LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND
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Posted:Jun 28, 2016 5:50 am
Last Updated:Jun 28, 2016 5:51 am 14785 Views
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Read: 2 Corinthians 5:12–21
Bible in a Year: Job 11–13; Acts 9:1–21
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Chris Baker is a tattoo artist who transforms symbols of pain and enslavement into works of art. Many of his are former gang members and victims of human trafficking who have been marked with identifying names, symbols, or codes. Chris transforms these into beautiful art by tattooing over them with new images.
Jesus does for the soul what Chris Baker does for the skin—He takes us as we are and transforms us. The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17 nlt). Before knowing Christ, we follow our desires wherever they lead us, and our lifestyles reflect this. When we repent and begin to walk with Christ, the passions and pitfalls that once dominated our lives are the “old life” (1 Cor. 6:9–11) that fades away as we are transformed. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18.
To enjoy the future, accept God’s forgiveness for the past.
Still, life as a “new person” isn’t always easy. It can take time to disconnect from old habits. We may struggle with ideas that were foundational to our old way of life. Yet over time, God’s Holy Spirit works in us, giving us inner strength and an understanding of Christ’s love. As God’s beautiful new creations, we’re free to leave the past behind.
Jesus, thank You for the power of Your death and resurrection. Your victory over sin means that I can be forgiven and can enjoy a new life in You.
To enjoy the future, accept God’s forgiveness for the past.
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NO DRIFTING
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Posted:Jun 27, 2016 2:42 am
Last Updated:Jun 28, 2016 5:50 am 15058 Views
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Read: Hebrews 2:1–4
Bible in a Year: Job 8–10; Acts 8:26–40
We must pay the most careful attention . . . so that we do not drift away.
Hebrews 2:1
At the end of one school semester, my wife and I picked up our from her school 100 kilometers (60 miles) away. On our way back home we detoured to a nearby beach resort for snacks. While enjoying our time there, we watched the boats at the seashore. Usually they are anchored to prevent them from drifting away, but I noticed one boat drifting unhindered among the others—slowly and steadily making its way out to sea.
As we drove home, I reflected on the timely caution given to believers in the book of Hebrews: "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away" (Heb. 2:1). We have good reason to stay close. The author of Hebrews says that while the Mosaic law was reliable and needed to be obeyed, the message of the of God is far superior. Our salvation is “so great” in Jesus that He shouldn’t be ignored (v. 3).
To avoid drifting away from God, stay anchored to the Rock.
Drifting in our relationship with God is hardly noticeable at first; it happens gradually. However, spending time talking with Him in prayer and reading His Word, confessing our wrongs to Him, and interacting with other followers of Jesus can help us stay anchored in Him. As we connect with the Lord regularly, He will be faithful to sustain us, and we can avoid drifting away.
What do you know about Jesus that keeps you wanting to be near Him?
To avoid drifting away from God, stay anchored to the Rock.
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NO DRIFTING
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Posted:Jun 27, 2016 2:41 am
Last Updated:Jun 27, 2016 2:42 am 14794 Views
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Read: Hebrews 2:1–4
Bible in a Year: Job 8–10; Acts 8:26–40
We must pay the most careful attention . . . so that we do not drift away.
Hebrews 2:1
At the end of one school semester, my wife and I picked up our from her school 100 kilometers (60 miles) away. On our way back home we detoured to a nearby beach resort for snacks. While enjoying our time there, we watched the boats at the seashore. Usually they are anchored to prevent them from drifting away, but I noticed one boat drifting unhindered among the others—slowly and steadily making its way out to sea.
As we drove home, I reflected on the timely caution given to believers in the book of Hebrews: "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away" (Heb. 2:1). We have good reason to stay close. The author of Hebrews says that while the Mosaic law was reliable and needed to be obeyed, the message of the of God is far superior. Our salvation is “so great” in Jesus that He shouldn’t be ignored (v. 3).
To avoid drifting away from God, stay anchored to the Rock.
Drifting in our relationship with God is hardly noticeable at first; it happens gradually. However, spending time talking with Him in prayer and reading His Word, confessing our wrongs to Him, and interacting with other followers of Jesus can help us stay anchored in Him. As we connect with the Lord regularly, He will be faithful to sustain us, and we can avoid drifting away.
What do you know about Jesus that keeps you wanting to be near Him?
To avoid drifting away from God, stay anchored to the Rock.
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HIS LOVING PRESENCE
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Posted:Jun 24, 2016 3:09 am
Last Updated:Jun 27, 2016 2:42 am 14990 Views
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Read: Hebrews 13:1–6
Bible in a Year: Job 1–2; Acts 7:22–43
Never will I leave you. Hebrews 13:5
Our hearts sank when we learned that our good friend Cindy had been diagnosed with cancer. Cindy was a vibrant person whose life blessed all who crossed her path. My wife and I rejoiced when she went into remission, but a few months later her cancer returned with a vengeance. In our minds she was too young to die. Her husband told me about her last hours. When she was weak and hardly able to talk, Cindy whispered to him, “Just be with me.” What she wanted more than anything in those dark moments was his loving presence.
The writer to the Hebrews comforted his readers by quoting Deuteronomy 31:6, where God told His people: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). In the darkest moments of life, the assurance of His loving presence gives us confidence that we are not alone. He gives us the grace to endure, the wisdom to know He is working, and the assurance that Christ can “empathize with our weaknesses” (4:15).
There is peace in the presence of God.
Together let’s embrace the blessing of His loving presence so we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (13:6).
Lord, thank You for the promise that You will never leave me. May the reality of Your constant supporting presence fill my heart with comfort, confidence, and courage.
There is peace in the presence of God.
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HIS LOVING PRESENCE
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Posted:Jun 24, 2016 3:09 am
Last Updated:Jun 24, 2016 3:09 am 14738 Views
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Read: Hebrews 13:1–6
Bible in a Year: Job 1–2; Acts 7:22–43
Never will I leave you. Hebrews 13:5
Our hearts sank when we learned that our good friend Cindy had been diagnosed with cancer. Cindy was a vibrant person whose life blessed all who crossed her path. My wife and I rejoiced when she went into remission, but a few months later her cancer returned with a vengeance. In our minds she was too young to die. Her husband told me about her last hours. When she was weak and hardly able to talk, Cindy whispered to him, “Just be with me.” What she wanted more than anything in those dark moments was his loving presence.
The writer to the Hebrews comforted his readers by quoting Deuteronomy 31:6, where God told His people: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). In the darkest moments of life, the assurance of His loving presence gives us confidence that we are not alone. He gives us the grace to endure, the wisdom to know He is working, and the assurance that Christ can “empathize with our weaknesses” (4:15).
There is peace in the presence of God.
Together let’s embrace the blessing of His loving presence so we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (13:6).
Lord, thank You for the promise that You will never leave me. May the reality of Your constant supporting presence fill my heart with comfort, confidence, and courage.
There is peace in the presence of God.
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SERVING CHRIST
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Posted:Jun 23, 2016 6:33 am
Last Updated:Jun 24, 2016 3:09 am 14960 Views
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Read: Ephesians 6:5–9
Bible in a Year: Esther 9–10; Acts 7:1–21
Obey [your earthly masters] . . . as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Ephesians 6:6
“I’m a secretary,” a friend told me. “When I tell people this, they sometimes look at me with a certain pity. But when they find out who I am secretary for, they open their eyes with admiration!” In other words, society often defines some jobs as less important than others, unless those jobs happen to relate in some way to rich or famous people.
For the of God, however, any occupation, regardless of the earthly boss, can be held proudly because we serve the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, I want to serve you in everything I do.
In Ephesians 6, Paul talks to servants and masters. He reminds both groups that we serve one Master who is in heaven. So we need to do everything with sincerity of heart, integrity, and respect because we are serving and working for Christ Himself. As the apostle Paul reminds us, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (Eph. 6.7).
What a privilege to serve God in everything we do, whether answering a phone or driving a car or doing housework or running a business. Let us work with a smile today, remembering that no matter what we are doing, we are serving God.
Lord Jesus, I want to serve You in everything I do. Help me, as I begin each day, to remember this.
Serving shows our love for God.
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A REMOTE LOCATION
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Posted:Jun 22, 2016 3:38 am
Last Updated:Jun 23, 2016 6:33 am 14788 Views
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Read: Mark 8:1–13
Bible in a Year: Esther 6–8; Acts 6
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Tristan da Cunha Island is famous for its isolation. It is the most remote inhabited island in the world, thanks to the 288 people who call it home. The island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,750 miles from South Africa—the nearest mainland. Anyone who might want to drop by for a visit has to travel by boat for seven days because the island has no airstrip.
Jesus and His followers were in a somewhat remote area when He produced a miraculous meal for thousands of hungry people. Before His miracle, Jesus said to His disciples, “[These people] have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way” (Mark 8:2-3). Because they were in the countryside where food was not readily available, they had to depend fully on Jesus. They had nowhere else to turn.
God can certainly meet our needs, whatever our circumstances.
Sometimes God allows us to end up in desolate places where He is our only source of help. His ability to provide for us is not necessarily linked with our circumstances. If He created the entire world out of nothing, God can certainly meet our needs—whatever our circumstances—out of the riches of His glory, in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
Dear God, thank You for all that You have provided through Your , Jesus Christ. You know what my needs are. Please reassure me of Your care and power.
We can trust God to do what we cannot do.
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A REMOTE LOCATION
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Posted:Jun 22, 2016 3:38 am
Last Updated:Jun 22, 2016 3:39 am 14704 Views
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Read: Mark 8:1–13
Bible in a Year: Esther 6–8; Acts 6
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Tristan da Cunha Island is famous for its isolation. It is the most remote inhabited island in the world, thanks to the 288 people who call it home. The island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,750 miles from South Africa—the nearest mainland. Anyone who might want to drop by for a visit has to travel by boat for seven days because the island has no airstrip.
Jesus and His followers were in a somewhat remote area when He produced a miraculous meal for thousands of hungry people. Before His miracle, Jesus said to His disciples, “[These people] have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way” (Mark 8:2-3). Because they were in the countryside where food was not readily available, they had to depend fully on Jesus. They had nowhere else to turn.
God can certainly meet our needs, whatever our circumstances.
Sometimes God allows us to end up in desolate places where He is our only source of help. His ability to provide for us is not necessarily linked with our circumstances. If He created the entire world out of nothing, God can certainly meet our needs—whatever our circumstances—out of the riches of His glory, in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
Dear God, thank You for all that You have provided through Your , Jesus Christ. You know what my needs are. Please reassure me of Your care and power.
We can trust God to do what we cannot do.
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LEARNING TO LOVE
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Posted:Jun 21, 2016 5:17 am
Last Updated:Jun 22, 2016 11:15 am 14642 Views
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Read: 1 Corinthians 5-23
Bible in a Year: Esther 3–5; Acts 5:22–42
Follow the way of love. 1 Corinthians 14:1
Love does more than make “the world go round,” as an old song says. It also makes us immensely vulnerable. From time to time, we may say to ourselves: “Why love when others do not show appreciation?” or “Why love and open myself up to hurt?” But the apostle Paul gives a clear and simple reason to pursue love: “These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love”
(1 Cor. 13:13–14:1).
“Love is an activity, the essential activity of God himself,” writes Bible commentator C. K. Barrett, “and when men love either Him or their fellow-men, they are doing (however imperfectly) what God does.” And God is pleased when we act like Him.
Help me to love others the way Jesus showed us.
To begin following the way of love, think about how you might live out the characteristics listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. For example, how can I show my the same patience God shows me? How can I show kindness and respect for my parents? What does it mean to look out for the interests of others when I am at work? When something good happens to my friend, do I rejoice with her or am I envious?
As we “follow the way of love,” we’ll find ourselves often turning to God, the source of love, and to Jesus, the greatest example of love. Only then will we gain a deeper knowledge of what true love is and find the strength to love others like God loves us.
God, thank You that You are love and that You love me so much. Help me to love others the way Jesus showed us so that the whole world will know I am Your .
Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4.7
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HOO-AH!
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Posted:Jun 20, 2016 3:43 am
Last Updated:Jun 20, 2016 3:44 am 14792 Views
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Read: Psalm 68.7–10,19–20
Bible in a Year: Esther 1–2; Acts 5:1–21
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah. Psalm 68:19
The US Army's expression "hoo-ah" is a guttural response barked when troops voice approval. Its original meaning is lost to history, but some say it is derived from an old acronym HUA—Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged. I first heard the word in basic training.
Many years later it found its way into my vocabulary again when I began to meet on Wednesday mornings with a group of men to study the Scriptures. One morning one of the men—a former member of the 82nd Airborne Division—was reading one of the psalms and came to the notation selah that occurs throughout the psalms. Instead of reading “selah,” however, he growled hoo-ah, and that became our word for selah ever after.
Every single morning God loads us up on His shoulders and carries us through the day.
No one knows for certain what selah actually means. Some say it is only a musical notation. It often appears after a truth that calls for a deep-seated, emotional response. In that sense hoo-ah works for me.
This morning I read Psalm 68:19: "Blessed be the Lord, who daily [day to day] loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah"
Imagine that! Every single morning God loads us up on His shoulders and carries us through the day. He is our salvation. Thus safe and secure in Him, we’ve no cause for worry or for fear. “Hoo-ah!” I say.
Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. Lina Sandell Berg
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.
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