Profitable For Growth

Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. --- 2 Timothy 3:16

The Bible In One Year:
Malachi 1-4
Revelation 22

Which of the following quotes are in the Bible?

1. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
2. God helps those who help themselves.
3. Confession is good for the soul.
4. Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
5. Money is the root of all evil.
6. Honesty is the best policy.

Believe it or not, only one of those quotes is found in the Bible. The fourth one is from Job 5:7.

George Muller, a pastor and orphanage director in the 1800s, wouldn't have had trouble knowing which of those quotes were from the Bible. Why? Because he read through it more than 100 times! He said: "I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God... I have received has been wonderful."

We don't need to feel guilty if we don't read the Bible as much as Muller did. But consider with me reading it through at least once this coming year --- not so that we can answer some trick question about it, but because it was given to us by God and is profitable for our spiritual growth [2 Thess. 3:16-17]. --- Anne Cetas

God's Word is like refreshing rain
That waters crops and seed;
It brings new life to open hearts,
And meets us in need. --- Sper

READ THE BIBLE TO BE WISE, BELIEVE IT TO BE SAFE, PRACTICE IT TO BE HOLY.

The Belayers

Read: 2 Thess. 2:13-17

We also pray always for you ... that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you. --- 2 Thess. 1:11-12

The Bible In One Year:
Zecharia 13-14
Revelation 21

I have high respect for brave men and women who climb rugged mountain peaks. They have to take serious, precautions as they scale sheer cliffs. One safety feature is a line that's always connected to a person below, who is called the "belayer." If the climber loses his balance or falls, the belayer holds him securely until he can regain his footing and continue his ascent or descent. Thus, "to belay" is to anchor, to hold securely, to keep safe.

Hope Church, near Cincinnati, has an adult fellowship group called "The Belayers." Its members are committed to giving one another help and support in their daily walk with Christ and promise to uphold one another in prayer. They provide assistance as needed, they encourage one another, and they come alongside in times of spiritual danger. They "hold the ropes" for each other.

I think that the apostle Paul was a belayer for many churches, including the Thessalonian church. The believers there were undergoing persecution and were troubled. He reminded them that they were chosen and still loved by God [2 Thess. 2:13]. And he encouraged them to continue trusting the Lord, and prayed for them [vv. 15-17].

Whose "rope" is God encouraging you to hold? --- Dave Egner

When others help in time of need
We then should let them know
How much their strength has meant to us;
To them our thanks we owe. --- F. Hess

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIVING UP OR GOING ON.

It Is Not Good

Read: Genesis 2:15-25

The LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." --- Genesis 2:18

The Bible In One Year:
Zecharia 9-12
Revelation 20

In one prison system in the US, 25,000 of the most dangerous inmates endure solitary confinement in small concrete cells. They have virtually no contact with the outside world. An inmate at Oregon State Penitentiary said that the most difficult part about such isolation is "not being able to see somebody face to face ... to communicate, to touch, to hug, to feel loved, to feel human." This man's words seem to scream, "I'm lonely! This is not the way it's supposed to be."

The writer of Genesis would have agreed. After God created man, He acknowledged Adam's loneliness, and said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." In essence, God was saying that the man needed another person with whom he could be fully human. Although the immediate setting is companionship, in the larger context God is telling us that being fully human means enjoying relationship with other human beings.

No matter the cause of loneliness --- sin, loss, shame, sickness, depression --- God says this is "not good." He created us to be in close relationship with others [Eccl. 4:9-12] and with Him [Rev. 21:3]. Reach out and develop those needed friendships --- for your sake and theirs. --- Marvin Williams

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

FRIENDSHIPS CAN HELP DISPEL LONELINESS.

Dying To Live

Read: Matthew 16:21-28

Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. --- Matthew 16:25

The Bible In One Year:
Zecharia 5-8
Revelation 19

Western Michigan is plagued by snowy winters, requiring that salt be put on road surfaces to make them safer to travel. The problem is that salt eats away at a car's metal body. So, going to a car wash is a frequent winter ritual.

Recently I was sitting in a car-wash facility near the end of the washing process when the machines began to spray a special liquid all over the car. The sign said it was a "drying agen," but that struck me as odd. Wetting something down to dry it seems contrary to what you'd expect. Yet that is precisely what those chemicals are designed to do. It is counter-intuitive thinking --- a paradox.

Jesus also dealt in counter-intuitive thinking when presenting His kingdom message to His followers. In Matthew 16:25, He said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." That doesn't sound right. To save your life, you have to lose it? That seems like saying, "To dry something, you wet it down!" Yet, it is absolutely true. Only as we die to self, entrusting ownership of our lives to Christ, can we learn what it means to really live.

"Dying to live" may seem counter-intuitive, but it is the heart of the Christian experience. --- Bill Crowder

Less of self and more of Jesus,
More and more each day like Thee;
Just to live in full surrender
For my Lord who ransomed me. --- Wonder

TO LIVE FOR CHRIST, WE MUST LEARN TO DIE TO SELF.

Family Stories

Read: Joshua 4:1-9

These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever. --- Joshua 4:7

The Bible In One Year:
Zecharia 1-4
Revelation 18

In her book The Shelter of Each Other, Mary Pipher gives advice on rebuilding troubled families. She explores how today's children sometimes overuse TV and video games to the exclusion of informal instruction received from extended family.

She gives an example of a family reunion where the youngsters are given a video to watch in the backroom so the adults can talk undisturbed. Dr. Pipher believes this diversion actually deprives kids. Children need to mix with the older generation so they can hear the stories of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and parents. This helps them learn from those who have gone before them.

The Old Testament places a high value on children being taught their spiritual heritage. After God parted the waters of the Jordan River, Joshua was instructed to take 12 stones from the river to create a memorial for future generations. "when your children ask ... 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off.... And these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever" [Josh. 4:6-7].

We need spiritual interaction between generations. Remember, Bible stories are often family stories. And our children need them and us. --- Dennis Fisher

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way;
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey. --- Mohr

GODLY FOREFATHERS MAKE GOOD TEACHERS.

Still New

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you. --- 1 Corinthians 15:1

The Bible In One Year:
Haggai 1-2
Revelation 17

Did you ever notice how quickly things get old or outdated?

I thought about this the other day as I taught my class at a Christian college. They're on the cutting edge by providing a laptop computer for each student. It wasn't too long ago when it was innovative for a college to have computers for students in the library. Then it was cutting edge to provide them for dorm rooms. But someday even personal laptops will become obsolete as well.

Everything man creates will eventually go out of date. Everything, that is, but the gospel. The gospel is over 2,000 years old. And though there have been a lot of updated Bible translations, the gospel is still as relevant today as it was when it was written.

The gospel is this: Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, gave up His life by being sacrificed on a cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was raised from the dead 3 days later [1 Cor. 15:1-4]. Because He took our punishment for sin on Himself, He can forgive our sins and make us children of God if we put our faith and trust in Him [Acts 13:38-39].

Let the greatest story ever told make your brand-new --- forever. It's the story that never grows old. --- Dave Branon

O cleansing Word, O precious Word,
Thy promises are true;
They are the "Amen" in my life;
Thy truths are ever new. --- Anon.

THE GOSPEL NEVER GROWS OLD.

The Blessing Tree

Read: Luke 1:46-55

He who is mighty has done great things for me. --- Luke 1:49

The Bible In One Year:
Zephaniah 1-3
Revelation 16

I read about a young couple whose business had failed, and they had little money to spend at Christmas. They were going to have to move out of their house after the new year. But they didn't want their holiday season to be spoiled because of it. So they decided to throw a party. When the guests arrived, they saw a cedar tree decorated with one string of lights and small rolled-up pieces of paper tied to the limbs with ribbon.

"Welcome to our 'blessing tree'!" they said, beaming. "In spite of hard times, God has blessed us in so many ways that we decided to dedicate our tree to Him. Each piece of paper describes a blessing He has given us this year."

This couple has faced more trials since then, but they have chosen to stay focused on the Lord. They often remark that the Christmas with the "blessing tree" was one of their most beautiful, because they could testify as Mary did: "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.... He who is mighty has done great things for me" [Luke 1:47-49].

Whatever difficulties, they needn't spoil Christmas, for nothing can spoil Christ! Stay focused on Jesus and seek ways to share His blessings with others --- perhaps through your own "blessing tree." --- Joanie Yoder

Jesus came --- and came for me!
Simple words, and yet expressing
Depths of holy mystery,
Depths of wondrous love and blessing. --- Havergal

TO GIVE MEANING TO CHRISTMAS, GIVE CHRIST FIRST PLACE.

The Forgotten Man

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. --- Proverbs 3:5

Habakkuk 1-3
Revelation 15

Amid all the Christmas activities, one man is often forgotten.

No, I don't mean the person whose birthday we're celebrating. Although we often fail to give Jesus first place as He deserves, we don't usually forget Him. I'm talking about Joseph --- the man God trusted so much that He placed His Son in his home to love and nurture. What a responsibility!

Joseph truly is the forgotten man in the Christmas story. Yet his task was an important component of God's incredible plan. As we read the story of the birth of Jesus, we find that Joseph was just, righteous, merciful, protective, and courageous. But most of all --- he was obedient. When the angel told him to take Mary as his wife, he obeyed [Matt. 1:24]. And when the angel told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, he did [2:13-14].

Just as Mary was carefully chosen to bear the Son of God, Joseph was deliberately chosen to provide for his young wife and the Christ-child. And trusting God, Joseph followed through on everything God asked him to do.

What is God asking of you today? Are you willing to commit yourself to do whatever He wants you to do?

We can learn much about obedience from Joseph, the forgotten man of Christmas. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

It matters not the path on earth
My feet are made to trod;
It only matters how I live:
Obedient to God. --- Clark

THE PROOF OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDS OF GOD.

Reserved In Heaven

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-12

An inheritance incorruptible ... reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God. --- 1 Peter 1:4-5

Nahum 1-3
Revelation 14

A friend of mine spent several months rebuilding an old Ford Bronco and turning it into an off-road vehicle for use here in Idaho. He kept it in his garage under lock and key. When Christmas came, Gary thought, What better place to hid my daughter Katie's present.

Shortly before Christmas, someone asked Katie what she was getting for Christmas. "Oh," she replied, "I already have it. It's a bicycle in a box under the Bronco in the garage!"

I don't know what methods Katie used to discover her present. But I do admire her unshakable confidence that the bike was hers even though she did not yet have it in her hands.

That confidence reminds me of the apostle Peter's words: "[God] had begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" [1 Peter 1:3-5].

What is reserved for us? Our inheritance --- heaven, and a legacy beyond description that rests on the certainty of eternal life, "which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began" [Titus 1:2]. --- David Roper

I am living for the moment
When before His feet I fall,
and with all the host of heaven
Own Him Lord and King of all. --- Christiansen

A CHRISTIAN'S FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS THE PROMISES OF GOD.

Where's The Leash?

Read: Micah 6:1-8

What does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? --- Micah 6:8

Micah 6-7
Revelation 13

Recently, while out for Chinese food with friends, I noticed a man walking his dog past the restaurant. Normally I wouldn't have looked twice. But the dog's owner had taken the leash, put it in a figure-eight configuration, and placed it firmly in the dog's mouth.

My friends explained that it's against the law in their town to walk a dog without a leash. This clever dog owner had found a loophole --- the law didn't stipulate that you actually have to hold the leash! The amazing part is not the loophole, but that the dog was walking in obedient step with his owner, even though he could have bolted away to chase a nearby squirrel.

Our walk with God needs to be like that. While God in His mercy gives us a long leash and rarely gives us spiritual whiplash by yanking on it, He doesn't delight in the struggle to keep us in line. He delights when we walk in a surrendered way with Him.

When Israel whined to the prophet Micah about how hard they thought it was to please God, God replied with a straightforward, simple way to please Him. Being just and loving mercy while we walk humbly with Him brings God great pleasure [Mic. 6:8]. You'll know He is pleased when He doesn't have to hold your leash anymore. --- Joe Stowell

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live. --- Van de Venter

FIND TRUE FREEDOM BY WALKING OBEDIENTLY WITH GOD.

God's Surprising Answer

Read: Isaiah 42:1-9

Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! --- Isaiah 64:1

Micah 4-5
Revelation 12

"Rend the heavens!" and "come down!" pleaded the prophet Isaiah. Make Your name known by making the mountains shake and the nations tremble, he advised the Lord [Isa. 64:1-3].

Isaiah wanted God to behave as He had in the past. Recalling the Scripture about God's visit with Moses on Mt. Sinai, Isaiah longed for a repeat performance.

But God had already told Isaiah that He would be doing something new. "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them" [42:9].

The "something new" was Jesus! God did indeed come down. But not in Isaiah's lifetime. And not in the dramatic fashion he longed for. "He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street" [42:2]. He came in the unassuming form of an infant.

Many of us can remember a situation when God was amazingly timely in His response to our need. Like Isaiah, we want God to do the same thing again. But perhaps He has something else in mind. As you celebrate God's humble descent to earth, be aware that He came to change our hearts, not just our circumstances. --- Julie Ackerman Link

God's answer wasn't detected
When Jesus came to earth,
For no one had expected
A Child of lowly birth. --- D. De Haan

GOD'S ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS MAY EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS.

Doing Good

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-17

It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. --- 1 Peter 3:17

Micah 1-3
Revelation 11

Joseph [not his real name] was the model of a trusted military officer, rising in his nation's army to the rank of colonel in the special forces. With this came great opportunity, both for good and bad.

When deployed into a region racked with drug trafficking, Joseph was intent on bringing justice to that plagued area. He and his troops began dealing with the criminals to protect the people. Some of his superiors, who were corrupt and took bribes from the drug runners, ordered him to turn his head to let them move their drugs. He repeatedly refused until he was finally arrested and imprisoned for 8 years --- for doing good.

Sadly, we live in a world where at times doing good brings suffering. This was true for Joseph; his payment for serving his people was unjust imprisonment.

The apostle Peter, having also been jailed for doing good, understood that kind of heartache. He gave us this perspective: "It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil" [1 Peter 3:17].

As Joseph shared the stories of what God taught him in prison, I learned that the justice of God is not hampered by the evil of men. Doing good is still pleasing in His sight --- even when we're mistreated by the world for it. --- Bill Crowder

From the example of Jesus,
Who went about doing good,
We are to honor our Savior
By helping wherever He would. --- Hess

THE JOY OF DOING GOOD MAY BE THE ONLY REWARD WE RECEIVE --- BUT IT'S WORTH IT!

A Real Christmas

Read: Luke 2:25-35

This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against. --- Luke 2:34

Jonah 1-4
Revelation 10

A quotation in our church's Advent devotional guide caused me to rethink my approach to Christmas:

"Let us at all costs avoid the temptation to make our Christmas worship a withdrawal from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It was into the real world that Christ came, into the city where there was no room for Him, and into a country where Herod, the murderer of innocents, was king.

"He comes to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace --- His peace --- in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace."

When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the Lord, Simeon said to them: "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against [yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also], that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" [Luke 2:34-35].

Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace. --- David McCasland

Christ did not come to shield us from
The grief and pain of life;
But those who have His peace inside
Can thrive within the strife. --- Sper

JESUS CAME TO GIVE LIGHT TO A DARK WORLD.

Frogs And More Frogs

Read: Psalm 139:1-12

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. --- Psalm 139:1

Obadiah
Revelation 9

Mary received a ceramic frog for her birthday from a co-worker, and she displayed it on her desk for all to see. Some of her fellow employees began to think she must like frogs, so they started to give her frog items for Christmas, birthdays, and special celebrations. Her office soon became filled with "things frog" --- pens, candles, stickie notes, posters, coffee cups.

After Mary left the company, a friend asked her what she did with the frogs. She replied, "Well, I don't really like frogs, so I gave them all away."

Others mean well, yet don't always know us well. They'll never know us as God does. We are an open book to Him --- there is nothing about us that is hidden from Him. Psalm 139 tells us:

God knows everything we do [v.2]. He knows all the activities of our day and every detail of our schedule.

God knows everything we think [v.2] --- the good and the bad, the wholesome, and the impure.

God knows everywhere we go --- "You comprehend my path ... and are acquainted with all my ways" [v.3].

God knows everything we say [v.4].

He knows us better than we know ourselves. Isn't it a comfort to be known so intimately by our Lord --- even with all our flaws --- and yet be loved so completely! --- Anne Cetas

The blood of atonement fulfills all the law!
Amazement succumbs to the message of grace:
Though God knows our thoughts, every sin, every flaw,
His love bids us hide in His holy embrace. --- Mollon

YOU'RE NOT JUST A NUMBER COMPUTERS CAN TRACE; CHRIST KNOWS YOUR NEED, YOUR NAME, AND YOUR FACE.

Forever Joyful

Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-16

Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you ... might become rich. --- 2 Corinthians 8:9

Amos 7-9
Revelation 8

Wall Street Journal columnist Jonathan Clements offered his readers "Nine Tips for Investing in Happiness." Interestingly, one of his suggestions was precisely the same as that given in the favorite old hymn by Johnson C. Oatman, "Count Your Many Blessings." Clements urges us not to brood over the riches of our neighbors but to focus on the many blessings we actually do possess. That's wise counsel, provided that we realize our spiritual wealth in Jesus is immeasurably more valuable than any material possessions.

God didn't give us the Bible as a guidebook for happiness. Yet it tells us how we can be eternally joyful and how we can experience joy on our way to that eternal happiness. So it's enlightening to compare biblical truth with commonsense advice.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain," Paul wrote to Timothy [1 Tim. 6:6]. The apostle wanted his protege to understand that being grateful for the basics of life would help keep him from the trap of covetousness.

So let's focus on the wonders of God's grace, training ourselves to make a spirit of gratitude pervade our lives. That's the way to experience joy today and to be forever joyful. --- Vernon Grounds

When you look at others with their lands and gold.
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings --- money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high. --- Oatman

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS AND YOU'LL SOON LOSE COUNT.

A Selah Moment

Read: Psalm 24:1-10

He is the King of glory. Selah. --- Psalm 24:10

Amos 4-6
Revelation 7

King David proclaimed: "The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory" [Ps. 24:10]. The word Selah was later added to the end of this psalm and many others. Some believe it refers to an instrumental interlude because the psalms were often set to music. Biblical scholars also suggest other possible meanings, including "silence," "pause," "interruption," "accentuate," "exalt," or "end."

Reflecting on these words can help us to take a "Selah moment" to pause and worship God during the day.

Be silent and listen to the voice of God [Ps. 46:10].

Pause from a hectic schedule to be refreshed in spirit [Ps. 42:1-2].

Interrupt the day to do a spiritual inventory and be cleansed [Ps. 51:1-10].

Accentuate the joy of God's provision through thanksgiving [Ps. 65:9-13].

Exalt the name of God for answered prayer in spite of disappointment [Ps. 40:1-3].

End the day by reflecting on the Lord's faithfulness [Ps. 119:148].

David's reflection on God include a Selah moment. Following his example will help us worship our God throughout the day. --- Dennis Fisher

From your heart give God your promise
For His blessings all your days;
Lift your voice to God above ---
God of mercy, God of love. --- Hess

NO DAY IS COMPLETE WITHOUT WORSHIP.

We Need God And People

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. --- Psalm 5:2

Amos 1-3
Revelation 6

In 2006, while promoting the film Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone surprised Christians with what he revealed. He said that his faith in Jesus Christ had not only influenced the writing of the first Rocky film but that his decision to create the final movie was inspired by his renewed affiliation with Christianity. As part of this transformation, Stallone realized that a poor choice had previously guided his life --- self-reliance. He says, "You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else." Stallone learned something that many people are beginning to acknowledge --- we need God and we need other people.

The Bible confirms our need for God and others. David expressed his reliance on God through crying out to Him and pleading with Him and my God, for to You I will pray" [Ps. 5:2]. And in Ecclesiastes we read that Solomon encouraged a proper reliance on others. In fact, he said helping each other can strengthen us, but individualism and self-reliance are dangerous and make for weakness. Two acting together are better than one self-reliant individual [4:9-12].

God gave us each other. Let's passionately rely on His power and draw from the help of others. --- Marvin Williams

Christian fellowship provides us
With encouragement and love;
It will help us in our journey,
Till we reach our home above. --- Sper

WE CAN GO A LOT FURTHER TOGETHER THAN WE CAN GO ALONE.

The Facts Of Life

Read: Luke 1:24-38

Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." --- Luke 1:38

Joel 1-3
Revelation 5

It seems that most of our struggles revolve around wanting something we don't have or having something we don't want. Our deepest longings and our greatest challenges are deeply rooted in trying to see the hand of God in these two facts of life. This is where Luke's account of the birth of Jesus begins.

The aging Elizabeth longed for a baby. For the young and engaged Mary, however, pregnancy should have been a disgrace. But when both learned they would have a child, they accepted the news with faith in the God whose timing is perfect and for whom nothing is impossible [Luke 1:24-25, 37-38].

As we read the Christmas story, we may be struck by the real-life context of the people whose names have become so familiar. Even while Zechariah and Elizabeth suffered their culture's stigma of childlessness, they were described as "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord" [v.6]. And the angel told Mary she had found favor with God [v.30].

Their example shows us the value of a trusting heart that accepts the mysterious ways of God and the presence of His mighty hand, no matter how perplexing our circumstances may be. --- David McCasland

Though you cannot see the outcome
Trust the Lord --- He knows what's best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He's with you in your test. --- Hess

FOR THE CHRISTIAN, TESTING CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM TRUSTING.

Pay It Backward

Read: Luke 6:27-36

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? --- Luke 6:33


Hosea 12-14
Revelation 4

Would you pay the bill for the people in the car behind you at a fast-food drive-thru --- even if you didn't know them?

That was the challenge given by a local Christian radio station to change their community. It was called "The Drive-Thru Difference." The goal was to do a Christlike act of kindness for people who didn't expect it and to leave a note saying you did it because of your love for Christ.

Why do this? Why spend money for someone else's food --- especially someone we don't know and who may be hostile to the faith? Why give without any hope of return? It sounds countercultural, but the idea has strong biblical basis.

Notice what Jesus said as He addressed a large crowd: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?" [Luke 6:23-33]. Clearly, Jesus wants us to do good to people who can in no way pay us back.

Whether we're paying someone's bill at Taco Bell or dropping a change into the Salvation Army kettle, our concern should be selfless giving --- whether we get credit for it or not. In Jesus' name, who can you bless today? --- Dave Branon

Be a servant of the Lord
And do not look for a reward;
Not for glory or for fame,
Just give freely in His name. --- Roworth

THE MOTIVE OF GIVING REVEALS THE CHARACTER OF THE GIVER MORE THAN THE GIFT ITSELF.

Grief Is Messy

Read: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. --- 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Hosea 9-11
Revelation 3

On November 14, 1970, a plane crash took the lives of most of the Marshall University football team, the coaching staff, and many community leaders of Huntington, West Virginia. Seventy-five lives were lost in the crash, which devastated the university and the community. Two of the people who lost loved ones were Paul Griffen and Annie Cantrell. Their stories intertwined because Griffen's son, Chris, was Annie's fiance. When Chris died, their lives were plunged into a year of pain that seemed unbearable. Why? Because, as Paul told Annie in the film portraying this tragedy, "Grief is messy."

He was right, grief is messy. All of us grieve at one time or another --- including those of us who are Christ followers. For the believer, however, there is something beyond the tears, pain, and loss. There is hope.

Writing to a church family who had seen loved ones taken in death. Paul acknowledged the reality of grief. But he challenged them not to "sorrow as others who have no hope" [1 Thess. 4:13]. Loss and death are part of life, but believers can face them, knowing that Christians never say goodbye for the last time. We can comfort one another [v.18] with the hope of the resurrection and a future reunion. --- Bill Crowder

The Lord has promised to prepare
A place in heaven above ---
A home where we will always be
With Him and those we love. --- Sper

BECAUSE CHRIST LIVES, DEATH IS NOT TRAGEDY BUT TRIUMPH.

Richly Blessed

Read: Psalm 33:1-9

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. --- Psalm 33:5

Hosea 5-8
Revelation 2

The maple trees in my front yard are the last to lose their leaves in the autumn. So, on a frigid November day, I was grumbling to myself as I raked and bagged the last of my leaves.

Then a cheery voice said, "Good morning!" The woman who reads our gas meter had walked up unnoticed. I asked, "And how are you on this blustery morning?"

"I'm richly blessed," she said with a smile. After a quick attitude adjustment, I replied, "So am I. Isn't God wonderful?"

"He sure is," she answered. "Are you a believer in Jesus too?" "Yes, I am," I responded, "and He has filled my life with blessing."

That brief exchange not only brightened my mood, it reminded me that we who believe in Christ are blessed beyond measure. After this sister in Christ left, the sky didn't seem to be as dark; the wind lost some of its chill; the leaf raking became less toilsome. The Lord had used a fellow believer to turn my attention to Him to see His goodness [Ps. 33:5].

Christians are part of a community. Let's encourage one another. We never know when a fellow pilgrim may need a reminder of the goodness of God. --- Dave Egner

If you are ready to share God's great love,
Follow His Spirit and give Him your all;
Numberless blessings are waiting for you
As you respond and obey Jesus' call. --- Hess

FAITH IN GOD'S GOODNESS PUTS A SONG IN YOUR HEART AND PRAISE ON YOUR LIPS.

Be A Star

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

Those who turn many to righteousness [shall shine] like the stars forever and ever. --- Daniel 12:3

Hosea 1-4
Revelation 1

Many today seek stardom by trying to get into the media spotlight. But a young Jewish captive achieved "stardom" in a better way.

When Daniel and his friends were taken captive by a ruthless invading nation, it was unlikely that they would be heard from again. But the godly young men soon distinguished themselves as intelligent and trustworthy.

When the king had a dream that his wise men could not repeat nor interpret, he condemned them to death. After a night of prayer with his friends, Daniel received from God the content of the dream and its interpretation. As a result, the king promoted Daniel to be his chief advisor [see Dan. 2].

If the story ended there, it would be remarkable enough. But some scholars believe that Daniel's influence in Babylon made people aware of messianic prophecies about a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Daniel's teaching may have been the reason that 500 years later wise men from the East followed a star to a remote and unfamiliar part of the world to find an infant King, worship Him, and return to their country with the good news of God's incredible journey to earth [Matt. 2:1-12].

By turning others to righteousness, we, like Daniel, can become a star that will shine forever. --- Julie Ackerman Link

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing!
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today. --- Wilson

YOU CAN ATTRACT PEOPLE TO JESUS WHEN YOU HAVE HIS LIGHT IN YOUR LIFE.

Blue Christmas

Read: Isaiah 53:1-6

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. --- Isaiah 53:4

Daniel 11-12
Jude

A growing number of churches are holding annual Blue Christmas services for those faced with grief and loss. The holiday season's emphasis on happiness and good cheer often makes people who are dealing with heartbreak feel even more.

An Associated Press article quoted a pastor who described the Blue Christmas service as "an opportunity for people to come and be in the presence of God and acknowledge their grief and despair and loneliness and give it to God." One participant added, "And it's a good place to have a cry and no one will mind."

During the Christmas season, we often read Isaiah's prophecies of the coming Messiah who would be born of a virgin [Isa. 7:14] and called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" [9:6]. But perhaps we should also include the words of Isaiah 53: "He is ... a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief .... Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows ... And by His stripes we are healed" [vv.3-5]. The psalmist reminds us that "[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" [Ps. 147:3].

If you're hurting this Christmas, remember: Jesus came to save us, help us, and to heal us. --- David McCasland

Whenever darkness grips your soul
And you are tempted to despair,
Remember Christ's unfailing love,
And trust His faithful, tender care. --- Sper

JESUS PROVIDES AN OASIS OF GRACE IN THE DESERT OF GRIEF.

Are We Selling Out?

Read: Hebrews 12:12-17

Looking carefully .. lest there be any ... profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. --- Hebrews 12:15-16

Daniel 8-10
3 John

Have we "sold out" the way Esau did? [Heb. 12:16]. Has the lure of wealth, power, prestige, position, security, style, or the approval and praise of others led us to barter away God's riches for a single meal?

Esau sought to change his father's mind and gain the inheritance he had forfeited by his duplicity, but he could not set right the damage he had done. He had to live with his decision. Neither can we turn back the clock and undo the wrong we have done to ourselves and to others.

Although the past is irrevocable, there can be a new day before us, filled with new chances, new opportunities, and new expectations. God will not redo the past, but when we repent He can and will forgive us and set us on a new path.

The Lord can give us opportunities to show how we have truly repented of the decisions of the past and how much we long to serve Him in the decisions to come. He will never mention the deeds by which we've shamed others and ourselves; they are forgiven and forgotten forever.

God's will give us a place to begin again --- to love, to serve, to touch others profoundly and eternally for His sake. This demonstrates the greatness of our heavenly Father's forgiving love to us. --- David Roper

Dear Lord, be merciful to me;
My sin has grieved Your heart;
And grant to me Your strength anew
To make a fresh, new start. --- D. De Haan

GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS THE DOOR TO A NEW BEGINNING.

Change Your Name

Read: Acts 3:1-16

Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. --- Romans 10:13

Daniel 5-7
2 John

Names are important. Parents may spend months researching and deciding on the perfect name for their baby. Often the final decision is based on its sound, uniqueness, or meaning.

One woman took on a new name because she disliked her original name. She mistakenly believed that changing it could alter her destiny. That's not likely, but for those who trust in Jesus as their Savior and are from that time on identified by His name, a radical transformation does take place.

There is a powerful significance attached to the name of Jesus. The apostles performed miracles [Acts 3:6-7, 16; 4:10] and cast out demons in His name [Luke 10:17]. They spoke and taught in the name of Jesus. They baptized believers in the name of Jesus [Acts 2:38]. And it is only through the name of Jesus that we gain access to the Father [Acts 4:12].

When we become Christians, we share in that worthy name. Ans as we follow Christ, we are able to reflect His light to any darkness we encounter, whether in our neighborhood, our workplace, or even our home. Our prayer should be that when people see us --- they will see Christ.

Our names may have meaning or significance. But to bear the name Christian is life-transforming. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

Lord of my life, henceforth I bear
The name of Christian everywhere;
Therefore, O Christ, my spirit claim,
And make me worthy of Your name. --- Freeman

THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE ONLY NAME WITH THE POWER TO TRANSFORM.

Gifts Within The Gift

Read: 1 John 5:9-13,20

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! --- 2 Corinthians 9:15

Daniel 3-4
1 John 5

Sharon's favorite Christmas gift last year from her husband Andy was an antique treasure chest. Inside were three boxes with additional gifts of chocolates and jewelry. She enjoyed each gift within the gift.

When God sent His Son Jesus to be the Savior of the world, He gave us many gifts within the Gift. Now when people receive the gift of Jesus, they also receive these special gifts, which they could obtain in no other way.:

Forgiveness of sin. "In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" [Eph. 1:7].

Teaching from the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised, "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things" [John 14:26].

Eternal life and a home in heaven. John said, "He who has the Son has life" [1 John 5:12]. Jesus promised, "In My Father's house are many mansions; ... I go to prepare a place for you" [John 14:2].

A love like no other. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you.... Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" [John 15:9,13].

Have you received God's indescribable Gift? You only need to ask. --- Anne Cetas

THE ABCs OF SALVATION
Admit that you're a sinner [Rom. 3:23].
Believe on Christ [Acts 16:31].
Confess your faith [Rom. 10:9-10].

JESUS IS BOTH THE GIFT AND THE GIVER OF EVERY GOOD GIFT.

Changed Landscape

Read: Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. --- Matthew 4:1

Daniel 1-2
1 John 4

I love my garden. But living in the Midwestern US during winter reduces my beautiful garden to a frozen, snow-covered, barren landscape.

It wasn't like that in Eden. Eden was a breathtakingly beautiful garden year-round. And it was in that garden that Adam and Eve basked in the stunning creation of God and the joy of perfect harmony with Him and with each other. Until, that is, Satan arrived on the scene, bringing weeds, thorns, destruction, and death.

You can't help but notice the contrast between the landscape in Genesis 1 and Matthew 4. The same tempter who once entered God's garden now welcomes God to his turf --- the dangerous, barren wilderness.

The wilderness can be a picture of what the world --- and life --- becomes when Satan has his way. With one decisive blow, the joy of Eden was replaced with the barrenness of shame [Gen. 3]. But Jesus was victorious on Satan's turf! [Matt. 4]. In that victory He gives us hope that we too can have victory. A victory that shows us the enemy no longer holds sway. A victory that assures us the day is coming when we will no longer toil in Satan's wilderness but will be ushered into heaven, where they joy of Eden will be ours --- forever.

Now that's something to look forward to! --- Joe Stowell

There's victory o'er Satan and sin's dark shame,
Look only to Jesus, there's power in His name;
The devil can't harm you nor cause you to sin,
When you trust the Savior, the victory you'll win. --- Anon.

AS YOU JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS OF TEMPTATION, CHRIST'S VICTORY IS YOURS.

Active Compassion

Read: 1 John 3:16-24

Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. --- 1 John 3:18

Ezekiel 47-48
1 John 3

Every so often when I walk into my office in the morning, I find a surprise on my desk. Not long ago the item was a sunflower coffee mug dropped off by a fellow employee. She had seen it in a shop and knew it would cheer up my wife --- so she bought it and left it on my desk with an encouraging note.

It was my pleasure to take that gift home to my wife Sue and to give it to her in the name of the woman who wanted to encourage her.

This person could have simply thought about my wife. She could have talked to someone about her in a positive way. But those things don't come close to providing the encouragement that comes from taking action.

In 1 John 3:18, John talked about what we are to do when we see others in need. He told us to have active compassion: "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed." When we see a need, it's good to talk about it, but we must also do something about it. We are instructed: "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only" [James 1:22].

Ask the Holy Spirit to place someone on your heart to help in Jesus' name. Then take action. Make a difference today. Send a card. Give a gift. Offer a ride. Make a call. Love in deed is love indeed. --- Dave Branon

Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting,
Help me know what to do and to say;
Speak to my heart and give me compassion,
Let Your great love flow through me today. --- K. De Haan

COMPASSION IS LOVE IN ACTION.

Keep Reaching For The Top

Read: Philippians 3:12-21

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. --- 2 Peter 3:18

Ezekiel 45-46
1 John 2

Jon Krakauer, author and mountain climber, was determined to reach the "roof of the world," the peak of Mt. Everest. In an arduous ascent that killed some of his fellow climbers, he persevered. On May 10, 1996, he reached the summit.

"I understood on some dim, detached level that [the sweep of earth beneath my feet] was a spectacular sight," wrote Krakauer of that moment. "I'd been fantasizing about this moment, and the release of emotion that would accompany it, for many months. But now that I was finally here, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, I just couldn't summon the energy to care."

Temporal goals can never fully satisfy. We see this in the ministry of Paul. He told the believers in Philippi, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" [Phil. 3:14]. It is the goal "for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" [v.12]. He will "transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" [v.21].

That goal can provide the most powerful incentive. It inspires us to become more and more like Jesus. Every upward step gives us joyful soul-satisfaction. How diligently are we striving to reach that goal? --- Vernon Grounds

I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day ---
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." --- Oatman

DON'T LET CONTENTMENT WITH EARTHLY GOALS PREVENT YOU FROM ATTAINING ETERNAL GAINS.

A Promised Fulfilled

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. --- Matthew 1:21

Ezekiel 42-44
1 John 1

In the off-season of baseball, managers and coaches concentrate on trading players to set themselves up for a winning season the next year. But if you are a Chicago Cubs fan like I am, you don't expect much because we haven't won a championship in years! That made the promise from a newly acquired player for the Cubs sound rather incredible. To a packed press conference, he said, "We are going to win the World Series!" I have to admit, it was hard not be skeptical. It sounded like a promise that most likely he couldn't deliver.

No doubt the Jews of Jesus' day who were living under the oppressive thumb of Rome had to wonder if God would ever make good on His promise to send a Deliverer who would forgive sin and restore the glory of Israel [Isa. 1:26; 53:12; 61]. God had long ago promised one, but they hadn't heard a word from Him in 400 years. But then, at just the right moment, the angel announced to Joseph that Mary would give birth to a Son who would "save His people from their sins" [Matt. 1:21].

Christmas proves that God is a promise-keeping God! He said that He would send a Deliverer, and He did. Your sin is not beyond the reach of this promise. He is ready and waiting to forgive your sins --- all of them. --- Joe Stowell

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing. --- Watts

YOU CAN COUNT ON IT --- GOD MAKES GOOD ON HIS PROMISES.

Krakatoa

Read: 2 Peter 3:1-13

The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. --- 2 Peter 3:10

Ezekiel 40-41
2 Peter 3

In 1883, the greatest volcanic explosion in modern history took place. Krakatoa, an island volcano along the Indonesian arc, shot 6 cubic miles of soil, rock, vegetation, and animal and human life 24 miles up into the stratosphere. Its shockwave traveled around the world seven times, and its debris fell as far as Madagascar --- more than 2,000 miles away!

At the time of Krakatoa's explosion, Captain Sampson of the British vessel Norham Castle was nearby and wrote in his log: "I am writing this blind in pitch darkness. We are under continual rain of pumice-stone and dust. So violent are the explosions that the ear-drums of over half my crew have been shattered....I am convinced that the Day of Judgment has come."

Captain Sampson believed that the world was coming to an end. The explosion does seem to fit 2 Peter 3:10. "The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat." As terrible as Krakatoa was, though, it did not signal the end of the world.

Crisis has a way of shaking us out of complacency. It reminds us this world is not our home and encourages us to be godly [v.11]. When it feels as if our personal world is coming to an end, we should focus on living for eternity. --- Dennis Fisher

A PRAYER
Lord, my desire is to live for You whether circumstances
are good or bad. Help me to focus on Your purposes.
Show me today in Your Word what You want me to do.

TRUSTING GOD CAN TURN A CRISIS INTO A TREASURE.

A 45-Year-Old Promise

Read: Joshua 14:6-13

The LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses. --- Joshua 14:10

Ezekiel 37-39
2 Peter 2

Nola Ochs, a student at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, took a break from her studies recently to celebrate her 95th birthday. She began attending college at Fort Hays in 1930 but didn't graduate. When she realized she was only a few credits away from earning her degree, she returned to the university in 2006. Nola is not going to let her age prevent her from honoring a commitment over 76 years ago to finish her education.

In Joshua 14 we read that Caleb did not allow his advancing age to prevent him from believing that God would still honor His promise given 45 years earlier [vv.10-12]. As one of the original scouts sent into the Promised Land, he saw large cities inhabited by powerful people of great stature [Num. 13:28-33].

But Caleb was faithful to God and believed He would help the Israelites conquer the land [14:6-9]. At 85 years of age, Caleb was still physically strong and his faith unwavering. He trusted that God would help him to conquer the land, even though it still had giants. So Joshua blessed Caleb with his portion of the land, fulfilling God's 45-year-old promise.

Like Caleb, we must not allow age, our personal giants, or yet-unfulfilled promises to prevent us from believing that God still honors His word to us. --- Marvin Williams

If God's creation helps us see
What wonders He can do,
Then we can trust His promises,
For they are always true. --- D. De Haan

EVERY PROMISE OF GOD COMES WITH HIS PERSONAL GUARANTEE.

Shakespeare's Translation?

Read: 2 Peter 1:16-2:3

No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. --- 2 Peter 1:20

Ezekiel 35-36
2 Peter 1

Some have speculated that William Shakespeare helped translate the King James Bible. They say that he inserted a cryptogram [a message written in code] while he translated Psalm 46. In this psalm, the 46th word from the beginning is shake and the 46th word from the end is spear. Furthermore, in 1610, while the King James Bible was being translated, Shakespeare would have been 46 years old. Despite these coincidences, no serious evidence supports this theory.

Some people also claim to have found hidden meanings when interpreting the Bible. Certain cults will cite a verse out of context, only to lead someone into heretical doctrine. Some quote John 14:16, for example, and say that the "Helper" refers to their "new revelation." When compared with other Scripture, however, the Helper whom Jesus sent to us is obviously the Holy Spirit [John 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-4].

The apostle Peter wrote, "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation" [2 Peter 1:20]. To interpret a biblical passage accurately, we must always consider the context and compare it with other Scripture. This respects the clear meaning of the Bible without trying to find hidden meaning in it. --- Dennis Fisher

God's Word does not have secret codes
That need a special key;
It's understandable and clear,
With truth for all to see. --- Sper

THE BEST INTERPRETER OF SCRIPTURE IS SCRIPTURE ITSELF.

An Old Man's Prayer

Read: Daniel 9:3-19

I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications. --- Daniel 9:3

Ezekiel 33-34
1 Peter 5

Have you heard the story about the 85-year-old man who was arrested for praying?

You probably have. That's the story of Daniel, an elderly Jewish resident in Babylon sentenced to death for faithfully talking to God [Dan. 6].

Although the prayer that sent Daniel to the lions' den is his most famous talk with God [6:11], it wasn't the only time we see him in prayer.

In Daniel 9, we read an example of how he prayed. Daniel had been reading in his scroll of Jeremiah that the captivity of his people would last 70 years, and the people were 67 years into the exile [Jer. 25:8-11]. He was eager for it to end.

God had called His people to live righteously, but they weren't doing that. Daniel decided to live righteously despite their lack of faith. He began to pray that God would not delay the end of the captivity.

As he prayed, Daniel focused on worship and confession. His pattern of prayer gives us an important insight into talking to God. We are to recognize that God is "great and awesome" [v.4] and that "we have sinned" [v.15]. In prayer, we praise and confess.

Let's follow Daniel's lead. To him, prayer was as vital as like itself. --- Dave Brannon

What privilege is mine to come
Before the Father's throne,
To speak to Him in earnest prayer,
Make all my wishes known. --- Sherbert

NO ONE STANDS AS TALL AS A CHRISTIAN ON HIS KNEES.

Harvest Home

Read: James 4:13-17; 5:7-11

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. --- James 5:8

Ezekiel 30-32
1 Peter 4

The hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" is often sung at Christian services of thanksgiving. Written in 1844 by Henry Alford, it begins with thanks to God for crops safely gathered in before winter. But it is more than gratefulness for the bounty of the land. The hymn ends by focusing on God's "harvest" of His people when Christ returns:

Even so, Lord, quickly come
To thy final harvest home:
Gather Thou Thy people in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
There, forever purified,
In Thy presence to abide:
Come, with all Thine angels, come ---
Raise the glorious harvest-home.

As we give thanks for material needs supplied, it's essential to remember that our plans are uncertain and our lives are a vapor that quickly disappear [James 4:14]. James encourages us to be like a farmer waiting for his crops to grow and mature. "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" [5:8].

As we thank God for His faithful provision for our needs, let's turn our thoughts to the promised return of Jesus Christ. In patient expectation, we live for Him and look for the day when He will come to gather His glorious harvest home. --- David McCasland

Work and pray! Continue faith
When the Savior calleth, "Come,"
Till at last we all are garnered
To that heavenly harvest-home. --- Stinson

EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS! --- Revelations 22:20

Hiding My Face

Read: Habakkuk 1:1-5

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil. --- Habakkuk 1:13

Ezekiel 27-29
1 Peter 3

I'm a news junkie. I like knowing what's going on in the world. But sometimes the atrocities of life make me feel as if I'm a kid watching a scary movie. I don't want to see what happens. I want to turn away to avoid watching.

God reacts to evil in a similar way. Years ago, He warned the Israelites that He would turn away from them if they turned toward evil [Deut. 31:18]. They did, and He did [Ezek. 39:24].

The prophet Habakkuk had not forsaken God, but he suffered along with those who had. "Why do You show me iniquity," he asked the Lord, "and cause me to see trouble?" [Hab. 1:3].

God's response to His confused prophet indicates that even when evil obscures the face of God, our inability to see Him does not mean He is uninvolved. God said, "Look among the nations and watch --- be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you" [v.5]. God would judge Judah, but He would also judge the invading Babylonians for their evil [see Hab. 2]. And through it all, "The just shall live by his faith" [2.4].

When the world events cause you to despair, turn off the news and turn to Scripture. The end of the story has been written by our holy God. Evil will not prevail. --- Julie Ackerman Link

Lord, we praise You for Your displays of power in the
past and Your promises of victory in the future,
for they replace our fear of the world
with confidence in You. Amen.

DON'T DESPAIR BECAUSE OF EVIL; GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD.

Too Old?

Read: Romans 1:14-17

You are the light of the world. --- Matthew 5:14

Ezekiel 24-26
1 Peter 2

God has limitless ways of reaching people. So if you don't feel that you have the ability to reach others for Christ, think about 76-year-old Ethel Hatfield. Desiring to serve her Lord, she asked her pastor if she could teach a Sunday school class. He informed her that he thought she was too old! She went home heavy-hearted and disappointed.

Then one day as Ethel was tending her rose garden, a Chinese student from the nearby university stopped to comment on the beauty of her flowers. She invited him in for a cup of tea. As they talked together, she had the opportunity to tell him about Jesus and His love. He returned the next day with another student, and that was the beginning of Ethel's ministry.

Ethel was delighted to share the gospel of Christ with these students, because she knew He has the power to change lives. His gospel "is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" [Rom. 1:16].

Precisely because of Ethel's age, Chinese students listened to her with respect and appreciation. When she died, a group of 70 Chinese believers sat together at her funeral. They had been won to Christ by a woman who was thought to be too old to teach a Sunday school class! --- Vernon Grounds

In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray,
Let me watch as a winner of souls;
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day,
When His praise like the sea-billow rolls. --- Hewitt

NO ONE IS TOO OLD TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST.

Anonymous Has Come

Read: Titus 3:1-7

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

Ezekiel 22-23
1 Peter 1

Years ago I received a cylinder in the mail that turned out to be an exquisite, custom-made Jim Schaaf bamboo fly rod and Bill Ballan classic reel --- costly fishing gear that I could not have afforded. An enclosed hand-written note said simply, "I wanted to do something for you." To this day I have no idea who sent it.

Poet William Cowper also had an anonymous friend who sent gifts to him but never revealed his name. Cowper's comment on receiving each gift was always the same: "Anonymous has come." I think of that phrase often whenever I fish with that rod: "Anonymous has come." I will always be grateful to my unnamed friend and his kindness and love for me.

All through our lives God showers us with His goodness --- gifts of truth, beauty, friendship, love, and laughter, to name but a few --- and we behave as if we don't know the source. God has been our anonymous Friend.

But He doesn't wish to remain anonymous. If you want to know more about your secret Friend, read the Gospels, for He is seen most clearly in Jesus. Love has always been in God's heart, but in Jesus it "appeared." God, revealed in Jesus, is your kind and merciful Friend. Will you acknowledge and thank Him today? --- David Roper

With thankful hearts give praise to Jesus
For His blessings without end;
Let's give to Him our full devotion;
He's our Savior and our Friend. --- D. De Haan

OUR DEAREST FRIEND IS BUT A SHADOW COMPARED TO JESUS.

The Pretender

Read: Genesis 27:19-33

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. --- James 5:16

Ezekiel 20-21
James 5

When a waitress in Ohio asked to see a customer's driver's license, she was shocked when she saw the photo on the ID. It was her own picture! The waitress had lost her driver's license a month earlier, and this young woman was using it so she'd have "proof" she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called, and the customer was arrested for identity theft. Trying to gain what she wanted, she pretended to be someone she wasn't.

Jacob, in the Old Testament, did some pretending too. With his mother Rebekah's help, he fooled his dying father into believing he was his brother Esau so he could gain the blessing meant for the oldest son [Gen. 27]. Jacob did get caught after his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to receive the blessing.

Pretending goes on in our churches today. Some people put on a false front. They use the right "Christian" words, attend church almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend they "have it all together" in order to gain the approval of others. But inside they're struggling with brokenness, guilt, doubt, or an addiction or other persistent sin.

God placed us in a body of believers to support one another. Admit that you aren't perfect. Then seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ. --- Annie Cetas

Don't hide your sin and cover up,
Pretending there is nothing wrong;
Instead, confess it and repent,
Then God will fill your heart with song. --- Sper

BE WHAT GOD INTENDS YOU TO BE --- DON'T PRETEND TO BE WHAT YOU'RE NOT.

Two Wayward Brothers

Read: Luke 15:25-32

It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again. --- Luke 15:32

Ezekiel 18-19
James 4

The story of the prodigal son is actually the story of two wayward brothers and their loving father. It's a universal story that represents every member of the human race.

I can't fully identify with the prodigal. "Riotous living" is foreign to me. But the older brother's self-righteous attitude --- now that resonates with my spiritual struggle. His sin was perhaps more serious than an out-in-the-open immoral lifestyle. That's because it was hidden --- but easy to recognize when it surfaced.

Here are its characteristics: He chose anger instead of acceptance [Luke 15:28]. He separated himself and "would not go in" [v.28]. He said to his father, "this son of yours" [v.30], instead of calling him "my brother." Clearly, he hadn't experienced the wonder of grace.

Yet the father loved both sons unconditionally. With the prodigal, he ran out to welcome him. And with his older son, he "came out and pleaded with him" [v.28]. There was no harsh scolding, just joy for the younger son and a longing heart for his older son. What a wonderful picture of how graciously God pursues us!

Which son represents you? Have you responded to your heavenly Father's immeasurable love? --- Dennis De Haan

Naught have I gotten but what I received,
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase ---
I'm only a sinner saved by grace! --- Gray

GOD'S LOVE CHANGES PRODIGAL SONS INTO PRECIOUS SAINTS.

The Other Side Of Thank You

Read: 1 Corinthians 13

[Love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. --- 1 Corinthians 13:5

Ezekiel 16-17
James 3

A baby gift came to a young couple who were new parents. They were grateful for the present, so the mom picked up a thank-you card, wrote a nice note, and got it ready to send.

Somehow it got buried in an avalanche of paperwork and was never mailed --- and the thank-you was forgotten. The gift-givers waited, but no acknowledgment came.

A rift developed as one family thought the thank-you had been given, while the other thought the lack of a thank-you was a snub. This inadvertent failure to send a card left the gift-giver feeling slighted, unappreciated, and neglected.

Among the most important words we can speak are the two words, "Thank you." And while it is vital to be grateful, there's another side of thank you. If we bestow a gift on another, we should do so out of a motive that doesn't expect anything, even a thank-you, in return. True love gives with no expectations.

Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4, "suffers long and is kind" and is never self-seeking. Love keeps no record of wrongs --- even if someone forgets to thank us for a kindness. The other side of thank you is a pure heart that reflects God's perfect love for us. --- Dave Branon

I want the love that always sweetly bears
Whate'er my Father's hand may choose to send;
I want the love that patiently endures
The wrongs that come form enemy or friend. --- Anon.

TRUE LOVE HAS NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

Stay Out Of It!

Read: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Do not ... share in other people's sins. --- 1 Timothy 5:22

Ezekiel 14-15
James 2

A Christian man in our community received a promotion that greatly increased his income. His fellow sales men urged him to upgrade his life through large credit card purchases. Whatever the others did, he did --- family skiing vacations, cruises, new furniture, expensive shopping trips.

Then sales dipped, and he fell behind in his payments. The pressure put his marriage under tremendous strain. His buddies suggested that he do what they did: pad his expense accounts and turn in inflated sales reports. He did, but he became consumed with anxiety and guilt.

A wise Christian friend observed the strain he was under and prayed for him. He then counseled him to face the reality of his situation. Then anguished believer finally cried out to God in shame and repentance. He confessed his sin, made things right with his company, and talked about it with his wife. Peace eventually returned to his life.

Paul's instructions to elders in today's passage apply to all believers in Jesus Christ. When so many cultures in the world are driven by pride and greed, the apostle's command not to "share in other people's sins" [v.22] is timely.

When enticed to join others in wrongdoing, stay out of it! --- Dave Egner

Sin's pleasure have such great appeal,
They truly look like bargains rare;
But seldom do we clearly see
The hidden cost that we must bear. --- D. De Haan

NO ONE WHO FOLLOWS CHRIST WILL EVER STRAY FROM GOD.

Don't Worry

Read: Matthew 6:25-34

Do not worry .... Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. --- Matthew 6:31-32

Ezekiel 11-13
James 1

My nephew's job was soon to be eliminated, so I was glad to hear from his wife that he had just accepted an offer for a new position.

"We prayed, I worried, and Eric was determined to get another job," Angie wrote in an e-mail, explaining the journey they'd been on for the last few months.

It's easy for us to panic when we face serious concerns --- the loss of a job, a family member with cancer, a wayward child.

So we pray. And we get busy. We start doing everything we can think of to move forward in a positive way.

And we worry. We know it's a waste of time. Yet a lot of us find ourselves in this dilemma --- we know we should trust God, but we wonder just what He's going to do.

That's when we turn to His Word --- to remind us that He is walking with us and inviting us to hand over to Him our worries and burdens. Scripture tells us, "[Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" [1 Peter 5:7], and "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" [Phil. 4:19].

When your mind turns to anxious thoughts about the future, remember that "your heavenly Father knows" [Matt. 6:32] and will give you what you need. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One who feeds the sparrow
Is the One who stands by me. --- Stanphill

WORRY IS A BURDEN GOD NEVER INTENDED US TO BEAR.

Straight To Heaven

Read: John 3:1-8

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name ... by which we must be saved. --- Acts 4:12

Ezekiel 8-10
Hebrews 13

An old spiritual warns, "Everybody talkin' 'bout heaven ain't goin' there." Since heaven is God's dwelling place where His presence and glory are manifested in all their splendor, He had the sovereign right to determine who will be admitted and under what conditions. Any other beliefs about the how and why of admission into heaven are sadly mistaken.

Take, for example, the confidence expressed by a well-known actress. Questioned about her faith, she replied, "I pray, I read the Bible. It's the most beautiful book ever written. I should go to heaven; otherwise it's not nice. I haven't done anything wrong. My conscience is very clean. My soul is as white as those orchids over there, and I should go straight, straight to heaven."

God alone determines who goes straight to heaven. In the Bible, God's holy Word, He tells us that only those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be admitted. The apostle Peter said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" [Acts 4:12].

Self-judgment regarding the purity of one's soul and one's heaven-deserving character is not the criterion. Only God's Word gives us the standard for admission. --- Vernon Grounds

I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There's no other way but this;
I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I miss. --- Pounds

CHRIST BELIEVED IS SALVATION RECEIVED AND HEAVEN GAINED.

New Bodies

Read: 1 Cor. 15:42-49

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. --- Hebrews 12:2

Ezekiel 5-7
Hebrews 12

In 1728, a young Ben Franklin composed his own tombstone epitaph:

The body of B. Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its contents worn out and stript of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food for worms. Yet the work shall not be lost; for it will as he believ'd appear once more, in a new & more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by the Author.

In this epitaph, the wry wit of Franklin, the colonial Renaissance man, rings true to the biblical view of resurrection. The bodies we now possess are prone to aging, physical decline, and ultimately death. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ holds within it the promise of a new supernatural body raised in glory. The apostle Paul tells us, "The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power" [1 Cor. 15:42-43].

As life takes its course in the aging process, we have the hope of a new body that will far outshine the original. Despite our aches and pains, our destiny belongs safely in the hands of "Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" [Heb. 12:2]. --- Dennis Fisher

New bodies will be ours someday
According to God's grand design,
Forever with the Lord to reign ---
Praise God for the promise divine! --- Hess

IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE ... WE SHALL BE CHANGED. --- The Apostle Paul

2,000-Year-Old Sprout

Read: Psalm 92:12-15

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.... They shall still bear fruit in old age. --- Psalm 92:12,14

Ezekiel 3-4
Hebrews 11:20-40

In June of 2006, Israeli doctors and scientists successfully germinated a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. Found at the Herodian fortress of Masada on the west bank of the Dead Sea, the seed was tagged "Methuselah" for the man with the oldest recorded age in the Bible [Gen. 5:27]. In addition to the challenge of awakening a long-dormant seed, the team also wanted to learn more about the tree praised in Scripture for its shade, food, beauty, and medicinal qualities.

The date palm has an important role in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the tree is linked to the temple and presence of God. The New Testament describes excited crowds praising God and throwing palm branches at the feet of Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

God's promise to bless the world through a descendant of Abraham also lay dormant for 2,000 years [see Gen. 12:1-3]. Finally, the Seed of promise sprouted. That Seed was Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. Soon the story of His resurrected life would go out to every nation on earth.

The miracle is now ours to experience. Time is not a factor. Neither is the barren ground of circumstance. All that matters is that we allow our hearts to be the soil in which Christ is welcomed and worshiped. --- Mart De Haan

God's promise like a tiny seed
May seem to be an empty thing,
But hidden in that tiny seed
Is life that waits the warmth of spring. --- D. De Haan

GOD NEVER MAKES A PROMISE THAT HE WILL NOT KEEP.

Say No To Self-Help

Read: Jeremiah 17:1-8

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. --- Psalm 28:7

Ezekiel 1-2
Hebrews 11:1-19

Early in my editorial career in religious publishing, I was responsible for a line of books referred to as "self-help." The label troubled me because it seemed contrary to everything Christian.

The idea of self-help is popular because it supports the notion that we are in control. In the words of the poem "Invictus": "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

But we're not! Eventually something happens that reminds us how out-of-control life is, and no self-help book can help us make it right.

Thankfully, Christians are not in the business of self-help. Quite the opposite! To become a Christian requires that we admit our helplessness and acknowledge our total dependence on God. "Without Me, you can do nothing," said Jesus [John 15:5].

The ancient Israelites were always getting in trouble for trusting human strength rather than God's [Jer. 17:5]. Yet even after their failures, the Lord said, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD" [v.7].

When especially difficult circumstances or strong temptations invade our lives and remind us of our powerlessness, we have an all-powered God who works on behalf of those who trust Him. --- Julie Ackerman Link

No strength of our own, nor goodness we claim;
Our trust is all thrown on Jesus' name:
In this our strong tower for safety we hide;
The Lord is our power, "The Lord will provide." --- Newton

WHATEVER DOES NOT BEGIN WITH GOD WILL END IN FAILURE.

Losing A Friend

Read: Lamentations 3:19-29

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. --- Lamentations 3:22

Lamentations 3-5
Hebrews 10:19-39

When London's red double-decker Routemaster buses were withdrawn from regular service in December 2005, many people felt they had lost a friend. The Routemasters had provided reliable service for 51 years, and they were popular with Londoners and tourists alike because of their easy jump-on, jump-off rear access. A few of the old buses still run on two Heritage tourist routes, but in the rest of the sprawling city, they're gone.

Many changes in our lives represent loss, whether as small as the cherished memory of a bus or as large as a destroyed family home, a thwarted dream of success, or the death of a person we've deeply loved. In every loss we long for a touch of healing and hope.

The book of Lamentations has been called "the funeral of a city." In it, Jeremiah mourned the captivity of his people and the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet in the midst of sorrow, there is a celebration of God's faithfulness: "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him!'" [Lam. 3:22-24].

When our hearts hurt because of loss, we can find hope in our LORD, who never changes. --- David McCasland

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain. --- von Schlegel

WHEN THE SUNSHINE OF GOD'S LOVE MEETS THE SHOWERS OF OUR SORROW, THE RAINBOW OF PROMISE APPEARS.

Why We Have Value

Read: Psalm 8

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. --- John 1:12

Lamentations 1-2
Hebrews 10:1-18

In a commencement address to a graduating class at Miami University, columnist George Will gave some statistics that help to diminish our sense of self-importance. He pointed out that "the sun around which Earth orbits is one of perhaps 400 billion stars in the Milky Way, which is a piddling galaxy next door to nothing much." He added, "There are perhaps 40 billion galaxies in the still-unfolding universe. If all the stars in the universe were only the size of the head of a pin, they still would fill Miami's Orange Bowl to overflowing more than 3 billion times."

There is a plus side to all that overwhelming data. The God who created and sustains our star-studded cosmos in its incomprehensible vastness loves us. And He doesn't just love the human race as an entity of multiplied billions. He loves us individually. What Paul exclaims to be true about himself is true about each of us in all our insignificance: Christ "loved me and gave Himself for me" [Gal. 2:20].

Astronomically, we are insignificant. But we are the beloved objects of God's care. While we have no reason for pride, we are inexpressibly grateful to the Lord whose love for us personally is revealed at Calvary's cross. --- Vernon Grounds

Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know,
Gracious Spirit from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so! --- Robinson

WE HAVE NOTHING TO BOAST OF BUT THAT WE'RE DEARLY LOVED BY GOD.

Uncommon Beauty

Read: 1 Peter 2:9-17

The LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. --- Psalm 149:4

Jeremiah 51-52
Hebrews 9

For some folks, the word holiness conjures up images of stuffy prudes --- people who are "good" in the worst sense of the word, with sullen and morose faces. They are full of self-righteousness and rigid duty, "on hold for the next life," as a Washington Post writer put it.

Most people long for truth and goodness. Yet that desire can be frustrated by what they see in some Christians, whom they perceive as self-righteous and judgmental. To unbelievers, such "virtue" is far less interesting than vice, with the result that they cling to their vices even though they may hate them. Joy Davidman, the wife of C.S. Lewis, said, "One sanctimonious hypocrite makes a hundred unbelievers."

Would that the world saw the real thing --- that extraordinary quality of life of which Peter speaks --- a life so winsome and attractive it will draw others to the Savior [1 Peter 2:12]. "If only 10% of the world's population had [holiness]." C.S. Lewis mused, "would not the whole world be converted and happy before year's end?"

We can have it! As we yield our lives to God's Spirit within, we can live lives of uncommon beauty before a watching world. Israel's poet assures us, "The LORD ... will beautify the humble" [Ps. 149:4]. --- David Roper

Beautiful faces are those that seem
With the very love of God to beam;
Beautiful forms are those that grace
With gentle service the lowliest place. --- Anon.

LIVE SO THAT OTHERS WILL WANT TO KNOW JESUS.

Doing Well

Read: James 1:1-13

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. --- James 2:8

Jeremiah 50
Hebrews 8

In the book Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley recounts the World War II battle of Iwo Jima and its famous flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Bradley's father, John, was one of the flag-raisers. But more important, he was a Navy corpsman --- a medic.

In the heat of battle, facing a barrage of bullets from both sides, Bradley exposed himself to danger so he could care for the wounded and dying. This self-sacrifice showed his willingness and determination to care for others, even though it meant placing himself at great personal risk.

Doc Bradley won the Navy Cross for his heroism and valor, but he never spoke of it to his family. In fact, it was only after his death that they learned of his military decorations. To Doc, it wasn't about winning medals; it was about caring for his buddies.

In James 2:8 we read: "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well." By intentionally seeking to care for others in the way that we would hope to be treated, James says we "do well." The word well means "rightly, nobly, so there is no room for blame."

Selflessly "doing well" expresses the heart of God, and fulfills His law of love. --- Bill Crowder

Let the road be rough and dreary,
And its end far out of sight;
Foot it bravely, strong or weary;
Trust in God and do the right. --- Macleod

LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF OBEDIENCE.

The Good Life

Read: Luke 12:13-21

Beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. --- Luke 12:15

Jeremiah 48-49
Hebrews 7

Driving down the highway in Houston, I passed a billboard with large letters that announced "THE GOOD LIFE!" I couldn't wait to get closer to read the small print, which explained that the "good life" was about buying a lakefront home starting at $300,000. Which made me wonder if some unhappy families might live in those homes, with kids who never see their parents or couples who, though living on the lake, wish they weren't even living together.

Luke 12 came to mind as I remembered the story of the man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. That was the wrong thing to ask Jesus! He replied with a warning, "Beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" [v.15]. He then went on to tel the story of an extremely rich man who, from God's point of view, was a fool --- not because he was successfully wealthy but because he was not rich toward God.

The sooner we get over the illusion that more stuff means more peace, happiness, and self-fulfillment, the better off we will be. And then the more able we will be to find the longed-for peace and happiness --- the true "good life" --- that only Jesus can provide. --- Joe Stowell

O Lord, help us to be content,
Whatever we possess;
Protect us from the foolish lie
That "more" brings happiness. --- Sper

THE "GOOD LIFE" IS FOUND IN THE RICHNESS OF GOD.

The Great Pandemic

Read: Numbers 21:1-9

Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. --- John 3:14-15

Jeremiah 46-47
Hebrews 6

In March 1918, Albert Gitchell, an Army cook at Fort Riley, Kansas, was diagnosed with the flu. Before the year was out, it had spread around the world, killing perhaps as many as 40 million people. This highly contagious virus became a pandemic --- a global epidemic.

One physician reported that patients would rapidly show flu-like symptoms, develop the worst type of pneumonia he had ever seen, and then suffocate within hours. Fortunately, the influenza disappeared as mysteriously as it had begun. But doctors remained baffled by its cause and were helpless to find a cure.

Ancient Israel also suffered a devastating plague, but they knew its cause and asked Moses for a cure. They were ungrateful and complained about God's provision of manna. In righteous anger, God sent serpents whose poisonous bite left a lethal wound. He then told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. All who looked at it were healed [Num. 21:1-0].

Centuries later, Jesus spoke of this as a symbol of His death on the cross: "Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" [John 3:14-15].

Have you trusted Jesus to heal your soul? --- Dennis Fisher

Our Lord took death upon Himself
On that cruel cross of pain,
And those who look in faith to Him
Eternal life shall gain! --- Johnson

LOOK TO CHRIST TODAY, OR YOU MAY BE LOST FOREVER.

Living Large

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. --- 2 Corinthians 6:11

Jeremiah 43-45
Hebrews 5

A boating magazine reports that Serenity, Time Out, Serendipity, and Reel Time are some of the most popular names for boats. Not long ago, I saw the name Living Large on a boat in a Grand Haven, Michigan, marina. I'm not sure what that meant to the boat owner, but to many people, "living large" means to own the best possessions, to take the most exotic vacations, to buy whatever you want, to live life extravagantly.

That kind of life, however, doesn't bring true purpose or satisfaction. Followers of Jesus Christ are to live large in a different way, as seen in the example of the apostle Paul and of his co-worker Timothy. Paul told the Corinthians, "Our heart is wide open" [2 Cor. 6:11]. The King James Version puts it like this: "Our heart is enlarged." They had given their wholehearted affection to the people, just as a father does to his children as he wraps them in his arms. Now they wanted the same response. So Paul requested, "Now in return for the same ... you also be open" [v.13].

A large-hearted person shows his affection with his words and actions --- freely and generously. As believers, let's live large today and freely welcome and embrace others in love. --- Anne Cetas

Love through me, Love of God,
There is no love in me;
O Fire of love, light Thou the love
That burns perpetually. --- Carmichael

THEY DO NOT TRULY LOVE WHO DO NOT SHOW THEIR LOVE. --- Shakespeare

Our Refuge And Strength

Read: Isaiah 31

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. --- Psalm 20:7

Jeremiah 40-42
Hebrews 4

In August 2004, Hurricane Charley brought fierce destruction to areas of Florida. During the storm, 25-year-old Danny Williams went outside to seek protection in one of his favorite places, a shed under the protective branches of a banyan tree. But the tree fell on the shed and killed Williams. Sometimes, the places we look to for security can be the most dangerous.

The prophet Isaiah warned Judah's King Hezekiah of this truth. Hezekiah was a good king, but he repeated the sing of his father Ahaz by seeking security in an alliance with an alien power [2 Kings 16:7; Isa. 36:6]. Instead, he should have been encouraging his people to trust in the Lord.

By seeking help from Egypt, Hezekiah showed that he had failed to learn from history. Egypt had been anything but an ally to Israel. Hezekiah had also forgotten Scripture. Amassing horses for cavalry units was against the divine constitution for the king [Deut. 17:16].

Ultimately, Hezekiah did seek help from the Lord [Isa. 37:1-6, 14-20]. And God miraculously annihilated the invading Assyrians [vv. 36-38].

Judah made the mistake of valuing the strength of Egypt over the living God. May our trust always be in the name of the Lord our God [Ps. 20:7]. --- Marvin Williams

Trust in God and you will know
He can vanquish any foe;
Simply trust Him day by day,
He will be your strength and stay. --- D. De Haan

NO LIFE IS MORE SECURE THAN A LIFE SURRENDERED TO GOD.

Better Yet

Read: Philippians 1:19-26

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. --- Philippians 1:21

Jeremiah 37-39
Hebrews 3

Sir Francis Bacon said, "I do not believe that any man fears to be dead, but only the stroke of death." Woody Allen said, "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."

It's not death that's so frightening. It's the dying that scares us. As Paul faced imprisonment and the prospect of dying in a jail cell, he shared his view about life and death: "To live is Christ, and to die is gain" [Phil. 1:21]. What a perspective!

Death is our enemy [1 Cor. 15:25-28], but it does not possess the finality that so many dread. There is something waiting for believers beyond this life --- something better.

Someone has said, "What the caterpillar thinks is the end of life, the butterfly thinks is just the beginning." George MacDonald wrote, "How strange this fear of death is! We are never frightened at a sunset."

I love this paraphrase of Philippians 1:21, "To me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying --- well, that's better yet!" [TLB]. During our physical life, we have opportunities to serve Jesus. But one day, we will actually be in His presence. Our fear will melt away when we see Him face to face.

That's the "better yet" the apostle Paul is talking about! --- Cindy Hess Kasper

Death? --- Christ said not death;
He called it sleep;
A vast awaking, a new day breaking,
A bright way taking, with visions deep. --- H. Frost

FOR THE CHRISTIAN, THE FEAR OF DEATH WILL GIVE WAY TO THE FULLNESS OF LIFE.

Boundaries

Read: Jeremiah 5:20-29

[God has] placed the sand as the bound of the sea. --- Jeremiah 5:22

Jeremiah 34-36
Hebrews 2

Not a year goes by without a natural disaster causing chaos somewhere in the world. Floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis destroy lives, homes, and livelihoods.

No one would argue that the seas have a "right" to violate their established boundaries and crash across the coastline. In fact, people agree that disaster occurs whenever the sea breaches the shoreline. God Himself has "placed the sand as the bound of the sea" [Jer. 5:22].

God also established boundaries for human behavior. Yet not a day goes by without countless violations of His commands, resulting in disastrous physical and spiritual consequences. Amazingly, we often argue that we have the "right" to violate these boundaries.

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God's people had stepped out of bounds, using deceit to become rich and refusing to defend the needy [5:27-28]. The result was disaster. God said, "Your sins have withheld good from you" [v.25].

Within creation there is inherent order. Violating it has inherent consequences. God in His kindness simply and lovingly communicated to us the order of things so that we can avoid those consequences. We are wise to know and to stay within His prescribed boundaries. --- Julie Ackerman Link

Lord, keep us on the narrow way,
Where no corruption, woe, nor evil can destroy,
Where Your right hand defeats the worldly fray
To lead us into Your eternal joy. --- Mollon

DISREGARDING GOD'S ORDER LEADS TO DISORDER!

Training For Life

Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-11

Exercise yourself toward godliness. --- 1 Timothy 4:7

Jeremiah 32-33
Hebrews 1

When Dean Karnazes completed the 26.2-mile New York Marathon in November 2006, it marked the end of an almost impossible feat of endurance. Karnazes had run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. This exceptional athlete's ultra-endurance feats include: running 350 continuous miles, mountain biking for 24 hours straight, and swimming across San Francisco Bay. That level of fitness requires relentless, dedicated training.

Spiritual fitness, Paul told Timothy, also takes much more than a relaxed approach to live a God-honoring life. In a culture marked by false teaching, along with extreme forms of self-indulgence and self-denial, Paul wrote: "Exercise [train] yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" [1 Tim. 4:7-8].

Our bodies and our minds are to be dedicated to God and prepared for His service [Rom. 12:1-2]. The goal is not spiritual muscle-flexing but godliness --- a life that is pleasant to the Lord. Vigorous study of the Word, focused prayer, and bodily discipline are all part of the process.

How well we train greatly affects how well we run our race of life. --- David McCasland

Just as the body grows in strength
With exercise each day,
Our spirit grows in godliness
By living life God's way. --- D. De Haan

GODLY EXERCISE IS THE KEY TO GODLY CHARACTER.

How To Walk

Read: Ephesians 3:14-4:3

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. --- Ephesians 3:16

Jeremiah 30-31
Philemon

Dana and Rich went out for an afternoon bike ride expecting to come home refreshed. Instead, their lives were changed forever. As Rich rode down a hill, he lost control of his bike and crashed. His body was mangled, and he barely made it to the hospital alive.

Dana faithfully kept vigil by her husband's side. He couldn't feed himself, and he couldn't walk. One day, as the two of them sat under a shade tree outside the hospital, Rich turned to his wife and said, "Dana, I don't know if I'll ever walk again, but I'm learning to walk closer to Jesus, and that's what I really want." Instead of shaking his fist at God, Rich reached out and grabbed His hand.

Sometimes in the midst of our trials, we need to think about someone like Rich to help us adjust our perspective --- to remind us of the remarkable relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. This is the relationship we need most when the going gets the toughest.

We are not equipped to handle all the problems we face, but God is. That's why He told us to give them all to Him --- to "cast your burden on the LORD" [Ps. 55:22]. As Rich found out, walking with Jesus doesn't depend on our legs. It depends on our heart. --- Dave Branon

I don't worry o'er the future.
For I know what Jesus said;
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead. --- Stanphill

WE CAN WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST TRIALS WHEN WE WALK WITH GOD IN THE LIGHT.