Daily Devotion

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Call for Help
August 31, 2018

Read: Acts 2:14–21 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 132–134; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21

After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, “Ring, relax, and wait.” New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament.

In the book of Acts, Peter preached a sermon that addressed the error of trying to save ourselves. Luke, who wrote the book, records some remarkable events in which believers in Christ were speaking in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1–12). Peter got up to explain to his Jewish brothers and sisters that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28–32)—the outpouring of the Spirit and a day of salvation. The blessing of the Holy Spirit was now visibly seen in those who called on Jesus for rescue from sin and its effects. Then Peter told them how this salvation is available for anyone (v. 21). Our access to God comes not through keeping the Law but through trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

If we are trapped in sin, we cannot save ourselves. Our only hope for being rescued is acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

Have you called on Jesus to rescue you from your sin?



Rescue comes to those who call on Jesus for help.



By Marvin Williams | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Luke records the coming of the Holy Spirit in wonderfully descriptive language. For the disciples, the entire three years of walking with Jesus would have been astounding, but the last two months prior to the day of Pentecost would have been especially intense: the trial, the crucifixion, hiding in fear, the resurrection, the ascension. And it all led to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the gospel. Luke doesn’t record the reactions of the disciples, but imagine being in their sandals. As you are together with your closest friends, you hear the sound of wind—inside the house! What appears to be fire descends on you. Even with everything you have seen, the temptation to flinch would have been great. God’s presence was both terrifying and empowering. But it’s this fire that sparks the first gospel message, the message of salvation in Jesus.

 

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“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

ONLY GOD IS SOVEREIGN?
August 31, 2018

The Bible shows us that God is sovereign over all, but what does this really mean? The sovereignty of God can be summed up with this simple statement: “God is in control.” Period. This is one of the most beautiful characteristics of God. He is in control. Nothing happens outside of His power and His will. This sounds great but can be very difficult to believe when things in our life are out of control. This is because we often mistakenly equate God’s sovereignty with our control. If things are going well and we feel in control, we can freely say, “God is in control!” But when things are spiraling in chaos and we feel out of control, it is easy to question whether or not God is truly sovereign.

Our four children love Disney World. After all, it is the happiest place on earth! Many of us drank the “Happily Ever After” Kool-aid that Disney has been telling us for years – that all of our dreams cancome true, and we can have the fairy tale ending, if we will just do the right thing, treat people with kindness and wish upon a star! Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

The problem with this fairy tale mindset is life happens! Things don’t always go the way we planned. Tragedy strikes, someone walks away from us and leaves us alone and abandoned; we are told we have cancer or we lose a loved one. God, where are You in all of this? Where is my happy ending? Are You sovereign? Are You really in control?

This is where the truth of God’s Word meets us in our reality and shows us the promise and hope we all long for. Romans 8:28 is one of the most sobering and hope-filled passages in all of Scripture. It is sobering because the apostle Paul is telling us that there are many things that will happen to us in life that will not appear to be good. It is hope-filled because Paul is telling us that when those things happen, if you love God and are called according to His purpose, God will work all things together for your good. This is the promise of God to a specific group of people. Who is this promise for? “Those who love God and are called according to His purpose!”

What will work together for their good? All things! But wait, what about the things in our life that we know are not good? Cancer, death, terrorism, racism, or school shootings? All things. All things means all things. This can be a struggle for us to believe. All things don’t seem to be good for my life. All things don’t seem to be what I want for my life. All things don’t seem to be in accordance with my plans. How could all this be for my good? The answer is simple. All things can work together for good because God is good! He is sovereign and in control. He sees what we cannot see. He knows when we don’t understand. He has written the end of the story, and the conclusion is for our good!

His story is greater than our current reality and those who love Him and trust Him will experience the fulfillment of His hope-filled promise that says, “all things work together for good…”

 

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Strength for Your Journey
September 2, 2018

Read: Habakkuk 3:16–19 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 137–139; 1 Corinthians 13


The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid as she goes on a journey with the Shepherd. But Much-Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepherd to carry her.

The Shepherd kindly replies, “I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go.”

Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I’m honest, my questions too): “Why must I experience suffering?” “Why is my journey difficult?”

Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late seventh century bc before the Israelites were taken into exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:2–11). He asked the Lord to intervene and remove suffering (1:13). God replied that He would act justly but in His timing (2:3).

In faith, Habakkuk chose to trust the Lord. Even if the suffering did not end, the prophet believed that God would continue to be his strength.

We too can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help us endure suffering and will also use the most challenging of life’s journeys to deepen our fellowship with Christ.

God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.

We can trust the Lord to be our strength in tough times.

By Lisa Samra | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Because the culture we live in differs from that of the biblical writers, our understanding of the significance of the pictures they paint can be limited. Today’s passage expresses deep and foundational hope in the midst of great suffering.

Verse 17 lists six things that constituted their major sources of food and clothing—figs, grapes, olives, fields, sheep, and cattle. In essence, Habakkuk is painting a picture of being starving and naked. He is suggesting that even at death’s door—without food or clothing (vv. 18–19)—we can still experience deep joy and trust in the Lord.

Have you experienced a time when all your resources were depleted? How did God teach you to trust in Him?

 

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Finding the Way Home
September 3, 2018

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 140–142; 1 Corinthians 14:1–20


[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

Sometimes this journey through life can be so difficult that we’re simply overwhelmed, and it seems there’s no end to the darkness. During such a time in our own family’s life, my wife emerged one morning from her quiet time with a new lesson learned. “I think God wants us not to forget in the light what we’re learning in this darkness.”

Paul writes this same thought to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1), after describing the terrible difficulties he and his team endured in Asia. Paul wants the Corinthians to understand how God can redeem even our darkest moments. We’re comforted, he says, so we may learn how to comfort others (v. 4). Paul and his team were learning things from God during their trials that they could use to comfort and advise the Corinthians when they faced similar difficulties. And God does that for us as well, if we’re willing to listen. He will redeem our trials by teaching us how to use what we’ve learned in them to minister to others.

Are you in the darkness now? Be encouraged by Paul’s words and experience. Trust that God is right now directing your steps and that He’s also stamping His truths on your heart so you can share them with others who are in similar circumstances. You’ve been there before, and you know the way home.

Father, help those who are hurting today so they may see and know Your loving presence in their darkest hours.

Never forget in the light what you learn in the darkness.

By Randy Kilgore | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
The Greek word for comfort (paraklesis) means “to come alongside and help.” Jesus is called our parakletos (advocate) in 1 John 2:1. The Holy Spirit is another advocate or comforter (John 14:16–17). Paul asserts that God is “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). The triune Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is there with us in our pain. By saying God is the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vv. 2–3), Paul reminds us that coming alongside to help each other is a family duty and privilege (v. 4).

To whom can you be a parakletos—a comforter—this coming week?

 

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Building Bridges
September 5, 2018

Read: John 4:7–14, 39–42 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 146–147; 1 Corinthians 15:1–28

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

In our neighborhood, high concrete walls surround our homes. Many of these walls are enhanced with electric barbed wires lining the top. The purpose? To ward off robbers.

Frequent power outages are also a problem in our community. These outages render the front gate-bell useless. Because of the wall, a visitor may be kept out in the scorching sun or torrential rain during these outages. Yet even when the gate-bell works, to admit the visitor might depend on who they are. Our fence-walls serve a good purpose, but they can become walls of discrimination—even when the visitor is obviously not an intruder.

The Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well had a similar difficulty with discrimination. The Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she said, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9). As she began to open up to Jesus, she had a life-changing experience that positively affected her and her neighbors (vv. 39–42). Jesus became the bridge that broke the wall of hostility and favoritism.

The lure to discriminate is real, and we need to identify it in our lives. As Jesus showed us, we can reach out to all people regardless of nationality, social status, or reputation. He came to build bridges.

Lord, thank You for teaching me not to discriminate among people. Help me to see people through Your eyes so that I may honor You.

Jesus breaks down the walls of discrimination.

By Lawrence Darmani | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Jewish-Samaritan tension had a long history. When Israel was overrun by Assyria (743–720 bc; see 2 Kings 15–18), most of the people were taken into exile, but a small remnant stayed behind under Assyrian rule. In the ensuing years, these populations intermarried, producing the ethnically mixed group known as Samaritans. This perceived ethnic “impurity” was the basis for Jewish disregard for their northern cousins.

Are there people you’re disregarding because of perceived inferiority?

Bill Crowder

 

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Unchanging Love
September 7, 2018

Read: Psalm 103:13–22 | Bible in a Year: Proverbs 1–2; 1 Corinthians 16

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17

When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home.

The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an occasional weed waving silently in the breeze.

That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (Psalm 103:15–17).

We grow older and the world around us may change, but God’s love doesn’t. He can always be trusted to take care of those who turn to Him.

Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today.

In our changing world, we can always depend on our unchanging God.

By James Banks | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
In the middle of Psalm 103 a potentially dark subtheme surfaces: life passes by all too quickly (vv. 15–16). As David poetically responds to this sobering awareness, we might well expect his song to become one of resignation or despondency. Yet the psalm remains joyful from beginning to end. Is David in denial? No! He frames the psalm, and his whole life, with praise to God, beginning and ending with this phrase: “Praise the Lord, my soul” (vv. 1, 22). The truth of God’s goodness provides the platform from which David’s whole life becomes a song of triumph.

Our awareness that life is fleeting need not cause us to panic or sink into despair. Rather, it can remind us that our life is in God. We find joy and meaning in singing His praises.

As seasons change and we sense life’s transience, what questions come to mind? Do those big questions cause us to reevaluate our priorities? Are we finding joy and fulfillment in relationship with our Creator?

Tim Gustafson

 

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How to Stand Firm
September 10, 2018

Read: Jude 1:24–25 | Bible in a Year: Proverbs 8–9; 2 Corinthians 3

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling. Jude 1:24

It was a cold, icy winter’s day, and my mind was focused on getting from my warm vehicle to a warm building. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, my knees turned inward and my lower legs turned outward. Nothing was broken, but I was in pain. The pain would get worse as time went by and it would be weeks before I was whole again.

Who among us hasn’t taken a spill of some sort? Wouldn’t it be nice to have something or someone to keep us on our feet all the time? While there are no guarantees of surefootedness in the physical sense, there is One who stands ready to assist us in our quest to honor Christ in this life and prepare us to stand joyfully before Him in the next.

Every day we face temptations (and even false teachings) that seek to divert us, confuse us, and entangle us. Yet, it’s not ultimately through our own efforts that we remain on our feet as we walk in this world. How assuring to know that when we hold our peace when tempted to speak angrily, to opt for honesty over deceit, to choose love over hate, or to select truth over error—we experience God’s power to keep us standing (Jude 1:24). And when we appear approved before God when Christ returns, the praise that we offer now for His sustaining grace will echo throughout eternity (v. 25).

Father, thank You for Your constant care for our souls.

Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. Edward Mote

By Arthur Jackson | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Assertiveness training often includes guidelines for approaching conflict. Instead of being reactive, we are taught to calmly articulate our viewpoint while showing respect to the other person, even if they are behaving badly.

In his letter to believers, Jude offers similar insights into how to respond to harmful influences, but offers a far more profound foundation. Responding to false teachers (Jude 1:4), Jude pulled no punches when it came to describing their behavior. He described them as people who lied (v. 10) and selfishly manipulated others (v. 16), concluding they were not living from the Spirit (v. 19).

But after exposing the false teachers’ dangerous character, Jude didn’t suggest the believers respond by aggressively fighting against them. He suggested, instead, that they focus on their own spiritual growth. Instead of being reactive or returning evil for evil, as they grew deep roots in God’s love (vv. 20–21), they could more naturally rely on the Spirit’s leading for how to best respond (vv. 22–23). But in every situation, they could remain unshaken, anchored in the rock-solid truth of God’s love, power, and beautiful future for them (v. 24).

Monica Brands

 

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"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

MAKING SENSE OF THINGS UNSEEN
September 10, 2018

It’s amazing what we will and won’t allow ourselves to believe. For example:

• We know that light travels 186,000 miles a second, even though we’ve personally never measured it.
• A scientist can tell us that there are 100 trillion stars in the sky, and we accept it without question.
• We accept as absolute fact that an atom has neutrons and electrons spinning around a nucleus, even though we have never seen any of them.
• We agree that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, and that E does, in fact, equal MC².
• We pride ourselves in being logical creatures who demand proof before believing most things. How is it, then, that we accept all these things as facts, without ever demanding the proof of their authenticity?

And why is it that so many of us will reject Jesus – risking our eternal souls, even when presented with solid proof? What proof, you may ask?

• The witness of thousands of people who saw the miracles of Jesus!
• Testimonies from dozens who witnessed His death, only to see Him alive after His resurrection.
• The fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus. Even after being shown so much solid evidence, many enlightened people reject Jesus as “just some myth for the gullible.” In fact, the divinity of Jesus is just about the only thing people refuse to accept, even when evidence is overwhelming. Tell me, where is the logic in that? Logic goes out the window when people talk about Jesus.

What about you? Are you willing to accept the truth of Jesus on faith? In fact, it’s the ONLY way you can accept Him. So, go ahead, take that leap of faith. Once you do, your life will be changed forever.

 

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What’s in a Name?
September 13, 2018

Read: Matthew 1:18–25 | Bible in a Year: Proverbs 16–18; 2 Corinthians 6

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:21

“Gip” Hardin, a Methodist preacher, named his son after the famous preacher John Wesley, reflecting Gip’s hopes and aspirations for his baby boy. John Wesley Hardin, however, tragically chose a different path than his ministry-minded namesake. Claiming to have killed forty-two men, Hardin became one of the most notorious gunfighters and outlaws of the American West of the late 1800s.

In the Bible, as in many cultures today, names hold special significance. Announcing the birth of God’s Son, an angel instructed Joseph to name Mary’s child “Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The meaning of Jesus’s name—“Jehovah saves”—confirmed His mission to save from sin.

Unlike Hardin, Jesus completely and thoroughly lived up to His name. Through His death and resurrection, He accomplished His mission of rescue. John affirmed the life-giving power of Jesus’s name, saying, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The book of Acts invites everyone to trust Him, for, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

All who call on Jesus’s matchless name in faith can experience for themselves the forgiveness and hope He provides. Have you called on His name?

Thank You, Father, for providing salvation through Your Son, Jesus. I love You.

Jesus’s name is also His mission—to seek and to save that which was lost.

By Bill Crowder | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
In the Bible, people’s names often end up calling attention to their failures. For example, at birth Samson’s parents gave him a name that meant “like the sun.” By the time he died, his name reminds us of one who lived a dark and troubled life.

The names of God remind us of one whose character never fails. He is named, described, and remembered not only as the self-existent one (Exodus 3:14), but as the all-powerful Creator (Genesis 1:1), the Lord who provides (22:13–14), the Lord who gives peace (Judges 6:24), the Lord who is present (Ezekiel 48:35), and ultimately, the God and Father of our Savior (Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3).

Mart DeHaan

 

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The Ultimate Satisfaction
September 14, 2018

Read: Isaiah 55:1–7 | Bible in a Year: Proverbs 19–21; 2 Corinthians 7



Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Isaiah 55:1

As we distributed snacks for children at a Bible School program, we noticed a little boy who devoured his snack. Then he also ate the leftovers of the children at his table. Even after I gave him a bag of popcorn, he still wasn’t satisfied. As leaders, we were concerned as to why this little boy was so hungry.

It occurred to me that we can be like that boy when it comes to our emotions. We look for ways to satisfy our deepest longings, but we never find what fully satisfies us.

The prophet Isaiah invites those who are hungry and thirsty to “come, buy and eat” (Isaiah 55:1). But then he asks, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (v. 2). Isaiah is talking about more than just physical hunger here. God can satisfy our spiritual and emotional hunger through the promise of His presence. The “everlasting covenant” in verse 3 is a reminder of a promise God made to David in 2 Samuel 7:8–16. Through David’s family line, a Savior would come to reconnect people to God. Later, in John 6:35 and 7:37, Jesus extended the same invitation Isaiah gave, thus identifying Himself as the Savior foretold by Isaiah and other prophets.

Hungry? God invites you to come and be filled in His presence.

Father, I long to know You more. Only You can satisfy my deepest desires.

Only God will satisfy our spiritual hunger.

By Linda Washington | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Jesus’s invitation in John 7:37 echoes the call of Isaiah 55:1–7. The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles, and one of the daily rituals of the feast was designed to point to the exodus of Israel from Egypt. On each of the seven days of the feast, the priest would perform a ritual by bringing a pitcher of water to the altar and pouring it out—a reminder of God’s provision of water in the wilderness. In John 7, it’s the last day of the feast, and it appears that at the moment when the priest is pouring out the water, Jesus declares, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (v. 37). Water satisfies. It quenches thirst. It meets our deepest needs—and Jesus declares Himself to be the source of that ultimate satisfaction.

In what things might you be pursuing satisfaction other than in Christ?

Bill Crowder

 

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“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19

PURITY – REMEMBERING GOD’S GOODNESS
September 16, 2018

Hollywood, advertising, music, laptops, smartphones – sexual temptation is everywhere. For those striving to live in purity, how do we navigate this road? What can we do?

The Bible shows us that purity is always a heart issue. With this in mind, let’s look at three basic truths about the goodness of God, the One who is calling us to purity.

Truth #1: God is for you. His is a good father. All His ways are good and all He does is for our good. He wants us to experience His best for our life.

The first sin planted a tiny seed of doubt in Adam and Eve’s mind, doubting the goodness of God. “God does not want me to have any fun. God is holding out on me. God does not care about my desires.” If we doubt the goodness of God, we end up compromising and settling for a cheap alternative of what God has created. Trust and believe that God is for you and His way is the best way.

Truth #2: Purity of heart is an invitation – not an exclusion.

The enemy of God wants us to believe that living in purity means missing out. Here is my response: You are missing out. You’re missing out on baggage and pain.

Sexual sin causes external consequences and internal damage. With each sexual exchange we leave behind a part of ourselves. The enemy wants to cause pain. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus wants us to experience abundant life and God’s best. His mission is to seek, save and restore. Which sounds better to you?

Truth #3: There is hope in Jesus.

In today’s culture, a conversation around purity may appear hopeless. Look back on your own sexual history. Do you have regrets? Do you feel hopeless? In the eyes of the Savior, there is no such thing as a hopeless lost cause.

In Jesus there is always hope! There is redemption. There is forgiveness. There is grace and there is mercy. In Jesus there is new life, a new story, and a new heart of purity that is invited to see God. Don’t let the lies of impurity distort your view of God. Hold onto God’s goodness and trust that the promises of God’s Word are for you!

Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shandon Baptist Church, Colombia, S.C.

 

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“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:3-6

A TIME TO CELEBRATE
September 17, 2018

Flowers, bridesmaids, the white dress. We’ve all seen a wedding ceremony. Some are large, formal, five-piece band celebrations in traditional venues; while others are small, intimate beach side ceremonies celebrated by a few close friends and family. No matter the ‘style,’ every wedding has the same purpose – a couple publicly committing their lives to one another.

Yet never, not one single time, have I performed a wedding where the couple fell in love during the ceremony. Never have I performed a wedding where the couple decided – at the ceremony – to commit their lives to one another. The decision was already made. In the same way, baptism, is a public expression before God and man of what has already happened in one’s heart and life.

Just to be clear. A person is not baptized into faith in Christ Jesus when baptized in water. It’s the moment we decide to trust in Christ, through repentant faith, that we will receive a gift—the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit dwelling within us. That baptism occurs at salvation.

So, what then does water baptism represent? In baptism, we are saying that Christ died for our sins and that we, too, are dying to our life without Christ. We are dying to our sins, to our selfish desires. In baptism, we are testifying to what has already occurred—a decision to trust Christ, to follow Him.

But, that’s not all. In rising out of the water, we see the symbolic resurrection of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. This represents the second part of the gospel. It testifies that as the water cleanses me outwardly, Christ already cleansed my heart. He has set me free. Now, I have the privilege of following the resurrected Savior forever and ever.

Just like a wedding ceremony is a life-changing moment full of hope and celebration, baptism is to be celebrated. Have you publicly celebrated your life-altering, no going back, declaration of what Christ has done for you? It’s only something a follower of Jesus can do. No parent can make that decision for you. It is a choice that results from saving faith in Jesus.

 

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A Fitting Time
September 19, 2018

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1–14 | Bible in a Year: Ecclesiastes 1–3; 2 Corinthians 11:16–33


He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yesterday I purchased an airline ticket to send my firstborn child to college. I’m surprised the keyboard on my computer still functions, given the waterworks my eyes unleashed on it during the flight selection process. I have so enjoyed my eighteen years of daily life with her that I am saddened by the prospect of her departure. Yet I wouldn’t rob her of the opportunity that lies ahead simply because I’ll miss her. At this juncture in her life, it is fitting for her to embark on a new journey to discover adulthood and explore another part of the country.

As this season of my parenting draws to a close, another one begins. It will undoubtedly bring both new challenges and new delights. Solomon, Israel’s third king, wrote that God appoints “a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We humans have little control over the events of our lives—whether we view those events as favorable or not. But God, in His mighty power, makes “everything beautiful in its time” (v. 11).

In seasons of heartache, we can trust God to bring something good from them in time. Our comforts and joys may come and go, but God’s works “will endure forever” (v. 14). We may not relish every season—some are quite painful—yet He can bring beauty to them all.

Father, You have permitted this season in my life. Help me to be content in the midst of it, and to recognize Your power and might are at work.

God brings beauty from all seasons.

By Kirsten Holmberg | See Other Authors

 

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‘Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”’

Matthew 17: 19- 20

FAITH IN FAILURE
September 20, 2018

It was a miracle. A boy, tormented by seizures, headed home completely healed – thanks to Jesus. You’d expect nothing but joy and amazement among the disciples. Yet, there was a cloud of discouragement among the group. Before Jesus arrived, the disciples tried to heal the boy. They tried and failed.

When the disciples were first sent out, they experienced tremendous success – praying for and seeing people healed – just like Jesus. The Bible notes their amazement at the extraordinary power Christ had given them. But, in this case, they failed. So, what happened? How was this situation any different?

Faith – or lack of faith – was the problem.

Over time, the disciples began to shift from a total trust in Christ – from a God confidence to a self-confidence. They began to use the name of Jesus like some magic wand. Because the name of Jesus had worked in the past, it should work now. They didn’t realize that, ever so subtly, they had begun to have confidence in their abilities, rather than relying solely on Christ.

Don’t we do the same thing? Over time, what required incredible faith becomes almost routine. We’ve seen God constantly provide for our families, in our health, our career, so when something goes wrong, we blame God. Where was He? Faith suddenly disappears.

God’s power is not experienced in the present because of our faith in the past. God’s power in the present is experienced when we have faith in the present. In this case, Jesus knew their hearts. The disciples had little faith.

Where are you on the faith journey? Have you slowly shifted from a God confidence to a self-confidence? Have problems in your life caused your faith in God to diminish? Ask God to renew your faith. To change your perspective. Ask for faith that trusts in Jesus even in the face of failure.

 

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Unexpected Ways
September 21, 2018

Read: 1 Kings 19:1–12 | Bible in a Year: Ecclesiastes 7–9; 2 Corinthians 13

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9

In 1986, five-year-old Levan Merritt fell twenty feet into the gorilla enclosure of England’s Jersey zoo. As parents and onlookers cried out for help, a full-grown male silverback, named Jambo, placed himself between the motionless boy and several other gorillas. Then he began to gently stroke the child’s back. When Levan began to cry, Jambo led the other gorillas into their own enclosure as zoo-keepers and an ambulance driver came to the rescue. More than thirty years later Levan still talks about Jambo the gentle giant—his guardian angel who had acted in a shockingly unexpected way, changing his perception of gorillas forever.

Elijah may have expected God to act in certain ways, but the God of gods used a rock-shattering wind, a powerful earthquake, and raging fire to show His prophet how not to think of Him. Then He used a gentle whisper to show His heart and to express His presence (1 Kings 19:11–12).

Elijah had seen God’s power before (18:38–39). But he didn’t fully understand the One who wants to be known as more than the greatest and most fearsome of gods (19:10, 14).

Eventually, that quiet whisper found fullness of meaning in the powerful gentleness of Jesus, who said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Then He quietly allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree—an unexpected, compassionate act by the great God who loves us.

Father in heaven, please help us to find courage in Your whisper—and in the ways of Your Son. Have mercy on us for not seeing beyond Your power to a love we’ve barely begun to know.

God won’t shout if we only need a whisper.

 

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Walking God’s Way
September 24, 2018

Read: Isaiah 30:15–21 | Bible in a Year: Song of Solomon 4–5; Galatians 3

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

“We’re going this way,” I said as I touched my son’s shoulder and redirected him through the crowd to follow his mom and sisters in front of us. I’d done this more often as the day wore on at the amusement park our family was visiting. He was getting tired and more easily distracted. Why can’t he just follow them? I wondered.

Then it hit me: How often do I do exactly the same thing? How often do I veer from obediently walking with God, enchanted by the temptations to pursue what I want instead of seeking His ways?

Think of Isaiah’s words from God for Israel: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’ ” (Isaiah 30:21). Earlier in that chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness. But if they would trust His strength instead of their own ways (v. 15), He promised to show His graciousness and compassion (v. 18).

One expression of God’s graciousness is His promise to guide us by His Spirit. That happens as we talk to Him about our desires and ask in prayer what He has for us. I’m thankful God patiently directs us, day-by-day, step-by-step, as we trust Him and listen for His voice.

Father, You’ve promised to guide us through the ups and downs and decisions we face in life. Help us to trust and follow You, and to actively listen for Your guiding voice.

God patiently directs us as we trust Him and listen for His voice.

By Adam Holz | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
In today’s passage, a resurgent militant Assyria threatened to conquer all of Israel. But instead of trusting God to deliver them, Judah turned to Egypt for help. God had explicitly prohibited Israelite kings from trusting in anything other than God for deliverance (Deuteronomy 17:16). Isaiah warned that it’s futile to trust Egypt instead of the Lord (Isaiah 30:1–19; 31:1). The psalmist also warned of the futility of putting our trust in something other than God: “No king is saved by the size of his army . . . . A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save” (Psalm 33:16–17).

When have you placed your trust in something other than God?

 

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“Blessed are (happy are) the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

MEEKNESS – THE OPPOSITE OF WEAKNESS
September 25, 2018

What in the world is meekness and how can ‘meek people’ be happy? I will confess, even I wasn’t so sure at first. Looking at the teaching of Jesus, everything He says seems to challenge us to search for true happiness in places often overlooked. But still – meekness? Happy are the meek?

What kid grows up with the goal of becoming meek? How many people do you know who put “more meekness” on their list of New Year’s resolutions? This is a word difficult to get excited about because it’s often totally misunderstood. Part of the reason is because of what it sounds like – meekness sounds like weakness. There is guilt by association. I don’t want to be weak, so I don’t want to be meek.

But, there is nothing weak about meekness! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The word ‘meek’ was often used in the context of taming or training a wild animal. It is strength that is brought under control. It’s the idea that strength doesn’t have to be dangerous or threatening, but can be incredibly useful, even a blessing. This is a strength that promotes security rather than elicits fear. It is not a LOSS of power and strength. It is a power of strength that is brought into submission under the authority of a trainer or a leader.

This is how Jesus described Himself. Jesus is saying, “I will use My strength to carry your burdens. I will provide rest for your soul. Don’t be afraid or intimidated by Me. My strength is a gift to you.” [My paraphrase] There is nothing weak about Jesus!

Jesus harnesses His strength for the purpose of revealing God’s love and grace. He lays down his life as the ultimate display of power over sin and death. Strength under control in submission to the Father. The ultimate example of meekness – the ultimate example of strength.

Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shandon Baptist Church, Colombia, S.C.

 

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When We’re Weary
September 27, 2018

Read: Galatians 6:1–10 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 3–4; Galatians 6
https://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base/assets/download.php?file=https://dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2018/09/odb-09-27-18.mp3
Let us not become weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9

Sometimes trying to do the right thing can be exhausting. We may wonder, Do my well-intentioned words and actions make any difference at all? I wondered this recently when I sent a prayerfully thought-out email meant to encourage a friend, only to have it met with an angry response. My immediate reaction was a mixture of hurt and anger. How could I be so misunderstood?

Before I responded out of anger, I remembered that we won’t always see the results (or the results we desire) when we tell someone about how Jesus loves them. When we do good things for others hoping to draw them to Him, they may spurn us. Our gentle efforts to prompt someone to right action may be ignored.

Galatians 6 is a good place to turn when we’re discouraged by someone’s response to our sincere efforts. Here the apostle Paul encourages us to consider our motives—to “test our actions”—for what we say and do (vv. 1–4). When we have done so, he encourages us to persevere: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (vv. 9–10).

God wants us to continue living for Him, which includes praying for and telling others about Him—“doing good.” He will see to the results.

Dear God, thank You for the encouragement we receive from Your Word. Help us to persevere in doing good.

We can leave the results of our lives in God’s hands.

By Alyson Kieda | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Sometimes we can be tempted to take pride in our own good deeds. Unfortunately, this attitude may result in our looking down on the shortcomings of others. Instead, Paul says that believers empowered by the Spirit are to restore those caught up in a sin gently. By helping people deal with their sins, we’re fulfilling the law of Christ.

This helps us understand what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Helping others grow in godliness is the essence of loving them.

How can you love your neighbor today?

J.R. Hudberg

 

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“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:28-30

MEEKNESS – MY STORY FOR HIS GLORY
September 27, 2018

“Fake it ’til you make it.” It’s a term we’ve all used and attempted to live out. Navigating a new job, a family crisis, or just the day to day stresses of life – we’ve all tried to appear as if we’ve got it together. If I’m being honest, there are many times when I feel insecure. Even if I act strong and tough on the outside, I often feel pretty powerless and insignificant on the inside.

Today, we tend to interchange the term meek with weak. But true meekness is anything but weak. In fact, Jesus shows us that meekness is actually a strength. Using His strength, Jesus carried our burdens on the cross. Using His strength, He displays His gentleness and meekness to those recognizing their need for a Savior.

Jesus wasn’t weak. But, what does it mean for me to walk in meekness? For the rest of us, meekness is an understanding of our story in light of God’s glory. It is a willingness to face the reality of who I am in the sight of a Holy God. Simply, it’s viewing my life through the lens of the Gospel.

It’s a perspective shift in how we view our lives. Meekness recognizes that all I have is from God and it is my joy in life to point back to Him. As John says, we need to get out of the way. God must increase and we must decrease. Why? Because the story that is being written with my life is a story that is all about Him. My story is for His glory.

As we recognize our place in the story of God’s love and grace, we begin to experience true happiness. If it is not about me, I can truly celebrate with others. I can rejoice in the way God is using my life. I can live with a settled assurance that for me, the best is yet to come!

 

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For Our Friends
October 1, 2018

Read: John 15:5–17 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 11–13; Ephesians 4



My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

In Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights, a cantankerous man who often quotes the Bible to criticize others is memorably described as “the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake [apply] the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours.”

It’s a funny line; and it may even bring particular people to mind. But aren’t we alla bit like this—prone to condemn others’ failures while excusing our own?

In Scripture some people amazingly did the exact opposite; they were willing to give up God’s promises for them and even be cursed if it would save others. Consider Moses, who said he’d rather be blotted out of God’s book than see the Israelites unforgiven (Exodus 32:32). Or Paul, who said he’d choose to be “cut off from Christ” if it meant his people would find Him (Romans 9:3).

As self-righteous as we naturally are, Scripture highlights those who love others more than themselves.

Because ultimately such love points to Jesus. “Greater love has no one than this,” Jesus taught, than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Even before we knew Him, Jesus loved us “to the end” (13:1)—choosing death to give us life.

Now we are invited into the family of God, to love and be loved like this (15:9–12). And as we pour into others Christ’s unimaginable love, the world will catch a glimpse of Him.

Lord, thank You for showing us what it means to love. Help us to love like You.

When we love Christ, we love others.

By Monica Brands | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
The important idea of love for one another found in John 15:12–14 is rooted in one of Jesus’s most enduring teaching images—the vine and the branches (vv. 1–8). Our life so completely flows from being connected to Christ that everything we do, including our ability to love one another, is drawn from His life and power.

Bill Crowder