365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 37

Eternal Hope
Isaiah 40:31

For nearly half of my adult life, I was a video producer, meaning that I traveled around the world capturing video for Bible study curriculum. My crew and I shot in such places as Trafalgar Square in London, Hiroshima in Japan, the pyramids in Egypt and Masada in Israel, among others. Dream job, right? I loved my job, and I loved the people with whom I worked, but one day I woke up, and that job was gone. Suddenly I found myself trying to decide what to do next.

I had spent many years confident that I was square in the middle of God’s will for my life, but then, in the blink of an eye, I wasn’t sure anymore. I felt confused but never alone. God quickly began to teach me to trust in him and lean on him with a whole new urgency. He continually drew me to his Word and set me on a new path. Here’s the deal though: I still don’t know exactly what that path is, so I’m learning to trust him each day. Sometimes it’s hard to wait. Truth be told, some days I don’t want to get out of bed. Hopelessness creeps in. It’s in those times that God gives me an extra measure of hope through friends, strangers, circumstances and his Word. So I wait patiently for his plan for my life to unfold. I’m excited to see what he will do next.

I don’t know your circumstance, but if you find yourself in a place similar to the one I’m in — uncertain about the future — please know that the same God who is there for me every single day is there for you too. Allow him to be your hope.

Debbie Beavers

Taken from Fulfilled

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No Record Of Our Sins
Psalm 130

- David Roper

Out of the depths” the psalmist cries to God (Ps. 130:1). His problem surfaces: terrible guilt for things done and undone in the past. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (v.3).

But, thankfully, God forgives. He does not keep an account of past sins, no matter how many or how grievous they have been. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). God’s forgiveness then leads us to fear Him (Ps. 130:4). We worship and adore God, for grace and forgiveness cause us to love Him all the more.

But what happens if we slide back into old sins? What if sin lingers? We are to repent and “wait for the Lord” and be patient while God works (vv.5-6). We are not hopeless cases. We can “hope” in the One who will deliver us in His time.

We now have these two assurances: God’s unfailing love— He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). And God’s promise of full redemption in due time—He will redeem us from all our iniquities (Ps. 130:8) and present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude 24).

We’re forgiven! We’re free! With the psalmist, let’s worship the Lord as we await His coming.

How blest is he whose trespass
Has freely been forgiven,
Whose sin is wholly covered
Before the sight of heaven.
—Psalter

When we’re forgiven, no record is kept of our failures.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 36

Victory Cry
Joshua 6:20

Picture yourself at your niece’s final soccer game of the season. If they win, they will be in the playoffs. The team has been behind the entire game, and they look exhausted. But just in the last few minutes they’ve tied the score. Now the seconds are ticking away. The game is almost over. The parents are white-knuckled. The fans are holding their breath. Your niece makes a great move and takes the ball down the field. You’re shouting at the top of your lungs, “Go, go!” She makes an incredible pass across the field. You know this is it . . . just one goal away from victory.

The Israelites had waited 40 years to shout the victory cry. Now they’re at the goal. For six days they had followed God’s commands and had marched silently around Jericho, with only the sounds of trumpets blown by the priests. Now it was the seventh day. Imagine the suspense . . . would God himself appear to tear down the walls? Would the inhabitants of Jericho surrender without a fight? Would the Israelites make the right play? Then God gave the go-ahead: Sound the trumpets; shout for victory, and the walls of the city will collapse. Just as God promised, “the trumpets sounded, the army shouted,” and victory was theirs. The Israelites conquered the city of Jericho, finally claiming their rightful place in the promised land.

The Israelites must have felt so relieved to claim a victory after so many years of waiting and preparing. Can you relate? Have you been feeling that you are in a holding pattern, that your circumstances are not changing? Do you long to have resolution, to have even a small victory? God is working even while you are waiting. Think of this time of waiting as a process that will eventually culminate in a victory. In the meantime, remain faithful and know that God is there with you, preparing you for the battles, goals and victories to come.

Taken from NIV Women’s Devotional Bible

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Giving God Our Best
1 Chronicles 22

- Julie Ackerman Link

We had rehearsed the song for several weeks, and it sounded good. But there was one tricky section that we just couldn’t get right. We were ready to call it good enough. Our choir director seemed to agree. He too was weary of rehearsing the same few measures over and over.

Finally he said, “We’ve worked hard on this. You’re tired. I’m tired. We’re running short on time. And 99 percent of the people won’t know whether or not we sing it right.” As we started to put away our music, he continued, “But we’re going to sing it right for the 1 percent who know the difference.” We groaned as we reopened our music to the rumpled page.

On Sunday morning when we sang it right, few people knew. But that didn’t matter. What really mattered was that we were singing from our heart for an audience of One—One who deserves excellent praise. King David wanted an “exceedingly magnificent” house built for the Lord (1 Chron. 22:5). So before he died, he made sure his son Solomon had everything he needed to build the temple—an abundance of gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, stone, and skilled craftsmen (vv.14-15).

Whatever we do, our audience of One deserves our very best.

O worship the King,
All glorious above,
And gratefully sing
His power and His love.
—Grant

When we worship God, only our best is good enough.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 35

Who God Is
Isaiah 30:18

Justice

According to Isaiah, when God shows compassion and justice, he is simply being himself. God’s fervor for justice is a component of his moral perfection; he longs for what is best for his creatures. Similarly, God’s loathing for injustice is a component of his opposition to the destructive effects of unrighteousness. Sin, which can be defined as anything contrary to the character of God, always leads to the pain and degradation of injustice toward others. Righteousness, which may be identified as conformity to God’s character, is exhibited in attitudes and actions of fairness, integrity, truthfulness and honesty toward others. Scripture consistently associates sin with self-centeredness, while justice and righteousness are expressions of other-centeredness.

God’s passion for justice is evident from Genesis through Revelation. The poets and prophets in particular extolled this divine attribute: “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:5). “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14). “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy” (Psalm 111:7). “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice” (Proverbs 29:26). “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing” (Isaiah 61:8). “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24). Justice was also a prominent concern of Jesus, conspicuous in the manner in which he transcended social, racial and economic barriers in his ministry.

Taken from NIV Leadership Bible

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Corky
John 16:5-16

- Dennis Fisher

Stephen Kuusisto grew up feeling a stigma about being legally blind. For him, sight consisted of a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, and shadows. Privately he would press his face close to the page of a book and memorize street names in an exhausting attempt to appear more able to see than he really could.

When Stephen was 39, his life changed after he acquired an affectionate and carefully trained guide dog named Corky. In learning to use Corky to lead him, Stephen reflected on the growing trust in their relationship. He said, “Faith moves from belief into conviction, then to certainty. We are a ...powerhouse!” When Stephen admitted that he needed the help of a sighted companion, a new world of freedom and mobility opened up to him.

Many believers blindly stumble their way through the Christian life in their own strength. Seemingly, they are unaware that God has provided a supernatural Guide to lead the way. Jesus said He would send us a Comforter who would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). When we confess all known sin and then depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us (Gal. 5:16,18), we become a powerhouse for God! “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

I’d rather walk in the dark with God
Than go alone in the light;
I’d rather walk by faith with Him
Than go alone by sight.
—Anon.

Where God guides, He provides.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 34

REFLECTION
Proverbs 23:17-18

The writer of Psalm 73 was alarmed that the wicked seemed to be having a great time in life and the righteous seemed to be suffering. That didn’t fit the picture of God’s justice — until the psalmist came into God’s presence and got an eternal perspective (see Psalm 73:17). He realized that in the long run, the pleasures of the wicked will pass into pain and the pain of those who love God will give way to pleasures in his presence forever. The momentary view was deceptive.

That’s why Proverbs strongly warns us here and elsewhere (see Proverbs 3:31; 24:1 – 2,19 – 20) against envying those who are not living for God. At times it may look like they are having all the fun, but their lives will ultimately be unfulfilling unless they forsake evil and follow God’s paths. Because we are confident in our hope, we can be zealous for God and refuse to envy sinners. We are rich in God’s goodness not only now but also in the future. We will never regret the hard choices we make for him.

Taken from Once a Day 31 Days of Wisdom

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Cracked Lenses
Psalm 141

- Bill Crowder

I started wearing glasses when I was 10 years old. They are still a necessity because my 50-something eyes are losing their battle against time. When I was younger, I thought glasses were a nuisance—especially when playing sports. Once, the lenses of my glasses got cracked while I was playing softball. It took several weeks to get them replaced. In the meantime, I saw everything in a skewed and dis- torted way.

In life, pain often functions like cracked lenses. It creates within us a conflict between what we experience and what we believe. Pain can give us a badly distorted perspective on life— and on God. In those times, we need our God to provide us with new lenses to help us see clearly again. That clarity of sight usually begins when we turn our eyes upon the Lord. The psalmist encouraged us to do this: “My eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute” (141:8). Seeing God clearly can help us see life’s experiences more clearly.

As we turn our eyes to the Lord in times of pain and struggle, we will experience His comfort and hope in our daily lives. He will help us to see everything clearly again.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
—Lemmel

Focusing on Christ puts everything in perspective.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 33

The Desire for Justice
Habakkuk 1:2,4

The prophet Habakkuk introduces his book by protesting to God about the presence of injustice. Several times he questions the Lord’s inaction to bring about justice (see Habakkuk 1:2 – 3). We can all relate to this feeling, which is similar to the experiences of Job (see Job 3:1) and David (see Psalm 13:1 – 2).

We all have within us a desire to see justice and righteousness win out. In God’s original design in the Garden of Eden, the plan was that we would never experience injustice. We were to be spared from this: “But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). We were not meant to know these dark parts of life. So when, like Habakkuk, we protest injustice before God, it simply shows that we desire the garden again, a life of experiencing only love, justice and mercy. When we argue against the mistreatment or abuse at the hands of another person, an economy that ends a job or a depression that is difficult to live with, we are agreeing that life was not intended to go this way.

The day will come when God restores the world to himself and rights all wrongs: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). But until then, we must learn to live in today’s realities, trusting God, learning to grieve the garden and looking forward to his redemption of the world.

Taken from NIV Life Journey Bible

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Changing The World
Luke 6:41-45

- Cindy Hess Kasper

It’s a full-time job trying to get people to change. Oh, what a perfect world it would be—if only other people would do what we want!

A plaque in our family room may hold the key to the secret of change. It’s in Dutch, but translated it reads:

CHANGE THE WORLD— BEGIN WITH YOURSELF

Not what most of us want to hear!

Jesus told a parable about the problem of not seeing our own faults. He said, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye” (Luke 6:42).

Being able to see other people’s faults easily without ever noticing my own is not just an indication of hypocrisy. It can be a wake-up call that the problem in a struggling relationship may be me. Perhaps it’s my attitude that needs to change. Or I’m the one who needs to apologize. Maybe I’m the person who needs a humble spirit.

It’s a lesson some of us have to learn over and over. We can’t change others, but with God’s help we can change our own behavior. And when our attitude changes, it may seem as if others have changed as well.

To change can be a wonderful prospect,
Though often it’s met with resistance;
The transformation begins within us
And will take a lot of persistence.
—Hess

When God works a change in us He can change others through us.

GOD's Grace: I Have Trouble Being Happy

I Have Trouble Being Happy
Ecclesiastes 3:11

As life goes on, sometimes it drags on, doesn’t it? Our gait slows, our heads droop. Saggy faces see only the ground, the dust, the litter, and garbage. When we look and think only about our own little worlds, the ones we’ve constructed, our lives can seem small and cramped and brittle. Things break. People let us down. Things we’ve woven unravel. Things we’ve built soften and erode like sand castles at the beach.

“Lift up your heads,” the Bible tells us. See things from God’s point of view, God’s intent, God’s design. See where you fit in both in this world and the next: “God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

The poorest person in the world can enjoy a fiery sunset for free--how long has it been since you sat still and just gawked at God’s celestial paintbrush? or got out of town and stood in silent wonder beneath the stars on a cloudless night? or watched the surf ceaselessly smash into a rocky coastline?

Even better--how long has it been since you savored the Bible’s descriptions of how beautiful heaven will be? God put eternity in your heart for a reason.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 32

Divine Justice
Psalm 7:6

The idea that those who reject God will experience torment for eternity is offensive to many people. It seems like awfully vicious behavior from one who is known as a loving God.

Dr. D. A. Carson, prominent professor and scholar, says, “In the first place, the Bible says that there are different degrees of punishment, so I’m not sure that it’s the same level of intensity for all people.

“In the second place, if God took his hands off this fallen world so that there were no restraint on human wickedness, we would make hell. Thus if you allow a whole lot of sinners to live somewhere in a confined place where they’re not doing damage to anyone but themselves, what do you get but hell? There’s a sense in which they’re doing it to themselves, and it’s what they want because they still don’t repent. One of the things the Bible does insist is that in the end not only will justice be done, but justice will be seen to be done, so that every mouth will be stopped.”

In other words, at the time of judgment there is nobody in the world who will walk away from that experience saying that God had treated them unfairly. Everyone will recognize the fundamental justice in the way God judges them and the world.

“Justice is not always done in this world; we see that every day,” Carson says. “But on the last day it will be done for all to see. And no one will be able to complain by saying, ‘This isn’t fair.’ ”

— Adapted from interview with Dr. D. A. Carson

Taken from The Case for Christ Study Bible

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Be Coachable
Philippians 4:10-19

- Dave Egner

Casey Seymour, a successful soccer player and coach, notes that everyone on his team hates the 10-by-100 drill that ends practice. Before the men can leave the field, they must run 100 yards 10 times at full speed with minimal rest. If they don’t beat a prescribed time, they have to do it again.

The players hate it—until the day of the game. Then they find that they can play at full capacity for the entire match. Their effort has been rewarded with a championship!

The apostle Paul used metaphors of training and competition in his letters. While he was a missionary to the Gentiles, he submitted to the instructions and drills of God amid great suffering and hardship. Twice in Philippians 4, he said, “I have learned” (vv.11-12). For him, and for each of us, following Jesus is a lifelong learning process. We are not spiritually mature the day we are saved, any more than a schoolboy athlete is ready for professional soccer. We grow in faith as we allow God through His Word and the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve Him.

Through hardship, Paul learned to serve God well—and so can we. It’s not pleasant, but it is rewarding! The more teachable we are, the more mature we will become. As members of Christ’s team, let’s be coachable.

Oh, it’s hard to learn the lesson,
As we pass beneath the rod,
That the sunshine and the shadow
Serve alike the will of God.
—Anon.

God’s work in us isn’t over when we receive Christ— it has just begun.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 31

The Just God
Psalm 11: 5, 7

God’s Story

Psalm 7: David’s enemies are after him, accusing him of evil. But David is innocent and he appeals to the just God to defend him and crush his enemies.

Psalm 8: David is in awe: The Planet-Crafter and Star-Holder cares about people and their lives, even putting them in charge of his magnificent earth.

Psalm 9: God has crushed David’s enemies, and David can’t help but sing for joy to the God who sets everything right.

Psalm 10: The wicked seem to be winning, and the psalmist calls on God to rise up. In the meantime, he consoles himself: God sees, he knows and he will tenderly take care of the victims. God will make sure that all will be well.

Psalm 11: Trouble is coming to the psalmist, but he’s already resting in God. God sees everything and measures everyone’s hearts.

Psalm 12: David has been lied to and he’s tired of unfaithful people. But God’s words are trustworthy, so he puts his hope in them.

The King’s Heart

“The wicked, those who love violence, [God] hates with a passion . . . For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face” (Psalm 11:5,7).

When cheaters win, when hypocrites posture, when innocence is stolen, when truth is mocked, we know it isn’t right. It angers us, infuriates us. An instinct rises up in us, and we know that it’s evil, unjust.

That instinct isn’t instinct — it’s image. God’s image. In us. God hates evil too.

Evil angers God. He abhors it — passionately, fervently. He is good and his ways are good, and violating those ways means that safety is shattered and people get hurt. And God doesn’t just dislike that, he vehemently hates it.

God hates evil. It is an echo — and often an orchestration — of the enemy. Evil is not the way of God’s kingdom. It is a misfit. When our good God ushers in his kingdom for all time, evil and the minions that spawn it will be banished forever. Until then, we can stand in solidarity with our King — hating and pushing against it.

Insight

Many Biblical scholars think that Psalms 9 and 10 were originally one psalm. That’s partly because each of the two psalms include incomplete acrostics, with Psalm 9 containing the first part of the Hebrew alphabet and Psalm 10 containing the rest.

Taken from Discover God’s Heart

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Another Chance
Philemon 1:8-19

- Albert Lee

For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed Carrara marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. Then, in 1501, a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.

For 3 years, he chiseled and shaped the marble skillfully. Finally, when the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, “Master, it lacks only one thing—speech!”

Onesimus was like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful servant when he fled from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to Paul’s ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he commended him as one “who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me” (1:11). He asked Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother (v.16).

Paul knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. Now he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too.

Christ takes each sin, each pain, each loss,
And by the power of His cross
Transforms our brokenness and shame;
So that our lives exalt His name.
—D. De Haan

Our rough edges must be chipped away to bring out the image of Christ.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 30

Choose Kindness
2 Timothy 2:24

*What are some choices that you make every day?

*What is it like to be around a person who likes to start arguments and pick fights?

When Paul writes that we should not be quarrelsome, he means that we should not be running around picking unnecessary fights. Instead, we should be kind to others. The Lord’s servants — that’s us! — are supposed to be peaceful. We are supposed to work to promote peace, not conflict.

Kindness is a choice. We need to choose to be kind. Our natural tendency might often be to argue instead of being kind, but this doesn’t make it okay. In every encounter we have throughout the day, we have a choice: We can be kind or we can be unkind. We can choose to get along or we can pick a fight. God wants us to choose kindness.

What about when people are unkind to us? What about those times when people are quarrelsome? Even in those instances, we are to choose kindness. We can walk away from conflict. Kindness is always an option.

Prayer

Dear God, please help us to honor you by choosing kindness. Amen.

Taken from Once a Day At the Table

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Written In Blood
Galatians 6:11-18

- Mart De Haan

In the twisted wreckage of a Metro- link train crash, firefighters from Los Angeles Fire Station 27 found a message that brought tears to their eyes. A survivor of the crash, thinking he was dying, had used his own blood to write on the seat in front of him that he loved his wife and kids.

Normally, we use the words “written in blood” in a less literal way. It usually conveys a willingness to stand behind our words with our life.

As Paul ended his letter to the Galatians, he was, in a figurative sense, writing his story in blood. He wrote a message of love and grace that would arouse the anger of other religious leaders. He knew he would be hated for honoring the death of Christ above the ritual and moral law of Israel. He would be punished for teaching that Christ’s death and resurrection were more important than the law of circumcision that represented the whole Mosaic way of life. His suffering for Christ would literally include shedding his own blood (2 Cor. 11:23-25).

Paul wasn’t willing to play it safe. He knew the crucifixion of Jesus was the center page of history. Putting his own life on the line, Paul proclaimed the inexpressible heart of God, who gave His Son to express the ultimate words of love, written in blood at the cross.

The Father wrote His autograph
Upon a cross of shame,
With pen divine, all dipped in blood,
“Forgiven in Jesus’ name.”
—Bosch

To show His love, Jesus died for me; to show my love, I must live for Him!

Prayer: Unusual Grace

#Prayer
Joseph received Unusual Grace to fulfill his destiny, despite what his brothers and Potiphar's wife did.

No matter the circumstances around me, I received Unusual Grace to breakthrough in Jesus name.

GRACE: My Life Is A Mess

My Life Is A Mess
Luke 15:21-23

"The meaning of life, the wasted years of life, the poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: 'grace.'"--Max Lucado

In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, with whom do you identify? The prodigal? The judgmental brother? The forgiving father? At one time or another in your life you will probably have been all three. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf’” (Luke 15:21-23).

What a great story to teach the Bible’s central truth that God’s grace is the force that transforms our lives--it changes His righteous anger into mercy toward us, changes our unbelief into faith, and changes our lives from selfishness to service. Grace is God’s unconditional love for those who don’t deserve it.

Just when you think there is no hope for you, His grace touches your heart. Just when words of judgment on another sinner start rising up your throat, his grace leads you to choke them off before you utter them. And when someone in your life says, “I’m sorry,” quick!--get a ring, a robe, and a calf.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 29

How to Restore Relationships
Numbers 5:5-8

Sue loved her new sweater. She couldn’t wait to show it to her friend Leslie. The two decided to meet for dinner and a movie. Leslie loved the sweater too. She immediately said, “That sweater would be perfect for my office party. Can I borrow it?” Sue hesitated, but decided a friend was more valuable than an article of clothing, so she agreed. When she got the sweater back, there was a hole under the arm. Leslie apologized profusely, saying, “It must have unraveled. I’m so sorry.” Sue nodded and said, “Oh, it’s okay.” But things were never the same between them. Sue felt Leslie had taken advantage of her. Leslie thought Sue had overreacted over a simple article of clothing. Over time, the friendship unraveled like the sweater. What would have happened if Leslie had offered to repair or replace the sweater . . . and maybe added a scarf to apologize?

When God gave Moses the Law, he instituted a system of restitution: Anyone who injured another paid the price for what was stolen or destroyed and added 20 percent to the value. We may think of restitution as justice for the wronged party and punishment for the offender. But restitution offers more: It builds a bridge between the two parties, paving the way for relationships to be restored. By confessing the sin and compensating for any loss, the offender no longer has to deal with guilt. Receiving restitution and more frees the injured party from feeling unfairly treated.

Forgiveness from God coupled with responsibility toward the other person are key to restoring relationships. In Jesus’ eyes, those broken relationships are always our responsibility. If someone has something against us, he calls us to go and make it right (see Matthew 5:23 – 24). If we have something against another, we’re responsible to take the initiative to settle our differences with them (see Matthew 18:15). It’s not always comfortable. But it’s always the right thing to do.

Do you feel taken advantage of? Maybe it’s time to engage someone in conversation rather than detach from your relationship with them. Or maybe you’ve unintentionally mistreated a friend . . . you owe them money or lunch or a favor. Consider what needs to be done and take action: Repay the debt, replace the item and apologize for a wrong. Do whatever it takes to restore the relationship. Do it because it pleases God and because your relationships will be richer for it.

Taken from Women’s Devotional Bible

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This Is a Warning
Deuteronomy 28:58-63

- David McCasland

My wife purchased a birthday card containing these words from a paraphrase: “The Lord has rejoiced over you and has done such wonderful things for you” (Deut. 28:63 tlb). It was such a beautiful thought that she turned to the passage to read more.

She found that the words printed on the card were only part of one sentence in a section where God warned His people what would happen if they turned away from Him and disobeyed His commands. The entire verse reads, “Just as the Lord has rejoiced over you and has done such wonderful things for you and has multiplied you, so the Lord at that time will rejoice in destroying you; and you shall disap- pear from the land” (Deut. 28:63 tlb).

Now that would be an unusual birthday greeting!

The experience reminded me how easy it is to select pleasant phrases from the Bible while ignoring their context and meaning. Today’s passage is a warning from God to His people. It is worth pondering for what it is—an expression of certainty as firm in the spiritual realm as the law of gravity in the physical realm.

The Bible contains words of encouragement as well as words of warning. It’s important to appreciate both for their instruction in our walk with Christ.

God’s Word provides the nourishment
That every Christian needs to grow;
Supplying strength from day to day
By teaching what we need to know.
—Sper

The more we meditate on the Scriptures, the closer we’ll walk with the Savior.

Covenant Prayer Hour

365 DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 28

He Is Judge
2 Chronicles 1:6

A god who does not judge is a god of the imagination. God judges. Attempts are made to water down God’s judgment, explain it away or apologize for it, but God’s judgment is a manifestation of the reaction of his holiness to evil (Isa 42:8). Judgment is an integral part of redemptive history as seen in the fall (Ge 3:14–19), the flood (6:5–7), the plagues (Ex 3:19–20; 7:5; 11:4–5), the conquest (Jos 3:10), the destruction of Israel (2Ki 17:5–23), the destitution of Judah (25:1–21), the great tribulation (Mt 24:21–22) and the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:11–15). There are many references in Scripture to both his judgment and his love.

Judgment is necessary. Society recognizes that a judge who will not judge is a mockery. The Bible salutes God’s judgments as “firm” and “righteous” (Ps 19:9), impartial (Ro 2:11), perfect (Ps 19:7) and complete (Rev 15:1).

All sin starts when we determine that we want to be like God (Ge 3:5–6). This attitude of the will is judged (Isa 14:14–15). The cross did not do away with judgment; it served as the lightning rod (Col 2:14). At the cross judgment and mercy met, and both were victorious. Judgment is a necessity; the cross has no meaning without it (Ro 3:24–26). In judgment, our innermost attitudes will be revealed, and justice will be administered. We would do well to prepare our hearts (2Co 5:9–11).

Taken from The Woman’s Study Bible

OUR DAILY BREAD

Rubberneck
1 Peter 1:3-12

- Dennis Fisher

Have you ever watched people at a tourist spot? At places like the Coliseum in Rome, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, or the Grand Canyon in Arizona, visitors strain their necks to get a better view. Some call this “rubbernecking,” which means “to observe with curiosity.”

The Bible tells us that such fascination also goes on in the heavenly places. The apostle Peter pulls back the curtain of heaven to let us see angels gazing at God’s plan of redemption—“things which angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12). The Greek word translated “look into” means “to stoop and look at carefully with curiosity.”

But why are angels so fascinated by man’s salvation? The most likely explanation is that they are amazed at the astonishing way God solved the problem of sin (Eph. 3:8-12). The cross was the means by which God provided His Son as the righteous substitute to pay the penalty for sin while upholding His holy standard (Rom. 3:19- 31). God now provides redemption to any human being who will repent, believe, and receive it.

Are you thankful for your salvation? The angels are! They rejoice every time a sinner repents and puts his faith in Christ (Luke 15:10).

I look at the cross upon Calvary,
And O what a wonder divine!
To think of the wealth it holds for me—
The riches of heaven are mine.
—Christiansen

The cross of Christ is the bridge between God and man.

GOD Is Light

#GODIsLight
- 1 John 1:5

How Does God Accomplish His Purposes Today?

How Does God Accomplish His Purposes Today?
Matthew 16:13-I 9
Ephesians 4:15

From the very beginning God has had a vision to be with his people in perfect community. When the first two humans — Adam and Eve — rejected this vision and were escorted from the Garden of Eden, God began to unveil a plan to provide the way back. God’s plan consisted of making Abraham’s offspring into a great nation and then into the body of Christ through Abraham’s descendants. Thus the story of Israel pointed people of all nations to the first coming of Christ — and through him to God’s plan to restore a relationship with his people.

As Jesus was nearing his crucifixion, he told the disciples about what was ahead and about their role in accomplishing God’s ultimate vision for the coming kingdom. [Matthew 16:13-19] highlights that God’s plan for believers is still in force; the vision is for believers to come together in a community that continues to this day.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God formed this community, called the church, led by his disciples. The story of the church points people of all nations to the second coming of Christ when he will fully restore the original vision of God.

KEY VERSE

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

KEY IDEA

I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live?

In the body of Christ, you belong to a family focused on all the things of God, which are good, right, and healthy.In the body of Christ, you will grow faster in your walk with God. Because of our new identity in Christ, we live to express who we are in Christ, not to prove who we are.In the body of Christ, you become a part of a movement larger than yourself.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 27

Are We Going to Be Judged?
1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Awaiting Judgments

When Jesus Christ suffered on the cross, he received the judgment for sins. Salvation comes to Christians who put their faith in Christ and believe that the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus Christ in their place. Yet while those of us who put our faith in him escape eternal judgment, the Bible teaches that we are still accountable for our lives and time on earth. The salvation we receive guarantees our position, but it does not give us a free pass to live any way we like.

God disciplines us as his children (see Hebrews 12:4 – 11). And as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15, we are to build God-honoring lives because the purifying fire of God’s power will make clear which of us have done our best in this lifetime and which of us have not. This judgment differs from the judgment when God will separate those who believe in him from those who don’t. This passage indicates that heavenly rewards await those who build their ministries and lives with eternal materials.

Taken from NIV Essentials of the Christian Faith

OUR DAILY BREAD

When We Don't Know What To Say
Job 6:1-14

- Anne Cetas

Roy Clark and his father sat in the family car in the funeral home parking lot for several minutes. As a teenager, he wasn’t sure how to respond when his dad put his head in his hands and moaned, “I don’t know what to say!”

A friend from their church had been in a car accident. She had survived, but her three daughters had all died when a truck hit their vehicle. What could they say to their friend at a time like this?

In the Bible we are told that during Job’s time of grieving, his three friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him. For the first 7 days they sat and wept with him because he was in deep sorrow (Job 2:11-13). “No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (v.13). Their presence alone was a comfort to him.

But then they began to lecture. They told Job he must have sinned and that God was punishing him (4:7-9).

When Job was finally able to respond, he told his friends what he needed from them. He asked for reasons to continue hoping (6:11), for kindness (v.14), and for words that did not presume guilt (vv.29-30).

Remembering the story of Job and his friends may help us when we don’t know what to say.

Lord, give me sensitivity
To people in their grief and pain,
To weep with them and show Your love
In ways mere words cannot attain.
—Sper

When someone’s grieving—listen, don’t lecture.

Prayer

#Prayer
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
- Isaiah 58:11

BE THANKFUL

Psalm 111:1
Praise ye the Lord . I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
#GivePraisesToGOD

Psalm 106:1
Praise ye the Lord . O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
#BeThankful

Prayer - Unusual Grace

#Prayer
- As I go forth from today, Unusual Grace will work out my miracles in Jesus name.
- I will not be rejected in every good places I appeared this month, Unusual Grace and Favour will work for me.
- Every good things that has been difficult for me to do, Unusual Grace and Favour is making them possible in Jesus name.
- I declare that no more struggling in my life. I'm riding on the wings of Unusual Grace to achieve good things with ease in Jesus name.l

365 DAYS DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 25

How Will Believers Be Judged?
2 Corinthians 5:10

Some wonder how believers can be judged at all, since they are justified by faith and not by works. But this verse simply underscores the responsibility of believers to live according to what they believe. Though salvation is a matter of faith, other eternal rewards depend on faithfulness (see 1Co 3:8,12 – 15).

Believers are judged righteous in Christ. But they will also be rewarded according to the things they did “while in the body, whether good or bad” (compare with Ecc 12:13 – 14). God expects our actions after salvation to reflect the glory of God within us. It does make a difference what we do. We don’t need to know the details of this judgment. We need only to know that the Judge is righteous and just (see 2Ti 4:8). Only God can fairly balance all the variables: individual gifts, cultural conditions, the uncertainties of life and the opportunities we had.

Taken from NIV Essentials Study Bible

OUR DAILY BREAD

The Waiting
Genesis 15:1-6

- Marvin Williams

Any mother can tell you that waiting to give birth is an experience that builds patience. But pity the poor mother elephant. It takes about 22 months for an unborn elephant to mature to birth! The shark known as the spiny dogfish has a pregnancy duration of 22-24 months. And at elevations above 4,600 feet, the Alpine salamander endures a gestational period of up to 38 months!

Abraham could have identified with these examples from nature. In his old age, the Lord made a promise to him: “I will make you a great nation” (Gen. 12:2). But as the years passed, Abraham questioned how the fulfillment of the promise was possible without even the basic building block of a son (15:2). So God assured him, “One who will come from your own body shall be your heir” (v.4).

Despite his advanced age, Abraham believed God and was called righteous (v.6). Yet he waited 25 years from the time of the initial promise for Isaac to be born (17:1,17). Waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled is part of trusting Him. No matter how long the delay, we must wait for Him. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).

Not so in haste, my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long,
He never comes too late.
—Torrey

God always performs what He promises.

WHO AM I?

Who am I?
Luke 19:1-9
John 1:12
Romans 8:1
Matthew 11:28

The beautiful thing about God’s kingdom is that all those who welcome Jesus as their Lord are given the opportunity to accept a new identity through him. This is illustrated poignantly through the story of a crooked tax collector named Zacchaeus. Tax collectors were among the most despised people in Israel because they chose to work for Rome and were making themselves rich by gouging their fellow Jews. But Zaccheaus shows that even the lost can be adopted and made new.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” (Luke 19:1-9)

KEY VERSE

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

KEY IDEA

I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live?

Because of our new identity in Christ, we are free from condemnation. (Romans 8:1)Because of our new identity in Christ, our worth comes from our position in Christ, not our performance. (Matthew 11:28)Because of our new identity in Christ, we live to express who we are in Christ, not to prove who we are.Because of our new identity in Christ, we can focus on building others up, not tearing them down.

365 DAYS DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN - Day 24

Do Not Be Judgmental
Matthew 7:1-2

Not long ago a celebrity quoted these verses to back up her opinion that people should be tolerant of all kinds of aberrant behavior. Often, when Christians take a stand against sin, others throw these verses back in their faces. “Your own Bible says that you’re not supposed to judge,” they say with a sneer.

Today’s verses do not negate the need for critical thinking or making discerning judgments. Other places in the New Testament tell us to expose false teaching, admonish others when they need it and even exercise church discipline in cases of sinful behavior. Clearly we must make some judgments. The point is that we are not to have an attitude that is consistently condemning and critical, for that is not an attitude of love. We are not to attempt to take God’s place as judge. It may seem like a fine line, but believers can take a stand against sin without being judgmental toward the sinners. God created them, and he loves them too.

Christ has set us free to serve him with joy. Therefore, we can be discerning about sin without having a critical spirit.

God’s Promise to Me

You can take a stand against sin without being judgmental.

My Prayer to God

Lord, you say that we are not to take your place in judging others, for that judgment will be turned back on us. I pray for a discerning spirit, one that is able to see sin for what it is and deal with it honestly and lovingly while not being critical and judgmental.

Taken from Once a Day Bible Promises

OUR DAILY BREAD

Silent Witness
Philippians 1:21-27

- Bill Crowder

On a beautiful, warm January morning, a colleague and I were having breakfast in an outdoor coffee shop at MacRitchie Reservoir Park in Singapore. With a beautiful lake and immaculate gardens surrounding us and a light breeze blowing across the water, the setting was quiet, calm, and lovely.

At a nearby table, a young woman sat quietly reading her Bible. She was absorbed in the text, occasionally looking up to consider what she had read. She never said a word, but her heart and priorities were visible to everyone at that coffee shop. It was a gentle, positive, silent witness.

She was not ashamed of Christ or His Book. She neither preached a sermon nor sang a song. She was willing to be identified with the Savior, yet she did not need to announce that allegiance. In our attempts to share the message of Jesus, we must eventually use words, because ultimately words are needed to present the gospel. But we can also learn from the example of this woman.

There are times when the quietness of our everyday actions speak loudly, revealing our love for the Lord. In our desire to share Christ with a broken world, let’s not ignore the power of our silent witness.

Yielding your all to the Savior;
And letting His love flow through you;
Makes even your silent witness;
A witness of what God can do.
—Bosch

Witness for Christ with your life as well as your lips.

UNUSUAL GRACE

Prepare to experience Unusual Grace coupled with Favour this month, just like Esther experienced it. His Grace will work for you in Jesus name.