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From Heaven’s viewpoint, our earth is populated by sightless people. They do not see the meaning of life or the love of God. How else do we explain the confusion and chaos? How else do we explain the constant threat of world war, plagues of hunger, racism, and the Holocaust of the unborn? Billions of people simply cannot see.

The scripture says, “The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.” They cannot see the light of the good news, the good news about the glory of Christ who is exactly like God. We need a spiritual ophthalmologist. We need Jesus to do for us what he did for the man on the side of the Jerusalem road. He restored his sight and he will do the same for us. Remember, my friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Sometimes when I’m speaking at a youth conference, I show up on the platform with a pie and a can of whipped cream. Sometimes it makes the front row a little nervous. But not to fear—it’s only an illustration, not a weapon. I have my pie cut into six slices. I cover one of those slices with a generous serving of whipped cream. Then the big question to the audience, “How many slices are going to taste like whipped cream?” There’s no trick question here. One slice will. Then I spray the whipped cream all over that pie and then there’s whipped cream everywhere. And then I repeat the question. This is not hard. Every slice of the pie now will taste like whipped cream. Which, whether you realize it or not, could have a lot to do with how God feels about you as a Christian!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Compartment Faith.”

When we think about letting Jesus Christ be the Lord of our life, as He says He must be, we tend to think of one big slice that will be His—it becomes the Jesus-slice of our life. So, in that slice, you read His Book, you go to His meetings, you give to His offerings, you believe all His beliefs, you learn His language. That spiritual slice of our lives really tastes like Jesus.

But when Jesus talks about being our Lord, He’s talking about changing the flavor of every slice of your life; how you act at work, at home, at school, what you do with your money, what you do with your talents, what you look at on the internet, what you watch, what you listen to, and what you do with your friends. But, see, you and I live in the Age of Compartmentalization where our beliefs are pretty much one compartment of our life. After all, what are beliefs for? You just believe them, right? And if you believe them, and visit them every Sunday at the Belief Museum, that’s enough, right? “Hey, I really believe this stuff. I really do.” We may not agree openly, but surveys, and just everyday life, show that a lot of us live like our relationship with Jesus is just a slice of our life—an important slice, but just a slice.

In our word for today from the Word of God in Isaiah 1:11, God reveals His shocking reaction to our compartmentalized faith. “’The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to Me?’ says the Lord... ‘I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats... Stop bringing meaningless offerings... When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.’” Imagine, your Lord calling all your Christian meetings and activities “meaningless”; telling you that all your God-stuff is a waste of time in His eyes—that He’s not going to respond to your prayers.

Here’s the reason. God says, “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of My sight. Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” Then God proceeds to name specific areas where their lives do not measure up to their beliefs. The message here is clear. No matter how beautiful the spiritual compartment of your life is, it means nothing when the rest of your life contradicts it.

Your Lord responds to what you live, not just what you believe. And maybe right now He’s seeing how you cheat in your business, how you treat your family, how you watch or listen to portrayals of things that He hates, your racial prejudice, your out-of-control mouth, what you’re doing romantically. And, in His holy eyes, you are neutralizing whatever you’re doing over there in your spiritual compartment of your life.

Jesus asks this blunt question, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord” and do not do what I say?’” (Luke 6:46). He bought you with His life. He didn’t pay for just a slice of your life. Either He’s Lord of all or He’s not Lord at all!

Maybe Jesus has only been in your head all these years and you’ve never moved Him to your heart. Which means you're

When sorrow hits hard, many of us wonder if we're failing at faith. Even Jesus wept at a tomb He knew He was about to open. In this message from Ruth 1, Pastor Philip Miller shows how to lean into God when He feels far. Discover why grief isn't weakness—it's evidence of the significance of the relationship. 

This is part two of the sermon, "Running To Reality."

This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://livinghopeoffer.net or call us at 1-800-215-5001.

00:03 – Life Is Full of Grief: The first reality we can't run from.
02:30 – Running to Reality: Facing loss instead of ignoring it.
05:04 – Jesus at the Tomb: He weeps though He'll raise Lazarus.
07:38 – Confident He'll Come Through: Grieving with hope, not despair.
10:08 – Elimelech's Red Flags: The self-reliant turns away from God.
12:42 – Trust, Don't Lean on Yourself: The caution beneath the comfort.
15:06 – When God Feels Far: How to lean in when He seems absent.
20:23 – Not Weak, Just Grieving: Why sorrow isn't spiritual failure. 

Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Living Hope" and "Moody Church Hour," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Dr. Philip Miller is the 17th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church. He is the featured speaker on "Living Hope" and "Moody Church Hour," with programs broadcasting on 700 outlets in the U.S. He and his wife Krista live in Chicago with their four children. Pastor Philip is passionate about proclaiming God's Word, cultivating healthy ministry, and investing in future leaders.

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You prayed for direction. (A five-year plan would be nice, too.) But how do you follow God's will when the next step feels risky and the route definitely isn't marked? Pastor and author Levi Lusko and his wife, Jennie join Dave and Ann Wilson on FamilyLife Today to talk calling, big decisions, and learning to move together when God gives enough light for the next step—not the next ten.

Show Notes and Resources

• Through the Eyes of a Lion.

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Evil often seems to get the last word, but the story isn't over yet. One day the Mount of Olives will split as Christ returns with His people. In this message, Pastor Lutzer describes how every eye will see Jesus come in glory. Who are the armies dressed in white who ride with Him, and could we be among them?

This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001.

Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

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Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/

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Jesus knew how the story would end ... and He still wept. Today on BOLD STEPS, Mark Jobe continues our journey through John 11. We’ll see that a personal setback doesn’t mean God is absent, and that the God who may postpone His miracle also feels the pain in your heart. Discover the God who walks with you through it all ... listen to Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Jobe.

Bold Steps Gift: The Church In Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness - Erwin Lutzer and Ed Stetzer

Visit or watch Mark Jobe at New Life Community Church

Become a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps

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Few places on earth are as fought over as the Temple Mount. It fills the pages of history, from Abraham to Solomon to the Dome of the Rock. In this message, Pastor Lutzer tours Israel's first two temples and the third temple predicted to be built. What is God's purpose for revealing Himself on the Temple Mount? 

This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337.

Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

SUPPORT:

Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/

Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/

SUBSCRIBE:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia

Daily Devotional and Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

The post You don’t get faith with three easy steps. appeared first on Key Life.