Daily Devotion

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Giving It To God
By Dave BranonRead: Mark 10:17-22
[He] went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. —Mark 10:22
Bible in a Year:
Proverbs 27-29; 2 Corinthians 10
A hero to a generation of people who grew up after World War II, Corrie ten Boom left a legacy of godliness and wisdom. A victim of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, she survived to tell her story of faith and dependence on God during horrendous suffering.

“I have held many things in my hands,” Corrie once said, “and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that, I still possess.”

Corrie was well acquainted with loss. She lost family, possessions, and years of her life to hateful people. Yet she learned to concentrate on what could be gained spiritually and emotionally by putting everything in the hands of her heavenly Father.

What does that mean to us? What should we place in God’s hands for safekeeping? According to the story of the rich young man in Mark 10, everything. He held abundance in his hands, but when Jesus asked him to give it up, he refused. He kept his possessions and he failed to follow Jesus—and as a result he “went away sorrowful” (v.22).

Like Corrie ten Boom, we can find hope by putting everything in God’s hands and then trusting Him for the outcome.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live. —Van de Venter
No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God.
Insight
In Mark 10:1-16, Jesus taught about the demands of discipleship, including the necessity for childlike faith. Here in the encounter with a rich young man, Jesus spoke of the need to love God totally—fully and unreservedly. This young leader lacked unrivaled allegiance to God because he loved his earthly possessions more (v.22). In His teaching, Jesus had warned, “No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). The young man’s actions sadly illustrated this principle. His story is also told in Matthew 19:16-22 and Luke 18:18-23. Paul too warned of the subtle lure of material riches in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

 

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"And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." - John 8:32 NAS

Absolute or Relative Truth?
September 17, 2014

Is there such thing as absolute truth?

Most Americans say there isn’t. A recent study showed that sixty-six percent of American adults believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. To most of them, truth is relative – relative to their own situation. This means people are creating their own personal moral code, which can be a recipe for disaster. For when truth is relative, absolutely anything seems okay.

So is there absolute truth?

Absolutely! But it’s not found in a religion, a philosophy, or in the ever-changing world of science. It’s found in a person – Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life.” He is the way to God, the truth about right and wrong, and the key to abundant life.

Do you want to know absolute truth? Look to Jesus Christ in God’s Word. Do you want to know how to live the truth? Just look and see what Jesus did.

 

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On Being Known
By Julie Ackerman Link
Read: James 5:16-20
I acknowledged my sin to You . . . . I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. —Psalm 32:5
Bible in a Year:
Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
One of the most difficult inner conflicts we have is our desire to be known versus our fear of being known. As beings created in the image of God we are made to be known—known by God and also by others. Yet due to our fallen nature, all of us have sins and weaknesses that we don’t want others to know about. We use the phrase “dark side” to refer to aspects of our lives that we keep hidden. And we use slogans like “put your best foot forward” to encourage others to show their best side.

One reason we are unwilling to risk being known is that we fear rejection and ridicule. But when we discover that God knows us, loves us, and is willing to forgive even the worst thing we have done, our fear of being known by God begins to fade away. And when we find a community of believers who understands the dynamic relationship between forgiveness and confession, we feel safe confessing our sins to one another (James 5:16).

The life of faith is not about showing only our good side. It’s about exposing our dark side to the light of Christ through confession to God and also to others. In this way we can receive healing and live in the freedom of forgiveness.

Lord, help me to expose my sin,
Those secret wrongs that lurk within;
I would confess them all to Thee;
Transparent I would always be. —D. DeHaan
The voice of sin may be loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder. —D. L. Moody
Insight
In James 5, James defines and describes the deep and intimate connection that should exist between Christian brothers and sisters. Confession (5:16) requires deep openness and revealing of that which we would rather hide—our sins. But James says that confession of sin is to be met with prayer, not judgment. He goes on to say that the healing mentioned in verse 16 is related to the covering of sins in verse 20. Confession must be coupled with a change of action. Without change, confession is merely a response to guilt feelings. Godly sorrow for sin leads to a different direction in life. When we hear others’ confessions, we help each other to continue on the path of righteousness.

 

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

Take a Closer Look
September 18, 2014

Have you ever heard that the Bible says that “money is the root of all evil?” Well it doesn’t. Take a closer look and you’ll see that it says “the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” Jonah was swallowed by a big fish; it never says a whale. And Eve ate the forbidden fruit; it never says an apple. Likewise, God does not guarantee that “all things just work together for good.” Do you think for people in hell things have worked out for their good? He declares that all things work together for good “for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.” This is a significantly different meaning. In other words, things most certainly work out good for you if – and this is a big IF - you are a follower of Christ, willing to trust in His plan, willing to trust in His will, and to seek to fulfill His will, under those conditions, all things do work together for good!

No matter what kind of difficulties you face, whether it’s rejection by man, suffering and pain, disappointment and hurt, God can bring good out of any situation, whether it’s from evil we cause ourselves or evil that is thrust upon us. If you choose to trust God, He can bring good out of the darkest, most dismal place. Why don’t you start looking for the good that God wants to bring? This is what God’s Word means when He talks about things working out for good.

 

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Repeat Warnings
By Dave Branon
Read: Galatians 1:6-10
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. —Galatians 1:6
Bible in a Year:
Ecclesiastes 10-12; Galatians 1
“Caution, the moving walkway is ending. Caution, the moving walkway is ending.” If you’ve ever used an automated walkway at an airport, you’ve heard this kind of announcement repeatedly.

Why do airports repeat this announcement over and over? To ensure safety and to protect them from liability if someone were to be injured.

Repeated announcements can be annoying, but they do have value. As a matter of fact, the apostle Paul thought repeating a warning was so vital that he did it in the text of Galatians. But his statement had value far beyond the danger of tripping at the airport. Paul warned them not to listen to, nor believe, him or an angel from heaven if they preached “any other gospel” than what they had already heard (1:8). In the next verse, Paul said it again. It was a warning worth repeating. The Galatians had begun to believe that their salvation was dependent on good works instead of the true gospel: faith in Christ’s work.

The gospel of Jesus—His death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins—is the story that we have the privilege and responsibility to share. When we present the gospel, let’s share that the risen Jesus is the only solution to the problem of sin.

He is the way, the truth, the life—
That One whose name is Jesus;
There is no other name on earth
That has the power to save us. —Sper
Only one road leads to heaven— Jesus Christ is the way.

Insight
Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia addresses Christians who were being persuaded to return to a lifestyle that sought to earn God’s favor through good deeds and obedience to the law of Moses. Today’s passage is part of the introduction to the letter. In these few verses, Paul introduces the topics that will be covered in the rest of the letter, provides the reason this should be of interest to the reader, and establishes his own authority to address the topic. Paul will be writing about the true gospel of Christ (vv.6-9), and the reader should pay attention to his words because he is the bondservant of Christ (v.10). Anyone who preaches another message is “accursed” (vv.8-9).

 

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"...dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power," - 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9

Do You Believe Hell is Real?
September 22, 2014

Have you ever taken a minute to think about hell – who’s going to be there and what it’s all about? Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven?

Jesus tells an interesting parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The beggar sat each day at the gate of the rich man’s house, hoping for some leftovers from the rich man’s feast, but they never came. Both men died. Lazarus, the poor man, went to be with God, and the rich man went to hell. Seeing Lazarus across a great divide, he begged that Lazarus might dip his finger in water and bring even a drop to cool his tongue because of the agony of the heat, but it was too late. They were separated by the great divide – forever.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m certainly not saying the poor will go to heaven and the rich will go to hell. This is just the parable Jesus chose to use. But have you noticed how many people act like hell doesn’t exist? They believe everyone eventually goes to heaven because God is love. What if they’re wrong? Jesus believed in hell. Do you believe He was wrong or do you believe He tells the truth?

Here is a truth about eternity: until you believe in the bad news of hell, you can’t understand the good news of Jesus. He came to save us from hell and guarantee us a place in heaven. The question is: what do you believe about hell? What Jesus says, or something else?

 

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The Local Church vs. The Neighborhood Bar
September 23, 2014

Have you ever thought of the similarities of the local church and the neighborhood bar?

In both places:

…people come looking for fellowship;
…people want to go where others know their name;
…people want to go where they are accepted;
…people want to go where their spirits will be lifted;
…people are united around one theme;
…people go where they like the music.

Like a priest, the bartender serves by listening to people’s troubles. But the differences are profound. The bar is centered on booze and the church is centered on Jesus Christ. The bar offers a way to escape problems. The church offers a way to face them, get through them, and overcome them. The spirit inside the bar lowers one’s guard when it comes to temptation and sin. The spirit of the true church encourages people to turn from sin and turn to God.

The bar may be a substitute for the environment of the church, but it never comes close to providing the meaning and purpose found in a Christ-centered church.

 

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The Wise Old Owl
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Read: Proverbs 10:17-21
He who restrains his lips is wise. —Proverbs 10:19
Bible in a Year:
Song of Solomon 6-8; Galatians 4
Years ago an anonymous writer penned a short poem about the merits of measuring our words.

A wise old owl sat in an oak;

The more he saw the less he spoke;

The less he spoke the more he heard;

Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?

There is a connection between wisdom and limiting what we say. Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

We are wise to be careful about what we say or how much we say in certain situations. It makes sense to guard our words when we are angry. James urged his fellow believers, “Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Restraining our words can also show reverence for God. Solomon said, “God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few” (Eccl. 5:2). When others are grieving, our silent presence may help more than abundant expressions of sympathy: “No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:13).

Although there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak (Eccl. 3:7), choosing to speak less allows us to hear more.

Dear Lord, please grant me wisdom to
know when to speak and when to listen.
I want to encourage others and to care
for them as You have cared for me.
Let your speech be better than silence; otherwise be silent.

Insight
Today’s reading focuses on how we use the words we speak. In verse 17, the emphasis is on the instruction and correction we receive; lying lips and slanderous words are the focus of verse 18. The point of verse 19 is that words can be so dangerous that we’re wiser to not speak than to speak too much, while verse 20 contrasts the speech of those with a right heart (which is like silver) against those whose heart is far from God (worthless). Finally, verse 21 describes how proper speech can be like food to the soul. In all of these sayings, we are challenged to carefully consider how we speak.

 

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"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." - Isaiah 53:2b

How to Have a Perfect Body
September 25, 2014

The world has always worshiped how we look on the outside. All the way back to the Pharaohs, how they looked in life and even in death, was of supreme importance to them. Today, everyone in the entertainment business is all about the “look.” So, interestingly enough, when God sent His son to be the biggest star the world’s stage has ever known, He chose for Him to look very ordinary. The Bible tells us he wasn’t much to look at, so it seems very unlikely that He looked like the beautiful pictures we have hanging on our walls. Now, that might surprise us in thinking about the Son of God, but God sought to identify with the majority of us. There are very few Hollywood beauties, but there sure are a lot of us ordinary-looking folks.

But that was in His earthly ministry. What does He look like now? The Bible tells us that He gave a sneak preview to His three closest disciples. One day Jesus led them up high on a mountain, “…and He was transfigured before them; and His face shown like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” One day, Jesus is coming again and we will all easily recognize Him as the Son of God. And more good news for those who trust in Him: we’ll receive new bodies -perfect bodies – that never get sick and tired, that never age and die. Like Jesus, our new bodies will be dazzling, and we ordinary folks will be eternally grateful.

 

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"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." - Ephesians 5:21

Be Subject to One Another
September 27, 2014

This next statement really got my attention. (I hope it does yours!) Every single day of the year in America, more than 3,571 marriages end in divorce. More than 50 percent of the children in America’s public schools live in single-parent homes. Of the nation’s children who live apart from their biological fathers, 50 percent have never set foot in their father’s home. (1)

Sometimes, when I’m performing a wedding ceremony and we are reciting the vow “till death do us part,” I realize that, in reality, the marriage outlook is more often, “Till death do us part, or we just get tired of each other!” What has changed that has made divorce an okay outlet? Is it our advancement in technology? Or our lack of communication? The answer to this selfish focus is found in our verse today from Ephesians. “Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” What does it mean to be subject to? Well, “be subject to” is an old military term in the Greek. It means to rank under; it means someone has authority over another. God’s solution to the “me-focus” is found in this rather militaristic phrase. Both husband and wife must be subject to each other, concentrating on the needs of the family rather than the urges of the individual. After all, that’s what you signed up for when you promised before God, “till death do us part.”

 

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Amazing Grace
By Philip Yancey
Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. —Ephesians 2:8
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2
Pressed into service in the Royal Navy, John Newton was dismissed for insubordination and turned to a career trafficking in slaves. Notorious for cursing and blasphemy, Newton served on a slave ship during the cruelest days of trans-Atlantic slavery, finally working his way up to captain.

A dramatic conversion on the high seas set him on the path to grace. He always felt a sense of undeservedness for his new life. He became a rousing evangelical preacher and eventually a leader in the abolitionist movement. Newton appeared before Parliament, giving irrefutable eyewitness testimony to the horror and immorality of the slave trade. We also know him as the author of the lyrics of perhaps the best-loved hymn of all time, “Amazing Grace.”

Newton described any good in himself as an outworking of God’s grace. In doing so, he stands with these great heroes—a murderer and adulterer (King David), a coward (the apostle Peter), and a persecutor of Christians (the apostle Paul).

This same grace is available to all who call upon God, for “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see. —Newton
Lives rooted in God’s unchanging grace can never be uprooted.

Insight
Here in Ephesians 2, Paul contrasts a person’s life before being saved by the grace of God to life after salvation by grace through faith. The first contrast is in verse 1: We were once “dead in trespasses” but have been made alive. Another contrast is in our behavior. We once “walked according to the course of this world” (v.2). Now, as believers, we walk according to good works prepared by God (v.10).

 

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"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.." - Galatians 5:22

Kindness Inspires
September 29, 2014

Do you realize how important it is to be kind? You might as well ask, “How important is water or oxygen?” In fact, more important than work, money, careers, success, or anything…is KINDNESS! God must agree with this because Proverbs 19:22 tells us, “What is desirable in a man is kindness.”

One of our local TV network affiliates has a long-running campaign called “Random Acts of Kindness.” Their news anchors go out into the community and pay for someone’s lunch or gas, or they do something like taking bottles of water to people who are working out in the heat. Their only request is that the recipient of their kindness pass it on to someone else.

Acts of kindness inspire us, whether it’s taking time to help an employee at the office, or defending a person being picked on by bullies. The recipients of these acts of kindness are always grateful.

The one person who comes to mind when I think of kindness is Jesus Christ. He shows us that God is kind. And because He is so kind to us, we are to be kind to one another. Especially in a busy world where so many seem to be looking out for number one, acts of kindness are always welcomed!

 

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The Power Of Ritual
By Julie Ackerman Link
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Do this in remembrance of Me. —1 Corinthians 11:24
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 11-13; Ephesians 4
When I was growing up, one of the rules in our house was that we weren’t allowed to go to bed angry (Eph. 4:26). All our fights and disagreements had to be resolved. The companion to that rule was this bedtime ritual: Mom and Dad would say to my brother and me, “Good night. I love you.” And we would respond, “Good night. I love you too.”

The value of this family ritual has recently been impressed on me. As my mother lay in a hospice bed dying of lung cancer, she became less and less responsive. But each night when I left her bedside I would say, “I love you, Mom.” And though she could say little else, she would respond, “I love you too.” Growing up I had no idea what a gift this ritual would be to me so many years later.

Time and repetition can rob our rituals of meaning. But some are important reminders of vital spiritual truths. First-century believers misused the practice of the Lord’s Supper, but the apostle Paul didn’t tell them to stop celebrating it. Instead he told them, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Rather than give up the ritual, perhaps we need to restore the meaning.

Lord, when we observe the Lord’s Supper, help
us avoid the trap of letting our observance
grow routine. May we always be moved with
gratitude for the wonderful gift of ritual.
Any ritual can lose meaning, but that does not make the ritual meaningless.

Insight
On the evening Jesus celebrated His last Passover with His disciples, He also established His own memorial supper. The unleavened Passover bread symbolized the exodus from Egypt, and the cup echoed the Old Testament promise, “I will redeem you.”

 

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"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

How Important Are Your Material Possessions?
October 1, 2014

With all the negative things facing today’s families, one of the worst is materialism, which, quite simply, it is a way of thinking that gives too much importance to material possessions rather than to spiritual or intellectual things. Kids keep the pressure on parents to have what their friends have. Husbands put pressure on their wives to go to work, though she may prefer to be at home. Wives often make it clear to husbands how dissatisfied they are with what they have, causing the husband to feel like an unappreciated failure. To top it all off, advertisers add fuel to the fire by convincing us that every product is the gateway to happiness.

Materialism, often rationalized as a concern for the family, has an unfortunate way of creating enormous dissatisfaction within the family. We’ve seen evidence of that through our economic downturn, when families, once able to buy whatever they wanted, are no longer able to buy their way into what they considered “happiness.”

Jesus has a better idea. It almost seems un-American in our culture of consumerism: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness [as described in the Bible] and all these things shall be added unto you.” Does that mean we don’t work hard? Absolutely not! We are called to work, but it does have to do with priorities that help the family stay together.

God unites the family. Materialism pulls it apart.

 

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"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." - John 14:21

Can We Earn God’s Love
October 4, 2014

Is Jesus saying we’ve got to earn the love of God by being good? Remember, when we study the Word of God we always want to look at Scripture in light of Scripture. There’s no doubt that we are saved by faith alone. But there’s also no doubt that the way that we prove we are really saved is how we obey God willingly. Think about it this way. It’s not like God doesn’t love bad little boys and girls, because God loves everyone. For instance, as a loving parent, you love your children no matter what they do. If they’re bad, you still love them. But when that child consistently obeys you, you appreciate that child even more! Why? Because that child is saying, “I trust you enough to do what you’re asking me to do!” Life is better for them, and for you, when they do.

It’s the same way with God. God loves all of us even when we’re bad. But God surely does love it more when we’re obedient to Him. Because God knows that when we trust Him, we really do love Him! He desires that, as any parent would.

 

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Fly The Flag
By Joe StowellRead: Ephesians 5:1-13
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. —Ephesians 5:1
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3
Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over the British Empire for more than 60 years. Her monarchy has been characterized by grace and class. She has diligently given her life to serve her people well, and as a result she is deeply loved and highly revered. So, you can understand the importance of the flag flying above Buckingham Palace. When the flag is flying, it means that she is in residence in the heart of London. The flag is a public statement that the queen is present with her people.

As I was thinking about that, it occurred to me that our King Jesus is in residence in our hearts as our “never leave you nor forsake you” Monarch (Heb. 13:5). As wonderful as that is to us personally, I wonder if those around us would recognize that He is in residence based on the way we live? If He is within us, that will show on the outside. As Paul says, we are to be “imitators of God” and to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us” (Eph. 5:1-2). As we do so, we will display joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

So let’s fly the flag of His presence—the flag of His grace, righteousness, and love—so that others may see Him through us.

Lord, remind me that Your presence in my heart
is intended to be a public reality. May I so value
all the blessings of Your presence that I am
willing to share them generously with others.
Fly the flag of Christ’s presence to show that the King is in residence in your life.
Insight
The church at Ephesus faced strong challenges to their faith, unity, and lifestyle. In his letter to them, Paul clearly stated what their response should be in verse 2 of today’s text. They were to imitate the heart of self-sacrificial love that Christ Jesus displayed on the cross.

 

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Learn To Wait On God
By C. P. HiaRead: Psalm 62:1-8
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. —Psalm 62:5
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4
Cha Sa-soon, a 69-year-old Korean woman, finally received her driving license after 3 years of trying to pass the written test. She wanted the license so she could take her grandchildren to the zoo.

She was persistent in what is normally an instant world. When we want something and cannot get it, we often complain and demand. At other times, we give up and move on if what we want cannot be quickly gratified. “Wait” is a word we hate to hear! Yet, many times the Bible tells us that God wants us to wait on Him for the right timing.

Waiting on God means patiently looking to Him for what we need. David recognized why he had to wait on the Lord. First, his salvation came from Him (Ps. 62:1). He learned that no one else could deliver him. His only hope was in God (v.5), for God alone hears our prayers (v.8).

Our prayers often revolve around asking God to hurry up and bless what we want to do. What if God’s answer to us is simply, “Be patient. Wait upon Me”? We can pray with David: “Listen to my voice in the morning,Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” (Ps. 5:3 nlt). We can trust His response, even if it doesn’t come in the time we expect.

When we call out to You, O Lord,
And wait for answers to our prayer,
Give us the patience that we need
And help us sense Your love and care. —Sper
The bottom line of every prayer should be, “Your will be done.”
Insight
This psalm is divided into two sections (vv.1-4 and vv.5-8) with almost identical wording in both (vv.2,6). Each section begins with the affirmation that David’s soul waits silently for God (vv.1,5), and in both David describes Him as a rock. Because of God, David will not be moved (vv.2,6-7). Though David speaks to himself in the opening verses of each section, he moves on to address others in later verses. In verses 3-4, he addresses those who stand against him with a warning that they will be defeated. And in verse 8, he encourages the people of God to trust Him for refuge and protection.

 

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"Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate." - Psalm 101:5

Your Character Traits: Godly or Evil?
October 8, 2014

I know that the answer most of you will have to the following question will be, “No!” But keep reading anyway. Here goes: Do you want to live like the devil? For some of us, that’s easy to do. In fact, most of us come by it naturally. However, there are two character traits that make us most like Satan:

1. Pride: C. S. Lewis said, “The utmost evil is pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness are mere flea bites in comparison. It was through pride that the Devil became the Devil. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.” Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we should – feeling we are better than others. It is arrogant conceit. Pride is most of all, feeling no need for God, considering yourself self-reliant. The person filled with this kind of pride is most like the devil himself.
2. Malicious Gossip/Slander: the Greek word for this is “diabolos,” also translated “the devil.” People who are judgmental, gossip and slander others are like the devil. Because, you see, in short, he’s just a big liar.

Pride and malicious gossiping, lying – character traits that make us most like the devil. Man made in the image of God looks pretty good, but when man resembles the devil he sure is ugly. Who do you look like?

 

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A Sanctuary
By Bill Crowder
Read: Matthew 11:25-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. —Matthew 11:28
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4
Entering a church in Klang, Malaysia, I was intrigued by the sign welcoming us into the building. It declared the place to be “A Sanctuary for the Heavy Laden.”

Few things better reflect the heart of Christ than for His church to be a place where burdens are lifted and the weary find rest. This was vital in Jesus’ ministry, for He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

Jesus promised to take our burdens and exchange them for His light load. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (vv.29-30).

This promise is backed by His great strength. Whatever burdens we may carry, in Christ we find the strong shoulders of the Son of God, who promises to take our heavy burdens and exchange them for His light load.

Christ, who loves us with an everlasting love, understands our struggles, and can be trusted to provide us with a rest we can never find on our own. His strength is enough for our weakness, making Him our “sanctuary for the heavy laden.”

“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears. —Martin
God calls the restless ones to find their rest in Him.
Insight
A yoke is a wooden harness that joins two animals (usually oxen or donkeys) so they can work together to pull heavy loads. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah used it as a metaphor for God’s laws (Jer. 5:5) and as a symbol of submission and enslavement (27:8).


The Jews had been wearied and enslaved by the heavy yoke of legalistic Judaism that the Pharisees had strenuously imposed on them (Matt. 23:4). "Come to Me" (v.28) is Jesus' invitation to put their trust in Him for salvation and deliverance. Jesus' yoke is "easy and light" (v.30) because it comes from His mercy and love, rooted in who He is—"gentle and lowly in heart" (v.29). Jesus extends that same invitation to us today. Because of our new birth, His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3-4).

 

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Timely Words
By Marvin WilliamsRead: Proverbs 25:11-15
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. —Proverbs 25:11
Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1
You may have heard the adage, “Timing is everything.” According to the Bible, good timing applies to our words and speech too. Think of a time when God used you to bring a timely word to refresh someone, or when you wanted to speak, but it was wiser for you to remain silent.

The Bible says that there is an appropriate time to speak (Eccl. 3:7). Solomon compared properly timed and well-spoken words with golden apples in a silver setting—beautiful, valuable, and carefully crafted (Prov. 25:11-12). Knowing the right time to speak is beneficial for both the speaker and hearer, whether they are words of love, encouragement, or rebuke. Keeping silent also has its place and time. When tempted to deride, belittle, or slander a neighbor, Solomon said that it is wise to hold our tongue, recognizing the appropriate time for silence (11:12-13). When talkativeness or anger tempts us to sin against God or another human being, resistance comes by being slow to speak (10:19; James 1:19).

It’s often hard to know what to say and when to say it. The Spirit will help us to be discerning. He will help us use the right words at the right time and in the right manner, for the good of others and for His honor.

Heavenly Father, thank You for using others to
speak words of encouragement and challenge to
me. Help me to be wise in how and when my words
or my silence may be helpful to someone else.
Timely words are works of art.
Insight
Hebrew poetry (such as psalms and proverbs) differs greatly from Western poetry. Where Western poetry often depends upon rhyme and meter to artistically tell its tale, Hebrew poetry is dependent upon linguistic devices to paint the picture of the ideas it is seeking to convey. One such device, synonymous parallelism, is found in verse 15. Here, the idea of the first half of the verse is reinforced through a reworded repetition of that idea in the second half of the verse. Another common poetic device is found in verses 11-14, where analogies (notice the word like) form the word-pictures that carry the meaning.