Daily Devotion

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“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” Luke 15: 1-2

MODERN DAY PHARISEES
January 28, 2019

Jesus hung out with the wrong crowd – at least according to the religious leaders of His day. From tax collectors to prostitutes, beggars to the lame, Jesus gravitated towards those on the fringe of society. And those individuals were drawn to Jesus.

This concerned the religious leaders (Pharisees), who saw themselves as the Bible believing, conservative establishment upholding the traditional values of the Jewish people. Now, there’s nothing wrong with advocating traditional values and Biblical principles, but the Pharisees took it too far. They tacked on a bunch of man-made rules and traditions aimed at keeping people in line. One example of these legalistic guidelines argued that even spending time with the “wrong crowd” could contaminate a person. Guilt by association took on a very real meaning which created an US versus THEM mentality. Unfortunately, this very unbiblical and divisive culture still exists in many religious circles today.

Jesus, however, never taught an US versus THEM faith. Jesus never taught a members only religion (Quite the opposite). Jesus describes His purpose in John chapter 12 as being a light in the darkness (verse 46) with a heart to save, not to judge (verse 47b). His heart is for everyone: both the pious, devout Jew as well as the broken, rejected “outsider.” And when it comes to Jesus’ heart for the “wrong crowd?” Romans 5:8 sums it up: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus loves us when we’re struggling. He loves us before we have our lives together. He loves those of us on the fringes of society as well as those modern-day Pharisees tangled-up in legalistic theology. So how are you doing in loving those on the fringes of society? Are you guilty of the modern-day Pharisee religious mentality? If so, ask God for a change of heart – ask God to make you more and more like Jesus.

 

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Rip the Heavens
Bible in a Year:

Exodus 21–22; Matthew 19


Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.



Isaiah 64:1
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Today's Scripture & Insight:

Isaiah 64:1-8


In a recent conversation, where a friend shared with me that she’d abandoned her faith, I heard a familiar complaint: How can I believe in a God who doesn’t ever seem to do anything? This gut-wrenching question appears for most of us at one point or another, as we read of violence in the news and as we carry our own heartbreak. My friend’s distress revealed her intense need for God to act on her behalf, a longing we’ve all likely felt.

Israel knew this terrain well. The Babylonian Empire overwhelmed Israel, crushing them with an iron fist and turning Jerusalem into smoldering rubble. The prophet Isaiah put words to the people’s dark doubt: Where is the God who’s supposed to rescue us? (Isaiah 63:11–15). And yet from precisely this place, Isaiah offered a bold prayer: God, “rend the heavens and come down” (64:1). Isaiah’s pain and sorrow drove him not to pull away from God, but to seek to draw closer to Him.

Our doubts and troubles offer a strange gift: they reveal how lost we are and how much we need God to move toward us. We see now the remarkable, improbable story. In Jesus, God did rip the heavens and come to us. Christ surrendered His own ripped and broken body so that He could overwhelm us with His love. In Jesus, God is very near.

By Winn Collier

Today's Reflection
What questions or doubts do you have to talk with God about?

 

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Moves of the Heart
Bible in a Year:

Exodus 36–38; Matthew 23:1–22


Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.



Numbers 9:17
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Today's Scripture & Insight:

Numbers 9:15-23


According to the US Census Bureau, Americans move from one address to another an average of eleven to twelve times during the course of a lifetime. In a recent year, 28 million people packed up, moved, and unpacked under a new roof.

During Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, the cloud of God’s presence led a whole family nation to make one move after another in anticipation of a new homeland. The account is so repetitious, it reads almost like a comedy. Over and over the huge family packed and unpacked not only its own belongings but also the tent and furnishings of the tabernacle, where the God of the cloud met with Moses (see Exodus 25:22).

Many years later, Jesus would give fuller meaning to the story of Israel’s moving days. Instead of leading from a cloud, He came in person. When He said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), He began showing that the most important changes of address happen on roads of the heart. By leading both friends and enemies to the foot of a Roman cross, He showed how far the God of the cloud and tabernacle would go to rescue us.

Like changes of address, such moves of the heart are unsettling. But someday, from a window in our Father’s house, we’ll see that Jesus led us all the way.

By Mart DeHaan

Today's Reflection
In what ways does choosing to follow God unsettle you? How might prayer help to strengthen your faith and trust in Him?

 

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‘Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.’ 1 Peter 2: 11-12

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
February 24, 2019

For over 200 years, biblical values were the accepted moral standard for the majority of Americans. Of course that didn’t mean that people always lived up to them. They didn’t and still don’t – because no one is perfect, but it was the accepted standard. Today things are very different. And while this causes fear among many Christians who have watched society radically change, God isn’t surprised. In fact, God’s Word speaks straight to the heart of the morality battle in our country and around the world.

Don’t forget, God reminds us: You are aliens. You are strangers. You are foreigners in the nations in which you live (My paraphrase). For followers of Jesus, our primary citizenship is in the kingdom of God. This world is but a short stop on the way to heaven.

And because of that, we will not always agree with everything culture has to offer. We will not always be in-sync with the majority of popular worldviews. And that’s ok – because our eternal citizenship is not in this world.

So how do we navigate the tension created when popular culture contradicts our Biblical values? We focus on living a life that pleases God rather than others. This doesn’t mean we judge, condemn and hate, but instead we live lives of purity, goodness and love according to the teachings of the Word of God. In doing so, our lives will reflect Jesus. And who knows? Some may recognize a genuine goodness in you and want to have what we have. With that big picture in mind, even this short, temporary passing through of this life can have eternal purpose and meaning.

 

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"Don't think I (Jesus) came to bring peace on the earth." Matthew 10:34a

TAKING ON THE CHARACTER OF JESUS ISN’T AN EASY ROAD
March 9, 2019

There is a lot of focus these days on universal acceptance and it’s a big deal to a lot of church folks. (Hey, can’t we all just get along?) To be fair, one of the core values of our church is to have a Kingdom vision for ministry. But understand this: when the church takes on the mindset that unity and acceptance is more important than truth, they have completely misunderstood the person of Jesus Christ! Why? Because Jesus Christ is very clear that when He comes into a person’s life through faith, there will be a lack of peace in certain relationships – some relationships are for Christ and some are not.

There will be division. When we follow Christ, we’re going to face ridicule, division and sometimes even persecution. Now, there’s are a lot of well-intentioned Christians that get confused and become pridefully divisive in their self-righteous judgment of others. In their blindness to their own sin, they are quick to point out the sins of others. (It’s an attitude similar to the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.) In the process, they often take on a martyr complex. “Oh, I’m being persecuted for my faith.” Really? Try being a missionary in a country that hates Christians, then talk about being persecuted.

Christ wants us to understand that when we claim what He claims about Himself, when we take on the character of Jesus Christ, it will not be an easy road. And persecution comes in many forms, so I certainly don’t mean to denigrate any persecution you might have endured in trying to live the Christian life, no matter now big or small. I just want you to understand, that taking on the character of Christ isn’t an easy road. Persecution, challenges, and obstacles in the name of following Jesus are all part of the package. But the good news is that the eternal rewards of walking with Jesus in faith, will far outweigh the temporary sufferings we’ll face in this life!

 

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Bearing the Burden of Wrongs
Bible in a Year:

Joshua 10–12; Luke 1:39–56


Do not repay evil with evil.



1 Peter 3:9
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Today's Scripture & Insight:

1 Peter 3:8-14


On January 30, 2018, almost thirty-eight years after his conviction, Malcolm Alexander walked out of prison a free man. DNA evidence cleared Alexander, who had steadfastly maintained his innocence amid a myriad of court proceedings that were tragically unjust. An incompetent defense attorney (later disbarred), shoddy evidence, and dubious investigative tactics all put an innocent man in prison for nearly four decades. When he was finally released, however, Alexander showed immense grace. “You cannot be angry,” he said. “There’s not enough time to be angry.”

Alexander’s words evidence a deep grace. If injustice robbed us of thirty-eight years of our lives and destroyed our reputations, we would likely be angry, furious. Though Alexander spent many long, heartbreaking years bearing the burden of wrongs inflicted upon him, he wasn’t undone by the evil. Rather than exerting his energy trying to get revenge, he exhibited the posture Peter instructs: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:9).

The Scriptures go a step further: rather than seeking vengeance, the apostle Peter tells us we are to bless (v. 9). We extend forgiveness, the hope of well-being, for those who have unjustly wronged us. Without excusing their evil actions, we can meet them with God’s scandalous mercy. On the cross, Jesus bore the burden of our wrongs, that we might receive grace and extend it to others—even those who have wronged us.

By Winn Collier


Today's Reflection
Without excusing their actions, how can you extend mercy to others who have wronged you? What will it mean for you to “bless” them?

 

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort.He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

HOW TO BE THERE WHEN SOMEONE’S HURTING
March 21, 2019

How can Christians encourage and support someone who’s genuinely struggling?

1. Don’t try to answer WHY in the midst of the crisis.

Displaying your theological and biblical knowledge, especially to anyone in the midst of pain, will only come across as cold and heartless. Even Jesus didn’t answer the WHY question, but displayed love and compassion when confronted with pain (John Chapter 9).

1. Show Up and Be Present.

Be there in the pain. When the inevitable question of WHY appears, respond honestly with, ‘I don’t know.’ Because we don’t know. We don’t have God’s full understanding and in those moments we simply need to show up. Hopefully, they will begin to see the love of God in you by how you love them through their pain.

1. Offer to Pray for them.

Rarely has anyone ever turned down my offer of prayer during an intense personal crisis. This includes atheists, agnostics, and even those practicing other religions. So how do you pray? Start by admitting your confusion at the WHY question, then ask for God’s comfort, strength, peace, and help for the person facing the crisis.

1. Offer Encouragement.

Opportunities for encouragement often show up a bit after the initial crisis hits and requires incredible discernment to know how and when to point them towards God’s promises and hope. It’s always a good idea to follow their lead and answer questions as they are raised. And always be sure to pray that you would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to know what to say.

No one will ever be able to adequately answer the question, why? But, the God who loves us, the God who sent His Son to die for us, understands ALL of our pain and suffering. He wants everyone to experience the same strength and peace that comes from knowing the God of comfort, who will be right there with us every step of the way.

 

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‘Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”’ John 14: 5-6

WHICH WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY?
April 8, 2019

In John 14: 1-3, Jesus was alluding to His upcoming death on the cross. More than a little confused, Thomas spoke up: What are you talking about? We don’t even know where you’re going. How can we follow you (my paraphrase)? So Jesus responded with one of the most famous and controversial statements He ever made: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

What exactly was Jesus saying in this bold statement?

• I AM: Jesus declares His divinity in this statement. He reveals that He always is, always was and always will be.
• I am the WAY: Jesus is the way to God; He’s the way to heaven. If we take another way, we’re going to get lost – eternally separated from God in Hell.
• I am the TRUTH: Jesus is the truth. Truth is not some philosophy or idea, but found in the person of Jesus Christ.
• I am the LIFE: Jesus is the source of eternal life.
• No one comes to the Father except through Me. – Jesus is the only way to heaven.

The controversy is in the exclusivity of Jesus’ statement. Yes, Jesus is the only way to heaven, but that way is available to everyone. It’s an open invitation no matter your background: from Muslim to Methodist, Agnostic to Baptist, and everyone in between. Too often we forget the incredible inclusiveness of what Jesus is actually offering.

So the question is—do you believe Jesus? Because the Word of God is very clear: it’s Jesus’ way or our way. Jesus’ way leads to life, while all others lead to dead ends. Which way will you choose?

 

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Flourishing Like a Flower
Bible in a Year:

2 Samuel 1–2; Luke 14:1–24


The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field.



Psalm 103:15

Psalm 103:13–22


My youngest grandson is only two months old, yet every time I see him I notice little changes. Recently, as I cooed to him, he looked up at me and smiled! And suddenly I began crying. Perhaps it was joy mixed with remembering my own children’s first smiles, which I witnessed so long ago, and yet it feels like just yesterday. Some moments are like that—inexplicable.

In Psalm 103, David penned a poetic song that praised God while also reflecting on how quickly the joyful moments of our lives pass by: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone” (vv. 15–16).

But despite acknowledging the brevity of life, David describes the flower as flourishing, or thriving. Although each individual flower blossoms and blooms swiftly, its fragrance and color and beauty bring great joy in the moment. And even though an individual flower can be quickly forgotten—“its place remembers it no more” (v. 16)—by contrast we have the assurance that “from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (v. 17).

We, like flowers, can rejoice and flourish in the moment; but we can also celebrate the truth that the moments of our lives are never truly forgotten. God holds every detail of our lives, and His everlasting love is with His children forever!

By Alyson Kieda


Today's Reflection
In what way can you flourish in this moment? How can you bring joy to another?

 

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Seeing the Light
Bible in a Year:

2 Samuel 16–18; Luke 17:20–37


On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.



Isaiah 9:2
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Today's Scripture & Insight:

Matthew 4:12–25


On the streets of Los Angeles, a homeless man struggling with addictions stepped into The Midnight Mission and asked for help. Thus began Brian’s long road to recovery.

In the process Brian rediscovered his love for music. Eventually he joined Street Symphony—a group of music professionals with a heart for the homeless. They asked Brian to perform a solo from Handel’s Messiah known as “The People That Walked in Darkness.” In words written by the prophet Isaiah during a dark period of Israel’s history, he sang, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2 kjv). A music critic for The New Yorker magazine wrote that Brian “made the text sound as though it had been taken from his own life.”

The gospel writer Matthew quoted that same passage. Called by Jesus from a life of cheating his fellow Israelites, Matthew describes how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by taking His salvation “beyond the Jordan” to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:13–15).

Who would have believed one of Caesar’s tax collector thugs (see Matthew 9:9), a street addict like Brian, or people like us would get a chance to show the difference between light and darkness in our own lives?

By Mart DeHaan


Today's Reflection
How has the light of Christ affected you? In what ways are you reflecting it to others?

 

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“Follow me, I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1: 17b

TIME TO GO FISHING
May 7, 2019

What does it mean to be “fishers of men?” It’s an unusual metaphor, but those first disciples connected with it immediately. As experienced fishermen, they knew what it took to catch fish: the right equipment, the right bait, the right location and plenty of patience. And just like fishing, sharing our faith with others requires the right equipment and motivation, the right location and plenty of patience.

• Equipment: Think of the right “equipment” in terms of the Word of God, prayer, the church and most importantly, the faith to put belief into action –to share our faith journey with others.
• Motivation: Just like fishermen need the correct bait to attract fish– Christians need the correct motivation. We need to attract non-believers and seekers, not repel. We do this through demonstrating compassion and concern for the lives of others. We show a genuine interest and care so that over time, we earn the right to be heard on matters of life, values and even faith.
• Location: Too many Christians spend the majority of their lives with other Christians. Just as fishermen don’t waste their time fishing in empty lakes, if Christians are going to share the good news of Christ with those who need to hear it – we must go to them!
• Patience: The fact is, not everyone is interested in Christ. Sometimes followers of Jesus face rejection or even hostility to faith conversations and give up. Don’t forget the patience and perseverance both God and others showed you before you encountered Jesus.

If you’re worried about knowing what to say or when to say it– remember that we never go out alone. The Holy Spirit guides us when to speak, when to listen and when to share parts of our story. We just need to be willing.

Ask God for a boldness and a willingness to begin investing in the lives of those who don’t know Jesus. THIS is the greatest call followers of Jesus will ever know.

 

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“Now then, just as the Lord promised, He has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time He said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!... Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said” (Caleb). Joshua 14: 10 & 12

A STRONG FINISH BEGINS WITH A STRONG FAITH
May 11, 2019

We all want a strong finish in life. We want to look back on life content and happy with the path we took. But how do we achieve that goal? A strong finish starts with a strong faith. It’s about a long and faithful life walking with God.

Caleb and Joshua had that life-long faith. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, God led the Israelites to the promised land where Moses sent 12 spies to check out the obstacles in the way. Caleb and Joshua were the only two who returned with confidence that God was bigger than the fortified cities and the enemy’s strength. Unfortunately, 10 fearful spies led the people to let their fear overwhelm their faith. It cost them another forty years waiting and wandering in the desert. Not quite a strong finish, because all of the people over 20 died in that wilderness, never seeing the land God promised them – all except for Moses, Joshua and Caleb.

Forty years later and at 85 years old, Joshua led the people into the promised land. He and Caleb were the only spies and only ones over 20 who made it in. Now Caleb had every right to let the years of waiting and disappointment make him bitter and cynical. After all, Caleb had the faith to move ahead when the majority did not. As a result, Caleb also suffered in the wilderness for forty years – waiting.

But Caleb demonstrated an eagerness and confidence as he prepared to step into the promised land. Caleb kept his eyes on God rather than on the challenges in front of him. Even when life didn’t go as planned, Caleb held onto his faith. So when Joshua offered him an opportunity to overcome the toughest enemy in the promised land, he basically said, “Bring it on.” (Joshua 14: 10 & 12).

Maybe you haven’t walked with God for very long. Maybe you look back on life and relate more to the doubting, fearful Israelites rather than to Caleb. Maybe you’re just starting out in life and are unsure about this whole faith thing.

There’s no better time than right now to begin walking with God. Because a strong finish begins with a strong faith. So, why don’t you make that faith decision and start today? Who knows? You may be conquering huge challenges at 85, just like Caleb.

 

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A Longing in Stone
Bible in a Year:

2 Kings 17–18; John 3:19–36


I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.



Deuteronomy 34:4

Today's Scripture & Insight:
Deuteronomy 34:1-5
“Ah, every pier is a longing in stone!” says a line in Fernando Pessoa’s Portuguese poem “Ode Marítima.” Pessoa’s pier represents the emotions we feel as a ship moves slowly away from us. The vessel departs but the pier remains, an enduring monument to hopes and dreams, partings and yearnings. We ache for what’s lost, and for what we can’t quite reach.

The Portuguese word translated “longing” (saudade) refers to a nostalgic yearning we feel—a deep ache that defies definition. The poet is describing the indescribable.

We might say that Mount Nebo was Moses’s “longing in stone.” From Nebo he gazed into the promised land—a land he would never reach. God’s words to Moses—“I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it” (Deuteronomy 34:4)—might seem harsh. But if that’s all we see, we miss the heart of what’s happening. God is speaking immense comfort to Moses: “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants’” (v. 4). Very soon, Moses would leave Nebo for a land far better than Canaan (v. 5).

Life often finds us standing on the pier. Loved ones depart; hopes fade; dreams die. Amid it all we sense echoes of Eden and hints of heaven. Our longings point us to God. He is the fulfillment we yearn for.

By Tim Gustafson


Reflect & Pray
What are your unfulfilled longings? What places in life are you trying to satisfy with wrong things? How can you find true fulfillment in God alone?

The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing—to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all beauty came from. C. S. Lewis

 

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When All Seems Lost
Bible in a Year:

2 Kings 22–23; John 4:31–54


My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?



Psalm 22:1

Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 22:1-5
In just six months, Gerald’s life fell apart. An economic crisis destroyed his business and wealth, while a tragic accident took his son’s life. Overcome by shock, his mother had a heart attack and died, his wife went into depression, and his two young daughters remained inconsolable. All he could do was echo the words of the psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1).

The only thing that kept Gerald going was the hope that God, who raised Jesus to life, would one day deliver him and his family from their pain to an eternal life of joy. It was a hope that God would answer his desperate cries for help. In his despair, like the psalmist David, he determined to trust God in the midst of his suffering. He held on to the hope that God would deliver and save him (vv. 4–5).

That hope sustained Gerald. Over the years, whenever he was asked how he was, he could only say, “Well, I’m trusting God.”

God honored that trust, giving Gerald the comfort, strength, and courage to keep going through the years. His family slowly recovered from the crisis, and soon Gerald welcomed the birth of his first grandchild. His cry is now a testimony of God’s faithfulness. “I’m no longer asking, ‘Why have you forsaken me?’ God has blessed me.”

When it seems there’s nothing left, there’s still hope.

By Leslie Koh


Reflect & Pray
What will help you to remember and cling to God’s sure and certain hope of deliverance? How has trusting in God sustained you in a difficult challenge?

Whenever I feel abandoned and alone, I cling to the hope You’ve given me through Christ’s resurrection, that I will be delivered to eternal joy one day.

 

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Throwing Stones
Bible in a Year:

1 Chronicles 19–21; John 8:1–27


Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.



John 8:7

Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 8:1-11
Lisa felt no sympathy for those who cheated on their spouse . . . until she found herself deeply unsatisfied with her marriage and struggling to resist a dangerous attraction. That painful experience helped her gain a new compassion for others and greater understanding of Christ’s words: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7).

Jesus was teaching in the temple courts when He made that statement. A group of teachers of the law and Pharisees had just dragged a woman caught in adultery before Him and challenged, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (v. 5). Because they considered Jesus a threat to their authority, the question was “a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him” (v. 6)—and getting rid of Him.

Yet when Jesus replied, “Let any one of you who is without sin . . .” not one of the woman’s accusers could bring themselves to pick up a stone. One by one, they walked away.

Before we critically judge another’s behavior while looking lightly at our own sin, let’s remember that all of us “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Instead of condemnation, our Savior showed this woman—and you and me—grace and hope (John 3:16; 8:10–11). How can we not do the same for others?

By Alyson Kieda


Reflect & Pray
How can you put the lesson of John 8 into action in how you treat others? How can you use your own experience to help others facing similar challenges?

Dear Lord, thank You for loving us! Help us to look with compassion on others and to be gracious in all we say and do.

 

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The Empty Bed
Bible in a Year:

2 Chronicles 7–9; John 11:1–29


Go and make disciples of all nations.



Matthew 28:19

Today's Scripture & Insight:
Matthew 28:16-20
I was eager to return to St. James Infirmary in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and reconnect with Rendell, who two years earlier had learned about Jesus’s love for him. Evie, a teenager in the high school choir I travel with each spring, had read Scripture with Rendell and explained the gospel, and he personally received Jesus as his Savior.

When I entered the men’s section of the home and looked toward Rendell’s bed, however, I found it was empty. I went to the nurse’s station, and was told what I didn’t want to hear. He had passed away—just five days before we arrived.

Through tears, I texted Evie the sad news. Her response was simple: “Rendell is celebrating with Jesus.” Later she said, “It’s a good thing we told him about Jesus when we did.”

Her words reminded me of the importance of being ready to lovingly share with others the hope we have in Christ. No, it’s not always easy to proclaim the gospel message about the One who will be with us always (Matthew 28:20), but when we think about the difference it made for us and for people like Rendell, perhaps we’ll be encouraged to be even more ready to “make disciples” wherever we go (v. 19).

I’ll never forget the sadness of seeing that empty bed—and also the joy of knowing what a difference one faithful teen made in Rendell’s forever life.

By Dave Branon


Reflect & Pray
What are some things you can do to introduce people to Jesus today? As you share your faith, how does it encourage you to know Jesus is “with you always” (Matthew 28:20)?

God, we know that people need You. Help us to overcome our fear of telling others about You.

 

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"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5

THE BEAUTY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
May 30, 2019

Agape love. Perhaps you’ve heard the term before, but the meaning always remained a bit fuzzy. Well, you’re not alone. With so many different meanings of the word “love,” what is agape love?

To clarify things a bit, let’s first look a little at what agape love is NOT. Agape love is NOT romantic love. People of all faiths (and those with no faith) experience romantic love. On the other hand, agape love is NOT brotherly love – there kind of love where you have a natural chemistry, or friendship, with another person. Terrorists and members of the mafia experience brotherly love. There’s certainly nothing uniquely Christian about that.

Agape love IS unconditional love. It’s a choice we make to love another person whether they love us back or not. It means that you choose to love someone even if he or she is your enemy. Agape love is not based on emotion at all. In fact, it may be contrary to our EVERY emotion. Agape love is an act of the will.

Now, this kind of love presents a real challenge for us Christians. It’s tough to live out because it’s hard to love someone who doesn’t respond to you in the way we’d like. And no matter how much we try to avoid difficult people, there will always be certain individuals—even within the body of Christ—who are just hard to love. And yet, God’s Word is very clear: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.” Now, you couldn’t find a more clear command about what we’re called to do as followers of Jesus Christ.

We love because God loved us first. God loved us when we didn’t love Him. God loved us when our sins crucified His Son on a cross. God “agape loves” us and commands us to “agape love” others. Will you?

 

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“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9: 19 & 22b

JESUS: A STORY FOR EVERYONE
June 3, 2019

It’s no surprise that faith conversations will be different depending on both context and audience. Think about it. The way that a Christian discusses faith with a Chinese concert pianist and a blue-collar worker from upstate New York will be different. What about sharing with a Muslim Imam or a Hollywood playboy? Imagine a faith discussion with a middle school boy verses an Ivy League feminist? Think about the vast differences in struggles, concerns and world views. Each conversation must look and sound different. For this reason, Christians are called to take different approaches to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with different people.

The apostle Paul talks about this concept in 1 Corinthians. Paul explained his willingness to put aside his own personal preferences and personal priorities in order to show interest in another person. Why? So that he might show them Christ in a way that they understand and that’s meaningful to them. It’s the ultimate in unselfishness to meet someone where they are, with genuine care and respect, in hopes of helping them come to know Jesus.

What about you? Are you willing to meet people where they are in order to share the truth of the Gospel? We should be – because Jesus does the same for each one of us. He meets us in our sin, our shame and our brokenness, and offers us a new life through Him. Do you remember who first shared Jesus’ story with you? Then why aren’t you sharing it with others? It’s the greatest gift you can give them!

 

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Finding Treasure
Bible in a Year:

2 Chronicles 23–24; John 15


The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.



Matthew 13:44
Matthew 13:44-46
John and Mary were walking their dog on their property when they stumbled on a rusty can partially unearthed by recent rains. They took the can home and opened it, discovering a cache of gold coins over a century old! The couple returned to the spot and located seven more cans containing 1,427 coins in all. Then they protected their treasure by reburying it elsewhere.

The cache of coins (valued at $10 million) is called the Saddle Ridge Hoard, the largest find of its kind in US history. The story is strikingly reminiscent of a parable Jesus told: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Tales of buried treasure have captured imaginations for centuries, though such discoveries rarely happen. But Jesus tells of a treasure accessible to all who confess their sins and receive and follow Him (John 1:12).

We’ll never come to an end of that treasure. As we leave our old lives and pursue God and His purposes, we encounter His worth. Through “the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7), God offers us treasure beyond imagination—new life as His sons and daughters, new purpose on earth, and the incomprehensible joy of eternity with Him.

By James Banks


Reflect & Pray
How are you treasuring your relationship with God? How can you share that treasure with others?

You are my greatest treasure, Jesus. I praise You for giving Your life for me on the cross, so that I could find forgiveness and new life in You.





http://rbcministries.mkt6605.com/readingplan/biblememoryverse

 

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“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the read that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official…The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Acts 8:26-27a, 29

FAITH LIKE PHILIP
June 7, 2019

A few years ago, I was on my way to visit a new couple who had visited our church. It was a Monday night and after preaching three times the day before, I was tired and began complaining to God. “This is way too far to drive – why am I wasting my time? These people aren’t going to come all this way to our church.”

Eventually, I arrived and as soon as we sat down the husband asked how he could become a Christian. Stunned, I silently asked God to forgive my attitude and to help me not mess up this opportunity! In spite of my sorry attitude before the visit, the man became a Christian that very night. Sometimes God asks us to trust Him, even when we’re tired or it doesn’t make sense. The question is will we listen?

Philip was a very gifted teacher and evangelist in the early days of the church. As he traveled and shared the story of Jesus Christ, people responded. Suddenly, right in the middle of great crowds coming to Christ, God asked Philip to leave and take a trip along a 60-mile desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza. If I were Philip, it would have been easy to question God. How could he leave NOWwith so much happening? Nobody lives in the desert. But Philip trusted God and left.

Sure enough, he ran into a very influential Ethiopian man reading from the book of Isaiah. Not only that, but this man was reading the prophecy of Jesus’ death on the cross written more than 700 years before Christ (Isaiah 53). Talk about a God-orchestrated meeting! Feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit, Philip walked over to the man and began a conversation that would lead him to Christ. That man became the first African believer. Talk about significant; he even became the first one to take the gospel to a whole continent. Wow!

It’s rare to stumble into a situation when someone is so ready to accept the Gospel, yet the question we have to ask ourselves is: Are we paying attention? Will we recognize the nudge of the Holy Spirit to move, to act, and to share? Or are we too focused on our individual lives, our schedule and our comfort? Follow Philip’s example – of bold faith and obedience, no matter where the Holy Spirit leads.