Verse of the Day
Psalm 119:143 (New King James Version)

Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights.

Rebuking the World - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah . . . condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb 11:7).
Your actions and words should rebuke our godless society.

Genesis 6:5 says, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God appointed Noah to build an ark, which became a symbol of life and salvation to all who believed God. For those who disbelieved, it represented impending death and judgment.

Concurrent with constructing the ark, Noah preached about coming judgment. Peter called him "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet. 2:5), and every board he cut and nail he drove in was a living illustration of the urgency of his message.

God's warning was stern and His message horrifying, but His patience and mercy prevailed for 120

Why Our Needs Remain Unmet - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Ask God for what you need—He cares for you.

James 1:5-8

If our loving, omnipotent Father takes delight in fulfilling His children’s needs, then why do some go unmet? Let’s look at a few of the reasons:

We don’t ask. This may seem simplistic, yet it’s astonishing how many of us fail to bring our concerns to the Lord. Our Father is a very personal God, who cares deeply about everything that affects His children. Matthew 10:30 says He even knows the number of hairs on our head. So of course we should share with Him the details of our life.

We ask but doubt God can or will do it. It’s a tragic mischaracterization to go before the omnipotent, sovereign God of the universe and essentially say, “You aren’t big enough to handle my needs.” When you approach God, do so knowing He is able to do all that and more (Philippians 4:19).

We ask God to address the symptom, not the real need. At times we pray and pray

Verse of the Day
1 Peter 3:18 (New King James Version)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Building a Picture of Salvation - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household" (Heb. 11:7).
The ark is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith.

God called Noah to a gargantuan task. Conservative figures estimate that the ark was about 438 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 44 feet high. That makes it almost one-and-a-half times the length of a football field and more than four stories high. Its three decks totaled almost 96,000 square feet with a total volume of about 1.3 million cubic feet. Naval engineers concur that its shape and dimensions constitute an incredibly stable ship design.

But beyond the enormity of its size and precision of its measurements, the ark is a wonderful illustration of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For example, Noah was instructed to cover the ark inside and out with pitch (Gen. 3:14). The Hebrew word for pitch has

God Knows Your Needs - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

God invites us into conversation with Him, even though He already knows what we need.

Matthew 6:7-8

Have you ever watched parents of young children? In the midst of a whirlwind of activity, they meet their kids’ many needs. Spills are averted, noses are wiped, hugs are freely given—all at the same time! Clearly, such parents know what their little ones need, even when the children can’t express it.

Sometimes it is difficult for us to think of ourselves as children. When we see little ones running around, always needing something from us, we cannot imagine that we might often look the same way, only in grown-up bodies. Fortunately, we also have a Parent who already knows our needs (Matt. 6:8). Yet we often act as though we must tell God how to fix our problems.

Isn’t it strange? If you asked Christians whether they thought God is all-knowing, most would say “yes” without hesitation. However, many of us don’t pr

Verse of the Day
1 Peter 2:15-16 (New King James Version)

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Obeying Faith - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7).
True faith works.

When James said, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), he stated a principle that's consistent throughout Scripture: True faith always produces righteous works.

The people described in Hebrews 11 made their genuine faith known in the things they did. The same applies to us today. Paul said, "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).

Perhaps better than anyone else in history, Noah illustrates the obedience of faith. Scripture characterizes him as "a righteous man, blameless in his time . . . [who] walked with G

The Key to Hearing God -In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

To hear the Lord speak to you, dedicate time to meditating on His Word.

Psalms 19:7-14

Meditation means different things to different people. For some, it is a time of introspection and self-empowerment. To Christians, however, meditation has an altogether different meaning. Simply put, it is the practice of thinking about God in all of His fullness and asking questions like ...

Who is God?

How does He work in my life?

What does Scripture say about Him?

How has He shown faithfulness to me?

When we meditate on God’s Word with a goal of knowing Him better, His Spirit will direct our thinking. Often, the discipline will include wrestling with spiritual principles, which the Lord uses to build a firm foundation in our life. It may even involve a time of repentance, as He reveals truth and moves us to yearn for a Christ-centered mindset (Romans 12:1-2). Meditation could also lead to healing if God shows us areas of our he

Verse of the Day
Colossians 1:9 (New King James Version)

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Seeking God's Reward - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).
All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.

We've seen that without faith it's impossible to please God. And the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found, but also desires to be found. David said to his son Solomon, "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever" (1 Chron. 28:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jesus said, "Everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10).

At first glance those verses may seem

Vision Without Boundaries - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

If we choose to trust God, we'll be amazed at what He will accomplish through us.

John 20:29-31

What do you think goes through the mind of runners in a marathon? Naturally, they carefully consider the challenges of the course and strategize how best to meet each one. But if they dwelled only on how hard the race would be, they could easily fail. So runners typically also picture themselves crossing the finish line.

We would be wise to follow a similar thought pattern. God’s vision is for us to share His message of hope with the whole world (Luke 24:47). Like a marathon, that’s a huge task, and some Christians avoid the call because they feel “all the nations” is too big an assignment. Other believers stop because of a language barrier, or perhaps because they just don’t know how to start. But we can’t let fear or hesitation hold us back.

It’s important to identify limitations we have placed on ourselves a

Verse of the Day
1 John 2:15-16 (New King James Version)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Believing in God - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is" (Hebrews 11:6).
Nothing you do can please God apart from faith.

Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth.

Many trust in their own good works, not realizing that even their best efforts are offensive to God (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8). And the more we try to justify ourselves, the more we offend God, because "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20).

Some trust in their family heritage or nationality. The Jewish people thought they were pleasing to God simply because they were descendants of Abraham. But John the Baptist warned them, saying, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repenta

Sharing the Good News - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

All who receive Jesus as Savior are redeemed and forgiven.

Acts 9:1-19

When people receive exciting news, what’s the natural thing to do—keep it under wraps or tell others who can share in their joy? The second option, of course. That’s the reason Paul told others about salvation; it was good news he simply couldn’t keep to himself.

God saved Paul on the road to Damascus, and the apostle dedicated the rest of his life to spreading the good news of the gospel. Yes, he did so because he was thankful and felt devoted to the Lord. But there was more to the apostle’s motivation—he also felt compelled to offer hope to a world in need (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

Paul’s message was that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world as a human being. Through His death on the cross, Jesus redeemed mankind, and all who receive Him as their Savior will be forgiven.

Paul realized the gospel had to be shared, but not jus

Verse of the Day
Job 37:5-6 (New King James Version)

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

Walking with God - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Enoch walked with God" (Genesis 5:24).

Walking with God includes reconciliation, obedience from the heart, and ongoing faith.

When Scripture speaks of walking with God, it's referring to one's manner of life. For example, Paul prayed that the Colossian believers (and us) would be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they could walk (live) in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:9-10). To the Ephesians he said, "Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind . . . [but] be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you" (Eph. 4:17; 5:1-2).

The Old Testament describes Enoch as a man who walked with God. Though relatively little is said about this special man, we can derive implications from his life that will help us better understand what it means to walk with God.

First, Enoch's walk with God implies rec

Carry the Light - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Ask God how He would like you to share His light in the world.

John 1:1-9

In the Bible, light is equated with good. For instance, Jesus said, “I have come as Light into the world” (John 12:46). Once we trust Him as our Savior, He lives within us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This means that when we’re saved, we have the light of Christ (John 8:12).

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He instructed His followers to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). In other words, we must carry the light around world. But how do we do this? Here are three ways:

God will send some of us abroad to share the truth of Jesus. There are people in every nation who have never heard about salvation, and we can go as missionaries to tell them.

The Father also calls us to spread the good news right where we are. The hope of the gospel is needed in our neighborhoods, families, and workplaces.

The Lord asks His

Verse of the Day
Isaiah 1:18 (New King James Version)

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Walking by Faith - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God" (Heb 11:5).
When you walk by faith, you enjoy intimacy with God.

Our second hero of faith is Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 records that "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."

What a wonderful epitaph: "Enoch walked with God." His life exemplifies the walk of faith. Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden, but their sin separated them from such intimacy. Enoch experienced the fellowship with God they had forfeited.

Enoch's faithful walk pleased God gr

Putting Worry in Perspective - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

We don't need to worry—God's provision and strength are available for every challenge we face.

Philippians 4:8-9

Worry is a common experience, and in many cases, anxiety is constant and overwhelming. But rather than address the issue, a lot of people have just learned to live with it.

We treat extreme anxiety like a benign emotion when in fact it can do harm, clouding our mind, dividing our focus, and robbing us of peace. Drifting through life exhausted by stress and worry isn’t God’s plan for us. Instead, we should take anxious thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace them with healthier ones.

The best way to address anxious thoughts is to combat them with something positive. We do this by weaving Scripture into our life. God has something to say about everything that concerns us. Philippians 4:13 assures us we “can do all things through Him who strengthens [us].” If we fear the paycheck won’

Verse of the Day
Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version)

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The First Disciple - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel . . . brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard" (Gen. 4:3-5).
True discipleship is characterized by obedience to God’s Word.

In John 8:31 Jesus issued an important statement to a group of people who were showing an interest in Him: "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." Sadly, they rejected His words, proving themselves to be less than true disciples. Jesus went on to explain why: "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God" (v. 47). They listened but didn't really hear. They were interested but not truly committed. They were hearers of the Word but not doers (James 1:22).

In contrast, Abel did what God told him to do. He was, in effect

When Anxiety Strikes - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

If you are troubled by anxious thoughts, ask God for what you need and give thanks for all you have.

Philippians 4:4-7

If you needed help understanding something, would you hire just anyone? Of course not. You’d want to be sure the person teaching you had experience and was qualified. That’s why the apostle Paul is an excellent person to help us understand the value of contentment. After all, he wrote on the subject while under confinement by Roman authorities.

In today’s passage, Paul says that prayer safeguards the believer’s heart from anxiety, and there is no greater prayer than the one Jesus Himself taught us. The Lord’s Prayer underscores adoration of the Father and de-emphasizes focusing on oneself (Matthew 6:9-13). Concentrating on God’s greatness puts our needs in perspective and encourages us to rest in His strength.

Also consider Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Even as He was crying

Verse of the Day
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (New King James Version)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Worshiping God His Way - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain" (Heb 11:4).
True worship requires coming to God on His terms.

At the heart of every false religion is the notion that man can come to God by any means he chooses—by meditating, doing good deeds, and so on. But Scripture says, "There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus Christ, and we come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sin, trusting in His atoning death on the cross, and affirming His bodily resurrection from the grave (cf. Rom. 10:9-10). There is no other way to God.

Centuries before Christ's death, God provided a means of worship and sacrifice. Genesis 4:3-5 says, "It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And th

A Burden or a Bridge - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Adversity can be a burden we carry or a bridge to a glorious future.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

How would you describe adversity? As Christians, we have the opportunity to see it as a bridge leading to an eternal future.

Our perspective is the determining factor in how we view hardship. If we focus only on the negative, we’ll be drawn into despair. But if we look at problems from an eternal standpoint, our thinking will be transformed in three ways:

We won’t lose heart, because we know we’re being renewed from within. As we respond in submission to whatever God allows in our life and trust in His good purposes, our character is shaped into Christlikeness and our hope is restored.

The Lord will give us strength to endure. Paul said he was afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, and constantly threatened with death, yet he called it all “light and momentary” compared to eternity (2 Cor. 4:8-11; 2 Cor. 4:17

Verse of the Day
Ephesians 1:9-10 (New King James Version)

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

Leaving a Righteous Legacy - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks" (Heb 11:4).
The character of your life will determine the legacy you leave to others.

Bible scholar James Moffatt wrote, "Death is never the last word in the life of a . . . man. When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous, he leaves something in the world. He may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or a poison, or he may leave something like the fragrance of perfume or a blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with blessing."

That's illustrated in the lives of Adam and Eve's first sons: Cain and Abel. Cain was an unrighteous man who sought to please God by his own efforts. God rejected him (Gen. 4:5). Abel was a righteous man who worshiped God in true faith. God ac

A City on a Hill - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

When we are faithful to the Lord, our actions will point others to Him.

Matthew 5:14-16

If you’ve ever looked at a photograph of earth at night taken from space, it’s easy to see urban areas because they’re so brightly lit. You can’t miss them.

The same is true for believers. We are called to “shine” like the city on a hill that Jesus spoke about—to live in such a way that others will observe our good works and see evidence of God in our life (Matthew 5:14-16).

A Christian’s faith is made evident through his or her deeds. We want coworkers, friends, and others in our sphere of influence to notice how we live. Why? So they might gradually begin to understand that God is worthy and good. That means we can be effective witnesses both through the words we say and the things we do.

To balance this command, however, the Lord gives us an admonition in Matthew 6:1: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men t