Most of us eat every day, some of us too much because yesterday's food
is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do some
of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to keep
us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all
of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to
live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host,
author speaker Elle David Harris. Good morning, good morning, Good morning.
It is Friday, December fifteen, twenty twenty three. Hello, my name
is El David Harris. I am your host, and this is your Daily
Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today is no
exception. We are continuing in our Lesson Studies series, God's mission My mission,
and on this preparation day, our caption is true Believers, True Believers.
Yes, we'll get into that in just a moment, but first I
like to just say again, happy, happy, happy Preparation Day and ask
you to please go over to your Daily Portion dot com join our online community.
Please please please let us know where you are in the world at your
Daily Portion dot Com and pick up the book Your Daily Portion. How many
times can I say your Daily Portion in a sentence? Ah? Yes,
all right, So this is a way that we continue to build faith and
fellowship. Let's not burn any more time here. Let's go ahead and pray
and then get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us this
day and for the opportunity we have to prepare for the special time that we
have in You and the Sabbath time. And I pray God that you will
give us your holy spirit and that we will be receptive to your voice in
all things. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen and Amen again. True
believers, True believers. So I'm not here wanting to start an argument about
whether there is a hot this month, yes or no. But the fact
is that there are a lot of people who are celebrating a holiday this month,
right. And the fact is also that during the discussion the story of
Jesus's birth, there was a point at which we see in the skies what
the Bible describes as a star as a star, right, and and we
understand through inspiration that this was really angels right brightening the sky to announce the
birth of Jesus Christ right, and so interestingly, the only people who came
to truly like worship Jesus were people that were not considered like from among God's
people. Some people say they were three wise men. I don't see three
in the Bible. I've never read it anywhere. I've tried to find it,
but I haven't seen it. But there were wise men that had three
gifts. And maybe that's where people get it from. But let me not
get too far off field here. But you had the franken, since you
had the mrr, you had the other gift. And so now they are
there and they are hearing glory to God in the highest like and then on
earth peace, good will toward men. And where are God's people? That's
what I want to know. Like these dudes were magi, Like where did
they come from? They came from the east. Where were God's people who
should have been studying the prophecies and knowing that around this time then Messiah would
be born in Bethlehem Ephratha? Like where were God's people? Well? May
I just say that the ones who were supposed to be God's people in air
quotes were nowhere to be found. I mean, I just say that the
true believers, the true believers in that moment where these magi who came looking
because they saw the star in the sky and they knew something special was gonna
happen, and they were prepared to worship. They were prepared to give the
best of all that they have. I think there's a song that says,
give up your best to the Master. So these men, whether it's two
or it's three, I don't know, I don't know. I thought you
were a Bible teacher, Dave. Well, let me just say these men
they came with worship because they were true believers. Now that we've gotten all
of that off my chest, the question that we need to answer is like,
am I a true believer? Am I a true believer? Well?
From the book Desire of Ages we get a very interesting perspective among those I'm
reading now. It's a quote, among those whom the people of God styled
heathen were men who had a better understanding of the scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah
than had all of the teachers among God's people. I just say that again,
among those whom God's people styled heathen were men who had a better understanding
of the scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah than had the teachers. Among God's people,
there were some who hoped for his coming as a deliverer from sin.
Philosophers endeavored to study into the mystery of the Hebrew economy. Like these people
are coming into the history and spiritual understanding and the scrolls. They are are
peering into what God people had firmly in their bosom to learn the mysteries.
And then the people of God themselves, a lot of them did not learn
the mysteries for themselves. Can you imagine? But the bigotry of the people
of God hindered the spread of the light. There are times, and that's
the end of the quote, there are times that God's people in twenty twenty
three, I'm not going to go way back to where Jesus was as he
was being born into humanity in order to save us. Like that seems so
far distant. Like I don't speak ancient Hebrew, like I don't speak Aramaic,
I don't speak Cooine Greek. I may read a few words here or
there, but like that was way back then, what about now? Like
this December fifteenth, twenty twenty three, am I like God's people of that
day, who did not connect with God to the degree that they didn't even
understand what people who came from outside of the fold did understand. They did
not embrace or worship in the way that even some of these men and women
who came from outside of the fold worshiped and connected with God. This is
a somber and sobering moment for the people of God, and we need to
be asking ourselves, do we have that kind of faith that lays hold upon
the promises and power of God, The kind of faith that leads people to
connection with Him that can overcome any temptation, trial or sin, like any
trial, any addiction, Like do we have the kind of faith that says,
you know what, I'm not into the brownie points religion. God,
how can I please you? Like what makes you happy? Not because I'm
looking for a way to get paid, but for me to just just show
you. I just want to show you what great a God you are to
me, because you have delivered me, because you have put the sun in
the sky, and when I was among the unjust, you caused the sun
to still shine on me. You did not withhold my water or my daily
bread. When I withheld worship from you, God, can you just show
me how to worship you? Let me read from January seventeen, eighteen ninety
three the periodical Advent Review and Sabbath Harold, which reads, The Lord Jesus,
the Mighty Savior, has died for these people, these souls. He
can arouse them from their indifference. He can awaken their sympathies. He can
soften their hearts. He can reveal to their souls the beauty and power of
the Truth. The Master Worker is God and not finite man. And yet
he calls upon men to be agents through whom He can impart light to those
in darkness. So, brothers and sisters, God has given us the privilege
really to lead people into right relationships and pathways to God. Isn't that wonderful?
God has jewels in all of the churches. And it is not for
us to make a sweeping denunciation of the professed religious world. But in humility
and love, resent to all the present, to all the truth as it
is in Jesus. Let men see piety and devotion. Let them behold Christ's
likeness of character, and they will be drawn to the truth. They are
to lift up Jesus, the world's redeemer. They are to hold forth the
word of life. Isn't it wonderful that God? And that's the end of
the quote. By the way, isn't it wonderful that God has given us
the privilege to see from among every nation kindred chung tribe or people, people
who are willing to keep covenant with Him. People who don't look like you,
who do not speak like you, who do not have your specific pedigree
in heir quotes, but they love god fully. And God is saying to
you that you can be a true believer too, and you can help others
get connected with God. It's a wonderful privilege. Peace. Thanks for joining
us listening. Friends, Always remember we cannot live by bread alone, but
by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This has been your
daily portion with el David Harris. Make it a great day. Yeah,