God said, . . . and it was so. – Genesis 1:9
The words are repeated several times in Genesis 1, the story of creation: "And it was so."
Whatever God said – it happened. "Let there be light . . . Let there be a firmament . . . Let the earth bring forth grass . . . " Then, each time, the words: "And it was so." God spoke the words, and it became a reality.
As I read about this beginning of our world and the power of God, I started to think about some other things God and His Son Jesus have said – things we can count on.
When Jesus was talking about His followers, He said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). If we have put our trust in Him, we can be assured that we have eternal life right now and will live with Him forever.
The writer to the Hebrews said, "Be content with such things as you have. For [God] Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ " (Heb. 13:5). We can be sure that our needs will be met and that we won’t be left alone.
One of Jesus’ most comforting promises is "I will come again and receive you to Myself" (John 14:3). He said it; we can believe it and wait confidently for that day.
Count on God’s word. It will be so. – Anne Cetas
No matter what may come to pass,
God’s precious Word still stands,
This universe is held intact
Within His mighty hands. – Williams
READ: Genesis 1:1-13
God said it, I believe it. That settles it.
The Bible in one year:
• Exodus 12-13
• Matthew 16
When one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? – 1 Corinthians 3:4-8
Over the years of working with Sports Spectrum magazine, I’ve heard many stories about athletes and the help they receive from spiritual mentors. That relationship is usually helpful, but occasionally it seems that the athlete is not guided toward the true source of divine power.
I interview many athletes who illustrate this point. When I say, "Tell me about your faith," they reply, "Our chaplain really helps us. We know that we can go to him with anything. He is always there for us. We really believe in the chaplain."
I’m glad that the chaplain is there for them, but I’m sad that the name of Jesus is seldom mentioned. It seems that their focus is on the human helper and that their true source of power, Jesus, is being ignored.
We must remember not to let our devotion to a leader replace our devotion to Christ. Paul reminded us that "neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase" (1 Cor. 3:7). Too often, we put our focus on the leader and not on the One the leader is following.
Are you a leader? Teach people to follow the Savior, not you the servant. Are you a follower? Follow only those who point toward Jesus – not themselves. – Dave Branon
They truly lead who lead by love
And humbly serve the Lord;
Their lives will bear the Spirit’s fruit
And magnify His Word. – D. De Haan
READ: 1 Corinthians 3:4-8
Looking for a leader? Follow the Lord.
The Bible in one year:
• Exodus 7-8
• Matthew 15:1-20
A man is not justified by the works of the law. – Galatians 2:16
One thing you have to say about the apostle Paul – he was not a man to mince words. It didn’t matter who it was – a judge, a ruler, or his fellow apostle Peter – Paul said what had to be said. In Galatians 2:16, he made the same point three times: No one is justified by the works of the law.
The law was a critical issue in the early church because many of the converts were Jews. Although they believed in Jesus, some of them just would not let go of their legalistic ways. I imagine hearing them say, "A person can’t be saved unless he is circumcised and refuses to eat meat offered to idols. And no Jewish believer should ever eat with Gentiles." But Paul told them in no uncertain terms that they were wrong. Being made right with God comes by faith, not by any requirements a church or individual adds.
As the author of confusion, Satan finds all kinds of ways to corrupt the gospel by giving us the impression that faith is not enough. He plays into our desire to be in control and to do something to save ourselves – adding anything from tithing to perfect church attendance to clothing styles to entertainment choices. Each of these is important to the believer, but none is essential to salvation.
The point is: Salvation is by faith. – Dave Egner
Lord, I know that salvation is by faith because of Your grace. Help me not to require anything else from myself or others, so that I cannot boast in my goodness – but only in Yours. Amen.
READ: Galatians 2:11-21
Justification: Our guilt gone; Christ’s goodness given.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 43-45
• Matthew 12:24-50
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. – Luke 19:10
Zacchaeus was easy to dislike. As a tax collector for an oppressive occupying government, he made himself rich by overcharging his countrymen. Yet, to the consternation of the crowd, Jesus honored him by going to his house and eating with him.
A judge with a reputation for toughness tells how he learned to relate to unlovable people. In a Sunday morning homily his clergyman urged the congregation to try to look at people through the eyes of Jesus.
A few days later the judge was about to give a stiff sentence to an arrogant young man who kept getting in trouble. But then he remembered what the minister had suggested. The judge said, "I looked this young man in the eye and told him I thought he was a bright and talented human being. And then I said to him, ‘Lets talk together about how we can get you living in more creative and constructive ways.’ We had a surprisingly good conversation."
Jesus saw Zacchaeus as a sinner with an empty hole that only He could fill, and through His kindness Zacchaeus was transformed. The judge could not report any such change, but who knows the long-term outcome? He set a good example for all of us, because he saw the man through the eyes of Jesus. – Herb Vander Lugt
We need to see through Jesus’ eyes
Our neighbors who are lost;
For then we will reach out to them,
Regardless of the cost. – Sper
READ: Luke 19:1-10
True compassion will put love into action.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 41-42
• Matthew 12:1-23
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. – Exodus 23:2
In the decades after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the US national holiday established to commemorate his birth has also become a day to remember the cause in which he gave his life.
In the ’50s and ’60s, Dr. King led a nonviolent struggle against racial discrimination and issued a plea for the civil rights of African-Americans. His goal was justice and equality based on human dignity, not skin color.
From Old Testament days until now, God has commanded His people to exercise justice in their dealings with others. "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice" (Ex. 23:2).
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Mic. 6:8).
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for doing their religious duties while neglecting "justice and the love of God" (Luke 11:42).
To treat people with fairness and integrity is part of our responsibility as Christians. Standing publicly for what is right is required of us as well.
May we honor God by living out truth in action in our world today.
– David McCasland
Justice is the clarion call for Christians –
We cannot step aside from what God said;
He has told us how to treat our neighbor,
And we must follow in the path He’s led.
– Hess
READ: Exodus 23:1-9
God’s standard of justice leaves no room for prejudice.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 39-40
• Matthew 11
Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. – Ephesians 4:26
A little boy got into a fight with his brother and the whole experience left him feeling bitter. When his brother wanted to make things right, he refused to listen. In fact, he would not speak to his brother all day.
Bedtime came, and their mother said to the boy, "Don’t you think you should forgive your brother before you go to sleep? Remember, the Bible says, ‘Do not let the sun go down on your wrath’ " (Eph. 4:26). The boy looked perplexed. He thought for a few moments and then blurted out, "But how can I keep the sun from going down?"
He reminds me of some Christians. They’re angry at certain people and hold grudges. When they are confronted with their unforgiving attitude and urged to make things right, they sidestep the issue and refuse to heed the clear instruction of Scripture. True, we cannot change another person’s heart, but we are responsible for our own attitude. The Bible says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32).
No, we can’t keep the sun from going down. But we can keep it from setting on our anger. And that means we must forgive. – Richard De Haan
Anger, malice, and ill will
Can leave a stain of sorrow;
Ask forgiveness by His grace
Before it is tomorrow? – Bosch
READ: Psalm 4:1-5
For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. – Galatians 6:1
Contrary to common belief, the ostrich does not bury its head in the sand to ignore danger. An ostrich can ran at a speed of 45 miles per hour, kick powerfully, and peck aggressively with its beak. As the largest and fastest bird in the world, it doesn’t need to bury its head.
"Burying your head in the sand" is a saying that describes someone who wants to ignore his shortcomings or those of others. The prophet Nathan did not allow King David to forget his sins of adultery and murder (2 Cam. 12:1-14). It took a brave man to confront a king about his errors. Yet Nathan was obedient to God and wise in his approach.
The apostle Paul urged the early church to confront sin. He said, "If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Gal. 6:1). We are to confront our brothers and sisters in Christ about their sin with the view of restoring them to fellowship with God. We must also recognize that we are not immune to the same temptations.
We shouldn’t go looking for sin in the lives of other believers, of course. But neither should we bury our head in the sand when it needs to be confronted. – Albert Lee
Father, help me live today
With thoughtfulness in what I say,
Confronting wrong with truth and fact,
Expressing gentleness and tact. – Hess
READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-14
Slander seeks to destroy; rebuke seeks to restore.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 23-24
• Matthew 7
[Jesus said,] "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." – John 10:28
Late one afternoon I stood at the stern of a ferry boat churning its way from New York City across the Hudson River to New Jersey. As the towering structures of Manhattan receded from sight, my mind suddenly recalled these words from a poem: "These all shall perish stone on stone, but not Thy kingdom nor Thy throne."
A few years later the devastating terrorist attack on the World Trade Center left an ugly gap in that soaring skyline. Everything in the world around us is subject to decline. Beautiful flowers wither and die. Even California’s towering sequioas, hardy survivors for long centuries, are gradually being eaten away by the gnawing tooth of time.
As for our bodies, we grow older daily and lose the vitality of our younger years. God alone possesses immortality in Himself, which means that He abides forever (1 Tim. 6:16). The simple truth must be faced that nothing is permanent – only God is everlasting.
Yet by faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive life that will never end. He promised us, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand . . . and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand" (John 10:28-29). – Vernon Grounds
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious – Thy great name we praise. – Smith
READ: 1 Timothy 6:13-16
To give your life to Christ now is to keep it forever.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 20-22
• Matthew 6:19-34
Being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes. – Luke 16:23
Last time I checked, nobody likes having problems – problems with money, problems with cars, problems with computers, problems with people, problems with health. We would all prefer a life with as few difficulties as possible.
So, if you were to offer people the choice between (1) a future totally free of problems, sorrow, tears, and pain, and (2) a future full of pain, suffering, regret, and anguish – they would choose option one, right?
Jesus died on the cross to give us opportunity to experience that option. If we repent of our sins and trust Him as our Savior. He has promised us a life of fellowship with God in a place the Bible calls heaven. A place with no problems. A place where there are no more tears.
People living in a problem-filled world ought to be standing in line to grab that offer. Unfortunately, many haven’t heard the good news; others have refused to trust Christ. When people die without Jesus, it’s too late to take the offer, and they go to a place of torment the Bible calls hell.
Do you hate trouble and pain? Turn to Jesus and accept His offer of forgiveness. Your problems in this world won’t disappear, but you’ll reserve a home in heaven – a place of eternal joy and peace with God. – Dave Branon
Jesus is calling, "Today you must choose!"
If you delay, you surely will lose;
Listening now, you can hear the Lord’s voice,
Take His salvation – make heaven your choice! – Hess
READ: Luke 16:19-31
You must accept God’s Son today if you want to live in heaven’s sunshine tomorrow.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 13-15
• Matthew 5:1-26
Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. – James 1:6
Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) was gifted with a brilliant mind. He learned to read at age 3, could translate Greek at 12, and enrolled in Brown University when he was 16. While there he was befriended by Jacob Eames, a man who rejected the miracles of the Bible. When Judson graduated as valedictorian in 1807, he had been so influenced by Eames that he denied his Christian faith.
One night, when Judson was staying at a village inn, he was disturbed by a man moaning in the next room. The following morning he asked the innkeeper about the ailing man. He was told that the man had died and that his name was Jacob Eames.
The startling coincidence of being near his friend at the point of his death stunned Judson. He felt compelled to search his own soul and to seek God’s pardon for denying his faith. From that point on, he began to live for the Lord. God led him to pioneer missionary work in Burma. At the end of his life, Adoniram could look back on a ministry that had planted dozens of churches and influenced thousands to become believers.
What kind of influence are we having on others? Do our lives encourage faith in the Savior, or do we cause others to doubt? – Dennis Fisher
We cannot live our lives alone,
For other lives we touch
Are either strengthened by our own
Or weakened just as much. – Anon.
READ: James 1-1-8
Your life either sheds light or casts a shadow.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 10-12
• Matthew 4
Those who gladly received his word were baptized . . . . They continued daily in the apostles’ doctrine. – Acts 2:41-42
Someone has said that a committed Christian undergoes three conversions: "First to Christ, then to the church, and then back to the world."
We see an example in Acts 2 and 8. With their baptism, 3,000 people declared their conversion to Christ (2:4). Then they demonstrated their conversion to the church by devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and fellowshiping with other believers. "Having favor with all the people" (2:47) suggests they were also helping others. Later, when persecution scattered them, they "went everywhere preaching the word" (8:4). This was their conversion back to the world.
Conversion is first of all a commitment to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This brings salvation. But once we know Jesus as our Savior, it is only natural to want to join a fellowship of others who share the same faith. "Lone-ranger" Christians – people who don’t want to get involved – tend either to slip back into their old ways or become smug and self-righteous.
Although fellowshiping with other believers is vital, there is more to our responsibility. We need to return to the world with compassion, loving deeds, kind words, and warm smiles. It takes only one conversion to be saved but all three to be what God wants us to be. – Herb Vander Lugt
Once we receive God’s saving grace
New life in Christ has just begun;
Then as we study, serve, and pray,
We’ll seek that others may be won. – D. De Haan
READ: Acts 2:38-47
The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment;
the growth of a saint is the task of a lifetime.
The Bible in one year:
• Genesis 7-9
• Matthew 3
Even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. – 2 Corinthians 3:10
In some ways the Mosaic law is to the Christian what a crutch is to an athlete. It is good when needed and used properly. But a crutch cannot be employed to win a 100-yard dash, nor can leaning on a system of legal statements ever bring us spiritual victory.
Paul emphasized the diminishing splendor of the Old Testament law by comparing it to the surpassing glory of life and liberty in the Spirit. Referring to Moses’ shining face after he had been given the Ten Commandments, the apostle likened the fading brightness of his countenance to the temporary and incomplete nature of the Sinai disclosures he had received. The people of Israel would soon discover that God’s message from the mount was also the standard by which they would be condemned.
Where the Holy Spirit reigns, however, there is abundant grace, and its splendor far exceeds that of the law. Imagine lighting a match in a completely dark place. The sudden burst of flame provides an impressive display of light. But if you struck a match in the presence of the noonday sun, its flickering rays would seem insignificant.
The commandments were demanding and ultimately they condemned; but life in the Spirit brings the experience of God’s transforming power into our heart. – Mat De Haan
The law in itself is pure and good
And shows to us which way is right,
But grace has a glory that excels,
Flooding our path with Christ’s true light. – Bosch
READ: 2 Corinthians 3:5-18
The diminishing splendor of the law is no match for the glory of God’s grace.
We have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love. – 1 John 4:16
I’ve heard it said that there are three things a person needs to be happy:
1. Something to do – meaningful work or helping others.
2. Someone to love – someone to whom we can give of ourselves, such as a spouse, a child, or a friend.
3., Something to look forward to – a vacation, a visit from a loved one, improved health, the realization of dream.
Those things may bring some temporary happiness. But for lasting fulfillment, they can all be found in a relationship with Jesus, God’s Son.
Something to do. As believers, we have been given gifts from the Holy Spirit to serve our Savior by serving others in God’s family (Romans 12:1-16). We are also called to spread the gospel around the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
Someone to love. We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And we love others, "for love is of God" (v. 7).
Something to look forward to. One day we’ll be welcomed into God’s presence forever, where we will enjoy a perfect place prepared especially for us (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:3-4). We’ll see Jesus and be like Him (1 John 3:2).
For lasting fulfillment, Jesus Christ truly is everything we need. – Anne Cetas
Please help me, Lord, in everything I do
That all my work may show my love for You;
And as I talk with others on the way,
I’ll tell them that You may come back today. – Hess
READ: 1 John 4:7-21
Where there’s hope, there’s happiness.
The Bible in one year:
• Zechariah 9-12
• Revelation 20
The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6
Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what’s there. Here are seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible.
1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you’ll neglect it.
2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.
3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.
4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.
5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.
6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
7. Don’t get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there’s enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionize your life if you apply it.
Now read today’s verses again with these principles in mind. Then try it again tomorrow. You will begin to discover the treasures in the Bible. – Haddon Robinson
When reading God’s Word, take special care
To find the rich treasures hidden there;
Give thought to each line, each precept clear,
Then practice it well with godly fear. – Anon.
READ: Proverbs 2:1-9
The Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.
The Bible in one year:
• Zechariah 5-8
• Revelation 19
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. – Romans 12:1
In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul applied the truths of what he had already written to the followers of Jesus in Rome. He said, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice." He also urged us to keep our bodies from sinning and to avoid the world’s corruption by renewing our minds (v. 2).
We are often told to give our hearts or our lives to Christ. So why did Paul call attention to our bodies?
If we are to carry out God’s will, it will be with our bodies. Every pastor has members who say, "I won’t be in the service next Sunday; we’ll be up at the lake. But I’ll be there in spirit." Unfortunately, the "spirit" will contribute nothing to the atmosphere of praise and worship.
We also offer God our bodies as a response to His love. The body is a gift worthy of God.
Consider the value of the human hand. The brilliant surgeon Dr. Paul Brand, in describing operations performed on the hand, said, "I don’t know of a single operation anyone has devised that has succeeded in improving a normal hand. It’s beautiful."
This Christmas, give God something beautiful. Offer Him not just your heart, but your hands, body, spirit, mind – your entire being! – Haddon Robinson
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wiseman, I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart. – Rosetti
READ: Romans 12:1-8
Jesus gave us all He had;
we must give Him all we have.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7
For nearly 50 years, Ann Landers dispensed advice in a daily column carried by more than 1,200 newspapers worldwide. When she died on June 22, 2002, her daughter Margo Howard wrote a farewell column. She asked the editors to leave a blank space for the last part of the column as a memorial to her mom.
The idea came from a column written years earlier when Ann and her husband divorced after a long marriage. Ann had requested the editors to leave white space at the bottom as a memorial to a once-good marriage "that didn’t make it to the finish line."
When somebody writes your last column, how much "blank space" will it include? When you come to life’s end, will there be important things left undone? Will that white space bear silent testimony to goals, you never reached, good habits (like consistent Bible reading) you never formed, help you never gave, kind things you thought about doing but never did? Will a sizable empty space say that you intended to develop a deeper relationship with God, but that a close intimacy remained an unfulfilled ideal? Or will others be able to say of you that you "finished the race, [and] kept the faith"? (2 Timothy 4:7).
Let’s make sure our white space is small! – Vernon Grounds
Only the truth that in life we have spoken,
Only the seed that on earth we have sown;
These shall pass onward when we are forgotten,
Fruits of the harvest and what we have done. – Bonar
READ: 2 Timothy 4:6-8
To get the most out of life, make every moment count for Christ.
The Bible in one year:
• Micah 4-5
• Revelation 12
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle. – Romans 1:1
Spartacus is not just a film legend but a historical figure. Historians say that he was likely a Roman soldier who deserted, was recaptured, and then sold into slavery as a gladiator.
While at the gladiatorial school at Capua, Spartacus led a rebellion. This act of defiance attracted massive numbers of slaves, growing to an estimated 70,000. Initially, Spartacus’ slave army enjoyed spectacular victories. But they were eventually defeated, and the captured rebels were crucified along the road to Rome.
What a contrast to Spartacus is the apostle Paul. Saul of Tarsus (as Paul was also known) was born a free man and yet was destined to become a slave. Acts 9 records the fateful day when Saul came face to face with the Savior he sought to oppose. From that time on, he served Jesus wholeheartedly.
Spartacus was forced to serve a Roman taskmaster. But Paul, in response to God’s grace, voluntarily became a slave to Jesus Christ.
In the believer’s heart rages a spiritual war between sin and righteousness. We can obey the slave-master of sin, or we can say yes to the God of grace who has made us free (Romans 6:16; John 8:34). Our greatest liberty lies in serving the One who created and redeemed us. – Dennis Fisher
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: Acts 9:1-9, 17-18
True freedom is found in serving Christ.
The Bible in one year:
• Micah 1-3
• Revelation 11
Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor. – 1 Timothy 6:1
As a schoolteacher, my wife has noticed that behavior seems to be deteriorating with each successive class of students. Many children show little respect for older people.
First Timothy 6 reveals that disrespect is not unique to our generation. Paul, who ministered to a culture built on slavery, highlighted this concern. He wrote, "Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren" (v. 2). Paul knew that slaves, whose welfare depended on their master’s goodwill, were capable of being disrespectful.
We may say that people need to show themselves worthy of respect before we can respect them. But respecting another person is much more about who we are than about who the other person is.
Paul gave the main reason believers should excel in respect: "So that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed" (v. 1).
Sadly, the worst cases of disrespect are sometimes found among those who claim to follow Jesus. But when believers excel in all they do, God’s name is lifted up. All of us are to bring honor and glory to the Lord’s name.
Excelling in respect for others honors God. – Albert Lee
O help me, Lord, to show respect,
To always honor You;
And may I bring You highest praise
In everything I do. – Sper
READ: 1 Timothy 6:1-6
One who would be truly respected must first respect others.
Bethlehem Ephrathah,… out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel. – Micah 5:2
During a visit to England’s picturesque Stratford-upon-Avon, I was struck by how a town’s identity and future can be affected just because someone was born there. Every year, half a million people come to visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare, whom some consider the most influential playwright in the English language.
And what about Bethlehem? With the birth of Jesus, Micah’s prophecy of significance was fulfilled: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). Bethlehem is defined by Jesus’ birth.
Isn’t the same true for us? When Christ comes to live in us, we are changed. No longer just ordinary human beings, we become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Our identity and destiny are marked by Him, just as surely as a town becomes known for the significant person who was born there.
Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the presence of Christ in us, and the change He brings to all who invite Him in. – David McCasland
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray,
Cast out our sin and enter in –
Be born in us today. – Brooks
READ: Micah 5:1-5
God came to live with us so we could live with Him.
The Bible in one year:
• Obadiah
• Revelation 9
He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. – Psalm 91:11
Feeling secure is a high priority in this unsafe, volatile world. A private investigation agency in Florida promises to "work diligently to restore the sense of security and safety that you and your family deserve."
The psalmist found a "secret place," where he felt safe (Psalm 91:1). And we can rest secure in that same place. He described it with these phrases.
Under the shadow of the Almighty (v. 1). Shadows provide protection from the direct heat of the sun. If the heat is severe, the shade reduces what we actually feel. When we’re under God’s shadow, we do not face the full heat of our difficulties.
A refuge and a fortress (v. 2). God is the strongest protector we could ever have, and we can run to Him for help. Nothing can penetrate Him to get us unless it’s part of His loving plan for our ultimate good.
Under His wings (v. 4). God is soft and tender like a caring mother bird. When troubles rage, He draws us close. We don’t need to fear that He will cast us out – we are His.
A dwelling place (v. 9). Our Father will be our home, our abiding place – now and forever.
True security can be found only in our Lord, who promises to save us and be near us (vv. 15-16). – Anne Cetas
Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the Spirit there. – Havergal
READ: Psalm 91
Not one is more secure than those who are in God’s hands.
The Bible in one year:
• Joel
• Revelation 5
