit will ripen in my life so that I may become more like you.

The Story Of Ruth — A Love Story

Billy Graham — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Story Of Ruth — A Love Story

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 10th January 2022

Passage: Ruth 3:13

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Everyone likes a good story with a happy ending, especially a love story. The little book of Ruth is a love story, and it points us to an even greater love story — the story of what Jesus Christ has done for his people, and all because he loves them.

Ruth herself was a foreigner in the land of Israel who had come to faith in the Lord, the God of Israel "under whose wings she had come to take refuge" (Ruth 2:12). The leading man in the story is called Boaz, a relative of Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi. As the story unfolds, Boaz promised to act as the nearest of kin to Naomi and Ruth and that is why he said to Ruth "I will redeem you", meaning he would claim back the lands which had belonged to Ruth's late father-in-law and her deceased husband.

This happily also meant he could marry Ruth. In due time they married and had a child called Obed. Many generations later the great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus was born into that family line. Now Jesus says to us "I will redeem you". Through his death and resurrection he secured our redemption, freeing us from the consequences of our sin and making us friends with God. He did this for us, not because we deserved it, but because he loved us — the greatest love story ever told. It is what we call the Gospel.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help me to come under the 'wings' of your redeeming grace as I confess to you my sin. I thank you for your redemption. Amen

God — And Ourselves

Billy Graham — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

God — And Ourselves

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 7th January 2022

Passage: Psalm 90:2

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(If you have time, read the whole psalm)

Moses, who wrote this Psalm, was born in Egypt about three and a half thousand years ago. Before the time of his birth there had already been 18 dynasties of rulers in that country. Moses would have heard about some of them. Later in his life God made known to Moses what we now read in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 about the creation of the world. No wonder then that Moses could exclaim "from everlasting to everlasting you are God"! Time makes no difference to God — He is changeless. In contrast to God we do change and the years take their toll. No matter how long we may live our lives will come to an end. Moses prays, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (v. 12). This is very important because when our lives on earth end, we will go to meet God face to face.

A heart of wisdom will teach us to obey God — he has authority over every aspect of our lives. A heart of wisdom will teach us to trust God and his Son from heaven — the Lord Jesus Christ. A heart of wisdom will teach us "to fall out with sin and fall in with God (Thomas Brooks) because God hates sin. A heart of wisdom will be filled with a love for God so that we stay close to him always.

Prayer

Dear Lord, it is our prayer that you will teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Amen

An Immense Crowd

Billy Graham — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

An Immense Crowd

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 4th January 2022

Passage: Revelation 7:13-14

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Every picture tells a story! When the apostle John saw this vision of such an immense multinational crowd he asked, "Who are these... and where do they come from?" They were all dressed in the same way — in white robes, freshly washed - no sign of stains or dirt — they were perfectly clean. These people are Christians from all ages and from all over the world. Some have indeed come through fiery trials for their faith, some have even died for their faith, and some have had to live out their faith in affluent circumstances but in a world that does not know God.

The Church of Christ in every age is going through the 'great tribulation'. The world hates it, especially when it is evangelising and seeking people to come to Christ. So we should not be surprised if we will encounter opposition as we live out our Christian faith day by day But don't be discouraged. God will keep and watch over you. Your witness for him is not in vain and he will make sure you end up in that great crowd around the throne in glory.

Prayer

Almighty God, I live in a dirty, unbelieving world. Help me to live each day as a faithful witness for you and give me a healthy longing for the clean, pure atmosphere of heaven. Amen.

A Happy New Year

Billy Graham — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A Happy New Year

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 1st January 2022

Passage: Deuteronomy 31:8

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A Happy New Year! I do hope it will be a brilliant one for you, and that you will enjoy God's company in the days ahead that he gives you. New Year's Day is usually a happy family day and one when we look ahead to things that we hope to do or places that we might like to visit. We make plans and maybe dream dreams of what we would like to happen. We may even be rash enough to make resolutions about habits to leave behind and new (better!) ones we are determined to carry out. Whatever it is, enjoy the day and commit the year to the Lord.

The verse at the top of the page was first given to Joshua, who had become the successor to Moses and who was just going to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. But it is also a wonderful promise for us too. Christians know that they are loved by God, that he cares for them individually, and knows them through and through.

So it is just great to know he will go before us into this new year and he will never fail us nor forsake us. He is our loving, Heavenly Father and Jesus is our great and good elder Brother. If you are a Christian, just rejoice in these great truths. If you are not yet a Christian, why not start this New Year by giving your heart to Christ and asking him to become your Saviour? It is the best thing you could ever do. God bless you.