TRIAL BY FIRE
|
Posted:Mar 29, 2017 7:00 am
Last Updated:Apr 17, 2017 4:53 am 14021 Views
|
Read: James 1:1–12
Bible in a Year: Judges 7–8; Luke 5:1–16
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life. James 1:12
Last winter while visiting a natural history museum in Colorado, I learned some remarkable facts about the aspen tree. An entire grove of slender, white-trunked aspens can grow from a single seed and share the same root system. These root systems can exist for thousands of years whether or not they produce trees. They sleep underground, waiting for fire, flood, or avalanche to clear a space for them in the shady forest. After a natural disaster has cleared the land, aspen roots can sense the sun at last. The roots send up saplings, which become trees.
For aspens, new growth is made possible by the devastation of a natural disaster. James writes that our growth in faith is also made possible by difficulties. “Consider it pure joy,” he writes, “whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4).
Trials and tests can draw us closer to Christ.
It’s difficult to be joyful during trials, but we can take hope from the fact that God will use difficult circumstances to help us reach maturity. Like aspen trees, faith can grow in times of trial when difficulty clears space in our hearts for the light of God to touch us.
Thank You, God, for being with us in our trials, and for helping us to grow through difficult circumstances.
Trials and tests can draw us closer to Christ.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
BEARING GOOD FRUIT
|
Posted:Mar 28, 2017 5:34 am
Last Updated:Mar 28, 2017 5:34 am 14136 Views
|
Read: Psalm 1:1–3
Bible in a Year: Judges 4–6; Luke 4:31–44
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season. Psalm 1:3
The view from my airplane window was striking: a narrow ribbon of ripening wheat fields and orchards wending between two barren mountains. Running through the valley was a river—life-giving water, without which there would be no fruit.
Just as a bountiful harvest depends on a source of clean water, the quality of the “fruit” in my life—my words, actions, and attitude—depends on my spiritual nourishment. The psalmist describes this in Psalm 1: The person “whose delight is in the law of the Lord . . . is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (vv. 1–3). And Paul writes in Galatians 5 that those who walk in step with the Spirit are marked by “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (vv. 22–23).
God’s Spirit lives in His people, in order to work through them.
Sometimes my perspective on my circumstances turns sour, or my actions and words become persistently unkind. There is no good fruit, and I realize I haven’t spent time being quiet before the words of my God. But when the rhythm of my days is rooted in reliance on Him, I bear good fruit. Patience and gentleness characterize my interactions with others; it’s easier to choose gratitude over complaint.
The God who has revealed Himself to us is our source of strength, wisdom, joy, understanding, and peace (Ps. 119:28, 98, 111, 144, 165). As we steep our souls in the words that point us to Him, the work of God’s Spirit will be evident in our lives.
God’s Spirit lives in His people, in order to work through them.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
IMAGE MANAGEMENT
|
Posted:Mar 27, 2017 5:08 am
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2017 5:08 am 13998 Views
|
Read: Isaiah 43:1–9
Bible in a Year: Judges 1–3; Luke 4:1–30
You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you. Isaiah 43:4
To celebrate Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday, the British parliament commissioned artist Graham Sutherland to paint a portrait of the celebrated statesman. “How are you going to paint me?” Churchill reportedly asked the artist: “As a cherub, or the Bulldog?” Churchill liked these two popular perceptions of him. Sutherland, however, said he would paint what he saw.
Churchill was not happy with the results. Sutherland’s portrait had Churchill slumped in a chair wearing his trademark scowl—true to reality, but hardly flattering. After its official unveiling, Churchill hid the painting in his cellar. It was later secretly destroyed.
God knows the real us and still loves us immeasurably.
Like Churchill, most of us have an image of ourselves we want others to have of us also—whether of success, godliness, beauty, or strength. We can go to great lengths to conceal our “ugly” sides. Perhaps deep down we fear we won’t be loved if the real us is known.
When the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, they were seen at their worst. Because of their sins, God allowed their enemies to conquer them. But He told them not to fear. He knew them by name, and He was with them in every humiliating trial (Isa. 43:1–2). They were secure in His hands (v. 13) and “precious” to Him (v. 4). Despite their ugliness, God loved them.
We will find ourselves less motivated to seek the approval of others when such a truth truly sinks in. God knows the real us and still loves us immeasurably
(Eph. 3:18.
God’s deep love means we can be real with others.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
His Wonderful Face
|
Posted:Mar 24, 2017 3:36 am
Last Updated:Mar 24, 2017 3:37 am 14203 Views
|
Read: 1 Chronicles 16:8–27
Bible in a Year: Joshua 16–18; Luke 2:1–24
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11
My four-year-old is full of questions, and chatters constantly. I love talking with him, but he’s developed an unfortunate habit of talking to me even when his back is turned. I often find myself saying, “I can’t hear you—please look at me when you’re talking.”
Sometimes I think God wants to say the same thing to us—not because He can’t hear us, but because we can tend to talk to Him without really “looking” at Him. We pray, but we remain caught up in our own questions and focused on ourselves, forgetting the character of the One we’re praying to. Like my , we ask questions without paying attention to the person we’re talking to.
Seeking the face of God can strengthen our faith.
Many of our concerns are best addressed by reminding ourselves of who God is and what He has done. By simply refocusing, we find comfort in what we know of His character: that He is loving, forgiving, sovereign, graceful.
The psalmist believed we ought to seek God’s face continually (Ps. 105:4). When David appointed leaders for worship and prayer, he encouraged the people to praise God’s character and tell stories of His past faithfulness (1 Chron. 16:8–27).
When we turn our eyes toward the beautiful face of God, we can find strength and comfort that sustain us even in the midst of unanswered questions.
Lord, let the light of Your face shine upon us.
Seeking the face of God can strengthen our faith.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
CRADLED IN CONFORT
|
Posted:Mar 23, 2017 3:28 am
Last Updated:Mar 23, 2017 3:29 am 14205 Views
|
Read: Isaiah 66:12–16
Bible in a Year: Joshua 13–15; Luke 1:57–80
As a mother comforts her , so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13
My friend entrusted me with the privilege of holding her precious, four-day-old . Not long after I took the baby into my arms, she started to fuss. I hugged her closer, my cheek pressed against her head, and began to sway and hum in a gentle rhythm to soothe her. Despite these earnest attempts, and my decade and a half of parenting experience, I couldn’t pacify her. She became increasingly upset until I placed her back into the crook of her mother’s eager arm. Peace washed over her almost instantaneously; her cries subsided and her newborn frame relaxed into the safety she already trusted. My friend knew precisely how to hold and pat her to alleviate her distress.
God extends comfort to His like a mother: tender, trustworthy, and diligent in her efforts to calm her . When we are weary or upset, He carries us affectionately in His arms. As our Father and Creator, He knows us intimately. He “will keep in perfect peace all who trust in [him], all whose thoughts are fixed on [him]” (Isa. 26:3 nlt).
As a mother comforts her , so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13
When the troubles of this world weigh heavy on our hearts, we can find comfort in the knowledge that He protects and fights for us, His , as a loving parent.
Lord, help me to look to You for my comfort in times of distress.
For help in finding God’s comfort, read The Lord Is My Shepherd: Rest and Renewal from Psalm 23 at discoveryseries.org/hp952.
God’s comfort soothes us perfectly.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
WHAT ARE KNOWN FOR?
|
Posted:Mar 22, 2017 7:08 am
Last Updated:Mar 22, 2017 7:09 am 14275 Views
|
Read: Hebrews 11:23–28
Bible in a Year: Joshua 10–12; Luke 1:39–56
[Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:26
A memorial stone stands in the grounds of a former Japanese prison camp in China where a man died in 1945. It reads, “Eric Liddell was born in Tianjin of Scottish parents in 1902. His career reached its peak with his gold medal victory in the 400 metres event at the 1924 Olympic Games. He returned to China to work in Tianjin as a teacher. . . . His whole life was spent encouraging young people to make their best contributions to the betterment of mankind.”
In the eyes of many, Eric’s greatest achievement was on the sports field. But he is also remembered for his contribution to the youth of Tianjin in China, the country where he was born and that he loved. He lived and served by faith.
Faithfulness to God is true success.
What will we be remembered for? Our academic achievements, job position, or financial success may get us recognized by others. But it is the quiet work we do in the lives of people that will live long after we are gone.
Moses is remembered in the faith chapter of the Bible, Hebrews 11, as someone who chose to align himself with the people of God instead of enjoying the treasures of Egypt (v. 26). He led and served God’s people by faith.
Ask God to show you how you can make a difference in the lives of others. For what would you like to be remembered?
Faithfulness to God is true success.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
REFRESHING SPRING RAINS
|
Posted:Mar 21, 2017 5:33 am
Last Updated:Mar 21, 2017 5:33 am 14258 Views
|
Read: Hosea 6:1–4
Bible in a Year: Joshua 7–9; Luke 1:21–38
He will come to us like the . . . spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3
Needing a break, I went for a walk in the nearby park. As I headed down the path, a burst of green caught my attention. Out of the mud appeared shoots of life that in a few weeks would be cheerful daffodils, heralding spring and the warmth to come. We had made it through another winter!
As we read through the book of Hosea, it can feel in parts like an unrelenting winter. For the Lord gave this prophet the unenviable task of marrying an unfaithful woman as a picture of the Creator’s love for His people Israel (1:2–3). Hosea’s wife, Gomer, broke their wedding vows, but Hosea welcomed her back, yearning that she would love him devotedly (3:1–3). So too the Lord desires that we love Him with a strength and commitment that won’t evaporate like the morning mist.
Though we may be unfaithful to God, He will never turn from us.
How do we relate to God? Do we seek Him mainly in times of trouble, searching for answers in our distress but ignoring Him during our seasons of celebration? Are we like the Israelites, easily swayed by the idols of our age, including such things as busyness, success, and influence?
Today, may we recommit ourselves to the Lord, who loves us as surely as the flowers bud in the spring.
Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself that we might be free. Help us to love You wholeheartedly.
Though we may be unfaithful to God, He will never turn from us.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
RUNNING AND REST
|
Posted:Mar 20, 2017 5:14 am
Last Updated:Apr 17, 2017 4:53 am 14462 Views
|
Read: Mark 6:30–46
Bible in a Year: Joshua 4–6; Luke 1:1–20
[Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
The headline caught my eye: “Rest Days Important for Runners.” In Tommy Manning’s article, the former member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team emphasized a principle that dedicated athletes sometimes ignore—the body needs time to rest and rebuild after exercise. “Physiologically, the adaptations that occur as a result of training only happen during rest,” Manning wrote. “This means rest is as important as workouts.”
The same is true in our walk of faith and service. Regular times of rest are essential to avoid burnout and discouragement. Jesus sought spiritual balance during His life on Earth, even in the face of great demands. When His disciples returned from a strenuous time of teaching and healing others, “He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (Mark 6:31). But a large crowd followed them, so Jesus taught them and fed them with only five loaves and two fish (vv. 32–44). When everyone was gone, Jesus “went up on a mountainside to pray”
(v. 46).
Jesus invites us to regularly join Him in a quiet place to pray and get some rest.
If our lives are defined by work, then what we do becomes less and less effective. Jesus invites us to regularly join Him in a quiet place to pray and get some rest.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of prayer alone with Your Father. Give us wisdom and determination to make rest a priority as we follow You.
In our life of faith and service, rest is as important as work.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
AFTER YOU
|
Posted:Mar 17, 2017 5:07 am
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2017 5:07 am 14383 Views
|
Read: Genesis 13:1–18
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 30–31; Mark 15:1–25
Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left. Genesis 13:9
In some cultures a younger person is expected to permit his elder to enter a room first. In others, the most important or highest ranking individual enters first. No matter what our traditions, there are times when we find it difficult to allow someone to choose first on important matters, especially when that privilege rightfully belongs to us.
Abram (later called Abraham) and his nephew Lot had so many flocks, herds, and tents that the land could not support both of them as they traveled together. To avoid conflict, Abram suggested they part company and generously gave Lot first choice of the land. His nephew took the fertile Jordan Valley, leaving Abram with the less desirable land.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
Abram did not insist on his rights as the elder in this situation but trusted his future to God. “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me . . . . Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left’ ” (Gen. 13.8–9). Lot’s choice eventually led to dire consequences for his entire family (see Gen. 19).
Today, as we face choices of many kinds, we can trust our Father to guide us in His way. He has promised to care for us. He will always give us what we need.
Father, Your unfailing love and faithfulness guide us in every choice we make. May our lives speak well of You and honor You today.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
SPILLING THROUGH MY FINGERS
|
Posted:Mar 16, 2017 4:34 am
Last Updated:Apr 17, 2017 4:54 am 14407 Views
|
Read: Isaiah 40:9–17
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 28–29
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand . . . ? Isaiah 40:12
After I clumsily knocked over my glass on the restaurant counter, the spilled beverage began to cascade over the edge and onto the floor. Out of sheer embarrassment, I tried to catch the waterfall with cupped hands. My efforts were largely unsuccessful; most of my beverage rushed through my fingers. In the end, my upturned palms held little more than a meager tablespoon each, while my feet stood in puddles.
My life feels similar on many days. I find myself scrambling to solve problems, oversee details, and control circumstances. No matter how hard I try, my feeble hands are incapable of managing all the pieces and parts. Something invariably slips through my fingers and pools on the floor at my feet, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. No amount of contorting my hands or squeezing my fingers more tightly together makes me able to handle it all.
Help me, Lord, to trust my needs and concerns into Your perfect care.
Yet God can. Isaiah tells us that God can measure the globe’s waters—all the oceans and rivers and rain—in the hollow of His hands (40:12). Only His hands are large enough to hold them all. We needn’t try to hold more than the tablespoon He’s designed our hands to carry. When we feel overwhelmed, we can entrust our cares and concerns into His capable hands.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to hold everything in my hands, but instead to trust my needs and concerns into Your perfect care.
We can trust God to handle the things that overwhelm us.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
