CIAM Radio

The Bible is a book of invitations, and in this series, we will explore such invitations in the form of "let us" statements inviting us to join in some aspect of the life of the Christ follower. From worship to purity to endurance to love, these invitations welcome us to live with and for our Lord.

Receive 

After exploring some Let Us invitation in the letter to the Hebrews in our last study, is it possible there are other Let Us invitations in other parts of the Bible? Step into five more biblical invitations, outside of Hebrews, that call you to live out your faith in everyday ways: worship God with your whole heart, persevere when faith feels hard, lay aside the sin that holds you back, love others deeply, and put that love into action.  

Reflect 

• Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 
• Psalm 34:3 
• How does this invite you into communal worship? 
• Romans 13:12-13 
• How does this invite you into the sanctification process—that Jesus accomplishes in us? 
• Galatians 6:9 
• How does this invite you to keep going? 
• 1 John 4:7 
• How does this invite you to receive and share God’s love? 
• 1 John 3:18 
• How does this invite you to live out love and not just feel love? 

Respond 

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 

“Jesus, help me embrace the Bible’s invitations to be more like You. Help me worship You. Help me receive the process of sanctification that You accomplish. Help me keep going when things are hard, knowing that You will provide a harvest on the other side. Help me receive and share Your love—by living it out around me.”  

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• Become an Our Daily Bread Ambassador 

Listen: 

• Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 1   
• Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 2   

Read: 

• Healthy Habits for Spiritual Growth    
• The Ordinary Life of Jesus  

Watch: 

• New Life in Christ    
• Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life 

At the last night of summer camp as a teenager, I felt conspicuous as I stood alone in a group of campers. When one of them mocked me, I felt hurt. I ran back to my tent, pretending to sleep when the group leader checked on me. The next morning I avoided her attempt to talk about it. 

She later wrote to me, helping me understand that God truly cared for me. She quoted from the apostle Paul: we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). I felt like the apostle’s words were directed right to me.

Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, which he’d planted over a decade earlier, to encourage them to root their love for God and each other “in knowledge and depth of insight” (v. 9). God would carry on His work in and through them as He filled them “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v. 11). At the time I didn’t understand the original context, but I started to comprehend that my identity as one loved by God came from knowing and accepting the love of Jesus.

God desires that we receive His love and that it would abound in us more and more. As He fills us with His joy and peace, we’ll grow in the knowledge not only of Him but of His good work in us.

Healthy habits will improve your marriage! Dr. Randy Schroeder recommends husbands and wives learn to forgive each other, be solution-focused in conflict, and infuse laughter into their relationship. He also warns about having secrets, interrupting each other, and using sarcasm. Couples can learn better ways to interact with and communicate!

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Rigo Dominguez was abandoned by his father, and he tries to numb that trauma with drugs and alcohol, which lands him in jail after jail. Will his felony convictions haunt him forever, or is there a path to forgiveness? Hear his true-life story on the next Unshackled!

It’s time for answers to your questions on this Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman. Each month the New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages takes questions and comments from his listener line. You can call and leave a message at 866-424-Gary. He’ll tackle marriage struggles, the love languages, singles issues and more. Don’t miss January’s Dear Gary broadcast on Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman.

Featured resource: The Love Language™That Matters Most

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Read: Psalm 40:1-5; Ephesians 2:4-7

The waves crashed as Graham sat on the beach. Even though he was vacationing with his friend Omar and his family, his thoughts were dark. Back home, things were anything but a fun day at the beach. No one wants me, Graham thought to himself. Mom and Dad are too busy fighting to notice me. Except when I get bad grades. That’s the only time my teacher notices me too. Graham held back tears as his thoughts ran on. I can’t do anything right. I wish I’d never been born!

Just then Omar’s grandfather came over. “Mind if I sit down?”

Graham nodded and watched as the elderly man began to chip small bits from an old piece of driftwood. “What are you going to do with that?” Graham asked.

“Oh, I have great plans for this old piece of wood,” replied the man. “I’m carving a whale this time. I like to carve sea animals.” He lifted a beautifully carved dolphin from his bag and handed it to Graham. “Here’s one I finished recently.”

“Wow!” Graham held up the dolphin, then looked again at the wood the man was carving. “That driftwood you’re working on now is so old and dirty. It looks worthless! How can something as cool as this come from junk like that?”

The man smiled. “It takes time, work, and skill to get rid of the dirt and make something beautiful from the wood. I carve it carefully, sand it, and polish it.” He turned the wood over in his hand. “This driftwood is something like me.”

“Like you?” asked Graham. “How’s that?”

“There was a time when I felt worthless—like all the things I did and said were wrong and I might as well give up. In fact, even though I know better now, I still feel that way sometimes. Ever feel that way yourself?” Graham nodded. “Well, we’re definitely not worthless—not to God,” said the man. “Whenever bad things happen in my life or I feel worthless, I remember that Jesus loves me so much that He died and rose again to make me His. When I trusted Him to save me, He made me into something beautiful. Have you asked Him to do that for you?”

Graham shook his head and sat up straighter. He was eager to hear more about how Jesus could make something beautiful out of his life.

–Harry C. Trover

How about you? Do you sometimes feel worthless, as if nothing you do is any good? Everyone does wrong, and there’s a lot of pain and hardship in the world because of it. But you’re special to God. He made you, He loves you, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. When you trust in Jesus, He makes you into something beautiful. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (CSB)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes us beautiful

Why did God forgive David but ultimately reject Saul as king? Dr. Stanley illuminates the key difference between the two kings. Saul’s end was tragic, but you can learn how to avoid his fate.

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My coworker made a quick call to discuss an issue. She asked how I was doing, and I admitted that I had a really bad headache. I had a painful sinus infection, and the medicine wasn’t working. My coworker simply asked, “May I pray for you?” After I agreed, she offered a thirty-second prayer to God for my healing. I admitted, “Sometimes I forget to pray. I was so focused on the pain, I didn’t turn to God.”

My confession made me think about where I place my focus—on my struggles and problems or on God. On this day, my thoughts centered on the pain because of its intensity. But Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that when we keep our minds focused on God, our healer and sustainer, we can find peace: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” While the pain may not go away instantly, or perhaps ever in this life, the prophet reminds us to place our “trust in” the one who is faithful and able to provide what we need (v. 4).

This passage from Isaiah pointed the Israelites to God’s promises during and after their exile. They would sing songs of praise to Him again as they clung to their faith and hope in what He would provide (vv. 1-2). And the prophet’s words also remind us that whatever pain we may endure, we too can find comfort as we focus on trusting in God and calling out to Him.

Are you looking for tools that make stewardship simpler and more anchored in God’s wisdom? The newly updated FaithFi app was built for exactly that—helping you create financial rhythms that bring peace and Christ-centered focus. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Chad Clark walk through the biggest improvements. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—where biblical wisdom meets today’s financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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