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Posted:Mar 10, 2017 5:29 am
Last Updated:Mar 13, 2017 7:07 am 15238 Views
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Read: Ephesians 2:11–22
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 11–13; Mark 12:1–27
You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people. Ephesians 2:19
A young African refugee who goes by the name of Steven is a man without a country. He thinks he may have been born in Mozambique or Zimbabwe. But he never knew his father and lost his mother. She fled civil war, traveling country to country as a street vendor. Without ID and unable to prove his place of birth, Steven walked into a British police station, asking to be arrested. Jail seemed better to Steven than trying to exist on the streets without the rights and benefits of citizenship.
The plight of living without a country was on Paul’s mind as he wrote his letter to the Ephesians. His non-Jewish readers knew what it was like to live as aliens and outsiders (2:12). Only since finding life and hope in Christ (1:13) had they discovered what it meant to belong to the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). In Jesus, they learned what it means to be known and cared for by the Father He came to reveal
(Matt. 6:31–33).
You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people. Ephesians 2:19
Paul realized, however, that as the past fades from view, a short memory can cause us to forget that, while hope is the new norm, despair was the old reality.
May our God help us to live in security—to know each day the belonging that we have as members of His family is by faith in Jesus Christ and to understand the rights and benefits of having our home in Him.
Lord, as we remember how hopeless we were before You found us, please help us not to forget those who are still on the street.
Hope means the most to those who have lived without it.
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MISTAKES WERE MADE
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Posted:Mar 9, 2017 5:36 am
Last Updated:Apr 17, 2017 4:54 am 15925 Views
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Read: Exodus 32:1–5, 19–26
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 8–10; Mark 11:19–33
They gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!
Exodus 32:24
“Mistakes were made,” said the CEO as he discussed the illegal activity his company had been involved in. He looked regretful, yet he kept blame at arm’s length and couldn’t admit he had personally done anything wrong.
Some “mistakes” are just mistakes: driving in the wrong direction, forgetting to set a timer and burning dinner, miscalculating your checkbook balance. But then there are the deliberate deeds that go far beyond—God calls those sin. When God questioned Adam and Eve about why they had disobeyed Him, they quickly tried to shift the blame to another (Gen. 3:8–13). Aaron took no personal responsibility when the people built a golden calf to worship in the desert. He explained to Moses, “[The people] gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
(Ex. 32:24).
Our God offers His forgiveness and restoration.
He might as well have muttered, “Mistakes were made.”
Sometimes it seems easier to blame someone else rather than admitting our own failings. Equally dangerous is to try to minimize our sin by calling it “just a mistake” instead of acknowledging its true nature.
But when we take responsibility—acknowledging our sin and confessing it—the One who “is faithful and just . . . will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9). Our God offers His forgiveness and restoration.
The first step to receiving God’s forgiveness is to admit that we need it.
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PAINTING A PORTRAIT
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Posted:Mar 8, 2017 4:46 am
Last Updated:Mar 8, 2017 4:46 am 12957 Views
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Read: Philippians 2:1–11
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 5–7; Mark 11:1–18
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
The National Portrait Gallery in London, England, houses a treasure of paintings from across the centuries, including 166 images of Winston Churchill, 94 of William Shakespeare, and 20 of George Washington. With the older portraits, we may wonder: Is that what these individuals really looked like?
For instance, there are eight paintings of Scottish patriot William Wallace (c. 1270–1305), but we obviously don’t have photographs to compare them to. How do we know if the artists accurately represented Wallace?
Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for us motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Something similar might be happening with the likeness of Jesus. Without realizing it, those who believe in Him are leaving an impression of Him on others. Not with brushes and oils, but with attitudes, actions, and relationships.
Are we painting a portrait that represents the likeness of His heart? This was the concern of the apostle Paul. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,” he wrote (Phil. 2:5). With a desire to accurately represent our Lord, he urged His followers to reflect the humility, self-sacrifice, and compassion of Jesus for others.
It has been said, “We are the only Jesus some people will ever see.” As we “in humility value others above [ourselves]” (v. 3), we will show the world the heart and attitude of Jesus Himself.
Father, please build the heart of Christ into my heart that those around me will see Him clearly and desire to know Him too.
Christ’s sacrifice of Himself motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.
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PAINTING A PORTRAIT
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Posted:Mar 8, 2017 4:45 am
Last Updated:May 2, 2024 9:37 pm 9796 Views
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Read: Philippians 2:1–11
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 5–7; Mark 11:1–18
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
The National Portrait Gallery in London, England, houses a treasure of paintings from across the centuries, including 166 images of Winston Churchill, 94 of William Shakespeare, and 20 of George Washington. With the older portraits, we may wonder: Is that what these individuals really looked like?
For instance, there are eight paintings of Scottish patriot William Wallace (c. 1270–1305), but we obviously don’t have photographs to compare them to. How do we know if the artists accurately represented Wallace?
Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for us motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Something similar might be happening with the likeness of Jesus. Without realizing it, those who believe in Him are leaving an impression of Him on others. Not with brushes and oils, but with attitudes, actions, and relationships.
Are we painting a portrait that represents the likeness of His heart? This was the concern of the apostle Paul. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,” he wrote (Phil. 2:5). With a desire to accurately represent our Lord, he urged His followers to reflect the humility, self-sacrifice, and compassion of Jesus for others.
It has been said, “We are the only Jesus some people will ever see.” As we “in humility value others above [ourselves]” (v. 3), we will show the world the heart and attitude of Jesus Himself.
Father, please build the heart of Christ into my heart that those around me will see Him clearly and desire to know Him too.
Christ’s sacrifice of Himself motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.
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RULER OF THE WAVES
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Posted:Mar 7, 2017 12:28 am
Last Updated:Mar 8, 2017 4:46 am 9625 Views
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Read: Job 38:1–18
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 3–4; Mark 10:32–52
[The Lord said], “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.”
Job 38.11
King Canute was one of the most powerful men on earth in the eleventh century. In a now-famous tale, it is said that he ordered his chair to be placed on the shore as the tide was rising. “You are subject to me,” he said to the sea. “I command you, therefore, not to rise on to my land, nor to wet the clothing or limbs of your master.” But the tide continued to rise, drenching the king’s feet.
This story is often told to draw attention to Canute’s pride. Actually, it’s a story about humility. “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty,” Canute says next, “save Him by whose will heaven, earth and sea obey.” Canute’s story makes a point: God is the only all-powerful One.
God is great, we are small, and that is good.
Job discovered the same. Compared to the One who laid Earth’s foundations
(Job 38:4–7), who commands morning to appear and night to end (vv. 12–13), who stocks the storehouses of the snow and directs the stars (vv. 22, 31–33), we are small. There is only one Ruler of the waves, and it is not us (v. 11; Matt. 8.23–27.
Canute’s story is good to reenact when we begin feeling too clever or proud about ourselves. Walk to the beach and tell the tide to halt or try commanding the sun to step aside. We’ll soon remember who is really supreme and thank Him for ruling our lives.
You are high and above all, Lord Almighty. I bow to You as the Ruler of my life.
God is great, we are small, and that is good.
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LOVING PERFECTLY
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Posted:Mar 6, 2017 4:56 am
Last Updated:Mar 6, 2017 4:56 am 9127 Views
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Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4–8
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 1–2; Mark 10:1–31
[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13.7–8
Her voice shook as she shared the problems she was having with her . Worried about her ’s questionable friends, this concerned mum confiscated her ’s mobile phone and chaperoned her everywhere. Their relationship seemed only to go from bad to worse.
When I spoke with the , I discovered that she loves her mum dearly but is suffocating under a smothering love. She longs to break free.
Thank You for being our model in showing us how to live and love.
As imperfect beings, we all struggle in our relationships. Whether we are a parent or , single or married, we grapple with expressing love the right way, saying and doing the right thing at the right time. We grow in love throughout our lifetime.
In 1 Corinthians 13 the apostle Paul outlines what perfect love looks like. His standard sounds wonderful, but putting that love into practice can be absolutely daunting. Thankfully, we have Jesus as our example. As He interacted with people with varying needs and issues, He showed us what perfect love looks like in action. As we walk with Him, keeping ourselves in His love and steeping our mind in His Word, we’ll reflect more and more of His likeness. We’ll still make mistakes, but God is able to redeem them and cause good to come out of every situation, for His love “always protects” and it “never fails” (vv. 7–8.
Lord, our intentions are good but we fail each other in so many ways. Thank You for being our model in showing us how to live and love.
To show His love, Jesus died for us; to show our love, we live for Him.
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TWO PORTRAITS
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Posted:Mar 3, 2017 5:45 am
Last Updated:Mar 3, 2017 5:45 am 9183 Views
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Read: John 16:19–24
Bible in a Year: Numbers 28–30; Mark 8:22–38
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22
Clutching two framed photographs, the proud grandmother showed them to friends in the church foyer. The first picture was of her back in her homeland of Burundi. The second was of her grandson, born recently to that . But the wasn’t holding her newborn. She had died giving birth to him.
A friend approached and looked at the pictures. Reflexively, she reached up and held that dear grandmother’s face in her hands. All she could say through her own tears was, “I know. I know.”
When we put our cares into His hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.
And she did know. Two months earlier she had buried a .
There’s something special about the comfort of others who have experienced our pain. They know. Just before Jesus’s arrest, He warned His disciples, “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.” But in the next breath He comforted them: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20). In mere hours, the disciples would be devastated by Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion. But their crushing grief soon turned to a joy they could not have imagined when they saw Him alive again.
Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (Isa. 53:4). We have a Savior who doesn’t merely know about our pain; He lived it. He knows. He cares. One day our grief will be turned into joy.
Lord, thank You for going to the cross for us. We certainly know trouble in this world, but You overcame the world and took our sin and pain for us. We look forward to the day when our sorrows will be turned into joy and we see You face to face.
When we put our cares into His hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.
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ONE OF US
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Posted:Mar 2, 2017 1:57 am
Last Updated:Mar 2, 2017 1:57 am 8507 Views
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Read: Hebrews 2:9–18
Bible in a Year: Numbers 26–27; Mark 8.1–21
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18
At the memorial service for Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, friend and fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite spoke of his humanity and compassion. “He gave everyone in the world characters who knew exactly how all of us felt, who made us feel we were never alone. And then he gave the cartoonist himself, and he made us feel that we were never alone. . . . He encouraged us. He commiserated with us. He made us feel he was exactly like us.”
When we feel that no one understands or can help us, we are reminded that Jesus gave us Himself, and He knows exactly who we are and what we are facing today.
Jesus knows exactly who we are and what we are facing today.
Hebrews 2:9–18 presents the remarkable truth that Jesus fully shared our humanity during His life on earth (v. 14). He “taste[d] death for everyone” (v. 9), broke the power of Satan (v. 14), and freed “those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (v. 15). Jesus was made like us, “fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God”
(v. 17
. Thank You, Lord, for sharing our humanity so that we might know Your help today and live in Your presence forever.
What fears and concerns do you have? What should you do with those fears?
(1 Peter 5:6–7. What does the Lord promise to do for you? (Heb. 13:5).
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No one understands like Jesus.
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ALL OF ME
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Posted:Mar 1, 2017 4:50 am
Last Updated:May 2, 2024 9:37 pm 8339 Views
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Read: Matthew 27:45–54
Bible in a Year: Numbers 23–25; Mark 7:14–37
Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
Young Isaac Watts found the music in his church sadly lacking, and his father challenged him to create something better. Isaac did. His hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” has been called the greatest in the English language and has been translated into many other languages.
Watts’s worshipful third verse ushers us into the presence of Christ at the crucifixion.
“Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.” —Isaac Watts
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
The crucifixion Watts describes so elegantly stands as history’s most awful moment. We do well to pause and stand with those around the cross. The of God strains for breath, held by crude spikes driven through His flesh. After tortured hours, a supernatural darkness descends. Finally, mercifully, the Lord of the universe dismisses His anguished spirit. An earthquake rattles the landscape. Back in the city the thick temple curtain rips in half. Graves open, and dead bodies resurrect, walking about the city (Matt. 27:51–53). These events compel the centurion who crucified Jesus to say, “Surely he was the of God!” (v. 54).
“The Cross reorders all values and cancels all vanities,” says the Poetry Foundation in commenting on Watts’s poem. The song could only conclude: “Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.”
It is our privilege to give everything we have
to the One who gave us everything on the cross.
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A CHUCKLE IN THE DARKNESS
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Posted:Feb 28, 2017 3:02 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2017 4:50 am 8404 Views
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Read: John 11:17–27
Bible in a Year: Numbers 20–22; Mark 7:1–13
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only , that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
In a Washington Post article titled “Tech Titans’ Latest Project: Defy Death,” Ariana Cha wrote about the efforts of Peter Thiele and other tech moguls to extend human life indefinitely. They’re prepared to spend billions on the project.
They are a little late. Death has already been defeated! Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25–26). Jesus assures us that those who put their trust in Him will never, ever, under any circumstances whatever, die.
Jesus, help me to live a life that is pleasing to You.
To be clear, our bodies will die—and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. But the thinking, reasoning, remembering, loving, adventuring part of us that we call “me, myself, and I” will never, ever die.
And here’s the best part: It’s a gift! All you have to do is receive the salvation Jesus offers. C. S. Lewis, musing on this notion, describes it as something like “a chuckle in the darkness”—the sense that something that simple is the answer.
Some say, “It’s too simple.” Well, I say, if God loved you even before you were born and wants you to live with Him forever, why would He make it hard?
Dear Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Lord and Savior and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, from this moment on, to live a life that is pleasing to You.
Christ has replaced the dark door of death with the shining gate of life.
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