Acts 4:23-37, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: The Command to Do Nothing

When I was ten, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons. Spending thirty minutes every afternoon tethered to a piano bench was a torture just one level away from swallowing broken glass.

I hammered the staccatos. I belabored the crescendos. But there was one instruction in the music I could never obey to my teacher's satisfaction.  The rest.  The zigzagged command to do nothing.  Nothing!  What sense does that make? "Because," my teacher patiently explained, "music is always sweeter after a rest."

"Be still," the scripture says, "and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  Perhaps it is time for you to let the music slow to a stop…and be still and rest.

From The Applause of Heaven

Acts 4:23-37

One Heart, One Mind

23-26 As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:

Why the big noise, nations?

Why the mean plots, peoples?

Earth’s leaders push for position,

Potentates meet for summit talks,

The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!

27-28 “For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.

29-30 “And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.

32-33 The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.

34-35 And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.

36-37 Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Sunday, January 08, 2023

Today's Scripture

Romans 8:31–39

 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Insight

Before His suffering and death, Jesus both warned and assured His followers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Later, Paul and Barnabas encouraged believers “to remain true to the faith” in the hardships they’d face (Acts 14:22). And Paul sent Timothy to strengthen the Thessalonians so they wouldn’t be unsettled by the trials they were “destined for” (1 Thessalonians 3:2–3). Jesus clearly stated that as His followers we would—like Him—be persecuted (John 15:20). Commentator Walter Elwell states: “Affliction is characteristic of life in a spoiled creation, but it is a means of discipline that can lead to obedience to God. . . . The afflictions experienced by Christians ‘will result in God’s richest blessing . . . forever and ever’ (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 lb).” We’re “more than conquerors through [Christ]”! (Romans 8:37). By: Alyson Kieda

More than Conquerors

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

When my husband coached our son’s Little League baseball team, he rewarded the players with an end-of-year party and acknowledged their improvement over the season. One of our youngest players, Dustin, approached me during the event. “Didn’t we lose the game today?”

“Yes,” I said. “But we’re proud of you for doing your best.”

“I know,” he said. “But we lost. Right?”

I nodded.

“Then why do I feel like a winner?” Dustin asked.

Smiling, I said, “Because you are a winner.”

Dustin had thought that losing a game meant he was a failure even when he’d done his best. As believers in Jesus, our battle is not confined to a sports field. Still, it’s often tempting to view a tough season of life as a reflection of our worth.

The apostle Paul affirmed the connection between our present suffering and our future glory as God’s children. Having given Himself for us, Jesus continues to work on our behalf during our ongoing battle with sin and transforms us to His likeness (Romans 8:31–32). Though we’ll all experience hardship and persecution, God’s unwavering love helps us persevere (vv. 33–34).

As His children, we may be tempted to allow struggles to define our worth. However, our ultimate victory is guaranteed. We may stumble along the way, but we’ll always be “more than conquerors” (vv. 35–39). By:  Xochitl Dixon

Reflect & Pray

When has your confidence in God’s love helped you press on? How has He affirmed your value as His beloved child even after a great loss?

Father, thank You for helping me rise up through trials in victorious praise.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Sunday, January 08, 2023

Is My Sacrifice Living?

Abraham built an altar…; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar… —Genesis 22:9

This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not— “Lord, I am ready to go with You…to death” (Luke 22:33). But— “I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.”

We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him.

It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We have no right to judge where we should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for. God engineers everything; wherever He puts us, our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” My Utmost for His Highest, April 23, 773 L

Bible in a Year: Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34

Proverbs 26 , Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: Joy Within Your Reach

There's a delicious gladness that comes from God. A joy which consequences cannot quench.  His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.

Nine times he promises it.  And he promises it to an unlikely crowd: The poor in spirit. Those who mourn. The meek. Those who hunger and thirst.  The merciful. The pure in heart. The peacemakers. The persecuted. It is to this band of pilgrims that God promises a special blessing. A heavenly joy.

But this joy is not cheap. What Jesus promises is not a gimmick to give you goose bumps or a mental attitude. No, Matthew Chapter 5 describes God's radical reconstruction of the heart. It's no casual shift of attitude. It's a demolition of the old structure and a creation of the new.

God's joy.  And it's within your reach.  You are one decision away from joy!

From The Applause of Heaven

Proverbs 26

Fools Recycle Silliness

We no more give honors to fools

    than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.

2 You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse

    as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.

3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat—

    and a stick for the back of fools!

4 Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool;

    you’ll only look foolish yourself.

5 Answer a fool in simple terms

    so he doesn’t get a swelled head.

6 You’re only asking for trouble

    when you send a message by a fool.

7 A proverb quoted by fools

    is limp as a wet noodle.

8 Putting a fool in a place of honor

    is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.

9 To ask a moron to quote a proverb

    is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.

10 Hire a fool or a drunk

    and you shoot yourself in the foot.

11 As a dog eats its own vomit,

    so fools recycle silliness.

12 See that man who thinks he’s so smart?

    You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

13 Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there!

    Tigers are prowling the streets!”

    and then pull the covers back over their heads.

14 Just as a door turns on its hinges,

    so a lazybones turns back over in bed.

15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie,

    but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

Like Glaze on Cracked Pottery

16 Dreamers fantasize their self-importance;

    they think they are smarter

    than a whole college faculty.

17 You grab a mad dog by the ears

    when you butt into a quarrel that’s none of your business.

18-19 People who shrug off deliberate deceptions,

    saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,”

Are worse than careless campers

    who walk away from smoldering campfires.

20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;

    when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

21 A quarrelsome person in a dispute

    is like kerosene thrown on a fire.

22 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;

    do you want junk like that in your belly?

23 Smooth talk from an evil heart

    is like glaze on cracked pottery.

24-26 Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend,

    all the while plotting against you.

When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute;

    he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off.

No matter how shrewdly he conceals his malice,

    eventually his evil will be exposed in public.

27 Malice backfires;

    spite boomerangs.

28 Liars hate their victims;

    flatterers sabotage trust.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Saturday, January 07, 2023

Today's Scripture

Acts 9:1–9

The Blinding of Saul

All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

3-4 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”

5-6 He said, “Who are you, Master?”

“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”

7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

Insight

Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road wasn’t only life-changing but, in a truly literal sense, was world-changing as well. The passionate heart of the apostle Paul (formerly known as Saul) was, in a sense, the engine God used to spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire. As the Holy Spirit directed him, he took the gospel throughout the Roman empire of his day and, along with the missionaries he mentored, even reached far beyond the boundaries of Rome. His letters touched both Asia Minor and Europe and were, it’s believed, circulated far beyond their intended destinations. It must have given Paul great satisfaction to know that God’s grace had not only rescued him from his sinful past but also equipped him for a purposeful and productive life while preparing him for an eternal destiny. Still today, the term Damascus road speaks of a moment of radical transformation in a person’s life. By: Bill Crowder

Who Are You, Lord?

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. Acts 9:5

At age sixteen, Luis Rodriguez had already been in jail for selling crack. But now, arrested for attempted murder, he was in prison again—looking at a life sentence. But God spoke into his guilty circumstances. Behind bars, young Luis remembered his early years when his mother had faithfully taken him to church. He now felt God tugging at his heart. Luis eventually repented of his sins and came to Jesus.

In the book of Acts, we meet a zealous Jewish man named Saul, who was also called Paul. He was guilty of aggravated assault on believers in Jesus and had murder in his heart (Acts 9:1). There’s evidence he was a kind of gang leader, and part of the mob at the execution of Stephen (7:58). But God spoke into Saul’s guilty circumstances—literally. On the street leading into Damascus, Saul was blinded by a light, and Jesus said to him, “Why do you persecute me?” (9:4). Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” (v. 5), and that was the beginning of his new life. He came to Jesus.

Luis Rodriguez served time but eventually was granted parole. Since then, he’s served God, devoting his life to prison ministry in the United States and Central America.

God specializes in redeeming the worst of us. He tugs at our hearts and speaks into our guilt-drenched lives. Maybe it’s time we repent of our sins and come to Jesus. By:  Kenneth Petersen

Reflect & Pray

What guilt are you experiencing or have experienced? How do you sense God is calling or has called you back to Himself? 

Jesus, I’ve strayed from You, but I feel You tugging at my heart. Forgive me of my sins, I pray.

For further study, read The Forgiveness of God.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Saturday, January 07, 2023

Intimate With Jesus

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?" —John 14:9

These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?

Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We all have the trick of saying—If only I were not where I am!—If only I had not got the kind of people I have to live with! If our faith or our religion does not help us in the conditions we are in, we have either a further struggle to go through, or we had better abandon that faith and religion.  The Shadow of an Agony, 1178 L

Bible in a Year: Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18

Proverbs 25, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: LIFE OUT OF BROKEN THINGS - January 6, 2023

The story of Esther dares you to believe that God, though hidden, is active. He brings life out of broken things. The apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We know God works. He is busy behind the scenes, above the fray, and within the fury. He never stops working for our good. Not for our comfort, pleasure, or entertainment, but for our good. To do this he uses all things. God works, not through a few things or just the good things, but in all things. And he works for the good of those who love him. Good things happen to those who trust God.

You are secure in the hands of a living and loving God.

Proverbs 25

The Right Word at the Right Time

There are also these proverbs of Solomon,

    collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

2 God delights in concealing things;

    scientists delight in discovering things.

3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth,

    the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.

4-5 Remove impurities from the silver

    and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;

Remove the wicked from leadership

    and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

6-7 Don’t work yourself into the spotlight;

    don’t push your way into the place of prominence.

It’s better to be promoted to a place of honor

    than face humiliation by being demoted.

8 Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be

    a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.

9-10 In the heat of an argument,

    don’t betray confidences;

Word is sure to get around,

    and no one will trust you.

11-12 The right word at the right time

    is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand

    is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.

13 Reliable friends who do what they say

    are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

14 Like billowing clouds that bring no rain

    is the person who talks big but never produces.

15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference;

    gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.

A Person Without Self-Control

16-17 When you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down;

    eat too much chocolate and you’ll make yourself sick;

And when you find a friend, don’t outwear your welcome;

    show up at all hours and he’ll soon get fed up.

18 Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors

    in court or on the street is a loose cannon.

19 Trusting a double-crosser when you’re in trouble

    is like biting down on an abscessed tooth.

20 Singing light songs to the heavyhearted

    is like pouring salt in their wounds.

21-22 If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch;

    if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink.

Your generosity will surprise him with goodness,

    and God will look after you.

23 A north wind brings stormy weather,

    and a gossipy tongue stormy looks.

24 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack

    than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.

25 Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary

    is a letter from a long-lost friend.

26 A good person who gives in to a bad person

    is a muddied spring, a polluted well.

27 It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets,

    nor is glory piled on glory good for you.

28 A person without self-control

    is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Friday, January 06, 2023

Today's Scripture

Genesis 1:21–28

God spoke: “Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!

    Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!”

God created the huge whales,

    all the swarm of life in the waters,

And every kind and species of flying birds.

    God saw that it was good.

God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean!

    Birds, reproduce on Earth!”

It was evening, it was morning—

Day Five.

24-25 God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:

    cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds.”

And there it was:

    wild animals of every kind,

Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug.

    God saw that it was good.

26-28 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them

    reflecting our nature

So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,

    the birds in the air, the cattle,

And, yes, Earth itself,

    and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”

God created human beings;

    he created them godlike,

Reflecting God’s nature.

    He created them male and female.

God blessed them:

    “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!

Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,

    for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

Insight

Scripture declares that God created all things. The Hebrew verb bara’, rendered created in Genesis 1, always has Him as the subject. Thus, God first created everything out of nothing (v. 1) and then created living beings from this created material (vv. 21, 27). Job 38–41 is without parallel in its depiction of the creative genius of God Almighty. With jaw-dropping brilliance, God gave Job a crash-course in things created and on display in the heavens, the earth, and seas—leading him to humbled silence (40:4–5; 42:5–6). By: Arthur Jackson

Made for Adventure

Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 1:28

I recently made a wonderful discovery. Following a dirt path into a cluster of trees near my home, I found a hidden homemade playground. A ladder made of sticks led up to a lookout, swings made from old cable spools hung from branches, and there was even a suspension bridge slung between boughs. Someone had turned some old wood and rope into a creative adventure!

Swiss physician Paul Tournier believed that we were made for adventure because we’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27). Just as God ventured forth to invent a universe (vv. 1–25), just as He took the risk of creating humans who could choose good or evil (3:5–6), and just as He called us to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (1:28), we too have a drive to invent, take risks, and create new things as we fruitfully rule the earth. Such adventures may be large or small, but they’re best when they benefit others. I bet the makers of that playground would get a kick out of people finding and enjoying it.

Whether it’s inventing new music, exploring new forms of evangelism, or rekindling a marriage that’s grown distant, adventures of all kinds keep our heart beating. What new task or project is tugging at you right now? Perhaps God is leading you to a new adventure. By:  Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray

How else do you see God being adventurous in Scripture? How can His adventures inspire our own?

Adventurous God, send me on a new adventure out of love for You and others!

For further study, read Genesis to Revelation: Why the Whole Story of the Bible Matters.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Friday, January 06, 2023

Worship

He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. —Genesis 12:8

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.

Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram “pitched his tent” between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time— there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must “pitch our tents” where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life— worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest.

Disciples Indeed

Bible in a Year: Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Friday, January 06, 2023

WHAT LIFE'S STORMS REVEAL - #9390

Well, I did it again! I managed to head right into a storm. Like the family vacation that got slammed by a hurricane. Yeah, the record rainstorm that swamped the airport when we took our daughter to college. Oh, and the Halloween "Snowmageddon" I think they called it. Yeah, we met that in Connecticut while we were there. Oh, then there was super storm Sandy in New York.

Being a part of that "week like no other" in New York and New Jersey? Well, it ended up having God-marks all over it. It shut down some ministry opportunities, but it clearly opened up others. And, honestly, I got to see in that storm some lessons I think I'll carry with me for years to come.

Like that lady in a store who loudly and kind of Jersey-style brazenly blurted, "Ya know, I'm not a religious freak, but you gotta wonder if God's trying to make us stop and think." And I turned to her and I said, "Hey, let's go with that idea, ma'am. I think you're onto something here!"

You know, my definition of a storm has grown - because the storms that affect us most deeply are not on the Weather Channel. They're those deeply personal storms that come with things like a layoff at work, or bad news at the doctor's office, that crisis with your spouse or your child. So, a storm is "a life-altering event, beyond our control." Well, I've lived a few of those: In the surgery waiting room, the times with no money and no groceries, the near-deadly accident. One online news source had a day-after-storm one-word headline that said it all: "Powerless."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "What Life's Storms Reveal."

Now, the Bible talks about "lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding" (Psalm 148:8). And it reveals that "the Lord has His way in the whirlwind and the storm" (Nahum 1:3). I'm glad for verses like that. Because they tell me that beyond the mayhem and the pain of a storm, there's some meaning. As hard as it is to see at the moment, storms do serve God's higher purposes. I'm left feeling powerless so I can experience His power as never before, because suddenly there you don't need to depend on it. I meet God at the end of my rope.

Storms force us to reevaluate everything; get the things that really matter from the margins of our life and get them back in the middle. Storms expose weaknesses in a levee or building materials or emergency systems, or in a marriage, in our priorities, a superficial faith. The storm isn't meant to destroy those things. It's to get us to fix them while there's time.

And those "beyond my control" events birth some qualities that might not blossom any other way, like compassion, a tender heart for the hurting, patience and endurance. And sometimes, the fury of the storm blows away junk I've allowed in my life - like sin, attitudes, and compromises that I would never face any other way.

During superstorm Hurricane Sandy, I read an amazingly timely description of another storm on the Sea of Galilee, and it spun the lives of Jesus' disciples "out of control." Well, their control anyway. A few phrases say it all: "It was dark...a strong wind was blowing...the waters grew rough." We've all lived that; if not physically, at least emotionally or spiritually.

But in their dark and dangerous moment, three little words changed everything - our word today from the Word of God in John 6 beginning in verse 17, "They saw Jesus." Saying to us as He said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."

It's in those powerless moments that we realize, "I'm not enough. I can't do this." And we reach for the nail-pierced hand of the Man who took all the storm of all the judgment for all my sin so I could go to His heaven. Jesus is the One who can finally calm that lifelong storm that's been in your soul so long. Because you're safe, you'll have His peace. The storm's bigger than you are, but Jesus is bigger than your storm!

You want to be sure you belong to Him - to the Lord of the storm? Please visit our website. We'll show you how to get started with Him - ANewStory.com. This can be the first chapter of your new story.

Acts 4:1-22, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: LET GOD BE BIG - January 5, 2023

Sometimes I wonder if the church has forgotten the vastness of God. Visit a congregation on a given Sunday and you’ll likely find a group of people sitting in comfortable chairs, hearing a comforting message about a God who keeps us comfortable. Do we understand that demons fear and flee at the sound of his name? Are we suffering from a loss of awe? Here’s what I think: a wimpy God makes for a wimpy heart, but a great God makes for a solid saint. So let him be big.

The psalmist asked, “Who among the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord?” (Psalm 89:6 NASB). My friend, the next time you feel the weight of the world, talk to the One who made the world. As your perception of God grows greater, the size of your challenge grows smaller.

Acts 4:1-22

Nothing to Hide

ho listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!

5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”

8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Thursday, January 05, 2023

Today's Scripture

John 14:1–4

The Road

 “Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.”

Read full chapter

John 13

Insight

John stated his purpose for writing his gospel in 20:30–31: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The entire book should be understood through this lens of pointing people to belief in Jesus that leads to life.

The word belief, translated from the Greek pisteuo, is mentioned eighty-five times in John. One Bible dictionary gives this definition of the word: “believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (human believing) and with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord (faith believing).” Jesus’ miracles and teachings included in the gospel of John are persuasive arguments that He is indeed “the Messiah, the Son of God” (v. 31). By: J.R. Hudberg

A Nesting Place

I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Sand martins—small birds related to swallows—dig their nests into riverbanks. Land development in South East England reduced their habitat, and the birds had fewer and fewer places to nest when they returned from their winter migration each year. Local conservationists sprang into action and built an enormous artificial sandbank to house them. With the help of a sand-sculpting firm, they molded sand to create a space for the birds to take up residence for years to come.

This gracious act of compassion vividly depicts the words Jesus used to console His disciples. After telling them He’d be leaving and that they wouldn’t be able to go with Him until later (John 13:36), He offered them the assurance that He’d “prepare a place for [them]” in heaven (14:2). Though they were rightly saddened that Jesus said He would leave them soon and that they could not follow Him, He encouraged them to look on this holy errand as part of His preparation to receive them—and us.

Without Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross, the “many rooms” of the Father’s house wouldn’t be able to receive us (v. 2). Having gone before us in preparation, Christ assures us He’ll return and take those who trust in His sacrifice to be with Him. There we’ll take up residence with Him in a joyous eternity. By:  Kirsten Holmberg

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt you weren’t “at home” in this life? What do you most look forward to about heaven?

Thank You, Jesus, for preparing a place for me in heaven with You.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Thursday, January 05, 2023

The Life of Power to Follow

Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." —John 13:36

“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “…He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit” — the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

Is He going to help Himself to your life, or are you taken up with your conception of what you are going to do? God is responsible for our lives, and the one great keynote is reckless reliance upon Him. Approved Unto God, 10 R

Bible in a Year: Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Thursday, January 05, 2023

NEVER FORGETTING THE COST - #9389

In the movie Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks portrays this Army captain whose unit is assigned to find a private named Ryan in the dangerous aftermath of the D-Day Invasion. Ryan's brothers have both been killed in combat, and, unbeknownst to him, he is his mother's only surviving son. The mission involves the captain's unit in some brutal battles with the Germans. But Private Ryan is located and his life is saved by his captain who dies in the process. As Private Ryan attends to his mortally wounded rescuer, the captain speaks his last words in a hoarse whisper, "Earn this." The camera morphs from the young private's face to the face of an old man, standing by a white cross in the cemetery at Normandy. It is Ryan many years later, near the end of his life. He kneels by his captain's grave and he says, "Every day of my life, I've thought about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I've done my best. I hope at least in your eyes that I've lived up to all that you gave for me."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Never Forgetting the Cost."

That was a man who tried to live his life here in light of what was sacrificed for him. I understand that. I hope you do. See, you and I were paid for with the blood of God's one and only Son when He died on the cross for every wrong thing we've ever done. Like the chorus says, "He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, 'Amazing Grace'; Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay."

Now Jesus will never say of His death for us, "Earn this." We couldn't. That's why He died. There is nothing we could ever do that could pay our sin-bill with God. He did it all. But the Bible does talk about living a life that's worthy of our Savior. In our word for today from the Word of God, for example. Colossians 1, beginning with verse 10. It says, "We pray...that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Can you say your life's bearing spiritual fruit, or is it pretty much all about earth-stuff? Are you really growing in your knowledge of God, or are you pretty much where you've been for a long time?

Verse 13 reminds us of the rescue mission Jesus came here on, "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves." If you're still messing around with the dark stuff, you're embracing the very junk Jesus died to liberate you from.

No, you could never earn what Jesus suffered for you. But you can live each day of your life in light of it, which means you live to please only the One who gave His life for you. It means not limiting God to a little God-box you build, but blowing the walls off of your love and off of your surrender to Him. No cross should be too heavy for you and me to bear for Him. No demand He makes could possibly be too much. No sacrifice you make for Him can be too great. Not after what He sacrificed for you and me.

Your life was not paid for at a discount price. Jesus deserves better from you than a discount discipleship. You don't have to visit a grave to remember what you owe Him. He's not there anyway. But each new day, in your heart, visit that cross where the Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you. And then, with a heart full of love and full of gratitude, live that day for Him.

Proverbs 24, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: MEDITATE ON THE MASTER - January 4, 2023

Is anything too hard for God? Does he ever throw up his hands and quit? The welcome answer is No, nothing is too hard for the Lord. Don’t measure the height of the mountain. Ponder the power of the One who made it. Don’t tell God how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is. Your problem is not that your problem is so big, but that your view of God is too small. Accept the invitation of the psalmist: “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3 NKJV).

Our tendency is to magnify our fears. We place a magnifying glass on the diagnosis, the disease, or the debt. Stop that! Meditate less on the mess and more on the Master. Less on the problems and more on his power.

Proverbs 24

 Don’t envy bad people;

    don’t even want to be around them.

All they think about is causing a disturbance;

    all they talk about is making trouble.

20

3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house,

    and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;

It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms

    with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

21

5-6 It’s better to be wise than strong;

    intelligence outranks muscle any day.

Strategic planning is the key to warfare;

    to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

22

7 Wise conversation is way over the head of fools;

    in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue.

23

8-9 The person who’s always cooking up some evil

    soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.

Fools incubate sin;

    cynics desecrate beauty.

Rescue the Perishing

24

10 If you fall to pieces in a crisis,

    there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

25

11-12 Rescue the perishing;

    don’t hesitate to step in and help.

If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,”

    will that get you off the hook?

Someone is watching you closely, you know—

    Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

26

13-14 Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you—

    and delicacies that melt in your mouth.

Likewise knowledge,

    and wisdom for your soul—

Get that and your future’s secured,

    your hope is on solid rock.

27

15-16 Don’t interfere with good people’s lives;

    don’t try to get the best of them.

No matter how many times you trip them up,

    God-loyal people don’t stay down long;

Soon they’re up on their feet,

    while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

28

17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;

    don’t gloat over his collapse.

God might see, and become very provoked,

    and then take pity on his plight.

29

19-20 Don’t bother your head with braggarts

    or wish you could succeed like the wicked.

Those people have no future at all;

    they’re headed down a dead-end street.

30

21-22 Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders;

    don’t be defiant or mutinous.

Without warning your life can turn upside down,

    and who knows how or when it might happen?

More Sayings of the Wise

An Honest Answer

23 It’s wrong, very wrong,

    to go along with injustice.

24-25 Whoever whitewashes the wicked

    gets a black mark in the history books,

But whoever exposes the wicked

    will be thanked and rewarded.

26 An honest answer

    is like a warm hug.

27 First plant your fields;

    then build your barn.

28-29 Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs—

    no slander or gossip, please.

Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me.

    I’ll make you pay for what you did!”

30-34 One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones,

    and then passed the vineyard of a slob;

They were overgrown with weeds,

    thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.

I took a long look and pondered what I saw;

    the fields preached me a sermon and I listened:

“A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,

    sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,

    with poverty as your permanent houseguest!”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Today's Scripture

Isaiah 43:18–21

This is what God says,

    the God who builds a road right through the ocean,

    who carves a path through pounding waves,

The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—

    they lie down and then can’t get up;

    they’re snuffed out like so many candles:

“Forget about what’s happened;

    don’t keep going over old history.

Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.

    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?

There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,

    rivers in the badlands.

Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’

    —the coyotes and the buzzards—

Because I provided water in the desert,

    rivers through the sunbaked earth,

Drinking water for the people I chose,

    the people I made especially for myself,

    a people custom-made to praise me.

Insight

The prophet Isaiah draws on the language of Genesis and Exodus to show that the God who freed the Israelites from slavery can and will bring them home again from exile.

In Isaiah 43:16–17, God reminds His people that He carved a path through the sea to bring them out of Egypt. Now He declares, “See, I am doing a new thing!” (v. 19). But how will He do a new thing? He’ll use water—a barrier that God overcame when He parted the sea—as a source of blessing to make a way for them in the desert. Even the animal kingdom would experience the renewal of life that He would grant to His people (v. 20).

Both the stories of the past and God’s work in the present point to one thing: nothing—not a sea nor a wasteland, slavery nor exile—can prevent God from making good on His promises. By: Jed Ostoich

New Vision

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

Wearing my new eyeglasses as I stepped into the sanctuary, I sat down and spotted a friend sitting directly across the aisle on the other side of the church. As I waved at her, she looked so near and clear. It felt like I could reach out and touch her even though she was several yards away. Later, as we talked following the service, I realized she was in the same seat she always sat in. I simply could see her better because of an upgraded prescription in my new spectacles.

God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, knew that the Israelites stuck in Babylonian captivity would need a new prescription—a new view. He told them. “I am doing a new thing! . . . I am making a way in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19). And His message of hope included the reminders that He had “created” them, “redeemed” them, and would be with them. “You are mine,” He encouraged them (v. 1).

In whatever you’re facing today, the Holy Spirit can provide better vision for you to put the old behind you and look for the new. By God’s love (v. 4), it’s popping up all around you. Can you see what He’s doing in the midst of your pain and bondage? Let’s put on our new spiritual glasses to see the new that God is doing even in our wilderness moments.  By:  Katara Patton

Reflect & Pray

What new things do you see cropping up even in your wilderness? How can adjusting your vision help you focus on the new rather than the past?

God of new beginnings, thank You for all Your promises. Help me to see the new that You bring about even in my wilderness moments.

For further study, read When God Says No—Broken Dreams to New Beginnings.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Why Can I Not Follow You Now?

Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now?" —John 13:37

There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.

At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.

Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ‘…the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

The fiery furnaces are there by God’s direct permission. It is misleading to imagine that we are developed in spite of our circumstances; we are developed because of them. It is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them. The Love of God—The Message of Invincible Consolation, 674 R

Bible in a Year: Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

TURNING MONEY INTO TREASURE - #9388

Our sons really enjoyed being uncles for the first time some years ago. Their sister was kind enough to give them two boys to call them uncle. The youngest grandson at the time was four years old and he really enjoyed how his uncles played with him. They kept finding quarters in his nose or his ear. (You know the old magic trick.) Now, before I receive emails about this, rest assured that he had been carefully taught not to put anything in his nose or ear. The grandson that is, not my sons. But he loved it when his uncles pretended they found money there.

I remember the time that one of the uncles told the four-year-old that he was having a particularly hard time getting that shiny thing out of his nephew's nose. So he turned him upside down and gently shook him. Four quarters fell on the carpet! Bingo! But much to uncle's surprise, the little guy picked up the dollar in change and put it back in his uncle's hand. Our son objected. He said, "No, no, no this money is yours now." To which our grandson answered, "No, I want you to have it." See, his uncle was in a ministry with Native American young people. Our grandson said, "Use it to tell more kids about Jesus." Now, that was the best trick of the day.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Turning Money Into Treasure."

Without being told, our little guy understood that some of what he has isn't for him - it's for helping other people hear about Jesus. The secret here is that he was only giving back to the person who gave it to him in the first place. Right? Just like us when we give to the work of God on earth. We're just giving it back to the one who gave it to us in the first place.

First Corinthians 4:2 is our word for today from the Word of God, and it clearly spells out this "circle of giving." It says, "Now it is required that those who have been given a great trust" (or it says in the King James "who are stewards") "must prove faithful." See, what you have is a trust from God which He expects you to use faithfully, especially when it comes to it being available for the work that His Son gave His life for.

Imagine trusting $10,000 of your money to the local bank. A few months later, you go to the bank and ask for your money for a need you have. The banker says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I spent your money." Well, he's betrayed your trust. But no more than we do when we hold onto money that God's expecting back for the work He wants to do.

Sadly, the greatest factor limiting the work of Christ in the world today is probably the lack of funds. Is God withholding money from His work? Probably not. He's entrusted it into the hands of His people. And research shows consistently that the more believers make the smaller percentage of their income they give to the Lord.

Malachi actually calls that "robbing God" (Malachi 3:9). In the prophet Haggai's day, the rebuilding of God's temple was at a standstill. Here's how God described what was happening: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? My house (God says) remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house" (Haggai 1:4, 9). That could have been written today.

There is a world of people God so loves, whose only hope is to know about Jesus; who deserve at least a chance to know Him. One hundred and fifty thousand of our fellow humans every day go into eternity ready or not. You know, there are servants of Christ poised around the world and across the country to lay down the rest of their lives to tell those people about Jesus. All they need is the money to send them and it isn't there.

Satan hasn't been able to stop the workers from stepping up, so he tries to stop the bullets from getting to the army. But you and I have the power to stop him, to participate in the life-saving work Christ spent His life on if we'll open our hand and give back what God gave us and just say to Him, "Use this, Father, to tell more people about Jesus."

Proverbs 23 , Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: PONDER THE POWER - January 3, 2023

Despair can be a dangerous season. But it can also be a developing time, a time in which we learn to trust God, to lean into his Word and rely on his ways. The choice is ours.

And to help us choose the wise path, God gave the story of Esther. For fear of the death of his people, Mordecai cries out to Esther to intervene. He said, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Relief will come! This is God’s message for you. Feeling undone by the struggle? Then let God unleash the power within you to face it. Shift your focus away from the challenges, and ponder the power of your almighty God.

Proverbs 23

Restrain Yourself

6

23 1-3 When you go out to dinner with an influential person,

    mind your manners:

Don’t gobble your food,

    don’t talk with your mouth full.

And don’t stuff yourself;

    bridle your appetite.

7

4-5 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;

    restrain yourself!

Riches disappear in the blink of an eye;

    wealth sprouts wings

    and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

8

6-8 Don’t accept a meal from a tightwad;

    don’t expect anything special.

He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself;

    he’ll say, “Eat! Drink!” but won’t mean a word of it.

His miserly serving will turn your stomach

    when you realize the meal’s a sham.

9

9 Don’t bother talking sense to fools;

    they’ll only poke fun at your words.

10

10-11 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines

    or cheat orphans out of their property,

For they have a powerful Advocate

    who will go to bat for them.

11

12 Give yourselves to disciplined instruction;

    open your ears to tested knowledge.

12

13-14 Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones;

    a spanking won’t kill them.

A good spanking, in fact, might save them

    from something worse than death.

13

15-16 Dear child, if you become wise,

    I’ll be one happy parent.

My heart will dance and sing

    to the tuneful truth you’ll speak.

14

17-18 Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;

    soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—

That’s where your future lies.

    Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.

15

19-21 Oh listen, dear child—become wise;

    point your life in the right direction.

Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk;

    don’t eat too much food and get fat.

Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,

    in a stupor and dressed in rags.

Buy Wisdom, Education, Insight

16

22-25 Listen with respect to the father who raised you,

    and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.

Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money;

    buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.

Parents rejoice when their children turn out well;

    wise children become proud parents.

So make your father happy!

    Make your mother proud!

17

26 Dear child, I want your full attention;

    please do what I show you.

27-28 A prostitute is a bottomless pit;

    a loose woman can get you in deep trouble fast.

She’ll take you for all you’ve got;

    she’s worse than a pack of thieves.

18

29-35 Who are the people who are always crying the blues?

    Who do you know who reeks of self-pity?

Who keeps getting beaten up for no reason at all?

    Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot?

It’s those who spend the night with a bottle,

    for whom drinking is serious business.

Don’t judge wine by its label,

    or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor.

Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with—

    the splitting headache, the queasy stomach.

Do you really prefer seeing double,

    with your speech all slurred,

Reeling and seasick,

    drunk as a sailor?

“They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt;

    they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing.

When I’m sober enough to manage it,

    bring me another drink!”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Tuesday, January 03, 2023

Today's Scripture

Psalm 38:11–22

Lord, my longings are sitting in plain sight,

    my groans an old story to you.

My heart’s about to break;

    I’m a burned-out case.

Cataracts blind me to God and good;

    old friends avoid me like the plague.

My cousins never visit,

    my neighbors stab me in the back.

My competitors blacken my name,

    devoutly they pray for my ruin.

But I’m deaf and mute to it all,

    ears shut, mouth shut.

I don’t hear a word they say,

    don’t speak a word in response.

What I do, God, is wait for you,

    wait for my Lord, my God—you will answer!

I wait and pray so they won’t laugh me off,

    won’t smugly strut off when I stumble.

17-20 I’m on the edge of losing it—

    the pain in my gut keeps burning.

I’m ready to tell my story of failure,

    I’m no longer smug in my sin.

My enemies are alive and in action,

    a lynch mob after my neck.

I give out good and get back evil

    from God-haters who can’t stand a God-lover.

21-22 Don’t dump me, God;

    my God, don’t stand me up.

Hurry and help me;

    I want some wide-open space in my life!

Insight

In Old Testament poetry, we see two kinds of laments: a corporate or national lament and an individual lament. In a national lament, the singer mourns over the condition of the whole nation. This is seen clearly in much of the book of Jeremiah and most of the book of Lamentations. An individual lament is a personal lament of the singer’s own situation. Psalm 38 falls into the category of an individual lament, as do many of David’s lament psalms, which bear witness to the great difficulties he dealt with much of his life. This psalm doesn’t provide us with the specific context that prompted him to write it, but we do know it includes a prayer for healing from suffering due to his sin (vv. 3–5, 17–18). It could refer to suffering while being pursued by Saul or when his son Absalom sought to drive him from the kingdom. 

Learn more about reading the Psalms. By: Bill Crowder

Rescue Mission

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. Psalm 38:15

Volunteers at a farm animal rescue organization in Australia found a wandering sheep weighed down by more than seventy-five pounds of filthy, matted wool. Rescuers suspected the sheep had been forgotten and lost in the bush for at least five years. Volunteers soothed him through the uncomfortable process of shearing away his heavy fleece. Once freed from his burden, Baarack ate. His legs grew stronger. He became more confident and content as he spent time with his rescuers and the other animals at the sanctuary.

The psalmist David understood the pain of being weighed down with heavy burdens, feeling forgotten and lost, and desperate for a rescue mission. In Psalm 38, David cried out to God. He had experienced isolation, betrayal, and helplessness (vv. 11–14). Still, he prayed with confidence: “Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God” (v. 15). David didn’t deny his predicament or minimize his inner turmoil and physical ailments (vv. 16–20). Instead, he trusted that God would be near and answer him at the right time and in the right way (vv. 21–22).

When we feel weighed down by physical, mental, or emotional burdens, God remains committed to the rescue mission He planned from the day He created us. We can count on His presence when we cry out to Him: “Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior” (v. 22). By:  Xochitl Dixon

Reflect & Pray

How has God revealed His faithfulness when you’ve felt weighed down? How has God used others to comfort and support you?

Gracious God, help me to encourage others who feel weighed down, lost, or forgotten.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Tuesday, January 03, 2023

Clouds and Darkness

Clouds and darkness surround Him… —Psalm 97:2

A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him….” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We are in danger of being stern where God is tender, and of being tender where God is stern.  The Love of God—The Message of Invincible Consolation, 673 L

Bible in a Year: Genesis 7–9; Matthew 3

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Tuesday, January 03, 2023

THE PROBLEM WITH LOOKING AT YOURSELF - #9387

It was one of those early spring days when we look out the window and see all kinds of beautiful birds. I saw this one that was actually pretty funny to watch. I'm not sure it was really funny for him. I think it was a bluebird and he was hovering near a rear window on our car, just fluttering back and forth, running into the glass over and over again. Now, he was obviously confused and disoriented. He was going nowhere, just fluttering, chattering, and crashing into the window. My wife said, "You know, I'll bet he sees himself in the glass, and that's what's got him acting crazy."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Problem with Looking at Yourself."

Poor bird. When he just kept looking at himself, he got all confused and disoriented, and he kept running into things. Just like us when we get all focused on ourselves. And maybe that's where you are right now. The stress, the hurt, the load, it's gotten you all focusing on yourself, maybe without even realizing it. And you may actually be fluttering around emotionally, feeling disoriented and discouraged, even crashing sometimes.

God's given us a picture of what this looks like in our word for today from the Word of God in 1 Kings 19, beginning with verse 3. The great prophet Elijah has just come off the most powerful spiritual victory of his life - his showdown with 450 prophets of the idol Baal, where God proved who is Lord by consuming the sacrifice on the altar with fire from heaven. But now the wicked queen, Jezebel, has ordered a "hit" on the prophet - and, man, has he changed.

The Bible says, "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba...he went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die." What? How does such a strong spiritual leader get so low so fast? Here's a clue in what he says to God: "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have...put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." Did you notice? Suddenly, it's all about me.

This is in really sharp contrast to Elijah's focus when he prayed on the day of his showdown with the false prophets. There he said, "O Lord...let it be known today that You are God...that I am Your servant...so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God." See, when it's all about God, I'm on top of things. When it's all about me, things are on top of me.

Fear, discouragement, being all stressed - those aren't signs of being focused on your Lord. That's a bird who's looking at himself or herself and then fluttering all over the place, crashing into things. Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep in "perfect peace" the one who is "stayed on" Him.

Colossians 3:15 tells us to "let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts." Self-pity, self-centeredness, self-promoting, self-reliance, the harder it gets, the more that self stuff starts to take over, and the more out of control we become.

If you've been looking at yourself too much, don't you think it's time to fly to a higher place where you can get your perspective back; to refocus your eyes away from your great load and back to your great Lord. You 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.

Proverbs 22, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

 

Max Lucado Daily: GOD HAS A GOOD PLAN - January 2, 2023

Satan’s scheme to kill the Son of God was defeated on the cross he designed for Christ. Had Satan known that the death of the Messiah would mean death for him and life for us, he never would have crucified the King. He never saw it coming.

And so that we would never forget, Jesus gave us our own celebration. “He took the bread, he gave thanks and broke it,…saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you;’…He also took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you'”(Luke 22:19-20).

A broken body? Spilled blood? Can good come from this? Communion says yes. You have a good God, who has a good plan, and that plan is revealed in his good book. Today’s confusion and crisis will be tomorrow’s conquest.

Proverbs 22

The Cure Comes Through Discipline

A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;

    a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—

    God made them both!

3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;

    a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God

    is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;

    if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.

6 Point your kids in the right direction—

    when they’re old they won’t be lost.

7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich,

    so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,

    and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

9 Generous hands are blessed hands

    because they give bread to the poor.

10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;

    you need a break from bickering and griping!

11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;

    good leaders also delight in their friendship.

12 God guards knowledge with a passion,

    but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.

13 The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!

    If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”

14 The mouth of a prostitute is a bottomless pit;

    you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.

15 Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;

    the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

16 Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,

    you’ll end up the poorer for it.

The Thirty Precepts of the Sages

Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines

17-21 Listen carefully to my wisdom;

    take to heart what I can teach you.

You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;

    you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.

To make sure your foundation is trust in God,

    I’m laying it all out right now just for you.

I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—

    tested guidelines to live by.

Believe me—these are truths that work,

    and will keep you accountable

    to those who sent you.

1

22-23 Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,

    and don’t use your position to crush the weak,

Because God will come to their defense;

    the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.

2

24-25 Don’t hang out with angry people;

    don’t keep company with hotheads.

Bad temper is contagious—

    don’t get infected.

3

26-27 Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,

    pawning your house against a lucky chance.

The time will come when you have to pay up;

    you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

4

28 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines

    staked out long ago by your ancestors.

5

29 Observe people who are good at their work—

    skilled workers are always in demand and admired;

    they don’t take a backseat to anyone.

Restrain Yourself

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Monday, January 02, 2023

Today's Scripture

Micah 5:2–4

But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,

    the runt of the litter—

From you will come the leader

    who will shepherd-rule Israel.

He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.

    His family tree is ancient and distinguished.

Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes

    until the birth pangs are over and the child is born,

And the scattered brothers come back

    home to the family of Israel.

He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength,

    centered in the majesty of God-Revealed.

And the people will have a good and safe home,

    for the whole world will hold him in respect—

    Peacemaker of the world!

Insight

Micah (which means “who is like the Lord?”) is among the twelve Old Testament books classified as Minor Prophets. The prophet Micah (eighth-century bc) was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah. The book has three major sections (chs. 1–2; 3–5; 6–7) that all begin with the Hebrew word shama‘—“to hear” (1:2) or “listen” (3:1; 6:1). God called His people, particularly the leaders (chs. 2–3), to give heed to His words. Micah’s writing includes one of most beloved passages in the Bible: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). The prophet’s words are found in the New Testament in two places: Micah 5:2 is seen in Matthew 2:6 (the prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace), and Jesus quotes Micah 7:6 in Matthew 10:35–36. By: Arthur Jackson

A Small Start

Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small . . . , out of you will come . . . [a] ruler over Israel. Micah 5:2

The Brooklyn Bridge was considered “the eighth wonder of the world” upon its completion in 1883. But a single, slender wire strung from one bridge tower to the other was essential for the structure to come to fruition. Additional wires were added to the first until a massive cable, along with three others, was woven together. When finished, each cable—composed of more than five thousand galvanized wires—helped support the longest suspension bridge in its day. What started as something small turned into a huge part of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Jesus’ life began in a small way—a baby born and placed in a feeding trough in a tiny town (Luke 2:7). The prophet Micah prophesied His humble birth, writing, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2; see also Matthew 2:6). A small start, but this ruler and shepherd would see His fame and mission “reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).

Jesus was born in a small place in humility, and His life on earth ended as “he humbled himself” and died a criminal's death on a “cross” (Philippians 2:8 nlt). But by His immense sacrifice He bridged the gap between us and God—providing salvation for all who believe. This season, may you receive God’s great gift in Jesus by faith. And if you do believe, may you humbly praise Him anew for all He’s done for you. By:  Tom Felten

Reflect & Pray

What small or big thing is God doing in your heart? How will you humbly respond to Him?

Jesus, thank You for humbly coming to save me by Your great sacrifice.

Learn more about the life of Christ.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Monday, January 02, 2023

Will You Go Out Without Knowing?

He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8

Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “…do not worry about your life…nor about the body…” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

To live a life alone with God does not mean that we live it apart from everyone else. The connection between godly men and women and those associated with them is continually revealed in the Bible, e.g., 1 Timothy 4:10.  Not Knowing Whither, 867 L

Bible in a Year: Genesis 4–6; Matthew 2

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Monday, January 02, 2023

HOW NEW IS YOUR NEW YEAR? - #9386

There's a reason so many of us grandparents are overcoming our technophobia and venturing into cyberspace. We get to see pictures of our grandkids as soon as they're taken!

There's that hilarious photo that our son sent me. It was a picture of our then one-year-old grandson sitting on the kitchen floor with a fork in his hand. Oh, yeah, with a lemon-meringue pie splatted on the floor next to him. He's looking at the camera with an expression somewhere between "uh-oh" and "what's the problem?"

Then came the story with the picture. Dad and big sis were outside, and Mom had to leave the room briefly. As she left, she said to our seven-year-old grandson, "You're in charge." Which apparently was interpreted as, "Keep playing your video game." That's when Terminator Toddler made his move to the pie on the counter above him. The law of gravity? Well, of course, that provided a very valuable assist.

That's when Daddy - the event photographer - walked into the room. As he surveyed the mess on the floor, big brother made a proud announcement, "Guess what, Daddy? I'm in charge!" All Daddy could think was, "You sure you want to own this mess, son?" Strange as it may seem, I'm actually thinking about that little drama as a personal parable early in this new year.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How New is Your New Year?"

I wonder how many times that would be a picture of imaginary conversations between God and me as He surveys that mess right in front of me? And there I am saying, "Guess what, Father? I'm in charge!" And He must be thinking as He looks at the damage, "Yeah, I could tell you're in charge, Ron."

So how new is any new year really going to be? Especially in the parts of our lives that are messy, confused, tense, and troubled? It may all depend on who's in charge. I've found that the messes are usually in areas where I've hijacked the wheel from God and decided to take charge myself, often without even realizing it. Then I hear the echoes of a haunting question from God. It's in our word for today from the Word of God in Galatians 3:3 - "After beginning with the Spirit" (that's the Holy Spirit) "are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

When I'm facing something that I can't fix or change or control, I desperately turn to Him and I say, "Jesus, take the wheel!" But somewhere along the way, Mr. Control takes it back. And that's where the messes come from. A new year, a fresh start, usually makes us reflect a little on things that aren't as they should be; in our marriage, our family, our finances, maybe our relationships. Maybe it's our lifestyle, our love life, our walk with God.

If you see a mess in a part of your life that you're looking at right now, consider whether you have moved Jesus to the margins and said, "I'm in charge" effectively making you "Lord" of that part of your life instead of Him. That's when He asks that disturbing question, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).

The realization that I was never meant to drive my life; that's the first step to beginning a relationship with God; the very relationship you were made for. And when you realize that the mess of your life, the guilt of your life, the shame of your life, the hurt we've inflicted is because we've taken our life and done it our way instead of His. That's called SIN in the bible.

And you're ready at that point to say, "I need a Savior. I need a Rescuer from this sin." Especially when you understand that the Bible says that sin carries an eternal death penalty, which Jesus loved you so much that He paid on the cross when He died for your sin. And He walked out of his grave; He's alive. He can walk into your life this very day at your invitation and forgive that sin, and erase it forever.

If you're ready for that next step that makes that possible - a new you - you can find some answers at our website ANewStory.com. I hope you'll go there. Maybe this new year is time for new management.

Acts 3, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: The Big News

The big news of the Bible is not that you love God, but that God loves you; not that you can know God, but that God already knows you!

God tattooed your name on the palm of his hand. You never leave his mind, escape his sight, flee his thoughts. He sees the worst of  you and loves you still. Your sins of tomorrow and failings of the future will not surprise him, he sees them now. Every day and deed of your life has passed before his eyes and been calculated in his decision. He knows you better than you know you and reached his verdict: He loves you still!

No discovery will disillusion him, no rebellion will dissuade him. You need not win his love.  You already have it. And since you can't win it, you can't lose it! He loves you with an everlasting love!

From The Lucado Inspirational Reader

Acts 3

One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

11 The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.

Turn to Face God

12-16 When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:

“Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we’re the witnesses. Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.

17-18 “And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.

19-23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.’

24-26 “All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God’s covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Sunday, January 01, 2023

Today's Scripture

Philippians 1:12–21

They Can’t Imprison the Message

12-14 I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.

15-17 It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better—they think—for them.

18-21 So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!

And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a platform! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.

Insight

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is much loved because of its emphasis on joy. Considered by many to be the apostle’s most practical letter, it nevertheless contains one of the most theological segments in the New Testament. The declaration in Philippians 2:5–11, believed by some to have been a part of an ancient hymn, explores what Christ left behind to come to earth as a human being. It also explores His ultimate mission—the cross—and the glory that will be His one day, when “every knee [will] bow” and “every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (vv. 10–11). By: Bill Crowder

Choose Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Keith was feeling down as he trudged through the produce aisle. His hands trembled from the first signs of Parkinson’s disease. How long before his quality of life began to slide? What would this mean for his wife and children? Keith’s gloom was shattered by laughter. Over by the potatoes, a man pushed a giggling boy in a wheelchair. The man leaned over and whispered to his son, who couldn’t stop grinning. He was noticeably worse off than Keith, yet he and his dad were finding joy where they could.

Writing from prison or under house arrest as he awaited the outcome of his trial, the apostle Paul seemingly had no right to be joyful (Philippians 1:12–13). The emperor was Nero, a wicked man who had a growing reputation for violence and cruelty, so Paul had reason to be concerned. He also knew there were preachers who were taking advantage of his absence to gain glory for themselves. They thought they could “stir up trouble” for the apostle while he was imprisoned (v. 17).

Yet Paul chose to rejoice (vv. 18–21), and he told the Philippians to follow his example: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4). Our situation might seem bleak, yet Jesus is with us now, and He’s guaranteed our glorious future. Christ, who walked out of His tomb, will return to raise His followers to live with Him. As we begin this new year, may we rejoice! By:  Mike Wittmer

Reflect & Pray

What personal suffering or injustice causes you to languish in your sorrow? How might the truth of Jesus bring you joy?

Father, please raise my eyes above my circumstances. I look to You alone for joy.

For further study, read Why? Seeing God in Our Pain.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Sunday, January 01, 2023

Let Us Keep to the Point

"…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death." —Philippians 1:20

My Utmost for His Highest. “…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed….” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.

My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.

The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption

Bible in a Year: Genesis 1–3; Matthew 1