My journey | The daily bread

Daily Bread: Tuesday, December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T01:31:00.000+07:00

The Best Of Gifts

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15

Having trouble selecting that perfect gift for someone? A friend shared with me a few suggestions:

• The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response. Just listening.
• The gift of affection. Being generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back.
• The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”
• The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note your appreciation or affection.
• The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying, “You look great today” or “You are special” can bring a smile.

But as we begin this special month of celebration, why not pass on the best gift you’ve ever received? Share the fact that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:23). Or share this verse from John 1:12, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Remind others that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The best gift of all is Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). — Cindy Hess Kasper

The greatest Gift that has ever been givenIs Jesus Christ who was sent down from heaven.This Gift can be yours if you will believe;Trust Him as Savior, and new life receive. —Hess

READ: John 1:10-13

The best gift was found in a manger.

Daily Bread: Monday, November 30, 2009

2009-11-30T08:28:00.000+07:00

Lend a hand

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15

The next month will be very difficult for many people who are still reeling from a loss this past year. The crippling hurt caused by the absence of a loved one can cloud holiday gatherings and even dim the desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Poet Ann Weems has written:
Some of us walk into Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays,
the pain still stabbing,
the hurt still throbbing.
It’s not that we don’t know better;
it’s just that we can’t stand up
anymore by ourselves.
On the way to Bethlehem,
will you give us a hand?

In Romans 12:9-21 Paul gives ways to express practical Christianity in our relationships. One seems especially needed at this time of year: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (v.15). We can “give a hand” to grieving friends and family by understanding their sorrow and not expecting them to “get over it” in time to celebrate the holidays. We can freely mention the name of the person whose death has brought such desolation and then share a fond memory. We can be quiet, listen, and pray for God’s help.

Only God can heal the deep wounds of the heart, but we can lend a hand. — David McCasland

If I can help some wounded heart,
If I can by my love impart
Some blessing that will help more now —
Lord, just show me how. — Brandt

READ: Romans 12:9-21

No one is strong enough to bear his burdens alone.

Daily Bread: Sunday, November 29, 2009

2009-11-29T08:22:00.002+07:00

A convenient Christianity

Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. — Matthew 16:25

So many television programs, so little time to watch them. Apparently that’s what our culture thinks, because now technology allows us to see an hour-long program in just 6 minutes or less! The Minisode Network has pruned episodes of popular series into shorter, more convenient packages for interested viewers. “The shows you love — only shorter” is how it’s advertised. All to make our life more convenient.

Some have tried to make the Christian life more convenient. They choose to practice Christianity on Sunday only. They attend a religious service at whatever church makes them most comfortable. They give a small offering and are nice to fellow churchgoers — nothing that requires much effort on their part. That way they can have the rest of the week to themselves, to live as they please.

That would be a convenient Christianity. But we know that following Jesus is a lifestyle and not a Sunday-only convenience. Being a “disciple” calls for giving up our lives for Him (Matt. 16:25). It’s about living as Jesus calls us to live, daily giving up our plans and purpose for His. A relationship with Him causes us to be concerned with our thoughts, decisions, attitudes, and actions — all to make our life joy-filled for us and pleasing to God. — Anne Cetas

The Christian life is more than just
A prayer of faith made in the past;
It’s dedicating every day
To live for Christ and what will last. – Sper

READ: Matthew 16:24-28

Faith in Christ is not just a single step but a life of walking with Him.

Daily Bread: Saturday, November 28, 2009

2009-11-28T08:20:00.000+07:00

Sin crouches at the door

Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. — Genesis 4:7

The award-winning author John Steinbeck often used biblical themes in his novels. In his book East of Eden, he describes characters who illustrate the conflict of jealousy and revenge reflected in the story of Cain and Abel.
Steinbeck shows how an angry heart burning with revenge doesn’t have to act a certain way. There’s always a choice.

When Abel’s animal sacrifice received divine favor and Cain’s offering of fruit was rejected, Cain burned with anger (Gen. 4:1-6). But the Lord admonished him, “Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Gen. 4:7). The original Hebrew words paint the picture of an animal crouching, ready to devour its prey. Cain’s anger and jealousy, if not brought under control, would “eat him up” and spill out in destructive behavior. Tragically, Cain gave in to his evil desires. It resulted in the first homicide and his departure from the presence of the Lord (Gen. 4:8-16).

Do you have feelings of jealousy or anger toward someone? If so, you have a choice. If you ignore the internal struggle, it will only get worse and control you. But if you bring your anger to the Lord and ask for His help, in His strength you will have victory. — Dennis Fisher

When faced with trials from without
Or tempted from within,
Rely upon the Lord for strength
To turn away from sin. — Sper

READ: Genesis 4:1-16

Control your anger, or it will control you.

Daily Bread: Friday, November 27, 2009

2009-11-27T08:18:00.000+07:00

Gladly!

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! — Psalm 100:1

Psalm 100 is one of the great songs of thanksgiving in the Bible. It calls us to realize that we belong to God our Maker (vv.3-4), and to praise Him for His goodness, mercy, and truth (v.5).

During a recent reading, however, I was struck by a phrase that speaks of expressing thanks in a tangible, willing way: “Serve the LORD with gladness” (v.2). Many times my service to God is more grudging than glad. I do what I consider my duty, but I’m not happy about it.

Oswald Chambers put his finger on my unthankful attitude when he said:
“The will of God is the gladdest, brightest, most bountiful thing possible to conceive, and yet some of us talk of the will of God with a terrific sigh — ‘Oh well, I suppose it is the will of God,’ as if His will were the most calamitous thing that could befall us… We become spiritual whiners and talk pathetically about ‘suffering the will of the Lord.’ Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that!”

True thankfulness is more than being grateful for what we possess. It’s an attitude that permeates our relationship with the Lord so that we may serve Him with gladness and joy. — David McCasland

Then let us adore and give Him His right,
All glory and power, all wisdom and might,
All honor and blessing, with angels above,
And thanks never ceasing for infinite love. — Wesley

READ: Psalm 100

For the Christian, thanksgiving is not just a day but a way of life.

Daily Bread: Thursday, November 26, 2009

2009-11-26T08:54:00.000+07:00

Catch and release

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. — John 8

I’m a “catch and release” fisherman, which means I don’t kill the trout I catch, but net and handle them gently and set them free. It’s a technique that ensures “sustainability,” as conservation officers like to say, and keeps trout and other target species from disappearing in heavily fished waters.

I rarely release a trout without recalling Paul’s words about those who have been “taken captive” by Satan to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26), for I know that our adversary the devil does not catch and release but captures to consume and destroy.

We may think we can deliberately sin in a limited way for a short period of time and then get ourselves free. But as Jesus teaches us, “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Even “little” sins lead to greater and greater unrighteousness. Sin becomes the consequence of sin. We find ourselves entrapped and enslaved, and like a luckless trout, we cannot wriggle free.

Sin enslaves us. But when we yield ourselves in obedience to Christ and call upon Him for the strength to do His will, we are “released.” The result is increasing righteousness (Rom. 6:16).

Jesus assures us, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). — David Roper

Christ broke the bonds of sin, that I
Might know His strong eternal tie;
This blood-bought liberty I bring
To be Your bond-slave, Master-King. — F. Hess

READ: Romans 6:16-23

Christ releases us from sin’s slavery into salvation’s liberty.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, November 25, 2009

2009-11-25T11:02:00.000+07:00

Holding your hand

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. — Psalm 73:23

One of the joys of being with kids is holding their hands. We do it to keep them safe while crossing the street, or to keep them from getting lost in a crowd. And whenever they stumble and lose their footing, we grab their little hands tighter to keep them from falling.

That’s what God does for us. Inevitably there are stones and cracks that trip us up on the sidewalks of life. That’s why it’s easy to identify with the psalmist, who said, “My steps had nearly slipped” (Ps. 73:2).

We all face a variety of issues that threaten to make us stumble. For the psalmist Asaph, seeing the prosperity of the wicked caused him to question the goodness of God. But God squeezed his hand and reassured him that, given the judgment of God, the wicked do not really prosper. True prosperity, the psalmist discovered, was found in the fact that God was always with him: “You hold me by my right hand” (v. 23). And just for good measure, God reminded him that He would also guide him through life and ultimately welcome him home to heaven (v. 24). How good is that!

So, next time you stumble, remember that the powerful hand of God is holding your hand and walking you through life — all the way home! — Joe Stowell

Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand. — Stanphill

READ: Psalm 73

Let God do the holding and you do the trusting.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, November 24, 2009

2009-11-24T11:04:00.000+07:00

Impossible Itokawa

With God all things are possible. — Matthew 19:26

In 2005, Japan’s unmanned Hayabusa spacecraft visited an “impossible” asteroid. Images and data indicate that the asteroid, named Itokawa, is twice as porous as loose sand. This has astonished scientists, who believe that asteroids make repeated impacts with other space rocks and hence should be very dense. As they make additional discoveries, scientists may learn why Itokawa is different. But for now, we have an asteroid that challenges scientific understanding.

Two thousand years ago, a young ruler asked Jesus an “impossible” question: “What good things shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16). After and intriguing exchange, the man “went away sorrowful” (v.22) when he realized he would have to give up his wealth — the very thing he valued more than a relationship with Jesus.

This upright man had kept the letter of the law, yet had fallen short. “Who then can be saved?” asked the astonished disciples (v.25). Jesus answered, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v.26).

The One who created this universe out of nothing has a history of accomplishing the impossible. When we forsake what this life has to offer and follow Him, He does the impossible once again — He gives us eternal life! — C. P. Hia

It took a miracle to put the stars in place,
It took a miracle to hang the world in space;
But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole,
It took a miracle of love and grace! —Peterson

READ: Matthew 19:16-26

Our limited ability accents God’s limitless power.

Daily Bread: Monday, November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T02:15:00.001+07:00

How great is our God!

Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion? — Job 38:31

A team of astronomers from the University of Minnesota say they have found a giant hole in the universe. The void they’ve found is in a region of sky southwest of Orion. The mysterious empty place has no galaxies, stars, or even dark matter. One of the astronomers said that the hole in the heavens is a billion light-years across.

When I try to capture the meaning of such immensity, something happens to me. The fight goes out of me. I don’t know what to do with my thoughts. Who can relate to the magnitude of such emptiness?

Then I remember what the Lord did with Job. He drew His suffering servant’s attention to the same part of the night sky. Using the region of the constellation Orion along with the wonders of the weather and the natural world, the Lord brought Job to the end of his reasonings and arguments (Job 38:31; 42:5-6).

In the presence of such wonder, I want to join Job in collapsing before the Lord in surrender to His inexpressible power and wisdom. I want to let go of my anxiety, my anger, and my resistance to the mysterious leading of God. I want to claim my only confidence as being in the immeasurable greatness of our God. — Mart De Haan

O worship the King, all-glorious above,
And gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise. — Grant

READ: Job 38:31-41; 42:5-6

The wonders of the universe compel us to worship our wonderful God.

Daily Bread: Sunday, November 22, 2009

2009-11-22T17:33:00.001+07:00

How will they know?

He who loves God must love his brother also. — 1 John 4:21

Did you ever notice that some Christians act decidedly unchristian while trying to prove how godly they are?

One example is a man who angrily shuts his hymnbook and pouts through the rest of the service if the song leader does not sing every verse of a song.

Another example is the church where members argue against adding a new service geared toward youth, because they dislike the music.

Then there is the church in which the middle aisle is a demarcation line between two social classes of people who refuse to mix.

As Christians, we must stand for truth as spelled out in the Bible. Though truth was not violated in any of these situations, these professing followers of Christ acted in decidedly unloving ways. They chose to protect personal preferences rather than demonstrate the love of Jesus to a watching world.

As we read 1 John 4:7-21, we see that God’s love seeks to transform our behavior. In His love, we don’t react disdainfully toward others simply because we don’t agree.

Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Do others see the love of Jesus in you? — Dave Branon

May all I am and do and say
Give glory to my Lord always,
And may no act of mine cause shame
Nor bring reproach upon His name. — Anon.

READ: 1 John 4:7-21

A church with one heart and one mind will make for a won world.

Daily Bread: Saturday, November 21, 2009

2009-11-21T14:17:00.002+07:00

Off track

Why have you despised the commandments of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? — 2 Samuel 12:9

When I sat in my car at the start of the automatic car wash, I didn’t know that my left front tire was not properly lined up with the track. The car wash started but my car wasn’t moving, so I accelerated. That caused my tire to jump the track.

Now I was stuck — I couldn’t move forward or backward. The car wash continued through its cycle without my car. Meanwhile, cars began lining up and waiting for me. I was glad when two workers at the station helped me get my car back on the track.

Sometimes in our Christian lives we get off track too. King David did in a big way. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and later ordered that her husband be put “in the forefront of the hottest battle” and left there to be killed (2 Sam. 11:3-4, 15-17). David’s actions were way out of line with how God wanted him to behave as His chosen king.

David needed help to get back on track. The Bible says that “the Lord sent Nathan to David” (12:1). He confronted him about stealing another man’s wife, and David wisely repented (v.13). Nathan took a risk to help David get right with God, even though his sin still had dire consequences.

Does someone you know need your help to get back on track? — Anne Cetas

Fellowship with other Christians
Strengthens us when we are weak,
Reprimands when we are sinning,
Helps us when God’s will we seek. — Sper

READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-13

True love dares to confront.

Daily Bread: Friday, November 20, 2009

2009-11-20T00:42:00.000+07:00

Life's surprises

The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7

No one watching Britain’s Got Talent (a popular televised talent show) expected much when a mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took the stage. The judges looked skeptically at one another when the nervous, unassuming, ordinary-looking chap announced he would sing opera — until Potts opened his mouth.

He began to sing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma” — and it was magical! The crowd roared and stood in amazement while the judges sat stunned in tearful silence. It was one of the greatest surprises any such television program has ever had, in large part because it came wrapped in such an ordinary package.

In the Old Testament, the rescuer of Israel arrived at the battlefield in a most unlikely form — a young shepherd boy (I Sam. 17). King Saul and his entire army were surprised when David defeated Goliath and won the day. They needed to learn the way that God looks at people. He said to the prophet Samuel, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (16:7).

If we judge others only by their outer appearance, we might miss the wonderful surprise of what’s in their heart. — Bill Crowder

O Lord, we are so quick to judge,
Though much is veiled from sight;
Lord, may we see how just You are
To guide us in what’s right — D. De Haan

READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-7

It’s what’s in the heart that counts.

Daily Bread: Thursday, November 19, 2009

2009-11-19T08:53:00.000+07:00

Out of options?

Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. — 2 Kings 5:15

As ancient Syria’s mightiest military commander, General Naaman had all the benefits the empire could offer: influence, affluence, and power, All, that is, except for health! Naaman was a leper (2 Kings 5:1-3).

In contrast, the servant girl in the general’s household had no options or power at all. As a captive from an army raid, she had been forced into a lifetime of slavery (v. 2). But she did not permit herself to be overcome by despair and bitterness. Rather, she rose above her no-option estate to serve wholeheartedly the best interests of her master.

This servant girl didn’t see her master’s leprosy as God’s punishment but as an opportunity to point Naaman to God’s prophet in Samaria (v. 3). Her recommendation led to Naaman’s complete healing. He declared, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (v. 15).

Today, many people have abundant options. Others, however, have their choices curtailed by poverty, poor health, or other adverse circumstances. When a crisis comes, even their limited options evaporate.

Yet one choice always remains. Like Naaman’s servant girl, we can still choose to serve God and point others to Him — regardless of our limited circumstances. — Albert Lee

’Tis mine to choose if self shall die
And never rise again;
’Tis mine to yield the throne to Christ
And bid Him rule and reign. — Christiansen

READ: 2 Kings 5:1-3. 9-15

Facing an impossibility gives us the opportunity to trust God.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

2009-11-18T08:46:00.000+07:00

Cooler heads

A man of understanding is of a calm spirit. — Proverbs 17:27

A Christian I know was angry with someone at his workplace over a perceived injustice. A colleague listened to his grievance and sensed that his temper still ran high. He gave him this wise advice to consider before confronting those involved: “Cooler heads prevail.”

As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and take steps to deal with conflict diplomatically.

Proverbs 17:27 tells us: “He who has knowledge spares his words.” This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.

The Proverbs also give us wise counsel on the emotional side of controlling our frustrations. “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” A mature person exhibits understanding by keeping cool in conflict. Problem-solving is enhanced by an even-tempered approach.

The next time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say.

Remember, cooler heads prevail. — Dennis Fisher

In anger I have never done
A kindly deed or wise,
But many things for which I felt
I should apologize. — Anon.

READ: Proverbs 17:22-28

The best time to stop an argument is before it starts.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, November 17, 2009

2009-11-17T08:47:00.000+07:00

Closing the gaps

Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. — Acts 5:4

After the final episode of the 2002 TV program Survivor Africa, a wrap-up special focused on the final contestants. The show’s host Jeff Probst said that the victor won “mostly by sticking with his principles.” The champion later explained that he wanted to win while retaining “dignity and self-respect.” He elaborated that you don’t have to lie, cheat, or do underhanded things to win. You can be competitive, yet still be truthful and nice. In short, he permitted no discrepancy between image and reality.

In the book of Acts we read about Ananias and Sapphira, who did have a gap between what they wanted to be known for and who they really were (5:1-11). Satan filled their hearts with a deceptive plan. They sold a piece of property and brought just a portion of the money to the apostles, while pretending they were giving all the proceeds. They wanted to be recognized as a generous couple. But they were not what they appeared to be. This gap caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the faith community. They paid a terrible price — death. Their example stands as a stark warning to us all.

What discrepancies have we permitted in our lives ? We must confess them and close the gaps. — Marvin Williams

Lord, by Your Spirit grant that we
May live with such integrity
That when we simply give our word
No one will doubt what has been heard. — D. De Haan

READ: Acts 5:1-11

Integrity means never having to look over your shoulder.

Daily Bread: Monday, November 16, 2009

2009-11-16T00:27:00.000+07:00

'I did not know it'

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” — Genesis 28:16

As Jacob did in Genesis 28, I like to remind myself each morning when I awaken that God is here, “in this place,” present with me (v. 16). As I spend time with Him each morning, reading His Word and responding in prayer, it reinforces my sense of His presence — that He is near.
Although we do not see Him, Peter reminds us that we can love Him, Peter reminds us that we can love Him and rejoice in His love for us with “inexpressible,” glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8).

We take the Lord’s presence with us all through the day, blending work and play with prayer. He is our teacher, our philosopher, our companion — our gentle, kind, and very best friend.

God is with us wherever we go. He is in the commonplace, whether we know it or not. “Surely the Lord is in this place,” Jacob said of a most unlikely spot, “and I did not know it” (Gen. 28:16). We may not realize He is close by. We may feel lonely and sad. Our day may seem bleak and dreary without a visible ray of hope — yet He is present.

Amid all the clamor and din of this visible and audible world, listen carefully for God’s quiet voice. Listen to Him in the Bible. Talk to Him frequently in prayer. Look for Him in your circumstances. Seek Him. He is with you wherever you go! — David Roper

Oh, how oft I wake and find
I have been forgetting Thee!
I am never from Thy mind;
Thou it is that wakest me. — MacDonald

READ: Genesis 28:10-16

Our greatest privilege is to

Daily Bread: Sunday, November 15, 2009

2009-11-15T00:29:00.000+07:00

Your children will ask

When your children say to you, “What do you mean by this service?” . . . you shall say, “It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord.” — Exodus 12:26-27

One of the most important events in Jewish history is the exodus, when God freed His people from the bondage of Egypt. Prior to leaving Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to eat a special meal called the Passover. As an act of judgment upon the Egyptians, God said that He would strike down every firstborn son, but He would pass over the houses that had the blood of a lamb on the top and sides of the door frame (Ex. 12).

To commemorate this act of judgment and grace, God’s people would share in the Passover meal. God said that one day their children would ask: “What do you mean by this?” They were then responsible to retell the story of the exodus and God’s salvation. God did not want the story of His great salvation to get lost in one generation.

When our children ask us about our values, lifestyle, prayer in decision-making, Bible-reading, church attendance, and worship, we have a responsibility to answer them. We are followers of Jesus. We must retell the story of how He became our Passover Lamb. His blood is the marker over our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin but are free to serve the Eternal One of heaven.
What are you teaching the children? — Marvin Williams

How great, O God, Your acts of love!
Your saving deeds would proclaim
That generations yet to come
May set their hope in Your great name. — D. De Haan

READ: Ex. 12:13-17, 25-27

A parent’s life is a child’s guidebook.

Daily Bread: Saturday, November 14, 2009

2009-11-14T14:53:00.000+07:00

The person makes the place

God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. — Rev. 21:3-4

Engaged couples often spend hours poring over travel brochures and vacation. Web sites looking for just the right honeymoon spot. They can hardly wait for their romantic getaway. But it’s not so much about the place; it’s about being with the person they love.

We get used to places no matter how glorious they are. But being with a person who loves us never gets old!

In Revelation, John paints a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like. But it’s not really about the place — it’s about the Person we’ll be with. The day is coming when Jesus will come to take us to be with Him in the place He has prepared for us. And the wonderful news is that He says:

“Behold, I am coming quickly!” (22:7).

If you’re thinking, He may come back for others, but surely not for me, don’t miss verse 17:

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts com. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.” Anyone is welcome to join the wedding feast. All we have to do is believe in the One who died for us, Jesus Christ, the Lover of our souls.

Make no mistake, the place — heaven — will be incredible beyond our dreams. But our greatest joy will be the experience of being with Jesus forever! — Joe Stowell

He will take me to be with Him
In His happy Home above,
Where no sin or pain can enter;
And all is joy and love. — Anon.

READ: Revelation 22:6-17

The greatest aspect of heaven will be spending eternity with Jesus.

Daily Bread: Friday, November 13, 2009

2009-11-13T00:12:00.000+07:00

Whom will you trust?

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:8

Ayn Rand, an American philosopher who died in 1982, gathered a sizeable following who read her books and attended her lectures. An avid individualist, she had this to say: “Now I see the free face of god and I raise this god over all the earth, this god who men have sought since men came into being, the god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word, I.” When asked if she believed in God, she answered, “This god is myself, I.” Egotism — faith in oneself — that’s what this philosopher believed in.

The apostle Paul bore witness to a trust that is exactly the opposite of that misplaced self-confidence. He declared, “[We] worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). He put his trust solely in Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, the true God of love and mercy.

We read in the book of Ephesians, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (2:8).

Are we embracing the philosophy of egotism, which is really a confidence that will prove eternally self-destructive? Or have we, like Paul, embraced the self-sacrificing grace of Jesus Christ?— Vernon Grounds

By grace now I’m saved — Hallelujah!
Praise God, and through faith it’s been done;
Naught of myself, but believing
In the finished work of His Son. — Gladwin

READ: Philippians 3:1-11

We are saved not by what we do but by trusting what Christ has done.

Daily Bread: Thursday, November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T08:26:00.000+07:00

Out of obscurity

I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. — 2 Kings 22:8

In an old house close to a Civil War battleground in Virginia, workers are painstakingly restoring graffiti. Unsightly, scribbling similar to what we scrub from public view is considered a clue to knowledge of the past.
Workers are ecstatic, when a new letter or word emerges from obscurity to provide information that has remained hidden for over 145 years.

The story brings to mind a scene in ancient Israel when Hilkiah the priest found the long lost book of the law in the temple of the Lord. The very words of God, entrusted to the nation of Israel, had been ignored, forgotten, and eventually lost. But King Josiah was determined to follow the Lord, so he instructed the priest to restore worship in the temple. In the process, the Law of Moses was discovered.

But an even greater discovery was yet to be made. Many years later, after meeting Jesus, Philip reported to his friend Nathanael: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law” (John 1:45 NIV).

People today get excited about discovering the scribbles of Civil War soldiers. How much more exciting it is to discover the words of almighty God expressed in the Word made flesh, Jesus the Messiah. — Julie Ackerman Link

The treasures of the Word of God;
Are great beyond compare;
But if we do not search them out,
We cannot use what’s there. — Sper

READ: 2 Kings 22:3-11

The Bible is old, but its truths are always new.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

2009-11-11T08:28:00.000+07:00

No greater love

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. — John 15:13

Melbourne, Australia, is home to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial honoring those who died for their country. Built following World War I, it has since been expanded to honor those who served in subsequent conflicts.

It’s a beautiful place, with reminders of courage and devotion, but the highlight of the shrine is a hall containing a carved stone that simply reads, “Greater Love Hath No Man.” Every year on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 a.m., a mirror reflects the sun’s light onto the stone to spotlight the word love. It is a poignant tribute to those who gave their lives.

We honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.
Yet the words on that stone carry a far greater meaning. Jesus spoke them the night before. He died on the cross for the sins of a needy world (John 15:13). His death was not for freedom from political tyranny but freedom from the penalty of sin. His death was not just to give us a better life, but to give us eternal life.

It is important to remember those who have given their lives for their country — but may we never forget to praise and honor the Christ who died for a dying world. Truly, there is no greater love than this. — Bill Crowder

There is no greater love than that of Christ above,
That made Him stoop to earth, become a Man,
And by His death provide redemption’s plan;
There is no greater love. — Peterson

READ: John 15:9-17

The cross of Jesus is the supreme evidence of the love of God.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

2009-11-10T14:46:00.001+07:00

Gossip-free zone

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. — Proverbs 25:18

In some offices, you can get fired for gossiping. According to a 2002 survey, the average employee gossips 65 hours a year. One Chicago firm decided to become a “gossip-free zone.” They require that employees never talk badly about co-workers behind their backs. If you’re caught, you lose your job.

A ministry for people in the entertainment industry takes a refreshing alternative to gossip. They combat it with prayer. Instead of putting down famous people who get in trouble with bad choices, they encourage people to pray for them.

Among God’s commands to His people is, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). While this may be talking primarily about lying at judicial proceedings, gossip could also be included in the command because it violates the law of love toward our neighbor. Proverbs uses strong language to describe this use of our words. It’s like “a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow” against others (25:18).

Gossip feeds into our natural desires to feel superior to others and to belong or fit in, so combating it in our personal lives can be a challenge. But if we choose to love through prayer, our lives can be a gossip free zone. — Anne Cetas

Lord, forgive us for speaking carelessly
about others to make ourselves look better;
Help us to think before we speak. Teach us
to be loving with our words. Amen.

READ: Proverbs 25:8-18

You can never justify gossip.

Daily Bread: Monday, November 9, 2009

2009-11-09T08:17:00.001+07:00

They never meet

You have cast all my sins behind Your back. — Isaiah 38:17

Did you know that the farthest point east and the farthest point west in the United States are both in Alaska? It’s a geographical trick, actually. Pochnoi Point in the Aleutians is as far west as you can go and still be in the US. But if you travel a few miles farthest west, you’ll end up at Alaska’s Amatignak Island. Because that spot is west of the 180th meridian separating the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, it is technically east of the rest of the US.

But you’ll never find a spot where east and west are actually next to each other. In going west, you never “find” east. East goes on forever. West goes on forever. They never meet. You can’t get farther from something than that.

What difference does this make? Just this: When you read in Scripture that your forgiven sins are separated from you “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12), you are assured that they are an immeasurable distance away — gone forever. If that’s not enough, try this: “God says, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25).

Concerned about your sins? Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God is able to say, “What sins?” But He will do that only if you put your faith in His Son. — Dave Branon

“Oh, East is East, and West is West,
And never the twain shall meet.”
So far has God removed our sins;
Salvation is complete.— Anon.

READ: Psalm 103:6-14

We invite defeat when we remember what we should forget.

Daily Bread: Sunday, November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T07:43:00.002+07:00

Flawed and frail

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise. — 1 Corinthians 1:27

One of my boyhood heroes was Davy Crockett, the “King of the Wild Frontier.” I looked up to him, admiring his courage and exploits.

Years later, my brother gave me a book that traced the experiences of the real-life David Crockett. I was surprised by his humanness. The real Davy Crockett made mistakes and had serious personal problems. The book depicted him as both flawed and frail.

This was both disappointing and reassuring to me. It was disappointing because he was less than I had come to believe, but reassuring because that reality made Crockett more accessible to me — and even more of a hero.

In the Bible we see that God consistently used people who were far less than perfect. That shouldn’t surprise us. God is glorified by showing Himself strong through our weaknesses. It shows us that He desires to work through our lives not because we are perfect but because He is. And since He uses weak and foolish things (1 Cor. 1:27), it means you and I are prime candidates for His work.

The Lord isn’t looking for superheroes. He uses those of us who are flawed and frail, so that He can show His strength and grace. He wants those with a willing and available heart. — Bill Crowder

It’s not in the flash of the style
that you hone,
Or all the degrees you’ve compiled;
The Savior is looking for servants
who own
The warm, willing heart of a child. — Gustafson

READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

In God’s service, our greatest ability is our availability.

Daily Bread: Saturday, November 7, 2009

2009-11-07T07:45:00.000+07:00

Waiting

Make haste to help me, O Lord! — Psalm 70:1

Make haste to help me, O Lord!” the psalmist David prayed (Ps. 70:1). Like him, we don’t like to wait. We dislike the long lines at supermarket checkout counters, and the traffic jams downtown and around shopping malls. We hate to wait at the bank or at a restaurant.

And then there are the harder waits: a childless couple waiting for a child; a single person waiting for marriage; an addict waiting for deliverance; a spouse waiting for a kind and gentle word; a worried patient waiting for a diagnosis from a doctor.

What we wait for, however, is far less important than what God is doing while we wait. In such times (He works in us to develop those hard-to-achieve spiritual virtues of meekness, kindness, and patience with others. But more important, we learn to lean on God alone and to “rejoice and be glad” in Him (v. 4).

F. B. Meyer said, “What a chapter might be written of God’s delays! It is the mystery of the art of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are capable. What searchings of heart, what analyzings of motives, what testings of the Word of God, what upliftings of soul . . . . All these are associated with those weary days of waiting, which are, nevertheless, big with spiritual destiny.” — David Roper

Be still, My child, and know that
I am God!
Wait thou patiently — I know the path you trod.
So falter not, nor fear, nor think to run and hide,
For I, thy hope and strength,
am waiting by thy side. — Hein

READ: Psalm 70

God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul.

Daily Bread: Friday, November 6, 2009

2009-11-06T09:56:00.000+07:00

Serve or die

He Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. — Mark 10:45

Dr. Paul Brand told me of a memorable Frenchman named Pierre, who had served in Parliament until he became disillusioned with the slow pace of political change. During a harsh winter, many Parisian beggars froze to death. In desperation, Pierre became a friar to work among them and organize the beggars themselves.

They divided into teams to scour the city for bottles. Next, he led them to build a warehouse out of discarded bricks and start a business processing the bottles. Finally, he gave each beggar responsibility to help another poorer than himself. The project caught on. In a few years he founded the charitable organization Emmaus.

Eventually, there were few beggars to be found in Paris. So Pierre went to India. “If I don’t find people worse off than my beggars,” he said, “this movement could turn inward. They’ll become a powerful, rich organization, and the whole spiritual impact will be lost. They’ll have no one to serve.”

At a leprosy colony in India, Pierre met patients worse off than his former beggars. Returning to France, he mobilized the beggars to build a leprosy ward at a hospital in India.

It is you who have saved us,” he told the grateful patients. “We must serve or we die.” — Philip Yancey

Thinking It Through
In Mark 10:35-37, what did James and John seek?
What did Jesus say about the world’s authority? (v. 42).
How are followers of Christ to be different? (vv. 43-45).

READ: Mark 10:35-45

If you want a field of service, look around you.

Daily Bread: Thursday, November 5, 2009

2009-11-05T08:06:00.000+07:00

Exploratory procedure

The Word of God is living and powerful, . . . a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12

I have a friend who recently underwent a laryngoscopy. I winced as he explained how his doctor took a camera with a light on the end and stuck it down his throat to try to find the cause of his pain.

It reminded me that God’s Word is like a laryngoscopy. It invades the unseen areas of our lives, exposing the diseased and damaged spiritual tissue that troubles us. If you’re wincing at the thought of how uncomfortable this divine procedure might be, consider Jesus’ words:
“Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Internal intrusions may be uncomfortable, but do you really want the disease?

Welcoming God’s Word to penetrate the deep, dark places of our hearts is the only way to find true healing and the spiritual health we long for. Believe me, the procedure will be thorough. As the writer of Hebrews assures, God’s Word is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (4:12) —
piercing all the way through the external stuff of our lives, all the way down to our thoughts, intentions, and motives.

So what are you waiting for? With God’s Word you don’t need an appointment. The divine surgeon is ready when you are! — Joe Stowell

Ever present, truest Friend.
Ever near Thine aid to lend.
Guide us as we search the Word.
Make it both our shield and sword. — Anon.

READ: Hebrews 4:11-16

Let God’s Word explore your inner being.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

2009-11-04T11:06:00.000+07:00

Choosing our leader

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua 24:15

During this month last year, millions of people in the United States cast their votes for a slate of political leaders, including President. After months of campaign speeches, television ads, and debates, each voter had the opportunity to say to one candidate, “I choose you.” Not everyone’s favorite won, but every voter had a choice.

Unlike a political election in which the majority rules, each of us is given the opportunity to select our personal leader each day. In the spiritual election deep within our hearts, our choice will stand no matter what others may decide.

After many years in the Promised Land of Canaan, the aged Joshua called the people of Israel together and issued this challenge: “If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). In a great collective response, the people said, “We will serve the Lord!” (v. 21).

Everyone serves some kind of god. Whom will we choose to have rule in our hearts today? — David McCasland

Thy will I choose; I give to Thee
All of the life Thou gavest me;
Thy will I choose, no life I ask
Except to do Thy given task. — Anon.

READ: Joshua 24:14-25

Each day we choose the one we will follow in life.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, November 3, 2009

2009-11-03T08:11:00.000+07:00

God's catalog

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. — John 13:35

Tis the season to receive catalogs in the mail. Every trip to the mailbox ends with an armload of slick holiday catalogs. Each one claims to offer me something I need — immediately. “Don’t wait!” “Limited offer!” “Order now!”

The lure works. I open the pages to discover what I didn’t know I needed. Sure enough, I see things that suddenly seem essential, even though a few minutes earlier I didn’t know they existed. Manufacturers use catalog illustrations to create desire for their products.

In a way, Christians are God’s catalogs. We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified so the world would know that God sent Him and loved them as God loved Him (John 17:23). When Christ is alive in us, we become examples of God’s love. We can’t manufacture love. God is the manufacturer, and we are His workmanship.

As you browse holiday catalogs, consider what the “catalog” of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God? — Julie Ackerman Link

What does the world see in us
That they can’t live without?
Do they see winsome qualities
And love that reaches out? — Sper

READ: John 17:20-26

As a Christian, you are “God’s advertisement.” Do people want what they see in you?

Daily Bread: Monday, November 2, 2009

2009-11-02T08:21:00.001+07:00

Class participation

The entrance of Your words gives light. — Psalm 119:130

As a high school teacher and college professor, I have observed that learning is a cooperative effort between the student and the instructor. That’s why educators try to get the student involved in class participation. The teacher does some work; the student does some work. Together progress is made. Education happens.

In Psalm 119, the writer suggests a similar pattern in verses 129-136. God is the teacher; we are the students.

Let’s look at God’s role in our education. He shows us mercy (v. 132). He guides our steps (v. 133). And He redeems us from outside trouble (v. 134).

But first we must be eager students, ready to accept God’s teaching, guidance, and help. We should enter His classroom with anticipation: “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple . . . I longed for Your commandments” (vv. 130-131).

In our role as students of God’s Word, we should fulfill three requirements:

(1) examine God’s words for what they are teaching
(2) gain understanding from those words
(3) obey His statutes.

It’s time to enter God’s classroom and listen and learn from Him. When we do, we’ll look at God with renewed love and at the world with renewed concern (v. 136). — Dave Branon

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine,
And jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths
For every searcher there. — Hodder

READ: Psalm 119:129-136

Careful meditation on the Scriptures makes for a closer walk with the Savior.

Daily Bread: Sunday, November 1, 2009

2009-11-01T08:25:00.000+07:00

'Gimme it!'

My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. — Isaiah 55:8

I heard the screams long before I could see him, but as I wheeled my grocery cart around to the next aisle of the store, there he was!

With angry tears streaming out of squinty eyes, the little boy was shouting, “Gimme it!” His mom glanced at me for a moment. I won’t debate the merits of her actions, but, embarrassed and worn down, she grabbed the cheap trinket and tossed it into her cart.

I think I recognized that kid. He looked a lot like me. Yes, I’ve often been the willful child. And sometimes I’ve even pleaded with God, “Why not? Why can’t I have it?” On occasion, God’s given me what I wanted but not because I wore Him down. No, I think He wanted me to see what happens when I put myself in charge.

What we think is best is not necessarily the best that God desires for us. In Isaiah 55:8, the Lord said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.”

In his book Days of Grace, tennis champion Arthur Ashe paraphrased James 1:5 when he wrote this advice to his young daughter: “Ask God for the wisdom to know what is right, what God wants done, and the will to do it.”

That’s just the kind of sincere prayer that God wants to hear from His children. — Cindy Hess Kasper

We can’t presume to know what’s best
When we begin to pray;
So we must ask, “What honors God?”
Then seek His will and way. — Sper

READ: James 3:13-18

If God doesn’t give us what we ask for, we can be sure that He has something far better.

Daily Bread: Saturday, October 31, 2009

2009-10-31T06:43:00.000+07:00

Who is your God?

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. — Deuteronomy 6:5

At a funeral, I once overheard someone say of the deceased, “He was close to his god. He’s safe now.”

At times like that, I wish it were true that everyone could have their own god, live in whatever way they wanted, and also be assured of eternal life in heaven. Then we wouldn’t have to think too seriously about death. We wouldn’t have to be concerned about where our unbelieving loved ones went when they died.

But the Scriptures say that there is only one true God. “The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut. 6:4). And He is holy (Lev. 9:2). He says that we don’t measure up to His standard for a relationship with Him. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Our sin has alienated us from Him.

In love, the heavenly Father provided the way to Himself through His perfect Son Jesus who died to pay the penalty for our sin. “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” (John 3:16). But we need to humble our hearts and receive His gift of forgiveness.

There is only one true God. He is holy and has provided the only way of eternal life through Jesus. Is He the God you are trusting in? Think about it — seriously. — Anne Cetas

There is a place reserved in heaven
For everyone who has received
Forgiveness and eternal life
From Christ
, in whom they have believed. — Sper

READ: Deuteronomy 6:1-6

To get into heaven, it’s who you know that counts.

Daily Bread: Friday, October 30, 2009

2009-10-30T00:38:00.001+07:00

God-ography

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. — Hebrews 11:6

A National Geographic News survey in 2006 reported that many young Americans are geographically illiterate. According to the survey, 63 percent of Americans aged 18-24 failed to correctly locate Iraq on a map of the Middle East. The results for US geography are even more dismal. Half could not find New York State on the map, a third could not find Louisiana, and 48 percent could not locate Mississippi.

Understanding geography is helpful in daily life, but “God-ography” (finding God) is infinitely more crucial — for now and for eternity.

In Hebrews 11:6 we are told that to find God and please Him, we first have to believe that He exists. How can we prove that God exists? Finding God is a matter of faith — confidence in Him and commitment to Him. This confidence and commitment should remain strong even though the objects of our faith are unseen. The writer of Hebrews and the apostle John agree that ultimately the way to find the Lord and please Him is by believing in His Son Jesus (Heb. 11:6; John 14:6).

Finding God is solely a work of God. Those who seek Him will find Him because God will give them a heart to recognize Him as Lord (Jer. 29:13-14). — Marvin Williams

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him,
as He sought me;
It was not I who found, O Savior true;
No, I was found of Thee. — Anon.

READ: Hebrews 11:1-6

To find God, we must be willing to seek Him.

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T08:54:00.003+07:00

Perspective

He . . . sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. — Isaiah 40:22

Question: When is a bird bigger than a mountain?
Answer: When the bird is closer than the mountain.

In reality, the bird is not bigger than the mountain, but it sure looks that way when the feathery fellow is perched on my window ledge and the mountain is far away in the distance.

Sometimes we perceive God this way in relationship to our problems. The troubles facing us seem huge because they are so close — like a big black bird with heady eyes and a sharp beak waiting for a smaller animal’s weariness so it can devour it. At such times, God seems as far away as a distant mountain, and we perceive Him as being small and unreachable.

The prophet Isaiah changes our perspective by asking these rhetorical questions: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountain in scales and the hills in a balance?” (40:12). The Lord “gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (v. 29).

Just as a bird is never bigger than a mountain, no problem is ever bigger than God. It’s all a matter of changing our perspective. — Julie Ackerman Link

The problems that we face each day
Can seem too much to bear
Until we turn our eyes to Christ
And trust His tender care. — Sper

READ: Isaiah 40:12-13; 25-31

We worship a God who is greater than our greatest problem.

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T08:54:00.001+07:00

Perspective

He . . . sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. — Isaiah 40:22

Question: When is a bird bigger than a mountain? Answer: When the bird is closer than the mountain.

In reality, the bird is not bigger than the mountain, but it sure looks that way when the feathery fellow is perched on my window ledge and the mountain is far away in the distance.

Sometimes we perceive God this way in relationship to our problems. The troubles facing us seem huge because they are so close — like a big black bird with heady eyes and a sharp beak waiting for a smaller animal’s weariness so it can devour it. At such times, God seems as far away as a distant mountain, and we perceive Him as being small and unreachable.

The prophet Isaiah changes our perspective by asking these rhetorical questions: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountain in scales and the hills in a balance?” (40:12). The Lord “gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (v. 29).

Just as a bird is never bigger than a mountain, no problem is ever bigger than God. It’s all a matter of changing our perspective. — Julie Ackerman Link

The problems that we face each day
Can seem too much to bear
Until we turn our eyes to Christ
And trust His tender care. — Sper

READ: Isaiah 40:12-13; 25-31

We worship a God who is greater than our greatest problem.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

2009-10-28T08:38:00.000+07:00

In your head

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. — Galatians 1:6

I love the prayer that begins, “God be in my head.” When I first heard it, admittedly I thought it sounded a little weird. But then I got to thinking how unfortunate it is if in our efforts to get closer to Jesus we focus on our emotional experience of Him and check our brains at the door. Without His truth ringing in our heads, we’re bound to get off track.

Just look at the early Christians. False teachers filled their heads with misinformation, saying that salvation and spiritual growth could be attained only through keeping the requirements of the law. When Paul heard of it, he was astonished at how quickly they had gotten off track: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ” (Gal. 1:6).

It’s not just false teachers who lead us astray. Our world is full of twisted thinking like, “If it feels good, do it,” or “The one with the most toys wins.”
Let’s face it, you and I can’t afford to check our brains at the door. In fact, intimacy with Jesus begins with getting to know Him, and it’s the facts about Him that make us want to get close to Him.

So, strange as it may sound, if you want to stay on track with Jesus, start each day by asking Him to be in your head!— Joe Stowell

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking. — Sarum Primer

READ: Galatians 1:6-9

To stay on track, let God guide your thinking.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000+07:00

Make a U-turn

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. — Isaiah 53:6

When we went on a weekend road trip with some friends, we had our first experience using a Global Positioning System. The GPS has a female voice, so our friends John and Mary call their device Gladys. We programmed our destination into the GPS, and she did her job and plotted our course. Then we sat back. Having put our faith in this little navigator, we let her direct us.

“Turn right in .2 miles,” Gladys said confidently. She was right — Gladys is always right. In fact, when we made an unexpected detour to get gas, she got a bit insistent: “Please make a U-turn . . . Please make a U-turn at your earliest convenience!”

Gladys had calculated a route for us, but we had gone a different way. That was our choice, naturally. But if we had continued going our own way, we would have become lost.

Isaiah 53:6 reminds us that just like sheep, we have a tendency to go astray. That’s why we need a Shepherd to guide us and a Savior to pay the penalty for our sin.

No matter how far you’ve traveled in the wrong direction, it’s not too late to turn around. God is ready to forgive and restore (Ps. 32:5). If you’re headed down the wrong road, please make a U-turn. — Cindy Hess Kasper

I’ve strayed, O Lord, and turned aside,
I’ve disobeyed Your voice;
But now with contrite heart I turn
And make Your will my choice. — D. De Haan

READ: Psalm 32:1-5

No matter how far you’ve run from God, He’s only a prayer away.

Daily Bread: Monday, October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T08:11:00.002+07:00

The ripening self

May the God of all grace, . .. after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. — 1 Peter 5:10

In his early years of ministry, the English preacher Charles Simeon (1759-1836) was a harsh and self-assertive man. One day he was visiting a friend and fellow pastor in a nearby village. When he left to go home, his friend’s daughters complained to their father about Simeon’s manner. So he took the girls to the backyard and said, “Pick me one of those peaches.” It was early summer, and the peaches were green. The girls asked why he wanted green, unripe fruit. He replied, “Well, my dears, it is green now, and we must wait; but a little more sun, and a few more showers, and the peach will be ripe and sweet. So it is with Mr. Simeon.”

Simeon, in due time, did change. The warmth of God’s love and the “showers” of misunderstanding and disappointment were the means by which he became a gentle, humble man.

The God of all grace works in all His children, humbling the proud and exalting the humble, to make them ripe and sweet. Our task is to take hold of God’s grace to endure our afflictions with patience, without growing weary.

In time, He will “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle” us (1 Peter 5:10) We must “wait on the Lord” and “be of good courage” (Ps. 17:14). — David Roper

Our fruitfulness and growth in Christ
Won’t happen instantly,
But meditating on God’s Word
Will bring maturity. — Sper

READ: 1 Peter 5:8-11

Salvation is the miracle of a moment; growth is the labor of a lifetime.

Daily Bread: Sunday, October 25, 2009

2009-10-25T08:12:00.000+07:00

Shark tonic

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. — Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever heard of shark “tonic”? It isn’t a serum that prevents shark attacks or a medicine given to sharks. The actual term is “tonic immobility,” described as “a natural state of paralysis that animals enter . . . Sharks can be placed in a tonic immobility state by turning them upside down. The shark remains in this state of paralysis for an average of 15 minutes before it recovers.”

Imagine a dangerous shark can be made vulnerable simply by turning it upside down. The state of tonic immobility makes the shark incapable of movement.

Sin is like that. Our ability to honor our Lord, for which we are created in Christ, can be put into, “tonic immobility” by the power and consequences of sin. To that end, the writer of Hebrews wants us to be proactive. He wrote, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).

If we are to run the race of the Christian life effectively, we must deal with sin before it immobilizes us. We need to lay aside the sin that hinders us from pleasing Him — starting today. — Bill Crowder

Start early today to run in the race
That Christians are told they can win;
First wait on the Lord for the strength He will give,
Then lay aside every known sin. — Branon

READ: Hebrews 12:1-11

We must face up to our sins before we can put them behind us.

Daily Bread: Saturday, October 24, 2009

2009-10-24T12:59:00.000+07:00

Satisfaction

The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. — 1 John 2:17

Pornography, once a secretive backdoor industry, is now out in the open. The easy access and anonymity of the Internet have turned it into a multibillion-dollar-a-year “business.” But it leaves a trail of broken families, ineffective Christian leaders, and men who have lost the respect of their loved ones.

The apostle John was known for his great love for Christ and His church. In 1 John 2:12-17, he warned fathers and young men against these three lusts:

• The lust of the flesh — the insatiable appetite to indulge in pleasures that inflame the flesh but never satisfy.
• The lust of the eyes — wandering eyes that continually want more riches and possessions but always remain covetous.
• The pride of life — the vain mind that thirsts for man’s applause. But the glory evaporates quickly.

Pornography damages users and victims alike. It feeds lustful desires in ways that can never satisfy. True satisfaction is found only when we give our affections to eternal things — to a right relationship with our heavenly Father and with those He has created in His image.

“The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (v. 17). — Albert Lee

Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me;
There’s love and life and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee. — McGranahan

READ: 1 John 2:12-17

Inner peace springs out of inner purity.

Daily Bread: Friday, October 23, 2009

2009-10-22T23:57:00.000+07:00

Silhouette

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. — Lamentations 3:22

In the 18th century, silhouettes (shadow profiles traced and cut from black paper) were a popular alternative to costly portraits. The word took its name from the French controller general of finance, Etienne de Silhouette. During the Seven Years War against England, he tried to raise revenues by heavily taxing the wealthy. Victims of his high taxes complained and used the word silhouette to refer to their wealth being reduced to a mere shadow of what it once was.

With the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah lamented over the shadow of what once was a great city and center of worship now devastated by war. “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow” (Lam. 1:12).

But Jeremiah did not remain in despair. He recognized God’s sovereignty in suffering. Later in this book of sorrow, the prophet reflected: “I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (3:21-23).

Has sorrow or suffering made your life feel like a dark silhouette of what it once was? Remember, God’s mercies are new every morning. He is compassionately working in your life for His glory and your blessing. — Dennis Fisher

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey. — Sammis

READ: Lamentations 1:12-16; 3:19-23

To see beyond earth’s shadows, look to Christ the Light.

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 22, 2009

2009-10-22T06:06:00.001+07:00

On His shoulders

He shall dwell between His shoulders. — Deuteronomy 33:12

Our family likes to hike, and we’ve had some grand adventures together. But when our boys were small, our enthusiasm caused us to walk too fast and too far, and their legs often grew weary. They couldn’t keep up the pace, despite their determined efforts and our assurance that the end of the trail was just over the next hill.

“Dad,” would come the plaintive request, accompanied by upraised arms, “will you carry me?”
“Of course,” I would reply, and hoist the child on my shoulders. He was not a burden, for he was little and light.

How often, like my children, I’ve grown weary, and the end of my efforts is not even in sight. I can no longer keep up or accomplish the task. But I am learning that I can turn with arms upraised to my heavenly Father, who walks beside me, and I can ask Him to carry me.

I know He will lay me on His shoulder as a shepherd carries the lamb that was lost (Luke 15:5).
There He will joyfully carry me all day long, for I am little and light — no burden to Him. There I find rest, for “the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders” (Deut. 33:12). — David Roper

Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you — He will carry you through. — Palmer

READ: Luke 15:3-7

The God who holds the universe is the God who is holding you.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

2009-10-21T06:54:00.001+07:00

God's love story

How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? . . . My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. — Hosea 11:8

Is there any human feeling more powerful than that of betrayal? Ask a high school girl whose boyfriend has dumped her for a pretty cheerleader. Or tune your radio to a country-western station and listen to the lyrics of infidelity. Or check out the murders reported in the daily newspaper, an amazing number of which trace back to a quarrel with an estranged lover.

In the Old Testament, God through Hosea’s marriage demonstrates in living color exactly what it is like to love someone desperately and get nothing in return. Not even God, with all His power, will force a human being to love Him.

Many people think of God as an impersonal force, something akin to the law of gravity. The book of Hosea portrays almost the opposite: a God of passion and fury and tears and love. A God in mourning over Israel’s rejection of Him (1:8).

God the lover does not desire to share His bride with anyone else. Yet, amazingly, when Israel turned her back on God, He stuck with her. He was willing to suffer, in hope and someday she would return to Him.

Hosea, and later Jesus, prove that God longs not to punish but to love. In fact, He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us! — Philip Yancey

Love sent the Savior to die in my stead,
Why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led.
Why should He love me so? — Harkness

READ: Hosea 11

God loved us so much, He sent His only Son

Daily Bread: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

2009-10-20T13:23:00.000+07:00

Do something with nothing

Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. — Ephesians 5:15-16

A newspaper ad showed three people waiting for a city bus. Two of them were bored and listless, while the third was happily playing a game on a small electronic device. “Do something with your nothing,” the ad said. “That nothing time. The time in between everything else you have to do.”

The idea was to sell the portable player so people could use all those segments of wasted “waiting” time.

I suspect that many of us already constructively use those small increments of waiting time to read a book, memorize a verse, or pray for a friend. It’s our longer waiting periods filled with uncertainty and indecision that may leave us anxious and frustrated.

Paul challenged the Christians in Ephesus to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). The Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest suggests that this refers to time in its “strategic, opportune seasons” and means “making a wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.”

During those seasons when we wonder, “How did I get here and when can I leave?” It’s best to look for our God-given opportunities instead of focusing on the obstacles. That’s the way to do something with our nothing. — David McCasland

Wait and, in waiting, listen for His leading;
Be strong, thy strength for every day is stored.
Go forth in faith, and let thine heart take courage;
There is no disappointment with the Lord. — Anon.

READ: Ephesians 5:15-21

When you find time on your hands, put them together in prayer.

Daily Bread: Monday, October 19, 2009

2009-10-19T16:44:00.001+07:00

Looks can be deceiving

These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. — Matthew 15:8

On June 22, 2002, a 33-year-old pitching star for the St. Louis Cardinals was found dead in his Chicago hotel room. He was young, physically active, and appeared to be in good health.
However, the autopsy revealed that he had a 90-percent blockage in two of three coronary arteries, an enlarged heart, and a blood clot in one of the arteries. His appearance misled many to think that he was physically healthy.

Jesus said that appearances can deceive people into thinking that they are spiritually healthy.
After the Pharisees accused Him and His followers of breaking religious traditions by not washing their hands before they ate, Jesus said that the Pharisees had laid aside commands of God for man-made, religious traditions. He reminded them that kingdom righteousness was not an outside-in job but an inside-out, transforming work of God. Jesus said that they looked impressive spiritually, but their hearts were diseased and distant. [They] honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matt. 15:8). Their talk never matched their walk, thus producing the illegitimate child of hypocrisy.

Spiritual health is not determined by how we look, but by how we live. Let’s ask God to search us, know our hearts, test us, and lead us in His way (Ps. 139:23-24). — Marvin Williams

Search me, O God, and know my heart today
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. — Orr

READ: Matthew 15:1-11

As we talk the talk, let’s make sure we walk the walk.

Daily Bread: Sunday, October 18, 2009

2009-10-18T08:17:00.000+07:00

A hill too high

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. — Matthew 6:34

My wife and I like to rollerblade. Near the end of one of our favorite routes is a long hill. When we first started taking this route, I tried to encourage Sue by saying, “Are you ready for the hill?” just before pushing our way to the top. But one day she said, “Could you please not say that? You make it sound like a huge mountain, and that discourages me.”

It was better for Sue to face the hill thinking only about one “step,” or one rollerblade push, at a time instead of an entire steep hill to conquer.

Life can be like that. If we peer too far ahead of today, the challenges may feel like a Mt. Everest climb. They can appear impossible to handle if we think we have to be “ready for the hill.”

The Bible reminds us that today is all we need to tackle. We don’t need to worry about tomorrow’s tasks (Matt. 6:34). Imagine Moses thinking, “I’ve got to feed all these people for who knows how long. How can I get that much food?” God took care of that mountain with manna — but only enough for one day at a time (Ex. 16:4).

Every hill in life is too high if we think we must climb it all at once. But no hill is insurmountable if we take it one step forward at a time — with God’s help. — Dave Branon

He whose heart is kind beyond
all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems
best —
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. — Berg

READ: Exodus 16:1-5

God is there to give us strength for every hill we have to climb.

Daily Bread: Saturday, October 17, 2009

2009-10-17T06:01:00.000+07:00

Breaking the spin cycle

[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . He is a liar and the father of it. — John 8:44

Politicians are adept at “spinning” the details of a story to advance their own agenda. During a political campaign, spin doctors massage stories to ensure that their candidate is cast in a positive light — often at the expense of the truth. This leaves us with serious questions about what the real truth is.

According to Jesus, Satan is the “spin doctor” of hell — the master deceiver who “speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar” (John 8:44). He casts himself as the one who wants to give us unfettered freedom and pleasure, carefully masking his plan to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). He even spins the loving laws of God by claiming that God’s boundaries are restrictive, simply intended to take all the fun out of living. When we buy into Satan’s damaging lies, we will eventually find ourselves empty and broken — sidelined in our journey with God.

Thankfully, Jesus warns. He tells us that Satan is the father of lies. And we know Satan is lying when what he tells us contradicts God’s Word. Jesus, on the other hand, is the truth (John 14:6).
So, when it comes to sorting out the spin, our only defense against the spin doctor of hell is to constantly listen for the voice of Jesus as we pray and study his Word. And that’s the truth! — Joe Stowell

The devil is crafty, deceptive,, and sly;
He cleverly tricks us to swallow his lie.
But his cunning methods we’re sure to discern
If we make God’s warnings our daily concern. — D. De Haan

READ: John 8:42-47

God’s truth stops the spin of Satan’s lies.

Daily Bread: Friday, October 16, 2009

2009-10-16T11:17:00.000+07:00

A special seat

[Martha] had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. — Luke 10:39

I’ve never sat in the first-class section of an airplane. But I still hold out the hope that someday I’ll get on the plane and the flight attendant will stop me and say, “Come with me. I have a special seat for you.”

That’s why I was pretty excited when a friend gave my sister some tickets for an event and we realized that they were for box seats. Instead of sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers all around us, we sat in a private compartment where we could see and hear everything perfectly. That evening, we felt privileged and special.

Remember Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha? Although Martha had the opportunity to enjoy having Jesus as her guest, she soon became frustrated with her Sister Mary and overwhelmed with the busyness of her preparations. Certainly understandable to a lot of us! Jesus made it clear to her, however, that sometimes it’s necessary to step away from the unending pressures of life and spend undistracted time with Him. God has given us the opportunity to have personal moments with Him. By taking the time just to be with the Lord, we are fed, refreshed, and renewed.

Jesus commended Mary for taking time to sit and learn at her Savior’s feet (Luke 10:42). As it turned out — she had the best seat in the house! — Cindy Hess Kasper

Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone. — Longstaff

READ: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus longs for our fellowship Even more than we long for His.

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 15, 2009

2009-10-15T01:33:00.000+07:00

Joy to the world

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14

When Christmas displays go up before Halloween displays come down, I long for the days when people didn’t think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. However, there may be a legitimate reason to celebrate Christmas in October.

No one knows the exact day when Jesus was born, but December 25 is unlikely. His birth may have been in autumn, when the weather was still warm enough for shepherds to be outdoors with their flocks. We know that Jesus was crucified on Passover and that the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. So some scholars have reasoned that Jesus’ birth may have occurred on another Jewish holiday, the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot.

Although we cannot know for sure, we do know that it would be in keeping with God’s way of working to send His Son — the Word made flesh who “dwelt” (“tabernacled”) among us (John 1:14) — on the Feast of Tabernacles. Sukkot was a time when observant Jews lived in temporary dwellings and listened to the Word of the Lord being read (Deut. 31:10-13).

For Jews Sukkot is “the time of our rejoicing.” For all of us, our time of rejoicing is the birth of Christ, who brings the joy of salvation to all the world. — Julie Ackerman Link

Tidings, glad tidings! God is love,
To man He sends His salvation!
His Son beloved, His only Son,
The work of mercy hath begun. — Montgomery

READ: Deuteronomy 31:9-13

The date of Christ’s birth may be debatable, but the fact of His life is indisputable.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, October 14, 2009

2009-10-14T09:14:00.000+07:00

The ushpizzin

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. — James 1:27

In Jewish legend, the ushpizzin are guests who visit the pious at Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. They are supposedly the great Old Testament heroes who come offering comfort and encouragement to the faithful.

According to Jewish lore, these unseen guests only visit the sukkah (shelter) where the poor are welcome — a reminder of each person’s responsibility to care for others. It also reminds them that unseen watchers may be observing their conduct.

The story of the ushpizzin isn’t true of course. But beyond the lore and legend we are reminded that we as Christ-followers are living observed lives. Others are watching us. And our concern for others, particularly the least among us, is an expression of the compassion Christ displayed to the hurting and outcasts of His generation.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, challenged believers to put the love of Christ into practice. He wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

The example of Christ and the words of Scripture inspire us to care for our hurting world. Who’s watching us? Our world is watching. And so is our Lord! — Bill Crowder

I want my heart His throne to be,
So that a watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me;
I want to be like Jesus. — Chisholm

READ: James 1:19-27

When people observe your life, do they see the love of Christ?

Daily Bread: Tuesday, October 13, 2009

2009-10-13T20:15:00.001+07:00

Erasmus

Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. — Jeremiah 15:16

For centuries, many Christians were not permitted to read God’s Word in their own language.
Instead, they were encouraged to attend Latin services that few could understand.

Then, in 1516, the Dutch scholar Erasmus compiled and published the first New Testament in the original Greek language. This landmark work was the basis for the later publication of Luther’s German Bible, Tyndale’s English Bible, and the King James Version. These translations made the Scriptures understandable to millions of people around the world.

Erasmus could not have known the influence his Greek New Testament would have, but he did have a passion for getting its message to laypeople from all walks of life. In the preface he wrote:
“I would have [the Gospels and the Epistles] translated into all languages …. I long for the plowboy to sing them to himself as he follows the plow [and] the weaver to hum them to the tune of his shuttle.”

The prophet Jeremiah reflected this same passion for the Word: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (15:16).

Having God’s Word in our own language allows us to experience the joy of meditating on it each day. — Dennis Fisher

More precious than gold is
God’s Word to me,
Much better than pearls from deep
in the sea;
For in the Lord’s Word I take great delight,
And it is my joy each day and each night. — Fitzhugh

READ: Psalm 119:17-24

The treasures of truth in God’s Word are best mined with the spade of meditation.

Daily Bread: Monday, October 12, 2009

2009-10-12T12:17:00.000+07:00

Life according to plumb

Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. — Psalm 119:11

Charlie Riggs has been called “the man behind Billy Graham.” For nearly 40 years, Riggs was the director of counseling and follow-up for Mr. Graham’s evangelistic meetings. In his counselor training classes, Charlie taught thousands of people the basic principles of how to live for Christ and share their faith with others.

At Charlie’s 90th birthday celebration, many tributes mentioned his lifelong practice of memorizing Scripture. His goal was not merely to know the Bible, but to know Christ and live by His Word.

Charlie followed Psalm 119:9-11. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word… Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” He likened the scriptures to “plumb bobs” for his heart. Like the weight that holds a builder’s plumb line straight and true, these divine principles never change, no matter what the circumstances. He sought to measure his own thoughts, feelings and behavior by God’s Word, not the other way around.

Charlie Riggs’ life was quiet and steady behind the scenes. His example challenges us today to hide God’s Word in our hearts and let it guide our lives. Charlie demonstrated what it means to live according to plumb. — David McCasland

The Bible will transform our lives
And turn us from our sin,
If we will read it and obey
God’s principles within. — Sper

READ: Psalm 119:9-16

The Bible: Know it in your head, stow it in your heart, show it in your life, sow it in the world.

Daily Bread: Sunday, October 11, 2009

2009-10-11T09:31:00.000+07:00

The art of common people

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. — Luke 5:32

The 16th-century Italian painter Caravaggio received scathing criticism in his day for depicting people of the Bible as common. His critics reflected a time when only members of royalty and aristocracy were considered appropriate subjects for the “immortality” of art. His commissioned canvas of St. Matthew and the Angel so offended church leaders that it had to be redone. They could not accept seeing Matthew with the physical features of an everyday laborer.

According to one biographer, what the church fathers did not understand was that “Caravaggio, in elevating this humble figure, was copying Christ, who had Himself raised Matthew from the street.”

Caravaggio was right about the people of the Bible. Jesus Himself grew up in the home of a laborer. When His time came to go public, He was announced by a weather-worn man of the wilderness known as John the Baptizer. His disciples were fishermen and common people.

Jesus lived, loved, and died for wealthy people too. But by befriending those who had been demon-possessed, lepers, fishermen, and even despised tax collectors, the teacher from Nazareth showed that no one is too poor, too sinful, or too insignificant to be His friend. — Mart De Haan

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer! — Scriven

READ: Matthew 4:18-25

Jesus wants you for a friend.

Daily Bread: Saturday, October 10, 2009

2009-10-10T10:44:00.000+07:00

A handful of thorns

Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! — Psalm 107:21

Jeremy Taylor was a 17th-century English cleric who was severely persecuted for his faith. But though his house was plundered, his family left destitute, and his property confiscated, he continued to count the blessings he could not lose.

He wrote: “They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promises . . . my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too, and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And he that hath so many causes of joy, and so great should never choose to sit down upon his little handful of thorns.”

Although we may not be afflicted with the grievous difficulties that Jeremy Taylor endured, all of us face trials and troubles. Are we grumbling? Or do we refuse to let our “little handful of thorns,” our troubles, obscure the overwhelming abundance of our blessings?

When we feel like complaining, let’s remember God’s faithfulness and “give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! . . . Remember His marvelous works which He has done!” (Ps. 105:1, 5). — Vernon Grounds

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost;
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. — Oatman

READ: Psalm 105:1-5

Spend your time counting your blessings, not airing your complaints.

Daily Bread: Friday, October 9, 2009

2009-10-09T18:17:00.000+07:00

The chain of ungrace

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.— Matthew 6:12

When I feel wronged, I can contrived a hundred reasons against forgiveness. “He needs to learn a lesson.” “I’ll let her stew for a while; it’ll do her good.” “It’s not up to me to make the first move.” When I finally soften to the point of granting forgiveness, it seems a leap from hard logic to mushy sentiment.

One factor that motivates me to forgive is that as a Christian, I am commanded to, as the child of a Father who forgives. Jesus said, “If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).

But beyond that, I can identify three pragmatic reasons. First, forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace. Without it we remain bound to the people we can’t forgive, held in their vise grip.

Second, forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator. It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.

And third, forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong. We are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think, for we too must ask our heavenly Father, “Forgive us our debts” (Matt. 6:12). — Philip Yancey

When I consider Calvary’s dismay —
The shame, the scorn, the scourging borne by You —
Resentment melts; I am compelled to say,
Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they do!” — Mollon

READ: Matthew 6:9-15

He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge over which he himself must pass. — Herbert

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 8, 2009

2009-10-08T10:26:00.000+07:00

Erev Yom Kippur

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:24

In Judaism, the holiest day of the year is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. On that day, the nation seeks God’s forgiveness for sins, both personal and national.

What is interesting, however, is the day before Yom Kippur, known as Erev Yom Kippur. It represents a person’s last opportunity to seek forgiveness from other people before Yom Kippur begins. This is important because in Jewish thought, you must seek forgiveness from other people before Yom Kippur begins. This is important because, in Jewish thought, you must seek forgiveness from other people before you can seek the forgiveness of God.

Today, we are called to do the same. Jesus pointed out that in order to worship Him with all our heart, we first need to resolve matters with others. In Matthew 5:23-24, He said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Even in a matter so basic as our giving, the ability to truly worship God is hindered by the reality of relationships broken by our wrong actions, attitudes, and words.

So that our worship can be pleasing and acceptable to God, let us make every effort to be reconciled to one another — today. — Bill Crowder

Have you hurt a friend or brother?
Go at once and make things right;
From your heart say, “Please forgive me.”
How these words bring God delight! — D. De Haan

READ: Matthew 5:21-26

An offense against your neighbor is a fence between you and God.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, October 7, 2009

2009-10-07T09:21:00.000+07:00

Unused muscles

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. — 1 Corinthians 12:7

My wife recently visited a physiotherapist to seek relief for her neck and shoulder pain. When the problem did not go away after several visits, she asked why. She was told that her pain was because of some “lazy neck muscles.”

Apparently, the neck muscles that were supposed to hold her head upright were not doing their jobs. As a result, her shoulder muscles had to take over the function of holding up her head. This resulted in unnaturally stiffened shoulder muscles. The solution? Exercises were prescribed to train her neck muscles to do what they were designed to do.

In a way, her problem depicts what happens in the body of Christ. God has given each believer gifts that are to be exercised for the common good of the church (1 Cor. 12:7). But when some don’t pull their weight, others far less gifted in those areas must pitch in. Although the body of Christ continues to function, it is not functioning at its best. There are some overworked Christians around!

God wants us to use our spiritual gifts to benefit others in the church. When we work together, we keep the body strong. What has God gifted you to do so that you can help relieve the strain the church is suffering? — C. P. Hia

All Christians have been gifted
By grace from God above,
Equipped to build and strengthen
The church in faith and love. — Fitzhugh

READ: 1 Cor. 12:14-27

Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, October 6, 2009

2009-10-06T08:53:00.000+07:00

Not much in between

That you may be filled with all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:19

In the western panhandle of Texas is a small town named Texline. It had an ostentatious beginning in the late 1800s as a thriving center along a new railroad line. Within a few years, though, most of the shops had closed and the town’s population shriveled to about 400. In 2000, the population was still just over 500.

One online description of Texline says that it has “a city limits sign at one end, another at the other end, and not much in between.”

What a waste if the same description could be given of our spiritual journey! The journey of the Christian life on earth begins at the moment of faith in Jesus and ends when the believer goes to be with the Lord. This raises an important question: What happens in between?

A rich and full life is available to all who believe in and serve Jesus. The apostle Paul prayed that believers would “be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). He wanted them to know life “abundantly” (John 10:10).
But how many of us experience even a small part of the abundant life Christ promised to those who are faithful to Him?

God desires to give us a marvelous beginning with salvation and a great ending in Glory — with much in between. — Dave Egner

Lord, thank You for all that You have done for me.
I commit myself to making the most of my spiritual journey.
I want to experience as much as I can of You and all
You have to offer to me. Amen.

READ: Ephesians 3:14-21

A life given fully to God becomes a God-filled life.

Daily Bread: Monday, October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T08:16:00.000+07:00

Rosetta stone

The mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, … has now been revealed by the Spirit.— Ephesians 3:4-5

For centuries, the hieroglyphic word pictures painted on Egyptian ruins were a mystery. Then in 1799 a French archaeological expedition at the Egyptian harbor of Rosetta discovered an ancient stone. It weighed 1,676 pounds and reflected beautiful dark gray, blue, and pink hues. But that is not what made it valuable.

The stone was inscribed with an identical message in different ancient scripts. Among them were hieroglyphics and classical Greek. Using Greek to translate, scholars soon understood the meaning of the hieroglyphics. They were no longer a mystery.

The Bible has also contained an ancient mystery. For centuries, it seemed as if God’s purposes were limited to the Jews. Yet with the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth, the promise to Abraham to bless the whole world came to light (Gen. 12:1-3). Paul wrote: “The mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known . . . has now been revealed by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:4-5). God provides salvation to all people who repent and believe in His Son (Gal. 3:8-9, 28).

The revelation of the New Testament describes a glorious future when people from every ethnic group, nation, and language will share in the inheritance of the children of God (Rev. 5:9). — Dennis Fisher

O glorious mystery of love,
That I, a child of earth,
May dwell by faith with Christ above,
The Lamb of matchless worth!— Christiansen

READ: Ephesians 3:1-7

The Christian’s inheritance is guaranteed forever!

Daily Bread: Sunday, October 4, 2009

2009-10-04T09:50:00.000+07:00

Curiosity or compassion?

[Jesus’] disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” — John 9:2

Why is it that when we hear about someone who is suffering, we are more interested in the details of what, why, when, and where than we are about how we can help?

When the disciples passed the blind beggar (John 9:1), their curiosity about why he was suffering outweighed the prospect of reaching out to help him. “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” they asked (v. 2). Their pop-quiz for Jesus revealed that they were dreadfully out of step with their Master’s heart. In fact, lurking beneath their question was a judgmental spirit — a desire to know who to blame — as if that would make anyone feel better!
Thankfully, Jesus modeled a compassionate response. Rather than speculation and condemnation, He marshaled His resources to help, which in this case meant complete healing.
He made it clear that the man’s blindness was intended to provide a moment for God to be magnified through Jesus’ compassionate touch.

Feeling curious about somebody’s problem? Shift into Jesus’ mode and move past the point of curiosity to his or her point of need. Reach out and touch someone’s pain. Show the compassionate love of Jesus in action. — Joe Stowell

Amid the snares misfortune lays
Unseen, beneath the steps of all,
Blest is the Love that seeks to raise
And stay and strengthen those who fall. — Bryant

READ: John 9:1-12

Do you want to be like Jesus? Replace curiosity with compassion.

Daily Bread: Saturday, October 3, 2009

2009-10-03T10:08:00.000+07:00

Read a banned book

Write . . . all the words that I have spoken to you . . . that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. — Jeremiah 36:2-3

The American Library Association has designated this week as Banned Books Week in celebration of the freedom to read and to express one’s opinion “even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular.”

The Bible is the all-time bestselling book, but in some parts of the world it is banned because it’s considered dangerous. The Bible is dangerous, however, only to those who fear finding out that they are wrong. It’s dangerous to those who exploit the weak and the innocent, who use force to keep others enslaved in poverty and ignorance, who don’t want to give up their favorite sin, who believe that salvation can be found apart from Christ.

No one wants to be told they are wrong. No one wants to hear that their behavior is putting themselves and those they love in danger or that God’s patience will eventually wear out. Yet that was the message God told Jeremiah to write (Jer. 36:2). When His message was read to King Jehoiakim, the king cut up the scroll and threw it into the fire (v. 23).

The only way to know we are right is to be willing to discover where we are wrong. Read the all-time bestselling banned book, and let it reveal to you the truth about God — and about yourself. — Julie Ackerman Link

Lord Jesus, show Thyself to me
In every truth and deed;
Help me to find, O Christ, in Thee,
More than my deepest need. — Clarkson

READ: Jer. 36:8, 21-26

The Bible shows us a picture of who we really are.

Daily Bread: Friday, October 2, 2009

2009-10-02T10:37:00.000+07:00

For a limited time

You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. — James 4:14

On a crisp October morning our local newspaper featured a stunning photo of sun-drenched aspen trees whose leaves had turned autumn gold. The caption read: For A Limited Time Only. The irresistible invitation to take a drive through the mountains to savor the brilliant colors conveyed the urgency of doing it quickly. Autumn leaves that are golden today are often gone tomorrow.

Our opportunities to obey God’s promptings are also fleeting. James warned against an arrogance that assumes endless days will be available to carry out our good intentions. “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . . . Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (4:14, 17).

Is there an act of kindness or encouragement that God has urged you to do for someone in His name? How long has it been since that first prompting?
With so many demands on our time, the urgent tasks demand our attention while the important things can be postponed. But a time will come when even the important can no longer be done.

When we follow God’s urging with our action now, today will be golden. — David McCasland

If God is prompting you today
To help someone who has a need,
Don’t hesitate, the time is short;
Tomorrow is not guaranteed. — Sper

READ: James 4:13-17

Doing what’s right today means no regrets tomorrow.

Daily Bread: Thursday, October 1, 2009

2009-10-01T07:34:00.002+07:00

Cardboard kids

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. — Proverbs 1:10

When Mike Wood began to advertise his sign company, he didn’t know how useful his work would become. Some of his signs were life-size cardboard pictures of kids, which he put close to the street.

Besides advertising his business, the signs had another effect. Motorists thought the cutouts were real children and began to drop their speed. Now Mike sells the cardboard kids to parents who want to slow down speeding drivers in their area. Mike said. “We truly hope that some of our standups help to control speeding in neighborhoods around the country.”

Parents work at protecting their children from physical danger. But there are other dangers as well. Solomon, the writer of Proverbs 1, was concerned about the people who would pose spiritual danger to his son. He warned him about those who would entice him to do evil (vv. 10-14) and told him, “Do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil” (vv. 15-16).

We need to protect our children by teaching them God’s Word and training them to avoid evil influences. Busy streets are hazardous for our children, but the enticement of taking an evil path is far more dangerous. — Anne Cetas

Children are a heritage,
A gift from God above;
He asks you to protect and care
And nourish them with love. — Hess

READ: Proverbs 1:18-19

Tomorrow’s world will be shaped
by what we teach our children today.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

2009-09-30T07:32:00.001+07:00

That you may know

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. — 1 John 5:13

One day, while Wim was in the marketplace in the Netherlands, he struck up a conversation with a woman who remarked that you can get to heaven by doing good works.

His attempt to explain that it is by God’s grace that we are “saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8) brought a smile as the woman repeated confidently: “and… by doing good works.” Then another woman volunteered, “You can hope you’ll go to heaven, but you can’t be sure.” Wim’s assertion that he did know for sure was met with a muttered, “Nobody knows for sure.”

Wim then showed the woman what 1 John 5:11-13 says. He explained: “See, it doesn’t say hope there, it says know.” Unconvinced, she said, “Like you, my pastor says that we have to have faith, but you really never know whether you’ve been good enough. You may think you have, but who can be sure?”

To some, Wim’s confidence may seem incredible. But he based his worlds on this statement: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Eph. 2:8-9).

It’s true. We can’t be good enough. We can never do enough good things. But we can be sure of heaven if we simply believe on the Lord (Acts 16:31). — Cindy Hess Kasper

We cannot earn our way to heaven
By word or work or worth;
But if we trust in Christ to save us,
Then we’ll enjoy new birth. — Branon

READ: 1 John 5:6-13

We are saved by God’s mercy, not by our merit — by Christ’s dying, not by our doing.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

2009-09-29T06:29:00.000+07:00

Ask Me Now

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5

Whether you need a weather forecast for Singapore or driving directions to a restaurant in Chicago, the answer may be just a cell-phone call away. A California-based mobile service called AskMeNow utilizes Internet content sources to send text-message replies to queries from registered users on just about any subject. In many cases, a text-message reply may be received within minutes of submitting a question.

In a sense, the invitation to ask anything, anytime, anywhere mirrors God's call to all who follow Jesus: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach” (James 1:5). But this is more than a mobile information service. It is our heavenly Father's promise to provide the guidance we need, especially during trying times.

All we need is a sincere desire to follow God's direction and faith that His way is best. Because the Lord “gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty,” we can ask in faith without doubting (vv.5-6 PHILLIPS).

The Internet is a great place to find helpful information, but there is only one source of divine wisdom to direct our steps each day. The Father invites our sincere requests anytime, anywhere. — David McCasland

My Lord is ever with me
Along life's busy way;
I trust in Him completely
For guidance day by day. — Anon

READ: James 1:1-8

Be smart — ask for God’s wisdom.

Daily Bread: Monday, September 28, 2009

2009-09-28T06:06:00.000+07:00

Showing up

Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. — Psalm 116:2

Leonardo da Vinci spent 10 years drawing ears, elbows, hands, and other parts of the body in many different aspects. Then one day he set aside the exercises and painted what he saw. Likewise, athletes and musicians never become great without regular practice.

For years I resisted a regular routine of prayer, believing that communication with God should be spontaneous and free. But I found that I needed the discipline of regularity to make possible those exceptional times of free communication with God. Eventually I learned that spontaneity often flows from discipline.

The writer Nancy Mairs says she attends church in the same spirit she goes to her desk every morning to write, so that if an idea comes she’ll be there to receive it. I approach prayer the same way. I keep on whether it feels like I am profiting or not. I show up in hopes of getting to know God better, perhaps hearing from Him in ways accessible only through solitude.

The English word meditate derives from a Latin word that means “to rehearse.” Often my prayers seem like a kind of rehearsal. I go over basic notes (the Lord’s Prayer), practice familiar pieces (the Psalms), and try out a few new tunes. Mainly, I show up. — Philip Yancey

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant’s lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high. — Montgomery

READ: Psalm 116

Prayer is an intimate conversation with our God.

Daily Bread: Sunday, September 27, 2009

2009-09-27T04:18:00.000+07:00

Famous last words

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. — 2 Timothy 4:16

Just days before his death, Gandhi wrote, “All about me is darkness; I am praying for light.” By contrast, evangelist D. L. Moody’s last recorded words were, “This is my triumph; this my coronation day! It is glorious!” In both cases, their last words were significant expressions of their perspectives on life, death, and everything in between.

Aside from some personal greetings, Paul’s last recorded words dealt not with what he had done in life and ministry but rather with how he viewed people. What makes it even more significant is that some of those words were about people who had disappointed him.

Regarding an individual who had harmed him by opposing his ministry, Paul trusted the Lord to deal with him. And when considering those who had abandoned him when imprisoned, he asked others to handle them graciously: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them” (2 Tim. 4:16). His last words were those of compassion and kindness instead of harshness and retaliation.

Will our last words show the grace of Christ or the bitterness of a wounded heart? Our answer should impact the words we use today. — Bill Crowder

What have you written on memory’s page?
Deeds that were done in the Master’s name?
Words that were spoken to spread His fame?
What have you written today? — Anon.

READ: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

What words will be your legacy

Daily Bread: Saturday, September 26, 2009

2009-09-26T06:41:00.000+07:00

Things above

Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. — Colossians 3:1

Stepping outside and gazing heavenward on a star-studded evening always helps to soothe my soul after a trouble-filled day. When I peer into the night sky, I forget, at least for a moment, the cares of life on earth.

Ancient Israel’s prolific songwriter wrote a poem thousands of years ago that still rings true: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Ps. 8:3-4).

When we try to imagine the immensity of God’s heavens, our problems indeed seems trivial. Yet God doesn’t think so! With all the galaxies He has to attend to, God is mindful of us. And not only are we on His mind. He cares for us.

No wonder the apostle Paul advised new believers to set their minds on things above (Col. 3:2). In doing so, we raise our thoughts above the level of earthly disputes and focus instead on our loving, heavenly Father, who wants us to know Him, to know how to live peacefully with one another, and to know that we can live eternally with Him in a place even more beautiful than the heavens.

“The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1). Let’s join creation in praise to Him. — Julie Ackerman Link

Bless the Lord and sing His praises,
Bless the Lord now, O my soul;
Join the song all heaven raises,
Let the anthem loudly roll! — Peterson

READ: Colossians 3:1-13

Because God gives us everything, we owe Him all our praise.

Daily Bread: Friday, September 25, 2009

2009-09-25T06:21:00.000+07:00

The power of patience

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . longsuffering. — Galatians 5:22

We’ve all heard the prayer: “Lord, make me more patient — and do it now!”
Why is it that patience evaporates when we are late for a critical engagement and are caught in a traffic jam? Or we rush to the “10 items or less” line at the store, only to find someone in front of us with 16 items!

Being forced to wait ratchets up the stress and shortens our fuse. When that happens, we not only fail to be patient but we undercut the Spirit’s work in our lives.

Patience is not just a virtue, it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) — which means that demonstrations of impatience reveal the sour fruit of our fallen hearts rather than the sweetness of Jesus in our lives. Since God is a patient God, when we abandon patience we miss the opportunity to show our world the glory of God through our lives.

Bursts of impatience only demonstrate that we are more concerned with our own agendas than the needs and struggles of others. So let’s all take a deep breath and turn our focus away from ourselves by patiently loving others instead of ourselves in the midst of stress.

Patience gives us the privilege of sharing the refreshing fruit of God with others. — Joe Stowell

Our wrath uncurbed will not fulfill
God’s perfect plan for us;
We must be patient and refuse
To fret, to fume, to fuss. — Sper

READ: Galatians 5:16-24

Be patient. Show your world what God is really like.

Daily Bread: Thursday, September 24, 2009

2009-09-24T05:15:00.001+07:00

Lifework

If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. — 1 Timothy 5:8

Some of our friends have chosen to curtail or leave their ministries this year. They did so in order to care for family members — for aging parents, ill spouses, siblings, or children with special needs. All were involved in fruitful works for which they were uniquely gifted. All believed that there was much to be done.

Some have chosen to reduce the time and energy they spend on those ministries; others have left their work completely. These adjustments have been their lifework — a work for which they spent years in preparation and had many years yet to serve.

It occurs to me, however, that they have not given up their lifework but rather have assumed another. Loving and caring for others is our life’s work, and caring for those of our “own house” is the highest and holiest work of all. To deny love is to align ourselves with a cold, uncaring world.

Not everyone can leave a career or calling to care for others. Financial realities and obligations may dictate otherwise. But is not such love the mark of one who does the work of God? Did not Jesus promise that one who gives a cup of cold water to one of His children “shall by no means lose his reward”? (Matt. 10:42). — David Roper

Thinking it through
Paul says we are to help those who “are really widows” (1 Tim. 5:3-5). What does he mean by this? (vv. 9-10). Who should help before the church does? (v. 16).

READ: 1 Timothy 5:1-8

True love is doing, not just feeling.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

2009-09-23T10:50:00.000+07:00

He watches over us

From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. — Psalm 33:14

In the early 1960s, I read the novel 1984 by George Orwell, which made famous the phrase “Big Brother is watching you.” In this imaginary society, all aspects of life are under surveillance.

Today, there are an estimated 4.2 million closed-circuit video cameras in the UK alone! London is saturated with them. These cameras watch lobbies and sidewalks for security reasons. They even monitor traffic.

Psalm 33 tells us that God is also watching from on high (v. 14). He sees not just images and activities but discerns thoughts and motives. As Creator God, when He speaks, it will be done (v. 9). His eternal purposes march on unhindered (vv. 10-11). Earthly obstacles are mere steppingstones to Him. Though many may depend on military strength for deliverance and safety, their hope is in vain (vv. 16-17).

Yet we who fear the Lord need not flee from this awesome God. The psalmist affirms, “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy . . . He is our help and our shield” (vv. 18, 20).

The eye of the Lord may be fearsome, but we who trust in Him rejoice. He is not an intrusive “Big Brother” but our loving heavenly Father who watches over us. — Albert Lee

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. — Keith

READ: Psalm 33:8-22

Keep your eyes on the Lord; He never takes His eyes off you.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, September 22, 2009

2009-09-22T08:20:00.000+07:00

Arms of love

Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. — 1 John 3:18

Many college students go on summer missions trips. But rarely does one come back with plans to rescue a baby. Mallery Thurlow, a student at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, went to Haiti to help distribute food. One day a mother showed up at the distribution center with a very sick infant in her arms. The woman was out of options. The baby needed surgery, but no one would perform it. Without intervention, the baby would die. Mallery took baby Rose into her arms — and into her heart.

After returning to the US, Mallery searched for someone to operate on baby Rose. Most doctors held out little hope. Finally, Rose was granted a visa to leave Haiti, and Mallery went back to get her. Detroit Children’s Hospital donated the $100,000 surgery, and it was successful. A little life was saved.

It’s unlikely that we will have such a dramatic impact on others. Yet challenged by this student’s willingness, we can find ways to provide help.
She didn’t let circumstances, youth, or inconvenience stop her from saving Rose’s life.

Like Mallery, we are called to love “in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Who needs you to be God’s arms of love today? — Dave Branon

When you see someone in need,
Love demands a loving deed;
Don’t just say you love him true,
Prove it by the deeds you do. — Sper

READ: 1 John 3:16-20

Compassion puts love into action.

Daily Bread: Monday, September 21, 2009

2009-09-21T06:20:00.000+07:00

Rightly dividing the Word

Be diligent . . . rightly dividing the Word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

In 1879, James Murray was hired as the editor of The Oxford English Dictionary. He had little advanced education, but he was a gifted linguist. Murray enlisted a large number of volunteers around the world to read widely and send him usages of assigned words. At Oxford, he and a small staff of scholars cataloged and edited the definitions they received.

During his lifetime, Murray was knighted and awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford. Today, the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary is still recognized as one of the most accurate and comprehensive dictionaries in the world.

Murray’s legacy of precision and accuracy with words reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor of the Ephesian church: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). The phrase “rightly dividing” is a metaphor derived from the stonemason’s craft of cutting stones straight to fit into their proper place in a building.

Precision with words is essential to an accurate interpretation of God’s Word. Let’s be people who care deeply about what the Bible says and what it means. — Dennis Fisher

Correctly handling the Word of truth
Takes a diligence and care;
So make the time to study it
And then that truth declare. — Hess

READ: 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Rightly dividing the Word multiples our understanding.

Daily Bread: Sunday, September 20, 2009

2009-09-20T06:10:00.001+07:00

Not good enough

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. — Isaiah 1:18

A friend told me recently of a young mother who was trying to explain her father’s death to her 4-year-old. The girl wondered where Grandpa was. “I’m sure he’s in heaven,” the mother answered, “because he was very good.” The girl replied sadly, “I guess I won’t be in heaven.” “Why not?” her mother asked in surprise. “’Cause I’m not very good at all.”

The story saddened me, as I’m saddened when I hear of others who believe they must be very good to get into heaven, especially since we all know deep down in our hearts that we’re not very good at all.

Perhaps like this little girl you’re thinking about your sins and asking, “What must I do to get to heaven?” The answer has already been given: Jesus, by His death, has paid in full the price of your sins, no matter how sordid, tawdry, or shameful they may be. Your salvation is free.

God promises, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool!” (Isa. 1:18). John Donne writes:

Or wash thee in Christ’s blood, which hath this might,
That being red, it dyes red souls to white.

No one is good enough to get into heaven. Eternal life is a gift. Receive Jesus by faith. — David Roper

The perfect righteousness of Christ
Is free to everyone,
But we by faith must take that gift
And trust God’s precious Son. — D. De Haan

READ: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

No one is good enough to save himself; no one is so bad that God cannot save him.

Daily Bread: Saturday, September 19, 2009

2009-09-19T05:36:00.000+07:00

A learner

They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. — Luke 2:46

The poster in the church hallway pictured a young boy dressed in Middle Eastern clothing, with Bible in hand, walking up a hill to church. The caption read: “Jesus was a good Christian boy who went to Sunday school every Sunday.”

As a Jewish boy, Jesus didn’t go to Sunday school and church on Sunday, so the poster was inappropriate. But the picture is correct in portraying Jesus’ desire to be in His Father’s temple to listen to His teaching.

When Jesus was 12, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41-42). On their way home, His parents realized He was not with them. When they returned, they “found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (v. 46).

Jesus had the heart of a learner-disciple. Isaiah writes of Him as Jehovah’s Servant: “The Lord God . . . awakens Me morning by morning. He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear” (50:4-5). In His humanity, the Son was open to learn from His Father.

Jesus’ example challenges us to be listeners to God’s Word. We too can become learner-disciples if we’ll keep our hearts open to God’s teaching. — Anne Cetas

Fill me with the knowledge
Of Thy glorious will,
All Thine own good pleasure
In Thy child fulfill. — Grimes

READ: Luke 2:46-52; Isaiah 50:4-6

The highest goal of learning is to know God.

Daily Bread: Friday, September 18, 2009

2009-09-18T12:24:00.000+07:00

Spare beds

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. — Hebrews 13:2

In 2004, Casey Fenton co-founded a nonprofit service that helps travelers find a “friendlier alternative” to unfriendly hotels. They find homeowners who are willing to offer their spare beds and couches to others.

The group boasts almost a quarter of a million friendships that have been formed from their service. “The more we network,” said Fenton, “the better chance we have of this world being a better place.”

That service sounds a lot like biblical hospitality. In the final pages of his letter to the Hebrews, the writer instructed believers to practice their faith in Jesus Christ through hospitality (13:2). That was defined by the early Christ-followers as acts of generosity toward strangers.

In the first century, hospitality often included housing a guest. This was hardest to do during a time of persecution. These believers would not know whether the person was a spy or a fellow believer being pursued. But by entertaining strangers, the writer said, they could indeed be inviting a blessing into their homes.

As God’s people, we are called to be hospitable to others as part of our gratitude for the salvation we have received from God. — Marvin Williams

Lord, grant me a loving heart,
A will to give and share,
A whisphered prayer upon my lips
To show I really care. — Brandt

READ: Hebrews 13:1-6

People with a heart for God have a heart for people.

Daily Bread: Thursday, September 17, 2009

2009-09-17T06:11:00.001+07:00

He's there all the time

I did not say . . . , “Seek Me in vain.” — Isaiah 45:19

I’ll never forget my frustrating experience when I went to Chicago’s Union Station early one morning to pick up an elderly relative who was arriving by train. When I got there, she wasn’t where I thought she would be. With increasing anxiety I scoured the place — to no avail.
Thinking she had missed her train, I was about to leave when I glanced down a hallway toward the baggage area. There she was, luggage at her feet, patiently waiting for me to arrive. She had been there all the time. And, to my chagrin, she was right where she was supposed to be.

It’s that way with God. He’s there, patiently waiting for us. He assures us, “I did not say . . . . ‘Seek Me in vain’” (Isa. 45:19). Why, then, do we often have trouble finding Him? Probably because we are looking in all the wrong places.

You’ll find Him right where He is supposed to be — in His Word, in prayer, and in the voice of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. The God who says “seek, and you will find” (Matt. 7:7) also promises that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). So, you can rejoice that God is right where He is supposed to be, and He’s waiting for you right now. — Joe Stowell

The Lord is near to all who call;
He promised in His holy Word
That if we will draw near to Him,
Our faintest heartcry will be heard. — Hess

READ: Isaiah 45:18-25

Have we been looking for God in all the wrong places?

Daily Bread: Wednesday, September 16, 2009

2009-09-16T08:04:00.001+07:00

Responding to criticism

When they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God. — 1 Peter 2:12

Abraham Lincoln knew what it meant to face criticism. He is quoted as saying, “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how — the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

Lincoln, against huge opposition, went on to reunite the fractured United States, win the Civil War, and abolish slavery in the US. Had he allowed his critics to defeat him, Lincoln would not have accomplished what he did.

The apostle Peter understood the dangers of unfounded criticism. He wrote, “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).

Criticism can consume our lives to the point of emotional paralysis, or we can set our hearts to serve God faithfully undeterred by that criticism and put our God on display. When we do that, we won’t need to answer our critics with words — our lives will say all that is needed. — Bill Crowder

If we keep doing what is right —
And serving Christ each day,
We need not fear what others think.
Nor what the critics say. — D. De Haan

READ: 1 Peter 2:4-12

The most powerful testimony is a godly life.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, September 15, 2009

2009-09-15T08:18:00.000+07:00

What's your story?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. — Acts 16:31

Every believer has a unique story of encountering Christ. Ann, a receptionist at RBC Ministries, told me that she has kept a journal for much of her life. She treasures the account she recorded about her conversion when she was 15. Here is an excerpt. “[I] went to see Billy Graham. I got saved! I’m very happy . . . . When I got saved I felt warmth in my heart.”

Years ago, in a personal evangelism course I taught, I asked the students to write out their story of how they came to faith in Christ. It struck me how different each journey was. Some were saved out of a life of drugs and immorality. Others were church attenders who came to Christ after years of biblical instruction.

Conversions vary. The apostle Paul had a crisis encounter with the Savior that turned him from a persecutor into a preacher of the gospel (Acts 26).
In contrast, Timothy was quietly nurtured in the Scriptures from early childhood, resulting in his salvation experience (2 Tim. 3:14-15). No two faith journeys are identical. But each has the common element of turning to the Lord Jesus in faith to be saved from sin and to receive a new heart.

Can you retrace the steps that God helped you take in coming to Christ? What’s your story? — Dennis Fisher

We once were held by Satan’s chains,
Imprisoned by our sin;
Then Jesus Christ delivered us
And made us new within. — Sper

READ: Acts 26:9-18

We need more than a new start — we need a new heart!

Daily Bread: Monday, September 14, 2009

2009-09-14T06:20:00.000+07:00

End of construction

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory… — Jude 1:24

Years ago, Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, saw a sign by the road: “End of Construction — Thank you for your patience.” Smiling, she remarked that she wanted those words on her gravestone.

After her death in June 2007, her desire was carried out. Her grave marker bears the Chinese characters for righteousness (Mrs. Graham was born in China), followed by the words that made her smile.

Every follower of Christ can share the confidence that God’s faithfulness will carry us through this period of spiritual building on earth. We echo Jude’s words of praise: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever” (Jude 1:24-25).

Today, we’re in the construction zone. Jude’s letter challenges us to grow in faith, pray in the Spirit, and remain surrounded by God’s love (vv. 20-21). But this construction is not a self-centered process. We are to show mercy to others and rescue those in danger of spiritual ruin (vv. 22-23).

One day our construction will be complete, a prospect that’s worth so much more than a smile. — David McCasland

When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages;
Jesus led me all the way. — Crosby

READ: Jude 1:20-25

To build a godly life, let God be the architect and His Word the blueprint.

Daily Bread: Sunday, September 13, 2009

2009-09-13T09:42:00.000+07:00

A measure of healing

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life.— Psalm 119:50

When I asked a friend how she was doing 4 years after the sudden death of her husband, she said, “I feel I am healing. Tears tend to burn my eyes rather than pour down my face. To me, that is a measure of healing.”

How fitting are those words to describe the changes that happen as the years pass for grievers who have endured an unexpected loss.

Scripture promises comfort in our suffering (2 Cor. 1:3-7), but that help does not come all at once. In fact, from what I have heard, our desired healing may not arrive completely in this life.
This is what others tell me who are further down the road of grief than our family is 6 years after losing our teenager Melissa. In the midst of our pain, we entrust our lives to God’s sovereign direction, but we also realize that gnawing sadness will always reside in our hearts.

Indeed, God has promised that He will wipe away all tears in heaven (Rev. 7:17), but until then the healing will be incomplete. Grief lessens but does not dissipate. The psalmist said that while God’s Word gives life, there is still the combination of “comfort in my affliction” (Ps. 119:50).

Even in life’s toughest circumstances, we can, with God’s help, enjoy a measure of healing. — Dave Branon

I have been through the valley
of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the God of all comfort was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain. — Anon.

READ: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

The God who washed away our sins will also wipe away our tears!

Daily Bread: Saturday, September 12, 2009

2009-09-12T06:00:00.000+07:00

Building a city

They desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. — Hebrews 11:16

For 41 years, New York’s Empire State Building enjoyed the distinction of being the world’s tallest building at 1,250 feet. Since then, others have passed it, including the 1,483-foot Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 1,670-foot Taipei 101 building. The 2,657-foot Burj in Dubai to be completed in late 2009 will surpass those by far.

From ancient times, man has tried to distinguish himself through monuments of all kinds. It is still the dream of many today.

The writer to the Hebrews presents a better way to achieve significance. He noted that heroes of the faith never lost sight of the fact that they “were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). As a result, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (v. 16).

It is a fact of life that every monumental work will likely be surpassed. Even man’s biggest “successes” are fleeting. Our best efforts can bring only temporary honor, which all too soon will be eclipsed by the new and greater achievements of others. But those who invest their efforts in living to please God have a lasting city and an everlasting honor to look forward to God is even now preparing these for them.

Who is building your life? You or God? — C. P. Hia

True greatness does not lie with those
Who strive for worldly fame;
It lies instead with those who choose
To serve in Jesus’ name. — D. De Haan

READ: Hebrew 11:8-16

A solid foundation gives strength to a building and a life.

Daily Bread: Friday, September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T06:18:00.002+07:00

Called

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. — Romans 12:6

In September 2001, Lisa Jefferson had an unexpected opportunity to be used by God. Her now well-known 15-minute conversation with a passenger on United Flight 93 forever changed the direction of her life. In her book Called, she emphasizes that her listening skills and her ability to take charge and stay calm in a crisis were used to encourage fellow believer Todd Beamer in the last moments of his life.

She didn’t ask to be used that way. But God saw a woman who was available and matched her with someone who was in need. Lisa now shares her story with whomever she can to encourage believers to always be ready to serve.

Not only has God given us natural abilities. He also equips every believer with spiritual gifts for the purpose of ministry. God doesn’t use the unwilling — He won’t force us to serve Him. His part is to equip us (Eph. 4:11-13) and empower and prepare us for service. Our part is to be faithful and available and aware of opportunities to use our gifts (Rom. 12:6).

When you feel impelled to help fill a need, when you are inwardly driven to serve — listen to those thoughts. You don’t want to miss God’s call. — Cindy Hess Kasper

In gladness I go forth each day
Expectantly to serve and claim
The happiness that service gives
When freely rendered in God’s name. — Anon.

READ: Romans 12:3-8

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary work.

Daily Bread: Thursday, September 10, 2009

2009-09-10T08:52:00.000+07:00

Hear their cry

You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry. — Exodus 22:22-23

CNN recently reported that there are approximately 40 million widows in India. Fifteen thousand of them live on the streets of the northern city of Vrindavan. Unfortunately, many of their families do not hear their cries. A 70-year-old widow says, “My son tells me: ‘You have grown old. Now who is going to feed you? Go away’” She cries, “What do I do? My pain has no limit.”

When God gave His people instructions in the desert, He told them they had a responsibility to care for widows and fatherless children in the land (Ex. 22:22-23). They were to leave some of the harvest in the field for them, and every third year they took up a special tithe for the needy. God expected His people to hear the cries of the powerless, defend their rights, and care for them.

The Israelites were commanded to care for others as a remembrance of their experience in Egypt. When they were in trouble and cried out to God, He heard their cries and helped them. So their memory of oppression and release was intended to mold their values, attitudes, and actions toward the powerless in the land (Deut. 24:18-22).

Let us imitate our Father by hearing the cries of the needy in our world. — Marvin Williams

To love your neighbor as yourself
Is not an easy task,
But God will show His love through you
If only you will ask. — Sper

READ: Exodus 22:22-24

The closer you are to God, the more you’ll have a heart for others.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, September 9, 2009

2009-09-09T08:24:00.001+07:00

The chimp's birthday card

The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” — Genesis 3:12

Not long ago my wife asked me to pick up a belated birthday card for her brother. Scanning the rack, I ran across a card with a chimpanzee on the front holding a phone receiver in his hand.

This is what it said: “I better not hear . . . about how upset you are that I missed your birthday. I mean, how do you know I wasn’t in a serious car accident and lying in some ditch out in the middle of nowhere? . . . Well, I may have forgotten your birthday, but I didn’t exactly get any phone calls to see if I was okay. All I know is you better have a good excuse why I didn’t hear from you on your birthday!”

The extent to which people avoid legitimate responsibility is almost laughable, but it is nothing new. When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he chose to blame his wife and God: “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Gen. 3:12).

When we have done something wrong, we can either accept legitimate blame for what we have done or shift the blame to others. The way that pleases God and results in spiritual growth is to accept personal responsibility for our actions. Irrationally blaming others is no laughing matter. — Dennis Fisher

His eye our secret thoughts behold,
His mercies all our lives enfold,
He knows our purposes untold,
You cannot hide from God! — Ackley

READ: Genesis 3:1-13

The good test of a person’s character is his behavior when he is wrong.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, September 8, 2009

2009-09-08T08:20:00.000+07:00

Compliments given here

Each one’s praise will come from God. — 1 Corinthians 4:5

Artist Tom Greaves knows how to give compliments. He designed a bright red-and-white-striped box for an art exhibit in Washington, DC, called “The Compliment Machine.” As people walk by, the machine dishes out compliments from an internal iPod. It says things like, “Your eyes are beautiful,” “You smell good,” and “People are drawn to your positive energy.”

Greaves won’t say what his motive is for the box other than it’s in response to a saccharine culture in which everyone is special and nobody is criticized, regardless of performance.

Everybody loves to hear a compliment now and then; that is, if it’s genuine. It makes us feel good about ourselves to have the approval or admiration of others — for a few minutes at least. The apostle Paul, though, looked at what others thought of him or even what he thought of himself as “a very small thing” (1 Cor. 4:3). He said, “He who judges me is the Lord” (v. 4). He knew that one day our hearts will be revealed, and “then each one’s praise will come from God” (v. 5).

Could there be any greater compliment than this from our heavenly Father when we meet Him: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23). — Anne Cetas

What joy ‘twill be to hear Him say,
“Rejoice, My child, well done!
You’ve fought the battles there on earth,
The victor’s crown you’ve won.” — Sherbert

READ: 1 Corinthians 4:1-8

Work well done for Christ will receive a “well done” from Christ.

Daily Bread: Monday, September 7, 2009

2009-09-07T09:01:00.000+07:00

The dangers of success

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes. — Deuteronomy 8:11

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said that he learned to pray in a Siberian concentration camp because he had no other hope. Before his arrest, when things were going well, he seldom gave God a thought.

Similarly, the Israelites learned the habit of depending on God in the Sinai wilderness where they had no choice; they needed His daily intervention just to eat and drink. But when they finally stood on the banks of the Jordan River, they awaited a more difficult test of faith. After they entered the land of plenty, would they soon forget God?

The Israelites knew little about the seductions of other cultures, having spent their lives in the desert. Moses was more afraid of the coming prosperity than the rigors of the desert — the alluring sensuality, the exotic religions, the glittering wealth. The Israelites might put God behind them and credit themselves for their success (Deut. 8:11, 17).

Ironically, success makes it harder to depend on the Lord. The Israelites did prove less faithful after they moved into the Promised Land. Again and again they turned their hearts to other gods.

Beware of the temptation that success brings. There is grave danger in getting what we want. — Philip Yancey

I blindly ask for what I crave
With haughty heart and will so stout;
He oft denies me what I seek,
But gives me grace to do without. — Anon.

READ: Deuteronomy 8:6-18

There is no failure more disastrous than the success that leaves God out.

Daily Bread: Sunday, September 6, 2009

2009-09-06T14:01:00.000+07:00

Do your best and leave the rest

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. — 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Have you at some time found yourself under extreme pressure? Have there been episodes in your life when you were so burdened by tasks and responsibilities that there was simply no breathing space to prepare for your service to God?

That was the experience of a pastor by the name of A. J. Gossip. During one hectic week, he didn’t have his customary amount of time to prepare his sermon. As he walked to his pulpit that Sunday morning, he felt guilty about the scanty sermon notes in his hand. It seemed that the Lord was asking him, “Is this the best you could do for Me this week?” And Gossip honestly replied, “Yes, Lord it is my best.” He told a friend later that Jesus took that ill-prepared piece of work and in His hands “it became a trumpet” to his congregation.

The apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to give their all to God (1 Thess. 5:14-22). They were to exhort warn, comfort, rejoice, pray, and express their gratitude to God — among other things. We too should always do our best in our Christian life and service. But when pressure-periods come and we just don’t have the time we feel we need, we should do the best we can and then prayerfully trust God’s faithfulness (v. 24). — Vernon Grounds

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate every part. — Grose

READ: 1 Thess. 5:14-24

Be faithful — and leave the results to God.

Daily Bread: Saturday, September 5, 2009

2009-09-05T05:44:00.001+07:00

Roots or shoots?

Because they had no root they withered away. — Matthew 13:6

In the life of trees, one key to survival is having more roots than shoots. In his book Oak: The Framework of Civilization, author William Bryant Logan says, “If a tree puts on a lot of top growth and few roots, it is liable to be weak-wooded and short-lived . . . If a tree puts down a great deal of roots and adds shoots more slowly, however, it is liable to be long-lived and more-resistant to stress and strain.”

People and organizations can be like trees. The rise to prominence is exhilarating, but anything that puts up shoots faster than it puts down roots is fragile and in danger of breaking, falling, or dying.

Jesus used a similar analogy in His parable of the sower. People who hear the Word and receive it joyfully are like seed sown on stony places; they spring up quickly but endure only a short time because they have no roots (Matt. 13:6, 20-21).

Roots aren’t at all glamorous, but they are the source of our strength. If our roots go deep in the knowledge of God (Jer. 9:24) and our lives are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3), we’ll be strong, resistant to blight, and more likely to survive the storms of adversity.

How deep are your roots? — Julie Ackerman Link

Lord, keep me from being envious of the beautiful and the seemingly powerful. May I use Your resources to put down roots that will make me strong rather than branches that will make me attractive. Amen.

READ: Matthew 13:6

The roots of stability, come from being grounded in God’s Word and prayer.

Daily Bread: Friday, September 4, 2009

2009-09-04T08:02:00.000+07:00

The sorrow of betrayal

I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.— Matthew 27:4

When I was a boy, my dad observed my spendthrift ways and often said that money burned a hole in my pocket. I suppose it’s not unlike the way those 30 pieces of silver burned a hole in Judas’ heart after he had betrayed Jesus for a little cash. Imagine how he must have felt as he watched his friend Jesus, with hands bound, being led to trial. Judas had seen those hands calm the stormy sea and touch the blind and lame. How often those loving hands had touched his own life!

For Judas, the silver was no longer a reward but rather a reminder of what he had done to Jesus. With every step, the clanging coins sounded a dirge of condemnation, until in despair he admitted, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matt. 27:4).

When we make choices that betray Jesus, eventually our lives become filled with sorrow. Even well-intentioned followers find that their desire to love and serve Him is frequently on a collision course with the lure of cash or other seductions. But the things we have gained at His expense ultimately and inevitably become changing symbols of sorrow and regret.

The next time you have to make a choice about cash — of anything else — remember the clatter of Judas’ condemning coins, and don’t betray your loving Leader. — Joe Stowell

Jesus is all the world to me,
And true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny,
When He’s so true to me?— Thompson

READ: Matthew 27:1-10

When faced with a choice,don’t betray your loving Leader.

Daily Bread: Thursday, September 3, 2009

2009-09-03T07:29:00.000+07:00

Life lab

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!” — Haggai 1:7

Hurricane Andrew struck the US mainland in August 1992. As residents tried to cope with the destruction, scientists turned Florida into a huge laboratory. Teams of researchers descended on the state to measure the storm’s impact on everything from building materials to tropical fish.

Psychologists analyzed the hurricane’s influence on children. Geographers mapped sunken boats. Marine scientists cataloged the damage done to reefs, sea grass, and mangroves. Criminologists studied price-gouging and the breakdown of social order.

The prophets of the Bible did a similar evaluation after spiritual disasters. They documented the personal, social, and environmental effects of turning away from the one true God (Isa. 1:1-9; Hag. 1:2-7).

In behalf of a loving God, Haggai urged his neighbors to give careful attention to what had happened. He noted the priority they were giving to their own comforts and wanted them to observe how dissatisfied and empty they still were.

If God didn’t care, He wouldn’t ask us to consider the time and effort we are spending on diminishing returns. If He didn’t love us, He couldn’t remind us of all that He has given us. God sees what has happened to us and knows how much we need to focus on Him today. — Mart De Haan

I would live for Thee, Lord Jesus,
Keep my eyes so turned toward Thee
That the world and all its system
May attract no part of me. — Graves

READ: Haggai 1:2-7

When Christ is the center of your interests, life will be in focus.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, September 2, 2009

2009-09-02T08:51:00.002+07:00

Pass it on

Keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen . . . . And teach them to your children and your grandchildren. — Deuteronomy 4:9

One day as my wife was babysitting our granddaughter, she shared an old, familiar friend with her. With Eliana in her arms, Sue picked up a well-worn book that we had read to our daughter when she was a little girl. It’s a book called The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, a staple in our effort to share God’s truth with our children.

So now it is Eliana’s turn to begin to learn about God’s creation. His goodness, His plan, and His salvation. It’s time for her to be told about what we have seen and experienced in our walk of faith. As Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “Teach [God’s statutes] to your children and your grandchildren.”

Back in the days of Deuteronomy, the people were being handed a gift from God — “the statutes and the judgments” (v. 1) that would allow them to live properly in the land of God’s promise. Along with those laws came an admonition for the people to share with their progeny the lessons God taught them on the way. They were told not to “forget the things your eyes have seen” (v. 9) and to teach God’s words to their children and grandchildren.

We have a similar legacy to convey to the next generation. As followers of Christ, we take this as one of our greatest responsibilities. Pass it on. — Dave Branon

Begin to train them early
To fear and love the Lord,
To carry on life’s pathway
God’s lamp, His holy Word. — Fennema

READ: Deuteronomy 4:5-10

If children are to find their way to God, we must point the way.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, September 1, 2009

2009-09-01T05:57:00.001+07:00

Titles and responsibilities

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. — John 13:14

Research conducted by a leading compensation technology firm found that among employees planning to leave their companies, a majority felt they were underpaid. Fewer than 20 percent of them, however, were receiving less than the industry standard for their duties.

Bill Coleman, of Salary.com, believes that many unhappy workers are overtitled rather than underpaid. Some companies give employees lofty titles even though their job responsibilities have not increased. In time, employees feel they deserve more money than their actual duties merit. “When it comes to salary,” Coleman says, “it’s what you do, not what you’re called, that counts.”

It’s interesting how Jesus dealt with the issue of titles and responsibilities. During the Last Supper, He performed the task of a lowly servant by washing His disciples’ feet, setting the stage for His astonishing statement about humility: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13-14).

Christ the Lord set the example for all who would follow Him, confirming that it’s not what we’re called, but what we do that counts. — David McCasland

When Jesus took a servant’s towel —
His honor set aside —
He humbly showed us how to serve,
And how to conquer pride. — Sper

READ: John 13:3-16

The more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.

Daily Bread: Monday, August 31, 2009

2009-08-31T08:48:00.000+07:00

Wonderful mystery

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. — Psalm 103:12

The headline in our Grand Rapids Press wasn’t good news. Fifteen million gallons of partially treated waste water suddenly disappeared from a storage lagoon in a water treatment facility. Just outside the small town of Sand Lake, Michigan, a 500-by-500 pond disappeared into a sinkhole. The problem was that nobody knew where the wastewater went. According to a country spokesperson, “It will depend on where it went before we can say what happened.”

As I read the article, I imagined all the wrongs of my life as being like that missing filthy lagoon. In my clearest moments of faith, I can say in all honesty that I really don’t know where they went, but they are gone. The last time I saw the real guilt of my envy, anger, and impatience, they were all nailed to the cross of a Man suffering for wrongs He never committed.

Where did my guilt go? The Bible gives me answers that I can’t really understand: buried in the deepest sea (Mic. 7:19, as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12), erased from the eternal books of heaven’s justice (Col. 2:13-15).

No, all I can really understand is that I owe unending gratefulness, praise, and honor to the One who bore our sin — a mystery of inexpressibly good news. — Mart De Haan

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing. — Lyte

READ: Luke 23:32-43

When God forgives, He removes our sin and restores our soul.

Daily Bread: Sunday, August 30, 2009

2009-08-30T15:46:00.003+07:00

Change of address

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. — Colossians 1:13

If you keep in touch with family and friends through the postal service or e-mail, you probably have received or sent a change of address notice. It goes something like this: “I will no longer be receiving mail at_____. My new address will be____. Thank you for making a note of this change.”

Paul reminded the believers in Colosse that they had “a change of address” and that they should share it with others. They had been moved from one community and “conveyed” or transplanted by the grace of God, into a new community. They had been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and been brought into the kingdom of Jesus (1:13). Their old address was sinner@kingdomofdarkness. But when they became followers of Jesus, their new address became saved@kingdomofHisdearSon.

In Philippians 3:20, Paul declared that all believers are citizens of heaven and should live worthy of their new address. He encouraged the Christians in Colosse to walk in wisdom toward those who were outside the faith so that people could see and hear about the changes (Col. 4:5-6).
If you have had “a change of address,” tell someone about what Jesus has done in you. — Marvin Williams

When we’re reborn — made new in Christ —
It should be plain for all to see
That God has changed us from within
And placed us in His family. — Sper

READ: Colossians 1:9-14

Daily Bread: Saturday, August 29, 2009

2009-08-29T00:56:00.002+07:00

Don't rust out

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. — 1 Timothy 6:11

On June 15, 1957, a brand-new car was buried in a concrete vault under the courthouse lawn in Tulsa. In June 2007, the car was unearthed as the city celebrated Oklahoma’s 100th year of statehood. Writing in the Tulsa World, Randy Krehbiel said: “Now we know what 50 years in a hole does to a Plymouth Belvedere.” Water seeping into the vault had turned the once shiny car into a rusted monument to the past. A hot-rod expert hired to start the engine pronounced it “hopeless.”

Spiritual inactivity corrodes the soul like moisture acting on metal. Paul urged Timothy, his young protégé, to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11).

This command had no expiration date attached to it. The spiritual disciplines require continued attention throughout our lives. If rest becomes our goal, then rust is right behind.

Oswald Chambers said: “The intellect works with the greatest intensity when it works continuously; the more you do, the more you can do. We must work hard to keep in trim for God. Clean off the rust and keep bright by use.”

Our capabilities may vary with age, but pursuing the righteous life to which God has called us should never end. Don’t rust out! — David McCasland

Who measures how we’ve done in life
And judge our success?
Our God, who gives rewards to those
Who live in righteousness. — Branon

READ: 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Spiritual inactivity corrodes the soul.

Daily Bread: Friday, August 28, 2009

2009-08-28T05:33:00.000+07:00

Comfort food

Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. — Romans 15:4

I love the phrase “comfort food.” It speaks of the things that are so good, so familiar, so right, that they can always bring a smile to your face. For me, comfort food usually includes some form of beef and potatoes. Hamburgers and French fries. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy. Also, chocolate in almost any form imaginable. These are the foods that speak to me and say that all is well with the world. (I’m not saying they’re the most healthy!)

Unfortunately, all is not well with the world, and no amount of hamburgers and French fries can make it right. Real comfort is not the byproduct of specific foods any more than it is the result of alcohol or drugs or money or pleasure or power. It is a much deeper need that requires a much deeper solution.

Paul told the church at Rome that the search for comfort can begin in the pages of the Bible. He wrote, “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

God has given us His Word to draw us to Himself. Through a relationship with Him, He provides the comfort we need to live in a broken world! — Bill Crowder

Jesus is all this sad world needs today;
Blindly men strive, for sin darkens the way.
O to draw back the grim curtains of night —
One glimpse of Jesus and all will be bright. — Loes

READ: Romans 15:1-7

God’s Word is a life preserver that keeps the soul from sinking in a sea of trouble.

Daily Bread: Thursday, August 27, 2009

2009-08-27T12:27:00.000+07:00

An audience of One

[Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant. — Philippians 2:7

When I worked as a young journalist for Campus Life magazine, my assistant kept a plaque on her desk with this two-line poem: Only one life, ‘twill soon be past/Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Reading that plaque brought me up short every time. Although I believed its truth, how could I put it into practice? How should my faith in the invisible world affect my day-to-day life in the visible world?

According to Jesus, it’s what God thinks of us that matters, not what others think. Jesus instructed us to pray in a closed room, where no one could see us, rather than in a public place where we might get credit for being spiritual (Matt. 6:6). In other words, live for God and not others.

Do we clamor for attention and achievement? Jesus invites us to let go of that competitive struggle, to trust that God’s opinion of us is the only one that ultimately counts.

How would our lives differ if we truly played to an audience of One?
Certainly our sense of ego and rivalry would fade, because we would no longer need to worry about providing ourselves to others. We could concentrate instead on pleasing God by living in a way that would attract people to Jesus. — Philip Yancey

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee! — Herbert

READ: Matthew 6:1-6

Christ is seen most clearly when we remain in the background.

Daily Bread: Wednesday, August 26, 2009

2009-08-26T09:06:00.001+07:00

The king's colors

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. — John 13:35

In Thailand, the people greatly love and admire King Bhumibol (Rama IX), who has led them for over 60 years. To display their respect for the king, the Thai people wear bright yellow shirts every Monday, because yellow is the official color of the king.

As we seek to live for our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, we should also show our colors of allegiance and appreciation for all He has done for us. But how? What are the “colors” that declare to the world that we serve the King of kings and Lord of lords?

The night before His crucifixion, King Jesus, told us what our “colors” should be when He said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). His disciple John echoed this when he wrote, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

When we display Christ’s love for our fellow believers, it is more than just kindness or care. It is one of the most tangible ways we can show our love and devotion for the Savior.

As we interact with fellow Christ-followers, let’s be sure to show our colors. That will honor the King before a watching world. — Bill Crowder

Teach me to love as Thou dost love,
And let the whole world know
That Jesus Christ lives in my heart,
His glorious light to show. — Brandt

READ: John 13:31-35

Our love for God shows in our love for others.

Daily Bread: Tuesday, August 25, 2009

2009-08-25T09:45:00.000+07:00

Foundation of the heart

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother. — Psalm 131:2

The great cathedrals of Europe are not only breathtaking but intriguing in their architecture. Because their massive ceilings were too heavy for the walls to support, flying buttresses, or external extensions, were built to support the expansive roofs.

Although we are “the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16), I wonder if we are not more like these cathedrals with buttresses of external influences holding us up while we remain weak at the core. Pastors, friends, rules, books, and small groups are helpful to support and bolster our faith. But if we depend too heavily on them, they can actually distract us from developing a healthy heart for God.

Our heart is the place where God meets and relates to us personally. It’s where He allows us to respond to His correction. Spending time in His Word and in prayer opens the door for Him to interact with us at the deepest levels of our need and gives Him opportunities to comfort and convict. As we open our hearts to Him, He fans the flame of an intimate, life-changing relationship.

Authentic Christianity is the inside-out expression of this dynamic relationship with Jesus that provides the strength to live for His glory — regardless of what is happening on the outside! — Joe Stowell

Speak, O blessed Master,
In this quiet hour;
Let me see Thy face, Lord,
Feel Thy touch of power. — Grimes

READ: Psalm 131

When you open your heart to the Savior, He opens your mind to His Word.