How should the children of God manage the news of the day?

God is not surprised at the events of the day. He is aware of every word that the newscasters/podcasters speak. He
knows what’s happening behind every closed door, in every governmental agency and in the hearts of every head of
state.

“In our world today, two words have become increasingly prominent: disinformation and misinformation – with only
a shade of difference between the two. They both share a common element, deviating from the truth. Social media
has allowed every individual to have a voice and discerning what is and isn’t true has become challenging.” (Dr. David
Jeremiah)

It’s not the headlines that concern God, it’s the faith of His children.

Which carries the most weight in your heart? The Bible or whichever platform you get your news from?

Which contains the most accurate message? The Bible or whichever platform you get your news from, or Google
searches?

Which speaks with real authority? The Bible or whichever platform you use to get your news or information from?

Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Walter Cronkite anchored the CBS Evening News and would end each broadcast with,
“And that’s the way it is.” Meaning he had just presented to you the factual news that represented the day’s events.
Today the newscaster would have to sign off with, “And that’s the way we see it.” or “And that’s the way we want
you to see it.”

So when it comes to viewing our world and viewing our Bible, what should we do? Should we allow the events of the
world – moral, political, cultural, economic – shape how we view God and His Word? Or should we let God and His
Word shape how we view events that happen in the world? Does the world shape our worldview or does the Word
shape our view of the world? We should be aware of the headlines, but only God and His Word should shape our
prospective and set our attitude.

In our pursuit of truth, make sure you measure everything against the gold standard for truth – Christ and His Word.

Remember, not long ago we went over the account of Stephen the Martyr? In the midst of being railed against, rocks
chucked at him; all while he was preaching, and he looked up and saw Jesus… I wonder if one of us was under that kind
of persecution, would we be solely focused on the LORD like Stephen? Well, I happened to be pondering all this and I
ran across this extraordinary devotional…. It touched my heart, so I thought I would share it:

He Only Had Eyes for God ~ Acts 7:55

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed — he only had eyes for God!” (The Message).

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God.” (ESV)

“But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God.” (ISV)

“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on
the right hand of God” (KJV)

It is one of the great, dramatic moments in Scripture — Stephen giving his defense before the High Court of Israel. His
presentation was masterful and respectful. His recall of history was exact and compelling. The case he presented was
flawless and clear.

But as he spoke he saw the smug indifference etched deep into the faces of his judges. Their hearts were hardened by
pride, their eyes blinded by bigotry. Stephen, realizing that nothing he could say was going to change their prejudice,
shifted gears and got straight to the point.

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!” he cried. “You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

As any student of the pugilist arts knows, no champion ever relies on a single punch to knock out his opponent. No, he
peppers him with jabs, rocks him with a one-two combination, and then drops the bomb – a left hook and a blinding overhand right. BAM! Stephen does the same.

While the council was reeling from his stunning indictment, Stephen continued, “Was there ever a prophet your fathers
did not persecute?”

Before they could compose themselves to reply in religious double-speak, he delivered the knockout blow – “Just as
your fathers killed those who told us that the Messiah would come, now you, their sons, have betrayed and murdered the
very Messiah Himself!”

The Bible says, ” Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their
teeth.” One translation puts it this way, “At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective.” We are then told, “At this the council members covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.”

Amazing, isn’t it, the depth of evil that lurks in the hearts of religious people? From the moment Cain murdered Abel, religion has found no other way but violence to force its claims against those with whom it disagrees.

 

Oh – how quickly those esteemed as holy and impartial judges turn to nothing more than a band of alley thugs. What craziness in the courtroom. What absurdity in the assembly of the astute. What rage erupting from the righteous…..excuse me, I mean to say the religious! For righteous and religious are not one in the same. Indeed, they have nothing in common. One is true, the other false. One is freedom, the other is bondage. One is kind, the other cruel. One is from God, the other comes straight out of hell.

But now, set in sharp relief against this dark backdrop, get the point of our opening text: “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,
hardly noticed — he only had eyes for God!”

Wow. How wonderful it must be to “hardly notice” the dumb, outrageous, banal, and vindictive attacks of the devil through people and circumstances around us. What is the key? How did Stephen manage to remain so detached? The word says, “he only had eyes for God!”

O Lord, give us eyes only for you!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has
many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for
you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may
be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you
really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know
me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father
is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me,
who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:1-11
Matthew Henry :John 14:1-11 Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be laid.
1) Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted.
2) The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God.
3) The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time, be not you so.
Christ’s disciples, more than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else is unquiet.
Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind, Believe. By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, we gain comfort.
The happiness of heaven is spoken of as in a father’s house. There are many mansions, for there are
many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of
which he is the Author or Beginner; if he has prepared the place for us, he will prepare us for it.
Christ is the sinner’s Way to the Father and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in
his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate. He is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Savior;
believing which, sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin
are quickened. Nor can any man draw nigh to God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as the Life,
and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the Way.
By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that
leads to rest, the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw Christ by faith saw
the Father in Him. In the light of Christ’s doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ’s
miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of
Christ’s life.

Believe in – to have faith in, putting your confidence in, being fully able to rely on for support
and consolation.
Belief is foundational to the Christian faith. It is through belief that individuals enter into a relationship
with God and receive the gift of salvation. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to
please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those
who earnestly seek Him.”
Belief is not a one-time act but a continual trust and reliance on God throughout one’s life.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes belief as essential for salvation. In Romans 10:9-10, he writes, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are
saved.” Here, belief is both an inward conviction and an outward confession.
Belief in the biblical sense requires action. James 2:19-20 warns, “You believe that God is one. Good for
you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without
deeds is worthless?” True belief results in a transformed life, characterized by obedience to God’s commands and love for others.
Throughout Scripture, there are numerous accounts of doubt and unbelief. Jesus often rebuked His
disciples for their lack of faith, as seen in Matthew 14:31 when He said to Peter, “You of little faith, why
did you doubt?” The struggle between belief and unbelief is a common human experience, yet the Bible
encourages believers to seek God’s help in overcoming doubt, as exemplified in Mark 9:24: “I do believe;
help my unbelief!”
Belief is a dynamic and essential aspect of the Christian life, encompassing trust, faith, and reliance on
God. It is through belief that individuals are justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified in Christ.
(Drawn from Biblehub.com)
Heavenly Father, it so easy to get distracted today, to question our belief, and by that Your integrity!
Father, may we be as the disciples were as they sat with Jesus, and may we ask also for help in times of
our unbelief. Remind us, Lord, that You are with us always, and that we have only to seek You with all of
our heart and we will find You. Teach us Your ways so that we may never stop loving You with all our
heart, all of our mind and all of our strength; even when times approach us that we do not understand, and
we do not believe we can make it through the rough waters that are accompanying them. ‘Greater is he
who is in me than he who is in the world.’ Lord, when we grow tired and feel weary from the troubles of
the world today; let us remind ourselves and each other in those times that You, Lord, are in control-You
were yesterday, and will yet be tomorrow, and in Your strength, by Your guidance: we will come through
today- stronger than we could have ever believed, and all because of Your love for us. In Jesus name,
Amen

I thought I would share a devotional that touched my heart recently. I used to journal as a young man, and now – it is usually when I am facing some trouble and need to get my thoughts out on paper so I can pray over them and see what the Lord is trying to tell me. So, when I ran across the title of this devotional, it caused me to stop and think over my life and the opportunities God gave me over the years. I pray and hope it does the same for you.

The Journal of a Misspent Life

Jesus answered, “The light will be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the light while you can. Then you won’t be caught walking blindly in the dark.” (John 12:35, CEV).

As followers of Jesus we are a people who live not only in the past, but also in the future. However, this only works if we can incorporate both into our lives now and live purposefully in the present — by walking in the light while we can.

Yes, we look back to the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, and follow the story all the way to the Cross — when mankind was ransomed by the Son of God, who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. And we look to the future when our King will return and abolish all injustice, all wrongdoing of any kind, and every form of evil. Righteousness will reign and peace will cover the earth.

But, our grand view of the past and our glorious vision for the future must define us as we live purposefully in the present. We must walk in the light — while we can.

Some live only and always in the past with a nostalgic affection for things as they were, but can never be again. Others wistfully long for that which is yet to come, so captivated with their preoccupation of the golden streets of glory they never actually even once walk the dusty streets of earth — you know, the highways and the byways where so many are wandering without a Savior.

What this world needs now more than anything is a light that shines in the darkness — someone whose faith, hope and love illuminate their sphere of influence. Someone who, because they look back and have an unshakable faith; and, because they look forward and have an unending hope; they now live purposely in the present with an unfailing love.

The simple and unalterable fact of the matter is that a thousand years from now in either direction is what it is — what matters most is right now. What will you do in this present moment of historic opportunities? Will you walk in the light while you can?

The bookends which frame in the library of our lives are magnificently epic, beautiful beyond belief. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the only thing we placed on the bookshelf of history between these two bookends was the journal of a misspent life?

Let us mark well the words of Jesus, “The light will be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the light while you can. Then you won’t be caught walking blindly in the dark.” (John 12:35, CEV).

Much Love and Prayer

I recently heard a podcast giving statistics about the number of Christians in Nigeria that have been persecuted and martyred. It made me think about what it would be like for us if it began to happen here in the
United States. Truth be told – persecution is on the rise even here…. It comes in various forms like familial
push back about one’s faith in Christ (or at least not their “version” of it), legislative actions like hate
speech laws, conversion therapy illegalization, labelling someone Islamophobic, holier than thou, far
right, bible thumper – you get the idea. Of course, then as we see across the world, in other parts of it, people are beaten, ravaged, burned, beheaded, killed for confessing Christ. I am not sure American Christians
are ready for all that yet… but if trends are any indicator of it coming to our soil, we better get ready!

To help us do just that, here is a simple devotional for us to read, study, and put into practice in preparation for persecution:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Persecution is not a sign of failure—it’s often a mark of faithfulness. Jesus never promised a life free of
hardship; in fact, He warned that following Him would invite opposition. But He also promised that we
would never face it alone. Whether it’s ridicule, rejection, or outright hostility, persecution tests the depth
of our trust in God. It reveals whether our faith is rooted in comfort or in Christ. The challenge is not just
to endure persecution, but to respond to it in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus. This begs a question:
How can we respond to persecution in a godly way?

Stay Anchored in Truth: Be sure you know what you believe and why. Persecution often targets uncertainty, so meditate on Scripture daily, letting God’s Word shape your perspective and know what to expect.
Don’t forget that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17a), and swords are defensive
weapons used to stave off the enemy…. Remember, Jesus responded to Satan’s attacks with Scripture.
(Matthew 4:1–11)

Respond with Grace, Not Retaliation: Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) I know this is easier said than done; however, imagine if you saw your enemies
and or God’s enemies from Jesus’ point of view. How we respond to them could change everything! Besides I am sure you know that grace disarms hostility. And remember the example of Stephen, while being
stoned, he prayed for his persecutors. (Acts 7:60)

Rejoice in Your Identity: When the world or those who belong to it, they are identifying with the god of this
world, that is the devil. Not only do they reveal who they belong to, but their persecution of you also likewise confirms your identity as a child of God, that you belong to Christ and not this world. Remember,
you’re not alone – prophets, apostles, and Jesus Himself were persecuted. The apostles rejoiced after being flogged, “counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

Lean into the Church community: Isolation magnifies suffering, but fellowship strengthens resolve. Share
your burdens with trusted believers who will pray for and encourage you to “stay the course!” Think about Paul who often wrote from prison, yet was sustained by the prayers and support of the church. Remember what Peter wrote: “Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are
being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:9-10) After all “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if
one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Keep an Eternal Perspective: Earthly suffering is temporary; but eternal glory is forever. Your reward is
not in escaping persecution, but in enduring it faithfully, even overcoming it’s evils with good! Apostle
Paul, who knows both sides of persecution was led by the Holy Spirit to record “Our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

I do not like to put words (especially prayers) in the mouths of others; nevertheless, this is an excellent
prayer when you are being persecuted (at whatever level it may be):
Father, when I face persecution, help me to respond with grace and truth. Remind me that I am not alone,
and that You are my defender and strength. Give me courage to stand firm, wisdom to speak with love,
and peace that surpasses understanding. May my life reflect Your glory even in the fire. Amen.

 

Pastor D.L. Barnett