Daily Devotion

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Lost? There’s Only One Way Out!
June 21, 2014

“Why do Christians feel like they have the only way to God?” This is a very common objection to Christianity, especially from those who are not followers of Christ. So, why DO we Christians feel like we have the only way to God? I have an answer that might surprise you. We Christians don’t really have the only way to God. Jesus does! And as followers of Jesus, we believe that what He says is absolute truth.

When Jesus says, “I am the way,” He is saying, “I am the way to heaven. I am the way to our heavenly Father.” When He said this, one of His disciples, Thomas, said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?” Now, before you get too hard on Thomas, I have a question for you. What really is the road to heaven? Are you clear on the way to heaven? How can you be sure you’re on the right road to heaven? Earlier, in John 14, Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places…if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”

So, when He said, “I am the way,” He was making it clear that following Him is the only road to heaven.

Sadly, most people feel like they’re going to get to heaven if they are good enough, religious enough, or moral enough. But that’s completely contrary to what Jesus says. The Bible also makes it clear that if we try to get to heaven by good works, we must be perfect, but if we sin just ONCE, we’re no longer qualified for heaven. In fact, the only One who is qualified is Jesus.

When Jesus says He’s the way to heaven, He means, “Do you trust that I know where you need to go and that I’m the only One who can get you there?” In the end, following Jesus is all about trust. Do you trust Him enough to follow Him and believe that He really is the only One that can get you to the ultimate destination of heaven?

I trust Him. I hope you will, too!

 

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Restored By The Master
By David C. McCasland

• Read: Colossians 3:8-17

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10
Bible in a Year:
Esther 9-10; Acts 7:1-21
Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration process that is impossible in the world of art. It’s a restoration of God’s people. Paul wrote, “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). This is no attempt at renovating the work of a deceased artist. It is a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. His forgiveness brightens the colors of our lives while His grace sharpens the lines of His purpose for us.

The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing. —Lyte
Jesus specializes in restoration.
Insight
Today’s reading reminds us of two influences in our lives (vv.9-10). One is “the old man,” that is, the person we were before trusting Christ. The other is “the new man” who is becoming more like Christ. We are to “put off” the behavior patterns of our old ways and “put on” the new character qualities of Christ.

 

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Veins Of Gold
By Julie Ackerman Link
Read: Romans 6:1-14
If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. —Romans 6:5
Bible in a Year:
Job 1-2; Acts 7:22-43
While visiting the charming Cotswold area of England, I purchased some bone china mugs as souvenirs. I used them carefully, but eventually one fell into the sink and shattered. I thought about that mug recently when I learned about the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

Usually when something breaks we are happy to repair it enough to make it functional again. But several hundred years ago, a Japanese artist decided he would make broken china beautiful. So he started using golden resin to hold the fragments together. Pieces repaired by using his method have intricate veins of gold.

Early in the human story, sin entered the world (Gen. 3). Theologians refer to the event as “the fall.” The inevitable result is brokenness. Life is painful because we keep getting hurt and hurting others with our sharp, jagged edges. But God doesn’t want us to stay broken, and His repair work turns our brokenness into beauty.

Like a Kintsugi artist, God repairs us. But He uses something more precious than gold—the blood of His Son. Instead of having veins of gold, we are united by the very veins of Christ. “We have been united together in the likeness of His death” (Rom. 6:5). Nothing is more beautiful than that.

He shed His blood, poured out His life;
He gave His all at Calvary;
Oh what can we give in return
For love so rich, so full, so free? —Anon.
The price of our freedom from sin was paid by Jesus’ blood.
Insight
In verse 1, the apostle Paul reminds us of the danger of presuming on the grace of God. It is possible that there were those in the church at Rome who were advocating an immoral lifestyle, believing that God overlooked such things because that is how grace operated. Such a view, however, fails to balance the grace of God with His holiness and can lead to lives that dishonor Him.

 

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Roadside Assistance
By Joe StowellRead: Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1
Bible in a Year:
Job 5-7; Acts 8:1-25
An acquaintance of mine was hunting with friends near Balmoral, the country estate of the queen of England. As they walked, he twisted his ankle so badly that he couldn’t go on, so he told his friends to continue and he would wait by the side of the road.

As he sat there, a car came down the road, slowed, and stopped. The woman driving rolled the window down and asked if he was okay. He explained and said he was waiting for his friends to return. She said, “Get in; I’ll take you back to where you are staying.” He limped to the car and opened the door only to realize that it was Queen Elizabeth!

As shocking as receiving help from the queen of England may be, we have an offer of help that is even more astounding. The Creator-God of the universe descends into our world, sees our trouble, and offers to marshal His resources to help us. As the psalmist confidently affirms, “God is . . . a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Next time you feel stranded along life’s road, look for your Helper.

Lord, I’m thankful that when I experience trouble
You are waiting and wanting to help. Teach
me to look to You and to rest in Your kind and
loving care until You deliver me safely home.
Rejoice! Your God is a helping King!
Insight
Psalm 46 celebrates God as the supreme defender of His people. This particular psalm inspired Martin Luther to write: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.”

 

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Do No Harm
By Dennis Fisher

• Read: Romans 13:8-10

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —Romans 13:10
Bible in a Year:
Job 8-10; Acts 8:26-40
Many consider the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates as the father of Western medicine. He understood the importance of following moral principles in the practice of medicine, and is credited with writing the Hippocratic Oath, which still serves as an ethical guide for today’s medical doctors. One key concept of the oath is “to do no harm.” It implies that a physician will do only what he thinks will benefit his patients.

The principle of doing no harm extends to our relationships with others in everyday life. In fact, benevolence is central to New Testament teaching about loving others. In reflecting on the law of God, Paul sees that love is the intent behind many biblical commands: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

Each day as we follow Jesus Christ our Savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, “Does this reflect Christ’s concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?” Such a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and help those in need.

Lord, I admit that it is easy to be consumed with my
own wants and needs. Thank You that You showed
us how to be concerned for others too. Help me
to follow Your example in caring for others.
Caring for the burdens of others helps us to forget about our own.
Insight
Paul’s words in today’s passage remind us of Jesus’ words to the young teacher of the law who asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-29). Love for God and neighbor is the epitome, fulfillment, and intention of all the laws of the Old Testament. In Luke, Jesus went on to say who our neighbor is and what love for that person should look like (vv.30-37). Paul does a similar thing for the people at the church in Rome. After telling them to love their neighbor in chapter 13, he goes on to tell them in chapter 14 to consider the effect their actions will have on their neighbor. Love is to guide all our actions.

 

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"He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet." - John 4:16-19

Earthly vs. Spiritual
June 29, 2014

We’re back with the woman at the well. She met Jesus and was astounded that He would even talk to her. Still, as she started to get Him a drink of water, He tells her that it’s not that kind of water that she needed and told her if she drank Living water, she would never thirst again. (Remember that Jesus uses earthly things to parallel spiritual things.) So, what did she do? Did she have this powerful “ah-ha” moment and the band comes out and she made her way forward and her life was changed forever? No. She said, “So can I have a bottle of this water so I won’t get thirsty again? Just give me a sip of that.” She did what we all do – we bring it back to earthly things. But Jesus didn’t stop there.

Remember that Jesus was tired and worn out. He initiated this spiritual conversation, and she brought it back to earthly things. So, Jesus said, “You want to talk about earthly things? Let’s talk about earthly things. Let’s talk about your life.” Jesus said, “Go call your husband.” “I don’t have a husband,” she said. And I can just imagine that she was ready to move on past that conversation! She says, “Let’s change the subject.” But Jesus did not change the subject. In fact, Jesus pressed on with the subject. He said, “No, let’s stay here for just a minute. Let’s talk about your life. You are correct – you did tell the truth. You don’t have a husband. You’ve been married five times.” She must have been overwhelmed, not only by his knowledge, but that somehow, He came across as kind to her. How could this man know about her life?

Jesus was actually saying, “I bet by the fifth time you didn’t feel very valued.” You see, to Jesus, all women are valued. He wasn’t saying to her, “I think you’re a failure.” I think He was saying, “Yes, you’ve certainly failed. Everyone has failed many times. But you’ve alsobeen failed.”

So, she stated the obvious - “I think You’re a prophet.” Duh! The woman herself turned the conversation back to spiritual things, without even realizing it.

Today, let’s remember that Jesus understands and cares about our earthly needs, but we need to learn from Him that, regardless of the need, it always points back to what is truly spiritual – HIM!

 

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Paul – Part Three: A New Life
July 2, 2014

Today, we look at Part Three of Paul’s story, which is his life after he met Christ.

Following his encounter with Jesus, Paul was struck blind for three days and, as instructed by the Lord, was led into Damascus. There, God sent a man by the name of Ananias to come and baptized him as a new follower of Jesus Christ. We also see that immediately Paul began to testify of his life change. Now this had to be dumbfounding to the followers of Jesus in Damascus – I imagine they all knew of the old “Saul” as a religious terrorist, so they probably weren’t sure how to take all this new “Paul.”

After a short time in Damascus, he was sent to Arabia. A desert. Wilderness. Not surprising, when you think about how many great men of the faith in Scripture were sent into the wilderness at the beginning of their callings: Moses, Elijah, even Jesus Christ. And now we see Paul spending up to three years in the wilderness before going back to Damascus.

Interestingly enough, after he returned from the wilderness, Paul spent the majority of his first three years in his hometown of Tarsus just going about the work of ministry. Imagine the people in his hometown who witnessed the change in this man! Look at verse 22 again:

“I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.“ Can you imagine the joy Paul must have felt? To have gone from being someone hated and feared, to being someone who was sharing the joy of the Lord wherever he went?

If God’s grace can be extended to a religious terrorist like Paul, what’s your excuse? Do you think the grace of God cannot be extended to you for the things you’ve done in your life, if God extended that to Paul? Of course, it can!

And another thing to realize – Paul’s greatest influence in the lives of his contemporaries and in all of the lives of those who came after him – didn’t happen overnight. It took 14 years of being a follower of Jesus Christ before Paul was seen as a leader in the church. This is his story. Part One – his life before Christ. Part Two – his encounter with Christ. Part Three – his life after meeting Christ as his Savior and Lord.

We all have a Part One in our life story. What about Part Two and Part Three? No life story is completely fulfilled without three parts. What is your life story?

 

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"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

Our Jewish Heritage
July 3, 2014

A girl in middle school posed an interesting question to me. She said, “The other day, a friend and I were singing a Christian song at school, and a Jewish boy told us to stop singing because it was offending him. Should we have stopped singing or kept on singing, even though it offended him?” Now, isn’t that a great question from someone so young?

Here is what I recommended to her: I think the best response is to stop singing for a moment, and say, “Well, we’re singing about Jesus, whose name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means salvation. He is the Jewish rabbi that we follow. So, when we sing Christian songs, we’re very appreciative of our Jewish heritage. You might want to ask, “Would you teach us some Jewish songs? We’d love to learn them and sing them with you, if that’s okay. And then would you like to sing some of our Christian songs?” If they have no interest, then ask them if they are open minded enough to respect your love for Jesus. If not, keep singing, but not at them, sing to the Lord.

The key is to show them respect while you share with them your love for Jesus. But don’t be surprised at their irrational objection to the name of Jesus. There’s just something powerful and convicting about His name.

 

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Not A Hitching Post
By David C. McCasland

• Read: Jeremiah 6:13-20

Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. —Jeremiah 6:16
Bible in a Year:
Job 32-33; Acts 14
You may have heard the saying, “The past is supposed to be a guidepost, not a hitching post.” It’s easy to become tied to memories of “the good old days” instead of using our experiences to find direction for the road ahead. We are all susceptible to the paralyzing effects of nostalgia—a longing for what used to be.

Jeremiah was a priest from a small town near Jerusalem when God called him to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). He was given the very difficult job of pronouncing God’s judgment primarily on the people of Judah, who had turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah made it clear that he was delivering God’s message, not his own (7:1-2).

The Lord said, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (6:16).

God urged His people to look back so they could move ahead. The purpose of considering the ancient paths was to find “the good way” marked by God’s faithfulness, His forgiveness, and His forward call.

God can teach us from our past that the best road is the one we walk with Him.

Though I know not what awaits me—
What the future has in store,
Yet I know that God is faithful,
For I’ve proved Him oft before. —Anon.
God’s guidance in the past gives courage for the future.
Insight
Jeremiah, often called the “weeping prophet,” brought a depressing message to Israel: “Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people” (6:19). God would bring the consequences of Israel’s choices on them. Calamity was coming (v.15) because Israel had forgotten the path given in the past (v.16). Yet Jeremiah also offered words of hope: One day God would bring “the remnant” back to Israel and raise up a “Branch of righteousness” (23:3-8).

 

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The Jaws Of Death
By Marvin Williams

• Read: Luke 9:1-6

They departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. —Luke 9:6
Bible in a Year:
Job 34-35; Acts 15:1-21
Lauren Kornacki is glad she took that summer CPR class, but she probably never thought she would have to use it so soon and on someone she loves. Her father was repairing his car when the jack slipped and the car fell on him. Lauren, a 22-year-old, reportedly heroically lifted the 3,300-pound car enough to pull him from underneath! Then she kept him alive with CPR until the paramedics arrived.

Far greater than Lauren’s rescue of her father from the jaws of death is Jesus’ rescue of us from the clutches of sin by His death and resurrection. When Jesus sent the 12 disciples to carry out His work, He gave them the assignment to preach the good news of God’s desire to rescue people (Luke 9:1-6). They would not carry this out in their own strength, but Jesus would lift the heavy burden of people’s sin as they taught about Him. Their preaching and healing in Jesus’ power and authority proved that Jesus had actually brought God’s rule to earth.

Many today are trapped under the weight of sin, but our great God can rescue us from underneath those burdens and then send us into the world to tell others that He can set them free.

Thinking It Over
Do you know someone who is trapped under the
burden of sin and needs Jesus’ rescue? In what
practical ways can you be an active agent of Jesus’ love?
Those who’ve been rescued from sin are best able to help in the rescue of others.
Insight
Luke records that Jesus gave the disciples “power and authority” (9:1). He does not relate the specific situations the disciples faced or the people’s reaction to these 12 new miracle workers who were suddenly working in Israel. Instead, Luke simply found it important to record, “So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (v.6). Luke’s emphasis was on Jesus. He was the one who gave His disciples the authority. It’s important to remember that power and authority are always His to give.

 

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“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, He said this, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”

- Matthew 5:1-3

Happiness Equals Humility
July 7, 2014

Time Magazine ran a cover story in the summer July of 2013 entitled “The Pursuit of Happiness.” Here is some of what it said, “Since 1972, only about 1/3 of Americans have described themselves as very happy.” (That means 2/3 have not). 25% of American women said they are taking anti-depressants. That’s a lot of folks. They go on to conclude in this article, “We’ve got all the toys. Now we need to relocate the joy.” They were speaking to the restless emptiness of our hyper-affluent culture. The pursuit of happiness is in our national DNA. It’s a part of who we are. Thomas Jefferson engraved it into our consciousness.

Yet, so many seem to struggle in really experiencing happiness. Jesus gives us a radically counter cultural view of how to discover happiness. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Blessed means ‘happy.’ What? How can He relate ‘poor in spirit’ with happiness? Well, it is the opposite of arrogance. Poor in spirit is not a mindset of pride that says, “I do not need God. I am self-reliant. I am self-sufficient.” That’s very much a part of the American way. Jesus is trying to help us understand something deeper. This is really about humility. And humility is the one virtue, when you think you have it, you just lost it. It’s something that man does not come by naturally. You’re never going to discover ultimate happiness until you have enough humility to recognize you need God. Without Him, you’re going to miss the ultimate meaning of life. Without God, lasting happiness is unattainable.

But there is more! The end of this Scripture also comes with a promise. Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Once we come to be poor in spirit and recognize our need for God, then we have the opportunity to claim the grace and forgiveness of God through what Christ has done for us on the cross. And then, we can enter in to the kingdom of heaven! The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are one in the same. They are used interchangeably. What is the kingdom of God? It is wherever Jesus reigns. If He reigns in your life, then the kingdom of God is there. If He reigns in your family, the kingdom of God is there. If Jesus reigns in your church, the kingdom of God is there. If He reigns in a ministry where you serve, the kingdom of God is there. Wherever Jesus reigns, there is the kingdom of God. It doesn’t mean in the future – it means right now – in the present. And once we enter the kingdom of God through faith, we stay in the kingdom of God, as a child of God, forever! Only in the center of God’s will in His Kingdom do we discover ultimate happiness.

 

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Asking Different Questions
By Dave Branon
Read: Job 38:1-11
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? —Job 38:4
Bible in a Year:
Job 38-40; Acts 16:1-21
When tragedy strikes, questions follow. Our loss of a loved one may lead us to ask God any number of pointed questions: “Why did You let this happen?” “Whose fault was this?” “Don’t You care about my pain?” Believe me, as the grieving father of a teenager who died tragically I have asked these very questions.

The book of Job records the questions Job asks as he sits down with friends to lament his suffering. He had lost his family as well as his health and possessions. At one point, he asks, “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul?” (3:20). Later, he asks, “What strength do I have, that I should hope?” (6:11). And, “Does it seem good to You that You should oppress?” (10:3). Many have stood near a headstone placed too early and asked similar questions.

But when you read all the way to the end of the book, you get a surprise. When God responds to Job (chs. 38–41), He does it in an unexpected way. He turns the tables and asks Job questions—different questions that show His wisdom and sovereignty. Questions about His magnificent creation—the earth, stars, and sea. And the questions all point to this: God is sovereign. God is all-powerful. God is love. And God knows what He is doing.

We comprehend Him not,
Yet earth and heaven tell,
God sits as sovereign on the throne,
And ruleth all things well. —Gerhardt
Our greatest comfort in sorrow is to know that God is in control.
Insight
Our familiarity with the story of Job may cause us to overlook some of the significant aspects of his story. It is important to notice the unity of the book of Job. The wisdom, power, and control that God asks Job to consider in chapters 38–41 is the same wisdom, power, and control we read about in the opening chapters when God allows Satan to turn Job’s life upside down and inside out. We should not disconnect God’s wisdom seen in the world around us from the wisdom with which He works in our lives.

 

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“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

Happiness Equals Gentleness
July 9, 2014

The typical mindset of the world is that you inherit the earth when you are bold, aggressive, and assertive. Through strong, determined, ruthless self-will, you obtain what you’re after. Hard charging executives often think this. People ambitious for power think this. But Jesus says, “it is the gentle who will inherit the earth.”

‘Gentle’ is often associated with weakness, but that’s not what the word means. The word James uses for ‘gentle’ means “strength under control.” In no way is it a sign of weakness. Aristotle said this word for gentleness is “the perfect means between anger and indifference.” And what does he mean by that? He’s talking about someone who gets angry when they see injustice. But when that person is wronged himself, he has incredible self-control. It takes some kind of man to be strong like that.

Jesus was a man like that. He cleaned house in the Temple when He saw them disrespecting God and treating the poor unjustly. But when He was being abused at the cross, He simply said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That’s what He means by gentleness.

So, ‘inherit the earth’ does not mean real estate. It means honor and respect. Blessed are those who have great strength under control, for they will be honored and respected. And that is far better than any real estate you could ever inherit or earn.

 

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Paranoia In Reverse
By Philip Yancey

• Read: 1 John 4:1-6,17-19

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. —1 John 4:18
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 1-3; Acts 17:1-15
I remember watching television news reports in 1991 as the nonviolent revolution took place in the streets of Moscow. Russians who had grown up in totalitarianism suddenly declared, “We will act as if we are free,” taking to the streets and staring down tanks. The contrast between the faces of the leaders inside and the masses outside showed who was really afraid, and who was really free.

Watching the newsreels from Red Square on Finnish television, I came up with a new definition of faith: paranoia in reverse. A truly paranoid person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of fear. Anything that happens feeds that fear.

Faith works in reverse. A faithful person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of trust, not fear. Despite the apparent chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love.

What could happen if we in God’s kingdom truly acted as if the words of the apostle John were literally true: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). What if we really started living as if the most-repeated prayer in Christendom has actually been answered—that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

Far, far above thy thought
His counsel shall appear,
When fully He the work hath wrought
That caused thy needless fear. —Gerhardt
Feeding your faith helps starve your fears.
Insight
First John 4:2-3 is used often by Christians as a test to determine if one is demon-possessed. This ignores the context. John is warning against false prophets who deny the humanity of Christ and teach that Jesus only appeared to be human. A false teacher is one who denies that Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully God.

 

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“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” -Matthew 5:8

Happiness Equals Being Pure in Heart
July 12, 2014

What does ‘purity’ mean? Purity is a single-minded devotion to God. It’s the opposite of double-mindedness. It’s the opposite of those in the church who straddle the fence, having one foot in the world and one foot in the church, never really giving their hearts completely to God. It’s the opposite of phoniness. It’s the opposite of hypocrisy. Purity is being genuine. It is a devoted loyalty. It is a person without guile. It is a person who has no ulterior motives.

Those qualities sound really good, don’t they? But, purity is not something that is easily experienced in our life. As a matter of fact, purity is down right unnatural because of our sinfulness. In Matthew 15:19-20, Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications (that’s any kind of sexual immorality), thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” To summarize, what He is saying, “Look. The real problem lies in our sinful hearts. We are not naturally pure. It’s not something we achieve. It comes with a cleansed heart. It is something we receive – through repentant faith in Jesus Christ.” The only way to be pure is to be cleansed of any impurity. And the only way to stay clean and pure is by trusting Jesus with total devotion.

When we do, we see God. Most religions have the desire to see God, to experience God. But, most religions are about man trying to reach up to God. Maybe it’s through different rituals of religion or through good works and morality. Yet, Christianity is very different from all the religions of the world. In Christianity, God has reached down to man through His ultimate revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. So when Christ died on the cross for our sins, He offers us the mercy of God—something we don’t deserve. In fact, we receive forgiveness of sin. With forgiveness comes cleansing, or purification, from God. When we confess and repent of our sin, cleansing comes. And every time we fall, then confess and repent, again and again and again, change comes. You want to see God? Trust Jesus to cleanse you and be fully devoted to following Jesus, no matter what!

 

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Grain On The Mountaintop
By David H. Roper

• Read: Psalm 72:12-20

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains. —Psalm 72:16
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 10-12; Acts 19:1-20
I’ve been on a number of mountaintops in the US in my time, and I can tell you that not much grows up there. The summits of mountains are bare rock and lichen. That’s not where you would normally find an abundance of grain.

But Solomon, who wrote Psalm 72, asked God for “an abundance of grain . . . on the top of the mountains,” to characterize his reign as king. If grain on the mountain is so unusual, what is Solomon suggesting? That God’s power can produce results in even the most unpromising soil?

Perhaps you think of yourself as a little person, with very little to bring to the kingdom. Take courage: God can produce an abundant harvest through you. This is one of the ironies of faith: God uses the insignificant to accomplish the great. Not many of us are wise or noble; most of us are anonymous and far from extraordinary. Yet all of us can be used. And contrary to what we might think, it is because of our weakness that we can be used by God (1 Cor. 1:27-29; 2 Cor. 12:10).

It’s possible to be too big or proud for God to use, but we can never be too little. “Out of weakness” we are “made strong” (Heb. 11:34). By God’s great power, we can do all that He has called us to do.

Lord, You work through such common things—
those of us with flaws and weaknesses.
We are in awe of Your power and humbled by Your
choice of us. Our hearts long to be faithful to You.
To experience God’s power, we must first admit that we are weak.
Insight
Solomon and wisdom are virtually synonymous. As great as Solomon was and as much as he did for Israel through his kingship—economic prosperity, peace, arts, and culture—he still fell short of what God can do. In today’s psalm, Solomon, the man who built golden temples and palaces, reflects on the power of God to save souls and to bring growth to barren places (72:13,16). God is the only one who truly does wondrous things (v.18).

 

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True Loyalty
By David C. McCaslandRead: 2 Corinthians 11:23-31
If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. —2 Corinthians 11:30
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 13-15; Acts 19:21-41
By one estimate, more than 14 trillion frequent-flyer miles have been accumulated by people worldwide. It all started in the early 1980s, when airlines began the first frequent-flyer programs to encourage repeat business by rewarding customers for their loyalty. Accumulated miles could be redeemed for free travel, goods, and services, so it wasn’t long before people began planning their travel based as much on personal reward as on price or schedule.

The apostle Paul was an avid first-century traveler, but he wasn’t in it for the “frequent-sailor miles.” His goal was to reach as many people as he could with the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus. When some people in the city of Corinth questioned his authority, he wrote a letter describing the price he had paid to bring the gospel to others: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep” (2 Cor. 11:25). God gave Paul the grace and endurance to risk his life to tell people about Jesus with no thought of personal gain.

Whether we receive persecution or praise for our service to the Lord, may our focus always be loyalty to Him and gratitude for His sacrifice of love.

I am Yours, Lord, yet teach me all it means,
All it involves of love and loyalty,
Of holy service, full and glad,
In unreserved obedience to Thee! —Bennett
Our loyalty to Jesus grows from His love for us.
Insight
To modern-day followers of Christ, the apostle Paul is held in the highest regard for his tireless work of teaching, church-planting, and writing of biblical letters. This, however, was not the case in the first century. Even after years of faithful service, Paul had to write the letter of 2 Corinthians to defend his calling and ministry, which was being questioned by people in Corinth. Today’s reading is a part of that defense of his ministry.

 

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Feeling Chained?
By Dennis FisherRead: Psalm 16
I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. —Philippians 4:11
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 16-17; Acts 20:1-16
Boethius lived in sixth-century Italy and served the royal court as a highly skilled politician. Unfortunately, he fell into disfavor with the king. He was accused of treason and imprisoned. While awaiting execution, he asked for writing materials so he could compose his reflections. Later, these became an enduring spiritual classic on consolation.

As Boethius sat in prison, pondering his bleak prospects, his faith in Christ infused his perspective: “Nothing is miserable but what is thought so, and contrariwise, every estate is happy if he that bears it be content.” He understood that our view of changing circumstances and contentment is a personal choice.

The apostle Paul reinforced the idea that the way we view our circumstances is more important than the circumstances themselves. While he too was in prison, he wrote: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). Both men could be content because they drew their ultimate satisfaction from God, who never changes.

Do you feel chained to difficult circumstances? God can give you contentment. Lasting satisfaction can be found only with Him, for in His “presence is fullness of joy; at [His] right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11).

Lord, lead me today as You see best. Use the gifts
You’ve given me to encourage others on
their journey. Help me not to compare
myself with others but to be content.
When all you have is God, you have all you need.
Insight
David affirms that God is his protector and provider (Ps. 16:1-2). In response to who God is, David delights in the fellowship of like-minded believers and disassociates himself from idolatry (vv.3-4). He depends on God’s Word and celebrates the security and safety he has in the Lord’s presence, not only in this present life but also beyond this life (vv.5-11).

 

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Lookin’ Good!
By Cindy Hess Kasper

• Read: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. —Hebrews 10:24
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 18-19; Acts 20:17-38
After trying on my new sunglasses in the car one day, my daughter handed them back and said, “These are notsunglasses, Mom. They’re just fashion lenses. Let me guess,” she teased, “you bought them because you look cute in them.”

Okay, I have to admit—my daughter knows me. I hadn’t given a passing thought to UV rays or even whether those glasses would actually block the sun. I just really liked the way they looked on me.

Most of us like to look good. We want to appear that we “have it all together”—with no struggles or fears or temptations or heartaches.

Trying to maintain a façade of perfection on our spiritual journey doesn’t help us or our fellow travelers. But sharing our lives with others in the body of Christ benefits us as well as others. When we are a bit more transparent, we may find people who are struggling in a similar situation. And as we enjoy a growing fellowship with God and become more aware of our own brokenness and inadequacy, God is able to use us more fully to help others.

Let’s allow God to strip away any pretense and “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24 niv).

Wearing a mask that shows everything’s fine
Says that life’s struggles are not God’s design;
But when we’re open, transparent, and true,
People will trust God to meet their needs too. —Sper
Believers stand strong when they don’t stand alone.

 

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“So he [Elijah]went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, ‘Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?’ As she was going to get it, he called, ‘And bring me, please, a piece of bread.’ ‘As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” - 1 Kings 17:10-14

Elijah and the Single Mom
July 17, 2014

Today’s Scriptures tell a story of obedience, faith, and provision. There’s a backstory that you need to know. Because of his courage in telling the truth, Elijah had become a very unpopular man in Israel. So, God sent him away into the wilderness for a time of rest and testing. He took him to a place by a brook where God met his physical needs. Birds brought Elijah food every day, and the brook provided him water.

After a while, however, the brook dried up because there was no rain. As you can imagine, Elijah was a little surprised and probably thought, “Okay, God, what do I do now?” I have to have water to survive! (Now, remember, God doesn’t always meet our needs for tomorrow, today. He always meets our needs for tomorrow, tomorrow. So, God told Elijah to go to a specific place where he would find food and water.

He went to a gate and found a woman gathering sticks and asked if she would get him a drink of water. She immediately went to get him the water when he added, “While you’re at it, please bring me a piece of bread…” In light of this poor woman’s situation, she could have thought, “The audacity of this guy!” But she told him she was in the process of preparing what was to be the very last meal for her and her son, and then there would be nothing left, and they would die. She lived in poverty. She was a single mom. Single parenting is not a new thing. Women have been raising families alone and in poverty for centuries. But she trusted God and gave all that she had to the man of God—and God blessed her by multiplying the food in her cupboard so that she and her son would never be without because of it. In the process, He continued to bless Elijah by meeting his physical and material needs to be able to survive.

This biblical story teaches us how much God cares for us. God cared for the prophet. He cared for this poor single mom. He cares for all of us. Our role is to put our trust in Him and be willing to put our faith into action…to just go and “bake our bread,” so to speak, do the best we can today, and leave the rest to Him. Elijah trusted God and was fed. The poor single mom trusted God through Elijah, and her needs were met. The greater the need – the greater the blessing. Trust Him to meet your needs, and He will.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:12-16