A Fresh Start

Read: Joshua 1:1-9

Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. --- Joshua 1:9

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 19-22

They stand in the cold by the thousands in Times Square, New York City. What draws them to that place? There's no sporting event or rock concert. There's just a huge lighted ball that drops down a pole on top of a building. It takes only a few seconds, and it hardly seems worth fighting traffic and subway crunch to see --- except that it happens on New Year's Eve.

Why have we created a holiday over such a nonevent? Other holidays celebrate famous birthdays or historical milestones or something. New Year's Eve just celebrates the passage of time. We make such a fuss because it signals the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one. The old year's problems and struggles become a dim memory when we think of getting a fresh start.

It must have been something like that for the Israelites who stood with Joshua and looked at the new era ahead of them [Joshua 1:1-9]. Behind them were 40 years of wandering in the desert. Ahead was a land of milk and honey. And best of all, they had God's promise that He would be with them.

As we stand with our back to the past 12 months and our face toward the new year, we can have hope because we too can be sure of God's help. That makes the prospect of a new year worth celebrating! --- Dave Branon

Though I know not what awaits me ---
What the future has in store,
Yet I know that God is faithful,
For I've proved Him oft before. --- Anon.

WE CAN TRUST OUR ALL-KNOWING GOD FOR THE UNKNOWN FUTURE.

What Will We Do In Heaven?

Read: Revelation 22:1-5

His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their forehands. --- Revelation 22:3-4

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 16-18

I'm sometimes asked what we'll do in heaven. Will we sit on clouds and strum celestial harps? Will we flit about on gossamer wings? In his vision, John the apostle saw three future heavenly activities.

The first one is serving [Revelation 22:3]. Perhaps we'll explore an unknown corner of the universe, or, as C.S. Lewis suggests, govern a distant star. Whatever that service may entail, there will be no sense of inadequacy, no weakness, no weariness. In heaven we'll have minds and bodies equal to the task to which we're assigned.

The second activity is seeing: We "shall see His face" [v.4]. "Now we see in a mirror, dimly" [1 Corinthians 13:12], but in heaven we shall see our Savior face to face, and we "shall be like Him" [1 John 3:2]. This is what Revelation 22:4 means when it says, "His name shall be on their foreheads." The name of God represents His perfect character, so to bear His name means to be like Him. In heaven we will never again struggle with sin but will reflect the beauty of His holiness forever.

Finally, there is reigning. We shall serve our King by ruling and reigning with Him "forever and ever" [v.5].

What will we do in heaven? We'll serve God, see our Savior, and reign with Him forever. We'll be busy! --- David Roper

In heaven we'll see our Savior
And like Him we will be;
We'll praise Him and we'll serve Him
For all eternity! --- Fitzhugh

THOSE WHO LOVE AND SERVE GOD ON EARTH WILL FEEL AT HOME IN HEAVEN.

The Pursuit Of Happiness

Read: Matthew 5:1-10

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. --- Matthew 5:3

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 13-15

Everyone is looking for happiness, and people follow may avenues trying to find it. They look for it in money, parties, self-improvement programs, fancy cars, luxurious homes, or promoting a cause.

That's the wrong list. The right one is found in Matthew 5. Jesus taught us that deep and lasting happiness comes from being right with God. He said we are blessed, or happy, when we are:

Poor in spirit --- recognizing our desperate need for God.

Mourning --- realizing the awfulness of sin and being genuinely sorry for it.

Meek --- demonstrating self-control, even when we are mistreated.

Hungry and thirsty for righteousness --- longing to be holy and pure.

Merciful --- showing mercy to others, just as God shows mercy to us.

Pure in heart --- being singleminded and sincere in our devotion to Christ.

Peacemakers - sharing the peace Christ offers, and promoting peace with one another.

Persecuted --- being willing to suffer for Jesus' sake. Looking for happiness? Follow Jesus' way. --- Dave Branon

Happy are they who love the Lord,
Whose hearts have Christ confessed,
Who by His cross have found their life,
Beneath His yoke their rest. --- Bridges

HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE, NOT ON WHAT YOU HAVE.

The Artist's Dream

Read: Revelation 5:1-10

You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. --- Revelation 5:9

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 9-12

Rita Snowden wrote a book in 1937 titled If I Open My Door. In it she described a congregation that was planning to build a new place of worship. Central to its sanctuary would be a stained-glass window depicting children worshiping Jesus.

The congregation hired an artist to paint a picture of the proposed window. He fulfilled the assignment, and that night he dreamed he heard a noise in his studio. Going to investigate, he saw a stranger altering his picture. He cried out, "Stop! You'll ruin it." But the stranger answered, "You have already ruined it." The intruder then explained that the children's faces had all been one color, but he was using many colors. When the intruder said that he wanted children of all nations and races to come to him, the artist realized he was talking to Jesus Himself.

In a world where racial differences often lead to separation and conflict, it's imperative that Christians work for unity and peace. Jesus went to the cross to bring salvation to people of every nation [Revelation 5:9]. Our witness and our fellowship must go beyond the barriers that have historically divided the human family [Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:28]/

Do we reflect Jesus' love for all people? --- Vernon Grounds

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight;
Jesus loves the little children of the world. --- Woolston

JESUS LOVES ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE ONES WHO LOOK LIKE YOU.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Read: Revelation 4

They do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" --- Revelation 4:8

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 4-8

"Time flies when you're having fun." This cliche has no basis in fact, but experience makes it seem true.

When life is pleasant, time passes all too quickly. Give me a task that I enjoy, or a person whose company I love, and time seems irrelevant.

My experience of this "reality" has given me a new understanding of the scene described in Revelation 4. In the past, when I considered the four living creatures seated around God's throne who keep repeating the same few words, I thought, What a boring existence!

I don't think that anymore. I think about the scenes they have witnessed with their many eyes [v.8]. I consider the view they have from their position around God's throne [v.6]. I think of how amazed they are at God's wise and loving involvement with wayward earthlings. Then I think, What better response could there be? What else is there to say but, "Holy, holy, holy"?

Is it boring to say the same words over and over? Not when you're in the presence of the one you love. Not when you're doing exactly what you were designed to do.

Like the four creatures, we were designed to glorify God. Our lives will never be boring if we're focusing our attention on Him and fulfilling that purpose. --- Julie Ackerman Link

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! --- Heber

A HEART IN TUNE WITH GOD CAN'T HELP BUT SING HIS PRAISE.

The Complete Story

Read: Revelation 1:1-8

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. --- Revelation 1:7

The Bible In One Year:
Revelation 1-3

At this time of year we think about the birth of the Savior. The events of His birth are of vital importance, yet we would do well to reflect also on His earthly ministry, sacrificial death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. Our redemption would be incomplete if any element were missing. It is fitting, therefore, to share with you a poem by L.W. Beckley titled, "The Rest of the Story."

We are wont to sing of shepherds
And the heavenly glory bright,
Of angels and their message
On that peaceful, holy night.

But so oft we end the story
When 'tis only just begun,
For we fail to give the message
That this Child is God the Son.

Here to give Himself a ransom,
Crucified on Calvary's tree,
Through His blood providing pardon,
Perfect cleansing, full and free.

Ant the tomb, thank God, is empty;
Jesus sits at God's right hand
Now a loving, mighty Savior;
Spread the news to every land!

The One born in Bethlehem was none other than God in human flesh. Having lived a perfect life, He died an awful death to pay the price for the sins of mankind. Now He's in heaven, and any day He could return. How wonderful to know the complete story! --- Richard De Haan

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST BROUGHT GOD TO MAN; THE CROSS OF CHRIST BRINGS MAN TO GOD.

Christmas Choice

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. --- Matthew 2:10

The Bible In One Year:
2 John, 3 John, Jude

The glitter of bright decorations, the sound of joyous Christmas carols, the happy children, and the cheerful "Merry Christmas" greetings sometimes give the impression that everybody is glad that Jesus came to our planet. But that isn't true today, and it never was.

The news of Jesus' birth evoked a mixed reaction. The wise men joyfully welcomed and worshiped the Savior [Matthew 2:10-11]. But King Herod was so troubled when he heard about it that he tried to find and kill the baby Jesus [vv.3-4, 16]. Most people, however, were unaware of the significance of what had happened.

Still today, multitudes honor Jesus and rejoice in their salvation. But many others hate Him. They grumble about the singing of Christmas carols in shopping malls and the display of nativity scenes in public places. Others are apathetic. They go along with the celebration of the season. They may join in singing Christmas carols, but they never ask themselves who Jesus is or why He came. They don't think of their need to believe on Him and receive Him as their Savior.

Are you among the indifferent? To ignore Him and His claims is to reject Him. Christmas demands a decision about Christ. The choice is yours. --- Herb Vander Lugt

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
"What will He do with me?" --- Simpson

IF YOU MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS IN YOUR HEART, HE WILL MAKE ROOM FOR YOU IN HEAVEN.

A Light In The Darkness

Read: Luke 2:25-33

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. --- John 8:12

The Bible In One Year:
1 John 3-5

An artist was painting a winter scene. Snow blanketed the ground and the pine trees. Night was falling, and the landscape was enveloped in semi-darkness. A log cabin was barely visible in the shadows. The whole scene was one of gloom.

Then the artist used some yellow tints to put the cheerful glow of a lamp in one of the cabin windows. That lone light, its golden rays reflecting on the snow, completely transformed the impression given by the painting. In contrast to the cold darkness of the surrounding forest, that light in the window created a warm feeling of love and security.

What happened on that canvas is a striking portrayal of one of the most dramatic events of all history. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem's stable, a light was placed in this sin-darkened world. The apostle John testified, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" [John 1:4].

During the week, as we commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus, let's be mindful of how much brighter this world is because He came into it. Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but have the light of life" [John 8:12].

How has Jesus brightened your life? --- Richard De Haan

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus;
Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in,
The Light of the world is Jesus. --- Bliss

WITHOUT THE LIGHT OF JESUS, WE WOULD BE IN THE DARK ABOUT GOD.

River Of Forgiveness

Read: 1 John 1:5-9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. --- 1 John 1:9

The Bible In One Year:
1 John 1-2

According to Greek mythology, King Augeus owned a stable with 3,000 oxen. Their stalls had not been cleaned out for 30 years --- hence our English word Augean, which refers to something exceedingly filthy from long neglect. Hercules, the mythical strong man, was commanded to clean the Augean stable in a single day.

When Hercules first saw the stable, he was dismayed by its size, filthiness, and stench. Then he noticed that it was located between two great rivers, the Alpheus and the Peneus. He put his great strength to work and diverted the rivers so they flowed through the building. Within a short time the stable was rinsed clean.

The story is a myth, of course, but myths by their very nature preserve the yearnings of the cultures that embrace and perpetuate them. The store reflects, I believe, our own longing for someone to wash from our lives the accumulated waste and filth of the years.

There is a powerful river of forgiveness that flows from the cross of Christ. No defilement, even though Augean, can withstand its cleansing flow. When we humbly confess our sins, all of our unrighteousness is washed away [1 John 1:9]. We can be sure that our "sins, which are many, are forgiven" [Luke 7:47]. --- David Roper

Lord, give me courage to confess,
To bare my sinful heart to Thee;
Forgiving love You long to show
And from my sin to set me free. --- D. De Haan

CONFESSION TO GOD ALWAYS BRINGS CLEANSING FROM GOD.

God's Guidance

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid." --- Matthew 1:20

The Bible In One Year:
2 Peter 1-3

The Christmas story contains a surprising glimpse into the way God guides those who trust in Him. When the Lord was about to turn the lives of Mary and Joseph upside down, He revealed His plans to them at different times and in different ways.

Mary received advance notice from the angel Gabriel that she would conceive the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit [Luke 1:30-35].

But Joseph, her fiance, seems to have received no word from God at that time. Later, when he learned of Mary's pregnancy and pondered how to end their engagement without publicly disgracing her, "an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit'" [Matthew 1:20].

Such is the mystery of God's guidance. Mary was told beforehand and Joseph had to struggle with what must have seemed a crushing blow. But no matter when God's word came to them, Mary and Joseph both faithfully obeyed.

We cannot predict all of what the Lord wants us to do nor how He will direct our lives, but we can be confident that He will guid us. And, like Mary and Joseph, we must be ready to follow His leading. --- David McCasland

God holds the future in His hands
With grace sufficient day by day,
Through good or ill He gently leads,
If we but let Him have His way. --- Rohrs

YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING IF YOU LET GOD DO THE LEADING.

Always Right

Read: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. --- 2 Peter 1:21

The Bible In One Year:
1 Peter 3-5

A weatherman boasted, "I'm 90 percent right --- 10 percent of the time." That's a ridiculous statement, but some people resort to that type of doubletalk to cover up a poor record.

The Bible's prophetic record, though, truly is accurate. Let's look at a few examples.

The Lord Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem [Micah 5:2] of a virgin [Isaiah 7:14] at the time specified [Daniel 9:25]. Infants in Bethlehem were massacred as prophesied [Jeremiah 31:15]. Jesus went down into Egypt and returned [Hosea 11:1]. Isaiah foretold Christ's ministry in Galilee [Isaiah 9:1-2]. Zechariah predicted His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a colt [Zechariah 9:9] and His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver [11:12-13]. David had never seen a Roman crucifixion, yet in Psalm 22, under divine inspirations, he penned a graphic portrayal of Jesus' death. Isaiah 53 gives a detailed picture of our Lord's rejection, mistreatment, death, and burial. These few prophecies [and there are many more] should impress us with the realiability of the Bible.

Since these predictions have all been fulfilled, let us also accept with confidence what the Bible says about the future. Remember, we have a book of prophecy that is right --- all of the time! --- Richard De Haan

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever;
For though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever! --- Luther

YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE --- GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD.

Thoughtful Praises

Read: Psalm 143

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. --- Psalm 143:5

The Bible In One Year:
1 Peter 1-2

Most of us long to praise God more joyfully than we do. One common hindrance is that no matter how hard we try, we often don't feel like praising Him.

Bible teacher Selwyn Hughes says that God has placed within us three main functions: the will, the feelings, and the thoughts. Our will, he says, has little or no power over our feelings. You can't say, "I am going to feel different," and then accomplish it by sheer willpower. What the feelings do respond to are the thoughts. Quoting another source, Hughes says: "Our feelings follow our thoughts like baby ducks follow their mother." So how can we make our thoughts the leader of our feelings?

David showed us the way in Psalm 143. Feeling overwhelmed and distressed [v.4], he took time to think about the Lord [v.5]. He remembered God's lovingkindness, trust-worthiness, and guidance [v.8]; His protection and goodness [vv.9-10]; His righteousness and mercy [vv.11-12]. Once David got going, his feelings began to follow his thoughts.

Name your own blessings daily; contemplate them thoroughly; speak about them to God and to others. Gradually your concern about feelings will diminish and you'll be praising God with joy. --- Joanie Yoder

Take control of my heart today,
Keep it filled with joy and praise
And gratitude for every good
You bestow on all my days. --- Sees

JOY THRIVES IN THE SOIL OF PRAISE.

"Where's The Baby Jesus?"

Read: Luke 2:1-12

There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. --- Luke 2:11

The Bible In One Year:
James 3-5

It seems to happen earlier each year. Stores put up Christmas decoration. Newspaper ads announce "the perfect Christmas gift." Toy commercials punctuate television shows. Christmas music fills the air. Before you know it, there are banquets to attend, parties you can't miss, gifts to wrap, family gatherings to plan, baking to be done, and a host of other activities that manage to crowd our the real meaning of Christmas.

Delores Van Belkum told me a story about her young grandson that drives home the point. His mother and father had used a simple manger scene to tell Justin about Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They wanted him to know that the Child born in Bethlehem was someone very special. As the holiday approached, Justin went on a shopping trip with his mother and grandmother. One salesperson showed him a sparkling display of Santas, toys, and decorations. He was fascinated. But he spoke words that far surpassed his years when he looked up and said, "But where's the baby Jesus?"

This Christmas, let's keep foremost in our minds the reason for the celebration --- the birth of God's Son. Then, as people listen to our words and observe our activities, they won't ask, "Where's the baby Jesus?" --- Dave Egner

Invite Him in this Christmas,
This Savior from above;
The gift He seeks you need not wrap ---
He only wants your love. --- Berg

BEWARE OF KEEPING CHRISTMAS BUT LOSING CHRIST.

They Understood

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

[God] comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble. --- 2 Corinthians 1:4

The Bible In One Year:
James 1-2

A few days before Christmas, we received a beautiful floral arrangement with a card that said, "Remembering your loss and wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love and prayers, Dave and Betty."

Seven months earlier, my sister Marti and her husband Jim had been killed in a traffic accident. This was our first Christmas without them, so it was a great encouragement to have friends acknowledge our loss and express their love in a tangible way.

Dave and Betty understood our need to grieve and find God's healing because two decades earlier their daughter had taken her onw life. Because they had experienced the Lord's comfort over the years, they were able to come alongside us in a sensitive and caring way.

That loving act came as a striking example of Paul's words: "The Father of mercies and God of all comfort ... comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" [2 Corinthians 1:3-4].

When God touches our broken hearts with His peace, we are uniquely equipped to share that with others. What a wonderful gift to give and receive at Christmas! --- David McCasland

The comfort God has given us
He wants us now to share
With others who are suffering
And caught in life's despair. --- Sper

GOD DOES NOT COMFORT US TO MAKE US COMFORTABLE, BUT TO MAKE US COMFORTERS.

Never Alone

Read: Hebrews 13:5-6

I will never leave you nor forsake you. --- Hebrews 13:5

The Bible In One Year:
Hebrews 11-13

Robinson Crusoe, the chief character in a novel by Daniel Defoe, was shipwrecked and stranded on an uninhabited island. Life was hard, but he found hope and comfort when he turned to the Word of God.

Crusoe said, "One morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these words, 'I will never, never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' Immediately it occured that these words were to me; why else should they be directed in such a manner, just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition, as one forsaken of God and man?

"'Well then,' said I, 'if God does not forsake me,... what matters it, though the world should all forsake me ...?' From this moment I began to conclude in my mind that it was possible for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary condition than it was probable that I should ever have been in any other state in the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this place."

Have you been forsaken by a friend, a child, a spouse? God has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" [Hebrews 13:5]. So you too can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" [v.6] --- David Roper

When all around me is darkness
And earthly joys have flown,
My Savior whispers His promise
Never to leave me alone. ---

FEAR WILL LEAVE US WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US.

Why Go To Church?

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. --- Hebrews 10:24-25

The Bible In One Year:
Hebrews 8-10

In a letter to the editor of a British newspaper, a man complained that he saw no sense in going to church every Sunday. "I have been attending services quite regularly for the past 30 years," he wrote, "and during that time ... I have listened to no less than 3,000 sermons. But, to my consternation, I discover I cannot remember a single one of them. I wonder if a minister's time might be more profitably spent on something else."

That letter sparked many responses. One, however, was the clincher: "I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals --- mostly of my wife's cooking. Suddenly I have discovered that I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet, I received nourishment from every one of them. I have the distinct impression that without them I would have starved to death long ago."

The Bible assumes the importance of going to church, and the only admonition to do so appears in the context of the danger of forsaking the practice [Hebrews 10:25]. We need help to keep our faith and hope from wavering [v.23], and to love and do good works [v.24]. Just as physical food keeps us alive and strong, so also the spiritual nourishment of teaching and fellowship are necessary for our survival. --- Dennis De Haan

I love to worship with others,
To read the Bible and pray,
To sing the songs about Jesus,
And learn to walk in His way. --- Hess

TO KEEP GROWING IN CHRIST, KEEP GOING TO CHURCH.

The Gift Of Obedience

Read: Zechariah 7

Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed? --- Zechariah 7:7

The Bible In One Year:
Hebrews 5-7

It's that time of year again when people think about God and goodwill more than they do at any other time. It seems that the nearer we get to Christmas, the more we notice that people have a willingness to express an interest in religious things. Both church attendance and church activities increase.

Does this heightened religious activity honor the Lord? We must be careful that what takes place is not what happened to the people of Zechariah's day. Although they engaged in religious activities, they were out to please only themselves. A vital element was missing --- obedience to God.

Instead of their conducting empty rituals, God wanted them to show their obedience to Him by: [1] administering true justice, [2] showing mercy and compassion, [3] refusing to oppress widows, orphans, and the poor, and [4] not planning evil against others [Zechariah 7:9-10].

We can best honor God during this special season by evaluating our own devotion to Him in light of these four commands to God's people. Our Lord does not want empty, self-centered religious activities from us. He wants the gift of obedience expressed in acts of kindness and helffulness for those less fortunate than we are. --- Dave Branon

Try to bring God's love and kindness
Into someone's life today;
Even just a gift of caring
Can the Savior's love display. --- Hess

KINDNESS IS ALWAYS IN SEASON.

Immanuel

Read: Isaiah 8:1-10

"The virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." --- Matthew 1:23

The Bible In One Year:
Hebrews 1-4

Since that first Christmas day 2,000 years ago, the assurance that God is with His people has taken on new meaning. Before Jesus was born, the Israelites were assured that even in judgment they could have hope because God was with them [Isaiah 8:8,10]. Yet they didn't know God as fully as we can today.

We have a great advantage because through reading the New Testament we can see the glory of God "in the face of Jesus Christ" [2 Corinthians 4:6]. And we can sense His presence in all situations of life because He is made real to us by the Holy Spirit [Romans 8:10-16].

When I started to be reassured that God is with me, I think about Jesus as He is revealed in the New Testament. I recall how He took little children in His arms and blessed them [Matthew 19:13-15]. Then I think of His crucifixion, which reminds me of all He endured to be my Savior [27:27-54]. Finally, I reflect on His promise, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" [28:20].

The birth of Jesus gave new significance to the name Immanuel, which means "God with us" [1:23]. Because He lived among us, died for us, and sent His Spirit to indwell us, we can rejoice! --- Herb Vander Lugt

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. --- Wesley

GOD CAME TO LIVE WITH US SO WE COULD LIVE WITH HIM.

Let God Do His Work

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11

Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. --- 1 Corinthians 3:7

The Bible In One Year:
Philemon

In our zeal to serve the Lord, it's easy to think that it's our responsibility to produce results. This causes us to place too much faith in our ability and too little faith in God's.

Paul observed this same tendency in the Corinthian church. Certain believers extolled the seed-planting ministry of Apollos. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul reminded them that it is God who brings the seed to fruition [vv.4-7]. Yet Paul acknowledged that their faithful efforts were part of God's plan, "and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor" [v.8].

Imagine a farmer sitting on his front porch. You ask him what he's doing. He answers, "Farming." You ask him what he's growing. He replies, "Wheat." "But your fields look unplowed and unplanted," you say. "That's right," he answers, "I'm farming by faith. Believing God for a harvest." "But shouldn't you be doing something?" you protest. He replies, "I am. I'm praying and believing!"

This story reminds us that God won't do our work for us, and 1 Corinthians teaches us that the results are not up to us. The best was to serve is to faithfully plant and water the seed, then trust God for the results. --- Joanie Yoder

God does not expect us
To make the seed bear fruit;
Jesus said to plant it,
And pray that it will root. --- Pendergraft

WE CAN PLANT THE SEED, BUT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE THE HARVEST.

How Gentle Are You?

Read: Titus 3:1-8

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. --- Philippians 4:5

The Bible In One Year:
Titus 1-3

During my years as a pastor, I encountered many Christians who were anything but gentle. They had no patience for fellow believers with character flaws or who were involved in sinful practices. They also showed little kindness toward nonbelievers. They thought that gospel messages should always include dire warnings of the torments of hell.

Recently I heard about a company that had decided to open their stores on Sunday. Because they were located in an area with many churches, the corporation received scores of condemning letters from angry Christians. Some even said they were glad there was an eternal hell for those who had made this decision. Christian and non-Christian employees were offended and embarrassed. Lack of gentleness had harmed Christ's cause.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day were quick to judge and lacked gentleness. They criticized Jesus because He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners [Matthew 11:19]. They were shocked because He showed concern for these people instead of harshly condemning them. He didn't approve of what they did, but He saw them as sinners created in God's image whom He had come to save.

Let's follow Christ's example. --- Herb Vander Lugt

O to be like Him, tender and kind,
Gentle in spirit, lowly in mind;
More like to Jesus, day after day,
Filled with His Spirit, now and always. --- Ellsworth

NOTHING IS SO STRONG AS GENTLENESS, NOTHING SO GENTLE AS REAL STRENGTH. --- Francis de Sales

Right And Wrongs

Read: 2 Timothy 4:14-18

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me, May it not be charged against them. --- 2 Timothy 4:16

The Bible In One Year:
2 Timothy 1-4

It's crucial to distinguish between personal wrongs, which we must be willing to forgive, and deliberate attacks on the gospel of Christ, which the Lord will judge. Paul drew that distinction in his letter to his young friend Timothy.

First, Paul wrote with respect to an opponent of the gospel: "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beward of him, for he has greatly resisted our words" [2 Timothy 4:14-15].

The "harm" Alexander had done to Paul was not to him personally but to his message, and he was now engaged in stirring up opposition to Timothy's proclamation of the gospel.

Then, as if to plainly contrast and distinguish between those who oppose God's work and those who personaly wrong us, Paul followed with these gracious words: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them" [2 Timothy 4:16].

How sad that Paul's fellow Christians would desert the apostle in his hour of deep need! What should be done to them? Surely they're deserving of his righteous anger. Not so. Paul said, "May it not be charged against them."

Lord, help us to be gracious too. --- David Roper

You sacrificed Your life for us ---
You shed Your blood so we could live;
So help us, Lord, to follow You,
To love each other and forgive. --- Sper

TREAT OTHERS' FAULTS AS GRACIOUSLY AS YOU DO YOUR OWN.

Joy To The World

Read: Psalm 98

The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. --- Psalm 98:2

The Bible In One Year:
1 Timothy 4-6

While walking home from a church service in Southampton, England, 20-year-old Isaac Watts told his father that the metrical psalms sung at their services lacked the dignity and beauty that should characterize hymns used in worship. His father encouraged him to try to create something better. So in the year 1694, Isaac Watts began writing hymns, and eventually put the book of Psalms into rhyming meter for worship.

Watts took the prophetic references to the coming Messiah in the Psalms and expressed them in their New Testament fulfillment. His hymns proclaimed that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. When Watts came to Psalm 98, he wrote:

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

This hymn has become a favorite of the Christmas season. It calls us to acknowledge Christ as Savior and King, and to open our hearts to His rule of love and grace.

The psalmist wrote, "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!" [98:1]. Isaac Watts did just that in his proclamation that Christ has come, and we can rejoice in Him. --- David McCasland

TO FIND JOY AT CHRISTMAS, LOOK TO JESUS.

Showing Respect

Read: 1 Chronicles 13

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one way from the snares of death. --- Proverbs 14:27

The Bible In One Year:
1 Timothy 1-3

In Myanmar [Burma], children are taught to give objects to their parents and elders with both hands. I live in nearby Singapore, and I know that in Asia it isn't polite to use only one hand to give a business card to someone. And it's extremely rude to toss it across the table to the recipient. To show respect, I should use both hands to give my business card to a person.

In 1 Chronicles 13, we see how important it is to show respect to God. David had good intentions when he decided to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. During the process, however, Uzzah touched the ark in an attempt to prevent it from falling off the cart. God struck him dead. David was stunned and upset by God's anger. Why did the Lord respond so severely?

David came to realize that what he wanted to do for God had to be done with respect for Him and His specific instructions. God had commanded that the ark be carried by the sons of Kohath on poles, not on a cart, nor was anyone to touch it [Exodus 25:14-15; Numbers 3:30-31; 4:15].

What David learned is something we too must take to heart. Showing respect for God means learning what He wants us to do and then obeying Him completely. To please the Lord, we must do His work His way. --- Albert Lee

O help me, Lord, to show respect,
To always honor You;
And may I bring You highest praise
In everything I do. --- Sper

WE RESPECT GOD WHEN WE OBEY GOD.

Why Am I Afraid?

Read: 2 Kings 6:8-17

Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. --- 2 Kings 6:16

The Bible In One Year:
2 Thessalonians 1-3

Columnist George Cantor told how he dealt with a childhood fear. Almost every night he would wake up in the darkness and imagine scary creatures lurking inside his room. Often he would be too scared to go back to sleep. Sometimes he would go and lie down by his parents' bedroom door, figuring that as long as he was near them, nothing would hurt him.

That child's need for some physical evidence of his parents' presence reminds me of the young servant of Elisha. He woke up early one morning and found that the Syrian army had surrounded the city. Alarmed and afraid, he cried out to Elisha, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" [2 Kings 6:15]. After Elisha prayed, the Lord opened the young servant's eyes. What he saw must have filled him with awe and wonder. The Bible says that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" [v.17]. The Lord's army was there to protect them.

We too at times long for God to give us some kind of reassurance that He is near, and sometimes He does. But that's the exception. He wants us to learn to trust His promise that He is with us. No matter how frightening the situation, God's people always have more on their side than the enemy has on his. --- Mart De Haan

At times our fears may loom so large
We long for proof that God is near;
It's then our Father says to us,
"Have faith, My child, and do not fear." -- D. De Haan

FAITH KNOWS THAT GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

Give It Away

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. --- 1 Thessalonians 2:8

The Bible In One Year:
1 Thessalonians 1-5

Parents, teachers, and school board members in central Texas were astounded when a retired couple offered 4-year college scholarships to all 45 children in a local school's first-grade class. The only conditions are that the child stays off drugs, graduates from the high school in that district, and attends an accredited Texas public university, junior college, or trade school. Years earlier, a company had paid half the college tuition for one of the donors, and he never forgot. "They helped me," he says, "and not it's my turn."

All of us have received a gift we can share with others. Although it may not be money, it's something that has enhanced our lives. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that "we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" [1 Thessalonians 2:8].

What has been given to you that you need to pass along in the name of Christ? The gift of listening when someone needs to talk? Sharing a Bible-study group where people learn to nourish themselves from the Word? Sending a thoughtful card to someone with a heavy heart?

The gospel is always most effective when it is shared by people who joyfully give themselves away. --- David McCasland

The message you may give,
The words that come from you,
Most truly honor Jesus
When love is given too. --- D. De Haan

GOD GIVES TO YOU SO YOU CAN GIVE TO OTHERS.

It's All For Him

Read: Colossians 1:13-20

All things were created through Him and for Him. --- Colossians 1:16

The Bible In One Year:
Colossians 1:16

It's a little phrase of just two words at the end of Colossians 1:16 --- "for Him." Yet that little phrase gives God's own interpretation of history. In those two words He affirms that Jesus is the final and complete explanation of everything.

All that has happened and ever will happen is moving through time toward that climactic hour when every tongue will confess the lordship of Jesus Christ. Every knee, whether in grateful adoration or under compulsion, will then bow to Him [Philippians 2:10-11].

British historian H.A.L. Fisher apparently did not share that view. He sadly confessed, "Men wiser and more learned than I have discovered in history a plot, a rhythm, a predetermined pattern. These harmonies are concealed from me. I can see only one emergency following upon another as wave follows upon wave ... nothing but the play of the contingent and the unforeseeable."

What about you? Are you overwhelmed by what seems to be the aimless sequence of events? If so, look once more at Jesus --- His life, death, resurrection, and promised return. Your troubled heart will be filled with hope and confidence as the world -- when you live "for Him." --- Vernon Grounds

One life to live for Christ my Lord,
One life to do my part,
One life in which to give my all
With fervency of heart. -- Brandt

CHRIST SHOWED HIS LOVE BY DYING FOR US; WE SHOW OUR LOVE BY LIVING FOR HIM.

Is It Time To Pray?

Read: Philippians 4:1-7

In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. --- Philippians 4:6

The Bible In One Year:
Philippians 1-4

When people face trials, they often turn to prayer only as a last resort. I knew a man who was fighting a valiant battle with cancer. As people observed the gradual effect on his body and lifestyle, one person said, "Well, they've tried everything else. I guess it's time to begin praying."

Another man was going through an extremely difficult time at work. It was a crisis of major proportions that had ominous implications for him and for the future of his company. He just couldn't resolve it. Finally he said, "I've tried everything I know to get through this situation and nothing has worked. It's time to start praying."

In both of these instances, prayer was seen as a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem. Only after all other options were eliminated did the person decide to pray. It was a desperate "grasping at straws."

Instead of prayer being a last resort, it should be one of the first things we do. The Lord answers prayer, and He wants us to come to Him continually with all of our needs [1 Thessalonians 5:17]. The Bible tells us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer ... let your requests be made known to God" [Philippians 4:6].

So don't wait. It's always time to pray. --- Dave Egner

Any hour when helping others
Or when bearing heavy care
Is the time to call our Father ---
It's the proper time for prayer. --- Zimmerman

PRAYER SHOULD BE OUR FIRST RESPONSE RATHER THAN OUR LAST RESORT.

True Love

Read: Ephesians 5:25-33

Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. --- Ephesians 4-6

The Bible In One Year:
Ephesians 4-6

One day I got a call from a young man named Ewing. He and our daughter Julie had known each other for nearly a year, and they were in love. Ewing wanted to know if he could marry Julie. After asking him several questions and getting the responses I needed to hear, I gave him my approval. Then came a big surprise. I asked him when he wanted to marry Julie, and he replied, "In 2 or 3 weeks." He loved Julie so much that he wanted to be with her all the time. True love called for action.

About a month later, just 2 weeks after the wedding, my new son-in-law said to me, "I just want you to know that Julie is my best friend. We have such a great time together."

Some of us who've been married a long time may think that our experience makes us experts on matrimony. But I believe we can learn from newlyweds. First, when two people are truly in love, they will deeply care for each other and cherish their time together. Second, true love means that a couple's relationship will be characterized by the good each one does for the other. How can two people with those characteristics be anything but best friends?

Jesus is the ultimate source of love and respect [Ephesians 5:25-33]. True love is Christlike love. --- Dave Branon

Look upon your partner's need ---
Love demands the loving deed;
Let your love be love that's true,
Prove it by the deeds you do. --- Anon.

A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE REQUIRES FALLING IN LOVE MANY TIMES --- WITH THE SAME PERSON.

A Little Kinder

Read: Ephesians 4:25-32

The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared. --- Titus 3:4

The Bible In One Year:
Ephesians 1-3

Aldous Huxley [1894-1963], one of the world's leading intellects, was visiting with Houston Smith, a well-known professor of philosophy and religion. As they were driving to an engagement, Huxley said, "You know, Houston, it's rather embarrassing to have spent one's entire lifetime pondering the human condition and ... find that I really don't have anythng more profound to pass on by way of advice than, 'Try to be a little kinder.'"

The apostle Paul saw kindness in a different light. In Ephesians 4:32, he linked being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving with the way God has treated us. In Titus 3:4, he said that it was "the kindness and the love of God" that provided eternal salvation.

In a world where callous thoughtfulness and selfish indifference are all too common, kindness can make our lives fruitful when motivated by Christlike love. When our walk harmonizes with our words of witness, it will make a compelling impact on others by pointing them to the kind of love God has for them in Jesus Christ. If Huxley had learned what Paul had learned, he would have seen that trying to be a little kinder is one of the most profound truths of all.

What motivates us to try? There's no better reason than the love of God as shown to us by Jesus. --- Vernon Grounds

He saw me ruined by the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,
His lovingkindness, oh, how great! --- Medley

KINDNESS IS TREATING OTHERS THE WAY GOD TREATS YOU.

The Battle Within

Read: Galatians 5:13-26

Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. --- Galatians 5:16

The Bible In One Year:
Galatians 4-6

In his letter to Christians in Galatia, Paul tried to get them to understand the inner conflict that all who belong to Christ will experience. This battle is between "the flesh" [our sinful human nature] and the Holy Spirit who lives within us [Galatians 5:17].

Because our self-centered nature wants its own way, it fights the rule of Christ within us. So we often end up doing our will rather than God's [v.17].

Once I prayed in desperation, "Lord, please show me how to overcome!" God directed me to Paul's words in Galatians 5:16 --- "Walk in the Spirit." I kept reading, and came to recognize my own "works of the flesh" --- my envy, anger, hatred, and selfish ambitions [vv.19-21].

I asked God for forgiveness, and I came to understand that I have been crucified with Christ [2:20]. The power of my sinful flesh has been broken [5:24; Romans 6:6-7]. I've gradually learned to bring this "death" into effect by allowing my flesh no more rights than a corpse! So I resolve daily to recognize and obey Christ's will alone. I sometimes fail, but repentance puts me back in step with the Holy Spirit.

We face this conflict every day, but the Spirit can overcome our sinful desires and win the battle. Which side is winning in your life? --- Joanie Yoder

Lord, grant me strength from day to day ---
How prone I am to go astray!
The passions of my flesh are strong;
Be Thou, my God, a shield from wrong. --- D. De Haan

GOD WILL GIVE US THE VICTORY, BUT WE MUST BE WILLING TO FIGHT.

A Great Light

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. --- Isaiah 9:2

The Bible In One Year:
Galatians 1-3

I was driving through the mountains of western Maryland on a cold December night. As I topped a ridge near Rocky Gap State Park, a brilliant sea of lights caught my attention. What in the world is that? I wondered as the exit road flashed past. It so aroused my curiosity that 5 miles down the interstate I turned around and drove back to see what it was --- a local community's celebration in lights during the Christmas season. At noon, I wouldn't have noticed anything. But at night, the dazzling display couldn't be ignored.

Strange, isn't it, that we complain about the moral and spiritual darkness of our world, yet it is the perfect setting for the radiance of the Lord Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we often read these prophetic words: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined" [Isaiah 9:2].

Jesus said to Himself: "I am the light of the world" [John 8:12], and to His disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" [Matthew 5:14].

In a dark world, people don't see a great light without wondering why it's there and what it means. We get to tell them. --- David McCasland

O Holy One of glorious birth
Who lives within our heart,
May we to all men everywhere
Your wondrous love impart. --- Brandt

TO LEAD OTHERS OUT OF THE DARKNESS, LET THEM SEE YOUR LIGHT.

Unanswered Prayer

Read: Matthew 26:36-44

O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done. --- Matthew 26:42

The Bible In One Year:
2 Corinthians 10-13

Have you or a friend been afflicted with an illness for which there is no medical cure? Has God denied your repeated requests for healing? Has His refusal to say yes caused you to question His purpose?

An article by Carol Bradley tells us about the wisdom of Craig Satterlee, a seminary professor in Chicago. He has been legally blind since birth, with only 20 percent of normal vision. Does he complain, saying that God has not kept His promise to answer prayer? By no means! He believes wholeheartedly that God has given him something even better.

"I am whole," he testifies, "even though I am legally blind." If introduced as a believer in the power of prayer, he graciously explains, "I don't believe in the power of prayer. I believe in the power and presence of God, so I pray." He adds, "We know that God brings light out of darkness, life out of death, hope out of despair. That's what Scripture teaches us."

Prayer isn't the way to get God to do whatever we want. It's an expression of our trust in His power, wisdom, and grace. No matter what we ask God to do for us, we are to have the attitude of Jesus, who said, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" [Matthew 26:39]. --- Vernon Grounds

I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know --- God answers prayer;
I leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own. --- Hickok

GOD'S ANSWERS ARE WISER THAN OUR PRAYERS.

Pain's Purpose

Read: Hebrews 12:7-11

No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. --- Hebrews 12:11

The Bible In One Year:
2 Corinthians 7-9

Affliction, when we accept it with patience and humility, can lead us to a deeper, fuller life. "Before I was afflicted I went astray," David wrote, "but not I keep Your Word" [Psalm 119:67]. And again, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" [v.71].

Pain, far from being an obstacle to our spiritual growth, can actually be the pathway to it. If we allow pain to train us, it can lead us closer to God and into His Word. It is often the means by which our Father graciously shapes us to be like His Son, gradually giving us the courage, compassion, contentment, and tranquility we long and pray for. Without pain, God would not accomplish all that He desires to do in and through us.

Are you one whom God is instructing through suffering and pain? By His grace, you can endure His instruction patiently [2 Corinthians 12:9]. He can make the trial a blessing and use it to draw you into His heart and into His Word. He can also teach you the lessons He intends for you to learn, and give you His peace in the midst of your difficulties.

The Bible tells us, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" [James 1:2]. God is making more out of you than you ever thought possible. --- David Roper

Through trials we learn to overcome,
Through Christ our victories are won;
Come lay your burdens at His feet
And find this inner peace so sweet. --- Halsey

CHRIST CAN TRANSFORM PAINFUL TRIALS INTO GLORIOUS TRIUMPHS.

Ordinary Days

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

In all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses. --- 2 Corinthians 6:4

The Bible In One Year:
2 Corinthians 4-6

Have you ever received an annual holiday letter from an acquaintance that recounts the ordinary events of the past year? Has anyone told you about cleaning the carpet or taking out the trash? Not likely.

An online publication called the Journal Of Mundane Behavior says these routine events fill most of our time. The managing editor, a sociologist, says everyday life is valuable, since we spend nearly 60 percent of our lives doing things like commuting to work and shopping for groceries.

We don't often consider the apostle Paul's ordinary days, but he wrote, "In all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God" [2 Corinthians 6:4]. "All things" included not only harsh persecution but also "needs, sleeplessness, purity, kindness, love" and other everyday experiences [vv. 4-10].

Oswald Chambers said that we tend to lose our enthusiasm "when there is no vision, no uplift, but just the common round, the trivial task. The thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God" [My Utmost For His Highest, March 6].

So let's live today to the fullest for the Lord, because it's such an important, ordinary day. --- David McCasland

If we commit ourselves to Christ
And follow in His way,
He'll give us life that satisfies
With purpose for each day. --- Sper

TO GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE, MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT FOR CHRIST.

The Music Of Joy

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-43

God had made them rejoice with great joy ..., so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. --- Nehemiah 12:43

The Bible In One Year:
2 Corinthians 1-3

Several years ago, during a Christian men's conference in Boulder, Colorado, I stood with 50,000 men as we sang "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." The volume of the singing was incredible in the football stadium, and I've often wondered how it sounded outside. Could people hear it as they walked through a nearby park, sat on their patios, or drove by in cars? What impression did it leave with them?

That great sound of praise reminded me of what is described in today's Bible reading. The book of Nehemiah begins with a confession, continues with a construction project, and ends with a concert. The entire story is a study in God's faithfulness and power.

After years of hard work despite opposition, the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt. At the dedication, two "thanksgiving choirs" stood on the wall to praise God. We are told that "the singers sang loudly .... God had made them rejoice with great joy ..., so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off" [Nehemiah 12:42-43].

Joy cannot be contained. It must break out in praise to God through songs of thanksgiving. Whether those who hear our outpouring of joy understand it or not, it will resound as a chorus that cannot be ignored --- the music of lives lived out in praise to God. --- David McCasland

Let us celebrate together,
Lift our voice in one accord,
Singing of God's grace and mercy
And the goodness of the Lord. --- Sper

EACH NEW DAY GIVES US NEW REASONS TO SING GOD'S PRAISE.

In His Presence

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Death is swallowed up in victory. --- 1 Corinthians 15:54

The Bible In One Year:
1 Corinthians 13-16

As the congregation around me sang the final verse of "Amazing Grace," I couldn't sing. I found myself instead wiping tears from my eyes as I stared at John Newton's words, "When we've been there 10,000 years, ... we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun."

At that moment I wasn't interested in 10,000 years in heaven. All I could think of was that my 17-year-old daughter was already there. Melissa, who just a few months earlier had been looking forward to her senior year of high school, was in heaven. She was already experiencing an eternity that we can only talk and sing about.

When Melissa was killed in a car accident in the spring of 2002, heaven took on new meaning for our family. Because our bright, beautiful teen had trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior, we knew she was there. As Paul said, "Death is swallowed up in victory" [1 Corinthians 15:54]. To us, heaven became even more real. We knew that as we talked with God, we were talking to Someone who had our Melissa in His presence.

The reality of heaven is one of the Bible's most glorious truths. It's a real place where our loved ones live in the presence of our great God, forever serving Him and singing His praises --- all because of His amazing grace! --- Dave Branon

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun. --- Newton

CHRISTIANS NEVER SAY GOODBYE TO EACH OTHER FOR THE LAST TIME.

Traveling Light

Read: Luke 12:13-21

Whose will those things be which you have provided? --- Luke 12:20

The Bible In One Year:
1 Corinthians 9-12
Many vacation travelers take along too much stuff. They pack more shoes, clothes, and gadgets than they will ever need. Their mindset is, "I better not forget anything because I can't go home and get it." They would be better off if they asked, "How much can I get along without?" They often end up dragging around heavier-than-necessary suitcases. Some people even purchase so many new items on vacation that they have to leave some of their other stuff behind in the hotel.

We're inclined to accumulate far too many possessions on our journey through life. We're bombarded with ads that urge us to purchase things we "just can't live without." So we buy more and more and more.

The rich man in Jesus' parable [Luke 12:13-21] may have been dreaming about all the good things he could acquire because he had a great crop. He said he would build bigger barns, and he would spend his time eating, drinking, and partying. But God told him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" [v.20].

The principle is clear: Be "rich toward God," not rich in things [v.21]. Besides, you'll have to leave it all behind when it's time to go Home. --- Dave Egner

If we pursue mere earthly gain,
We choose a path that ends in pain;
But joy will stay within the soul
When we pursue a heavenly goal. --- D. De Haan

LIFE IS MORE THAN THE THINGS WE STORE.

People Pressure

Read: 1 Kings 12:1-17

Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. --- Proverbs 16:19

The Bible In One Year:
1 Corinthians 5-8

The desire for the approval of others makes us do strange things. We wear clothing that is fashionable whether we like it or not, we accept invitations we would rather decline, and we work much harder than we want to for a level of financial success we don't need. Most regrettably, however, we sometimes choose to follow a crowd that encourages us to do what is wrong.

In 1 Kings 12, we read about King Rehoboam, who also succumbed to people pressure. He rejected the good advice of older wise men who had known his father Solomon and the mistakes he had made as king. Rehoboam listened instead to the counsel of his peers, younger advisors with whom he had grown up. They were probably motivated by pride and a desire for power, and he was obviously swayed by their influence. How dearly he paid for his mistake!

People pressure --- we are all influenced by it. It bears down on us from all directions. But we can choose the path we will take. If we are swayed by the proud or by those who love money, live for pleasure, or long for power, people pressure will lead us down the path that ends in destruction. But if we heed the counsel of those who are humble, good, and godly, we will follow the way that pleases God. --- Herb Vander Lugt

"Seek ye first" not earth's aspirings,
Ceaseless longings, vain desirings,
But your precious soul's requirings ---
"Seek ye first!" --- Anon.

THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE CROWD SOON BECOME PART OF THE CROWD.

Thoughtful Praises

Read: Psalm 47

God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. --- Psalm 47:7

The Bible In One Year:
1 Corinthians 1-4

I wonder what God thinks about the way we sing at church. I'm not talking about the quality of our voices, but the honesty of our words. If we're being truthful, the following rewritten hymn titles might more accurately express what's in our hearts as we sing:

"Just As I Am" is "Just As I Pretend To Be."
"O How I Love Jesus" becomes "O How I Like Jesus."
"I Surrender All" is actually "I Surrender Some."
"He's Everything To Me" means "He's Quite A Bit To Me."

Jesus said that we are to worship Him in truth [John 4:24]. Singing sincerely and with understanding is a serious challenge [Psalm 47:7].

Let's take up the challenge by seeking God's help to make the original titles of these hymns true for us. In repentance and without pretense, let's turn to Him just as we are. In His forgiving presence, let's declare total love for Jesus by surrendering all to Him. As a result, Jesus truly will become everything to us. Then we will be able to sing honestly about Jesus Christ and our love for Him.

As we make melody in our hearts to the Lord [Ephesians 5:19], let's worship in spirit and in truth. --- Joanie Yoder

You are the chosen of the Lord
To sing His highest praise,
And through the melody of song
To show His wondrous ways. --- Anon.

TO SING GOD'S PRAISE, KEEP YOUR HEART IN TUNE WITH HIM.

A Life Observed

Read: Romans 12:3-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. --- Romans 12:6

The Bible In One Year:
Romans 12-16

The death of C.S. Lewis on November 22, 1963, has long been overshadowed by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on the same day. While the anniversary of Lewis' death rarely makes the headlines, the worldwide impact of this British scholar, teacher, and author continues to grow 40 years after his passing.

His books sell more than 3 million copies a year and the most famous, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia, have been reprinted scores of times.

Converted to Christ as an adult, Lewis put his keen mind and imagination to work in the service of God. As a well-known writer and speaker, he continued a simple lifestyle. Michael Nelson has written in the International Herald Tribune: "Two-thirds of his book royalties were earmarked for charities. He never traveled abroad, even when fame brought invitations to lecture from around the world."

Lewis gave us the incomparable gift of fresh, creative look at our fallen human condition and the timeless power of the gospel of Christ. He lived out the command to serve the body of believers through whatever gift God has given us by His grace [Romans 12:4-6]. His example can spur us on to use our God-given gifts for His glory. --- David McCasland

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
How has God gifted you to serve?
If you don't know, prayerfully seek godly counsel
and then reach out to build others up.

GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE TO CARRY OUT HIS EXTRAORDINARY PLAN.

Give Your Heart

Read: Romans 9:1-5

I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen. --- Romans 9:3

The Bible In One Year:
Romans 9-11

Felipe Garza was 15 when he gave away his heart. His girlfriend Donna Ashlock had become critically ill and needed a heart transplant. One day he told his mom, quite unexplainable, "I'm going to die, and I'm going to give my heart to my girlfriend." He died suddenly 3 weeks later when a blood vessel ruptured in his brain. Doctors then took Felipe's heart and gave it to Donna, saving her life.

That boy's love illustrates Paul's wish for his Jewish countrymen. He too spoke of giving his life so that others could live. Paul, though, was thinking of eternal life. He said that if it were possible [and he knew it wasn't], he would endure the loss of his eternal salvation if that would result in the salvation of the people he loved so much [Romans 9:3].

In spite of his desire to rescue the people he loved from an eternity apart from Christ, Paul couldn't endure hell for his countrymen. Yet his expression of love reminds us of what Jesus Christ did. He really did endure hell for us. He really did give His life so that we might live.

Lord, we know we can't die to gain the salvation of someone else. But by Your Spirit give us a love that cares more for the eternal well-being of others than our own temporary comfort. To You and to them, we give our heart. --- Mart De Haan

Help me to see the tragic plight
Of souls far off in sin;
Help me to love, to pray, and go
To bring the wandering in. --- Harrison

THOSE WHO LOVE CHRIST HAVE A HEART FOR THE LOST.

Take Action!

Read: Romans 8:12-16

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. --- Matthew 5:29

The Bible In One Year:
Romans 5-8

Shameful behavior is being displayed in magazines, movies, and on television. Immorality is even joked about. The world is seeking to convince everyone that nothing is sinful anymore. So we must be on guard against any compromise in our hearts.

While I was in the military, I realized that I was becoming unmoved by the obscene words and conduct of some of my fellow soldiers. When I recognized what was happening, I asked the Lord to restore my sensitivity to the grievous nature of sin.

A permissive attitude toward evil will lead us to fall into sin. That's why we are to deal radically with every form of wickedness.

Jesus went so far as to say that we should pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin [Matthew 5:29]. He didn't mean we should maim our bodies, but rather we are to take strong action when tempted to sin. Books, magazines, or video images that arouse wrong desires must be deliberately avoided. This is also what Paul had in mind when he said we are to "put to death the deeds of the body" [Romans 8:13]. Someone who is indifferent to the sin around him or trifles with it in his own life is in grave danger.

We cannot ignore the seriousness of this issue. It's time to take action! --- Herb Vander Lugt

Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul,
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole. --- Wesley

TO AVOID BEING TEMPTED BY FORBIDDEN FRUIT, STAY AWAY FROM THE DEVIL'S ORCHARD.

Fitness Training

Read: Psalm 119:97-104

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. --- Psalm 119:97

The Bible In One Year:
Romans 1-4

My wife is an avid exerciser. She walks, rollerblades, and bikes to keep in shape. Because of her interest in exercise, she has encouraged our children to participate in sports activities at school and to exercise along with her.

Why does she feel this is so important? It's simple: When she doesn't exercise several times a week, she doesn't feel physically fit. She feels sluggish and lethargic. She feels that her heart is not being strengthened as it should be.

But she doesn't stop with the physical part of her life. She also participates in spiritual exercise. She knows that in our walk with God we need "heart exercise" to stay fit.

The writer of Psalm 119 saw the importance of daily spiritual exercise. He loved the Word of God, meditated on it throughout the day, and obeyed it. His prayers were from his whole heart, and his hope for each new day came directly from God's Word.

How much more spiritually healthy we would be if we engaged in a godly fitness training program that matched that of the psalmist! Do you read the Bible, meditate on its truths, and pray each day? If not, begin spiritual fitness training today. --- Dave Branon

Increase your knowledge of God's Word,
For in it you will find
The wisdom that you need for life,
Which comes from God's own mind. --- Sper

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH REQUIRES A TRAINING PROGRAM OF BIBLE READING AND PRAYER.

Let's Go Higher!

Read: Acts 28:11-16

When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. --- Acts 28:15

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 27-28

Author Ragnar Arlander tells about the time he and some friends scaled Mt. Rainier. When they reached a plateau, the group decided they had gone far enough.

Arlander, however, continued the climb to find a person who had traveled on ahead. Eventually he found him resting, gazing at a beautiful glacier. The man was ready to go back, but when he saw Arlander approaching, he jumped up and exclaimed, "Since you've come, let's go higher!"

This experience makes me think of the events described in Acts 28. As the apostle Paul was traveling to Rome, he met some fellow believers, and "when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage" [v.15].

What better compliment could be offered us than to have someone say, "Talking to you has encouraged me to continue on in my spiritual walk." The world is filled with troubled and discouraged souls who are struggling along in the Christian life. Battle weary, they are almost ready to give up. When they see you, what influence do you have on them? Do you inspire them to more noble lives of service? Or does your example tend to drag them down?

May we influence others in such a way that they will take heart and say, "I want to go higher!" --- Richard De Haan

Oh, I would be to others
A cheering ray of light,
Inspiring them with courage
To climb some new-found height! --- Bosch

THE HUMAN SPIRIT SOARS WITH HOPE WHEN LIFTED BY AN ENCOURAGING WORD.

Routinely Fresh

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-9

That which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. --- Ecclesiastes 1:9

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 25-26

All of us are bound to repeat ourselves as we go about our daily routine. Time after time we eat, sleep, work, and clean up. We can lose our enthusiasm for life if "there is nothing new under the sun" [Ecclesiastes 1:9].

There is another way to view life, however. The world may be likened to a stage on which the drama of eternity is being unfolded. We are the actors. The sun rises and falls like a great curtain day after day, and every tiem we "repeat our lines" we make a decision. We either respond to the cues of our daily circumstances just to get our part over with, or we look at our role in life as a wonderful opportunity to know and enjoy the goodness and wisdom of the great Director [5:18-50; 12:13-14].

As we gladly participate in this repetitive activity, character is formed, faith is strengthened, hope is increased, and endurance is developed. Through the normal course events, God is saying to us that there is more to our earthly existence than the meaningless round of duties.

Part of God's plan for us is that we yield to His guidance in ordinary events that occur over and over again. Repeatedly trusting the Lord throughout this month, this week, this day, and this hour is by far the surest way to make life routinely fresh. --- Mart De Haan

I wonder what I did for God today:
How many times did I once pause and pray?
But I must find and serve Him in these ways,
For life is made of ordinary days. --- Macbeth

IF LIFE IS A GRIND, USE IT TO SHARPEN YOUR CHARACTER.

Handling Criticism

Read: Amos 7:7-15

The LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, "Go, prophesy to My people Israel." --- Amos 7:15

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 22-24

As we grow older, we sometimes become set in our ways and unwilling to admit when we are wrong. Worse yet, if we don't see eye-to-eye with others, we become critical of them and try to discredit their views.

Some people, for example, when they disagree with a pastor, seem to be quick to judge motives. They may even suggest that the preacher is only looking for a paycheck.

This type of criticism happened to Amos about 750 BC. The prophet had been preaching a tough message about God's judgment of Israel. Understandably, his message was unpopular. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, was irritated and told Amos to go back to Judah. Amaziah accused Amos of being a prophet-for-hire, preaching just to make a living [7:12]. Amos responded by saying that he was prophesying only because God had told him to speak [v.15].

If we are preaching or leading, we must faithfully serve the Lord as Amos did, even if the task is unpleasant, unpopular, or rejected by our audience. And if we're in the congregation, we need to be sure that when we hear something we don't agree with, we're not actually resisting what the Lord wants us to hear and do.

That's how to handle criticism. --- Albert Lee

Lord, we can't see each wrong we do,
So send us help from Christians who
Will notice faults we do not see
And tell us of them tactfully. --- Branon

NEVER FEAR CRITICISM WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT; NEVER IGNORE IT WHEN YOU'RE WRONG.

Finding Our Way Home

Read: Philippians 2:1-4, 12-16

... you shine as lights in the world. --- Philippians 2:15

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 19-21

Author Anne Lamott tells about a 7-year-old girl who got lost in a big city. The girl frantically ran up and down several streets, looking for a familiar landmark. A policeman saw the girl, realized something was wrong, and offered to help. So she got in the car and he slowly drove through nearby neighborhoods. Suddenly the girl pointed to let her out. She assured him, "This is my church, and I can always find my way home from here."

Many people think the church is an archaic institution, no longer relevant in our modern world. Yet I am convinced that a church that faithfully teaches the Bible and proclaims the good news of salvation through Christ provides exactly what we all need to "find our way home."

When our churches are fulfilling their God-given function, believers humbly serve and care for one another, encouraging each other to follow Christ's example [Philippians 2:1-11]. Those groups of believers, by their words and lives, also paint a lost world to Jesus. They serve "as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life" [vv.15-16].

A church that teaches the truth about Christ is not only relevant desperately needed in our world. It can help people of all ages to find their way home. --- Vernon Grounds

Christ builds His church and makes it strong
By using you and me;
And if we all will do our part,
The world His love will see. -- Sper

A CHURCH HELPS THE LOST TO FIND THEIR WAY HOME WHEN ITS LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTLY.

Salmon Run

Read: Matthew 11:25-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. --- Matthew 11:28

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 17-18

Salmon fascinate me. Each August I drive a few miles north of my home in Idaho and watch them make their weary way through the last stages of their spawning run to the sandbars along Lake Creek. I always think of the long journey they've taken.

Some months earlier, they leave the Pacific Ocean and begin their run up the Columbia to the Snake River, then up the main fork of the Salmon River to the East Fork, up the Secesh River to Lake Creek --- more than 700 miles.

Driven by instinct, they swim against currents, up waterfalls, and around hydroelectric dams. Despite eagles, bears, and many other predators, they struggle to reach their ancestral spawning grounds to lay their eggs.

Their journey reminds me of the human journey. We too have a homing instinct. "There exists in the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, a sense of Deity," John Calvin said. We are born and we live for the express purpose of knowing and loving God. He is the source of our life, and our hearts are restless until they come to Him.

Are you restless today, driven by discontent and a longing for that elusive "something more"? Jesus Christ is the source and satisfaction of all you seek. Come to Him today and find rest for your soul [Matthew 11:28]. --- David Roper

Looking to Jesus, my spirit is blest,
The world is in turmoil, in Him I have rest;
The sea of my life around me may roar,
When I look to Jesus, I hear it no more. --- Anon.

OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS TILL THEY FIND THEIR REST IN CHRIST.

Our Place Of Refuge

Read: Psalm 57

In the shadow of Your wings I wil make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. --- Psalm 57:1

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 15-16

It is believed that David wrote Psalm 57 while fleeing from King Saul, who had hatred in his heart for the former shepherd boy. David ducked into a cave and barely escaped his pursuer. He was safe temporarily, but the threat was still there.

We've all been there. Maybe not in a cave, but pursued by something that strikes fear into our hearts. Perhaps it is the deep sorrow that follows the death of someone we love. Maybe it's the fear of an unknown future. Or it could be an oppressive physical illness that won't go away
In such circumstances, God does not always remove the difficulty, but He is present to help us. We wish that He would swoop in and whisk us to safety --- just as David may have wished for a quick end to Saul's pursuit. We plead with God to stop the pain and make the road to tomorrow smooth and straight. We beg Him to eliminated our struggle. But the difficulty remains. It is then that we have to take refuge in God as David did. While hiding in that cave, he said, "In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by" [Psalm 57:1].

Are you in the middle of trouble? Take refuge in the Most High God. --- Dave Branon

Christian, when your way seems darkest,
When your eyes with tears are dim,
Straight to God your Father hastening,
Tell your troubles all to Him. --- Anon.

WE LEARN THE LESSON OF TRUST IN THE SCHOOL OF TRIAL.

Parents Who Pray

Read: Matthew 19:13-15

Little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray. --- Matthew 19:13

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 13-14

A young mother sent these lines to a magazine: "I wish I could wrap my children in bubble wrap to protect them from the big, bad world outside."

Author Stormie Omartian understands how that mother feels. In her book The Power Of A Praying Parent, she writes, "One day I cried out to God, saying, 'Lord, this is too much for me. I can't keep a 24-hours-a-day, moment-by-moment watch on my son. How can I ever have peace?

God responded by leading Stormie and her husband to become praying parents. They began to intercede for their son daily, mentioning the details of his life in prayer.

The desire to wrap our children in bubble wrap to protect them is rooted in fear, a common tendency, especially among mothers. Wrapping them in prayer, as Jesus did [Matthew 19:13-15], is a powerful alternative. He cares more about our children than we do, so we can release them into His hands by praying for them. He doesn't promise us that nothing bad will happen to them. But as we pray, He will give us the peace we long for [Philippians 4:6-7].

This challenge is for all parents --- even those whose children have grown up: Don't ever stop wrapping your children in prayer! --- Joanie Yoder

If we but take the time to pray,
And seek God's guidance every day,
He'll give us strength and wisdom too,
To help our child grow strong and true. --- Garka

EVERY CHILD NEEDS A PRAYING PARENT.

The Storm

Read: Matthew 7:21-29

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. --- Matthew 7:24

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 10-12

Neal Beidleman survived the ill-fated 1996 expedition in which eight climbers died on Mount Everest. Some of them had paid $65,000 for a chance to scale the world's highest peak. In assessing what went wrong, Beidleman said, "Tragedies and disasters ... are not the result of a single decision, a single event, or a single mistake. They are the culmination of things in your life. Something happens and it becomes a catalyst for all the things you've had at risk."

On Everest, that "something" was a raging blizzard. According to journalist Todd Burgess, "If not for the storm, the climbers may have gotten away with taking so many risks. But the storm exposed their weaknesses."

The things at risk in our lives today --- matters of spiritual indifference or disobedience --- can overwhelm us when the storms come. Jesus told a story of the wise and foolish builders to stress the importance of obedience to His words [Matthew 7:24-27]. He said, "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock" [v.24].

Obedience to Christ doesn't eliminate the tempests of life, but it does determine whether we fall or stand in the storm. --- David McCasland

Living for the Lord, fearing Him each day,
Best prepares the soul for the stormy way;
Then as trials come, tempting to despair,
We can rest secure, safe within His care. --- D. De Haan

THE STORMS OF LIFE REVEAL THE STRENGTH OF OUR FAITH.

Copy The Master

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1

Be imitators of God as dear children. --- Ephesians 5:1

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 6-9

The Louvre in Paris is perhaps the most famous art museum in the world. It displays originals by such masters as Delacroix, Michaelangelo, Rubens, da Vinci, Ingres, Vermeer, and many others.

Since 1793, the Louvre has encouraged aspiring artists to come and copy the masters. Some of our most famous modern artists have done that and have become better painters by copying the best the world has ever known.

An article in Smithsonian magazine tells about Amal Dagher, a 63-year-old man who has been duplicating art at the Louvre for 30 years. Dagher remains in awe of the masters and continues to learn from them. He said, "If you're too satisfied with yourself, you can't improve."

Paul instructed us to be "imitators of God" [Ephesians 5:1]. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, he commended the believers because they were becoming like the Lord and setting an example for others [1 Thessalonians 1:6-10].

Like the Louvre copyists, we'll never reach perfection before we get to heaven. Even so, we must resist the temptation to be satisfied with our present imitation of Jesus. We need to keep looking to Him, learning from Him, and asking for His help. Let's copy the Master. --- Dave Egner

More like the Master I would live and grow,
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be. --- Gabriel

TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST, WE MUST LEARN FROM THE MASTER.

A Life-And-Death Issue

Read: Psalm 90:1-10

The days of our lives are seventy years; ... it is soon cut off, and we fly away. --- Psalm 90:10

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 3-5

By altering the gene that controls aging, scientists believe they can extend the average human lifespan to 100 by the end of this century. This would be well beyond the proverbial 70 years mentioned in Psalm 90:10. But even if people do live longer, life's final chapter will still read, "It is soon cut off" [v.10].

Moses, who wrote Psalm 90, lived to be 120. He saw death as inevitable in a world cursed by the effects of sin. Yet he didn't become pessimistic. He asked God to teach him to number his days so he could gain "a heart of wisdom" [v.12]. He wanted to be satisfied with God's mercy so he could rejoice and be glad [v.14]. He also asked God to show His glory to the next generation [v.16]. That's how Moses faced the reality of death thousands of years ago.

Like all people since Adam and Eve, we suffer the effects of sin, and death is certain [Romans 6:23]. Yet we can live with hope and joy, because God sent His Son to die for our sins. Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave. And if we receive Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we too can experience God's forgiveness and look forward to being with Him in heaven forever. Have you faced and settled this life-and-death issue? --- Dennis De Haan

THINKING IT OVER
If you were to die today, would you be prepared to meet God? To be ready, embrace Jesus' promise to everyone who believes in Him [John 3:16; 11:25-26].

YOU'RE NOT READY TO LIVE UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO DIE.

He Lives!

Read: Acts 1:1-10

He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs. --- Acts 1:3

The Bible In One Year:
Acts 1-2

When the World Trade Center towers came crashing to the ground in a deafening roar of billowing debris, citizens of New York experienced what many people in other parts of the world had already known --- the fear of terrorism. Subsequent attacks in other countries have heightened the concern that mankind may be spiraling toward self-destruction.

All the unrest in the world might make us think that our future is very bleak. We might even conclude that this is not the kind of world in which to have children.

Yet one shining hope remains that can brighten our view of the future. Bill Gaither captured it in his song titled, "Because He Lives." The idea for it came to him in the late 1960s, a time of social unrest in the US and conflict in Southeast Asia. His wife Gloria was expecting a child, and they felt that it was a poor time to bring a child into the world. But when their son was born, Bill thought of the living Savior and these words came to mind: "This child can face uncertain days because He lives."

Two thousand years ago Jesus rose from the grave and gave, "many infallible proofs" that He was alive [Acts 1:3]. That's why we can keep going in the face of fear. Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow. --- Dave Branon

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign. --- Lowry

CHRIST'S EMPTY TOMB FILLS US WITH HOPE.

The Cure For Resentment

Read: John 21:18-25

Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." --- John 21:22

The Bible In One Year:
John 18-21

We may readily agree with the statement that "all men are created equal." But we don't have to live long before discovering that life treats some people better than others. This is something we must learn to accept without resentment.

Life's inequities show up on many levels. Cancer ravages the body of a child, while a hard-drinking chain-smoker lives to a ripe old age. Some people enjoy good health, others don't. Some have no physical disabilities, others have severe limitations. Some work hard and remain poor, while others are born to wealth or seem to get all the breaks.

When Jesus informed the apostle Peter that he was going to die as a martyr for his faith, Peter asked what would happen to his fellow disciple John. He seemed to think that it wouldn't be fair if John didn't die the same way. But Jesus told him that what would happen to John was not to be Peter's concern --- that was God's decision. Peter's responsibility was simple: He was to follow Christ.

When looking at others makes you resent the unfairness of life, change you focus. Look to Jesus and follow Him. Life's injustices are only for a little while. Perfect fairness will be ours to enjoy forever in heaven. --- Herb Vander Lugt

At times our path is rough and steep,
Our way is hard to see;
We ask God, "Why is life unfair?"
He answers, "Follow Me." ---D. De Haan

RESENTMENT COMES FROM LOOKING AT OTHERS; CONTENTMENT COMES FROM LOOKING TO GOD.

First Sight

Read: John 13:36-14:3

They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. --- Revelation 22:4

The Bible In One Year:
John 14-17

When I was flying from Chicago to Tampa, I noticed a famiy on the plane. And from the excitement of the two children, I assumed they had never been to Florida. As we neared our destination, clouds blocked our view of the ground. Only when we began our descent did the plane finally break through the clouds.

At the first sight of the land below, the mother exclaimed to the two little ones beside her, "Look, that must be Florida!" After a few moments of silence, the young boy said, "But Mom, where are the palm trees? I can't seem them!" His idea of Florida immediately brought to his mind those tropical trees, and he expected to see them first.

Christian, as you anticipate the day you will arrive in heaven, what do you want to see first? It will certainly be wonderful to greet our loved ones who have gone before. My, what a thrill to visit with the believers of the past, and how exciting to see the glorious sights of heaven! And yet, as delightful as all of this will be, our greatest joy will be to see the Lord Jesus Himself --- for He is the One who made it possible for us to go there.

Yes, in the words of the old hymn, "I long to meet my Savior first of all." --- Richard De Haan

I am living for the moment
When my Savior's face I see;
Oh, the thrill of that first meeting
When His glory shines on me. --- Christiansen

TO SEE JESUS WILL BE HEAVEN'S GREATEST JOY.

Digital Transmission

Read: John 13:1-17

I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. --- John 13:15

The Bible In One Year:
John 11-13

In 2000, a movie was digitally transmitted over the Internet from a studio in California to its world premiere in Atlanta, Georgia. It went from studio to theater screen without ever touching film. With digital distribution, electronic impulses are used instead of huge reels of celluloid.

In this age of electronics, often described as "high-tech, low-touch," it's good to remember that God is using another type of "digital transmission." In sharp contrast, though, His is a "high-touch" method to communicate His grace and love.

The English word digital comes from the word digit, which refers to a finger on our hand. As I think about the life and ministry of Jesus, I remember how He used His hands to bring hope and healing. He touched the sick, held little children, broke bread for hungry people, and allowed His hands to be nailed to the cross for our sins. In John 13 we read that Jesus, in a startling act of humility, washed the feet of His disciples and told them, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" [v.4].

When our hearts are humble and our hands are yielded to Him, the Lord still transmits His gospel of grace to others through our human touch of love. --- David McCasland

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love. --- Havergal

WE SHOW OUR LOVE FOR GOD WHEN WE SHARE HIS LOVE WITH OTHERS.

What Do You Fear?

Read: John 6:16-21

[Jesus] said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." --- John 6:20

The Bible In One Year:
John 7-10

One of Grimm's fairy tales is about a rather dimwitted young man who didn't understand what it meant to shudder in fear. People attempted to shock him by putting him in all sorts of terrifying situations --- but to no avail. He finally did shudder, though not out of fear. He was asleep when someone poured a bucket of cold water and wiggling fish on top of him.

Something is wrong with us if we're never afraid. Fear is the natural human reaction to any difficult or dangerous undertaking, and God doesn't condemn it. Neither does He want us to be crippled by fear. Jesus' words to His disciples on more than one occasion were, "Do not be afraid" [Luke 5:10; 12:4; John 6:20]. In each case He used a verb tense that suggests continuance. In other words, He told them, "Don't keep on fearing."

We need not be overcome by our fear, nor should we ever say no to doing what we know God wants us to do merely because we are fearful. God can turn our fear into fortitude. We can trust God and "not be afraid" [Psalm 56:11].

Courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it. So let's resist our fear and meet it with faith in our Lord, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" [Hebrews 13:5]. --- David Roper

Do not fear the darkness that is gathering all around,
For the Lord is with you, and in Him true peace is found;
When you're facing trouble, or when tragedy seems near,
Jesus is the only one to drive away your fear. --- Hess

WE CAN FACE ANY FEAR WHEN WE KNOW THE LORD IS NEAR.