Daily Devotion

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Praying For You Today
September 28, 2016

Read: Romans 8:22–34 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 5–6; Ephesians 1

The Spirit himself intercedes for us . . . . [Christ Jesus] is also interceding for us. Romans 8:26, 34

When we face a perplexing situation or a tough problem, we often ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. It’s a great encouragement to know that others who care are holding us up to God in prayer. But what if you don’t have close Christian friends? Perhaps you live where the gospel of Christ is opposed. Who will pray for you?

Romans 8, one of the great, triumphant chapters of the Bible, declares, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. . . . The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Rom. 8:26–27). The Holy Spirit is praying for you today.

The Holy Spirit and Jesus are always praying for you.
In addition, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (v. 34). The living Lord Jesus Christ is praying for you today.

Think of it! The Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ mention your name and your needs to God the Father, who hears and acts on your behalf.

No matter where you are or how confusing your situation, you do not face life alone. The Spirit and the Son are praying for you today!

Dear God, I bow in humble thanks for the prayers spoken by the Holy Spirit and by Your Son today—for me. What an amazing truth!

The Holy Spirit and Jesus are always praying for you.

 

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28



ADULTERY IS WRONG IN ANY CULTURE
September 28, 2016

Adultery is considered wrong in any culture. Whether it’s another religion, whether it’s a Christian culture in its orientation, or whether it’s a pagan culture, adultery is considered wrong. It may even be a culture that allows for polygamy, a man having more than one wife, and yet, even then, it is very clear that anyone who engages in sexual relations with someone else’s spouse is clearly wrong. Yet, shockingly, Jesus tells us that it’s not just the physical act of adultery, but even having LUST in your heart for a person outside the marriage, that is wrong, too. He calls it adultery, for God judges our faithfulness by our thoughts and our motives, as well as our actions.

Understand what lust is and what it’s not. It is not appreciating the beauty or attractiveness of another person. Nothing in all God’s creation is more beautiful than a beautiful woman. But, men (and women), only God and you know when you’ve moved from appreciation of beauty to engaging in lustful thoughts. Don’t kid yourself. Sexual fantasies are not “just appreciating beauty.” Remember, there is no hiding from God. He knows all.

So, men, we are born with a natural desire for lustful thoughts. It is man’s daily battle. Just realize that it truly is a daily battle of the mind, heart and hormones. It only helps us to stay away from what always defeats us – porn and erotic pictures of attractive women. Lust will always result when we feast our eyes there.

Men, when you feel the urge to indulge yourself in lusting for another woman, ask God to help you. Focus on following Jesus faithfully. Quickly confess and say, “Oh no, Lord, I’m doing it again. Help me.” I’ve prayed that prayer thousands of times.

The more we practice resisting and focusing on something else, the less we tend to give in to the temptation of lust. It helps us feel victorious. Our lives and wives will be happier, and most of all, just maybe, God will be able to say, “You are trying to be My kind of man!”

Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Cedarcrest Church

 

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Bad Faith, Good Faith
September 30, 2016

Read: Romans 4:18–25 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 9–10; Ephesians 3
http://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base/assets/download.php?file=http://dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2016/09/odb-09-30-16.mp3
[Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. Romans 4:20

“You gotta have faith,” people say. But what does that mean? Is anyfaith good faith?

“Believe in yourself and all that you are,” wrote one positive thinker a century ago. “Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” As nice as that may sound, it falls to pieces when it crashes into reality. We need a faith in something bigger than ourselves.

Abraham’s faith was in something far bigger than himself—the one and only God.
God promised Abram he would have a multitude of descendants (Gen. 15:4–5), so he faced a huge obstacle—he was old and childless. When he and Sarah got tired of waiting for God to make good on His promise, they tried to overcome that obstacle on their own. As a result, they fractured their family and created a lot of unnecessary dissension (see Gen. 16 and 21:8–21).

Nothing Abraham did in his own strength worked. But ultimately he became known as a man of tremendous faith. Paul wrote of him, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be’” (Rom. 4:18). This faith, said Paul, “was credited to him as righteousness” (v. 22).

Abraham’s faith was in something far bigger than himself—the one and only God. It’s the object of our faith that makes all the difference.

Lord, I want a strong faith in You, not just faith in myself or my abilities or in others. I am nothing without You.

Our faith is good if it’s in the right Person.

INSIGHT:
The central theme of Romans is that humanity cannot save itself and that God justifies the sinner by grace through faith in Jesus alone (Rom. 1:16–17). Paul reveals that all people—Jews and Gentiles—are sinners. All have sinned. All stand condemned before our holy God (3:23). Sinners are saved, not by obeying the law, but by God’s actions of justifying the sinner through faith in Jesus (3:22–26). We are justified (declared righteous and made right with God) by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide) and in Christ alone (solus Christus).

 

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No Outsiders
October 3, 2016

Read: Deuteronomy 10:12–22 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 17–19; Ephesians 5:17–33
What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him.Deuteronomy 10:12

In the remote region of Ghana where I lived as a boy, “Chop time, no friend” was a common proverb. Locals considered it impolite to visit at “chop time” (mealtime) because food was often scarce. The maxim applied to neighbors and outsiders alike.

But in the Philippines, where I also lived for a time, even if you visit unannounced at mealtime, your hosts will insist on sharing with you regardless of whether they have enough for themselves. Cultures differ for their own good reasons.

Heavenly Father, help us bless others today.
As the Israelites left Egypt, God provided specific instructions to govern their culture. But rules—even God’s rules—can never change hearts. So Moses said, “Change your hearts and stop being stubborn” (Deut. 10:16 nlt). Interestingly, right after issuing that challenge Moses took up the topic of Israel’s treatment of outsiders. God “loves the foreigner residing among you,” he said, “giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt” (vv. 18–19).

Israel served the “God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome” (v. 17). One powerful way they were to show their identification with God was by loving foreigners—those from outside their culture.

What might this small picture of God’s character mean for us today? How can we show His love to the marginalized and the needy in our world?

Heavenly Father, help us bless others today by showing Your love in some small way.

In Christ, there are no outsiders.

INSIGHT:
God commanded His people to allow the poor to feed on their lands (Lev. 19:9–10; 23:22; Deut. 24:19–21). “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner” (Lev. 19:9–10; 23:22).

 

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Setting Prisoners Free
October 4, 2016

Read: Psalm 146 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 20–22; Ephesians 6

The Lord sets prisoners free. Psalm 146:7

When my wife and I visited the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force near Savannah, Georgia, we were especially moved by the prisoner-of-war exhibit, with its re-creation of a German prisoner-of-war camp’s barracks. Marlene’s dad, Jim, served in the Eighth Air Force, the “Mighty Eighth,” as they flew missions over Europe during World War II. During the war, the Eighth Air Force suffered over 47,000 injuries and more than 26,000 deaths. Jim was one of those shot down and held as a prisoner of war. As we walked through the exhibit, we recalled Jim telling about the absolute joy he and his fellow prisoners felt the day they were set free.

God’s care for the oppressed and liberation of the imprisoned are declared in Psalm 146. The psalmist describes the one who “upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry,” who “sets prisoners free” (v. 7). All of this is cause for celebration and praise. But the greatest freedom of all is freedom from our guilt and shame. No wonder Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The Lord sets prisoners free. Psalm 146:7
Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are set free from the prison of sin to know His joy and love and the freedom that only forgiveness can bring.

To read more about what Christ did to set us free, read The Mockery and Majesty of the Cross at discoveryseries.org/hp081.

The prison of sin cannot withstand the power of Christ’s forgiveness.

INSIGHT:
Psalm 146 underscores the truth that the poor and marginalized have a special place in the heart of God. Our help does not come from earthly rulers but from the Maker of heaven and earth. When God became a Man in the person of Jesus Christ, He made the marginalized and the broken a central focus of His earthly ministry.

 

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FREE FROM FEAR

October 4, 2016

“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

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 a 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!

 

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"...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." - Matthew 28:18

HAVE YOU DECIDED WHO JESUS IS?
October 5, 2016

No person has had more impact on history than Jesus Christ. It is undeniable that He lived and walked in the land of Judea and Israel over 2000 years ago. But who is He?

• He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is God in a person. You want to know what God is like? Look to Jesus. The fullness of God dwells in Him.
• He is also the Creator of all creation. He holds all creation together. It is His masterpiece. Creation reveals the greatness of God.
• He is the Savior who saves us from our sins. He came to reconcile us with God.
• He is the head of the church. He is to the church what the head is to the body.

Once you know who He is, you have a choice–a decision to make. It’s the biggest one ever–to trust Him as your Savior and Lord or to reject Him. Who is Jesus? The Bible is clear, but the important thing for you is, do you believe it?

 

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Grasping the Cross
October 7, 2016

Read: Philippians 3:7–12 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 28–29; Philippians 3


Not that I have . . . already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12

In 1856, Charles Spurgeon, the great London preacher, founded the Pastors’ College to train men for the Christian ministry. It was renamed Spurgeon’s College in 1923. Today’s college crest shows a hand grasping a cross and the Latin words, Et Teneo, Et Teneor, which means, “I hold and am held.” In his autobiography, Spurgeon wrote, “This is our College motto. We . . . hold forth the Cross of Christ with a bold hand . . . because that Cross holds us fast by its attractive power. Our desire is that every man may both hold the Truth, and be held by it; especially the truth of Christ crucified.”

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed this truth as the bedrock of his life. “Not that I have . . . already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). As followers of Jesus, we extend the message of the cross to others as Jesus holds us fast in His grace and power. “I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12
Our Lord holds us in His grip of love each day—and we hold out His message of love to others.

Lord Jesus, Your cross is the focal point of history and the turning point of our lives. Hold us tightly as we cling to Your cross and extend your love to others.

We hold to the cross of Christ and are held by it.

INSIGHT:
Driven, disciplined, and focused might be accurate adjectives to describe Paul’s zeal in persecuting the church before he came to Christ. But when Paul met Jesus on the Damascus Road, his life took a decided turn (Acts 9). Paul was now called to be an apostle, and many marveled that he preached the gospel he once sought to destroy. The man who had been driven by self-righteousness now preached grace-righteousness.

 

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Changing Hearts
October 11, 2016

Read: Luke 6:27–36 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 37–38; Colossians 3
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

On the last day of the US Civil War, officer Joshua Chamberlain was in command of the Union army. His soldiers lined up on both sides of the road that the Confederate army had to march down in surrender. One wrong word or one belligerent act and the longed-for peace could be turned to slaughter. In an act as brilliant as it was moving, Chamberlain ordered his troops to salute their foe! No taunting here, no vicious words—only guns in salute and swords raised to honor.

When Jesus offered His words about forgiveness in Luke 6, He was helping us understand the difference between people of grace and people without grace. Those who know His forgiveness are to be strikingly unlike everyone else. We must do what others think impossible: Forgive and love our enemies. Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (v. 36).

Grant us the courage to end our conflicts by Your grace.
Imagine the impact in our workplaces and on our families if we were to embrace this principle. If a salute can make armies whole again, what power there must be in Christ’s grace reflected through us! Scripture gives evidence of this in Esau’s embrace of his deceitful brother (Gen. 33:4), in Zacchaeus’s joyful penance (Luke 19:1–10), and in the picture of a father racing to greet his prodigal son (Luke 15).

With the grace of Christ, may we let this be the final day of bitterness and dispute between our enemies and us.

Lord, we know how the gentle power of forgiveness can bring healing in relationships. Grant us the courage to end our conflicts by Your grace.

Anger almost always vanishes in the face of grace.

INSIGHT:
We often think of forgiving someone as no longer holding resentment for a past wrong. This is a central definition of forgiveness in the New Testament. However, Luke 6:34–35 records a different meaning, that of forgiving business loans. The understanding we gain from the Old Testament about forgiveness becomes central to the context for Jesus’s audience. Yahweh, Jehovah God, had mandated the Year of Jubilee, a seventh-year fiscal readjustment. During this time, indebted workers found financial relief. “In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property” (Lev. 25:13). Scholars believe the Year of Jubilee had an impact on lending to needy farmers. When this time of forgiveness of loans became imminent, those with the means to lend money were reluctant to do so because they feared not receiving repayment.

 

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All Welcome!
October 13, 2016

Read: Luke 5:27–32 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 41–42; 1 Thessalonians 1
http://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base/assets/download.php?file=http://dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2016/10/odb-10-13-16.mp3
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32

The much-prayed-for film night at the church youth club had finally arrived. Posters had been displayed all around the village and pizzas were warming in the oven. Steve, the youth pastor, hoped that the film—about gang members in New York who were brought face-to-face with the claims of Jesus by a young pastor—would bring new recruits to the club.

But he hadn’t realized that a key football match was being shown on television that evening, so attendance was much smaller than he had hoped for. Sighing inwardly, he was about to dim the lights and begin the film when five leather-clad members of the local motorbike club came in. Steve went pale.

Lord, please help me to see people through Your eyes of love.
The leader of the group, who was known as TDog, nodded in Steve’s direction. “It’s free and for everyone, right?” he said. Steve opened his mouth to say, “Youth club members only” when TDog bent down and picked up a bracelet with the letters WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) stamped on it. “This yours, mate?” he asked. Steve nodded, hot with embarrassment, and waited while the new guests found a seat.

Have you ever been in Steve’s situation? You long to share the good news about Jesus, but you have a mental list of the “right” people who would be acceptable? Jesus was often criticized by the religious authorities for the company He kept. But He welcomed those everyone else avoided, because He knew they needed Him most (Luke 5:31–32).

Lord, please help me to see people through Your eyes of love and to welcome all those You bring into my life.

A heart that is open to Christ will be open to those He loves.

INSIGHT:
In ancient Israel, tax collectors were considered traitors to their country because they were employees of the occupying Roman force. To make matters worse, some tax collectors demanded more tax than required from their fellow citizens. Thus Jesus’s choice of a “traitor” as one of His closest followers would have seemed strange, to put it mildly. Yet when the religious leaders confronted Jesus, His defense was not only logical but revealed the depth of His love and mission. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Luke 5:31). Jesus wasn’t applauding the religious leaders while condemning the depravity of Levi. Instead He was placing everyone on the same level. All need the love and healing He offers.

 

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Dying for Others
October 14, 2016

Read: 1 John 3:16–17 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 43–44; 1 Thessalonians 2


I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

I love birds, which is why I bought six caged birds and carried them home to our daughter Alice, who began to care for them daily. Then one of the birds fell ill and died. We wondered if the birds would be more likely to thrive if they were not caged. So we freed the surviving five and observed them fly away in jubilation.

Alice then pointed out, “Do you realize, Daddy, that it was the death of one bird that caused us to free the rest?”

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11
Isn’t that what the Lord Jesus did for us? Just as one man’s sin (Adam’s) brought condemnation to the world, so one Man’s righteousness (Jesus’s) brought salvation to those who believe (Rom. 5:12–19). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

John makes it more practical when he says, “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). This won’t likely mean literal death, but as we align our lives with Jesus’s example of sacrificial love, we find that we are “laying down our lives.” For instance, we might choose to deprive ourselves of material goods in order to share them with others (v. 17) or make time to be with someone who needs comfort and companionship.

Who do you need to sacrifice for today?

In what ways have others sacrificed for your well-being?

Share with us at odb.org.



Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for us motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.

INSIGHT:
John reminds believers to model the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. True Christian love is sacrificial action (1 John 3:16) and selfless generosity (v. 17). John exhorts us to be loving and genuine, both in our speech and, more so, in our actions (v. 18). This kind of sacrificial love is the clearest of evidence that one has a new life (v. 14). The person who lacks love shows that he does not really know God nor is he in close fellowship with God, “for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8). Reminiscent of John 3:16, 1 John 4:9–10 once again reiterates how much God loves us (vv. 9–10).

 

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From the Heart
October 18, 2016

Read: Joel 2:12–17 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 53–55; 2 Thessalonians 1


Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate.Joel 2:13

In many cultures, loud weeping, wailing, and the tearing of clothing are accepted ways of lamenting personal sorrow or a great national calamity. For the people of Old Testament Israel, similar outward actions expressed deep mourning and repentance for turning away from the Lord.

An outward demonstration of repentance can be a powerful process when it comes from our heart. But without a sincere inward response to God, we may simply be going through the motions, even in our communities of faith.

God wants to hear your heart.
After a plague of locusts devastated the land of Judah, God, through the prophet Joel, called the people to sincere repentance to avoid His further judgment. “ ‘Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning’ ” (Joel 2:12).

Then Joel called for a response from deep inside: “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity” (v. 13). True repentance comes from the heart.

The Lord longs for us to confess our sins to Him and receive His forgiveness so we can love and serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Whatever you need to tell the Lord today, just say it—from the heart.

Lord, please give me a heart of repentance to see myself as You do. Give me the grace to respond to Your merciful call for change.

God wants to hear your heart.

INSIGHT:
In today’s reading we find remarkable insights on the theme of repentance. Key phrases punctuate this exhortation. “Even now” (Joel 2:12): Despite a pattern of disobedience that has merited the righteous judgment of God, He extends grace to a repentant heart. “Return to me with all your heart” (v. 12): The repentance God is calling for is not lukewarm but rather a full commitment of the heart. “Declare a holy fast” (vv. 15–17): The act of fasting does not carry a meritorious element but is a means of self-denial and sets the foundation for turning from selfishness to God. In the spiritual life of Israel both a national and individual repentance were keenly related.

 

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“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29

WHILE WE WAIT
October 18, 2016

Tom Petty famously sang, “The waiting is the hardest part!” I couldn’t agree more! We all experience the daily frustrations of waiting. Maybe it’s unexpected traffic on the way to an important meeting or an extra-long wait for a table at lunch. But, what about the longer seasons of waiting – waiting to be noticed for a promotion at work, to finally meet the right person, to start a family, to make it through a health crisis. How do we navigate the prolonged seasons of waiting? What do we do while we wait?

When it comes to waiting, God wants a perspective shift. You see, waiting positions us to experience more of God’s love and grace in our lives – while we wait. In fact, waiting can be an opportunity to see God work in ways we could not see otherwise.

• Waiting Reveals Who’s in Control.

Hindsight is always 20/20. But, God exists outside the boundaries of time. He is all seeing and all-knowing, unlimited by time and space. What a relief to recognize that He is not limited to our seeing and understanding. While we wait, we are invited to trust in the one who sees what we cannot.

• Waiting Restores Strength.

When all other options fail, waiting positions us to see that it was never about our strength in the first place. Only when I find myself at the end of myself can I begin to trust in the power of God. Waiting invites us to see that God is far greater than any strength we could ever muster on our own. Waiting helps us to see that God is still at work revealing His love and grace, especially when we need it the most.

• Waiting is a Gift of God’s Grace.

God knows that we would never choose to wait, so He provides opportunities to wait in order to see that His way is actually the best way. He uses the wait to grow our faith as we acknowledge our need for Him and learn to trust Him. While not easy, God uses waiting to demonstrate His love and grace. The secret to surviving the wait is understanding that God never wastes our waiting. He uses it to do a work in our lives so that he can do a work throughour lives.

So, what are you waiting for? Whatever it is, don’t waste it. Ask God to show you what to do in your life and the lives of others – while you wait.



Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Cedarcrest Church

 

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"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two." - Matthew 5:41

GO BEYOND WHAT IS EXPECTED
October 19, 2016

My wife and I were staying in a nice hotel for a special occasion. One day we went to the pool, and before we could get seated, attendants brought us towels and ice water. When I went jogging, as I re-entered the lobby, a bellman gave me a bottle of water. They kept surprising us with unexpected extra mile service.

I really believe that any corporation, organization, or ministry, where extra mile service is a part of the culture, will have a greater impact for good. Extra mile service goes beyond what is expected.

Do you know who originated the idea? Jesus Christ. He said, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” Rome ruled their culture, and it was legal for any Roman soldier to ask a civilian to help them carry their armor for one mile at any time. The people greatly resented it. So what Jesus taught, shocked them. But following Jesus calls for extra mile service. Even if you are not a follower of Jesus, that little extra is always appreciated.

 

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Unfailing Love
October 21, 2016

Read: Lamentations 3:21–26 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 62–64; 1 Timothy 1
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3 nlt

On a recent airline flight the landing was a little rough, jostling us left and right down the runway. Some of the passengers were visibly nervous, but the tension broke when two little girls sitting behind me cheered, “Yeah! Let’s do that again!”

Children are open to new adventures and see life with humble, wide-eyed wonder. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus had in mind when He said that we have to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” (Mark 10:15).

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3
Life has its challenges and heartaches. Few knew this better than Jeremiah, who is also called “the weeping prophet.” But in the middle of Jeremiah’s troubles, God encouraged him with an amazing truth: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam. 3:22–23 nlt).

God’s fresh mercies can break into our lives at any moment. They are always there, and we see them when we live with childlike expectation—watching and waiting for what only He can do. Jeremiah knew that God’s goodness is not defined only by our immediate circumstances and that His faithfulness is greater than life’s rough places. Look for God’s fresh mercies today.

Lord, please help me to have the faith of a child so that I can live with expectation, always looking forward to what You will do next.

God is greater than anything that happens to us.



INSIGHT:
Chapter 3 of this inspired book initiates a call for repentance in the people of God. Jeremiah has been rightly called “the weeping prophet.” Part of this had to do with a more sensitive temperament than, for example, the prophet Elijah, who felt quite comfortable delivering a fiery challenge. The record we have in the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations indicates that, at times, Jeremiah felt a deep call to the prophetic ministry but also felt emotional wounds from rejection. Jeremiah reflected on the gracious character of the living God he served in the context of the psychological suffering he incurred by faithfully delivering God’s message. Central to the comfort Jeremiah felt is God’s faithfulness.

 

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Choosing to Change
October 24, 2016

Read: Ezekiel 18:25–32 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 3–5; 1 Timothy 4
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:31

When my son acquired a small robot, he had fun programming it to perform simple tasks. He could make it move forward, stop, and then retrace its steps. He could even get it to beep and replay recorded noises. The robot did exactly what my son told it to do. It never laughed spontaneously or veered off in an unplanned direction. It had no choice.

When God created humans, He didn’t make robots. God made us in His image, and this means we can think, reason, and make decisions. We’re able to choose between right and wrong. Even if we have made a habit of disobeying God, we can decide to redirect our lives.

For a new start, ask God for a new heart.
When the ancient Israelites found themselves in trouble with God, He spoke to them through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel said, “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. . . . Get a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek. 18:30–31).

This kind of change can begin with just one choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). It might mean saying no at a critical moment. No more gossip. No more greed. No more jealousy. No more ___________. (You fill in the blank.) If you know Jesus, you’re not a slave to sin. You can choose to change, and with God’s help, this personal revolution can start today.

Dear God, all things are possible with You. Through the power of Jesus’s resurrection help me to take the first step toward a life of greater devotion to You.

For a new start, ask God for a new heart.

INSIGHT:
God promises to perform a spiritual heart transplant, giving everyone who repents “an undivided heart and a new spirit” and replacing a “heart of stone” with “a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 11:19). Ezekiel talked about this work of God in saving those who would repent (Ezek. 36:25–27). God will give us His Holy Spirit to enable us to obey Him (v. 27). Jeremiah calls this “a new covenant” (Jer. 31:31–34). Hours before He died on the cross, Jesus spoke of “the new covenant in [His] blood” (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25). Because of Jesus’s death, He is now the mediator of the new covenant (Heb. 8:6–13; 9:17; 12:24). Under the terms of the new covenant, God has made it possible for everyone who repents to “get a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek. 18:31).

 

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Watchful and Alert
November 2, 2016

Read: Genesis 3:1–7 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 27–29; Titus 3
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13

My desk sits close to a window that opens into our neighborhood. From that vantage point I’m privileged to watch birds perch on the trees nearby. Some come to the window to eat insects trapped in the screen.

The birds check their immediate surroundings for any danger, listening attentively as they look about them. Only when they are satisfied that there is no danger do they settle down to feed. Even then, they pause every few seconds to scan the area.

The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.
The vigilance these birds demonstrate reminds me that the Bible teaches us to practice vigilance as Christians. Our world is full of temptations, and we need to remain constantly alert and not forget about the dangers. Like Adam and Eve, we easily get entangled in attractions that make the things of this world seem “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen. 3:6).

“Be on your guard,” Paul admonished, “stand firm in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13). And Peter cautioned, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

As we work for our own daily bread, are we alert to what could start consuming us? Are we watching for any hint of self-confidence or willfulness that could leave us wishing we had trusted our God?

Lord, keep us from the secret sins and selfish reactions we’re so naturally inclined toward. By Your grace, turn our temptations into moments of growth in Christlikeness.

The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.



INSIGHT:
In Genesis 3, the serpent twists what God has said to Adam and Eve about the fruit in the garden. Rather than directly challenge what God has said, the serpent exaggerates the claim by asking if God commanded no eating from any tree (v. 1). This distortion on the part of the serpent elicits a similar response from Eve. Instead of responding with God’s own words (see the example of Jesus’s confrontation with Satan in the wilderness in Matthew 4), Eve adds to His words. After rightly correcting that it is only from the tree in the middle of the garden that they may not eat, she adds the prohibition that they may not “touch” the tree (Gen. 3:3).

 

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"Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.”’ John 18:36-37

LOOKING FOR A LEADER
November 2, 2016

We’re all looking for a leader. Whether it’s the leader of a nation, a business or a leader/mentor in your community– we all want someone to look out for us, to point us in the right direction. It’s how we’re wired. And the more out of control things feel, the more we long for a leader who promises hope and security.

This is certainly prevalent in today’s political climate. Facing another presidential election, we’ve begun to link all our hopes to a particular candidate or political party. And so we argue, we debate, and we desperately cling to the belief that one person can fulfill all our expectations – that one person can be the leader we so desperately desire. The good news for us is this: there is a leader who can meet the longings of our heart.

When Jesus came, He spoke about a new kingdom – a heavenly kingdom. Well, this wasn’t exactly what everyone expected. Jesus was supposed to be a king, to overthrow the oppressive rule of Rome and restore Israel to political greatness. But, Jesus certainty didn’t look the part. He had no army, no palace – even the religious Jews called for His death. But Jesus didn’t come to meet all of theirexpectations. Jesus came to proclaim truth.

What truth, exactly? Jesus came to set captives free, to seek and to save the lost and to offer His life as a ransom for many. Jesus came to go to the cross – the very cross that you and I deserve because of our faults and our sins. Jesus came to fight for us, to rescue us, and to give us hope and a future.

So what does this have to do with an uncertain political climate? As a follower of Jesus, you are part of the Kingdom of God, a kingdom that has no end. You can stand confidently on the finished work of Christ knowing that He has fought for you and won! And this changes everything – because your hope is secure. Your future is bright. No matter who wins this election, Jesus is the only one who can offer true hope and security. And that victory is guaranteed, no matter the political outcome. Jesus is the greatest leader the world has ever seen, and He is inviting you to trust in Him as your Savior and King.



Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Cedarcrest Church.

 

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Strong Conqueror
November 4, 2016

Read: John 18:10–14, 36–37 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 32–33; Hebrews 1

My kingdom is from another place. John 18:36

Most of us hope for good government. We vote, we serve, and we speak out for causes we believe are fair and just. But political solutions remain powerless to change the condition of our hearts.

Many of Jesus’s followers anticipated a Messiah who would bring a vigorous political response to Rome and its heavy-handed oppression. Peter was no exception. When Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ, Peter drew his sword and took a swing at the head of the high priest’s servant, lopping off his ear in the process.

Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength.
Jesus halted Peter’s one-man war, saying, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11). Hours later, Jesus would tell Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders” (v. 36).

The Lord’s restraint in that moment, as His life hung in the balance, astonishes us when we ponder the scope of His mission. On a future day, He will lead the armies of heaven into battle. John wrote, “With justice he judges and wages war” (Rev. 19:11).

But as He endured the ordeal of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus kept His Father’s will in view. By embracing death on the cross, He set in motion a chain of events that truly transforms hearts. And in the process, our Strong Conqueror defeated death itself.

Father, how prone I am to reacting quickly rather than wisely. Show me Your will for my life so that I will purposefully choose the path You have for me.

Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength.

INSIGHT:
At Gethsemane Jesus restrained and conquered (or overcame) His own natural inclinations that wished He would not have to undergo the excruciating agony of crucifixion (Luke 22:42). Restraint is not always a high priority in our lives, but we all need help to overcome our natural inclinations. One aspect of the Spirit’s control over us, according to Galatians 5:23, is self-control. Peter tended to be an “open-mouth-insert-foot” kind of guy (Matt. 16:22; 17:4–5). And on impulse he cut off an opponent’s ear (John 18:10). Even as a stallion must be harnessed to do its master’s bidding, so Peter had a lesson to teach us about the value of restraint.

 

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A Difficult Hill
November 7, 2016

Read: Psalm 110 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 40–42; Hebrews 4



He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high. Psalm 110:7

High in a fold of Jughandle Peak in the mountains north of our home in Idaho lies a glacial lake. The route to the lake goes up a steep, exposed ridge through boulders and loose stones. It’s a strenuous ascent.

At the beginning of the climb, however, there is a brook—a spring that seeps out of soft, mossy earth and flows through a lush meadow. It’s a quiet place to drink deeply and prepare for the hard climb ahead.

Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear, and doubt.
In John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the Christian life, The Pilgrim’s Progress,Christian arrives at the foot of a steep ascent called the Hill Difficulty, “at the bottom of which was a spring . . . Christian now went to the spring and drank to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill.”

Perhaps the difficult mountain you face is a rebellious child or a serious medical diagnosis. The challenge seems more than you can endure.

Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear, and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.

Father, at this moment I turn to You for strength in my weakness, energy for my weariness, and faith in my doubt.



To help strengthen your trust in God, read Hope: Choosing Faith Instead of Fear at discoveryseries.org/q0733

He who overrules all things . . . enabled Christian to . . . continue on his way. John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

INSIGHT:
Psalm 110 is one of many Messianic psalms. These prophetic Hebrew hymns are called Messianic because they predict the coming of God’s anointed king or Christ (Messiah means Christ) which is Jesus. This particular psalm reaches both back and forward in the biblical text to teach us something about who Jesus is and the role He plays in bridging the gap between God and humanity.