Max Lucado Daily: We’re God’s Idea
‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14”
We’re God’s idea. His face. His eyes. His hands. His touch. We are him!
Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth and you’ll see his likeness. Though some appear to be distant relatives, they’re not. God has no cousins, only children.
You aren’t an accident or an incident; you’re a gift to the world. A divine work of art—signed by God.
One of the best gifts I ever received is a football jersey signed by thirty former professional quarterbacks. For all I know it was bought at a discount sports store. What makes it unique are the signatures.
The same is true with us. What makes us special is not our body, but the signature of God on our lives. We’re his works of art, created in his image.
Significant, not because of what we do, but because of whose we are!
‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14”
Genesis 24
Abraham was now an old man. God had blessed Abraham in every way.
2-4 Abraham spoke to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of everything he had, “Put your hand under my thigh and swear by God—God of Heaven, God of Earth—that you will not get a wife for my son from among the young women of the Canaanites here, but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant answered, “But what if the woman refuses to leave home and come with me? Do I then take your son back to your home country?”
6-8 Abraham said, “Oh no. Never. By no means are you to take my son back there. God, the God of Heaven, took me from the home of my father and from the country of my birth and spoke to me in solemn promise, ‘I’m giving this land to your descendants.’ This God will send his angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son. And if the woman won’t come, you are free from this oath you’ve sworn to me. But under no circumstances are you to take my son back there.”
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn oath.
10-14 The servant took ten of his master’s camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, “O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels’—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I’ll know that you’re working graciously behind the scenes for my master.”
15-17 It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?”
18-21 She said, “Certainly, drink!” And she held the jug so that he could drink. When he had satisfied his thirst she said, “I’ll get water for your camels, too, until they’ve drunk their fill.” She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels.
The man watched, silent. Was this God’s answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?
22-23 When the camels had finished drinking, the man brought out gifts, a gold nose ring weighing a little over a quarter of an ounce and two arm bracelets weighing about four ounces, and gave them to her. He asked her, “Tell me about your family? Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay the night?”
24-25 She said, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor. And there’s plenty of room in our house for you to stay—and lots of straw and feed besides.”
26-27 At this the man bowed in worship before God and prayed, “Blessed be God, God of my master Abraham: How generous and true you’ve been to my master; you’ve held nothing back. You led me right to the door of my master’s brother!”
28 And the girl was off and running, telling everyone in her mother’s house what had happened.
29-31 Rebekah had a brother named Laban. Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. He had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister and had heard her say, “The man said this and this and this to me.” So he went to the man and there he was, still standing with his camels at the spring. Laban welcomed him: “Come on in, blessed of God! Why are you standing out here? I’ve got the house ready for you; and there’s also a place for your camels.”
32-33 So the man went into the house. The camels were unloaded and given straw and feed. Water was brought to bathe the feet of the man and the men with him. Then Laban brought out food. But the man said, “I won’t eat until I tell my story.”
Laban said, “Go ahead; tell us.”
34-41 The servant said, “I’m the servant of Abraham. God has blessed my master—he’s a great man; God has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, servants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. And then to top it off, Sarah, my master’s wife, gave him a son in her old age and he has passed everything on to his son. My master made me promise, ‘Don’t get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live. No, go to my father’s home, back to my family, and get a wife for my son there.’ I said to my master, ‘But what if the woman won’t come with me?’ He said, ‘God before whom I’ve walked faithfully will send his angel with you and he’ll make things work out so that you’ll bring back a wife for my son from my family, from the house of my father. Then you’ll be free from the oath. If you go to my family and they won’t give her to you, you will also be free from the oath.’
42-44 “Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, ‘God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I’ve been given. I’m standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug, and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I’ll also water your camels—let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master’s son.’
45-48 “I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, ‘Please, can I have a drink?’ She didn’t hesitate. She held out her jug and said, ‘Drink; and when you’re finished I’ll also water your camels.’ I drank, and she watered the camels. I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.’ I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms, and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master’s family to get a wife for his son.
49 “Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next.”
50-51 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is undeniably from God. We have no say in the matter, either yes or no. Rebekah is yours: Take her and go; let her be the wife of your master’s son, as God has made plain.”
52-54 When Abraham’s servant heard their decision, he bowed in worship before God. Then he brought out gifts of silver and gold and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother. He and his men had supper and spent the night. But first thing in the morning they were up. He said, “Send me back to my master.”
55 Her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay a while, say another ten days, and then go.”
56 He said, “Oh, don’t make me wait! God has worked everything out so well—send me off to my master.”
57 They said, “We’ll call the girl; we’ll ask her.”
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man?”
58 She said, “I’m ready to go.”
59-60 So they sent them off, their sister Rebekah with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant with his men. And they blessed Rebekah saying,
You’re our sister—live bountifully!
And your children, triumphantly!
61 Rebekah and her young maids mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and set off for home.
62-65 Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?”
“That is my master.”
She took her veil and covered herself.
66-67 After the servant told Isaac the whole story of the trip, Isaac took Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He married Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
by Tim Gustafson
Today's Scripture
Acts 2:29-36
“Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say,
God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.”
“All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.”
Today's Insights
In Acts 2:34-35, Peter quotes Psalm 110:1 in his Pentecost message: “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ” James Montgomery Boice, in his commentary Psalms, Volume 3, notes that this verse “is quoted directly or alluded to indirectly at least twenty-seven times,” making it the most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament. Peter was likely in the audience when Jesus quoted this psalm in Matthew 22:44 as He challenged the Pharisees’ understanding of the Messiah. While Christ was the son of David and therefore human, He was also David’s “Lord”—He was Himself divine. Convinced of Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation to the Father’s right hand, Peter proclaimed that Christ is “both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Such is the message that believers in Jesus proclaim on Easter and every day.
The Best Evidence
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Acts 2:32
Today's Devotional
Lee didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus. But Lee was a journalist with an analytical mind. When his wife believed in Jesus, he decided to study her new faith for himself. After two years of research, he gave in—to God, to the resurrection, to faith in Christ.
The change in him was noticeable. After a few months, his five-year-old daughter said to his wife, “Mommy, I want God to do for me what he’s done for Daddy.” And the daughter of Lee Strobel put her faith in Jesus too.
Many people refuse to believe in the resurrection. But reputable eyewitnesses saw the risen Jesus. One of those eyewitnesses, the disciple Peter, told a large crowd that King David was certainly dead and buried (Acts 2:29). Then Peter pointed to a prophecy David had made. “[David] spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah,” he said (v. 31). Peter concluded, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it” (v. 32).
The best evidence for the resurrection is the changed lives of the eyewitnesses, including Peter. At the crucifixion, the disciples had gone into hiding. Peter actually denied Christ (John 18:15-17, 25-27). Once they saw Jesus alive, everything changed. Filled with courage, they began to share the truth of the one great hope of the world—the risen Christ.
Reflect & Pray
What do you believe about the resurrection of Jesus? How does that belief affect your life?
Father, I’m so grateful for the reality of Jesus’ resurrection that changes my life and gives me real hope.
For further study, read Hunting for Resurrection Hope.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Have I Slandered God?
To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. — Matthew 25:15
Jesus told the parable of the bags of gold as a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our own abilities. The parable doesn’t concern natural gifts; it concerns the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must not measure our spiritual abilities by our natural abilities. Spiritual capacity has nothing to do with intellect or education; it is measured by the promises of God.
If we get less, spiritually speaking, than God wants us to have, sooner or later we will slander him. We will say to God, “You expect more of me than you’ve given me power to do.” Or, “I can’t be true to you where you’ve placed me.” Never say, “I can’t” when it’s a question of God’s almighty Spirit. Never let your natural limitations factor in. If we’ve received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be manifested in us, no matter what.
In the parable, the unworthy servant tries to justify himself at every turn. He slanders his master, complaining that his master’s demands are too high and expressing doubts and worries about what he’s been asked to do (Matthew 25:24). Have we been slandering God by daring to worry? Have we forgotten Matthew 6:33: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you”? Worrying means exactly what the unworthy servant implied: “I know you intend to leave me high and dry.” The person who is lazy is always full of anxious self-pity, always saying, “I haven’t been given a decent chance.” The person who is spiritually lazy is like this with God.
Never forget that your capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill his promises? How you answer depends on whether or not you’ve received the Holy Spirit.
2 Samuel 9-11; Luke 15:11-32
Wisdom from Oswald
We are all based on a conception of importance, either our own importance, or the importance of someone else; Jesus tells us to go and teach based on the revelation of His importance. “All power is given unto Me.… Go ye therefore ….”
So Send I You, 1325 R
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