PROMISE A PEACEFUL HOME
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Posted:Aug 17, 2017 5:44 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 17819 Views
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Read: Micah 4:1–5
Bible in a Year: Psalms 97–99; Romans 16
Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. Micah 4:4
Sixty-five million. That’s the number of refugees in our world today—people who have had to leave their homes due to conflict and persecution—and it’s higher than it’s ever been. The UN has petitioned leaders to work together in receiving refugees so that every will get an education, every adult will find meaningful work, and every family will have a home.
The dream of making homes for refugees in crisis reminds me of a promise God made to the nation of Judah when ruthless Assyrian armies threatened their homes. The Lord commissioned the prophet Micah to warn the people that they would lose their temple and their beloved city of Jerusalem. But God also promised a beautiful future beyond the loss.
God promises His a peaceful home in His kingdom.
A day will come, said Micah, when God will call the peoples of the world to Himself. Violence will end. Weapons of war will become farming tools, and every person who answers God’s call will find a peaceful home and a productive life in His kingdom
(4:3–4).
For many in the world today, and maybe for you, a safe home remains more a dream than a reality. But we can rely on God’s ancient promise of a home for people of all nations, even as we wait and work and pray for those peaceful homes to become a reality.
God, thank You for the beautiful promise of a home. Please bring peace to our world, and provide for the needs of all of Your .
God promises His a peaceful home in His kingdom.
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NOT FEAR BUT FAITH
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Posted:Aug 16, 2017 3:44 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 17808 Views
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Read: Numbers 13:25–14:9
Bible in a Year: Psalms 94–96; Romans 15:14–33
The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. Numbers 14:9
“My husband was offered a promotion in another country, but I feared leaving our home, so he reluctantly declined the offer,” my friend shared with me. She explained how apprehension over such a big change kept her from embracing a new adventure, and that she sometimes wondered what they missed in not moving.
The Israelites let their anxieties paralyze them when they were called to inhabit a rich and fertile land that flowed “with milk and honey” (Ex. 33:3). When they heard the reports of the powerful people in large cities (Num. 13:28, they started to fear. The majority of the Israelites rejected the call to enter the land.
Loving Father, may I not let my fear stop me from following You.
But Joshua and Caleb urged them to trust in the Lord, saying, “Do not be afraid of the people in the land” for the “Lord is with us” (14:9). Although the people there appeared large, they could trust the Lord to be with them.
My friend wasn’t commanded to move to another country like the Israelites were, yet she regretted letting fear close off the opportunity. What about you—do you face a fearful situation? If so, know that the Lord is with you and will guide you. With His never-failing love, we can move forward in faith.
Loving Father, may I not let my fear stop me from following You, for I know that You will always love me and will never leave me.
Fear can paralyze but faith propels us to follow God.
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Under His Wings
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Posted:Aug 15, 2017 5:09 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 17742 Views
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Read: Psalm 91
Bible in a Year: Psalms 91–93; Romans 15:1–13
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4
When I think of protection, I don’t automatically think of a bird’s feathers. Though a bird’s feathers might seem like a flimsy form of protection, there is more to them than meets the eye.
Bird feathers are an amazing example of God’s design. Feathers have a smooth part and a fluffy part. The smooth part of the feather has stiff barbs with tiny hooks that lock together like the prongs of a zipper. The fluffy part keeps a bird warm. Together both parts of the feather protect the bird from wind and rain. But many baby birds are covered in a fluffy down and their feathers haven’t fully developed. So a mother bird has to cover them in the nest with her own feathers to protect them from wind and rain.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4
The image of God “[covering] us with his feathers” in Psalm 91:4 and in other Bible passages (see Ps. 17.8 is one of comfort and protection. The image that comes to mind is a mother bird covering her little ones with her feathers. Like a parent whose arms are a safe place to retreat from a scary storm or a hurt, God’s comforting presence provides safety and protection from life’s emotional storms.
Though we go through trouble and heartache, we can face them without fear as long as our faces are turned toward God. He is our “refuge” (91:2, 4, 9).
Father God, help me trust that You are bigger than any fear I have.
When fear causes hope to fade, flee to God, the refuge you can reach on your knees.
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LOVE FOR ´S
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Posted:Aug 14, 2017 4:30 am
Last Updated:Aug 15, 2017 5:09 am 17674 Views
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Read: Matthew 18:1–10
Bible in a Year: Psalms 89–90; Romans 14
Let the come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these . Matthew 19:14
Thomas Barnado entered the London Hospital medical school in 1865, dreaming of life as a medical missionary in China. Barnado soon discovered a desperate need in his own front yard—the many homeless living and dying on the streets of London. Barnado determined to do something about this horrendous situation. Developing homes for destitute in London’s east end, Barnado rescued some 60,000 boys and girls from poverty and possible early death. Theologian and pastor John Stott said, “Today we might call him the patron saint of street .”
Jesus said, “Let the come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these ” (Matt. 19:14). Imagine the surprise the crowds—and Jesus’s own disciples—must have felt at this declaration. In the ancient world, had little value and were largely relegated to the margins of life. Yet Jesus welcomed, blessed, and valued .
James, a New Testament writer, challenged Christ-followers saying, “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans . . . in their troubles” (James 1:27 ). Today, like those first-century orphans, of every social strata, ethnicity, and family environment are at risk due to neglect, human trafficking, abuse, drugs, and more. How can we honor the Father who loves us by showing His care for these little ones Jesus welcomes?
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Be an expression of the love of Jesus.
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IF ONLY.....
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Posted:Aug 11, 2017 5:22 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 17680 Views
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Read: John 11:21–35
Bible in a Year: Psalms 81–83; Romans 11:19–36
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:32
As we exited the parking lot, my husband slowed the car to wait for a young woman riding her bike. When Tom nodded to indicate she could go first, she smiled, waved, and rode on. Moments later, the driver from a parked SUV threw his door open, knocking the young bicyclist to the pavement. Her legs bleeding, she cried as she examined her bent-up bike.
Later, we reflected on the accident: If only we had made her wait . . . If only the driver had looked before opening his door. If only . . . Difficulties catch us up in a cycle of second-guessing ourselves. If only I had known my was with teens who were drinking . . . If only we had found the cancer earlier . . .
When unexpected trouble comes, we sometimes question the goodness of God. We may even feel the despair that Martha and Mary experienced when their brother died. Oh, if Jesus had only come when He first found out that Lazarus was sick!
(John 11:21, 32).
Like Martha and Mary, we don’t always understand why hard things happen to us. But we can rest in the knowledge that God is working out His purposes for a greater good. In every circumstance, we can trust the wisdom of our faithful and loving God.
Father, You have carried me through hard circumstances before. Thank You for teaching me to trust Your heart of love even when I don’t understand what You are doing in my life.
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To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust Him in the dark—that is faith.
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OUR FATHER´S FACE
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Posted:Aug 10, 2017 5:02 am
Last Updated:Aug 10, 2017 5:04 am 17635 Views
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Read: Psalm 80
Bible in a Year: Psalms 79–80; Romans 11:1–18
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3
I remember my father’s face. It was hard to read. He was a kind man, but stoic and self-contained. As a , I often searched his face, looking for a smile or other show of affection. Faces are us. A frown, a sullen look, a smile, and crinkly eyes reveal what we feel about others. Our faces are our “tell.”
Asaph, the author of Psalm 80, was distraught and wanted to see the Lord’s face. He looked north from his vantage point in Jerusalem and saw Judah's sister-state, Israel, collapse under the weight of the Assyrian Empire. With her buffer state gone, Judah was vulnerable to invasion from all sides—Assyria from the north, Egypt from the south, and the Arab nations from the east. She was outnumbered and outmatched.
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3
Asaph gathered up his fears in a prayer, three times repeated (80:3, 7, 19), “Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” (Or, in other words, let me see Your smile.)
It’s good to look away from our fears and search our heavenly Father’s face. The best way to see God’s face is to look at the cross. The cross is His “tell” (John 3:16).
So know this: When your Father looks at you, He has a great big smile on His face. You’re very safe!
Ask God to shine His face on you. For further help in prayer, try praying this Psalm or others.
God’s love for us is as expansive as the open arms of Christ on the cross.
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THE HEART OF CRIST
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Posted:Aug 9, 2017 6:50 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 11824 Views
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Read: Exodus 32:21–32 |
Bible in a Year: Psalms 77–78; Romans 10
Please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written. Exodus 32:32
An Australian journalist who spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail expressed mixed emotions when he was released. While admitting his relief, he said he accepted his freedom with incredible concern for the friends he was leaving behind. He said he found it extremely hard to say goodbye to fellow reporters who had been arrested and jailed with him—not knowing how much longer they were going to be held.
Moses also expressed great anxiety at the thought of leaving friends behind. When faced with the thought of losing the brother, sister, and nation that had worshiped a golden calf while he was meeting with God on Mount Sinai (Ex. 32:11–14), he interceded for them. Showing how deeply he cared, he pled, “But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written” (v. 32).
Father in heaven, thank You for being willing to live—and die—for us.
The apostle Paul later expressed a similar concern for family, friends, and nation. Grieving their unbelief in Jesus, Paul said he would be willing to give up his own relationship with Christ if by such love he could save his brothers and sisters
(Rom. 9:3).
Looking back, we see that Moses and Paul both expressed the heart of Christ. Yet, the love they could only feel, and the sacrifice they could only offer, Jesus fulfilled—to be with us forever.
Father in heaven, thank You for reminding us how much it is like You to be willing to live—and die—for those who have not yet seen how much You love them.
Caring for others honors Jesus’s love for us.
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AVAILABLE TO ALL
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Posted:Aug 8, 2017 3:37 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 1:44 pm 7920 Views
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Read: Mark 10:42–52
Bible in a Year: Psalms 74–76; Romans 9:16–33
For even the of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
In today’s celebrity-obsessed culture, it isn’t surprising that entrepreneurs are marketing “celebrities as products . . . allowing them to sell their personal time and attention.” Vauhini Vara’s article in The New Yorker noted that for $15,000, you can have a personal meeting with singer Shakira, while $12,000 will give you and eleven guests lunch with celebrity chef Michael Chiarello at his estate.
Many people treated Jesus like a celebrity as they followed Him from place to place, listened to His teaching, observed His miracles, and sought healing from His touch. Yet Jesus was never self-important or aloof, but available to all. When His followers James and John were privately jockeying for position in His coming kingdom, Jesus reminded all His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43–44).
Jesus, help us to demonstrate Your love to others today.
Soon after Jesus said this, He stopped a procession of people following Him to ask a blind beggar, “What do you want me to do for you?” (v. 51) “Rabbi, I want to see,” the man replied. He received his sight immediately and followed Jesus (v. 52).
Our Lord “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (v. 45). May we, like Him, be compassionate and available to others today.
Lord Jesus, we honor You as the of God and Lord of glory who died for all. Help us to demonstrate Your love to others today.
Follow Jesus’s example: Reach out to others in need.
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LIFE TO THE FULL
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Posted:Aug 7, 2017 4:48 am
Last Updated:Aug 7, 2017 4:49 am 6817 Views
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Read: Mark 10:28–31; John 10:9–10
Bible in a Year: Psalms 72–73; Romans 9:1–15
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
When I stopped by to visit my sister’s family, my nephews eagerly showed me their new chore system, a set of Choropoly boards. Each colorful electronic board keeps track of their chores. A job well done means the can hit a green button, which adds points to their “spending” account. A misdeed like leaving the back door open results in a fine being deducted from the total. Since a high-points total leads to exciting rewards such as computer time—and misdeeds deduct from that total—my nephews are now unusually motivated to do their work and to keep the door closed!
The ingenious system had me joking that I wished I had such an exciting motivational tool! But of course God has given us motivation. Rather than simply commanding obedience, Jesus has promised that a life of following Him, while costly, is also a life of abundance, “life . . . to the full” (John 10:10). Experiencing life in His kingdom is worth “one hundred times” the cost—now and eternally (Mark 10:29–30).
Lord, help us to remember there is great meaning in following You and that it is all so worth it.
We can rejoice in the fact that we serve a generous God, One who does not reward and punish as we deserve. He generously accepts our weakest efforts—even welcoming and rewarding latecomers to His kingdom as generously as old-timers (see Matt. 20:1–16). In light of this reality, let us joyfully serve Him today.
Lord, help us to remember there is great meaning in following You and that it is all so worth it.
Following Jesus is the way to a rich and satisfying life.
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TRAINING FOR LIFE
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Posted:Aug 4, 2017 4:44 am
Last Updated:Aug 4, 2017 4:44 am 5560 Views
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Read: Psalm 66:8–12
Bible in a Year: Psalms 66–67; Romans 7
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. Psalm 66:10
My training for the long-distance race was going badly, and the latest run was particularly disappointing. I walked half the time and even had to sit down at one point. It felt like I had failed a mini-test.
Then I remembered that this was the whole point of training. It was not a test to pass, nor was there a grade I had to achieve. Rather, it was something I simply had to go through, again and again, to improve my endurance.
Lord, I know that You allow me to go through trials so that I will be strengthened and purified.
Perhaps you feel bad about a trial you are facing. God allows us to undergo these times of testing to toughen our spiritual muscles and endurance. He teaches us to rely on Him, and purifies us to be holy, so that we become more like Christ.
No wonder the psalmist could praise God for refining the Israelites through fire and water (Ps. 66:10–12) as they suffered in slavery and exile. God not only preserved them and brought them to a place of great abundance, but also purified them in the process.
As we go through testing, we can rely on God for strength and perseverance. He is refining us through our toughest moments.
Lord, I know that You allow me to go through trials so that I will be strengthened and purified. Teach me to keep relying on You for Your strength to endure.
Faith-testing times can be faith-strengthening times.
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