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(week of Dec 23rd)_ (Good News)
(week of Dec 16th) (persist)
Bible Verses About Persistence
25 Bible Verses About Persistence (With Commentary)
Persistence is often the key to achieving our goals and overcoming obstacles. Today, we’ll delve into the biblical principles of persistence and the transformative impact it can have on our lives.
These verses offer insights into the qualities of perseverance, the importance of faith, and the rewards of enduring challenges. Whether you’re facing a daunting task or simply seeking to strengthen your resolve, these scriptures provide inspiration and a deeper understanding of the power of persistence.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Doing Good
Bible Verses About Persistence
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
This verse encourages persistence in prayer. It reminds us that we should continue to ask, seek, and knock, knowing that God hears our prayers and will answer in His perfect timing and according to His will.
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of persistence in prayer. It teaches us that we should never give up but continually bring our requests before God, trusting in His faithfulness and provision.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
This verse reminds us of the reward that awaits those who persevere in doing the will of God. It encourages us to stay faithful and steadfast, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded in due time.
“Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
This verse highlights the positive outcome of perseverance. It teaches us that through the testing of our faith, perseverance is developed, leading to spiritual maturity and a complete faith that lacks nothing.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
This verse encourages us to persistently remain steadfast in our work for the Lord. It reminds us that our efforts in serving God are never in vain and that we should give ourselves fully to His work, knowing that He will reward our faithfulness.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
This verse urges us to keep going and not grow weary in doing good. It assures us that if we persist in doing what is right and pleasing to God, we will eventually reap the rewards of our labor.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
This verse encourages us to forget our past failures and mistakes and focus on the future. It reminds us to press on and continue striving towards the goal of knowing Christ and fulfilling His purposes for our lives.
“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
This verse highlights the resilience of the righteous. It reminds us that even when we face challenges and setbacks, we have the strength and determination to rise again and continue on the path of righteousness.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
This verse reflects the perseverance of the apostle Paul. It serves as an example for us to stay faithful and committed to our faith until the end, knowing that we will ultimately receive the crown of righteousness.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
This verse teaches us the transformation that can take place through perseverance. It reminds us that trials and suffering can lead to the development of endurance, character, and hope, ultimately strengthening our faith.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
This verse encourages us to persistently devote ourselves to prayer. It reminds us to be alert and watchful in our prayers, with an attitude of gratitude for all that God has done and will continue to do in our lives.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
This verse reminds us of the importance of patience and trust in God’s timing. It encourages us to remain calm and trust in the Lord, even when it seems like the wicked are prospering around us.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
This verse assures us of God’s closeness to those who call upon Him in truth. It reminds us that as we persistently seek the Lord and call upon His name, He will draw near to us and hear our cries for help.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of being still and acknowledging the sovereignty of God. It reminds us to trust in His power and authority, knowing that He will be exalted and victorious over all nations and circumstances.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
This verse encourages us to wait patiently for the Lord. It reminds us to be strong and courageous, knowing that as we wait upon the Lord, He will renew our strength and guide us in His perfect timing.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
This verse reminds us of the strength and endurance that comes from placing our hope in the Lord. It assures us that as we trust in Him, He will empower us to overcome weariness and walk with renewed strength and vitality.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This verse provides comfort and assurance in times of difficulty. It reminds us that God is with us, ready to strengthen and uphold us in all circumstances. Therefore, we have no reason to fear or be discouraged.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
This verse assures us of God’s presence and protection during challenging times. It reminds us that no matter what trials we face, God will be with us and ensure that we are not overwhelmed or consumed by them.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
This verse brings hope to the persistent prayers of the righteous. It assures us that the Lord hears our cries for help and will deliver us from all our troubles. It reminds us that He is near to the brokenhearted and cares for those who are crushed in spirit.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
This verse reminds us to lift our eyes to the Lord, the ultimate source of help and strength. It teaches us to rely on Him and look to Him for guidance and provision in all situations.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
This verse expresses the unwavering trust and persistence of the psalmist in God. It describes God as a strong fortress, a reliable refuge, and a deliverer, highlighting His faithfulness and protective nature.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
This verse testifies to the faithfulness of God in answering persistent prayers. It describes how God heard the cry of the psalmist, rescued them from a desperate situation, and brought restoration and praise. It serves as a reminder that as we wait on the Lord, He will lift us up and fill us with songs of praise.
“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”
This verse encourages us to persevere in doing what is good. It reminds us that even when faced with opposition or discouragement, we should not grow weary but continue in our commitment to live out the principles of righteousness and kindness.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This verse compares the Christian life to a race that requires perseverance. It reminds us to rid ourselves of anything that hinders our progress and to keep our focus on Jesus, who endured the cross for the sake of joy and victory. It serves as a reminder that our perseverance is empowered by fixing our eyes on the ultimate example of endurance, Jesus Christ.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
This verse emphasizes the reward of perseverance under trial. It assures us that as we endure and remain faithful in difficult circumstances, we will receive the crown of life promised by God to those who love Him.
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
This verse encourages us not to fear suffering or persecution. It assures us that as we remain faithful to the point of death, God will grant us the crown of life as a victorious reward. It reminds us of the eternal significance of our perseverance in the face of trials and tribulations.
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
This verse highlights the purpose and outcome of enduring trials. It teaches us that our faith is refined and proven through trials, resulting in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus returns. It reminds us that our present suffering is temporary and serves a greater purpose in strengthening our faith.
What Does the Bible Say About Persistence?
In the Bible, we find several passages that emphasize the importance of persistence in our faith and daily lives. While it may not explicitly use the word “persistence,” the concept of unwavering faith and determination is a recurring theme. Here are some key principles and teachings from the Bible that highlight the value of persistence:
1. Prayer and Persistence
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who kept going to a judge seeking justice. Though the judge initially ignored her, he eventually granted her request because of her persistence. Jesus used this story to encourage us to be persistent in prayer, assuring us that God, our loving Father, will answer our prayers in His perfect timing.
2. Endurance in Trials
James 1:2-4 reminds us to consider it pure joy when we face trials because they produce perseverance. The testing of our faith develops endurance, making us mature and complete. This teaches us that, in difficult times, we should persist in our trust in God, knowing that He is using these challenges for our growth and His glory.
3. Running the Race with Perseverance
Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to run the race of faith with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. This passage reminds us that life’s journey can be challenging, but we must keep pressing forward with unwavering faith in Christ.
4. Continual Seeking of God’s Presence
Psalm 27:4 expresses the psalmist’s desire to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, seeking God’s presence continually. This verse encourages us to persistently seek God and His presence, making it a priority in our lives.
5. The Parable of the Persistent Friend
In Luke 11:5-10, Jesus tells another parable about a friend who goes to his neighbor at midnight to borrow bread. Although the neighbor initially refuses, he eventually gives in because of the friend’s persistence. Jesus uses this story to illustrate that we should persistently ask, seek, and knock in our requests to God, as He is a loving and generous Father who provides for His children.
6. Fruitfulness Through Abiding in Christ
In John 15:5, Jesus teaches that we can bear much fruit if we abide in Him. This implies a continuous, persistent connection with Christ. Just as a branch must remain attached to the vine to bear fruit, we must remain steadfast in our relationship with Jesus to experience spiritual growth and produce lasting fruit.
In summary, the Bible encourages us to be persistent in our faith, prayer, and pursuit of God’s presence. It teaches us that through perseverance, we can overcome trials, run the race of faith, and experience the blessings and growth that come from unwavering trust in God. So, let us take these teachings to heart and persistently seek God’s will in our lives.
(week of Nov 9th) (the world)
(week of Nov 2nd) (forgiven)
(week of Nov 25th) (breaking bread)
Meal Times Are God Times
Cultivating Fellowship at the Table
Article by Abigail Dodds
Regular Contributor
“Eating out is my love language” — that’s what I’d tell my husband in the early years of our marriage. I was a newbie to the rhythms of making daily meals and found the responsibility a bit overwhelming and, at times, discouraging.
My common refrain was, “Food tastes better when someone else makes it.” My now-legendary-to-our-family cooking failures — such as the gorgeous-looking biscuits that my newlywed husband had to spit out of his mouth at the dinner table — kept me trepidatious about trying new recipes. Who knew that a surplus of baking soda could render otherwise delectable-looking biscuits totally inedible?
But my lack of cooking skills didn’t make the need for daily sustenance go away; it only increased as we added children to our family. With each child, we added a new tummy to fill, a new person to grow, and a new palate of peculiar tastes to train and satisfy. Preparing food wasn’t just a hobby I could take up if I felt like it; it was a necessity that I would either neglect and do poorly or be faithful in to bless others.
Much to my delight, practice really does make perfect — or at least in my case, greatly improved. After years of plodding along through boring menus, some fantastic new dishes, and occasional flops, I began to look forward to our evening suppers. The planning, prepping, cooking, table setting, and serving all became an extension of my love for the people God gave me.
As I ventured into new areas, my suppertime creativity wasn’t driven by self-expression — a means of showing my talent or hard work. It was driven by love-expression — a means of blessing and making our table joyful and memorable.
Serving Food That Endures
The food I prepare for our family never lasts. It is consumed, eaten, and sometimes discarded after sitting too long in the refrigerator. Jesus told his disciples of a “food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27).
I can’t get around the fact of daily food. We won’t survive without it. But Jesus tells us there is a food that is even more important than what I set on our dinner table. It is an enduring food, a food that lasts forever. What food is it? It is God’s Son. “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).
“There is one ingredient to our family suppers that is truly essential. It is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is one ingredient to our family suppers that is truly essential. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Spirit of the Lord Jesus is present at our table, a meager meal of the most basic, unadorned food, such as rice, or the most culturally despised food, such as McDonald’s, becomes an opportunity for thankfulness to God. “Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4–5).
We bring the Lord Jesus to our table by opening his word together, or simply discussing the events of the day in light of his word, or singing a psalm or hymn full of the truths of his word. Just as we eat physical food every day in order to survive, so we eat God’s word every day in order to survive. And just as our physical meals are meant to be eaten at a table in fellowship with others, so too our eating of God’s word is a family meal — the shared food of an eternal fellowship.
Edible Seals of Fellowship
There is something profound about sharing a table of physical food with others, because it represents a deeper fellowship. Paul even warns the Corinthians that they must not eat with a man who professes Christ while he persists in high-handed sin (1 Corinthians 5:11–13). Physically eating together as Christians is a signal of our spiritual fellowship with one another.
This means that every evening meal is an opportunity to welcome children (as well as neighbors, friends, and strangers) into the fellowship of Christ that exists between father and mother. It is an opportunity to offer physical food that nourishes and delights, as we daily hold out the eternal food of Christ that endures forever.
If this sounds like an all-too-picturesque goal, like a Christian version of a Norman Rockwell painting, let me disabuse us of that ideal. Family meals are full of real people. And real people spill, cry, bicker, and can be picky. But remember, practice makes perfect — or if not perfect, greatly improved. My cooking skills didn’t improve without lots of trial and error and years of work.
“God does not invite us to a potluck. We bring nothing but our hunger and need for him.”
Family meals don’t become joyous occasions of fellowship just because we all sit down at a beautiful table at 5:30 p.m. Fellowship is work. It takes practice and patience. It means keeping short accounts — repenting of petty sins, asking forgiveness, granting forgiveness, following up on a bad attitude, refusing to be lazy or neglectful as parents when our children need loving discipline. Partaking of physical food and the food of God’s word together around the table is plodding, repetitive, but eternally rewarding good work.
Preparing Meals Like God
I was right about one thing in those early years of learning how to make food. Food really does taste better when someone else makes it, at least when that person knows how to cook. That’s why children love their mom’s cooking. It’s why having food made by a talented chef at a restaurant is such a treat. And it’s why the food prepared for us by God — his only Son, the bread of life — is the best food of all.
The food God makes, he makes without our help. He does not invite us to a potluck. We bring nothing but our hunger and need for him. We come to his table full of faith and hope and eager expectation. He invites us to his table and offers us the fellowship of himself and his people. He is the Provider; he is the Maker of the food that lasts; he is the Nourisher of both body and soul forever. We have the privilege of being like him as we gather our families around tables to partake of the work of our hands and to share in the provision and fellowship of Christ.
(week of Nov 18th) (joy)
(week of Nov. 11th) (soldier)
25 Bible Verses About Soldiers
by Jamie Wilson
Soldiers demonstrate courage and sacrifice in their service. Today, we’ll explore Bible verses that reflect on the role of soldiers and the values they uphold. These verses pay tribute to those who protect and defend.
Bible Verses About Soldiers
1. Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This verse provides encouragement for soldiers facing battles and challenges. The Lord commands them to be strong and courageous, assuring them that He is with them wherever they go. It reminds soldiers that they can find strength and courage in their faith, knowing that God is with them in every situation.
2. Psalm 144:1
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
This verse acknowledges God’s role in training and preparing soldiers for warfare. It recognizes that soldiers possess skills and abilities given to them by the Lord, and gives thanks to Him as their source of strength and guidance.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
This verse reminds soldiers to put on the spiritual armor of God, which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. By suiting up with God’s armor, soldiers are equipped to resist and stand firm against the spiritual battles they may face.
“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
In this verse, the Apostle Paul compares the Christian life to that of a soldier. Soldiers are focused on their mission and seeking to please their commanders. Similarly, believers are called to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, not getting entangled in distractions or worldly affairs.
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
This verse encourages soldiers to put in the necessary preparation and training for battle, but also recognizes the ultimate outcome is in God’s hands. It reminds soldiers to trust in the Lord for victory, knowing that He is the one who ultimately determines the outcome of any conflict.
6. Romans 13:4
“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
This verse acknowledges the role of governmental authorities in maintaining order and justice. It reminds soldiers of their duty to serve and protect their country and uphold the laws of the land. It emphasizes the importance of using force responsibly and in accordance with God’s standards of justice.
7. Psalm 20:7
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
This verse highlights the importance of placing our trust and confidence in God rather than relying solely on human strength or weapons. For soldiers, it serves as a reminder that their ultimate trust should be in God, who is their true source of strength and protection.
“Many fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied their land until the exile.”
This verse recounts a specific battle where the people of God relied on Him and emerged victorious. It serves as a reminder to soldiers that when they fight under God’s guidance and for His purposes, they can find confidence in His ability to bring about victory.
9. Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
These words from the prophet Isaiah provide comfort and assurance to soldiers who may face fear or discouragement on the battlefield. It reminds them that God is with them and will provide the strength and support they need in every situation.
10. 1 Samuel 17:47
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
This verse comes from the story of David and Goliath, demonstrating that victory in battle ultimately comes from the Lord. It reminds soldiers that their trust should not be in their own weapons or strategies, but in God’s provision and power.
11. Psalm 18:34
“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
This verse acknowledges God’s role in equipping and training soldiers for battle. It recognizes that physical strength and skill come from God and gives thanks for His preparation.
12. Psalm 27:3
“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
This verse expresses a deep trust and confidence in God even in the face of danger and conflict. It proclaims that even when surrounded by enemies, believers can find courage and peace in their relationship with God.
13. Psalm 121:7
“The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life.”
This verse offers comfort and assurance to soldiers, reminding them that God is their protector. It promises that He will guard their lives and keep them from harm.
14. Zechariah 4:6
“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
This verse emphasizes that victory does not come by human strength or power but by the enabling of God’s Spirit. For soldiers, it serves as a reminder that their reliance should be on the power of God rather than their own abilities.
15. Psalm 144:2
“He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”
This verse paints a picture of God as the ultimate source of protection and deliverance. It reassures soldiers that they can find safety and refuge in Him, and that He has the power to subdue their enemies.
16. Isaiah 40:31
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
This verse offers hope and encouragement to soldiers who may feel weary or exhausted. It reassures them that as they place their trust in the Lord, He will renew their strength and provide the endurance to keep going.
17. Romans 8:31
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
This verse reminds soldiers that as children of God, they have the assurance that He is on their side. It instills confidence and trust in God’s presence and protection, regardless of the challenges they may face.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
In this verse, King Jehoshaphat encourages his soldiers not to fear or be discouraged by the overwhelming enemy army. He reminds them that ultimately, the battle belongs to God. This teaches soldiers to trust in God’s sovereignty and power over any battle they may face.
19. Psalm 18:39
“You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.”
This verse acknowledges that it is God who equips believers with strength for battle. It recognizes that He has the ability to humble and overcome the adversaries of His people.
20. John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, acknowledging that they would face trouble in the world. However, He assures them that they can find peace and courage in Him because He has already overcome the world. This verse offers soldiers the comfort of knowing that they serve a victorious King.
21. Psalm 105:4
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
This verse encourages soldiers to continually seek the Lord’s strength and guidance. It reminds them that their dependence should always be on God, seeking His presence and wisdom in every situation.
22. Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.
This powerful verse assures soldiers that no weapon formed against them will ultimately succeed. It promises their protection against the attacks and judgments of their enemies, declaring that their righteousness comes from the Lord.
23. 2 Samuel 22:40
“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
This verse expresses gratitude to God for equipping believers with strength for battle. It proclaims that through the Lord’s provision, enemies are overcome and defeated.
24. Psalm 91:11
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
This verse assures soldiers of the heavenly protection and intervention from God’s angels. It reminds them that they are not alone and that God has assigned His angels to guard and protect them in all of their ways.
25. Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
This popular verse reminds soldiers that they can face any challenge or battle through the strength that is found in Jesus Christ. It inspires confidence and a reliance on God’s power to accomplish what might seem impossible.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Grandmothers
What Does the Bible Say About Soldiers?
In our exploration of what the Bible says about soldiers, we find that this sacred text contains several references and stories related to the role of soldiers. While the Bible does not provide a comprehensive doctrine on warfare or military service, it does offer valuable insights and principles that can guide our understanding.
Duty and Obedience: The Bible often portrays soldiers as individuals who have a duty to obey their superiors and carry out orders. This emphasis on obedience can be seen in various passages, such as when centurions and soldiers obeyed the commands of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13) and Cornelius’s obedience to God’s instructions (Acts 10).
Justice and Protection: The Bible acknowledges the role of soldiers in maintaining order and protecting society from external threats. Romans 13:4 states that rulers do not bear the sword in vain, implying that they have a responsibility to use force when necessary to uphold justice and protect the innocent.
Ethical Conduct: The Bible teaches that soldiers, like all individuals, should conduct themselves ethically. In Luke 3:14, John the Baptist instructs soldiers to be content with their wages and to not extort money from anyone. This reflects a broader message of integrity and moral conduct.
Peacemaking: While the Bible recognizes the reality of war and conflict, it also encourages peacemaking and reconciliation. In the famous passage of Isaiah 2:4, it is prophesied that nations will one day turn their weapons into plowshares, emphasizing the ultimate goal of peace.
The Armor of God: In Ephesians 6:10-17, Paul describes the “armor of God,” which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit. Although this passage is metaphorical, it underscores the importance of spiritual preparedness even for those in positions of physical protection.
Mercy and Compassion: The Bible teaches the importance of mercy and compassion. Soldiers are not exempt from these principles. In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus emphasizes the need to show compassion and help those in distress, regardless of their circumstances.
Prayer and Trust in God: Throughout the Bible, individuals, including soldiers, are encouraged to turn to prayer and trust in God during times of conflict and difficulty. Psalms, in particular, contain many verses where the psalmist cries out to God for protection and guidance in times of trouble.
In conclusion, the Bible does not explicitly endorse or condemn the profession of a soldier, but it does provide principles that guide how soldiers and individuals in positions of authority should conduct themselves. These principles include obedience, justice, ethical conduct, peacemaking, spiritual preparedness, mercy, and trust in God. It’s important for those in the military to consider these principles as they carry out their duties, always striving for a balance between their responsibilities and their moral and spiritual values.
(week of Nov 2nd) (chosen)
The Bible often speaks about being chosen by God, highlighting His sovereignty, love, and purpose for His people. Being chosen signifies God’s divine election and His calling for individuals and communities to serve Him faithfully. These verses emphasize that God’s choosing is not based on our merits but His grace, and it carries the responsibility of living according to His will. Here are 20 Bible verses about being chosen, each with an 80-word commentary.
1. John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
This verse reminds believers that their calling originates with God, not themselves. Jesus emphasizes that He chooses us for a purpose—bearing lasting fruit. Being chosen involves living a life of faithful service and obedience, knowing that God will empower us for His work. The promise of answered prayer further strengthens our confidence in God’s provision.
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.”
This verse highlights that God’s choice of His people is eternal, predating creation. His choosing is rooted in love and comes with a calling to live holy and blameless lives. This reminds us that being chosen isn’t just a status but a responsibility to live in a way that reflects God’s holiness.
3. 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
This verse calls believers a “chosen people” and outlines their identity and purpose. As God’s chosen ones, we are called to be His royal priesthood and holy nation, reflecting His light in the world. Being chosen means belonging to God in a unique way, tasked with proclaiming His goodness and bringing others to His light.
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”
This verse speaks of God’s choice of Israel, highlighting their status as a “treasured possession.” It teaches that being chosen means being set apart for holiness and dedicated to God’s purposes. God’s love for His chosen people is unique, and He values them as precious and irreplaceable.
5. Isaiah 41:9
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”
This verse reassures that God’s choosing is purposeful and enduring. Even when we feel distant or insignificant, God calls and chooses us as His servants. His selection is based on His divine plan, and He promises never to reject those He has chosen. This gives confidence to live in God’s service.
6. Romans 8:30
“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
This verse outlines God’s plan of salvation for His chosen ones. It teaches that being chosen involves a process that begins with predestination, followed by calling, justification, and ultimately glorification. God’s choice includes a complete transformation from sinner to saint, ensuring that His people will be glorified with Him in the end.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
This verse describes the character expected of those who are chosen by God. Being chosen isn’t just a privilege but a calling to embody Christlike virtues such as compassion, kindness, and humility. It reminds us that our identity as God’s chosen people should reflect His love and character in how we treat others.
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
This verse from Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet reflects the truth that while God’s invitation is extended widely, only a few are chosen to respond in faith. Being chosen involves more than just hearing the call—it means accepting it with a genuine heart and living in accordance with God’s will.
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.”
This verse emphasizes the certainty of God’s choosing. The Thessalonian believers are reminded that they are chosen and loved by God. This divine selection is not based on human merit but on God’s sovereign grace. It is a comforting assurance that God’s love and choice go hand in hand.
10. 2 Timothy 1:9
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
This verse highlights that our being chosen and called to live holy lives is a result of God’s purpose and grace, not our own efforts. God’s choice of us was made before time began, showing that His plan for our lives is rooted in His eternal love and grace.
11. John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
This verse emphasizes God’s initiative in choosing and drawing people to Christ. It teaches that coming to faith in Jesus is not merely a human decision but a response to God’s call. Being chosen by God involves His active pursuit of us and His promise of eternal life.
12. 1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'”
This verse teaches that God’s choosing is not based on outward appearances or human standards. God looks at the heart, and His selection is based on internal qualities rather than external factors. Being chosen by God reflects His wisdom and insight into our true nature and potential.
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
This verse highlights God’s unexpected choices, reminding us that He often chooses those whom the world sees as weak or foolish. God’s selection overturns worldly expectations, revealing His power and glory. Being chosen by God often defies human understanding, as He works through our weaknesses to accomplish His purposes.
14. 2 Peter 1:10
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”
This verse encourages believers to live in a way that confirms their calling and election. It teaches that being chosen by God requires intentional effort and faithfulness. Living in obedience and faith confirms our identity as God’s chosen people and helps us remain steadfast in our walk with Him.
15. Deuteronomy 14:2
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.”
This verse reiterates God’s special choosing of Israel as His treasured possession. It teaches that being chosen by God sets His people apart for holiness and purpose. God’s choosing reflects His deep love and care, calling His people to live in a way that honors their unique relationship with Him.
16. Ephesians 1:11
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
This verse emphasizes that God’s choosing is part of His divine plan. It teaches that our being chosen is in accordance with God’s purpose and will. Everything in our lives is ultimately directed by God’s sovereign plan, and being chosen by Him brings us into alignment with His perfect will.
17. Psalm 33:12
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
This verse speaks of the blessing that comes from being God’s chosen people. It teaches that God’s choosing brings a special relationship and inheritance. Those who are chosen by God experience His favor and are called to live in gratitude for the blessings of being His people.
18. Isaiah 43:1
“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'”
This verse emphasizes the personal nature of God’s choosing. It teaches that God calls His people by name, marking them as His own. Being chosen by God involves a close, personal relationship where He claims us as His own and redeems us from fear and separation.
19. Acts 13:48
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
This verse highlights the connection between being chosen by God and receiving eternal life. It teaches that those appointed by God for salvation will believe in Him. God’s choice ensures that His purpose of salvation will be fulfilled, bringing joy to those who are chosen for eternal life.
20. Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
(Week of Oct 28th) ('my child ')
Trusting God With A Wayward Child
Katie Polski | October 26, 2020
I had no idea there was such a thing as a National Sons Day or National Daughters Day. These celebratory days couldn’t be missed, however, because pictures of sons and daughters flooded my news feed. Sweet faces, arms around the necks of moms and dads, and smiles that stretched big were captioned with “my wonderful daughter,” or, “my precious sons.”
I loved seeing every picture. But as these beautiful blessings showed up on my computer screen, I simultaneously felt an ache for the few in my circle whom I know are hurting as mothers and fathers – parents who feel an overwhelming love for their child but who are too heartbroken to post cheerful pictures. Many have experienced broken bonds with teenagers or young adults for any number of reasons. I cannot forget the times I’ve been on my knees with a parent whose child is not walking the Lord.
As I pray daily for my own children’s relationship with Jesus, I come face to face with my struggle to trust the Lord in this area. Why, Lord, do covenant children walk away from you? The temptation is to relent our fervent and sometimes long-lasting prayers and throw up our hands in defeat. At times, our doubts and insecurities keep us from coming to the cross, but not doing so is a dismissal of the mighty and unceasing work of our Sovereign Creator. In 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2, we see God’s Sovereignty as well as His tender care, which reminds believers that we can fully and completely trust in God’s purposes because He will never fail us. What does it look like to put our confidence in Jesus when our children turn away from Him?
Open-Handed Trust
We read in 1 Samuel that Eli, the priest, has two rebellious sons who blatantly reject God. Though we don’t have record of it, it’s likely that Eli prayed for his sons to change. God expects obedience, and we should pray that our children love and obey and follow Him. What’s most difficult to read in this passage is that in the son’s persistent rebellion and rejection of God, it is not the Lord’s will for them to be saved (1 Sam. 2: 22-25).
How do we respond to this as parents?
As difficult as they are to read, these verses are not void of God’s love. In his meditation on this passage, John Piper poignantly observes: “While we are crying out to God for change, the answer of God is not: ‘I don’t love you.’ Nor is it, ‘I don’t hear you’…Rather the answer is (even when we can’t hear it): ‘I have wise and holy purposes in not overcoming this sin and not granting repentance. You do not see these purposes now. Trust me. I know what I’m doing. I love you.’”[1]
Open-handed faith toward our loving Savior should be our response when we don’t see immediate change in a wayward child. What we often want is an instant result from our prayers; we desire that the Lord redirects our child’s path in the way we envision he or she should go. But open-handed trust relinquishes the need to control, and instead of coming to Jesus with hands full of plans and ultimatums, we come with empty hands asking the Lord that His will be done.
We don’t know what the future holds for our children as they grow into adulthood. What we do know is that the Lord is near with each step, no matter how rocky or how difficult the journey becomes. Open-handed faith acknowledges that our responsibility as a parent is not to follow some perfectly formulated equation that ensures a successful outcome, but it recognizes the need to trust fully and completely in God’s ultimate plan knowing that He is our child’s Creator. We do not own them, we never have, nor are we the puppet master in our child’s life, though we try to maneuver the strings.
Our children belong to the Lord. Remind them daily of God’s ceaseless goodness and love (Deut. 6:7,8). And then pray that these characteristics will penetrate your own heart in such a way that you find peace in the assurance that God is good, He is perfectly Sovereign, and He can be counted on no matter what.
Persistent Prayer
In the previous chapter in 1 Samuel, we learn about Hannah’s persistent and fervent prayer for a child. She begs the Lord for a son after years of barrenness and does so in such a way that Eli assumes she is drunk (1 Sam. 1:10-18). Hannah’s prayer is not formulaic. There is nothing that indicates she assumes a certain kind of prayer will receive a certain kind of answer. But what is suggested is that Hannah prays persistently and fervently because she knows God intimately and believes, with all of her soul, that He is able to do the insurmountable.
As we hold fast in faith, knowing the Lord is at work, our prayers should be unceasing because the Scripture reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. Pray persistently and eagerly that your child will bend his or her will and heart toward the Lord. Pray fervently that He will reveal Himself in mighty and miraculous ways.
The prayers we bring to Jesus on behalf of our children strengthen our own relationship with Him. When we pray, we come to the throne of grace and cling to our Savior who never fails us, instead of clinging to another’s insufficient words or actions. Each prayer for a child acknowledges our lack of control and opens our hands to God’s ability to hold it all together. The Lord hears our prayers and the Lord works exceedingly in and through them.
And when you come to Jesus not knowing what to say, the Holy Spirit promises to intercede (Rom. 8:26-27). The Lord knows, He hears, and He answers. Here is one way to pray for your wayward child when words are lacking. From the comforting words found in Ephesians 3:17-19:
(week of Oct 21st) (the past)
A little child the was playing with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull.” To their astonishment the little fellow said, “Oh no, dad, I couldn’t put my fingers out like that because if I did I would drop my dime.” Billy Graham
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” – C.S. Lewis.
Looking back will distract you from what is in front of you. The devil will try to remind us of our past mistakes, sins, failures, etc.
“To heal your wound you need to stop touching it.”
God never consults your past to determine your future! Mike Francen
When you replay the past, you poison the present. Mike Murdock
Stop looking back at your past. Stop looking at who you used to be. Stop bringing up to God what is already covered by the blood. There is nothing that can disqualify you. Sing with boldness. Sing with joy. Pastor John Gray
(week of Oct 14th) (confidence)
Confidence is often seen as a desirable trait, but true confidence goes beyond mere self-assurance—it is rooted in faith and trust in God’s promises and power. The Bible offers principles for building confidence that endures, empowering us to face challenges with courage and conviction. Let’s delve into these verses and learn how to cultivate a confidence that is grounded in God’s truth and leads to boldness in living out His purposes for our lives.
Bible Verses About Being Confident
“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
This verse reminds us that true confidence comes not from our own strength or abilities, but from trusting in God’s protection and guidance. Even in the midst of challenging circumstances, we can have confidence in the Lord.
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
When we recognize that God is with us, there is no need to fear the opinions or actions of others. Our confidence is anchored in the unchanging presence of the Lord, who empowers us to overcome any challenge or opposition.
“For the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.”
With the assurance that God is by our side, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that He will protect us from stumbling or falling into traps. Our steps are secure when we trust in His guidance and direction.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God’s presence and support are constant sources of confidence for us. He assures us that He will strengthen, help, and uphold us. When we lean on Him, we can face anything with courage and trust.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
Trusting in the Lord leads to true blessing and confidence. As we rely on His faithfulness and goodness, our confidence is rooted in His unfailing love and power.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrated extraordinary confidence in God, even in the face of persecution and the threat of death. Their unwavering trust in the Lord led to their miraculous deliverance and serves as an inspiration for us to place our confidence fully in God.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Jesus encourages us to have confidence in God’s provision. Worrying about material needs distracts us from the truth that our heavenly Father cares for us. When we trust in His faithfulness, our confidence grows, knowing that He will supply all our needs.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Jesus reminds us that our ultimate confidence should be in the Lord, not in the acceptance or approval of others. We are not to fear those who can harm us physically, but rather reverence and trust in God, who holds eternity in His hands.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
In Christ, we can experience a deep sense of peace that transcends worldly circumstances. This peace serves as a foundation for our confidence and enables us to face challenges without fear or anxiety.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus acknowledges the reality of trials and difficulties in this world but assures us that He has overcome them. When we place our confidence in Him, we can have peace in the midst of struggles, knowing that He has ultimate victory.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
With God on our side, there is no need to fear any opposition or obstacle that comes our way. He is our defender and champion, and when we trust in Him, nothing can stand against us.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Through Christ’s love, we are not just conquerors but more than conquerors. Our confidence is not in our own strength or abilities but in the power of His love that overwhelms and empowers us to triumph in every situation.
“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
Our confidence before God is not based on our own accomplishments or merits but on what Christ has done for us. It is in recognizing our dependence on God’s grace and the sufficiency of His strength that our confidence is truly grounded.
“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.”
As believers, we can have unwavering confidence in our eternal relationship with the Lord, even though we may face temporary challenges in this earthly life. Our confidence rests in our faith in God’s promises, rather than on what we can physically see or understand.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
We can be confident that God will continue His work in us, transforming us to become more like Jesus. His faithfulness ensures that He will complete the good work He has started in our lives, giving us hope and assurance for the future.
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Our confidence is not in our own abilities or talents but in the strength and empowerment that come from Christ. With His enabling, we can face any challenge and accomplish all that He calls us to do.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
God’s care for us is a source of confidence, as we can freely bring our worries and burdens to Him. When we trust in His love and faithfulness, we can confidently release our anxieties into His capable hands.
“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.”
When our hearts are aligned with God’s will and His truth, we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that we are in right relationship with Him. Our confidence before God is rooted in our obedience and devotion to Him.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Our confidence in prayer is based on the assurance that God hears and answers us according to His perfect will. This empowers us to come boldly before Him and seek His guidance, provision, and intervention.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Through Jesus, we have the privilege of approaching God’s throne of grace with confidence. We can confidently seek His mercy and grace in times of need, knowing that He is always willing to give us the help and support we require.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
We are encouraged to hold on to our confidence in God, even when facing trials and waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. Our unwavering trust and hope in Him will ultimately be rewarded with His faithfulness and blessings.
“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”
When the Lord is our helper, there is no need to fear the actions or opinions of others. Our confidence is anchored in the unchanging character and power of God, who is always by our side.
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Confidence in God’s faithfulness requires unwavering faith. Doubt and insecurity can undermine our confidence, causing us to be unstable and easily swayed. When we trust fully in God’s promises, our confidence remains steadfast.
What Does The Bible Say About Being Confident?
Being confident is a trait that many of us desire to possess. We want to have assurance and boldness in our abilities, decisions, and beliefs. But what does the Bible say about being confident?
First and foremost, we must understand that true confidence comes from our relationship with God. In the book of Proverbs, we are reminded that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Our confidence should not be rooted in our own strength or achievements, but in our trust and reverence for God.
Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that our confidence should be in God’s promises. In the book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). We can have confidence in God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Additionally, the Bible reminds us that our confidence should be in Christ. In the book of Philippians, we are reminded that “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). When we place our trust in Christ and rely on His strength, we can face any situation with confidence, knowing that He is with us and will enable us to overcome.
However, it is important to note that the Bible also warns against misplaced confidence. The book of Proverbs cautions us about being “wise in [our] own eyes” (Proverbs 3:7). We should not be overly confident in our own wisdom or understanding but should humbly seek God’s guidance and counsel in all areas of our lives.
In summary, the Bible encourages us to have confidence that is rooted in our relationship with God, trust in His promises, and reliance on Christ’s strength. Our confidence should not be based on our own abilities or accomplishments, but on our faith in God and His faithfulness. When we place our confidence in Him, we can navigate life with assurance, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.
(week of Oct. 7th) (temptation)
(week of Sept 30th) (in harmony)
(week of Sept 23rd) (role model)
Becoming a Godly Role Model
Role models. I think we all recognize that the role models in our lives have had a great influence on us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). That is the Bible’s definition of role modeling.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, sure, the Apostle Paul could say ‘Follow me as I follow Christ.’ After all, he was an apostle, and he was the best Christian who ever lived. But we could never be expected to seriously tell someone to follow us and do like we do, could we?”
Well, the answer is yes; every Christian should be that kind of a godly role model. I would imagine some of you have never thought of yourself as a role model or a leader. Maybe that’s because you’re still young, you are not an assertive person, or you don’t have leadership gifts. But all of us are role models, and there are people in your life whom you influence. Therefore, we all have a responsibility as believers to make sure we are godly role models.
I know that’s a tall assignment, but we who are born from above have the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We don’t have to do this on our own. God will enable us to become godly role models. However, I believe we do need to take our role modeling responsibilities seriously and consciously work at being better role models.
Godly role modeling is the natural result of a normal, growing walk with Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we see that we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus with ever-increasing glory. So, if our lives as believers are a continuing transformation, becoming more and more like Jesus, then we can also say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
We are responsible for the people we influence. That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? We are responsible to set the best example of godly living we possibly can. We are not responsible for their behavior; they still have a free will to choose to follow our example or not. But if we do not give them the role model we should, we will be held accountable to God for our failure to be a good example.
So, the first thing I would recommend is that you make a list of the people in your life over whom you have some influence. That will help you become more intentional about being a good role model. Then add to that list the names of others that you would like to influence.
If you’re a parent, your children’s names will be at the top of the list. If you’re married, your mate’s name is likely to be on that list. Your co-workers are people over whom you have influence. If you’re a manager or business owner, the people who work for you definitely will be on that list. Your close friends are within your sphere of influence; other family members will be there. If you have any leadership roles in your church or other organizations, such as a teacher, you’ve got a list of people there for whom you are a role model.
Write those names down. You’ll be surprised how wide your influence spreads. After you’ve made a list of the people in your life whom you influence or who you would like to influence in a godly way, then you want to consider some key areas where you need to set the right example.
When Paul told the Corinthians to follow his example, he said, “Do not cause anyone to stumble. . .” (1 Corinthians 10:32). That’s a good place to start when we think of our influence as role models.
Who could you cause to stumble? In Romans 14 Paul tells us to be careful with someone whose faith is weak. Do you know any new believers? Those are people who look to us more mature Christians as role models. We could cause them to stumble by gossiping or by our lack of a servant attitude, to name just two. With new believers we have a heavy responsibility to exemplify a godly lifestyle so they have a clear model of what a Christian’s life should be.
If you’re a parent, you could cause your children to stumble. One of the most common ways we can fail our children is to live an inconsistent life. If our walk doesn’t match our talk, if we’re one way at church or with others and a different way at home, our children will see that hypocrisy, and it will have a great adverse effect on their lives.
One of the greatest blessings in my life was my parents. Yes, they took me to church regularly, but more importantly, I saw them live out their faith in our home on a daily basis. They were the same people at home as everywhere else, and their godly role modeling has had an inestimable positive effect on my life and my brothers as well. They did not cause me to stumble through a hypocritical lifestyle.
For those who go out to a job each day, there are people on that job who look at you as a role model. Maybe you have a new co-worker who is looking to you for training or help as he or she begins. You are a role model to that person. Your work habits and your work attitude will set a standard for that new employee. If you’re never on time for work, why should they be? If you bad mouth the boss, they will too. But if you are a diligent worker and you show a godly attitude toward the boss and the job, that new coworker will be more likely to conform his or her behavior to yours, since you’re the senior person on the job.
Anyone who has a position of leadership is always role modeling, whether you like it or not. I often remind managers that if you want to be a good manager, you don’t have the luxury of being in a bad mood because if you’re in a bad mood, everyone who works for you will be in a bad mood before the day is over. That’s because as a leader, you are a role model, and your attitude is very contagious.
Ask yourself this question: How do you react to stress and crises on the job? Do you go into gripe mode? Do you exhibit a bad attitude? Do you overreact? If so, you are setting that example for your co-workers, your employees, even for your management.
One way to evaluate your effectiveness as a role model on your job is to ask yourself: If everyone else in the company was like me, worked as hard as I do, was as loyal as I am, managed their time like I do, went the extra mile as much as I do, had the same attitude I have, would we have a better company? A godly role model on the job will raise the performance standards for everyone they influence.
Isn’t that an exciting prospect? Regardless of who you are or what position you have in the company, even if you’re in an entry level position, you can have a positive impact on the company’s success, the company’s morale, the company’s profitability by simply being a positive, godly role model. You will raise the bar so that others will want to jump higher and do better.
Way back in the early church the Apostle Paul understood the importance of good role modeling. He wrote:
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. . . . we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)
Now, consider what this teaches us. Paul inconvenienced himself in order to establish a strong model for the Thessalonian church to follow. In other words, being a godly role model for those under his influence was a very high priority for Paul, something he consciously made an effort to do even though it increased his workload.
If we are to be godly role models – good leaders, we’ll have to go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves at times. It will take effort and sometimes sacrifice. You may be thinking, “Well, I think I’ll just skip it then.” But you see, we don’t have a choice about whether we’ll be a role model or not; we only have a choice about whether we’ll be a godly role model or not. Everyone is somebody’s role model.
Role modeling is both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s a privilege because it allows us to influence others in a godly direction, and that has eternal significance–it really matters. If you’re looking for something to do that is meaningful, becoming a godly role model sure fills that bill. It makes a difference that matters for eternity, and that is a great privilege.
But also consider the responsibility of being a role model. For example, you can lecture your children until you’re blue in the face about never telling a lie, but if they hear you slanting the truth, you’ve lost your credibility. On the other hand, if they observe that you read your Bible and pray on a daily basis, they’ll be much more likely to do so as well. More than anyone else in your life, your children will learn from your example far more than they will learn from your words.
So, becoming a godly role model requires a close daily walk with the Lord, a humble spirit, and lots of dependence upon his power in us. It is a responsibility, but please, don’t lose sight of the great privilege you have to be a godly role model.
Not long ago a good friend of mine changed jobs and as she began her new job, she did what she always does: She worked hard and gave her employer a good day’s work for her pay. However, the people who worked in her department were not accustomed to that kind of work ethic. Indeed, they had all developed some very bad work habits and were quite lazy.
As they observed my friend’s work ethic, some of them made comments on how she was going to make them look bad. But she quietly responded that she just had to do her work diligently because that was the right thing to do, and she kept on working hard every day. Soon she noticed that the other employees started doing their jobs better, and they developed much better work habits simply because my friend had role modeled what a good worker should do.
She wasn’t their manager; in fact, she was low man on the totem pole as the new employee. But she role modeled what she believed God would have her do as an employee and that has changed the morale and the work habits of her department. That’s an example of what it means to be a godly role model.
To give you a different kind of story, several years ago I was asked to do some training for a large company in New Jersey. The manager in charge was very intent on improving his employees’ telephone skills, and he insisted that they use a friendlier telephone greeting. But he would answer his phone in an abrupt manner using only his last name. I suggested that if he would change his telephone habits, it would have a very favorable impression on his workers, and they’d be more likely to change. He laughed and said, “Oh, Mary, I’ve been answering the phone this way for 25 years; I’m not likely to change now.”
Well, I knew my training efforts would have limited success because those workers would be more influenced by their boss’s role model than they would by my training session.
So, whether you’re a worker, a manager, a business owner, a low person on the ladder, or at the top, you have the privilege and the responsibility to be a godly role model. Don’t miss your opportunities.
(week of Sept 16th) (end of times)
“For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side.” – C.S. Lewis (The Case For Christianity)
“Christ will come again. Sooner or later there will be a separation of the visible Church into two companies; that will be a fearful separation. The wheat will make up one company. The chaff will make up another. The one company will be all godly. The other company will be all ungodly.” – John Charles Ryle
“The second coming of Christ shall be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant, born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He shall come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized and feared, by all the tribes of the earth.
“He came the first time to suffer – to bear our sins, to be reckoned a curse, to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned and slain. He shall come the second time to reign – to put down every enemy beneath His feet, to take the kingdom of this world for His inheritance, to rule them with righteousness, to judge all men and to live forevermore.
“How vast the difference! How mighty the contrast!”
– John Charles Ryle
“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” – C.S. Lewis
“There is an intimate connection between the life of the Christian here and the enjoyment and the glory in the day of Christ’s appearing.” – George Muller
“In His coming the “last days” to which the Old Testament looked forward arrived, but they have not yet run their course; the Christian church is still living in this eschaton. Jesus’ first coming inaugurated it; His second coming will consummate it. The coming of Jesus was, therefore, the beginning of the end.” – R.T. France
“The apostolic church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death and heaven. The early Christians were looking, not for a cleft in the ground called a grave but for a cleavage in the sky called Glory.” – Alexander MacLaren
“When the day of recompense comes, our only regret will be that we have done so little for Him, not that we have done too much.” – George Muller
“what the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools.” – Martin Luther
(week of Sept 9th) (lineage of Christ....5 women)
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What Do We Know About Bathsheba's Story in the Bible
The story of Bathsheba in the Bible is often eclipsed by the story of David. Bathsheba’s story has drawn, however, hers is a story of redemption. Let’s look at the story from Bathsheba’s view instead of David’s.
Danielle Bernock
Bathsheba's story in the Bible is marked by a complex interplay of power, sin, repentance, and redemption. The first time Bathsheba’s name is mentioned in the Bible is in 2 Samuel 11:3. The man whom King David sent to find out about her identified her as, “Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite” (2 Samuel 11:3). The prior verse says while she was bathing, the king was walking around on the roof of the palace and saw her. Next thing she knew, messengers from the king were at her house to take her to the palace.
We will answer specific questions that many have about what happened to Bathsheba but for in brief summary: One day, David saw Bathsheba bathing and was overcome with lust. He had her brought to him and they slept together. Bathsheba later became pregnant. David tried to cover up his sin by sending Uriah back to the battlefield, hoping that he would be killed. However, Uriah refused to go home and sleep with his wife, knowing that it would be considered unfaithfulness to his comrades who were still fighting. David then had Uriah put in the front line of battle, where he was killed. Bathsheba mourned the death of her husband, but she eventually married David. They had a son together, Solomon. However, David's sin was not forgotten by God. The first child that Bathsheba bore to David died, and David was punished for his adultery and murder.
Bathsheba Was Taken
Bathsheba’s husband, one of the King’s “Mighty Men” was away at war. It’s plausible she thought King David wanted to speak with her about her husband, Uriah. Maybe he was injured. Or perhaps the king had news about her father Eliam, also one of the king’s “Mighty Men.” Still, she might have thought it could be about her grandfather Ahithophel, one of King David’s Chief Advisors. Surely, it must be about them because he cared about them.
If these were her thoughts, she was sadly mistaken.
Why Was Bathsheba Bathing and What Really Happened?
David had her brought to the palace to sleep with her because he’d been watching her bathe and saw she was “very beautiful” (2 Samuel 11:2).
This bathing was not your everyday bath, but a specific kind. Bathsheba had just finished her monthly cycle and was performing ceremonial bathing to be "cleansed from her uncleanness”(2 Samuel 11:4). Some suggest Bathsheba was seducing King David by bathing within his sight. But, really, she was only following the Law of Moses with this ceremonial cleansing.
Did King David Rape Bathsheba?
Some argue Bathsheba was complicit.
Did David force himself on Bathsheba? Scripture leaves little doubt that the sin was his, something even David confesses in 2 Samuel 12:13. But did David rape Bathsheba? Scripture does not mince words when dealing with sin, including the terrible act of rape.
But the Bible says David sent messengers who “took” her. This word (Strong’s 3947) in the original Hebrew means to seize, take captive, to be captured, etc. Bathsheba lived in a time when women were looked upon as property. She had no right to resist the King. Not when being taken from her home. Not when he wanted to have sex with her. Not when being sent back home immediately after.
Different wording, however, is used in 2 Samuel 11, which doesn’t mean what happened between David and Bathsheba was consensual. Nor does it mean that Scripture defends David’s sin in any way, but there’s also no evidence in Scripture that a violent act occurred, as seen in the previous stories.
Bathsheba Was a Woman Who Suffered Greatly
1. Bathsheba suffered the loss of her husband. When Bathsheba found herself pregnant, she sent word to the king, likely in a panic. Not long after this, her husband was reported dead. It isn’t clear whether Bathsheba knew that David killed her husband or not. But whoever killed him, her husband was dead, and she was now a pregnant widow.
Grieving the loss of her husband was likely augmented by the hormones raging from her pregnancy. In her devasted state, King David took her again, this time as his wife. There’s no evidence she had a choice. Her life as she knew it before her ceremonial bath was gone forever.
2. She suffered the loss of her newborn baby. After Bathsheba moved in with the king, perhaps she thought that would be the end of her sorrow. Sadly, it wasn’t. Her newborn baby died just seven days after the prophet Nathan rebuked King David (2 Samuel 12:1-23). We know from 2 Samuel 12:14 that David knew why the baby boy died. Did Bathsheba know why? The Bible doesn’t say. And if she knew it was because of David’s sin, because God held him responsible, how might that have made her feel?
God Redeemed Bathsheba’s Pain
1. God gave Bathsheba a son, Solomon. The next verse after her baby died covers a nine-month period.
“Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went into her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon” (2 Samuel 12:24).
David’s actions may not seem like a comfort to Bathsheba at first. But perhaps he wanted to give her what she’d just lost. In Hebrew (Strong’s 5162), the word “comforted” means to pity, be sorry, to repent, and to avenge.
She not only had another son, but God himself loved this child and told the prophet, Nathan, to name him Jedidiah, meaning “beloved by the LORD.” Bathsheba was given what many today call a "rainbow baby.”
2. God included Bathsheba in the lineage of Christ. There are five women listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Bathsheba is one of them, but she is the only one without a name. “…David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife” (Matthew 1:6).
Her son, named Jedidiah by God but referred to as Solomon, is speculated as being King Lemuel, the writer of Proverbs 31. If King Solomon was King Lemuel, that would make Bathsheba the Proverbs 31 woman.
Even if Bathsheba was not the honored woman in Proverbs 31, her son, the king, honored and respected her as detailed in 1 Kings 2:19: “So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.”
Despite her difficult circumstances, Bathsheba remained faithful to God. She was a strong and courageous woman who played an important role in the history of Israel. She was the mother of Solomon, who became a great king, and she was also instrumental in ensuring that Solomon succeeded David to the throne.
Bathsheba was a woman who endured much suffering and overcame.
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The book of Ruth. It's a brilliant work of theological art and it invites us to reflect on the question of how God is involved in the day-to-day joys and hardships of our lives. There are three main characters in the book: Naomi, the widow, Ruth, the Moabite and Boaz, the Israelite farmer. And their story is told in four chapters that are beautifully designed. Let's just dive in and see how this all unfolds. Chapter one opens with this line: "In the days when the judges ruled." And it reminds us of the very dark and difficult days from the book of Judges. And here we meet an Israelite family in Bethlehem struggling to survive through a famine. And so, in search of food, they move on to the land of Moab, Israel's ancient enemy. And there, the father of the family dies and the sons marry two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. And then the sons, they die too and so they leave only Naomi and these new daughters-in-law. And so Naomi, she has no reason to stay anymore. And so she tells her new daughters-in-law that she's moving back home. And Naomi, she knows that the life of an unmarried foreign widow in Israel is going to be very hard. So she compels the women to stay behind. Orpah agrees but Ruth does not. She shows remarkable loyalty to Naomi and she says, "Wherever you go, I'm going to go. Your people will become my people and your God will become my God." And so the two of them return to Israel together and the chapter concludes with Naomi changing her name to Mara, which means "bitter" in Hebrew, and she laments her tragic fate. Chapter two begins with Naomi and Ruth discussing where they're going to find food and it just so happens to be the beginning of the barley harvest. And so Ruth goes out to look for food and it just so happens that she ends up picking grain in the field of a man named Boaz, who just so happens to be Naomi's relative. We're told that Boaz is a man of noble character and he notices her. So after finding out more about her story, he shows remarkable generosity to her. He makes these special provisions so that the immigrant Ruth can gather grain in his field. And in doing so Boaz is actually obeying an explicit command in the Torah to show generosity to the immigrant and the poor. Boaz is so impressed by Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, he prays for her that God will reward her for her boldness. So Ruth comes home that day and Naomi finds out that she met Boaz and she is thrilled. She says Boaz is their family Redeemer. Now this "family redeemer" thing, this was a cultural practice in Israel where if a man in the family died and he left behind a wife or children or land, it was the family Redeemer's responsibility to marry that widow, to take up the land and protect that family. So Naomi, she begins to hope that perhaps there might still be a future for her family. Chapter 3 begins with Naomi and Ruth making a plan to get Boaz to notice their situation. So Ruth is going to stop wearing clothes of a grieving widow and she's going to show signs that she is available to be married. And so Ruth goes to meet Boaz on the farm that night and as she approaches, Boaz wakes up. And he's totally startled. And Ruth makes her intentions very clear. She asks if Boaz will redeem Naomi's family and marry her. Boaz is once again amazed by Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and her family and he calls Ruth a woman of noble character. It's the same term used to describe the woman in Proverbs 31. So Boaz tells Ruth to wait until the next day and he will redeem both Ruth and Naomi legally before the town elders. And so the chapter ends with Ruth returning to Naomi and they marvel together at all of these recent events. In chapter four it all comes together. It turns out, at the last minute, Boaz discovers there is a family member who's closer to Naomi than he is and he's actually eligible before him to redeem the family. But at the last second this family member finds out that he's going to have to marry Ruth the Moabite. And so he declines. But Boaz, remember, he knows Ruth's true character, and so he acquires the family property of Naomi and he marries Ruth. And so just as at the beginning, how Ruth was loyal to Naomi's family, so now Boaz is loyal to Naomi's family as well. The story concludes with a reversal of all of the tragedies from chapter one. So the death of the husband and the sons is reversed as Ruth is married again and gives birth to a new son, granting joy to Naomi. And this symmetry between the opening and the closing, its even more remarkable. So, remember the opening tragedy was followed by a great act of loyalty on the part of Ruth and that is now matched by Boaz's act of loyalty that leads to the family's final restoration. And this symmetry, it highlights the design of the internal chapters as well. Each of the chapters begins with Naomi and Ruth making a plan for the future. And that's followed by a providential meeting between Ruth and Boaz. And each chapter concludes with Naomi and Ruth rejoicing at what's taken place. This story is beautifully designed and that design actually connects with the really interesting feature of the story and that's how little God is mentioned. The characters talk about God a few times but the narrator actually never once mentions God doing anything directly in the story and that its brilliance-- because God's providence is at work behind every scene of the story, weaving together the circumstances and choices of all these characters. So Naomi, her tragedy leads her to think that God is punishing her but actually the whole story is about God's mission to restore her and her family. And he's doing so through Ruth, through her boldness and loyalty, which brings healing to Naomi's life. But not without Boaz, who's a no-nonsense farmer who's full of generosity and loyalty. And so God uses his integrity combined with Ruth's boldness to save Naomi and her family. So this story brilliantly explores the interplay of God's purposes and will with human decision and will. God weaves together the faithful obedience of his people to bring about his redemptive purposes in the world. And that leads to the real end of the story. The Book of Ruth concludes with the genealogy showing how Boaz and Ruth's son, Oved, was the grandfather of King David, from whom came the lineage of the Messiah. And so all of a sudden these seemingly mundane, ordinary events in the story are woven into God's grand story of redemption for the whole world. And so the book of Ruth invites us to consider how God might be at work in the very ordinary, mundane details of our lives as well. And that's what the book of Ruth is all about.
Continued in Devotions
(week of Sept 2nd) (labor)
(week of August 26th) (refining)
(week of August 19th) (outcasts)
1. God invites outcasts to His table.
Luke 14:13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. (NKJV)
2. Everyone is considered equal in God’s eyes.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
3. God gathers all the outcasts to Him.
Isaiah 56:8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.” (NKJV)
4. God is able to heal the wounds of outcasts.
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’ (NKJV)
5. God reaches outcasts no matter how distant they feel.
Isaiah 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (NKJV)
6. Outcasts are part of God’s work.
Psalm 147:2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. (NKJV)
7. God protects outcasts.
Isaiah 16:3 “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. (NKJV)
8. God wants to save all outcasts.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NKJV)
9. God wants outcasts to worship Him.
Isaiah 27:13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (NKJV)
10. God accepts the offerings of outcasts.
Isaiah 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (NKJV)
11. God accepts everyone who fears Him, outcasts included.
Acts 10:35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (NKJV)
12. There is no condemnation for outcasts who walk in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (NKJV)
13. Outcasts are the kind of people God chooses.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. (NKJV)
14. God will never abandon outcasts.
Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. (NKJV)
15. There is nothing that can separate outcasts from the love of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (NKJV)
16. God is able to sympathize with outcasts.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (NKJV)
17. God loves outcasts.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
18. Jesus understands outcasts because he was hated by the world.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (NKJV)
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (NKJV)
19. All things will work together for outcasts who love God.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV)
20. Rejection is commendable before God.
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (NKJV)
(week of August 12th) (ask)
Dr. John Koessler
Prayer is not rocket science. You just talk to God. What could be easier? But in practice, we may find praying to be more challenging than we expected. It is not like an ordinary conversation, where we can gauge God’s response by judging His facial expression or body language. When we pray, God is mostly silent. But silence does not mean that God is unresponsive. Silence is an essential element of listening, and listening is vital to achieving true conversation.
Present your requests to God.
In Philippians 4:6, the apostle prescribes prayer as a remedy for anxiety. He says, “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” If there is a distinction between prayers and petitions, it is a difference between the general and the specific. There are many kinds of prayers. But the essential nature of prayer is that it involves a petition or request. In most of our prayers, we are asking for something from God.
The peace that results from prayer does not come from an assumption that we will get whatever we ask. God always answers our prayers, but sometimes His answer is no. Instead, this is a peace that comes from God. The fact that God hears us when we pray means that He both knows our request and understands what we genuinely need (Matt. 6:32). God knows both our desires and our actual need. He also knows how our request fits into His plan.
Our prayers should also contain thanksgiving. It is unlikely that we will experience peace if our petitions are not also mixed with gratitude for what God has already done for us. Peace is a gift from God, but thankfulness is a choice.
>> What do you need today? Don’t be afraid to be specific as you make your requests. Then trust God to know how to answer your prayer. Reflect on God’s past goodness and give thanks.
Pray with Us
We bring our petitions to You, trusting that both Your “yes” and Your “no” are given in all-knowing compassion. Teach us to hear Your voice and sense Your prompting in response to our requests.
(week of Aug 5th) (Grace)
Grace- a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification
(week of July 29th) (trees)
What Does The Bible Say About Trees?
trees of the bible
Trees are mentioned numerous times in the Bible, from their creation in the Garden of Eden to being used to build homes and temples. In the Book of Psalms, trees are a symbol of strength, stability, and righteousness.
One of the most famous trees in the Bible is the Tree of Life, which is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and the Book of Revelation. In Genesis, the Tree of Life is located in the Garden of Eden, and it symbolizes eternal life and immortality. In Revelation, the Tree of Life is described as being in the center of the New Jerusalem, and its leaves are said to be for the healing of the nations.
Throughout the Bible, trees are also used to represent people and their spiritual state. One of my favorite psalms paints this beautifully. In Psalm 1, the righteous person is compared to a tree that is firmly planted by streams of water, while the wicked are compared to chaff that is blown away by the wind.
Trees are also used to represent nations and their destiny, such as the cedar of Lebanon, which is used to represent the nation of Israel. Now let’s take a deeper look at specific trees we find in the Old and New Testament.
Trees in the Old Testament
The Old Testament is filled with references to various trees. Now not every tree mentioned in scripture is symbolic or has a deeper spiritual meaning. We have gone over this with numbers in the Bible as well. We must always look at the context of how the tree is being used in scripture.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice – Psalm 96:12
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. It is said to have been located in the Garden of Eden, where God placed Adam and Eve. The Tree of Life was a source of eternal life, and eating its fruit would have allowed Adam and Eve to live forever.
However, after they disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were banished from the Garden and prevented from ever eating from the Tree of Life.
This incredible tree is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation and that once again we will eat from it’s fruit.
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was also located in the Garden of Eden. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from it, warning them that if they did, they would surely die.
As most of know it didn’t end well with Adam and Eve. They were tempted by the serpent and ate from the tree, thereby bringing sin and death into the world.
Throughout history the apple has been associated with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But scripture never mentioned what kind of fruit the tree produced.
The Cedars of Lebanon
The Cedars of Lebanon are mentioned several times in the Old Testament. They are known for their strength, durability, and beauty.
The cedar was used to build the Temple in Jerusalem and the palaces of many kings. The Psalmist compares speaks of Cedars of Lebanon and so does the prophet Isaiah.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where the birds make their nests;
The stork has her home in the fir trees. – Psalm 104:16-17
cedars of Lebanon
The Olive Tree
The Olive Tree is another tree that is mentioned frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is known for its fruit, which is used to produce oil.
The oil was used for eating, cooking, lighting lamps, and anointing people for special purposes. The Olive Tree is also a symbol of peace and prosperity. In the Book of Judges 9, the Olive Tree is used to represent the nation of Israel.
olive tree in the bible
Oaks of Righteousness
The Oaks of Righteousness (trees of righteousness in some translations) are mentioned in the Book of Isaiah. They are a symbol of the righteous people of God, who will be restored and renewed. The Oaks of Righteousness are said to be planted by the Lord, and they will display his splendor. They are a reminder that God will keep his promises and bring salvation to his people.
To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following:
To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning],
The oil of joy instead of mourning,
The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God],
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3 AMP
Trees in the New Testament
Let’s head over to the new testament! Here you will see trees being used by Jesus in the parables in His teachings and other stories that make trees quite significant.
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. – Revelation 22:2
The Fig Tree
In the New Testament, the fig tree is mentioned several times. And one of the most well-known tree stories is in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14. It is when Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit, and it withers away.
There are many ways Christians have looked at this story and what it means. Some believe that the fig tree is a symbol of Israel, while others view it as that Christians should bare fruit in every season.
fig tree in the bible
The Mustard Seed Tree
In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus tells a parable about the mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds but grows into a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches.
I never realized how big a mustard tree could get until I went to Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California. They have a mustard tree in their garden. It is a beautiful large tree.
This parable teaches us that even the smallest amount of faith can grow into something great.
The Sycamore Tree and Zacchaeus
In Luke 19:1-10, we read the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was despised by the people. Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was passing through the town.
Jesus saw him and called him down from the tree, and Zacchaeus repented his sins and promised to give half of his possessions to the poor. This story teaches us about hunger for God and that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love and salvation.
sycamore tree bible
The Tree of Calvary
The most important tree in the New Testament is the tree of Calvary, on which Jesus was crucified.
In Acts 5:30, Peter refers to the cross as a tree, and in Galatians 3:13, Paul writes that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
The tree of Calvary symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and the victory of love over death. Overall, trees in the New Testament serve as powerful symbols of faith, judgment, growth, repentance, salvation, and sacrifice. We can learn from these symbols and apply their lessons to our lives, so that we may bear fruit, grow in faith, repent of our sins, and find salvation through the love of God.
The Symbolism Of Trees In The Bible
Trees are significant in the Bible and are used as symbols to represent various concepts. Let us explore some of the symbolism of trees in the Bible.
trees in the bible symbolic meaning
The Tree as a Symbol of Life
The Tree of Life is mentioned in the Bible in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. It is also mentioned in the book of Revelation as a symbol of eternal life. The Tree of Life is a representation of the life that God offers us through His Son Jesus Christ. Just as the tree provides nourishment and sustenance for the body, Jesus provides spiritual nourishment and sustenance for the soul.
The Tree as a Symbol of Wisdom
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is another tree mentioned in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. This tree represents the knowledge of good and evil that God did not want Adam and Eve to have.
However, the tree also represents the importance of wisdom and discernment. In Proverbs, the tree of life is associated with wisdom, and those who seek it will find it. (Proverbs 3:18)
The Tree as a Symbol of Righteousness
The righteous are often compared to a tree in the Bible. Psalm 1:3 says, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” This tree represents the righteous’s steadfastness and ability to bear fruit even in difficult times. It is a symbol of the strength and stability that comes from a life lived in obedience to God.
Other Spiritual Meaning Of Trees In The Bible
Here are a few other things trees can represent:
People or leaders – Psalm 1, Isaiah 61, Ezekiel 31:10-14
Growth and Fruit – Psalm 1, Hope of regrowth -Job 14:7-17
Judgment (tree being cut down) – Ezekiel 31:10-14, Matthew 7:19
As we wrap up this look at trees in the bible we see that, trees play a significant role in the stories and teachings. From the Garden of Eden to the cross of Jesus, trees are a symbol of life, growth, wisdom and more.
Trees remind us of the beauty and wonder of God’s creation much like all the beautiful flowers He created. As we look at the intricate design and diversity of trees, we are reminded of God’s creativity and power.
We truly serve an amazing God!
(week of July 22nd) (Rock)
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
— Edward Mote (1797–1874)
Rick Rigsby
Benson Andrew Idahosa
Rick Rigsby
(week of July 15th) (Children of God)
"It's not convincing to say you are a child of God if you have none of the characteristics of your Father." ~ Kevin DeYoung
"The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, but works because he is saved" ~ Charles Spurgeon
"God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite." ~ F. F. Bruce
"To call yourself a child of God is one thing. To be called a child of God by those who watch your life is another thing altogether." ~ Max Lucado
"Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity- an illusion! Loudly and clearly he says: 'You are not what the world makes you; but you are children of God." ~ Henri Nouwen
"If you profess to be a child of God, leave it to the Lord Jesus to sanctify you in His own way." ~ J. C. Ryle
"Everything that happens to a child of God, His father filtered and He intends to use it for the good and even when Satan and others mean it for bad because God is sovereignly in control." ~ Rick Warren
"I'm so thankful because of my relationship with Jesus Christ and being adopted in the family of God that I don't have to live the highs and the lows and the roller coaster that the rest of the world lives, because I know where my identity lies. My identity lies as a child of God, and that's something that will never be shaken." ~ Tim Tebow
"If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week." ~ Timothy Keller
(week of July 8th) (His Touch)
(Billy Graham in Quotes)
Billy Graham
Benson Andrew Idahosa
(Billy Graham in Quotes)
Billy Graham
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Charles J. H. Dickens
(week of July 1st) (freedom)
(week of June 24th) (gossip)
(week of June 17th) (me)
“In Christ, you have the strength to overcome any challenge and become the person God intended you to be.”
“Your identity is not defined by your past; in Christ, you are a new creation with limitless potential.”
“Every setback is a setup for a comeback when you trust in the transformative power of God’s grace in your life.”
“Believe in the unique gifts and talents God has placed within you; they are instruments for His purpose.”
“You are not a product of circumstances; you are a product of God’s intentional and loving design for your life.”
“In every trial, see an opportunity for God to mold you into a stronger, more resilient version of yourself.”
“Embrace the challenges as opportunities for God to showcase His strength through your weaknesses.”
“God’s plan for your life is greater than any obstacle; trust in His guidance and keep moving forward.”
“God’s love empowers you to rise above your circumstances and live a life that reflects His glory.”
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made; let this truth be the fuel that propels you toward your destiny.”
“See yourself through the lens of God’s promises, and you’ll discover the courage to pursue your dreams.”
“Your identity is rooted in Christ; let His love be the anchor that grounds you in every circumstance.”
“With God by your side, you have the strength to turn challenges into stepping stones toward success.”
“In Christ, you are an overcomer; let this truth inspire you to face every trial with confidence.”
“The journey of self-discovery in Christ is an adventure filled with purpose, potential, and divine promise.”
“Your worth is not determined by external validations but by the unchanging love of your Heavenly Father.”
“God’s plan for your life is a masterpiece; trust in His process, and you’ll become a work of grace.”
“Let your unique qualities be a testament to God’s creativity and purpose in crafting your identity.”
“You are an instrument in God’s symphony of redemption; let your life’s melody inspire others to hope and faith.”
“In every season, trust that God is working within you, crafting a story of triumph and transformation.”
(week of June 10th) (wait)
(week of June 3rd) (Bread of Life)
Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread? Have you received God's forgiveness?Max Lucado
- “Spending time with God through prayer and His Word is a prerequisite for having a great life and fulfilling your purpose.” -Joyce Meyer
(week of May 27th) (song)
The Power of Music
by David Guzik
And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. (2 Kings 3:14-15)
Three kings came to the prophet Elisha asking for God’s help and guidance. Their armies were stuck in the dry desert, facing a thirsty death before they ever got to battle. Elisha had no respect for the kings of Israel or Edom, but because of the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, he agreed to seek God for their need.
When Elisha sought God for a prophetic word to speak to the three kings he said, now bring me a musician. It was a remarkable thing to say. When Elisha wanted to become more sensitive to the leading and speaking of the Holy Spirit, he asked for the service of a musician.
We know that Elisha was annoyed when the king of Israel first approached him on this matter (2 Kings 3:13). Perhaps this troubled his mind and spirit, and he needed some calm and God-honoring focus that music has the potential to bring. He sought to spiritually build up himself through “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16).
We don’t know the name of the musician, but when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he prophesied, bringing a promise of deliverance to the three kings. As the musician played the instrument, he probably never thought that God would use the notes and melody to bring a great spiritual and military victory. Yet, the musician did what he could do and God used it, and in at least a small way it helped to change history.
Our God is a singing God who loves music (Zephaniah 3:17, Mark 14:26). We are made in God’s image, so we have a natural attraction to music. We can do ourselves much spiritual good by listening to God-honoring music and by worshiping Him in song.
– This speaks of the great spiritual power in music.
– This speaks of the great power of giving our gifts to God.
– This speaks of the great strength of what seem to be small or unexpected things.
– This speaks of the great importance of worshipping God in song.
Make use of this great, wonderful, God-given, and God-blessed spiritual resource.
(week of May 20th) (strength)
(week of May 13th) (worthy)
Worth, Worthy
<<value/deserving>>
God alone is deserving of our worship, our utmost love and the total devotion of our whole lives for what He has done, is doing now and is yet to do. We can be confident that He, who ‘began a good work in us’, is able to bring it to completion, knowing if it wasn’t for His grace and mercy we would still be headed for a lost eternity (Ps 18:3; Mk 12:30; Eph 2:12; Phil 1:6). David declared, “I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise…” (2 Sam 22:4).
By God’s criteria our worth is not based on anything we have done or will ever do, rather it comes from being made in His image and through accepting His offer of salvation. Then we are destined for heaven as His treasured possession, made righteous through Christ (Gen 1:26,27; Jn 3:16; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 1:13,14). Thus our true worth is assigned to us by God who sees us of inestimable value for in His foreknowledge (and with love) Christ chose to pay the price to redeem us, affording humanity the opportunity to come back into the relationship with God that had been destroyed by sin (Eph 1:4-8,11). Throughout eternity the cry will be “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power...with your blood you purchased mankind” (Rev 4:11, 5:9,12).
I am of infinite worth – Jesus valued me so much He died for me
Jn 1:12; 2 Cor 1:22; Gal 4:6; Phil 4:3). God values us highly; we should accept His judgment and live with our heads held high. From this perspective, we can truly respect and value others, seeing them as people for whom Christ died and what they can become “in Him’ – just as we are. Unfortunately, we are inclined to judge human worth (incorrectly) by placing more value on what a person accomplishes, owns or contributes to society than their being a creation of God. This risks us ‘using’ people instead of loving them – the reverse of what God wants us to do. As we focus on how much God loves us and the price He paid to redeem us, we’ll come to see ourselves as God sees us, and how much we’re really worth as children of the most high God – an assessment which is not performance-based (1 Jn 3:1).
The Master Potter, who sees our potential, desires to transform us from ‘just a lump of clay’ into useful vessels, fulfilling our God-given calling on earth (Isa 64:8; Jer 18:4; 2 Tim 2:20,21). Even as precious metals contaminated by impurities must be refined, so our lives need to be cleansed of sin and all the blemishes of our fallen nature removed so we can be of greater use to Him. In love and appreciation we must embrace what is specifically designed for us, to bring about the death of the old, sinful, fleshly nature; if this is not the case we are not worthy to be called His child, as something else has taken the place that He alone is to occupy in our lives (Ex 20:3; Mt 10:37, 22:37; 1 Thes 2:12).
Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord – Colossians 1:10
and blameless in His sight, walking in newness of life (Rom 6:4; Eph 1:4; Col 1:10-12). This requires us to live disciplined lives in thought, word and action with total dependence on Him.
By living for Christ regardless of our circumstances we will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, especially those severely persecuted or martyred for their faith; their reward is yet to come (2 Thes 1:5; Heb 11:38; Rev 2:10, 12:11, 20:4-6). The message to those who have not soiled their clothes in the world’s filth is they are worthy to walk with God dressed in white (Rev 3:4).
We are to give to others the compliments and encouragement they deserve and show honour even when they fail, as true value is not based on accomplishments. Similarly, we ourselves are vulnerable to shame, condemnation and disappointment when our best efforts fail and we feel overlooked, Satan attacks through this negative default setting in our minds. It must be confronted with the truth – a healthy estimation based on God’s true assessment. Although the Bible warns against thinking of ourselves more highly than we should, a realistic love of self is not wrong when it is grounded in what God has accomplished for us and in us (Rom 12:3).
(week of May 5th) (Mother Day)
“A mother is a chalice, the vessel without which no human being has ever been born. She is created to be a life-bearer, cooperating with her husband and with God in the making of a child.” Elisabeth Elliot
“The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes when it comes to questions of honesty, temperance, kindness and industry.” Billy Graham
“A mother’s relationship with her child is one that will encompass a lifetime. How blessed is a child who has that anchor of strength and support.” Sally Clarkson
“Motherhood is a million little moments that God weaves together with grace, redemption, laughter, tears and, most of all, love.” Lysa TerKeurst
“I don’t believe there are devils enough in hell to pull a boy out of the arms of a godly mother.” Billy Sunday
“I learnt more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.” John Wesley
For a wife take the daughter of a good mother. ~ Thomas Fuller
My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. ~ George Washington
(week of April 29th) (impatience)
(week of April 22nd) (why)
Billy Graham
It is not unusual for persons in their early twenties to defect from their early teaching. The reasons are many. Perhaps their exposure to unbelief “took” better than their exposure to belief. This is often the case, for the Bible says, “The heart of man is deceitful above all things.”
The human heart is as prepared by sin to accept unbelief as faith. Some person they regard highly has undoubtedly influenced their thinking; and for the time being they look on their early training as “bunk.” As someone has said, “A little learning may take a man away from God, but full understanding will bring him back.”
Some of the staunchest Christians I know are people who had periods in their life when they questioned the Bible, Christ, and God. But as they continued to examine the matter, there was overwhelming evidence that only “the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
Share this answer with someone who may be questioning God.
Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.
Prayer for the day
I pray for all the questioning people today, Lord, remembering times in my own life when unbelief reigned.
(week of April 15th) (His Sheep)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them.” (John 10:27)
Jesus knows those who are his. What is this knowledge?
John 10:3 is a close parallel to John 10:27. It says, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
So, when Jesus says, “I know them,” this means at least that he knows them by name; that is, he knows them individually and intimately. They are not anonymous, lost in the flock.
John 10:14–15 provides another insight: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”
There is a real similarity between the way Jesus knows his Father in heaven and the way he knows his sheep. Jesus sees himself in the Father, and he sees himself in his disciples.
To some degree Jesus recognizes his own character in his disciples. He sees his own brand mark on the sheep. This endears them to him.
He is like a husband waiting for his wife at the airport, watching as each person disembarks from the plane. When she appears, he knows her, he recognizes her features, he sees in her eyes a happy reflection of his own love. He delights in her. She is the only one he embraces.
The apostle Paul puts it like this: “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’” (2 Timothy 2:19).
It is hard to overemphasize what a tremendous privilege it is to be known personally, intimately, lovingly by the Son of God. It is a precious gift to all his sheep, and it contains within it profound, personal fellowship and affection and the promise of eternal life.
(week of April 8th) (encourage)
(week of April 1st) (fools)
(week of March 25th) (Easter)
(week of March 18th) (mercy)
(week of March 11th) (Fruits of the Spirit)
(week of March 4th) (40)
Looking at the number 40 in the Bible is fascinating. It is mentioned 146 (or 149) times in scripture, depending on the translation. The symbolism of 40 in the Bible generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial and then, finally, triumph. Through hardships lasting 40 days or years, we endure to become more spiritually aware of our need for God.
Many numbers in general have a symbolic meaning in the Bible. The number “40” is particularly interesting and connected to the fulfillment of God’s promises, not all of them positive, however. As mentioned above, it is often associated with the time of testing, trials and judgment.
40 in the Bible: A Time of Testing
I’ve already pointed out that the meaning of 40 in the Bible is usually related to testing. There are truly dozens of examples which exemplify this, but we’ll take a look at a few to connect the dots. From Jesus to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, 40 in the Bible features prominently. Why? Biblical scholars have pointed out, and God makes clear in scripture, that faith that is not tested is vulnerable.
Let’s take a look at nine examples of 40 in the Bible.
The Significance of 40 in the Bible: Examples of Testing and Trials
The Israelites Wandered in the Desert for 40 years
After being freed from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites weren’t sure what their next step was. God wanted them to head to the Promised Land, but only after the generation of men who’d doubted His plan had passed. So God made the Hebrews roam the wilderness, living on manna, for 40 years. Only when the last of the previous generation had died did God allow His people to proceed further, showing that sometimes patience is necessary to fully reveal God’s divine will.
The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. – Exodus 16:35 (ESV)
Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and it wasn’t until after He fasted that He faced the greatest temptation that anyone has ever experienced…and He passed this difficult test. Can you imagine fasting for forty days and nights? (I often struggle with one day!) What must that have felt like? How hungry and tired He must have been!
Fasting is a powerful tool for us to use when battling a major sin or temptation (Isaiah 58) and by Jesus’ example of fasting for so many days He was able to resist the Devil and his three temptations in putting Jesus, God, to the test. Being hungry, how hard it must have been for Jesus to not turn stones into bread, yet Jesus defeated the Devil at his own game.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. – Matthew 4:1-3 (ESV)
Moses’ Forty Day Fast
Moses was up on the mountain in the presence of God and while there, “he neither ate bread nor drank water.” This seems to fit a pattern of seeking the presence of the Lord while fasting. Many people fast when they are trying to overcome a major sin or temptation or when they are laying their needs out to God because of a difficult trial in their life. While God was carving the Ten Commandments in stone, the nation of Israel was already doubting and and worshiping an idol.
Moses was also on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights, on two separate occasions, receiving God’s laws. In addition, he also sent spies, for forty days, to investigate the land God promised the Israelites as an inheritance.
Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. – Exodus 24:18 (ESV)
At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. – Numbers 13:25 (ESV)
According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ – Numbers 14:34 (ESV)
Refer also to Exodus 34:1-28
Ezekiel Had Laid on His Right Side For 40 Days
The prophet Ezekiel was informed by God to lay on his left side for 390 days and his right side for 40 days to “bear the iniquities” of Israel and Judea (respectively). The days corresponded to the number of years each kingdom dishonored the name of God through their wickedness and rebellion. Ezekiel suffered greatly for the sake of his people and ancestors, but his understanding and insights helped prepare the Israelites for the coming of Jesus.
And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah. Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. – Ezekiel 4:6 (ESV)
God Flooded the Earth For 40 Days
Most are familiar with this story of 40 in the Bible.
When God saw the increasing sins of man, he was agrieved. He called on Noah, a devout believer. He instructed him to build an ark that could hold two of every living creature on earth, as well as Noah’s entire family. Once the ark was completed, God flooded the earth 40 days and nights. Once the rain had stopped, Noah and his family found land again and God made a covenant that He would never flood the Earth so completely again, thus reestablishing a level of trust between Him and His people that had been lost since Adam and Eve.
For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” – Genesis 7:4 (ESV)
Goliath Mocked and Taunted Israel for 40 Days
Goliath, as you likely know from the famous story in the Bible, was a huge and intimidating Philistine soldier who took pleasure in humiliating the Israelites. The Philistine and Israelite armies stood on opposite sides for 40 days. Every day, a new Hebrew warrior or solider would come out to meet Goliath face-to-face, only to be destroyed. After 40 days, David, a young shepherd from Bethlehem, the youngest and smallest of his family, was sent by God to defeat the Philistines, opening a new chapter for the Israelites—namely, the solidification of the kingdom of Israel.
For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. – 1 Samuel 17:16 (ESV)
Three Kings in the Bible Reigned For 40 Years Each: Saul, David and Solomon
The three great and well-known Hebrew kings, Saul, David and Solomon, each ruled for 40 years. That’s not a coincidence. 40 years is considered a generation in the Bible (this means that a new group of Israelites that rises up, sustains itself, then dies off).
For these three kings, this time period of 40 years also contains a warning: 20 years of their rule was marked by prosperity and 20 years by ruin. It characterizes the Prophet Samuel’s trepidations over instituting kings in the first place: eventually, they’ll take from the people more than they give.
And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. – 1 Kings 11:42 (ESV)
Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. – Acts 13:21 (ESV)
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. – 2 Samuel 5:4 (ESV)
Here are some additional examples of 40 in the Bible:
- 40 lashes (stripes) was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3)
- God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11, 5:31, 8:28)
- Abdon, a judge in Israel, had 40 sons (Judges 12:14)
- Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1)
- Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18)
- Ishbosheth (Saul’s son) was 40 years old when he began to reign (2 Samuel 2:10)
- The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17)
- Elijah had one meal that gave him strength for 40 days (1 Kings 19:8)
- Joash reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1)
- Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12)
- God gave Ninevah 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4)
- Jesus remained on earth 40 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3)
Today, God continues to test His children and often, (as in the case of Job), this testing is not always for punishment or correction but to see if His children will seek God and still praise Him even in the storms of life.
As I wrote earlier, a faith that is not tested cannot be trusted so if you are presently experiencing a trial or a test, don’t grow weary or faint and don’t give up because God may not necessarily be disciplining you but may be testing you to see how strong your faith and trust in Him really is. I pray we can all pass the test and remain obedient to God and have our trust in Him remain unshaken.
We’ll have times of trials, tests, sufferings, and we may be wandering in a spiritual wilderness for a time, but rest is coming; the true rest that is found when we place our trust in Jesus Christ.
(week of Feb 26th) (content)
(week of Feb 19th) (comfort)
(week of Feb 12th) (the tongue)
“Faith is choosing and believing God’s dream for your life. Nothing starts happening in your life until you start dreaming. God gave you the ability to dream, to create, to imagine.” Rick Warren
Doubt kills more dreams than failure
Peter Nii Korley
Rosemond Anaba
dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. - James Dean
(week of Jan 22) (temptation)
(week of Jan 15th) (it is written)
(week of Jan 8) (snow)
(week of Jan 1) (Crown -: something that imparts splendor, honor, or finish : culmination)
There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life. The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful. Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 best defines for us how these crowns are awarded.
1) The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (NKJV). All things on this earth are subject to decay and will perish. Jesus urges us to not store our treasures on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). This is analogous to what Paul was saying about that wreath of leaves that was soon to turn brittle and fall apart. But not so the heavenly crown; faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).
2) The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord” for all the bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else. Luke tells us there is rejoicing even now in heaven (Luke 15:7). The crown of rejoicing will be our reward where “God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
3) The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, and without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed in a righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity (Philippians 3:20). This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord.
4) The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4) “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” Though Peter is addressing the elders, we must also remember that the crown will be awarded to all those who long for or love His appearing. This word “glory” is an interesting word referring to the very nature of God and His actions. It entails His great splendor and brightness. Recall Stephen who, while being stoned to death, was able to look into the heavens and see the glory of God (Acts 7:55-56). This word also means that the praise and honor we bestow to God alone is due Him because of who He is (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11; Galatians 1:5). It also recognizes that believers are incredibly blessed to enter into the kingdom, into the very likeness of Christ Himself. For as Paul so eloquently put it, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NKJV).
5) The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This crown is for all believers, but is especially dear to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death. In Scripture the word “life” is often used to show a relationship that is right with God. It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Just as things such as air, food, and water are vital for our physical lives, Jesus provides us what is required for our spiritual lives. He is the One who provides “living water.” He is the “bread of life” (John 4:10, 6:35). We know that our earthly lives will end. But we have the amazing promise that comes only to those who come to God through Jesus: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25).
James tells us that this crown of life is for all those who love God (James 1:12). The question then is how do we demonstrate our love for God? The apostle John answers this for us: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). As His children we must keep His commandments, obeying Him, always remaining faithful. So, as we endure the inevitable trials, pains, heartaches, and tribulations—as long as we live—may we ever move forward, always “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and receive the crown of life that awaits us.
(week of December 25th) (Have a peaceful Christmas!)
10 Quotes from Billy Graham on the Birth of Jesus Christ
December 16, 2019
Categories: Christmas, In His Own Words
As Christmas Day approaches, we’re taking the time to dwell on the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of our Savior. In honor of this, here are 10 quotes from Billy Graham on the birth of Jesus Christ.
“No other day on the calendar catches the imagination of young and old alike as does Christmas. It’s a high and holy day—a day when the veil is drawn back and we get a fresh view of eternity. Such a vision of truth should be spread near and far.”
“But why did Jesus leave heaven’s glory and come down to live amid earth’s filth and corruption? He came for one reason: to save us from our sins.”
“Over 2,000 years ago, on a night the world has come to call Christmas, a young Jewish maiden went through the experience countless mothers had before her, and would since: She brought forth a child. But this was no ordinary child. This was the unique Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins (Matthew 2:11).”
“Christmas should be a day when our minds go back to Bethlehem, beyond the noise of our materialistic world, to hear the soft flutter of angels’ wings.”
“God did not send His heavenly angelic hordes to accomplish His majestic purpose, but He sent a tiny, tender, helpless babe in the person of His son.”
“Don’t leave Jesus in the manger; don’t remember Him only at Christmas. Instead, learn to walk with Him every day, as you pray and read His Word and ask Him to help you.”
“My prayer today is that the message of this Christmas time will be a personal message to you that Jesus will be Prince of Peace in your life and will bring peace and satisfaction and joy to you.”
“Christmas cards, the smell of pine drifting through the house, the fireplace crackling—all of these things turn our thoughts to those we love. But often it is a sad time for those who are alone, without close friends or family. We all should look for others to reach out to especially at this time of year and extend a hand of fellowship, a heart of love. This is what Jesus did for all mankind. He reached down from Heaven by giving Himself to us—a people in great need of a relationship with their God and Maker.”
“Christmas is the most thrilling season of the year because its message is that Jesus brings joy and love through His sacrificial gift of forgiveness and redemption.”
“Christmas is about receiving and giving. Give the gift of the true Christmas story—that God gave His Son so that mankind would receive Him. Let’s focus not on our own joys but making others joyful. The greatest gift we can give others is to tell them about the most wonderful Gift God has bestowed on the whole world.”
(week of Dec 17th) (foundation)
Tim Keller
Billy Graham
Justice Kojo Bentil
Brian Houston
William Marrion Branham
(week of Dec 11th) (victory)
(week of Dec 4th) (seek)
A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.
If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.
Don't let past mistakes keep you from seeking God
He who begins by seeking God within himself may end by confusing himself with God.
(week of Nov 27th) (thoughts)
Watch your thought, for your thought will become your words and your words will soon be your Action. Douglas Yaw Mensah
You can foul up the devil's whole strategy by taking charge of your thoughts and bringing them in line with the Word of God. Kenneth M. Copeland
When you have negative thoughts, refuse to dwell on them & replace them with God's powerful promises. Lisa Osteen Comes
let the love of Jesus Christ be in your thoughts continually. Peter Nii Korley
The mind can take a thought and turn it into an experience. Mike Murdock
At this point God taught me another important lesson: He would do for me what I could not do for myself, but He would not do for me what He required me to do for myself. God had responded to my cry and delivered me from the spirit of heaviness, but after that He held me responsible to exercise scriptural discipline over my own thoughts. Derek Prince
Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. Ultimately, worry is faith in fear and not in God John C. Hagee
(week of Nov 20th) (Thanksgiving)
“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.” –Elizabeth Elliot
“In happy moments, PRAISE GOD. In difficult moments, SEEK GOD. In quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. In painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.” –Rick Warren
"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country." –C.S. Lewis
“Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.” –A.W. Tozer
“Genuine thankfulness is an act of the heart’s affections, not an act of the lips’ muscles.” –John Piper
“A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord. Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution.” –Billy Graham
(week of Nov 13th) (stewardship)
(week of Nov 6th) (listen)
There are many things that God can reveal unto you. You just need to get closer to Him, listen to what He has to say and do what He asks you to do. When you follow His will, you will be blessed in all you do.Gift Gugu Mona
Prayer is not just asking. It is listening for God's orders.Billy Graham
The Difference between discouragement and encouragement is who you listen to. God or Man.David Ibiyeomie
The first step toward success is the willingness to listen.Mike Murdock
Most people approach a discussion pre-occupied by the arguments that support their position that they are unable to listen!Rick Godwin
Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!Marcus Lamb
Ron M. Phillips
Prayer is communication. You talk, God listens. You listen when God talks.Omoakhuana Anthonia
(week of October 30th) (you belong to God)
20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)
Introduction
God’s ownership of his saints is one of the most awe-inspiring truths of Christianity, and I’ve found it especially helpful to continually remind myself every day that I belong to God.
If you have believed on Jesus Christ by faith, repented of your sins, and confessed him as Lord of your life then both your body and spirit belong to God. (Rom 10:9-10, Gal. 3:26, Gal. 4:6-7, 1 Cor. 3:23, 1 Pet. 2:9)
In fact, the Bible teaches that, “now are we the sons of God.” (1 Jn. 3:2)“God’s ownership of his saints is one of the most awe-inspiring truths of Christianity.”
Believers do not have to wait for heaven to be God’s. They are already his here and now in this life.
What is it specifically though that makes God’s possession of us such a powerful part of our Christian life?
In today’s devotional, we’re going to briefly look at what it means for believers to know that they belong to God. Lets jump in!
First, belonging to God brings us confidence during seasons of doubt.
When sin, life or the enemy flood our thoughts with lies about our holy standing with God we need only to rest on what God has told us and done for us in salvation.
God the Father has given us to Jesus and we are held forever tightly in both of their hands and sealed by the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 10:28-29, Eph. 1:13)
You are his and he won’t ever let you go! The confidence that overflows from this ought to compel us forward on our pilgrimage through this life and into eternity.
There is nothing you or anyone can do to change that. (Rom. 8:35) Your standing with God, your salvation and his love and possession of you are guaranteed.
Remember, in times of spiritual uncertainty God gently says, “You are mine.” (Ps. 100:3)
Second, belonging to God comforts us in times of apparent loneliness.
When we feel forsaken by the world, friends or loved ones, God says “You are mine, I’m here and I love you.”
Notice also, that the converse is also true. If we are God’s, then God is ours.
He is the eternal friend who never deserts, always listens and who we continue to know more and more about for all time.
There is no end to the depth of the Christian’s relationship with his God.
There is no where we can go where God isn’t. Moreover, God not only goes with us wherever we go, he goes before us! (Deut. 31:8)
“There is no end to the depth of the Christian’s relationship with his God.”
God is always present in our lives because we belong to him. Just like a father he wants to always know what we are feeling, what we are up against and where we are.
This is our comfort in times of loneliness, isolation and solitude.
Such truth continually refreshes us and makes us ready to serve God.
Third, belonging to God makes us thankful, even when everything in life seems to be against us.
Why does our belonging to God make us thankful? Because of God’s love for us. This in fact is the reason why he keeps us as his. (Jn. 3:16)
This is also why Paul for example could glory in his infirmities and revel in the fact that nothing could separate him from God. (2 Cor. 11:30, Rom. 8:39)
“The love that God bestows on us is greater than all else; it is a love that is more profound than any human conception of love, its a pure, everlasting and steadfast love.”
As Christians we know that we do not deserve to belong to God.
However, the love that God bestows on us is greater than all else; it is a love that is more profound than any human conception of love, its a pure, everlasting and steadfast love. (1 Jn. 4:10,1 Jn. 3:1, Jer. 31:3, Ps. 103:17)
If that doesn’t make you thankful then nothing else can or will.
It is the gratitude we have then for belonging to God which strengths our Christian witness, and that helps us press on in life in service to God.
Conclusion
In today’s devotional we briefly looked at what it means for believers to know that they belong to God.
We learned that knowing that we are God’s and that he is ours compels us with confidence, uplifts us with comfort and strengthens us with gratitude.
Therefore, when people ask you why Jesus means so much to you, tell them that you belong to the God of universe, and that they can too!
I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His.
— Thomas Brooks
(week of October 23) (training)
No amount of training in leadership skills, courses in management methods, power titles, promotions, or associations can substitute for the right attitudes.
Every time you speak right, you are training yourself to think right and act right.
Training is the most difficult seed to sow.
Every time you speak right, you are training yourself to think right and act right.
Whatever you are holding onto in this life, hold it loosely so it won't hurt when the Lord has to pry your fingers open to take it away.
(week of Oct. 16th) (blemish)
Newton And Seven Christian Blemishes
John Newton was a spiritual gardener of the heart. Since he was so often a student of his own heart, he knew well how to find the character flaws of others, those “defects that [do] not rise to the level of blatant sins or gross violations of Scripture.” He knew how to treat them. He could both valiantly uproot trees and gently pull out weeds.
In chapter 8 of his book, Newton on the Christian Life, Tony Reinke shows us how “Newton zeros in on seven types of Christians who broadcast [their] character flaws, using rather picturesque names in the tradition of John Bunyan.”
[All quotes can be found in Chapter 8 of the book].
1. Austerus: Orthodox (but Strict)
Austerus prizes the truth and resists “the promises of worldly indulgence. His friends see his genuine humility, but those who do not know him well see him as cold and rigid.” He is strict and harsh which makes him “more admired than loved.” Sure, Austerus is not comfortable with the world and will not lose his biblical convictions, but he is not kind toward his friends, neighbors, or enemies.
See, Austerus misuses the law. He “believes God is glorified only by meticulous and calculated obedience, and yet he forgets that God is also glorified in the enjoyment of his good and perfect gifts,” especially with others.
2. Humanus: A Self-Sacrificing Life (with a Tireless Tongue)
Humanus loves people. We call this kind of person an “extrovert.” He is a loyal, helpful servant, but… he knows everyone’s business. If he’s a vault of secrets, there is no key. His tongue works as hard as his hands. But it’s not slander. Humanus simply can’t keep his mouth shut, nor his stories accurate. While his “faith is evident in his example of pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27)…. Humanus must learn to bridle his tongue (James 1:26; 3:1–12).”
Solution: His prayer should be Psalm 141.3, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
3. Prudens: Generous in Private (but a Miser in Public)
Prudens is generous… to his friends. But bring him down to the marketplace, and Mr. (or Mrs.) Prudens is quite the frugal one. He is good, perhaps too good, with his money, and he forgets that he is dealing with a real person. Though he is generous to friends, the world sees him as a Scrooge. At the end of the Christian’s life, how did one use the money with which God gave them? “Was it used in a way that honored God and reflected gospel simplicity? Was it used to care for others? Or was it withheld to take advantage of others?”
Solution: The solution is to become a spiritual hoarder, who is more concerned about running his hands through gospel riches than he is the change in his pocket: ‘Jesus is mine: in him I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, an interest in all the promises and in all the perfection of God.”
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4. Volatilis: Large-Hearted (but Always Late)
Volatilis is a loving server who puts too much on his plate and tries to serve too many dishes to too many people. As a result, Volatilis “appears late, if he appears at all.” Again Reinke asks, “A commitment is a commitment. If a man’s word is important, how much more important is a Christian man’s word?”
Solution: Because of this, “Volatilis needs to see how his tardiness spoils his love and agitates others.”
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5. Cessator: Heavenly Minded (but Earthly Disconnected)
Cessator
is quick to listen and very slow to act. ’Had he been sent into the world only to read, pray, hear sermons, and join in religious conversation, he might pass for an eminent Christian. But… his conduct evidences that his judgment is weak, and his views of his Christian calling are very narrow and defective. He does not consider, that waiting upon God in the public and private ordinances is designed… to instruct, strengthen, and qualify us for their performance.’
The sermon arrives on Sunday and by Monday it’s already out of the mind. He settles for sermons, books, lectures, prayer, and pithy sayings, but forgets about the real world of work and labor; of sacrifice and people.
Our labors and the seeming hindrances in life are all from him, and they are for our ultimate good and his ultimate glory. Our labors are golden opportunities to apply the means of grace and to worship God in the kitchen or at the office.
6. Curiosus: Upright and Interested (but Nosy and Closed)
While Humanus loves people and hears their tales, Curiosus pries “into the lives and details of others.” Humanus comes to the water and waits for the tide to roll in. Curiosus dives in head first. He means no harm, but others end up either avoiding him or giving him as little information as possible. Such curiosity “is drawn to details that do not concern him. He knows no boundaries between what he should know and what he should not know.”
Solution: He should “mind his ‘own affairs,’ so that he may ‘walk properly before outsiders’ (1 Thess. 4:11-12).
7. Querulus: Wrapped in Political Debates: (and Politically Powerless)
Querulus is always on board for a political fight. He reads the paper, heads to the office (or Facebook), and makes a show of himself. His mouth-gates flood fire against the machine, while his hands and feet lay sleeping in the comfort of their own pockets. Though he knows it, he lives as if he doesn’t believe that “‘The LORD Reigns’ (Pss. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1),” and nothing is outside of the crucified Christ’s supreme rule.
Politically, Querulus is powerless. Now there is nothing wrong to be a Christian in politics. What’s wrong is the unproductive debating that forgets about the daily duties of life. Even worse, prayer, which does more than our griping, is forgotten. Rather than saying, “‘The greatest need for this nation is a power shift in political parties’ … the church should protect her contemporary opportunity to proclaim to the world, ‘The greatest problem we face as a nation is our sin, and the only ultimate solution is Christ crucified.’”
Conclusion
“Through this list of portraits, Newton intends to help us all locate a character flaw in our lives that may tarnish the glory of Christ in our interactions with the world. This is an act of pastoral love. Of course ‘some are offended at the minister who detects any part of their character which is defective; but a Christian is thankful when his defects are discovered to him.’”
These are character traits that can easily mask the sweet aroma of Christ (2 Cor 2.14-17). It smudges “the local church’s collective testimony in their city (Phil. 2:14-18).” Let us look at ourselves, let us see our sin, and let us change the way we live.
(week of Oct 9th) (one mind; unity)
Unity Is The Strength Of God's People
"The strength of God’s people lies in their union with Him through His only-begotten Son, and their union with one another." The Review and Herald, July 4, 1899 [I am not negating our need to be in union with Christ, but we often forget that union with each other is also necessary!!! However, union with each other is not possible unless we are in union with Christ. The unity that comes is a unity in diversity, where the branches attaching to the same vine, have the same values, the same interests, the same goal. Let's seek such unity!]
Come Together Instead Of Criticizing
Psalms 133:1 (NKJV) "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore."
"Self-love, self-esteem lead professed Christians to measure themselves by themselves. They take for granted that all their surmisings and suspicions of others are correct. But it is because of suspicions and judging of one another that there is discord, strife, and an unhealthy condition of the church. {Ms24-1892.1} If brethren would meet together once or twice a week, and with humble minds, feeling their weakness and realizing their defects, then would ask the Lord to enlighten their understanding and fill their hearts with His love, examining not one another, but the Scriptures, Satan would be defeated. Many imaginary difficulties, mere mole hills that have been magnified into mountains and have made barriers between brethren, would vanish, and love, compassion, and respect would take the place of jangling and accusation. When you begin to judge your brethren, you are doing a work God has not given you to do. You are not working with Christ. God did not place you upon the judgment seat to measure and pronounce sentence upon your brethren." {Ms24-1892.2}
Unity is Needed
John 17:21-23 (NKJV) "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
"We are ever to seek for unity. Discord and strife cannot possibly glorify God. We are to seek to harmonize. All envy, all strife, all ambition is to be put away. We are to encourage humility. God has promised to keep us away from evil, and we cannot cherish evil thinking and envy and at the same time keep our souls unspotted. We are bidden to pray, “Deliver us from evil.” [Matthew 6:13.] We are to act in harmony with this prayer, and not enter into evil." {Ms149-1905.10}
Unity Like Christ And His Father Needed!
John 17:22 "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"
"The divine imprint is not on any man’s work who does not exercise every faculty God has given him to answer the prayer of Christ for complete unity." {1888 1142.2}
"From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character." {YI December 16, 1897, par. 5}
"Love is not a mere simple regard, but a living principle; not a temporary emotion, but a permanent power. We drink it in fresh from the fountain of love that flows from the cross of Calvary. We are quickened by this love. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” Quickened by this love, the power of the Holy Spirit, we learn to love one another in and through Christ Jesus truly, sincerely, unaffectedly." {1888 1141.2}
Perfect Oneness Will Bring Success!
"That they all may be one!"
"Let us make Christ’s prayer the rule of our life, that we may form characters that will reveal to the world the power of the grace of God. Let there be less talk about petty differences, and a more diligent study of what the prayer of Christ means to those who believe on his name. We are to pray for union, and then live in such a way that God can answer our prayers. {RH January 27, 1903, Art. A, par. 14} Perfect oneness,—a union as close as the union existing between the Father and the Son,—this is what will give success to the efforts of God’s workers. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me,” to bring about this union, this sanctified harmony. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” It is this union that convinces the world that God has indeed sent his Son to save sinners. Christ gives to his true disciples the glory of his character, that his prayer may be answered. Through the impartation of his Spirit, he appears in their lives." {RH January 27, 1903, Art. A, par. 15}
Put Away All Disunion
“God has a work for his people to do for the world, and if they will work in harmony with one another and with heaven, he will demonstrate his power in their behalf as he did for his first disciples on the day of Pentecost. Those days in which the disciples prepared themselves by prayer and putting away of all disunion, brought them into such close relation to God that he could work for them and through them in a marvelous manner. Today God desires to accomplish great things through the faith and works of his believing people. But we need to stand in right relation to God, that we may understand his voice when he speaks to us." {RH January 13, 1910, par. 17}
Unity Is Essential!
John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"
"[C]annot we pray over this matter more earnestly, that the Holy Spirit of God may quicken the discernment of His people to see that by putting away envy, evil-surmising, jealousy, they may answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples might be one, as He is one with the Father? Is it so, that the sensibilities of those who claim to believe the truth are paralyzed? Do they not see that they deny Christ, scatter from Him, in acting as though it was a light matter to disagree and engage in controversies? Brother looks coldly upon brother, minister mistrusts minister. The church seems to have lost the blending attributes of love, and its members unite no better than ropes of sand. And yet the great crisis of the day of God is at hand. {Lt15-1892.28} What is the reason of all this selfishness, this bigotry? What means this self-satisfaction, this disposition to tear down, and not build up? The truth is not sanctifying the soul, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Many cling to their independence, choosing their own way, but not the way and will of God. The truth believed in theory, but not received in the love of it, leaves the heart as cold as an iron wedge. Those who are sanctified through the truth will be one in Christ Jesus. The cleansing blood of the Lamb of God cements their hearts together. The branches are united with the Vine. {Lt15-1892.29} Trials are to come upon God’s people; the tares will be separated from the wheat. But let not Ephraim envy Judah any more, and Judah shall no more vex Ephraim. Kind, tender, compassionate words will flow from sanctified hearts and lips. We must make it appear essential to be united, not that we are to require others to come to our ideas; but if all are seeking the meekness and lowliness of Christ, they will have the mind of Christ; then there will be unity of spirit." {Lt15-1892.30}
Unity Comes In Being Grafted Into A Common Root
Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
"Where is the strength of God’s people? It is in their union with Him through His only begotten Son, and their union with each other. There are no two leaves of a tree precisely alike; neither do all minds run in the same groove. But in diversity there may be unity. Christ is our Root, and all who are grafted into this root will bear the fruit which Christ bore. They will reveal the fragrance of His character in the talent of speech, in the cultivation of kindness, of hospitality, of Christian courtesy, and true heavenly politeness. We are not all fitted to do the same kind of work, but each man’s work is designed by God to help make up His plan. Look at the flowers in a carpet, and notice the different colored threads. All are not pink, all are not green, all are not blue. A variety of colors are woven together to perfect a design. So it is in the plan of God. He has a purpose in placing us where we must learn to live as individuals." {Ms14-1899.1}
Love Is Proof Of Our Discipleship
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
"The whole work of grace is one continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. During every hour of Christ’s sojourn upon the earth, the love of God was flowing from Him in irrepressible streams. All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved. The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing one with another. {DA 677.2} This love is the evidence of their discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples,” said Jesus, “if ye have love one to another.” When men are bound together, not by force or self-interest, but by love, they show the working of an influence that is above every human influence. Where this oneness exists, it is evidence that the image of God is being restored in humanity, that a new principle of life has been implanted. It shows that there is power in the divine nature to withstand the supernatural agencies of evil, and that the grace of God subdues the selfishness inherent in the natural heart." {DA 678.1}
See How Closely You Can Come Together!
Galatians 5:13-15 (KJV) 13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
"When differences arise among brethren as to the understanding of any point of truth, there is one Bible rule to follow. In the spirit of meekness and love for God and one another, let brethren come together, and after earnest prayer, with sincere desire to know God’s will, study the Bible with the spirit of a little child, to see how closely they can draw together, and not sacrifice anything but their selfish dignity. They should regard themselves as in the presence of the whole universe of God, who are watching with intense interest as brother tries to see eye to eye with brother, to understand the words of Christ, that they may be doers of the word. When you recall the prayer of Christ, that his disciples may be one as he was one with the Father, can you not see how intently all heaven is beholding the spirit you manifest toward one another? Are those who claim to be saved by the righteousness of Christ, seeking with all their entrusted capabilities to answer the Saviour’s prayer? Will they grieve the Holy Spirit of God by indulging their own unconsecrated feelings, struggling for the supremacy, and standing as far apart as possible?" {1888 1008.3} ... "The Lord Jesus is dishonored whenever brethren of the same faith accuse another and lessen the influence of one of God’s delegated messengers. The enemies of truth will make the very most of the least item by which they can excite suspicion of the men through whom God is giving light to the people. To place any obstruction in the way of this light coming to the people, will be registered as a grievous sin in the sight of God. Better lose the right arm or the right eye than to be found in this kind of work. “It must needs be that offenses come; but woe unto that man by whom the offense cometh.” Let not the influence graciously given you of God to save souls from ruin be employed in weakening the influence of others whom the Lord is using." {1888 1009.2}
The Whole Body Is To Work Harmoniously
Romans 15:6 "That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
"All in church capacity are to work, beseeching men and women to be reconciled unto God. In this way all may show that they are favored to serve. They possess the grace of the ministry of reconciliation. If one errs, if from any cause there is disagreement, do not let time pass, but go to work at once to settle variances and come into unity. Those who are thus tried are to work according to God’s plan and are to settle the matter of disagreement between themselves. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” [Matthew 18:19, 20.] {Lt183-1901.16}
This is God’s ordained plan, to pray and converse with one another; and in the place of recrimination try to break down the existing barriers, that heart may be cemented to heart, that self-will and selfishness should die; for in the work of reclaiming, the statement is made, “The fervent, effectual prayer of every one of faith availeth much.” [James 5:16.] {Lt183-1901.17}
God calls for all to act in concert. Union is strength; variance is weakness and sin. There is to be no counter-influence in the church. The whole body is to work harmoniously, as members of one body. Will all who are connected in the solemn pledge-covenant bear in mind that the union of action of every member of the body—each acting the part God has appointed him, each at his post—all acting in concert, the whole working agency, in the accomplishment of sacred duties, for the strengthening and establishment of a church, [is] to exhibit God’s miracle-working power, as a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men?" {Lt183-1901.18}
Go Elsewhere If You Work In Lines Of Faultfinding
"I ask, in the name of the Lord, that those who have certainly been at work in lines of faultfinding and accusing be converted, or go to some other locality as soon as they can. If they have educated themselves to spend little time in searching their own hearts with true contrition, but feel it a duty to prove and test their brethren by their measuring rod, let them go where less harm will be done by this kind of work. In unity there is strength; in disunion there is weakness. No one who has engaged in the work of criticizing should locate here, because education in this line is not to be given. Those who are loyal and steadfast to principle are the men and women that are wanted." {Ms40-1896.10} [This was written regarding Cooranbong, Australia, where the denomination's school was located.]
We Dishonor Our Maker When We Are At Variance One With Another
Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
"The church of Christ is to be in the world, but not of the world. In calling His people together in church capacity, God designs that they shall form one Christian family, and daily be fitting for membership [in] the family above. God thus forms the believers in His Word in one body, that their influence may be a blessing to one another and to the world. Each member converted reveals a transformation of character, and he is strengthened and sustained by the courage and faith of the whole. The weakest saint, if he believes in Christ, is a member of Christ’s body; and if he lives in humble dependence upon God, he will become strong; for he has a right to all the privileges of a child of God. {Ms157-1899.2} Christ, as the head of the church, calls His people to work together in unity and faith and love. His people dishonor their Maker when they are at variance one with another. The influence for good which we might have on one another has been perverted by sin, making man a power to destroy, rather than to save; but under the reign of Christ an altogether different state of things may exist. Christ uses the unity and co-operation of His people in the salvation of man. They receive Christ’s divine power, and impart the same to their fellow men. Then a unity of action is seen. All their capabilities are called into the work of bringing those who have been under Satan’s rule back to their loyalty to God." {Ms157-1899.3}
Soldiers of Christ Must Work in Unity
Ps. 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
"Soldiers of Christ must work in concert. Each soldier must act in relation to his comrades, else there will be a mere concourse of independent atoms. Instead of strength being carefully treasured to meet one great purpose at any moment, and concentrated on one great point, it would be wasted in disconcerted, meaningless efforts. Union is strength. A few men and women who counsel together and pray together, having the glory of God in view and acting for one purpose, will be growing in strength and wisdom and will gain victories. A good soldier will not move independently of his brethren. There is much hard work to be done for the Master. Much wisdom must be brought into this work. It is the unconquerable perseverance, the never-failing endurance which will bring the desired victory." {Ms37-1886.13}
The Spirit Of Jesus In My Heart Recognizes Jesus In Other Hearts
John 17:20-21 (NKJV) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
"The love of Jesus is the golden chain that binds our hearts in tenderest sympathy with humanity and in complete unity with every soul that believes. The Spirit of Jesus in my heart will recognize Jesus in the hearts of my brethren and sisters. Our prayers and hopes are one. The power of an ever-abiding Saviour is greater than ever before, because the emergencies are greater." {Ms16-1890.92}
There Should Be The Most Perfect Unity
1 Cor. 1:1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
"We are to be brought into a sacred nearness with the world’s Redeemer. We are to be one with Christ, as he is one with the Father. What a wonderful change the people of God experience in coming into unity with the Son of God! We are to have our tastes, inclinations, ambitions, and passions all subdued, and brought into harmony with the mind and spirit of Christ. This is the very work that the Lord is willing to do for those who believe in him. Our life and deportment are to have a molding power in the world. The spirit of Christ is to have a controlling influence over the life of his followers, so that they will speak and act like Jesus. Christ says, “The glory which thou gavest me I have given them.” {RH July 2, 1889, par. 3} The mighty cleaver of truth has taken a people out of the world, and the rough, coarse material is to be hewed and squared and polished for the heavenly building. Those who profess to follow Christ should not be in the same condition in which they were before they made this profession. The grace of Christ is to work a wonderful transformation in the life and character of its receiver; and if we are truly the disciples of Christ, the world will see that divine power has done something for us; for while we are in the world, we shall not be of it. We are to bring our life up to the great moral standard of God. The moral law is to judge us in the last day. How unbecoming it is for us to criticize others, when God must work so great a work upon us before we can be fitted for the kingdom of heaven! Is there any of the glory of Christ in suspicion and evil surmising, in criticism and condemnation of our brethren? We should pray for those who are in error. We should present before them the perfection of Christ, but we should not accuse and condemn our brethren and friends." {RH July 2, 1889, par. 4}
The Church Is Made Up Of Perfectly Fitted Living Stones
"His church on earth is to assume divine proportions before the world as a temple built of living stones, each one reflecting light. It is to be the light of the world as a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid. It is built of stones laid close together, stone fitting to stone, making a firm, solid building. Not all the stones are of the same form or shape. Some are large, some are small; but each has its own place to fill. And the value of each stone is determined by the light that it reflects. This is God’s plan. He desires all His workers to fill their appointed places in the work for this time." {8T 173.2}
Perfect Unity Comes From Wearing Christ's Yoke Of Restraint And Obedience
"In the church below there is to be the most perfect unity, and this can only be by all wearing Christ’s yoke of restraint and obedience." {Ms165-1907.5}
We Must Not Be Separate Independent Movements
John 17:21 (KJV) 21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
"In the carrying forward of God’s work, we shall not be as separate, independent agents. The unity of God’s people is to be to the world a convincing argument that God sent his Son to save the world. Christ prayed for his disciples, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” {RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, par. 15} Such is the unity for which we are to seek,—such unity as exists between the Father and the Son. If we find ourselves inclined to separate from our brethren if they do not do exactly as we think best, this is an evidence that we are not genuine Bible Christians. We need to study the relation of Christ to his Father, and we need to understand his love for the world." {RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, par. 16}
We Cannot Love God And Not Love Our Brethren
John 13:34-35 (KJV) 34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Discord Is The Result Of Walking Apart From Christ
"What is it that causes dissension and discord? It is the result of walking apart from Christ. At a distance from Him, we lose our love for Him, and grow cold toward His followers. The farther the beams of light recede from their center, the wider separated they become. Each believer is as a beam of light from Christ the Sun of righteousness. The more closely we walk with Christ, the center of all love and light, the greater will be our affection for His light-bearers. When the saints are drawn close to Christ, they must of necessity be drawn close to each other, for the sanctifying grace of Christ will bind their hearts together. You cannot love God and yet fail to love your brethren." – {1888 1048}
We All Have One Head
"The vine has many branches, but though all the branches are different, they do not quarrel. In diversity there is unity. All the branches obtain their nourishment from one source. This is an illustration of the unity that is to exist among Christ's followers. In their different lines of work they all have but one Head. The same Spirit, in different ways, works through them. There is harmonious action, though the gifts differ. . . . God calls for each one ... to do his appointed work according to the ability which has been given him." {AG 211.5}
Mutual Dependence On The Vine Makes Us One
"By the figure of the vine and the branches, Christ illustrated not only the relation that should exist between him and his followers, but also the union between every believer and his fellow believer. The branches of the vine are related to each other; but they are not alike. Each has its own individuality, which cannot be merged into that of another, but all have a special connection with each other. The root that supplies nourishment to one branch supplies nourishment to every other branch. Each must depend alike on the vine for sustenance; all must be joined to the parent stalk. The life and growth and fruitfulness of each depend alike on the parent vine. In obedience to the laws of nature, their common hold of the true vine make them one; in their diversity there is unity." {SpM 404.1}
Everything That Causes Division Must Be Put Away
"One was in our meetings, beholding the assembly, and that One of authority said, “Now is the time, at the very beginning of your influence in this place, to put away everything that shall tend to division, because the spirit of unity and love, which has been so scarcely cherished, should now multiply daily, fitting you for the mansions Christ is preparing for all who love Him and keep His commandments. There is to be no strife. Let every soul follow the requirements and commands of God. Jesus’ prayer to His Father is a lesson to be practiced just now. Humble your own souls before God. Confess your own sins and forsake everything that will mar the unity that Christ requires.” {Ms172-1905.12}
Every Individual Has A Place
"Unity in diversity is God’s plan. Among the followers of Christ there is to be the blending of diverse elements, one adapted to the other, and each to do its special work for God. Every individual has his place in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ’s image.... One is fitted to do a certain work, another has a different work for which he is adapted, another has a still different line; but each is to be the complement of the others. The Spirit of God, working in and through the diverse elements, will produce harmony of action.... There is to be only one master spirit—the Spirit of Him who is infinite in wisdom, and in whom all the diverse elements meet in beautiful, matchless unity."—Letter 78, 1894.
Love In Spite Of Differences Is The Greatest Testimony
"We seldom find two persons exactly alike. Among human beings as well as among the things of the natural world, there is diversity. Unity in diversity among God’s children—the manifestation of love and forbearance in spite of difference of disposition—this is the testimony that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners." {OFC 36.2}
Nothing Offends God More Than A Disunited Church
“Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” The aggressive power of the gospel is in proportion to the genuine faith and piety and example of the believers. The church is to be the Lord’s light bearer to shine amid the moral darkness of a corrupt and sinful generation. There can be nothing in the world that is so dear to God as His church. Nothing is guarded by Him with such jealous care. Nothing offends God more than for the church to be in a disunited state, because it bears to the world a very bad testimony and example." {Ms176-1902.1}
Quarreling Churches Will Not Experience Revival
1 Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you."
"A sleepy, Christless church, quarreling and surmising evil, will have no reward, and need look for no revival, unless its members repent, and do the first works." {RH June 26, 1888, par. 9}
(week of Oct 2nd) (the worlds a stage)
Happiness and comfort stream immediately from God himself, as light issues from the sun; and sometimes looks and darts itself into the meanest corners, while it forbears to visit the largest and the noblest rooms.- James H. Aughey
(week of Sept 27th) (Truth)
(week of Sept 18th) (bad company)
(week of Sept 11th) (His way)
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Abraham Lincoln
“God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” – Martin Luther
“Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.” C. S. Lewis
“Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace.” – David Brainerd
“There are three of you. There is the person you think you are. There is the person others think you are. There is the person God knows you are and can be through Christ.” Billy Graham
(week of Sept. 4th) (labor)
One day of favor is worth a thousand days of labor.
Mike Murdock
Benson Andrew Idahosa
(week of August 28th) (forgiveness)
(week of August 21st) (do not be afraid)
you can feel afraid , but not be afraid
There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them. Charles Spurgeon
(week of August 14th) (Crown)
(week of August 7th) (gossip)
(week of July 31th) (false prophets)
“You can believe in whatsoever you like, but the truth remains the truth, no matter how sweet the lie may taste.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson
“Atheists are not the enemy; the real enemy knows Jesus Christ. Satan and all false prophets know very well that Jesus came from heaven, but still reject him. Matthew 10:36”
― Felix Wantang
“A spirit ushered by false teachings is like a body nourished by sweets. The adult, as opposed to the child, will come to understand reasons one cannot live a healthy existence on nothing but candy; so likewise, the Christian must come to understand that one cannot know and love the will of God under false doctrine.”
― Criss Jami
(week of July 11th)
"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” CS Lewis
(week of July 24th) (if)
Ah! If our likeness to God does not show itself in trifles, what is there left for it to show itself in? For our lives are all made up of trifles. The great things come three or four of them in the seventy years; the little ones every time the clock ticks.
If we walk in righteousness He will carry us through.
Justification is away beyond anything that a human court of justice ever realizes. It is putting the sinner in the condition before God as if he had never sinned at all. It is giving him a standing in the merit of Jesus Christ of absolute innocency before God.
If I am afraid to speak the truth lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand", or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If you live in such a manner as to stand the test of the last judgment, you can depend upon it that the world will not speak well of you.
Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly, even if they roll a few stones upon it.
Author: Albert Schweitzer
If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn't I must preach "whosoever will" and when "whatsoever" believes I know that he is one of the elect.
I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
(week of July 17th) (one accord)
(week of July 10th) (be secure)
After a hard day scrambling to find your way around in the world, it's assuring to come home to a place you know. God can be equally familiar to you. With time you can learn where to go for nourishment, where to hide for protection , where to turn for guidance. Just as your earthly house is a place of refuge, so God's house is a place of peace.- Max Lucado
In Jesus Christ on the Cross there is refuge; there is safety; there is shelter; and all the power of sin upon our track cannot reach us when we have taken shelter under the Cross that atones for our sins.- A. C. Dixon
One day after a long journey, I rested in front of a house. Suddenly a sparrow came towards me blown helplessly by a strong wind. From another direction, an eagle dived to catch the panicky sparrow. Threatened from different directions, the sparrow flew into my lap. By choice, it would not normally do that. However, the little bird was seeking for a refuge from a great danger. Likewise, the violent winds of suffering and trouble blow us into the Lord's protective hands.- Sadhu Sundar Singh
(week of July 2nd) (freedom)
(week of June 26th) (supplication)
Supplication comes from a place of intrinsic desperation resulting from a broken and contrite heart.Robin M. Bertram
(week of June 19th) (Jabez)
(1 Chronicles 4:9-119 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez,[a] saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.)
The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayerF.B. Meyer
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered.
The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayerF.B. Meyer
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered.
(week of June 12) (committed)
(week of June 5th) (ungratefulness)
“God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not to give thanks FOR the difficulties, but rather IN the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks IN everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that He can use them, if you approach Him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and His glory.” –Tony Evans
“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.” –Elizabeth Elliot
“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” –Charles Spurgeon
“In happy moments, PRAISE GOD. In difficult moments, SEEK GOD. In quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. In painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.” –Rick Warren
“Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.” –A.W. Tozer
“It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.” –Tim Keller
"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us -- and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him." –Thomas Merton
(week of May 29th) (good cheer [optimism, confidence])
(week of May 22nd) (song)
The good and the beautiful is not forgotten; it lives in legend and in song. — Hans Christian Andersen
(week of May 15th) (Intercessory Prayer of Jesus)
Intercessory prayer is an act of communion with Christ, for Jesus pleads for the sons of men. Charles Spurgeon
Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out. Richard Halverson
We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray. Corrie Ten Boom
The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Oswald Chambers
It is in the field of prayer that life's critical battles are lost or won...In prayer we bring our spiritual enemies into the Presence of God and we fight them there. John Henry Jowett
Intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. Charles Spurgeon
God's hearing of our prayers doth not depend upon sanctification, but upon Christ's intercession; not upon what we are in ourselves, but what' we are in the Lord Jesus; both our persons and our prayers are acceptable in the beloved [Eph 1.6]. Thomas Brooks
(week of May 8th) (it's not a given)
I wouldn't trust the best fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me into heaven.- Adrian Rogers
The kingdom of God is no place for a man with his face pointed one way and his feet the other. God is not talking people to Heaven backwards. – Vance Havner
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. – D. L. Moody
There will be no crown wearers in Heaven who were not first cross bearers while on earth. – Charles Spurgeon
God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.- Max Lucado
Multitudes of people who expect to go to Heaven will go to a Hell of torment. Thousands of "good" people, "moral" people, church members, even church workers - yes, and, alas, even prophets, priests and preachers - will find themselves lost when they expected to be saved, condemned when they expected approval, cast out of Heaven when they expected to be received into eternal bliss. That is the explicit meaning of the words of our Lord... [Spoken in Matthew 7:21-23.]
(say this simple sinner’s prayer from your heart:
Dear Lord,I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.I believe Jesus Christ is your only begotten Son. I believe that He died for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead.I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Please guide me and help me do your will and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen)
(week of May 1st) (the Heart)
(week of April 24th) (Born Again)
This new birth in Christ, thus firmly believed and continually desired, will do everything that thou wantest to have done in thee, it will dry up all the springs of vice, stop all the workings of evil in thy nature, it will bring all that is good into thee, it will open all the gospel within thee, and thou wilt know what it is to be taught of God.- William Law
God has no grandchildren. He has only children, so being a born-again Christian is not an automatic thing.
(week of April 17th) (a Touch)
I long to see Jesus face to face, to hear his voice and touch him. In the day I go be with Him, there will be no unfulfilled longings, or disappointments. He will welcome me into His mansion, answer my questions, and teach me the wisdom of the ages. Billy Graham
- "Although not everyone is blessed with a healing touch, our touch can be a source of healing and blessing for others, especially when accompanied by a brief prayer."— Tom Cowan
- "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
— Charles Dickens - "Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
— Leo Buscaglia - We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.
(week of April 10th) (Resurrection)
“We live and die; Christ died and lived!”
Charles Spurgeon:“The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the best attested facts on record. There were so many witnesses to behold it, that if we do in the least degree receive the credibility of men’s testimonies, we cannot and we dare not doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.”
The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this 'gospel' no gospels would ever have been written.” C.S. Lewis
(week of April 3rd) (fool)
(week of March 27th) (darkness)
Jesus didn't come to make us safe. He came to make us dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
Christine Caine
Nicholas Duncan Williams
(week of March 20th) (fear not)
(week of March 13th) (your tongue)
(week of March 6th) (therefore)
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. Marcus Aurelius
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. Stephen Grellet
Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures. Thomas Aquinas
In the same way the sun never grows weary of shining, nor a stream of flowing, it is God's nature to keep His promises. Therefore, go immediately to His throne and say, 'Do as You promised.' Charles Spurgeon
If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning. C. S. Lewis
I reflected much on that vain desire, which had pursued me for so many years, of being in solitude in order to be a Christian. I have now, thought I, solitude enough; but am I therefore the nearer being a Christian? Not if Jesus Christ be the model of Christianity. John Wesley
(week of Feb 27th) (kindness)
(week of Feb 20) (freedom)
There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.
Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. – Ronald Reagan
(week of Feb 6) (knowledge)
(week of Feb 6) (Proverbs/Love)
You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.- Amy Carmichael
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.- Augustine
The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.- Dwight L. Moody
Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature.- Rick Warren
Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service.- Jack Hyles
”Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” – Mother Teresa
“The measure of love is to love without measuring.” – Saint Augustine
“Being loved is life’s second greatest blessing; loving is the greatest.” – Jack Hyles
Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.- David Wilkerson
Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did.- C.S. Lewis
(week of Jan 3oth) (a new name)
The God who made us also can remake us.- Woodrow Kroll
(week of Jan 23rd) (Nature)
Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.- Augustine
(week of Jan 16) (Gifts)
(week of Jan 2) (rest)
(week of Dec 26th) (renewed)
The God who made us also can remake us. Woodrow Kroll
(week of Dec 19th) (Joseph listens)
“Joseph did not do extraordinary things, but rather by the constant practice of ordinary and common virtues, he attained that sanctity which elevates him...”Joseph Marello
“Let us love Jesus above all, but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph, who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary? And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues? Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus, even in the midst of his daily labors? Behold, therefore, our model.” Madeleine Sophie Barat
“Truly, I doubt not that the angels, wondering and adoring, came thronging in countless multitudes to that poor workshop to admire the humility of him who guarded that dear and divine child, and labored at his carpenter’s trade to support the son and the mother who were committed to his care.” Francis de Sales
“In Joseph … heads of the household are blessed with the unsurpassed model of fatherly watchfulness and care.” Pope Leo XIII
(week of Dec 12th) (Trinity)
Vernon Grounds
Explain the Trinity? We can’t even begin. We can only accept it—a mystery, disclosed in Scripture. It should be no surprise that the triune Being of God baffles our finite minds. We should be surprised, rather, if we could understand the nature of our Creator. He would be a two-bit deity, not the fathomless Source of all reality.
Ignatius
There is then one God the Father, and not two or three; one who is; and there is no other beside Him, the only true God. ‘hath not one God created us? Have we not all one Father?’ And there is only one Son, God the Word, ‘The only-begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father.’ And again, ‘One Lord Jesus Christ.’ And there is also one Paraclete. ‘For there is one Spirit since we have been called in one hope of our calling.’ And again ‘We have drunk of one Spirit.’ … And it is manifest that all these gifts possessed by believers worketh one and the self-same Spirit. There are not then either three Fathers or three Sons or three Paracletes but one Father, one Son, and one Paraclete. Wherefore also the Lord, when He sent forth the apostles to make disciples of all nations, commanded them to baptize in the ‘name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’ (Matt. 28:19), not unto one person having three names, nor unto three persons who became incarnate, but into three possessed of equal honor.,
Darrell W. Johnson
The God who has claimed us for himself if Father, Son and Holy Spirit; not just Father, not just Son, not just Spirit. God is God FOR US – Father. God is God WITH US – Son. God is God IN US – Spirit
Eugene Peterson
It is commonly said that the Trinity is a mystery. And it certainly is … . But it is not a mystery veiled in darkness in which we can only grope and guess. It is a mystery in which we are given to understand that we will never know all there is of God … . It is not a mystery that keeps us in the dark, but a mystery in which we are taken by the hand and gradually led into the light … .
Richard Rohr
If the mystery of the Trinity is the template of all reality, what we have in the Trinitarian God is the perfect balance between union and differentiation, autonomy and mutuality, identity and community.
Jonathan K. Dodson
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit act as a divine community of comfort for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Trinity possesses all comfort all the time for all afflictions. The Godhead never run short and are never indisposed. They are an eternal fountain of self-giving solace for sufferers. Always available, together they provide comfort that is both portable and eternal. Nothing can hold a candle to that.
(week of Dec 5th) (Holy Spirit)
The work of the Spirit is to impart life, to implant hope, to give liberty, to testify of Christ, to guide us into all truth, to teach us all things, to comfort the believer, and to convict the world of sinDwight L. Moody
I don't want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.
As the sun can be seen only by its own light, so Christ can be known only by His own Spirit. - Robert Leighto
(week of Nov 28th) (Thanksgiving)
William Bradford (1590-1657)
"To all ye Pilgrims:
"In as much as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetable, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience;
"Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November ye 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings. William Bradford, Ye Governor of Ye Colony."
John Calvin (1509-1564)
"The Lord has given us a table at which to feast, not an altar on which a victim is to be offered; He has not consecrated priests to make sacrifice, but servants to distribute the sacred feast."
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
"My fellow-citizens, no people on earth have more cause to be thankful than ours, and this is said reverently, in no spirit of boastfulness in our own strength, but with gratitude to the Giver of Good who has blessed us with the conditions which have enabled us to achieve so large a measure of well-being and happiness..."
(week of Nov 21st) (Jesus is God)
We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!” John F. MacArthur
“Jesus Christ is God in human flesh, and the story of His life, death, and resurrection is the only Good News the world will ever hear.” Billy Graham
“The deity of Christ is the key doctrine of the scriptures. Reject it, and the Bible becomes a jumble of words without any unifying theme. Accept it, and the Bible becomes an intelligible and ordered revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ.” J. Oswald Sanders
“Touching His human nature, Jesus is no longer present with us. Touching his Divine nature, He is never absent from us.” — R.C. Sproul
“To see what God is like, we must look at Jesus. He perfectly represents God to men in a form which they can see and know and understand.” — William Barclay
(week of Nov. 14th) (it's not a given)
I wouldn't trust the best fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me into heaven.- Adrian Rogers
The kingdom of God is no place for a man with his face pointed one way and his feet the other. God is not talking people to Heaven backwards. – Vance Havner
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. – D. L. Moody
There will be no crown wearers in Heaven who were not first cross bearers while on earth. – Charles Spurgeon
God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.- Max Lucado
(week of Nov. 7th ) (lie)
All unbelief is the belief of a lie.- Horatius Bonar
“Those who are given to white lies soon become color blind.”
A little lie is like a little pregnancy-it doesn't take long before everyone knows.- C.S. Lewis
If you want the truth to go round the world you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go round the world it will fly; it is as light as a feather, and a breath will carry it.- Charles Spurgeon
their lie far stronger- C.S. Lewis
Whatever is only almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors, because being so near truth, it is the more likely to lead astray.- Henry Ward Beecher
Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Instead of REPENTANCE, people are getting all kinds of counterfeit spiritual experiences. There seems to be almost no discernment at all. - Andrew Strom
(week of Oct 31st) (anger)
Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.- Benjamin Franklin
Wise anger is like fire from the flint; there is a great ado to bring it out; and when it does come, it is out again immediately.- Matthew Henry
If a donkey brays at you, don't bray at him.- George Herbert
Do not say, "I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.- Charles Spurgeon
Hot heads and cold hearts never solved anything.- Billy Graham
If a man has a quarrelsome temper, let him alone. The world will soon find him employment. He will soon meet with someone stronger than himself, who will repay him better than you can. A man may fight duels all his life, if he is disposed to quarrel.- Richard Cecil
(week of Oct 24th) (the past)
A little child the was playing with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull.” To their astonishment the little fellow said, “Oh no, dad, I couldn’t put my fingers out like that because if I did I would drop my dime.” Billy Graham
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” – C.S. Lewis.
Looking back will distract you from what is in front of you. The devil will try to remind us of our past mistakes, sins, failures, etc.
“To heal your wound you need to stop touching it.”
God never consults your past to determine your future! Mike Francen
When you replay the past, you poison the present. Mike Murdock
Stop looking back at your past. Stop looking at who you used to be. Stop bringing up to God what is already covered by the blood. There is nothing that can disqualify you. Sing with boldness. Sing with joy. Pastor John Gray
(week of Oct 17th) (family)
Does being born into a Christian family make one a Christian? No! God has no grandchildren.
Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church.
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.Theodore Hesburgh
(week of Oct 10th) (Joy)
There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to Christ.- William Barclay
The very nature of Joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting.- C.S. Lewis
The only lasting and fully satisfying joys for any man lie on the other side of a cross.- Walter J. Chantry
When our lives are filled with peace, faith and joy, people will want to know what we have.- David Jeremiah
Joy is Strength- Mother Teresa
Joy is the serious business of Heaven.- C.S. Lewis
If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.- Billy Sunday
(week of October 3rd) (with you)
Even if I am that lost sheep that goes astray every day, God is willing to be that loving shepherd that looks for me in every way. – Christian.net
And if God has promised to stay present with, help and uphold those who trust in Him, do we have any real reason to fear? – John Stange
God, who foresaw your tribulations, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain. – C.S.Lewis
God meets daily needs daily. Not weekly or annually. He will give you what you need when it is needed. -Max Lucado
Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us. It will cost everything that is not of God in us. Oswald Chambers
(week of Sept 26th) (song)
The good and the beautiful is not forgotten; it lives in legend and in song. — Hans Christian Andersen
(week of Sept 19th) (follow me)
Salvation is free, but there is a price to pay in following Jesus. It is never said in Scripture that we can have "Christ and ... ".It is always "Christ or ... ". What is your "or"? — Billy Graham
My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren't actually interested in following Christ. — Kyle Idleman
We may be able to live with some pain, but when our whole self becomes more and more rotten, the cost is far greater than dealing with the problem as soon as possible. This is why I think following Jesus, though challenging, is much easier than following anything else. The world has nothing better to offer me. Jesus has come to right my wrongs and to make me refreshingly new. — Dallas Willard
But following the only true and stedfast Teacher, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through His transcendent love, become what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself. — Irenaeus Of Lyons
“Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins; we tend to concentrate on that merciful fact. But isn't it also true He lived to show us a lifestyle free from sin? So, wouldn't following in his footsteps be something like preventative medicine?”
― Richelle E. Goodrich,
Don't ever be ashamed of being thought of as being tied to Holy Scripture. Don't ever be ashamed of exalting Holy Scripture. You're following in the steps of Jesus who bound himself to the Word of God, and insisted by his obedience to fulfil what was written of him. — J. Alec Motyer
(week of Sept 12) (promise)
“The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to him, and saying to him, “Do as thou hast said.” Prayer is the promise utilized. A prayer which is not based on a promise has no true foundation.”― Charles Spurgeon,
God promises no easy life or days without troubles, trials, difficulties, and temptations. He never promises that life will be perfect. He does not call His children to a playground, but to a battleground. Billy Graham
No dire circumstances can nullify the power of the Word. God's Word never fails because a situation becomes hopeless. Take God at His Word and rest upon His promises. His Word will not fail you. Pastor Mensa Otabil
The great revelation of the will of God is the Word of God. And the Word of God is packed from beginning to end with divine promises. Derek Prince
(week of Sept 5) (labor)
“The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it.” —Tricia Cunningham
Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.—Ralph Marston
(week of August 29) (shadow)
"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Nobody can rest in the coolness of their own shadow!”
“Words are shadows - their value depends on the light source.”
"It is only through shadows that one comes to know the light."
- St. Catherine of Siena.
"Light is the shadow of god."
- Plato.
(week of August 22) (temptation)
(week of August 15th) (Women)
“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” – Elisabeth Elliot
“The gospel frees us from demanding our own way, because nothing we desire to obtain is worth sinning against such love and kindness.” – Elyse Fitzpatrick
(week of August 8th) (worship)
The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. Billy Graham
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C. S. Lewis
We need worship for our spirit, fellowship for our soul and committed subservience for our body. Larry Norman
A service of worship is primarily a service to God. When we realize this and act upon it, we make it a service to men. Ralph W. Sockman
I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love. Henry Ward Beecher
(week of August 1st) (Blessed)
If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless. James E. Faust
Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. Barbara De Angelis
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