Daily Devotion

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‘Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? …The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”’ Genesis 18: 24, 26

A BOLD ASK
January 15, 2017

If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?

So often our prayers are ‘Me-Focused’– help ME at work or help ME through a sickness. It’s MY needs, MY hurts, MY wants. Don’t get me wrong – this is an important part of prayer. Prayer is giving these things to God and asking for Him to work in our lives. But, if that’s all there is – we’re missing out on a huge part of praying to God.

Praying on behalf of someone else, someone we may not know or may never meet is called intercessory prayer. Some churches have intercessory prayer ministries, praying on behalf of people both inside and outside their church community – it may be for an individual, an upcoming event, or a specific people group. This kind of prayer is incredibly important for any church or ministry to stay connected to God and to express the love of God for others. The problem is too often our prayer ministries are more concerned with keeping sick believers out of heaven than keeping unbelievers out of hell.

Abraham wasn’t afraid to bring bold asks before God. Six times Abraham asked God for mercy on behalf of a huge city earmarked for destruction. And God agreed – if only ten righteous people could be found. Ultimately the city wasn’t saved, but don’t miss this key point: God responded to Abraham’s bold prayer on behalf of people Abraham likely didn’t know and had never met.

Turn on the news. Pick up a paper. What bold asks could you pray for in your community, city, or nation? You may not know all the names or stories, but you can boldly ask the One who does. Because, the most selfless prayer is asking God for His mercy and blessing in the lives of others. The question is – will you?

 

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‘By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”’ Hebrews 11: 17-18

WHAT ARE YOUR ISAACS?
January 16, 2017

Imagine. You’ve dreamt of having a child. All you’ve ever wanted is to be a parent, but years pass and nothing. No doctor or any treatment were able to help. You almost give up – until one day you discover you will have a son. Can you imagine the emotions? A few years pass and your son is growing into a curious little boy with personality to spare. You love admiring all he does as he learns and grows. After all, he’s a miracle. Then one day, God asks you to give up this miracle. Could you do it?

Abraham was asked this very question. After years of waiting, hoping, losing faith and trying things their own way, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah of a son. Isaac was their miracle. An answered prayer. The promised heir to a great nation. And it was Isaac that God wanted Abraham to give up? It didn’t make sense. And yet, Abraham chose to fully trust God. You see, God never wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. He simply wanted to see Abraham’s heart. Did he really trust God? Was God really more important to Abraham than his son?

We all have dreams we would do almost anything to achieve. Sometimes it’s a dream we’ve been chasing since picking up a guitar as a kid. For others, it’s fresh and new, an idea that sparked a new business venture. You put in extra hours, sweat, and tears – you give up sleep, finances, and free time. We’re all dreaming of something. The problem, however, is when these dreams begin to replace God in our lives. That dream takes first place. That dream becomes our focus, our god – our ‘Isaac.’

The ultimate act of faith is giving God what we value most. Look at your life. Are you willing to put the Lord before your child? Before your spouse? Before your parents, friends, job or ministry? These are our dreams; the things we love most. These are our Isaacs.

So, what is it that you are holding onto so tightly that you’re not willing to give up for God? Start there and ask for help turning over to God the Isaacs in your life. With God, He’s either first place in our lives – or no place at all.

 

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“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Mark 1:35

FIRST THINGS FIRST
January 17, 2017

Successful people prioritize. They know what needs to be done immediately and what can wait until later. Think about a top CEO or professional athlete. So many dedicated hours, intense focus and countless sacrifices made along the way – knowing how to prioritize is key.

Then there’s Jesus, God in the flesh. Even Jesus set an example of prioritizing. In the Gospel of Mark, we get a glimpse of Jesus’ day to day pressures early in His ministry. Here, Jesus is first recorded as performing miracles, teaching and healing. It doesn’t take long before word spreads and crowds begin to gather – no social media, no TV, no radio. This sounds like any speaker’s dream. In fact, the apparent early “success” could have easily become distracting.

But, what does Jesus do? After a full day of ministry, Jesus gets up early to pray. I love this about Jesus! While it was still dark and sacrificing some well-earned sleep, Jesus chose to start His day with His Father. Jesus knew He needed time to be restored, refreshed and renewed. He needed encouragement and strength for the day ahead.

Now, if Jesus needed time with God- I sure do! And you do too. Jesus shows us that the most important appointment every day is that first appointment – with God. We need to begin our days being renewed and strengthened by our heavenly Father. Starting our days with God means leaning on HIS strength rather than OUR strength throughout the day. It means staying focused on who we are and why we’re here. It means following the example of Jesus and starting every day with God – first things first. (Maybe like you’ve done today).

 

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“After (Jesus) had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.” Matthew 14:23

5 TIPS TO SPENDING TIME WITH GOD
January 18, 2017

Jesus regularly demonstrated the importance of spending time alone with God. Whether it was getting up early to start His day with prayer, or going to His Father in the midst of incredible stress and uncertainty –Jesus believed in the importance of putting His Father first. And if Jesus did it, so should we. But, where do we start?

1. PRIORITIZE: If tomorrow you had an important meeting with your boss, wouldn’t you make every effort to show-up? So why do we regularly ignore or postpone our appointments with God? Is it because we are too busy, easily distracted or maybe just lazy? I love what the late Justice Scalia said to his clerk when he invited him to church. “I’m just too busy,” his clerk said. Scalia replied, “Well, I’ll tell the creator of the universe that you were too busy to see Him.” Ask God to give you a desire to show up and meet with Him.

1. TIME & PLACE: For Jesus, the time was in the morning before the day even got underway. For many with young kids, the mornings can be chaotic. Maybe the ideal time is during nap time or in the evenings. Choose a place that is quiet and free from distraction: maybe an office, study, or bedroom.

1. PLAN: Choose a devotional guide to get started. Think of it like a spiritual warm-up – to help you focus. Check out a book by a Christian authors like Oswald Chambers, Sarah Young, Tim Keller or Max Lucado. Hey, even these morning devotions from RFTH can be your ‘warmup.’

1. PRAY: Prayer is simply pouring our hearts out to God. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13) is a great model to get started: it involves praise, praying for others, confession, telling Him our needs, and asking for forgiveness and strength in the face of temptation.

1. LISTEN: Are you listening? Or simply doing all the talking? If we want to hear from God, we have to listen. God speaks to us through His Word.

Now what? Take the ’30 Day Challenge.’ Beginning today, commit to a daily time with God for the next month. Don’t let distractions or responsibilities get in the way; make God your first priority and see what He has to say. It can literally change your life!

 

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"And when they found Him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else- to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1: 37-38

EYES ON THE PRIZE
January 19, 2017

How do you define success? According to the dictionary, success is ‘meeting, or achieving a desired outcome.’ Therefore, success is measured by our achievements, accomplishment, or talents. This often translates to money, fame or power. But, how does GOD define success?

God defines success as fulfilling His will and purposes in our lives. Based upon this definition Jesus was the most successful person to ever live, being the only one to have perfectly fulfilled God’s will. So, how exactly did Jesus live?

1. Jesus put His Father first.
2. Jesus never lost sight of His mission.

Jesus’ entire purpose was to bring humanity, us, back to God. He wanted as many people as possible to experience God’s grace and forgiveness. But, the disciples didn’t always get it.

In Mark we read that as Jesus went to spend time with God, putting God first, the disciples begin to worry. When Jesus returned, Peter had a few concerns: “Everyone is looking for You,” he says. Now what Peter is really saying is – “Jesus, where have you been? There are 200 people outside looking to be healed! We have the largest church in the region and the momentum is really taking off! Let’s stay focused and get to work.” (My paraphrase).

But Jesus, having spent time with God, remains focused on His mission – He tells Peter that it’s time to move on. Yes, miracles are important, ministry is important, helping is important – but nobody’s heart is changed by miracles alone. Jesus remained focused on His calling by staying connected to God, even in the face of His disciples’ good intentions. This is how He was successful.

Our lives are full of distractions: family, friends, work, obligations, hobbies. Not all distractions are bad, but if we aren’t careful we can lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives. So how do you define success? Is the success you’re seeking only temporary, or is it an eternal success that lasts? May each of us BE SUCCESSFUL – God’s way!

 

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Lack Nothing
January 23, 2017

Read: Mark 6:7–12 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 7–8; Matthew 15:1–20



God is able to bless you abundantly, so that . . . you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Imagine going on a trip without luggage. No basic necessities. No change of clothing. No money or credit cards. Sounds both unwise and terrifying, doesn’t it?

But that’s exactly what Jesus told His twelve disciples to do when He sent them out on their first mission to preach and heal. “Take nothing for the journey except a staff,” said Jesus. “No bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt” (Mark 6:8–9).

You are good, Lord, and all You do is good.
Yet later on when Jesus was preparing them for their work after He was gone, He told His disciples, “If you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36).

So, what’s the point here? It’s about trusting God to supply.

When Jesus referred back to that first trip, He asked the disciples, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” And they answered, “Nothing” (v. 35). The disciples had everything they needed to carry out what God had called them to do. He was able to supply them with the power to do His work (Mark 6:7).

Do we trust God to supply our needs? Are we also taking personal responsibility and planning? Let’s have faith that He will give us what we need to carry out His work.

You are good, Lord, and all You do is good. Help us in our endeavors to pray and to plan and to trust You.

God’s will done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission

INSIGHT:
We have a wonderful example of a believer in the early church who hosted and supported the workers the apostle John sent out to spread the gospel. Although these visiting itinerant teachers were strangers to him, Gaius provided a place for them to stay, gave them food to eat, and supported their ministry. Commending Gaius for his hospitality and generosity, John wrote, “You are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you” (3 John 1:5–6 nlt). We can trust God to supply what we need to serve where He has called us. And we can be partners with others as they teach the truth by praying and providing for them financially and practically.

 

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Not In Vain
January 24, 2017

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50–58 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 9–11; Matthew 15:21–39

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

A financial advisor I know describes the reality of investing money by saying, “Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.” With almost every decision we make in life there is uncertainty about the outcome. Yet there is one course we can follow where no matter what happens, we know that in the end it will not be a wasted effort.

The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow-up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:52–55).

Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, but it is never pointless or wasted.
Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, discouraging, and even dangerous, but it is never pointless or wasted. As we walk with the Lord and witness to His presence and power, our lives are not in vain! We can be sure of that.

Lord, in these days of uncertainty, we hold fast to Your promise that our labor for You will accomplish Your purpose and be of great value in Your eyes.

Our life and witness for Jesus Christ are not in vain.

INSIGHT:
In the fourth century, John Chrysostom, a church leader who served in Constantinople, reflected the same expectation of the return of Christ we hold today. Imagine living in the ancient city of Constantinople. To the west, barbarian tribes threaten to attack Rome, which for centuries has been the center of the vast Roman Empire. Your city is not currently under attack, but you face the challenges people of the ancient world experienced without the assistance of modern medicine and mechanical devices to make life easier. Yet above it all, Chrysostom preaches to the people about the return of Christ. To ears who listened then, the hope of Christ’s return stirred the soul as it still does today. How does the promise of Christ’s return give you hope and encouragement in your service for Christ?

 

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Thunder and Lightning
January 25, 2017

Read: Psalm 29 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 12–13; Matthew 16

The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. Psalm 29:7

Many years ago a friend and I were fishing a series of beaver ponds when it started to rain. We took cover under a nearby grove of quaking aspen, but the rain continued to fall. So we decided to call it a day and run for the truck. I had just opened the door when lightning struck the aspen grove with a thunderous fireball that stripped leaves and bark off the trees, leaving a few limbs smoldering. And then there was silence.

We were shaken and awed.

Grant me Your peace and the strength to walk through this day.
Lightning flashes and thunder rolls across our Idaho valley. I love it—despite my close call. I love the raw power. Voltage! Percussion! Shock and awe! The earth and everything in it trembles and shakes. And then there is peace.

I love lightning and thunder primarily because they are symbols of God's voice (Job 37:4), speaking with stupendous, irresistible power through His Word. “The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning . . . The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” (Ps. 29:7, 11). He gives strength to endure, to be patient, to be kind, to sit quietly, to get up and go, to do nothing at all.

May the God of peace be with you.

Calm my spirit in the storms, Lord. Grant me Your peace and the strength to walk through this day.

Faith connects our weakness to God's strength.

INSIGHT:
Psalm 29:3 says, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders.” The Lord is called “the God of glory”; therefore, in keeping with God’s character, we should “ascribe to the Lord glory” (v. 1). The appropriate reaction to whatever is genuinely awesome is to be awe-filled. What do you remember as being breathtaking or awesome? What response did it evoke?

 

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All Too Human
January 26, 2017

Read: Romans 7:14–25 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 14–15; Matthew 17
The trouble is with me, for I am all too human. Romans 7:14 NLT

British writer Evelyn Waugh wielded his words in a way that accentuated his character flaws. Eventually the novelist converted to Christianity, yet he still struggled. One day a woman asked him, “Mr. Waugh, how can you behave as you do and still call yourself a Christian?” He replied, “Madam, I may be as bad as you say. But believe me, were it not for my religion, I would scarcely be a human being.”

Waugh was waging the internal battle the apostle Paul describes: “I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (Rom. 7:18 nlt). He also says, “The trouble is not with the law . . . [It] is with me, for I am all too human” (v. 14 nlt). He further explains, “In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me . . . . Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (vv. 22–24). And then the exultant answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25).

Teach us to rely on Your Holy Spirit. Make us more like Your Son each day.
When we come in faith to Christ, admitting our wrongdoing and need of a Savior, we immediately become a new creation. But our spiritual formation remains a lifelong journey. As John the disciple observed: “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But . . . when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).



Father, we bring our struggles to You because You know all about them, yet You love us anyway. Teach us to rely on Your Holy Spirit. Make us more like Your Son each day.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. C. S. Lewis

INSIGHT:
Although we are saved by grace, we often struggle to live up to our position as children of God. However, we can turn to Christ and find His sufficient help and grace to move beyond our worst selves and to stand in Him (vv. 24–25). How does it give you confidence to know that God is still at work in your life?

 

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Unseen Heroes
January 27, 2017

Read: Exodus 17:8–15 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 16–18; Matthew 18:1–20
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Aaron and Hur held [Moses’s] hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. Exodus 17:12

Stories in the Bible can make us stop and wonder. For instance, when Moses led God’s people into the Promised Land and the Amalekites attacked, how did he know to go to the top of the hill and hold up God’s staff? (Ex. 17:8–15). We aren’t told, but we learn that when Moses raised his hands, the Israelites would win the battle, and when he lowered them, the Amalekites would win. When Moses got tired, his brother Aaron and another man, Hur, held up Moses’s arms so the Israelites could triumph.

We aren’t told much about Hur, but he played a crucial role at this point in Israel’s history. This reminds us that unseen heroes matter, that supporters and those who encourage leaders play a key and often overlooked role. Leaders may be the ones mentioned in the history books or lauded on social media, but the quiet, faithful witness of those who serve in other ways is not overlooked by the Lord. He sees the person who intercedes daily in prayer for friends and family. He sees the woman who puts away the chairs each Sunday in church. He sees the neighbor who reaches out with a word of encouragement.

Dear Father, thank You for creating me and gifting me in my own unique way.
God is using us, even if our task feels insignificant. And may we notice and thank any unseen heroes who help us.

Dear Father, thank You for creating me and gifting me in my own unique way. Help me to serve You and others faithfully and to appreciate those You have sent to help me.

Unseen heroes are always seen by God.

INSIGHT:
In Exodus 17, it’s interesting that the task of holding Moses’s hands in the air did not fall only to Moses. Moses needed Aaron and Hur’s aid. It seems that the need for help is part of the point of the story. The entire army and the nation of Israel itself were depending on him. If he had failed—and on his own, this was virtually a guarantee—Israel would have lost the battle and many people would have died. Perhaps the dramatic moment when Moses realized his need for help prepared him for applying this lesson to his life. The leadership of the nation was too much responsibility for him alone. He needed help (see Exodus 18). The battle with the Amalekites reminds us of the reality that we do not, cannot, and need not stand alone.

 

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

GOOD VS EVIL
January 29, 2017

Terrorist attacks are often described as “a great tragedy.” They are NOT! They are evil. Many shootings are also called “a great tragedy.” They are NOT! They are evil.

We live in a world so concerned about not being judgmental, that people are afraid to call evil what it is – evil. Man has a sin nature. It is as old as the Garden of Eden. When man starts refusing to acknowledge this- man begins to be incredibly naïve about evil in our world. Progressives love to blame culture, or poverty, or lack of education and opportunity as the problems. And often they exacerbate the problem. But the big problem is man’s sin, which is the source of the evil acts of man.

But, there is Good News: the sooner we acknowledge this in ourselves, the greater our chance for victory. Acknowledging our sin nature, that we can’t change, leads us to see our need for a Savior who changes us from within – one life at a time. That Savior’s name is Jesus. He came to die for the sins of all who will acknowledge their sin and come to Him in repentant faith. When this occurs in an individual life it strikes a mighty blow at evil.

So quit calling man’s evil acts a tragedy. They are Evil; and God hates it. Yet thankfully, He sent us His Son to be our Savior, saving us from ourselves and offering us victory and hope in a dark world.

 

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"...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7b

WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE?
January 31, 2017

Ever thought about how you measure the worth of another person? Maybe it’s by their wealth, their title, their fame, their looks, their education, or perhaps, their success? I don’t know how you would answer that question, but I can tell you how God measures the worth of a person. As the scripture says, “…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The heart speaks of a person’s character, their courage and spirit. Sadly, oftentimes when we measure the worth of a person, we just look at the outward appearance. But God looks at what’s on the inside. Knowing this, how would He measure you? If you had a heart exam today, what kind of heart would God find? The good news is that God has given us a way to have a new heart and it’s found through faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s an interesting insight into life that when we begin to have the right heart through Christ, we begin to measure the worth of others God’s way.

 

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"He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." - Colossians 2:14-15

HAS YOUR GREATEST GIFT LOST ITS PIZAZZ?
February 1, 2017

When we receive a fabulous gift, what do we do? Well, first, we get really excited. We stare at it. We show it to everyone. We start using or wearing it. We just have that great feeling that someone cared enough to give us this gift. Then, in most cases, after a few days, weeks or months, the new wears off and even if we still use it, the gift has lost its pizazz.

Unfortunately, this is also true with a lot of Christians. At first, we’re so excited, we want the world to know. Then time passes and life happens. All of the sudden, we take for granted the incredible gift we were given when Jesus died for our sins. It’s not that we don’t care anymore, but we have spoken about it so routinely that we might not comprehend the full scope of this gift.

You see, it’s as though all of our sins were listed on a writing board. And then Christ came along with a cloth and erased them forever. It’s as though they were never even there. On that board, somebody put a receipt that says, “PAID IN FULL.” And Christ did it all. For you. For me. Our sins have been nailed to the cross; they’ve been taken care of. Nothing more is needed for forgiveness other than our accepting this amazing gift.

Are you guilty of becoming a routine Christian? Today, ask God to forgive you and renew His Spirit within you. Or have you not yet claimed the liberating forgiveness of knowing that Christ has paid the full debt of your sins? If that’s you, claim it today. Let Christ give you a “paid in full” clean slate. It’s your choice. Accept His gift through faith – do it right now.

 

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"But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." - Genesis 2:17

A LESSON FROM ADAM
February 2, 2017

Perhaps it was Adam’s added words to Eve that gave the serpent his opening. “You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die!” Wait, is that really what God said to Adam? That would be a big NO. When God set down the house rules for the garden, He told Adam that no one could eat from a certain tree or death would be the result. He said nothing about touching the fruit.

It appears that Adam, probably with good intentions in telling Eve of God’s command, added his own words, “or touch it.” Makes sense. If you can’t touch it, you can’t eat it. It seems like such a little thing, doesn’t it? Yet with those three added words, Adam gave the devil the ability to challenge Eve’s claim that just touching the fruit would cause death. (Now remember, God never said that.) You see, this kind of thing is one of the main reasons why the devil is so successful in messing with us. He finds little loopholes in the sins we commit and argues that surely God wouldn’t really be upset about that little sin – ah, legalism at its finest. So we take our eyes off of God to argue with the devil! Where is the logic in that?

Adding to the words of God always leads to confusion. News flash: God is never the author of confusion. Let’s try to learn from Adam’s mistake and be effective Christians by sharing only the perfect Word of God as it is written – adding no words of our own.

 

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Tried and Purified
February 6, 2017

Read: Job 23:1–12 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 39–40; Matthew 23:23–39



When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10

During an interview, singer and songwriter Meredith Andrews spoke about being overwhelmed as she tried to balance outreach, creative work, marital issues, and motherhood. Reflecting on her distress, she said, “I felt like God was taking me through a refining season, almost through a crushing process.”

Job was overwhelmed after losing his livelihood, his health, and his family. Worse still, although Job had been a daily worshiper of God, he felt that the Lord was ignoring his pleas for help. God seemed absent from the landscape of his life. Job claimed he could not see God whether he looked to the north, south, east, or west (Job 23:2–9).

Lord, I surrender myself to Your purposes.
In the middle of his despair, Job had a moment of clarity. His faith flickered to life like a candle in a dark room. He said, “[God] knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (v. 10). Christians are tried and purified when God uses difficulty to burn away our self-reliance, pride, and earthly wisdom. If it seems as if God is silent during this process and He is not answering our cries for help, He may be giving us an opportunity to grow stronger in our faith.

Pain and problems can produce the shining, rock-solid character that comes from trusting God when life is hard.

Dear Lord, help me to believe that You are with me, even when I can’t see You working in my life. I surrender myself to Your purpose for any suffering I may endure.

Faith-testing times can be faith-strengthening times.

 

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"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." - Colossians 3:13a

TRUE FORGIVENESS IS SUPERNATURAL
February 6, 2017

There’s a story about a man named Rusty who had brutally killed several people and, as a result, sat on death row. While awaiting his fate, he became a Christian and immediately began to grow in Christ. He sent letters to the families of his victims, apologizing for his actions and asking for their forgiveness. About a year later, one of the families arranged to visit with him. You can imagine the tension and fear as Rusty faced the family of one of the victims. And you can imagine Rusty’s surprise when the father said, “For years, I hated you. But when I came to understand that Christ has forgiven me of all my sins, I knew I had no choice but to forgive you. We’re here today to let you know that we forgive you.”**

Now, my friends, that is not natural. That is supernatural—the supernatural power of Jesus. It is a spirit that is distinct to Christianity—the willingness to forgive others that do not deserve our forgiveness at all. That’s exactly what God does for us. He forgives us through the cross even though we are completely undeserving.

Believing this brings us peace with God. And this peace gives us a desire to be at peace with others—through forgiveness.

**Being the Body, Chuck Colson

 

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The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
February 8, 2017

Read: 1 Samuel 20:35–42 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29–51

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

A dear friend of mine sent me a text message that said, “I’m so glad we can tell each other the good, the bad, and the ugly!” We have been friends for many years, and we have learned to share our joys and our failures. We recognize we are far from perfect, so we share our struggles but we also rejoice in each other’s successes.

David and Jonathan had a solid friendship too, beginning with the good days of David’s victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 18:1–4). They shared their fears during the bad days of Jonathan’s father’s jealousy (18:6–11; 20:1–2). Finally, they suffered together during the ugly days of Saul’s plans to kill David (20:42).

Real friendships are a gift from God.
Good friends don’t abandon us when external circumstances change. They stay with us through the good and the bad days. Good friends also may point us to God in the ugly days, when we may feel tempted to walk away from our Lord.

Real friendships are a gift from God because they exemplify the perfect Friend, who remains loyal through the good, the bad, and the ugly days. As the Lord reminds us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

Dear Lord, I thank You for the good friends You have placed in my life, but above all, I thank You for Your friendship.

Read about living in the power of the Spirit and serving one another in love at discoveryseries.org/q0214.

A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.

INSIGHT:
Although Jonathan was the son of the king and in line for the throne, he was willing to sacrifice his own advancement and, instead, promote David. Throughout the years of their relationship, Jonathan showed the hallmarks of a true friend and brother, regarding David as more important than himself and seeking to put David’s interest ahead of his own. What are some characteristics of lasting, meaningful friendships (see Prov. 17:17)? What kinds of sacrifices are necessary in order to build a significant friendship (see Phil. 2:3–4)? How can our friendships represent the heart of Christ for us? (see John 15:15).

 

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Leaning on Jesus
February 10, 2017

Read: John 13:12–26 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 8–10; Matthew 25:31–46
One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. John 13:23

Sometimes when I put my head on my pillow at night and pray, I imagine I’m leaning on Jesus. Whenever I do this, I remember something the Word of God tells us about the apostle John. John himself writes about how he was sitting beside Jesus at the Last Supper: “One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him” (John 13:23).

John used the term “the disciple whom Jesus loved” as a way of referring to himself without mentioning his own name. He is also depicting a typical banquet setting in first-century Israel, where the table was much lower than those we use today, about knee height. Reclining without chairs on a mat or cushions was the natural position for those around the table. John was sitting so close to the Lord that when he turned to ask him a question, he was “leaning back against Jesus” (John 13:25), with his head on his chest.

God, I cast all my cares on You and praise You because You are faithful.
John’s closeness to Jesus in that moment provides a helpful illustration for our lives with Him today. We may not be able to touch Jesus physically, but we can entrust the weightiest circumstances of our lives to Him. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). How blessed we are to have a Savior whom we can trust to be faithful through every circumstance of our lives! Are you “leaning” on Him today?

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to lean on You today and to trust You as my source of strength and hope. I cast all my cares on You and praise You because You are faithful.

Jesus alone gives the rest we need.

 

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The Death of Doubt
February 13, 2017

Read: John 11:1–16 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 14; Matthew 26:51–75
http://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base/assets/download.php?file=http://dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2017/02/odb-02-13-17.mp3
Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. John 20:25

We know him as Doubting Thomas (see John 20:24–29), but the label isn’t entirely fair. After all, how many of us would have believed that our executed leader had been resurrected? We might just as well call him “Courageous Thomas.” After all, Thomas displayed impressive courage as Jesus moved purposefully into the events leading to His death.

At the death of Lazarus, Jesus had said, “Let us go back to Judea” (John 11:7), prompting a protest from the disciples. “Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” (v. 8). It was Thomas who said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (v. 16).

Real doubt searches for the light; unbelief is content with the darkness.
Thomas’s intentions proved nobler than his actions. Upon Jesus’s arrest, Thomas fled with the rest (Matt. 26:56), leaving Peter and John to accompany Christ to the courtyard of the high priest. Only John followed Jesus all the way to the cross.

Despite having witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:38–44), Thomas still could not bring himself to believe that the crucified Lord had conquered death. Not until Thomas the doubter—the human—saw the risen Lord, could he exclaim, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus’s response gave assurance to the doubter and immeasurable comfort to us: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29).

Father, teach us to act on what we do know about You and Your goodness, and trust You in faith for what we don’t know.

Real doubt searches for the light; unbelief is content with the darkness.

 

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Love Revealed
February 14, 2017

Read: 1 John 4:9–16 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 15–16; Matthew 27:1–26

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

When a series of pink “I love you” signs mysteriously appeared in the town of Welland, Ontario, local reporter Maryanne Firth decided to investigate. Her sleuthing turned up nothing. Weeks later, new signs appeared featuring the name of a local park along with a date and time.

Accompanied by a crowd of curious townspeople, Firth went to the park at the appointed time. There, she met a man wearing a suit who had cleverly concealed his face. Imagine her surprise when he handed her a bouquet and proposed marriage! The mystery man was Ryan St. Denis—her boyfriend. She happily accepted.

Dear God, help my life to demonstrate my love for You.
St. Denis’s expression of love toward his fiancée may seem a bit over-the-top, but God’s expression of love for us is nothing short of extravagant! “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

Jesus is not merely a token of love, like a rose passed from one person to another. He is the divine human who willingly gave up His life so that anyone who believes in Him for salvation can have an everlasting covenant relationship with God. Nothing can separate a Christian “from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

Dear God, thank You for showing me, in the greatest way possible, that You love me. Help my life to demonstrate my love for You.

We know how much God loves us because He sent His Son to save us.

INSIGHT:
In today’s reading the word for love is the Greek noun agape, which speaks of the highest form of love imaginable, a love that seeks the welfare of the other even at great personal cost. John reminds us that the ultimate evidence of God’s love for us is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf (1 John 4:9). John then says that our response to God’s love should be our self-sacrificing love for one another as fellow Christ-followers (v. 11). His application of God’s love concludes with a reminder that our ability to love one another is dependent upon His love being revealed and “made complete in us” (v. 12). Our expression of the Father’s love for us in our relationships will be a result of what the Holy Spirit is producing in our hearts.