Daily Devotion

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The Gift of Encouragement
December 9, 2016

Read: Acts 4:32–37; 9:26–27 | Bible in a Year: Daniel 11–12; Jude
Joseph . . . whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36–37

An old Merle Haggard song, “If We Make It Through December,” tells the story of a man laid off from his factory job with no money to buy Christmas gifts for his little girl. Although December is supposed to be a happy time of year, his life seems dark and cold.

Discouragement is not unique to December, but it can be amplified then. Our expectations may be higher, our sadness deeper. A little encouragement can go a long way.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of encouragement. May we encourage others as they have encouraged us.
Joseph, a man from Cyprus, was among the early followers of Jesus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” We meet him in Acts 4:36–37 when he sold a piece of property and donated the money to help other believers in need.

Later, we read that the disciples were afraid of Saul (Acts 9:26). “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (v. 27). Saul, later called Paul, had formerly been trying to kill the believers, but Barnabas defended him as a man transformed by Christ.

All around us are people longing to be encouraged. A timely word, a phone call, or a prayer can bolster their faith in Jesus.

The generosity and support of Barnabas demonstrate what it means to be a son or daughter of encouragement. That may be the greatest gift we can give to others this Christmas.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of encouragement. May we encourage others as they have encouraged us.

Encouragement may be the greatest gift we give this Christmas.

INSIGHT:
When Saul of Tarsus met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, he was transformed into an apostle of Christ. Needless to say, the Christian community was fearful and skeptical about Paul’s apparent change of spiritual loyalties. It is in this context that Barnabas provided a wonderful service of bridge-building. Barnabas was central to Paul’s acceptance by supporting Paul’s conversion story and accepting him as a brother in Christ. Here we see Barnabas showing a spirit of generosity and encouragement. How can you plan to be a blessing to others through an intentional act of encouragement?

 

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The Money
December 12, 2016

Read: Matthew 6:24–34 | Bible in a Year: Hosea 9–11; Revelation 3

You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Early in my career while doing work that I saw as more of a mission than a job, another company offered me a position that would give a significant increase in pay. Our family could surely have benefited financially from such a move. There was one problem. I hadn’t been looking for another job because I loved my current role, which was growing into a calling.

But the money . . .

Lord, help us not to see the obstacles but to see what You are teaching us.
I called my father, then in his seventies, and explained the situation. Though his once-sharp mind had been slowed by strokes and the strain of years, his answer was crisp and clear: “Don’t even think about the money. What would you do?”

In an instant, my mind was made up. The money would have been my only reason for leaving the job I loved! Thanks, Dad.

Jesus devoted a substantial section of His Sermon on the Mount to money and our fondness for it. He taught us to pray not for an accumulation of riches but for “our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). He warned against storing up treasures on earth and pointed to the birds and flowers as evidence that God cares deeply about His creation (vv. 19–31). “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” Jesus said, “and all these things will be given to you as well” (v. 33).

Money matters. But money shouldn’t rule our decision-making process. Tough times and big decisions are opportunities to grow our faith in new ways. Our heavenly Father cares for us.


Never confuse temptation with opportunity.

INSIGHT:
One of the most remarkable aspects of today’s reading is the harmony our Lord maintains between a heavenly perspective and the practical issues of daily life. He uses examples in nature to show how our heavenly Father tenderly cares for animal and plant life. Since we are of far more value than they are, Christ counsels us to trust Him to care for us one day at a time (v. 34).

 

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Good News!
December 13, 2016

Read: Nahum 1:7–15 | Bible in a Year: Hosea 12–14; Revelation 4

Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Nahum 1:15

World news bombards us from the Internet, television, radio, and mobile devices. The majority seems to describe what’s wrong—crime, terrorism, war, and economic problems. Yet there are times when good news invades the darkest hours of sadness and despair—stories of unselfish acts, a medical breakthrough, or steps toward peace in war-scarred places.

The words of two men recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible brought great hope to people weary of conflict.

Lord, we praise you for the good news of Jesus’s birth and for His powerful presence in our lives today.
While describing God’s coming judgment on a ruthless and powerful nation, Nahum said, “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!” (Nah. 1:15). That news brought hope to all those oppressed by cruelty.

A similar phrase occurs in the book of Isaiah: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation” (Isa. 52:7).

Nahum and Isaiah’s prophetic words of hope found their ultimate fulfillment at the first Christmas when the angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).

The most important headline in our lives every day is the very best news ever spoken—Christ the Savior is born!


The birth of Jesus is the best news the world has ever received!

INSIGHT:
We can associate “good news” of peace from war (Nahum 1:15) with the “good news” of Jesus’s birth (Luke 2:10). We might imagine a huffing, puffing runner (in Nahum 1:15)—like the famed runner to Sparta for whom “marathon” is named—who has come a long distance. Is he now pausing “on the mountains” to shout to hearers in the valley, “The war is over!”? No wonder the herald’s “feet” are celebrated—he “proclaims peace!” (1:15). In Old Testament thought “peace” (shalom) is not just the absence of war; it is a full-orbed idea that represents wellness and wholeness. Have you received the Christ who Himself, through His death, is the believer’s peace? (Eph. 2:14–15).

 

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Living in the Light
December 14, 2016

Read: 1 John 2:3–11 | Bible in a Year: Joel 1–3; Revelation 5
The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8

It was a dark morning. Low, steel-colored clouds filled the sky, and the atmosphere was so dim that I needed to turn on the lights in order to read a book. I had just settled in when the room suddenly filled with light. I looked up and saw that the wind was pushing the clouds to the east, clearing the sky and revealing the sun.

As I went to the window to get a better look at the drama, a thought came to mind: “The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). The apostle John wrote these words to believers as a message of encouragement. He went on to say, “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble” (v. 10). By contrast, he equated hating people with roaming around in darkness. Hatred is disorienting; it takes away our sense of moral direction.

Dear God, I want to live in the light of Your grace and mercy.
Loving people is not always easy. Yet I was reminded as I looked out the window that frustration, forgiveness, and faithfulness are all part of maintaining a deep connection with the love and light of God. When we choose love instead of hate, we are showing our relationship with Him and reflecting His radiance to the world around us. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).



Dear God, help me to experience Your love more fully so that I can share it with others. I want to live in the light of Your grace and mercy.



Choosing to love people well shows the world what God is like.

INSIGHT:
Today’s passage has perplexed many believers. Is John teaching that if we have any hatred in our hearts, then we are not genuine believers? It is very important to understand a concept in Greek grammar in order to capture what the passage is saying. The verb tense used here means “continuous action in the present.” This means the verb could be paraphrased “continually hating.” Therefore, when John speaks of someone hating, he is talking about an unrepentant lifestyle of continuously living in hatred toward another. The authentic walk of faith is not a sinless walk, but one in which the believer feels uncomfortable with sin and reaches out to God for forgiveness and change.

 

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One Short Sleep
December 15, 2016

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | Bible in a Year: Amos 1–3; Revelation 6
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Henry Durbanville, a Scottish pastor from another era, told the story of an elderly woman in his parish who lived in a remote part of Scotland. She longed to see the city of Edinburgh, but she was afraid to take the journey because of the long, dark tunnel through which the train had to pass to get there.

One day, however, circumstances compelled her to go to Edinburgh, and as the train sped toward the city, her agitation increased. But before the train reached the tunnel, the woman, worn out with worry, fell fast asleep. When she awoke she had already arrived in the city!

I love the life you've give to me, Lord!
It’s possible that some of us will not experience death. If we’re alive when Jesus returns, we will “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:13–18). But many of us will pass into heaven through death and for some that thought causes great anxiety. We worry that the process of dying will be too difficult to bear.

With the assurance of Jesus as our Savior we can rest in the confidence that when we close our eyes on earth and pass through death, we will open our eyes in God’s presence. “One short sleep past we wake eternally,” John Donne said.





I love the life You’ve given to me, Lord, yet I wonder what it will be like to see You personally. Help me to trust You with the future. I look forward to that day when I meet You.

To see Jesus will be heaven’s greatest joy.

INSIGHT:
After Paul describes Christ’s return in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11, he proceeds to discuss daily living (5:12–24). It is easy to get lost in the intricacies and complexities of biblical prophecy. However, it is all a “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1). Amid all the trumpeting and reunions, it is “the Lord himself [who] will come down from heaven” (1 Thess. 4:16). Then Christians will be gloriously “like him for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). How does the vision of Christ’s return have an impact on you individually and practically?

 

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Enemy Love
December 19, 2016

Read: Jonah 3:10–4:11 | Bible in a Year: Jonah 1–4; Revelation 10
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If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Luke 6:32

When war broke out in 1950, fifteen-year-old Kim Chin-Kyung joined the South Korean army to defend his homeland. He soon found, however, that he wasn’t ready for the horrors of combat. As young friends died around him, he begged God for his life and promised that, if allowed to live, he would learn to love his enemies.

Sixty-five years later, Dr. Kim reflected on that answered prayer. Through decades of caring for orphans and assisting in the education of North Korean and Chinese young people, he has won many friends among those he once regarded as enemies. Today he shuns political labels. Instead he calls himself a loveist as an expression of his faith in Jesus.

God, please give us the grace to be more like Jesus.
The prophet Jonah left a different kind of legacy. Even a dramatic rescue from the belly of a big fish didn’t transform his heart. Although he eventually obeyed God, Jonah said he’d rather die than watch the Lord show mercy to his enemies (Jonah 4:1–2, 8).

We can only guess as to whether Jonah ever learned to care for the people of Nineveh. Instead we are left to wonder about ourselves. Will we settle for his attitude toward those we fear and hate? Or will we ask God for the ability to love our enemies as He has shown mercy to us?

Father in heaven, like Your reluctant prophet, we are inclined to love only those who love us. Yet You loved us even when we cared only for ourselves. Please give us the grace to be more like Jesus than Jonah.



Love conquers all.

 

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Spreading Joy
December 20, 2016

Read: John 16:16–24 | Bible in a Year: Micah 1–3; Revelation 11
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The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10

When Janet went to teach English in a school overseas, she found the atmosphere gloomy and depressing. People did their jobs, but no one seemed happy. They didn't help or encourage one another. But Janet, grateful for all that God had done for her, expressed it in everything she did. She smiled. She was friendly. She went out of her way to help people. She hummed songs and hymns.

Little by little, as Janet shared her joy, the atmosphere at the school changed. One by one people began to smile and help each other. When a visiting administrator asked the principal why his school was so different, the principal, who was not a believer, responded, “Jesus brings joy.” Janet was filled to overflowing with the joy of the Lord and it spilled over to those around her.

Take the joy of Christmas with you every day.
The gospel of Luke tells us that God sent an angel to ordinary shepherds to deliver an extraordinary birth announcement. The angel made the surprising proclamation that the newborn baby “will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10), which indeed He did.

Since then this message has spread through the centuries to us, and now we are Christ's messengers of joy to the world. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we continue the practice of spreading the joy of Jesus as we follow His example and serve others.

How might you spread the joy of Jesus to others today?

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Take the joy of Christmas with you every day.

INSIGHT:
Just as the angel appeared in the night sky to give shepherds reason for joy, Jesus also used a dark moment to offer His disciples reason for hope on the other side of His suffering and their confusion. What they didn’t yet know would only be revealed in time. Christ’s death was a loving Father’s way of reconciling a rebel world to Himself. The despair of that night was necessary so that, three days later, a reason for hope now, and fullness of joy later, could be offered to all (v. 33).

 

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A Personal Story
December 21, 2016

Read: Exodus 1:22–2:10 | Bible in a Year: Micah 4–5; Revelation 12
Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Psalm 27:10 nlt

A baby just hours old was left in a manger in a Christmas nativity outside a New York church. A young, desperate mother had wrapped him warmly and placed him where he would be discovered. If we are tempted to judge her, we can instead be thankful this baby will now have a chance in life.

This gets personal for me. As an adopted child myself, I have no idea about the circumstances surrounding my birth. But I have never felt abandoned. Of this much I am certain: I have two moms who wanted me to have a chance in life. One gave life to me; the other invested her life in me.

Share the love of Christ.
In Exodus we read about a loving mother in a desperate situation. Pharaoh had ordered the murder of all baby boys born to the Jewish people (1:22). So Moses’s mother hid him as long as she could. When Moses was three months old, she put him in a watertight basket and placed the basket in the Nile River. If the plan was to have the baby rescued by a princess, grow up in Pharaoh’s palace, and eventually deliver his people out of slavery, it worked perfectly.

When a desperate mother gives her child a chance, God can take it from there. He has a habit of doing that—in the most creative ways imaginable.



Father, today we pray for those facing desperate and lonely times. We pray especially for poor and defenseless children everywhere. Help us meet their needs as we are able.



Share the love of Christ.

INSIGHT:
As a result of Jochebed’s faith in God, Moses was saved. Amazingly, Jochebed was even paid by Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse her own son! (Ex. 2:7–9). As the grandson of the Pharaoh, Moses was given the best education possible as well as military and administrative training that would enable him to lead many Jews out of Egypt (Acts 7:22). Pharaoh sponsored all of this. The baby in peril is now a baby of privilege. Only God could accomplish something like this!

 

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Locked Into Love
December 28, 2016

Read: Romans 8:31–39 | Bible in a Year: Zechariah 5–8; Revelation 19



Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

In June 2015, the city of Paris removed forty-five tons of padlocks from the railings of the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. As a romantic gesture, couples would etch their initials onto a lock, attach it to the railing, click it shut, and throw the key into the River Seine.

After this ritual was repeated thousands of times, the bridge could no longer bear the weight of so much “love.” Eventually the city, fearing for the integrity of the bridge, removed the “love locks.”

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1
The locks were meant to symbolize everlasting love, but human love does not always last. The closest of friends may offend each other and never resolve their differences. Family members may argue and refuse to forgive. A husband and wife may drift so far apart that they can’t remember why they once decided to marry. Human love can be fickle.

But there is one constant and enduring love—the love of God. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever,” proclaims Psalm 106:1. The promises of the unfailing and everlasting nature of God’s love are found throughout Scripture. And the greatest proof of this love is the death of His Son so that those who put their faith in Him can live eternally. And nothing will ever separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38–39).

Fellow believers, we are locked into God’s love forever.

I’m grateful for Your unending love, Father. I’m locked into Your love by the Holy Spirit who is living in me.

Christ’s death and resurrection are the measure of God’s love for me.

INSIGHT:
Christ’s work on the cross to secure our salvation has been completed. With a triumphant proclamation, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus returned to the Father. Now seated at God’s right hand, the exalted Christ continues His redemptive and sanctifying work as our eternal High Priest (Heb. 4:14–16). He is our “Advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1–2; 1 Tim. 2:5), always defending and interceding for us (Heb. 7:24–25; 9:24). Paul confidently writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). No one can successfully bring a charge of condemnation against those who are in Christ (vv. 33–34).

 

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Not What It Seems
January 3, 2017

Read: 2 Kings 6:8–17 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 7–9; Matthew 3
Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with [the enemy]. 2 Kings 6:16

Don is a border collie who lives on a farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. One morning, he and his owner, Tom, set out to check on some animals. They rode together in a small farm utility truck. When they arrived, Tom left the vehicle but forgot to put the brake on. With Don in the driver’s seat, the vehicle rolled down a hill and across two lanes of traffic before it stopped safely. To watching motorists, it appeared the dog was out for a morning drive. Indeed, things are not always as they seem.

It seemed as if Elisha and his servant were about to be captured and carried off to the King of Aram. The king’s forces had surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were staying. The servant believed they were doomed, but Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with [the enemy]” (2 Kings 6:16). When Elisha prayed, the servant was able to see the multitudes of supernatural forces that were in place to protect them.

Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be.
Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be. When we feel overwhelmed and outnumbered, we can remember that God is by our side. He can “command his angels . . . to guard [us] in all [our] ways” (Ps. 91:11).

Dear God, please give me a glimpse of Your power today. Help me to believe that You are willing and able to help me in any situation I encounter.

Things are always better than they seem to be when we remember that God is by our side.

INSIGHT:
In Elisha and Elijah’s day, the nation of Israel had drifted from God and embraced pagan gods. The miracles God performed through these men called the people back to Himself. How does believing in the God of the miraculous help when you’re feeling helpless or overwhelmed?

 

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Daily Devotional

"When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, 'Do you wish to get well?' The sick man answered Him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, 'Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.' Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk." John 5:6-9

ARE YOU STAYING STUCK?
January 2, 2017

The legend said that the first person to enter the pool after the water ripples would be healed. So, this pool attracted the most desperate, with many fighting for a spot by the water’s edge – watching, waiting, hoping. In a place overflowing with need, one man caught Jesus’ eye. Paralyzed for 38 years, this man waited daily by the pool hoping for a miracle.

“Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked the man. The question seemed bizarre and the answer obvious. But Jesus knew human nature. For 38 years, people had been bringing him to the pool. He had become dependent on others. Being healed meant taking responsibility for himself. The man became defensive. “It’s not my fault, no one is here to help me into the water,” he explained. He was understandably frustrated, probably feeling stuck. But, in playing the victim and blaming others for his circumstances, he almost missed Jesus’ life changing offer – healing.

Can’t we all relate? When things are hard and we feel stuck – isn’t it easy to become depressed, giving up and giving in to the hand life has dealt? Maybe we’ve been disappointed time and time again and accepting current circumstances seems less painful than hopes crushed. Maybe the situation really is unfair or out of your control – an illness, sudden layoff, broken trust – you are the victim. Sometimes it just seems safer to stay where you are, to stay stuck.

So, what does Jesus ask of us when our lives feel stuck? “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”

1. “Get up” – Believe in the person of Christ Jesus, in His promises, in His truth.
2. “Pick up your pallet” – Take responsibility for yourself.
3. “Walk” – Have the faith to walk away from your old self as you journey through life with Jesus.

No matter life’s circumstances, Jesus offers a way out: a hope and eternal salvation that overcomes every sickness, obstacle and disappointment life has to offer. Don’t just wait by the pool hoping for a miracle. Seek out the miracle worker Himself.

 

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A Multiplied Love
January 4, 2017

Read: 1 John 4:20–5:5 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 10–12; Matthew 4
Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:21

When a woman in Karen’s church was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), things looked bad. This cruel disease affects nerves and muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. The family’s insurance wouldn’t cover home care, and the stricken woman’s husband couldn’t bear the thought of putting her in a nursing home.

As a nurse, Karen had the expertise to help and began going to the woman’s home to care for her. But she soon realized she couldn’t take care of her own family while meeting the needs of her friend, so she started teaching others in the church to help. As the disease ran its course over the next seven years, Karen trained thirty-one additional volunteers who surrounded that family with love, prayer, and practical assistance.

Ask God to show you how He wants you to use your gifts for His kingdom.
“Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister,” said John the disciple (1 John 4:21). Karen gives us a shining example of that kind of love. She had the skills, compassion, and vision to rally a church family around a hurting friend. Her love for one person in need became a multiplied love lived out by many.

How might God use your talents and abilities to serve others in need? Ask God to show you how He wants you to use your gifts for His kingdom.

To learn more, read God Is Love at discoveryseries.org/q0612.

Love your neighbor as yourself. —Jesus

INSIGHT:
In the gospel of John, Jesus told His disciples that love would be the identifying mark of His followers: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (13:35). He also told them: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (15:10). The connection between these two verses is as simple as it is wonderful: Loving Jesus means keeping His commands, and His command is to love. In fact, John says we cannot do one if we do not do the other. They cannot be separated—we cannot love God in one way and fellow believers in another way. Rather, “Whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).

 

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"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”’ John 6: 66-69

MORE THAN A MEAL TICKET
January 4, 2017

I remember as a teen calling myself a Christian. I believed Jesus was God’s Son, but my life was all about using God. I wanted Him to meet my needs. Whether it be winning the big game, passing a big test, or wanting things to go well on a big date. It was all about me. “God, can you just give me what I want?”

Like so many who fill churches today, I just didn’t get it. Jesus didn’t come to meet all my personal needs, my physical needs, my materials needs. Jesus didn’t come to be my meal ticket in this life. Yes, Jesus is a compassionate God. He cares about the hurting, the hungry and the rejected. He cares about our needs. But the main mission of Jesus Christ is to be the Savior. Our Savior. He came to save us from sin and to make us right with God. And just like today – so many people don’t get it. They aren’t interested in that, because people feeling basically “good” just don’t see the need.

After performing miracles of healing and provision for a crowd of thousands, Jesus began to teach who He was and why He came. Soon, the people left disappointed. They wanted Jesus to be their king, fixing all their problems with health, finances, and justice. They wanted Jesus to be their meal ticket, meeting all their material needs. They didn’t understand that Jesus’ purpose was so much bigger. They didn’t get it, so they left.

Looking at the twelve disciples, Jesus asked a question. Do you want to leave too? That’s when Simon Peter answered. Lord, to whom shall we go? Simon Peter got it. Jesus is more than just a quick fix-it for our problems. Jesus is more than a meal ticket – He is the Holy One of God, the Messiah.

What about you? Are you looking for God to be a ‘quick fix’ for life’s problems? Is your faith only about using God to get what you want? Don’t miss out on the real reason Jesus came – to save us from our sins so that we can live out God’s will – not our own.

 

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“A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three of four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”’ John 6: 18-20

WHEN LIFE HITS HARD
January 5, 2017

It’s the middle of the night, but you’re wide awake. The thunder is too loud. You walk over to the window. Lightning flashes and through the rain you see a shadowy figure. Another flash and sure enough, there’s a man outside – this time just feet from the window. This sounds like a scene from a Hollywood horror film, but the disciples experienced this first-hand.

On a small boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, they’re battling an incredible storm. No lights, no land nearby, when suddenly a man appears a few yards from the boat. They were terrified! They thought He was a ghost. Then they recognize Jesus and as He boards the boat, He speaks to the storm, and it stops. They were stunned. This was no ordinary man.

We all face storms in life – from actual thunderstorms and natural disasters, to countless personal trials and crises. It could be an extended illness in your life. Maybe the loss of a job and possibly the house. It could be a family falling apart. So many storms. How do we face them?

1. We’re Not Alone. Even when we find ourselves battling the storms of life, don’t forget that Jesus is right there with us. You may not always feel the presence of God, but trust that He is going to walk with us through every storm.
2. Jesus is All Powerful. We are too quick to forget God when crises strike. We forget the miracles God has done in our past. But Jesus always knows exactly what we’re experiencing. He’s bigger than any of life’s biggest storms.
3. All Storms End. Even when visibility is lost and we can’t see what’s next, we can trust that Jesus knows where we’re headed. You see, Jesus promises not only to walk with us through life’s storms, but to get us where we need to go.

Life is hard. Difficulties are unavoidable. But as we walk with God, He promises to get us through even the darkest storms. What storms are you facing right now? Are you trying, like the disciples, to battle in your own strength? Maybe you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Say to the Lord, “I’m done. Take control.” Allow Jesus to climb into the boat of your life and watch His amazing power begin to calm both the storm and your soul.

 

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Old Yet New
January 9, 2017

Read: Revelation 21:1–5 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 23–24; Matthew 7
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” Revelation 21:5

In 2014, a sinkhole opened up under the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, swallowing eight vintage, irreplaceable Chevrolet Corvette sports cars. The automobiles were severely damaged—some beyond repair.

One car in particular received a lot of attention. The one-millionth Corvette, which rolled off the assembly line in 1992, was the most valuable in the collection. What happened to that gem after it was pulled from the sinkhole is fascinating. Experts restored the car to mint condition, mainly by using and repairing its original parts. Although this little beauty was in horrible shape, it now looks as good as it did the day it was built.

The old and damaged was made new.

This is a great reminder of what God has in store for believers in Jesus. In Revelation 21:1, John spoke of seeing “a new heaven and a new earth.” Many biblical scholars see this “new” earth as a renovated earth, for their study of the word new here reveals that it means “fresh” or “restored” after the decay of the old has been wiped away. God will renovate what is corrupt on this earth and provide a fresh, yet familiar place where believers will live with Him.

What an amazing truth to contemplate: a new, refreshed, familiar, and beautiful earth. Imagine the majesty of God’s handiwork!

Lord, we thank You for this beautiful world we live in—but at the same time we anticipate greatly the new world You have in store for us. We praise You for Your love for us, revealed in Your amazing plans for our future.

Our Creator God makes everything new.

INSIGHT:
Those who have undergone a rebirth individually through believing in Christ (John 3:3–5; Titus 3:5) will participate in the future universal makeover of this planet (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21). Revelation 21:1–5 refers to three new items—“a new heaven and a new earth,” plus “the new Jerusalem” (v. 2). Christians can be part of that new world as “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). A significant part of Revelation 21:1–5 involves an interlacing of previously announced truths and texts from the Old Testament. Isaiah 48:6 forecasted “new things,” which Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22 expand to “new heavens and a new earth.” What are you especially looking forward to being made new?

 

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Random Acts of Kindness
January 10, 2017

Read: Ruth 2:8–13 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 25–26; Matthew 8:1–17

“Why have I found such favor [grace] in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” Ruth 2:10

Some say that the American writer Anne Herbert scribbled the phrase “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a placemat at a restaurant in 1982. The sentiment has since been popularized through film and literature and has become a part of our vocabulary.

The question is “Why?” Why should we show kindness? For those who follow Jesus, the answer is clear: To show the tender mercy and kindness of God.

Lord, what do You want me to do for another today? Lead me.
There’s an Old Testament example of that principle in the story of Ruth, the emigrant from Moab. She was a foreigner, living in a strange land whose language and culture she did not understand. Furthermore, she was desperately poor, utterly dependent on the charity of a people who took little notice of her.

There was one Israelite, however, who showed Ruth grace and spoke to her heart (Ruth 2:13). He allowed her to glean in his fields, but more than simple charity, he showed her by his compassion the tender mercy of God, the One under whose wings she could take refuge. She became Boaz’s bride, part of the family of God, and one in a line of ancestors that led to Jesus, who brought salvation to the world (see Matt. 1:1–16).

We never know what one act of kindness, done in Jesus’s name, will do.

Lord, what do You want me to do for another today? Lead me. And may that person see a glimmer of You.

Share your ideas of how you can show kindness in the name of Jesus today at Facebook.com/ourdailybread.

It’s never too soon to be kind.

INSIGHT:
The command to be kind to others is embedded in the Law that God gave to the Jews fresh out of Egypt. God told them, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:18). Today, Christ-followers are to “be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:32). And the reasons we are to show kindness have not changed: It is because of who God is and what He has done for us. We are to “follow God’s example, . . . and walk in the way of love” (5:1–2).

 

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Work Together
January 11, 2017

Read: Romans 8:28–30 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 27–28; Matthew 8:18–34
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My wife makes an amazing pot roast dinner. She takes raw meat, along with raw sliced white and sweet potatoes, celery, mushrooms, carrots, and onions and throws them into the slow cooker. Six or seven hours later the aroma fills the house, and the first taste is a delight. It is always to my advantage to wait until the ingredients in the slow cooker work together to achieve something they could not achieve individually.

When Paul used the phrase “work together” in the context of suffering, he used the word from which we get our word synergy. He wrote, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). He wanted the Romans to know that God, who didn’t cause their suffering, would cause all their circumstances to cooperate with His divine plan—for their ultimate good. The good to which Paul referred was not the temporal blessings of health, wealth, admiration, or success, but being “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” (v. 29).

May we wait patiently and confidently before our heavenly Father. He wants to make us like Jesus.
May we wait patiently and confidently because our heavenly Father is taking all the suffering, all the distress, all the evil, and causing them to work together for His glory and our spiritual good. He wants to make us like Jesus.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 1:6, and 1 Peter 5:10. What encouragement did you find for tough times?

The growth we gain from waiting on God is often greater than the answer or result we desire.

INSIGHT:
“All things” (Rom. 8:28) is a phrase that treats the seemingly good and bad events of life as a whole. The idea is that there is a dynamic interaction between the good and bad to bring a desired outcome, though this positive outcome may not yet be visible. If we consider a young man nailed to a cross dying in agony, we might wonder if anything good could be found there. But if we understand that this is Jesus Christ atoning for the sins of those who love Him, we can see how even this terrible event worked together for good. God works for “the good” of those who are true believers in Jesus Christ. They demonstrate the authenticity of their faith because they respond back with love to the One who first loved them (1 John 4:19).

 

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‘After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”’ Genesis 15: 1-3

DEALING WITH DOUBT 101
January 10, 2017

Is life not working out quite as you hoped? Is your faith barely hanging on? If you’re struggling with doubt, it’s time for an honest conversation – with God. Why? Faith isn’t the absence of doubts; it’s learning to express doubts to God.

Look at the life of Abraham. From leaving his homeland and boldly stepping out in faith, to doubting God so much that he veered off track and took matters into his own hands; Abraham is all over the place during his faith journey. So, what can we learn from Abraham in dealing with doubt in our own lives?

• Abraham expressed his doubts. God wasn’t disappointed or angry. In fact, God responded. And that’s what we are called to do in Jesus Christ. It’s not a problem to have doubts. It’s not a problem to question. It’s a problem when we don’t voice our doubts to God. Abraham believed in God because he was honest with God.
• Belief. Abraham chose to believe. Abraham was made right with God because of his faith—not because of his actions. In the New Testament, we see a parallel to Christ – it is through faith in Christ alone that we are saved. Abraham chose to believe even when it didn’t make sense.
• Surrender. When Abraham expressed doubts, God reassured him by establishing with him a covenant, an irrevocable contract (Gen. 15: 18-21). All the responsibility for the fulfillment of this covenant was with God. All Abraham had to do was trust that God would come through. In the same way, salvation from sin and death and hell— is all up to Jesus. It is not up to us. We’re just called to believe it—to believe in Christ as Abraham believed in the Lord.

So what will you do when life’s circumstances raise doubts? Don’t ignore them, confront them. Bring them before God. He’s not afraid of your doubts. You shouldn’t be either.

 

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‘And He (God) took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then Abram believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.’ Genesis 15: 5-6

WHEN FAITH FALTERS
January 11, 2017

You’re a Syrian Christian living in a tent on the Lebanese border. A year has passed since you fled with nothing but the clothes on your back. You know that God’s Word speaks of all circumstances being used by God for His good. But life right now feels pretty hopeless. Do you still believe?

Your life may not mirror that of a Syrian refugee, but we’re all too familiar with doubt. Maybe it’s a sudden job loss, a health crisis or a relationship falling apart that shakes our sense of security. It shakes our faith. No matter your story – you’re not alone. Abraham, the father of our faith, struggled with doubt.

God had promised to build a great nation from Abraham’s lineage. But, at 85 years old Abraham still had no children. It’s hard to father a great nation if your family line ends with you. Abraham wants to hold onto God’s promises, but his faith is wavering. So, God takes Abraham star gazing. Walking out into the Middle Eastern night, no cities, no electricity – Abraham sees millions and millions of stars. God says, “Your descendants are going to be more than these.”

In the midst of great doubt, God gently reminds Abraham of His promise. Today, we know how God fulfilled His promise as Abraham’s lineage grew, eventually to include the nation of Israel and finally Christ himself. Yet, because of God’s reassurance, Abraham chose to believe even in the midst of great doubt..

God’s Word says that it’s through faith in Christ alone that we are made righteous. It’s choosing to hold onto the promises of God in the calm and in the chaos.

Are you struggling with doubt? Has a crisis caused your faith to waver? Look at the stars. Remember Abraham’s faith in the midst of great doubt and cling to the promises God’s spoken in your life. When faith falters, go star gazing.

 

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‘Then the Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.”’ Genesis 13:14-16

EYES ON THE PRIZE
January 12, 2017

Imagine – Abraham is standing outside, a good distance from his tents. Eyes downcast, he starts kicking the dust with his foot. Feeling the heavy weight of responsibility for his family, Abraham is discouraged. He’s possibly thinking – “Is this really the right way? Was I really hearing from God all this time? He’s been silent an awfully long time.”

Suddenly, God speaks – “Lift up your eyes…” God reaffirms His promises over the life of Abraham. Promises so great, it’s humanly impossible. Promises only God can accomplish. Have you ever identified with Abraham? Struggling to believe? And yet, somehow he continued to walk in faith.

Abraham believed. He believed before there was a written Word of God, before there were churches, before there were pastors and small groups to pray with and discuss such a life changing step of faith. Deep down, Abraham simply believed.

I think in his gut Abraham knew that what he was being asked required God to do something incredible. Something so much bigger than himself. And I think that adventure, that excitement, that desire to know the things of God made the things of this world pale in comparison.

Look at your life. What would your life look like if you had faith like Abraham? If you really believed the promises in God’s Word for you? If you believed that you were a small part in a much bigger story? Remember, we have a huge advantage here over Abraham. We have the written word of God, the Bible, filled with God’s promises to us.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Trusting Jesus means choosing to be part of something bigger, something eternal. Just like Abraham, trusting Jesus means choosing to play a small part in a much bigger story. Will you play that small part? Because it’ll be really big for you.