Daily Devotion

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Do You Seek Him?DEC 11 2013
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" - Matthew 2:2a

There are all sorts of seekers today, searching for truth and the answer to life. Would you describe yourself as a seeker? The original seekers were three guys from the East. They weren't Christian or Jewish, but they were searching for meaning.

God spoke to them through the heavens with the appearance of a new star. They stepped out on faith, believing that what they were seeing signified the birth of a new king. Along the way, God spoke to them through Scripture, prophesying the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They stepped out on faith and went there, seeking.

When they arrived, they found the answer to life in a little boy named Jesus. They believed He was God who had become a man...and our Savior. They found what every seeker needs...Jesus... the answer to life. Today, wise men still seek Him. Do you?

 

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Giving At Christmas Started Long Ago
DEC 12 2013
"...they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." - Matthew 2:11

Giving and Christmas go hand in hand, but have you ever thought about where giving gifts at Christmas originated? Some will suggest giving began with St. Nicholas, commonly known as Santa Claus, but it was long before St. Nick.

It began with some men who visited Jesus when He was a young child. They became known as the Three Wise Men. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold is the gift for a king, an expensive gift symbolizing belief that Jesus was born to be a king. Frankincense is the gift for a priest, reminding us that Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, a mediator between God and man. But myrrh was an unusual gift for a child. It's a precious spice or perfume used to anoint a body at death. Why myrrh? It was a prophetic gift. Jesus had come to die, to be our Savior -- to give His life for our sins.

King. Priest. Savior. Three gifts which reveal to us at Christmas who Jesus is.

 

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A New Force
December 14, 2013 — by Philip Yancey

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Luke 2:25-35
My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. —Luke 2:30-31
Bible in a Year:
Joel 1-3; Revelation 5
When Matteo Ricci went to China in the 16th century, he took samples of religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. They readily accepted portraits of Mary holding the baby Jesus, but when he produced paintings of the crucifixion and tried to explain that the God-child had come to be executed, his audience reacted with revulsion and horror. They couldn’t worship a crucified God.

As I thumb through my Christmas cards, I realize that we do much the same thing. In our celebrations and observances, we may not think about how the story that began at Bethlehem turned out at Calvary.

In Luke’s account of the Christmas story, only one person—the old man Simeon—seems to grasp the mysterious nature of what God has set in motion. “This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against,” he told Mary, and then he made the prediction that a sword would pierce her own soul (2:34-35).

Simeon knew that though on the surface little had changed—Herod still ruled, Roman troops still occupied Israel—underneath, everything had changed. God’s promised redemption had arrived.


The cradle without the cross misses the true meaning of Christ’s birth.

 

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Living Backward
December 16, 2013 — by Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Matthew 16:21-28
Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. —Matthew 16:25
Bible in a Year:
Amos 4-6; Revelation 7
The Chicago River is unusual because it flows backward. Engineers reversed its direction over a century ago because city-dwellers were using it as a dump. Dishwater, sewage, and industrial waste all funneled into the river, which emptied into Lake Michigan. Since the lake supplied drinking water for the city, thousands grew sick and died before city authorities decided to redirect the river to flow backward, away from the lake.

When we look at the earthly life of Jesus, it may seem backward from what we would expect. As the King of glory, He came to earth as a vulnerable infant. As God in the flesh, He endured accusations of blasphemy. As the only sinless man, He was crucified as a criminal. But Jesus lived on earth according to God’s will (John 6:38).

As followers of Christ, to clothe ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions may appear “backward.” Blessing our enemies (Rom. 12:14), valuing godliness over wealth (1 Tim. 6:6-9), and taking joy in hardship (James 1:2) seem to oppose worldly wisdom. Yet, Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25).

Don’t worry if living your life sometimes means operating in reverse. God will give you the strength to honor Him, and He will propel you forward.

Dear God, please give me the strength to go
against the flow of this world. Help me to resist
what is wrong in Your eyes and to act in ways
that please You, for the glory of Your name.
Clothing ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions shows His presence in our lives.

 

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Love And Support
December 17, 2013 — by Dave Branon

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Philippians 4:10-18
I thank my God . . . for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. —Philippians 1:3,5
Bible in a Year:
Amos 7-9; Revelation 8
I received this note from a friend serving in an orphanage in a developing country: “Yesterday, as I was sitting at my office desk, I noticed a trail of ants on the floor. As I followed it, I was shocked to see that thousands of ants had blanketed the walls of our office building—inside and out. They swarmed everything. Fortunately, one of the workers . . . set to work. Less than an hour later, the ants were gone.”

After telling this insect story, my friend wrote, “So, how was your day at work?” Sometimes we need reminders of the needs of those who have left behind the comforts and conveniences of home. God calls each of us to different paths of service, and some paths are bumpy. Working in an office that is overrun by ants doesn’t appeal to anyone, but my friend is not there for the perks.

She and many other believers have had their hearts captured by Christ and think that abandoning “essential” comforts and conveniences is a small thing to do to honor Him who loves us. They need our support in the way Paul depended on his friends in Philippi—for fellowship (Phil. 1:5), for finances (4:16), and for care (4:18). When we encourage our friends who have left their familiar environments to serve God elsewhere, we show our love for the One who sent them.

Dear Lord, give me wisdom to know which of Your
workers in the fields of the world need my help.
Show me how my family can surround them
with encouragement and support.
The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.

 

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Not All Empty
December 18, 2013 — by David H. Roper

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Psalm 107:1-9
He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. —Psalm 107:9
Bible in a Year:
Obadiah; Revelation 9
Our granddaughter Julia spent the summer working in an orphanage in Busia, Uganda. On the final day of her internship, she went to the children to tell each one goodbye. One little girl named Sumaya was very sad and said to her, “Tomorrow you leave us, and next week the other aunties [interns] leave.”

When Julia agreed that she was indeed leaving, Sumaya thought for a minute and exclaimed, “But we will be all empty. None of you will be left!” Again, Julia agreed. The little girl thought a few moments and replied: “But God will be with us, so we won’t be all empty.”

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that “all empty” feeling. It is an emptiness that friendship, love, sex, money, power, popularity, or success can never assuage—a longing for something indefinable, something incalculably precious but lost. Every good thing can remind, beckon, and awaken in us a greater desire for that elusive “something more.” The closest we get is a hint, an echo in a face, a painting, a scene . . . . And then it is gone. “Our best havings are wantings,” said C. S. Lewis.

We were made for God, and in the end, nothing less will satisfy us. Without Him, we are all empty. He alone fills the hungry with good things (Ps. 107:9).

Dear Lord, fill me with Your goodness and love.
I desire nothing in heaven and earth but You.
Without You, I have nothing. Thank You for the
abiding satisfaction that we can find in You.
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. —C. S. Lewis

 

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The Son Is Given
December 19, 2013 — by Bill Crowder

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Luke 1:26-33
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. —Isaiah 9:6
Bible in a Year:
Jonah 1-4; Revelation 10
One of my favorite portions of Handel’sMessiah is the joyous movement “For unto us a Child is born,” from the first part of the oratorio. I especially love how the chorus rises to the phrase, “Unto us a Son is given.” Those words, of course, are taken from Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Handel’s majestic music soars with adoration for the Son who came to us in human flesh that first Christmas.

The New Testament clarifies even further who this Son is. In Luke 1, the angelic messenger appeared to Mary and identified the Christ-child in four ways. He would be the son of Mary, making Him fully human (1:31). He would be the Son of the Highest, which made Him fully divine (1:32). He would also be the Son of David, giving Him royal lineage (1:32). And He would bear the title of Son of God (1:35), giving Him equality with the Father in all things. All of the roles the Messiah was called to fill are made possible in these distinct expressions of His Sonship.

As we worship Him this Christmas, may our celebrations be filled with joy and wonder at the fullness of what it means. Our heavenly Father has given us His perfect, sufficient Son. O come, let us adore Him!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. —Wade
God’s love became incarnate at Bethlehem.

 

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Taking Refuge
December 20, 2013 — by Dennis Fisher

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Proverbs 18:1-10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. —Proverbs 18:10
Bible in a Year:
Micah 1-3; Revelation 11
In the medieval world, farmers would care for their crops until an enemy appeared on the horizon. Then they would flee with their families to their fortified city for protection from the marauders.

The city of Carcassonne has been a refuge for generations. Built in the 5th century bc, this stone fortress has provided protection for Romans, Gauls, Visigoths, Franks, and French. Its sprawling size and majestic watchtowers and battlements gave confidence to those hiding inside its protective walls.

As believers, we can take refuge in the presence of the living God. The book of Proverbs tells us: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10). “The name of theLord” refers to God’s character—abounding with faithfulness, power, and mercy. The term safe means “set on high out of danger.”

We all face threats at times that make us want to run for cover. Some seek security in material wealth or relationships. But the Christ-follower has a more secure refuge. Because of who God is and what He can do for us, our best protection ultimately rests in Him. If you are facing a threat today, go to the Lord, who is a strong tower. You will find refuge in His care.

In the times of greatest struggle,
When the angry billows roll,
I can always find my Savior,
Christ, the Refuge of my soul. —Woodruff
In good times and bad, God is our safe resting place.

 

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You Can't Shut Christ Out Of Christmas!DEC 22 2013
"...whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:13

God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked "No Entrance" and left through a door marked "No Exit."

That first Christmas, there was no room for Him in the inn. The world never wants to make room for Christ at Christmas and in everyday life. Man killed Him and sealed the tomb with a huge stone to shut Him out of our lives once and for all. But God removed the stone to prove Jesus will not be shut up or shut out of His plans.

One day Jesus will intrude on history again. The way to be ready is to invite Him into your life today. Will you shut Him out or let Him in?

 

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The Light Always Overpowers The Darkness
DEC 24 2013
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." - John 1:5

The candle lighting service is a beautiful moment of our church’s Christmas Eve celebration. When all the lights are out in the Sanctuary, we light a single candle, and that one candle overcomes all the darkness of the entire room. It’s a wonderful demonstration of this fact - darkness cannot overpower light. Well, it’s the same with spiritual darkness and spiritual light of Jesus Christ. His Light will overpower the darkness.

There have been times in history where it seemed like the spiritual darkness was overpowering the spiritual light. One example was in the 20th century, when Marxism had great momentum. The Soviet revolution, then the Communist revolution in China, then Cuba, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia soon tumbled after. It seemed like that darkness of atheism was overpowering the light within the church. But by the end of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was no more. Eastern Europe became the birthplace of many fledgling democracies. Even though it sometimes seems darkness wins for a time, it never permanently overpowers the Light.

Of course, the greatest example of that is the cross. For a moment, it appeared that the devil had won. But three days later, the Light was turned on, never to be snuffed out again. For in the end, the Light of Jesus always overpowers the darkness.

 

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Christingle
December 25, 2013 — by Bill Crowder

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: 1 John 1:1-7
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. —John 1:9
Bible in a Year:
Zephaniah 1-3; Revelation 16
In the Czech Republic and other places, the Christmas celebration includes “Christingles.” A Christingle is an orange, representing the world, with a candle placed in the top of it to symbolize Christ the light of the world. A red ribbon encircles the orange, symbolizing the blood of Jesus. Four toothpicks with dried fruits are placed through the ribbon into the sides of the orange, representing the fruits of the earth.

This simple visual aid vividly represents the purpose behind Christ’s coming—to bring light into the darkness and to redeem a broken world by shedding His blood.

In John’s account of Christ’s life, the disciple describes Jesus as the Light of the world. He wrote of Christ: “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9). Not only did Christ the Light come to penetrate our world’s darkness, but He is also “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (v.29).

Think of it! The baby of Bethlehem became the living, risen Christ who has rescued us from our sin. And so John instructs us to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). May all who have experienced His rescue find in Jesus the peace of walking in His light.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight. —Brooks
The newborn Christ-child became the Light of the world and the Lamb of God.

 

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Mixed Emotions
December 30, 2013 — by Bill Crowder

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Revelation 21:1-7
Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief. —Proverbs 14:13
Bible in a Year:
Zechariah 13-14; Revelation 21
For Marlene and me, “mixed emotions” precisely describes our wedding. Don’t take that the wrong way. It was a wonderful event that we continue to celebrate more than 35 years later. The wedding celebration, however, was dampened because Marlene’s mom died of cancer just weeks before. Marlene’s aunt was a wonderful stand-in as the “mother of the bride,” but, in the midst of our happiness, something clearly wasn’t right. Mom was missing, and that affected everything.

That experience typifies life in a broken world. Our experiences here are a mixed bag of good and bad, joy and pain—a reality that Solomon expressed when he wrote, “Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief” (Prov. 14:13). The merry heart often does grieve, for that is what this life sometimes demands.

Thankfully, however, this life is not all there is. And in the life that is to come, those who know Christ have a promise: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). In that great day, there will be no mixed emotions—only hearts filled with the presence of God!

Peace! peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above,
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love. —Cornell
For the Christian, the dark sorrows of earth will one day be changed into the bright songs of heaven.

 

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Help From His Spirit
January 3, 2014 — by Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Micah 6:3-8
What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? —Micah 6:8
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3
Many of us make promises to ourselves to mark the beginning of a new year. We make pledges such as I’m going to save more, exercise more, or spend less time on the Internet. We begin the year with good intentions, but before long old habits tempt us to take up our old ways. We slip up occasionally, then more frequently, and then all the time. Finally, it’s as if our resolution never existed.

Instead of choosing our own self-improvement goals, a better approach might be to ask ourselves: “What does the Lord desire of me?” Through the prophet Micah, God has revealed that He wants us to do what is right, to be merciful, and to walk humbly with Him (Mic. 6:8). All of these things relate to soul-improvement rather than self-improvement.

Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our own strength. The Holy Spirit has the power to help us as believers in our spiritual growth. God’s Word says, He is able to “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16 niv).

So as we begin a new year, let’s resolve to be more Christlike. The Spirit will help us as we seek to walk humbly with God.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear. —Lynch
He who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the victory.

 

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Encourage Others. Who, Me?
JAN 06 2014
"His wife said to him, 'Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!' He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." - Job 2:9-10

Something that simply cannot be emphasized enough is that one of Satan's great tools is discouragement. For if the devil can get us discouraged, we will often turn on God. We can see this happening in the book of Job; the devil is attacking Job with catastrophe after catastrophe, and there seems to be no hope of any relief. So what advice did he get from those who loved him the most? Look at his wife's response, "Do you still hold fast [to] your integrity? Curse God and die!"

Now before you judge Job's wife too harshly, understand this: the toughest temptations we face in life will sometimes come through people who love us the most. That's because these people have genuine concern for us and don't want us to hurt. So, oftentimes, they urge us to take the easy way out - man's way. The devil knows this and enjoys using those who love us to lead us into temptation and out of the will of God. Jesus certainly experienced this when Peter urged Him not to talk about going to the cross. Jesus knew the source of Peter's thinking and responded angrily, "Get out of here, Satan!"

That's why Christian spouses and friends have an incredibly important responsibility. When we see a brother or sister in Christ facing a crisis or temptation, we must avoid inadvertently becoming a pawn of the evil one. We must realize that we must help the loved one fight the temptation to take the easy way out, or to give up, or to give in. Become your loved one's partner in his or her difficult struggle and patiently encourage them to do things the Lord's way - even when it's the hard way - because His way is always the best.

 

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The Hidden Life
January 8, 2014 — by David H. Roper

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Colossians 3:12-17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. —Colossians 3:17
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34
Some years ago, I came across a poem by George MacDonald titled, “The Hidden Life.” It tells the story of an intellectually gifted young Scot who turned his back on a prestigious academic career to return to his aging father and to the family farm. There he engaged in what MacDonald called, “ordinary deeds” and “simple forms of human helpfulness.” His friends lamented what they saw as a waste of his talents.

Perhaps you too serve in some unnoticed place, doing nothing more than ordinary deeds. Others might think that’s a waste. But God wastes nothing. Every act of love rendered for His sake is noted and has eternal consequences. Every place, no matter how small, is holy ground. Influence is more than lofty acts and words. It can be a simple matter of human helpfulness: being present, listening, understanding the need, loving, and praying. This is what turns daily duty into worship and service.

The apostle Paul challenged the Colossians: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” and “do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:17,23-24). God takes notice and delights in using us.

Dear Lord, may I be willing to be hidden and unknown
today, yet ready to speak a word to those who are
weary. May Your Spirit touch my words and make
them Your words that enrich and refresh others.
The way to accomplish much for Christ is to serve Him in any way we can.

 

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What Is The Greatest Love?
JAN 08 2014
"Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

If you were to ask the general American public what the greatest love is, they would probably say, "Fresh romantic love." That is the ideal of so many in our contemporary cultures. But others would say, "No that’s not the greatest example of love, really it’s a far greater expression of love when a husband and wife love one another and stay committed to on another for 50 or 60 years." But others would say, "No, the greatest expression of love is a parent’s love for his child. It’s a love that is amazing and indescribable." Some would say, "No, it’s really friends for life. When you find somebody you click with and even if separated by distance and time, when you come back together it’s like you’ve never missed a beat. That’s really the ultimate kind of love."

Certainly those are all examples of love, but Jesus Christ tells us what the greatest love is. He says, "Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

The great Presbyterian minister, Donald Grey Barnhouse, tells of two miners that were trapped in an explosion in a cave and poisonous gas was seeping in. In that explosion, one of the miner’s gas masks was literally ripped apart, but the other miner’s gas mask was intact. That miner took off his gas mask and literally forced his friend to wear it and he said this, "Look. You need this more than me. You have a wife. You have three young children, and I’m alone. I can go, but you need this." It saved that miner’s life.

But what’s even more unique about Jesus’ love, even greater than that of the selfless miner, is that Jesus didn’t just die for His friends. He died for those who were killing Him, those who were His enemies, those who were not with Him. In other words, He died for you and me. That is the greatest love of all. Jesus wants everyone to experience His love, the greatest love. Our decision is whether we accept it or reject it. So, what will it be for you?

 

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For The Long Run
January 10, 2014 — by Marvin Williams

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: James 5:7-11
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. —James 5:7
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17
A 2006 survey of more than 1,000 adults discovered that most people take an average of 17 minutes to lose their patience while waiting in line. Also, most people lose their patience in only 9 minutes while on hold on the phone. Impatience is a common trait.

James wrote to a group of believers who were struggling with being patient for Jesus’ return (James 5:7). They were living under exploitation and distressing times, and James encouraged them to “set the timer of their temper” for the long run. Challenging these believers to persevere under suffering, he tried to stimulate them to stand firm and to live sacrificially until the Lord returned to right every wrong. He wrote: “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (v.8).

James called them to be like the farmer who waits patiently for the rain and the harvest (v.7) and like the prophets and the patriarch Job who demonstrated perseverance in difficulties (vv.10-11). The finish line was just ahead and James encouraged the believers not to give up.

When we are being tried in a crucible of distress, God desires to help us continue living by faith and trusting in His compassion and mercy (v.11).

For Further Thought
What is most difficult about being patient during
stressful times? Ask God for the grace to help
you live by faith and to live for the long run.
The way to great patience is through great trials.


Insight
The establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom is the hope of the believer. Since the moment of Christ’s ascension, His followers have eagerly anticipated His return. This awaited return is imminent, and today’s passage reminds us that we are to patiently wait for it (v.7). Like a farmer who waits for all the necessary rains to produce the best crop, Christians await the fulfillment of all that God has planned for the coming of His kingdom. While we wait, we are to “establish” our hearts (v.8) or “stand firm” (niv), allowing the peace of God to rule in us (Col. 3:15).

 

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Much More Than Survival
January 13, 2014 — by C. P. Hia

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:7
Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love. —1 Thessalonians 3:6
Bible in a Year:
Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38
In April 1937, Mussolini’s invading armies forced all the missionaries serving in the Wallamo region to flee Ethiopia. They left behind just 48 Christian converts, who had little more than the gospel of Mark to feed their growth. Few even knew how to read. But when the missionaries returned 4 years later, the church had not just survived; it numbered 10,000!

When the apostle Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica (see Acts 17:1-10), he yearned to learn about the survival of the small band of Christians he left behind (1 Thess. 2:17). But when Timothy visited the Thessalonian church later, he brought word to Paul in Athens about their “faith and love” (1 Thess. 3:6). They had become “examples” to the believers in the surrounding regions in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thess. 1:8).

Paul never claimed credit for any numerical increase in his ministry. Nor did he attribute it to anyone else. Rather, he gave credit to God. He wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6).

Difficult circumstances may thwart even our best intentions, separating friends from each other for a season. But God is growing His church through every difficulty. We need only be faithful and leave the results to Him.

Lord, we are so prone to be fearful when we face
opposition, yet so often we want to take credit
for every little success. Help us see that You are
the One who blesses and builds Your church.
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. —Jesus (Matthew 16:18)


Insight
In today’s passage, Paul reminded the Thessalonian believers about the great opposition to the gospel that accompanied his ministry to them. This young congregation had experienced its share of persecution, so Paul’s transparency about his struggles helped strengthen their faith.

 

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Make Your Mothers Proud
JAN 13 2014
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!" - Romans 6:1-2a

The New Jersey Times wrote about a criminal trial where a young Hispanic man was being charged with the deaths of three young people in a Newark schoolyard. The hostility and emotions were running high. But then the article told of a person on the other side of that courtroom, the only person connected to that defendant as follows: "The other side of the courtroom behind the defendant’s table was a small, timid woman. She wore sensible slip on shoes of a working woman. And her hands were lined with dry wrinkles of hard work. Anna Gomez is the mother of the defendant. And there is perhaps no lonelier figure in a courtroom than the parent of a murder defendant, especially in a trial like this."

All through history, we’ve seen stories of a loving mom, being there alone - the only one supporting her child when the child is accused of a vicious and horrible crime. There’s something incredibly noble about mother's love during those times. Yet think how despicable it would be if the son of this mother said, "I don’t care what I’ve done and I’m not changing from my life of crime because I know my mother will love and forgive me no matter what." That would be disgusting and vile.

But how often children of God have the same kind of mindset towards Him? Because we know He loves us and will forgive us, we decide, “I’m going to go ahead and continue to do what I want to and live as I please. After all, God will forgive me no matter what.” What a sickening understanding of God’s grace! "May it never be!"

When we really understand the love and grace of God, we are so overwhelmed with gratitude at what Christ has done for us - giving His life for us to free us from enslavement to sin - that we want to live in a way that is pleasing to Him and to our earthly parents!

 

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Doing What I Hate
JAN 14 2014
"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am a flesh sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand for I am not practicing what I would like to do but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the thing I don't want to do, I agree with the Law confessing that the law is good." - Romans 7:14-16

During my sophomore year of college, I was going through a very unsettling time. I didn't really understand why at the time, but I was overwhelmed with fear. There was fear of the future, feeling unsettled, not knowing what I was supposed to do with my life. I felt like I had gone from way too confident young man to that feeling of total loss of confidence and fear about the future. During that time, I became fearful that I might commit the unforgivable sin, even though I didn't know what that was. It was not a happy time.

Then one day, I came to this passage, Romans 7:14. It was like the Words of God jumped off the page. It was so incredibly encouraging to see that this great man of faith, the Apostle Paul, was confessing his struggle with sin even late in life. After all those years of growing in Jesus Christ, Paul is confessing, "Look. I know what I'm supposed to do. I know what I'd like to do but I'm failing. I'm struggling in that." I can't tell you what a difference it made for me. I read the passage over and over. It gave me strength and encouragement in learning that the more we grow in Christ, the more we are aware of our sinfulness. It also helped me realize that the further we are from Christ, the less we're aware of our sinfulness. It finally made sense to me! Boy, did that relieve me. I realized I wasn't regressing in my relationship with Christ, but growing closer to Him!

It was during that year of college, of struggling with all kinds of fears, but mostly the fear of committing the unforgivable sin, when God ministered to me very personally. He said, "Bryant, whatever you do, whatever you have done, whatever you will do in the future, you are not condemned. I love you. You are my child." When we really understand God's grace - His offer of no condemnation for our sin through what He has done for us on the cross - that He gives us the desire to want to live in a way that is pleasing to God. It frees us from the fear of messing up or doing something unforgivable to the joy of living in gratitude for what He did for us. That really sets us free from fear, which is really not trusting God, to relishing in His love, no longer defeated by sin!