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October 12
Life Expectancy
Bible in a Year:

• Isaiah 39–40
• Colossians 4

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.

Psalm 90:4
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 90:1–14
In 1990, French researchers had a computer problem: a data error when processing the age of Jeanne Calment. She was 115 years old, an age outside the parameters of the software program. The programmers had assumed no one could possibly live that long! In fact, Jeanne lived until the age of 122.
The psalmist writes, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). This is a figurative way of saying that whatever age we live to, even to the age of Jeanne Calment, our lives on earth are indeed limited. Our lifetimes are in the sovereign hands of a loving God (v. 5). In the spiritual realm, however, we’re reminded of what “God time” really is: “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by” (v. 4).
And in the person of Jesus Christ “life expectancy” has been given a whole new meaning: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). “Has” is in the present tense: right now, in our current physical moment of trouble and tears, our future is blessed, and our lifespan is limitless.
In this we rejoice and with the psalmist pray, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).
By: Kenneth Petersen
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Reflect & Pray
What worries do you have about your life and its limits? How are you comforted by the presence of Jesus?
Loving God, sometimes this life is hard, but—even so—I sing for joy in Your provision for me. Satisfy me today with Your unfailing love.

 

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EVERYDAY THINGS COUNT IN THE END
October 12, 2022
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
If ever there was a GIANT challenge, it was David’s match-up against the nine-and-a-half foot tall and hardened warrior, Goliath.

Just his presence alone was enough to fill an opposing army with fear. Yet David, a teenage shepherd at the time, was willing to take him on.

Naturally, everyone thought David was crazy, but it was his faith in the Lord and trust that God would show up as He had always done in the past which gave David courage. He said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the sheep from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I grabbed it by its mane and struck it and killed it. The Lord who saved me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will save me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:34,35,37).

And He did; David slew Goliath that day. David found the courage to step out in faith and face a giant challenge because he had learned to be faithful in the small things, day in and day out.

In the end, God showed up, giving David victory in that battle.

When we’re faced with enormous challenges, we too will be ready if we learn to be faithful to God in the small everyday tasks. Just like an athlete builds up strength by faithfully working out a little bit every day, trusting God in the small things is key to meeting life’s giant challenges victoriously.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

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LIVE IN THE LIGHT – RIGHT NOW!
October 13, 2022
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also will live with him.” Romans 6:6-8
The Bible is filled with verses that describe new life in Jesus.

Just look at today’s scripture reference, and you will see that the new life in Jesus is experienced in this life and in heaven for all eternity.

So here is a big question: If we have been given the gift of a new life through the finished work of Christ at the cross, why does our old life still seem to have so much power over so many Christians? Why does it often feel like we are enslaved to sin? And how can we be set free from sin and live in the power of the new life that Christ provides?

I don’t know about you, but I want to live as one who has been set free. But how?

Here are two important thoughts:

• First, you are set free from the power of sin when you are honest about the power of sin. Here is the reality – sin thrives in the dark and dies in the light. One of the greatest weapons we have against sin is the light. If you are not connected to a strong local church, I encourage you to find one now. Find other believers with whom you can experience true biblical community. Search for a few like-minded members of the same sex where you can experience confession and accountability. Living in the light takes courage, but it is a crucial step toward spiritual freedom from sin.
• Second, you are free from sin’s power when you live with an eternal perspective. Romans 6:9-11 says, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died, he died to sin, once and for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

I love this! Paul is saying, don’t wait for eternity to live for eternity. Fix your eyes on eternity and live for that which will last.

The right eternal perspective helps put everything in its right place.

If you are a follower of Jesus, don’t settle. You have the opportunity to live in freedom from sin. But it takes a lot of bravery to expose areas of darkness. And it takes discipline to stop being consumed with this world’s temporary things and focus on the eternal.

But I promise that living in freedom is worth it!


Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

 

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October 17
God Spoke
Bible in a Year:

• Isaiah 50–52
• 1 Thessalonians 5

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:3
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 1:1–4
In 1876, inventor Alexander Graham Bell spoke the very first words on a telephone. He called his assistant, Thomas Watson, saying, “Watson, come here. I want to see you.” Crackly and indistinct, but intelligible, Watson heard what Bell had said. The first words spoken by Bell over a phone line proved that a new day for human communication had dawned.
Establishing the dawn of the first day into the “formless and empty” earth (Genesis 1:2), God spoke His first words recorded in Scripture: “Let there be light” (v. 3). These words were filled with creative power. He spoke, and what He declared came into existence (Psalm 33:6, 9). God said, “let there be light” and so it was. His words produced immediate victory as darkness and chaos gave way to the brilliance of light and order. Light was God’s answer to the dominance of darkness. And when He had created the light, He saw that it “was good” (Genesis 1:4).
God’s first words continue to be powerful in the lives of believers in Jesus. With the dawning of each new day, it’s as if God is restating His spoken words in our lives. When darkness—literally and metaphorically—gives way to the brilliance of His light, may we praise Him and acknowledge that He’s called out to us and truly sees us.
By: Marvin Williams
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Reflect & Pray
When dawn breaks through the darkness, how will you celebrate God’s love and faithfulness? How has God’s light opened your eyes to see Him?
Creator of Light, I praise You for dispelling the darkness of this world—opening my eyes to You and Your presence in my life.

 

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FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
October 17, 2022
“So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed…’ When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at Him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, He said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’” – Luke 7:6-7,9
What kind of faith pleases God?

What constitutes a belief in God that receives His approval?

These words of Jesus from Luke 7 rest in the middle of a story about a Roman centurion asking Jesus to heal his servant. A centurion going to this much trouble for a servant demonstrates a great love for this man. One can imagine the feelings of grief and anxiety as someone he cares about is on the brink of death. But in seeking and finding Jesus, the centurion probably also possessed some hope. The passage doesn’t indicate whether or not the centurion came to saving faith in Christ, but it definitely shows us a faith that Jesus highly regarded. It was a faith that believed Jesus possessed the power to heal his servant with a simple word.

On the other hand, contrast that kind of faith with a faith of which Jesus is critical. Throughout the Gospels, many Jews constantly asked Jesus to perform signs and wonders. Only after He had “performed” for them would they believe that He was the Christ. But, here we see a Gentile, not even ethnically a member of the Jewish people, who says to Jesus, “You don’t have to come to my house; you don’t have to physically touch my servant. You don’t have to perform any sign or wonder to get me to believe you can heal my servant. All you need to do is say the word, and I know he will be healed.”

That is biblical, commendable faith. The Bible is full of countless stories depicting the same kind of faith. Abram believed God, and it was his faith that received God’s favor (Genesis 15:6). The thief on the cross believed Jesus alone had the power to forgive him, and he was promised eternal life (Luke 23). The people of Israel marched around the fortified city of Jericho doing nothing but blowing trumpets – no swords, spears, or javelins – because the Lord told them to, and the walls came down (Joshua 6).

What kind of faith do you possess? Do you try to barter with God, “Lord, if you will only do this, then I will believe?” Or do you simply believe and wait for Him to act? Seek to possess faith like this centurion. Ask the Lord to give you faith rooted in His character and Word rather than in what He can give you. This is the type of faith that pleases God.


Written by Austin Baker, Lead Pastor, Immanuel Church

 

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NO REGRETS
October 18, 2022
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Ihave had the privilege of being with many people as they neared death.

In all those instances, not once did I hear someone look back on their life and say, “You know, Bryant, I really wish I had made more money. If only I’d worked harder, I could’ve made a whole lot more money.” I’ve also never heard, “I wish I had accomplished more.”

What people on their deathbed do say often has something to do with relationship regret.

“I wish I had done more for someone.”

“I wish I had spent more time with them.”

“I wish I had focused more on the relationships that matter.”

Can you relate? For some, you remember a loved one gone too soon. If only you’d taken advantage of the time you had together. For others, you’re well aware of how important certain people are in your life. You’re probably thinking, “I know this. There’s nothing new here.”

Well, hold on a second. While many people may understand this lesson intellectually, actually living it out proves to be much more difficult. We might “know” this in our heads, but are we living this out in our hearts?

The fact is, when people ask me to identify the ultimate meaning of life, I always respond the same way: relationships. Ultimate meaning is found in the relationships we have with those closest to us. Your most important relationship is, of course, with God, but your last moments on this earth will be so very empty if they are spent agonizing over failed relationships with family, friends, or those you may have wronged.

So, who do you need to reach out to? Who do you need to prioritize?

Don’t waste another moment.

Act now to ensure that your last moments on earth aren’t full of relationship regret but praising God for the life you’ve lived in anticipation of the glory of heaven that awaits.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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WORSHIP: A SONG TO SING OR SOMETHING MORE?
October 19, 2022
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:12-13 NLT
Did you know there is a battle being fought in your life?

Right now, today, there is a battle to take over the throne of your heart. And according to today’s scripture, ultimately, the battle taking place in your whole body is a fight over what you worship.

So, what does worship have to do with it?

As I was preparing to become a pastor, a short little book written by pastor Louie Giglio forever changed the way I think about worship. Prior to reading it, I thought about worship only in terms of music. And indeed, worship music plays an important part in our church services, but worship is so much more than music. Worship is all about our hearts and what is most important to us. Let me share with you the particular quote from Louie’s book that changed my life:

“Worship is our response to what we value most. So how do you know where and what you worship? It’s easy. You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your allegiance. At the end of that trail, you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what’s of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship…the trail never lies.” (The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life – Louie Giglio.)

What you value most is seated on your throne. It could be something really worthwhile – family, a relationship, your career, reputation. None of those things are inherently bad. But when they become the things of highest value in your life, they become what you worship.

Anything we worship other than God is idolatry.

Idolatry, simply defined, is when a good thing becomes a god-thing. And we are constantly in a battle. A battle with the many things that try to take the throne of our hearts.

When the One worthy of our worship, Jesus, is seated on the throne of your life, sin loses its power. There is peace. Our time, affection, energy, money, and allegiance become focused on Him and living for His glory.

Questions:

1. What is trying to creep onto the throne of your heart?
2. What good things are trying to be god-things?
3. Are you taking the battle over your worship seriously?

Yes, worship includes the songs we sing on Sundays. These songs help point our hearts to Jesus. But remember, worship is the response to what you value most. And Jesus has utmost value!

So let’s throw aside all the other stuff.

There’s simply no competition!


Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

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THE 30-DAY CHALLENGE
October 20, 2022
“After (Jesus) had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.” – Matthew 14:23
Jesus regularly demonstrated the importance of spending time alone with God.

Whether it was getting up early to start His day with prayer, or going to His Father in the midst of incredible stress and uncertainty – Jesus believed in the importance of putting His Father first. And if Jesus did it, so should we.

But where do we start?

I’ve got 5 suggestions:

1. PRIORITIZE: If tomorrow you had an important meeting with your boss, wouldn’t you make every effort to show up? So why do we regularly ignore or postpone our appointments with God? Is it because we are too busy, easily distracted, or maybe just lazy? I love what the late Justice Scalia said to his clerk when he invited him to church. “I’m just too busy,” his clerk said. Scalia replied, “Well, I’ll tell the creator of the universe that you were too busy to see Him.” Ask God to give you a desire to show up and meet with Him.
2. TIME & PLACE: For Jesus, the time was in the morning before the day even got underway. For many who have young kids, the mornings can be chaotic. Maybe the ideal time is during nap time or in the evenings. Choose a place that is quiet and free from distraction: maybe an office, study, or bedroom.
3. PLAN: Choose a devotional guide to get started. Think of it as a spiritual warm-up – to help you focus. Check out a book by Christian authors like Oswald Chambers, Sarah Young, Tim Keller, or Max Lucado. Hey, even these morning devotions from RFTH can be your ‘warmup.’
4. PRAY: Prayer is simply pouring our hearts out to God. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13) is a great model to get started: it involves praise, praying for others, confession, telling Him our needs, and asking for forgiveness and strength in the face of temptation.
5. LISTEN: Are you listening? Or simply doing all the talking? If we want to hear from God, we have to listen. God speaks to us through His Word.

Now what?

Take a 30-Day Challenge! Beginning today, commit to a daily time with God for the next month. Don’t let distractions or responsibilities get in the way; make God your first priority and see what He has to say.

It can literally change your life!


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THE REAL REASON JESUS CAME
I remember as a teen calling myself a Christian. I believed Jesus was God’s Son, but my life was all about using God. I wanted Him to meet my needs. Whether it be winning the big game, passing a…
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THE REAL REASON JESUS CAME
October 25, 2022
“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”’ – John 6: 66-69
Iremember as a teen calling myself a Christian.
I believed Jesus was God’s Son, but my life was all about using God. I wanted Him to meet my needs. Whether it be winning the big game, passing a big test, or wanting things to go well on a big date. It was all about me. “God, can you just give me what I want?”
Like so many who fill churches today, I just didn’t get it. Jesus didn’t come to meet all my personal needs, my physical needs, and my materials needs.
Jesus didn’t come to be my meal ticket in this life.
Yes, Jesus is a compassionate God. He cares about the hurting, the hungry, and the rejected. He cares about our needs. But Jesus Christ’s primary mission was to be the Savior. Our Savior. He came to save us from sin and to make us right with God. And just like in Jesus’ time – so many people still don’t get it. They aren’t interested, because people feeling basically “good” simply don’t see their need for a Savior.
After performing miracles of healing and providing a meal for a crowd of thousands, Jesus began to explain who exactly He was and why He came: to be mankind’s Savior. Soon, the people began to leave. They wanted Jesus to be their king, fixing all their problems with health and finances, and fighting against injustice. They wanted Jesus to be their meal ticket, meeting all their material needs. They didn’t understand that Jesus’ purpose was so much bigger. They didn’t get it, so they left.
Looking at the twelve disciples, Jesus asked them a question. Do you want to leave too? And Simon Peter answered. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
You see, Simon Peter got it. He knew that Jesus is more than just a quick fix-it for our problems. Jesus is more than a meal ticket – He is the Holy One of God, the Messiah.
Are you looking for God to be a quick fix for life’s problems?
Is your faith only about using God to get what you want?
Don’t miss out on the real reason Jesus came.
It was to save us from our sins so that we can live out God’s will – not our own.

Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
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October 27
Sister to Brother
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 12–14
• 2 Timothy 1

Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

1 Timothy 5:1–2
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Timothy 5:1–2
When a leader asked if I’d speak with her privately, I found Karen in the retreat center counseling room red-eyed and wet-cheeked. Forty-two years old, Karen longed to be married, and a man was currently showing interest in her. But this man was her boss—and he already had a wife.
With a brother who cruelly teased her and a father devoid of affection, Karen discovered early that she was susceptible to men’s advances. A renewal of faith had given her new boundaries to live by, but her longing remained, and this glimpse of a love she couldn’t have was a torment.
After talking, Karen and I bowed our heads. And in a raw and powerful prayer, Karen confessed her temptation, declared her boss off-limits, handed her longing to God, and left the room feeling lighter.
That day, I realized the brilliance of Paul’s advice to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the faith (1 Timothy 5:1–2). How we see people determines how we interact with them, and in a world quick to objectify and sexualize, viewing the opposite sex as family helps us treat them with care and propriety. Healthy brothers and sisters don’t abuse or seduce each other.
Having only known men who demeaned, used, or ignored her, Karen needed one she could talk with sister-to-brother. The beauty of the gospel is it provides just that—giving us new siblings to help us face life’s problems.
By: Sheridan Voysey
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Reflect & Pray
How can seeing others as your brothers and sisters help you treat them with “absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:2)? How do you think Paul’s advice helps both sexes to flourish?
Dear Father, help me to treat others with respect and purity.
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October 28
For the Sake of the Gospel
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 15–17
• 2 Timothy 2

In every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Titus 2:10
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Titus 2:1–10
The year was 1916 and Nelson had just graduated from medical school in his native Virginia. Later that year, he and his bride of six months arrived in China. At the age of twenty-two, he became a surgeon at Love and Mercy Hospital, the only hospital in an area of at least two million Chinese residents. Nelson, together with his family, lived in the area for twenty-four more years, running the hospital, performing surgeries, and sharing the gospel with thousands of people. From once being called “foreign devil” by those who distrusted foreigners, Nelson Bell later became known as “The Bell Who Is Lover of the Chinese People.” His daughter Ruth was to later marry the evangelist Billy Graham.
Although Nelson was a brilliant surgeon and Bible teacher, it wasn’t his skills that drew many to Jesus; it was his character and the way he lived out the gospel. In Paul’s letter to Titus, the young gentile leader who was taking care of the church in Crete, the apostle said that living like Christ is crucial because it can make the gospel “attractive” (Titus 2:10). Yet we don’t do this on our own strength. God’s grace helps us live “self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (v. 12), reflecting the truths of our faith (v. 1).
Many people around us still don’t know the good news of Christ, but they know us. May He help us reflect and reveal His message in attractive ways.
By: Karen Huang
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Reflect & Pray
What can you learn from people whose life seems to draw others to the gospel? What things can you do (or stop doing) to make the gospel attractive to others?
Loving God, help me to be a good representative of the gospel. Help me to draw others to You.

 

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JESUS STILL HEALS TODAY
November 01, 2022
“When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. ‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.” – John 4: 47 & 50-51
“Go; your son lives,” Jesus told the man.

It was a 4-6 hour journey home and his son was critically ill. So ill, in fact, that this father risked what could have been his son’s final hours to beg Jesus for a miracle. Can you imagine the journey home? The thoughts swirling around this man’s head – did Jesus really just heal my son? He didn’t even see him! Can this really happen? Or did I just miss my son’s final hours to go on this ridiculous journey?

So many questions. So few answers.

Many of us can relate. We pray for a miracle, but we’re restless and full of doubt. In the case of this desperate father, Jesus did heal his son, bringing his entire household to faith in the process.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT JESUS FROM THE MIRACLE OF HEALING?

1. Nothing is impossible with God.
2. Jesus can heal because of the faith of others.
3. Jesus doesn’t have to be physically present to heal.
4. Only God sees the full picture and knows why some are healed and others are not.
5. Our role is to trust the results of our prayers, whether or not they make sense.

But, how does this miracle relate to our lives today?

Maybe your need isn’t physical healing like this sick little boy. Maybe you’re carrying around emotional or spiritual wounds. If we’re honest, we could all use some healing in our lives – right? Maybe twenty years ago you had an abortion. You didn’t feel you were ready to be a mother so you made a choice. But this choice still haunts you. Overwhelmed with guilt and pain, you’re in desperate need of God’s healing and forgiving power. Perhaps it’s abuse you experienced growing up. You need God’s supernatural power to forgive and move on because right now you just can’t.

Whatever it may be, the same Jesus who healed this sick little boy still heals today.

Are you in need of physical, spiritual, or emotional healing in your life? Maybe you’ve been praying for a miracle but still struggle with doubt, questions, and a lack of faith. Take your needs before Jesus and leave the rest to Him.

Let Jesus reveal what healing can look like in your life.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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SPIRITUAL GIFTS
November 02, 2022
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
What is a spiritual gift?

Does everyone have one? The Bible teaches that these “gifts” are supernatural, God-given abilities that every follower of Jesus possesses for the purpose of building up and encouraging the body of Christ. The original Greek word for spiritual gift is the word charisma. You might immediately think of a “charismatic church,” which usually refers to a church that focuses on miraculous spiritual gifts. Yet, according to the Biblical definition of spiritual gifts, every Christian is charismatic – because every Jesus follower has at least one spiritual gift. If you do NOT have a spiritual gift, it means that you’re not a follower of Jesus. However, there are many Christians whose spiritual gifts might be lying dormant or underutilized.

So what exactly IS a spiritual gift? It’s not a talent. Talents refer to various God-given skills and abilities that every person possesses, whether or not they are Christians. Musical ability is a wonderful talent that can be used for God’s glory, but it’s not a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are also not a character trait or fruit of the spirit – things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.

Peter divides spiritual gifts into two camps: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Speaking gifts include the missionary gift, preaching, teaching, or prophecy. In Ephesians chapter 4, these gifts are broken down further into the gifts of evangelism, encouragement, discernment, wisdom, leadership, and speaking in tongues. Serving gifts consist of the gift of faith, administration, giving, healing, miracles, hospitality, mercy, helping, and service.

If you’re wondering about your own spiritual gift, ask God to begin to reveal it to you today. (There are many spiritual gift surveys that can help you discover your gifts.) Or if you’ve ignored or forgotten your particular spiritual gifting, ask God to show you how to use it again for His glory.

If you’ve never given your life to Christ in faith, now’s the time. God longs to help us walk in abundant and purposeful lives, by discovering and using our spiritual gifts in ministry.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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THE BLESSING OF SERVING OTHERS
November 03, 2022
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4: 8-10
Businesses are motivated by profits. Associations and charities are driven by a specific cause.

But what about followers of Jesus? What should be our primary purpose in following Jesus?

The answer is service. Christians are called to serve God and others. This is to be our driving motivation in fulfilling our life’s purpose. This is why we were created – to glorify God by knowing Jesus. As we get to know Him, we’ll see that Jesus guides and empowers us to serve others as we fulfill our purpose.

The Apostle Peter dissected this idea of service in 1 Peter chapter 4:

1. Motivation: Are you serving out of obligation or to point others to Jesus? Helping others because it’s a “rule” completely misses the spirit and heart of our calling. (1 Peter 4:8)
2. Spirit of Love: No grumbling or complaining. It’s out of a spirit of love that we serve one another and use our gifts in ministry. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
3. Fervency: The word fervency could be used to describe an athlete using every last ounce of strength and willpower to cross the finish line. It’s with this amount of passion and zeal that we are to serve others. (1 Peter 4:8)

Let’s face it, some people aren’t easy to love, much less serve. Some people are selfish, judgmental, and downright difficult. What’s amazing about serving others is that when we truly serve out of a heart of love for God, we become more forgiving and caring toward others. Jesus, Himself said in John 13:34b, 35: “Love one another…By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

Will you step into this calling to serve others out of love?


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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HOPE THAT IS BUILT ON THINGS ETERNAL
November 06, 2022
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The apostle Paul was very familiar with suffering.

In fact, he wrote four New Testament letters from a prison cell. Paul suffered greatly during his lifetime, yet somehow he was able to point us to the hope and glory found in Jesus Christ. How in the world is that possible? It seems counter-intuitive that it was suffering that drove Paul to God. But, it was pain that allowed Paul to reach this conclusion:

Nothing in this world can take away what God has given.

You see, Paul understood that on his own he was far worse off than he ever dared to imagine. On his own, he had no hope of ever earning his way to God. He knew he could never DO enough to become GOOD enough. His only hope was found in the good and perfect work of Jesus Christ on his behalf.

Through Jesus, Paul discovered a lasting hope no matter the circumstances. You see, this hope wasn’t built on the things of this world; things that change, disappoint, and fade away. These things are here today and gone tomorrow. Paul’s hope was built on things unseen, things eternal. This is a hope that lasts.

Look at the world around you. The world is broken and crying out for hope. Every disaster and violent outburst reminds us of our need for redemption, for a Savior. Every headline highlights the devastating power of sin; explaining how a perfect, flawless world became broken. Paul understood that control and comfort are just temporary illusions. We can chase them, but eventually, they will slip through our fingers. Life will trip us up. Then what will you do?

When suffering hits, there’s one choice: run towards God or run away. Paul chose Christ, and he found hope.

What will you choose?

Adapted from a sermon by Senior Pastor, George Wright, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

 

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November 8
Loving Our Neighbors
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 43–45
• Hebrews 5

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.

Leviticus 19:18
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Leviticus 19:15–18
In the days of self-isolation and lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, words by Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” rang true. Speaking about injustice, he remarked how he couldn’t sit idly in one city and not be concerned about what happens in another. “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,” he said, “tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects us all indirectly.”
Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted our connectedness as around the world cities and countries closed to stop the spread of the virus. What affected one city could soon affect another.
Many centuries ago, God instructed His people how to show concern for others. Through Moses, He gave the Israelites the law to guide them and help them live together. He told them to “not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life” (Leviticus 19:16); and to not seek revenge or bear a grudge against others, but to “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 18). God knew that communities would start to unravel if people didn’t look out for others, valuing their lives as much as they did their own.
We too can embrace the wisdom of God’s instructions. As we go about our daily activities, we can remember how interconnected we are with others as we ask Him how to love and serve them well.
By: Amy Boucher Pye
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Reflect & Pray
Why do you think Jesus echoed God’s law when He told the religious leaders to love their neighbors as themselves? How could you put this instruction into action today?
Loving Creator, help me to share Your love and grace today.

 

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November 9
Wise or Unwise?
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 46–47
• Hebrews 6

Understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:17
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Ephesians 5:15–17
When I was ten, I brought home a cassette tape from a friend at youth group that contained the music of a contemporary Christian band. My dad, who had been raised in a Hindu home but had received salvation in Jesus, didn’t approve. He only wanted worship music played in our home. I explained it was a Christian band, but that didn’t change his mind. After a while, he suggested that I listen to the songs for a week and then decide if they brought me closer to God or pushed me further away from Him. There was some helpful wisdom in that advice.
There are things in life that are clearly right or wrong, but many times we wrestle with disputable matters (Romans 14:1–19). In deciding what to do, we can seek the wisdom found in Scripture. Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Like a good parent, Paul knew that he couldn’t possibly be there or give instructions for every situation. If they were going to “[make] the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil,” they were going to have to discern for themselves and “understand what the Lord’s will is” (vv. 16–17). A life of wisdom is an invitation to pursue discernment and good decisions as God guides us even when we wrestle with what might be disputable.
By: Glenn Packiam
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Reflect & Pray
How can you determine what will be wise or foolish as you make decisions? How can you seek God’s guidance?
Dear Jesus, cultivate a heart of wisdom in me. Enable me to live my life in a way that will always draw me closer to You.

 

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November 9
Wise or Unwise?
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 46–47
• Hebrews 6

Understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:17
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Ephesians 5:15–17
When I was ten, I brought home a cassette tape from a friend at youth group that contained the music of a contemporary Christian band. My dad, who had been raised in a Hindu home but had received salvation in Jesus, didn’t approve. He only wanted worship music played in our home. I explained it was a Christian band, but that didn’t change his mind. After a while, he suggested that I listen to the songs for a week and then decide if they brought me closer to God or pushed me further away from Him. There was some helpful wisdom in that advice.
There are things in life that are clearly right or wrong, but many times we wrestle with disputable matters (Romans 14:1–19). In deciding what to do, we can seek the wisdom found in Scripture. Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Like a good parent, Paul knew that he couldn’t possibly be there or give instructions for every situation. If they were going to “[make] the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil,” they were going to have to discern for themselves and “understand what the Lord’s will is” (vv. 16–17). A life of wisdom is an invitation to pursue discernment and good decisions as God guides us even when we wrestle with what might be disputable.
By: Glenn Packiam
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Reflect & Pray
How can you determine what will be wise or foolish as you make decisions? How can you seek God’s guidance?
Dear Jesus, cultivate a heart of wisdom in me. Enable me to live my life in a way that will always draw me closer to You.

 

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November 10
Legacy of Friends
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 48–49
• Hebrews 7

A friend loves at all times.

Proverbs 17:17
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Proverbs 27:6–10
I met him in the 1970s when I was a high school English teacher and basketball coach, and he was a tall, gangly freshman. Soon he was on my basketball team and in my classes—and a friendship was formed. This same friend, who had served with me as a fellow editor for many years, stood before me at my retirement party and shared about the legacy of our longstanding friendship.
What is it about friends connected by the love of God that encourages us and brings us closer to Jesus? The writer of Proverbs understood that friendship has two encouraging components: First, true friends give valuable advice, even if it’s not easy to give or take (27:6): “Wounds from a friend can be trusted,” the writer explains. Second, a friend who is nearby and accessible is important in times of crisis: “Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away” (v. 10).
It’s not good for us to fly solo in life. As Solomon noted: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 nlt). In life, we need to have friends and we need to be friends. May God help us “love one another with brotherly affection” (Romans 12:10 esv) and “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2)—becoming the kind of friend that can encourage others and draw them closer to the love of Jesus.
By: Dave Branon
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Reflect & Pray
In what sense could you be isolating yourself from others? How can you regularly connect with some strong believers in Jesus to encourage each other?
Dear God, search my heart regarding my friends. Please help me provide Christ-centered counsel to them and receive godly wisdom from them.



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November 11
The Source
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 50
• Hebrews 8

Create in me a pure heart, O God.

Psalm 51:10
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Mark 7:14–23
It was 1854, and something was killing thousands of people in London. It must be the bad air, people thought. And indeed, as unseasonable heat baked the sewage-fouled River Thames, the smell grew so bad it became known as “The Great Stink.”
But the worst problem wasn’t the air. Research by Dr. John Snow would show that contaminated water was the cause of the cholera epidemic.
We humans have long been aware of another crisis—one that stinks to high heaven. We live in a broken world—and we’re prone to misidentify the source of this problem, treating symptoms instead. Wise social programs and policies do some good, but they’re powerless to stop the root cause of society’s ills—our sinful hearts!
When Jesus said, “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them,” He wasn’t referring to physical diseases (Mark 7:15). Rather, He was diagnosing the spiritual condition of every one of us. “It is what comes out of a person that defiles them,” He said (v. 15), listing a litany of evils lurking inside us (vv. 21–22).
“Surely I was sinful at birth,” David wrote (Psalm 51:5). His lament is one we can all voice. We’re broken from the beginning. That’s why David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (v. 10). Every day, we need that new heart, created by Jesus through His Spirit.
Instead of treating the symptoms, we must let Jesus purify the source.
By: Tim Gustafson
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Reflect & Pray
In what ways might you be treating symptoms instead of letting Jesus clean up the source? How can you share the good news of what Jesus did for you?
Heavenly Father, guard my heart and help me be attentive to Your Spirit within me.