12/31/18
The Messenger
"I have a message for you!" A woman working at the conference I was attending handed me a piece of paper, and I wondered if I should be nervous or excited. But when I read, "You have a nephew!" I knew I could rejoice.
Messages can bring good news, bad news, or words that challenge. In the Old Testament, God used His prophets to communicate messages of hope or judgment. But when we look closely, we see that even His words of judgment were intended to lead to repentance, healing, and restoration.
Both types of messages appear in Malachi 3 when the Lord promised to send a messenger who would prepare the way for Him. John the Baptist announced the coming of the true Messenger, Jesus (see Matthew 3:11)- "The Messenger of the Covenant" (Malachi 3:1) who will fulfill God's promises. But He will act "like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap" (v.2), for He will purify those who believe in His word. The Lord sent His word to cleanse His people because of His loving concern for their well-being.
God's message is one of love, hope, and freedom. He sent His Son to be a messenger who speaks our language- sometimes with messages of correction, but always those of hope. We can trust His message.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, help me not only to understand Your message but to live it.
ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU SHARE HIS GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS IN THE NEW YEAR.
Malachi 3:1-5
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings and righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
"So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty.
Insight: Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, was written by a man whose name means "my messenger." Malachi, believed to be a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, ministered to the Jews who had returned from the Babylonian exile. Although the temple had been rebuilt (Ezra 6:14-15), the temple service and sacrifices were defiled for several reasons: lack of reverence for God, offering of blemished sacrifices (Malachi 1:6-9, 12-14), and willful neglect of the tithe (3:8-9). Worse the priests were defiled by mixed marriages and marital unfaithfulness (2:1-16). Because the priesthood- which served as "the messenger of the Lord"- failed in their priestly function (2:7-9), Malachi speaks of a future "messenger" who would prepare the way for "the messenger of the covenant" (3:1). Four hundred years later, Jesus identified John the Baptist as that messenger (Matthew 11:9-10;17:12-13).
by K.T. Sim
12/30/18
"I have a message for you!" A woman working at the conference I was attending handed me a piece of paper, and I wondered if I should be nervous or excited. But when I read, "You have a nephew!" I knew I could rejoice.
Messages can bring good news, bad news, or words that challenge. In the Old Testament, God used His prophets to communicate messages of hope or judgment. But when we look closely, we see that even His words of judgment were intended to lead to repentance, healing, and restoration.
Both types of messages appear in Malachi 3 when the Lord promised to send a messenger who would prepare the way for Him. John the Baptist announced the coming of the true Messenger, Jesus (see Matthew 3:11)- "The Messenger of the Covenant" (Malachi 3:1) who will fulfill God's promises. But He will act "like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap" (v.2), for He will purify those who believe in His word. The Lord sent His word to cleanse His people because of His loving concern for their well-being.
God's message is one of love, hope, and freedom. He sent His Son to be a messenger who speaks our language- sometimes with messages of correction, but always those of hope. We can trust His message.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, help me not only to understand Your message but to live it.
ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU SHARE HIS GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS IN THE NEW YEAR.
Malachi 3:1-5
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings and righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
"So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty.
Insight: Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, was written by a man whose name means "my messenger." Malachi, believed to be a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, ministered to the Jews who had returned from the Babylonian exile. Although the temple had been rebuilt (Ezra 6:14-15), the temple service and sacrifices were defiled for several reasons: lack of reverence for God, offering of blemished sacrifices (Malachi 1:6-9, 12-14), and willful neglect of the tithe (3:8-9). Worse the priests were defiled by mixed marriages and marital unfaithfulness (2:1-16). Because the priesthood- which served as "the messenger of the Lord"- failed in their priestly function (2:7-9), Malachi speaks of a future "messenger" who would prepare the way for "the messenger of the covenant" (3:1). Four hundred years later, Jesus identified John the Baptist as that messenger (Matthew 11:9-10;17:12-13).
by K.T. Sim
12/30/18
All Things New
Junkyards intrigue me. I enjoy working on cars, so I frequently make trips to the one near our home. It's a lonely place, where the wind whispers through discarded hulks that were once someone's prized possession. Some were wrecked, some wore out, and others simply outlived their usefulness. As I walked between the rows, a car will sometimes catch my eye, and I'll find myself wondering about the adventures it had during its "lifetime." Like a portal to the past, each has a story to tell-of human hankering after the latest model and the inescapable passage of time.
But I take particular pleasure in finding new life for an old part. Whenever I can take something discarded and give it new life in a restored vehicle, it feels like a small victory against time and decline.
It sometimes makes me think of Jesus's words at the end of the Bible: "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5). These words refer to God's renewal of creation which includes believers. Already, all who've received Jesus are a "new creation" in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:17).
And one day we will enter into His promise of unending days with Him (John 14:3). Age and disease will no longer take their toll, and we will continue the adventure of an eternal lifetime. What stories each of us will have to tell- stories of our Savior's redeeming love and undying faithfulness.
by James Banks
Loving Lord, I praise You that I am a new creation in You, and that in Your kindness and mercy You have given me the promise of eternal life.
THE END OF A YEAR AND BEGINNING OF ANOTHER IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRESH START. WHAT MIGHT GOD BE MAKING NEW IN YOUR LIFE?
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."
Insight: Today's passage gives us a glimpse of heaven, describing it as a physical place (vv.1-2). Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3), and this promise is fulfilled in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City (Revelation 21:2). While it's a great comfort that heaven is a perfect place (v.4), the most important thing is that it's the dwelling place of God (v.3). In this final vision of the beginning of eternity (21:1-22:9), John hears Christ declaring, "It is done" (21:6). The New Living Translation renders it, "It is finished!" echoing Christ's victorious cry from the cross (John 19:30). Sins curse will one day be completely removed and reversed (Revelation 21:4-5; See Genesis 3:16-19).
by K.T. Sim
12/28/18
Junkyards intrigue me. I enjoy working on cars, so I frequently make trips to the one near our home. It's a lonely place, where the wind whispers through discarded hulks that were once someone's prized possession. Some were wrecked, some wore out, and others simply outlived their usefulness. As I walked between the rows, a car will sometimes catch my eye, and I'll find myself wondering about the adventures it had during its "lifetime." Like a portal to the past, each has a story to tell-of human hankering after the latest model and the inescapable passage of time.
But I take particular pleasure in finding new life for an old part. Whenever I can take something discarded and give it new life in a restored vehicle, it feels like a small victory against time and decline.
It sometimes makes me think of Jesus's words at the end of the Bible: "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5). These words refer to God's renewal of creation which includes believers. Already, all who've received Jesus are a "new creation" in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:17).
And one day we will enter into His promise of unending days with Him (John 14:3). Age and disease will no longer take their toll, and we will continue the adventure of an eternal lifetime. What stories each of us will have to tell- stories of our Savior's redeeming love and undying faithfulness.
by James Banks
Loving Lord, I praise You that I am a new creation in You, and that in Your kindness and mercy You have given me the promise of eternal life.
THE END OF A YEAR AND BEGINNING OF ANOTHER IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRESH START. WHAT MIGHT GOD BE MAKING NEW IN YOUR LIFE?
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."
Insight: Today's passage gives us a glimpse of heaven, describing it as a physical place (vv.1-2). Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3), and this promise is fulfilled in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City (Revelation 21:2). While it's a great comfort that heaven is a perfect place (v.4), the most important thing is that it's the dwelling place of God (v.3). In this final vision of the beginning of eternity (21:1-22:9), John hears Christ declaring, "It is done" (21:6). The New Living Translation renders it, "It is finished!" echoing Christ's victorious cry from the cross (John 19:30). Sins curse will one day be completely removed and reversed (Revelation 21:4-5; See Genesis 3:16-19).
by K.T. Sim
12/28/18
Good Riddance Day
Since 2006 a group of people have celebrated an unusual event around the New Year. Its called Good Riddance Day. Based on a Latin American tradition, individuals write down unpleasant, embarrassing memories and bad issues from the past year and throw them into an industrial-strength shredder. Or some take a sledge hammer to their good riddance item.
The writer of Psalm 103 goes beyond suggesting that people say good riddance to unpleasant memories. He reminded us that God bids good riddance to our sins. In his attempt to express God's vast love for His people, the psalmist used word pictures. He compared the vastness of God's love to the distance between the heavens and the earth (v.11). Then the psalmist talked about His forgiveness in spatial terms. As far as the place where the sun rises is from the place where the sun sets, so the Lord has removed His people's sins from them (v.12). The psalmist wanted God's people to know that His love and forgiveness where infinite and complete. God freed His people from the power of their transgressions by fully pardoning them.
Good news! We don't have to wait until the New Year to experience Good Riddance Day. Through our faith in Jesus, when we confess and turn from our sins, He bids good riddance to them and cast them into the depths of the sea. Today can be a Good Riddance Day!
by Marvin Williams
Thank You, Father, for freedom from sin.
WHAT SINS DO YOU NEED TO SAY GOODBYE TOO? HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL KNOWING THAT GOD INFINITELY AND COMPLETELY FORGETS YOUR SINS?
Psalm 103:1-12
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Insight: Recognizing our propensity to be forgetful and unfaithful (Deuteronomy 6:10-12;Hosea 13:6), David wrote Psalm 103 as a thanksgiving psalm, calling us to praise God for who He is and what He has done. He reminds us not to forget "all his benefits" (vv.1-2). The psalmist describes the character of our redeeming Father. He is compassionate, slow to anger, loving, forgiving, and gracious (vv.3-13). He "does not punish us for all our sins...[or]deal harshly with us, as we deserve" (v.10 NLT). God has forgiven our sins completely (vv.11-12). David recounts God's character in the aftermath of Israel's idolatrous sin(vv.7-8; Exodus32): Our God is "the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).
by K.T. Sim
12/27/18
Since 2006 a group of people have celebrated an unusual event around the New Year. Its called Good Riddance Day. Based on a Latin American tradition, individuals write down unpleasant, embarrassing memories and bad issues from the past year and throw them into an industrial-strength shredder. Or some take a sledge hammer to their good riddance item.
The writer of Psalm 103 goes beyond suggesting that people say good riddance to unpleasant memories. He reminded us that God bids good riddance to our sins. In his attempt to express God's vast love for His people, the psalmist used word pictures. He compared the vastness of God's love to the distance between the heavens and the earth (v.11). Then the psalmist talked about His forgiveness in spatial terms. As far as the place where the sun rises is from the place where the sun sets, so the Lord has removed His people's sins from them (v.12). The psalmist wanted God's people to know that His love and forgiveness where infinite and complete. God freed His people from the power of their transgressions by fully pardoning them.
Good news! We don't have to wait until the New Year to experience Good Riddance Day. Through our faith in Jesus, when we confess and turn from our sins, He bids good riddance to them and cast them into the depths of the sea. Today can be a Good Riddance Day!
by Marvin Williams
Thank You, Father, for freedom from sin.
WHAT SINS DO YOU NEED TO SAY GOODBYE TOO? HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL KNOWING THAT GOD INFINITELY AND COMPLETELY FORGETS YOUR SINS?
Psalm 103:1-12
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Insight: Recognizing our propensity to be forgetful and unfaithful (Deuteronomy 6:10-12;Hosea 13:6), David wrote Psalm 103 as a thanksgiving psalm, calling us to praise God for who He is and what He has done. He reminds us not to forget "all his benefits" (vv.1-2). The psalmist describes the character of our redeeming Father. He is compassionate, slow to anger, loving, forgiving, and gracious (vv.3-13). He "does not punish us for all our sins...[or]deal harshly with us, as we deserve" (v.10 NLT). God has forgiven our sins completely (vv.11-12). David recounts God's character in the aftermath of Israel's idolatrous sin(vv.7-8; Exodus32): Our God is "the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).
by K.T. Sim
12/27/18
The Highest Place
My husband invited a friend to church. After the service his friends said, "I liked the songs and the atmosphere, but I don't get it. Why do you give Jesus such a high place of honor?" My husband then explained to him that Christianity is a relationship with Christ. Without Him, Christianity would be meaningless. It's because of what Jesus has done in our lives that we meet together and praise Him.
Who is Jesus and what has He done? The apostle Paul answered this question in Colossians 1. No one has seen God, but Jesus came to reflect and reveal Him (v.15). Jesus, as the Son of God, came to die for us and free us from sin. Sin has separated us from God's holiness, so peace could only be made through someone perfect. That was Jesus (vv.14,20). In other words, Jesus has given us what no one else could- access to God and eternal life (John 17:3).
Why does He deserve such a place of honor? He conquered death. He won our hearts by His love and sacrifice. He gives us new strength every day. He is everything to us!
We give Him the glory because He deserves it. We lift Him up because that is His rightful place. Let's give Him the highest place in our hearts.
by Keila Ochoa
Jesus, You are my Savior and my Lord, and I want to give You the highest place of honor in my life.
JESUS IS THE CENTER OF OUR WORSHIP.
Colossians 1:15-23
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Insight: The New Testament concept of "image" (Colossians 1:15) involves three things: "exact likeness" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT), "exact representation" (Hebrews 1:3), and complete revelation (John 1:18). Man is created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), but Jesus "is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The writer of Hebrews says the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (1:3) or "expresses the very character of God" (NLT). Jesus in His very essence and nature is God (Colossians 2:9;Philippians 2:5-6). The apostle John (John 1:18) says Jesus "has made [God] known" (NIV) or "has explained him" to us (NASB).
by K.T. Sim
12/26/18
My husband invited a friend to church. After the service his friends said, "I liked the songs and the atmosphere, but I don't get it. Why do you give Jesus such a high place of honor?" My husband then explained to him that Christianity is a relationship with Christ. Without Him, Christianity would be meaningless. It's because of what Jesus has done in our lives that we meet together and praise Him.
Who is Jesus and what has He done? The apostle Paul answered this question in Colossians 1. No one has seen God, but Jesus came to reflect and reveal Him (v.15). Jesus, as the Son of God, came to die for us and free us from sin. Sin has separated us from God's holiness, so peace could only be made through someone perfect. That was Jesus (vv.14,20). In other words, Jesus has given us what no one else could- access to God and eternal life (John 17:3).
Why does He deserve such a place of honor? He conquered death. He won our hearts by His love and sacrifice. He gives us new strength every day. He is everything to us!
We give Him the glory because He deserves it. We lift Him up because that is His rightful place. Let's give Him the highest place in our hearts.
by Keila Ochoa
Jesus, You are my Savior and my Lord, and I want to give You the highest place of honor in my life.
JESUS IS THE CENTER OF OUR WORSHIP.
Colossians 1:15-23
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Insight: The New Testament concept of "image" (Colossians 1:15) involves three things: "exact likeness" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT), "exact representation" (Hebrews 1:3), and complete revelation (John 1:18). Man is created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), but Jesus "is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). The writer of Hebrews says the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (1:3) or "expresses the very character of God" (NLT). Jesus in His very essence and nature is God (Colossians 2:9;Philippians 2:5-6). The apostle John (John 1:18) says Jesus "has made [God] known" (NIV) or "has explained him" to us (NASB).
by K.T. Sim
12/26/18
Hope is Our Strategy
My favorite football team has lost eight consecutive games as I write this. With each loss, its harder to hope this season can be redeemed for them. The coach has made changes weekly, but they haven't resulted in wins. Talking with my coworkers, I've joked that merely wanting a different outcome can't guarantee it. "Hope is not a strategy," I've quipped.
That's true in football. But in our spiritual lives, its just the opposite. Not only is cultivating hope in God a strategy, but clinging to Him in faith and trust is the only strategy. This world often disappoints us, but hope can anchor us in God's truth and power during the turbulent times.
Micah understood this reality. He was heartbroken by how Israel had turned away from God. "What misery is mine!...The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains" (7:1-2). But then he refocused on his true hope: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (v.7).
What does it take to maintain hope in harsh times? Micah shows us: Watching. Waiting. Praying. Remembering. God hears our cries even when our circumstances are overwhelming. In these moments, clinging to and acting in response to our hope in God is our strategy, the only strategy that will help us weather life's storms.
by Adam Holz
Father, You've promised to be an anchor for our hearts when circumstances look discouraging. Help us call out to You in faith and hope, believing that You hear our hearts' cries.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAINTAIN HOPE IN HARSH TIMES? WATCHING. WAITING. PRAYING. REMEMBERING.
Micah 7:1-7
What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge excepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire- they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard of the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- a man's enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Insight: Micah prophesied some sixty-five years to Israel and Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Micah 1:1). He was a contemporary with Hosea, who prophesied to Israel (Hosea 1:1), and to Isaiah, who prophesied to Judah (Isaiah 1:1). Accusing God's people of Idolatry, moral corruption, oppression (Micah 1:7;2:1-2;3:9-11), Micah warned of God's discipline. He called the people "to act justly and to love mercy" (6:8). His prophesy that Israel would be destroyed (1:6) came to pass in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:5-7). Micah also warned that "[Judah] will become a heap of rubble" (Micah 3:12). Because Hezekiah, the king of Judah, repented, Jerusalem was spared destruction from the invading Assyrians (2 Chronicles 32:20-22;Jeremiah 26:18-19).
by K.T. Sim
12/25/18
My favorite football team has lost eight consecutive games as I write this. With each loss, its harder to hope this season can be redeemed for them. The coach has made changes weekly, but they haven't resulted in wins. Talking with my coworkers, I've joked that merely wanting a different outcome can't guarantee it. "Hope is not a strategy," I've quipped.
That's true in football. But in our spiritual lives, its just the opposite. Not only is cultivating hope in God a strategy, but clinging to Him in faith and trust is the only strategy. This world often disappoints us, but hope can anchor us in God's truth and power during the turbulent times.
Micah understood this reality. He was heartbroken by how Israel had turned away from God. "What misery is mine!...The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains" (7:1-2). But then he refocused on his true hope: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (v.7).
What does it take to maintain hope in harsh times? Micah shows us: Watching. Waiting. Praying. Remembering. God hears our cries even when our circumstances are overwhelming. In these moments, clinging to and acting in response to our hope in God is our strategy, the only strategy that will help us weather life's storms.
by Adam Holz
Father, You've promised to be an anchor for our hearts when circumstances look discouraging. Help us call out to You in faith and hope, believing that You hear our hearts' cries.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAINTAIN HOPE IN HARSH TIMES? WATCHING. WAITING. PRAYING. REMEMBERING.
Micah 7:1-7
What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge excepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire- they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard of the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- a man's enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Insight: Micah prophesied some sixty-five years to Israel and Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Micah 1:1). He was a contemporary with Hosea, who prophesied to Israel (Hosea 1:1), and to Isaiah, who prophesied to Judah (Isaiah 1:1). Accusing God's people of Idolatry, moral corruption, oppression (Micah 1:7;2:1-2;3:9-11), Micah warned of God's discipline. He called the people "to act justly and to love mercy" (6:8). His prophesy that Israel would be destroyed (1:6) came to pass in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:5-7). Micah also warned that "[Judah] will become a heap of rubble" (Micah 3:12). Because Hezekiah, the king of Judah, repented, Jerusalem was spared destruction from the invading Assyrians (2 Chronicles 32:20-22;Jeremiah 26:18-19).
by K.T. Sim
12/25/18
Just Another Day?
In Christmas Every Day, William Dean Howells tells of a little girl who gets her wish. For one long, horrible year it is indeed Christmas every day. By day three, the yuletide joy has already begun to wear thin. Before long everyone hates candy. Turkeys become scarce and sell for outrageous prices. Presents are no longer received with gratitude as they pile up everywhere. People angrily snap at each other.
Thankfully, Howell's story is just a satirical tale. But what an incredible blessing that the subject of the Christmas celebration never wearies us despite the fact that we see Him throughout the Bible.
After Jesus had ascended to His Father, the apostle Peter proclaimed to a crowd at the temple in Jerusalem that Jesus was the One Moses foretold when he said, "God will raise up for you a prophet like me" (Acts3:22,Deuteronomy18:18). God's promise to Abraham, "Through your offspring, all people on earth will be blessed," was really a reference to Jesus (Acts3:25,Geneis22:18). Peter noted, "All the prophets who have spoken have foretold theres days"-the arrival of the Messiah (Acts3:24).
We can keep the spirit of Christmas alive long after the celebrations have ended. By seeing Christ in the whole story of the Bible, we ca appreciate how Christmas is so much more than just another day.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, and for giving us His story on the pages of the Bible.
THIS YEAR, AS YOU PACK UP THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, DON'T PUT AWAY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.
Acts 3:17-26
"Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that the Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.
Heaven must receive him until the times come for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.
"Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. Any you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, "Through your offspring all peoples on the earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
Insight: The book of Acts describes how the Spirit of God enabled believers in Jesus to spread the word of what they had seen with their eyes (Acts 1:8). Their witness was given credibility by miracles (3:1-10), care for one another (6:107), a love for their enemies, and a willingness to suffer and die for their life-changing story (7:59-8:4).
From the temple of Jerusalem to a prison in Rome, they told how the long-awaited King and Savior of Israel had been crucified (3:17-18). Together they showed how the Jewish Scriptures could be read with a new understanding (8:26-35), and even how other religious beliefs (17:16-31) could be seen in light of a resurrected Savior and Lord.
by Mart Dehaan
11/21/18
In Christmas Every Day, William Dean Howells tells of a little girl who gets her wish. For one long, horrible year it is indeed Christmas every day. By day three, the yuletide joy has already begun to wear thin. Before long everyone hates candy. Turkeys become scarce and sell for outrageous prices. Presents are no longer received with gratitude as they pile up everywhere. People angrily snap at each other.
Thankfully, Howell's story is just a satirical tale. But what an incredible blessing that the subject of the Christmas celebration never wearies us despite the fact that we see Him throughout the Bible.
After Jesus had ascended to His Father, the apostle Peter proclaimed to a crowd at the temple in Jerusalem that Jesus was the One Moses foretold when he said, "God will raise up for you a prophet like me" (Acts3:22,Deuteronomy18:18). God's promise to Abraham, "Through your offspring, all people on earth will be blessed," was really a reference to Jesus (Acts3:25,Geneis22:18). Peter noted, "All the prophets who have spoken have foretold theres days"-the arrival of the Messiah (Acts3:24).
We can keep the spirit of Christmas alive long after the celebrations have ended. By seeing Christ in the whole story of the Bible, we ca appreciate how Christmas is so much more than just another day.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, and for giving us His story on the pages of the Bible.
THIS YEAR, AS YOU PACK UP THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, DON'T PUT AWAY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.
Acts 3:17-26
"Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that the Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.
Heaven must receive him until the times come for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.
"Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. Any you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, "Through your offspring all peoples on the earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
Insight: The book of Acts describes how the Spirit of God enabled believers in Jesus to spread the word of what they had seen with their eyes (Acts 1:8). Their witness was given credibility by miracles (3:1-10), care for one another (6:107), a love for their enemies, and a willingness to suffer and die for their life-changing story (7:59-8:4).
From the temple of Jerusalem to a prison in Rome, they told how the long-awaited King and Savior of Israel had been crucified (3:17-18). Together they showed how the Jewish Scriptures could be read with a new understanding (8:26-35), and even how other religious beliefs (17:16-31) could be seen in light of a resurrected Savior and Lord.
by Mart Dehaan
11/21/18
Don't Be Afraid!
Nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words he says are "don't be afraid!" Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet earth, it usually leaves the human observers flat on their faces in fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance in a form that doesn't frighten. In Jesus, born with the animals and laid in a feeding trough, God takes an approach that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a new born baby?
On earth Jesus is both God and man. As God, He can work miracles, forgive sins, conquer death, and predict the future. But for Jews accustomed to images of God as a bright cloud or pillar of fire, Jesus also causes much confusion. How could a baby in Bethlehem, a carpenter's son, a man from Nazareth, be the Messiah from God?
Why does God take on human form? The scene of twelve-year-old Jesus debating rabbis in the temple gives one clue. "Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers," Luke tells us (2:47). For the first time, ordinary people could hold a conversation with God in visible form.
Jesus can talk to anyone- His parents, a rabbi, a poor widow- without first having to announce, "Don't be afraid!" In Jesus, God draws near.
by Philip Yancey
Heavenly Father, we pause at Christmas to remember how Your Son came to us in the form of a helpless baby...and we worship in amazement and wonder that God came near to us.
JESUS WAS GOD AND MAN IN ONE PERSON, THAT GOD AND MAN MIGHT BE HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN. by George Whitefield
Luke 2:42-52
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, he boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
Insight: The Feast of the Passover Jesus and His family attended was one of three annual feasts that Israelite males were required to attend (see Exodus 23:14-17). It's estimated that one hundred thousand or more visitors would make their way to Jerusalem for this special occasion. At twelve years of age, Jesus was one year away from His entrance into Israelite manhood when He would become fully responsible for keeping the law. Today's reading records Jesus's unexplained absence from His family (Luke 2:43-45), but he was well aware of His mission (v.49). This early scene in the temple where people were amazed at His teaching (v.47) contrasts sharply with a later account where they would not be amazed but would try to kill Him (19:45-47).
by Arthur Jackson
12/20/18
Nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words he says are "don't be afraid!" Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet earth, it usually leaves the human observers flat on their faces in fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance in a form that doesn't frighten. In Jesus, born with the animals and laid in a feeding trough, God takes an approach that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a new born baby?
On earth Jesus is both God and man. As God, He can work miracles, forgive sins, conquer death, and predict the future. But for Jews accustomed to images of God as a bright cloud or pillar of fire, Jesus also causes much confusion. How could a baby in Bethlehem, a carpenter's son, a man from Nazareth, be the Messiah from God?
Why does God take on human form? The scene of twelve-year-old Jesus debating rabbis in the temple gives one clue. "Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers," Luke tells us (2:47). For the first time, ordinary people could hold a conversation with God in visible form.
Jesus can talk to anyone- His parents, a rabbi, a poor widow- without first having to announce, "Don't be afraid!" In Jesus, God draws near.
by Philip Yancey
Heavenly Father, we pause at Christmas to remember how Your Son came to us in the form of a helpless baby...and we worship in amazement and wonder that God came near to us.
JESUS WAS GOD AND MAN IN ONE PERSON, THAT GOD AND MAN MIGHT BE HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN. by George Whitefield
Luke 2:42-52
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, he boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
Insight: The Feast of the Passover Jesus and His family attended was one of three annual feasts that Israelite males were required to attend (see Exodus 23:14-17). It's estimated that one hundred thousand or more visitors would make their way to Jerusalem for this special occasion. At twelve years of age, Jesus was one year away from His entrance into Israelite manhood when He would become fully responsible for keeping the law. Today's reading records Jesus's unexplained absence from His family (Luke 2:43-45), but he was well aware of His mission (v.49). This early scene in the temple where people were amazed at His teaching (v.47) contrasts sharply with a later account where they would not be amazed but would try to kill Him (19:45-47).
by Arthur Jackson
12/20/18
Following The Leader
In the sky over our house, three fighter jets screamed through the sky- flying in formation so close together they appear to be one. "Wow," I say to my husband, Dan. "Impressive," he agrees. We live near an Air Force base and its not unusual to see such sights.
Every time these jets fly over, however, I have the same question: How can they fly so close together and not lose control? One obvious reason, I learned, is humility. Trusting that the lead pilot is traveling at precisely the correct speed and trajectory, the wing pilots surrender any desire to switch directions or question their leader's path. Instead, they get information and closely follow. The result? A more powerful team.
t's no different for followers of Jesus. He says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
His path was one of self-denial and suffering, which can be hard to follow. But to be His effective disciples, we too are invited to put aside selfish desires and pick up spiritual burdens daily- serving others first instead of ourselves, for example- as we closely follow Him.
It's quite a sight, this humbling, close walk with God. Following His lead, and staying so close, we can appear with Christ as one. Then others won't see us, they'll see Him. There's a simple word for what that looks like: "Wow!"
by Patricia Raybon
Please, God, draw us close to You. Fill us with Your Spirit of love and joy and peace. Enable us to be a shining light in our world.
OUR LIVES ARE A WINDOW THROUGH WHICH OTHERS CAN SEE JESUS.
Luke 9:21-24
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will loose it, but whoever loses their for me will save it."
Insight: Jesus had been proclaiming His identity and mission for years, and now His closest followers understood who He is. But Jesus answers Peter's confession that Jesus is "God's Messiah" (Luke 9:20) with a curious warning "not to tell this to anyone" (v.21). Jesus says in no uncertain terms that the disciples should keep quiet and His identity. Why would Jesus tell them not to let people know who He is? The answer may be in verse 22, specifically in the word must. Spreading Jesus's true identity may have interfered with His larger mission. He needed to die, and if the crowds knew He was the Messiah, they may have taken actions that might have interfered, such as making Him king by force (John 6:15) or perhaps stoning Him (10:31). Jesus told them to keep His identity a secret for the sake of His mission- "to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
by J.R.Hudberg
12/19/18
In the sky over our house, three fighter jets screamed through the sky- flying in formation so close together they appear to be one. "Wow," I say to my husband, Dan. "Impressive," he agrees. We live near an Air Force base and its not unusual to see such sights.
Every time these jets fly over, however, I have the same question: How can they fly so close together and not lose control? One obvious reason, I learned, is humility. Trusting that the lead pilot is traveling at precisely the correct speed and trajectory, the wing pilots surrender any desire to switch directions or question their leader's path. Instead, they get information and closely follow. The result? A more powerful team.
t's no different for followers of Jesus. He says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
His path was one of self-denial and suffering, which can be hard to follow. But to be His effective disciples, we too are invited to put aside selfish desires and pick up spiritual burdens daily- serving others first instead of ourselves, for example- as we closely follow Him.
It's quite a sight, this humbling, close walk with God. Following His lead, and staying so close, we can appear with Christ as one. Then others won't see us, they'll see Him. There's a simple word for what that looks like: "Wow!"
by Patricia Raybon
Please, God, draw us close to You. Fill us with Your Spirit of love and joy and peace. Enable us to be a shining light in our world.
OUR LIVES ARE A WINDOW THROUGH WHICH OTHERS CAN SEE JESUS.
Luke 9:21-24
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will loose it, but whoever loses their for me will save it."
Insight: Jesus had been proclaiming His identity and mission for years, and now His closest followers understood who He is. But Jesus answers Peter's confession that Jesus is "God's Messiah" (Luke 9:20) with a curious warning "not to tell this to anyone" (v.21). Jesus says in no uncertain terms that the disciples should keep quiet and His identity. Why would Jesus tell them not to let people know who He is? The answer may be in verse 22, specifically in the word must. Spreading Jesus's true identity may have interfered with His larger mission. He needed to die, and if the crowds knew He was the Messiah, they may have taken actions that might have interfered, such as making Him king by force (John 6:15) or perhaps stoning Him (10:31). Jesus told them to keep His identity a secret for the sake of His mission- "to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
by J.R.Hudberg
12/19/18
A Christmas Letter
Every Christmas, a friend of mine writes a long letter to his wife, reviewing the events of the year and dreaming about the future. He always tells her how much he loves her, and why. He also writes a letter to each of his daughters. His words of love make an unforgettable Christmas present.
We could say that the original Christmas love letter was Jesus, the Word made flesh. John highlights this truth in his gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In ancient philosophy, the Greek for Word, logos, suggested a divine mind or order that unites reality, but John expands the definition to reveal the Word as a person: Jesus, the Son of God who was "with God in the beginning" (v.2). This Word, the Father's "one and only Son," became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (v.14). Through Jesus the Word, God reveals Himself perfectly.
Theologians have grappled with this beautiful mystery for centuries. However much we may not understand, we can be certain that Jesus as the Word gives light to our dark world (v.9). If we believe in Him, we can experience the gift of being God's beloved children (v.12).
Jesus, God's love letter to us, has come and made His home among us. Now that's an amazing Christmas gift!
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Word of God, and You bring light into my life. May I shine forth Your goodness and grace and bring You honor.
HOW CAN YOU SHARE THE AMAZING GIFT OF JESUS WITH OTHERS TODAY?
John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Insight: In this account of Jesus's life, John the disciple notes the supreme irony: the Creator visits His creation, and His creation does not recognize Him (John 1:10). More than that, God's chosen people reject their Messiah: "He came to that which was his own [Israel], but his own did not receive him" (v.11). It would seem, then, that Jesus's visit to our planet was not a success. But many did believe, and John emphasizes, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (vv.12-13).
by Tim Gustafson
12/18/18
Every Christmas, a friend of mine writes a long letter to his wife, reviewing the events of the year and dreaming about the future. He always tells her how much he loves her, and why. He also writes a letter to each of his daughters. His words of love make an unforgettable Christmas present.
We could say that the original Christmas love letter was Jesus, the Word made flesh. John highlights this truth in his gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In ancient philosophy, the Greek for Word, logos, suggested a divine mind or order that unites reality, but John expands the definition to reveal the Word as a person: Jesus, the Son of God who was "with God in the beginning" (v.2). This Word, the Father's "one and only Son," became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (v.14). Through Jesus the Word, God reveals Himself perfectly.
Theologians have grappled with this beautiful mystery for centuries. However much we may not understand, we can be certain that Jesus as the Word gives light to our dark world (v.9). If we believe in Him, we can experience the gift of being God's beloved children (v.12).
Jesus, God's love letter to us, has come and made His home among us. Now that's an amazing Christmas gift!
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Word of God, and You bring light into my life. May I shine forth Your goodness and grace and bring You honor.
HOW CAN YOU SHARE THE AMAZING GIFT OF JESUS WITH OTHERS TODAY?
John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Insight: In this account of Jesus's life, John the disciple notes the supreme irony: the Creator visits His creation, and His creation does not recognize Him (John 1:10). More than that, God's chosen people reject their Messiah: "He came to that which was his own [Israel], but his own did not receive him" (v.11). It would seem, then, that Jesus's visit to our planet was not a success. But many did believe, and John emphasizes, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (vv.12-13).
by Tim Gustafson
12/18/18
The Great Awakening
I have a treasured memory of gatherings with family, friends when our boys were small. The adults would talk into the night; our children, weary with play would curl up on a couch or chair and fall asleep.
When it was time to leave, I would gather our boys into my arms, carry them to the car, lay them in the back seat, and take them home. When we arrived, I would pick them up again, tuck them into their beds, kiss them goodnight, and turn out the light. In the morning they would awaken- at home.
This has become a rich metaphor for me of the night on which we "sleep in Jesus" (1st Thessalonians 4:14 KJV). We slumber...and awaken in our eternal home, the home that will heal the weariness that has marked our days.
I came across an Old Testament text the other day that surprised me- a closing comment in Deuteronomy: "Moses...died there in Moab, as the Lord had said" (34:5). The Hebrew means literally, "Moses died...with the mouth of the Lord," a phrase ancient rabbis translated, "With the kiss of the Lord."
Is it too much to envision God bending over us on our final night on earth, tucking us in and kissing us goodnight? Then, as John Donne so eloquently put it, "One short sleep passed, we wake eternally."
by David H. Roper
Heavenly Father, because You're arms carry us, we can sleep in peace.
FOR DEATH IS NO MORE THAN A TURNING OF US OVER FROM TIME TO ETERNITY. by William Penn
Deuteronomy 34:1-8
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land- from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."
And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
Insight: Deuteronomy gives us the last written words of Moses. Speaking with the warmth of a father who is about to leave his children, he reminisces about how God, who rescued them from Egypt, miraculously fed, led, and protected the Israelites in an uninhabitable wilderness (1:1-4:40). He reminds them of what the Lord had said to them at Sinai (5:1-26:19). Then he describes how wonderful or terrible their life would be depending on whether or not they continue to remember and trust the God who had led them to the threshold of a promised homeland (CHS.27-30). Mose's heart must have ached as he expressed what the Lord had told him-that the people he loved would eventually suffer greatly for forgetting the God who had done so much for them (31:29). With a song (CH.32) and words of blessing (CH.33), Moses entrusted Israel to God and to the leadership of Moses's assistant, Joshua (34:9).
by Mart Dehaan
12/17/18
I have a treasured memory of gatherings with family, friends when our boys were small. The adults would talk into the night; our children, weary with play would curl up on a couch or chair and fall asleep.
When it was time to leave, I would gather our boys into my arms, carry them to the car, lay them in the back seat, and take them home. When we arrived, I would pick them up again, tuck them into their beds, kiss them goodnight, and turn out the light. In the morning they would awaken- at home.
This has become a rich metaphor for me of the night on which we "sleep in Jesus" (1st Thessalonians 4:14 KJV). We slumber...and awaken in our eternal home, the home that will heal the weariness that has marked our days.
I came across an Old Testament text the other day that surprised me- a closing comment in Deuteronomy: "Moses...died there in Moab, as the Lord had said" (34:5). The Hebrew means literally, "Moses died...with the mouth of the Lord," a phrase ancient rabbis translated, "With the kiss of the Lord."
Is it too much to envision God bending over us on our final night on earth, tucking us in and kissing us goodnight? Then, as John Donne so eloquently put it, "One short sleep passed, we wake eternally."
by David H. Roper
Heavenly Father, because You're arms carry us, we can sleep in peace.
FOR DEATH IS NO MORE THAN A TURNING OF US OVER FROM TIME TO ETERNITY. by William Penn
Deuteronomy 34:1-8
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land- from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."
And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
Insight: Deuteronomy gives us the last written words of Moses. Speaking with the warmth of a father who is about to leave his children, he reminisces about how God, who rescued them from Egypt, miraculously fed, led, and protected the Israelites in an uninhabitable wilderness (1:1-4:40). He reminds them of what the Lord had said to them at Sinai (5:1-26:19). Then he describes how wonderful or terrible their life would be depending on whether or not they continue to remember and trust the God who had led them to the threshold of a promised homeland (CHS.27-30). Mose's heart must have ached as he expressed what the Lord had told him-that the people he loved would eventually suffer greatly for forgetting the God who had done so much for them (31:29). With a song (CH.32) and words of blessing (CH.33), Moses entrusted Israel to God and to the leadership of Moses's assistant, Joshua (34:9).
by Mart Dehaan
12/17/18
From Shame to Honor
It's that time of the year again, when families gather to celebrate the festive season together. Some of us, however, dread meeting certain "concerned" relatives whose questions can make those who are single or childless feel that there's something wrong with them.
Imagine the plight of Elizabeth, who was childless despite being married for many years. In her culture, that was seen as a sign of God's disfavor (see 1st Samuel 1:5-6) and could actually be considered shameful. So while Elizabeth had been living righteously (Luke 1:6), her neighbors and relatives may have suspected otherwise.
Nonetheless, Elizabeth and her husband continued to serve the Lord faithfully. Then, when both were well advanced in years, a miracle occurred. God heard her prayer (v.13). He loves to show us His favor (v.25). And though he may seem to delay, His timing is always right and His wisdom always prefect. For Elizabeth and her husband, God had a special gift: a child who would become the Messiah's forerunner (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Do you feel inadequate because you seem to lack something- a university degree, a spouse, a child, a job, a house? Keep living for Him faithfully and waiting patiently for Him and His plan, just as Elizabeth did. No matter our circumstances, God is working in and through us. He knows your heart. He hears your prayers.
by Poh Fang Chia
God, You are forever faithful and good. Help us to keep trusting in You, even when we experience heartache.
KEEP LIVING FOR HIM FAITHFULLY AND WAITING PATIENTLY FOR HIS PLAN.
Luke 1:18-25
Zachariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I had been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not be able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time."
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shone his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
Insight: Zachariah and Elizabeth were descendants of Aaron (Luke 1:5). God had designated that only Aaron's descendants could serve as priests (1st Chronicles 23:13). Israel's priesthood was divided into twenty-four divisions, with each division rotating to serve in the temple for just two weeks every year (24:1-19). With so many priests, lots were cast to determine which specific priest would have the once-in-a-lifetime privilege to burn incense in the Holy Place. Coupled with the angel announcing the birth of a son despite their old age, this would have been the highest point of Zachariah's life (Luke 1:8-13,18). The same arch angel Gabriel, who told Daniel the meaning of the vision that concerns "the appointed time of the end" (Daniel 8:19), now appears to Zachariah, whose name means "the Lord had remembered." God remembered His promise to send the Messiah and now sets in motion the events of the end times.
by K.T.Sim
12/16/18
It's that time of the year again, when families gather to celebrate the festive season together. Some of us, however, dread meeting certain "concerned" relatives whose questions can make those who are single or childless feel that there's something wrong with them.
Imagine the plight of Elizabeth, who was childless despite being married for many years. In her culture, that was seen as a sign of God's disfavor (see 1st Samuel 1:5-6) and could actually be considered shameful. So while Elizabeth had been living righteously (Luke 1:6), her neighbors and relatives may have suspected otherwise.
Nonetheless, Elizabeth and her husband continued to serve the Lord faithfully. Then, when both were well advanced in years, a miracle occurred. God heard her prayer (v.13). He loves to show us His favor (v.25). And though he may seem to delay, His timing is always right and His wisdom always prefect. For Elizabeth and her husband, God had a special gift: a child who would become the Messiah's forerunner (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Do you feel inadequate because you seem to lack something- a university degree, a spouse, a child, a job, a house? Keep living for Him faithfully and waiting patiently for Him and His plan, just as Elizabeth did. No matter our circumstances, God is working in and through us. He knows your heart. He hears your prayers.
by Poh Fang Chia
God, You are forever faithful and good. Help us to keep trusting in You, even when we experience heartache.
KEEP LIVING FOR HIM FAITHFULLY AND WAITING PATIENTLY FOR HIS PLAN.
Luke 1:18-25
Zachariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I had been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not be able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time."
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shone his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
Insight: Zachariah and Elizabeth were descendants of Aaron (Luke 1:5). God had designated that only Aaron's descendants could serve as priests (1st Chronicles 23:13). Israel's priesthood was divided into twenty-four divisions, with each division rotating to serve in the temple for just two weeks every year (24:1-19). With so many priests, lots were cast to determine which specific priest would have the once-in-a-lifetime privilege to burn incense in the Holy Place. Coupled with the angel announcing the birth of a son despite their old age, this would have been the highest point of Zachariah's life (Luke 1:8-13,18). The same arch angel Gabriel, who told Daniel the meaning of the vision that concerns "the appointed time of the end" (Daniel 8:19), now appears to Zachariah, whose name means "the Lord had remembered." God remembered His promise to send the Messiah and now sets in motion the events of the end times.
by K.T.Sim
12/16/18
Mirrors and Hearers
When I emerged from my hotel in Kampala, Uganda, my hostess, who had come to pick me up for our seminar, looked at me with an amused grin. "What's so funny?" It was my turn to laugh for I had indeed forgotten to comb my hair. I'd looked at my reflection in the hotel mirror. How come I took no notice of what I saw?
In a practical analogy, James gives us useful dimension to make our study of Scripture more beneficial. We look in the mirror to examine ourselves to see if anything needs correction- hair combed, face washed, shirt properly buttoned. Like a mirror, the Bible helps us to examine our character, attitude, thoughts and behavior (James 1:23-24). This enables us to align our lives according to the principles of what God has revealed. We will "keep a tight rein" on our tongues (v.26) and "look after orphans and widows" (v.27). We will pay heed to God's Holy Spirit within us and keep ourselves "from being polluted by the world" (v.27).
When we look attentively into "the perfect law that gives freedom" and apply it to our lives, we will be blessed in what we do (v.25). As we look into the mirror of Scripture, we can "humbly accept the word planted in [us]" (v.21).
by Lawrence Darmani
Heavenly Father, "open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 119:18). Help me to order my life according to what You show me in Scripture.
AS A MIRROR REFLECTS OUR IMAGE, THE BIBLE REVEALS OUR INNER BEING.
James 1:16-27
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves righteous and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Insight: What's interesting and Jame's definition of good and bad religion is that they are not simply opposites. James says bad religion is summarized by not controlling one's speech (v.26). Following that, we should expect James to say that good religion has something to do with taming our tongue. Instead good religion is defined by looking after the helpless and needy and not being influenced by the ways of the world.
J.R.Hudberg
12/14/18
When I emerged from my hotel in Kampala, Uganda, my hostess, who had come to pick me up for our seminar, looked at me with an amused grin. "What's so funny?" It was my turn to laugh for I had indeed forgotten to comb my hair. I'd looked at my reflection in the hotel mirror. How come I took no notice of what I saw?
In a practical analogy, James gives us useful dimension to make our study of Scripture more beneficial. We look in the mirror to examine ourselves to see if anything needs correction- hair combed, face washed, shirt properly buttoned. Like a mirror, the Bible helps us to examine our character, attitude, thoughts and behavior (James 1:23-24). This enables us to align our lives according to the principles of what God has revealed. We will "keep a tight rein" on our tongues (v.26) and "look after orphans and widows" (v.27). We will pay heed to God's Holy Spirit within us and keep ourselves "from being polluted by the world" (v.27).
When we look attentively into "the perfect law that gives freedom" and apply it to our lives, we will be blessed in what we do (v.25). As we look into the mirror of Scripture, we can "humbly accept the word planted in [us]" (v.21).
by Lawrence Darmani
Heavenly Father, "open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 119:18). Help me to order my life according to what You show me in Scripture.
AS A MIRROR REFLECTS OUR IMAGE, THE BIBLE REVEALS OUR INNER BEING.
James 1:16-27
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves righteous and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Insight: What's interesting and Jame's definition of good and bad religion is that they are not simply opposites. James says bad religion is summarized by not controlling one's speech (v.26). Following that, we should expect James to say that good religion has something to do with taming our tongue. Instead good religion is defined by looking after the helpless and needy and not being influenced by the ways of the world.
J.R.Hudberg
12/14/18
Heaven's Love Song
In 1936, songwriter Billy Hill released a popular hit song titled "The Glory of Love." Before long a nation was singing about the joy of doing even little things out of love for one another. Fifty years later, lyricist Peter Cetera wrote a more romantic song with a similar title. He imagined two people living forever, knowing together they did it all- for the glory of love.
Revelation, the last book in the Bible, describes a new love song that will some day lift the voices of everyone in heaven and earth (Revelation 5:9,13). The music begins, however, in a minor key of mourning. John, our narrator, cries, seeing no answer to all that has gone wrong with the world (vv.3-4). But his mood brightens and the music builds to a crescendo (vv.12-13) as John learns the real glory and story of love. Soon he hears all creation praising the powerful Lion-King of Judah (v.5), who has won the hearts of His subjects by lovingly sacrificing Himself, like a Lamb, for our rescue (v.13).
In the most loving lyrics ever sung, we see why even simple acts of kindness rise on the wings of a song. The glory we sing about reflects the heart of our God. We sing about Him because He gave us our song.
by Mart Dehaan
Father, please help us to see that even the smallest acts of love and kindness can remind us of Your love for us.
IN WHAT WAYS CAN YOU THANK GOD TODAY THROUGH SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS?
Revelation 5:1-13
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll....I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Then I saw a lamb...standing at the center of the throne.....and then he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb....and they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. "
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels...saying: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb the praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!"
Insight: A repeated word in today's passage is worthy (vv.2,4,9,12), which is used to describe Jesus. But what does worthy mean? While a dictionary definition is helpful, the passage itself defines it. First, Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed (v.8) and can therefore open the scroll and break the seals. But John goes on to describe how He has triumphed. Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed by being slain and purchasing people with His blood (v.9).
by J.R.Hudberg
12/13/18
In 1936, songwriter Billy Hill released a popular hit song titled "The Glory of Love." Before long a nation was singing about the joy of doing even little things out of love for one another. Fifty years later, lyricist Peter Cetera wrote a more romantic song with a similar title. He imagined two people living forever, knowing together they did it all- for the glory of love.
Revelation, the last book in the Bible, describes a new love song that will some day lift the voices of everyone in heaven and earth (Revelation 5:9,13). The music begins, however, in a minor key of mourning. John, our narrator, cries, seeing no answer to all that has gone wrong with the world (vv.3-4). But his mood brightens and the music builds to a crescendo (vv.12-13) as John learns the real glory and story of love. Soon he hears all creation praising the powerful Lion-King of Judah (v.5), who has won the hearts of His subjects by lovingly sacrificing Himself, like a Lamb, for our rescue (v.13).
In the most loving lyrics ever sung, we see why even simple acts of kindness rise on the wings of a song. The glory we sing about reflects the heart of our God. We sing about Him because He gave us our song.
by Mart Dehaan
Father, please help us to see that even the smallest acts of love and kindness can remind us of Your love for us.
IN WHAT WAYS CAN YOU THANK GOD TODAY THROUGH SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS?
Revelation 5:1-13
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll....I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Then I saw a lamb...standing at the center of the throne.....and then he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb....and they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. "
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels...saying: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb the praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!"
Insight: A repeated word in today's passage is worthy (vv.2,4,9,12), which is used to describe Jesus. But what does worthy mean? While a dictionary definition is helpful, the passage itself defines it. First, Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed (v.8) and can therefore open the scroll and break the seals. But John goes on to describe how He has triumphed. Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed by being slain and purchasing people with His blood (v.9).
by J.R.Hudberg
12/13/18
The "Hope for a Baby" Tree
After wrapping the tree with clear twinkle lights, I tied pink and blue bows on its branches and christened it our "Hope for a Baby" Christmas tree. My husband and I had been waiting for a baby through adoption for more than 4 years. Surely by Christmas!
Every morning I stopped at the tree and prayed, reminding myself of God's faithfulness. On December 21 we received the news: no baby by Christmas. Devastated I paused by the tree that had become a symbol of God's provision. Was God still faithful? Was I doing something wrong?
At times, God's apparent withholding results from His loving discipline. And other times God lovingly delays to renew our trust. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah describes God's correction of Israel. The pain is palpable: "He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver" (3:13). Through it all, Jeremiah also expresses ultimate trust in God's faithfulness: "His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (vv.22-23).
I left the tree standing well beyond Christmas and continued my morning prayer. At last, on Easter weekend, we received our baby girl. God is always faithful, though not necessary on our timeline nor always according to our desires.
My children are now in their thirties, but each year I set up a miniature version of the tree, reminding myself and others to hope in God's faithfulness.
by Elisa Morgan
Dear God, help me trust You today even when I can't see what You're doing. You are faithful.
THE BEST REASON FOR HOPE IS GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.
Lamentations 3:1-3, 13-24
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord's wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.
He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink. He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I have hoped from the Lord."
I remember my affliction and my wondering, the bitterness and the gall. I will remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Insight: The book of Lamentations expresses the grief of Jerusalem following the 587 BC invasion of Babylon. With her walls broken, her children exiled, and survivors living in the rubble of better times, it bares the soul of a once proud people.
In its original Hebrew language, the book is composed of five chapters of carefully constructed poems. Its finally polished composition provides literary relief to the overwhelming confusion of a nation that has lost control of its own emotions and destiny. The only hope left is in the belief that above the clouds of this dark night of a nation's soul, there is a God who has in the past shown that His mercies and love will never end.
by Mart Dehaan
12/12/18
After wrapping the tree with clear twinkle lights, I tied pink and blue bows on its branches and christened it our "Hope for a Baby" Christmas tree. My husband and I had been waiting for a baby through adoption for more than 4 years. Surely by Christmas!
Every morning I stopped at the tree and prayed, reminding myself of God's faithfulness. On December 21 we received the news: no baby by Christmas. Devastated I paused by the tree that had become a symbol of God's provision. Was God still faithful? Was I doing something wrong?
At times, God's apparent withholding results from His loving discipline. And other times God lovingly delays to renew our trust. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah describes God's correction of Israel. The pain is palpable: "He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver" (3:13). Through it all, Jeremiah also expresses ultimate trust in God's faithfulness: "His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (vv.22-23).
I left the tree standing well beyond Christmas and continued my morning prayer. At last, on Easter weekend, we received our baby girl. God is always faithful, though not necessary on our timeline nor always according to our desires.
My children are now in their thirties, but each year I set up a miniature version of the tree, reminding myself and others to hope in God's faithfulness.
by Elisa Morgan
Dear God, help me trust You today even when I can't see what You're doing. You are faithful.
THE BEST REASON FOR HOPE IS GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.
Lamentations 3:1-3, 13-24
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord's wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.
He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink. He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I have hoped from the Lord."
I remember my affliction and my wondering, the bitterness and the gall. I will remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Insight: The book of Lamentations expresses the grief of Jerusalem following the 587 BC invasion of Babylon. With her walls broken, her children exiled, and survivors living in the rubble of better times, it bares the soul of a once proud people.
In its original Hebrew language, the book is composed of five chapters of carefully constructed poems. Its finally polished composition provides literary relief to the overwhelming confusion of a nation that has lost control of its own emotions and destiny. The only hope left is in the belief that above the clouds of this dark night of a nation's soul, there is a God who has in the past shown that His mercies and love will never end.
by Mart Dehaan
12/12/18
The "No-Secret" Secret
A coworker confessed to me that he didn't think he was "Jesus material." I listened as he described what he called his "comfortable narcissistic" life, and how it didn't satisfy him. "But here's my problem, I've been trying to be good, even caring, but it isn't working. It seems that the very things I want to do, I can't do, and the things I want to stop doing, I just keep doing."
"What's your secret?" he asked me in complete sincerity. "My secret," I answered, "is that there is no secret. I'm as powerless to live up to God's standards as you are, which is why we need Jesus."
I pulled out a Bible and showed him "His" quote as the apostle Paul expressed it in Romans 7:15. Paul's words of frustration often resonate with both pre-Christians and Christians who find themselves trying to be good enough to deserve God but falling short. Maybe it resonates with you. If so, Paul's declaration that Christ is the author of our salvation and its resulting changes (7:25-8:2) should thrill you. Jesus has already done the work to free us from the very things that have us so puzzled with ourselves!
The barrier between us and God, the barrier of sin, has been removed without any work on our part. Salvation- and the changes made by the Holy Spirit in the process of our growth- is what God desires for all. He knocks on the door of our souls. Answer His knock today. It's no secret that He's the answer!
by Randy Kilgore
WITHOUT JESUS, SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE BOTH GIFTS BEYOND OUR REACH
Romans 7:14-25
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Insight: In Romans 7:14-25, Paul candidly shares his personal spiritual struggles as well as his deep confidence in Christ for help and hope (7:25). Romans 8 then unpacks that help and hope. The hopeful promise of "no condemnation" (v.1) is supported by the most extensive treatment of the Holy Spirit's helping ministry (vv.5-27) found anywhere in the Scriptures (outside of John 14-16). Paul's confidence in Christ's help and hope are not theoretical- they are provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit (8:11).
by Bill Crowder
12/11/18
A coworker confessed to me that he didn't think he was "Jesus material." I listened as he described what he called his "comfortable narcissistic" life, and how it didn't satisfy him. "But here's my problem, I've been trying to be good, even caring, but it isn't working. It seems that the very things I want to do, I can't do, and the things I want to stop doing, I just keep doing."
"What's your secret?" he asked me in complete sincerity. "My secret," I answered, "is that there is no secret. I'm as powerless to live up to God's standards as you are, which is why we need Jesus."
I pulled out a Bible and showed him "His" quote as the apostle Paul expressed it in Romans 7:15. Paul's words of frustration often resonate with both pre-Christians and Christians who find themselves trying to be good enough to deserve God but falling short. Maybe it resonates with you. If so, Paul's declaration that Christ is the author of our salvation and its resulting changes (7:25-8:2) should thrill you. Jesus has already done the work to free us from the very things that have us so puzzled with ourselves!
The barrier between us and God, the barrier of sin, has been removed without any work on our part. Salvation- and the changes made by the Holy Spirit in the process of our growth- is what God desires for all. He knocks on the door of our souls. Answer His knock today. It's no secret that He's the answer!
by Randy Kilgore
WITHOUT JESUS, SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE BOTH GIFTS BEYOND OUR REACH
Romans 7:14-25
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Insight: In Romans 7:14-25, Paul candidly shares his personal spiritual struggles as well as his deep confidence in Christ for help and hope (7:25). Romans 8 then unpacks that help and hope. The hopeful promise of "no condemnation" (v.1) is supported by the most extensive treatment of the Holy Spirit's helping ministry (vv.5-27) found anywhere in the Scriptures (outside of John 14-16). Paul's confidence in Christ's help and hope are not theoretical- they are provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit (8:11).
by Bill Crowder
12/11/18
EXPECT THE MESSIAH
The repairman looked young- too young to fix our problem, a car that wouldn't start. "He's just a kid," my husband, Dan, whispered to me, showing his doubt. His disbelief in the young man sounded like the grumbling in Nazareth where citizens doubted who Jesus was.
"Isn't this the carpenter's son?" they asked (Matthew 13:55) when Jesus taught in the synagogue. Scoffing, they were surprised to hear that someone they knew was healing and teaching, and asked, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" (v.54). Instead of trusting in Jesus, they were offended by the authority He displayed (vv.15,58). In this same way, we may struggle to trust in our Savior's wisdom and power, especially in the familiar and ordinary details of our daily lives. Failing to expect his help, we may miss out on the wonder of His life transforming our own (v.58).
As Dan found, the help he needed stood right in front of him. Finally agreeing to except the young man's aid, my husband allowed him to look at our old car's battery. By switching just one bolt, the mechanic had the car running in seconds- engine humming and lights ablaze. "It lit up like Christmas," Dan said.
So too may we expect and experience the Messiah bringing fresh light, life, and help into our daily journey with Him.
by Patricia Raybon
When I doubt You, Lord, help my unbelief.
WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS YOU CAN REMIND YOURSELF OR OTHERS THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND HE IS ABLE?
Matthew 13:53-58
When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home."
And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Insight: Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the one promised in the Old Testament who would rescue God's people and rule them justly. The word Messiah (from the Greek Messias) is found only twice in the New Testament- John 1:41 and 4:25. John is careful to translate this word for his readers. "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ)" (1:41). The word Christ (Christos) means "anointed." It's the New Testament equivalent of Messiah and is found multiple times, beginning in Matthew 1:1: "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (Christos) the son of David, the son of Abraham." The composite picture of the Messiah/the Christ is that He is Jesus, the God-man, the King who has been raised from death and exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:32-36).
by Arthur Jackson
12/10/18
The repairman looked young- too young to fix our problem, a car that wouldn't start. "He's just a kid," my husband, Dan, whispered to me, showing his doubt. His disbelief in the young man sounded like the grumbling in Nazareth where citizens doubted who Jesus was.
"Isn't this the carpenter's son?" they asked (Matthew 13:55) when Jesus taught in the synagogue. Scoffing, they were surprised to hear that someone they knew was healing and teaching, and asked, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" (v.54). Instead of trusting in Jesus, they were offended by the authority He displayed (vv.15,58). In this same way, we may struggle to trust in our Savior's wisdom and power, especially in the familiar and ordinary details of our daily lives. Failing to expect his help, we may miss out on the wonder of His life transforming our own (v.58).
As Dan found, the help he needed stood right in front of him. Finally agreeing to except the young man's aid, my husband allowed him to look at our old car's battery. By switching just one bolt, the mechanic had the car running in seconds- engine humming and lights ablaze. "It lit up like Christmas," Dan said.
So too may we expect and experience the Messiah bringing fresh light, life, and help into our daily journey with Him.
by Patricia Raybon
When I doubt You, Lord, help my unbelief.
WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS YOU CAN REMIND YOURSELF OR OTHERS THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND HE IS ABLE?
Matthew 13:53-58
When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home."
And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Insight: Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the one promised in the Old Testament who would rescue God's people and rule them justly. The word Messiah (from the Greek Messias) is found only twice in the New Testament- John 1:41 and 4:25. John is careful to translate this word for his readers. "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ)" (1:41). The word Christ (Christos) means "anointed." It's the New Testament equivalent of Messiah and is found multiple times, beginning in Matthew 1:1: "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (Christos) the son of David, the son of Abraham." The composite picture of the Messiah/the Christ is that He is Jesus, the God-man, the King who has been raised from death and exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:32-36).
by Arthur Jackson
12/10/18
"THE LORD'S"
It doesn't take much to notice that getting "inked" is very popular these days. Some tattoos are so small that one barely notices them. Others- from athletes to actors to every day people- have opted to cover much of their bodies with multicolored inks, words, and designs. The trend seems like its here to stay, a trend that netted three billion dollars in revenue in 2014- and an additional 66 million dollars for tattoo removal.
Regardless of how you may feel about tattoos, Isaiah 4:4 speaks metaphorically about people writing something on their hands: "The Lord's" (v.5). This "Self-Tattoo" is the climax of an entire paragraph that speaks of the Lord's care for those He had chosen (v.1). They could count on His help (v.2); and their land and descendants were marked for blessing (v.3). Two simple, powerful words, "The Lord's," affirmed that God's people knew they were his possession and that He would take care of them.
Those who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ can confidently say of themselves, "The Lord's!" We are his people, His sheep, His offspring, His inheritance, His dwelling. These are the things we cling to in the varied seasons of life. While we may have no external mark or tattoo, we can take heart that we have the witness of God's Spirit in our hearts that we belong to Him (see Romans 8:16-17).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, the expressions of Your love and care are all around me and Your Spirit lives within me. Thank You!
HOW CAN THE TRUTH THAT YOU BELONG TO GOD IMPACT HOW YOU LIVE?
Isaiah 44:1-5
But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says-He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshuran, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, "I belong to the Lord"; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand: "The Lord's," and will take the name Israel.
Insight: Isaiah was the most prolific of the writing prophets, but the great size of his book is eclipsed in importance by its content. Commentator John Gill wrote: "He should rather be called an evangelist than a prophet...certain it is that no one writes so fully and clearly of the person, offices, grace, and kingdom of Christ; of his incarnation and birth of a virgin; of his sufferings and death, and the glory that should follow, as [Isaiah] does." Isaiah's focus on Messiah and His mission was vital to preparing the way for Christ's coming, for it provided Israel with critical identifiers of Jesus and certain hope in His promised victory.
by Bill Crowder
12/8/18
It doesn't take much to notice that getting "inked" is very popular these days. Some tattoos are so small that one barely notices them. Others- from athletes to actors to every day people- have opted to cover much of their bodies with multicolored inks, words, and designs. The trend seems like its here to stay, a trend that netted three billion dollars in revenue in 2014- and an additional 66 million dollars for tattoo removal.
Regardless of how you may feel about tattoos, Isaiah 4:4 speaks metaphorically about people writing something on their hands: "The Lord's" (v.5). This "Self-Tattoo" is the climax of an entire paragraph that speaks of the Lord's care for those He had chosen (v.1). They could count on His help (v.2); and their land and descendants were marked for blessing (v.3). Two simple, powerful words, "The Lord's," affirmed that God's people knew they were his possession and that He would take care of them.
Those who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ can confidently say of themselves, "The Lord's!" We are his people, His sheep, His offspring, His inheritance, His dwelling. These are the things we cling to in the varied seasons of life. While we may have no external mark or tattoo, we can take heart that we have the witness of God's Spirit in our hearts that we belong to Him (see Romans 8:16-17).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, the expressions of Your love and care are all around me and Your Spirit lives within me. Thank You!
HOW CAN THE TRUTH THAT YOU BELONG TO GOD IMPACT HOW YOU LIVE?
Isaiah 44:1-5
But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says-He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshuran, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, "I belong to the Lord"; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand: "The Lord's," and will take the name Israel.
Insight: Isaiah was the most prolific of the writing prophets, but the great size of his book is eclipsed in importance by its content. Commentator John Gill wrote: "He should rather be called an evangelist than a prophet...certain it is that no one writes so fully and clearly of the person, offices, grace, and kingdom of Christ; of his incarnation and birth of a virgin; of his sufferings and death, and the glory that should follow, as [Isaiah] does." Isaiah's focus on Messiah and His mission was vital to preparing the way for Christ's coming, for it provided Israel with critical identifiers of Jesus and certain hope in His promised victory.
by Bill Crowder
12/8/18
STEADFAST LOVE
"I love you!" my dad called out as I slammed the car door and headed into school. I was in sixth grade, and for months we had played out basically the same scenario every morning. We arrived at school, Dad said, "Have a great day! I love you!" and all I said was "bye." I wasn't angry with him or ignoring him. I was simply so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't notice his words. Nevertheless, my dad's love remained steadfast.
God's love is like that- and more. It endures forever. The Hebrew word that expresses this steadfast kind of love is hesed. It's used over and over again in the Old Testament, and twenty-six times in Psalm 136 alone! No modern word can fully capture the meaning; we translate it "kindness," "loving-kindness," "mercy," or "loyalty." Hesed is a love that is based on covenant commitment; love that is loyal and faithful. Even when God's people sin, He was faithful in loving them. Steadfast love is an integral part of the character of God (Exodus 34:6).
When I was a child, I sometimes took my dad's love for granted. Sometimes now I do the same thing with my heavenly Father's love. I forget to listen to God and respond. I forget to be grateful. Yet I know that God's love for me remains steadfast-a reality that provides a sure foundation for all of my life.
by Amy Peterson
God, we praise You for Your steadfast love to us! Even when we're faithless, You're faithful.
TAKE TIME TO SHOW THE LOVE OF GOD TO SOMEONE TODAY.
Psalm 136:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights-His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
Insight: Psalm 136 is known in Jewish tradition as the Great Hallel (from Hallelujah; a psalm of praise). The writer of this psalm isn't given, although some commentators suggest it was written by David. This joyful psalm was likely used as a responsive reading or song. The congregation would repeat (or sing) in unison the refrain "His love endures forever" an individual or a choir of priests of Levites sang each opening sentence. It was likely sung during the dedication of Solomon's temple (2nd Chronicles 7:3,6). Variations of the refrain are also found in 1st Chronicles 16:34 and 2nd Chronicles 5:13;20:21. This Psalm not only served as a reminder to the Israelites but also reminds us today to praise God for His never-ending goodness and His wondrous deeds on our behalf.
by Alyson Kieda
12/07/18
"I love you!" my dad called out as I slammed the car door and headed into school. I was in sixth grade, and for months we had played out basically the same scenario every morning. We arrived at school, Dad said, "Have a great day! I love you!" and all I said was "bye." I wasn't angry with him or ignoring him. I was simply so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't notice his words. Nevertheless, my dad's love remained steadfast.
God's love is like that- and more. It endures forever. The Hebrew word that expresses this steadfast kind of love is hesed. It's used over and over again in the Old Testament, and twenty-six times in Psalm 136 alone! No modern word can fully capture the meaning; we translate it "kindness," "loving-kindness," "mercy," or "loyalty." Hesed is a love that is based on covenant commitment; love that is loyal and faithful. Even when God's people sin, He was faithful in loving them. Steadfast love is an integral part of the character of God (Exodus 34:6).
When I was a child, I sometimes took my dad's love for granted. Sometimes now I do the same thing with my heavenly Father's love. I forget to listen to God and respond. I forget to be grateful. Yet I know that God's love for me remains steadfast-a reality that provides a sure foundation for all of my life.
by Amy Peterson
God, we praise You for Your steadfast love to us! Even when we're faithless, You're faithful.
TAKE TIME TO SHOW THE LOVE OF GOD TO SOMEONE TODAY.
Psalm 136:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights-His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
Insight: Psalm 136 is known in Jewish tradition as the Great Hallel (from Hallelujah; a psalm of praise). The writer of this psalm isn't given, although some commentators suggest it was written by David. This joyful psalm was likely used as a responsive reading or song. The congregation would repeat (or sing) in unison the refrain "His love endures forever" an individual or a choir of priests of Levites sang each opening sentence. It was likely sung during the dedication of Solomon's temple (2nd Chronicles 7:3,6). Variations of the refrain are also found in 1st Chronicles 16:34 and 2nd Chronicles 5:13;20:21. This Psalm not only served as a reminder to the Israelites but also reminds us today to praise God for His never-ending goodness and His wondrous deeds on our behalf.
by Alyson Kieda
12/07/18
GOD'S HIDDEN HAND
My friend was adopted by a missionary couple from the United States and grew up in Ghana. After his family moved back to the US, he began college but had to drop out. Later, he signed on with the military, which eventually helped him pay for college and took him all over the world. Through it all, God was at work, preparing him for a special role. Today, he writes and edits Christian literature that ministers to an international audience.
His wife also has an interesting story. She failed her chemistry exams during her first year of college due to the strong medication she had to take for epilepsy. After some careful deliberation, she switched from studying science to studying American Sign Language, which had a more manageable work load. Reflecting on that experience, she says, "God was redirecting my life for a greater purpose." Today, she is making His life-changing Scriptures accessible to the hearing-impaired.
Do you sometimes wonder where God is leading you? Psalm 139:16 acknowledges God's sovereign hand in our lives: "You're eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." We don't know how God will use the circumstances of our life, but we can rest in the knowledge that God knows everything about us and is directing our footsteps. Though His sovereign hand may seem hidden, He's never absent.
by Poh Fang Chia
Dear Lord, help me to trust You even when I don't understand.
WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO DISCERN GOD'S LEADING OR TO ACT ON HIS CALL FOR YOUR LIFE?
Psalm 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still with you.
Insight: David wrote Psalm 139 to worship God, but he also gave us a primer in theology proper- the study of the person of God. He does this by focusing on three of God's character qualities, what theologians call "attributes." In verse 1, David points out God's omniscience- that He is all-knowing: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." He then moves to God's omnipresence- that God is everywhere present at once: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" (v.7). Then the psalmist moves to God's omnipotence- that there is no limit to His power- which is evidenced in how He forms us: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" (v.13).
by Bill Crowder
12/06/18
My friend was adopted by a missionary couple from the United States and grew up in Ghana. After his family moved back to the US, he began college but had to drop out. Later, he signed on with the military, which eventually helped him pay for college and took him all over the world. Through it all, God was at work, preparing him for a special role. Today, he writes and edits Christian literature that ministers to an international audience.
His wife also has an interesting story. She failed her chemistry exams during her first year of college due to the strong medication she had to take for epilepsy. After some careful deliberation, she switched from studying science to studying American Sign Language, which had a more manageable work load. Reflecting on that experience, she says, "God was redirecting my life for a greater purpose." Today, she is making His life-changing Scriptures accessible to the hearing-impaired.
Do you sometimes wonder where God is leading you? Psalm 139:16 acknowledges God's sovereign hand in our lives: "You're eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." We don't know how God will use the circumstances of our life, but we can rest in the knowledge that God knows everything about us and is directing our footsteps. Though His sovereign hand may seem hidden, He's never absent.
by Poh Fang Chia
Dear Lord, help me to trust You even when I don't understand.
WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO DISCERN GOD'S LEADING OR TO ACT ON HIS CALL FOR YOUR LIFE?
Psalm 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still with you.
Insight: David wrote Psalm 139 to worship God, but he also gave us a primer in theology proper- the study of the person of God. He does this by focusing on three of God's character qualities, what theologians call "attributes." In verse 1, David points out God's omniscience- that He is all-knowing: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." He then moves to God's omnipresence- that God is everywhere present at once: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" (v.7). Then the psalmist moves to God's omnipotence- that there is no limit to His power- which is evidenced in how He forms us: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" (v.13).
by Bill Crowder
12/06/18
LONELY CHRISTMAS
The loneliest Christmas I ever spent was in my grandfather's cottage near Sakagu, northern Ghana. I was just fifteen, and my parents and siblings were a thousand kilometers away. In previous years, when I'd been with them and my village friends, Christmas was always big and memorable. But this Christmas was quiet and lonely. As I lay on my floor mat early Christmas morning, I remembered a local song: The year has ended; Christmas has came; the Son of God is born; peace and joy to everybody. Mournfully, I sang it over and over.
My grandmother came and asked, "What sing is that?" My grandparents didn't know about Christmas-or about Christ. So I shared what I knew about Christmas with them. Those moments brightened my loneliness.
Alone in the fields with only my sheep and occasional predators, the shepherd boy David experienced loneliness. It would not be the only time. Later in his life he wrote, "I am lonely and afflicted" (Psalm 25:16). But David didn't allow loneliness to cause him to be despondent. Instead, he sang: "My hope, Lord, is in you" (v.21).
From time to time we all face loneliness. Wherever Christmas may find you this year, in loneliness or in companionship, you can enjoy the season with Christ.
by Lawrence Darmani
Lord, thank You that with You I'm not alone even in my times of loneliness. This Christmas, help me to enjoy my fellowship with You and to reach out to others.
WITH JESUS AT CHRISTMAS, WE'RE NEVER ALONE.
Psalm 25:14-22
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. My integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Insight: Psalm 25 is a prayer for and celebration of God's guidance-extended to anyone willing to humbly learn from Him (vv.5,8-9,12). Even the structure of this psalm as an acrostic poem (each line sequentially following the Hebrew alphabet) reinforces this emphasis on learning from God, since the structure was often chosen for its helpfulness in memorization.
The psalm's theme of worship as a lifestyle of learning from God is also captured by the words "put my trust" in verse 1-more literally, "lift up my soul" (NRSV; "Soul" referring to all of oneself, both body and spirit). The image, alluding to the worship posture of uplifted hands, offers a beautiful picture of walking with God: we honestly lift up before Him all of ourselves and our struggles, while continually waiting with open, trusting hand to receive all we need from our loving, gracious God (vv.15-18, 20-21).
by Monica Brands
12/05/18
A HAND UP
My children have enjoyed the thrill of a backyard ice-skating rink during our cold Idaho winters. When they were young, learning to skate was challenging: persuading them to deliberately set foot of the hard, icy surface proved difficult because they knew the pain of falling. Each time their feet slid out from under them, my husband or I would reach out to pull them again to their feet, setting them upright and steadying their frames.
Having someone there to help us up when we fall is the gift of a helping hand depicted in Ecclesiastes. Working with another makes our work sweeter and more effective (4:9), and a friend brings warmth to our lives. When we encounter challenges, it helps to have someone come alongside with practical and emotional support. These relationships can give us strength, purpose, and comfort.
When we find ourselves flattened on the cold ice of life's hardships, is there a helping hand nearby? If so, it might be from God. Or when someone else needs a friend, could we be God's answer to life them up? In being a companion, we often find one. If it appears that no one is nearby to lift us to our feet again, we can find comfort in knowing that God is our ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). As we reach out to Him, He's ready to steady us with His firm grip.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Thank You, Father, for helping me up when life knocks me down. Thank You for the people You've used to encourage and strengthen me. Your's is the most faithful friendship I have.
HOW CAN YOU OPEN YOURSELF MORE FULLY TO GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "And why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless- a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Insight: The author of Ecclesiastes ("The teacher," 1:1-2) is in the midst of a long lament about the meaninglessness of living for this world only. This particular section concerns a lonely rich man, the Teacher has observed. Perhaps he has trampled all others on his way to the top. (Think of Charles Dicken's Abenezer Scrooge.) Regardless of how the man got there, the author recognized the futility of such efforts and concludes, "Two are better than one" (4:9).
Throughout Ecclesiastes, the Teacher's larger point is that living with an earthbound view is cruelly dissatisfying. We toil and strive, yet we remain haunted by a vague sense that we're missing something. As with all Scripture, Ecclesiastes must be understood within the context of the entire Bible. The early church fathers Jerome (AD 347-420) and Ambrose (AD 340-397) were among the first to note that the companion we're missing is Christ Himself.
by Tim Gustafson
12/04/18
The loneliest Christmas I ever spent was in my grandfather's cottage near Sakagu, northern Ghana. I was just fifteen, and my parents and siblings were a thousand kilometers away. In previous years, when I'd been with them and my village friends, Christmas was always big and memorable. But this Christmas was quiet and lonely. As I lay on my floor mat early Christmas morning, I remembered a local song: The year has ended; Christmas has came; the Son of God is born; peace and joy to everybody. Mournfully, I sang it over and over.
My grandmother came and asked, "What sing is that?" My grandparents didn't know about Christmas-or about Christ. So I shared what I knew about Christmas with them. Those moments brightened my loneliness.
Alone in the fields with only my sheep and occasional predators, the shepherd boy David experienced loneliness. It would not be the only time. Later in his life he wrote, "I am lonely and afflicted" (Psalm 25:16). But David didn't allow loneliness to cause him to be despondent. Instead, he sang: "My hope, Lord, is in you" (v.21).
From time to time we all face loneliness. Wherever Christmas may find you this year, in loneliness or in companionship, you can enjoy the season with Christ.
by Lawrence Darmani
Lord, thank You that with You I'm not alone even in my times of loneliness. This Christmas, help me to enjoy my fellowship with You and to reach out to others.
WITH JESUS AT CHRISTMAS, WE'RE NEVER ALONE.
Psalm 25:14-22
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. My integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Insight: Psalm 25 is a prayer for and celebration of God's guidance-extended to anyone willing to humbly learn from Him (vv.5,8-9,12). Even the structure of this psalm as an acrostic poem (each line sequentially following the Hebrew alphabet) reinforces this emphasis on learning from God, since the structure was often chosen for its helpfulness in memorization.
The psalm's theme of worship as a lifestyle of learning from God is also captured by the words "put my trust" in verse 1-more literally, "lift up my soul" (NRSV; "Soul" referring to all of oneself, both body and spirit). The image, alluding to the worship posture of uplifted hands, offers a beautiful picture of walking with God: we honestly lift up before Him all of ourselves and our struggles, while continually waiting with open, trusting hand to receive all we need from our loving, gracious God (vv.15-18, 20-21).
by Monica Brands
12/05/18
A HAND UP
My children have enjoyed the thrill of a backyard ice-skating rink during our cold Idaho winters. When they were young, learning to skate was challenging: persuading them to deliberately set foot of the hard, icy surface proved difficult because they knew the pain of falling. Each time their feet slid out from under them, my husband or I would reach out to pull them again to their feet, setting them upright and steadying their frames.
Having someone there to help us up when we fall is the gift of a helping hand depicted in Ecclesiastes. Working with another makes our work sweeter and more effective (4:9), and a friend brings warmth to our lives. When we encounter challenges, it helps to have someone come alongside with practical and emotional support. These relationships can give us strength, purpose, and comfort.
When we find ourselves flattened on the cold ice of life's hardships, is there a helping hand nearby? If so, it might be from God. Or when someone else needs a friend, could we be God's answer to life them up? In being a companion, we often find one. If it appears that no one is nearby to lift us to our feet again, we can find comfort in knowing that God is our ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). As we reach out to Him, He's ready to steady us with His firm grip.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Thank You, Father, for helping me up when life knocks me down. Thank You for the people You've used to encourage and strengthen me. Your's is the most faithful friendship I have.
HOW CAN YOU OPEN YOURSELF MORE FULLY TO GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "And why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless- a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Insight: The author of Ecclesiastes ("The teacher," 1:1-2) is in the midst of a long lament about the meaninglessness of living for this world only. This particular section concerns a lonely rich man, the Teacher has observed. Perhaps he has trampled all others on his way to the top. (Think of Charles Dicken's Abenezer Scrooge.) Regardless of how the man got there, the author recognized the futility of such efforts and concludes, "Two are better than one" (4:9).
Throughout Ecclesiastes, the Teacher's larger point is that living with an earthbound view is cruelly dissatisfying. We toil and strive, yet we remain haunted by a vague sense that we're missing something. As with all Scripture, Ecclesiastes must be understood within the context of the entire Bible. The early church fathers Jerome (AD 347-420) and Ambrose (AD 340-397) were among the first to note that the companion we're missing is Christ Himself.
by Tim Gustafson
12/04/18
QUESTIONS AT CHRISTMAS
Well before the calendar flips to December, Christmas cheer begins to bubble up in our northern town. A medical office drapes its trees and shrubs in close fitting strings of light, each a different color, illuminating a breathtaking nighttime landscape. Another business decorates its building to look like an enormous, extravagantly wrapped Christmas present. It's difficult to turn anywhere without seeing evidence of Christmas spirit- or at least seasonal marketing.
Some people love these lavish displays. Others take a more cynical view. But the crucial question isn't how others observe Christmas. Rather, we each need to consider what the celebration means to us.
A little more than thirty years after His birth, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13). They gave responses others had given: John the Baptist, Elijah, maybe another prophet. Then Jesus made it personal: "Who do you say I am?" (v.15). Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (v.16).
Many will celebrate Christmas without a thought about who the Baby really is. As we interact with them, we can help them consider these crucial questions: Is Christmas just a heartwarming story about a baby born in a stable? Or did our Creator visit His creation and become one of us?
by Tim Gustafson
Father in heaven, may our Christmas celebrations this year, whether lavish or small honor the Messiah who came to redeem His creation.
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Matthew 16:13-21
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
The replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Insight: Who was Matthew, the writer of the gospel by the same name? Matthew (also known as Levi) was one of Jesus's twelve disciples. Prior to Jesus's call, Matthew served as a despised tax collector (9:9). Tax collectors were particularly loathed because they exacted taxes from their own people, the Jews, to pay the Romans (the oppressive rulers of Israel). And they often collected far more than required. Matthew wrote his gospel primarily to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Messiah (Savior), the eternal King. We see Matthew's emphasis clearly in today's passage. When Jesus asks his disciples about His identity, Peter declared, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:15-16).
by Alyson Kieda
12/03/18
Well before the calendar flips to December, Christmas cheer begins to bubble up in our northern town. A medical office drapes its trees and shrubs in close fitting strings of light, each a different color, illuminating a breathtaking nighttime landscape. Another business decorates its building to look like an enormous, extravagantly wrapped Christmas present. It's difficult to turn anywhere without seeing evidence of Christmas spirit- or at least seasonal marketing.
Some people love these lavish displays. Others take a more cynical view. But the crucial question isn't how others observe Christmas. Rather, we each need to consider what the celebration means to us.
A little more than thirty years after His birth, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13). They gave responses others had given: John the Baptist, Elijah, maybe another prophet. Then Jesus made it personal: "Who do you say I am?" (v.15). Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (v.16).
Many will celebrate Christmas without a thought about who the Baby really is. As we interact with them, we can help them consider these crucial questions: Is Christmas just a heartwarming story about a baby born in a stable? Or did our Creator visit His creation and become one of us?
by Tim Gustafson
Father in heaven, may our Christmas celebrations this year, whether lavish or small honor the Messiah who came to redeem His creation.
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Matthew 16:13-21
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
The replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Insight: Who was Matthew, the writer of the gospel by the same name? Matthew (also known as Levi) was one of Jesus's twelve disciples. Prior to Jesus's call, Matthew served as a despised tax collector (9:9). Tax collectors were particularly loathed because they exacted taxes from their own people, the Jews, to pay the Romans (the oppressive rulers of Israel). And they often collected far more than required. Matthew wrote his gospel primarily to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Messiah (Savior), the eternal King. We see Matthew's emphasis clearly in today's passage. When Jesus asks his disciples about His identity, Peter declared, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:15-16).
by Alyson Kieda
12/03/18
THANKS FOR BEING YOU!
When I served as my mom's live-in-caregiver at a cancer center, I got to know Lori, another caregiver who lived down the hallway from us with her husband, Frank. I would chat, laugh, vent, cry, and pray with Lori in the shared living areas We enjoyed supporting each other as we cared for our loved ones.
One day, I missed the free shuttle that took residence to buy groceries. Lori offered to drive me to the store later that evening. With grateful tears, I accepted her offer. "Thanks for being you," I said. I truly appreciated her for who she was as a person, not just for what she did for me as a friend.
Psalm 100 demonstrates an appreciation of God for who He is, not simply for all He does. The psalmist invites "all the earth" (v.1) to "worship the Lord with gladness" (v.2), being confident in knowing "the Lord is God" (v.3). Our Maker invites us into His presence to "give thanks to Him and praise His name" (v.4). Yes, He "is good," His "love endures forever," and His "faithfulness continues through all generations" (v.5).
God will always be the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and our intimately loving Father. He deserves our genuine joy-filled gratitude.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, Thanks for being You!
WHO CAN YOU SHARE GOD'S LOVE WITH TODAY?
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Insight: Psalm 100 echoes the words of Psalm 95. Both begin with an appeal to shout for joy and together call for a resounding celebration in song to the God of gods, Yahweh. This personal name of Israel's God is translated in English versions as Lord.
But beyond their similarities, the two psalms tell us a different story. While Psalm 95 attempts to rouse a nation that has lost its joy (vv.7-11), Psalm 100 invites the whole earth to erupt in shouts of praise and songs of mirth. At least fourteen times the songwriter of Psalm 100 points to this God of gods by name or pronoun. With every line the Psalmist invites people of all nations to enter into the presence of One who is infinitely more to be praised than was seen in the lagging joy of His dearly loved and chosen people.
by Mart Dehaan
12/02/18
When I served as my mom's live-in-caregiver at a cancer center, I got to know Lori, another caregiver who lived down the hallway from us with her husband, Frank. I would chat, laugh, vent, cry, and pray with Lori in the shared living areas We enjoyed supporting each other as we cared for our loved ones.
One day, I missed the free shuttle that took residence to buy groceries. Lori offered to drive me to the store later that evening. With grateful tears, I accepted her offer. "Thanks for being you," I said. I truly appreciated her for who she was as a person, not just for what she did for me as a friend.
Psalm 100 demonstrates an appreciation of God for who He is, not simply for all He does. The psalmist invites "all the earth" (v.1) to "worship the Lord with gladness" (v.2), being confident in knowing "the Lord is God" (v.3). Our Maker invites us into His presence to "give thanks to Him and praise His name" (v.4). Yes, He "is good," His "love endures forever," and His "faithfulness continues through all generations" (v.5).
God will always be the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and our intimately loving Father. He deserves our genuine joy-filled gratitude.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, Thanks for being You!
WHO CAN YOU SHARE GOD'S LOVE WITH TODAY?
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Insight: Psalm 100 echoes the words of Psalm 95. Both begin with an appeal to shout for joy and together call for a resounding celebration in song to the God of gods, Yahweh. This personal name of Israel's God is translated in English versions as Lord.
But beyond their similarities, the two psalms tell us a different story. While Psalm 95 attempts to rouse a nation that has lost its joy (vv.7-11), Psalm 100 invites the whole earth to erupt in shouts of praise and songs of mirth. At least fourteen times the songwriter of Psalm 100 points to this God of gods by name or pronoun. With every line the Psalmist invites people of all nations to enter into the presence of One who is infinitely more to be praised than was seen in the lagging joy of His dearly loved and chosen people.
by Mart Dehaan
12/02/18
A SAFE PLACE
My brothers and I grew up on a wooded hillside in West Virginia that provided a futile landscape for our imaginations. Whether swinging from vines like Tarzan or building tree houses like the Swiss Family Robinson, we played out the scenarios we found in the stories we read and movies we watched. One of our favorites was building forts and then pretending we were safe from attack. Years later, my kids built forts out of blankets, sheets, and pillows- constructing their own "safe place" against imaginary enemies. It seems almost instinctive to want a hiding place where you can feel safe and secure.
When David, the singer- poet of Israel, sought a safe place, he looked no further than God. Psalm 17:8 asserts, "[God,] keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." When you consider the Old Testament record of David's life and the almost constant threats he faced, these words reveal an amazing level of confidence in God (v.6). In spite of those threats, he was convinced his true safety was found in Him.
We can know that same confidence. The God who promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) is the One we trust with our lives every day. Although we live in a dangerous world, our God gives us peace and assurance- both now and forever. He is our safe place.
by Bill Crowder
Father, the world around me can feel threatening, overwhelming, and dangerous. But You give me peace, strength, and help.
GIVE GOD THANKS FOR BEING YOUR HIDING PLACE TODAY.
Psalm 17:1-9
Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer- it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your path; my feet have not stumbled.
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Insight: In the Psalms, we find people speaking to God about the concerns of their heart and the practical issues of everyday life. As such, there are various categories of Psalms. One category is the imprecatory Psalms (Psalms 5,10,17,35,58,59,70,79,83,109,129,137,140). Imprecatory literally means "to pray evil against" or to "invoke a curse upon." In these Psalms, the author typically asks for vindication against an enemy for unjust treatment. These prayers can range in aggression from a request for justice and vindication to petition for the death and destruction of one's enemies (see Psalm 17:2 and Psalms 35 and 137 for increasingly aggressive requests for God's action). While some imprecatory Psalms may make us uncomfortable, we must remember that these are human requests for God to act- requests made from the pit of despair, frustration, and hopelessness.
by J.R. Hudberg
11/30/18
My brothers and I grew up on a wooded hillside in West Virginia that provided a futile landscape for our imaginations. Whether swinging from vines like Tarzan or building tree houses like the Swiss Family Robinson, we played out the scenarios we found in the stories we read and movies we watched. One of our favorites was building forts and then pretending we were safe from attack. Years later, my kids built forts out of blankets, sheets, and pillows- constructing their own "safe place" against imaginary enemies. It seems almost instinctive to want a hiding place where you can feel safe and secure.
When David, the singer- poet of Israel, sought a safe place, he looked no further than God. Psalm 17:8 asserts, "[God,] keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." When you consider the Old Testament record of David's life and the almost constant threats he faced, these words reveal an amazing level of confidence in God (v.6). In spite of those threats, he was convinced his true safety was found in Him.
We can know that same confidence. The God who promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) is the One we trust with our lives every day. Although we live in a dangerous world, our God gives us peace and assurance- both now and forever. He is our safe place.
by Bill Crowder
Father, the world around me can feel threatening, overwhelming, and dangerous. But You give me peace, strength, and help.
GIVE GOD THANKS FOR BEING YOUR HIDING PLACE TODAY.
Psalm 17:1-9
Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer- it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your path; my feet have not stumbled.
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Insight: In the Psalms, we find people speaking to God about the concerns of their heart and the practical issues of everyday life. As such, there are various categories of Psalms. One category is the imprecatory Psalms (Psalms 5,10,17,35,58,59,70,79,83,109,129,137,140). Imprecatory literally means "to pray evil against" or to "invoke a curse upon." In these Psalms, the author typically asks for vindication against an enemy for unjust treatment. These prayers can range in aggression from a request for justice and vindication to petition for the death and destruction of one's enemies (see Psalm 17:2 and Psalms 35 and 137 for increasingly aggressive requests for God's action). While some imprecatory Psalms may make us uncomfortable, we must remember that these are human requests for God to act- requests made from the pit of despair, frustration, and hopelessness.
by J.R. Hudberg
11/30/18
HONORING GOD WITH THANKS
The doctor wasn't frowning, despite talking to my husband about his recent cancer diagnosis. Smiling, she offered a suggestion: Start each day by giving thanks. "For at least three things," the doctor said. Dan agreed, knowing that gratitude opens our hearts to find encouragement in God's goodness. Thus, Dan starts each day with words of praise. Thank You, God, for a good night's sleep. For my clean bed. For sunshine. For breakfast on the table. For a smile on my lips.
Each word is heartfelt. But could it sound trivial? Does our praise in life's small details matter to Almighty God? In Psalm 50, David's chief musician Asaph, offers a clear answer. God has "no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens" (v.9). Instead of these once-formal Israelite sacrifices of gratitude, God wants His people to give Him our hearts and lives and gratitude (vv.14,23).
As my husband experienced, whole-hearted gratitude helps our spirits flourish. Then when we call on the Lord "in the day of trouble," He will "deliver" us (v.15). Does this mean Dan will be healed, spiritually and physically, during his two year treatment? Or not until after this lifetime? We don't know. But for now, Dan delights in showing God he's grateful for His love, and for who God is: Redeemer. Healer. Friend. And friends delight to hear these beautiful words: Thank You.
by Trisha Raybon
MY GRATITUDE TO GOD IS GREAT TO HIM.
Psalm 50:8-15
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
Insight: The legal language and setting in Psalm 50 are hard to miss. A universal summons is issued by God (v.1) and the purpose of the gathering is clear-the judgment of His people (v.4). In a manner reminiscent of the giving of the Law (Exodus 19:16-19), the Lord makes His grand entry (Psalm 50:2-3) as the righteous and just judge (v.6). However, "Judge" is not His only role; He is also witness (v.7) and plaintiff (v.8). Two groups of defendants enter the Lord's courtroom and the judge has indictments that match the transgressions of each group. The Lord's charges against the first group (vv.7-15) concerned their worship. Though a formal worship system was in place, the kind of worship the Lord desired was missing. Spiritual worship that included "Thanksgiving" mattered to the Lord more than the flesh and blood of animals. The charges against the second group (vv.16-23) concerned their hypocrisy. Though they were about to recite words that came from God, their actions demonstrated their hearts were far from Him (vv.17-21). As with the first group, the Lord's corrective included the reminder that "Thank offerings" really matter to Him (v.23).
by Arthur Jackson
11/29/18
The doctor wasn't frowning, despite talking to my husband about his recent cancer diagnosis. Smiling, she offered a suggestion: Start each day by giving thanks. "For at least three things," the doctor said. Dan agreed, knowing that gratitude opens our hearts to find encouragement in God's goodness. Thus, Dan starts each day with words of praise. Thank You, God, for a good night's sleep. For my clean bed. For sunshine. For breakfast on the table. For a smile on my lips.
Each word is heartfelt. But could it sound trivial? Does our praise in life's small details matter to Almighty God? In Psalm 50, David's chief musician Asaph, offers a clear answer. God has "no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens" (v.9). Instead of these once-formal Israelite sacrifices of gratitude, God wants His people to give Him our hearts and lives and gratitude (vv.14,23).
As my husband experienced, whole-hearted gratitude helps our spirits flourish. Then when we call on the Lord "in the day of trouble," He will "deliver" us (v.15). Does this mean Dan will be healed, spiritually and physically, during his two year treatment? Or not until after this lifetime? We don't know. But for now, Dan delights in showing God he's grateful for His love, and for who God is: Redeemer. Healer. Friend. And friends delight to hear these beautiful words: Thank You.
by Trisha Raybon
MY GRATITUDE TO GOD IS GREAT TO HIM.
Psalm 50:8-15
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
Insight: The legal language and setting in Psalm 50 are hard to miss. A universal summons is issued by God (v.1) and the purpose of the gathering is clear-the judgment of His people (v.4). In a manner reminiscent of the giving of the Law (Exodus 19:16-19), the Lord makes His grand entry (Psalm 50:2-3) as the righteous and just judge (v.6). However, "Judge" is not His only role; He is also witness (v.7) and plaintiff (v.8). Two groups of defendants enter the Lord's courtroom and the judge has indictments that match the transgressions of each group. The Lord's charges against the first group (vv.7-15) concerned their worship. Though a formal worship system was in place, the kind of worship the Lord desired was missing. Spiritual worship that included "Thanksgiving" mattered to the Lord more than the flesh and blood of animals. The charges against the second group (vv.16-23) concerned their hypocrisy. Though they were about to recite words that came from God, their actions demonstrated their hearts were far from Him (vv.17-21). As with the first group, the Lord's corrective included the reminder that "Thank offerings" really matter to Him (v.23).
by Arthur Jackson
11/29/18
LORD OF THE MOMENT
Not long ago I was working on a construction project at my sons home three hours away. The job took days longer than expected, and each morning I prayed we would finish by sunset. But every evening there was more to be done.
I wondered why. Could there be a reason for the delay? An answer came the next morning. I was picking up a tool when my phone rang and a stranger's voice spoke urgently: "Your daughter was injured in an accident. You need to come immediately."
She lived near my son, so it took just fourteen minutes to reach her. If I had been home, I would have been three hours away. I followed the ambulance to the hospital and comforted her before surgery. As I sat holding her hand I realized if my project hadn't been delayed, I wouldn't have been there.
Our moments belong to God. This was the experience of a woman whose son God had resurrected through the prophet Elisha ( 2nd Kings 4:18-37). She left the country because of famine and returned years later to beg the king for her land. At precisely that moment the king was conversing with the prophet's servant Gehazi. "Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored" her son, the woman walked in (8:5) her request was granted.
We don't know what even the next second brings, but God is graciously able to use any situation for good. May God give us grace to walk with Him expectantly into His appointments for us today.
by James Banks
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of my life. Help me to be Your faithful servant.
OUR LIVES ARE BETTER OFF IN GOD'S HANDS THAN IN OUR OWN.
2 Kings 8:1-6
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Go away with your family and stay for awhile wherever you can, because the Lord had decreed a famine in the land that will last 7 years." The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines 7 years.
At the end of the 7 years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, "Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done." Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.
Gehazi said, "This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life." The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.
Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."
Insight: Today's text demonstrates God's sovereignty in directing human affairs. Another example of God's divine direction is seen in the account of Joseph (Genesis 37-41). At the end of his story, Joseph comforted his brothers who had grievously harmed him (45:5) and said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good" (50:20 NLT).
The apostle Paul says, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
How do these examples help you trust God as the Lord of your moments?
by K.T.Sim
11/28/18
Not long ago I was working on a construction project at my sons home three hours away. The job took days longer than expected, and each morning I prayed we would finish by sunset. But every evening there was more to be done.
I wondered why. Could there be a reason for the delay? An answer came the next morning. I was picking up a tool when my phone rang and a stranger's voice spoke urgently: "Your daughter was injured in an accident. You need to come immediately."
She lived near my son, so it took just fourteen minutes to reach her. If I had been home, I would have been three hours away. I followed the ambulance to the hospital and comforted her before surgery. As I sat holding her hand I realized if my project hadn't been delayed, I wouldn't have been there.
Our moments belong to God. This was the experience of a woman whose son God had resurrected through the prophet Elisha ( 2nd Kings 4:18-37). She left the country because of famine and returned years later to beg the king for her land. At precisely that moment the king was conversing with the prophet's servant Gehazi. "Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored" her son, the woman walked in (8:5) her request was granted.
We don't know what even the next second brings, but God is graciously able to use any situation for good. May God give us grace to walk with Him expectantly into His appointments for us today.
by James Banks
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of my life. Help me to be Your faithful servant.
OUR LIVES ARE BETTER OFF IN GOD'S HANDS THAN IN OUR OWN.
2 Kings 8:1-6
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Go away with your family and stay for awhile wherever you can, because the Lord had decreed a famine in the land that will last 7 years." The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines 7 years.
At the end of the 7 years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, "Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done." Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.
Gehazi said, "This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life." The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.
Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."
Insight: Today's text demonstrates God's sovereignty in directing human affairs. Another example of God's divine direction is seen in the account of Joseph (Genesis 37-41). At the end of his story, Joseph comforted his brothers who had grievously harmed him (45:5) and said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good" (50:20 NLT).
The apostle Paul says, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
How do these examples help you trust God as the Lord of your moments?
by K.T.Sim
11/28/18
A SOLID FOUNDATION
Last summer my husband and I toured FallingWater, a house in rural Pennsylvania designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935. I've never seen anything quite like it. Wright wanted to create a home that rose organically out of the landscape, as if it could have grown there- and he accomplished his goal. He built the house around an existing waterfall, and its style mirrors the neighboring rock ledges. Our tour guide explained what made the construction safe: "The whole vertical core of the house," she said, "rests on boulders."
Hearing her words, I couldn't help but think of Jesus's words to His disciples. During the sermon on the Mount, Jesus told them that what He was teaching would be the sure foundation for their lives. If they heard His words and put them into practice, they would be able to withstand any storms. Those who heard but didn't obey, in contrast, would be like a house built on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Later, Paul echoed this thought, writing that Christ is the foundation, and we must build upon it with work that will endure (1 Corinthians 3:11).
When we listen to the words of Jesus and obey them, we're building our lives on a steady, rock-solid foundation. Maybe our lives can look a little like FallingWater, beautiful and built to last on the Rock.
by Amy Peterson
God, help us to hear and obey the words of Jesus!
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR LIFE AROUND?
Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Insight: In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says following His teachings is wise and prudent, for they are the foundation on which a full and healthy life is built. He makes this statement after giving the Sermon on the Mount which contains what has been considered by some the most difficult and stringent guidelines for life. But we aren't left to life this life on our own; we are dependent on the Spirit. These requirements extend beyond actions and into the thoughts and attitudes. A person who honors God with his or her whole life will remain steady in the storms of life (vv.24-25).
by J.R. Hudberg
11/27/18
Last summer my husband and I toured FallingWater, a house in rural Pennsylvania designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935. I've never seen anything quite like it. Wright wanted to create a home that rose organically out of the landscape, as if it could have grown there- and he accomplished his goal. He built the house around an existing waterfall, and its style mirrors the neighboring rock ledges. Our tour guide explained what made the construction safe: "The whole vertical core of the house," she said, "rests on boulders."
Hearing her words, I couldn't help but think of Jesus's words to His disciples. During the sermon on the Mount, Jesus told them that what He was teaching would be the sure foundation for their lives. If they heard His words and put them into practice, they would be able to withstand any storms. Those who heard but didn't obey, in contrast, would be like a house built on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Later, Paul echoed this thought, writing that Christ is the foundation, and we must build upon it with work that will endure (1 Corinthians 3:11).
When we listen to the words of Jesus and obey them, we're building our lives on a steady, rock-solid foundation. Maybe our lives can look a little like FallingWater, beautiful and built to last on the Rock.
by Amy Peterson
God, help us to hear and obey the words of Jesus!
WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR LIFE AROUND?
Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Insight: In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says following His teachings is wise and prudent, for they are the foundation on which a full and healthy life is built. He makes this statement after giving the Sermon on the Mount which contains what has been considered by some the most difficult and stringent guidelines for life. But we aren't left to life this life on our own; we are dependent on the Spirit. These requirements extend beyond actions and into the thoughts and attitudes. A person who honors God with his or her whole life will remain steady in the storms of life (vv.24-25).
by J.R. Hudberg
11/27/18
PUTTING UP HAY
When I was in college, I worked a summer on a ranch in Colorado. One evening, tired and hungry after a long day of mowing hay, I drove the tractor into the yard. Acting like the hotshot I thought I was, I cranked the steering wheel hard left, stamped on the left brake, and spun the tractor around.
The sickle was down and swept the legs out from under a five hundred-gallon gasoline tank standing near by. The tank hit the ground with a resounding boom, the seems split, and all the gasoline spewed out.
The rancher stood nearby surveying the scene. I got off the tractor, stammered an apology, and- because it was the first thing that popped into my mind- offered to work the rest of the summer without pay.
The old rancher stared at the wreckage for a moment and turned toward the house. "Let's go have dinner," he drawled.
A scrap of a story Jesus told past through my mind- a story about a young man who had done a terrible thing: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you," he cried. He intended to add, "Make me like one of your hired servants," but before he could get all the words out of his mouth, his father interrupted him. In essence, he said, "Let's go have dinner" (Luke 15:17-24).
Such is God's amazing grace.
by David H.Roper
Father, we celebrate Your gracious and lavish forgiveness. Thank You for the peace and freedom it brings us as we enjoy a family relationship with You.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING!
Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his Father, 'Father give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."
11/26/18
When I was in college, I worked a summer on a ranch in Colorado. One evening, tired and hungry after a long day of mowing hay, I drove the tractor into the yard. Acting like the hotshot I thought I was, I cranked the steering wheel hard left, stamped on the left brake, and spun the tractor around.
The sickle was down and swept the legs out from under a five hundred-gallon gasoline tank standing near by. The tank hit the ground with a resounding boom, the seems split, and all the gasoline spewed out.
The rancher stood nearby surveying the scene. I got off the tractor, stammered an apology, and- because it was the first thing that popped into my mind- offered to work the rest of the summer without pay.
The old rancher stared at the wreckage for a moment and turned toward the house. "Let's go have dinner," he drawled.
A scrap of a story Jesus told past through my mind- a story about a young man who had done a terrible thing: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you," he cried. He intended to add, "Make me like one of your hired servants," but before he could get all the words out of his mouth, his father interrupted him. In essence, he said, "Let's go have dinner" (Luke 15:17-24).
Such is God's amazing grace.
by David H.Roper
Father, we celebrate Your gracious and lavish forgiveness. Thank You for the peace and freedom it brings us as we enjoy a family relationship with You.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING!
Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his Father, 'Father give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."
11/26/18
GOD IS HERE
A plague in our home states "Bidden or not bidden, God is present." A modern version might read, "Acknowledged or unacknowledged, God is here."
Hosea, an Old Testament prophet who lived in the late eighth century BC (755-715), wrote similar words to the Hebrew nation. He encouraged the Israelites to "press on" (Hosea 6:3) to acknowledge God because they had forgotten Him (4:1). As the people forgot God's presence, they began to turn away from Him (V.12) and before long there was no room for God in their thoughts (see Psalm 10:4).
Hosea's simple but profound insight to acknowledge God reminds us He's near and at work in our lives, in both the joys and the struggles.
To acknowledge God might mean that when we get a promotion at work, we recognize God gave us insight to finish our work on time and within budget. If our housing application is rejected, acknowledging God helps to sustain us as we trust Him to work in the situation for our good.
If we don't make it into the college of our choice, we can acknowledge God is with us and take comfort in His presence even in our disappointment. As we enjoy dinner, to acknowledge God may be to remind ourselves of God's provision of the ingredients and a kitchen to prepare the meal.
When we acknowledge God, we remember His presence in both the successes and sorrows, whether big or small, of our lives.
by Lisa Samra
Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I am prone to forget You. Help me to acknowledge Your presence in my life.
GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND AT WORK.
Hosea 6:1-6
"Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
"What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth-then my judgments go forth like the sun. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings."
Insight: James Limburg comments on today's passage in his book Interpretation: Hosea-Micah: "The contrast which comes to expression in Hosea 6:6 is between two fundamentally different nations of religion. The one thinks in terms of discharging religious obligations through...sacrifice and offering; the other speaks of loyal love and of acknowledging God as God....When religion becomes preoccupied with the niceties of liturgy, the nuances of language, the novelties of music, art, and architecture, but forgets the neighbor, then religion has been reduced to cultic correctness...True religion has that rich word hesed [steadfast love] at is center, recalling God's steadfast love (Psalms.136) and mercy (Titus 3:5-7) and then calling for lives which respond to that love with loyal devotion to God and loving service to the neighbor."
Are there areas of your life where the line between religion and relationship has become blurry?
by J.R. Hudberg
11/25/18
A plague in our home states "Bidden or not bidden, God is present." A modern version might read, "Acknowledged or unacknowledged, God is here."
Hosea, an Old Testament prophet who lived in the late eighth century BC (755-715), wrote similar words to the Hebrew nation. He encouraged the Israelites to "press on" (Hosea 6:3) to acknowledge God because they had forgotten Him (4:1). As the people forgot God's presence, they began to turn away from Him (V.12) and before long there was no room for God in their thoughts (see Psalm 10:4).
Hosea's simple but profound insight to acknowledge God reminds us He's near and at work in our lives, in both the joys and the struggles.
To acknowledge God might mean that when we get a promotion at work, we recognize God gave us insight to finish our work on time and within budget. If our housing application is rejected, acknowledging God helps to sustain us as we trust Him to work in the situation for our good.
If we don't make it into the college of our choice, we can acknowledge God is with us and take comfort in His presence even in our disappointment. As we enjoy dinner, to acknowledge God may be to remind ourselves of God's provision of the ingredients and a kitchen to prepare the meal.
When we acknowledge God, we remember His presence in both the successes and sorrows, whether big or small, of our lives.
by Lisa Samra
Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I am prone to forget You. Help me to acknowledge Your presence in my life.
GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND AT WORK.
Hosea 6:1-6
"Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
"What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth-then my judgments go forth like the sun. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings."
Insight: James Limburg comments on today's passage in his book Interpretation: Hosea-Micah: "The contrast which comes to expression in Hosea 6:6 is between two fundamentally different nations of religion. The one thinks in terms of discharging religious obligations through...sacrifice and offering; the other speaks of loyal love and of acknowledging God as God....When religion becomes preoccupied with the niceties of liturgy, the nuances of language, the novelties of music, art, and architecture, but forgets the neighbor, then religion has been reduced to cultic correctness...True religion has that rich word hesed [steadfast love] at is center, recalling God's steadfast love (Psalms.136) and mercy (Titus 3:5-7) and then calling for lives which respond to that love with loyal devotion to God and loving service to the neighbor."
Are there areas of your life where the line between religion and relationship has become blurry?
by J.R. Hudberg
11/25/18
QUIET WITNESS
Amy lives in a closed country where it's forbidden to preach the gospel. She's a trained nurse who works in a big hospital, caring for newborn babies. She's such a committed professional that her work stands out, and many women are curious about her. They are moved to ask her questions in private. It's then that Amy shares about her Savior openly.
Because of her good work, some co-workers were envious and accused her of stealing some medicine. Her superiors didn't believe them, and authorities eventually found the culprit. This episode led some of her fellow nurses to ask about her faith. Her example reminds me of what Peter says, "Dear friends...Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing something wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God" (1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT).
Our everyday lives at home, in our work environment, or at school make an impact on others when we let God work in us. We're surrounded by people who are watching the way we speak and behave. Let's depend on God and have him rule our actions and thoughts. Then we'll influence those who don't believe and this may lead some of them to turn in faith to Jesus.
by Keila Ochoa
Father, help me to live in such a way that Your name will be honored wherever I go.
OUR LIVE SPEAK LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS.
1 Peter 2:11-21
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you shall silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscience of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you and example, that you should follow in his steps.
Insight: Being misunderstood or falsely accused is inevitable in a broken world. But in those vulnerable moments, Peter argues, its especially crucial for believers to strive to follow Christ's example of responding to suffering with love rather than lashing out (1 Peter 2:12,21). "Submitting" to those with power (v.13) doesn't mean blind obedience, but rather letting go of our natural desire to control or overpower others. And as we fearlessly display Christ's love and the ways of our Lord's kingdom (vv.13,16), God may even use us to guide others to His love.
by Monica Brands
11/21/18
Amy lives in a closed country where it's forbidden to preach the gospel. She's a trained nurse who works in a big hospital, caring for newborn babies. She's such a committed professional that her work stands out, and many women are curious about her. They are moved to ask her questions in private. It's then that Amy shares about her Savior openly.
Because of her good work, some co-workers were envious and accused her of stealing some medicine. Her superiors didn't believe them, and authorities eventually found the culprit. This episode led some of her fellow nurses to ask about her faith. Her example reminds me of what Peter says, "Dear friends...Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing something wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God" (1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT).
Our everyday lives at home, in our work environment, or at school make an impact on others when we let God work in us. We're surrounded by people who are watching the way we speak and behave. Let's depend on God and have him rule our actions and thoughts. Then we'll influence those who don't believe and this may lead some of them to turn in faith to Jesus.
by Keila Ochoa
Father, help me to live in such a way that Your name will be honored wherever I go.
OUR LIVE SPEAK LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS.
1 Peter 2:11-21
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you shall silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscience of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you and example, that you should follow in his steps.
Insight: Being misunderstood or falsely accused is inevitable in a broken world. But in those vulnerable moments, Peter argues, its especially crucial for believers to strive to follow Christ's example of responding to suffering with love rather than lashing out (1 Peter 2:12,21). "Submitting" to those with power (v.13) doesn't mean blind obedience, but rather letting go of our natural desire to control or overpower others. And as we fearlessly display Christ's love and the ways of our Lord's kingdom (vv.13,16), God may even use us to guide others to His love.
by Monica Brands
11/21/18
WHAT WE HAVE
My friend was eager to gather her family and friends for a festive holiday celebration at her home. Each of the guests looked forward to gathering around the table together and wanted to help defray the expense of feeding so many by contributing to the meal. Some would bring bread, others salad or a side dish. For one guest, however, money was exceptionally tight. Although she looked forward to spending the evening with those whom she loved, she couldn't afford to purchase any food. So, instead, she offered to clean the host's home as her gift.
She would have been welcome at the table had she come empty-handed. Yet she looked at what she did have to offer- her time and skills- and brought them to the gathering with her whole heart. I think that's precisely the spirit of Paul's words in 2nd Corinthians 8. They had been eager to give to help some fellow Christians, and he urged them to follow through on that effort. He commended them for their desire and their willingness, saying their motivation to give is what makes a gift of any size or amount acceptable (v.12).
We're often quick to compare our giving to that of others, especially when our resources don't afford us the luxury of giving as much as we'd like to. But God views our giving differently: It's our willingness to give what we have that He loves.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, help me see what You've given me, even if it doesn't seem like much by the world's standards. Help me to give generously.
GOD LOVES WHOLEHEARTED GIVING OF ANY MEASURE.
2nd Corinthians 8:1-12
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
11/20/18
My friend was eager to gather her family and friends for a festive holiday celebration at her home. Each of the guests looked forward to gathering around the table together and wanted to help defray the expense of feeding so many by contributing to the meal. Some would bring bread, others salad or a side dish. For one guest, however, money was exceptionally tight. Although she looked forward to spending the evening with those whom she loved, she couldn't afford to purchase any food. So, instead, she offered to clean the host's home as her gift.
She would have been welcome at the table had she come empty-handed. Yet she looked at what she did have to offer- her time and skills- and brought them to the gathering with her whole heart. I think that's precisely the spirit of Paul's words in 2nd Corinthians 8. They had been eager to give to help some fellow Christians, and he urged them to follow through on that effort. He commended them for their desire and their willingness, saying their motivation to give is what makes a gift of any size or amount acceptable (v.12).
We're often quick to compare our giving to that of others, especially when our resources don't afford us the luxury of giving as much as we'd like to. But God views our giving differently: It's our willingness to give what we have that He loves.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, help me see what You've given me, even if it doesn't seem like much by the world's standards. Help me to give generously.
GOD LOVES WHOLEHEARTED GIVING OF ANY MEASURE.
2nd Corinthians 8:1-12
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
11/20/18
On the Wrong Side?
When the bridge to Techiman, Ghana, washed out, residents of New Krobo on the other side of the Tano River were stranded. Attendants at Pastor Samuel Appiah's church in Techiman suffered too because many of the members lived in New Krobo- on the "wrong" side of the river.
Amid the crisis, Pastor Sam was trying to expand the church's children's home to care for more orphans. So he prayed. Then his church sponsored outdoor meetings across the river in New Krobo. Soon they were baptizing new believers in Jesus. A new church took root. Not only that, New Krobo had space to care for the orphans awaiting housing. God was weaving His restorative work into the crisis.
When the apostle Paul found himself on the "wrong" side of freedom, he didn't lament his situation. In a powerful letter to the church in Philippi, he wrote, "I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel" (Philippians 1:12). Paul noted how his chains had led to "the whole palace guard" learning about Christ. (v.13). And others had gained confidence to share the good news of Jesus (v.14).
Despite obstacles, Pastor Sam and the apostle Paul found God showing them new ways to work in their crisises. What might God be doing in our challenging circumstances today?
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, sometimes we feel as though we're on the wrong side of a particular situation. We know You are everywhere. Help us see You.
GOD IS AT WORK IN THE MESS.THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE. by Matt Chandler
Philippians 1:12-18
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice.
Insight: Scholars believe Paul was reminiscing about his ministry in Rome when he wrote Philippians 1:12-14. According to Acts 28:16-31, Paul was under house arrest but "was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier" (v.16 NLT). In those two years, Paul had the rare opportunity to proclaim "the kingdom of God" and to teach "about the Lord Jesus Christ-with all boldness and without hindrance!" (vv.30-31). In particular, he proclaimed God's truth to the palace guards, Caesar's elite troops (Philippians 1:13). Paul hinted of an unspecified number in "Caesar's household"- court officials and dignitaries- who had come to faith (4:22). Writing from Rome, Paul's primary concern was not his freedom, but being faithful to preach Christ (1:18-19), to be fruitful (v.22), and to glorify Christ, whether he lived or died (v.20).In a later Roman imprisonment (2 Timothy 1:17), Paul wrote that though he was "chained like a criminal....God's word [was] not chained" (2:9).
by K.T.Sim
11/19/18
When the bridge to Techiman, Ghana, washed out, residents of New Krobo on the other side of the Tano River were stranded. Attendants at Pastor Samuel Appiah's church in Techiman suffered too because many of the members lived in New Krobo- on the "wrong" side of the river.
Amid the crisis, Pastor Sam was trying to expand the church's children's home to care for more orphans. So he prayed. Then his church sponsored outdoor meetings across the river in New Krobo. Soon they were baptizing new believers in Jesus. A new church took root. Not only that, New Krobo had space to care for the orphans awaiting housing. God was weaving His restorative work into the crisis.
When the apostle Paul found himself on the "wrong" side of freedom, he didn't lament his situation. In a powerful letter to the church in Philippi, he wrote, "I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel" (Philippians 1:12). Paul noted how his chains had led to "the whole palace guard" learning about Christ. (v.13). And others had gained confidence to share the good news of Jesus (v.14).
Despite obstacles, Pastor Sam and the apostle Paul found God showing them new ways to work in their crisises. What might God be doing in our challenging circumstances today?
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, sometimes we feel as though we're on the wrong side of a particular situation. We know You are everywhere. Help us see You.
GOD IS AT WORK IN THE MESS.THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE. by Matt Chandler
Philippians 1:12-18
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice.
Insight: Scholars believe Paul was reminiscing about his ministry in Rome when he wrote Philippians 1:12-14. According to Acts 28:16-31, Paul was under house arrest but "was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier" (v.16 NLT). In those two years, Paul had the rare opportunity to proclaim "the kingdom of God" and to teach "about the Lord Jesus Christ-with all boldness and without hindrance!" (vv.30-31). In particular, he proclaimed God's truth to the palace guards, Caesar's elite troops (Philippians 1:13). Paul hinted of an unspecified number in "Caesar's household"- court officials and dignitaries- who had come to faith (4:22). Writing from Rome, Paul's primary concern was not his freedom, but being faithful to preach Christ (1:18-19), to be fruitful (v.22), and to glorify Christ, whether he lived or died (v.20).In a later Roman imprisonment (2 Timothy 1:17), Paul wrote that though he was "chained like a criminal....God's word [was] not chained" (2:9).
by K.T.Sim
11/19/18
HARD CONVERSATIONS
I once drove fifty miles to have a hard conversation with a remote staff person. I had received a report from another employee that suggested he was misrepresenting our company, and I was concerned for our reputation. I felt nudged to offer an opinion that might change his choices.
In 1 Samuel 25, an unlikely person took great personal risk to confront a future king of Israel who was about to make a disastrous choice. Abigail was married to Nabal, whose character matched the meaning of his name ("fool")(vv.3,25.) Nabal had refused to pay
David and his troops the customary wage for protecting his livestock (vv 10-11). Hearing that, David planned a murderous revenge on her household, and knowing her foolish husband wouldn't listen to reason, Abigail prepared a peace offering, rode to meet David and persuaded him to reconsider (vv.18-31).
How did Abigail accomplish this? After sending ahead donkeys loaded with food to satisfy David and his men and settle the debt, she spoke truth to David. She wisely reminded David of God's call on his life. If he resisted his desire for revenge, when God made him king, he wouldn't "have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed" (v.31).
You might also know someone dangerously close to a mistake that could harm others and compromise their own future effectiveness for God. Like Abigail, might God be calling you to a hard conversation?
by Alisa Morgan
Dear God, please let me know when to lovingly confront others.
SOMETIMES FOLLOWING GOD MEANS DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
1 Samuel 25:21-35
David had just said, "It's been useless-all my watching over this fellow's property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name-his name means fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now my lord, as surely as the lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you...
David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have left alive by daybreak."
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."
11/18/18
I once drove fifty miles to have a hard conversation with a remote staff person. I had received a report from another employee that suggested he was misrepresenting our company, and I was concerned for our reputation. I felt nudged to offer an opinion that might change his choices.
In 1 Samuel 25, an unlikely person took great personal risk to confront a future king of Israel who was about to make a disastrous choice. Abigail was married to Nabal, whose character matched the meaning of his name ("fool")(vv.3,25.) Nabal had refused to pay
David and his troops the customary wage for protecting his livestock (vv 10-11). Hearing that, David planned a murderous revenge on her household, and knowing her foolish husband wouldn't listen to reason, Abigail prepared a peace offering, rode to meet David and persuaded him to reconsider (vv.18-31).
How did Abigail accomplish this? After sending ahead donkeys loaded with food to satisfy David and his men and settle the debt, she spoke truth to David. She wisely reminded David of God's call on his life. If he resisted his desire for revenge, when God made him king, he wouldn't "have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed" (v.31).
You might also know someone dangerously close to a mistake that could harm others and compromise their own future effectiveness for God. Like Abigail, might God be calling you to a hard conversation?
by Alisa Morgan
Dear God, please let me know when to lovingly confront others.
SOMETIMES FOLLOWING GOD MEANS DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
1 Samuel 25:21-35
David had just said, "It's been useless-all my watching over this fellow's property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name-his name means fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now my lord, as surely as the lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you...
David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have left alive by daybreak."
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."
11/18/18
DON'T STOP BUILDING
When an opportunity came to take on a new role at work, Simon believed it was a godsend. After praying over the decision and seeking counsel, he felt that God was giving him this opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities. Everything fell into place, and his boss supported his move. Then things began to go wrong. Some colleagues resented his promotion and refused to cooperate. He began to wonder if he should give up.
When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the house of God, enemies sought to frighten and discourage them (Ezra 4:4). The Israelites stopped at first, but continued after God encouraged them through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (4:24-5:2). Once again, enemies came to hassle them. But this time they persevered, knowing "the eye of their God was watching over [them]" (5:5). They held on firmly to God's instructions and trusted Him to carry them through whatever opposition they'd faced. Sure enough, God moved the Persian king to support the temple's completion (vv.13-14).
Similarly, Simon sought God's wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God's strength to persevere. Over time he slowly gained his colleges' acceptance.
As we seek to follow God, wherever He places us, we may face opposition along the way. That's when we need to keep following Him. He will guide us and carry us through.
by Leslie Koh
REMAIN STRONG FOR GOD'S EYE IS ON YOU.
Ezra 5:1-5
Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
At that time tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphartes, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?" They also asked, "What are the names of those who are constructing this building?" But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.
Insight: It was a Persian king by the name of Cyrus who ordered the release and return of Israel from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:1-7). Israel had been waiting for a national deliverer who would be a descendant of king David. Yet according to Isaiah God had called Cyrus to be his servant and shepherd (Isaiah 44:21-45:6). Is it possible that long before Jesus, God was giving us reason to never give up on His ability to come to our rescue in the most unexpected ways?
by Mart Dehaan
11/16/18
When an opportunity came to take on a new role at work, Simon believed it was a godsend. After praying over the decision and seeking counsel, he felt that God was giving him this opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities. Everything fell into place, and his boss supported his move. Then things began to go wrong. Some colleagues resented his promotion and refused to cooperate. He began to wonder if he should give up.
When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the house of God, enemies sought to frighten and discourage them (Ezra 4:4). The Israelites stopped at first, but continued after God encouraged them through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (4:24-5:2). Once again, enemies came to hassle them. But this time they persevered, knowing "the eye of their God was watching over [them]" (5:5). They held on firmly to God's instructions and trusted Him to carry them through whatever opposition they'd faced. Sure enough, God moved the Persian king to support the temple's completion (vv.13-14).
Similarly, Simon sought God's wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God's strength to persevere. Over time he slowly gained his colleges' acceptance.
As we seek to follow God, wherever He places us, we may face opposition along the way. That's when we need to keep following Him. He will guide us and carry us through.
by Leslie Koh
REMAIN STRONG FOR GOD'S EYE IS ON YOU.
Ezra 5:1-5
Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
At that time tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphartes, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?" They also asked, "What are the names of those who are constructing this building?" But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.
Insight: It was a Persian king by the name of Cyrus who ordered the release and return of Israel from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:1-7). Israel had been waiting for a national deliverer who would be a descendant of king David. Yet according to Isaiah God had called Cyrus to be his servant and shepherd (Isaiah 44:21-45:6). Is it possible that long before Jesus, God was giving us reason to never give up on His ability to come to our rescue in the most unexpected ways?
by Mart Dehaan
11/16/18
THANKS FOR WHO GOD IS
Among the thousands of sentiments printed on greeting cards, perhaps one of the most touching is this simple statement: "Thanks for being you." If you receive that card, you know that someone cares for you not because you did something spectacular for that person but because you're appreciated for your essence.
I wonder if this kind of sentiment might indicate for us one of the best ways to say "Thank you" to God. Sure, there are times when God intervenes in our lives in a tangible way, and we say something like, "Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to get that job." But most often, we can simply say, "Thank You, God, for being who You are."
That's what's behind verses like 1st Chronicles 16:34: "Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Thank You, God, for who You are- good and loving. And Psalm 7:17: "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness." Thank You, God, for who You are- the Holy One. And "Let us come before him with thanksgiving... for the Lord is the great God" (Psalm 95:2-3). Thank You, God, for who You are- the Almighty God of the universe.
Who God is. That's reason enough for us to stop what we're doing and praise and thank Him. Thank You, God, for just being You!
by Dave Branon
Thank You, dear God, for being who You are- the Almighty God who loves us and welcomes our love in return. Thank You for everything that makes You magnificent. We stand in awe of You as we praise You with word and song.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS REASONS TO THANK GOD, INCLUDING FOR WHO HE IS!
Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pastor, the flock under his care.
Insight: In Psalm 95, the psalmist is transfixed by the wonder of the Creator and Redeemer he loves. God is the "Rock of our salvation"; nothing can remove the sure foundation His love has laid out for us (v.1). Even though the Psalmist knows there's only one God, because of the polytheistic culture in which he lives he exclaims that his God is far above any other objects of worship (v.3). The wonder of the Creator drives the psalmist to invite all believers to bow down in adoration and to realize that like sheep we are under a loving shepherd's care.
How can you praise the Lord for His marvelous creation and infinite love?
by Dennis Fisher
11/15/18
Among the thousands of sentiments printed on greeting cards, perhaps one of the most touching is this simple statement: "Thanks for being you." If you receive that card, you know that someone cares for you not because you did something spectacular for that person but because you're appreciated for your essence.
I wonder if this kind of sentiment might indicate for us one of the best ways to say "Thank you" to God. Sure, there are times when God intervenes in our lives in a tangible way, and we say something like, "Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to get that job." But most often, we can simply say, "Thank You, God, for being who You are."
That's what's behind verses like 1st Chronicles 16:34: "Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Thank You, God, for who You are- good and loving. And Psalm 7:17: "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness." Thank You, God, for who You are- the Holy One. And "Let us come before him with thanksgiving... for the Lord is the great God" (Psalm 95:2-3). Thank You, God, for who You are- the Almighty God of the universe.
Who God is. That's reason enough for us to stop what we're doing and praise and thank Him. Thank You, God, for just being You!
by Dave Branon
Thank You, dear God, for being who You are- the Almighty God who loves us and welcomes our love in return. Thank You for everything that makes You magnificent. We stand in awe of You as we praise You with word and song.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS REASONS TO THANK GOD, INCLUDING FOR WHO HE IS!
Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pastor, the flock under his care.
Insight: In Psalm 95, the psalmist is transfixed by the wonder of the Creator and Redeemer he loves. God is the "Rock of our salvation"; nothing can remove the sure foundation His love has laid out for us (v.1). Even though the Psalmist knows there's only one God, because of the polytheistic culture in which he lives he exclaims that his God is far above any other objects of worship (v.3). The wonder of the Creator drives the psalmist to invite all believers to bow down in adoration and to realize that like sheep we are under a loving shepherd's care.
How can you praise the Lord for His marvelous creation and infinite love?
by Dennis Fisher
DANGEROUS DISTRACTIONS
Artist Sigismund Goetze shocked Victorian-era England with a painting entitled "Despised and Rejected of Men." In it, he portrayed the suffering, condemned Jesus surrounded by people of Goetze's own generation. They were so consumed by their own interests- business, romance, politics- that they were shockingly oblivious to the Savior's sacrifice. Indifferent to Christ, the surrounding crowd, like the mob at the foot of Jesus's cross, had no idea what- or who- they had missed.
In our day as well, believers and unbelievers alike can easily become distracted from the eternal. How can followers of Jesus cut through this fog of distraction with the truth of God's great love? We can begin by loving one another as fellow children of God. Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:35 NLT).
But real love doesn't stop there. We extend that love by sharing the gospel in hopes of drawing people to the Savior. As Paul wrote, "We are...Christ's ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
In this way, the body of Christ can both reflect and project God's love, the love we so desperately need, to both each other and to our world. May both efforts, empowered by His Spirit, be a part of cutting through the distractions that hinder us from seeing the wonder of God's love in Jesus.
by Bill Crowder
TO A WORLD LIVING IN THE FOG OF DISTRACTION, WE BRING THE LIGHT OF THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS.
John 13:31-35
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Insight: Consider those Jesus chose as His first disciples (Luke 6:13-16). While they were all men and all Jewish, there was much that could (and sometimes did) divide them. Most were from Galilee and the north, but one (Judas Iscariot) was from Judea in the south. While most were fishermen (Mark 1:16-20), Matthew was a tax collector (Matthew 10:3) who served the Romans- harming his own people. Matthew would have been despised by everyone, especially Simon the Zealot (v.4), a member of a radical Jewish group determined to drive Rome out of Israel. Add to that the attempts by James and John to seek higher places of honor in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-37), and you have a fertile environment for friction. These factors and more would have intensified the difficulty of loving one another. Yet, just as we love God because He first loved us, we love one another- despite our differences- in the power of the love we have received from God. As we seek to dwell together as followers of Christ, loving one another isn't easy, but it's vital.
Do you need God's help to love a particular person in an intentional way this week?
by Bill Crowder
11/14/18
Artist Sigismund Goetze shocked Victorian-era England with a painting entitled "Despised and Rejected of Men." In it, he portrayed the suffering, condemned Jesus surrounded by people of Goetze's own generation. They were so consumed by their own interests- business, romance, politics- that they were shockingly oblivious to the Savior's sacrifice. Indifferent to Christ, the surrounding crowd, like the mob at the foot of Jesus's cross, had no idea what- or who- they had missed.
In our day as well, believers and unbelievers alike can easily become distracted from the eternal. How can followers of Jesus cut through this fog of distraction with the truth of God's great love? We can begin by loving one another as fellow children of God. Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:35 NLT).
But real love doesn't stop there. We extend that love by sharing the gospel in hopes of drawing people to the Savior. As Paul wrote, "We are...Christ's ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
In this way, the body of Christ can both reflect and project God's love, the love we so desperately need, to both each other and to our world. May both efforts, empowered by His Spirit, be a part of cutting through the distractions that hinder us from seeing the wonder of God's love in Jesus.
by Bill Crowder
TO A WORLD LIVING IN THE FOG OF DISTRACTION, WE BRING THE LIGHT OF THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS.
John 13:31-35
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Insight: Consider those Jesus chose as His first disciples (Luke 6:13-16). While they were all men and all Jewish, there was much that could (and sometimes did) divide them. Most were from Galilee and the north, but one (Judas Iscariot) was from Judea in the south. While most were fishermen (Mark 1:16-20), Matthew was a tax collector (Matthew 10:3) who served the Romans- harming his own people. Matthew would have been despised by everyone, especially Simon the Zealot (v.4), a member of a radical Jewish group determined to drive Rome out of Israel. Add to that the attempts by James and John to seek higher places of honor in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-37), and you have a fertile environment for friction. These factors and more would have intensified the difficulty of loving one another. Yet, just as we love God because He first loved us, we love one another- despite our differences- in the power of the love we have received from God. As we seek to dwell together as followers of Christ, loving one another isn't easy, but it's vital.
Do you need God's help to love a particular person in an intentional way this week?
by Bill Crowder
11/14/18
BOUND TO ENCOURAGE
The Steven Thompson Memorial Centipede is a cross-country meet unlike any other. Each seven-member team runs as a unit, holding a rope for the first two miles of a three-mile course. At the two-mile mark, the team drops the rope and finishes the race individually. Each person's time is, therefore, a combination of the pace that team kept and his or her own speed.
This year, my daughter's team opted for a strategy I had not previously seen: They put the fastest runner at the front and the slowest right behind her. She explained that their goal was for the strongest runner to be near enough to speak words of encouragement to the slowest runner.
Their plans depicted for me a passage from the book of Hebrews. The writer urges us to "Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" (Hebrews 10:23) as we "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (v.24). There are certainly many ways of accomplishing this, but the author highlighted one: "Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another" (v.25). Gathering together with other believers as we're able is a vital aspect of the life of faith.
The race of life can feel like more than we can handle at times and we may be tempted to drop the rope in hopelessness. As we run together, let's offer one another the encouragement to run strong!
by Kirsten Holmberg
Jesus, thank You for the hope You offer. Thank You for never discouraging us. Help us imitate You by encouraging each other today.
ENCOURAGEMENT IS WATER TO THE SOUL
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Insight: By the blood of Jesus our high priest (Hebrews 10:19-22) we can enter the Most Holy Place, that is, we can come directly into God's presence. However, the author is using these two ideas- Jesus's sacrifice and our access to God- in tandem. The point in this passage is not because Jesus sacrificed for us we can enter God's presence, but rather because we have a path to God, we are now to act. We are to draw near to Him (v.22), hold to our hope (v.23), encourage each other (v.24), and meet together (v.25).
A significant aspect of this passage is the author's repeated use of the 1st-person plural. Seven times the author uses this construction and three times it's in the exhortation "let us" (vv.22,23,24). The implication is that our salvation has a community impact. Together we are part of the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12). The Christian life is to be lived in relationship with others, encouraging each other to be more like Christ.
by J.R. Hudberg
11/13/18
The Steven Thompson Memorial Centipede is a cross-country meet unlike any other. Each seven-member team runs as a unit, holding a rope for the first two miles of a three-mile course. At the two-mile mark, the team drops the rope and finishes the race individually. Each person's time is, therefore, a combination of the pace that team kept and his or her own speed.
This year, my daughter's team opted for a strategy I had not previously seen: They put the fastest runner at the front and the slowest right behind her. She explained that their goal was for the strongest runner to be near enough to speak words of encouragement to the slowest runner.
Their plans depicted for me a passage from the book of Hebrews. The writer urges us to "Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" (Hebrews 10:23) as we "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (v.24). There are certainly many ways of accomplishing this, but the author highlighted one: "Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another" (v.25). Gathering together with other believers as we're able is a vital aspect of the life of faith.
The race of life can feel like more than we can handle at times and we may be tempted to drop the rope in hopelessness. As we run together, let's offer one another the encouragement to run strong!
by Kirsten Holmberg
Jesus, thank You for the hope You offer. Thank You for never discouraging us. Help us imitate You by encouraging each other today.
ENCOURAGEMENT IS WATER TO THE SOUL
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Insight: By the blood of Jesus our high priest (Hebrews 10:19-22) we can enter the Most Holy Place, that is, we can come directly into God's presence. However, the author is using these two ideas- Jesus's sacrifice and our access to God- in tandem. The point in this passage is not because Jesus sacrificed for us we can enter God's presence, but rather because we have a path to God, we are now to act. We are to draw near to Him (v.22), hold to our hope (v.23), encourage each other (v.24), and meet together (v.25).
A significant aspect of this passage is the author's repeated use of the 1st-person plural. Seven times the author uses this construction and three times it's in the exhortation "let us" (vv.22,23,24). The implication is that our salvation has a community impact. Together we are part of the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12). The Christian life is to be lived in relationship with others, encouraging each other to be more like Christ.
by J.R. Hudberg
11/13/18
DUMB SHEEP, GOOD SHEPHERD
My friend Chad spent a year as a shepherd in Wyoming. "Sheep are so dumb that they'll only eat what is right in front of them," he told me. "Even if they've eaten all the grass in front of them, they won't turn to look for a fresh patch- they'll just start eating dirt!"
We laughed, and I couldn't help but think about how often the Bible compares humans to sheep. No wonder we need a shepherd! But since sheep are so dumb, not just any shepherd will do. Sheep need a shepherd who cares about them. When the prophet Ezekiel wrote to God's people in exile, captives in Babylon, he compared them to sheep led by bad shepherds. Instead of caring for the flock, Israel's leaders had exploited them, profiting from them (v.3) and then leaving them for the wild animals to devour (v.5).
But they were not without hope. God, the Good Shepherd, promised to rescue them from the leaders who exploited them. He promised to bring them home, put them in lush pastures, and give them rest. He would heal the injured and go after the lost (vv.11-16). He would banish wild animals, so that His flock would be safe (v.28).
Members of God's flock are in need of tender care and direction. How blessed we are to have a shepherd who is always leading us to green pastures! (v.14).
by Amy Peterson
AM I LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF MY SHEPHERD?
Ezekiel 34:7-15
"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
"For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."
11/11/18
My friend Chad spent a year as a shepherd in Wyoming. "Sheep are so dumb that they'll only eat what is right in front of them," he told me. "Even if they've eaten all the grass in front of them, they won't turn to look for a fresh patch- they'll just start eating dirt!"
We laughed, and I couldn't help but think about how often the Bible compares humans to sheep. No wonder we need a shepherd! But since sheep are so dumb, not just any shepherd will do. Sheep need a shepherd who cares about them. When the prophet Ezekiel wrote to God's people in exile, captives in Babylon, he compared them to sheep led by bad shepherds. Instead of caring for the flock, Israel's leaders had exploited them, profiting from them (v.3) and then leaving them for the wild animals to devour (v.5).
But they were not without hope. God, the Good Shepherd, promised to rescue them from the leaders who exploited them. He promised to bring them home, put them in lush pastures, and give them rest. He would heal the injured and go after the lost (vv.11-16). He would banish wild animals, so that His flock would be safe (v.28).
Members of God's flock are in need of tender care and direction. How blessed we are to have a shepherd who is always leading us to green pastures! (v.14).
by Amy Peterson
AM I LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF MY SHEPHERD?
Ezekiel 34:7-15
"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
"For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."
11/11/18
CONFIDENT HOPE
Dr. William Wallace was serving as a missionary surgeon in Wuzhou, China, in the 1940's when Japan attacked China. Wallace, who was in charge of Stout Memorial Hospital at the time, ordered the hospital to load his equipment on barges and continue to function as a hospital while floating up and down rivers to avoid infantry attacks.
During dangerous times, Philippians 1:21-one of Wallace's favorite verses- reminded him that if he lived, he had work to do for the Savior; but if he died, he had the promise of eternity with Christ. The verse took on special meaning when he died while falsely imprisoned in 1951.
Paul's writing reflects a deep devotion we can aspire too as followers of Jesus, enabling us to face trials and even danger for His sake. It is devotion enabled by the Holy Spirit and the prayers of those closest too us (v.19). It's also a promise. Even when we surrender ourselves to continued service under difficult circumstances, it is with this reminder: when our life and work end here, we still have the joy of eternity with Jesus ahead of us.
In our hardest moments, with hearts committed to walking with Christ now, and with our eyes firmly fixed on the promise of eternity with Him, may our days and our acts bless others with the love of God.
by Randy Kilgore
Make of me, Father, a willing servant in times of weakness and times of strength.
SACRIFICES OFFERED TO GOD ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE HIS LOVE.
Philippians 1:19-26
For I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Insight: When a believer dies, we often comfort the grieving with these words: "He/she is now home with the Lord." Paul affirmed this same certainty when he boldly declared that when he dies he will "depart and be with Christ" (Philippians 1:23). Paul's assurance is built upon the very words of our Lord Jesus. As Christ was dying on the cross for our sins, He promised the believing thief, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
What do we know about heaven? Paul saw it, but wasn't permitted to say anything about it (2 Corinthians 12:3-4), and John saw it but only cryptically described it in Revelation 21-22. But when Jesus described it as "My Father's home" (John 14:2 NLT), He spoke of the welcome, warmth, and intimacy we'll find there with Him.
by KT Sim
11/09/18
Dr. William Wallace was serving as a missionary surgeon in Wuzhou, China, in the 1940's when Japan attacked China. Wallace, who was in charge of Stout Memorial Hospital at the time, ordered the hospital to load his equipment on barges and continue to function as a hospital while floating up and down rivers to avoid infantry attacks.
During dangerous times, Philippians 1:21-one of Wallace's favorite verses- reminded him that if he lived, he had work to do for the Savior; but if he died, he had the promise of eternity with Christ. The verse took on special meaning when he died while falsely imprisoned in 1951.
Paul's writing reflects a deep devotion we can aspire too as followers of Jesus, enabling us to face trials and even danger for His sake. It is devotion enabled by the Holy Spirit and the prayers of those closest too us (v.19). It's also a promise. Even when we surrender ourselves to continued service under difficult circumstances, it is with this reminder: when our life and work end here, we still have the joy of eternity with Jesus ahead of us.
In our hardest moments, with hearts committed to walking with Christ now, and with our eyes firmly fixed on the promise of eternity with Him, may our days and our acts bless others with the love of God.
by Randy Kilgore
Make of me, Father, a willing servant in times of weakness and times of strength.
SACRIFICES OFFERED TO GOD ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE HIS LOVE.
Philippians 1:19-26
For I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Insight: When a believer dies, we often comfort the grieving with these words: "He/she is now home with the Lord." Paul affirmed this same certainty when he boldly declared that when he dies he will "depart and be with Christ" (Philippians 1:23). Paul's assurance is built upon the very words of our Lord Jesus. As Christ was dying on the cross for our sins, He promised the believing thief, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
What do we know about heaven? Paul saw it, but wasn't permitted to say anything about it (2 Corinthians 12:3-4), and John saw it but only cryptically described it in Revelation 21-22. But when Jesus described it as "My Father's home" (John 14:2 NLT), He spoke of the welcome, warmth, and intimacy we'll find there with Him.
by KT Sim
11/09/18
WHAT WE CAN DO
Even though confined to his bed, ninety two-year-old Morrie Boogaart knit hats for the homeless in Michigan. He had reportedly made more than 8,000 hats in fifteen years. Instead of focusing on his health or limitations, Mr. Boogaart looked beyond himself and did what he could to place the needs of others above his own. He declared that his work made him feel good and gave him a purpose. He said, "I'm going to do this until I go home to the Lord" -which happened in February 2018. Though most recipients of his hats won't know his story or how much he sacrificed to create each cap, Morrie's simple act of persevering love is now inspiring people across the world.
We too can look past our struggles, place others before ourselves, and imitate our loving and compassionate Savior, Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:1-5). God in the flesh- the King of Kings- took on the "very nature of a servant" in genuine humility (vv.6-7). Giving His life- the ultimate sacrifice- He took our place on the cross (v.8). Jesus gave everything for us...all for the glory of God the Father (vv.9-11).
As believers in Jesus, it's our privilege to show love and demonstrate concern for others through acts of kindness. Even if we don't think we have much to offer, we can adopt the attitude of servanthood. We can actively seek opportunities to make a difference in people's lives by simply doing what we can.
by Xochitl Dixon
WE CAN MODEL CHRIST'S LOVE BY DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SERVE OTHERS.
Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage:
Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place. And gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Insight: Before pointing to Christ Jesus- the supreme example of humility and selfless service- Paul exhorts believers to humbly serve the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-5). Previously Paul had instructed believers about the responsibilities of their heavenly citizenship (1:27). Gospel-worthy living finds expression in the context of worldly opposition (vv.28-30) and among believers who share the blessings of a common spiritual union (2:1).
by Arthur Jackson
11/08/18
FATHERS AND SONS
My father was a good father, and, in most respects, I was a dutiful son. But I allowed my father to starve for the one thing I could have given him: myself.
He was a quiet man; I was equally silent. We often worked for hours side-by-side with scarcely a word passing between us. He never asked; I never told him my deepest desires and dreams, my hopes and fears.
In time I woke up to my reticence. Perhaps the perception came when my first son was born, or when, one by one, my sons went out into the world. Now I wish I had been more of a son to my father.
I think of all the things I could have told him. And all the things he could have told me. At his funeral I stood beside his casket, struggling to understand my emotions. "It's too late, isn't it?" my wife said quietly. "Exactly."
My comfort lies in the fact that we will be able to set things right in heaven, for is that not where every tear will be wiped away? (Revelation 21:4).
For believers in Jesus, death is not the end of affection but the beginning of timeless existence in which there would be no more misunderstandings; relationships will be healed and love will grow forever. There, the hearts of sons will turn to their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their sons (Malachi 4:6).
by David H. Roper
Father, thank You for forgiving me and allowing me to experience a restored relationship with You. Help me to seek reconciliation in my broken relationships and deeper connections with others close to me even as I await the healing that will come in Your presence.
IN GOD'S POWER AND LOVE, DRAW CLOSER TO OTHERS WHILE THERE'S TIME.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Insight: Scripture is very realistic about the difficulty of reconciliation. A community made up of broken people (Ephesians 4:17-24) will struggle with unity. Still, Christ's victory over all evil (vv.7-10)- including in our hearts- means that we can have profound confidence that believers, as Christ's body, will grow in unity as His love brings us together (vv.15-16).
But believers must "Make every effort" (v.3) to cultivate a community committed to "speaking the truth in love" (v.15)- holding each other accountable for exchanging our natural lifestyles (vv.25-29; 5:3-18) for the Spirit's "way of love" (5:2,18-20).
Most important, cultivating unity requires a forgiving, grace-filled spirit (4:32;5:2) through the power of Christ's Spirit, who loved us long before we loved Him.
This side of eternity, persistent sin may make it impossible for some relationships to be fully restored. Yet we can rest in Christ's victory, trusting that His love and power will one day bring all of God's children to perfect unity.
by Monica Brands
11/07/18
Even though confined to his bed, ninety two-year-old Morrie Boogaart knit hats for the homeless in Michigan. He had reportedly made more than 8,000 hats in fifteen years. Instead of focusing on his health or limitations, Mr. Boogaart looked beyond himself and did what he could to place the needs of others above his own. He declared that his work made him feel good and gave him a purpose. He said, "I'm going to do this until I go home to the Lord" -which happened in February 2018. Though most recipients of his hats won't know his story or how much he sacrificed to create each cap, Morrie's simple act of persevering love is now inspiring people across the world.
We too can look past our struggles, place others before ourselves, and imitate our loving and compassionate Savior, Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:1-5). God in the flesh- the King of Kings- took on the "very nature of a servant" in genuine humility (vv.6-7). Giving His life- the ultimate sacrifice- He took our place on the cross (v.8). Jesus gave everything for us...all for the glory of God the Father (vv.9-11).
As believers in Jesus, it's our privilege to show love and demonstrate concern for others through acts of kindness. Even if we don't think we have much to offer, we can adopt the attitude of servanthood. We can actively seek opportunities to make a difference in people's lives by simply doing what we can.
by Xochitl Dixon
WE CAN MODEL CHRIST'S LOVE BY DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SERVE OTHERS.
Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage:
Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place. And gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Insight: Before pointing to Christ Jesus- the supreme example of humility and selfless service- Paul exhorts believers to humbly serve the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-5). Previously Paul had instructed believers about the responsibilities of their heavenly citizenship (1:27). Gospel-worthy living finds expression in the context of worldly opposition (vv.28-30) and among believers who share the blessings of a common spiritual union (2:1).
by Arthur Jackson
11/08/18
FATHERS AND SONS
My father was a good father, and, in most respects, I was a dutiful son. But I allowed my father to starve for the one thing I could have given him: myself.
He was a quiet man; I was equally silent. We often worked for hours side-by-side with scarcely a word passing between us. He never asked; I never told him my deepest desires and dreams, my hopes and fears.
In time I woke up to my reticence. Perhaps the perception came when my first son was born, or when, one by one, my sons went out into the world. Now I wish I had been more of a son to my father.
I think of all the things I could have told him. And all the things he could have told me. At his funeral I stood beside his casket, struggling to understand my emotions. "It's too late, isn't it?" my wife said quietly. "Exactly."
My comfort lies in the fact that we will be able to set things right in heaven, for is that not where every tear will be wiped away? (Revelation 21:4).
For believers in Jesus, death is not the end of affection but the beginning of timeless existence in which there would be no more misunderstandings; relationships will be healed and love will grow forever. There, the hearts of sons will turn to their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their sons (Malachi 4:6).
by David H. Roper
Father, thank You for forgiving me and allowing me to experience a restored relationship with You. Help me to seek reconciliation in my broken relationships and deeper connections with others close to me even as I await the healing that will come in Your presence.
IN GOD'S POWER AND LOVE, DRAW CLOSER TO OTHERS WHILE THERE'S TIME.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Insight: Scripture is very realistic about the difficulty of reconciliation. A community made up of broken people (Ephesians 4:17-24) will struggle with unity. Still, Christ's victory over all evil (vv.7-10)- including in our hearts- means that we can have profound confidence that believers, as Christ's body, will grow in unity as His love brings us together (vv.15-16).
But believers must "Make every effort" (v.3) to cultivate a community committed to "speaking the truth in love" (v.15)- holding each other accountable for exchanging our natural lifestyles (vv.25-29; 5:3-18) for the Spirit's "way of love" (5:2,18-20).
Most important, cultivating unity requires a forgiving, grace-filled spirit (4:32;5:2) through the power of Christ's Spirit, who loved us long before we loved Him.
This side of eternity, persistent sin may make it impossible for some relationships to be fully restored. Yet we can rest in Christ's victory, trusting that His love and power will one day bring all of God's children to perfect unity.
by Monica Brands
11/07/18
I'M SORRY
In 2005, Collins falsified a report that resulted in McGee being thrown in prison for four years, and McGee vowed to find Collins when he got out and "hurt him." McGee was eventually exonerated, but not before he lost everything. Meanwhile, Collin's many falsified reports were uncovered, he lost his job, and he too spent time behind bars. But both men came to faith in Christ while in prison.
In 2015, the two discovered they were working together in the same faith-based company. Colins recalls, "I [told McGee], 'honestly I have no explanation, all I can do is say I'm sorry.' " It was "pretty much what I needed to hear," said McGee, who graciously forgave him. The men were able to reconcile because both had experienced the incomparable love and forgiveness of God, who empowers us to "forgive as the Lord forgave [us]" (Colossians 3:13).
Now the two are great friends. "We have this joint mission of letting the world know that if you owe an apology to somebody, put your pride down and go apologize," said Collins. "And if your holding something against somebody, let go of the bitterness because it's like drinking poison and hoping its hurting them."
God calls believers to live in peace and unity. If we have "a grievance against someone," we can bring it to Him. He will help us to reconcile (vv.13-15; Philippians 4:6-7).
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Father, thank You for forgiving us when we come to You in sorrow over our sins. Help us to receive Your forgiveness and to extend it to others.
CHRIST SETS US FREE TO FORGIVE.
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Insight: Many of the themes in Colossians 3:12-17 are repeated in Ephesians 4-5. Paul challenges followers of Christ at Colossae and Ephesus to have a forgiving spirit (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13), to love one another (Ephesians 5:2; Colossians 3:14), to live in the peace of Christ (Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3:15, to allow the message of Christ or the Holy Spirit to dwell within them and fill them (Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16), and to worship God with singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). And everything is to be saturated with a thankful spirit (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15).
The common denominator is that we're incapable of doing any of it on our own strength. It's only as the Spirit fills us and the gospel changes our hearts that the higher ground of the Christ-life will be expressed in us.
by Bill Crowder
11/06/18
In 2005, Collins falsified a report that resulted in McGee being thrown in prison for four years, and McGee vowed to find Collins when he got out and "hurt him." McGee was eventually exonerated, but not before he lost everything. Meanwhile, Collin's many falsified reports were uncovered, he lost his job, and he too spent time behind bars. But both men came to faith in Christ while in prison.
In 2015, the two discovered they were working together in the same faith-based company. Colins recalls, "I [told McGee], 'honestly I have no explanation, all I can do is say I'm sorry.' " It was "pretty much what I needed to hear," said McGee, who graciously forgave him. The men were able to reconcile because both had experienced the incomparable love and forgiveness of God, who empowers us to "forgive as the Lord forgave [us]" (Colossians 3:13).
Now the two are great friends. "We have this joint mission of letting the world know that if you owe an apology to somebody, put your pride down and go apologize," said Collins. "And if your holding something against somebody, let go of the bitterness because it's like drinking poison and hoping its hurting them."
God calls believers to live in peace and unity. If we have "a grievance against someone," we can bring it to Him. He will help us to reconcile (vv.13-15; Philippians 4:6-7).
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Father, thank You for forgiving us when we come to You in sorrow over our sins. Help us to receive Your forgiveness and to extend it to others.
CHRIST SETS US FREE TO FORGIVE.
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Insight: Many of the themes in Colossians 3:12-17 are repeated in Ephesians 4-5. Paul challenges followers of Christ at Colossae and Ephesus to have a forgiving spirit (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13), to love one another (Ephesians 5:2; Colossians 3:14), to live in the peace of Christ (Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3:15, to allow the message of Christ or the Holy Spirit to dwell within them and fill them (Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16), and to worship God with singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). And everything is to be saturated with a thankful spirit (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15).
The common denominator is that we're incapable of doing any of it on our own strength. It's only as the Spirit fills us and the gospel changes our hearts that the higher ground of the Christ-life will be expressed in us.
by Bill Crowder
11/06/18
DAD AT THE DENTIST
I didn't expect a profound lesson about the Father's heart at the dentist's office-but I got one. I was there with my ten-year-old son. He had an adult tooth coming in under a baby tooth that hadn't fallen out yet. It had to come out. There was no other way.
My son, in tears, pleaded with me: "Dad, isn't there another way? Can't we just wait and see? Please, Dad, I don't want to have this tooth pulled!" It just about broke my heart, but I told him, "Son, its got to come out. I'm sorry. There's no other way." And I held his hand as he wriggled and writhed while the dentist removed that molar, tears in my eyes too. I couldn't take his pain away; the best I could offer was to be with him in it.
In that moment, I remembered Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, asking His Father for a different way. How it must have broken the Father's heart to see His beloved Son in such agony! Yet there was no other way to save His people.
We sometimes face unavoidable yet painful moments- just like my son did. But because of Jesus's work for us through His Spirit, even in our darkest moments our loving heavenly Father is always present with us (Matthew 28:20).
by Adam Holz
Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your beloved son to save us even though it must have broken Your heart to do so. In our times of joy or pain thank You for Your Spirit holding and carrying us.
OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER PROMISES HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH US, EVEN IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS.
Matthew 26:36-39
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Insight: In Matthew 26:36-39, we catch a crystal-clear glimpse of the Savior's humanity. The last supper is over. Jesus has foretold Juda's betrayal (v.25) and predicted the disciples' abandonment of Him (vv.31-35). Now they're in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus often brought His disciples (Luke 21:37;22:39). As He prepares to talk to His Father, Jesus tells the disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (Matthew 26:38). Think of it! In this, his darkest hour the Creator of the cosmos requests that company of His friends.
Jesus goes a short distance away to pray "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me" (v.39). Yet even Jesus doesn't get all His prayers answered with a yes. Soon He will cry out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (27:46). The cup of suffering will not be taken from Him. He will drink it in our place. And He will do it alone.
God has promised us, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). When I face my darkest moments, do I believe this?
by Tim Gustafson
11/05/18
WISDOM'S SOURCE
A man filed a law suit against a woman, claiming she had his dog. In court, the woman said her dog couldn't be his and told the judge where she had purchased it. The real owner's identity was revealed when the judge released the animal in the courtroom. Tail wagging, it immediately ran to the man!
Solomon, a judge in ancient Israel needed to settle a somewhat similar issue. Two women each claimed to be the mother of the same baby boy. After considering both arguments, he requested a sword to divide the infant in half. The real mother begged Solomon to give the baby to the other woman, choosing to save her son's life even if she could not have him (1st Kings 3:26). Solomon gave the baby to her.
Wisdom is necessary as we decide what's fair and moral, right and wrong. If we truly value wisdom, we can ask God for a discerning heart, like Solomon did (v.9). God may answer our requests by helping us balance our needs and desires with the interests of others. He may also help us weigh short-term benefits against long-term (sometimes eternal) gains so we can honor Him in how we live. Our God is not only a perfectly wise judge, but He is also a personal counselor who is willing to give us Godly wisdom in great amounts (James 1:5).
by Jennifer Benson Shuldt
I worship You, God, as the true source of wisdom. Please show me how to make choices that bring honor to Your name.
NEED WISDOM? SEEK IT FROM THE SOURCE WHO ALONE CAN PROVIDE IT- GOD.
1st Kings 3:16-28
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. "During the night this woman's son died because she laid on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son- and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." And so they argued before the king.
The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' "
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!"
But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the 1st woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
11/04/18
I didn't expect a profound lesson about the Father's heart at the dentist's office-but I got one. I was there with my ten-year-old son. He had an adult tooth coming in under a baby tooth that hadn't fallen out yet. It had to come out. There was no other way.
My son, in tears, pleaded with me: "Dad, isn't there another way? Can't we just wait and see? Please, Dad, I don't want to have this tooth pulled!" It just about broke my heart, but I told him, "Son, its got to come out. I'm sorry. There's no other way." And I held his hand as he wriggled and writhed while the dentist removed that molar, tears in my eyes too. I couldn't take his pain away; the best I could offer was to be with him in it.
In that moment, I remembered Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, asking His Father for a different way. How it must have broken the Father's heart to see His beloved Son in such agony! Yet there was no other way to save His people.
We sometimes face unavoidable yet painful moments- just like my son did. But because of Jesus's work for us through His Spirit, even in our darkest moments our loving heavenly Father is always present with us (Matthew 28:20).
by Adam Holz
Father, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your beloved son to save us even though it must have broken Your heart to do so. In our times of joy or pain thank You for Your Spirit holding and carrying us.
OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER PROMISES HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH US, EVEN IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS.
Matthew 26:36-39
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Insight: In Matthew 26:36-39, we catch a crystal-clear glimpse of the Savior's humanity. The last supper is over. Jesus has foretold Juda's betrayal (v.25) and predicted the disciples' abandonment of Him (vv.31-35). Now they're in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus often brought His disciples (Luke 21:37;22:39). As He prepares to talk to His Father, Jesus tells the disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (Matthew 26:38). Think of it! In this, his darkest hour the Creator of the cosmos requests that company of His friends.
Jesus goes a short distance away to pray "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me" (v.39). Yet even Jesus doesn't get all His prayers answered with a yes. Soon He will cry out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (27:46). The cup of suffering will not be taken from Him. He will drink it in our place. And He will do it alone.
God has promised us, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). When I face my darkest moments, do I believe this?
by Tim Gustafson
11/05/18
WISDOM'S SOURCE
A man filed a law suit against a woman, claiming she had his dog. In court, the woman said her dog couldn't be his and told the judge where she had purchased it. The real owner's identity was revealed when the judge released the animal in the courtroom. Tail wagging, it immediately ran to the man!
Solomon, a judge in ancient Israel needed to settle a somewhat similar issue. Two women each claimed to be the mother of the same baby boy. After considering both arguments, he requested a sword to divide the infant in half. The real mother begged Solomon to give the baby to the other woman, choosing to save her son's life even if she could not have him (1st Kings 3:26). Solomon gave the baby to her.
Wisdom is necessary as we decide what's fair and moral, right and wrong. If we truly value wisdom, we can ask God for a discerning heart, like Solomon did (v.9). God may answer our requests by helping us balance our needs and desires with the interests of others. He may also help us weigh short-term benefits against long-term (sometimes eternal) gains so we can honor Him in how we live. Our God is not only a perfectly wise judge, but He is also a personal counselor who is willing to give us Godly wisdom in great amounts (James 1:5).
by Jennifer Benson Shuldt
I worship You, God, as the true source of wisdom. Please show me how to make choices that bring honor to Your name.
NEED WISDOM? SEEK IT FROM THE SOURCE WHO ALONE CAN PROVIDE IT- GOD.
1st Kings 3:16-28
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. "During the night this woman's son died because she laid on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son- and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."
The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." And so they argued before the king.
The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' "
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."
The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!"
But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"
Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the 1st woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
11/04/18
STILL THE KING
One news report called it "the single deadliest day for Christians in decades." The pair of attacks on Sunday worshipers in April 2017 defies our understanding. We simply don't have a category to describe bloodshed in a house of worship. But we can find some help from others who know this kind of pain well.
Most of the people of Jerusalem were in exile or had been slain when Asaph wrote Psalm 74. Pouring out his heart's anguish, he described the destruction of the temple at the hands of ruthless invaders. "Your foes roared in the place where you met with us," Asaph said (v.4). "They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name" (v.7).
Yet the psalmist found a place to stand despite the awful reality- providing encouragement that we can do so too. "But God is my King from long ago," Asaph resolved. "He brings salvation on the earth" (v.12). This truth enabled Asaph to praise God's mighty power even though His salvation seemed absent in the moment. "Have regard for your covenant," Asaph prayed. "Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name" (vv.20-21).
When justice and mercy seem absent, God's love and power are in no way diminished. With Asaph, we can confidently say, "But God is my King."
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, with the psalmist we pray for the honor of Your Name. Show Yourself strong and compassionate. Rise up and defend Your cause. God will defend His Name.
GOD WILL DEFEND HIS NAME.
Psalm 74:4-8,12-23
Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs...They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name. They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land....
But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Remember how the enemy has mocked you Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Insight: As the author of Psalm 74, Asaph helped Israel mourn the destruction of their temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Little did he know that some day his song would find an echo in an even more confusing loss. According to the New Testament, a greater temple of God (John 2:20-21) was nailed to a tree. This time, God Himself bore the loss. Where are we in the story?
by Mart Dehaan
11/02/18
One news report called it "the single deadliest day for Christians in decades." The pair of attacks on Sunday worshipers in April 2017 defies our understanding. We simply don't have a category to describe bloodshed in a house of worship. But we can find some help from others who know this kind of pain well.
Most of the people of Jerusalem were in exile or had been slain when Asaph wrote Psalm 74. Pouring out his heart's anguish, he described the destruction of the temple at the hands of ruthless invaders. "Your foes roared in the place where you met with us," Asaph said (v.4). "They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name" (v.7).
Yet the psalmist found a place to stand despite the awful reality- providing encouragement that we can do so too. "But God is my King from long ago," Asaph resolved. "He brings salvation on the earth" (v.12). This truth enabled Asaph to praise God's mighty power even though His salvation seemed absent in the moment. "Have regard for your covenant," Asaph prayed. "Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name" (vv.20-21).
When justice and mercy seem absent, God's love and power are in no way diminished. With Asaph, we can confidently say, "But God is my King."
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, with the psalmist we pray for the honor of Your Name. Show Yourself strong and compassionate. Rise up and defend Your cause. God will defend His Name.
GOD WILL DEFEND HIS NAME.
Psalm 74:4-8,12-23
Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs...They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name. They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land....
But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Remember how the enemy has mocked you Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Insight: As the author of Psalm 74, Asaph helped Israel mourn the destruction of their temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Little did he know that some day his song would find an echo in an even more confusing loss. According to the New Testament, a greater temple of God (John 2:20-21) was nailed to a tree. This time, God Himself bore the loss. Where are we in the story?
by Mart Dehaan
11/02/18
CATCHING FOXES
While talking on the phone with a friend who lives by the seaside, I experienced delight at hearing seagulls squawking, "Vile creatures," she responded, for to her they're a daily menace. As a Londoner, I feel the same way about foxes. I find them not cure animals, but roaming creatures that leave smelly messages in their wake.
Foxes appear in the love poetry of the Song of Solomon, an Old Testament book that reveals the love between husband and wife, and some commentators believe, between God and His people. The bride warns about little foxes, asking her bridegroom to catch them (2:15). For foxes, hungry for the vineyards grapes, could tear the tender plants apart. As the bride looks forward to their married life together, she doesn't want vermin disturbing their covenant of love.
How can "focus" disturb our relationship with God? For me, when I say "yes" to too many requests, I can become overwhelmed and unpleasant. Or when I witness relational conflict, I can be tempted to despair or anger. As I ask the Lord to limit the effects of these "foxes"- those I let in through an open gate or those who have snuck in- I gain in trust of and love for God as I sense His loving presence and direction.
How about you? How can you seek God's help from anything keeping your from Him?
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, You are powerful and You are good. Please protect My relationship with You, keeping out anything that would take my eyes off You.
GOD CAN GUARD OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
Song of Solomon 2:14-17
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.
Insight: Although the author is not specifically named, Song of Songs is the traditionally attributed to Solomon, who is mentioned in 1:1, 5;3:7, 9,11; 8:11,12 and who is referred to as "King Solomon" in 3:9-11. Therefore, this book is also called "The Song of Solomon." Solomon composed 1,005 songs (1 King 4:32), but this song is deemed to be "the best"- hints the appropriate title "Solomon's Song of Songs" (1:1). It is one of two biblical books (the other is Esther) where God isn't mentioned explicitly. Some interpret Song of Songs as an allegory of Christ's love for the church; others consider it to be a poem describing the romance and relationship of two passionate lovers. Rich in nature metaphors- "Your eyes are doves" (1:15); "My beloved is like a gazelle" (2:9); "The little foxes that ruin the vineyards" (v.15); the song celebrates sexual love and physical intimacy within the bonds of marriage (4:8-5:1). Together husband and wife wield out "the foxes" (2:15), removing anything that threatens their loving union or hurts the exclusivity of their marriage
by K.T. Sim
11/01/18
While talking on the phone with a friend who lives by the seaside, I experienced delight at hearing seagulls squawking, "Vile creatures," she responded, for to her they're a daily menace. As a Londoner, I feel the same way about foxes. I find them not cure animals, but roaming creatures that leave smelly messages in their wake.
Foxes appear in the love poetry of the Song of Solomon, an Old Testament book that reveals the love between husband and wife, and some commentators believe, between God and His people. The bride warns about little foxes, asking her bridegroom to catch them (2:15). For foxes, hungry for the vineyards grapes, could tear the tender plants apart. As the bride looks forward to their married life together, she doesn't want vermin disturbing their covenant of love.
How can "focus" disturb our relationship with God? For me, when I say "yes" to too many requests, I can become overwhelmed and unpleasant. Or when I witness relational conflict, I can be tempted to despair or anger. As I ask the Lord to limit the effects of these "foxes"- those I let in through an open gate or those who have snuck in- I gain in trust of and love for God as I sense His loving presence and direction.
How about you? How can you seek God's help from anything keeping your from Him?
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, You are powerful and You are good. Please protect My relationship with You, keeping out anything that would take my eyes off You.
GOD CAN GUARD OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
Song of Solomon 2:14-17
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.
Insight: Although the author is not specifically named, Song of Songs is the traditionally attributed to Solomon, who is mentioned in 1:1, 5;3:7, 9,11; 8:11,12 and who is referred to as "King Solomon" in 3:9-11. Therefore, this book is also called "The Song of Solomon." Solomon composed 1,005 songs (1 King 4:32), but this song is deemed to be "the best"- hints the appropriate title "Solomon's Song of Songs" (1:1). It is one of two biblical books (the other is Esther) where God isn't mentioned explicitly. Some interpret Song of Songs as an allegory of Christ's love for the church; others consider it to be a poem describing the romance and relationship of two passionate lovers. Rich in nature metaphors- "Your eyes are doves" (1:15); "My beloved is like a gazelle" (2:9); "The little foxes that ruin the vineyards" (v.15); the song celebrates sexual love and physical intimacy within the bonds of marriage (4:8-5:1). Together husband and wife wield out "the foxes" (2:15), removing anything that threatens their loving union or hurts the exclusivity of their marriage
by K.T. Sim
11/01/18
COMPASSION FATIGUE
Anne Frank is well known for her diary describing her family's years of hiding during World War Two. When she was later imprisoned in a Nazi death camp, those with her said "her tears [for them] never ran dry." Because of this, scholar Kenneth Bailey concluded that Anne never displayed "compassion fatigue."
Compassion fatigue can be one of the results of living in a badly broken world. The sheer volume of human suffering can numb even the best intentioned among us. Compassion fatigue, however, was not in Jesus's makeup. Matthew 9:35-36 says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
Our world suffers not only from physical needs but also from spiritual brokenness. Jesus came to meet that need and challenged his followers to join Him in this work (vv.37-38). He prayed that the Father would raise up workers to respond to the needs all round us- people who struggle with loneliness, sin, and illness. May the Father give us a heart for others that mirrors His heart. In the strength of His Spirit, we can express His compassionate concern to those who are suffering.
by Bill Crowder
IN A WORLD FILLED WITH HEARTACHE, WE CAN MODEL THE COMPASSION OF JESUS.
Matthew 9:35-38
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Insight: While contemplating the crowd in Matthew 9, Jesus did three specific things. First, He "saw" the crowds (v.36) and recognized they were "harassed and helpless." Second, He felt compassion toward them (v.36). Finally, our Lord acted by challenging His disciples to pray that the Father would raise up workers to serve in the harvest (v.38).
We find the same pattern in Acts 17 when Paul entered the city of Athens. He saw (v.16) that the city was filled with idols, which stirred strong feelings within in ("he was greatly distressed")- perhaps because of the self-destructive nature of idol worship. Then Paul acted by engaging people with the message of Jesus and His resurrection (vv.17-18).
This pattern practiced by both Jesus and Paul established a model we can embrace today.
by Bill Crowder
10/31/18
Anne Frank is well known for her diary describing her family's years of hiding during World War Two. When she was later imprisoned in a Nazi death camp, those with her said "her tears [for them] never ran dry." Because of this, scholar Kenneth Bailey concluded that Anne never displayed "compassion fatigue."
Compassion fatigue can be one of the results of living in a badly broken world. The sheer volume of human suffering can numb even the best intentioned among us. Compassion fatigue, however, was not in Jesus's makeup. Matthew 9:35-36 says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
Our world suffers not only from physical needs but also from spiritual brokenness. Jesus came to meet that need and challenged his followers to join Him in this work (vv.37-38). He prayed that the Father would raise up workers to respond to the needs all round us- people who struggle with loneliness, sin, and illness. May the Father give us a heart for others that mirrors His heart. In the strength of His Spirit, we can express His compassionate concern to those who are suffering.
by Bill Crowder
IN A WORLD FILLED WITH HEARTACHE, WE CAN MODEL THE COMPASSION OF JESUS.
Matthew 9:35-38
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Insight: While contemplating the crowd in Matthew 9, Jesus did three specific things. First, He "saw" the crowds (v.36) and recognized they were "harassed and helpless." Second, He felt compassion toward them (v.36). Finally, our Lord acted by challenging His disciples to pray that the Father would raise up workers to serve in the harvest (v.38).
We find the same pattern in Acts 17 when Paul entered the city of Athens. He saw (v.16) that the city was filled with idols, which stirred strong feelings within in ("he was greatly distressed")- perhaps because of the self-destructive nature of idol worship. Then Paul acted by engaging people with the message of Jesus and His resurrection (vv.17-18).
This pattern practiced by both Jesus and Paul established a model we can embrace today.
by Bill Crowder
10/31/18
HOPE IN THE DARKNESS
According to legend, Qu Yuan was a wise and patriotic Chinese government official who lived during the time known as the warring States. (475-246 BC). It has been said that he tried repeatedly to warn the king about an impending threat that would destroy the country, but the king rejected his advice. Eventually Qu Yuan was exiled. When he learned about the fall of his beloved country to the foe he had warned about, he ended his life.
Qu Yuan's life resembles some aspects of the life of the prophet Jeremiah. He too served kings who scorned his warnings, and his country was ravaged. However, while Qu Yuan gave in to his despair, Jeremiah found genuine hope. Why the difference?
Jeremiah knew the Lord who offers the only true hope. "There is hope for your descendants," God has assured his prophet. "Your children will return to their own land" (Jeremiah 32:17). Although Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC, it was later rebuilt (see Nehemiah 6:15).
At some point, we all find ourselves in situations that can cause us to despair. It could be a bad medical report, a sudden job loss, a shattered family. But when life knocks us down, we can still look up- for God is on the throne! He holds our days in His hands, and He holds us close to His heart.
by Poh Fang Chia
Lord, fill me up with hope and give me a tangible reminder today that things will turn out right in Your way in Your time.
THE WORLD HOPES FOR THE BEST, BUT THE LORD OFFERS THE BEST HOPE. by John Wesley
Jeremiah 31:16-26
This is what the Lord says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears....So there is hope for your descendants," declares the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land.
"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented: after I came to understand, I beat my breasts. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the Lord. "Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns. How long will you wander, unfaithful daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth- the woman will return to the man."
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: 'The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.'
People will live together in Judah and all its towns- farmers and those who move about with their flocks. I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
Insight: God tells Jeremiah to "restrain your voice from weeping" (31:16). Hope shines through. Ephraim [Israel] and Judah will repent and be restored. In a rare respite from his grief, Jeremiah can say, "My sleep had been pleasant to me" (v.26).
What causes your tears? Know that God sees and understands them.
by Tim Gustafson
10/30/18
According to legend, Qu Yuan was a wise and patriotic Chinese government official who lived during the time known as the warring States. (475-246 BC). It has been said that he tried repeatedly to warn the king about an impending threat that would destroy the country, but the king rejected his advice. Eventually Qu Yuan was exiled. When he learned about the fall of his beloved country to the foe he had warned about, he ended his life.
Qu Yuan's life resembles some aspects of the life of the prophet Jeremiah. He too served kings who scorned his warnings, and his country was ravaged. However, while Qu Yuan gave in to his despair, Jeremiah found genuine hope. Why the difference?
Jeremiah knew the Lord who offers the only true hope. "There is hope for your descendants," God has assured his prophet. "Your children will return to their own land" (Jeremiah 32:17). Although Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC, it was later rebuilt (see Nehemiah 6:15).
At some point, we all find ourselves in situations that can cause us to despair. It could be a bad medical report, a sudden job loss, a shattered family. But when life knocks us down, we can still look up- for God is on the throne! He holds our days in His hands, and He holds us close to His heart.
by Poh Fang Chia
Lord, fill me up with hope and give me a tangible reminder today that things will turn out right in Your way in Your time.
THE WORLD HOPES FOR THE BEST, BUT THE LORD OFFERS THE BEST HOPE. by John Wesley
Jeremiah 31:16-26
This is what the Lord says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears....So there is hope for your descendants," declares the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land.
"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented: after I came to understand, I beat my breasts. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the Lord. "Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns. How long will you wander, unfaithful daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth- the woman will return to the man."
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: 'The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.'
People will live together in Judah and all its towns- farmers and those who move about with their flocks. I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
Insight: God tells Jeremiah to "restrain your voice from weeping" (31:16). Hope shines through. Ephraim [Israel] and Judah will repent and be restored. In a rare respite from his grief, Jeremiah can say, "My sleep had been pleasant to me" (v.26).
What causes your tears? Know that God sees and understands them.
by Tim Gustafson
10/30/18
AGREEING TO DISAGREE
I remember hearing my dad talk about how difficult it was to walk away from unending arguments over differing interpretations of the Bible. By contrast he recalled how good it was when both sides agreed to disagree.
But is it really possible to set aside irreconcilable differences when so much seems to be at stake? That's one of the questions the apostle Paul answers in his New Testament letter to the Romans. Writing to leaders caught in social, political, and religious conflict, he suggests ways of finding common ground even under the most polarized conditions (14:5-6).
According to Paul, the way to agree to disagree is to recall that each of us will answer to the Lord not only for our opinions but also for how we treat one another in our differences (v.10).
Conditions of conflict can actually become occasions to remember that there are some things more important than our own ideas- even more than our interpretations of the Bible. All of us will answer for whether we have loved one another, and even our enemies, as Christ loved us.
Now that I think of it, I remember that my dad used to talk about how good it is not just to agree to disagree but to do so with mutual love and respect.
by Mart Dehaan
Father, please enable us to be patient and kind with those who don't agree with us about anything or everything.
WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE - IN LOVE.
Romans 14:1-13
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God' "
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
10/29/18
I remember hearing my dad talk about how difficult it was to walk away from unending arguments over differing interpretations of the Bible. By contrast he recalled how good it was when both sides agreed to disagree.
But is it really possible to set aside irreconcilable differences when so much seems to be at stake? That's one of the questions the apostle Paul answers in his New Testament letter to the Romans. Writing to leaders caught in social, political, and religious conflict, he suggests ways of finding common ground even under the most polarized conditions (14:5-6).
According to Paul, the way to agree to disagree is to recall that each of us will answer to the Lord not only for our opinions but also for how we treat one another in our differences (v.10).
Conditions of conflict can actually become occasions to remember that there are some things more important than our own ideas- even more than our interpretations of the Bible. All of us will answer for whether we have loved one another, and even our enemies, as Christ loved us.
Now that I think of it, I remember that my dad used to talk about how good it is not just to agree to disagree but to do so with mutual love and respect.
by Mart Dehaan
Father, please enable us to be patient and kind with those who don't agree with us about anything or everything.
WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE - IN LOVE.
Romans 14:1-13
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God' "
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
GETTING A GRIP ON GRATITUDE
The years of weariness caused by chronic pain and frustrations with my limited mobility had finally caught up with me. In my discontent, I became demanding and ungrateful. I began complaining about my husband's caregiving skills. I griped about the way he cleaned the house. Even though he's the best cook I know, I fussed about the lack of variety in our meals. When he finally shared that my grumbling hurt his feelings, I was resentful. He had no idea what I was going through. Eventually, God helped me see my wrongs, and I asked my husband and the Lord for forgiveness.
Longing for different circumstances can lead to complaining, and even a form of relationship damaging self-centeredness. The Israelites were familiar with this dilemma. It seems they were never satisfied and always griping about God's provision (Exodus 17:1-3). Even though the Lord cared for His people in the wilderness by sending them "bread from heaven" (16:4), they began craving other food (Numbers 11:4). Instead of rejoicing over the daily miracles of God's faithful and loving care, the Israelites wanted something more, something better, something different, or even something they used to have (vv.4-6). They took out their frustrations on Moses (vv.10-14).
Trusting God's goodness and faithfulness can help us get a good grip on gratitude. Today we can thank Him for the countless ways He cares for us.
Xochitl Dixon
GREATFUL PRAISE SATISFIES US AND PLEASES GOD.
Numbers 11:1-11
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost- also the cucumbers, melons, leaks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and they ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?"
Insight: When we read about the anger of the Lord (Numbers 11:1,10), it's important to remember that His anger is not like our own. We're inclined to lash out in fear, irritability, or a desire to get even. God's anger is a consuming fire of love that burns in the conscience and results in consequences for those who turn their back on Him. What could give us more reason for gratitude than to know that "the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love"? (Psalm 145:8).
by Mart Dehaan
10/28/18
The years of weariness caused by chronic pain and frustrations with my limited mobility had finally caught up with me. In my discontent, I became demanding and ungrateful. I began complaining about my husband's caregiving skills. I griped about the way he cleaned the house. Even though he's the best cook I know, I fussed about the lack of variety in our meals. When he finally shared that my grumbling hurt his feelings, I was resentful. He had no idea what I was going through. Eventually, God helped me see my wrongs, and I asked my husband and the Lord for forgiveness.
Longing for different circumstances can lead to complaining, and even a form of relationship damaging self-centeredness. The Israelites were familiar with this dilemma. It seems they were never satisfied and always griping about God's provision (Exodus 17:1-3). Even though the Lord cared for His people in the wilderness by sending them "bread from heaven" (16:4), they began craving other food (Numbers 11:4). Instead of rejoicing over the daily miracles of God's faithful and loving care, the Israelites wanted something more, something better, something different, or even something they used to have (vv.4-6). They took out their frustrations on Moses (vv.10-14).
Trusting God's goodness and faithfulness can help us get a good grip on gratitude. Today we can thank Him for the countless ways He cares for us.
Xochitl Dixon
GREATFUL PRAISE SATISFIES US AND PLEASES GOD.
Numbers 11:1-11
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost- also the cucumbers, melons, leaks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and they ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?"
Insight: When we read about the anger of the Lord (Numbers 11:1,10), it's important to remember that His anger is not like our own. We're inclined to lash out in fear, irritability, or a desire to get even. God's anger is a consuming fire of love that burns in the conscience and results in consequences for those who turn their back on Him. What could give us more reason for gratitude than to know that "the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love"? (Psalm 145:8).
by Mart Dehaan
10/28/18
YOUR WAY, NOT MINE
Kamil and Joelle were devastated when their 8-year-old daughter Rima was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The disease led to meningitis and a stroke, and Rima lapsed into a coma. The hospital medical team counseled her parents to make arrangements for Rima's funeral, giving her less than a 1 percent chance of survival.
Kamil and Joelle fasted and prayed for a miracle. "As we pray, "Kamil said, "We need to trust God no matter what. And pray like Jesus- not my way, Father, but Yours." "But I want so much for God to heal her!" Joelle answered honestly. "Yes! And we should ask!" Kamil responded. "But it honors God when we give ourselves to Him even when its hard, because that's what Jesus did."
Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). By praying "Take this cup," Jesus asked not to go to the cross; but he submitted to the Father out of love.
Surrendering our desires to God isn't easy, and His wisdom can be difficult to understand in challenging moments. Kamil and Joelle's prayers were answered in a remarkable way- Rima is a healthy fifteen year old today.
Jesus understands every struggle. Even when, for our sake, His requests was not answered, He showed us how to trust our God in every need.
by James Banks
I want to be "All in" for You, Father. I trust in Your unfailing love and give myself to You as Your servant today.
GOD ALWAYS DESERVES OUR COMMITMENT AND PRAISE.
Luke 22:39-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Insight: Today's reading shows us the dramatic scene of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, facing the horrors of the cross. Not only was it one of the most painful and excruciating means of execution invented by the Romans, but for our Lord it would mean taking the sins of the world upon Himself. Just prior to His crucifixion, we witness the Son's mysterious request of His Father. Christ asked if the cup of crucifixion could be taken from Him. Yet our Lord yielded His will to the Father knowing that it was His mission on earth to redeem all who would believe in His sacrificial death. The lesson for us is significant. Even when we face terrible suffering, we know God can deliver us; however, we must also trust Him if He chooses not to. Only by holding our Father's hand in the valley can we endure to see the light of the mountaintop ahead.
What troubling circumstance are you facing today, and how can you depend on God no matter what His will brings?
by Dennis Fisher
10/26/18
Kamil and Joelle were devastated when their 8-year-old daughter Rima was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The disease led to meningitis and a stroke, and Rima lapsed into a coma. The hospital medical team counseled her parents to make arrangements for Rima's funeral, giving her less than a 1 percent chance of survival.
Kamil and Joelle fasted and prayed for a miracle. "As we pray, "Kamil said, "We need to trust God no matter what. And pray like Jesus- not my way, Father, but Yours." "But I want so much for God to heal her!" Joelle answered honestly. "Yes! And we should ask!" Kamil responded. "But it honors God when we give ourselves to Him even when its hard, because that's what Jesus did."
Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). By praying "Take this cup," Jesus asked not to go to the cross; but he submitted to the Father out of love.
Surrendering our desires to God isn't easy, and His wisdom can be difficult to understand in challenging moments. Kamil and Joelle's prayers were answered in a remarkable way- Rima is a healthy fifteen year old today.
Jesus understands every struggle. Even when, for our sake, His requests was not answered, He showed us how to trust our God in every need.
by James Banks
I want to be "All in" for You, Father. I trust in Your unfailing love and give myself to You as Your servant today.
GOD ALWAYS DESERVES OUR COMMITMENT AND PRAISE.
Luke 22:39-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Insight: Today's reading shows us the dramatic scene of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, facing the horrors of the cross. Not only was it one of the most painful and excruciating means of execution invented by the Romans, but for our Lord it would mean taking the sins of the world upon Himself. Just prior to His crucifixion, we witness the Son's mysterious request of His Father. Christ asked if the cup of crucifixion could be taken from Him. Yet our Lord yielded His will to the Father knowing that it was His mission on earth to redeem all who would believe in His sacrificial death. The lesson for us is significant. Even when we face terrible suffering, we know God can deliver us; however, we must also trust Him if He chooses not to. Only by holding our Father's hand in the valley can we endure to see the light of the mountaintop ahead.
What troubling circumstance are you facing today, and how can you depend on God no matter what His will brings?
by Dennis Fisher
10/26/18
THE GREAT CRESCENDO
My parents taught me to love all sorts of music- from country to classical. So my heart beat rapidly as I walked into the Moscow Conservatory, one of Russia's great music halls, to hear the Moscow National Symphony. As the conductor drove the musicians through a masterful Tchaikovsky piece, themes developed that gradually built to a powerful crescendo- a profound and dramatic musical climax. It was a magical moment, and the audience stood to roar its approval.
The Scriptures move toward the most powerful crescendo of history: the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the moments following Adam and Eve's fall into sin in the garden of Eden, God promised that a redeemer would come (Genesis 3:15), and throughout the Old Testament that theme moved forward. The promise rang out in the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:21), the hopes of the prophets (1 Peter 1:10), and the longings of the people of God.
First John 4:14 confirms where that story had been going: "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." How? God accomplished His promised rescue of His broken world when Jesus died and rose again to forgive us and restore us to our Creator. And one day He will come again and restore His whole creation.
As we remember what God's son has done for us, we celebrate the great crescendo of God's grace and rescue for us and His world- Jesus!
by Bill Crowder
Father, Your Son has impacted Your world like nothing else. I'm grateful He has come for my rescue and will come again to restore Your world
CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF JESUS!
1 John 4:14-21
And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears in not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Insight: First John 4:14 declares that Christ is the "Savior of the world." Our response to His sacrificial death on the cross so we might be saved puts us in one of two categories: We're either among "those who are perishing" or "[those] who are being saved" (1 Corinthians 1:18). The apostle Paul says the Greeks laughed at the ludicrousness of a dead man giving eternal life to others (vv.22-23). But to all who believe in Jesus, the cross is "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v.24). The Scriptures tell us, "This Good News about Christ...is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16 NLT), for "Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin" (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT).
by K.T. Sim
10/25/18
My parents taught me to love all sorts of music- from country to classical. So my heart beat rapidly as I walked into the Moscow Conservatory, one of Russia's great music halls, to hear the Moscow National Symphony. As the conductor drove the musicians through a masterful Tchaikovsky piece, themes developed that gradually built to a powerful crescendo- a profound and dramatic musical climax. It was a magical moment, and the audience stood to roar its approval.
The Scriptures move toward the most powerful crescendo of history: the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the moments following Adam and Eve's fall into sin in the garden of Eden, God promised that a redeemer would come (Genesis 3:15), and throughout the Old Testament that theme moved forward. The promise rang out in the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:21), the hopes of the prophets (1 Peter 1:10), and the longings of the people of God.
First John 4:14 confirms where that story had been going: "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." How? God accomplished His promised rescue of His broken world when Jesus died and rose again to forgive us and restore us to our Creator. And one day He will come again and restore His whole creation.
As we remember what God's son has done for us, we celebrate the great crescendo of God's grace and rescue for us and His world- Jesus!
by Bill Crowder
Father, Your Son has impacted Your world like nothing else. I'm grateful He has come for my rescue and will come again to restore Your world
CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF JESUS!
1 John 4:14-21
And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears in not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Insight: First John 4:14 declares that Christ is the "Savior of the world." Our response to His sacrificial death on the cross so we might be saved puts us in one of two categories: We're either among "those who are perishing" or "[those] who are being saved" (1 Corinthians 1:18). The apostle Paul says the Greeks laughed at the ludicrousness of a dead man giving eternal life to others (vv.22-23). But to all who believe in Jesus, the cross is "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (v.24). The Scriptures tell us, "This Good News about Christ...is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16 NLT), for "Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin" (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT).
by K.T. Sim
10/25/18
WHERE IS PEACE?
"Do you still hope for peace?" A journalist asked Bob Dylan in 1984.
"There is not going to be any peace," Dylan replied. His response drew criticism, yet there's no denying that peace remains every elusive.
About six hundred years before Christ, most prophets were predicting peace. God's prophet wasn't one of them. Jeremiah reminded the people that God had said, "Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people" (Jeremiah 7:23). Yet they repeatedly ignored the Lord and His commands. Their false prophets said, "Peace, peace" (8:11), but Jeremiah predicted disaster. Jerusalem fell in 586 BC.
Peace is rare. But amid Jeremiah's book of dire prophecies we discover a God who loves relentlessly. "I have loved you with an everlasting love," the Lord told His rebellious people. "I will build you up again" (31:3-4).
God is a God of love and peace. Conflict comes because of our rebellion against Him. Sin destroys the world's peace and robs each of us of inner peace. Jesus came to this planet to reconcile us to God and give us that inner peace. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 5:1). His words are among the most hope-filled ever written.
Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace.
by Tim Gustafson
GOD CANNOT GIVE US A HAPPINESS AND PEACE APART FROM HIMSELF, BECAUSE IT IS NOT THERE. C.S. Lewis
Jeremiah 8:8-15
"How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,' when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have? Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord.
"I will take away their harvest declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them."
Why are we sitting here? Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there! For the Lord my God has doomed us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him. We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror.
Insight: Jeremiah delivers a devastating message of coming punishment to the people of Judah. God's judgment of sin includes loss of spouse and property (Jeremiah 8:10), failed crops (v.13), an overwhelming terror (v.15). Why such a devastating punishment? They have mishandled the law of the Lord (v.8). Jeremiah continues by saying that they have no wisdom since they have rejected the word of the Lord (v.9). Scripture is not something to be treated lightly. In the Bible God reveals Himself and His plan for humanity's redemption. It's a story to be treated with utmost respect.
by J.R. Hudberg
10/24/18
"Do you still hope for peace?" A journalist asked Bob Dylan in 1984.
"There is not going to be any peace," Dylan replied. His response drew criticism, yet there's no denying that peace remains every elusive.
About six hundred years before Christ, most prophets were predicting peace. God's prophet wasn't one of them. Jeremiah reminded the people that God had said, "Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people" (Jeremiah 7:23). Yet they repeatedly ignored the Lord and His commands. Their false prophets said, "Peace, peace" (8:11), but Jeremiah predicted disaster. Jerusalem fell in 586 BC.
Peace is rare. But amid Jeremiah's book of dire prophecies we discover a God who loves relentlessly. "I have loved you with an everlasting love," the Lord told His rebellious people. "I will build you up again" (31:3-4).
God is a God of love and peace. Conflict comes because of our rebellion against Him. Sin destroys the world's peace and robs each of us of inner peace. Jesus came to this planet to reconcile us to God and give us that inner peace. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 5:1). His words are among the most hope-filled ever written.
Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace.
by Tim Gustafson
GOD CANNOT GIVE US A HAPPINESS AND PEACE APART FROM HIMSELF, BECAUSE IT IS NOT THERE. C.S. Lewis
Jeremiah 8:8-15
"How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,' when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have? Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord.
"I will take away their harvest declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them."
Why are we sitting here? Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there! For the Lord my God has doomed us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him. We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror.
Insight: Jeremiah delivers a devastating message of coming punishment to the people of Judah. God's judgment of sin includes loss of spouse and property (Jeremiah 8:10), failed crops (v.13), an overwhelming terror (v.15). Why such a devastating punishment? They have mishandled the law of the Lord (v.8). Jeremiah continues by saying that they have no wisdom since they have rejected the word of the Lord (v.9). Scripture is not something to be treated lightly. In the Bible God reveals Himself and His plan for humanity's redemption. It's a story to be treated with utmost respect.
by J.R. Hudberg
10/24/18
IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD
Swimming with friends in the Gulf of Mexico, Caitlyn encountered a shark, which grabbed her legs and pulled at her body. To counter the attack, Caitlyn punched the shark in the nose. The predator unclenched its jaws and swam away in defeat. Although its bite caused multiple wounds, which required over a hundred stitches, the shark was unable to keep Caitlyn in its grasp.
This story reminds me of the fact that Jesus delivered a blow to death, ending its power to intimidate and defeat his followers. According to Peter, "It was impossible for death to keep its hold on [Jesus]" (Acts 2:24).
Peter said these words to a crowd in Jerusalem. Perhaps many of them had been the ones yelling out, "Crucify him!" to condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:22). As a result, Roman soldiers fastened him to a cross where He hung until they confirmed He was dead. Jesus's body was carried to a tomb where it stayed for three days until God resurrected Him. After His resurrection, Peter and others spoke and ate with Him, and after forty days they watched Him ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9).
Jesus's life on earth ended amidst physical suffering and mental anguish, yet God's power defeated the grave. Because of this, death- or any other struggle- lacks the ability to keep us in its grip forever. One day all believers will experience everlasting life and wholeness in God's presence. Focusing on this future can help us find freedom today.
by Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Dear Jesus, Your victory over death gives me hope! I praise You as the resurrected one who died so that I could have eternal life.
THE GRIP OF THE GRAVE IS NO MATCH FOR THE POWER OF GOD.
Acts 2:22-36
"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazarath was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
"Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."
10/23/18
Swimming with friends in the Gulf of Mexico, Caitlyn encountered a shark, which grabbed her legs and pulled at her body. To counter the attack, Caitlyn punched the shark in the nose. The predator unclenched its jaws and swam away in defeat. Although its bite caused multiple wounds, which required over a hundred stitches, the shark was unable to keep Caitlyn in its grasp.
This story reminds me of the fact that Jesus delivered a blow to death, ending its power to intimidate and defeat his followers. According to Peter, "It was impossible for death to keep its hold on [Jesus]" (Acts 2:24).
Peter said these words to a crowd in Jerusalem. Perhaps many of them had been the ones yelling out, "Crucify him!" to condemn Jesus (Matthew 27:22). As a result, Roman soldiers fastened him to a cross where He hung until they confirmed He was dead. Jesus's body was carried to a tomb where it stayed for three days until God resurrected Him. After His resurrection, Peter and others spoke and ate with Him, and after forty days they watched Him ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9).
Jesus's life on earth ended amidst physical suffering and mental anguish, yet God's power defeated the grave. Because of this, death- or any other struggle- lacks the ability to keep us in its grip forever. One day all believers will experience everlasting life and wholeness in God's presence. Focusing on this future can help us find freedom today.
by Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Dear Jesus, Your victory over death gives me hope! I praise You as the resurrected one who died so that I could have eternal life.
THE GRIP OF THE GRAVE IS NO MATCH FOR THE POWER OF GOD.
Acts 2:22-36
"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazarath was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
"Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."
10/23/18
CHOOSING THE TRAIL
I have a beautiful autumn photograph of a young man on horseback in the Colorado mountains as he contemplates which trail ahead to follow. It reminds me of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken." In it, Frost ponders two pathways that lie before him. Both are equally inviting, but he doubts he will return to this place again, and he must choose one. Frost wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
In Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Lord told His listeners, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (7:13-14).
On our journey through life, we face many choices about which road to travel. Many pathways seem promising and attractive but only one is the pathway of life. Jesus calls us to travel the road of discipleship and obedience to God's Word- to follow Him instead of the crowd.
As we ponder the road ahead, may God give us wisdom and courage to follow His way- the road of life. It will make all the difference for us and those we love!
by David C. McCasland
Lord, as we go through this day, give us eyes to see the narrow road that leads to life and the courage to follow it.
CHOOSE TO WALK THE ROAD OF LIFE WITH JESUS.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road, and only a few find it.
Insight: Life is all about choices- and their consequences. As author Robert Louis Stevenson put it, "Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences." We see this throughout the Scriptures as our first parents hid from God in the ancient garden (Genesis 3:8), Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land (Deuteronomy 32:52), David was confronted by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12), and after denying his Lord, Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). By the same token, Moses counseled the Israelites to choose the things of life (Deuteronomy 30:19), and Solomon warned those who do not choose to fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:28-29). Why is this so important? In Psalm 25:12, David sang, "Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the way they should choose." When the wisdom of God guides us in our choices, we have less reason to fear the consequences those choices might bring.
by Bill Crowder
10/22/18
I have a beautiful autumn photograph of a young man on horseback in the Colorado mountains as he contemplates which trail ahead to follow. It reminds me of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken." In it, Frost ponders two pathways that lie before him. Both are equally inviting, but he doubts he will return to this place again, and he must choose one. Frost wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
In Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Lord told His listeners, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (7:13-14).
On our journey through life, we face many choices about which road to travel. Many pathways seem promising and attractive but only one is the pathway of life. Jesus calls us to travel the road of discipleship and obedience to God's Word- to follow Him instead of the crowd.
As we ponder the road ahead, may God give us wisdom and courage to follow His way- the road of life. It will make all the difference for us and those we love!
by David C. McCasland
Lord, as we go through this day, give us eyes to see the narrow road that leads to life and the courage to follow it.
CHOOSE TO WALK THE ROAD OF LIFE WITH JESUS.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road, and only a few find it.
Insight: Life is all about choices- and their consequences. As author Robert Louis Stevenson put it, "Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences." We see this throughout the Scriptures as our first parents hid from God in the ancient garden (Genesis 3:8), Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land (Deuteronomy 32:52), David was confronted by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12), and after denying his Lord, Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). By the same token, Moses counseled the Israelites to choose the things of life (Deuteronomy 30:19), and Solomon warned those who do not choose to fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:28-29). Why is this so important? In Psalm 25:12, David sang, "Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the way they should choose." When the wisdom of God guides us in our choices, we have less reason to fear the consequences those choices might bring.
by Bill Crowder
10/22/18
TREASURE IN A PUMPKIN
As a young mother, I was determined to document my daughter's first year of life. Each month, I took photos of her to illustrate how she had changed and grown. In one of my favorite pictures, she is gleefully sitting in the belly of a hollowed-out pumpkin I purchased from a local farmer. There she sat, the delight of my heart, contained in an overgrown squash. The pumpkin withered in the ensuing weeks, but my daughter continued to grow and thrive.
The way Paul describes knowing the truth of who Jesus is reminds me of that photo. He likens the knowledge of Jesus in our heart to a treasure stored in a clay pot. Remembering what Jesus did for us gives us the courage and strength to persevere through struggles in spite of being "hard pressed on every side" (2nd Corinthians 4:8). Because of God's power in our lives, when we are "struck down, but not destroyed," we reveal the life of Jesus (v.9).
Like the pumpkin that withered, we may feel the wear and tear of our trials. But the joy of Jesus in us can continue to grow in spite of those challenges. Our knowledge of Him- His power at work in our lives- is the treasure stored in our frail clay bodies. We can flourish in the face of hardship because of His power at work within us.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Dear Father, thank You for putting Your truth into my heart and life. Help me to bear up under the challenges I face with Your power. May others see Your work in my life and come to know You too.
GOD'S POWER IS AT WORK WITHIN US.
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hardpressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Insight: As with Paul's letter to the Corinthians, the epistle of James encourages those who are facing trials. "Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete" (James 1:2-4). Those who persevere will receive strength for today and "The crown of life" (v.12)- eternal life- tomorrow.
How have you experienced the joy of Christ in the midst of trials?
by Alyson Kieda
10/19/18
As a young mother, I was determined to document my daughter's first year of life. Each month, I took photos of her to illustrate how she had changed and grown. In one of my favorite pictures, she is gleefully sitting in the belly of a hollowed-out pumpkin I purchased from a local farmer. There she sat, the delight of my heart, contained in an overgrown squash. The pumpkin withered in the ensuing weeks, but my daughter continued to grow and thrive.
The way Paul describes knowing the truth of who Jesus is reminds me of that photo. He likens the knowledge of Jesus in our heart to a treasure stored in a clay pot. Remembering what Jesus did for us gives us the courage and strength to persevere through struggles in spite of being "hard pressed on every side" (2nd Corinthians 4:8). Because of God's power in our lives, when we are "struck down, but not destroyed," we reveal the life of Jesus (v.9).
Like the pumpkin that withered, we may feel the wear and tear of our trials. But the joy of Jesus in us can continue to grow in spite of those challenges. Our knowledge of Him- His power at work in our lives- is the treasure stored in our frail clay bodies. We can flourish in the face of hardship because of His power at work within us.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Dear Father, thank You for putting Your truth into my heart and life. Help me to bear up under the challenges I face with Your power. May others see Your work in my life and come to know You too.
GOD'S POWER IS AT WORK WITHIN US.
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hardpressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Insight: As with Paul's letter to the Corinthians, the epistle of James encourages those who are facing trials. "Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete" (James 1:2-4). Those who persevere will receive strength for today and "The crown of life" (v.12)- eternal life- tomorrow.
How have you experienced the joy of Christ in the midst of trials?
by Alyson Kieda
10/19/18
BRING YOUR BOATS
Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic flooding to eastern Texas in 2017. The onslaught of rain stranded thousands of people in their homes, unable to escape the floodwaters. In what was dubbed the "Texas Navy," many private citizens brought boats from other parts of the state and nation to help evacuate stranded people.
The actions of these valiant, generous men and women called to mind the encouragement of Proverbs 3:27, which instructs us to help others whenever we are able. They had the power to act on behalf of those in need by bringing their boats. And so they did. Their actions demonstrate a willingness to use whatever resources they had at their disposal for the benefit of others.
We may not always feel adequate for the task at hand; often we become paralyzed by thinking we don't have the skills, experience, resources, or time to help others. In such instances, we're quick to sideline ourselves, discounting what we do have that might be of assistance to someone else. The Texas Navy couldn't stop the flood waters from rising, nor could they legislate government aide. But they used what they had within their power- their boats- to come alongside the deep needs of their fellow man. May we all bring our "boats"- whatever they may be - to take the people in our paths to higher ground.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, all that I have is from You. Help me to always use what You've given me to help others.
GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS PEOPLE.
Proverbs 3:21-31
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you"- When you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason- when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or chose any of their ways.
Insight: Helping others by doing good when it's in our power to act (Proverbs 3:27-28) is also the focus of Paul's instructions to believers. Encouraging us to live meaningful and purposeful lives before a watching, non-believing world, Paul tells us to "be very careful, then, how [we] live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity" (Ephesians 5:15-16). Careful living means we are to live godly lives as "children of light" pleasing to the Lord (vv.8,10). Paul expects "those who have trusted in God [to] devote themselves to doing what is good" (Titus 3:8). We are to adopt a never-give-up attitude when it comes to serving others: "Let us not become weary in doing good....As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galations 6:9-10).
What can you do this week to serve someone?
by K.T.Sim
10/18/18
Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic flooding to eastern Texas in 2017. The onslaught of rain stranded thousands of people in their homes, unable to escape the floodwaters. In what was dubbed the "Texas Navy," many private citizens brought boats from other parts of the state and nation to help evacuate stranded people.
The actions of these valiant, generous men and women called to mind the encouragement of Proverbs 3:27, which instructs us to help others whenever we are able. They had the power to act on behalf of those in need by bringing their boats. And so they did. Their actions demonstrate a willingness to use whatever resources they had at their disposal for the benefit of others.
We may not always feel adequate for the task at hand; often we become paralyzed by thinking we don't have the skills, experience, resources, or time to help others. In such instances, we're quick to sideline ourselves, discounting what we do have that might be of assistance to someone else. The Texas Navy couldn't stop the flood waters from rising, nor could they legislate government aide. But they used what they had within their power- their boats- to come alongside the deep needs of their fellow man. May we all bring our "boats"- whatever they may be - to take the people in our paths to higher ground.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, all that I have is from You. Help me to always use what You've given me to help others.
GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS PEOPLE.
Proverbs 3:21-31
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you"- When you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason- when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or chose any of their ways.
Insight: Helping others by doing good when it's in our power to act (Proverbs 3:27-28) is also the focus of Paul's instructions to believers. Encouraging us to live meaningful and purposeful lives before a watching, non-believing world, Paul tells us to "be very careful, then, how [we] live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity" (Ephesians 5:15-16). Careful living means we are to live godly lives as "children of light" pleasing to the Lord (vv.8,10). Paul expects "those who have trusted in God [to] devote themselves to doing what is good" (Titus 3:8). We are to adopt a never-give-up attitude when it comes to serving others: "Let us not become weary in doing good....As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galations 6:9-10).
What can you do this week to serve someone?
by K.T.Sim
10/18/18
A PIERCING THORN
The thorn pricked my index finger, drawing blood. I hollered and then groaned, drawing back my hand instinctively. But I shouldn't have been surprised: Trying to prune a thorny bush without gardening gloves was a recipe for exactly what just happened.
The pain throbbing in my finger- and the blood flowing from it- demanded attention. And as I searched for a bandage, I found myself unexpectedly thinking about my Savior. After all, soldiers forced Jesus to don an entire crown of thorns (John 19:1-3). If one thorn hurt this much, I thought, how much agony would an entire crown of them inflict? And thats just a small portion of the physical pain He suffered. A whip flogged His back. Nails penetrated His wrists and ankles.
But Jesus endured spiritual pain too. Verse 5 of Isaiah 53 tells us, "but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him." The "peace" Isaiah talks about here is another way of talking about forgiveness. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced- by nails, by a crown of thorns- to bring us spiritual peace with God. His sacrifice, His willingness to die on our behalf, paved the way to make a relationship with the Father possible. And He did it, Scripture tells us, for me, for you.
by Adam Holz
Father, I can't imagine the pain Your Son endured to wash away my sin. Thank You for sending Him for me, to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with You.
JESUS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE PIERCED TO BRING US SPIRITUAL PEACE WITH GOD.
Isaiah 53:1-6
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Insight: Isaiah 53:1-6 is a part of a section of the book known as the Servant Song. There are four servant Songs in Isaiah that describe the service, suffering, and triumph of the servant of the Lord- Jesus the Messiah. These songs are found in Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-13, 50:4-11, and 52:13-53:12.
This last servant song describes the suffering and triumph of the servant. Though He is pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded, its His suffering that brings us peace and healing (53:5). The ultimate purpose for this suffering is outlined in verse 10-His life is an offering for sin. The servant takes our place- suffering for us and baring our sins. And by His suffering and death, we are given life and peace. But death is not the end for this earth: "After he has suffered, he will see the light of life" (v.11). In His suffering and resurrection, Jesus reconciled humanity to God (see Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30-35; Romans 10:15-17; 15:21). How can you celebrate the life that Jesus died to give you?
by J.R.Hudberg
10/17/18
The thorn pricked my index finger, drawing blood. I hollered and then groaned, drawing back my hand instinctively. But I shouldn't have been surprised: Trying to prune a thorny bush without gardening gloves was a recipe for exactly what just happened.
The pain throbbing in my finger- and the blood flowing from it- demanded attention. And as I searched for a bandage, I found myself unexpectedly thinking about my Savior. After all, soldiers forced Jesus to don an entire crown of thorns (John 19:1-3). If one thorn hurt this much, I thought, how much agony would an entire crown of them inflict? And thats just a small portion of the physical pain He suffered. A whip flogged His back. Nails penetrated His wrists and ankles.
But Jesus endured spiritual pain too. Verse 5 of Isaiah 53 tells us, "but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him." The "peace" Isaiah talks about here is another way of talking about forgiveness. Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced- by nails, by a crown of thorns- to bring us spiritual peace with God. His sacrifice, His willingness to die on our behalf, paved the way to make a relationship with the Father possible. And He did it, Scripture tells us, for me, for you.
by Adam Holz
Father, I can't imagine the pain Your Son endured to wash away my sin. Thank You for sending Him for me, to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with You.
JESUS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE PIERCED TO BRING US SPIRITUAL PEACE WITH GOD.
Isaiah 53:1-6
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Insight: Isaiah 53:1-6 is a part of a section of the book known as the Servant Song. There are four servant Songs in Isaiah that describe the service, suffering, and triumph of the servant of the Lord- Jesus the Messiah. These songs are found in Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-13, 50:4-11, and 52:13-53:12.
This last servant song describes the suffering and triumph of the servant. Though He is pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded, its His suffering that brings us peace and healing (53:5). The ultimate purpose for this suffering is outlined in verse 10-His life is an offering for sin. The servant takes our place- suffering for us and baring our sins. And by His suffering and death, we are given life and peace. But death is not the end for this earth: "After he has suffered, he will see the light of life" (v.11). In His suffering and resurrection, Jesus reconciled humanity to God (see Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30-35; Romans 10:15-17; 15:21). How can you celebrate the life that Jesus died to give you?
by J.R.Hudberg
10/17/18
THE PRAYER AND THE CHAIN SAW
I respect my aunt Gladys's intrepid spirit, even if that very spirit concerns me sometimes. The source of my concern came in the form of news she shared in an email: "I cut down a walnut tree yesterday."
You must understand that my chainsaw-wielding aunt is seventy-six years old! The tree had grown up behind her garage. When the roots threatened to burst through the concrete, she knew it had to go. But she did tell us, "I always pray before I tackle a job like that."
While serving as butler to the King of Persia during the time of Israel's exile, Nehemiah heard news concerning the people who had returned to Jerusalem. Some work needed to be done. "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire" (Nehemiah 1:3). The broken walls left them vulnerable to attack by enemies. Nehemiah had compassion for his people and wanted to get involved. But prayer came first, especially since a new king had written a letter to stop the building efforts in Jerusalem (See Ezra 4). Nehemiah prayed for his people (Nehemiah 1:5-10), and then asked God for help before requesting permission from the king to leave (v.11).
Is prayer your response? It's always the best way to face any task or trial in life.
by Linda Washington
Father, Your Holy Spirit reminds us to pray first. Today, we commit to doing so as Your Spirit prompts us.
MAKE PRAYER A FIRST PRIORITY, INSTEAD OF A LAST RESORT
Nehemiah 1
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.'
"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king.
10/16/18
I respect my aunt Gladys's intrepid spirit, even if that very spirit concerns me sometimes. The source of my concern came in the form of news she shared in an email: "I cut down a walnut tree yesterday."
You must understand that my chainsaw-wielding aunt is seventy-six years old! The tree had grown up behind her garage. When the roots threatened to burst through the concrete, she knew it had to go. But she did tell us, "I always pray before I tackle a job like that."
While serving as butler to the King of Persia during the time of Israel's exile, Nehemiah heard news concerning the people who had returned to Jerusalem. Some work needed to be done. "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire" (Nehemiah 1:3). The broken walls left them vulnerable to attack by enemies. Nehemiah had compassion for his people and wanted to get involved. But prayer came first, especially since a new king had written a letter to stop the building efforts in Jerusalem (See Ezra 4). Nehemiah prayed for his people (Nehemiah 1:5-10), and then asked God for help before requesting permission from the king to leave (v.11).
Is prayer your response? It's always the best way to face any task or trial in life.
by Linda Washington
Father, Your Holy Spirit reminds us to pray first. Today, we commit to doing so as Your Spirit prompts us.
MAKE PRAYER A FIRST PRIORITY, INSTEAD OF A LAST RESORT
Nehemiah 1
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.'
"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king.
10/16/18
TERRIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Fear can leave us frozen. We know all the reasons to be afraid- everything thats hurt us in the past, everything that could easily do so again. So sometimes we're stuck- unable to go back; too afraid to move forward. I just can't do it. I'm not smart enough, strong enough, or brave enough to handle being hurt like that again.
I'm captivated by how author Frederick Buechner describes God's grace: like a gentle voice that says, "Here is the world. Terrible and beautiful things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you."
Terrible things will happen. In our world, hurting people hurt other people, often terribly. Like the psalmist David, we carry our own stories of when evil surrounded us, when, like "ravenous beasts," others wounded us (Psalm 57:4). And so we grieve; we cry out (vv.1-2).
But because God is with us, beautiful things can happen too. As we run to Him with our hurts and fears, we find ourselves carried by a love far greater than anyone's power to harm us (vv.1-3), a love so deep it fills the skies (v.10). Even when disaster rages around us, His love is a solid refuge where our hearts find healing (vv.1,7). Until one day we'll find ourselves awakening to renewed courage, ready to greet the day with a song of His faithfulness (vv.8-10).
by Monica Brands
Healer and Redeemer, thank You for holding us and healing us with Your endless love. Help us find in Your love the courage to follow You and share Your love with those around us.
GOD'S LOVE AND BEAUTY MAKE US BRAVE.
Psalm 57
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me- God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
I am in the midst of lions; I am forces to dwell among ravenous beasts- mean whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path- but they have fallen into it themselves.
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, heart and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Insight: In the book of Psalms, superscription often precede the actual text. These notes shed light on the individual or group designated to lead the composition, the author, or the situation that inspired the lyrics. The superscription for Psalm 57 tells us David wrote this Psalm "When he had fled from Saul into the cave." Scripture records two times when David found refuge from Saul in a cave (1 Samuel 22,24). While there is uncertainty as to which of these two incidents is in view here, the truth of the Psalm is crystal clear- the fearful, the anxious, the fleeing can find ultimate safety in the Lord (Psalm 57:1).
When was the last time a difficult situation caused you to call out to "God Most High"? (v.2).
by Arthur Jackson
10/15/18
Fear can leave us frozen. We know all the reasons to be afraid- everything thats hurt us in the past, everything that could easily do so again. So sometimes we're stuck- unable to go back; too afraid to move forward. I just can't do it. I'm not smart enough, strong enough, or brave enough to handle being hurt like that again.
I'm captivated by how author Frederick Buechner describes God's grace: like a gentle voice that says, "Here is the world. Terrible and beautiful things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you."
Terrible things will happen. In our world, hurting people hurt other people, often terribly. Like the psalmist David, we carry our own stories of when evil surrounded us, when, like "ravenous beasts," others wounded us (Psalm 57:4). And so we grieve; we cry out (vv.1-2).
But because God is with us, beautiful things can happen too. As we run to Him with our hurts and fears, we find ourselves carried by a love far greater than anyone's power to harm us (vv.1-3), a love so deep it fills the skies (v.10). Even when disaster rages around us, His love is a solid refuge where our hearts find healing (vv.1,7). Until one day we'll find ourselves awakening to renewed courage, ready to greet the day with a song of His faithfulness (vv.8-10).
by Monica Brands
Healer and Redeemer, thank You for holding us and healing us with Your endless love. Help us find in Your love the courage to follow You and share Your love with those around us.
GOD'S LOVE AND BEAUTY MAKE US BRAVE.
Psalm 57
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me- God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
I am in the midst of lions; I am forces to dwell among ravenous beasts- mean whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path- but they have fallen into it themselves.
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, heart and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Insight: In the book of Psalms, superscription often precede the actual text. These notes shed light on the individual or group designated to lead the composition, the author, or the situation that inspired the lyrics. The superscription for Psalm 57 tells us David wrote this Psalm "When he had fled from Saul into the cave." Scripture records two times when David found refuge from Saul in a cave (1 Samuel 22,24). While there is uncertainty as to which of these two incidents is in view here, the truth of the Psalm is crystal clear- the fearful, the anxious, the fleeing can find ultimate safety in the Lord (Psalm 57:1).
When was the last time a difficult situation caused you to call out to "God Most High"? (v.2).
by Arthur Jackson
10/15/18
TRUST HIM FIRST
"Don't let go, Dad!"
"I won't. I've got you. I promise." I was a little boy terrified of the water, but my dad wanted me to learn to swim. He would purposefully take me away from the side of the pool into a depth that was over my head, where he was my only support. Then he would teach me to relax and float.
It wasn't just a swimming lesson; it was a lesson in trust. I knew my father loved me and would never let me be harmed intentionally, but I was also afraid. I would cling tightly to his neck until he reassured me all would be well. Eventually his patience and kindness won out, and I began to swim. But I had to trust him first.
When I feel "over my head" in a difficulty, I sometimes think back on those moments. They help me call to mind the Lord's reassurance to His people: "Even to your old age...I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you" (Isaiah 46:4).
We may not always be able to feel God's arms beneath us, but the Lord has promised that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). As we rest in His care and promises, He helps us learn to trust in His faithfulness. He lifts us above our worries to discover knew peace in Him.
by James Banks
Abba, Father, I praise You for carrying me through life. Please give me faith to trust that You are always with me.
GOD CARRIES US TO NEW PLACES OF GRACE AS WE TRUST IN HIM.
Isaiah 46:3-13
"Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
"With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a little god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; It cannot save them from their troubles.
"Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. Listen to me, you stubborn-heartened, you who are now far from my righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel."
10/14/18
"Don't let go, Dad!"
"I won't. I've got you. I promise." I was a little boy terrified of the water, but my dad wanted me to learn to swim. He would purposefully take me away from the side of the pool into a depth that was over my head, where he was my only support. Then he would teach me to relax and float.
It wasn't just a swimming lesson; it was a lesson in trust. I knew my father loved me and would never let me be harmed intentionally, but I was also afraid. I would cling tightly to his neck until he reassured me all would be well. Eventually his patience and kindness won out, and I began to swim. But I had to trust him first.
When I feel "over my head" in a difficulty, I sometimes think back on those moments. They help me call to mind the Lord's reassurance to His people: "Even to your old age...I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you" (Isaiah 46:4).
We may not always be able to feel God's arms beneath us, but the Lord has promised that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). As we rest in His care and promises, He helps us learn to trust in His faithfulness. He lifts us above our worries to discover knew peace in Him.
by James Banks
Abba, Father, I praise You for carrying me through life. Please give me faith to trust that You are always with me.
GOD CARRIES US TO NEW PLACES OF GRACE AS WE TRUST IN HIM.
Isaiah 46:3-13
"Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
"With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a little god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; It cannot save them from their troubles.
"Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. Listen to me, you stubborn-heartened, you who are now far from my righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel."
10/14/18
ASK THE ANIMALS
Our grandkids, enraptured, got a close-up look at a rescued bald eagle. They were even allowed to touch him. As the zoo volunteer told about the powerful bird perched on her arm, I was surprised to learn how massive this bird is. I was surprised to learn this male had a wing span of about six and one-half feet, yet because of its hollow bones it weighed only about eight pounds.
This reminded me of the majestic eagle I had seen soaring above a lake, ready to swoop down and snatch its prey in its talons. And I pictured in my mind another big bird- the Spindly Legged Blue Heron I had spied standing motionless on the edge of a pond. It was poised to dart its long beak into the water. They're just two among the nearly ten thousand species of birds that can direct our thoughts to our Creator. In the book of Job, Job's friends are debating the reasons for his suffering and ask, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God?" (See 11:5-9). In response Job declares, "Ask the animals, and they will teach, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you" (Job 12:7). Animals testify to the truth that God designed, cares for, and controls his creation: "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind" (v.10).
Since God cares for birds (Matthew 6:26; 10:29), we can be assured He loves and cares for you and me, even when we don't understand our circumstances. Look around and learn of Him.
by Alyson Kieda
GOD'S WORLD TEACHES US ABOUT HIM.
Job 12:7-10
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Insight: Gaining a good grasp of the book of Job requires us to understand its literary structure. Though the book begins (CHS. 1:2) and ends (42:7-16) in narrative format, the bulk of the book is comprised of speeches packaged in poetry (3:1-42:6), including the stunning monologue of the Almighty Himself (38:1-41:34). By the time the reader comes to chapter 12, all three of Job's friends- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar- have spoken once. Two more series of speeches follow, and in the last series a fourth counselor (Elihu) enters the picture (CHS. 32-37). In their well-ordered and reasoned speeches, each friend friend offers explanations for Job's calamities and prescriptions for a remedy. Job himself is the speaker in chapter 12, where he indicts the denseness of his first three accusers. He directs them to nature which teaches us about the supremacy and sovereignty of God. In verses 7-8, the language of instruction is quite clear: Animals "will teach"; birds "will tell"; the earth "will teach"; the fish will "inform." Without a word they witness to the wisdom and greatness of God.
Can you recall a time when you were prompted to reflect on God's greatness by something in nature?
by Arthur Jackson
10/12/18
Our grandkids, enraptured, got a close-up look at a rescued bald eagle. They were even allowed to touch him. As the zoo volunteer told about the powerful bird perched on her arm, I was surprised to learn how massive this bird is. I was surprised to learn this male had a wing span of about six and one-half feet, yet because of its hollow bones it weighed only about eight pounds.
This reminded me of the majestic eagle I had seen soaring above a lake, ready to swoop down and snatch its prey in its talons. And I pictured in my mind another big bird- the Spindly Legged Blue Heron I had spied standing motionless on the edge of a pond. It was poised to dart its long beak into the water. They're just two among the nearly ten thousand species of birds that can direct our thoughts to our Creator. In the book of Job, Job's friends are debating the reasons for his suffering and ask, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God?" (See 11:5-9). In response Job declares, "Ask the animals, and they will teach, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you" (Job 12:7). Animals testify to the truth that God designed, cares for, and controls his creation: "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind" (v.10).
Since God cares for birds (Matthew 6:26; 10:29), we can be assured He loves and cares for you and me, even when we don't understand our circumstances. Look around and learn of Him.
by Alyson Kieda
GOD'S WORLD TEACHES US ABOUT HIM.
Job 12:7-10
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Insight: Gaining a good grasp of the book of Job requires us to understand its literary structure. Though the book begins (CHS. 1:2) and ends (42:7-16) in narrative format, the bulk of the book is comprised of speeches packaged in poetry (3:1-42:6), including the stunning monologue of the Almighty Himself (38:1-41:34). By the time the reader comes to chapter 12, all three of Job's friends- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar- have spoken once. Two more series of speeches follow, and in the last series a fourth counselor (Elihu) enters the picture (CHS. 32-37). In their well-ordered and reasoned speeches, each friend friend offers explanations for Job's calamities and prescriptions for a remedy. Job himself is the speaker in chapter 12, where he indicts the denseness of his first three accusers. He directs them to nature which teaches us about the supremacy and sovereignty of God. In verses 7-8, the language of instruction is quite clear: Animals "will teach"; birds "will tell"; the earth "will teach"; the fish will "inform." Without a word they witness to the wisdom and greatness of God.
Can you recall a time when you were prompted to reflect on God's greatness by something in nature?
by Arthur Jackson
10/12/18
SAFE IN HIS ARMS
The weather outside was threatening, and the alert on my cell phone warned about the possibility of flash floods. An unusual number of cars were parked in my neighborhood as parents and others gathered to pick up children at the school bus drop-off point. By the time the bus arrived, it had started to rain. That's when I observed a woman exit her car and retrieve an umbrella from the trunk. She walked towards a little girl and made sure the child was shielded from the rain until they returned to the vehicle. What a beautiful "real time" picture of parental, protective care that reminded me of the care of our heavenly Father.
The prophet Isaiah forecast punishment for disobedience followed by brighter days for God's people (Isaiah 40:1:8). The heavenly dispatch from the mountain (v.9) assured the Israelites of God's mighty presence and tender care. The good news, then and now, is that because of God's power and ruling authority, anxious hearts need not fear (vv.9-10). Included in the announcement was news about the Lord's protection, the kind of protection shepherds provide (v.11): vulnerable young sheep would find safety in the shepherd's arms; nursing ewes would be led gently.
In a world where circumstances aren't always easy, such images of safety and care compel us to look confidently to the Lord. Those who trust wholeheartedly in the Lord find security and renewed strength in Him (v.31).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, in a world where we are sometimes threatened, we are comforted because of Your gracious care for us- in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD CARES FOR US!
Isaiah 40:9-11
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Insight: We also see the shepherd imagery in the New Testament when Jesus is described as our Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11) and "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep" (vv.14-15). Just as a shepherd watched over, provided for, and protected his sheep against danger and death and even pursued them when lost (Psalm 23:1-3; Luke 15:4), Jesus laid down his life for our sins and then rose again so that we would have the opportunity to live forever with Him (John 3:16). By doing so, He freed all who receive Him as Savior from the clutches of our enemy, Satan, and from eternal misery. And in this life, our shepherd leads and guides us along the way. We need not fear, for He is with us (Psalm 23:4). He loves us and knows us (John 10:14-15).
In what area of your life do you need the comfort of the Good Shepherd?
by Alyson Kieda
10/11/18
The weather outside was threatening, and the alert on my cell phone warned about the possibility of flash floods. An unusual number of cars were parked in my neighborhood as parents and others gathered to pick up children at the school bus drop-off point. By the time the bus arrived, it had started to rain. That's when I observed a woman exit her car and retrieve an umbrella from the trunk. She walked towards a little girl and made sure the child was shielded from the rain until they returned to the vehicle. What a beautiful "real time" picture of parental, protective care that reminded me of the care of our heavenly Father.
The prophet Isaiah forecast punishment for disobedience followed by brighter days for God's people (Isaiah 40:1:8). The heavenly dispatch from the mountain (v.9) assured the Israelites of God's mighty presence and tender care. The good news, then and now, is that because of God's power and ruling authority, anxious hearts need not fear (vv.9-10). Included in the announcement was news about the Lord's protection, the kind of protection shepherds provide (v.11): vulnerable young sheep would find safety in the shepherd's arms; nursing ewes would be led gently.
In a world where circumstances aren't always easy, such images of safety and care compel us to look confidently to the Lord. Those who trust wholeheartedly in the Lord find security and renewed strength in Him (v.31).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, in a world where we are sometimes threatened, we are comforted because of Your gracious care for us- in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD CARES FOR US!
Isaiah 40:9-11
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Insight: We also see the shepherd imagery in the New Testament when Jesus is described as our Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11) and "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep" (vv.14-15). Just as a shepherd watched over, provided for, and protected his sheep against danger and death and even pursued them when lost (Psalm 23:1-3; Luke 15:4), Jesus laid down his life for our sins and then rose again so that we would have the opportunity to live forever with Him (John 3:16). By doing so, He freed all who receive Him as Savior from the clutches of our enemy, Satan, and from eternal misery. And in this life, our shepherd leads and guides us along the way. We need not fear, for He is with us (Psalm 23:4). He loves us and knows us (John 10:14-15).
In what area of your life do you need the comfort of the Good Shepherd?
by Alyson Kieda
10/11/18
STORIES OF JESUS
As a girl I loved to visit my small local library. One day, looking at the bookshelves holding the young adult section, I reasoned I could probably read every book. In my enthusiasm I forgot one important fact- knew books were regularly added to the shelves. Although I gave it a valiant effort, there were simply too many books.
Knew books continue to fill more and more bookshelves. The apostle John likely would be amazed with the availability of books today since his five New Testament books, the gospel of John; 1,2, and 3 John; and Revelation, were hand written on parchment scrolls.
John wrote those books because he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to give Christians an eye witness account of Jesus's life and ministry (1st John 1:1-4). But John's writings contained only a small fraction of all that Jesus did and taught during His ministry. In fact, John said if everything Jesus did were written down "The whole world could not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25 NLT).
John's claim remains true today. Despite all the books that have been written about Jesus the libraries of the world still cannot contain every story of His love and grace. We can also celebrate that we have our own personal stories to share and rejoice that we will be proclaiming them forever! (Psalm 89:1).
by Lisa Samra
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. by F.M. Lehman
LET YOUR LIFE TELL THE STORY OF CHRIST'S LOVE AND GRACE.
1st John 1:1-4; John 21:24-25
1 John 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
John 21
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down we know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Insight: Although the Scriptures don't contain every story about Jesus (in fact John twice admits that he has only recorded a portion of Jesus's life and ministry- see John 20:30 and 21:25), we have the significant parts. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have the whole story of Jesus that is necessary for our salvation.
But what about those things that aren't written down in John's gospel? There have been attempts to fill the holes. Should John's admission that "Jesus performed many other miraculous signs" (20:30) make us insecure? Should we try to "fill in the blanks"? Not at all. When John first tells us that what he recorded is only a part of Jesus's story, he gives us full confidence that what we have is enough: "These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (20:31).
How can you thank God today that His story is even bigger than we know?
by J.R.Hudberg
10/10/18
As a girl I loved to visit my small local library. One day, looking at the bookshelves holding the young adult section, I reasoned I could probably read every book. In my enthusiasm I forgot one important fact- knew books were regularly added to the shelves. Although I gave it a valiant effort, there were simply too many books.
Knew books continue to fill more and more bookshelves. The apostle John likely would be amazed with the availability of books today since his five New Testament books, the gospel of John; 1,2, and 3 John; and Revelation, were hand written on parchment scrolls.
John wrote those books because he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to give Christians an eye witness account of Jesus's life and ministry (1st John 1:1-4). But John's writings contained only a small fraction of all that Jesus did and taught during His ministry. In fact, John said if everything Jesus did were written down "The whole world could not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25 NLT).
John's claim remains true today. Despite all the books that have been written about Jesus the libraries of the world still cannot contain every story of His love and grace. We can also celebrate that we have our own personal stories to share and rejoice that we will be proclaiming them forever! (Psalm 89:1).
by Lisa Samra
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. by F.M. Lehman
LET YOUR LIFE TELL THE STORY OF CHRIST'S LOVE AND GRACE.
1st John 1:1-4; John 21:24-25
1 John 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
John 21
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down we know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Insight: Although the Scriptures don't contain every story about Jesus (in fact John twice admits that he has only recorded a portion of Jesus's life and ministry- see John 20:30 and 21:25), we have the significant parts. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have the whole story of Jesus that is necessary for our salvation.
But what about those things that aren't written down in John's gospel? There have been attempts to fill the holes. Should John's admission that "Jesus performed many other miraculous signs" (20:30) make us insecure? Should we try to "fill in the blanks"? Not at all. When John first tells us that what he recorded is only a part of Jesus's story, he gives us full confidence that what we have is enough: "These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (20:31).
How can you thank God today that His story is even bigger than we know?
by J.R.Hudberg
10/10/18
SINGING TO THE FIRING SQUAD
Two men convicted of drug trafficking had been on death row for a decade. While in prison, they learn of God's love for them in Jesus, and their lives were transformed. When it came time for them to face the firing squad, they faced their executioners reciting the Lord's Prayer and singing "Amazing Grace." Because of their faith in God, through the power of the Spirit they were able to face death with incredible courage.
They followed the example of faith set by their Savior, Jesus. When Jesus knew that His death was imminent, He spent part of the evening singing with friends. It's remarkable that He could sing under such circumstances, but what's even more remarkable is what He sang. On that night, Jesus and His friends had a Passover meal, which always ends with a series of Psalms known as the Hallel, Psalms 113-118. Facing death, that night Jesus sang about the "Cords of death" entangling Him (Psalm 116:3). Yet He praised God's faithful love (117:2) and thanked Him for salvation (118:14). Surely these Psalms comforted Jesus on the night before His crucifixion.
Jesus's trust in God was so great that even as He approached His own death- a death He had done nothing to deserve!- He chose to sing of God's love. Because of Jesus, we too can have confidence that whatever we face, God is with us.
by Amy Peterson
God, strengthen our faith in You so that when we face trials, or even approach death, we can sing with confidence about Your love.
HOW SWEET IS THE SOUND OF GOD'S AMAZING GRACE!
Mark 14:16-26
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me- one who is eating with me."
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely you don't mean me?"
"It is one of the twelve," he replied, "One who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Insight: It has been said that our songs are essentially our sung prayers. After having been severely beaten and unjustly arrested, Paul and Silas "were praying and singing hymns to god" in prison! (Acts 16:25). In Paul's letter to the Ephesian church he exhorts them to "[sing] songs and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and [make] music to the Lord in your hearts" (Ephesians 5:19 NLT).
Are you going through a difficult time? Ask God to encourage you as you sing your favorite hymn or song.
by K.T. Sim
10/09/18
Two men convicted of drug trafficking had been on death row for a decade. While in prison, they learn of God's love for them in Jesus, and their lives were transformed. When it came time for them to face the firing squad, they faced their executioners reciting the Lord's Prayer and singing "Amazing Grace." Because of their faith in God, through the power of the Spirit they were able to face death with incredible courage.
They followed the example of faith set by their Savior, Jesus. When Jesus knew that His death was imminent, He spent part of the evening singing with friends. It's remarkable that He could sing under such circumstances, but what's even more remarkable is what He sang. On that night, Jesus and His friends had a Passover meal, which always ends with a series of Psalms known as the Hallel, Psalms 113-118. Facing death, that night Jesus sang about the "Cords of death" entangling Him (Psalm 116:3). Yet He praised God's faithful love (117:2) and thanked Him for salvation (118:14). Surely these Psalms comforted Jesus on the night before His crucifixion.
Jesus's trust in God was so great that even as He approached His own death- a death He had done nothing to deserve!- He chose to sing of God's love. Because of Jesus, we too can have confidence that whatever we face, God is with us.
by Amy Peterson
God, strengthen our faith in You so that when we face trials, or even approach death, we can sing with confidence about Your love.
HOW SWEET IS THE SOUND OF GOD'S AMAZING GRACE!
Mark 14:16-26
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me- one who is eating with me."
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely you don't mean me?"
"It is one of the twelve," he replied, "One who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Insight: It has been said that our songs are essentially our sung prayers. After having been severely beaten and unjustly arrested, Paul and Silas "were praying and singing hymns to god" in prison! (Acts 16:25). In Paul's letter to the Ephesian church he exhorts them to "[sing] songs and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and [make] music to the Lord in your hearts" (Ephesians 5:19 NLT).
Are you going through a difficult time? Ask God to encourage you as you sing your favorite hymn or song.
by K.T. Sim
10/09/18
MUCH MORE THAN WORDS
At a dedication ceremony during which a Bible translated into a local African language was presented the area chief was presented with his own copy. In appreciation, he lifted the Bible to the skies and exclaimed, "Now we know God understands our language! We can read the Bible in our own native mother-tongue."
Know matter our language, our heavenly Father understands it. But often we feel unable to express our deepest longings to Him. The apostle Paul encourages us to pray regardless of how we feel. Paul speaks of our suffering world and our own pain: "The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22), and he compares that to the Holy Spirit's work on our behalf. "The Spirit helps us in our weakness," he writes. "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (v.26).
God's Holy Spirit knows us intimately. He knows our longings, our heart-language, and our unspoken words, and he helps us in our communication with God. His Spirit draws us to be transformed into the image of God the Son (v.29).
Our heavenly Father understands our language and speaks to us through His Word. When we think our prayers are weak or too short, His Holy Spirit helps us by speaking through us to the Father. He yearns for us to talk with Him in prayer.
by Lawrence Darmani
Thank You, Lord, for understanding my language and innermost longings. When my prayers are weak and dry, bear me up through Your Spirit.
WHEN WE FEEL WEAK IN OUR PRAYERS, GOD'S SPIRIT HELPS US IN WAYS WE CAN'T IMAGINE
Romans 8:22-30
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Insight: Our inability to know what to ask for when we pray is part of a bigger story. According to Paul's letter to the Romans, there's a lot more we can't do for ourselves. We also can't avoid the consequences of our own choices, change our own hearts, make ourselves right with God, or even live up to our own expectations (Romans 4:5;6:23;7:18-21). Yet Paul doesn't leave us helpless and hopeless. He begins and ends chapter 8 showing us how to rise on wings of wonder. Could anything lift us higher than to know that we also can't do anything that would cause the God who is for us to stop helping and loving us? (vv.11,31-39).
by Mart Dehaan
10/08/18
At a dedication ceremony during which a Bible translated into a local African language was presented the area chief was presented with his own copy. In appreciation, he lifted the Bible to the skies and exclaimed, "Now we know God understands our language! We can read the Bible in our own native mother-tongue."
Know matter our language, our heavenly Father understands it. But often we feel unable to express our deepest longings to Him. The apostle Paul encourages us to pray regardless of how we feel. Paul speaks of our suffering world and our own pain: "The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22), and he compares that to the Holy Spirit's work on our behalf. "The Spirit helps us in our weakness," he writes. "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (v.26).
God's Holy Spirit knows us intimately. He knows our longings, our heart-language, and our unspoken words, and he helps us in our communication with God. His Spirit draws us to be transformed into the image of God the Son (v.29).
Our heavenly Father understands our language and speaks to us through His Word. When we think our prayers are weak or too short, His Holy Spirit helps us by speaking through us to the Father. He yearns for us to talk with Him in prayer.
by Lawrence Darmani
Thank You, Lord, for understanding my language and innermost longings. When my prayers are weak and dry, bear me up through Your Spirit.
WHEN WE FEEL WEAK IN OUR PRAYERS, GOD'S SPIRIT HELPS US IN WAYS WE CAN'T IMAGINE
Romans 8:22-30
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Insight: Our inability to know what to ask for when we pray is part of a bigger story. According to Paul's letter to the Romans, there's a lot more we can't do for ourselves. We also can't avoid the consequences of our own choices, change our own hearts, make ourselves right with God, or even live up to our own expectations (Romans 4:5;6:23;7:18-21). Yet Paul doesn't leave us helpless and hopeless. He begins and ends chapter 8 showing us how to rise on wings of wonder. Could anything lift us higher than to know that we also can't do anything that would cause the God who is for us to stop helping and loving us? (vv.11,31-39).
by Mart Dehaan
10/08/18
OUR SINGING FATHER
No one told me before my wife and I had children how important singing would be. My children are now six, eight, and ten. But all three had problems sleeping early on. Each night, my wife and I took turns rocking our little ones, praying they'd nod off quickly. I spent hundreds of hours rocking them, desperately crooning lullabies to (hopefully!) speed up the process. But as I sang over out children night after night, something amazing happened: It deepened my bond of love and delight for them in ways I had never dreamed.
Did you know Scripture describes our heavenly Father singing over His children too? Just as I thought to soothe my children with song, so Zephaniah concludes with a portrait of our heavenly Father singing over His people: "He will take great delight in you; in his love he will ...rejoice over you with singing" (3:17).
Much of Zephaniah's prophetic book warns of a coming time of judgment for those who rejected God. Yet that's not where it ends. Zephaniah concludes not with judgment but with a description of God not only rescuing His people from all their suffering (vv.19-20) but also tenderly loving and rejoicing over them with song" (v.17).
Our God is not only a "Mighty Warrior Who Saves" and restores (v.17) but a loving Father who tenderly sings songs over us.
by Adam Holz
Father, help us to embrace your tender love and "hear" the songs you sing.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DELIGHTS IN HIS CHILDREN LIKE A PARENT SINGING TO A NEWBORN BABY.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day, they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and a reproach for you. At that time I will deal with all who have oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the Lord.
Insight: The singing heart of God (Zephaiah 3:17) is but one of the many ways He expresses His love and care for us. Of course, we readily acknowledge that He rescues us and provides for us. We also know that He made us and empowers us to live for Him in this world. But that is only the beginning. In Luke 15 we find that, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God rejoices over our rescue and return to Him. Additionally, He comforts us in our season of trial. (2 Corinthians 1:3-8). Beyond that, He mourns for us in our pain-even to the point of valuing our tears (Psalm 56:8). In these and countless other ways, our God continually expresses the depth of His love and concern for His children.
How have you experienced that care in the different seasons of your own life?
by Bill Crowder
10/07/18
No one told me before my wife and I had children how important singing would be. My children are now six, eight, and ten. But all three had problems sleeping early on. Each night, my wife and I took turns rocking our little ones, praying they'd nod off quickly. I spent hundreds of hours rocking them, desperately crooning lullabies to (hopefully!) speed up the process. But as I sang over out children night after night, something amazing happened: It deepened my bond of love and delight for them in ways I had never dreamed.
Did you know Scripture describes our heavenly Father singing over His children too? Just as I thought to soothe my children with song, so Zephaniah concludes with a portrait of our heavenly Father singing over His people: "He will take great delight in you; in his love he will ...rejoice over you with singing" (3:17).
Much of Zephaniah's prophetic book warns of a coming time of judgment for those who rejected God. Yet that's not where it ends. Zephaniah concludes not with judgment but with a description of God not only rescuing His people from all their suffering (vv.19-20) but also tenderly loving and rejoicing over them with song" (v.17).
Our God is not only a "Mighty Warrior Who Saves" and restores (v.17) but a loving Father who tenderly sings songs over us.
by Adam Holz
Father, help us to embrace your tender love and "hear" the songs you sing.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DELIGHTS IN HIS CHILDREN LIKE A PARENT SINGING TO A NEWBORN BABY.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day, they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and a reproach for you. At that time I will deal with all who have oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the Lord.
Insight: The singing heart of God (Zephaiah 3:17) is but one of the many ways He expresses His love and care for us. Of course, we readily acknowledge that He rescues us and provides for us. We also know that He made us and empowers us to live for Him in this world. But that is only the beginning. In Luke 15 we find that, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God rejoices over our rescue and return to Him. Additionally, He comforts us in our season of trial. (2 Corinthians 1:3-8). Beyond that, He mourns for us in our pain-even to the point of valuing our tears (Psalm 56:8). In these and countless other ways, our God continually expresses the depth of His love and concern for His children.
How have you experienced that care in the different seasons of your own life?
by Bill Crowder
10/07/18
A WARM WELCOME FOR ALL
During a recent vacation, my wife and I visited a famous athletic complex. The gates were wide open, and it appeared that we were welcome to visit. We enjoyed touring the grounds and admiring the well-manicured sports fields. As we were about to leave, someone stopped us and coldly told us we were not supposed to be there. Suddenly, we were reminded that we were outsiders- and it felt uncomfortable.
On that vacation we also visited a church. Again, the doors were opened, so we walked in. What a difference! Many people greeted us warmly and made us feel right at home. We walked out of that church service knowing we were welcomed and excepted.
Sadly, it isn't uncommon for outsiders to receive the unspoken message "You're not supposed to be here" when they visit a church. But Scripture calls us to be hospitable to all. Jesus said we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, which surely means welcoming them into our lives and our churches (Matthew 22:39). In Hebrews, we're reminded to" show hospitality to strangers" (13:2). Both Luke and Paul instruct us to show active love to people with social and physical needs (Luke 14:13-14; Romans 12:13). And among the body of believers, we have a special responsibility to show love (Galations 6:10).
When we welcome all people openly and with Christlike love, we reflect our Savior's love and compassion.
by Dave Branon
Lord, open our hearts to all people who enter our lives- showing them Christlike love and godly hospitality. Help us to make everyone we meet feel the warm welcome of Jesus's love.
WHEN WE PRACTICE HOSPITALITY, WE SHARE GOD'S GOODNESS
Hebrews 13:1-3
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Insight: When Hebrews 13:1-3 encourages believers to treat others with love, it does so after reminding believers of their rock-solid foundation for security. If there was ever anyone we might think would make us feel threatened or ashamed, it would be our infinitely holy and powerful God. But the good news is that because of Christ's cleansing work, believers need not tremble in fear before God's holiness (12:18-21). Instead, we can fearlessly celebrate a life of joyful awe and worship in His kingdom and in fellowship with His people (vv.22-24,28).
Knowing security in God's love, knowing He will never abandon us (13:5-6), means we can stop relating to others in fear. Instead, we can love and care for fellow believers as our brothers and sisters in Christ (vv.1,3). And we can extend our arms to invite everyone we can into God's family of grace (v.2).
by Monica Brands
10/05/18
During a recent vacation, my wife and I visited a famous athletic complex. The gates were wide open, and it appeared that we were welcome to visit. We enjoyed touring the grounds and admiring the well-manicured sports fields. As we were about to leave, someone stopped us and coldly told us we were not supposed to be there. Suddenly, we were reminded that we were outsiders- and it felt uncomfortable.
On that vacation we also visited a church. Again, the doors were opened, so we walked in. What a difference! Many people greeted us warmly and made us feel right at home. We walked out of that church service knowing we were welcomed and excepted.
Sadly, it isn't uncommon for outsiders to receive the unspoken message "You're not supposed to be here" when they visit a church. But Scripture calls us to be hospitable to all. Jesus said we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, which surely means welcoming them into our lives and our churches (Matthew 22:39). In Hebrews, we're reminded to" show hospitality to strangers" (13:2). Both Luke and Paul instruct us to show active love to people with social and physical needs (Luke 14:13-14; Romans 12:13). And among the body of believers, we have a special responsibility to show love (Galations 6:10).
When we welcome all people openly and with Christlike love, we reflect our Savior's love and compassion.
by Dave Branon
Lord, open our hearts to all people who enter our lives- showing them Christlike love and godly hospitality. Help us to make everyone we meet feel the warm welcome of Jesus's love.
WHEN WE PRACTICE HOSPITALITY, WE SHARE GOD'S GOODNESS
Hebrews 13:1-3
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Insight: When Hebrews 13:1-3 encourages believers to treat others with love, it does so after reminding believers of their rock-solid foundation for security. If there was ever anyone we might think would make us feel threatened or ashamed, it would be our infinitely holy and powerful God. But the good news is that because of Christ's cleansing work, believers need not tremble in fear before God's holiness (12:18-21). Instead, we can fearlessly celebrate a life of joyful awe and worship in His kingdom and in fellowship with His people (vv.22-24,28).
Knowing security in God's love, knowing He will never abandon us (13:5-6), means we can stop relating to others in fear. Instead, we can love and care for fellow believers as our brothers and sisters in Christ (vv.1,3). And we can extend our arms to invite everyone we can into God's family of grace (v.2).
by Monica Brands
10/05/18
BETTER THAN EVER
The story is told of a group of salmon fishermen who gathered in a Scottish Inn after a long day of fishing. As one was describing a catch to his friends, his arm swept across the table and knocked a glass against the wall, shattering it and leaving a stain on the white plaster surface. The man apologized to the inn keeper and offered to pay for the damage, but there was nothing he could do; the wall was ruined. A man seated nearby said, "Don't worry." Rising, he took a painting implement from his pocket and began to sketch around the ugly stain. Slowly there emerged the head of magnificent stag. The man was Sir E.H. Landseer, Scotland's foremost animal artist.
David, Israel's illustrious king who pinned Psalm 51, brought shame on himself and his nation by his sins. He committed adultry with the wife of one of his friends and engineered the death of that friend-both deeds worthy of death. It would seem his life was ruined. But he plead with God: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (v.12).
Like David we have shameful acts in our past and the memories that accompany them, recollections that taunt us in the middle of the night. There's so much we wish we could undo or redo.
There is a grace that not only forgives sin but also uses it to make us better than before. God wastes nothing.
by David H.Roper
Lord, I've failed You again. Please forgive me again. Change me. Turn me around. Teach me to follow Your ways.
GOD HAS BOTH AN ALL-SEEING EYE AND AN ALL-FORGIVING HEART.
Psalm 51:9-13
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
Insight: David wrote Psalm 51 in repentance for his sin of adultry with Bathsheba; his deliberate actions that led to the death of her husband, Uriah; and ultimately his sin against God (v.4). Psalm 32, also penned by David, is similar in that hereto he writes from his own experience on the pain of unconfessed sin and of the blessing of repentance. Even as Christians we will sin- and sometimes again and again. At such times, if we stubbornly refuse to confess our sins, we feel the effects of the sin eating away at us spiritually, mentally, and physically (vv.3-4). Why? Not because we've lost our salvation, but because we've driven a wedge between us and our holy God. When we come to God in sorrow for our sins and receive His forgiveness, the "joy of [our]salvation"-the joy of being in an intimate relationship with God-is restored (51:12;see 32:1-2). In both Psalms, David illustrates that confession and repentance lead to God's forgiveness, which leads to a restored relationship, which leads to great joy- and enables us to sing! (32:11).
When have you experienced restored joy after confession?
by Alyson Kieda
10/04/18
The story is told of a group of salmon fishermen who gathered in a Scottish Inn after a long day of fishing. As one was describing a catch to his friends, his arm swept across the table and knocked a glass against the wall, shattering it and leaving a stain on the white plaster surface. The man apologized to the inn keeper and offered to pay for the damage, but there was nothing he could do; the wall was ruined. A man seated nearby said, "Don't worry." Rising, he took a painting implement from his pocket and began to sketch around the ugly stain. Slowly there emerged the head of magnificent stag. The man was Sir E.H. Landseer, Scotland's foremost animal artist.
David, Israel's illustrious king who pinned Psalm 51, brought shame on himself and his nation by his sins. He committed adultry with the wife of one of his friends and engineered the death of that friend-both deeds worthy of death. It would seem his life was ruined. But he plead with God: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (v.12).
Like David we have shameful acts in our past and the memories that accompany them, recollections that taunt us in the middle of the night. There's so much we wish we could undo or redo.
There is a grace that not only forgives sin but also uses it to make us better than before. God wastes nothing.
by David H.Roper
Lord, I've failed You again. Please forgive me again. Change me. Turn me around. Teach me to follow Your ways.
GOD HAS BOTH AN ALL-SEEING EYE AND AN ALL-FORGIVING HEART.
Psalm 51:9-13
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
Insight: David wrote Psalm 51 in repentance for his sin of adultry with Bathsheba; his deliberate actions that led to the death of her husband, Uriah; and ultimately his sin against God (v.4). Psalm 32, also penned by David, is similar in that hereto he writes from his own experience on the pain of unconfessed sin and of the blessing of repentance. Even as Christians we will sin- and sometimes again and again. At such times, if we stubbornly refuse to confess our sins, we feel the effects of the sin eating away at us spiritually, mentally, and physically (vv.3-4). Why? Not because we've lost our salvation, but because we've driven a wedge between us and our holy God. When we come to God in sorrow for our sins and receive His forgiveness, the "joy of [our]salvation"-the joy of being in an intimate relationship with God-is restored (51:12;see 32:1-2). In both Psalms, David illustrates that confession and repentance lead to God's forgiveness, which leads to a restored relationship, which leads to great joy- and enables us to sing! (32:11).
When have you experienced restored joy after confession?
by Alyson Kieda
10/04/18
COURAGEOUS STAND
Teresa Prekerowa was just a teenager when the Nazis invaded her native Poland at the dawn of WW2. This was in the beginnings of the Holocaust when her Jewish neighbors began to disappear- arrested by the Nazis. So Teresa and other Polish countrymen risked their lives to rescue those neighbors from the Warsaw ghetto and the Nazi purge. Teresa would become one of the premier historians of the war and the holocaust, but it was her courage to stand against the tide of evil that would list her with Righteous among the Nations at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
Courage is needed to stand against evil. Paul told the church at Ephesus, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil" (Ephesians 6:12). Clearly this unseen opposition is more than any of us can face alone, so God has given us the necessary spiritual resources (the "full armor of God") to enable us to "stand against the devil's schemes" (v.11).
What might that courageous stand involve? It may be working against injustice or intervening on behalf of someone you know who is vulnerable or victimized. Whatever form the conflict may take, we can have courage- our God has already provided what we need to stand for Him and against evil.
by Bill Crowder
GOD ENABLES US TO STAND FOR HIM.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm than, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Insight: The "full armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-17 is God's provision for us as we seek to live for Him in this world. Paul was under house arrest in Rome as he wrote the letter to the Ephesians, so the armor imagery would have been forefront in his mind. He had been under the close guard of Roman soldiers (the palace guard, see Philippians 1:12-14) for more than two years. With long experience in the presence of Roman soldiers, Paul's description of their armor was a useful image and an accessible word picture for his first readers.
As you consider the different elements of Roman armor, consider the practical way each piece protected the soldier. How is Paul using those ideas to express how God enables us to stand against evil?
by Bill Crowder
10/03/18
Teresa Prekerowa was just a teenager when the Nazis invaded her native Poland at the dawn of WW2. This was in the beginnings of the Holocaust when her Jewish neighbors began to disappear- arrested by the Nazis. So Teresa and other Polish countrymen risked their lives to rescue those neighbors from the Warsaw ghetto and the Nazi purge. Teresa would become one of the premier historians of the war and the holocaust, but it was her courage to stand against the tide of evil that would list her with Righteous among the Nations at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
Courage is needed to stand against evil. Paul told the church at Ephesus, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil" (Ephesians 6:12). Clearly this unseen opposition is more than any of us can face alone, so God has given us the necessary spiritual resources (the "full armor of God") to enable us to "stand against the devil's schemes" (v.11).
What might that courageous stand involve? It may be working against injustice or intervening on behalf of someone you know who is vulnerable or victimized. Whatever form the conflict may take, we can have courage- our God has already provided what we need to stand for Him and against evil.
by Bill Crowder
GOD ENABLES US TO STAND FOR HIM.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm than, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Insight: The "full armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-17 is God's provision for us as we seek to live for Him in this world. Paul was under house arrest in Rome as he wrote the letter to the Ephesians, so the armor imagery would have been forefront in his mind. He had been under the close guard of Roman soldiers (the palace guard, see Philippians 1:12-14) for more than two years. With long experience in the presence of Roman soldiers, Paul's description of their armor was a useful image and an accessible word picture for his first readers.
As you consider the different elements of Roman armor, consider the practical way each piece protected the soldier. How is Paul using those ideas to express how God enables us to stand against evil?
by Bill Crowder
10/03/18
ASKING FOR HELP
Her email arrived late in a long day. In truth I didn't open it. I was working overtime to help a family member manage his serious illness. I didn't have time, therefore, for social distractions.
The next morning, when I clicked on my friend's message, I saw this question: "Can I help you in any way?" Feeling embarrassed, I started to answer no. Then I took a deep breath to pause. I noticed that her question sounded familiar- if not divine.
That's because Jesus asked it. Hearing a blind beggar call out to Him on the Jericho Road, Jesus stopped to ask this man, named Bartimaeus, a similar question. Can I help? Or as Jesus said: "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). The question is stunning. It shows the Healer, Jesus, longs to help us. But first, we're invited to admit needing Him- a humbling step. The "professional" beggar Bartimaeus was needy, indeed- poor, alone, and possibly hungry and downcast. But wanting a new life, he simply told Jesus His most basic need. "Rabbi," he said, "I want to see."
For a blind man, it was an honest plea. Jesus healed him immediately. My friend sought such honesty from me too. So I promised her I'd pray to understand my basic need and, more important, I'd humbly tell her. Do you know your basic need today? When a friend asks, tell it. Then take your plea even higher. Tell God.
Lord, I am needy. I want to share my heart with You now. Help me to humbly receive the help of others also.
GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT SHOWS FAVOR TO THE HUMBLE. 1st Peter 5:5
Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "Son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
"Go," said Jesus, "Your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Insight: Today's story is a beautiful picture of the compassion of our Savior. Even to those he initially refused to help (see the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28), He stretched out a merciful and loving hand. All of His actions proved the claim He made at the beginning of His ministry- He was anointed by God and came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19).
But while Jesus is the epitome of mercy, He didn't heal everyone. In the stories recorded in Scripture, we are told He healed all who came to Him (see Matthew 8:16). But that's the qualification- they came to Him. He healed all who admitted their need of something only He could provide.
Jesus still welcomes everyone who comes to Him. He may not always heal in the same way He did while He was here on earth, but He still offers forgiveness and salvation to anyone who asks.
by J.R.Hudberg
10/02/18
Her email arrived late in a long day. In truth I didn't open it. I was working overtime to help a family member manage his serious illness. I didn't have time, therefore, for social distractions.
The next morning, when I clicked on my friend's message, I saw this question: "Can I help you in any way?" Feeling embarrassed, I started to answer no. Then I took a deep breath to pause. I noticed that her question sounded familiar- if not divine.
That's because Jesus asked it. Hearing a blind beggar call out to Him on the Jericho Road, Jesus stopped to ask this man, named Bartimaeus, a similar question. Can I help? Or as Jesus said: "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). The question is stunning. It shows the Healer, Jesus, longs to help us. But first, we're invited to admit needing Him- a humbling step. The "professional" beggar Bartimaeus was needy, indeed- poor, alone, and possibly hungry and downcast. But wanting a new life, he simply told Jesus His most basic need. "Rabbi," he said, "I want to see."
For a blind man, it was an honest plea. Jesus healed him immediately. My friend sought such honesty from me too. So I promised her I'd pray to understand my basic need and, more important, I'd humbly tell her. Do you know your basic need today? When a friend asks, tell it. Then take your plea even higher. Tell God.
Lord, I am needy. I want to share my heart with You now. Help me to humbly receive the help of others also.
GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT SHOWS FAVOR TO THE HUMBLE. 1st Peter 5:5
Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "Son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
"Go," said Jesus, "Your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Insight: Today's story is a beautiful picture of the compassion of our Savior. Even to those he initially refused to help (see the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28), He stretched out a merciful and loving hand. All of His actions proved the claim He made at the beginning of His ministry- He was anointed by God and came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19).
But while Jesus is the epitome of mercy, He didn't heal everyone. In the stories recorded in Scripture, we are told He healed all who came to Him (see Matthew 8:16). But that's the qualification- they came to Him. He healed all who admitted their need of something only He could provide.
Jesus still welcomes everyone who comes to Him. He may not always heal in the same way He did while He was here on earth, but He still offers forgiveness and salvation to anyone who asks.
by J.R.Hudberg
10/02/18
GOD'S BRAND
Scooping up the smallest children, a frantic maid raced out of the flaming house. As she ran, she called loudly to five-year-old Jacky.
But Jacky didn't follow. Outside, a bystander reacted quickly, standing on the shoulders of a friend. Reaching into the upstairs window, he pulled Jacky to safety-just before the roof caved in. Little Jacky said his mother Susanna, was "a brand [stick] plucked from the burning. You might know that "brand" as the great traveling minister John Wesley (1703-1791).
Susanna Wesley was quoting Zechariah, a prophet who provides valuable insight into God's character. Relating a vision he had, the prophet takes us into a courtroom scene where satan is standing next to Joshua the high priest (3:1). Satan accuses Joshua, but the Lord rebukes the devil and says, "Is this not a brand [burning stick] plucked from the fire?" (v.2 NKJV). The Lord tells Joshua, "I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you" (v.4).
Then the Lord gave Joshua this challenge- and an opportunity: "If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house" (v.7).
What a picture of the gift we receive from God through our faith in Jesus! He snatches us from the fire, cleans us up, and works in us as we follow His Spirit's leading. You might call us God's brands plucked from the fire.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, we give You our thanks for rescuing us and making us right with You. We humbly ask for Your Spirit's guidance as we serve You today.
GOD RESCUES US BECAUSE HE LOVES US; THEN HE EQUIPS US TO SHARE HIS LOVE WITH OTHERS.
Zechariah 3:1-7
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord, said to satan, "The Lord rebuke you, satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts and I will give you a place among these standing here.' "
Insight: At the end of their Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10), the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple (2nd Chronicles 36:22-23). Only 50,000 returned (Ezra 2:64-65), led by Zerubbabel their governor and Joshua their high priest (Haggai 1:1). Because of opposition (Ezra 4:1-5) and economic hardships, coupled with low morale and spiritual lethargy (Haggai 1:2-11), the temple rebuilding stalled for twenty years (Ezra 4:24). God raised 2 prophets, Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the returnees to repent and complete the temple rebuilding (6:14-16). Zechariah was both a prophet (Ezra 5:1; Zechariah 1:1) and a priest (Nehemiah 12:16). Through 8 visions, Zechariah reminded the Jews that God is faithful and would restore and bless the nation (Zechariah 1:7-6:15). This fourth vision (3:1-10) pictures a court scene involving Joshua, the high priest, signifying God would remove their guilt, cleanse them, and make them ready to serve Him (vv.1-5).
by K.T.Sim
10/01/18
Scooping up the smallest children, a frantic maid raced out of the flaming house. As she ran, she called loudly to five-year-old Jacky.
But Jacky didn't follow. Outside, a bystander reacted quickly, standing on the shoulders of a friend. Reaching into the upstairs window, he pulled Jacky to safety-just before the roof caved in. Little Jacky said his mother Susanna, was "a brand [stick] plucked from the burning. You might know that "brand" as the great traveling minister John Wesley (1703-1791).
Susanna Wesley was quoting Zechariah, a prophet who provides valuable insight into God's character. Relating a vision he had, the prophet takes us into a courtroom scene where satan is standing next to Joshua the high priest (3:1). Satan accuses Joshua, but the Lord rebukes the devil and says, "Is this not a brand [burning stick] plucked from the fire?" (v.2 NKJV). The Lord tells Joshua, "I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you" (v.4).
Then the Lord gave Joshua this challenge- and an opportunity: "If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house" (v.7).
What a picture of the gift we receive from God through our faith in Jesus! He snatches us from the fire, cleans us up, and works in us as we follow His Spirit's leading. You might call us God's brands plucked from the fire.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, we give You our thanks for rescuing us and making us right with You. We humbly ask for Your Spirit's guidance as we serve You today.
GOD RESCUES US BECAUSE HE LOVES US; THEN HE EQUIPS US TO SHARE HIS LOVE WITH OTHERS.
Zechariah 3:1-7
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord, said to satan, "The Lord rebuke you, satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts and I will give you a place among these standing here.' "
Insight: At the end of their Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10), the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple (2nd Chronicles 36:22-23). Only 50,000 returned (Ezra 2:64-65), led by Zerubbabel their governor and Joshua their high priest (Haggai 1:1). Because of opposition (Ezra 4:1-5) and economic hardships, coupled with low morale and spiritual lethargy (Haggai 1:2-11), the temple rebuilding stalled for twenty years (Ezra 4:24). God raised 2 prophets, Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the returnees to repent and complete the temple rebuilding (6:14-16). Zechariah was both a prophet (Ezra 5:1; Zechariah 1:1) and a priest (Nehemiah 12:16). Through 8 visions, Zechariah reminded the Jews that God is faithful and would restore and bless the nation (Zechariah 1:7-6:15). This fourth vision (3:1-10) pictures a court scene involving Joshua, the high priest, signifying God would remove their guilt, cleanse them, and make them ready to serve Him (vv.1-5).
by K.T.Sim
10/01/18
FOR OUR FRIENDS
In Emily Bronte's novel Wurthering Heights, a cantankerous man who often quotes the Bible to criticize others is memorably described as "the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake [apply] the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbors."
Its a funny line; and it may even bring particular people to mind. But aren't we all a bit like this- prone to condemn others' failures while excusing our own?
In Scripture some people amazingly did the exact opposite; they were willing to give up God's promises for them and even be cursed if it would save others. Consider Moses, who said he'd rather be blotted out of God's book than see the Israelites unforgiven (Exodus 32:32). Or Paul, who said he'd choose to be "cut off from Christ" if it meant his people would find Him (Romans 9:3).
As self-righteous as we naturally are, Scripture highlights those who love others more than themselves.
Because ultimately such love points to Jesus. "Greater love has no one than this," Jesus taught, than "to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Even before we knew Him, Jesus loved us "to the end" (13:1)- choosing death to give us life.
Now we are invited into the family of God, to love and be loved like this (15:9-12). And as we pour into others Christ's unimaginable love, the world will catch a glimpse of Him.
by Monica Brands
Lord, thank You for showing us what it means to love. Help us to love like You.
WHEN WE LOVE CHRIST, WE LOVE OTHERS.
John 15:5-17
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last- and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
Insight: The important idea of love for one another found in John 15:12-14 is rooted in one of Jesus's most enduring teaching images- the vine and the branches (vv.1-8). Our life so completely flows from being connected to Christ that everything we do, including our ability to love one another, is drawn from His life and power.
by Bill Crowder
9/30/18
In Emily Bronte's novel Wurthering Heights, a cantankerous man who often quotes the Bible to criticize others is memorably described as "the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake [apply] the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbors."
Its a funny line; and it may even bring particular people to mind. But aren't we all a bit like this- prone to condemn others' failures while excusing our own?
In Scripture some people amazingly did the exact opposite; they were willing to give up God's promises for them and even be cursed if it would save others. Consider Moses, who said he'd rather be blotted out of God's book than see the Israelites unforgiven (Exodus 32:32). Or Paul, who said he'd choose to be "cut off from Christ" if it meant his people would find Him (Romans 9:3).
As self-righteous as we naturally are, Scripture highlights those who love others more than themselves.
Because ultimately such love points to Jesus. "Greater love has no one than this," Jesus taught, than "to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Even before we knew Him, Jesus loved us "to the end" (13:1)- choosing death to give us life.
Now we are invited into the family of God, to love and be loved like this (15:9-12). And as we pour into others Christ's unimaginable love, the world will catch a glimpse of Him.
by Monica Brands
Lord, thank You for showing us what it means to love. Help us to love like You.
WHEN WE LOVE CHRIST, WE LOVE OTHERS.
John 15:5-17
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last- and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
Insight: The important idea of love for one another found in John 15:12-14 is rooted in one of Jesus's most enduring teaching images- the vine and the branches (vv.1-8). Our life so completely flows from being connected to Christ that everything we do, including our ability to love one another, is drawn from His life and power.
by Bill Crowder
9/30/18
UNLOCKING A MYSTERY
When I came home from work one day and saw a pair of lady's high-heel shoes next to the driveway, I was sure I knew whose they were. So I put them in the garage to give to my daughter Lisa when she returned to the house to pick up her children. But when I checked with Lisa, I found they didn't belong to her. In fact, no one in our family claimed them, so I put them back where I'd found them. The next day, they were gone. Mysterious.
Did you know that the apostle Paul wrote of a mystery in his letters? But the mystery he described was so much more than some kind of "whodoneit." In Ephesians 3, for example, Paul spoke of a mystery that "was not made known to people in other generations" (v.5). This mystery is that, while in the past God revealed Himself through Israel, now, through Jesus, Gentiles-those outside of Israel- could be "heirs together with Israel" (v.6).
Think about what this means: all who trust Jesus as Savior can love and serve God together. We can all equally "approach [Him] with freedom and confidence" (v.12). And through the church's unity the world will see God's wisdom and goodness (v.10).
Praise God for our salvation. It unlocks for us the mystery of unity as people of any and all backgrounds become one in Jesus.
by Dave Branon
Thank You, Jesus, for the unity all believers can enjoy in You. Help us to serve together as equal members of Your body.
UNITY IN CHRIST BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS AND BUILDS THE CHURCH.
Ephesians 3:1-12
For this reason I, Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-
Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Insight: Paul's heart for both Jew and Gentile, like Jesus's love for Samaritans and Roman soldiers, has deep roots in Scripture. The God who blessed His creation (Genesis 1:22-28) has always been far more than a God of a few preferred people.
Eve was promised a descendant who would one day defeat the enemy of every woman's child (Genesis 3:15). Later the same God promised Abraham (12:1-3), Isaac (26:4), Jacob (28:14), David (Psalm 67:1-7) and prophets like Isaiah and Micah (Isaiah 2:1-3; Micah 4:1-3) that he had a mysteriously wonderful plan to bless His world through the salvation and witness of all who trust Him (John 3:16).
by Mart Dehaan
9/28/18
When I came home from work one day and saw a pair of lady's high-heel shoes next to the driveway, I was sure I knew whose they were. So I put them in the garage to give to my daughter Lisa when she returned to the house to pick up her children. But when I checked with Lisa, I found they didn't belong to her. In fact, no one in our family claimed them, so I put them back where I'd found them. The next day, they were gone. Mysterious.
Did you know that the apostle Paul wrote of a mystery in his letters? But the mystery he described was so much more than some kind of "whodoneit." In Ephesians 3, for example, Paul spoke of a mystery that "was not made known to people in other generations" (v.5). This mystery is that, while in the past God revealed Himself through Israel, now, through Jesus, Gentiles-those outside of Israel- could be "heirs together with Israel" (v.6).
Think about what this means: all who trust Jesus as Savior can love and serve God together. We can all equally "approach [Him] with freedom and confidence" (v.12). And through the church's unity the world will see God's wisdom and goodness (v.10).
Praise God for our salvation. It unlocks for us the mystery of unity as people of any and all backgrounds become one in Jesus.
by Dave Branon
Thank You, Jesus, for the unity all believers can enjoy in You. Help us to serve together as equal members of Your body.
UNITY IN CHRIST BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS AND BUILDS THE CHURCH.
Ephesians 3:1-12
For this reason I, Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-
Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Insight: Paul's heart for both Jew and Gentile, like Jesus's love for Samaritans and Roman soldiers, has deep roots in Scripture. The God who blessed His creation (Genesis 1:22-28) has always been far more than a God of a few preferred people.
Eve was promised a descendant who would one day defeat the enemy of every woman's child (Genesis 3:15). Later the same God promised Abraham (12:1-3), Isaac (26:4), Jacob (28:14), David (Psalm 67:1-7) and prophets like Isaiah and Micah (Isaiah 2:1-3; Micah 4:1-3) that he had a mysteriously wonderful plan to bless His world through the salvation and witness of all who trust Him (John 3:16).
by Mart Dehaan
9/28/18
ASKING GOD FIRST
Early in our marriage, I struggled to figure out my wife's preferences. Did she want a quiet dinner at home or a meal at a fancy restaurant? Was it okay for me to hang out with the guys, or did she expect me to keep the weekend free for her? Once, instead of guessing and deciding first, I asked her, "What do you want?"
"I'm fine with either," she replied with a warm smile. "I'm just happy you thought of me."
At times I've wanted desperately to know exactly what God wanted me to do- such as which job to take. Praying for guidance and reading the Bible didn't reveal any specific answers. But one answer was clear: I was to trust in the Lord, take delight in Him, and commit my way to Him (Psalm 37:3-5).
That's when I realized that God usually gives us the freedom of choice- if we first seek to put His ways before our own. That means dropping choices that are plainly wrong or would not please Him. It might be something immoral, ungodly, or unhelpful toward our relationship with Him. If the remaining options please God, then we're free to choose from them. Our loving Father wants to give us the desires of our hearts- hearts that take delight in Him(v.4).
by Leslie Koh
Teach me, O God, to put You first in everything I do. Show me how to take delight in You, that my heart will be transformed to be like Yours.
DO YOUR DECISIONS PLEASE GOD?
Psalm 37:3-7, 23-24
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Insight: A prayerful reading of Psalm 37 yields increased joy, assurance, and confidence in the Lord. After an opening exhortation to not be upset by the short-lived vitality and success of those who ignore the Lord (vv.1-2), a series of commands follow that call for faithful dependence on Him (vv.3-8). The remainder of the Psalm includes commentary about the conduct of two kinds of people (the righteous and the wicked), who follow two different paths and end up at two different places (vv.9-11, 20). In various ways, the wicked harass and prey upon the righteous (vv.12-15,32). But the righteous are not alone. The Lord- in whom they trust and delight and upon whom they wait- protects them, making them safe and secure and stable (vv.16-17, 23-26, 32-33). The conclusion of the psalm speaks powerfully to those who place their faith in God.
"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him" (vv.39-40).
by Arthur Jackson
9/27/18
Early in our marriage, I struggled to figure out my wife's preferences. Did she want a quiet dinner at home or a meal at a fancy restaurant? Was it okay for me to hang out with the guys, or did she expect me to keep the weekend free for her? Once, instead of guessing and deciding first, I asked her, "What do you want?"
"I'm fine with either," she replied with a warm smile. "I'm just happy you thought of me."
At times I've wanted desperately to know exactly what God wanted me to do- such as which job to take. Praying for guidance and reading the Bible didn't reveal any specific answers. But one answer was clear: I was to trust in the Lord, take delight in Him, and commit my way to Him (Psalm 37:3-5).
That's when I realized that God usually gives us the freedom of choice- if we first seek to put His ways before our own. That means dropping choices that are plainly wrong or would not please Him. It might be something immoral, ungodly, or unhelpful toward our relationship with Him. If the remaining options please God, then we're free to choose from them. Our loving Father wants to give us the desires of our hearts- hearts that take delight in Him(v.4).
by Leslie Koh
Teach me, O God, to put You first in everything I do. Show me how to take delight in You, that my heart will be transformed to be like Yours.
DO YOUR DECISIONS PLEASE GOD?
Psalm 37:3-7, 23-24
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Insight: A prayerful reading of Psalm 37 yields increased joy, assurance, and confidence in the Lord. After an opening exhortation to not be upset by the short-lived vitality and success of those who ignore the Lord (vv.1-2), a series of commands follow that call for faithful dependence on Him (vv.3-8). The remainder of the Psalm includes commentary about the conduct of two kinds of people (the righteous and the wicked), who follow two different paths and end up at two different places (vv.9-11, 20). In various ways, the wicked harass and prey upon the righteous (vv.12-15,32). But the righteous are not alone. The Lord- in whom they trust and delight and upon whom they wait- protects them, making them safe and secure and stable (vv.16-17, 23-26, 32-33). The conclusion of the psalm speaks powerfully to those who place their faith in God.
"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him" (vv.39-40).
by Arthur Jackson
9/27/18
WHEN WE'RE WEARY
Sometimes trying to do the right thing can be exhausting. We may wonder, do my well-intentioned words and actions make any difference at all? I wondered this recently when I sent a prayerfully thought-out email meant to encourage a friend, only to have it met with an angry response. My immediate reaction was a mixture of hurt and anger. How could I be so misunderstood?
Before I responded out of anger, I remembered that we won't always see the results (or the results we desire) when we tell someone about how Jesus loves them. When we do good things for others hoping to draw them to Him, they may spurn us. Our gentle efforts to prompt someone to right action may be ignored.
Galations 6 is a good place to turn when we're discouraged by someone's response to our sincere efforts. Here the apostle Paul encourages us to consider our motives- to "test our actions"- for what we say and do (vv.1-4). When we have done so, He encourages us to persevere: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (vv9-10).
God wants us to continue living for Him, which includes praying for and telling others about Him- "Doing good." He will see to the results.
by Alyson Kieda
Dear God, thank You for the encouragement we receive from Your Word. Help us to persevere in doing good.
WE CAN LEAVE THE RESULTS OF OUR LIVES IN GOD'S HANDS.
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Insight: Sometimes we can be tempted to take pride in our own good deeds. Unfortunately, this attitude may result in our looking down on the shortcomings of others. Instead, Paul says that believers empowered by the Spirit are to restore those caught up in a sin gently. By helping people deal with their sins we're fulfilling the law of Christ.
This helps us understand what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Helping others grow in godliness is the essence of loving them.
How can you love your neighbor today?
by J.R.Hudberg
9/26/18
ITS NOT ABOUT THE FISH
Sighted numerous times off the coast of Australia's South Queensland, Migaloo is the first albino humpback whale ever documented. The splendid creature, estimated at more than forty feet long, is so rare that Australia passed a law specifically to protect him.
The Bible tells us about a "huge fish" so rare that God had provided it especially to swallow a runaway prophet (Jonah 1:17). Most know the story. God told Jonah to take a message of judgment to Nineveh. But Jonah wanted nothing to do with the Ninevites, who had a reputation for cruelty to just about everyone- including the Hebrews. So he fled. Things went badly. From inside the fish, Jonah repented. Eventually he preached to the Ninevites, and they repented too (3:5-10).
Great story, right? Except it doesn't end there. While Nineveh repented, Jonah pouted. "Isn't this what I said, Lord?" he prayed. "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love" (4:2). Having been rescued from certain death, Jonah's sinful anger grew until even his prayer became suicidal (v.3).
The story of Jonah isn't about the fish. It's about our human nature and the nature of the God who pursues us. "The Lord is patient with you," wrote the apostle Peter,"Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2nd Peter 3:9). God offers His love to brutal Ninevites, pouting prophets, and you and me.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, we tend to look at what others "deserve" and forget we need Your love just as much. Help us live in Your love and tell others about it.
OUR LOVE HAS LIMITS; GOD'S LOVE IS LIMITLESS.
Jonah 3:10-4:4
Chapter 3
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Chapter 4
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"
Insight: What a difference a couple of chapters can make in the tone of Jonah's prayers! In Jonah 2:2, the desperate prophet prayed, "In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me." But in Jonah 4:3, he asks God to kill him. God answered the first prayer miraculously, delivering Jonah from death. But with the second prayer, God simply asked, "Is it right for you to be angry?" (4:4). Then Jonah actually repeats his death wish. "I'm so angry I wish I were dead" (v.9). Even then, God appealed to Jonah by sharing His heart for all of humanity. "Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?" God even extends His concern to the animals that would have been destroyed in Nineveh (v.11). The book of Jonah provides a fascinating contrast between human nature, which is self-serving, and the profoundly loving and patient character of God.
How do we respond to God's grace to us? Do we resent it when He extends that grace to others we may perceive as "worse" than we are. Do we resemble Jonah when things don't go the way we'd like them to?
by Tim Gustafson
9/25/18
Sometimes trying to do the right thing can be exhausting. We may wonder, do my well-intentioned words and actions make any difference at all? I wondered this recently when I sent a prayerfully thought-out email meant to encourage a friend, only to have it met with an angry response. My immediate reaction was a mixture of hurt and anger. How could I be so misunderstood?
Before I responded out of anger, I remembered that we won't always see the results (or the results we desire) when we tell someone about how Jesus loves them. When we do good things for others hoping to draw them to Him, they may spurn us. Our gentle efforts to prompt someone to right action may be ignored.
Galations 6 is a good place to turn when we're discouraged by someone's response to our sincere efforts. Here the apostle Paul encourages us to consider our motives- to "test our actions"- for what we say and do (vv.1-4). When we have done so, He encourages us to persevere: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (vv9-10).
God wants us to continue living for Him, which includes praying for and telling others about Him- "Doing good." He will see to the results.
by Alyson Kieda
Dear God, thank You for the encouragement we receive from Your Word. Help us to persevere in doing good.
WE CAN LEAVE THE RESULTS OF OUR LIVES IN GOD'S HANDS.
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Insight: Sometimes we can be tempted to take pride in our own good deeds. Unfortunately, this attitude may result in our looking down on the shortcomings of others. Instead, Paul says that believers empowered by the Spirit are to restore those caught up in a sin gently. By helping people deal with their sins we're fulfilling the law of Christ.
This helps us understand what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Helping others grow in godliness is the essence of loving them.
How can you love your neighbor today?
by J.R.Hudberg
9/26/18
ITS NOT ABOUT THE FISH
Sighted numerous times off the coast of Australia's South Queensland, Migaloo is the first albino humpback whale ever documented. The splendid creature, estimated at more than forty feet long, is so rare that Australia passed a law specifically to protect him.
The Bible tells us about a "huge fish" so rare that God had provided it especially to swallow a runaway prophet (Jonah 1:17). Most know the story. God told Jonah to take a message of judgment to Nineveh. But Jonah wanted nothing to do with the Ninevites, who had a reputation for cruelty to just about everyone- including the Hebrews. So he fled. Things went badly. From inside the fish, Jonah repented. Eventually he preached to the Ninevites, and they repented too (3:5-10).
Great story, right? Except it doesn't end there. While Nineveh repented, Jonah pouted. "Isn't this what I said, Lord?" he prayed. "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love" (4:2). Having been rescued from certain death, Jonah's sinful anger grew until even his prayer became suicidal (v.3).
The story of Jonah isn't about the fish. It's about our human nature and the nature of the God who pursues us. "The Lord is patient with you," wrote the apostle Peter,"Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2nd Peter 3:9). God offers His love to brutal Ninevites, pouting prophets, and you and me.
by Tim Gustafson
Father, we tend to look at what others "deserve" and forget we need Your love just as much. Help us live in Your love and tell others about it.
OUR LOVE HAS LIMITS; GOD'S LOVE IS LIMITLESS.
Jonah 3:10-4:4
Chapter 3
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Chapter 4
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"
Insight: What a difference a couple of chapters can make in the tone of Jonah's prayers! In Jonah 2:2, the desperate prophet prayed, "In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me." But in Jonah 4:3, he asks God to kill him. God answered the first prayer miraculously, delivering Jonah from death. But with the second prayer, God simply asked, "Is it right for you to be angry?" (4:4). Then Jonah actually repeats his death wish. "I'm so angry I wish I were dead" (v.9). Even then, God appealed to Jonah by sharing His heart for all of humanity. "Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?" God even extends His concern to the animals that would have been destroyed in Nineveh (v.11). The book of Jonah provides a fascinating contrast between human nature, which is self-serving, and the profoundly loving and patient character of God.
How do we respond to God's grace to us? Do we resent it when He extends that grace to others we may perceive as "worse" than we are. Do we resemble Jonah when things don't go the way we'd like them to?
by Tim Gustafson
9/25/18
MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Just before her death, artist and missionary Lilias Trotter looked out a window and saw a vision of a heavenly chariot. According to her biographer, a friend asked, "Are you seeing many beautiful things?" She answered, "Yes, many beautiful things."
Trotter's final words reflect God's work in her life. Not only in death, but throughout her life, He revealed much beauty to her and through her. Although a talented artist, she chose to serve Jesus as a missionary in Algeria. John Ruskin, a famous painter who tutored her, is said to have commented, "What a waste," when she chose the mission field over a career in art.
Similarly, in the New Testament, when a woman came to Simon the Leper's house with an alabaster jar and poured perfume on Jesus's head, those present saw it as a waste. This expensive perfume was worth a year's common wages, so some of the people present thought it could have been used to help the poor. However, commending this woman's deep devotion to Him, Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing to me" (Mark 14:6). Every day we can choose to let Christ's life shine in our lives and display His beauty to the world. To some, it may seem a waste, but let us have willing hearts to serve Him. May Jesus say we have done many beautiful things for Him.
by Keila Ochoa
Dear Father, help me express my love to You in beautiful ways.
MAY OUR LIVES DISPLAY THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
Mark 14:1-9
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. "But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot."
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
Insight: How can we, like the woman in Mark 14, do beautiful things for Christ? We can offer the beauty of "a gentle and quiet spirit" which "is of great worth in God's sight" (1st Peter 3:3-4). Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23, a list of characteristics that display Christ at work in our lives. We are to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1st Timothy 6:11). When we are willing to be used by Him, the Spirit produces fruit and can guide us to do beautiful things.
by Alyson Kieda
9/24/18
Just before her death, artist and missionary Lilias Trotter looked out a window and saw a vision of a heavenly chariot. According to her biographer, a friend asked, "Are you seeing many beautiful things?" She answered, "Yes, many beautiful things."
Trotter's final words reflect God's work in her life. Not only in death, but throughout her life, He revealed much beauty to her and through her. Although a talented artist, she chose to serve Jesus as a missionary in Algeria. John Ruskin, a famous painter who tutored her, is said to have commented, "What a waste," when she chose the mission field over a career in art.
Similarly, in the New Testament, when a woman came to Simon the Leper's house with an alabaster jar and poured perfume on Jesus's head, those present saw it as a waste. This expensive perfume was worth a year's common wages, so some of the people present thought it could have been used to help the poor. However, commending this woman's deep devotion to Him, Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing to me" (Mark 14:6). Every day we can choose to let Christ's life shine in our lives and display His beauty to the world. To some, it may seem a waste, but let us have willing hearts to serve Him. May Jesus say we have done many beautiful things for Him.
by Keila Ochoa
Dear Father, help me express my love to You in beautiful ways.
MAY OUR LIVES DISPLAY THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
Mark 14:1-9
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. "But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot."
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
Insight: How can we, like the woman in Mark 14, do beautiful things for Christ? We can offer the beauty of "a gentle and quiet spirit" which "is of great worth in God's sight" (1st Peter 3:3-4). Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23, a list of characteristics that display Christ at work in our lives. We are to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1st Timothy 6:11). When we are willing to be used by Him, the Spirit produces fruit and can guide us to do beautiful things.
by Alyson Kieda
9/24/18
WALKING GOD'S WAY
"We're going this way," I said as I touched my son's shoulder and redirected him through the crowd to follow his mom and sisters in front of us. I'd done this more often as the day wore on at the amusement park our family was visiting. He was getting tired and more easily distracted. Why can't he just follow them? I wondered.
Then it hit me: How often do I do exactly the same thing? How often do I veer from obediently walking with God, enchanted by the temptations to pursue what I want instead of seeking His ways?
Think of Isaiah's words from God for Israel: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it' " (Isaiah 30:21). Earlier in that chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness. But if they would trust His strength instead of their own ways (v.15), He promised to show His graciousness and compassion (v.18).
One expression of God's graciousness is His promise to guide us by His Spirit. That happens as we talk to Him about our desires and ask in prayer what He has for us. I'm thankful God patiently directs us, day-by-day, step-by-step, as we trust Him and listen for His voice.
by Adam Holz
Father, You've promised to guide us through the ups and downs and decisions we face in life. Help us to trust and follow You and to actively listen for Your guiding voice.
GOD PATIENTLY DIRECTS US AS WE TRUST HIM AND LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE.
Isaiah 30:15-21
This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be no hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Insight: In today's passage, a resurgent militant Assyria threatened to conquer all of Israel. But instead of trusting God to deliver them, Judah turned to Egypt for help. God had explicitly prohibited Israelite kings from trusting in anything other than God for deliverance (Deuteronomy 17:16). Isaiah warned that its futile to trust Egypt instead of the Lord (Isaiah 30:1-19;31:1). The psalmist warned of the futility of putting our trust in something other than God: "No king is saved by the size of his army....A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save" (Psalm 33:16-17).
When have you placed your trust in something other than God?
by K.T.Sim
9/23/18
"We're going this way," I said as I touched my son's shoulder and redirected him through the crowd to follow his mom and sisters in front of us. I'd done this more often as the day wore on at the amusement park our family was visiting. He was getting tired and more easily distracted. Why can't he just follow them? I wondered.
Then it hit me: How often do I do exactly the same thing? How often do I veer from obediently walking with God, enchanted by the temptations to pursue what I want instead of seeking His ways?
Think of Isaiah's words from God for Israel: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it' " (Isaiah 30:21). Earlier in that chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness. But if they would trust His strength instead of their own ways (v.15), He promised to show His graciousness and compassion (v.18).
One expression of God's graciousness is His promise to guide us by His Spirit. That happens as we talk to Him about our desires and ask in prayer what He has for us. I'm thankful God patiently directs us, day-by-day, step-by-step, as we trust Him and listen for His voice.
by Adam Holz
Father, You've promised to guide us through the ups and downs and decisions we face in life. Help us to trust and follow You and to actively listen for Your guiding voice.
GOD PATIENTLY DIRECTS US AS WE TRUST HIM AND LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE.
Isaiah 30:15-21
This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be no hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Insight: In today's passage, a resurgent militant Assyria threatened to conquer all of Israel. But instead of trusting God to deliver them, Judah turned to Egypt for help. God had explicitly prohibited Israelite kings from trusting in anything other than God for deliverance (Deuteronomy 17:16). Isaiah warned that its futile to trust Egypt instead of the Lord (Isaiah 30:1-19;31:1). The psalmist warned of the futility of putting our trust in something other than God: "No king is saved by the size of his army....A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save" (Psalm 33:16-17).
When have you placed your trust in something other than God?
by K.T.Sim
LISTENING TO YOUR BROTHER
"You need to listen to me, I'm your brother!" The plea came from a concerned older brother in my neighborhood and was directed to a younger sibling who was moving farther away from him than the older child was comfortable with. Clearly the older brother was better able to judge what was best in the situation.
How many of us have resisted the wise counsel of a brother or sister? If you've had to face the consequences of resisting the good advice of someone more mature, You're not alone.
One of the greatest resources we can have as believers in Jesus is a family- those who are spiritually related because of a common faith in Him. This family includes mature men and women who love God and each other. Like the little brother in my neighborhood, we sometimes need a word of caution or correction to get us back on track. This is particularly true when we offend someone or someone offends us. Doing what's right can be difficult. Yet Jesus's words in Matthew 18:15-20 show us what to do when offenses happen within our spiritual family.
Thankfully, our gracious heavenly Father places in our lives people who are prepared to help us honor Him and others. And when we listen, things go better in the family (v.15).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, we praise You for placing us in Your spiritual family. Help us to learn and grow through the wise words and godly behavior of mature believers.
WISDOM GROWS WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF MATURE BELIEVERS.
Matthew 18:15-20
"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax-collector.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Insight: The underlying theme of today's text emphasizes that the church is not just a social organization. Instead it is a spiritual family. The very idea of calling someone "brother" in addressing possible offenses shows how real the idea of the family is. A teachable spirit evidenced by listening to those who are more mature is the starting point for growth in community. The book of Proverbs admonishes us: "Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise" (Proverbs 19:20). Listening to more experienced believers and having a teachable attitude can do wonders in maintaining harmony within the body of Christ.
Is there someone you need to listen to so that you can grow spiritually?
by Dennis Fisher
9/20/18
"You need to listen to me, I'm your brother!" The plea came from a concerned older brother in my neighborhood and was directed to a younger sibling who was moving farther away from him than the older child was comfortable with. Clearly the older brother was better able to judge what was best in the situation.
How many of us have resisted the wise counsel of a brother or sister? If you've had to face the consequences of resisting the good advice of someone more mature, You're not alone.
One of the greatest resources we can have as believers in Jesus is a family- those who are spiritually related because of a common faith in Him. This family includes mature men and women who love God and each other. Like the little brother in my neighborhood, we sometimes need a word of caution or correction to get us back on track. This is particularly true when we offend someone or someone offends us. Doing what's right can be difficult. Yet Jesus's words in Matthew 18:15-20 show us what to do when offenses happen within our spiritual family.
Thankfully, our gracious heavenly Father places in our lives people who are prepared to help us honor Him and others. And when we listen, things go better in the family (v.15).
by Arthur Jackson
Father, we praise You for placing us in Your spiritual family. Help us to learn and grow through the wise words and godly behavior of mature believers.
WISDOM GROWS WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF MATURE BELIEVERS.
Matthew 18:15-20
"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax-collector.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Insight: The underlying theme of today's text emphasizes that the church is not just a social organization. Instead it is a spiritual family. The very idea of calling someone "brother" in addressing possible offenses shows how real the idea of the family is. A teachable spirit evidenced by listening to those who are more mature is the starting point for growth in community. The book of Proverbs admonishes us: "Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise" (Proverbs 19:20). Listening to more experienced believers and having a teachable attitude can do wonders in maintaining harmony within the body of Christ.
Is there someone you need to listen to so that you can grow spiritually?
by Dennis Fisher
WHERE TO FIND HOPE
Elizabeth struggled for a long time with drug addiction, and when she recovered wanted to help others in return. So she started writing notes and anonymously placing them throughout her city. Elizabeth tucks these notes under car windshield wipers and tacks them on poles in parks. She used to look for signs of hope; now she leaves them for others to find. One of her notes concluded with these words: "Much love. Hope sent."
Hope with love- that's what Jesus gives. He brings us His love with each new day and strengthens us with that hope. His love is not rationed out to us drop by drop but flows out of His heart freely and is poured lavishly into ours: "We know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Romans 5:5 NLT). He desires to use the hard times to develop perseverance and character and bring us a satisfying, hope-filled life (vv.3-4). And even when we're far from Him, He still loves us (vv.6-8).
Are you looking for signs of hope? The Lord gives hope with love through inviting us to grow in a relationship with Him. Our hope for a fulfilling life is anchored in His unfailing love.
by Anne Cetas
I'm greatful, God, for the love You lavishly pour on me. Please bring me contentment in You and confidence in what You are doing in me.
HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us and in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Insight: Sometimes the truth of the gospel- that Jesus offers a new, guilt-free life for all who believe (Romans 8:1)- might feel a bit too good to be true. If all we've ever known is emptiness, hatred, and despair, how is it even possible to learn to live with love and hope?
It's possible because it doesn't depend on us. God's love reaches deeper than our brokenness, loving us completely even when we're far from Him(5:8). As we surrender to Him, we can experience His love and hope as the Spirit transforms every aspect of our life (vv.3-5).
by Monica Brands
9/19/18
Elizabeth struggled for a long time with drug addiction, and when she recovered wanted to help others in return. So she started writing notes and anonymously placing them throughout her city. Elizabeth tucks these notes under car windshield wipers and tacks them on poles in parks. She used to look for signs of hope; now she leaves them for others to find. One of her notes concluded with these words: "Much love. Hope sent."
Hope with love- that's what Jesus gives. He brings us His love with each new day and strengthens us with that hope. His love is not rationed out to us drop by drop but flows out of His heart freely and is poured lavishly into ours: "We know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Romans 5:5 NLT). He desires to use the hard times to develop perseverance and character and bring us a satisfying, hope-filled life (vv.3-4). And even when we're far from Him, He still loves us (vv.6-8).
Are you looking for signs of hope? The Lord gives hope with love through inviting us to grow in a relationship with Him. Our hope for a fulfilling life is anchored in His unfailing love.
by Anne Cetas
I'm greatful, God, for the love You lavishly pour on me. Please bring me contentment in You and confidence in what You are doing in me.
HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us and in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Insight: Sometimes the truth of the gospel- that Jesus offers a new, guilt-free life for all who believe (Romans 8:1)- might feel a bit too good to be true. If all we've ever known is emptiness, hatred, and despair, how is it even possible to learn to live with love and hope?
It's possible because it doesn't depend on us. God's love reaches deeper than our brokenness, loving us completely even when we're far from Him(5:8). As we surrender to Him, we can experience His love and hope as the Spirit transforms every aspect of our life (vv.3-5).
by Monica Brands
9/19/18
A FITTING TIME
Yesterday I purchased an airline ticket to send my first-born child to college. I'm surprised the keyboard on my computer still functions, given the waterworks my eyes unleashed on it during the flight selection process. I have so enjoyed my eighteen years of daily life with her that I am saddened by the prospect of her departure. Yet I wouldn't rob her of the opportunity that lies ahead simply because I'll miss her. At this juncture in her life, it is fitting for her to embark on a new journey to discover adulthood and explore another part of the country.
As this season of my parenting draws to a close, another one begins. It will undoubtedly bring both new challenges and new delights. Solomon, Israel's third king, wrote that God appoints "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (ecclesiastes 3:1). We humans have little control over the events of our lives- whether we view those events as favorable or not. But God, in His mighty power, makes "everything beautiful in its time" (v.11).
In seasons of heartache, we can trust God to bring something good from them in time. Our comforts and joys may come and go, but God's works "will endure forever" (v.14). We may not relish every season- some are quite painful- yet He can bring beauty to them all.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Father, You have permitted this season in my life. Help me to be content in the midst of it, and to recognize Your power and might are at work.
GOD BRINGS BEAUTY FROM ALL SEASONS.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil- this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
9/18/18
Yesterday I purchased an airline ticket to send my first-born child to college. I'm surprised the keyboard on my computer still functions, given the waterworks my eyes unleashed on it during the flight selection process. I have so enjoyed my eighteen years of daily life with her that I am saddened by the prospect of her departure. Yet I wouldn't rob her of the opportunity that lies ahead simply because I'll miss her. At this juncture in her life, it is fitting for her to embark on a new journey to discover adulthood and explore another part of the country.
As this season of my parenting draws to a close, another one begins. It will undoubtedly bring both new challenges and new delights. Solomon, Israel's third king, wrote that God appoints "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (ecclesiastes 3:1). We humans have little control over the events of our lives- whether we view those events as favorable or not. But God, in His mighty power, makes "everything beautiful in its time" (v.11).
In seasons of heartache, we can trust God to bring something good from them in time. Our comforts and joys may come and go, but God's works "will endure forever" (v.14). We may not relish every season- some are quite painful- yet He can bring beauty to them all.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Father, You have permitted this season in my life. Help me to be content in the midst of it, and to recognize Your power and might are at work.
GOD BRINGS BEAUTY FROM ALL SEASONS.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil- this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
9/18/18
ENGRAVED ON HIS HANDS
In Charles Spurgeon's many years at his London church during the 1800s, he loved to preach on the riches of Isaiah 49:16, which says that God engraves us on the palms of His hands. He said, "Such a text as this is to be preached hundreds of times!" This thought is so precious that we can run over it in our minds again and again.
Spurgeon makes the wonderful connection between this promise of the Lord to His people, the Israelites, and God's Son, Jesus, on the cross as He died for us. Spurgeon asked, "What are these wounds in your hands?...The engraver's tool was the nail, backed by the hammer. He must be fastened to the Cross, that His people might be truly engraved on the palms of His hands." As the Lord promised to engrave His people on His palms, so Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross, receiving the nails in His hands so we could be free of our sins.
If and when we're tempted to think that God has forgotten us, we only need to look at our palms and remember God's promise. He has put indelible marks on His hands for us; He loves us that much.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, how vast is Your love for me! You keep me ever before You. I know You'll never leave me, and I'm grateful.
THE LORD ENGRAVES US ON THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS.
Isaiah 49:14-18
But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your children hasted back, and those who laid you waste depart from you. Lift up your eyes and look around; all your children gather and come to you. As surely as I live," declares the Lord, "You will wear them all as ornaments; you will put them on, like a bride."
Insight: Our God remembers us and keeps His promises. A study of the word remember bears this out. Throughout the Old Testament we read passages about how God "remembered" specific people (Genesis 8:1;19:29, 30:22). Still other passages recall what He has done for us all. "The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:2-3). God specifically worked in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses to fulfill His promises, for He remembers His covenant (see Psalm 105.)
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises. We see this in the words of Zechariah's song (Luke 1:67-73): "Praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them." He "remember [ED] his holy covenant" (vv.68,72).
God hasn't forgotten us. He is with us through the Spirit (John 14:26). And one day He will return to establish a new heaven and earth where He will dwell with us forever (Revelation 21:1-3).
In what ways has God shown you He hasn't forgotten you?
by Alyson Kieda
9/17/18
In Charles Spurgeon's many years at his London church during the 1800s, he loved to preach on the riches of Isaiah 49:16, which says that God engraves us on the palms of His hands. He said, "Such a text as this is to be preached hundreds of times!" This thought is so precious that we can run over it in our minds again and again.
Spurgeon makes the wonderful connection between this promise of the Lord to His people, the Israelites, and God's Son, Jesus, on the cross as He died for us. Spurgeon asked, "What are these wounds in your hands?...The engraver's tool was the nail, backed by the hammer. He must be fastened to the Cross, that His people might be truly engraved on the palms of His hands." As the Lord promised to engrave His people on His palms, so Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross, receiving the nails in His hands so we could be free of our sins.
If and when we're tempted to think that God has forgotten us, we only need to look at our palms and remember God's promise. He has put indelible marks on His hands for us; He loves us that much.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, how vast is Your love for me! You keep me ever before You. I know You'll never leave me, and I'm grateful.
THE LORD ENGRAVES US ON THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS.
Isaiah 49:14-18
But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your children hasted back, and those who laid you waste depart from you. Lift up your eyes and look around; all your children gather and come to you. As surely as I live," declares the Lord, "You will wear them all as ornaments; you will put them on, like a bride."
Insight: Our God remembers us and keeps His promises. A study of the word remember bears this out. Throughout the Old Testament we read passages about how God "remembered" specific people (Genesis 8:1;19:29, 30:22). Still other passages recall what He has done for us all. "The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:2-3). God specifically worked in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses to fulfill His promises, for He remembers His covenant (see Psalm 105.)
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises. We see this in the words of Zechariah's song (Luke 1:67-73): "Praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them." He "remember [ED] his holy covenant" (vv.68,72).
God hasn't forgotten us. He is with us through the Spirit (John 14:26). And one day He will return to establish a new heaven and earth where He will dwell with us forever (Revelation 21:1-3).
In what ways has God shown you He hasn't forgotten you?
by Alyson Kieda
9/17/18
LEGACIES OF LOVE
I was paging through my great-grandmother's Bible when a treasure fell into my lap. On a small scrap of paper, in a young child's handwriting, were the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:3-4 KJV). Scribbled beside those verses in wobbly cursive was my mother's signature.
My great-grandmother had a habit of teaching her grandchildren to write out Scripture verses so they would learn them and take them to heart. But the story behind this verse brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather died when my mother was very young, and her little brother (my uncle) died just weeks later. It was in that tragic season that my great-grandmother pointed my mother to Jesus and the comfort only He can give.
Paul wrote Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also" (2nd Timothy 1:5). Faith isn't inherited, but it is shared. Timothy's mother and grandmother shared their faith with him, and he believed.
When we encourage those close to us to have hope in Jesus, we offer them a legacy of love. Through a simple note, my mother left evidence of my great-grandmother's love for her Savior and her family. Oh, to share Him with those who come after us!
by James Banks
Thank You for those who shared Your love with me, Father. Please help me to point others to Your salvation today.
WHEN WE SHARE OUR FAITH, WE SHARE THE GREATEST TREASURE OF ALL.
2nd Timothy 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Insight: They family language used in 2nd Timothy 1:1-5 is hard to miss. In addition to the reference to "God the Father" (v.2), other family terms are used. Paul refers to Timothy as "my dear son" (v.2). The word translated "son" can refer to literal or spiritual offspring, the latter being the case here. Paul was a "spiritual father" who had invested in Timothy's ministerial training and development. The family term in verse 3 is the word "ancestors," and it refers to those from whom Paul had inherited a legacy of faith. Paul had spiritual roots (see Acts 22:1-3; 23:6; Philippians 3:5-7).
Timothy's connection to his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois was not just biological. His "sincere faith" had been nurtured by these Godly women. Because of the influence of these family members, Paul could write in 2nd Timothy 3:14-15: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
What kind of spiritual roots are you leaving for those who will follow you?
by Arthur Jackson
9/16/18
I was paging through my great-grandmother's Bible when a treasure fell into my lap. On a small scrap of paper, in a young child's handwriting, were the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:3-4 KJV). Scribbled beside those verses in wobbly cursive was my mother's signature.
My great-grandmother had a habit of teaching her grandchildren to write out Scripture verses so they would learn them and take them to heart. But the story behind this verse brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather died when my mother was very young, and her little brother (my uncle) died just weeks later. It was in that tragic season that my great-grandmother pointed my mother to Jesus and the comfort only He can give.
Paul wrote Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also" (2nd Timothy 1:5). Faith isn't inherited, but it is shared. Timothy's mother and grandmother shared their faith with him, and he believed.
When we encourage those close to us to have hope in Jesus, we offer them a legacy of love. Through a simple note, my mother left evidence of my great-grandmother's love for her Savior and her family. Oh, to share Him with those who come after us!
by James Banks
Thank You for those who shared Your love with me, Father. Please help me to point others to Your salvation today.
WHEN WE SHARE OUR FAITH, WE SHARE THE GREATEST TREASURE OF ALL.
2nd Timothy 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Insight: They family language used in 2nd Timothy 1:1-5 is hard to miss. In addition to the reference to "God the Father" (v.2), other family terms are used. Paul refers to Timothy as "my dear son" (v.2). The word translated "son" can refer to literal or spiritual offspring, the latter being the case here. Paul was a "spiritual father" who had invested in Timothy's ministerial training and development. The family term in verse 3 is the word "ancestors," and it refers to those from whom Paul had inherited a legacy of faith. Paul had spiritual roots (see Acts 22:1-3; 23:6; Philippians 3:5-7).
Timothy's connection to his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois was not just biological. His "sincere faith" had been nurtured by these Godly women. Because of the influence of these family members, Paul could write in 2nd Timothy 3:14-15: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
What kind of spiritual roots are you leaving for those who will follow you?
by Arthur Jackson
9/16/18
THE RIGHT WAY TO PRAY
I admire people who record prayer requests in journals, tattered from daily handling, those who keep track of every prayer and praise and then faithfully update their lists. I'm inspired by those who gather with others to pray and whose kneeling wears out the carpet at their bedsides. For years, I tried to copy their styles, to emulate a perfect prayer life, and to imitate the eloquence of the so-much-more-articulate-than-me folks. I strived to unravel what I thought was a mystery, as I longed to learn the right way to pray.
Eventually, I learned that our Lord simply desires prayer that begins and ends with humility (Matthew 6:5). He invites us into an intimate exchange through which He promises to listen (v.6). He never requires fancy or memorized words or phrases (v.7). He assures us that prayer is a gift, an opportunity to honor His majesty (vv.9-10), to display our confidence in His provision (v.11), and to affirm our security in His forgiveness and guidance (vv.12-13).
God assures us He hears and cares about every single spoken and unspoken prayer, as well as the prayers that slip down our cheeks as silent tears. As we place our trust in God and His perfect love for us, we can be sure praying with a humble heart that's surrendered to and dependent on Him is always the right way to pray.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, thank You for reminding us You hear every prayer.
CALLING ON JESUS AS OUR LOVING SAVIOR AND LORD IS THE RIGHT WAY TO PRAY.
Matthew 6:5-15
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Insight: Today's Bible reading, taken from our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, gets to the heart of one of the most important issues in Christian living- motives. In Jesus's teaching, He continually brought the "why" issue to the forefront because, in many ways, what we do is often secondary to why we do what we do. In a world focused on performance, Christ focuses on motive; and this focus drives us to the priority of motive as well.
Do we do what we do to be seen by people or to please our Lord?
by Bill Crowder
9/14/18
I admire people who record prayer requests in journals, tattered from daily handling, those who keep track of every prayer and praise and then faithfully update their lists. I'm inspired by those who gather with others to pray and whose kneeling wears out the carpet at their bedsides. For years, I tried to copy their styles, to emulate a perfect prayer life, and to imitate the eloquence of the so-much-more-articulate-than-me folks. I strived to unravel what I thought was a mystery, as I longed to learn the right way to pray.
Eventually, I learned that our Lord simply desires prayer that begins and ends with humility (Matthew 6:5). He invites us into an intimate exchange through which He promises to listen (v.6). He never requires fancy or memorized words or phrases (v.7). He assures us that prayer is a gift, an opportunity to honor His majesty (vv.9-10), to display our confidence in His provision (v.11), and to affirm our security in His forgiveness and guidance (vv.12-13).
God assures us He hears and cares about every single spoken and unspoken prayer, as well as the prayers that slip down our cheeks as silent tears. As we place our trust in God and His perfect love for us, we can be sure praying with a humble heart that's surrendered to and dependent on Him is always the right way to pray.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, thank You for reminding us You hear every prayer.
CALLING ON JESUS AS OUR LOVING SAVIOR AND LORD IS THE RIGHT WAY TO PRAY.
Matthew 6:5-15
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Insight: Today's Bible reading, taken from our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, gets to the heart of one of the most important issues in Christian living- motives. In Jesus's teaching, He continually brought the "why" issue to the forefront because, in many ways, what we do is often secondary to why we do what we do. In a world focused on performance, Christ focuses on motive; and this focus drives us to the priority of motive as well.
Do we do what we do to be seen by people or to please our Lord?
by Bill Crowder
9/14/18
THE ULTIMATE SATISFACTION
As we distributed snacks for children at a Bible School program, we noticed a little boy who devoured his snack. Then he also ate the left overs of the children at his table. Even after I gave him a bag of popcorn, he still wasn't satisfied. As leaders, we were concerned as to why this little boy was so hungry.
It occurred to me that we can be like that boy when it comes to our emotions. We look for ways to satisfy our deepest longings, but we never find what fully satisfies us.
The prophet Isaiah invites those who are hungry and thirsty to "Come, by and eat" (Isaiah 55:1). But then he asks, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" (v.2). Isaiah is talking about more than just physical hunger here. God can satisfy our spiritual and emotional hunger through the promise of His presence. The "everlasting covenant" in verse 3 is a reminder of a promise God made to David in 2nd Samuel 7:8-16. Through David's family line, a Savior would come to reconnect people to God. Later, in John 6:35 and 7:37, Jesus extended the same invitation Isaiah gave, thus identifying Himself as the Savior foretold by Isaiah and other prophets.
Hungry? God invites you to come and be filled in His presence.
by Linda Washington
Father, I long to know You more. Only You can satisfy my deepest desires.
ONLY GOD WILL SATISFY OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER.
Isaiah 55:1-7
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to
David. See, I have made him a witness to the people's, a ruler and commander of the people's. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Insight: Jesus's invitation in John 7:37 echoes the call of Isaiah 55:1-7. The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles, and one of the daily rituals of the feast was designed to point to the exodus of Israel from Egypt. On each of the 7 days of the feast, the priest would perform a ritual by bringing a pitcher of water to the alter and pouring it out- a reminder of God's provision of water in the wilderness. In John 7, it's the last day of the feast, and it appears that at the moment when the priest is pouring out the water, Jesus declares, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink" (v.37). Water satisfies. It quenches thirst. It meets our deepest needs- and Jesus declares himself to be the source of that ultimate satisfaction.
In what things might you be pursuing satisfaction other than in Christ?
by Bill Crowder
9/13/18
As we distributed snacks for children at a Bible School program, we noticed a little boy who devoured his snack. Then he also ate the left overs of the children at his table. Even after I gave him a bag of popcorn, he still wasn't satisfied. As leaders, we were concerned as to why this little boy was so hungry.
It occurred to me that we can be like that boy when it comes to our emotions. We look for ways to satisfy our deepest longings, but we never find what fully satisfies us.
The prophet Isaiah invites those who are hungry and thirsty to "Come, by and eat" (Isaiah 55:1). But then he asks, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" (v.2). Isaiah is talking about more than just physical hunger here. God can satisfy our spiritual and emotional hunger through the promise of His presence. The "everlasting covenant" in verse 3 is a reminder of a promise God made to David in 2nd Samuel 7:8-16. Through David's family line, a Savior would come to reconnect people to God. Later, in John 6:35 and 7:37, Jesus extended the same invitation Isaiah gave, thus identifying Himself as the Savior foretold by Isaiah and other prophets.
Hungry? God invites you to come and be filled in His presence.
by Linda Washington
Father, I long to know You more. Only You can satisfy my deepest desires.
ONLY GOD WILL SATISFY OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER.
Isaiah 55:1-7
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to
David. See, I have made him a witness to the people's, a ruler and commander of the people's. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Insight: Jesus's invitation in John 7:37 echoes the call of Isaiah 55:1-7. The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles, and one of the daily rituals of the feast was designed to point to the exodus of Israel from Egypt. On each of the 7 days of the feast, the priest would perform a ritual by bringing a pitcher of water to the alter and pouring it out- a reminder of God's provision of water in the wilderness. In John 7, it's the last day of the feast, and it appears that at the moment when the priest is pouring out the water, Jesus declares, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink" (v.37). Water satisfies. It quenches thirst. It meets our deepest needs- and Jesus declares himself to be the source of that ultimate satisfaction.
In what things might you be pursuing satisfaction other than in Christ?
by Bill Crowder
9/13/18
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
"Gip" Hardin, a Methodist preacher, named his son after the famous preacher John Wesley, reflecting Gip's hopes and aspirations for his baby boy. John Wesley Hardin, however, tragically chose a different path than his ministry-minded namesake. Claiming to have killed forty-two men, Hardin became one of the most notorious gunfighters and outlaws of the American West of the late 1800s.
In the Bible, as in many cultures today, names hold special significance. Announcing the birth of God's Son, an angel instructed Joseph to name Mary's child "Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The meaning of Jesus's name-"Jehovah saves"- confirmed His mission to save from sin.
Unlike Hardin, Jesus completely and thoroughly lived up to His name. Through His death and resurrection, He accomplished His mission of rescue. John affirmed the life-giving power of Jesus's name, saying, "But these are written that you many believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). The book of Acts invites everyone to trust Him, for, "Salvation is found in on one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
All who call on Jesus's matchless name in faith can experience for themselves the forgiveness and hope He provides. Have you called on His name?
by Bill Crowder
Thank You, Father, for providing salvation through your Son, Jesus. I love You.
Jesus's name is also His mission-to seek and to save that which is lost.
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet" "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Insight: In the Bible, people's names often end up calling attention to their failures. For example, at birth Samson's parents gave him a name that meant "like the sun." By the time he died, his name reminds us of one who lived a dark and troubled life.
The names of God remind us of one whose character never fails. He is name, described, and remembered not only as the self-existent one (Exodus 3:14), but as the all-powerful Creator (Genesis 1:1), the Lord who provides (22:13-14), the Lord who gives peace (Judges 6:24), the Lord who is present (Ezekiel 48:35), and ultimately, the God and Father of our or (Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3).
by Mart Dehaan
9/12/18
"Gip" Hardin, a Methodist preacher, named his son after the famous preacher John Wesley, reflecting Gip's hopes and aspirations for his baby boy. John Wesley Hardin, however, tragically chose a different path than his ministry-minded namesake. Claiming to have killed forty-two men, Hardin became one of the most notorious gunfighters and outlaws of the American West of the late 1800s.
In the Bible, as in many cultures today, names hold special significance. Announcing the birth of God's Son, an angel instructed Joseph to name Mary's child "Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The meaning of Jesus's name-"Jehovah saves"- confirmed His mission to save from sin.
Unlike Hardin, Jesus completely and thoroughly lived up to His name. Through His death and resurrection, He accomplished His mission of rescue. John affirmed the life-giving power of Jesus's name, saying, "But these are written that you many believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). The book of Acts invites everyone to trust Him, for, "Salvation is found in on one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
All who call on Jesus's matchless name in faith can experience for themselves the forgiveness and hope He provides. Have you called on His name?
by Bill Crowder
Thank You, Father, for providing salvation through your Son, Jesus. I love You.
Jesus's name is also His mission-to seek and to save that which is lost.
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet" "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Insight: In the Bible, people's names often end up calling attention to their failures. For example, at birth Samson's parents gave him a name that meant "like the sun." By the time he died, his name reminds us of one who lived a dark and troubled life.
The names of God remind us of one whose character never fails. He is name, described, and remembered not only as the self-existent one (Exodus 3:14), but as the all-powerful Creator (Genesis 1:1), the Lord who provides (22:13-14), the Lord who gives peace (Judges 6:24), the Lord who is present (Ezekiel 48:35), and ultimately, the God and Father of our or (Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3).
by Mart Dehaan
9/12/18
IS THERE WI-FI?
As I was preparing to go on a mission trip with some young people, the most frequently asked question was, "Is there Wi-Fi?" And I assured them there would be. So just imagine the wails and groans one night when the Wi-Fi was down!
Many of us become anxious when were separated from our smartphones. And when we do have our iPhones or Androids in our hands, we can be fixated on our screens.
Like many things, the internet and all that it allows us to access can become either a distraction or a blessing. It depends on what we do with it. In proverbs we read, "A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash" (15:14 NLT).
Applying the wisdom of God's Word to life, we can ask ourselves: Do we check our social networks compulsively throughout the day? What does that say about the things we hunger for? And do the things we read or view online encourage sensible living (vv.16-21), or are we feeding on trash- gossip, slander, materialism, or sexual impurity?
As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, we can fill our minds with things that are "true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable" (Philippians 4:8 NLT). By God's wisdom we can make good choices that honor Him.
by Poh Fang Kia
God, help me to use my time well and to fill my mind with what is pure.
WHAT WE LET INTO OUR MINDS SHAPES THE STATE OF OUR SOULS.
Proverbs 15:9-21
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates corrections will die. Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord- how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
Insight: Much of the book of Proverbs is comprised of Pithy observations on how to live life well. For example, we learn about how to handle our anger, how to respond to others with respect, what to do about enemies, and the wisdom of controlling our tongues.
Most of these sayings are written in pairs called couplets. There are three kinds of couplets in Hebrew poetry: Synonymous- both lines say essentially the same thing, but the second line restates the first with a different image (see Proverbs 15:10); synthetic- the second line adds to the first, enhancing it and specifying the concept (see Proverbs 15:11); and antithetical- the second line contrasts with the first (see Proverbs 15:1).
The next time you read Proverbs, pay close attention to how the two lines of a Proverb go together. They are meant to express one idea.
by J.R.Hudberg
9/11/18
As I was preparing to go on a mission trip with some young people, the most frequently asked question was, "Is there Wi-Fi?" And I assured them there would be. So just imagine the wails and groans one night when the Wi-Fi was down!
Many of us become anxious when were separated from our smartphones. And when we do have our iPhones or Androids in our hands, we can be fixated on our screens.
Like many things, the internet and all that it allows us to access can become either a distraction or a blessing. It depends on what we do with it. In proverbs we read, "A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash" (15:14 NLT).
Applying the wisdom of God's Word to life, we can ask ourselves: Do we check our social networks compulsively throughout the day? What does that say about the things we hunger for? And do the things we read or view online encourage sensible living (vv.16-21), or are we feeding on trash- gossip, slander, materialism, or sexual impurity?
As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, we can fill our minds with things that are "true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable" (Philippians 4:8 NLT). By God's wisdom we can make good choices that honor Him.
by Poh Fang Kia
God, help me to use my time well and to fill my mind with what is pure.
WHAT WE LET INTO OUR MINDS SHAPES THE STATE OF OUR SOULS.
Proverbs 15:9-21
The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates corrections will die. Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord- how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
Insight: Much of the book of Proverbs is comprised of Pithy observations on how to live life well. For example, we learn about how to handle our anger, how to respond to others with respect, what to do about enemies, and the wisdom of controlling our tongues.
Most of these sayings are written in pairs called couplets. There are three kinds of couplets in Hebrew poetry: Synonymous- both lines say essentially the same thing, but the second line restates the first with a different image (see Proverbs 15:10); synthetic- the second line adds to the first, enhancing it and specifying the concept (see Proverbs 15:11); and antithetical- the second line contrasts with the first (see Proverbs 15:1).
The next time you read Proverbs, pay close attention to how the two lines of a Proverb go together. They are meant to express one idea.
by J.R.Hudberg
9/11/18
HE KNOWS OUR NAMES
During a visit to the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, I quickly photographed one of the twin reflecting pools. Around these two pools, the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the World Trade Center attacks are etched into bronze panels. Later, while looking more closely at the photo, my eyes were drawn to the hand of a woman resting on a name. Many people come to this place to touch a name and remember someone they loved.
The prophet Isaiah reminded God's people of His unfailing love and concern for them, even though they had often turned away from Him. The Lord said, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1).
In the 23rd Psalm, David wrote, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley [the valley of the shadow of death], I will fear no evil, for you are with me....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (vv.4,6).
God never forgets us. No matter where we are or whatever our situation, He knows our names and holds us fast in His unfailing love.
by David C.McCasland
Father in heaven, thank You for calling us by name and surrounding us with Your love, today and forever.
GOD KNOWS OUR NAMES AND HE HOLDS US FAST IN HIS LOVE.
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Insight: Psalm 23 describes God's intimate love for us. We see the same theme in the New Testament. In John 10, Jesus described Himself as the "Good Shepherd" who lays down His life for the sheep (v.11). But this is only one facet of His personal, intimate care for the flock. In verse 3 Jesus says, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." He calls His sheep "by name"! This is beautifully pictured on Resurrection Day. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to mourn Jesus's death and to complete the burial process (20:1-18). Finding the tomb empty, she wept (v.11); and the risen Jesus came to her, asking questions that probed her heart. She failed to recognize Jesus-until He called her by name (v.16). In that moment, she was aware that Christ Himself stood before her. No wonder Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." To be loved and known by God is one of salvation's greatest gifts!
by Bill Crowder
9/10/18
During a visit to the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, I quickly photographed one of the twin reflecting pools. Around these two pools, the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the World Trade Center attacks are etched into bronze panels. Later, while looking more closely at the photo, my eyes were drawn to the hand of a woman resting on a name. Many people come to this place to touch a name and remember someone they loved.
The prophet Isaiah reminded God's people of His unfailing love and concern for them, even though they had often turned away from Him. The Lord said, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1).
In the 23rd Psalm, David wrote, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley [the valley of the shadow of death], I will fear no evil, for you are with me....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (vv.4,6).
God never forgets us. No matter where we are or whatever our situation, He knows our names and holds us fast in His unfailing love.
by David C.McCasland
Father in heaven, thank You for calling us by name and surrounding us with Your love, today and forever.
GOD KNOWS OUR NAMES AND HE HOLDS US FAST IN HIS LOVE.
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Insight: Psalm 23 describes God's intimate love for us. We see the same theme in the New Testament. In John 10, Jesus described Himself as the "Good Shepherd" who lays down His life for the sheep (v.11). But this is only one facet of His personal, intimate care for the flock. In verse 3 Jesus says, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." He calls His sheep "by name"! This is beautifully pictured on Resurrection Day. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to mourn Jesus's death and to complete the burial process (20:1-18). Finding the tomb empty, she wept (v.11); and the risen Jesus came to her, asking questions that probed her heart. She failed to recognize Jesus-until He called her by name (v.16). In that moment, she was aware that Christ Himself stood before her. No wonder Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." To be loved and known by God is one of salvation's greatest gifts!
by Bill Crowder
9/10/18
HOW TO STAND FIRM
It was a cold, icy winter's day, and my mind was focused on getting from my warm vehicle to a warm building. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, my knees turned inward and my lower legs turned outward. Nothing was broken, but I was in pain. The pain would get worse as time went by and it would be weeks before I was whole again.
Who among us hasn't taken a spill of some sort? Wouldn't it be nice to have something or someone to keep us on our feet all the time? While there are no guarantees of surefootedness in the physical sense, there is One who stands ready to assist us in our quest to honor Christ in this life and prepare us to stand joyfully before Him in the next.
Every day we face temptations (and even false teachings) that seek to divert us, confuse us, and entangle us. Yet, its not ultimately through our own efforts that we remain on our feet as we walk in this world. How assuring to know that when we hold our peace when tempted to speak angrily, to opt for honesty over deceit, to choose love over hate, or to select truth over error- we experience God's power to keep us standing (Jude 1:24). And when we appear approved before God when Christ returns, the praise that we offer now for His sustaining grace will echo throughout eternity (v.25).
by Arthur Jackson
Father thank You for Your constant care for our souls.
DRESSED IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE, FAULTLESS TO STAND BEFORE THE THRONE. by Edward Mote
Jude 1:24-25
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior the glory, majesty, power through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen.
Insight: Assertiveness training often includes guidelines for approaching conflict. Instead of being reactive, we are taught to calmly articulate our viewpoint while showing respect to the other person, even if they are behaving badly.
In his letter to believers, Jude offers similar insights into how to respond to harmful influences, Jude offers similar insights into how to respond to harmful influences, but offers a far more profound foundation. Responding to false teachers (Jude 1:4), Jude pulled no punches when it came to describing their behavior. He described them as people who lied (v.10) and selfishly manipulated others (v.16), concluding they were not living from the Spirit (v.19).
But after exposing the false teachers' dangerous character, Jude didn't suggest the believers respond by aggressively fighting against them. He suggested, instead, that they focus on their own spiritual growth. Instead of being reactive or returning evil for evil, as they grew deep roots in God's love (vv.20-21), they could more naturally rely on the Spirit's leading for how to best respond (vv.22-23). But in every situation, they could remain unshaken, anchored in the rock-solid truth of God's love, power, and beautiful future for them (v.24).
by Monica Brands
9/09/18
It was a cold, icy winter's day, and my mind was focused on getting from my warm vehicle to a warm building. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, my knees turned inward and my lower legs turned outward. Nothing was broken, but I was in pain. The pain would get worse as time went by and it would be weeks before I was whole again.
Who among us hasn't taken a spill of some sort? Wouldn't it be nice to have something or someone to keep us on our feet all the time? While there are no guarantees of surefootedness in the physical sense, there is One who stands ready to assist us in our quest to honor Christ in this life and prepare us to stand joyfully before Him in the next.
Every day we face temptations (and even false teachings) that seek to divert us, confuse us, and entangle us. Yet, its not ultimately through our own efforts that we remain on our feet as we walk in this world. How assuring to know that when we hold our peace when tempted to speak angrily, to opt for honesty over deceit, to choose love over hate, or to select truth over error- we experience God's power to keep us standing (Jude 1:24). And when we appear approved before God when Christ returns, the praise that we offer now for His sustaining grace will echo throughout eternity (v.25).
by Arthur Jackson
Father thank You for Your constant care for our souls.
DRESSED IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE, FAULTLESS TO STAND BEFORE THE THRONE. by Edward Mote
Jude 1:24-25
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior the glory, majesty, power through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen.
Insight: Assertiveness training often includes guidelines for approaching conflict. Instead of being reactive, we are taught to calmly articulate our viewpoint while showing respect to the other person, even if they are behaving badly.
In his letter to believers, Jude offers similar insights into how to respond to harmful influences, Jude offers similar insights into how to respond to harmful influences, but offers a far more profound foundation. Responding to false teachers (Jude 1:4), Jude pulled no punches when it came to describing their behavior. He described them as people who lied (v.10) and selfishly manipulated others (v.16), concluding they were not living from the Spirit (v.19).
But after exposing the false teachers' dangerous character, Jude didn't suggest the believers respond by aggressively fighting against them. He suggested, instead, that they focus on their own spiritual growth. Instead of being reactive or returning evil for evil, as they grew deep roots in God's love (vv.20-21), they could more naturally rely on the Spirit's leading for how to best respond (vv.22-23). But in every situation, they could remain unshaken, anchored in the rock-solid truth of God's love, power, and beautiful future for them (v.24).
by Monica Brands
9/09/18
THEY SMELLED LIKE CHRIST
Hot and dusty, Bob dismounted from the bus he had ridden to a city far from home. He was tired from a long day of travel and grateful that he would be able to have dinner with friends of friends who lived in the area. They welcomed him in, and he immediately felt a sense of peace. He felt at home, comfortable, safe, and valued.
Later, wondering why he had felt such peace in an unfamiliar place, Bob found an answer in 2 Corinthians. The apostle Paul describes people who follow God as having the "pleasing aroma of Christ." That's exactly it!" Bob said to himself. His hosts had "smelled like" Christ.
When Paul said that God leads His people in Christ's "triumphal procession" spreading the fragrance of His truth, he's referring to a practice in the ancient world. Victorious armies would burn incense as they marched through the streets. For their supporters, the smell brought joy. In the same way, Paul says the people of God carry a pleasing fragrance to those who believe. It isn't something we create on our own but something God gives as He leads us in spreading the knowledge of Him.
Bob is my dad, and that trip to a faraway town took place more than forty years ago, but he's never forgotten it. He's still telling the story of the people who smelled like Christ.
by Amy Peterson
Heavenly Father, thank You for leading Your people in triumph and spreading the fragrance of Your truth through us.
WHO SMELLS LIKE CHRIST TO YOU.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. The the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, and aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Insight: The phrase "pleasing aroma" or "aroma pleasing" occurs thirty-nine times in the Old Testament- once in Genesis when Noah made a sacrifice to the Lord after the flood (8:21)and three times in Exodus (dealing with the consecration of the priests in chapter 29). The remainder are found in Leviticus and Numbers, most of which provide details about the various sacrifices or offerings the Israelite people were to bring God, such as burnt (Leviticus 1:13), grain (2:9), firstfruits(2:12), fellowship (4:31), drink (Numbers 15:10), sin (v.24), and food (29:6). All of these offerings and sacrifices, when given in the prescribed way, were an "aroma pleasing to the Lord" (Leviticus 3:5). Two of these sacrifices were required: the sin offering and the trespass offering, which were to atone for sin.
In the New Testament this phrase appears only once, here in today's passage: "We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15). No longer are sacrifices necessary, for Jesus paid the sacrifices for our sins. When we follow Him, God is pleased with us because of what Christ did on our behalf.
by Alyson Kieda
9/07/18
Hot and dusty, Bob dismounted from the bus he had ridden to a city far from home. He was tired from a long day of travel and grateful that he would be able to have dinner with friends of friends who lived in the area. They welcomed him in, and he immediately felt a sense of peace. He felt at home, comfortable, safe, and valued.
Later, wondering why he had felt such peace in an unfamiliar place, Bob found an answer in 2 Corinthians. The apostle Paul describes people who follow God as having the "pleasing aroma of Christ." That's exactly it!" Bob said to himself. His hosts had "smelled like" Christ.
When Paul said that God leads His people in Christ's "triumphal procession" spreading the fragrance of His truth, he's referring to a practice in the ancient world. Victorious armies would burn incense as they marched through the streets. For their supporters, the smell brought joy. In the same way, Paul says the people of God carry a pleasing fragrance to those who believe. It isn't something we create on our own but something God gives as He leads us in spreading the knowledge of Him.
Bob is my dad, and that trip to a faraway town took place more than forty years ago, but he's never forgotten it. He's still telling the story of the people who smelled like Christ.
by Amy Peterson
Heavenly Father, thank You for leading Your people in triumph and spreading the fragrance of Your truth through us.
WHO SMELLS LIKE CHRIST TO YOU.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. The the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, and aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Insight: The phrase "pleasing aroma" or "aroma pleasing" occurs thirty-nine times in the Old Testament- once in Genesis when Noah made a sacrifice to the Lord after the flood (8:21)and three times in Exodus (dealing with the consecration of the priests in chapter 29). The remainder are found in Leviticus and Numbers, most of which provide details about the various sacrifices or offerings the Israelite people were to bring God, such as burnt (Leviticus 1:13), grain (2:9), firstfruits(2:12), fellowship (4:31), drink (Numbers 15:10), sin (v.24), and food (29:6). All of these offerings and sacrifices, when given in the prescribed way, were an "aroma pleasing to the Lord" (Leviticus 3:5). Two of these sacrifices were required: the sin offering and the trespass offering, which were to atone for sin.
In the New Testament this phrase appears only once, here in today's passage: "We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15). No longer are sacrifices necessary, for Jesus paid the sacrifices for our sins. When we follow Him, God is pleased with us because of what Christ did on our behalf.
by Alyson Kieda
9/07/18
UNCHANGING LOVE
When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home.
The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an ocassional weed waving silently in the breeze.
That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: "The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him" (Psalm 103:15-17).
We grow older and the world around us may change, but God's love doesn't. He can always be trusted to take care of those who turn to him.
by James Banks
Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today.
IN OUR CHANGING WORLD, WE CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON OUR UNCHANGING GOD.
Psalm 103:13-22
As a Father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remembers to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Insight: In the middle of Psalm 103 a potentially dark subtheme surfaces: Life passes by all too quickly (vv.15-16). As David poetically responds to this sobering awareness, we might well expect his song to become one of resignation or despondency. Yet the psalm remains joyful from beginning to end. Is David in denial? No! He frames the psalm and his whole life with praise to God beginning and ending with this praise: "Praise the Lord, my soul" (vv.1, 22). The truth of God's goodness provides the platform from which David's whole life becomes a song of triumph.
Our awareness that life if fleeting need not cause us to panic or sink into despair. Rather, it can remind us that our life is in God. We find joy and meaning in singing His praises.
As seasons change and we sense life's transience, what questions come to mind? Do those big questions cause us to reevaluate our priorities? Are we finding joy and fulfillment in relationship with our Creator?
by Tim Gustafson
9/06/18
When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home.
The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an ocassional weed waving silently in the breeze.
That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: "The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him" (Psalm 103:15-17).
We grow older and the world around us may change, but God's love doesn't. He can always be trusted to take care of those who turn to him.
by James Banks
Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today.
IN OUR CHANGING WORLD, WE CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON OUR UNCHANGING GOD.
Psalm 103:13-22
As a Father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remembers to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Insight: In the middle of Psalm 103 a potentially dark subtheme surfaces: Life passes by all too quickly (vv.15-16). As David poetically responds to this sobering awareness, we might well expect his song to become one of resignation or despondency. Yet the psalm remains joyful from beginning to end. Is David in denial? No! He frames the psalm and his whole life with praise to God beginning and ending with this praise: "Praise the Lord, my soul" (vv.1, 22). The truth of God's goodness provides the platform from which David's whole life becomes a song of triumph.
Our awareness that life if fleeting need not cause us to panic or sink into despair. Rather, it can remind us that our life is in God. We find joy and meaning in singing His praises.
As seasons change and we sense life's transience, what questions come to mind? Do those big questions cause us to reevaluate our priorities? Are we finding joy and fulfillment in relationship with our Creator?
by Tim Gustafson
9/06/18
MUSCLING THROUGH
Competitive bodybuilders put themselves through a rigorous training cycle. During the initial months they emphasize gaining size and strength. As the competition nears, the focus shifts to losing any fat that hides the muscle. In the final days before the competition they consume less water than normal so their muscle tissue is easily visible. Because of the reduced consumption of nourishment, the competitors are actually at their weakest on the day of competition, despite appearing strong.
In 2nd Chronicles 20, we read of the opposite reality: acknowledging weakness in order to experience God's strength. "A vast army is coming against you," people told King Jehoshaphat. So "He proclaimed a fast for all Judah" (v.3), depriving himself and all his people of nourishment. Then they asked God for help. When he finally mustered his military, Jehoshaphat placed singers who praised God at the front of his army (v.21). As they began to sing, the Lord "Set ambushes against the men...who were invading Judah, and they were defeated" (v.22).
Jehoshaphat decision demonstrated deep faith in God. He purposefully chose not to depend on his own human and military prowess but instead to lean on God. Rather than trying to muscle our way through the trials we face, may we turn to Him and allow Him to be our strength.
by Kirsten Holmberg
WE MUST RECOGNIZE OUR WEAKNESS TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S STRENGTH.
2nd Chronicles 20:2-3,14-22
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edam...."Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah....
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the Gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.' "
Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord....
Early in the morning they left for the desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever."
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men to Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
9/05/18
Competitive bodybuilders put themselves through a rigorous training cycle. During the initial months they emphasize gaining size and strength. As the competition nears, the focus shifts to losing any fat that hides the muscle. In the final days before the competition they consume less water than normal so their muscle tissue is easily visible. Because of the reduced consumption of nourishment, the competitors are actually at their weakest on the day of competition, despite appearing strong.
In 2nd Chronicles 20, we read of the opposite reality: acknowledging weakness in order to experience God's strength. "A vast army is coming against you," people told King Jehoshaphat. So "He proclaimed a fast for all Judah" (v.3), depriving himself and all his people of nourishment. Then they asked God for help. When he finally mustered his military, Jehoshaphat placed singers who praised God at the front of his army (v.21). As they began to sing, the Lord "Set ambushes against the men...who were invading Judah, and they were defeated" (v.22).
Jehoshaphat decision demonstrated deep faith in God. He purposefully chose not to depend on his own human and military prowess but instead to lean on God. Rather than trying to muscle our way through the trials we face, may we turn to Him and allow Him to be our strength.
by Kirsten Holmberg
WE MUST RECOGNIZE OUR WEAKNESS TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S STRENGTH.
2nd Chronicles 20:2-3,14-22
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edam...."Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah....
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the Gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.' "
Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord....
Early in the morning they left for the desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever."
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men to Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
9/05/18
BUILDING BRIDGES
In our neighborhood, high concrete walls surround our homes. Many of these walls are enhanced with electric barbed wires lining the top. The purpose? To ward off robbers.
Frequent power outages are also a problem in our community. These outages render the front gate-bell useless. Because of the wall, a visitor may be kept out in the scorching sun or torrential rain during these outages. Yet even when the gate-bell works, to admit the visitor might depend on who they are. Our fence-walls serve a good purpose, but they can become walls of discrimination- even when the visitor is obviously not an intruder.
The Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well had a similar difficulty with discrimination. The Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she said, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9). As she began to open up to Jesus, she had a life-changing experience that positively affected her and her neighbors (vv.39-42). Jesus became the bridge that broke the wall of hostility and favoritism.
The lure to discriminate is real, and we need to identify it in our lives. As Jesus showed us, we can reach out to all people regardless of nationality, social status, or reputation. He came to build bridges.
by Lawrence Darmani
Lord, thank You for teaching me not to discriminate among people. Help me to see people through your eyes so that I may honor You.
JESUS BREAKS DOWN THE WALLS OF DISCRIMINATION.
John 4:7-14, 39-42
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."...
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony "He told me everything I did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Insight: Jewish-Samaritan tension had a long history. When Israel was over run by Assyria (743-720 B.C. See 2nd Kings 15-18), Most of the people were taken into exile but a small remnant stayed behind under Assyrian rule. In the ensuing years, these populations intermarried, producing the ethnically mixed group known as Samaritans.
This perceived ethic "impurity" was the basis for Jewish disregard for their northern cousins.
Are their people you're disregarding because of perceived inferiority?
by Bill Crowder
9/04/18
In our neighborhood, high concrete walls surround our homes. Many of these walls are enhanced with electric barbed wires lining the top. The purpose? To ward off robbers.
Frequent power outages are also a problem in our community. These outages render the front gate-bell useless. Because of the wall, a visitor may be kept out in the scorching sun or torrential rain during these outages. Yet even when the gate-bell works, to admit the visitor might depend on who they are. Our fence-walls serve a good purpose, but they can become walls of discrimination- even when the visitor is obviously not an intruder.
The Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well had a similar difficulty with discrimination. The Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she said, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9). As she began to open up to Jesus, she had a life-changing experience that positively affected her and her neighbors (vv.39-42). Jesus became the bridge that broke the wall of hostility and favoritism.
The lure to discriminate is real, and we need to identify it in our lives. As Jesus showed us, we can reach out to all people regardless of nationality, social status, or reputation. He came to build bridges.
by Lawrence Darmani
Lord, thank You for teaching me not to discriminate among people. Help me to see people through your eyes so that I may honor You.
JESUS BREAKS DOWN THE WALLS OF DISCRIMINATION.
John 4:7-14, 39-42
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."...
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony "He told me everything I did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
Insight: Jewish-Samaritan tension had a long history. When Israel was over run by Assyria (743-720 B.C. See 2nd Kings 15-18), Most of the people were taken into exile but a small remnant stayed behind under Assyrian rule. In the ensuing years, these populations intermarried, producing the ethnically mixed group known as Samaritans.
This perceived ethic "impurity" was the basis for Jewish disregard for their northern cousins.
Are their people you're disregarding because of perceived inferiority?
by Bill Crowder
9/04/18
BEYOND THE STARS
In 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration celebrated 30 years of space research. In those 3 decades, shuttles carried more than 355 people into space and helped construct the International Space Station. After retiring five shuttles, NASA has now shifted its focus to deep space exploration.
The human race has invested massive amounts of time and money, with some astronauts even sacrificing their lives, to study the immensity of the universe. Yet the evidence of God's majesty stretches far beyond what we can measure.
When we consider the Sculptor and Sustainor of the universe who knows each star by name (Isaiah 40:26), we can understand why the psalmist David praises His greatness (Psalm 8:1). The Lord's fingerprints are on "The moon and the stars, which [He] set in place" (v.3). The Maker of the heavens and the earth reigns above all, yet He remains near all His beloved children, caring for each intimately and personally (v.4). In love, God gives us great power, responsibility, and the privilege to care for and explore the world He's entrusted to us (vv.5-8).
As we study our star-spattered night skies, our Creator invites us to seek Him with passion and persistence. He hears every prayer and song of praise flowing from our lips.
by Xochitl Dixon
Loving Creator of the universe, thank You for being mindful of us.
THE GREATNESS OF GOD IS EVIDENT IN HIS AWESOME VASTNESS AND INTIMATE NEARNESS
Psalm 8:1-9
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels and crown them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Insight: Paul wrote that the sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another, and the stars in their differing sizes and brightness, still another (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). The varying wonders of the night sky, however, are only a hint of the differences we see in the glory of God. While the cosmos stretches our mind with its evidence of unlimited space and power, the heart of God contains a far greater wonder. Beyond the unbounded expanse, colors, and wonders of the cosmos is the hidden glory of the love of God on the cross.
Father, when we consider the universe Your hands have made and the face that bore the spit and fists of those who mock Jesus, what is man that You are mindful of us?
by Mart Dehaan
9/03/18
In 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration celebrated 30 years of space research. In those 3 decades, shuttles carried more than 355 people into space and helped construct the International Space Station. After retiring five shuttles, NASA has now shifted its focus to deep space exploration.
The human race has invested massive amounts of time and money, with some astronauts even sacrificing their lives, to study the immensity of the universe. Yet the evidence of God's majesty stretches far beyond what we can measure.
When we consider the Sculptor and Sustainor of the universe who knows each star by name (Isaiah 40:26), we can understand why the psalmist David praises His greatness (Psalm 8:1). The Lord's fingerprints are on "The moon and the stars, which [He] set in place" (v.3). The Maker of the heavens and the earth reigns above all, yet He remains near all His beloved children, caring for each intimately and personally (v.4). In love, God gives us great power, responsibility, and the privilege to care for and explore the world He's entrusted to us (vv.5-8).
As we study our star-spattered night skies, our Creator invites us to seek Him with passion and persistence. He hears every prayer and song of praise flowing from our lips.
by Xochitl Dixon
Loving Creator of the universe, thank You for being mindful of us.
THE GREATNESS OF GOD IS EVIDENT IN HIS AWESOME VASTNESS AND INTIMATE NEARNESS
Psalm 8:1-9
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels and crown them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Insight: Paul wrote that the sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another, and the stars in their differing sizes and brightness, still another (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). The varying wonders of the night sky, however, are only a hint of the differences we see in the glory of God. While the cosmos stretches our mind with its evidence of unlimited space and power, the heart of God contains a far greater wonder. Beyond the unbounded expanse, colors, and wonders of the cosmos is the hidden glory of the love of God on the cross.
Father, when we consider the universe Your hands have made and the face that bore the spit and fists of those who mock Jesus, what is man that You are mindful of us?
by Mart Dehaan
9/03/18
FINDING THE WAY HOME
Sometimes this journey through life can be so difficult that we're simply overwhelmed, and it seems there's no end to the darkness. During such a time in our own family's life, my wife emerged one morning from her quiet time with a new lesson learned. "I think God wants us not to forget in the light what we're learning in this darkness."
Paul writes this same thought to the Corinthians (2nd Corinthians 1), after describing the terrible difficulties he and his team endured in Asia. Paul wants the Corinthians to understand how God can redeem even our darkest moments. We're comforted, he says, so we may learn how to comfort others (v.4). Paul and his team were learning things from God during their trials that they could use to comfort and advise the Corinthians when they faced similar difficulties. And God does that for us as well, if we're willing to listen. He will redeem our trials by teaching us how to use what we've learned in them to minister to others.
Are you in the darkness now? Be encouraged by Paul's words and experience. Trust that God is right now directing your steps and that He's also stamping His truths on your heart so you can share them with others who are in similar circumstances. You've been there before, and you know the way home.
by Randy Kilgore
Father, help those who are hurting today so they may see and know Your loving presence in their darkest hours.
NEVER FORGET IN THE LIGHT WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE DARKNESS
2nd Corinthians 1:3-11
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Insight: The Greek word for comfort (paraklesis) means "to come alongside and help." Jesus is called our Paraklepos (advocate) in 1 John 2:1. The Holy Spirit is another advocate or comforter (John 14:16-17). Paul asserts that God is "The God of all comfort" (2nd Corinthians 1:3). The triune Godhead- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- is there with us in our pain. By saying God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vv.2-3), Paul reminds us that coming alongside to help each other is a family duty and privilege (v.4).
To whom can you be a parakletos- a comforter- this coming week?
by K.T. Sim
9/02/18
Sometimes this journey through life can be so difficult that we're simply overwhelmed, and it seems there's no end to the darkness. During such a time in our own family's life, my wife emerged one morning from her quiet time with a new lesson learned. "I think God wants us not to forget in the light what we're learning in this darkness."
Paul writes this same thought to the Corinthians (2nd Corinthians 1), after describing the terrible difficulties he and his team endured in Asia. Paul wants the Corinthians to understand how God can redeem even our darkest moments. We're comforted, he says, so we may learn how to comfort others (v.4). Paul and his team were learning things from God during their trials that they could use to comfort and advise the Corinthians when they faced similar difficulties. And God does that for us as well, if we're willing to listen. He will redeem our trials by teaching us how to use what we've learned in them to minister to others.
Are you in the darkness now? Be encouraged by Paul's words and experience. Trust that God is right now directing your steps and that He's also stamping His truths on your heart so you can share them with others who are in similar circumstances. You've been there before, and you know the way home.
by Randy Kilgore
Father, help those who are hurting today so they may see and know Your loving presence in their darkest hours.
NEVER FORGET IN THE LIGHT WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE DARKNESS
2nd Corinthians 1:3-11
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Insight: The Greek word for comfort (paraklesis) means "to come alongside and help." Jesus is called our Paraklepos (advocate) in 1 John 2:1. The Holy Spirit is another advocate or comforter (John 14:16-17). Paul asserts that God is "The God of all comfort" (2nd Corinthians 1:3). The triune Godhead- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- is there with us in our pain. By saying God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vv.2-3), Paul reminds us that coming alongside to help each other is a family duty and privilege (v.4).
To whom can you be a parakletos- a comforter- this coming week?
by K.T. Sim
9/02/18
STRENGTH FOR YOUR JOURNEY
Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepard to carry her.
The shepherd kindly replies, "I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop Hind's Feet, and become my companion and go where I go."
Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I'm honest, my questions too): "Why must I experience suffering?" "Why is my journey difficult?"
Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late 7th century BC before the Israelites were taken in exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:2-11). He asked the Lord to intervene and remove suffering (1:13). God replied that He would act justly but in his timing (2:3).
In faith, Habakkuk chose to trust the Lord. Even if the suffering did not end, the prophet believed that God would continue to be his strength.
We too can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help us endure suffering and will also use the most challenging of life's journeys to deepen our fellowship with Christ.
by Lisa Samra
God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.
WE CAN TRUST THE LORD TO BE OUR STRENGTH IN TOUGH TIMES.
Habakkuk 3:16-19
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of the deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
Insight: Because the culture we live in differs from that of the biblical writers, our understanding of the significance of the pictures they paint can be limited. Today's passage expresses deep and foundational hope in the midst of great suffering.
Verse seventeen lists 6 things that constituted their major sources of food and clothing- figs, grapes, olives, fields, sheep, and cattle. In essence, Habakkuk is painting a picture of being starving and naked. He is suggesting that even at death's door- without food or clothing (vv.18-19)- we can still experience deep joy and trust in the Lord.
Have you experienced a time when all your resources were depleted? How did God teach you to trust in Him?
by J.R. Hudberg
8/31/18
Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepard to carry her.
The shepherd kindly replies, "I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop Hind's Feet, and become my companion and go where I go."
Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I'm honest, my questions too): "Why must I experience suffering?" "Why is my journey difficult?"
Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late 7th century BC before the Israelites were taken in exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:2-11). He asked the Lord to intervene and remove suffering (1:13). God replied that He would act justly but in his timing (2:3).
In faith, Habakkuk chose to trust the Lord. Even if the suffering did not end, the prophet believed that God would continue to be his strength.
We too can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help us endure suffering and will also use the most challenging of life's journeys to deepen our fellowship with Christ.
by Lisa Samra
God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.
WE CAN TRUST THE LORD TO BE OUR STRENGTH IN TOUGH TIMES.
Habakkuk 3:16-19
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of the deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
Insight: Because the culture we live in differs from that of the biblical writers, our understanding of the significance of the pictures they paint can be limited. Today's passage expresses deep and foundational hope in the midst of great suffering.
Verse seventeen lists 6 things that constituted their major sources of food and clothing- figs, grapes, olives, fields, sheep, and cattle. In essence, Habakkuk is painting a picture of being starving and naked. He is suggesting that even at death's door- without food or clothing (vv.18-19)- we can still experience deep joy and trust in the Lord.
Have you experienced a time when all your resources were depleted? How did God teach you to trust in Him?
by J.R. Hudberg
8/31/18
CALL FOR HELP
After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, "Ring, relax and wait." New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament.
In the book of Acts, Peter preached a sermon that addressed the error of trying to save ourselves. Luke, who wrote the book, records some remarkable events in which believers in Christ were speaking in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1-12). Peter got up to explain to his Jewish brothers and sisters that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28-32)- the outpouring of the Spirit and a day of salvation. The blessing of the Holy Spirit was now visibly seen in those who called on Jesus for rescue from sin and its effects. Then Peter told them how this salvation is available for anyone (v.21). Our access to God comes not through keeping the Law but through trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
If we are trapped in sin, we cannot save ourselves. Our only hope for being rescued is acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
by Marvin Williams
Have you called on Jesus to rescue you from your sin?
RESCUE COMES TO THOSE WHO CALL ON JESUS FOR HELP.
Acts 2:14-21
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' "
Insight: Luke records the coming of the Holy Spirit in wonderfully descriptive language. For the disciples, the entire three years of walking with Jesus would have been astounding, but the last two months prior to the day of Pentecost would have been especially intense: The trial, the crucifixion, hiding in fear, the resurrection, the ascension. And it all led to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the gospel. Luke doesn't record the reactions of the disciples, but imagine being in their sandals. As you are together with your closest friends, you hear the sound of wind- inside the house! What appears to be fire descends on you. Even with everything you have seen, the temptation to flinch would have been great. God's presence was both terrifying and empowering. But its this fire that sparks the first gospel message, the message of salvation in Jesus.
by J.R. Hudberg
8/30/18
After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, "Ring, relax and wait." New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament.
In the book of Acts, Peter preached a sermon that addressed the error of trying to save ourselves. Luke, who wrote the book, records some remarkable events in which believers in Christ were speaking in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1-12). Peter got up to explain to his Jewish brothers and sisters that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28-32)- the outpouring of the Spirit and a day of salvation. The blessing of the Holy Spirit was now visibly seen in those who called on Jesus for rescue from sin and its effects. Then Peter told them how this salvation is available for anyone (v.21). Our access to God comes not through keeping the Law but through trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
If we are trapped in sin, we cannot save ourselves. Our only hope for being rescued is acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.
by Marvin Williams
Have you called on Jesus to rescue you from your sin?
RESCUE COMES TO THOSE WHO CALL ON JESUS FOR HELP.
Acts 2:14-21
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' "
Insight: Luke records the coming of the Holy Spirit in wonderfully descriptive language. For the disciples, the entire three years of walking with Jesus would have been astounding, but the last two months prior to the day of Pentecost would have been especially intense: The trial, the crucifixion, hiding in fear, the resurrection, the ascension. And it all led to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the gospel. Luke doesn't record the reactions of the disciples, but imagine being in their sandals. As you are together with your closest friends, you hear the sound of wind- inside the house! What appears to be fire descends on you. Even with everything you have seen, the temptation to flinch would have been great. God's presence was both terrifying and empowering. But its this fire that sparks the first gospel message, the message of salvation in Jesus.
by J.R. Hudberg
8/30/18
THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK
After living in their house for several years, my friends realized that their living room was sinking- cracks appeared on the walls and a window would no longer open. They learned that this room had been added without a foundation. Rectifying the shoddy workmanship would mean months of work as builders laid a new foundation.
They had the work done and when I visited them afterwards, I couldn't see much difference (although the cracks were gone and now the window opened). But I understood that a solid foundation matters.
This is true in our lives as well.
Jesus shared a parable about wise and foolish builders to illustrate the folly of not listening to Him (Luke 6:46-49). Those who hear and obey His words are like the person who builds a house on a firm foundation, unlike those who hear but ignore His words. Jesus assured His listeners that when the storms come, their house would stand. Their faith would not be shaken. We can find peace knowing that as we listen to and obey Jesus, He forms a strong foundation for our lives. We can strengthen our love for Him through reading the Bible, praying, and learning from other Christians. Then when we face the torrents of rain lashing against us- whether betrayal, pain, or disappointment- we can trust that our foundation is solid. Our Savior will provide the support we need.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, I want to build my house on a rock. Help me to know that my solid foundation rests in You, with Your Word giving me wisdom and strength.
HEARING AND OBEYING JESUS GIVES OUR LIVES A STRONG FOUNDATION.
Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Insight: In the parable about the wise and foolish builders, Jesus isn't teaching that we can be saved by our good works. Rather, because we are saved, we will do good works- we will obey God's Word. The apostle Paul, using the same metaphor of a solid foundation, makes it clear that "no one can lay any foundation other the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials- gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder had done.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. But, as theologian John Calvin reminded us, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone" (See Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; 3:8,14).
How have you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, been building on the solid foundation we have in Jesus?
by K.T. Sim
8/29/18
After living in their house for several years, my friends realized that their living room was sinking- cracks appeared on the walls and a window would no longer open. They learned that this room had been added without a foundation. Rectifying the shoddy workmanship would mean months of work as builders laid a new foundation.
They had the work done and when I visited them afterwards, I couldn't see much difference (although the cracks were gone and now the window opened). But I understood that a solid foundation matters.
This is true in our lives as well.
Jesus shared a parable about wise and foolish builders to illustrate the folly of not listening to Him (Luke 6:46-49). Those who hear and obey His words are like the person who builds a house on a firm foundation, unlike those who hear but ignore His words. Jesus assured His listeners that when the storms come, their house would stand. Their faith would not be shaken. We can find peace knowing that as we listen to and obey Jesus, He forms a strong foundation for our lives. We can strengthen our love for Him through reading the Bible, praying, and learning from other Christians. Then when we face the torrents of rain lashing against us- whether betrayal, pain, or disappointment- we can trust that our foundation is solid. Our Savior will provide the support we need.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord God, I want to build my house on a rock. Help me to know that my solid foundation rests in You, with Your Word giving me wisdom and strength.
HEARING AND OBEYING JESUS GIVES OUR LIVES A STRONG FOUNDATION.
Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Insight: In the parable about the wise and foolish builders, Jesus isn't teaching that we can be saved by our good works. Rather, because we are saved, we will do good works- we will obey God's Word. The apostle Paul, using the same metaphor of a solid foundation, makes it clear that "no one can lay any foundation other the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials- gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder had done.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. But, as theologian John Calvin reminded us, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone" (See Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; 3:8,14).
How have you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, been building on the solid foundation we have in Jesus?
by K.T. Sim
8/29/18
YOU LOVE ME?
As a teenager, I went through the typical season of rebellion against my mother's authority. My father died before I entered adolescence, so my mom had to navigate these turbulent parenting waters without his help.
I recall thinking that mom didn't want me to ever have any fun- and maybe didn't even love me- because she frequently said no. I see now that she said no to activities that weren't good for me precisely because she loves me.
The Israelites questioned how much God loved them because of their time in captivity in Babylon. But that captivity was God's correction for their continued rebellion against Him. So now, God sent the prophet Malachi to them. His opening words from the Lord were, "I have loved you" (Malachi 1:2). Israel replied skeptically, inquiring as to how God has loved them, as if to say "Really?" But God, through Malachi, reminded them of the way He had demonstrated that love: He had chosen them over the Edomites.
We all go through difficult seasons in life. We may be tempted to question God's love for us during those times. Let's recall the many ways He's shown us His unfailing love. When we stop to consider His goodness, we find that He is indeed a loving Father.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, You have shown tender care for me over the course of my life. You've been present with me in difficult seasons. Help me to always remember Your love.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CORRECTS US AND COMFORTS US.
Malachi 1:1-5
A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
"But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'
"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals."
Edam may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins."
But this is what the Lord Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish.They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the Lord- even beyond the borders of Israel!' "
Insight: Malachi, though a short book, is a very important one. Malachi ministered as the last prophet sent to the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. The prophet's central theme is the coming of the Messiah. The prophet preaches about God's righteous judgment as well as His love. It's only in the overwhelming sacrifice of the Messiah, His victory over death, and coming back to earth to make all things right, that the love of God can be fully understood.
The unmerited offer of redeeming grace made known through Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible. Certainly our Lord's life and ministry are a marvelous picture of God's declaration "I have loved you" (1:2).
Why not take a few minutes to prayerfully reflect on Christ coming to redeem you and the future hope of His coming again."
by Dennis Fisher
8/28/18
As a teenager, I went through the typical season of rebellion against my mother's authority. My father died before I entered adolescence, so my mom had to navigate these turbulent parenting waters without his help.
I recall thinking that mom didn't want me to ever have any fun- and maybe didn't even love me- because she frequently said no. I see now that she said no to activities that weren't good for me precisely because she loves me.
The Israelites questioned how much God loved them because of their time in captivity in Babylon. But that captivity was God's correction for their continued rebellion against Him. So now, God sent the prophet Malachi to them. His opening words from the Lord were, "I have loved you" (Malachi 1:2). Israel replied skeptically, inquiring as to how God has loved them, as if to say "Really?" But God, through Malachi, reminded them of the way He had demonstrated that love: He had chosen them over the Edomites.
We all go through difficult seasons in life. We may be tempted to question God's love for us during those times. Let's recall the many ways He's shown us His unfailing love. When we stop to consider His goodness, we find that He is indeed a loving Father.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, You have shown tender care for me over the course of my life. You've been present with me in difficult seasons. Help me to always remember Your love.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CORRECTS US AND COMFORTS US.
Malachi 1:1-5
A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
"But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'
"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals."
Edam may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins."
But this is what the Lord Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish.They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the Lord- even beyond the borders of Israel!' "
Insight: Malachi, though a short book, is a very important one. Malachi ministered as the last prophet sent to the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. The prophet's central theme is the coming of the Messiah. The prophet preaches about God's righteous judgment as well as His love. It's only in the overwhelming sacrifice of the Messiah, His victory over death, and coming back to earth to make all things right, that the love of God can be fully understood.
The unmerited offer of redeeming grace made known through Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible. Certainly our Lord's life and ministry are a marvelous picture of God's declaration "I have loved you" (1:2).
Why not take a few minutes to prayerfully reflect on Christ coming to redeem you and the future hope of His coming again."
by Dennis Fisher
8/28/18
LEARNING TO TRUST
When I was a teenager I sometimes challenged my mother when she tried to encourage me to have faith. "Trust God. He will take care of you," she would tell me. "It's not that simple, Mom!" I would bark back. "God helps those who help themselves!"
But those words, "God helps those who help themselves" are nowhere to be found in Scripture. Instead, God's Word teaches us to depend on Him for our daily needs. Jesus tells us, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:26-27).
Everything we enjoy- even the strength to earn a living and "help ourselves"-are gifts from a heavenly Father who loves us and values us beyond our ability to fathom.
As Mom neared the end of her life, Alzheimer's disease robbed her of her creative mind and memories, but her trust in God remained. she lived in our home for a season, where I was given a "front-row seat" to observe God's provision for her needs in unexpected ways- ways that help me see she had been right all along. Instead of worrying, she entrusted herself to the One who promised to take care of her. And He showed Himself faithful.
by James Banks
Loving Lord, please help me to trust You to take care of me today, tomorrow, and forever!
DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW- GOD IS ALREADY THERE.
Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all His splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Insight: The teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 emphasizes the fatherly care of God for those who follow Jesus, making worry about the basic things of life unnecessary. The main idea in the word translated "worry" is "distracting or anxious care." In Luke 10:41, Jesus said Martha was "worried and upset about many things." Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything." Six times the word worry appears in Matthew 6:25-34. For those who call God "Father," worry is unreasonable (vv.25-30), uncharacteristic (vv.30-32), unproductive (v.33), and unprofitable (v.34).
What might you be doing or not doing that indicates a lack of trust in God as our faithful heavenly Father?
by Arthur Jackson
8/26/18
When I was a teenager I sometimes challenged my mother when she tried to encourage me to have faith. "Trust God. He will take care of you," she would tell me. "It's not that simple, Mom!" I would bark back. "God helps those who help themselves!"
But those words, "God helps those who help themselves" are nowhere to be found in Scripture. Instead, God's Word teaches us to depend on Him for our daily needs. Jesus tells us, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:26-27).
Everything we enjoy- even the strength to earn a living and "help ourselves"-are gifts from a heavenly Father who loves us and values us beyond our ability to fathom.
As Mom neared the end of her life, Alzheimer's disease robbed her of her creative mind and memories, but her trust in God remained. she lived in our home for a season, where I was given a "front-row seat" to observe God's provision for her needs in unexpected ways- ways that help me see she had been right all along. Instead of worrying, she entrusted herself to the One who promised to take care of her. And He showed Himself faithful.
by James Banks
Loving Lord, please help me to trust You to take care of me today, tomorrow, and forever!
DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW- GOD IS ALREADY THERE.
Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all His splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Insight: The teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 emphasizes the fatherly care of God for those who follow Jesus, making worry about the basic things of life unnecessary. The main idea in the word translated "worry" is "distracting or anxious care." In Luke 10:41, Jesus said Martha was "worried and upset about many things." Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything." Six times the word worry appears in Matthew 6:25-34. For those who call God "Father," worry is unreasonable (vv.25-30), uncharacteristic (vv.30-32), unproductive (v.33), and unprofitable (v.34).
What might you be doing or not doing that indicates a lack of trust in God as our faithful heavenly Father?
by Arthur Jackson
8/26/18
UNFROZEN
At a roundtable discussion about reconciliation, one participant wisely said, "Don't freeze people in time." He observed how we tend to remember mistakes people make and never grant them the opportunity to change.
There are so many moments in Peter's life when God could have "frozen" him in time. But He never did. Peter- the impulsive disciple- "corrected" Jesus, earning a sharp rebuke from the Lord (Matthew 16:21-23). He famously denied Christ (21:15-19). And he once contributed to racial divisions within the church.
The issue arose when Peter (also called Cephas) had separated himself from the Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-12). Only recently he associated freely with them. But some Jews arrived who insisted that circumcision was required for believers in Christ, so Peter began avoiding the uncircumcised Gentiles. This marked a dangerous return to the law of Moses. Paul called Peter's behavior "hypocrisy" (v.13). Because of Paul's bold confrontation, the issue was resolved. Peter went on to serve God in the beautiful spirit of unity He intends for us.
No one needs to remain frozen in their worst moments. In God's grace we can embrace each other, learn from each other, confront each other when its necessary, and grow together in His love.
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, draw us close to You today, so that we may also be closer to each other. Protect Your churche's unity. Give us understanding where there is distrust. Heal us where we are divided.
IF WE CONFRONT SOMEONE, WE SHOULD HAVE ONE GOAL IN MIND: RESTORATION, NOT EMBARRASSMENT.
by Chuck Swindoll
Galations 2:11-16
When Cephas came to Antioch, I apposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
"We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
Insight: Galatians 2 offers a compelling example of necessary confrontation. First, Paul's confrontation of Peter was rooted on the foundation of the truth of the gospel. Paul chose to confront not because of personal dislike but out of love for the gospel. Paul recognized that Peter's behavior- refusing to fellowship with those who were not obeying Old Testament ceremonial law-denied the good news that Christ's victory, not ceremonial law, is the foundation for the believer's new life in the Spirit (v.21). Peter's behavior denied the good news that in Christ there is equality among all believers. So Paul confronted, not to shame Peter but to restore the integrity of the faith community.
When bad behavior threatens the integrity of the Christian community's witness to the good news, we too must confront- but always with a spirit of love that hopes for full restoration of fellowship.
Is there someone you need to confront in the spirit of love?
by Monica Brands
8/24/18
At a roundtable discussion about reconciliation, one participant wisely said, "Don't freeze people in time." He observed how we tend to remember mistakes people make and never grant them the opportunity to change.
There are so many moments in Peter's life when God could have "frozen" him in time. But He never did. Peter- the impulsive disciple- "corrected" Jesus, earning a sharp rebuke from the Lord (Matthew 16:21-23). He famously denied Christ (21:15-19). And he once contributed to racial divisions within the church.
The issue arose when Peter (also called Cephas) had separated himself from the Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-12). Only recently he associated freely with them. But some Jews arrived who insisted that circumcision was required for believers in Christ, so Peter began avoiding the uncircumcised Gentiles. This marked a dangerous return to the law of Moses. Paul called Peter's behavior "hypocrisy" (v.13). Because of Paul's bold confrontation, the issue was resolved. Peter went on to serve God in the beautiful spirit of unity He intends for us.
No one needs to remain frozen in their worst moments. In God's grace we can embrace each other, learn from each other, confront each other when its necessary, and grow together in His love.
by Tim Gustafson
Lord, draw us close to You today, so that we may also be closer to each other. Protect Your churche's unity. Give us understanding where there is distrust. Heal us where we are divided.
IF WE CONFRONT SOMEONE, WE SHOULD HAVE ONE GOAL IN MIND: RESTORATION, NOT EMBARRASSMENT.
by Chuck Swindoll
Galations 2:11-16
When Cephas came to Antioch, I apposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
"We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
Insight: Galatians 2 offers a compelling example of necessary confrontation. First, Paul's confrontation of Peter was rooted on the foundation of the truth of the gospel. Paul chose to confront not because of personal dislike but out of love for the gospel. Paul recognized that Peter's behavior- refusing to fellowship with those who were not obeying Old Testament ceremonial law-denied the good news that Christ's victory, not ceremonial law, is the foundation for the believer's new life in the Spirit (v.21). Peter's behavior denied the good news that in Christ there is equality among all believers. So Paul confronted, not to shame Peter but to restore the integrity of the faith community.
When bad behavior threatens the integrity of the Christian community's witness to the good news, we too must confront- but always with a spirit of love that hopes for full restoration of fellowship.
Is there someone you need to confront in the spirit of love?
by Monica Brands
8/24/18
WE WOULD SEE JESUS
As I looked down at the pulpit where I was sharing prayers at a funeral, I glimpsed a black plaque bearing words from John 12:21: "Sir, we would see Jesus" (KIV). Yes, I thought, how fitting to consider how we saw in the woman we were celebrating with tears and smiles. Although she faced challenges and disappointments in her life, she never gave up her faith in Christ. And because God's spirit lived in her, we would see Jesus.
John's gospel recounts how after Jesus rode into Jerusalem (see John 12:12-16), some Greeks approached Phillip, one of the disciples, asking, "Sir...we would like to see Jesus" (v.21). They were probably curious about Jesus's healings and miracles, but as they weren't Jewish, they weren't allowed into the inner courts of the temple. When their request was passed along to Jesus, He announce that his hour had come to be glorified (v.23). And by that, He meant that He would die for the sins of many. He would fulfill His mission to reach not only the Jews but the Gentiles (the "Greeks" in verse 20), and now they would see Jesus.
After Jesus died, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in His followers (14:16-17). Thus as we love and serve Jesus, we see Him active in our lives. And, amazingly, those around us too can see Jesus!
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, I am humbled and amazed that You would come and live in me. Help me to share this amazing gift with those I meet today.
WE CAN SEE JESUS IN THE LIVES OF HIS FOLLOWERS
John 12:20-26
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "We would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Insight: At first glance, it might appear that Jesus brushes off the Greeks who requested to see Him. But characteristically, His indirect reply points to a far more profound reality. Jesus is explaining the significance of what will happen to Him later that week. First He says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23), a reference to His death and resurrection for the salvation of the world- including the Greeks. Then He uses the metaphor of wheat to describe Himself and His mission. William Hendriksen points out the significance of the kernel of wheat in the context of the approaching Passover celebration. The seed must die before it can grow into a wheat stalk, producing many more seeds that will be made into bread-bread that will be eaten at Passover. Jesus (the Bread of Life) would have to die to produce "many seeds" (v.24). And anyone who wants to serve Jesus must hate their life in this world (v.25)- in other words, die to self.
Am I willing to die to self in order to serve the One who died for me?
Will I do what is necessary to "see Jesus"?
by Tim Gustafson
8/23/18
As I looked down at the pulpit where I was sharing prayers at a funeral, I glimpsed a black plaque bearing words from John 12:21: "Sir, we would see Jesus" (KIV). Yes, I thought, how fitting to consider how we saw in the woman we were celebrating with tears and smiles. Although she faced challenges and disappointments in her life, she never gave up her faith in Christ. And because God's spirit lived in her, we would see Jesus.
John's gospel recounts how after Jesus rode into Jerusalem (see John 12:12-16), some Greeks approached Phillip, one of the disciples, asking, "Sir...we would like to see Jesus" (v.21). They were probably curious about Jesus's healings and miracles, but as they weren't Jewish, they weren't allowed into the inner courts of the temple. When their request was passed along to Jesus, He announce that his hour had come to be glorified (v.23). And by that, He meant that He would die for the sins of many. He would fulfill His mission to reach not only the Jews but the Gentiles (the "Greeks" in verse 20), and now they would see Jesus.
After Jesus died, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in His followers (14:16-17). Thus as we love and serve Jesus, we see Him active in our lives. And, amazingly, those around us too can see Jesus!
by Amy Boucher Pye
Lord Jesus Christ, I am humbled and amazed that You would come and live in me. Help me to share this amazing gift with those I meet today.
WE CAN SEE JESUS IN THE LIVES OF HIS FOLLOWERS
John 12:20-26
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "We would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Insight: At first glance, it might appear that Jesus brushes off the Greeks who requested to see Him. But characteristically, His indirect reply points to a far more profound reality. Jesus is explaining the significance of what will happen to Him later that week. First He says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23), a reference to His death and resurrection for the salvation of the world- including the Greeks. Then He uses the metaphor of wheat to describe Himself and His mission. William Hendriksen points out the significance of the kernel of wheat in the context of the approaching Passover celebration. The seed must die before it can grow into a wheat stalk, producing many more seeds that will be made into bread-bread that will be eaten at Passover. Jesus (the Bread of Life) would have to die to produce "many seeds" (v.24). And anyone who wants to serve Jesus must hate their life in this world (v.25)- in other words, die to self.
Am I willing to die to self in order to serve the One who died for me?
Will I do what is necessary to "see Jesus"?
by Tim Gustafson
8/23/18
AN ENDURING HAPPINESS
Often we hear that happiness comes from doing things our own way. That, however, is not true. That philosophy leads only to emptiness, anxiety and heartache.
Poet W.H. Auden observed people as they attempted to find an escape in pleasures. He wrote of such people: "Lost in a haunted wood,/Children afraid of the night/Who have never been happy or good."
The psalmist David sings of the remedy for our fears and unhappiness. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). Happiness is doing things God's way, a fact that can be verified every day. "Those who look to him are radiant," writes David (v.5). Just try it and you'll see. That's what he means when he says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (v.8).
We say, "Seeing is believing." That's how we know things in this world. Show me proof and I'll believe it. God puts it the other way around. Believing is seeing. "Taste and then you will see."
Take the Lord at His word. Do the very next thing He is asking you to do and you will see. He will give you grace to do the right thing and more: He will give you Himself- the only source of goodness- and with it, enduring happiness.
by David H. Roper
Lord, sometimes we must simply pray: "I believe. Help my unbelief." Help us trust You by doing what You have given us to do today.
HAPPINESS IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Psalm 34:1-14
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Insight: In Psalm 34:14, David calls us to "turn from evil and do good." What is good? Micah 6:8 says God has shown us what is good: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Yet in another psalm, "Trust in the Lord and do good" (37:3). Doing good is tied to trust in God. In the New Testament we see over and over again that doing good is dependent on a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus equips us to do good and then produces good in us through the Spirit (Hebrews 13:20-21; Galatians 5:16-25).
What good is God calling you to do in His strength?
by Alyson Kieda
8/22/18
Often we hear that happiness comes from doing things our own way. That, however, is not true. That philosophy leads only to emptiness, anxiety and heartache.
Poet W.H. Auden observed people as they attempted to find an escape in pleasures. He wrote of such people: "Lost in a haunted wood,/Children afraid of the night/Who have never been happy or good."
The psalmist David sings of the remedy for our fears and unhappiness. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4). Happiness is doing things God's way, a fact that can be verified every day. "Those who look to him are radiant," writes David (v.5). Just try it and you'll see. That's what he means when he says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (v.8).
We say, "Seeing is believing." That's how we know things in this world. Show me proof and I'll believe it. God puts it the other way around. Believing is seeing. "Taste and then you will see."
Take the Lord at His word. Do the very next thing He is asking you to do and you will see. He will give you grace to do the right thing and more: He will give you Himself- the only source of goodness- and with it, enduring happiness.
by David H. Roper
Lord, sometimes we must simply pray: "I believe. Help my unbelief." Help us trust You by doing what You have given us to do today.
HAPPINESS IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Psalm 34:1-14
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Insight: In Psalm 34:14, David calls us to "turn from evil and do good." What is good? Micah 6:8 says God has shown us what is good: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Yet in another psalm, "Trust in the Lord and do good" (37:3). Doing good is tied to trust in God. In the New Testament we see over and over again that doing good is dependent on a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus equips us to do good and then produces good in us through the Spirit (Hebrews 13:20-21; Galatians 5:16-25).
What good is God calling you to do in His strength?
by Alyson Kieda
8/22/18
GOD'S CARE FOR US
My young grandson's enjoy dressing themselves. Sometimes they pull their shirts on backwards and often the younger one puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I usually don't have the heart to tell them; besides, I find their innocence endearing.
I love seeing the world through their eyes. To them, everything is an adventure, whether walking the length of a fallen tree, spying a turtle sunning itself on a log, or excitedly watching a firetruck roar by. But I know that even my little grandsons are not truly innocent. They can make up a dozen excuses about why they can't stay in their beds at night and are quick to yank a wanted toy from the other. Yet I love them dearly.
I picture Adam and Eve, God's first people, as being in some ways like my grandchildren. Everything they saw in the garden must have been a marvel as they walked with God. But one day they willfully disobeyed. They ate of the one tree they were forbidden to eat (Genesis 2:15-17;3:6). And that disobedience immediately led to lies and blame-shifting (3:8-13).
Still, God loved and cared for them. He sacrificed animals in order to clothe them (v.21)- and later He provide a way of salvation for all sinners through the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16). He loves us that much!
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Lord, Thank You for loving us, despite our sin, and for making a way for us to be with You forever!
JESUS LOVES US SO MUCH HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS.
Genesis 3:1-13
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
And he said, "Who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
The man said, "The woman you put here with me- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
8/20/18
My young grandson's enjoy dressing themselves. Sometimes they pull their shirts on backwards and often the younger one puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I usually don't have the heart to tell them; besides, I find their innocence endearing.
I love seeing the world through their eyes. To them, everything is an adventure, whether walking the length of a fallen tree, spying a turtle sunning itself on a log, or excitedly watching a firetruck roar by. But I know that even my little grandsons are not truly innocent. They can make up a dozen excuses about why they can't stay in their beds at night and are quick to yank a wanted toy from the other. Yet I love them dearly.
I picture Adam and Eve, God's first people, as being in some ways like my grandchildren. Everything they saw in the garden must have been a marvel as they walked with God. But one day they willfully disobeyed. They ate of the one tree they were forbidden to eat (Genesis 2:15-17;3:6). And that disobedience immediately led to lies and blame-shifting (3:8-13).
Still, God loved and cared for them. He sacrificed animals in order to clothe them (v.21)- and later He provide a way of salvation for all sinners through the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16). He loves us that much!
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Lord, Thank You for loving us, despite our sin, and for making a way for us to be with You forever!
JESUS LOVES US SO MUCH HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS.
Genesis 3:1-13
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
And he said, "Who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
The man said, "The woman you put here with me- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
8/20/18
IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETED
It's satisfying to finish a job. Each month, for instance, one of my job responsibilities gets moved from one category to another, from "In Progress" to "Completed." I love clicking that "completed" button. But last month when I clicked it, I thought, if only I could overcome rough spots in my faith so easily! It can seem like the Christian life is always in progress, never completed.
Then I remembered Hebrews 10:14. It describes how Christ's sacrifice redeems us totally. So in one important sense, that "completed button" has been pressed for us. Jesus's death did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves: He made us acceptable in God's eyes when we place our faith in Him. It is finished, as Jesus Himself said (John 19:30). Paradoxically, even though His sacrifice is complete and total, we spend the rest of our lives living into that spiritual reality- "Being made Holy," as Hebrews' author writes.
The fact that Jesus has finished something that's still being worked out in our lives is hard to understand. When I'm struggling spiritually, it's encouraging to remember that Jesus's sacrifice for me- and for you- is complete...even if our living it out in this life is still a work in progress. Nothing can stop His intended end from being achieved eventually: Being transformed into His likeness (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
by Adam Holz
Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for us. Help us trust You as we grow into followers who's lives look more and more like Yours, knowing that You are the One who makes us complete.
GOD IS AT WORK TO MAKE US WHO HE INTENDS US TO BE.
Hebrews 10:5-14
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am- it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, my God.' " First he said, "Sacrifice and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"- Though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Insight: The words "It's finished!" can mean different things to different people. For the student, they might mean, "I'm finally graduated!" For the Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus, these words could mean they had succeeded in killing Jesus (John 11:53). For the Roman soldiers, it could describe the death penalty they had successfully carried out (19:16-18). For the disciples, these words could mean that their hopes of the Messiah delivering them from Roman bondage were dashed (Luke 24:19-21). But when Jesus uttered, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He was declaring He had completed the work the Father gave Him to do (17:4)- to be "an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
by K.T. Sim
8/19/18
It's satisfying to finish a job. Each month, for instance, one of my job responsibilities gets moved from one category to another, from "In Progress" to "Completed." I love clicking that "completed" button. But last month when I clicked it, I thought, if only I could overcome rough spots in my faith so easily! It can seem like the Christian life is always in progress, never completed.
Then I remembered Hebrews 10:14. It describes how Christ's sacrifice redeems us totally. So in one important sense, that "completed button" has been pressed for us. Jesus's death did for us what we couldn't do for ourselves: He made us acceptable in God's eyes when we place our faith in Him. It is finished, as Jesus Himself said (John 19:30). Paradoxically, even though His sacrifice is complete and total, we spend the rest of our lives living into that spiritual reality- "Being made Holy," as Hebrews' author writes.
The fact that Jesus has finished something that's still being worked out in our lives is hard to understand. When I'm struggling spiritually, it's encouraging to remember that Jesus's sacrifice for me- and for you- is complete...even if our living it out in this life is still a work in progress. Nothing can stop His intended end from being achieved eventually: Being transformed into His likeness (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
by Adam Holz
Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for us. Help us trust You as we grow into followers who's lives look more and more like Yours, knowing that You are the One who makes us complete.
GOD IS AT WORK TO MAKE US WHO HE INTENDS US TO BE.
Hebrews 10:5-14
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am- it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, my God.' " First he said, "Sacrifice and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"- Though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Insight: The words "It's finished!" can mean different things to different people. For the student, they might mean, "I'm finally graduated!" For the Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus, these words could mean they had succeeded in killing Jesus (John 11:53). For the Roman soldiers, it could describe the death penalty they had successfully carried out (19:16-18). For the disciples, these words could mean that their hopes of the Messiah delivering them from Roman bondage were dashed (Luke 24:19-21). But when Jesus uttered, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He was declaring He had completed the work the Father gave Him to do (17:4)- to be "an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
by K.T. Sim
8/19/18
MARVELOUS MAKER
As an amateur photographer, I enjoy capturing glimpses of God's creativity with my camera. I see His fingerprints on each delicate flower pedal, each vibrant sunrise and sunset, and each cloud-painted and star-speckled sky canvas.
My camera's powerful zoom option allows me to take photos of the Lord's creatures too. I've snapped shots of a chattering squirrel in a cherry blossom tree, a colorful butterfly flitting from bloom to bloom, and sea turtles sunning on a rocky, black beach. Each one-of-a-kind image prompted me to worship my marvelous Maker.
I'm not the first of God's people to praise Him while admiring His unique creations. The writer of Psalm 104 sings of the Lord's many works of art in nature (v.24). He regards "the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number" (v.25) and rejoices in God for providing constant and complete care for His masterpieces (vv.27-31). Considering the majesty of the God-given life around him, the psalmist burst with worshipful gratitude: "I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to God as long as I live" (v.33).
While reflecting on the Lord's magnificent and immense creation, we can look closely at His intentional creativity and attention to detail. And like the psalmist, we can sing to our Creator with thankful praise for how powerful majestic, and loving He is and always will be. Hallelujah!
by Xochitl Dixon
GOD'S WORKS ARE MARVELOUS, AND SO IS HE.
Psalm 104:24-34
How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works- He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.
Insight: This remarkable Psalm is like an orchestra proclaiming the different sights and sounds of creation. Land and sea; sky and clouds; animal and plant life; light and darkness all point to the ultimate reality of God. It's easy for the ready to be reminded of the Genesis account of creation that describes the glory of God (Genesis 1-2). Psalm 104 doesn't read like an objective and dispassionate record of what we see in nature, however. Instead, the psalmist finds in all of creation a marvelous symphony that exalts the Creator. Creation is the sign post pointing to the majesty of God: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made" (Romans 1-20).
Be on the lookout today for something in creation for which you can express praise to God.
by Dennis Fisher
8/17/18
As an amateur photographer, I enjoy capturing glimpses of God's creativity with my camera. I see His fingerprints on each delicate flower pedal, each vibrant sunrise and sunset, and each cloud-painted and star-speckled sky canvas.
My camera's powerful zoom option allows me to take photos of the Lord's creatures too. I've snapped shots of a chattering squirrel in a cherry blossom tree, a colorful butterfly flitting from bloom to bloom, and sea turtles sunning on a rocky, black beach. Each one-of-a-kind image prompted me to worship my marvelous Maker.
I'm not the first of God's people to praise Him while admiring His unique creations. The writer of Psalm 104 sings of the Lord's many works of art in nature (v.24). He regards "the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number" (v.25) and rejoices in God for providing constant and complete care for His masterpieces (vv.27-31). Considering the majesty of the God-given life around him, the psalmist burst with worshipful gratitude: "I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to God as long as I live" (v.33).
While reflecting on the Lord's magnificent and immense creation, we can look closely at His intentional creativity and attention to detail. And like the psalmist, we can sing to our Creator with thankful praise for how powerful majestic, and loving He is and always will be. Hallelujah!
by Xochitl Dixon
GOD'S WORKS ARE MARVELOUS, AND SO IS HE.
Psalm 104:24-34
How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works- He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.
Insight: This remarkable Psalm is like an orchestra proclaiming the different sights and sounds of creation. Land and sea; sky and clouds; animal and plant life; light and darkness all point to the ultimate reality of God. It's easy for the ready to be reminded of the Genesis account of creation that describes the glory of God (Genesis 1-2). Psalm 104 doesn't read like an objective and dispassionate record of what we see in nature, however. Instead, the psalmist finds in all of creation a marvelous symphony that exalts the Creator. Creation is the sign post pointing to the majesty of God: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made" (Romans 1-20).
Be on the lookout today for something in creation for which you can express praise to God.
by Dennis Fisher
8/17/18
JESUS REACHED OUT
Sometimes life gets busy- classes are hard, work is exhausting, the bathroom needs to be cleaned, and a coffee date is on the day's schedule. It gets to the point where I force myself to read the Bible for a few minutes a day and tell myself I'll spend more time with God next week. But it doesn't take long before I'm distracted, drowning in the days tasks, and forget to ask God for help of any kind.
When Peter was walking on water toward Jesus, he quickly became distracted by the wind and waves. Like me, he began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30). But as soon as Peter cried out, "immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him" (vv.30-31).
I often feel as if I have to make it up to God after being so busy and distracted that I lose sight of Him. But that's not how God works. As soon as we turn to Him for help, Jesus reaches out without hesitation.
When we're unsettled by the chaos of life, it's easy to forget that God is standing in the middle of the storm with us. Jesus asked Peter, "Why did you doubt?" (v.31). No matter what we're going through, He is there. He is here. Next to us at that moment, in this moment, ready to reach out and rescue us.
by Julie Schwab
Lord, help me to turn to You in the midst of my business and life's distractions. Thank You for always being here, ready to catch me.
GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO TURN TO HIM SO HE CAN REACH OUT AND HELP.
Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they cried, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if its you,"Peter replied, "Tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "Why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Insight: The fear-filled disciples who saw Jesus walking on the lake cried out, "It's a ghost!" (Matthew 14:26). But then they worshipfully acknowledged, "Truly you are the Son of God" (v.33). In between the collective voices of the disciples, we hear the voices of Jesus and Peter. Following the words of Jesus in verse 27, Peter spoke, "Lord, if its you...tell me to come to you on the water" (v.28). At first glance it's easy to interpret Peter's "if" as implying uncertainty. An alternative rendering of the word..if... is since. Given Peter's actions, it seems to me that this translation makes sense. When Jesus is the one directing us, doubt can yield to confidence.
by Arthur Jackson
8/16/18
Sometimes life gets busy- classes are hard, work is exhausting, the bathroom needs to be cleaned, and a coffee date is on the day's schedule. It gets to the point where I force myself to read the Bible for a few minutes a day and tell myself I'll spend more time with God next week. But it doesn't take long before I'm distracted, drowning in the days tasks, and forget to ask God for help of any kind.
When Peter was walking on water toward Jesus, he quickly became distracted by the wind and waves. Like me, he began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30). But as soon as Peter cried out, "immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him" (vv.30-31).
I often feel as if I have to make it up to God after being so busy and distracted that I lose sight of Him. But that's not how God works. As soon as we turn to Him for help, Jesus reaches out without hesitation.
When we're unsettled by the chaos of life, it's easy to forget that God is standing in the middle of the storm with us. Jesus asked Peter, "Why did you doubt?" (v.31). No matter what we're going through, He is there. He is here. Next to us at that moment, in this moment, ready to reach out and rescue us.
by Julie Schwab
Lord, help me to turn to You in the midst of my business and life's distractions. Thank You for always being here, ready to catch me.
GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO TURN TO HIM SO HE CAN REACH OUT AND HELP.
Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they cried, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if its you,"Peter replied, "Tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "Why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Insight: The fear-filled disciples who saw Jesus walking on the lake cried out, "It's a ghost!" (Matthew 14:26). But then they worshipfully acknowledged, "Truly you are the Son of God" (v.33). In between the collective voices of the disciples, we hear the voices of Jesus and Peter. Following the words of Jesus in verse 27, Peter spoke, "Lord, if its you...tell me to come to you on the water" (v.28). At first glance it's easy to interpret Peter's "if" as implying uncertainty. An alternative rendering of the word..if... is since. Given Peter's actions, it seems to me that this translation makes sense. When Jesus is the one directing us, doubt can yield to confidence.
by Arthur Jackson
8/16/18
HEART HUNGER
Riding along with my husband on some errands, I scrolled through emails on my phone and was surprised at an incoming advertisement for a local donut shop, a shop we had just passed on the right side of the street. Suddenly my stomach growled with hunger. I marveled at how technology allows venders to woo us into their establishments.
As I clicked off my email, I mused over God's constant yearning to draw me closer. He always knows where I am and longs to influence my choices. I wondered, does my heart growl in desire for Him the way my stomach did over the idea of a donut?
In John 6, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, the disciples eagerly asked Jesus to always give them "the bread that...gives life to the world" (vv.33-34). Jesus responds in verse 35 "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. How amazing that a relationship with Jesus can provide constant nourishment in our every day lives!
The donut shop's advertisement targeted my body's craving, but God's continuous knowledge of my heart's condition invites me to recognize my ongoing need for Him and to receive the sustenance only He can provide.
by Elisa Morgan
Dear God, remind me of my need for Your daily bread of presence.
JESUS ALONE OFFERS THE ONLY BREAD THAT TRULY SATISFIES.
John 6:32-40
Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "Always give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
Insight: The heart hunger described in today's devotional was modeled by Jesus. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus told the Enemy, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Then in John 4:34, He told His followers, "My food...is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." Jesus's passion for the Father and His purposes is the greatest example we can have of true spiritual heart hunger. While we cannot perfectly reflect that desire, we can learn to long for the Father's presence and provision- just as Jesus did.
by Bill Crowder
8/15/18
Riding along with my husband on some errands, I scrolled through emails on my phone and was surprised at an incoming advertisement for a local donut shop, a shop we had just passed on the right side of the street. Suddenly my stomach growled with hunger. I marveled at how technology allows venders to woo us into their establishments.
As I clicked off my email, I mused over God's constant yearning to draw me closer. He always knows where I am and longs to influence my choices. I wondered, does my heart growl in desire for Him the way my stomach did over the idea of a donut?
In John 6, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, the disciples eagerly asked Jesus to always give them "the bread that...gives life to the world" (vv.33-34). Jesus responds in verse 35 "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. How amazing that a relationship with Jesus can provide constant nourishment in our every day lives!
The donut shop's advertisement targeted my body's craving, but God's continuous knowledge of my heart's condition invites me to recognize my ongoing need for Him and to receive the sustenance only He can provide.
by Elisa Morgan
Dear God, remind me of my need for Your daily bread of presence.
JESUS ALONE OFFERS THE ONLY BREAD THAT TRULY SATISFIES.
John 6:32-40
Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "Always give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
Insight: The heart hunger described in today's devotional was modeled by Jesus. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus told the Enemy, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Then in John 4:34, He told His followers, "My food...is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." Jesus's passion for the Father and His purposes is the greatest example we can have of true spiritual heart hunger. While we cannot perfectly reflect that desire, we can learn to long for the Father's presence and provision- just as Jesus did.
by Bill Crowder
8/15/18
THE LORD SPEAKS
We can find nearly every argument in the book of Job about why there is pain in the world, but the arguing never seems to help Job much. His is a crisis of relationship more than a crisis of doubt. Can he trust God? Job wants one thing above all else: an appearance by the one Person who can explain his miserable fate. He wants to meet God Himself, face to face.
Eventually Job gets his wish. God shows up in person (see Job 38:1). He times His entrance with perfect irony, just as Job's friend Elihu is expounding on why Job has no right to expect a visit from God.
No one- not Job, nor any of his friends- is prepared for what God has to say. Job has saved up a long list of questions, but it is God, not Job, who asks the questions. "Brace yourself like a man," He begins; "I will question you, and you shall answer me," (v.3). Brushing aside thirty-five chapters' worth of debates on the problem of pain, God plunges into a majestic poem on the wonders of the natural world.
God's speech defines the vast difference between the God of all creation and one puny man like Job. His presence spectacularly answers Job's biggest question: Is anybody out there? Job can only respond, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things two wonderful for me to know" (42:3).
by Philip Yancey
Lord, we have so many questions about life and its unfairness. You have shown yourself good to us. Help us to trust You for what we cannot understand.
NO CALAMITY IS BEYOND GOD'S SOVEREIGHTY
Job 38:1-11
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; hear is where your proud waves halt' "?
Insight: After all Job had endured, how could the Lord of heaven respond to his honest, agonizing with more questions?
Job forgot the case he wanted to argue in the court of heaven (Job 23:1-10). The presence and questions of God suddenly reawakened the trust he'd expressed in those first moments of the worst days of his life (1:21;2:10).
We, on the other hand, have an advantage that Job lacked. In the prologue of Job's story, we are taken behind the scenes to see how God viewed Job (1:1-2:10).
What is our lives had such a prologue? Would it help to know that more is going on than we can see and that it's better than we imagine? Even if we aren't an exemplary example as Job was, can we take heart in being one of the dearly loved sinners for whom Christ died?
by Mart Dehaan
8/14/18
We can find nearly every argument in the book of Job about why there is pain in the world, but the arguing never seems to help Job much. His is a crisis of relationship more than a crisis of doubt. Can he trust God? Job wants one thing above all else: an appearance by the one Person who can explain his miserable fate. He wants to meet God Himself, face to face.
Eventually Job gets his wish. God shows up in person (see Job 38:1). He times His entrance with perfect irony, just as Job's friend Elihu is expounding on why Job has no right to expect a visit from God.
No one- not Job, nor any of his friends- is prepared for what God has to say. Job has saved up a long list of questions, but it is God, not Job, who asks the questions. "Brace yourself like a man," He begins; "I will question you, and you shall answer me," (v.3). Brushing aside thirty-five chapters' worth of debates on the problem of pain, God plunges into a majestic poem on the wonders of the natural world.
God's speech defines the vast difference between the God of all creation and one puny man like Job. His presence spectacularly answers Job's biggest question: Is anybody out there? Job can only respond, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things two wonderful for me to know" (42:3).
by Philip Yancey
Lord, we have so many questions about life and its unfairness. You have shown yourself good to us. Help us to trust You for what we cannot understand.
NO CALAMITY IS BEYOND GOD'S SOVEREIGHTY
Job 38:1-11
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; hear is where your proud waves halt' "?
Insight: After all Job had endured, how could the Lord of heaven respond to his honest, agonizing with more questions?
Job forgot the case he wanted to argue in the court of heaven (Job 23:1-10). The presence and questions of God suddenly reawakened the trust he'd expressed in those first moments of the worst days of his life (1:21;2:10).
We, on the other hand, have an advantage that Job lacked. In the prologue of Job's story, we are taken behind the scenes to see how God viewed Job (1:1-2:10).
What is our lives had such a prologue? Would it help to know that more is going on than we can see and that it's better than we imagine? Even if we aren't an exemplary example as Job was, can we take heart in being one of the dearly loved sinners for whom Christ died?
by Mart Dehaan
8/14/18
RIDING THE RAPIDS
The rafting guide escorted our group to the river's edge and directed us all to put on life jackets and grab paddles. As we climbed into the boat, he assigned us seats to balance the boat's weight, providing stability when we encounter rapids. After highlighting the thrills the watery voyage ahead would hold for us, he detailed a series of directions we could expect to hear- and would need to follow- to effectively steer thought the white water. He assured us that even though there might be tense moments on the way, our journey would be both exciting and safe.
Sometimes life feels like a white-water rafting trip, one that contains more rapids than we might like. God's promise to Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, can guide our feelings when we fear the worst is happening: "When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you" (Isaiah 43:2). The Israelites faced an overwhelming fear of rejection by God as they went into exile as a consequence of their sin. Yet instead, He affirms them and promises to be with them because He loves them (vv.2,4).
God won't abandon us in the rough waters. We can trust Him to guide us though the rapids- our deepest fears and most painful troubles- because He also loves us and promises to be with us.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Thank You, Lord, for being my God through troubled waters. Help me to trust You even when the journey is wild and scary.
GOD STEERS US THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Insight: In today's passage, God declares, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). In the New Testament we see this promise of God's care displayed in two stories of literal storms. In one, Jesus is sound asleep in a boat when awakened by His disciples who are frightened by a sudden storm. He calms the storm and the disciples' fears (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). In a similar story, the disciples are alone in a boat when a furious squall begins. Jesus walks out to them on the water (Matthew 14:22-33;John 6:16-21) and assures them, "It is I; don't be afraid" (v.20). The Lord "commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him" (Luke 8:25).
by Alyson Kieda
8/13/18
The rafting guide escorted our group to the river's edge and directed us all to put on life jackets and grab paddles. As we climbed into the boat, he assigned us seats to balance the boat's weight, providing stability when we encounter rapids. After highlighting the thrills the watery voyage ahead would hold for us, he detailed a series of directions we could expect to hear- and would need to follow- to effectively steer thought the white water. He assured us that even though there might be tense moments on the way, our journey would be both exciting and safe.
Sometimes life feels like a white-water rafting trip, one that contains more rapids than we might like. God's promise to Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, can guide our feelings when we fear the worst is happening: "When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you" (Isaiah 43:2). The Israelites faced an overwhelming fear of rejection by God as they went into exile as a consequence of their sin. Yet instead, He affirms them and promises to be with them because He loves them (vv.2,4).
God won't abandon us in the rough waters. We can trust Him to guide us though the rapids- our deepest fears and most painful troubles- because He also loves us and promises to be with us.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Thank You, Lord, for being my God through troubled waters. Help me to trust You even when the journey is wild and scary.
GOD STEERS US THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Insight: In today's passage, God declares, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). In the New Testament we see this promise of God's care displayed in two stories of literal storms. In one, Jesus is sound asleep in a boat when awakened by His disciples who are frightened by a sudden storm. He calms the storm and the disciples' fears (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). In a similar story, the disciples are alone in a boat when a furious squall begins. Jesus walks out to them on the water (Matthew 14:22-33;John 6:16-21) and assures them, "It is I; don't be afraid" (v.20). The Lord "commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him" (Luke 8:25).
by Alyson Kieda
8/13/18
THE GIFT OF TIME
I headed into the post office in a big hurry. I had a number of things on my to-do list, but as I entered I was frustrated to find a long line backing up all the way to the door. "Hurry up and wait," I muttered, glancing at my watch.
My hand was still on the door when an elderly stranger approached me. "I can't get this copier to work," he said, pointing to the machine behind us. "It took my money and I don't know what to do." Immediately I knew what God wanted me to do. I stepped out of line and was able to fix the problem in ten minutes.
The man thanked me and then left. As I turned to get back in line, it was gone. I walked straight to the service counter.
My experience that day reminds me of Jesus's words: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).
My wait seemed shorter because God interrupted my hurry. By turning my eyes to others' needs and helping me give of my time, He gave me a gift. Its a lesson I hope to remember, next time I look at my watch.
by James Banks
Heavenly Father, all of the time I have is in Your hands, a gift from You. Please show me how to use it to bring glory and honor to You.
SOMETIMES OUR TO-DO LIST NEEDS TO WAIT.
Luke 6:37-38
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you've used, it will be measured to you."
Insight: Time is a precious commodity that we can waste, spend, or invest. Moses prayed, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). In a sense, nothing more clearly requires- or displays- a heart of wisdom than the way we use our time. This may be why Jesus- pressed by the crowds, confronted by the needs around Him, and threatened by the religious establishment- is never described in the Gospels as being in a hurry. Instead, He saw time as having a part in the Father's purposes. At the wedding feast in Galilee, He said to His mother, "My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4). As He drew ever closer to the cross, however, He saw that time coming to culmination. In John 12:27 He affirmed, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? Know, it was for this very reason I came to this hour." Living wisely is rooted in understanding that our loving Father has a purpose behind our seconds, minutes, hours, and days.
by Bill Crowder
8/12/18
I headed into the post office in a big hurry. I had a number of things on my to-do list, but as I entered I was frustrated to find a long line backing up all the way to the door. "Hurry up and wait," I muttered, glancing at my watch.
My hand was still on the door when an elderly stranger approached me. "I can't get this copier to work," he said, pointing to the machine behind us. "It took my money and I don't know what to do." Immediately I knew what God wanted me to do. I stepped out of line and was able to fix the problem in ten minutes.
The man thanked me and then left. As I turned to get back in line, it was gone. I walked straight to the service counter.
My experience that day reminds me of Jesus's words: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38).
My wait seemed shorter because God interrupted my hurry. By turning my eyes to others' needs and helping me give of my time, He gave me a gift. Its a lesson I hope to remember, next time I look at my watch.
by James Banks
Heavenly Father, all of the time I have is in Your hands, a gift from You. Please show me how to use it to bring glory and honor to You.
SOMETIMES OUR TO-DO LIST NEEDS TO WAIT.
Luke 6:37-38
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you've used, it will be measured to you."
Insight: Time is a precious commodity that we can waste, spend, or invest. Moses prayed, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). In a sense, nothing more clearly requires- or displays- a heart of wisdom than the way we use our time. This may be why Jesus- pressed by the crowds, confronted by the needs around Him, and threatened by the religious establishment- is never described in the Gospels as being in a hurry. Instead, He saw time as having a part in the Father's purposes. At the wedding feast in Galilee, He said to His mother, "My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4). As He drew ever closer to the cross, however, He saw that time coming to culmination. In John 12:27 He affirmed, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? Know, it was for this very reason I came to this hour." Living wisely is rooted in understanding that our loving Father has a purpose behind our seconds, minutes, hours, and days.
by Bill Crowder
8/12/18
HELP FROM HEAVEN
SOS, the Morse codes signal, was created in 1905 because sailors needed a way to indicate extreme distress. The signal gained notoriety in 1910 when used by the sinking ship Steamship Kentucky, saving all forty-six people aboard.
While SOS may be a more recent invention, the urgent cry for help is as old as humanity. We hear it often in the Old Testament story of Joshua, who faced opposition from fellow Israelites (Joshua 9:18) in challenging terrain (3:15-17) for more than fourteen years as the Israelites slowly conquered and settled the land God had promised them. During this struggle "The Lord was with Joshua" (6:27).
In Joshua 10, the Israelites go to the aid of the Gibeonites, allies of Israel who were being attacked by five kings. Joshua knew that he needed the Lord's help to defeat so many powerful enemies (v.12). God responded with a hailstorm, even stopping the sun in the middle of the sky to give Israel more time to defeat the enemy. Joshua 10:14 recounts "Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!"
If you are in the midst of a challenging situation, you can send out an SOS to God. Although help will look different than the assistance Joshua received, perhaps help comes through an unexpected job, an understanding doctor, or peace in the midst of grief. Be encouraged that these are ways He is responding to your call for help and fighting for you.
by Lisa Samra
Thank You, Father, for walking with me on this difficult journey and hearing me when I cry out to You.
AS WE CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HELP, WE CAN TRUST THAT HE WILL BE WITH US.
Joshua 10:6-15
The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."
So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursed them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail then were killed by the swords of the Israelites. On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
"Son, stand still over Gibeon and you, moon, over the valley of Aijalon."
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The Sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Insight: The Gibeonites feared Israel's God, so they tricked Joshua and the Israelites into being their allies (Joshua 9). So when Gibeon called Israel for help (10:6), they were ultimately calling on God. Do we wait for a crisis to turn to Him?
by Tim Gustafson
8/10/18
SOS, the Morse codes signal, was created in 1905 because sailors needed a way to indicate extreme distress. The signal gained notoriety in 1910 when used by the sinking ship Steamship Kentucky, saving all forty-six people aboard.
While SOS may be a more recent invention, the urgent cry for help is as old as humanity. We hear it often in the Old Testament story of Joshua, who faced opposition from fellow Israelites (Joshua 9:18) in challenging terrain (3:15-17) for more than fourteen years as the Israelites slowly conquered and settled the land God had promised them. During this struggle "The Lord was with Joshua" (6:27).
In Joshua 10, the Israelites go to the aid of the Gibeonites, allies of Israel who were being attacked by five kings. Joshua knew that he needed the Lord's help to defeat so many powerful enemies (v.12). God responded with a hailstorm, even stopping the sun in the middle of the sky to give Israel more time to defeat the enemy. Joshua 10:14 recounts "Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!"
If you are in the midst of a challenging situation, you can send out an SOS to God. Although help will look different than the assistance Joshua received, perhaps help comes through an unexpected job, an understanding doctor, or peace in the midst of grief. Be encouraged that these are ways He is responding to your call for help and fighting for you.
by Lisa Samra
Thank You, Father, for walking with me on this difficult journey and hearing me when I cry out to You.
AS WE CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HELP, WE CAN TRUST THAT HE WILL BE WITH US.
Joshua 10:6-15
The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."
So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursed them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail then were killed by the swords of the Israelites. On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:
"Son, stand still over Gibeon and you, moon, over the valley of Aijalon."
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The Sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Insight: The Gibeonites feared Israel's God, so they tricked Joshua and the Israelites into being their allies (Joshua 9). So when Gibeon called Israel for help (10:6), they were ultimately calling on God. Do we wait for a crisis to turn to Him?
by Tim Gustafson
8/10/18
A HOPEFUL LAMENT
To visit Clifton Heritage National Park in Nassau, Bahamas, is to revisit a tragic era in history. Where the land meets the water, stone steps lead up to a cliff. Slaves brought to the Bahamas by ship in the eighteenth century would ascend these steps, often leaving family behind and entering a life of inhumane treatment. At the top, there is a memorial to those slaves. Cedar trees have been carve into the shapes of woman looking out to sea toward the homeland and family members they've lost. Each sculpture is scarred with marks of the slaves captain's whips.
These Sculptures of women mourning what they've lost remind me of the importance of recognizing the injustices and broken systems in the world, and lamenting them. Lamenting does not mean that we are without hope; its a way of being honest with God. It should be a familiar posture for Christians; about forty percent of the Psalms are psalms of lament, and in the book of Lamentations, God's people cry out to Him after their city has been destroyed by invaders (3:55).
Lament is a legitimate response to the reality of suffering, and it engages God in the context of pain and trouble. Ultimately, lament is hopeful: when we lament what is not right, we call ourselves and others to be active in seeking change.
And that's why the sculpture garden in Nassau has been named "Genesis"- Place of lament is recognized as the place of new beginnings.
by Amy Peterson
WE CAN TRUST GOD TO BRING SOMETHING NEW OUT OF OUR SEASONS OF LAMENT.
Lamentations 3:49-58
My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the woman of my city.
Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I was about to perish.
I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your eyes to my cry for relief."
You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."
You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.
Insight: The prophet Jeremiah had prophesied for over forty years to a disobedient, disbelieving Judah (627-580 bc). Now in five emotionally charged "funeral laments" he writes as an eyewitness, the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem, the temple, and the people as they are forcefully exiled to Babylon. He includes the reason why God would use the Babylonians to discipline His idolatrous people (Lamentations 1:5-8; See 1 Kings 9:6-9; Jeremiah 2:11-13,18:15-17).
For two years the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem. Jeremiah witnessed the uncensored horrors of war (2nd Kings 25:1-4; Jeremiah 52:12-27;Lamentations 2:20;4:10). But he also wrote of hope in the mists of despair (3:21-33) and of the restoration that would come (5:19-22). Jeremiah reminded the Jewish people that the Lord, who has judged Judah rightly for her sins, is the Lord of hope (3:21-24-25), compassion (v.22), faithfulness (v.23), and salvation (v.26). Jeremiah calls the people to repent and to trust in the goodness of God (vv.25-26;5:21).
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation," says the apostle Paul (2nd Corinthians 7:10). How has this been true in your own life?
by K.T.Sim
8/9/18
To visit Clifton Heritage National Park in Nassau, Bahamas, is to revisit a tragic era in history. Where the land meets the water, stone steps lead up to a cliff. Slaves brought to the Bahamas by ship in the eighteenth century would ascend these steps, often leaving family behind and entering a life of inhumane treatment. At the top, there is a memorial to those slaves. Cedar trees have been carve into the shapes of woman looking out to sea toward the homeland and family members they've lost. Each sculpture is scarred with marks of the slaves captain's whips.
These Sculptures of women mourning what they've lost remind me of the importance of recognizing the injustices and broken systems in the world, and lamenting them. Lamenting does not mean that we are without hope; its a way of being honest with God. It should be a familiar posture for Christians; about forty percent of the Psalms are psalms of lament, and in the book of Lamentations, God's people cry out to Him after their city has been destroyed by invaders (3:55).
Lament is a legitimate response to the reality of suffering, and it engages God in the context of pain and trouble. Ultimately, lament is hopeful: when we lament what is not right, we call ourselves and others to be active in seeking change.
And that's why the sculpture garden in Nassau has been named "Genesis"- Place of lament is recognized as the place of new beginnings.
by Amy Peterson
WE CAN TRUST GOD TO BRING SOMETHING NEW OUT OF OUR SEASONS OF LAMENT.
Lamentations 3:49-58
My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the woman of my city.
Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I was about to perish.
I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your eyes to my cry for relief."
You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."
You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.
Insight: The prophet Jeremiah had prophesied for over forty years to a disobedient, disbelieving Judah (627-580 bc). Now in five emotionally charged "funeral laments" he writes as an eyewitness, the destruction and devastation of Jerusalem, the temple, and the people as they are forcefully exiled to Babylon. He includes the reason why God would use the Babylonians to discipline His idolatrous people (Lamentations 1:5-8; See 1 Kings 9:6-9; Jeremiah 2:11-13,18:15-17).
For two years the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem. Jeremiah witnessed the uncensored horrors of war (2nd Kings 25:1-4; Jeremiah 52:12-27;Lamentations 2:20;4:10). But he also wrote of hope in the mists of despair (3:21-33) and of the restoration that would come (5:19-22). Jeremiah reminded the Jewish people that the Lord, who has judged Judah rightly for her sins, is the Lord of hope (3:21-24-25), compassion (v.22), faithfulness (v.23), and salvation (v.26). Jeremiah calls the people to repent and to trust in the goodness of God (vv.25-26;5:21).
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation," says the apostle Paul (2nd Corinthians 7:10). How has this been true in your own life?
by K.T.Sim
8/9/18
A GOOD DADDY
When our son, Xavier, was younger, business trips often pulled my husband away from home. Though his father called often, there were rough nights when the calls alone didn't comfort Xavier. To help soothe our son when he felt he needed his dad, I'd pull out our photo albums as he prepared for bedtime. I'd point out the images that showed them spending time together and asked, "Do you remember this?"
Memory after memory encouraged our son, who often said, "I have a good daddy."
I understood Xavier's need to be reminded of his father's love when he couldn't see him. Whenever I'm going through tough or lonely times, I too long to know I'm loved, especially by my heavenly Father.
David proclaimed his deep yearning as he hid from his enemies in the desert (Psalm 63:1). Remembering his personal encounters with God's limitless power and satisfying love led him to praise (vv.2-5). Through his most difficult nights, David could still rejoice in his dependable father's loving care (vv.6-8).
During our dark times, when we feel as if God's not there for us, we need reminders of who God is and how He's demonstrated His love. Reflecting on our personal experiences with Him, as well as His actions recorded in Scripture, can affirm the countless ways our good Abba Father loves us.
by Xochiel Dixon
Lord, thanks for demonstrating You endless love to Your people, in our lives and through the words You preserved in Scripture.
REMEMBERING GOD'S WORKS, WHICH REVEAL HIS CHARACTER, REASSURES US OF HIS LOVE.
Psalm 63
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the riches of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; They will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Insight: Do you ever wonder whether your faith could endure during hard times? Psalm 63 describes a relationship with God that is deep enough to sustain times so difficult that- literally or metaphorically- we experience life as a "dry and parched land where there is no water" (v.1).
A faith that is long-lasting is one in which experiencing God's love is so precious it's "better than life" (v.3). Such an intimate relationship is sustained through ongoing communication "through the watches of the night" (v.6)- a time which in the Psalms points to vulnerable communication with God (see, for example, 4:4; 16:7; 119:55).
Through cultivating such a relationship with God, when hard times come we will have a rich history to remember and cherish (63:2,6). In this way we can trust God enough to cling to Him (vv.7-8), confident that He'll deliver us once more (vv.9-11).
Monica Brands
8/8/18
When our son, Xavier, was younger, business trips often pulled my husband away from home. Though his father called often, there were rough nights when the calls alone didn't comfort Xavier. To help soothe our son when he felt he needed his dad, I'd pull out our photo albums as he prepared for bedtime. I'd point out the images that showed them spending time together and asked, "Do you remember this?"
Memory after memory encouraged our son, who often said, "I have a good daddy."
I understood Xavier's need to be reminded of his father's love when he couldn't see him. Whenever I'm going through tough or lonely times, I too long to know I'm loved, especially by my heavenly Father.
David proclaimed his deep yearning as he hid from his enemies in the desert (Psalm 63:1). Remembering his personal encounters with God's limitless power and satisfying love led him to praise (vv.2-5). Through his most difficult nights, David could still rejoice in his dependable father's loving care (vv.6-8).
During our dark times, when we feel as if God's not there for us, we need reminders of who God is and how He's demonstrated His love. Reflecting on our personal experiences with Him, as well as His actions recorded in Scripture, can affirm the countless ways our good Abba Father loves us.
by Xochiel Dixon
Lord, thanks for demonstrating You endless love to Your people, in our lives and through the words You preserved in Scripture.
REMEMBERING GOD'S WORKS, WHICH REVEAL HIS CHARACTER, REASSURES US OF HIS LOVE.
Psalm 63
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the riches of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; They will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Insight: Do you ever wonder whether your faith could endure during hard times? Psalm 63 describes a relationship with God that is deep enough to sustain times so difficult that- literally or metaphorically- we experience life as a "dry and parched land where there is no water" (v.1).
A faith that is long-lasting is one in which experiencing God's love is so precious it's "better than life" (v.3). Such an intimate relationship is sustained through ongoing communication "through the watches of the night" (v.6)- a time which in the Psalms points to vulnerable communication with God (see, for example, 4:4; 16:7; 119:55).
Through cultivating such a relationship with God, when hard times come we will have a rich history to remember and cherish (63:2,6). In this way we can trust God enough to cling to Him (vv.7-8), confident that He'll deliver us once more (vv.9-11).
Monica Brands
8/8/18
DEDICATED TO LOVE
As a convert to Jesus Christ, Nabeel Qureshi has written books to help his readers understand the people in the religion he left. His tone is respectful, and Qureshi always displays a heart of love for his people.
Qureshi dedicated on of his books to his sister, who has not yet put her faith in Jesus. The dedication is brief, but powerful. "I am begging God for the day that we can worship him together," he wrote.
We get a sense of that kind of love as we read Paul's letter to the church in Rome. "My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief," he said, "for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed- cut off from Christ!- if that would save them" (Romans 9:2-3 NLT).
Paul love the Jewish people so much that he would have chosen separation from God if only they would except Christ. He understood that by rejecting Jesus, his people were rejecting the one true God. This motivated him to appeal to his readers to share the good news of Jesus with everyone (10:14-15).
Today, may we prayerfully dedicate ourselves to the love that aches for those close to us!
by Tim Gustafson
Father we ask You to fill our hearts with Your love for others. We hold (_____) up to You and beg for them to see the truth about Your Son Jesus.
WE MUST LOVE THOSE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED AS WELL AS THOSE IN WHOM CHRIST LIVES.
Romans 9:1-5
I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Insight: Paul's concern that his Jewish brothers and sisters would come to Christ echoes the heart and plan of the Father for both Jew and Gentile. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus "was made lower than the angels for a little while, [and is] now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." God's concern is for all to come to Him through the sacrifice of His Son. This idea resonates with Peter, who declared, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Notice God's great concern for this broken, rebellious world. Not only has He provided in Jesus a sufficient sacrifice, He also extends patient love to people who do not know Him. Truly, as John 3:16 says, this is evidence of a God who so loved this world that He would pay the greatest possible price to satisfy His desire to reach us. This is the great good news of the gospel!
by Bill Crowder
8/7/18
As a convert to Jesus Christ, Nabeel Qureshi has written books to help his readers understand the people in the religion he left. His tone is respectful, and Qureshi always displays a heart of love for his people.
Qureshi dedicated on of his books to his sister, who has not yet put her faith in Jesus. The dedication is brief, but powerful. "I am begging God for the day that we can worship him together," he wrote.
We get a sense of that kind of love as we read Paul's letter to the church in Rome. "My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief," he said, "for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed- cut off from Christ!- if that would save them" (Romans 9:2-3 NLT).
Paul love the Jewish people so much that he would have chosen separation from God if only they would except Christ. He understood that by rejecting Jesus, his people were rejecting the one true God. This motivated him to appeal to his readers to share the good news of Jesus with everyone (10:14-15).
Today, may we prayerfully dedicate ourselves to the love that aches for those close to us!
by Tim Gustafson
Father we ask You to fill our hearts with Your love for others. We hold (_____) up to You and beg for them to see the truth about Your Son Jesus.
WE MUST LOVE THOSE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED AS WELL AS THOSE IN WHOM CHRIST LIVES.
Romans 9:1-5
I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Insight: Paul's concern that his Jewish brothers and sisters would come to Christ echoes the heart and plan of the Father for both Jew and Gentile. Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus "was made lower than the angels for a little while, [and is] now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." God's concern is for all to come to Him through the sacrifice of His Son. This idea resonates with Peter, who declared, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Notice God's great concern for this broken, rebellious world. Not only has He provided in Jesus a sufficient sacrifice, He also extends patient love to people who do not know Him. Truly, as John 3:16 says, this is evidence of a God who so loved this world that He would pay the greatest possible price to satisfy His desire to reach us. This is the great good news of the gospel!
by Bill Crowder
8/7/18
WHEN THE BOTTOM DROPS OUT
During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, more people were looking for work than there were jobs available. I was one of those job seekers. After nine anxious months, I landed employment as a copywriter. But the company soon fell on bad times and I was jobless again.
Ever been there? It seems like the worst is over when suddenly the bottom drops out on you. The widow at Zarephath could relate (1 Kings 17:12). Due to a famine, she was preparing the last meal for herself and her son when the prophet Elijah requested a bite to eat. She reluctantly agreed and God provided a continuous supply of flour and oil (vv.10-16).
But then her son fell ill. His health declined until he stopped breathing. The widow cried out, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" (V.18).
At times, we may want to respond like the widow- wondering if God is punishing us. We forget that bad things can happen in this fallen world.
Elijah took the concern to God, praying earnestly and honestly for the boy, and God raised him up! (vv.20-22).
When the bottom drops out on us, may we- like Elijah- realize that the faithful One will not desert us! We can rest in God's purposes as we pray for understanding.
by Poh Fang Chia
GOD IS GOOD IN BOTH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD.
1 Kings 17:15-24
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
Some time later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
"Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, let this boys life return to him!"
The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth."
Insight: It can be easy to think that life will go well if we do everything we're supposed to do. But today's story reminds us that life isn't a formula. The widow was faithful and obedient, and yet her son died. But we can be encouraged that there's nothing too hard for God, for He is the one who can even bring the dead back to life (v.23).
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Commit your situation to our faithful God.
By J.R.Hudberg
8/06/18
During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, more people were looking for work than there were jobs available. I was one of those job seekers. After nine anxious months, I landed employment as a copywriter. But the company soon fell on bad times and I was jobless again.
Ever been there? It seems like the worst is over when suddenly the bottom drops out on you. The widow at Zarephath could relate (1 Kings 17:12). Due to a famine, she was preparing the last meal for herself and her son when the prophet Elijah requested a bite to eat. She reluctantly agreed and God provided a continuous supply of flour and oil (vv.10-16).
But then her son fell ill. His health declined until he stopped breathing. The widow cried out, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" (V.18).
At times, we may want to respond like the widow- wondering if God is punishing us. We forget that bad things can happen in this fallen world.
Elijah took the concern to God, praying earnestly and honestly for the boy, and God raised him up! (vv.20-22).
When the bottom drops out on us, may we- like Elijah- realize that the faithful One will not desert us! We can rest in God's purposes as we pray for understanding.
by Poh Fang Chia
GOD IS GOOD IN BOTH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD.
1 Kings 17:15-24
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
Some time later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
"Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, let this boys life return to him!"
The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth."
Insight: It can be easy to think that life will go well if we do everything we're supposed to do. But today's story reminds us that life isn't a formula. The widow was faithful and obedient, and yet her son died. But we can be encouraged that there's nothing too hard for God, for He is the one who can even bring the dead back to life (v.23).
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Commit your situation to our faithful God.
By J.R.Hudberg
8/06/18
THE JOY OF GIVING
It was a dreary week. I had been feeling lethargic and listless, although I couldn't figure out why.
Near the end of the week, I found out that and aunt had kidney failure. I knew I had to visit her-but to be honest, I felt like postponing the visit. Still, I made my way to her place, where we had dinner, chatted, and prayed together. An hour later, I left her home felling upbeat for the first time in days. Focusing on someone else rather than myself had someone improved my mood.
Psychologists have found that the act of giving can produce satisfaction, which comes when the giver sees the recipient's gratitude. Some experts even believe that humans are wired to be generous!
Perhaps thats why Paul, when encouraging the church in Thessalonica to build up their faith community, urged them to "help the weak" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Earlier, he had also cited Jesus's words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). While this was said in the context of giving financially, it applies as well to the giving of time and effort.
When we give, we get an insight into how God feels. We understand why He's so delighted to give us His love, and we share in His joy and the satisfaction of blessing others. I think I'll be visiting my aunt again soon.
by Leslie Koh
Father, You have made me to give to others just as You have given to me. Teach me to give so that I can truly reflect your character and be more like You today.
THE GIVER IS THE GREATEST RECIPIENT.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Insight: Do you ever feel that you're always on the giving end? Or do you feel you're always taking and receiving-with nothing to offer others but your own neediness? Take another look at Paul's words to the Thessalonians. See if you can hear the wisdom of someone who knows theres a time to give and a time to receive.
If you sense that you're receiving more than your far share of help, does Paul give you any idea about what you have to give even while receiving? Can you see that in acknowledging graciously the hard work of those who are caring for you, God can actually use you to encourage them?
If you seem to be giving to the point of exhaustion, see if you can hear any gentle wisdom here for yourself.
by Mart Dehaan
8/05/18
It was a dreary week. I had been feeling lethargic and listless, although I couldn't figure out why.
Near the end of the week, I found out that and aunt had kidney failure. I knew I had to visit her-but to be honest, I felt like postponing the visit. Still, I made my way to her place, where we had dinner, chatted, and prayed together. An hour later, I left her home felling upbeat for the first time in days. Focusing on someone else rather than myself had someone improved my mood.
Psychologists have found that the act of giving can produce satisfaction, which comes when the giver sees the recipient's gratitude. Some experts even believe that humans are wired to be generous!
Perhaps thats why Paul, when encouraging the church in Thessalonica to build up their faith community, urged them to "help the weak" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Earlier, he had also cited Jesus's words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). While this was said in the context of giving financially, it applies as well to the giving of time and effort.
When we give, we get an insight into how God feels. We understand why He's so delighted to give us His love, and we share in His joy and the satisfaction of blessing others. I think I'll be visiting my aunt again soon.
by Leslie Koh
Father, You have made me to give to others just as You have given to me. Teach me to give so that I can truly reflect your character and be more like You today.
THE GIVER IS THE GREATEST RECIPIENT.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Insight: Do you ever feel that you're always on the giving end? Or do you feel you're always taking and receiving-with nothing to offer others but your own neediness? Take another look at Paul's words to the Thessalonians. See if you can hear the wisdom of someone who knows theres a time to give and a time to receive.
If you sense that you're receiving more than your far share of help, does Paul give you any idea about what you have to give even while receiving? Can you see that in acknowledging graciously the hard work of those who are caring for you, God can actually use you to encourage them?
If you seem to be giving to the point of exhaustion, see if you can hear any gentle wisdom here for yourself.
by Mart Dehaan
8/05/18
HARD MYSTERIES
As my friend and I went for a walk, we talk about our love for the Bible. She surprised me when she said, "Oh, but I don't like the Old Testament much. All of that hard stuff and vengeance- give me Jesus!"
We might resonate with her words when we read a book like Nahum, perhaps recoiling at a statement such as. "The Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath" (Nahum 1:2). And yet the next verse fills us with hope: "The Lord is slow to anger but great in power" (v.3).
When we dig more deeply into the subject of God's anger, we understand that when He exercises it, He's most often defending His people or His name. Because of His overflowing love, He seeks justice for wrongs committed and the redemption of those who have turned from Him. We see this not only in the Old Testament, as He calls His people back to Himself, but also in the New, when He sends His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.
We may not understand the mysteries of the character of God, but we can trust that He not only exercises justice but is also the source of all love. We need not fear Him, for He is "Good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" (v.7)
by Amy Boucher Pye
Father God, You are good. You are loving and You are merciful. Help me to understand more fully some of the mysteries of Your redeeming love today.
GOD'S JUSTICE AND MERCY INTERCEPT AT THE CROSS.
Nahum 1:1-7
A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance is filled with wrath. The Lord take vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
Insight: Along with Nahum 1:3 we find 8 other instances in the Old Testament where we read that the Lord is "slow to anger" (for example, Psalm 86:15;103:8). But these passages also describe other attributes of God: He is "abounding [or rich] in love" (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 145:8); He is "gracious and compassionate" (Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2); and He is a "forgiving God" (Nehemiah 9:17). If God were not both just and merciful, we would be without hope. Why? Because "everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt" (Psalm 53:3). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). None of us deserve His love, compassion, or forgiveness. Apart from God's love, through the incredible sacrifice of His Son who paid the price for our sins, we would have no opportunity to receive eternal life. But God loved us so very much He gave His only Son (John 3:16).
How can you express your gratitude to God?
by Alyson Kieda
8/03/18
As my friend and I went for a walk, we talk about our love for the Bible. She surprised me when she said, "Oh, but I don't like the Old Testament much. All of that hard stuff and vengeance- give me Jesus!"
We might resonate with her words when we read a book like Nahum, perhaps recoiling at a statement such as. "The Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath" (Nahum 1:2). And yet the next verse fills us with hope: "The Lord is slow to anger but great in power" (v.3).
When we dig more deeply into the subject of God's anger, we understand that when He exercises it, He's most often defending His people or His name. Because of His overflowing love, He seeks justice for wrongs committed and the redemption of those who have turned from Him. We see this not only in the Old Testament, as He calls His people back to Himself, but also in the New, when He sends His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.
We may not understand the mysteries of the character of God, but we can trust that He not only exercises justice but is also the source of all love. We need not fear Him, for He is "Good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" (v.7)
by Amy Boucher Pye
Father God, You are good. You are loving and You are merciful. Help me to understand more fully some of the mysteries of Your redeeming love today.
GOD'S JUSTICE AND MERCY INTERCEPT AT THE CROSS.
Nahum 1:1-7
A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance is filled with wrath. The Lord take vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
Insight: Along with Nahum 1:3 we find 8 other instances in the Old Testament where we read that the Lord is "slow to anger" (for example, Psalm 86:15;103:8). But these passages also describe other attributes of God: He is "abounding [or rich] in love" (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 145:8); He is "gracious and compassionate" (Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2); and He is a "forgiving God" (Nehemiah 9:17). If God were not both just and merciful, we would be without hope. Why? Because "everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt" (Psalm 53:3). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). None of us deserve His love, compassion, or forgiveness. Apart from God's love, through the incredible sacrifice of His Son who paid the price for our sins, we would have no opportunity to receive eternal life. But God loved us so very much He gave His only Son (John 3:16).
How can you express your gratitude to God?
by Alyson Kieda
8/03/18
TO MY DEAR FRIEND
What the apostle John did for his friend Gaius in the first century is a dying art in the twenty-first century. John wrote him a letter.
One writer for the New York Times, Catherine Field, said, "Letter-writing is among our most ancient of arts. Think of letters and the mind falls on Paul of Tarsus," for example. And we can add the apostle John.
In his letter to Gaius, John included hopes for good health of body and soul, an encouraging word about Gaisus's faithfulness, and a note about his love for the church. John also spoke of a problem in the church, which he promised to address individually later. And he wrote of the value of doing good things for God's glory. All in all, it was an encouraging and challenging letter to his friend.
Digital communication may mean letter-writing on paper is fading away, but this shouldn't stop us from encouraging others. Paul wrote letters of encouragement on parchment; we can encourage others in a variety of ways. The key is not the way we encourage others, but that we take a moment to let others know we care for them in Jesus's name! Think of the encouragement Gaius experienced when he opened John's letter. Could we similarly shine God's love on our friends with a thoughtful note or an uplifting call?
by Dave Branon
Lord help us know how to encourage others who need a spiritual boost from us.
ENCOURAGING WORDS BRING HOPE TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT
3 John
The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Dear friend,
You are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagens. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who wants to do so and puts them out of the church.
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil had not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone- and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
8/02/18
What the apostle John did for his friend Gaius in the first century is a dying art in the twenty-first century. John wrote him a letter.
One writer for the New York Times, Catherine Field, said, "Letter-writing is among our most ancient of arts. Think of letters and the mind falls on Paul of Tarsus," for example. And we can add the apostle John.
In his letter to Gaius, John included hopes for good health of body and soul, an encouraging word about Gaisus's faithfulness, and a note about his love for the church. John also spoke of a problem in the church, which he promised to address individually later. And he wrote of the value of doing good things for God's glory. All in all, it was an encouraging and challenging letter to his friend.
Digital communication may mean letter-writing on paper is fading away, but this shouldn't stop us from encouraging others. Paul wrote letters of encouragement on parchment; we can encourage others in a variety of ways. The key is not the way we encourage others, but that we take a moment to let others know we care for them in Jesus's name! Think of the encouragement Gaius experienced when he opened John's letter. Could we similarly shine God's love on our friends with a thoughtful note or an uplifting call?
by Dave Branon
Lord help us know how to encourage others who need a spiritual boost from us.
ENCOURAGING WORDS BRING HOPE TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT
3 John
The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Dear friend,
You are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagens. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who wants to do so and puts them out of the church.
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil had not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone- and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
8/02/18
HEALING FLOOD
I've always loved a good thunderstorm. As kids, whenever a storm was truly incredible-with booming thunder and buckets of heavy rain pounding down-my siblings and I would make a mad dash around the outside of our house, slipping and sliding along the way. When it was time to go back inside, we were soaked to the bone.
It was an exhilarating taste-for just a few minutes-of being immersed in something so powerful we couldn't quite tell whether we were having fun or terrified.
This picture comes to mind when, as in Psalm 107, Scripture compares God's restoration to a barren wilderness transformed into "pools of water" (v.35). Because the kind of storm that transforms a desert into an oasis isn't a gentle shower-its a downpour, flooding every crack of parched ground with new life.
And isn't that the kind of restoration we long for? When our stories feel like tales of aimless wandering because we are "hungry and thirsty"-starving-for healing that never seems to arrive (vv.4-5), we need more than a bit of hope. And when deep-rooted patterns of sin leave us trapped "in utter darkness" (vv.10-11), our hearts need more than a little change.
That's exactly the kind of transformation our God can bring (v.20). It's never too late to bring our fears and shame to the One who's more than able to break our chains and flood out darkness with His light (vv.13-14).
Father, help us turn to You with our burdens, trusting Your love and power to write a new story of healing and transformation.
GOD'S POWER TRANSFORMS.
Psalm 107:1-15, 35-36
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron...
He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.
Insight: Following Christ gives us a hope that is both present and future. Paul said, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19). This present/future hope-rooted in Jesus's resurrection-reminds us that whether today is good or bad, we have confidence in Him for a better day to come.
by Bill Crowder
8/01/18
I've always loved a good thunderstorm. As kids, whenever a storm was truly incredible-with booming thunder and buckets of heavy rain pounding down-my siblings and I would make a mad dash around the outside of our house, slipping and sliding along the way. When it was time to go back inside, we were soaked to the bone.
It was an exhilarating taste-for just a few minutes-of being immersed in something so powerful we couldn't quite tell whether we were having fun or terrified.
This picture comes to mind when, as in Psalm 107, Scripture compares God's restoration to a barren wilderness transformed into "pools of water" (v.35). Because the kind of storm that transforms a desert into an oasis isn't a gentle shower-its a downpour, flooding every crack of parched ground with new life.
And isn't that the kind of restoration we long for? When our stories feel like tales of aimless wandering because we are "hungry and thirsty"-starving-for healing that never seems to arrive (vv.4-5), we need more than a bit of hope. And when deep-rooted patterns of sin leave us trapped "in utter darkness" (vv.10-11), our hearts need more than a little change.
That's exactly the kind of transformation our God can bring (v.20). It's never too late to bring our fears and shame to the One who's more than able to break our chains and flood out darkness with His light (vv.13-14).
Father, help us turn to You with our burdens, trusting Your love and power to write a new story of healing and transformation.
GOD'S POWER TRANSFORMS.
Psalm 107:1-15, 35-36
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron...
He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.
Insight: Following Christ gives us a hope that is both present and future. Paul said, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19). This present/future hope-rooted in Jesus's resurrection-reminds us that whether today is good or bad, we have confidence in Him for a better day to come.
by Bill Crowder
8/01/18
LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS
A wise friend advised me to avoid using the words "You always" or "You never" in an argument-especially with my family. How easy it is to criticize others around us and to feel unloving toward those we love. But there is never any variation in God's enduring love for us all.
Psalm 145 overflows with the word all. "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (v.9). "The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down" (vv.13-14). "The Lord watches over all who love him" (v.20).
A dozen times in this psalm we are reminded that God's love is without limit and favoritism. And the new Testament reveals that the greatest expression of it is seen in Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Psalm 145 declares that "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (vv.18-19).
God's love for us always endures, and it never fails!
by David C. McCasland
Father in heaven, we are awed by Your love for us that never changes, never fails, and never ends.We praise You for demonstrating Your limitless love for us through Jesus our Savior and Lord.
THERE IS NEVER ANY VARIATION IN GOD'S ENDURING LOVE FOR US ALL.
Psalm 145:8-21
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.
Insight: The book of Psalms, also referred to as the Hebrew Hymnbook, is a collection of one hundred and fifty songs that were sung by God's people at various times as a part of their worship. Psalm 145 is the last psalm in the final collection of songs penned by David (Psalms 138-145). David proclaims God as the Sovereign King (vv.1-3,10-13), exalting His glorious majesty (v.5) and generous benevolence (v.7) to all His creation. God's greatness and goodness is manifested in His mighty acts, wonderful and awesome works, and great deeds (vv.4-6).
How have you experienced God's enduring love?
by K.T. Sim
7/31/18
A wise friend advised me to avoid using the words "You always" or "You never" in an argument-especially with my family. How easy it is to criticize others around us and to feel unloving toward those we love. But there is never any variation in God's enduring love for us all.
Psalm 145 overflows with the word all. "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (v.9). "The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down" (vv.13-14). "The Lord watches over all who love him" (v.20).
A dozen times in this psalm we are reminded that God's love is without limit and favoritism. And the new Testament reveals that the greatest expression of it is seen in Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Psalm 145 declares that "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (vv.18-19).
God's love for us always endures, and it never fails!
by David C. McCasland
Father in heaven, we are awed by Your love for us that never changes, never fails, and never ends.We praise You for demonstrating Your limitless love for us through Jesus our Savior and Lord.
THERE IS NEVER ANY VARIATION IN GOD'S ENDURING LOVE FOR US ALL.
Psalm 145:8-21
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.
Insight: The book of Psalms, also referred to as the Hebrew Hymnbook, is a collection of one hundred and fifty songs that were sung by God's people at various times as a part of their worship. Psalm 145 is the last psalm in the final collection of songs penned by David (Psalms 138-145). David proclaims God as the Sovereign King (vv.1-3,10-13), exalting His glorious majesty (v.5) and generous benevolence (v.7) to all His creation. God's greatness and goodness is manifested in His mighty acts, wonderful and awesome works, and great deeds (vv.4-6).
How have you experienced God's enduring love?
by K.T. Sim
7/31/18
SINNERS LIKE US
I have a friend-her name is Edith-who told me about the day she decided to follow Jesus.
Edith cared nothing for religion. But one Sunday morning she walked into a church near her apartment looking for something to satisfy her discontented soul. The text that day was Luke 15:1-2, which the pastor read from the King James Version: Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and Edith with them."
That's what it said, but this is what Edith heard: "This man receives sinners and Edith with them." She sat straight up in her pew! Eventually she realized her mistake, but the thought that Jesus welcomed sinners- and that included Edith- stayed with her. That afternoon she decided to "draw near" to Jesus and listen to Him. She began to read the gospels, and soon she decided to put her faith in Him and follow Him.
The religious folks of Jesus's day were scandalized by the fact that He ate and drank with sinful, awful people. Their rules prohibited them from associating with such folk. Jesus paid no made-up rules. He welcomed the down-and-out and gathered them to Him, no matter how far gone they were.
It's still true, you know: Jesus receives sinners and (your name).
by David H. Roper
Heavenly Father, we can't thank You enough for the radical love of Your Son, who drew all of us outcasts and moral failures to Him, and made the way for us to come to You in joy and boldness.
GOD PURSUES US IN OUR RESTLESSNESS, RECEIVES US IN OUR SINFULNESS, HOLDS US IN OUR BROKENESS. by Scotty Smith
Luke 15:1-7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Insight: The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) is the first in a series of parables about lost things. Its followed by the parable of the lost coin (vv.8-10) and the parable of the lost son, better known as the prodigal son (vv.11-32).
Although each of the parables is about something lost, there's also something in each that isn't lost-the sheep safe in the pen, the remaining coins, and the elder son at home. Yet the shepherd, the woman, and the father are not content with they have; their concern is for that which is lost.
Is someone in your life lost and waiting to be found by the Savior? Whom can you trust to God's loving and searching ways?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/30/18
I have a friend-her name is Edith-who told me about the day she decided to follow Jesus.
Edith cared nothing for religion. But one Sunday morning she walked into a church near her apartment looking for something to satisfy her discontented soul. The text that day was Luke 15:1-2, which the pastor read from the King James Version: Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and Edith with them."
That's what it said, but this is what Edith heard: "This man receives sinners and Edith with them." She sat straight up in her pew! Eventually she realized her mistake, but the thought that Jesus welcomed sinners- and that included Edith- stayed with her. That afternoon she decided to "draw near" to Jesus and listen to Him. She began to read the gospels, and soon she decided to put her faith in Him and follow Him.
The religious folks of Jesus's day were scandalized by the fact that He ate and drank with sinful, awful people. Their rules prohibited them from associating with such folk. Jesus paid no made-up rules. He welcomed the down-and-out and gathered them to Him, no matter how far gone they were.
It's still true, you know: Jesus receives sinners and (your name).
by David H. Roper
Heavenly Father, we can't thank You enough for the radical love of Your Son, who drew all of us outcasts and moral failures to Him, and made the way for us to come to You in joy and boldness.
GOD PURSUES US IN OUR RESTLESSNESS, RECEIVES US IN OUR SINFULNESS, HOLDS US IN OUR BROKENESS. by Scotty Smith
Luke 15:1-7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Insight: The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) is the first in a series of parables about lost things. Its followed by the parable of the lost coin (vv.8-10) and the parable of the lost son, better known as the prodigal son (vv.11-32).
Although each of the parables is about something lost, there's also something in each that isn't lost-the sheep safe in the pen, the remaining coins, and the elder son at home. Yet the shepherd, the woman, and the father are not content with they have; their concern is for that which is lost.
Is someone in your life lost and waiting to be found by the Savior? Whom can you trust to God's loving and searching ways?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/30/18
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
We gathered monthly to hold one another accountable to our individual goals. My friend Mary wanted to reupholster the seats of her dining room chairs before the year's end. At our November meeting she wittily reported her progress from October: "It took ten months and two hours to recover my chairs." After months of not being able to obtain the materials required, or find the quiet hours away from her demanding job and her toddler's needs, the project took merely two hours of committed work to finish.
The Lord called Nehemiah to a far greater project: to bring restoration to Jerusalem after its walls had lain in ruin for one hundred and fifty years (Nehemiah 2:3-5, 12). As he led the people in the labor, they experienced mockery, attacks, distraction, and temptation to sin (4:3,8;6:10-12). Yet God equipped them to stand firm- resolute in their efforts- completing a daunting task in just fifty-two days.
Overcoming such challenges requires much more than a person desire or goal. Nehemiah was driven by an understanding that God appointed him to the task. His sense of purpose invigorated the people to follow His leadership despite incredible opposition. When God charges us with a task-whether to repair a relationship or share what He's done in our lives-He gives us whatever skills and strength are necessary to continue in our efforts to do what He's asked, no matter what challenges come our way.
Lord, please equip me with Your strength to persevere and finish the tasks You've given me. May my labors bring You glory.
GOD EQUIPS US TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND COMPLETE THE TASKS HE'S GIVEN US TO DO.
Nehemiah 6:1-9,15
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it-though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates- Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:
"It is reported among the nations-and Gessum says it is true-that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together."
I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for work, and it will not be completed."...
So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Insight: What kinds of challenges have you faced? How has God helped you to overcome them?
7/29/18
We gathered monthly to hold one another accountable to our individual goals. My friend Mary wanted to reupholster the seats of her dining room chairs before the year's end. At our November meeting she wittily reported her progress from October: "It took ten months and two hours to recover my chairs." After months of not being able to obtain the materials required, or find the quiet hours away from her demanding job and her toddler's needs, the project took merely two hours of committed work to finish.
The Lord called Nehemiah to a far greater project: to bring restoration to Jerusalem after its walls had lain in ruin for one hundred and fifty years (Nehemiah 2:3-5, 12). As he led the people in the labor, they experienced mockery, attacks, distraction, and temptation to sin (4:3,8;6:10-12). Yet God equipped them to stand firm- resolute in their efforts- completing a daunting task in just fifty-two days.
Overcoming such challenges requires much more than a person desire or goal. Nehemiah was driven by an understanding that God appointed him to the task. His sense of purpose invigorated the people to follow His leadership despite incredible opposition. When God charges us with a task-whether to repair a relationship or share what He's done in our lives-He gives us whatever skills and strength are necessary to continue in our efforts to do what He's asked, no matter what challenges come our way.
Lord, please equip me with Your strength to persevere and finish the tasks You've given me. May my labors bring You glory.
GOD EQUIPS US TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND COMPLETE THE TASKS HE'S GIVEN US TO DO.
Nehemiah 6:1-9,15
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it-though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates- Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:
"It is reported among the nations-and Gessum says it is true-that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together."
I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for work, and it will not be completed."...
So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Insight: What kinds of challenges have you faced? How has God helped you to overcome them?
7/29/18
BEES AND SNAKES
Some problems have Daddy's name written all over them. For instance, my kids recently discovered bees have moved into a crack in our concrete front porch. So, armed with bug spray, I went out to do battle. I got stung. Five times.
I don't like being stung by insects. But better me than my kids or wife. Taking care of my family's well-being is at the top of my job description after all. My children recognized a need, and they asked me to address it. They trusted me to protect them from something they feared.
In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches that we too should bring our needs to God (v.7), trusting Him with our requests. To illustrate, Jesus gives a case study in character: "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" (vv.9-10). For loving parents, the answer is obvious. But Jesus answers anyway, challenging us not to lose faith in our Father's generous goodness: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (v.11).
I can't imagine loving my kids more. But Jesus assures us that even the best earthly father's love is eclipsed by God's love for us.
by Adam Holz
Father, thank You for loving us so much more than even the best father here ever could. Help us to do as Jesus said with everything that's on our hearts; to ask, seek, and knock in our relationship with You.
WE CAN RELY ON OUR FATHER FOR EVERYTHING WE NEED.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.
Which of You, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Insight: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) focuses on the attitudes and actions that are to characterize "citizens" who live under God's rule. Yet an even more intimate relationship comes into play in the Sermon. A common thread that runs through the chapters is a "family focus" or, more specifically, a "Father focus." In Matthew 5:9 Jesus declared, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (emphasis added). And when followers of Christ display heaven's light by the way they live, the "Father in heaven" gets the credit (v.16). Showing love for one's enemies also demonstrates kinship with our heavenly Father (vv.43-48).
Those who engage in holy habits (6:4,6,18), including prayer, do so with the knowledge that the primary audience is their Father in heaven. The King who rules over all is "our Father" and cares enough to hear our prayers for all our needs. Thus, we can confidently address Him, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (v.9).
When you pray this week, reflect on the fact that you are praying to the One Scripture calls our heavenly Father.
by Arthur Jackson
7/27/18
Some problems have Daddy's name written all over them. For instance, my kids recently discovered bees have moved into a crack in our concrete front porch. So, armed with bug spray, I went out to do battle. I got stung. Five times.
I don't like being stung by insects. But better me than my kids or wife. Taking care of my family's well-being is at the top of my job description after all. My children recognized a need, and they asked me to address it. They trusted me to protect them from something they feared.
In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches that we too should bring our needs to God (v.7), trusting Him with our requests. To illustrate, Jesus gives a case study in character: "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" (vv.9-10). For loving parents, the answer is obvious. But Jesus answers anyway, challenging us not to lose faith in our Father's generous goodness: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (v.11).
I can't imagine loving my kids more. But Jesus assures us that even the best earthly father's love is eclipsed by God's love for us.
by Adam Holz
Father, thank You for loving us so much more than even the best father here ever could. Help us to do as Jesus said with everything that's on our hearts; to ask, seek, and knock in our relationship with You.
WE CAN RELY ON OUR FATHER FOR EVERYTHING WE NEED.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.
Which of You, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Insight: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) focuses on the attitudes and actions that are to characterize "citizens" who live under God's rule. Yet an even more intimate relationship comes into play in the Sermon. A common thread that runs through the chapters is a "family focus" or, more specifically, a "Father focus." In Matthew 5:9 Jesus declared, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (emphasis added). And when followers of Christ display heaven's light by the way they live, the "Father in heaven" gets the credit (v.16). Showing love for one's enemies also demonstrates kinship with our heavenly Father (vv.43-48).
Those who engage in holy habits (6:4,6,18), including prayer, do so with the knowledge that the primary audience is their Father in heaven. The King who rules over all is "our Father" and cares enough to hear our prayers for all our needs. Thus, we can confidently address Him, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (v.9).
When you pray this week, reflect on the fact that you are praying to the One Scripture calls our heavenly Father.
by Arthur Jackson
7/27/18
LAVISH EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE
On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Alan, gives me a large bouquet of fresh flowers. When he lost his job during a corporate restructure I didn't expect this extravagant display of devotion to continue. But on our nineteenth anniversary, the color-splashed blossoms greeted me from their spot on our dinning room table.
Because he valued continuing this annual tradition, Alan saved some money each month to ensure he'd have enough for this personal show of affection. My husband's careful planning exhibited exuberant generosity, similar to what Paul encouraged when he addressed the Corinthian believers. The apostle complimented the church for their intentional and enthusiastic offerings (2nd Corinthians 9:2,5), reminding them that God delights in generous and cheerful givers (vv.6-7). After all, no one gives more than our loving provider, who's always ready to supply all we need (vv.8-10).
We can be generous in all kinds of giving, caring for one another because the Lord meets all of our material, emotional, and spiritual needs (v.11). As we give, we can express our gratitude for all God has given us. We can even motivate others to praise the Lord and give from all God has given them (vv.12-13). Openhanded giving, a lavish expression of love and gratitude, can demonstrate our confidence in God's provision for all His people.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, please help us trust Your abundant love and generosity, so we can give to others as You so faithfully give to us.
GENEROUS GIVING DISPLAYS COURAGEOUS CONFIDENCE IN GODS LOVING AND FAITHFUL PROVISION.
2nd Corinthians 9:6-15
Remember this: Whoever sews sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sews generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
Insight: Paul reminds us that God provides for us so we can bless others (2nd Corinthians 9:6-8). He quotes Psalm 112:9 to encourage generosity: "[The righteous] share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever" (NLT).
In what ways can you practice cheerful, generous giving this week?
by Sim Kay Tee
7/26/18
On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Alan, gives me a large bouquet of fresh flowers. When he lost his job during a corporate restructure I didn't expect this extravagant display of devotion to continue. But on our nineteenth anniversary, the color-splashed blossoms greeted me from their spot on our dinning room table.
Because he valued continuing this annual tradition, Alan saved some money each month to ensure he'd have enough for this personal show of affection. My husband's careful planning exhibited exuberant generosity, similar to what Paul encouraged when he addressed the Corinthian believers. The apostle complimented the church for their intentional and enthusiastic offerings (2nd Corinthians 9:2,5), reminding them that God delights in generous and cheerful givers (vv.6-7). After all, no one gives more than our loving provider, who's always ready to supply all we need (vv.8-10).
We can be generous in all kinds of giving, caring for one another because the Lord meets all of our material, emotional, and spiritual needs (v.11). As we give, we can express our gratitude for all God has given us. We can even motivate others to praise the Lord and give from all God has given them (vv.12-13). Openhanded giving, a lavish expression of love and gratitude, can demonstrate our confidence in God's provision for all His people.
by Xochitl Dixon
Lord, please help us trust Your abundant love and generosity, so we can give to others as You so faithfully give to us.
GENEROUS GIVING DISPLAYS COURAGEOUS CONFIDENCE IN GODS LOVING AND FAITHFUL PROVISION.
2nd Corinthians 9:6-15
Remember this: Whoever sews sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sews generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
Insight: Paul reminds us that God provides for us so we can bless others (2nd Corinthians 9:6-8). He quotes Psalm 112:9 to encourage generosity: "[The righteous] share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever" (NLT).
In what ways can you practice cheerful, generous giving this week?
by Sim Kay Tee
7/26/18
UNSELFISH SERVICE
A small collection of people stood together, dwarfed by the size of the huge tree lying on the lawn. An elderly woman leaned on her cane and described watching the previous night's windstorm as it blew down "our majestic old elm tree. Worst of all," she continued, voice cracking with emotion. "It destroyed our lovely stone wall too. My husband built that wall when we were first married. He loved that wall. I loved that wall! Now, its gone; just like him."
Next morning, as she peeked out at the tree company workers cleaning up the downed tree; a big smile spread across her face. In between the branches she could just make out two adults and the boy who mowed her lawn carefully measuring and rebuilding her beloved stone wall!
The prophet Isaiah describes the kind of service God favors: Acts that lift the hearts of those around us, like the wall repairers did for the elderly woman. This passage teaches that God values unselfish service to others over empty spiritual rituals. In fact, God exercises a two-way blessing on the selfless service of His children. First, God uses our willing acts of service to aid the oppressed and needed (Isaiah 58:7-10). Then God honors those engaged in such service by building or rebuilding our reputations as powerful positive forces in His kingdom (vv.11-12).
What service will you offer this day?
by Randy Kilgore
Thank You, Father, for the acts of others You use to lift us up, and for calling us to do the same.
SELFLESS SERVICE TO OTHERS BRINGS HONOR TO GOD.
Isaiah 58:6-12
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. You're people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Insight: Am I my brother's keeper? We might wonder something similar when we hear Isaiah urging his people to reach out to a world of hurting people. But another story is working in the background. God's people were trying to avoid responsibility for the wrongs they were doing to their own flesh and blood (Isaiah 58:7).
Can you think of anything you are doing, or not doing, to those around you that is making their life difficult? Can you think of ways to unselfishly serve them?
by Mart Dehaan
7/25/18
A small collection of people stood together, dwarfed by the size of the huge tree lying on the lawn. An elderly woman leaned on her cane and described watching the previous night's windstorm as it blew down "our majestic old elm tree. Worst of all," she continued, voice cracking with emotion. "It destroyed our lovely stone wall too. My husband built that wall when we were first married. He loved that wall. I loved that wall! Now, its gone; just like him."
Next morning, as she peeked out at the tree company workers cleaning up the downed tree; a big smile spread across her face. In between the branches she could just make out two adults and the boy who mowed her lawn carefully measuring and rebuilding her beloved stone wall!
The prophet Isaiah describes the kind of service God favors: Acts that lift the hearts of those around us, like the wall repairers did for the elderly woman. This passage teaches that God values unselfish service to others over empty spiritual rituals. In fact, God exercises a two-way blessing on the selfless service of His children. First, God uses our willing acts of service to aid the oppressed and needed (Isaiah 58:7-10). Then God honors those engaged in such service by building or rebuilding our reputations as powerful positive forces in His kingdom (vv.11-12).
What service will you offer this day?
by Randy Kilgore
Thank You, Father, for the acts of others You use to lift us up, and for calling us to do the same.
SELFLESS SERVICE TO OTHERS BRINGS HONOR TO GOD.
Isaiah 58:6-12
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. You're people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Insight: Am I my brother's keeper? We might wonder something similar when we hear Isaiah urging his people to reach out to a world of hurting people. But another story is working in the background. God's people were trying to avoid responsibility for the wrongs they were doing to their own flesh and blood (Isaiah 58:7).
Can you think of anything you are doing, or not doing, to those around you that is making their life difficult? Can you think of ways to unselfishly serve them?
by Mart Dehaan
7/25/18
PERFECT IMPERFECTION
A college professor of mine, picking up on my perfectionism-induced procrastination, gave me some wise advise. "Don't let perfect by the enemy of good," he said, explaining that striving for perfect performance can prevent the risks necessary for growth. Accepting that my work would always be imperfect would give me the freedom to keep growing.
The apostle Paul explained an even more profound reason to let go of our own efforts to perfect ourselves: It can blind us to our need for Christ,
Paul had learned this the hard way. After years striving to perfectly obey God's law, encountering Jesus changed everything (Galations 1:11-16). Paul realized that if his own efforts were enough to be whole and right with God, "then there was no need for Christ to die" (2:21 NLT). Only by letting go of- dying to- self-reliance, could he experience Jesus living in him (v.20). Only in his imperfection could he experience God's perfect power.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't resist sin (v.17); but it does mean we should stop relying on our own strength to grow spiritually (v.20).
In this lifetime, we will always be works in progress. But as our hearts humbly accept our constant need for the only perfect One, Jesus makes His home there (Ephesians 3:17). Rooted in Him, we are free to grow ever deeper in the love "Two Great" to ever "Understand Fully" (v.19 NLT).
by Monica Brands
Lord, so often we exchange the joy and freedom of life with You for the burden of relying on ourselves. Help us to humbly rely on You instead.
WE ARE FREE TO GROW IN JESUS'S LOVE.
Ephesians 3:8-19
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from who every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Insight: Before his dramatic conversion to Christ, Paul relied on his observance of the law for right standing with God (Philippians 3:4-6). But we see in today's passage that Paul's focus has shifted from human effort to acknowledging the work of the Lord. Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus that God would strengthen them (v.16) so that Christ may dwell in them (v.17). Then they will be rooted in love (v.17) and filled with the fullness of God (v.19). These are things God does for the believer, not something we do.
Have you been tempted to rely on your own strength to please God?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/24/18
A college professor of mine, picking up on my perfectionism-induced procrastination, gave me some wise advise. "Don't let perfect by the enemy of good," he said, explaining that striving for perfect performance can prevent the risks necessary for growth. Accepting that my work would always be imperfect would give me the freedom to keep growing.
The apostle Paul explained an even more profound reason to let go of our own efforts to perfect ourselves: It can blind us to our need for Christ,
Paul had learned this the hard way. After years striving to perfectly obey God's law, encountering Jesus changed everything (Galations 1:11-16). Paul realized that if his own efforts were enough to be whole and right with God, "then there was no need for Christ to die" (2:21 NLT). Only by letting go of- dying to- self-reliance, could he experience Jesus living in him (v.20). Only in his imperfection could he experience God's perfect power.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't resist sin (v.17); but it does mean we should stop relying on our own strength to grow spiritually (v.20).
In this lifetime, we will always be works in progress. But as our hearts humbly accept our constant need for the only perfect One, Jesus makes His home there (Ephesians 3:17). Rooted in Him, we are free to grow ever deeper in the love "Two Great" to ever "Understand Fully" (v.19 NLT).
by Monica Brands
Lord, so often we exchange the joy and freedom of life with You for the burden of relying on ourselves. Help us to humbly rely on You instead.
WE ARE FREE TO GROW IN JESUS'S LOVE.
Ephesians 3:8-19
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from who every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Insight: Before his dramatic conversion to Christ, Paul relied on his observance of the law for right standing with God (Philippians 3:4-6). But we see in today's passage that Paul's focus has shifted from human effort to acknowledging the work of the Lord. Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus that God would strengthen them (v.16) so that Christ may dwell in them (v.17). Then they will be rooted in love (v.17) and filled with the fullness of God (v.19). These are things God does for the believer, not something we do.
Have you been tempted to rely on your own strength to please God?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/24/18
JESUS KNOWS WHY
I have friends who've received partial healing but still struggle with painful aspects of their diseases. Other friends have been healed of an addiction but still struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. And I wonder, Why doesn't God heal them completely- once and for all?
In Mark 8:22-26, we read the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Jesus first took the man away from the village. Then He spit on the man's eyes and "put his hands on him." The man said he now saw people who looked "like trees walking around." Then Jesus touched the man's eyes again, and this time he saw "everything clearly."
In His ministry, Jesus's words and actions often amazed and baffled the crowd and His followers (Matthew 7:28; Luke 8:10; 11:14) and even drove many of them away (John 6:60-66). No doubt this two part miracle also caused confusion. Why not immediately heal this man?
We don't know why. But Jesus knew what the man-and the disciples who viewed his healing- needed in that moment. And He knows what we need today to draw us closer in our relationship with Him. Though we won't always understand, we can trust that God is working in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. And He will give us the strength, courage, and clarity we need to persevere in following Him.
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Lord, thank You for knowing us so well and for providing what we need most. Give us eyes to see You and a heart to understand Your word.
OPEN OUR EYES, LORD WE WANT TO SEE JESUS. by robert cull
Mark 8:22-26
They came to Bathsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch Him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't even go into the village."
Insight: Although God is able to heal all diseases and injuries, its not always His will to do so. God empowered the apostle Paul to heal many (Acts 14:8-10; 19:12), yet he wrote to Timothy about Trophimus whom he left "sick in Miletus" (2 Timothy 4:20). Likewise, Paul advised Timothy to take medicinal wine for his stomach problem and frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23). In this case, medicine was recommended instead of divine healing. Second Corinthians makes reference to Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (12:7), which many scholars believe was some type of physical ailment. Interestingly God didn't remove it even after Paul's repeated prayers for deliverance. The Lord's response was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v.9).
God has His own purposes for granting full healing, partial healing, or withholding healing altogether. In what situation do you need to trust in the sufficient grace of God?
by Dennis Fisher
7/23/18
I have friends who've received partial healing but still struggle with painful aspects of their diseases. Other friends have been healed of an addiction but still struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. And I wonder, Why doesn't God heal them completely- once and for all?
In Mark 8:22-26, we read the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Jesus first took the man away from the village. Then He spit on the man's eyes and "put his hands on him." The man said he now saw people who looked "like trees walking around." Then Jesus touched the man's eyes again, and this time he saw "everything clearly."
In His ministry, Jesus's words and actions often amazed and baffled the crowd and His followers (Matthew 7:28; Luke 8:10; 11:14) and even drove many of them away (John 6:60-66). No doubt this two part miracle also caused confusion. Why not immediately heal this man?
We don't know why. But Jesus knew what the man-and the disciples who viewed his healing- needed in that moment. And He knows what we need today to draw us closer in our relationship with Him. Though we won't always understand, we can trust that God is working in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. And He will give us the strength, courage, and clarity we need to persevere in following Him.
by Alyson Kieda
Dear Lord, thank You for knowing us so well and for providing what we need most. Give us eyes to see You and a heart to understand Your word.
OPEN OUR EYES, LORD WE WANT TO SEE JESUS. by robert cull
Mark 8:22-26
They came to Bathsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch Him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't even go into the village."
Insight: Although God is able to heal all diseases and injuries, its not always His will to do so. God empowered the apostle Paul to heal many (Acts 14:8-10; 19:12), yet he wrote to Timothy about Trophimus whom he left "sick in Miletus" (2 Timothy 4:20). Likewise, Paul advised Timothy to take medicinal wine for his stomach problem and frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23). In this case, medicine was recommended instead of divine healing. Second Corinthians makes reference to Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (12:7), which many scholars believe was some type of physical ailment. Interestingly God didn't remove it even after Paul's repeated prayers for deliverance. The Lord's response was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v.9).
God has His own purposes for granting full healing, partial healing, or withholding healing altogether. In what situation do you need to trust in the sufficient grace of God?
by Dennis Fisher
7/23/18
WATCHFUL CARE
Before he raced out the door to school, I asked my son if he had brushed his teeth. Asking again, I reminded him of the importance of telling the truth. Unmoved by my gentle admonishment, he half jokingly informed me that what I really needed was a security camera in the bathroom. Then I could check for myself if he had brushed his teeth and he wouldn't be tempted to lie.
While the presence of a security camera may help remind us to follow the rules, there are still places we can go unnoticed or ways we can avoid being seen. Although we may evade or trick a security camera, we fool ourselves if we think we are ever outside the gaze of God.
God asks, "Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" (Jeremiah 23:24). There is both an encouragement and a warning in His question.
The warning is that we cannot hide from God. We can't outrun or fool Him. Everything we do is visible to Him.
The encouragement is that there is no place on earth or in the heavens where we are outside the watchful care of our heavenly Father. Even when we feel alone, God is with us. No matter where we go today, may the awareness of that truth encourage us to chose obedience to His Word and receive comfort-He watches over us.
by Lisa Samra
Lord Jesus, thank You that there is no where I can go that is outside of Your loving gaze. Knowing You see me, help me to honor You with my words and actions.
WE ARE NEVER OUTSIDE THE WATCHFUL CARE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
Jeremiah 23:20-24
The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of His heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned from them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
"Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.
Insight: The rich theme of God's constant care for us we see in today's text is also seen in the Psalms. David, threatened by powerful enemies, found great comfort and strength in knowing that God knew everything about him (Psalm 139:1-6). He marveled that the omniscient, omnipotent God was always present with him. Acknowledging there was no place where he was outside of God's provision and protection, David affirmed: "I can never get away from your presence!" (v.7 NLT). When we realize the all-powerful God-who knows all about us-is constantly with us, it will impact how we live (vv.23-24). The writer of Hebrews says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (4:13). Therefore, let's be quick to run to Him for refuge for "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Are you hemmed in by life's trials and troubles? Refresh yourself with knowing that God knows and He cares.
by K.T. Sim
7/22/18
Before he raced out the door to school, I asked my son if he had brushed his teeth. Asking again, I reminded him of the importance of telling the truth. Unmoved by my gentle admonishment, he half jokingly informed me that what I really needed was a security camera in the bathroom. Then I could check for myself if he had brushed his teeth and he wouldn't be tempted to lie.
While the presence of a security camera may help remind us to follow the rules, there are still places we can go unnoticed or ways we can avoid being seen. Although we may evade or trick a security camera, we fool ourselves if we think we are ever outside the gaze of God.
God asks, "Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" (Jeremiah 23:24). There is both an encouragement and a warning in His question.
The warning is that we cannot hide from God. We can't outrun or fool Him. Everything we do is visible to Him.
The encouragement is that there is no place on earth or in the heavens where we are outside the watchful care of our heavenly Father. Even when we feel alone, God is with us. No matter where we go today, may the awareness of that truth encourage us to chose obedience to His Word and receive comfort-He watches over us.
by Lisa Samra
Lord Jesus, thank You that there is no where I can go that is outside of Your loving gaze. Knowing You see me, help me to honor You with my words and actions.
WE ARE NEVER OUTSIDE THE WATCHFUL CARE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
Jeremiah 23:20-24
The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of His heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned from them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
"Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.
Insight: The rich theme of God's constant care for us we see in today's text is also seen in the Psalms. David, threatened by powerful enemies, found great comfort and strength in knowing that God knew everything about him (Psalm 139:1-6). He marveled that the omniscient, omnipotent God was always present with him. Acknowledging there was no place where he was outside of God's provision and protection, David affirmed: "I can never get away from your presence!" (v.7 NLT). When we realize the all-powerful God-who knows all about us-is constantly with us, it will impact how we live (vv.23-24). The writer of Hebrews says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (4:13). Therefore, let's be quick to run to Him for refuge for "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Are you hemmed in by life's trials and troubles? Refresh yourself with knowing that God knows and He cares.
by K.T. Sim
7/22/18
HOPE ANYWAY
Among the hundreds of articles I've written for Our Daily Bread since 1988, a few stick in my mind. One such article is from the mid-1990's when I told of a time our three girls were away at camp or on mission trips, so six-year-old Steve and I had some guy time.
As we were enjoying an excursion to the airport, Steve turned to me and said, "It's not as much fun without Melissa," his eight-year-old sister and sidekick. Neither of us knew then how poignant those words would turn out to be. Life indeed has not been "as much fun" for the years since Mel died in a car accident as a teenager. The passage of time may dull the ache, but nothing takes the pain away completely. Time cannot heal that wound. But here's something that can help: Listening to, meditating on, and savoring the solace promise by the God of all comfort.
Listen: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never failed" (Lamintations 3:22).
Meditate: "In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling" (Psalm 27:5).
Savor: "My comfort and my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life" (119:50).
Life can never be the same again when we love is gone. But God's promises bring hope and comfort.
by Dave Branon
Thank You, God, that You are near. You're always by my side. I'm grateful for Your comfort in my pain and for Your peace.
GOD'S WORD IS THE TRUE SOURCE OF COMFORT.
Psalm 34:15-18
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them: he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Insight: When God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), is portrayed in Scripture is having human features it's called Anthropomorphism (from anthropos, "man" and morphe, "form"). Literally speaking, God does not have eyes, ears, a face, or arms (Psalm 34:15-16; Isaiah 59:1-2). These descriptions, however, help us better grasp who God is because we can see parallels in our human experience. They help us understand that the Lord carefully attends to those who belong to Him.
When Jesus came to earth, figures of speech gave way to reality. The eternal Word who was God (John 1:1) became flesh and dwelt among us (v.14). Jesus looked on the multitudes with compassion (Matthew 9:36), He made Himself available to those who's bodies were diseased and broken (Mark 1:29-34); and His body was wounded so our sins would be forgiven (1 Peter 2:24). Through both figure of speech in the Old Testament and the real time ministry of Jesus in the New Testament we understand that the God of heaven cares deeply. And we have hope!
Ponder the truth that in Jesus the world experienced "God with us" (see Matthew 1:23).
by Arthur Jackson
7/20/18
Among the hundreds of articles I've written for Our Daily Bread since 1988, a few stick in my mind. One such article is from the mid-1990's when I told of a time our three girls were away at camp or on mission trips, so six-year-old Steve and I had some guy time.
As we were enjoying an excursion to the airport, Steve turned to me and said, "It's not as much fun without Melissa," his eight-year-old sister and sidekick. Neither of us knew then how poignant those words would turn out to be. Life indeed has not been "as much fun" for the years since Mel died in a car accident as a teenager. The passage of time may dull the ache, but nothing takes the pain away completely. Time cannot heal that wound. But here's something that can help: Listening to, meditating on, and savoring the solace promise by the God of all comfort.
Listen: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never failed" (Lamintations 3:22).
Meditate: "In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling" (Psalm 27:5).
Savor: "My comfort and my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life" (119:50).
Life can never be the same again when we love is gone. But God's promises bring hope and comfort.
by Dave Branon
Thank You, God, that You are near. You're always by my side. I'm grateful for Your comfort in my pain and for Your peace.
GOD'S WORD IS THE TRUE SOURCE OF COMFORT.
Psalm 34:15-18
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them: he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Insight: When God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), is portrayed in Scripture is having human features it's called Anthropomorphism (from anthropos, "man" and morphe, "form"). Literally speaking, God does not have eyes, ears, a face, or arms (Psalm 34:15-16; Isaiah 59:1-2). These descriptions, however, help us better grasp who God is because we can see parallels in our human experience. They help us understand that the Lord carefully attends to those who belong to Him.
When Jesus came to earth, figures of speech gave way to reality. The eternal Word who was God (John 1:1) became flesh and dwelt among us (v.14). Jesus looked on the multitudes with compassion (Matthew 9:36), He made Himself available to those who's bodies were diseased and broken (Mark 1:29-34); and His body was wounded so our sins would be forgiven (1 Peter 2:24). Through both figure of speech in the Old Testament and the real time ministry of Jesus in the New Testament we understand that the God of heaven cares deeply. And we have hope!
Ponder the truth that in Jesus the world experienced "God with us" (see Matthew 1:23).
by Arthur Jackson
7/20/18
HOME SWEET HOME
"Why do we have to leave our home and move?" my son asked. Its difficult to explain what a home is, especially to a five-year-old. We were leaving a house, but not our home, in the sense that home is where are loved ones are. Its the place where we long to return after a long trip or after a full days work.
When Jesus was in the upper room just hours before He died, He told His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). The disciples were uncertain of their future because Jesus had predicted his death. But Jesus reassured them of His presence and reminded them they would see Him again. He told them, "My Father's house has many rooms....I am going there to prepare a place for you" (v.2). He could have used other words to describe heaven. However, He chose words that described not an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place but a place where Jesus, our loved One, would be.
C.S.Lewis wrote, "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home." We can thank God for the "pleasant inns" in life, but lets remember that our real home is in heaven where we "will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
by Keila Ochoa
Dear Lord, I thank You for heaven, my eternal home.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH THE LORD FOREVER.
John 14:1-14
"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 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. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
7/19/18
"Why do we have to leave our home and move?" my son asked. Its difficult to explain what a home is, especially to a five-year-old. We were leaving a house, but not our home, in the sense that home is where are loved ones are. Its the place where we long to return after a long trip or after a full days work.
When Jesus was in the upper room just hours before He died, He told His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). The disciples were uncertain of their future because Jesus had predicted his death. But Jesus reassured them of His presence and reminded them they would see Him again. He told them, "My Father's house has many rooms....I am going there to prepare a place for you" (v.2). He could have used other words to describe heaven. However, He chose words that described not an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place but a place where Jesus, our loved One, would be.
C.S.Lewis wrote, "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home." We can thank God for the "pleasant inns" in life, but lets remember that our real home is in heaven where we "will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
by Keila Ochoa
Dear Lord, I thank You for heaven, my eternal home.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH THE LORD FOREVER.
John 14:1-14
"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 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. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
7/19/18
THROUGH THE CROSS
My coworker Tom keeps an 8" by 12" glass cross on his desk. His friend Phil, who like Tom is a cancer survivor, gave it to him to help him look at everything "through the cross." The glass cross is a constant reminder of God's love and good purposes for him.
That's a challenging idea for all believers in Jesus, especially during difficult times. It's much easier to focus on our problems than on God's love.
The apostle Paul's life was certainly an example of having a cross-shaped perspective. He described himself in times of suffering as being "persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2nd Corinthians 4:9). He believed that in the hard times, God is at work, "Achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (vv.17-18).
To "Fix our eyes...on what is unseen" doesn't mean we minimize the problems. Paul Barnett, in his commentary on this passage, explains, "There is to be confidence, based on the certainty of God's purposes for [us]....on the other hand, there is the sober recognition that we groan with hope mingled with pain."
Jesus gave His life for us. His love is deep and sacrificial. As we look at life "through the cross," we see His love and faithfulness. And our trust in Him grows.
by Anne Ceatas
Father, teach us who You are. Increase our trust in You. Fill our minds with Your perspective.
LOOK AT EVERYTHING THROUGH THE CROSS.
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we are who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written; "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have the same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Insight: Through the cross we see God's loving payment for our sins. But it teaches us more. Jesus's suffering also exposed the nature and cruelty of our sin against Him and against humanity. He endured the worst we could do to Him to expose Satan's lie that our Creator isn't as good as He says He is. He even suffered unimaginably wrongs to show us how to love those who hurt us.
What else does God want to teach us about cross-shaped love and what it can do in us and for others?
by Mart Dehaan
7/18/18
My coworker Tom keeps an 8" by 12" glass cross on his desk. His friend Phil, who like Tom is a cancer survivor, gave it to him to help him look at everything "through the cross." The glass cross is a constant reminder of God's love and good purposes for him.
That's a challenging idea for all believers in Jesus, especially during difficult times. It's much easier to focus on our problems than on God's love.
The apostle Paul's life was certainly an example of having a cross-shaped perspective. He described himself in times of suffering as being "persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2nd Corinthians 4:9). He believed that in the hard times, God is at work, "Achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (vv.17-18).
To "Fix our eyes...on what is unseen" doesn't mean we minimize the problems. Paul Barnett, in his commentary on this passage, explains, "There is to be confidence, based on the certainty of God's purposes for [us]....on the other hand, there is the sober recognition that we groan with hope mingled with pain."
Jesus gave His life for us. His love is deep and sacrificial. As we look at life "through the cross," we see His love and faithfulness. And our trust in Him grows.
by Anne Ceatas
Father, teach us who You are. Increase our trust in You. Fill our minds with Your perspective.
LOOK AT EVERYTHING THROUGH THE CROSS.
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we are who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written; "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have the same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Insight: Through the cross we see God's loving payment for our sins. But it teaches us more. Jesus's suffering also exposed the nature and cruelty of our sin against Him and against humanity. He endured the worst we could do to Him to expose Satan's lie that our Creator isn't as good as He says He is. He even suffered unimaginably wrongs to show us how to love those who hurt us.
What else does God want to teach us about cross-shaped love and what it can do in us and for others?
by Mart Dehaan
7/18/18
WHAT'S YOUR PASSION?
One of the tellers at my bank has a photograph of a Shelby Cobra roadster on his window. (The Cobra is a high-performance automobile built by the Ford Motor Company).
One day, while transacting business at the bank, I asked him if that was his car. "No," he replied, "That's my passion, my reason to get up every morning and go to work. I'm going to own one some day."
I understand this young man's passion. A friend of mine owned a Cobra, and I drove it on one occasion! Its a mean machine! But a Cobra, like everything else in this world, isn't worth living for. Those who trust in things apart from God "are brought to their knees and fall," according to the psalmist (Psalm 20:8).
That's because we were made for God and nothing else will do-a truth we validate in our experience every day: We buy this or that because we think these things will make us happy, but like a child receiving a dozen Christmas presents or more, we ask ourselves, "Is this all?" Something is always missing.
Nothing this world has to offer us-even very good things-fully satisfies us. There is a measure of enjoyment in them, but our happiness soon fades away (1 John 2:17). Indeed, "God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself," C.S.Louis concluded. "There is no such thing."
by David H. Roper
I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my loneliness- through His blood I now am saved. by Clara Williams
THERE IS A LONGING IN EVERY HEART THAT ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY.
Psalm 20:6-9
Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees then fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!
Insight: Psalm 20 warns against idolatry- worshiping and trusting in human objects instead of the Lord Himself. King David saw how easy it could be to shift his trust in the Lord to trust in military might: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (v.7). In our culture, idolatry can take many different forms. But for the believer there's only One who should be the object of our adoration and the One in whom we place our trust. It's Christ who is the supreme example of courage, character, and compassion.
How is God teaching you that He's the only true source of satisfaction?
by Dennis Fisher
7/17/18
One of the tellers at my bank has a photograph of a Shelby Cobra roadster on his window. (The Cobra is a high-performance automobile built by the Ford Motor Company).
One day, while transacting business at the bank, I asked him if that was his car. "No," he replied, "That's my passion, my reason to get up every morning and go to work. I'm going to own one some day."
I understand this young man's passion. A friend of mine owned a Cobra, and I drove it on one occasion! Its a mean machine! But a Cobra, like everything else in this world, isn't worth living for. Those who trust in things apart from God "are brought to their knees and fall," according to the psalmist (Psalm 20:8).
That's because we were made for God and nothing else will do-a truth we validate in our experience every day: We buy this or that because we think these things will make us happy, but like a child receiving a dozen Christmas presents or more, we ask ourselves, "Is this all?" Something is always missing.
Nothing this world has to offer us-even very good things-fully satisfies us. There is a measure of enjoyment in them, but our happiness soon fades away (1 John 2:17). Indeed, "God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself," C.S.Louis concluded. "There is no such thing."
by David H. Roper
I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my loneliness- through His blood I now am saved. by Clara Williams
THERE IS A LONGING IN EVERY HEART THAT ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY.
Psalm 20:6-9
Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees then fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!
Insight: Psalm 20 warns against idolatry- worshiping and trusting in human objects instead of the Lord Himself. King David saw how easy it could be to shift his trust in the Lord to trust in military might: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (v.7). In our culture, idolatry can take many different forms. But for the believer there's only One who should be the object of our adoration and the One in whom we place our trust. It's Christ who is the supreme example of courage, character, and compassion.
How is God teaching you that He's the only true source of satisfaction?
by Dennis Fisher
7/17/18
I JUST CAN'T DO IT
"I just can't do it!" lamented the dejected student. On the page he could see only small print, difficult ideas, and an unforgiving deadline. He needed the help of his teacher.
We might experience similar despair when we read Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (v.22). Lust equals adultery (v.28). And if we dare think we can live up to these standards, we bump into this: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (v.48).
"The Sermon on the Mount produces despair," says Oswald Chambers. But he saw this as good, because at "the point of despair we are willing to come to [Jesus] as paupers to receive from Him."
In the counter intuitive way God so often works, those who know they can't do it on their own are the ones who receive God's grace. As the apostle Paul put it, "Not many of you were wise by human standards....But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
In God's wisdom, the Teacher, the Teacher is also our Savior. When we come to Him in faith, through His Spirit we enjoy His "righteousness, holiness and redemption" (v.30), and the grace and power to live for Him. That's why He could say, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
by Tim Gustafson
Thank you Lord, for blessing those who are poor in Spirit, who mourn, and who hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. You are our righteousness!
THROUGH THE SON WE CAN ENJOY LIFE IN GOD'S KINGDOM.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."
Insight: The Bible is filled with stories of how God used weak, unlikely, or flawed characters to bring about His purposes. Included in the lineup are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, and Peter-just to name a few. God chose elderly Abraham and his barren wife to be "the father [and mother] of many nations" (Genesis 17:5). He used Isaac, who played favorites (25:27-28), and Jacob, a deceiver, to continue that line (25:29-34; 27:1-29). God called the reluctant Moses, a murderer on the run, to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt (EXODUS 2:11-15; 14:1-31). God chose the prostitute Rahab to hide the spies in Jerico (Joshua 2) and to be included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5); he called Gideon, who cowered in fear to serve as judge and rescue the Israelites from the Midianites (Judges 6-8); and He appointed Peter, an outspoken fisherman, to be His disciple (Matthew 16:22). God still uses flawed characters-you and me-to fulfill His purposes.
by Alyson Kieda
7/16/18
"I just can't do it!" lamented the dejected student. On the page he could see only small print, difficult ideas, and an unforgiving deadline. He needed the help of his teacher.
We might experience similar despair when we read Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (v.22). Lust equals adultery (v.28). And if we dare think we can live up to these standards, we bump into this: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (v.48).
"The Sermon on the Mount produces despair," says Oswald Chambers. But he saw this as good, because at "the point of despair we are willing to come to [Jesus] as paupers to receive from Him."
In the counter intuitive way God so often works, those who know they can't do it on their own are the ones who receive God's grace. As the apostle Paul put it, "Not many of you were wise by human standards....But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
In God's wisdom, the Teacher, the Teacher is also our Savior. When we come to Him in faith, through His Spirit we enjoy His "righteousness, holiness and redemption" (v.30), and the grace and power to live for Him. That's why He could say, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
by Tim Gustafson
Thank you Lord, for blessing those who are poor in Spirit, who mourn, and who hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. You are our righteousness!
THROUGH THE SON WE CAN ENJOY LIFE IN GOD'S KINGDOM.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."
Insight: The Bible is filled with stories of how God used weak, unlikely, or flawed characters to bring about His purposes. Included in the lineup are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, and Peter-just to name a few. God chose elderly Abraham and his barren wife to be "the father [and mother] of many nations" (Genesis 17:5). He used Isaac, who played favorites (25:27-28), and Jacob, a deceiver, to continue that line (25:29-34; 27:1-29). God called the reluctant Moses, a murderer on the run, to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt (EXODUS 2:11-15; 14:1-31). God chose the prostitute Rahab to hide the spies in Jerico (Joshua 2) and to be included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5); he called Gideon, who cowered in fear to serve as judge and rescue the Israelites from the Midianites (Judges 6-8); and He appointed Peter, an outspoken fisherman, to be His disciple (Matthew 16:22). God still uses flawed characters-you and me-to fulfill His purposes.
by Alyson Kieda
7/16/18
NO CO-SIGNER REQUIRED
When a person without a long history of paying his or her bills on time wants to obtain a loan to purchase a home or car, lenders are often reluctant to take a financial risk. Without a track record, that person's promise to repay what he borrows is insufficient for the bank. The would-be borrower usually resorts to finding someone who does have a history of making good on their debts, asking them to put their name on the loan too. The co-signer's promise assures the lender the loan will be repaid.
When someone makes a promise to us-whether for financial, marital, or other reasons-we expect them to keep it. We want to know that God will keep His promises too. When He promised Abraham that He would bless him and give him "Many descendants" (Hebrews 6:14; see Genesis 22:17), Abraham took God at His word. As the Creator of all that exists, there is no one greater than He; only God could guarantee His own promise.
Abraham had to wait for the birth of his son (Hebrews 6:15) (and never saw how innumerable his offspring would grow to be), but God proved faithful to His promise. When He promises to be with us always (13:5), to hold us securely (John 10:29), and to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), we too can trust Him to be true to His word.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, thank Your for being so trustworthy. I need no other promises but You word. Help me to trust You more and more each day.
GOD'S PROMISES ARE SURE.
Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where are forerunner, Jesus has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Insight: In Hebrews 6:19, the metaphor of an anchor is used to describe the believer's secure hope. This metaphor was a common one in Greco Roman literature and was used to describe a person's security and hope based on their good character.
But the author of Hebrews does not describe the believers "anchor"- their hope (6:11-12)- as based on their own character. Instead, the author says our hope is found "behind the curtain" (v.19)- alluding to the "Holy of Holies" in the temple. In the past, this was the primary place where God's people could fully experience God's presence. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year.
But now Jesus, the One both fully God and fully human, is our priest, the One who gives access to God. Because He has conquered sin and death, our rock- solid hope is anchored in Him. Through Christ we experience the very presence and power of God (v.20).
by Monica Brands
7/15/18
When a person without a long history of paying his or her bills on time wants to obtain a loan to purchase a home or car, lenders are often reluctant to take a financial risk. Without a track record, that person's promise to repay what he borrows is insufficient for the bank. The would-be borrower usually resorts to finding someone who does have a history of making good on their debts, asking them to put their name on the loan too. The co-signer's promise assures the lender the loan will be repaid.
When someone makes a promise to us-whether for financial, marital, or other reasons-we expect them to keep it. We want to know that God will keep His promises too. When He promised Abraham that He would bless him and give him "Many descendants" (Hebrews 6:14; see Genesis 22:17), Abraham took God at His word. As the Creator of all that exists, there is no one greater than He; only God could guarantee His own promise.
Abraham had to wait for the birth of his son (Hebrews 6:15) (and never saw how innumerable his offspring would grow to be), but God proved faithful to His promise. When He promises to be with us always (13:5), to hold us securely (John 10:29), and to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), we too can trust Him to be true to His word.
by Kirsten Holmberg
Lord, thank Your for being so trustworthy. I need no other promises but You word. Help me to trust You more and more each day.
GOD'S PROMISES ARE SURE.
Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where are forerunner, Jesus has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Insight: In Hebrews 6:19, the metaphor of an anchor is used to describe the believer's secure hope. This metaphor was a common one in Greco Roman literature and was used to describe a person's security and hope based on their good character.
But the author of Hebrews does not describe the believers "anchor"- their hope (6:11-12)- as based on their own character. Instead, the author says our hope is found "behind the curtain" (v.19)- alluding to the "Holy of Holies" in the temple. In the past, this was the primary place where God's people could fully experience God's presence. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year.
But now Jesus, the One both fully God and fully human, is our priest, the One who gives access to God. Because He has conquered sin and death, our rock- solid hope is anchored in Him. Through Christ we experience the very presence and power of God (v.20).
by Monica Brands
7/15/18
THE BEST GIFT
When I was packing up to go home to London, my mother approached me with a gift- one of her rings I have long admired. Surprised, I asked, "What's this for?" She replied, "I think you should enjoy it now. Why wait until I die? It doesn't fit me anyway." With a smile I received her unexpected gift, an early inheritance that brings me joy.
My mom gave me a material gift, but Jesus promises that His Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). If Parents who are marred with sin can provide necessities (such as fish or eggs) for their children, how much more will our Father in heaven give to His children. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), we can experience hope, love, joy, and peace even in times of trouble- and we can share these gifts with others.
Growing up, we may have had parents who were unable to love and care for us fully. Or we may have had mothers and fathers who were shining examples of sacrificial love. Or our experience may have been somewhere in between. Whatever we've known with our earthly parents, we can hold on to the promise that our heavenly father loves us unceasingly. He gave His children the gift of the Holy Spirit.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Heavenly Father, I'm amazed at Your love for me. Help me to dwell in Your presence this day, sharing Your love with those I meet.
OUR FATHER GIVES GOOD GIFTS.
Luke 11:9-13
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Insight: While mentioned all throughout the New Testament, the mission and work of the Holy Spirit is a particular focus of two key biblical texts: John 14-16 and Romans 8. In John 14-16, we find Jesus's last teaching time with His followers before going to the cross. There He explained the ministry of the Spirit to the disciples who were reeling from the news that Jesus was going away-and they could not follow. After the Master's departure, the gift of the Spirit would be to them a helper (14:16), teacher (14:26), and guide (16:13). In a very different setting, Paul tells Christ-followers in Rome that the Holy Spirit has a comprehensive ministry in the life of God's child. The Spirit empowers (Romans 8:5), leads (v.14), assures (v.16), and assists in our prayers (vv.26-27). The gift of the Spirit is the amazing spiritual resource that God has given to us to enable us to live for Him.
by Bill Crowder
7/13/18
When I was packing up to go home to London, my mother approached me with a gift- one of her rings I have long admired. Surprised, I asked, "What's this for?" She replied, "I think you should enjoy it now. Why wait until I die? It doesn't fit me anyway." With a smile I received her unexpected gift, an early inheritance that brings me joy.
My mom gave me a material gift, but Jesus promises that His Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). If Parents who are marred with sin can provide necessities (such as fish or eggs) for their children, how much more will our Father in heaven give to His children. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), we can experience hope, love, joy, and peace even in times of trouble- and we can share these gifts with others.
Growing up, we may have had parents who were unable to love and care for us fully. Or we may have had mothers and fathers who were shining examples of sacrificial love. Or our experience may have been somewhere in between. Whatever we've known with our earthly parents, we can hold on to the promise that our heavenly father loves us unceasingly. He gave His children the gift of the Holy Spirit.
by Amy Boucher Pye
Heavenly Father, I'm amazed at Your love for me. Help me to dwell in Your presence this day, sharing Your love with those I meet.
OUR FATHER GIVES GOOD GIFTS.
Luke 11:9-13
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Insight: While mentioned all throughout the New Testament, the mission and work of the Holy Spirit is a particular focus of two key biblical texts: John 14-16 and Romans 8. In John 14-16, we find Jesus's last teaching time with His followers before going to the cross. There He explained the ministry of the Spirit to the disciples who were reeling from the news that Jesus was going away-and they could not follow. After the Master's departure, the gift of the Spirit would be to them a helper (14:16), teacher (14:26), and guide (16:13). In a very different setting, Paul tells Christ-followers in Rome that the Holy Spirit has a comprehensive ministry in the life of God's child. The Spirit empowers (Romans 8:5), leads (v.14), assures (v.16), and assists in our prayers (vv.26-27). The gift of the Spirit is the amazing spiritual resource that God has given to us to enable us to live for Him.
by Bill Crowder
7/13/18
HE KNOWS US
Did God know about me as I drove at night on a 100-mile journey to my village? Given the condition I was in, the answer was not simple. My temperature ran high and my head ached. I prayed, "Lord, I know you are with me, but I'm in pain!"
Tired and weak, I parked by the road near a small village. Ten minutes later, I heard a voice. "Hello! Do you need any help?" It was a man with his companions from the community. There presence felt good. When they told me the name of their village, Naa mi n'yala (meaning, "The King knows about me!"), I was amazed. I had passed this community dozens of times without stopping. This time, the Lord used its name to remind me that, indeed, He, the King, was with me while I was alone on that road in my ailing condition. Encouraged, I pressed on toward the nearest clinic.
God knows us thoroughly as we go about our everyday chores, at different locations and situations, no matter our condition (Psalm 139:1-4, 7-12). He does not abandon us or forget us; nor is He so busy that He neglects us. Even when we are in trouble or in difficult circumstances- "darkness" and "night" (vv.11-12)- we are not hidden from His presence. This truth gives us such hope and assurance that we can praise the Lord who has carefully created us and leads us through life (v.14).
by Lawrence Darmani
Thank You, Lord, that You always know where I am and how I am doing. You know me inside and out. I'm thankful I can count on You to care.
NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, GOD KNOWS ABOUT US.
Psalm 139:1-14
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Insight: In Psalm 139 David marvels at the Creator God. In these verses the poet-King reflects on God's omniscience (vv.1-6), omnipresence (vv.7-12), and omnipotence (vv.13-18)-clearly marking God out as distinct and above the creation He has made. This is the God who has welcomed us into relationship with Himself- and that invitation is based on His complete knowledge of who we are and how we have failed. His total awareness of our brokenness makes it all the more amazing that He desires for us to know Him.
by Bill Crowder
7/12/18
Did God know about me as I drove at night on a 100-mile journey to my village? Given the condition I was in, the answer was not simple. My temperature ran high and my head ached. I prayed, "Lord, I know you are with me, but I'm in pain!"
Tired and weak, I parked by the road near a small village. Ten minutes later, I heard a voice. "Hello! Do you need any help?" It was a man with his companions from the community. There presence felt good. When they told me the name of their village, Naa mi n'yala (meaning, "The King knows about me!"), I was amazed. I had passed this community dozens of times without stopping. This time, the Lord used its name to remind me that, indeed, He, the King, was with me while I was alone on that road in my ailing condition. Encouraged, I pressed on toward the nearest clinic.
God knows us thoroughly as we go about our everyday chores, at different locations and situations, no matter our condition (Psalm 139:1-4, 7-12). He does not abandon us or forget us; nor is He so busy that He neglects us. Even when we are in trouble or in difficult circumstances- "darkness" and "night" (vv.11-12)- we are not hidden from His presence. This truth gives us such hope and assurance that we can praise the Lord who has carefully created us and leads us through life (v.14).
by Lawrence Darmani
Thank You, Lord, that You always know where I am and how I am doing. You know me inside and out. I'm thankful I can count on You to care.
NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, GOD KNOWS ABOUT US.
Psalm 139:1-14
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Insight: In Psalm 139 David marvels at the Creator God. In these verses the poet-King reflects on God's omniscience (vv.1-6), omnipresence (vv.7-12), and omnipotence (vv.13-18)-clearly marking God out as distinct and above the creation He has made. This is the God who has welcomed us into relationship with Himself- and that invitation is based on His complete knowledge of who we are and how we have failed. His total awareness of our brokenness makes it all the more amazing that He desires for us to know Him.
by Bill Crowder
7/12/18
AN ANCHOR WHEN WE'RE AFRAID
Are you a worrier? I am. I wrestle with anxiety almost daily. I worry about big things. I worry about small things. Sometimes, it seems like I worry about everything. Once in my teens, I called the police when my parents were four hours late getting home.
Scripture repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. Because of God's goodness and power, and because He sent Jesus to die for us and His Holy Spirit to guide us, our fears don't have to rule our lives. We may well face hard things, but God has promised to be with us through it all.
One passage that has helped me profoundly in fearful moments is Isaiah 51:12-16. Here, God reminded His people, who had endured tremendous suffering, that He was still with them, and that His comforting presence is the ultimate reality. No matter how bad things may seem: "I, even I, am He who comforts you," He told them through the prophet Isaiah (v.12).
I love that promise. Those eight words have been an emotion-steadying anchor for my soul. I've clung to this promise repeatedly when life has felt overwhelming, when my own "constant terror" (v.13) has felt oppressive. Through this passage, God reminds me to lift my eyes from my fears and in faith and dependence to look to the One who "stretches out the heavens" (v.13)-the One who promises to comfort us.
by Adam Holz
Lord, sometimes the struggles we face in life seem so big. But You are bigger. Help us to cling to Your promise of comfort in fearful moments and to experience Your loving provision as we trust You.
GOD'S COMFORTING PRESENCE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN OUR FEARS.
Isaiah 51:12-16
I even I am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction, for where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-the Lord almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, "You are my people."
Insight: Isaiah is fond of using imagery to display distinct ideas that are sometimes complementary and sometimes contrasting. Today's passage presents contrasting ideas. In offering comfort to the people of Israel, Isaiah paints a portrait that gives the reader a beautiful vision of who God is in comparison to those who were trying to harm them. Notice the contrasts in verse 12-15: Mortals are like grass, while God stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth; the oppressor who stirs up wrath is nothing compared to the God who stirs the sea. While these words are comforting- after all, God is the one who covers us with the shadow of His hand- its important to understand that they don't simply bypass the struggles we face. Isaiah acknowledges there is in fact an oppressor, and that oppressor is full of wrath. But He encourages us to see our difficulties in light of who God is and what He can do.
What difficult situation do you need to view in comparison with God's power?
by J.R.Hudberg
7/11/18
Are you a worrier? I am. I wrestle with anxiety almost daily. I worry about big things. I worry about small things. Sometimes, it seems like I worry about everything. Once in my teens, I called the police when my parents were four hours late getting home.
Scripture repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. Because of God's goodness and power, and because He sent Jesus to die for us and His Holy Spirit to guide us, our fears don't have to rule our lives. We may well face hard things, but God has promised to be with us through it all.
One passage that has helped me profoundly in fearful moments is Isaiah 51:12-16. Here, God reminded His people, who had endured tremendous suffering, that He was still with them, and that His comforting presence is the ultimate reality. No matter how bad things may seem: "I, even I, am He who comforts you," He told them through the prophet Isaiah (v.12).
I love that promise. Those eight words have been an emotion-steadying anchor for my soul. I've clung to this promise repeatedly when life has felt overwhelming, when my own "constant terror" (v.13) has felt oppressive. Through this passage, God reminds me to lift my eyes from my fears and in faith and dependence to look to the One who "stretches out the heavens" (v.13)-the One who promises to comfort us.
by Adam Holz
Lord, sometimes the struggles we face in life seem so big. But You are bigger. Help us to cling to Your promise of comfort in fearful moments and to experience Your loving provision as we trust You.
GOD'S COMFORTING PRESENCE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN OUR FEARS.
Isaiah 51:12-16
I even I am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction, for where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-the Lord almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, "You are my people."
Insight: Isaiah is fond of using imagery to display distinct ideas that are sometimes complementary and sometimes contrasting. Today's passage presents contrasting ideas. In offering comfort to the people of Israel, Isaiah paints a portrait that gives the reader a beautiful vision of who God is in comparison to those who were trying to harm them. Notice the contrasts in verse 12-15: Mortals are like grass, while God stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth; the oppressor who stirs up wrath is nothing compared to the God who stirs the sea. While these words are comforting- after all, God is the one who covers us with the shadow of His hand- its important to understand that they don't simply bypass the struggles we face. Isaiah acknowledges there is in fact an oppressor, and that oppressor is full of wrath. But He encourages us to see our difficulties in light of who God is and what He can do.
What difficult situation do you need to view in comparison with God's power?
by J.R.Hudberg
7/11/18
STRANGERS WELCOME STRANGERS
When my husband and I moved to Seattle to be near his sister, we didn't know where we would live or work. A local church helped us find a place: a rental house with many bedrooms. We could live in one bedroom, and rent the others to international students. For the next three years, we were strangers welcoming strangers: sharing our home and meals with people from all over the world. We and our housemates also welcomed dozens of international students into our home every Friday night for Bible study.
God's people know what it means to be far from home. For several hundred years, the Israelites were literal foreigners-and slaves-in Egypt. In Leviticus 19, alongside familiar instructions like "Respect your mother and father" and "Do not steal" (vv.3,11), God reminded His people to empathetically care for foreigners, because they knew what it was like to be foreigners and afraid (vv.33-34).
While not all of us as followers of God today have experienced literal exile, we all know how it feels to be "foreigners" on earth (1 Peter 2:11)- people who feel like outsiders because our ultimate allegiance is to a heavenly kingdom. We are called to create a community of hospitality- strangers welcoming strangers into God's family. The hospitable welcome my husband and I experienced in Seattle taught us to extend welcome to others- and this is at the heart of being the family of God (Romans 12:13).
by Amy Peterson
TO WHOM CAN I SHOW HOSPITALITY?
Leviticus 19:1-9,33-34
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
" 'Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
" 'Do not turn to idols or make metal Gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
" 'When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.
" 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest....
" 'When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.' "
Insight: God promised the Israelites they would always have enough food to eat if they remained faithful to Him (Leviticus 26:3-5). Because God promised to provide for them, He commanded them to provide for the poor and the needy. God gave various harvest laws (Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 23:24-25; 24:19-22) to enable the poor to "work" for their food with dignity without having to resort to begging or stealing. We also see this compassionate law of gleaming in the story of Ruth (Ruth 2).
by K.T. Sim
7/10/18
When my husband and I moved to Seattle to be near his sister, we didn't know where we would live or work. A local church helped us find a place: a rental house with many bedrooms. We could live in one bedroom, and rent the others to international students. For the next three years, we were strangers welcoming strangers: sharing our home and meals with people from all over the world. We and our housemates also welcomed dozens of international students into our home every Friday night for Bible study.
God's people know what it means to be far from home. For several hundred years, the Israelites were literal foreigners-and slaves-in Egypt. In Leviticus 19, alongside familiar instructions like "Respect your mother and father" and "Do not steal" (vv.3,11), God reminded His people to empathetically care for foreigners, because they knew what it was like to be foreigners and afraid (vv.33-34).
While not all of us as followers of God today have experienced literal exile, we all know how it feels to be "foreigners" on earth (1 Peter 2:11)- people who feel like outsiders because our ultimate allegiance is to a heavenly kingdom. We are called to create a community of hospitality- strangers welcoming strangers into God's family. The hospitable welcome my husband and I experienced in Seattle taught us to extend welcome to others- and this is at the heart of being the family of God (Romans 12:13).
by Amy Peterson
TO WHOM CAN I SHOW HOSPITALITY?
Leviticus 19:1-9,33-34
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
" 'Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
" 'Do not turn to idols or make metal Gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
" 'When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.
" 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest....
" 'When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.' "
Insight: God promised the Israelites they would always have enough food to eat if they remained faithful to Him (Leviticus 26:3-5). Because God promised to provide for them, He commanded them to provide for the poor and the needy. God gave various harvest laws (Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 23:24-25; 24:19-22) to enable the poor to "work" for their food with dignity without having to resort to begging or stealing. We also see this compassionate law of gleaming in the story of Ruth (Ruth 2).
by K.T. Sim
7/10/18
GOD OF THE DEPTHS
"When you go to the deep sea, every time you take a sample, you'll find a new species," says marine biologist Ward Appeltans. In one recent year, scientists identified 1,451 new types of undersea life. We simply don't know the half of what's down there.
In Job 38-40, God reviewed His creation for Job's benefit. In three poetic chapters, God highlighted the wonders of weather, the vastness of the cosmos, and the variety of creatures in their habitats. These are things we can observe. Then God spoke of the mysterious Leviathan- for an entire chapter. Leviathan is a creature like no other, with harpoon- deflecting armor (Job 41:7,13), graceful power (v.12), and "fearsome teeth" (v.14). "flames stream from its mouth...smoke pours from its nostrils" (vv.19-20). "Nothing on earth is its equal" (v.33).
Okay, so God talks about a huge creature we haven't seen. Is that the point of Job 41?
No! Job 41 broadens our understanding of God's surprising character. The psalmist expanded on this when he wrote, "There is the sea, vast and spacious,... and Leviathan which you formed to frolic there" (Psalm 104:25-26). After the terrifying description in Job we learned that God created a playpen for this most fearsome of all creatures. Leviathan frolics.
We have the present to explore the ocean. We'll have eternity to explore the wonders of our magnificent, mysterious, playful God.
by Tim Gustafson
OUR EXPLORATION OF CREATION TEACHES US ABOUT THE CREATOR.
Job 41:12-34
"I will not fail to speak of Leviathan's limbs, its strength and its graceful form. Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor? Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth? Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth. Strength resides in its neck: dismay goes before it. The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower milestone. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing. The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it. A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance. Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is its equal-a creature without fear. It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud."
7/09/18
"When you go to the deep sea, every time you take a sample, you'll find a new species," says marine biologist Ward Appeltans. In one recent year, scientists identified 1,451 new types of undersea life. We simply don't know the half of what's down there.
In Job 38-40, God reviewed His creation for Job's benefit. In three poetic chapters, God highlighted the wonders of weather, the vastness of the cosmos, and the variety of creatures in their habitats. These are things we can observe. Then God spoke of the mysterious Leviathan- for an entire chapter. Leviathan is a creature like no other, with harpoon- deflecting armor (Job 41:7,13), graceful power (v.12), and "fearsome teeth" (v.14). "flames stream from its mouth...smoke pours from its nostrils" (vv.19-20). "Nothing on earth is its equal" (v.33).
Okay, so God talks about a huge creature we haven't seen. Is that the point of Job 41?
No! Job 41 broadens our understanding of God's surprising character. The psalmist expanded on this when he wrote, "There is the sea, vast and spacious,... and Leviathan which you formed to frolic there" (Psalm 104:25-26). After the terrifying description in Job we learned that God created a playpen for this most fearsome of all creatures. Leviathan frolics.
We have the present to explore the ocean. We'll have eternity to explore the wonders of our magnificent, mysterious, playful God.
by Tim Gustafson
OUR EXPLORATION OF CREATION TEACHES US ABOUT THE CREATOR.
Job 41:12-34
"I will not fail to speak of Leviathan's limbs, its strength and its graceful form. Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor? Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth? Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth. Strength resides in its neck: dismay goes before it. The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower milestone. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing. The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it. A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance. Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is its equal-a creature without fear. It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud."
7/09/18
BE STILL, MY SOUL
Picture a parent poised lovingly over a child, finger gently placed in front of nose and lips softly speaking the words- "hush," "shhhh." The demeanor and simple words are meant to comfort and quiet anxious little ones in the midst of disappointment, discomfort, or pain. Scenes like this are universal and timeless and most of us have been on the giving or receiving end of such loving expressions. When I ponder Psalm 131:2, this is the picture that comes to mind.
The language and flow of this Psalm suggests that the writer David, had experienced something that provoked serious reflection. Have you experienced a disappointment, defeat, or failure that prompted thoughtful, reflective prayer? What do you do when you are humbled by life's circumstances? When you fail a test or lose a job or experience the end of a relationship? David poured out his heart to the Lord and in the process did a bit of honest soul-searching and inventory (Psalm 131:1). In making peace with his circumstances, he found contentment like that of a young child who was satisfied with simply being with his or her mother (v.2).
Life's circumstances change sometimes we are humbled. Yet we can be hopeful and content knowing that there is One who has promised to never leave or forsake us. We can trust Him fully.
by Arthur Jackson
Father, when things change in my life, help me not to be anxious but to trust You and find contentment in You alone.
CONTENTMENT IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forever more.
Insight: The theme of Psalm 131 is rest or spiritual contentment. Verse 2 says, "I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content." This idea of rest connects to the proceeding Psalm (Palm 130) whose theme is forgiveness. Psalm 130:4 affirms, "But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can with reverence, serve you." It is forgiveness that gives us true, lasting rest because it brings us into relationship with the God who made us.
This was voiced beautifully by the church father Augustine who said, "Though hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee."
by Bill Crowder
7/8/18
Picture a parent poised lovingly over a child, finger gently placed in front of nose and lips softly speaking the words- "hush," "shhhh." The demeanor and simple words are meant to comfort and quiet anxious little ones in the midst of disappointment, discomfort, or pain. Scenes like this are universal and timeless and most of us have been on the giving or receiving end of such loving expressions. When I ponder Psalm 131:2, this is the picture that comes to mind.
The language and flow of this Psalm suggests that the writer David, had experienced something that provoked serious reflection. Have you experienced a disappointment, defeat, or failure that prompted thoughtful, reflective prayer? What do you do when you are humbled by life's circumstances? When you fail a test or lose a job or experience the end of a relationship? David poured out his heart to the Lord and in the process did a bit of honest soul-searching and inventory (Psalm 131:1). In making peace with his circumstances, he found contentment like that of a young child who was satisfied with simply being with his or her mother (v.2).
Life's circumstances change sometimes we are humbled. Yet we can be hopeful and content knowing that there is One who has promised to never leave or forsake us. We can trust Him fully.
by Arthur Jackson
Father, when things change in my life, help me not to be anxious but to trust You and find contentment in You alone.
CONTENTMENT IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forever more.
Insight: The theme of Psalm 131 is rest or spiritual contentment. Verse 2 says, "I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content." This idea of rest connects to the proceeding Psalm (Palm 130) whose theme is forgiveness. Psalm 130:4 affirms, "But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can with reverence, serve you." It is forgiveness that gives us true, lasting rest because it brings us into relationship with the God who made us.
This was voiced beautifully by the church father Augustine who said, "Though hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee."
by Bill Crowder
7/8/18
MANY GIFTS, ONE PURPOSE
Corn, also called Maize, is the staple food in my home country of Mexico. There are so many different types. You can find yellow, brown, red, and black cobs, even ones with a wonderful spotted pattern. But people in the cities usually won't eat the spotted cobs. Restaurateur and researcher Amado Ramirez explains that they believe uniformity is a synonym of quality. Yet the spotted cobs taste good and they make excellent tortillas.
The Church of Christ is much more similar to a spotted ear of corn than to a cob of just one color. The apostle Paul used the imagery of a body to describe the church, because even though we are all one body, and we have the same God, each of us has been given a different gift. As Paul said, "There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work" (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). Our diversity in the ways we help each other show God's generosity and creativity.
As we embrace our diversity, may we also make every effort to keep our unity in faith and purpose. Yes, we have different abilities and backgrounds. We speak different languages and come from different countries. But we have the same wonderful God, the Creator who delights in so much variety.
Keila Ochoa
Father, may we make every effort to be one, respecting and valuing each other and our various gifts and talents.
WE NEED ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE.
1 Corinthians 12:4-14
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts from one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit. So as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Insight: Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 provide important instructions about spiritual gifts: All Christians have been given gifts; all gifts have different but equally important functions; all are from God; and all and all are to be used to build up others in the Church. We have no reason to boast about our gifts because they are products of God's grace. "In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us" (Romans 12:5-6).
How can you use your gifts to promote unity?
by Alyson Kieda
7/6/18
Corn, also called Maize, is the staple food in my home country of Mexico. There are so many different types. You can find yellow, brown, red, and black cobs, even ones with a wonderful spotted pattern. But people in the cities usually won't eat the spotted cobs. Restaurateur and researcher Amado Ramirez explains that they believe uniformity is a synonym of quality. Yet the spotted cobs taste good and they make excellent tortillas.
The Church of Christ is much more similar to a spotted ear of corn than to a cob of just one color. The apostle Paul used the imagery of a body to describe the church, because even though we are all one body, and we have the same God, each of us has been given a different gift. As Paul said, "There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work" (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). Our diversity in the ways we help each other show God's generosity and creativity.
As we embrace our diversity, may we also make every effort to keep our unity in faith and purpose. Yes, we have different abilities and backgrounds. We speak different languages and come from different countries. But we have the same wonderful God, the Creator who delights in so much variety.
Keila Ochoa
Father, may we make every effort to be one, respecting and valuing each other and our various gifts and talents.
WE NEED ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE.
1 Corinthians 12:4-14
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts from one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit. So as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Insight: Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 provide important instructions about spiritual gifts: All Christians have been given gifts; all gifts have different but equally important functions; all are from God; and all and all are to be used to build up others in the Church. We have no reason to boast about our gifts because they are products of God's grace. "In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us" (Romans 12:5-6).
How can you use your gifts to promote unity?
by Alyson Kieda
7/6/18
HIDDEN BEAUTY
Our children needed a little coaxing to believe that it was worth putting on snorkeling gear to peer beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea off the shore of the Island of Tobago. But after the dove in, they resurfaced ecstatic, "There are thousands of fish of all different kinds! Its so beautiful! I've never seen such colorful fish!"
Because the surface of the water looked similar to fresh water lakes near our home, our children could have missed the beauty hidden just below the surface.
When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the next king, Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab. God reminded Samuel that He "Does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
So Samuel asks if there were more sons. The youngest boy wasn't present but caring for the family's sheep. This son, David, was summoned and the Lord directed Samuel to anoint him.
Often we look at people only on a surface level and don't always take the time to see their inner, sometimes hidden, beauty. We don't always value what God values. But if we take the time to peer beneath the surface, we may find great treasure.
by Lisa Samra
Heavenly Father, Thank You for not valuing people based on outward appearances but instead by looking at our hearts. Help me to take the time to see beyond simply what my eyes can see in order to discover true and lasting beauty.
GOD CAN HELP ME TO SEE THE INNER BEAUTY IN OTHERS.
1 Samuel 16:1-7
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me."
The Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." The he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel sought Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord."
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Insight: Who taught you how to think about yourself and others?
Long before Samuel looked for a king among the sons of Jesse, God was teaching His children to see below the surface of our skin. From the days of Eden, He has been showing people like us what happens in our hearts is more important than our outward appearance.
How has God's interaction with the men and women of the Bible helped you to think about yourself and Him?
by Mart Dehaan
7/05/18
Our children needed a little coaxing to believe that it was worth putting on snorkeling gear to peer beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea off the shore of the Island of Tobago. But after the dove in, they resurfaced ecstatic, "There are thousands of fish of all different kinds! Its so beautiful! I've never seen such colorful fish!"
Because the surface of the water looked similar to fresh water lakes near our home, our children could have missed the beauty hidden just below the surface.
When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the next king, Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab. God reminded Samuel that He "Does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
So Samuel asks if there were more sons. The youngest boy wasn't present but caring for the family's sheep. This son, David, was summoned and the Lord directed Samuel to anoint him.
Often we look at people only on a surface level and don't always take the time to see their inner, sometimes hidden, beauty. We don't always value what God values. But if we take the time to peer beneath the surface, we may find great treasure.
by Lisa Samra
Heavenly Father, Thank You for not valuing people based on outward appearances but instead by looking at our hearts. Help me to take the time to see beyond simply what my eyes can see in order to discover true and lasting beauty.
GOD CAN HELP ME TO SEE THE INNER BEAUTY IN OTHERS.
1 Samuel 16:1-7
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me."
The Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." The he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel sought Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord."
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Insight: Who taught you how to think about yourself and others?
Long before Samuel looked for a king among the sons of Jesse, God was teaching His children to see below the surface of our skin. From the days of Eden, He has been showing people like us what happens in our hearts is more important than our outward appearance.
How has God's interaction with the men and women of the Bible helped you to think about yourself and Him?
by Mart Dehaan
7/05/18
GOD'S GREAT CREATION
On a recent visit with some of our grandchildren, we enjoyed watching a webcam that focused on an eagle family in Florida. Every day we would check in on the mom, the dad, and baby as they went about their daily routine in their nest high off the ground. Each day the parent birds would keep a constant, protective vigil over the eaglet, bringing it fish from a nearby river for nourishment.
This little eagle family depicts for us one image the psalmist gave us of God's magnificent creation in Psalm 104- an array of creation images of scenes from the work of God's creative hand.
We see the majesty of God's creation as it relates to the universe (vv.2-4). We experience the creation of the earth itself- waters, mountains, valleys (vv.5-9).
We enjoy the glory of God's gift of animals, birds, and crops (vv.10-18).
We marvel at the cycles God created in our world-morning/night, darkness/light, work/rest (vv.19-23).
What a glorious world God has fashioned with His hands for our enjoyment- and for His glory! "Praise the Lord, my soul!" (v.1). Each one of us can say thank You to God for all He has give us to appreciate and enjoy.
by Dave Branon
Praise God! Praise You, Lord, for the wonder of the earth You created.
THE BEAUTY OF CREATION REFLECTS THE BEAUTY OF OUR CREATOR.
Psalm 104:1-6, 10-23
Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains....
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth: Wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds makes their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening.
7/04/18
On a recent visit with some of our grandchildren, we enjoyed watching a webcam that focused on an eagle family in Florida. Every day we would check in on the mom, the dad, and baby as they went about their daily routine in their nest high off the ground. Each day the parent birds would keep a constant, protective vigil over the eaglet, bringing it fish from a nearby river for nourishment.
This little eagle family depicts for us one image the psalmist gave us of God's magnificent creation in Psalm 104- an array of creation images of scenes from the work of God's creative hand.
We see the majesty of God's creation as it relates to the universe (vv.2-4). We experience the creation of the earth itself- waters, mountains, valleys (vv.5-9).
We enjoy the glory of God's gift of animals, birds, and crops (vv.10-18).
We marvel at the cycles God created in our world-morning/night, darkness/light, work/rest (vv.19-23).
What a glorious world God has fashioned with His hands for our enjoyment- and for His glory! "Praise the Lord, my soul!" (v.1). Each one of us can say thank You to God for all He has give us to appreciate and enjoy.
by Dave Branon
Praise God! Praise You, Lord, for the wonder of the earth You created.
THE BEAUTY OF CREATION REFLECTS THE BEAUTY OF OUR CREATOR.
Psalm 104:1-6, 10-23
Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains....
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth: Wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds makes their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening.
7/04/18
A PERFECT WORLD
Katie was given a school assignment to write an essay entitled "My Perfect World." She wrote: "In my perfect world...icecream is free, lollipops are everywhere, and the sky is blue all the time, with only a few clouds that have interesting shapes." Then he essay took a more serious turn. In that world, she continues, "No one will come home to bad news. And no one will have to be the one to deliver it."
No one will come home to bad news. Isn't that wonderful? Those words point powerfully to the confident hope we have in Jesus. He is "making everything new"-healing and transforming our world (Revelation 21:5).
Paradise is the place of "no more"- no more evil, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain, no more tears (v.4)! It is a place of perfect communion with God, who by His love has redeemed and claimed believers as His own (v.3). What marvelous joy awaits us!
We can enjoy a foretaste of this perfect reality here and now. As we seek to fellowship with God daily, we experience the joy of His presence (Colossians 1:12-13). And even as we struggle against sin, we experience, in part, the victory that is ours in Christ (2:13-15), The One who fully conquered sin and death.
by Poh Fang Khia
Lord, thank You that You are making all things new. Help us to live in the hope of the day we will live with You, pure and blameless, on a new earth in Your presence forever and ever.
GOD'S PERFECT WORLD IS FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS.
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Insight: What can we learn about the perfect world to come- the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem? In Isaiah 65 we read (as in Revelation 21:4) about the absence of pain and sorrow: "The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days." In this place we will "not labor in vain, nor...bear children doomed to misfortune....The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain" (vv.19-25). Isaiah 66:22-23 declares that in the new heaven and the new earth all the redeemed "will come and bow down before [the Lord]."
Righteousness will dwell in this new heaven and new earth (2nd Peter 3:13). In this delightfully perfect place, we will worship our holy God who dwells with us.
by Alyson Kieda
7/03/18
Katie was given a school assignment to write an essay entitled "My Perfect World." She wrote: "In my perfect world...icecream is free, lollipops are everywhere, and the sky is blue all the time, with only a few clouds that have interesting shapes." Then he essay took a more serious turn. In that world, she continues, "No one will come home to bad news. And no one will have to be the one to deliver it."
No one will come home to bad news. Isn't that wonderful? Those words point powerfully to the confident hope we have in Jesus. He is "making everything new"-healing and transforming our world (Revelation 21:5).
Paradise is the place of "no more"- no more evil, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain, no more tears (v.4)! It is a place of perfect communion with God, who by His love has redeemed and claimed believers as His own (v.3). What marvelous joy awaits us!
We can enjoy a foretaste of this perfect reality here and now. As we seek to fellowship with God daily, we experience the joy of His presence (Colossians 1:12-13). And even as we struggle against sin, we experience, in part, the victory that is ours in Christ (2:13-15), The One who fully conquered sin and death.
by Poh Fang Khia
Lord, thank You that You are making all things new. Help us to live in the hope of the day we will live with You, pure and blameless, on a new earth in Your presence forever and ever.
GOD'S PERFECT WORLD IS FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS.
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Insight: What can we learn about the perfect world to come- the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem? In Isaiah 65 we read (as in Revelation 21:4) about the absence of pain and sorrow: "The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days." In this place we will "not labor in vain, nor...bear children doomed to misfortune....The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain" (vv.19-25). Isaiah 66:22-23 declares that in the new heaven and the new earth all the redeemed "will come and bow down before [the Lord]."
Righteousness will dwell in this new heaven and new earth (2nd Peter 3:13). In this delightfully perfect place, we will worship our holy God who dwells with us.
by Alyson Kieda
7/03/18
I SEE YOU
When Xavier was two, he darted into one aisle after another in a small shoe store. Hiding behind stacks of shoeboxes, he giggled when my husband, Allen said, "I see you."
Moments later, I saw Allen dash frantically from aisle to aisle, calling Xavier's name. We raced to the front of the store. Our child, still laughing, ran toward the open door leading to the busy street outside.
Within seconds, Allen scooped him up. We embraced as I thanked God, sobbed, and kissed our toddler's chubby cheeks.
A year before I became pregnant with Xavier, I'd lost our first child during the pregnancy. When God blessed us with our son, I became a fearful parent. Our shoestore experience proved I wouldn't always be able to see or protect our child. But I discovered peace as I learned to turn to my only sure source of help-God-when I struggled with worry and fear. Our heavenly Father never takes His eyes off His children (Psalm 121:1-4). While we can't prevent trials, heartache, or loss, we can live with confident faith, relying on an ever-present helper and Protector who watches over our lives (vv.5-8).
We may encounter days when we feel lost and helpless. We may also feel powerless when we can't shield loved ones. But we can trust that our all-knowing God never loses sight of us-His precious and beloved children.
by Xochitl Dixon
Thank You for watching over our loved ones and us, Lord.
GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS EYE ON HIS CHILDREN.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Insight: Psalms 120-134 are known as "Pilgrim Psalms" -songs for "pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem" (NLT). God commanded all male Jews to come to the temple to observe the there annual feasts (see Deuteronomy 16:16): unleavened Bread (Passover), Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles. As Pilgrims trod up the hilly paths to Jerusalem, they sang from these psalms. When we embark on a journey, we often pray for journeying mercies for safety is foremost on our minds. Psalm 121- known as "The Traveler's Psalm" -is a prayer addressing our safety and security concerns as we journey through life. Even as the psalmist speaks of unknown dangers, he affirms God's divine protection and preservation. He reminds us that God is our helper, giving us the security and stability we need (vv.1-3). And because God is our Keeper- watching our every step (vv.4-8)- We can pray in confident trust, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Psalm 4:8 NLT).
How does being led by God, our Good Shepherd, empower you to "walk through darkest valley"? (Psalm 23:4).
by K.T.Sim
7/2/18
When Xavier was two, he darted into one aisle after another in a small shoe store. Hiding behind stacks of shoeboxes, he giggled when my husband, Allen said, "I see you."
Moments later, I saw Allen dash frantically from aisle to aisle, calling Xavier's name. We raced to the front of the store. Our child, still laughing, ran toward the open door leading to the busy street outside.
Within seconds, Allen scooped him up. We embraced as I thanked God, sobbed, and kissed our toddler's chubby cheeks.
A year before I became pregnant with Xavier, I'd lost our first child during the pregnancy. When God blessed us with our son, I became a fearful parent. Our shoestore experience proved I wouldn't always be able to see or protect our child. But I discovered peace as I learned to turn to my only sure source of help-God-when I struggled with worry and fear. Our heavenly Father never takes His eyes off His children (Psalm 121:1-4). While we can't prevent trials, heartache, or loss, we can live with confident faith, relying on an ever-present helper and Protector who watches over our lives (vv.5-8).
We may encounter days when we feel lost and helpless. We may also feel powerless when we can't shield loved ones. But we can trust that our all-knowing God never loses sight of us-His precious and beloved children.
by Xochitl Dixon
Thank You for watching over our loved ones and us, Lord.
GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS EYE ON HIS CHILDREN.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Insight: Psalms 120-134 are known as "Pilgrim Psalms" -songs for "pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem" (NLT). God commanded all male Jews to come to the temple to observe the there annual feasts (see Deuteronomy 16:16): unleavened Bread (Passover), Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles. As Pilgrims trod up the hilly paths to Jerusalem, they sang from these psalms. When we embark on a journey, we often pray for journeying mercies for safety is foremost on our minds. Psalm 121- known as "The Traveler's Psalm" -is a prayer addressing our safety and security concerns as we journey through life. Even as the psalmist speaks of unknown dangers, he affirms God's divine protection and preservation. He reminds us that God is our helper, giving us the security and stability we need (vv.1-3). And because God is our Keeper- watching our every step (vv.4-8)- We can pray in confident trust, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Psalm 4:8 NLT).
How does being led by God, our Good Shepherd, empower you to "walk through darkest valley"? (Psalm 23:4).
by K.T.Sim
7/2/18
LIVING OUT LOUD
While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card lying on the desk in my room. It said: Our prayer is that your stay here will be restful. And that your travels will be fruitful. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you.
This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace.
Their philosophy reminded me of Peter's words to the followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia Minor. He encouraged them to demonstrate their faith in Christ in the society where they lived. Even as they faced threats and persecution, Peter told them not to be afraid, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
A friend of mine calls this "living a lifestyle that demands an explanation." Know matter where we live or work, may we in God's strength live out our faith today-always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope.
by David C. McCasland
MAY OUR LIVES CAUSE OTHERS TO ASK THE REASON WE HAVE HOPE.
1 Peter 3:8-16
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Insight: When we think of Peter, we often think of young Peter-his rash denials of Christ (John 18:17, 25, 27), his jumping out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:22-31), or his cutting off a servant's ear in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Yet aged Peter- mature Peter- is a much different man who wrote letters to encourage believers in Jesus. The man who called down a curse on himself as he denied Christ (Matthew 26:73-75) now writes that believers should be prepared to give an answer for their hope- something he was once unwilling to do. Such is the difference the Spirit makes in our lives.
How has the Spirit been transforming you and helping you to live out your faith?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/01/18
WHAT IS GOD LIKE? While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card lying on the desk in my room. It said: Our prayer is that your stay here will be restful. And that your travels will be fruitful. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you.
This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace.
Their philosophy reminded me of Peter's words to the followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia Minor. He encouraged them to demonstrate their faith in Christ in the society where they lived. Even as they faced threats and persecution, Peter told them not to be afraid, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
A friend of mine calls this "living a lifestyle that demands an explanation." Know matter where we live or work, may we in God's strength live out our faith today-always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope.
by David C. McCasland
MAY OUR LIVES CAUSE OTHERS TO ASK THE REASON WE HAVE HOPE.
1 Peter 3:8-16
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Insight: When we think of Peter, we often think of young Peter-his rash denials of Christ (John 18:17, 25, 27), his jumping out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:22-31), or his cutting off a servant's ear in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Yet aged Peter- mature Peter- is a much different man who wrote letters to encourage believers in Jesus. The man who called down a curse on himself as he denied Christ (Matthew 26:73-75) now writes that believers should be prepared to give an answer for their hope- something he was once unwilling to do. Such is the difference the Spirit makes in our lives.
How has the Spirit been transforming you and helping you to live out your faith?
by J.R. Hudberg
7/01/18
To celebrate a special occasion, my husband took me to a local art gallery and said I could choose a painting as a gift. I picked out a small picture of a brook flowing through a forest. The stream bed took up most of the canvas and because of this much of the sky was excluded from the picture. However, the stream's reflection revealed the location of the sun, the treetops, and the hazy atmosphere. The only way to "see" the sky was to look at the surface of the water.
Jesus is like the stream, in a spiritual sense. When we want to see what God is like, we look at Jesus. The writer of Hebrews said He is "the exact representation of [God's] being" (1:3). Although we can learn facts about God through direct statements in the Bible such as "God is love," we can deepen our understanding by seeing the way God would act if He faced the same problems we have on earth. Being God in human flesh, this is what Jesus has shown us.
In temptation, Jesus revealed God's holiness confronting spiritual darkness, He demonstrated God's authority. Wrestling with people problems, He showed us God's wisdom. In His death, He illustrated God's love.
Although we cannot grasp everything about God-He is limitless and we are limited in our thinking-we can be certain of His character when we look at Christ.
by Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Dear God, thank You for making a way for us to know You. Help us to grow closer to you by looking at Jesus.
LOOKING AT JESUS SHOWS US GOD'S CHARACTER.
Hebrews 1:1-10
In the past God spoke to our ancestors though the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your father" ?
Or again, "I will be his father, and he will be my son"?
And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire."
But about the Son He says, "Your throne, Oh God will last forever and ever. A scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of Joy."
He also says, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands."
Insight: Jesus lived out the mission of revealing the heart of His Father to a world that had separated itself from Him. This aspect of Jesus's incarnation was described in John 1:18: "No one has ever seen God. But the unique one, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us" (NLT). We see the invisible God made visible in Jesus.
by Bill Crowder
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