BEYOND LEBELS
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Posted:Jul 18, 2017 4:17 am
Last Updated:Jul 18, 2017 4:18 am 14931 Views
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Read: Romans 5:1–11
Bible in a Year: Psalms 20–22; Acts 21:1–17
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5.8
A church in my city has a unique welcome card that captures the love and grace of God for everyone. It says, “If You Are A . . . saint, sinner, loser, winner”—followed by many other terms used to describe struggling people—“alcoholic, hypocrite, cheater, fearful, misfit . . . . You are welcome here.” One of the pastors told me, “We read the card aloud together in our worship services every Sunday.”
How often we accept labels and allow them to define who we are. And how easily we assign them to others. But God’s grace defies labels because it is rooted in His love, not in our self-perception. Whether we see ourselves as wonderful or terrible, capable or helpless, we can receive eternal life as a gift from Him. The apostle Paul reminded the followers of Jesus in Rome that “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6).
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing love in Jesus.
The Lord does not require us to change by our own power. Instead He invites us to come as we are to find hope, healing, and freedom in Him. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v. 8. The Lord is ready and willing to receive us just as we are.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing love in Jesus.
God’s forgiveness defies our labels of failure or pride.
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JUST LIKE DAD
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Posted:Jul 17, 2017 4:51 am
Last Updated:Jul 17, 2017 4:51 am 15001 Views
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Read: John 5:17–20
Bible in a Year: Psalms 18–19; Acts 20:17–38
The can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the also does. John 5:19
Isn’t it endearing to see a mimicking his parents? How often we’ve seen the young boy in a car seat, gripping his imaginary steering wheel intently while keeping a close eye on the driver to see what Daddy does next.
I remember doing the same thing when I was young. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than doing exactly what my dad did—and I’m sure he got an even bigger kick watching me copy his actions.
Jesus, thank You for showing us the way to the Father.
I would like to think God felt the same way when He saw His dearest doing exactly what the Father did—reaching out to the lost, helping the needy, and healing the sick. Jesus said, "the can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the also does" (John 5:19).
We too are called to do the same—to “follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved and walk in the way of love” (Eph. 5:1–2). As we continue growing to be more like Jesus, may we seek to love like the Father loves, forgive like He forgives, care like He cares, and live in ways that please Him. It is a delight to copy His actions, in the power of the Spirit, knowing that our reward is the affectionate, tender smile of a loving Father.
Jesus, thank You for showing us the way to the Father. Help us to be more and more like You and the Father each day.
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The Father gave us the Spirit to make us like the .
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FACE TO FACE
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Posted:Jul 14, 2017 5:01 am
Last Updated:Jul 14, 2017 5:01 am 15175 Views
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Read: Exodus 33.7–14
Bible in a Year: Psalms 10–12; Acts 19:1–20
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11
Although the world is connected electronically like never before, nothing beats time together in person. As we share and laugh together, we can often sense—almost unconsciously—the other person’s emotions by watching their facial movements. Those who love each other, whether family or friends, like to share with each other face to face.
We see this face-to-face relationship between the Lord and Moses, the man God chose to lead His people. Moses grew in confidence over the years of following God, and he continued to follow Him despite the people’s rebelliousness and idolatry. After the people worshiped a golden calf instead of the Lord (see Ex. 32), Moses set up a tent outside of the camp in which to meet God, while they had to watch from a distance (33.7–11). As the pillar of cloud signifying God’s presence descended to the tent, Moses spoke on their behalf. The Lord promised that His Presence would go with them (v. 14).
We can speak to the Lord as a friend.
Because of Jesus’s death on the cross and His resurrection, we no longer need someone like Moses to speak with God for us. Instead, just as Jesus offered to His disciples, we can have friendship with God through Christ (John 15:15). We too can meet with Him, with the Lord speaking to us as one speaks to a friend.
Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so!
We can speak to the Lord as a friend.
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INTIMATE DETAILS
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Posted:Jul 13, 2017 7:12 am
Last Updated:Jul 13, 2017 7:12 am 14845 Views
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Read: Psalm 139:1–18
Bible in a Year: Psalms 7–9; Acts 18
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:2
The universe is astonishingly grand. Right now the moon is spinning around us at nearly 2,300 miles an hour. Our Earth is spinning around the sun at 66,000 miles an hour. Our sun is one of 200 billion other stars and trillions more planets in our galaxy, and that galaxy is just one of 100 billion others hurtling through space. Astounding!
In comparison to this vast cosmos, our little Earth is no bigger than a pebble, and our individual lives no greater than a grain of sand. Yet according to Scripture, the God of the galaxies attends to each microscopic one of us in intimate detail. He saw us before we existed (Ps. 139:13–16); He watches us as we go about our days and listens for our every thought (vv. 1–6).
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:2
It can be hard to believe this sometimes. This tiny “pebble” has big problems like war and famine, and we can question God’s care in times of personal suffering. But when King David wrote Psalm 139 he was in the midst of crisis himself (vv. 19–20). And when Jesus said God counts each hair on our heads (Matt. 10:30), He was living in an age of crucifixion. Biblical talk of God’s caring attention isn’t a naïve wish. It is real-world truth.
The One who keeps the galaxies spinning knows us intimately. That can help us get through the worst of times.
Father God, Your eye is on me as much as it is on the stars in the sky. Thank You for Your love, Your care, Your attention.
The God of the cosmos cares for us intimately.
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APPROACHING GOD
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Posted:Jul 12, 2017 5:38 am
Last Updated:Jul 12, 2017 5:39 am 14189 Views
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Read: Hebrews 4:14–16
Bible in a Year: Psalms 4–6; Acts 17:16–34
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge. Psalm 73:28
A woman desiring to pray grabbed an empty chair and knelt before it. In tears, she said, “My dear heavenly Father, please sit down here; you and I need to talk!” Then, looking directly at the vacant chair, she prayed. She demonstrated confidence in approaching the Lord; she imagined He was sitting on the chair and believed He was listening to her petition.
A time with God is an important moment when we engage the Almighty. God comes near to us as we draw near to Him in a mutual involvement (James 4.8. He has assured us, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28.20). Our heavenly Father is always waiting for us to come to Him, always ready to listen to us.
God is everywhere, is available every time, and listens always.
There are times when we struggle to pray because we feel tired, sleepy, sick, and weak. But Jesus sympathizes with us when we are weak or face temptations
(Heb. 4:15). Therefore we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (v. 16).
Lord, thank You that I can pray to You in all places at all times. Put the desire to come near to You in my heart. I want to learn to come to You in faith and in confidence.
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God is everywhere, is available every time, and listens always.
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GIVING IN TO JESUS
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Posted:Jul 11, 2017 1:45 am
Last Updated:Jul 11, 2017 1:46 am 13971 Views
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Read: James 4:6–10
Bible in a Year: Psalms 1–3; Acts 17:1–15
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
They call it “The Devil’s Footprint.” It’s a foot-shaped impression in the granite on a hill beside a church in Ipswich, Massachusetts. According to local legend the “footprint” happened one fall day in 1740, when the evangelist George Whitefield preached so powerfully that the devil leaped from the church steeple, landing on the rock on his way out of town.
Though it’s only a legend, the story calls to mind an encouraging truth from God’s Word. James 4.7 reminds us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The prayer of the feeblest saint . . . is a terror to Satan.
God has given us the strength we need to stand against our adversary and the temptations in our lives. The Bible tells us that “sin shall no longer be your master” (Rom. 6:14) because of God’s loving grace to us through Jesus Christ. As we run to Jesus when temptation comes, He enables us to stand in His strength. Nothing we face in this life can overcome Him, because He has “overcome the world”
(John 16:33).
As we submit ourselves to our Savior, yielding our wills to Him in the moment and walking in obedience to God’s Word, He is helping us. When we give in to Him instead of giving in to temptation, He is able to fight our battles. In Him we can overcome.
Lord Jesus, I give my will to You today. Help me to stay close to You in every moment, and to love You by obeying You.
The prayer of the feeblest saint . . . is a terror to Satan.
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GETTING AWAY WITH IT
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Posted:Jul 10, 2017 4:07 am
Last Updated:Jul 10, 2017 4:08 am 14132 Views
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Read: Genesis 4:1–12
Bible in a Year: Job 41–42; Acts 16:22–40
By faith Abel still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
In June 2004, at a Vancouver art gallery, Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott received an Olympic gold medal. That’s interesting, because the Winter Olympics had been held in 2002—in Utah. Scott had won bronze behind two athletes who were disqualified months later when it was learned they had used banned substances.
It’s good that Scott eventually received her gold, but gone forever is the moment when she should have stood on the podium to hear her country’s national anthem. That injustice couldn’t be remedied.
God cares deeply about justice, about righting wrongs, and about defending the powerless.
Injustice of any kind disturbs us, and surely there are far greater wrongs than being denied a hard-won medal. The story of Cain and Abel shows an ultimate act of injustice (Gen. 4:8. And at first glance, it might look like Cain got away with murdering his brother. After all, he lived a long, full life, eventually building a city
(v. 17
But God Himself confronted Cain. “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground,” He said (v. 10). The New Testament later recorded Cain as an example to avoid (1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11). But of Abel we read, “By faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead” (Heb. 11:4).
God cares deeply about justice, about righting wrongs, and about defending the powerless. In the end, no one gets away with any act of injustice. Nor does God leave unrewarded our work done in faith for Him.
Father, as Your taught us to pray, we ask that Your kingdom will come, Your will be done to change this broken world. Thank You for redeeming us.
Sin will not ultimately be judged by the way we see it, but by the way God sees it.
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THE ULTIMATE GOOD
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Posted:Jul 7, 2017 3:55 am
Last Updated:Jul 7, 2017 3:56 am 14289 Views
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Read: Philippians 3:1–11
Bible in a Year: Job 34–35; Acts 15:1–21
I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8
As I was growing up in Jamaica, my parents raised my sister and me to be “good people.” In our home, good meant obeying our parents, telling the truth, being successful in school and work, and going to church . . . at least Easter and Christmas. I imagine this definition of being a good person is familiar to many people, regardless of culture. In fact, the apostle Paul, in Philippians 3, used his culture’s definition of being good to make a greater point.
Paul, being a devout first-century Jew, followed the letter of the moral law in his culture. He was born into the “right” family, had the “right” education, and practiced the “right” religion. He was the real deal in terms of being a good person according to Jewish custom. In verse 4, Paul writes that he could boast in all of his goodness if he wanted to. But, as good as he was, Paul told his readers (and us) that there is something more than being good. He knew that being good, while good, was not the same as pleasing God.
God, help me remember that knowing Jesus is the way to ultimate goodness.
Pleasing God, Paul writes in verses 7–8, involves knowing Jesus. Paul considered his own goodness as “garbage” when compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.” We are good—and we please God—when our hope and faith are in Christ alone, not in our goodness.
Dear God, as I seek to live a good life, help me remember that knowing Jesus is the way to ultimate goodness.
We are good—and we please God—when our hope and faith are in Christ alone, not in our goodness.
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GOING FIRST
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Posted:Jul 6, 2017 4:03 am
Last Updated:Jul 6, 2017 4:03 am 14188 Views
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Read: 1 John 4.7–21
Bible in a Year: Job 32–33; Acts 14
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
We worked patiently to help our heal and adjust to his new life with our family. Trauma from his early days in an orphanage was fueling some negative behaviors. While I had enormous compassion for the hardships he experienced in his early days, I felt myself begin to withdraw from him emotionally because of those behaviors. Ashamed, I shared my struggle with his therapist. Her gentle reply hit home: “He needs you to go first . . . to show him he’s worthy of love before he’ll be able to act like it.”
John pushes the recipients of his letter to an incredible depth of love, citing God’s love as both the source and the reason for loving one another (1 John 4.7, 11). I admit I often fail to show such love to others, whether strangers, friends, or my own . Yet John’s words spark in me renewed desire and ability to do so: God went first. He sent His to demonstrate the fullness of His love for each of us. I’m so thankful He doesn’t respond as we all are prone to do by withdrawing His heart from us.
God loved us first so we can love others.
Though our sinful actions don’t invite God’s love, He is unwavering in offering it to us (Rom. 5:8. His “go-first” love compels us to love one another in response to, and as a reflection of, that love.
Thank You, Lord, for loving me in spite of my sin. Help me to “go first” in loving others.
God loved us first so we can love others.
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COULD I SAY THAT?
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Posted:Jul 5, 2017 4:10 am
Last Updated:Jul 5, 2017 4:11 am 14318 Views
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Read: Genesis 45:1–11
Bible in a Year: Job 30–31; Acts 13:26–52
It was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45.8
“The perception of favoritism is one of the biggest factors in sibling rivalry,” said Dr. Barbara Howard, a developmental behavioral pediatrician (“When Parents Have a Favorite ” nytimes.com). An example would be the Old Testament character Joseph, who was his father’s favorite , which made his older brothers furious (Gen. 37:3–4). So they sold Joseph to merchants traveling to Egypt and made it appear that a wild animal had killed him (37.12–36). His dreams had been shattered and his future appeared hopeless.
Yet, along Joseph’s journey of life, he chose to be true to his God and rely on Him even when it seemed to make his situation worse. After being falsely accused by his employer’s wife and imprisoned for something he didn’t do, Joseph struggled with the injustice of his situation but kept trusting the Lord.
In the darkest hours of life, only through the eyes of faith can we see the loving hand of God.
Years later his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain during a famine and were terrified to discover that their despised younger brother was now the Prime Minister. But Joseph told them, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you . . . . It was not you who sent me here, but God” (45:5, 8
Joseph’s kind words cause me to wonder if I would be ready for revenge. Or would I be gracious because my heart had confidence in the Lord?
Dear Father, give us the faith to trust You today and the ability to see Your hand of good along our road of life.
In the darkest hours of life, only through the eyes of faith can we see the loving hand of God.
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