Living Life to Its Fullest, One Day at a Time

Posted by Lilia Potters

Looking back over the past two years and all the losses, changes, and restrictions that came due to the Covid-19 pandemic left me wondering what I can realistically expect and wish for in the New Year! After all, my hopes that in 2021 the world—and my world—would get back to some kind of normal did not exactly happen. In fact, this past year brought a whole new set of challenges, both in my personal life and in my work life. Is it even worth it to make resolutions with all the uncertainties we face these days? I thought.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, came the verse, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34 NKJV). And with that I realized that the only resolution I need to make is to live life to its fullest today—one day at a time!

That means living in the moment, which includes letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living my life consciously, deliberately, aware that each moment I breathe is a gift.

It also means making every day count, and that the time I’ve been given shouldn’t be wasted. I should strive to make my waking moments meaningful and worthwhile. It reminds me that I only have so much time on this earth. So why not do everything I can to make the most of it?!

It means strengthening the relationships with the people in my life, too. Over the past two years I’ve been isolated from family, friends, and colleagues. This has taken a toll on our relationships, and many of them have become unfulfilling because they lack strength; and they lack strength because they lack real depth. I can strengthen the relationships in my life by communicating more, by talking about things that matter, by being vulnerable and honest, and by being there for others.

And last, but certainly not least, it means not running on empty spiritually. Living in God’s presence and taking time to be still, to rest, and to fill my heart and mind with positive and faith-building thoughts will give me the strength for each day, no matter what it brings.

I do not know what the future holds for me and the rest of the world, but I do know the One who holds the future and who promised that as my days, so shall my strength be. He came that I may have life, and have it to the full (Deuteronomy 33:25; John 10:10).

DECEMBER 31, 2021

Making the New Year “New”

By Tom Holladay

4 New Year’s Resolutions You Should Consider

December 29, 2021

By Kenny Luck

It’s inevitable and universal, as soon as Christmas winds down and December 31 appears on our phones, we all face a new year with new opportunities. Many are resolving to lose weight or gain greater income or set some other goal, typically requiring willpower and time management skills—both of which often fade within a few weeks.

If God were writing our resolutions, what do you think He would come up with?

I think God wants us to make “time for a change.”

Throughout the Bible, we see that God is a God of change. He’s the ultimate game-changer, a change-agent that changes things, people, hearts, and minds.

But it requires a slight, but powerful, paradigm shift of the rudders steering our energies and expressions. We’re all given the same amount of time, and as hard as we try, our calendars often have more control over our schedules and lives than we realize. We get caught trying to do more within our allotted days, leading us to fatigue and frustration when we can’t check off the items on our list.

God doesn’t have the same time management problem we do. He’s “omni-everything.” He is The Great I Am, who was and is and is to come. He’s the Alpha and Omega. What really matters if we look through His lens, which is not restricted to a clock? How should we use our time in His mind? What does God consider effective use of our time?

From His vantage point, life is more of a question about priority and perspective, not time—a life of meaning, not efficiency.

The Bible says our lifespan is like a “vapor” that vanishes quickly.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.—James 4:13–14

After reading that, you can feel that God is way more concerned about meaning rather than urgency or efficiency. He wants us to do the meaningful things now, because we may not have time tomorrow.

Instead of making a list of resolutions and trying to cram more into your day, consider making just one. Make time for a change. Here are a few suggestions:

Look for Jesus’ Interruptions. Be like Mary, who stopped everything to sit at Jesus’ feet to be with Him, instead of Martha, who got caught in the busy trap (Luke 10:38–42). In fact, Jesus gave us in verse 42 the only resolution necessary, and Mary chose wisely. Being with Jesus changes your perspective on life, but you have to recognize His interruptions and respond, instead of carrying on with your busy life.

Make time with Jesus daily, and you will benefit all other areas of your life.

Look for Opportunities to Love Others.I think we often lose touch with opportunities to love others while scurrying to scratch off our to-do list. Being busy is not a badge of honor. We all know where the time goes, we just don’t like the answer. Looking back, what were the most significant moments of your life? Were they planned and executed? Perhaps a few. But the moments of true meaning are when we stopped the world to attend to a relationship.

Be available for loved ones going through crisis, large or small, to create moments of meaning.

Look for What is Unseen. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, it says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” What does that mean? Be aware of God’s eternal plan and adjust your temporary plans to accommodate. The Living Bible translation of Proverbs 19:21 says that “Man proposes, but God disposes,” referring to our plans versus His.

Make time for a change in your vision and look to accomplish eternal purposes.

Look to Create Rich Relationships.I think we all could use a little reframing on this one. We spend so much effort earning money, instead of investing in relationships with those right in front of us—our kids, spouse, family, neighbors, and friends. I doubt your accountant will give your eulogy. There are no U-hauls in heaven. Relationships are eternal. Since relationships require communication, take time to learn to ask better questions and listen. The old saying is true, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

It takes wisdom to make time for a change and adjust your calendar to do what is really important. This year, when you look at your calendar, what will really shape your life?

https://www.christianpost.com/news/4-new-years-resolutions-you-should-consider-131929/

Our Constant Amidst Life’s Changes

December 28, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 9:29
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Day is continually turning to night, spring to summer, summer to autumn, autumn to winter, winter to spring; no two days are ever exactly alike. Some are foggy, rainy, some dry or windy; and this endless variety greatly enhances the beauty of the universe. And even so precisely is it with man (who, as ancient writers have said, is a miniature of the world), for he is never long in any one condition, and his life on earth flows by like the mighty waters, heaving and tossing with an endless variety of motion; one while raising him on high with hope, another plunging him low in fear; now turning him to the right with rejoicing, then driving him to the left with sorrows; and no single day, no, not even one hour, is entirely the same as any other of his life.

All this is a very weighty warning, and teaches us to aim at an abiding and unchangeable evenness of mind amid so great an uncertainty of events; and, while all around is changing, we must seek to remain immovable, ever looking to, reaching after, and desiring our God.

“Whether we live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s. Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?”¹ Nay, verily, nothing can ever separate us from that Love—neither tribulation nor distress, neither death nor life, neither present suffering nor fear of ills to come; neither the deceits of evil spirits nor the heights of satisfaction, nor the depths of sorrow; neither tenderness nor desolation, shall be able to separate us from that Holy Love, whose foundation is in Christ Jesus. Such a fixed resolution never to forsake God, or let go of His Precious Love, serves as ballast to our souls, and will keep them steadfast amid the endless changes and chances of this, our natural life.—St. Francis of Sales²

My child, I am the Lord who does not change. People and circumstances in your life continually change, creating undercurrents of anxiety. When anxiety threatens to overwhelm you, come to Me and praise Me that I am holding you ever so tightly. When the waves of life roll around you, cling to Me as the One who never changes. I am Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Praise Me continually, especially during tumultuous times. When you … praise Me, I will strengthen your confidence in Me as your rock. I am your refuge and strength, a continual help, even during seasons of transition. I am your security. My presence goes with you through every changing season. Do not fear tomorrow; I am already there. I lovingly call you to new adventures. Change in your life doesn’t happen by chance. [When you are yielded to Me and obedient to My Word], nothing can thwart My plans for you, plans for good and not evil. In the midst of this changing world, I am constant and never change.—Jesus³

The day dawned fine as I set out to walk up the Great Orme, a limestone headland on the north coast of Wales. I walked along cheerfully in glorious sunshine, map in hand. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The road upon which I walked led me around the edge of the headland. The gentle sea breeze was invigorating at first, but soon a wind blew up over the sea and storm clouds gathered overhead. In minutes my coat was becoming heavy with rain. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

A little less cheerful now but hopeful that the weather would improve, I continued my walk. Optimism was rewarded; the sun came out, and soon I was carrying my coat over my arm, basking once more in warm sunshine. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The map directed me off the road and onto a narrow track that wended through fields and bushes. I made my way up stony stretches, my legs beginning to ache as the climb grew steeper. Sheep grazed on stubbly grass. Seagulls gathered on the rocks below before soaring high on gentle updrafts. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The time passed pleasantly until at last I reached the summit. The view was magnificent—the mountains of Wales to one side, the open sea to the other. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

My return route was by a different path. Despite studying the map, after some time I was dismayed to realize that I was going around in circles rather than descending. I was also getting weary and starting to worry whether I was going to make it back to my hotel before the sun set. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

I crossed paths with an experienced walker—a local man out with his dogs. He showed me a short, direct route. I was still tired, but invigorated by the expectation of arriving back before dark. The Great Orme stood firm, unchanged.

The highs and lows of the walk of faith are much like my day on the Great Orme. Our faith may reach high ground or descend into valleys, and sometimes we are buffeted by the storms of life or wearied by the journey, but no matter how we feel, God’s Word, the foundation upon which our faith is built, stands firm, unchanged.—Marge Banks

The immutability of God—or His unchangeableness or constancy—is part of His divine nature. It means that God doesn’t change in His Being, His perfections, His purposes, and promises. He doesn’t change in His nature or character.

The universe and all that is in it changes. There is transition, movement from one state to the next. People, for example, age; and as they do, they change. They grow or diminish in size, as well as intellectually and emotionally. Someone can also change morally. Someone can study and practice a skill and in the course of doing so learn and eventually become proficient in what they have studied. These are all examples of change, which is part of life within creation.

However, God transcends creation. He doesn’t change. If He did, He wouldn’t be God.

All of creation is “becoming”—it’s becoming something different than what it presently is. God, in contrast to this, is “being.” He is. Always. He doesn’t change.—Peter Amsterdam

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.—Luke 21:33

Published on Anchor December 2021. Read by Jerry Paladino.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ Romans 14:8; Romans 8:35.

² St. Francis of Sales (1567–1622), Introduction to the Devout Life.

³ Becky Harling, The 30-Day Praise Challenge (David C. Cook, 2013). For scriptures referenced in this passage, see Hebrews 13:8,15; Psalm 46:1,7; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 29:11.

The Book of Your Life

December 27, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 10:40

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“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”—2 Corinthians 3:18¹

When I designed the book of your life, I didn’t make it a hardbound stitched masterpiece. I made it more like a ring binder, with pieces that could be added and taken out. I made it so that you could freely choose to add an extra page or addition, or a whole new section if necessary.

If you keep your book open to Me and let Me leaf through it and make adjustments, I can continue to work to transform your life to fulfill My purpose for you. You might feel that you like your pages the way they are, and you’re comfortable with the layout and the thickness of your binder. Or you might wonder if your binder’s ring spine might be a bit rusty for My adjustments. But if you trust Me to work in your life, I can help you to make the adjustments that you need.

I didn’t make you a hardbound book, so that I’d have to tear out pages and staple others in for your life to fulfill My plan for you. I made it so that, if you say yes to Me, I can add to your book in appropriate places for you to be what I’m calling you to be for today and for where you are now in your life’s journey.

Be flexible, be willing to expand and adapt to new circumstances and times of change that I bring into your life, ready to fill the need, able to accommodate, and willing to try new things or methods. Where I guide‚ I also provide and equip you to meet My call and to rise to meet new challenges. Have faith, and trust in Me to come through for you.

Your life may have had a certain shape for so long that you don’t see how you could adapt to anything else. But as you experience different stages of your life, it takes on different contours—a different shape to meet the needs and challenges of a new day.

I love transforming your life from one degree of glory to another.² In fact, history has proven that that’s My specialty. You’re never past learning. Trust Me that you can learn and grow in any area that you need to. You can change and expand your horizons as needed. You can continue to be transformed to grow into the fullness of My image as you continue to look into the mirror of My glory.

As you pray specifically for whatever changes you need to make, I will guide you to do what is needed to bring them about. Continue to study My Word and strive to implement it and practice it in your life. Continue to grow in living My Word and trust that My Spirit will guide you into all truth.³ As your personal tutor, I will not only help you to learn, but I will provide you with learning skills that you need to grow and make needed changes in your life.

Accepting that you are weak in yourself but can be made strong in Me is like accepting an invitation to the most complete resource center, where you can find everything you need to help you in your life mission. As you accept that you are weak in yourself and that you need Me and My wisdom and My power, you discover that My grace is sufficient for you and that My power is perfected in your weakness.⁴

Fresh trails

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.”—Psalm 32:8⁵

Come to Me when you are hurting, and I will soothe your pain. Come to Me when you are joyful, and I will share your Joy, multiplying it many times over. I am all you need, just when you need it. Your deepest desires find fulfillment in Me alone.

This is the age of self-help. Bookstores abound with books about “taking care of number one,” making oneself the center of all things. The main goal of these methodologies is to become self-sufficient and confident. You, however, have been called to take a “road less traveled”—continual dependence on Me. True confidence comes from knowing you are complete in My Presence. Everything you need has its counterpart in Me.

As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of wondering about what is on the road ahead or worrying about what you should do if … or when …, you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go.

Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well-worn paths of routine.

I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know. [So] stay in communication with Me. Follow My guiding Presence.⁶

Fulfilling your destiny

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”—Ecclesiastes 3:11⁷

Perfection is not what I expect of you. All that I seek is one who strives to depend on Me, and in doing so finds their strength.

If you truly believe that I am calling you to do something or change something in your life, then don’t be afraid. When you let Me stretch your faith to do something difficult, something that might not even be in character for you to do, then you give Me the opportunity to do something new and potentially wonderful in your life.

In many sports, the teams are large, and not every player gets a lot of playing time. Many players train and train, and are there as backups or only play a few minutes in each game. But when that team wins a game or a trophy, they’re all winners, regardless of their position or time in the game. They’re part of the team, and as part of that team, they all share in the credit and reward.

You might feel that your job or calling isn’t very important or that you only get to make the “important” plays once in a great while. But each player on My team is important, and I need you to do your part to fulfill what I have called you to do, whether it seems great or small to you. The important thing is that you put your whole heart into whatever you do, and you give it all you’ve got.⁸

I have placed eternity within your heart.⁹ The outline of your future is written in your spirit’s DNA, and you grow into it by your choices. You are destined to be a part of reaching this world for My kingdom. As you persevere and walk forward in faith and obedience, determined to fulfill My calling to you as My disciple‚ you will fulfill your destiny.

Originally published November 2007, unless otherwise indicated. Adapted and republished December 2021. Read by Simon Peterson. Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ TLV.

² 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC.

³ John 16:13.

⁴ 2 Corinthians 12:9.

⁵ BSB.

⁶ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson, 2010).

⁷ ESV.

⁸ Ecclesiastes 9:10.

⁹ Ecclesiastes 3:11.

04 – Superhuman Bodies!

From the End to Eternity

Scott MacGregor

2008-01-01

As explained in Chapter 8 of The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist, the saved are going to get heavenly bodies when the Resurrection and the Rapture occurs when Jesus returns and ends the Antichrist’s seven-year reign. For those saved who die before these events, it seems they have a kind of heavenly body that is more or less like a ghost that can somewhat materialize such as Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration.

But it is at the Resurrection and Rapture that both the living and previously dead saved will receive new super bodies that are both natural and supernatural.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep [are physically dead] in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:14–17

The fifteenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians has one of the most revealing dissertations on this body of the future. There the apostle Paul writes: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:19 –20). Jesus has risen first, and all those who have died in the faith having accepted Jesus as their Savior are going to be able to rise just as Jesus did.

There is a little-noticed passage of Scripture that seems to indicate that those who sincerely loved God, but who died before Jesus’ death and resurrection, were resurrected themselves at the same time as Jesus was. “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city [Jerusalem] and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52–53). These (whose number include perhaps all the other previously dead believers up till that time), and Jesus Himself, are considered part of this “firstfruits” resurrection.

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 15: “For since by man came death, by Man [that is Jesus] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:21 –23). First there was Jesus, then the firstfruits of that first resurrection—that is, the Old Testament believers—and last all of those who are saved, whether alive or dead, at the time of Christ’s Second Coming.

Moving along to the 35th verse: “But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?’ Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body” (1 Corinthians 15:35–38). The current physical body is like a seed that is planted in the ground, which then springs forth as a whole new plant. The new heavenly body is going to be much more wonderful than the present physical body. It’ll be like the difference between the grain of wheat and the full-grown stock and head that comes from one grain. Or in terms perhaps more can relate to, a beautiful flowering plant that comes from one tiny seed. That’s how much better these new heavenly bodies are going to be.

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. … So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.

1 Corinthians 15:39–40,42–43

This current earthly fleshly body grows old, dies, is buried, and decays back to the dust from which it came. “But it is raised in incorruption.” When it’s raised again, it will never decay. It will be heavenly and immortal and incorruptible.

“It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:43–44). These current bodies are very weak compared to the powerful supernatural powers that resurrection bodies will have. In this passage Paul is not referring to each one’s spirit when he is talking about our spiritual body. The saved human spirit inhabits the natural body now and it will also inhabit the supernatural body after the Resurrection.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:51–58

That marvelous heavenly body is worth working for and suffering for, and worth being steadfast in our labors of love for the Lord and others, because the hard work will not be in vain.

In the third chapter of Philippians, Paul says: “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20–21).

This new body will be like Jesus’ glorious body—it will be of similar substance with similar attributes and abilities. It will be in the “image of the heavenly Man” (1 Corinthians 15:49). And “when He is revealed, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). In comparison, this body of the flesh is called a “lowly body.” It’s hard to live with sometimes; sometimes it stinks, it’s hungry, it’s tired, it’s heavy, it gets sick and/or damaged, it suffers, it groans. But the day is coming when it will be changed to a marvelous glorified body like the body of Jesus.

So what was He like? One of the Gospel accounts gives the impression that at His resurrection, Jesus had already walked through the walls of the crypt before the stone sealing the entrance had been removed.

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.”

Matthew 28:1–6

The first time Jesus met His disciples after His resurrection, He walked right through a locked door into their secret meeting room and nearly scared them to death.

Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

Luke 24:36–43

Jesus said He wasn’t a spirit or a “ghost” as it is translated in other Bible versions, but rather He had a supernatural body that had some kind of flesh and bones. He could perform certain natural functions like eating and drinking with them, as well as certain supernatural functions like walking through walls.

At a later meeting He told “Doubting” Thomas to touch the wounds in His hands and His side to prove that it was Him, the same body, only glorified, resurrected, now supernatural, but still bearing the same scars (John 20:26–27). Whether all will still bear their scars and wounds is not known.

Jesus could also dematerialize, disappear, be transported elsewhere where He could materialize and reappear. On some occasions He could hide His identity and disguise His appearance so that His disciples wouldn’t recognize Him until He wanted them to.

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.

But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Luke 24:13–31

He could also fly. We are told that at His ascension that “it came to pass, while [Jesus] blessed [His disciples], that He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51). And “while they watched, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Which also brings up another question that He must have been able to breathe in the rarified air, or maybe didn’t need to breathe at all. Mark tells us that at His crucifixion, Jesus “breathed His last” (Mark 15:37). That expression is a common idiom to mean the person died, but perhaps in this instance it also means that Jesus did not need to breathe again, even in His supernatural resurrection body.

And what about the things our bodies enjoy in life today? It is not unthinkable that all of the pleasures of this present physical life can be continued into the next life. It seems apparent from the descriptions of Jesus after His resurrection and other Scriptures included earlier that this new supernatural body is similar to the physical body and can eat and drink and be merry, have fun, love, and enjoy all of the present pleasures of this life, but better. It will be an immortal, incorruptible, powerful body that can enjoy such pleasures forever without ever suffering pain or sickness or weariness or death!

December 25

He Came; He Is Coming

This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

Many are celebrating our Lord’s first coming this day; let us turn our thoughts to the promise of His second coming. This is as sure as the first advent and derives a great measure of its certainty from it. He who came as a lowly man to serve will assuredly come to take the reward of His service. He who came to suffer will not be slow in coming to reign.

This is our glorious hope, for we shall share His joy. Today we are in our concealment and humiliation, even as He was while here below; but when He cometh it will be our manifestation, even as it will be His revelation. Dead saints shall live at His appearing. The slandered and despised shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Then shall the saints appear as kings and priests, and the days of their mourning shall be ended. The long rest and inconceivable splendor of the millennial reign will be an abundant recompense for the ages of witnessing and warring.

Oh, that the Lord would come! He is coming! He is on the road and traveling quickly. The sound of His approach should be as music to our hearts! Ring out, ye bells of hope!

(Faith checkbook)

Manger Beginnings

December 23, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 10:28
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There are many things we can celebrate at Christmas, but I think you will agree with me that the most essential is the gift of our relationship with God through His Son Jesus. To paraphrase a beautiful promise the Lord spoke through Daniel, the closer we grow to Him, the more His wisdom will “shine as the brightness of the firmament in us,” and His righteousness through us “as the stars forever and ever.”¹ Remembering to pause and take those moments to acknowledge Him allows His Spirit to flow into us and replace the stress and strain that bottles up our joy. All we have to do is let that peace flow in, and He will help it shine out to others.

Christmas marks the beginning of the most wonderful and important relationship we’ll ever have. It’s not just knowing about that babe born in a manger. It’s about our relationship with a friend who sticks closer than a brother, with the one who has made us part of God’s family, who has called us His bride, His beloved. It’s about the bond we have with our hero who rescued us from death, who bestows on us all that is His. It’s about the one who is our mentor, guide, and protector, the one we can always trust and rely on, no matter what!

Everything that Jesus is to us involves a relationship that changes who we are to the very core. That is what Christmas—all year long—is really about.

To celebrate Him this Christmas I’d like to share some of my favorite quotes, along with impressions about how they might apply to us.

Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.—Thomas S. Monson

What a simple but all-encompassing picture of Jesus’ love, which is at the center of all that He did for mankind. His was a life of giving. He gave up His life in heaven to come to this world. He gave up the unimaginable riches of His kingdom to live on earth without even a place to call His own. He gave His time, His strength, and His reputation to seek out the beggars, the outcasts, the sick and dying who could never offer anything of this world in return for all He offered them. He laid down his own life in order to rescue us, and He did it purely out of love for us.

Why did He do that? To help us to understand what the essence of God is. He gave us the example of how to develop that nature in us, how by His grace we can become children of the Most High. As we discover the joy of helping to bring His love to others, we grow His kingdom. We experience a touch of God’s joy when we emulate His giving without seeking anything in return.

Others’ joy at finding the truth becomes our joy. The eternal Spirit of love that embraces them draws us into that embrace and fills us to overflowing as well. Anything we give for others is never lost. It becomes something greater, something eternal to bring us joy that never ends.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.—Roy L. Smith

Sometimes we may be tempted to attach too much importance to the traditions of Christmas, like Christmas trees, music, and celebrations. Even giving gifts and doing good deeds have to have the heart of gratitude at their core or they lose their greatest value. Jesus chose to live for our sakes, to pour out His life and to overcome death for us. He was the ultimate gift, given by the ultimate gift giver: God. The reason for this?—That we could have the most perfect illustration of unconditional, unlimited, all-inviting love.

So let’s follow His example. May all that we do and say and give be done with the motivation of sharing God’s love that has grown in us because of Jesus’ example.

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.—Alexander Smith

Have you ever wondered why Jesus came to earth when He did? I wonder if it might have been to illustrate that He is the center of everything. He makes sense out of all that came before His life on earth, and He brings the promise of all that is ours to claim through Him. He walked with Adam in the garden in the beginning, and He walked with humankind when He became a human in this world. He will come again to unite His children in His eternal kingdom where time will forever lose its grip on us. Christmas is a reminder that He is the focal point of our existence.

The son of God became a man so that men could become the sons of God.—C. S. Lewis

When people look at the story of a baby in a manger and angels singing and the wise men visiting, do they truly grasp what this event means for mankind? It marked the beginning of the transformation from the earthbound, time-constrained, sin-prone existence of this temporary life into the supernatural, eternal, unfathomable wonder and beauty of eternity.—An existence immersed in unbounded joy and purpose and oneness with the King of all! It marks the arrival of the gift of perfect love.

Jesus, who had everything, gave it all up. He chose to suffer and face humiliation at the hands of men who misunderstood, hated, and reviled Him. He allowed such things for our sakes in order to offer us the unimaginable privilege of becoming children of God. And it all started with that baby in a manger.

Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.—George Whitefield

Jesus was the personification of God’s love for mankind. He was God’s merciful offer of rescue to a world drowning in the folly of their own way. He was a living demonstration of how far God’s love is willing to go, even to the point of showing us a tangible manifestation of His love. I can’t imagine anyone foolish enough to turn down an opportunity like that. That’s why He asks us to spread the truth to others, because it is the offer of all eternity.

Here are a few more quotes that I like to meditate on and share with others as a reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.—Calvin Coolidge

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly happy Christmas.—Peg Bracken

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: Loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?—Bob Hope

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.—Mary Ellen Chase

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.—Dale Evans

I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.—Norman Vincent Peale

Peter and I pray that your life will be filled with the Lord’s Spirit this Christmas and that God’s many wonderful blessings will be yours in the coming year. We love you! God bless and keep you!

Originally published December 2018. Adapted and republished December 2021.
Read by Debra Lee.

¹ Adapted from Daniel 12:3.

Better Days Ahead—Part 7a

By Peter Amsterdam

December 14, 2021

—Enjoying Life

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about joy, especially since writing one of the earlier posts in this series, “Rediscovering Joy.” I’m so grateful for all the joy and happiness that I have experienced in my life. The Lord has been so good to me! Of course, Jesus is the ultimate source of our joy. “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15 KJV).

Manifesting the joy of the Lord, smiling, and enjoying life is part of our Christian testimony to the world. The Westminster Catechism states that the chief end of man is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” And if we follow that good advice then, besides showing kindness, consideration, and concern for others, we can also let our light shine through our joy, laughter, cheerful voices, radiant eyes, and uplifting conversations.

Of course, we can’t always be laughing, having fun, and enjoying life. We all experience times of sickness, grief, sorrow, loss, frustration, and discouragement. That is part of living in this fallen world. But there are times when it can seem like all-out warfare in order to drive back worry, anxiety, and stress that threatens to rob us of God’s gift of joy and the art of enjoying life even through the rough spots.

You are familiar with the story of the great missionary who, when asked what quality he saw as most valuable in his life as a foreign missionary in a hostile climate, responded with a smile, “A sense of humor—the ability to laugh when you feel like crying.”

As the American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote,

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth
must borrow its mirth,
but has troubles enough of its own.¹

Let’s be joyful! Don’t be gloomy and sullen, lest you be like old Jenny the mule.

After a Sunday of constantly hearing “no” and “don’t” at the farm of his religiously strict grandfather, poor little Johnny wandered wistfully out to the barnyard and stroked Jenny’s long nose.

“Dear Jenny, you must be awfully religious,” he said, “You have such a long face—just like Grandfather’s!”

That’s some people’s idea of religion. Let’s not let it be ours!—Activated²

In addition to thinking about joy lately, I’ve also been thinking about the importance of taking time to intentionally enjoy life and have fun! I realize that might seem like an unlikely topic, especially when many have been enduring times of struggle, sickness, financial need, and worry about the future. But I have had time recently, while recovering from my medical procedure, to reflect on and pray about many aspects of my life, and I have felt inspired to praise God for His mercy and goodness in so many ways.

We face many difficulties and challenges, but life is not all about struggling and just getting by. The Lord brings many little surprises and blessings along our paths, and I believe it pleases Him when we take the time to notice and appreciate them. Many times, these little surprises and blessings are fun!

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV), and that includes enjoying life.

According to Colossians 3:17,³ we should also give thanks to God through Jesus Christ for the fun and entertainment He provides. Someone once pointed out that “recreation” means to “re-create” or “renew.” God allows us this time to be renewed and to grow in our faith. James tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

Fun and entertainment are gifts of God, given so that we might come closer to Him. We should remember this when we are planning our recreation and remember to thank God for such a good and perfect gift.—GotQuestions.org ⁴

Maria is a wonderful example of joy, happiness, and enjoying life. Her youthful disposition, spontaneous laughter, and loving, happy personality helps to bring out the best in me and whoever she happens to be around. She takes every opportunity the Lord gives her to demonstrate the joy of the Lord to others.

It’s amazing to me how she can laugh and get a kick out of the little unexpected challenges and funny things that we encounter daily. She really does know how to laugh when you feel like crying, and that can make even frustrating circumstances seem like an obstacle course with a prize waiting for us when we finally reach the goal. She explained it well when she said:

I have a happy religion. I believe with all my heart that Jesus loves us and wants us to be filled with His joy. Not only that, but He wants us to genuinely enjoy ourselves. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). His liberating truth and the joy of His Spirit allow us to enjoy life while remaining close to Him. We don’t have to choose between happiness and pleasing the Lord. We can have both!

Finding more fun

A dear friend of ours wrote Maria recently to share a personal update with her (as friends like to do). When responding, Maria told her, “You’re so fun and funny!”

She replied:

It’s amazing that you would tell me that I’m “fun and funny.” That means a lot to me because I’ve been thinking lately about fun, considering what made me happy in the past and trying to ascertain how to incorporate more fun in my daily life.

I realized not too long ago that I had let life become rather boring. I wasn’t laughing much anymore. I was working a lot, but it didn’t feel as rewarding as before and certainly was not “fun.” I wasn’t even looking forward to people and activities like I used to.

Even when I have been with my friends recently, I have felt things were somehow different. We used to laugh a lot, sing and dance spontaneously, and do silly things like make snow angels in the yard in the winter as we laughed and giggled like little kids.

So, I determined I was going to bring more fun back into my life. I wasn’t sure where to start. I knew I couldn’t change my overall life circumstances. What I did was to sit down and actually try to remember what used to be fun for me and why.

Ideas started coming to me, and I made a list. I was pretty inspired to see that my “fun” did not consist of extravagant, expensive, time-consuming events. Actually, fun things for me were little activities or hobbies. Many I had somehow just stopped doing and eventually had forgotten about them. The ones I did still engage in, I entered into them in a dull, sour mood so they just weren’t that fun anymore.

In Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project, she wrote:

If something was really fun for me it would pass this test: I looked forward to it; I found it energizing, not draining; and I didn’t feel guilty about it later.

Thinking about fun made me realize that I had to make time for it. Too often, I’d give up fun in order to work. I felt so overwhelmed by tasks that I’d think, “The most fun would be to cross some items off my to-do list. I’d feel so much better if I could get something accomplished.” I’d feel so virtuous when I’d delay [something fun] in order to deal with my e-mail.

In fact, though, turning from one chore to another just made me feel trapped and drained. When I took the time to do something that is truly fun for me, … I felt better able to tackle my to-do list. Fun is energizing.

Our friend continued: After reading that, I decided to make a conscious effort to smile more, laugh more, enjoy life more, and take time to do the things that are fun for me. And like I said, those are generally little things such as dancing, picnics, people watching, listening to Karaoke and live music, going to flea markets, taking walks in pretty places, and chatting with people I don’t know.

Big things like taking a 12-day cruise, buying a new car, going to Disneyland, etc., did not make the list. In fact, grandiose things like that didn’t even come to mind. While making my list, I started realizing I’m actually pretty good at having fun and enjoying life. I had just temporarily forgotten about it.

Gretchen Rubin told the following story:

One day while I was trying to prod everyone to put the groceries away as efficiently as possible, Jamie [my husband] started showing off his juggling prowess with three oranges. [Our two young daughters] were thrilled. I was annoyed. “Come on, team!” I scolded, “Let’s get this done. Jamie, put those oranges away and get the other bag.” But we weren’t in a hurry—only later did it occur to me that I should have enjoyed the moment and allowed the chore to be fun. Had I really become such a killjoy?

This little story helped me realize that I had become kind of a killjoy, too. I guess this happens after many little negative reactions, which then become attitudes and eventually become habits. Instead of smiling, laughing, and appreciating silly or funny moments, I’d let myself become annoyed. And that started happening more and more.

It was great to realize this, and with a little conscious effort I am becoming more aware of my reactions and words, and am seeing that it’s pretty easy to change those habits. Praise the Lord! God says to us, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

Peter: I agree that it’s worth spending a little time thinking and praying about how we can enjoy life more (according to each of our unique situations). Of course, what might be enjoyable for one person may not be fun for you. We are all unique individuals, hence the value in discovering where those pockets of fun might be hiding.

I gave this some thought and came to the conclusion that some of the things I enjoy and find to be fun include: taking walks in nature and enjoying God’s creation, exploring new places, cooking, playing the guitar, fellowshipping with other Christians, watching meaningful TV shows, learning new things through Google research, and seeing funny movies or comedy shows on YouTube where the humor is not hurtful or crass. Well, those are just a few of the things that I enjoy and that are fun for me. Maybe some of these resonate with you, and I imagine you enjoy other things that are unique to your personal preferences.

Fun busters

Enjoying life and having fun is not always the priority, especially when we’re experiencing a difficult situation, a serious illness or accident, the need to care for others who depend on us, or the many challenges we face at different seasons of life. There are seasons when we must devote our time and attention to desperate prayer and hard work. In such situations, we need to place all our attention on the situation at hand, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But we also need to make room for joy and recreation, and not allow ourselves to get so busy and preoccupied that the enjoyment and fun in our lives just slips away. One culprit that drains the fun from our daily lives is stress. When we’re very busy, under pressure with work or financial needs, concerned about our family or health, or trying to push through a new project, there often doesn’t seem to be time for recreation or fun.

Stress is a part of life that we have to learn to deal with so it doesn’t control us. Stress can have serious consequences for our physical and mental health, and it is important that we take steps to recognize and reduce stress in our lives. So let’s strive for balance in our lives, which includes making room for more enjoyment and fun.

Pursuit of joy

As Christians, the act of prayer and committing our cares to the Lord is a vital component in our ongoing battle against stress and our search for joy. The peaceful mindset we seek is a gift from God, and He promises to give us His comfort and peace to combat uncertainty and unsettledness as we seek Him with all of our heart.

Here is an encouraging message from Jesus:

The prospect of the righteous is Joy. This means your prospects are excellent, for I have clothed you with My robe of righteousness. So begin each day eager to receive the Joy that I have in store for you.

Some of my followers fail to find the pleasures I had prepared for them because they focus too much on problems in their lives and trouble in the world. …

As you awaken each morning, seek My face with hopeful anticipation. Invite Me to prepare you not only for any difficulties on the road ahead, but also for the pleasures I have planted alongside your path. Then take My hand as you begin your journey through the day, and let Me share in everything you encounter along the way—including all the Joy!⁵

God bless and keep you, and may you enjoy life and find great joy and peace as you follow in the Lord’s footsteps day by day.

“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Nehemiah 8:10

¹ “Solitude,” first published in 1883.

² Volume 12, Issue 8.

³ “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”—Colossians 3:17 ESV.

⁴ “What does the Bible say about fun and entertainment?” Got Questions Ministries, https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-fun-entertainment.html

⁵ Sarah Young, Jesus Always (Thomas Nelson, 2016).

Christmas Awe

December 21, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 11:01
Download Audio (10MB)

She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him.

Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel. “His kingdom will never end.” He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. God entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager, and in the presence of a carpenter. A birth that couldn’t be more humble. A birth that changed the world—including mine and yours. Can we ever thank him enough?

An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. You might have called it boring. If not for a God who loves to hook an “extra” on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away.

But God dances amid the common. And that night he showed some of his best moves. The black sky exploded with brightness. Trees that had been shadows jumped into clarity. Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curiosity. One minute the shepherd was dead asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien. The night was ordinary no more.

The angel came in the night because that is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed. God comes into the common for the same reason. His most powerful tools are the simplest.

Are we still stunned by God’s coming? Still staggered by the event? Does Christmas still spawn the same speechless wonder it did two thousand years ago?—Max Lucado¹

Our powerful yet gentle Savior

Did you know that thousands of years before you were born, God knew just what you needed? God knew you’d need extra strength so you wouldn’t give up. God knew you needed a Savior so big that the entire universe couldn’t hold him. God knew you needed a Savior so tender and caring that you’d turn to him during times of pain and suffering.

Centuries before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah announced that God would send his Son to Earth. This was 700 years before the very first Christmas. He told us the Savior would be both powerful and personal—and he’d be strong enough to save us, but also tender and loving.

Most impressively, God tells us that Jesus would have a personal relationship with us. It’s an amazing prediction.

God tells us this in Isaiah 40: “Shout louder—don’t be afraid—tell the cities of Judah, ‘Your God is coming!’ Yes, the Lord God is coming with mighty power; he will rule with awesome strength. … He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will carry the lambs in his arms and gently lead the ewes with young.”²

Again, Isaiah didn’t predict just Jesus’ gentleness but also his enormous power. “Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.”³

Then Isaiah got personal, and he applied the coming of Jesus to our lives today. “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. … Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”⁴

I don’t know what problems you’re facing this Christmas. I don’t know what burdens you’re bearing. I don’t know what grief, fear, anxiety, or confusion you may be feeling right now, but I do know this: Your Creator is there for you—with the power of a hurricane and the gentleness of a baby, born in a manger 2,000 years ago.—Rick Warren⁵

Why Christmas matters

There are now, and long have been, two variations on the Christmas theme. There is the version in which Christmas is a largely commercial enterprise. At its best, this version of Christmas is an exercise in generosity and an opportunity to turn away from professional pursuits and remember the fundamental importance of family. At its worst, it is an unseemly weeks-long binge of expenditure and acquisition, an exercise in rank consumerist materialism, where we do not celebrate the power of God so much as we observe and demonstrate our faith in the power of advertising and credit cards.

The other version of Christmas commemorates the entrance of an eternal God into the whirl of time and history, a God who is Spirit and Love into a world of flesh and violence, a God who became incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who came to provide the Way and the Truth and the Life for all humankind. It is this latter version of Christmas on which I wish to reflect. What does it mean? …

Like the creation and restoration of all things, the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ are expressions of a most extravagant divine love. A love that never fails. A love that seeks beyond every river and mountain until the lost sheep is found. A love that will suffer and sacrifice all things on behalf of the beloved, that lays down its life for its friend. The same love that brought us into being in the first place enters, in the village of Bethlehem in the person of Jesus Christ, into a new and more intimate relationship with us. God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, so that every person who puts his faith in Him will be reconciled to God and brought to live with Him forever. …

We celebrate in Christmas that God delights in accomplishing the impossible and exceeding the hopes of men, in using the small, the weak, and the foolish things of the world to humble the great, the mighty, and the wise.

Christmas is, among other things, a story of the impossible. God becomes human. The timeless, changeless God enters into history with all its change and variation. The mighty God who created all things humbles Himself and becomes a helpless infant. The “reason for the season” is thoroughly unreasonable. This is not what reason would expect. Reason would tell us that these things are impossible. Yet God loves to explode human conceptions of what is possible. God loves to show us that He is greater—and nearer to us in love—than we had imagined.—Timothy Dalrymple⁶

The work of Christmas begins

When the carols have been stilled,
When the star-topped tree is taken down,
When family and friends are gone home,
When we are back to our schedules
The work of Christmas begins:
To welcome the refugee,
To heal a broken planet,
To feed the hungry,
To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear,
To share our gifts,
To seek justice and peace for all people,
To bring Christ’s light to the world.
—Michael Dougherty⁷

Published on Anchor December 2021. Read by Jon Marc.
Music from the Christmas Moments album. Used by permission.

¹ Max Lucado, God Came Near (Doubleday Religious Publishing Group, 1993).

² Isaiah 40:9–11 TLB.

³ Isaiah 40:15 CSB.

⁴ Isaiah 40:26, 28–29 NIV.

⁵ https://pastorrick.com/our-powerful-yet-gentle-savior.

⁶ https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/12/four-reasons-why-christmas-matters.aspx?p=2.

⁷ Michael Dougherty, a variation on Howard Thurman’s “When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled.”

The Birth of Jesus—Part 3

December 20, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 11:55
Download Audio (10.9MB)

Some months after Mary had returned from her visit with Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph embarked on a trip to Bethlehem. We are told that the reason for this trip was that Caesar Augustus had ordered a census, and therefore Joseph was required to travel to Bethlehem, his ancestral home, as he was of the house and lineage of King David.

Luke describes how Joseph went from Nazareth in the province of Galilee to Bethlehem, a village in Judea six miles from Jerusalem, to be registered, and Mary accompanied him. While they were abiding in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”¹

In the fields around Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching their sheep. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’”²

This is the third time an angel had appeared to announce what God was doing in bringing Jesus into the world. The first was to Zechariah in the Temple, the next to Mary, and now to the shepherds. In this case, the glory of the Lord—God’s radiance in the form of a brilliant light—shone around the shepherds, and like the other times an angel appeared, there was the initial element of fear and the instruction to not fear.

The angel brings good news of great joy that will be for all the people, echoing the promise given to Abraham that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”³ The angel tells the shepherds that the child has been born in Bethlehem, the city of David—thus linking the child to King David—and stating that He is the Messiah, which is the meaning of the name Christ.⁴

The message the angel gave echoed the words of Isaiah, which foretold the birth of this child and who and what He would be. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”⁵

We are then told that “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”⁶

The sign given to the shepherds was that they would “find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”⁷ When they found the child, they told everyone what had happened, and all who heard about it “wondered and were astonished.” And Mary pondered these things in her heart.⁸

Mary and Joseph, faithful to what the angel had commanded, named their newborn Jesus, “the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”⁹According to the Jewish customs of their day, Joseph and Mary had their son circumcised eight days after His birth, and after a further 33 days, they made an offering of purification for Mary at the Temple in accordance with the laws of Moses.¹⁰ From these actions, we can see that Mary and Joseph were pious Jews who followed God’s commands and who would teach Jesus the ways of faith.

While in the Temple, Joseph and Mary met Simeon, who we are told was righteous and devout, “waiting for the consolation of Israel, and … it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. … When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God.”¹¹

Simeon’s prayer is the third hymn of praise in the introductory section of Luke’s Gospel. Simeon states that “my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”¹² His statement affirms that God’s salvation is for all peoples, all of humanity. His reference to Jesus as light echoes what Zechariah prophesied in his earlier hymn, “whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”¹³ Joseph and Mary marveled, or were astonished, at the words Simeon spoke about their Son.¹⁴

While Joseph and Mary are still in the Temple, they also have an encounter with an 84-year-old prophetess named Anna. While her exact words aren’t recorded in Luke’s Gospel, Luke tells us that both a man and a woman prophesy over Jesus.¹⁵ As is seen throughout Luke’s Gospel and in his book of Acts, he often includes women as key players in the telling of Jesus’ story and the story of the early church.

Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ birth ends here in the Temple, while Matthew describes other aspects of Jesus’ birth not recounted in Luke, including the visit of the Magi: “Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”¹⁶

It’s not specifically known where the wise men were from, but where they came from isn’t as important as the fact that they came from outside of Israel. Matthew, like Luke, expresses that God is doing a new thing by highlighting the fact that at Jesus’ birth, Gentiles are attracted by the light of God’s Son.¹⁷

While the Gentile Magi had come to pay homage to the newborn “King of the Jews,” Matthew points out that the present Jewish king and the chief priests and scribes were completely unaware that He had been born. Herod was, for obvious reasons, troubled when he heard that the wise men had come seeking a new king. This happened not long before Herod’s death, when he was experiencing dissent among his sons as to who should be the next king.

Upon hearing the news, Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes to inquire of them where the Messiah would be born. He then secretly summoned the wise men and asked when they had first seen the sign of the star. Herod then told the Magi to go and find the child and inform him of the exact location so that he could go and worship the new king as well.

When the wise men came to Bethlehem, they found the house where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying. “Going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”¹⁸ We’re never told how many Magi were there, though tradition holds that there were three, based on the three gifts listed—frankincense, gold, and myrrh.

The wise men, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, departed to their own country by another way.¹⁹ Joseph is also visited by an angel in a dream and told to “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”²⁰ Joseph and his family left by night and made their way to Egypt, where they remained until the death of Herod—most likely using the gifts of the Magi to help finance their trip and their living expenses for the time they were there.

Upon Herod’s death, Joseph was once again visited by an angel in a dream and given instructions—this time to move his family back to Israel, which he did. Returning and finding out that Archelaus was reigning in Judea, he was once again warned in a dream not to go there, so he went to Nazareth and raised his family there.

As we come to the end of the story of Jesus’ birth as told by Luke and Matthew, we can see the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah to redeem humanity beginning to unfold. Since His promise was to be fulfilled within the world, God chose to enter the time and physicality of the world, as revealed in the birth narratives. God sent His Son into the care of two faithful believers, protected Him against those who sought to kill Him, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah, and set the stage for His promised salvation and restoration.

God entering the world and living among His creation for the purpose of reconciling humanity to Himself through His death and resurrection is the most significant event in human history. The Gospels tell us how Jesus’ life, from birth to death and beyond, fulfill God’s promises and show His great love for humanity by making it possible for us to become His children.

Originally published December 2014. Adapted and republished December 2021.
Read by John Laurence.

¹ Luke 2:6–7.

² Luke 2:9–12.

³ Genesis 12:3.

⁴ John 1:41.

⁵ Isaiah 9:6–7.

⁶ Luke 2:13–14.

⁷ Luke 2:12.

⁸ Luke 2:18–19.

⁹ Luke 2:21.

¹⁰ Leviticus 12:2–6.

¹¹ Luke 2:25–28.

¹² Luke 2:30–32.

¹³ Luke 1:78–79.

¹⁴ Luke 2:33.

¹⁵ Luke 2:36–38.

¹⁶ Matthew 2:1–2.

¹⁷ Raymond E. Brown, The Birth of the Messiah (New York: Doubleday, 1993), 459.

¹⁸ Matthew 2:11.

¹⁹ Matthew 2:12.

²⁰ Matthew 2:13.

Antichrist Wars Before the Covenant

The Antichrist may already be in power when he signs the seven-year pact, the covenant. We usually think of the Antichrist’s rule beginning with the covenant, but that isn’t necessarily so. It’s possible he will be in power for more than seven years.

It’s a little ridiculous to suppose that he would have enough power to get the world to sign the seven-year covenant unless he already had enough power and influence to persuade them to sign that covenant. He’s not just some nobody who suddenly stands up and offers the world the solution on a silver platter without already being known and having some influence and some power. Otherwise they wouldn’t listen to him. So he’s got to get into some position of power before that, and from reading over Daniel 11 again, I’m convinced that he is even having wars before he finally persuades them to sign the covenant.

In Daniel 11, verse 21, that’s where he really begins. “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”

(Verse 22:) “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him.” He carries on a war or God knows how many wars or against whom, in order to establish his worldwide power. “And shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.” Here again, we remember that they will be broken, not him. “And yea, he’s also the prince of the covenant.” That doesn’t necessarily mean the covenant’s been made yet; it could be just identifying him as the one being talked about, although it’s quite possible this is when the covenant is made.

(Verse 23:) “And after the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully.” Now this probably implies the covenant, “the league made with him.” “For he shall come up and shall become strong with a small people.”

(Verse 24:) “He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and the spoil, and riches.” Spoil is something you rob from somebody. Prey is something you usually kill. And he takes it by the arms of a flood. In other words, he’ll come in with arms like a flood; he’ll conquer.

It says, “They shall be overflown from before him, and shall be broken.” There are arms, he comes in like a flood, they’re overthrown, they’re broken. And then they’re apparently forced to sign a covenant or a league, “the league made with him.”

Then he stirs up his great army against the king of the south, and it sounds like he defeats him. But then they sit down and lie at one table and make some kind of pact. Maybe that’s the covenant. The covenant is made, but it is made by force. The first league is forced. Then sitting down at the same table with the king of the south that he’s just defeated, that’s obviously a forced covenant, if that’s the covenant. Whichever one it is, it’s got to be by force, by war, or threat of war, or by the preponderance of arms.

This idea that there can’t be any war before the covenant is signed is a misconception. There are already a bunch of wars, and apparently he’s going to come to power with more show of force. When the Antichrist arises, he’s apparently going to be powerful enough to be feared by the religions, and that’s why they insist that he confirm the covenant. Then he goes on with his climb to power and his war with the south, and when he’s finished that and made peace, he is ready to attack the covenant and break it and introduce the Tribulation.

But just how and when he’s revealed, or just exactly how and when he signs the covenant and with whom, these are points that are not too clear. It’s clear that they’re going to happen, but it’s not too clear when. It appears to me to be fairly clear that he’s got to be a world leader before he can sign such a covenant with all the religions of the world. Therefore I don’t see how his signing of this covenant could be secret, because to have any effect it’s got to be known worldwide, both by him and by the religions.

Grace With Max Lucado – God Who Stoops

https://youtu.be/djuSIS5gHjc

December 17,2021

The Beauty of Christmas

December 16, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 11:21
Download Audio (10.3MB)

In this post I’ll be sharing a few thoughts about Christmas. You’ll read about letting Jesus use you to share His love with others, the great value of the little things we do at Christmas, and the biblical account of the beautiful Christmas story!

The gift of your heart

All the works that Jesus did on earth had to be extremely important for the Son of God to come down in order to do them. But when you examine those extremely important things, you see that not all of them were what most people would call “spectacular” in the physical. Many of the things He did—the spiritual transformations—had very little, if any, fanfare. Many of them, like His witness to Nicodemus,¹ or forgiving the immoral woman’s sins,² or His encounter with the woman at the well ³ weren’t outstanding in physical ways.

The more visible opportunities where He taught and healed large crowds had their time and place, such as when He fed the five thousand.⁴ But He also invested His time and attention on those focused moments when He connected heart to heart and spirit to spirit with one person or a small group of people.

The Bible records several life-changing miracles that Jesus performed in people’s spirits that didn’t require a huge investment of time or materials or effort. He was just where He needed to be when the opportunity arose, and He was faithful to give the truth, love, mercy, and forgiveness that lifted a broken heart or a confused mind or a lost spirit. His gift was His unconditional love that could impart hope, light, and truth.

If we can follow His example by giving to those who need His care and support in whatever way He shows us, this Christmas season can be everything He wants it to be. The more we follow His example, the more our own lives will be spiritually enriched. As we do what we can to demonstrate His love to others, He will help us to better understand His plan in our own lives.

The gift Jesus most wants for His birthday is for you to allow Him to use you to share His love with others. It’s a gift that you can give no matter what else you’re doing, and it’s one that only you can give Him, because it’s the gift of your own willing heart.

Making a Christmas masterpiece

When the life of a follower of Jesus is lived as Jesus intended it to be, it becomes a thing of beauty. Being a Christian and having a relationship with God should be something that permeates our daily experiences, is integrated into our decisions, and brings color to our perceptions of ourselves, others, and this life.

Christmas … is love in action. When you love someone you give to them as God gives to us. The greatest gift He ever gave was the person of His Son, sent to us in human form, so that we might know what God the Father is really like. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.—Dale Evans Rogers

Like a beautiful painting, a Christian’s greatest glory is often made up of countless little things. The tiny globs of color in the painting that appear to be so insignificant when viewed up close become breathtakingly beautiful when seen in their totality. In the same way, the countless expressions of God’s love shared with others in the course of a Christian’s life may at times appear to be insignificant in themselves, yet God sees them in the context of the totality of a life that glorifies Him, and He revels in their beauty.

As our lives become more centered around God, He adds more sparkle to our eyes, more bounce to our step, gives more strength in our weakness and more grace in times of struggle, loss, or suffering.

As our dependence on Him grows, He enhances the joy of His Spirit that overcomes our sorrow, and He sharpens the extra spiritual sight that helps us see past the flaws to recognize and appreciate the beauty of God’s Spirit within ourselves and those around us. The more we are determined to strengthen our walk with Jesus, and the more we desire a deeper spiritual connection with Him, the more He will be able to manifest His Spirit through us. Paul commended some early Christians, saying:

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.—2 Corinthians 8:3–5 ⁵

When your faith plays an integral part in your values, goals, and decisions, the love that prompted God to create the universe can stir your heart to see the need around you. It will move you to action. If God demonstrates His love for us in the beauty of a tiny flower, as well as in the immeasurable greatness of His coming to live and die for us, that teaches us that there is also great variety in the ways that our lives can show His Spirit and truth to this world.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.—1 John 3:16, 18–19⁶

God wants to fill our lives with His Spirit as much as we will allow Him. We are His handiwork. As we allow Him to blend the hues of His love and mercy and develop the beauty of form that He intended for us, we become His masterpiece that will speak to the hearts of many. Let’s eagerly embrace the priceless gift of His presence in our lives that was made available to us on that first Christmas. And as we cultivate the captivating beauty of God’s love in all we do and say, others will be drawn to Him through us.

The most beautiful story

Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, they began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angels called it “Good News,” and it was.—Larry Libby

Yes, Good News indeed! And we can read all about it in the Bible! I enjoyed this brief account of Jesus’ birth, which was published in the Activated magazine. When rereading the accounts of Jesus’ birth in the gospels I recalled that none is complete in itself, but together they tell an amazing story.

Matthew begins with the dilemma Joseph faced when learning from an angel that his wife-to-be was expecting a child of whom he was not the father.⁷ Matthew also tells us that certain wise men, or magi, followed a star from their homes in the East to bestow gifts on the newborn King;⁸ that the wise men and Joseph were warned in dreams about the evil intentions of jealous King Herod; and that Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus escaped by fleeing to Egypt.⁹

Luke provides many details that Matthew doesn’t, including how the archangel Gabriel visited Mary with the news that she would give birth to the Messiah,¹⁰ her initial reaction,¹¹ and a later one—a passage now known as Mary’s Song of Praise, or the Magnificat—in which she extols God and His plan for the Son she will bear.¹²

Luke also explains how it happened that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, even though Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth; how it came to pass that the King of kings, the Savior of the world, was born in a stable;¹³ how angels announced His arrival to nearby shepherds;¹⁴ and how the shepherds, after visiting Him, spread the news far and wide.¹⁵

John gives no details, but in one of the most powerful verses in the Bible goes straight to the heart of the matter: “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.”¹⁶—Chris Hunt

Published on Anchor December 2021. Read by Carol Andrews. Music from the Christmas Moments album. Used by permission.

¹ See John 3:1–21.

² See Luke 7:37–38, 48.

³ See John 4:1–29.

⁴ See Matthew 14:21.

⁵ NLT.

⁶ NLT

⁷ Matthew 1:18–25.

⁸ Matthew 2:1–11.

⁹ Matthew 2:12–15.

¹⁰ Luke 1:26–37.

¹¹ Luke 1:38.

¹² Luke 1:46–55.

¹³ Luke 2:1–7.

¹⁴ Luke 2:8–14.

¹⁵ Luke 2:15–18.

¹⁶ John 1:14.

The Hardest Time of Year

Grieving Pain and Loss at Christmas

Article by Vaneetha Rendall Risner

Regular Contributor

The Christmas season carries heavy expectations. Expectations that often more closely resemble Hallmark images than the quiet expectancy of celebrating Christ’s birth. We picture festive gatherings with family and friends, brightly wrapped gifts under decorated trees, and delicious meals around tables with loved ones.

Yet for those who have experienced loss, the holidays often bring a sense of dread. I remember the cloud that hung over me as I approached the first Christmas after my son’s death. My world had stopped, but everyone else’s seemed to be moving forward. I recall the discouragement before the holidays after my post-polio syndrome diagnosis, when I was told not to wrap presents, shop for gifts, or entertain as I had in past years. And I shudder when I think about how devastated I felt the first Christmas after my husband left, as I reeled from the wreckage of our broken family. Joy to the world, especially my world, seemed impossible.

In a year like ours, when loss and sadness are indescribably deep for many, when we’ve lost our health, our dreams, our loved ones, our livelihood, our sense of security, we wonder how we could have joy. John Piper’s words offer us a bridge:

Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the loss. Feel the pain. Then wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life he’s given you.

Embracing the life God has given us is far better than just surviving. It is purposefully living in the present, acknowledging what is hard, and choosing to trust in the middle of it. It is welcoming where we are in life while honestly grieving what we wish were different. It is facing and naming our disappointments, but not letting them define us.

Grieving Loss and Trusting God

How do we move from grieving our losses to embracing the present? The best way I know is through the holy practice of lament. The idea of lamenting has become more popular in recent years, but it is sometimes misinterpreted as being angry at God, yelling anything we want in a smoldering rage. Quite simply, that is sin. But at the other extreme, it is also wrong to turn away from God in disillusionment, offering him the silent treatment.

“In my life, lament has been a companion on the way to joy.”

I pulled away from God in my grief after my son’s death. I felt God had let me down, and I was hesitant to draw near to the One who could have prevented my pain. I didn’t think his presence would comfort me. Though my ungrieved losses were hardening me, seeping out in destructive ways, spending time with him felt like an unappealing chore. So, I stuffed away my pain, believing the best way to survive was to ignore my grief. And to ignore God.

But as my distance from God grew, so did my emptiness. I realized there was nowhere else to go because only Jesus had the words of life. So, I turned back to God and sat with him, Bible open, wrestling through my grief. I discovered that the Bible models for us how to lament.

Drawing Near with Pain

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see how to honestly cry out to our Lord in our pain. God wants us to draw near to him (James 4:8), and he invites us to pour out our complaints and trouble (Psalm 142:2).

We can tell him that we have forgotten what peace and happiness are and that we have lost hope (Lamentations 3:17–18). Or express that nothing feels safe, and no one seems to care for us (Psalm 142:4). Yet we are assured that he cares about our tears and tossings (Psalm 56:8), so we can boldly ask him to deliver us from the floodwaters (Psalm 69:13–14) and to hear our desires and to strengthen our hearts (Psalm 10:17). Lament ends as we declare our trust in God (Psalm 28:7) and remember all he has done as we recite his promises back to him (Psalm 77:11–14).

The psalms of lament are intensely personal. They are in the first person — people talking directly to God, not about him. They do not hold God at arm’s length, but rather evidence deep trust as the writers lay bare their inner and outer struggles.

Lament Leads to Promises

In my life, lament has been a companion on the way to joy. After lamenting to God, I have been able to fully hear and embrace his promises. I trust God more. I feel heard and understood. I don’t have hidden smoldering resentment or hardened indifference. I long to draw near to God, to experience his comfort and his reassurance. Isaiah is my go-to book of comfort, where God speaks to his people directly, reassuring us that:

He is with us. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).

He has redeemed us. “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:22).

He has not forgotten us. “I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15–16).

He will carry us. “[You] have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:3–4).

The promises of God are extraordinary. They hinge on the promise of Immanuel, the Messiah foretold by Isaiah, who guarantees our God is with us. We will never walk alone.

Receiving Immanuel in the Valley

How do we enter this Christmas season, when loss feels ever present, without giving in to despair? How do we find joy when little is as it used to be, and our lives feel thin and empty? How do we celebrate the birth of Christ when nothing around us feels celebratory?

“You don’t need to muster up joy on your own this Christmas. Draw near to the Lord.”

We lament. We read the Bible, even when it feels dry, looking for words that express our feelings and for words that declare God’s promises. We pray, even when we don’t feel like it, calling out to God in our distress and not pulling away in anger or indifference. We don’t look away from our suffering or gloss over it with platitudes. We sit with our Lord, sharing our disappointments and heartaches. We grieve what was and embrace what is, while meditating on his great love for us.

And as we do those things, our eyes will be opened to the truth of God’s words, the extravagant promises he makes to us, and the priceless gift of Christ himself.

You don’t need to muster up joy on your own this Christmas. Draw near to your Lord. Tell him how you are feeling. Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8), and receive the promise and joy of Immanuel, for our God is truly with us.

Vaneetha Rendall Risner is the author of Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption. Vaneetha and her husband Joel live in Raleigh, NC, where she writes at her website, encouraging readers to turn to Christ in their pain.

Remembering the Savior

December 14, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 11:28
Download Audio (10.5MB)

Sometimes in the busyness of the season, the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the traveling, the gatherings, we forget the Savior. It is supposed to be about Him, yet He isn’t usually invited to this party. Many years ago, a young girl remembered the true reason for the season.

“One busy day during the Christmas season, I found myself hurriedly running from one store to another with three children in tow. The frenzy of the season and all of its activities were bearing down and had left me tired and exhausted. On one of our last stops, I quickly pushed past the aisle of Christmas decorations, despite the protests of my children, so that I could soon return home. At that moment, I realized that my daughter was missing. A sudden surge of panic came over me, but as I turned to look for her, I heard her call out to me.

“Oh, Mommy,” she exclaimed. “Look!”

There was my daughter standing before a light-up yard nativity scene. In the midst of busy shoppers pushing past, she slowly knelt before the Baby Jesus. The shoppers, still passing by, did not even notice one small girl kneeling before the manger. I reverently watched as she looked on lovingly at the Baby and spoke quiet words to Him. It was as though time stopped for me that night. While the crowds thronged on through the store, there was only a mother, with tears in her eyes, whose heart swelled with love for her daughter and her Savior, and a little girl who took the time to stop, remember, and admire the precious Christ child.

When she was through, Nicole rose to her feet and walked back to join me. As she slipped her hand in mine and we turned to walk away, I said a silent prayer of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for this wonderful gift of a daughter and this sacred Christmas experience. I was reminded of a scripture in Isaiah 11:6, “And a little child shall lead them.” With all the wisdom of a six-year-old, Nicole led me by the hand that night out of a busy store and into a more Christ-filled Christmas.—Author unknown ¹

Don’t Forget Jesus

Christmas is a special time
To reflect on Jesus Christ,
The wonder of His lowly birth
Brings meaning to our lives

There really is no other reason,
We celebrate this day,
The birth of God’s precious son
And the life He willingly gave

But so much seems to distract us
In the busyness of our lives,
We lose our focus in all the happenings,
Not knowing, we leave out Christ

We lose sight of the true meaning
As we endlessly rush about,
Trying to find that perfect gift,
Seems to cloud our Saviour out

We need to stop and reflect a while,
Remembering our precious Lord,
His birth, His life and sacrifice
And all that He stands for

For though the world may celebrate,
It seems, though, for other reasons,
Let’s keep in mind that Jesus Christ
Is the true meaning of the season.
—© By M. S. Lowndes²

Our reason for the season

And just like that, Christmas is only a few sleeps away. Christmas trees are flickering their bright lights. Tinsel is hung up all over the place and all the old family recipes are being retrieved from drawers to be used on Christmas Day. And let’s not forget about the last-minute manic Christmas shopping that is happening! Christmas is so close, we can almost taste it! Or in my case, already tasting it as I’ve already tucked into all the Christmas treats (what can I say, food is my love language)! But in the midst of all the excitement and shopping and preparation, we can easily forget that Christmas isn’t just about carols and fruit cake. It is about remembering that Jesus is our reason for the season.

Many call Christmas the silly season; however, the true meaning of Christmas is far from silly, because Christmas is when Salvation came to earth in the form of a baby in a manger. And it is at Christmas that we stop and remember what that really means.

It means the birth of the Saviour, Jesus.
It means the One that created Heaven and earth leaving His rightful place in Heaven to come down and walk among those He created.
The fact that Jesus knew that coming down and taking on flesh would be the beginning of a journey that would end in Him dying on a cross while people cast lots over His clothing.
And the reality that Jesus was born for us, so that we could be reconciled with our Father in Heaven and spend eternity with Him.

In the midst of the festivities, let’s stop and remember that Jesus is our reason for the season. And in that, let’s make the time to stop and seek His face; to fix our gaze on the One who loved enough to come down to earth for us.

I don’t know what Christmas looks like for you, friend. Christmastime is a festive and joyful time, but it can also be a difficult time for some. It could be a time of great joy, or a time of great sorrow. You may be excited to gather your loved ones, or dreading spending Christmas alone. Whatever this season looks like for you, can I encourage you to spend time in fellowship with your Saviour. Carve out some intentional time, either alone or with others, to sit at His feet. To seek His face. And thank Him for His great love for you, knowing that His birth on earth was with you in mind.—Lays Halawe³

What would the Birthday Boy like?

I love my birthday and everything that comes with it—especially the many congratulatory phone calls, text messages, emails, Facebook wishes, and greeting cards from family and friends. For that one day, everything is about me—my favorite food, where I’d like to go, what I’d like to do, basically whatever I want. I love to bask in the “birthday girl” glory.

Sadly, I know of a birthday boy whose special day is becoming less and less about Him.

Today, Christmas has largely been reduced to a holiday from work, a time to shop, and a reason for relatives to get together. The decorations, exchange of gifts, and parties bring some excitement and merriment, but the Christmas spirit has been replaced to a great extent by the “holiday spirit.”

I once read about a small child who accompanied his grandmother to the shopping mall at Christmas and was awestruck by all the decorations, the toys, and the replica of Santa’s sled. Slowly taking the sight in, the child looked up at his grandmother and innocently asked, “Where is Baby Jesus?”

That child’s question has a deep meaning. Amidst the glitz and glamour of modern Christmas, are we forgetting the true reason for the season? How many of us remember that Christmas is Someone’s birthday and stop to think what He would like us to do for it?

I am sure He is touched by the time and effort we put into decorations and buying gifts for our earthly loved ones, but how happy He would be if we also gave Him a birthday present!

If you’re looking for ideas for a birthday present for Jesus, consider these:

Tell Him how much you love Him.
Express your love to family and friends. You never know who might need to hear just that.
Give to the poor. Reach out to them in His name and invite them to share in the Christmas spirit.
Make amends with those you’re holding grudges against.

This year, let’s do something for the Birthday Boy!—Sukanya Kumar-Sinha

Published on Anchor December 2021. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
Music from the Christmas Moments album. Used by permission.

¹ https://myfavoritechristmasstories.blogspot.com/2019/12/remembering-savior.html

² https://www.heavensinspirations.com/dont-forget-jesus.html

³ https://australasianchristianwriters.com/devotions-remembering-jesus-is-our-reason-for-the-season/

The Birth of Jesus—Part 2

December 13, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

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In recounting the story of Jesus’ birth, the book of Luke begins by first telling the story of the birth of John the Baptist, who is both a relative of Jesus and the forerunner of the Messiah. Luke brings in numerous ties to the Old Testament, making the connection between God’s promises to Israel and the fulfillment of those promises in the birth of Jesus.

We learn about a priest named Zechariah whose wife, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron—the brother of Moses and the first priest of Israel. Zechariah and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”¹

In biblical times, childlessness was often perceived as a sign of divine punishment and a source of shame.² However, Zechariah and Elizabeth’s situation is an echo of the righteous couples throughout Israel’s history who were also barren but through the intervention of God bore a child: Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and the parents of Samson.

As a priest, Zechariah ministered in the temple twice a year. This year, “according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.”³ Part of the daily routine at the temple was incense offerings before the morning sacrifice and following the evening sacrifice. It was a great honor for a priest to offer this sacrifice, and each was only eligible to do it once in his lifetime. The manner of choosing the priest for this honor was the casting of lots, and thus the priest chosen was considered chosen by God.

The altar of incense was located in the sanctuary itself and was separated from the Holy of Holies—the place where God was understood to dwell—by a very thick curtain. Zechariah’s opportunity to offer the incense, separated only by the curtain from the Holy of Holies, put him as close to the presence of God as any person other than the High Priest might ever come. It was a great honor.⁴

While Zechariah was in the Holy Place, “there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.”⁵

The angel said to Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.”⁶ In the Old Testament, when God named a child, it was often someone who had some significance in salvation history. Saying that many would rejoice at his birth and that he would be great before the Lord reinforced the idea that he would have an important role in God’s plan of salvation.

The angel tells Zechariah something about the child’s future: “He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”⁷

John’s role will be that of a prophet whose task is to bring spiritual reconciliation to the nation by turning many to the Lord. His coming in the spirit of Elijah echoes God’s promise made about 400 years earlier in the book of Malachi: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”⁸

John’s purpose is to ready a people for the Lord’s coming by bringing them to repentance. The period of waiting for the Messiah, for deliverance, is drawing to a close. At this point, Zechariah questions the angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”⁹ This denotes some doubt on Zechariah’s part, and the angel responds: “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”¹⁰

As a confirmatory sign, Gabriel declares that Zechariah will be silent until all of what he’s been told comes to pass.

At the end of his days of service, Zechariah returns home, and we learn that after some time his wife Elizabeth conceives—just as Gabriel had said she would. Upon realizing she is pregnant, Elizabeth responds with praise and gratitude, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”¹¹One can imagine the joy she experienced!

The story then moves forward six months from the time of the angel Gabriel’s visitation to Zechariah. Gabriel is now sent to the region of Galilee, north of Judea, to the village of Nazareth, to bring Mary the message that she would become mother to the Messiah.

Mary is told that her son “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”¹² This information and the title Son of the Most High were probably understood by Mary to mean that her son would become the king of Israel.¹³ However, as His life unfolds, it becomes clear that His role is to be very different from the standard expectation of the awaited Jewish Messiah, and we find that He is instead the Son of God.

Soon after Gabriel’s visit, having made the decision to agree to miraculously become the mother of the Savior, we’re told that “Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.”¹⁴

While the angel appeared to Zechariah in the temple in Jerusalem, in the Holy Place, right next to the Holy of Holies, the appearance to Mary was in Nazareth, in Galilee, far from the center of the Jewish faith. God was doing a new thing, and as the gospel story progresses, we’ll see the focus move away from the temple and onto God’s Son. As Brown says:

If the appearance to Zechariah, a priest, took place in the Jerusalem Temple as a sign of continuity with Old Testament institutions, the coming of Gabriel to Mary takes place in Nazareth, a town to which no Old Testament expectation was attached, as a sign of the total newness of what God is doing.¹⁵

Upon Mary’s arrival she greeted Elizabeth. “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’”¹⁶

Upon hearing the greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped in the womb, causing her, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to cry out with a blessing both for Mary and the child in her womb. While Elizabeth is considered Mary’s superior, she now places herself in a servant’s role by honoring her guest and recognizing her as the mother of my Lord and calling her blessed among women, affirming Gabriel’s message of Mary’s favored status.¹⁷

Mary responds with a beautiful hymn of praise, known as the Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”¹⁸

Like other hymns of praise in the Psalms, this one has three parts: (1) an introduction of praise to God, (2) the body of the hymn giving the reasons for praise, which often begins with “because,” and (3) the conclusion.

Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, most likely helping her in her last months of pregnancy. These two women who played such an important role in the history of salvation were able to be a comfort and help to one another preceding the birth of their children. The time Mary spent with Elizabeth most likely strengthened her for what she was going to face when she returned to her home and explained to Joseph that she was pregnant.

Originally published December 2014. Adapted and republished December 2021.
Read by John Laurence.

¹ Luke 1:6–7.

² See Genesis 29:31; 30:1, 22–23; 1 Samuel 1:5–6.

³ Luke 1:9.

⁴ Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), 70.

⁵ Luke 1:11–12.

⁶ Luke 1:13–15.

⁷ Luke 1:16–17.

⁸ Malachi 4:5–6.

⁹ Luke 1:18.

¹⁰ Luke 1:19–20.

¹¹ Luke 1:25.

¹² Luke 1:32–33.

¹³ Green, The Gospel of Luke, 81, 60.

¹⁴ Luke 1:39–40.

¹⁵ Raymond E. Brown, The Birth of the Messiah (New York: Doubleday, 1993).

¹⁶ Luke 1:41–45.

¹⁷ Green, The Gospel of Luke, 81, 94.

¹⁸ Luke 1:46–55.

02: Revelation Outline

A Study of Revelation

David Brandt Berg

1981-04-01

You’ll find the book of Revelation is divided into three divisions of seven chapters each—plus one. The book has 22 chapters, and the 21 chapters have three divisions of seven chapters each, plus a glorious and beautiful 22nd chapter about heaven that’s in a class all by itself.

Each group of chapters, each seven of chapters, has to do with a different subject, and I’m just giving you a general overall title or subject matter for each of these. The first seven chapters are the introduction to the real nitty-gritty of the book, a general introduction to the endtime, because the first seven chapters cover the entire history of man from John’s day, the man who got this revelation from the Lord.—The apostle John, John the Beloved, John the Revelator, the author of the Gospel of John, that great old warrior of the faith, that dear old saint of God who lived to the nineties and was getting this revelation on the Island of Patmos as an exile.

The Romans had tried to kill him, boil him in oil and so on, but he wouldn’t boil, so they sent him to the Island of Patmos. They tried to get him away where he couldn’t do any damage, where he couldn’t reach any people, where there weren’t any people to preach his gospel of love to, there weren’t any people he could subvert with this underground Gospel that threatened to destroy the Roman Empire.

So he just sat down and got a book from the Lord which not only reached a handful of farmers on the Isle of Patmos, but all of Asia and all of Europe and all of Africa, and finally the whole world, and has been read by billions of people.

The Romans exiled him to the Isle of Patmos to try to keep his mouth shut and to try to keep his message away from the people, but in so doing they just helped the plan of God, and he was better able to listen to God and get these marvelous revelations. And here we are 2000 years later, studying the words that he received on that island which have spread around the world for 2000 years.

When the Devil tries to shut up the prophets of God, if you just give him enough rope, he’ll hang himself! They thought they were banishing John, exiling him to a place where he couldn’t preach anymore, but God gave him such a revelation there that he’s never stopped preaching since.

His mouth has been opened in this book ever since. He’s kept preaching his gospel of this Revelation ever since. We’ll get into the word-by-word, verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter study a little bit later; first we’re trying to give you a general synopsis. That’s a Greek word which literally means a bird’s-eye view of the whole book.

So the first seven chapters is a sort of review or a synopsis of the history of man from John’s day to the end.

In the second seven chapters, instead of just flying across the whole history of man for the past 2000 years, (which he was predicting in these first seven chapters, and it’s all been fulfilled or is being fulfilled)—we circle around and we fly a little bit closer to the endtime, the very end of these 2000 years of history which John in predicting by the Spirit of God.

In the first seven chapters, we also have what are known as the seven seals. The Lord Himself, the Lamb, receives this book of seven seals, a scroll with seven seals. He breaks open each seal and as He does, a different period of history happens, a different event in history occurs, and we’ll study that in detail later.

We find the second seven chapters, from the eighth through the fourteenth, have to do with a famous and very important final period of man’s history known as the reign of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation period, and it ends with the marvelous coming of Christ and the Rapture of His saints in chapter 14. In the second seven chapters are the seven great Trumpets of Tribulation, the Tribulation Trumpets of the second seven chapters, and all the terrible things that happen during the Great Tribulation period.

Finally the third seven chapters, chapter 15 through 21 plus 22, is a terrible picture, as well as a beautiful picture of the endtime. First has to come the bad news and then comes the good news, because the worse it gets, the better it’s going to get. And the sooner it gets worse, the sooner it’s going to get better.

So in those last seven chapters, plus one, we find a detailed description of this end period, including some more details about the wrath of God and the great destruction of Babylon, the world system, and the final great Battle of Armageddon in which the forces of God fight against the forces of Satan and defeat him and his Antichrist Devil-man and his False Prophet and his whole kingdom. They gain a glorious victory as Jesus comes back again, this time with His followers on great white horses to charge through the skies to conquer the forces of the Enemy, to set up His kingdom here on earth.

This is followed by the marvelous, beautiful, heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth, heaven on earth, called the Millennium because it lasts a thousand years on the earth as it should have been, like the Garden of Eden restored again. No more pollution, no more evil curse, and almost no more death. If anybody dies at even a hundred years of age they’ll think he’s just a child (Isaiah 65:20). People will be long-lived like they were before the Flood, when they lived to be nearly a thousand years of age. People will live again like that during the Millennium.

These people are the ones who have managed to survive the wrath of God. He’s merciful enough to let them survive it, and they live through the Battle of Armageddon. The Lord had mercy, and the survivors are going to live on into the Millennium, that thousand-year period at the end.

We will then be in our spiritual, supernatural, heavenly bodies. We won’t even need “Star Trek” transporters or spaceships, and thank God there won’t be any “Star Wars.” Because right there in the middle of the Antichrist’s reign there’s a big star war in which Satan is cast out of heaven with all his angels. This is what starts the Tribulation as he possesses this Devil-man Antichrist.

After it’s all over, after the wrath of God and the Battle of Armageddon, before which we were caught up to be with Jesus in the air and the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we’re going to return with Jesus to conquer the earth and set up the kingdom of Jesus Christ for a thousand years over the unsaved who remain, those who survive the Tribulation, the wrath of God, and the Battle of Armageddon.

They must be pretty tough or they must live a pretty charmed life, or the Lord must be extra merciful to them for them to live through all that. But if they didn’t, there wouldn’t be anybody left but us Christians, the saved. There wouldn’t be any of the world to rule over and to teach and train and show how the world should have been and how it should have been run, to be an example to the universe of what kind of government man could have had if he’d just obeyed God and if Adam hadn’t disobeyed and eaten of that tree that God told him not to.

So this book carries us right on then through that great Millennial period and the final war of all, the Battle of Gog and Magog when Satan is loosed out of the pit of hell for just a little while to again go out and deceive the wicked people of the earth, the unbelievers, just to show that even though mercy be showed unto the wicked, yet they will not learn righteousness.

Even after a thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ in person with His followers as His personal officers and police and guardian angels, they will again rebel against the Lord Jesus Christ and His church, His people ruling the earth, and God will have to destroy them all by fire, including the earth itself and the heavens, the atmospheric heavens.

They’ll roll away in a big ball of fire like a scroll, and the earth will be completely burned up, burned over. Not the ball itself; it’ll remain. God didn’t intend to let the earth itself be destroyed, not the planet but the surface of the earth, in order to purify it, to wipe out all the wicked, wipe out all the pollution, wipe out everything that was bad or evil that still remained during the Millennium because of the wicked, and then He creates a New Heaven and a New Earth.

So that’s how this marvelous book goes. The first seven chapters are a synopsis or a preview of the whole world’s history from the time of John to the end. Second seven chapters, we come in for a close look at the last seven years and the last seven trumpets of the Tribulation period. Third seven chapters, the horrible end of it all, the wrath of God, the Battle of Armageddon, the Millennium, the Battle of Gog and Magog for a while, and then a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness only (2 Peter 3:13). Those are the three sevens of chapters of the book of Revelation.

Here’s a brief rundown of the contents of each chapter:

Chapter 1: The introduction to things shortly to come to pass.

Chapters 2 and 3: Letters to the churches, churches that existed in that day, in Asia, as well as types of churches to come and church periods to come.

Chapters 4 and 5: The throne scene, with the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, upon the throne in heaven, who opens the seven-sealed Book of the Future.

Chapter 6: The opening of the first six seals and a preview of the whole contents of history to the end.

Chapter 7: The sealing of the saints, the sparing and sealing and protection of the final saints before the Tribulation days, the endtime.

Chapters 8 and 9: The Tribulation Trumpets, the seven great trumpets of the Tribulation, and the angels of God are warned only to hurt the unsealed, only to wreak the judgments of God upon those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads but have taken the seal of the Antichrist instead, the Mark of the Beast.

Chapter 10 is a grand announcement that the end is coming soon.

Chapter 11: The two witnesses of the Tribulation and their rapture, some of the details of the endtime, and of the Tribulation.

Chapter 12: The church in Tribulation; the dragon wars with the church.

Chapter 13: The Great Red Beast of Tribulation, the Antichrist government.

Chapter 14: The Rapture of the Church, God’s children, and the wrath of God after the Gospel has been preached in all the world and the destruction of Babylon, the great world system.

Chapters 15–16: The wrath of God, with the angels of wrath and the vials of wrath.

Chapter 17: The picture of Babylon and the Beast, the world system and its worship of materialism and its beastly government of the Antichrist and the Devil himself.

Chapter 18: The destruction of Babylon in one hour. The great world commercial system, the great world materialistic system, is going to be destroyed in one hour according to the Word of God, in one day and one hour of that day. The merchants of the rest of the earth are going to stand afar off in ships and lament and weep over the destruction of all their treasures.

Chapter 19: Armageddon, that final great battle of this time period of earth and the marvelous victory of Jesus Christ over Satan and his Devil-man and his False Prophet.

Chapter 20: The Millennium and the Battle of Gog and Magog following it, in which Satan and all of his hosts and the wicked are wiped out.

Chapters 21 and 22: These are really the only detailed specific description in the whole Bible of what heaven is like, and to your surprise, you find out that heaven is on earth—a new earth, even more beautiful than the first one. There will be no more sea; there will be beautiful rolling green pasture and farmlands and trees and flowers, and no deadly insects or reptiles or pests or vipers or anything that would hurt in the whole creation. Nothing deadly, nothing harmful; everything beautiful, no Curse.

01: Introduction

A Study of Revelation

David Brandt Berg

1981-04-01

The passages in the Bible we are going to study in this series are some of the most thrilling in the entire book. It’s the grand finale, the last book in the Bible. The book is called the Revelation, or in the Catholic Bible, the Apocalypse, depending on whether you prefer Latin or Greek.

Revelation is the Latin term; Apocalypse is the same word in Greek. The New Testament from which this book comes, and with which it ends, was originally written in Greek, so that was the original Greek name of it. It’s called the Revelation of Saint John the Divine in the Protestant Bible. It’s called the Apocalypse of Saint John in the Catholic Bible.

The fact of the matter is that the book is neither one. It is a revelation, it’s definitely an apocalypse, but it’s not Saint John’s apocalypse nor his revelation, and I can prove it by reading you the first few lines of the text. In fact, the very first line of the first verse of the first chapter tells you whose revelation it really is.

So what does it say here in this very first line of the very first verse of the very first chapter of the very last book in the Bible? Whose revelation is it? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” There it is. Who cooked up this other title, I don’t know. It says, “The Revelation of Saint John.”

Of course, He gave it through dear old apostle John, who by this time was nearly 90 years of age. Think of that! He survived all those years from the early days of Jesus’ ministry when he was just a young lad, a teenager about 16 years of age leaning on Jesus’ bosom at the Last Supper, John the Beloved Disciple. He’s called John the Beloved, John the Revelator, Saint John the Divine, John the Apostle. He’s got quite a few different names, but not John the Baptist.

John the Baptist was not one of the twelve disciples of Jesus; he baptized Jesus. John the Baptist was His predecessor, His herald, the one who introduced Him to the public when Jesus was about to begin His ministry and gather His disciples.

John the Baptist was a great prophet of God who came in from the wilderness to preach the truth of God and the soon-coming kingdom of Christ, to preach “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Jesus was already alive and well and 30 years of age and about to begin His public ministry (Luke 3:1–17).

When Jesus came down to the water, John the Baptist, humbly at Jesus’ request, baptized him according to the old Jewish custom of the Old Testament and the old Jewish traditions—not a requirement for today in the New Testament days. Now we are to be baptized with the Spirit of God, a much better, greater baptism than mere water baptism.

John the Baptist died soon afterwards in prison, beheaded at the hands of that cruel tyrant Herod, at the behest of his stepdaughter, a little teenage dancer. She pleased him so well that he said he’d give her anything she wanted, up to half of his kingdom. She asked her mother what she should ask for and her mother said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”

The king couldn’t take back his promise then, although he liked John the Baptist. He feared him and he didn’t want to kill him, but he felt bound and obligated by his word and his vow to keep his word and behead John the Baptist. So he was killed during Jesus’ ministry here on earth. (See Matthew 14:1–12.)

But this John, John the Beloved, John the Revelator, who had been a teenager during Jesus’ ministry, is now about 90 years of age at the time of this glorious final Revelation of the Bible, his final, climactic, triumphant years after he had served the Lord for nearly 80 years.

They had tried to kill him and martyr him. They even tried to boil him in oil, but he wouldn’t boil, because he wasn’t done! He was too tough for the Roman Empire, because God was too tough for them. When they tried to boil him, he wouldn’t boil and they had to take him out of the oil perfectly whole, not a hair singed, not a bit of skin burned! What can you do with such a man?

They said, “Banish him to a distant island where he can’t cause any trouble preaching this dangerous radical revolutionary doctrine of love. It could destroy the Roman Empire.” And that’s exactly what it did. It finally reached Caesar’s house. Sad to say, Nero went crazy and tried to burn down the city of Rome and destroy all the Christians.

But thank God many still survived and have survived down through the centuries. John the Revelator, John the Beloved, John the Apostle who wrote that beautiful Gospel of John lived on to be 90 years of age, and clear up until about 107 A.D.

Since they couldn’t boil him, they exiled him to the Isle of Patmos, a beautiful island in the Mediterranean just off the coast of Turkey. There he spent his days in solitude and prayer and meditation, Bible study, writing letters to the churches to encourage them, until finally God began to give him this supernatural, miraculous, prophetic revelation from Jesus Christ Himself about the end of the world.

It’s a prophecy which actually begins with John’s time and continues through our time, through the endtime to the very end. In fact, it goes right on through the Tribulation, the wrath of God, the Millennium, and clear into heaven itself. It’s a marvelous book. I think you’re going to find it very fascinating, thrilling—and confusing, unless you understand it and you understand how beautifully God organized this book.

When John finally got to this time on the Isle of Patmos, he was beginning to draw close to the time of his departure from this earth and God was ready to give him the biggest job he’d ever done, to reveal to him the future of the world and the future of His church, His Christians, His children, those who love Jesus.

So there on that isolated island, far removed from the crowds and the multitude, God gave one of the greatest revelations that has ever been given to man, that has circled the globe for nearly 2,000 years and has given people warning for generations and given His children hope for hundreds and hundreds of years. This revelation showed that someday it was all going to come to an end and they were going to see the glorious, wondrous beauties of that Heavenly City coming down from God out of heaven to land on that heavenly earth, a New Earth and a New Heaven, and no more sea.

You think there’s not going to be enough room for everybody? There’ll be plenty. There won’t be any more sea. Today about 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water, by seas, so when the seas are all dried up and the mountains are made low and the valleys filled in, we’ll have a beautiful rolling landscape, heaven on earth, heavenly flowers, trees, grass. We’re going to tell you all about it in the last chapter of this series, about that golden city like crystal gold, pyramid-shaped, 1500 miles wide and 1500 miles high.

I never understood the book of Revelation when I first read it, and I’ve known many preachers and theology students and philosophers and theologians who have read it and who haven’t understood it. Although I had known the Lord all my life and had studied God’s Word ever since I could remember, every time I studied the book of Revelation I got so confused I didn’t know what it was talking about.

There are parts of it that you can understand very clearly, and parts of it that you can certainly apply to yourself, which have a message for you and me today and have had messages for His church and all mankind for 2000 years. But it takes a little bit of the divine guidance of the Lord to really sort this book out right and understand what it’s talking about. You need the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God to guide you aright through this thrilling but confusing book.

When I became a young pastor and I had a congregation of my own, I felt responsible as their shepherd to teach them. I’d been teaching them Bible prophecy, and the prophecies of Daniel seemed very clear to me. But when I came to the book of Revelation and wanted to teach this to my people, I said, “Lord, I have heard so many interpretations of this book. I have read so many books on this book that I don’t know who to believe.”

So finally I climbed the ladder one day in my little adobe church to its belfry, and I knelt down by my little cot there in my study, between my cot and my desk, and I asked the Lord desperately, kneeling on those rough floorboards of that unfinished building:

“Lord, I’ve got to teach my people the truth. I don’t want to just teach them somebody else’s interpretation, and I’ve heard so many I don’t know which one is right. I have got to know what is the right interpretation of this book. Lord Jesus, show me what this book means. Please help me to understand it. Please show me how to teach them the book of Revelation. You must have put it here for some reason.”

I’ve heard some preachers say, “Well, it’s just an allegory, it’s just a kind of parable; it wasn’t meant for you to understand. It’s in sort of mysterious poetic language and you’re not really supposed to understand it. You can’t understand it; don’t try.” So I said, “Lord, how can I be expected to understand it? Some of these theologians who know the Bible better than I do don’t even understand it. But, Lord, I’ve got to know because I’ve got to feed my flock, which You commanded me to do, and I’ve got to be able to tell them the truth and what’s right about this book.”

Do you know what the Lord told me? He didn’t start telling me what all these different beasts and symbols mean. He didn’t start explaining these mysteries and telling me what every detail meant, and every word and verse. He said, “My son, sit down and read it as though you have never read it before. Just read it straight through and I will show you. I’ll reveal it to you.”

So I sat down right then and there and I think I spent a whole afternoon reading. I was preparing a day or two before Sunday what I was going to preach, another sermon on Bible prophecy about the book of Revelation. I’d already announced it and advertised it, and here I didn’t understand it myself.

I sat down and I read it straight through nonstop that afternoon. It’s possible, it’s only got 22 chapters. The reason it takes some people so long is that they get so bogged down in things they don’t understand that they stop and try to figure it out, and then they lose the whole meaning; they don’t get an overall grasp of the book.

I was sort of like a bird flying overhead viewing the scenery from a lofty height, from a vantage point far above, and I was watching the landscape passing rapidly beneath me as I read. It was so clear, it was so beautiful! The sights, the sounds, the scenes were so clear to me that I wondered why I’d never seen it so clearly before. The chapters just fell right in place so beautifully, and the continuity, the narrative, the chronological sequence, the harmony and beauty of it all became so clear as I read that I was astounded, I was amazed that I had never understood before.

You’re going to find out in this book of Revelation that John had help from the spirit world. Angels came and talked to him, Jesus came and talked to him, former saints of God came and talked to him, former prophets of God came and talked to him, those who had departed from this life into the spirit world talked to him and told him all these things that we’re going to find in this book.

It’s in the Bible and it’s true. Every word it ever said is true and has come true, and every prophecy it ever uttered has been fulfilled except the ones that are yet to come, and they’ll be fulfilled just as surely as the ones that have been fulfilled in the past.—God’s predictions of the future through this apostle John, the great revelator.

It was really Jesus who showed it to him. He’s telling us about the future, from the immediate future to the very far distant future: clear on up through the Antichrist reign, Tribulation, wrath of God, Millennium, and the New Heaven and the New Earth, the whole works.

I flew over Revelation and through Revelation like a bird, with the ease of a seagull floating above, floating on God’s divine currents of His Spirit and viewing the scenery below enrapt, enthralled in a rapture beyond description as God opened this book to me and I got a bird’s-eye view of the whole book, just as clear as anything I’ve ever read.

God willing, in the next lesson I’m going to try to summarize it for you. I’m going to give you a fast flight through the whole book of Revelation first, sort it all out for you in three marvelous parts composed of seven chapters each, each one on a separate part of history. So may the Lord help you understand this wonderful Word of God.

(Prayer) Jesus, help these who are sincere and hungry, who know Thy voice and hear it and follow Thee, help them to understand it. Help them to read this book. Help them to understand its words. Help them, Lord. Open their minds and their hearts and their understanding. Fill them with Thy Holy Spirit that You might speak unto them these worlds of life so they can know whereof they speak, and know not only what’s happening now but also the future, and know things that will help them in their everyday life to be joyous, to be healthy, and to lead a happy, fruitful life for You in helping others and sharing Your love with the whole world, in Jesus’ name we ask for Thy glory. Amen.

AUGUST 9, 2021

My Times Are in Your Hand

Learning to Trust the Speed of God

Article by Jon Bloom

Staff writer, desiringGod.org

Did you know your head ages faster than your feet? Scientists have confirmed this, proving again that Albert Einstein was spot-on in his theories of relativity: the speed of time is relative to a particular frame of reference. For us terrestrials, that frame of reference is earth’s gravitational force. The higher up from the earth something is, the weaker the gravitational pull and the faster time moves.

An implication of this is that we frequently put our trust in a frame of reference on time different from the one we experience. For instance, the Global Positioning System (GPS) we rely on to accurately and safely guide us as we pilot our cars, ships, planes, and spaceships only works because it’s programmed, based on Einstein’s theories of relativity, to compensate for the distance between earth and space. Without those formulas, our computers and smartphones would soon get disastrously out of sync with the GPS satellites, which orbit in a different time.

Stick with me; I am going somewhere with this. How we experience time depends on our frame of reference. And our particular frame of reference is not always the one we should trust. In fact, sometimes it’s critically important that we trust another framing more than our own.

One Day with the Lord

For Christians, this concept is nothing new. Over three millennia ago, Moses wrote,

A thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)

And some two millennia ago, Peter wrote,

Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

In other words, time in God’s eyes moves at different speeds from time in our ours. And in the life of faith, it’s critically important that we learn to rely on God’s timing more than our own — to learn to trust the speed of God.

How Long, O Lord?

Learning to trust God’s timing is not easy, to say the least. This is partly due to our sin and unbelief. But it’s also because trusting a frame of reference different from ours is, by definition, counterintuitive. Since we can’t calculate God’s time, his timing often doesn’t make sense to us.

That’s why after Peter described one God-day as being like a thousand years for us, he went on to say, “The Lord is not slow . . . as some count slowness” (2 Peter 3:9). The “some” he referred to were “scoffers” who mocked Christians’ hope in the return of Christ (2 Peter 3:3–4). But the truth is that all of us fit into the “some” category at times. I don’t mean as scoffers, but as children of God painfully perplexed by our heavenly Father’s apparent slowness.

We cry out, “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1), wondering when he will finally fulfill some promise to which we’re clinging. So, Peter exhorts us, the “beloved” of God, not to “overlook” the fact that God-time is not man-time; therefore, God “is not slow” as man counts slowness (2 Peter 3:8–9) — as I sometimes count slowness. Indeed, he is not.

God Is Not Slow

Someone who has created such a thing as light speed, and who knows what’s happening in every part of a universe spanning some 93 billion light-years across, is clearly not slow.

“It’s critically important that we learn to rely on God’s timing more than our own.”

It’s also clear, however, that such a being as God operates on a very different timeline than we do — if timeline is even the right word. For God is not constrained by time. He is the Father of time (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16). He is “the Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9), existing “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). God is not in time; time is in God (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17). The “thousand years” of Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 is just a metaphor, using a timeframe we can somewhat comprehend to communicate a reality we can’t.

So, when the speed of God seems slow to us, or when his timing doesn’t make sense, we must “not overlook this one fact”: God-time is different from man-time. God-time is relative to his purposes, which is his frame of reference. And God, according to his wise purposes, makes everything beautiful in its time — the time he purposefully chooses for it.

Time for Everything

Everything beautiful in its time. I get that from Ecclesiastes 3:11:

[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

This verse captures like no other both the mysterious nature of our experience of time, and the pointers God has placed within our frame of reference to help us trust the wisdom of his timing.

In designing us with eternity in our hearts, the “eternal God” made us to know him (Deuteronomy 33:27). But in limiting the scope of our perspective and comprehension, he also made us to fundamentally trust him and not ourselves (Proverbs 3:5–6). This is how he means for us to know him:

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (Isaiah 46:9–10)

He is “the everlasting God” (Isaiah 40:28), “who works all things,” including all time everywhere, “according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). One clear way he reveals the wisdom of his purposes is how he has created, in our frame of reference, “a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1):

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance. (Ecclesiastes 3:2–4)

God “made everything beautiful in its time.” The Hebrew word translated “beautiful” means appropriate, fitting, right. God’s “invisible attributes” can be “clearly perceived” in the created order we observe and experience (Romans 1:20). They reveal the wisdom of his purposes — a wisdom far beyond ours. And God intends them to teach us that his “beautiful” timing can be trusted, even when we don’t understand it.

In the Fullness of Time

God did not merely leave us to deduce his character and wisdom from nature. For “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4). In Jesus, the Creator of all stepped into terrestrial time, into our frame of reference (John 1:2). In fully human form, he “dwelt among us,” directly revealing the divine attributes with a “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“Time in God’s eyes moves at different speeds than time in our ours.”

While here, he performed many signs and wonders and proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15). As he did so, he displayed the marvelous wisdom of the timing of God, often in ways that surprised and confused his followers (John 4:1–42; 11:1–44).

Then, when his time had come (John 12:23), Jesus obeyed his Father to the point of death on a cross, “offer[ing] for all time a single sacrifice for sins.” And then he was raised from the dead and “sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet” (Hebrews 10:12–14).

As his followers, we also wait. We wait for the Father to “send the Christ appointed for [us], Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:20–21).

Trust the Speed of God

As we wait, two thousand years later (or two God-days), we help each other remember,

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward [us], not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Yes, we must frequently help each other remember:

God-time moves at different speeds than ours.
God works all things, at all times, in all places, in all dimensions, after the counsel of his will to accomplish all his purpose.
God has a purposeful time for everything, and he makes everything beautiful in its time.
However God chooses to use our times, it’s critically important that we learn to trust his timing over the relative and unreliable earthbound perspective that shapes our expectations.

Our times, like all times, are in God’s hand (Psalm 31:15). This is what it means to live by faith in relation to time. In choosing to trust the speed of God, we humble ourselves under his mighty, time-holding hand.

According to 1 Peter 5:6–7, the amazing reward of choosing to embrace such joyful, peaceful, childlike trust in God is that he will exalt us at the proper time.

Jon Bloom (@Bloom_Jon) serves as teacher and co-founder of Desiring God. He is author of three books, Not by Sight, Things Not Seen, and Don’t Follow Your Heart. He and his wife have five children and make their home in the Twin Cities.

Christmas Ponderings

December 9, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 11:33
Download Audio (10.5MB)

In this post I’ll be sharing some Christmas greetings and blessings, thoughts on ways to work smart during the holidays, and the value of feeling both the joy and sorrow that many people experience during this time.

Christmas greetings and blessings

Christmas is a time to try to share about God’s love in a way that people will welcome it. It’s possible that your Christmas greeting to them might be one of the few or the only meaningful messages they receive. I’m referring to people who don’t know Jesus personally, and many of these folks may not even relate to Christmas as a religious holiday.

When I share a Christmas greeting with someone, I want my message to explain the essence and importance of Christmas. The message of Christmas needs to be presented in a way that people can understand and that communicates clearly that God loves them. I want them to see the celebration of Christmas as more than a commercial holiday. I want them to see that Christmas is a celebration of a great gift that can bless them all the time.

Here are some ideas for short messages that you could share, whether you do it through cards, email, tracts, slips of colored paper, or simply through verbal Christmas greetings.

At times, when I’ve given a greeting on a slip of colored paper, people have stopped and read it right there, and then expressed their appreciation for it. Others have mentioned how beautiful the thought was and that they were going to keep it in their purse or wallet. It’s amazing what an impact just a few words can have on someone when received at the right time.

This Christmas, we wish you and your loved ones a celebration of joy, love, forgiveness, and most of all, the knowledge that you are special in God’s sight.
Jesus came to earth to show us the warmth and love He has for each of us personally. May you bask in that love this season!
Once again the year ends in a celebration of love for the birth of Jesus, who was destined to show God’s love to every person by creating a path to God. May you find joy as you walk that path!
Merry Christmas! May you and your loved ones experience the special gift of love that Jesus came into the world to bring each of us.
Jesus cared so much about you that He came into this world to experience life and to overcome death for you. Happy Christmas!
This Christmas, may you find great joy in experiencing the love of Jesus, who has personally walked in your shoes and who loves you unconditionally.
You can experience God’s gift of unconditional love for you personally, made possible because He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth at Christmas.
Be encouraged that God who so long ago sent His Son to experience the human life is there for you today as well! Merry Christmas!
God loved you enough to send His Son, Jesus, into this world. Rejoice that you are not alone and that God, through Jesus, will walk with you every moment of your life.
When God sent His Son, Jesus, into this world so long ago, He was thinking about you and about me and about every person who has ever lived. He knew that the only way to restore us to Himself was through Jesus. He loves us that much.

Working smart at Christmas

Whether the Christmas season presents small or large opportunities to bless others in His name, doing so takes love, time, strength, patience, and sacrifice. In the Lord’s eyes it’s worthwhile because of each person who is brought closer to Him through our efforts. While it costs us to minister to others during the Christmas season, it shouldn’t leave us burned out from stress.

The Lord offered some wise counsel to a person who had taken on a Christmas project that was a sacrifice for him due to his difficult circumstances. Nevertheless, this man’s loving care for others motivated him to forge ahead. The Lord admired his determination, strong work ethic, and over-the-top passion, but He also wanted him to understand the best way to accomplish the task with joy, fulfillment, and the peace that transcends our understanding. Here’s what Jesus said to him:

With so much to do, I understand that it’s difficult to frequently stop during the day to fellowship with Me so I can renew your strength.

You play a very important role in this project by choosing to follow Me, and great is your reward, but ultimately, whose plan is it? Mine. Who are you wanting to show to the children and parents who attend and those who help you with the event? It’s Me. Who is big enough to do all of this? I am. Think about it this way—the great I AM is with you!

That, My loved one, is the power you have with you for this event. Now that’s not to say it isn’t a lot of work. Of course it is! But if you stay close to Me and remember to keep your focus on Me, then I’ll give you the power for it.

You won’t have time to sit at My feet all day while preparing, but you can stop here and there throughout the day for a few minutes of fellowship with Me. And you can teach My ways to your helpers by your example.

Encourage them to pray with you. Encourage them with promises of strength and power from the Bible. Quote Bible verses to your fellow laborers where I promise the strength you need. Quote them in prayer. Quote them in song. Quote them in happiness and praise. By so doing, you will not only strengthen your own spirit, you will strengthen their walk with Me as well.

It’s going to take inspiration from on high for you to have the strength needed and for you to pull this off. But I AM. That’s the power of My Spirit that you have within you.

There will be much planning and delegating. However, in all of these things the glue that will cause it to be a witness and blessing to many is the same glue that holds the entire universe in its place and plan and purpose. When I am the center of whatever work or project you set out to do, I will see to it that it results in the greatest good.

Bringing hope to others at Christmas

We live in a broken world. At times like Christmas when we want to celebrate the joy and wonder of Jesus’ arrival on this earth, the difficulties of daily life can weigh on that joy. But Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”¹ In the suffering or trauma of the moment, we can easily lose sight of the joy that He has promised. I believe that is why Jesus reminds us that it is through His Spirit and love, our love for one another, and our prayers for each other that we can overcome. In spite of life’s struggles, He calls us to be messengers of hope to others.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the company of those who are desperate to find joy or contentment. Jesus understands, and He wants us to weep with those who weep, as He does. For example, if you know someone who is feeling that terrible void of grieving over loved ones who have passed on, or others who are discouraged, depressed, alone, and suffering for a variety of other reasons, you can pray for them and reach out to them this Christmas.

Christmas is a joyous time, but it is also a time to be there for those who may not be finding joy in the moment. It’s delicate to know how to relate to people in their sorrow. Remember that everyone reacts differently. Jesus knows what each person needs and can show you how best to encourage them, as you pray and seek Him for guidance. Just the fact that you remember them will touch their hearts greatly.

In one way or another, you can help others by being a listening ear or reminding them through actions or words that there is always hope and that a new morning will come. Let’s yield ourselves even more fully to the Holy Spirit, who will guide us and help us to say the right things at the right time.

If you’re missing someone this Christmas

When I was thinking about those who have suffered the loss of loved ones through death, the Lord reminded me of a song that I found before Christmas and sent to two folks who were comforted by the song. There are two links below. The song is by Craig Aven about the death of his young son. The first link is the song sung by him when he was a guest of The Piano Boys, one of whom was grieving the loss of his daughter. The other is the original song sung by him. Both of these are dedicated to those who at Christmas are missing someone who has passed away.

https://youtu.be/0yFXfAGl17M

https://youtu.be/RFvDieQpzZk

Originally published December 2019. Adapted and republished December 2021. Read by Debra Lee. Music from the Christmas Moments album. Used by permission.

¹ John 14:27 KJV.

Better Days Ahead—Part 7

By Peter Amsterdam

December 7, 2021

—Rediscovering Joy

As Christians, when we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives and are filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives change; we experience the joy of our salvation and rejoice with an “inexplicable and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8), which is a wonderful gift of God. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), and the Bible teaches us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The apostle Paul tells us that it is God’s will that we “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

Despite God’s promises, as Christians we can experience times of joylessness, dullness, or monotony. We can face times when unexpected change, loss, or disappointments sap our joy, which can leave us wondering if we will ever recover our joy and motivation.

But the good news is that no matter what our circumstances and what losses we have sustained, we can rediscover our joy! We can learn to be joyful even during tough times, because our joy is not dependent on the fleeting circumstances of this world, but rather on the constant presence of Jesus in our lives.

We can look to the Lord, trust in His goodness and love for us, and by His grace we can learn to be joyful no matter what we are experiencing in the moment. James 1:2–4 says: “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing” (AMP).

It’s important to remind ourselves that the source of our joy is Jesus. Knowing Him, staying close to Him and His Word, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking in obedience to our calling can infuse our lives with joy that is not dependent on physical circumstances.

We read this in Psalm 43:3, ”Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live” (NLT). [The psalmist] sought after God, then committed to praise and trust Him no matter what, which is what we read in the next verse, “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!” (Psalm 43:4, NLT)

Despite his heartache and overwhelming emotions, the psalmist remembered God truly was his only help and that GOD was always there, never forsaking him even when it felt like it.

If you’re feeling forgotten, by others or by God, let your hope swell and your joy return by intentionally believing that God will never leave you and is always by your side. Make a commitment to focus on God’s presence and the blessings He has given you, and let God be the source of your joy.—Tracie Miles¹

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.—Acts 13:52

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.—Psalm 126:3

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. …

Jesus exemplified joy in His ministry. He was no glum ascetic; rather, His enemies accused Him of being too joyful on occasion (Luke 7:34). Jesus described Himself as a bridegroom enjoying a wedding feast (Mark 2:18–20); He “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Luke 10:21); He spoke of “my joy” (John 15:11) and promised to give His disciples a lifetime supply of it (John 16:24). Joy is reflected in many of Jesus’ parables, including the three stories in Luke 15, which mention “rejoicing in the presence of the angels” (Luke 15:10) and end with a joyful shepherd, a joyful woman, and a joyful father. …

Because of its supernatural origin, the joy of the Lord—our gladness of heart—is present even through the trials of life. We know we are children of God, and no one can snatch us away from Him (John 10:28–29). We are heirs to “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and no one can steal it from us (1 Peter 1:4; Matthew 6:20). …

The joy of the Lord may be inexplicable to the one who does not possess it. But, for the believer in Christ, the joy of the Lord comes as naturally as grapes on a vine. As we abide in Christ, the True Vine, we, the branches, are full of His strength and vitality, and the fruit we produce, including joy, is His doing (John 15:5).²

Joy boosters. Besides centering our lives on the Lord and His Word, and seeking to be filled with His Spirit, and choosing joy, there are also “joy boosters”; that is, practical approaches that we can implement to enhance or recapture our joy. Let’s look at some ways in which we might do that. This is by no means a complete list, and if you’ll take some time to think and pray about it, the Lord can give you ideas that will work well for you personally.

Notice the little things. Try to pay attention to even brief moments that bring joy; these could be the result of little things. Take a moment to intentionally thank and praise the Lord for the little wonders that inspire you. Once you are aware of the things that produce joy for you, think about how you can intentionally build more of those moments into your life.

It could be such things as watching children play, seeing the beauty of nature, laughing at a joke, eating one of your favorite foods, hearing a beautiful song, or feeling invigorated after a walk or exercise session, creating or appreciating a work of art, etc. Let small things bring you joy!

Many people are so disconnected from joy that they aren’t even really familiar with what joy feels like in their body or what types of things bring them joy. A joy journal is a good place to start: Pay attention for a week or two to all the moments when you find yourself smiling or laughing or feeling a sense of joy wash over you. Notice where you are, whom you’re with, and what you’re doing—those can all be clues to the kinds of things that might bring you more joy. … The goal is to notice them, and once you notice what is causing them, you can re-create those conditions in your life.³

Allow time to do what brings you joy. Maybe some of the things you enjoy doing might not seem important enough to take the time for; they are not priorities. Perhaps it feels like a self-indulgent waste of time or a distraction to your more important goals. But it is important to consciously make time and space to enjoy life as you are able.

Take a minute to remember what you used to love to do, and find a way to pick it up again. If things are different now and that activity is not possible, or you find that it doesn’t “bring you joy” now, try something else. Just try! If you’re feeling blah or in a joyless state of mind, don’t resign yourself to that mindset. Stir yourself up, take the time to find something you like to do, and enjoy it!

Take inventory of what saps your joy. Happiness can be circumstantial and fleeting, but joy is a gift from God, and we can have joy even in difficult circumstances. But it’s important to realize that there may be things in our lives that steal our joy. Those are sometimes referred to as “killjoys.” Here is an excerpt of a helpful article:

Life, even for the best of us, has its ups and downs. That is not going to change, but there is a way to make the “ups” far more common than the “downs.” The key is to strive for joy rather than happiness.

The difference between the two is significant. Happiness is based on circumstances. If things are going well, we are happy, if they’re not, we are unhappy. Unfortunately, circumstances in today’s world are usually poor, so happiness is becoming more and more elusive.

Joy, on the other hand, is not tied to circumstances. Rather, it is the positive confidence one feels from knowing and trusting God regardless of circumstances. Joy is a key component of what Galatians 5 calls the “fruit of the Spirit.” It is a gift from God, but we must prepare our hearts to receive it by first identifying and eliminating those things that are robbing us of joy.⁴

It is important that we not allow negative emotions, thoughts, or moods to take hold in our lives. These “killjoys” can grow with time and become habits or automatic reactions. If you have allowed any of these killjoys to take root in your life, it’s important to take the time to seek the Lord, study His Word, and ask His Spirit to restore the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). You can have a fresh start beginning today! The Lord can cleanse your mind and spirit and fill you with His joy.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.—Psalm 94:19

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.—Romans 15:13

Remember that as Christians the source of our joy is Jesus. In the world, happiness is often associated with appearance, wealth, relationships, possessions, etc. The message the world is sending is that happiness comes from outside ourselves. We’re bombarded with messages telling us that circumstances control our sense of joy. But in reality, our joy comes from Jesus. Love, joy, and peace are all fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the source of our joy! Praise the Lord! As we seek the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives, we can rediscover our joy.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.—Habakkuk 3:18

They lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.—Isaiah 52:8

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.—1 Peter 1:8–9

As believers we have so many reasons to rejoice and be filled with joy. We have Jesus in our hearts. He is with us constantly, and we are guaranteed to be with Him and our loved ones forever in heaven. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and can enjoy the fruits of the Spirit regardless of whatever hardships, difficulties, or disappointments we face. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in today, we can stand on the solid rock of joy.

I will close this article with a beautiful prayer written by Kay Warren.

Prayer: I Choose Joy

God, thank you for your love and passion for me and for accepting me into your family through Jesus Christ. I’m so amazed to be your beloved, but I am eternally grateful.

Thank you for Jesus Christ. His life as both a man of sorrows and a man of joy gives me permission to seek a life of joy for myself. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who graciously gave me the gift of joy as part of my spiritual inheritance, my birthright; I choose to fight for my right to experience joy.

I choose to stop digging my own broken cisterns that can’t hold water. I choose to no longer look at people, places, positions, possessions, and my personality to find joy.

I choose instead to find my joy in the only true source of joy: YOU! You are the only one who has soul-quenching springs of living water that will never leave me dry.

I choose to seek the eternal over the temporary every time. I choose to meditate on who you are so that I can align my value system with yours, God, with a value system of heaven. That is where I will choose to place my mind and my thoughts.

I choose to be a person who nurtures joy in myself and in the lives of those you have placed in my path. I choose to be a joy builder instead of a joy killer. I choose to grow in the heart attitudes of grace, trust, balance, acceptance, positive thoughts of others, nonjudgmental love, empathy, and appreciation.

I choose to make changes in my daily life that help me live a life of joy. I choose to value myself the way you value me, to intentionally seek out joy mentors, to not get caught up in the small irritations of daily life. I choose to love extravagantly, to take advantage of the pleasures my senses provide, to laugh from my belly, and to become a giver today, not someday off in the future.

I choose to live with a grateful heart, eyes wide open to see your goodness. I choose to love every moment of life you give me, whether that moment contained sorrow or joy. I choose to look for you and for joy in every messy circumstance that you allow.

I choose to develop a settled assurance that you are in control of the details of my life. I choose to be quietly confident that ultimately everything will be all right. And I choose to praise you in all things, even the things I cannot understand. I trust you, God. I courageously choose joy!⁵

¹ “I Feel Forgotten,” Proverbs 31 Ministries, November 23, 2018, https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/11/23/i-feel-forgotten

² “What Is the Joy of the Lord?” Got Questions Ministries, https://www.gotquestions.org/joy-of-the-Lord.html

³ Ingrid Fetell Lee, “How to Rediscover Joy—and Eliminate Killjoys,” Goop, https://goop.com/wellness/mindfulness/how-to-rediscover-joy/

⁴ “Are There Any Joy Killers in Your Life?” Gilroy Dispatch, November 4, 2006, https://gilroydispatch.com/are-there-any-joy-killers-in-your-life/

⁵ Kay Warren, “Choose Joy” (Fleming H. Revell, 2020).

It’s Christmas

December 7, 2021

A compilation from Mother Teresa’s writings

Audio length: 9:11
Download Audio (8.4MB)

It’s Christmas every time
you smile to a brother
and you offer your hand.

It’s Christmas every time
you keep silent
to listen to the other person.

It’s Christmas every time
you do not accept those principles
that push the oppressed to the margins of society.

It’s Christmas every time
you hope with those who despair
in physical and spiritual poverty.

It’s Christmas every time
you recognize with humility
your limits and your weakness.

It’s Christmas every time
you allow the Lord to be born again,
so you can donate it to others.

At Christmas Christ comes to us like a little child, small and helpless, so much in need of all that love can give. Are we ready to receive Him? Before the birth of Jesus His parents asked for a simple dwelling place, but there was none. If Mary and Joseph were looking for a home for Jesus, would they choose your house and all it holds?

Today there is so much trouble in the world, and I think that much of it begins at home. The world is suffering because there is no peace in the family.

We have so many thousands of broken homes. We must make our homes centers of compassion and forgiveness, and so bring peace.

Make your house, your family, another Nazareth, where love, peace, joy, and unity reign, for love begins at home. You must start there and make your home a center of love. You must be the hope of eternal happiness to your wife, your husband, your child, to your grandfather, your grandmother, to whoever is connected to you.

The home is where the mother is. Once I found a child on the streets. I took him to our children’s home and gave him a bath and some clean clothes, but he ran away. He was found again by somebody else, but he ran away a second time. After we found him, I said to the sisters, “Please follow that child and see where he goes when he runs away.”

When the child ran away a third time they followed him, and there, under a tree, was his mother. She had put stones under a small earthenware vessel and was cooking some food she had found. The sister asked the child, “Why did you run away from the home?” And the child answered, “But this is my home because this is where my mother is.”

That was home. The food that was found was all right because Mother had cooked it. It was Mother who hugged the child, Mother who wanted the child—and the child had his mother. And between a wife and a husband it is the same. …

Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas—not in the cold manger of our heart but in a heart full of love and humanity, a heart warm with love for one another.

Advent is like springtime in nature when everything is renewed, fresh, and healthy. Advent refreshes us, makes us healthy and able to receive Christ in whatever form he may come to us. At Christmas, he comes as a little child, small, helpless, and in need of his mother and all that a mother’s love can give. His mother’s humility enabled her to serve. If we really want God to fill us, we must empty ourselves through humility of all the selfishness within us.

Mother Teresa’s Christmas by Renzo Allegri

Christmas was at the centre of Mother Teresa’s spirituality. Christmas is the event which has given meaning to the story of the universe. It reminds us of the birth of Christ who became a human being, just like one of the billions who have populated and will populate the earth. This was a choice made out of love, to “redeem” humanity, to restore the damage done by Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time.

Mother Teresa saw the condition of all mankind in the fragile and defenseless child born in a stable in Bethlehem; and equally she saw the Baby Jesus in all human beings. She saw Him especially among the poorest of the poor, because those who suffer the most and have nothing are most like the baby born in Bethlehem. She saw Him in abandoned children, as these innocent creatures represented Baby Jesus’ condition even more clearly.

I have spent many Christmases with Mother Teresa. But I remember one in particular. I was in Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa invited me to dinner on 24 December, Christmas Eve, to celebrate with her and the other nuns. It was a meagre meal as is usual for the Missionaries of Charity, but rich in joy, affection, and fraternity. The atmosphere was so cordial that we almost forgot to eat.

At a certain point, I heard a knocking on the door. One of the nuns went to see who it was and returned with a basket covered in cloth. “A woman gave it to me and then rushed off,” she said. As she gave the basket to Mother Teresa she added, “She was probably a benefactor who wanted to donate some food to us for Christmas.”

Mother Teresa removed the cloth and her eyes lit up. “Jesus has arrived,” she said with a beautiful smile. The other nuns ran to see. In the basket there was a sleeping baby boy. He was an abandoned baby who was a few days old; the woman who had brought him, perhaps his mother, was unable to look after him and so entrusted him to the nuns; a frequent occurrence in Calcutta. The nuns squealed with joy and held onto the basket, moved by the sight of the sleeping baby. Their cries woke him up, and he began to cry. Mother Teresa picked him up, smiled, and yet at the same time had tears in her eyes. “Look, now we can say that our Christmas is complete,” she said. “Baby Jesus has come to us. We must thank God for this wonderful gift.” A powerful emotion emanated from her, a protective force which was her great love.—Renzo Allegri, quoting from Monsignor Hnilica¹

Published on Anchor December 2021. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
Music from the Christmas Moments album. Used by permission.

The Birth of Jesus—Part 1

December 6, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 12:12
Download Audio (11.1MB)

The story of Jesus’ life begins with the story of His birth, as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Old Testament foretold His coming, revealing specific information about the Messiah, the Savior who was promised by God. He would be born in Bethlehem,¹ come from the tribe of Judah,² and be heir of David’s throne,³ whose throne would be eternal,⁴ along with numerous other ancient prophecies about His life and death. Within the Gospels we find the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions regarding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which brought salvation to the world.

Matthew begins his gospel with an abbreviated genealogy to show that Jesus fulfilled the genealogical requirements to be the promised Messiah. He begins with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, and includes the patriarchs, thus stressing the Jewishness of Jesus. When he lists David, he refers to him as King David, making the point that Jesus, through the Davidic line, had royal blood and could be rightfully and legally called “King of the Jews.”⁵ He carries on through the generations of descendants and ends with Joseph, who was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Luke also includes a genealogy in his gospel, though instead of tracing Jesus’ line only as far back as Abraham, as Matthew does, he traces it back to the first man—Adam—and from there to God Himself. His genealogy doesn’t precede the story of Jesus’ birth as Matthew’s does, but rather is placed right after the account of Jesus’ baptism.⁶

When writing their accounts of Jesus’ birth, Matthew and Luke present different aspects and include different events, while at the same time they cover much of the same ground and make the same significant points. Matthew tells the story with a focus on Joseph and his role, while Luke’s account focuses on Mary’s role, telling the story from her perspective.

From Matthew’s account we learn that Joseph was a “good” or “righteous” man, meaning that he was an observant Jew who kept the laws of God. He was betrothed to a young woman named Mary who “before they came together … was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”⁷ In first-century Palestine, betrothal was a period of engagement preceding marriage. Mary, as betrothed to Joseph, was considered his wife, though they had only fulfilled the first step of the marriage process and they hadn’t yet started living together. Yet before they took the second step, Mary became pregnant.

Matthew tells us that Mary’s pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit, but doesn’t give any details of the event. Luke, on the other hand, gives a more detailed account by telling us that the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth “to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.”⁸Gabriel tells Mary that she has found favor with God, and “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.^”⁹

Mary asks how this will happen, as she’s a virgin, and the angel answers: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”¹⁰ Mary, probably still in her early teens, asks the obvious question of how she will bear a child when she is only betrothed and hasn’t yet had sexual relations with her husband-to-be. The angel’s response is that the pregnancy would be caused by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.

This conception is like no other throughout time. Mary becomes pregnant through a creative act of God. We are not told exactly how this creative act occurred any more than we are told the details of how God created the world, other than that He spoke it and made it so.

Mary gives her consent when she says, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”¹¹ Fulton Sheen beautifully describes the situation like this:

What is called the Annunciation was actually God asking the free consent of a creature to help Him to be incorporated into humanity. …. What He did, therefore, was to ask a woman, representing humanity, freely to give Him a human nature with which He would start a new humanity. As there was an old humanity in Adam, so there would be a new humanity in Christ, Who was God made man through the free agency of a human mother.¹²

The angel gives Mary a sign that these things are so; he tells her that Elizabeth, her elderly relative, has also conceived a son. Luke tells us that “Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah” to visit Elizabeth who, though past child-bearing age, had also miraculously conceived a son.¹³ After staying with Elizabeth for approximately three months, Mary returns home to Nazareth three months pregnant.

Upon her return, she is faced with the obvious problem that she is pregnant and Joseph knows that he isn’t the father. Matthew makes it clear that Mary and Joseph haven’t been together prior to Mary’s pregnancy when he writes “before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”¹⁴ Realizing that Mary is pregnant, and knowing that the child isn’t his, we can only imagine the hurt, pain, sadness, betrayal, and anger that Joseph must have felt as he “considered these things.”¹⁵

Mary, his bride-to-be, has in his mind committed adultery. The Mosaic law states that she can be stoned to death for this.¹⁶ But Joseph, “unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”¹⁷ Some translations render it as “to put her away” or “send her away secretly.”

It wasn’t possible to have a totally secret divorce, as the writ or certificate of divorce had to be delivered by the husband to the wife before two witnesses, and no matter what reason Joseph would have given for the divorce, everyone would have concluded that adultery was the real reason. By saying Joseph resolved to divorce her quietly, Matthew may have meant that Joseph wasn’t going to publicly accuse Mary of adultery. For Joseph, a righteous man who kept the laws of God, divorcing Mary is the right thing to do. He’s going to be merciful about it, as he doesn’t plan to give adultery as the reason, but he does plan to divorce her in alignment with the law.

We’re then told that an angel of the Lord “appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”¹⁸

The message given to him in the dream put an end to thoughts of divorce and the concern about his going against the Mosaic law by marrying Mary. The angel tells him that the child is from the Holy Spirit, and therefore he doesn’t need to fear that he will be breaking God’s law by marrying her, as no adultery was committed. Joseph understands and follows this direction.

Joseph then fulfills the second step of marriage by taking Mary into his home as his wife, thus assuming responsibility for Mary and the child who is to be born. After the birth, Joseph names the child Jesus, as he was commanded to by the angel. By naming the child, Joseph acknowledges his wife’s child as his legitimate son and thus becomes the legal father of Jesus.

It was most likely known in Nazareth that Mary had been pregnant with Jesus before she was living with Joseph, as the child would have been born much less than nine months after Mary had moved in with Joseph. We aren’t told specifically what the attitude of the people of Nazareth was toward Mary and Jesus, but perhaps we catch a slight glimpse of it later in Jesus’ life when some of the Jews seem to be mocking Him by saying, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”¹⁹

Matthew and Luke’s Gospels speak of Mary conceiving without human agency, but rather through an act of the Holy Spirit. Mary and Joseph both had to make choices of faith. For Mary, it was a choice to believe what the angel told her and to accept the commission to be the mother of the Messiah, God’s only begotten Son. For Joseph, it was a choice to believe what the angel told him in the dream, that the child was from the Holy Spirit, that this was God’s doing. Both Mary and Joseph showed their love for and trust in God through their decisions. They were people of faith, and clearly the right ones to raise Jesus.

Originally published December 2014. Adapted and republished December 2021.
Read by John Laurence.

¹ Micah 5:2.

² Genesis 49:10.

³ 2 Samuel 7:12–13.

⁴ Daniel 2:44.

⁵ Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans’ Publishing Company, 1992), 24.

⁶ Luke 3:22.

⁷ Matthew 1:18.

⁸ Luke 1:27.

⁹ Luke 1:31–33.

¹⁰ Luke 1:35.

¹¹ Luke 1:38.

¹² Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ (New York: Doubleday, 1958), 9–10.

¹³ Luke 1:39.

¹⁴ Matthew 1:18.

¹⁵ Matthew 1:20.

¹⁶ Deuteronomy 22:20–21.

¹⁷ Matthew 1:19.

¹⁸ Matthew 1:20–21, 24–25.

¹⁹ John 8:41.

Faith and Healing

David Brandt Berg

2010-11-12

Introduction by Peter Amsterdam

“Faith and Healing” is a spiritually powerful talk. I call it a talk because it’s important to remember that most of David’s writings were originally given orally, as talks to those he was teaching in classes, or impromptu discourse at the dinner table, or as discussions he had with Maria.

Sometimes he would describe a dream and speak about its meaning, or teach from the Bible, or comment on current events, but almost all of his writings started out with him speaking. Very few originated in written form. His talks were recorded and transcribed and then sent out as Letters to all Family homes.

“Faith and Healing” was a talk about a specific situation where someone needed healing, which occurred early on in the Family’s history, but the principles contained in it are timeless and enduring.

There are a variety of points made throughout the Letter, all of which merit attention and reflection, but the one that stands out to me, and always has, is the importance of the personal responsibility we each have before God. We stand before God alone. My faith is between God and me. Your faith is between God and you.

David emphasizes this vital point time and again throughout this talk. He stresses the importance of our individual faith, our personal relationship with God, our inherent responsibility for the decisions we make.

He expresses this with phrases such as:

The need to touch God personally, to make direct contact with Him
Making the decision of faith yourself
Taking the responsibility for those decisions
Making your stand of faith alone with only God’s help
Taking the step of faith alone, trusting God for the consequences
Standing on your own two feet before God
Taking the initiative alone, if need be, regardless of the cost
Making the decision on your own and taking the full consequences yourself, whatever they may be
I can’t decide for you. You can’t decide for me.
Not hiding behind others when it comes to our majesty of choice
Not pushing the responsibility on others
Trusting God personally, not leaning on others

The decisions or steps or stands of faith that we each must make belong to us and no one else. Or if you are married, or a situation involves others as well as yourself, then in many cases they will be joint decisions and stands. Though even when married or when others are involved, there are some matters that you must decide on alone, just between you and Jesus.

You must own your faith, your personal connection and relationship with God. While you hold your faith in common with others and you can share that faith together, at the very root of it, it’s yours; it’s between you and God.

This principle which David teaches in this talk is fundamental to being a Christian, and one that is important to understand.

There are a number of other poignant points made throughout this talk, though I’ve only spoken about one of them. It definitely warrants prayerfully listening to and studying this in order to understand and absorb the powerful truths contained therein.

Faith and Healing

Faith is something that is built by faithful study of God’s Word. Faith comes—it grows by hearing the Word of God. It’s not a sudden boom. You can get sudden faith for certain things with sudden Scriptures from the Lord. But you have that kind of faith because of a substantial background of faith and trusting God’s Word.

With God’s children who know Him personally and know His will and His Word, God expects them to touch Him personally, directly, and make a direct contact with the Lord, not through someone else’s faith or prayers or someone else’s decision. That’s why God requires them to make the decision of faith themselves. Just like with salvation, nobody else can make that decision for you. You have to make the decision of faith yourself—take the step of faith yourself—and you have to take the responsibility.

Most Christians can have faith under normal conditions for usual situations—what they expect God to do. But when everything goes wrong and seems contrary to the Word and the usual, only those with great faith can say with Job, “Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”¹ What Job was saying was, “Even though it seems like God is breaking His own word with me, even though it seems like God has failed me, even though God kills me contrary to all His promises, I’ll still trust Him.” He was saying with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, “God can do it, but even if He doesn’t, we’ll still trust Him.”²

But those of little faith can’t stand that. They do what Job’s wife told him to do. They curse God and die when the going gets too rough, instead of trusting God no matter how rough it is. That’s a decision of faith. It’s known as the stand of faith, like Martin Luther took on salvation by faith before the Diet of Worms. He said, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” I’m willing to die for this truth, I’m so sure of it. Even if God doesn’t defend me or protect me. It is the stand that counts. I’d rather die than stop trusting.

You literally put God on the spot. He likes you to challenge Him to keep His Word. “Now, here, God, I’ve obeyed You. I’ve put myself on a limb and sawed it off. Now it’s up to You to take care of me.” Faith is knowing! You’re positive. You’re certain. You expect it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Job didn’t know for sure he wasn’t going to die. By all indications, it looked like he was. And his friends as good as told him that he was dying because of his lack of faith. The fact was that God almost let him die to show what great faith he had.

Some people might have almost said that Abraham manifested a lack of faith in starting to kill Isaac. What was the big idea? Why didn’t he have more faith to believe in the promises of God and not kill him, and let him live, so that he could fulfill the promises of God? But Abraham had greater faith than that—faith that even though he slew Isaac, God would still keep His promises. This is unusual faith, very great faith—faith that is contrary to all normal conditions, all natural expectations, above and beyond the call of duty, above and beyond the usual.

Most Christians can trust God when they have no alternative, no choice, when they have to trust Him because there’s nothing else they can do, because He’s all they have left. But God likes the kind of faith that, when there is a choice, when there is a decision, when there is an alternative, the great faith still chooses God in spite of other possibilities.

Some people are looking for an excuse to do what they really want to do—quit. They are looking for somebody else to blame—somebody else to make the decision, somebody else to take the responsibility, instead of laying hold on the angel as Jacob did and refusing to let go until God blessed him.³

Some people sell themselves out too cheap. They quit too soon. The explorer Amundsen, who was the first man to reach the South Pole, when it looked like he wasn’t going to make it, sent a message back to civilization saying, “Don’t rescue me prematurely.” He was willing to risk his life to reach his goal rather than take the easy way out.

It’s so easy to make excuses—legitimate, logical, reasonable, acceptable excuses why you couldn’t make it, why you shouldn’t be expected to make it. And in most cases most people will accept your excuses, because most people don’t have faith either, and in excusing you they’re excusing themselves. But is God going to excuse you?

One of the saddest words in the English language is the word “almost.” One of the saddest phrases ever found written was found written on the cell wall of a prison: “If I only had.” One of the saddest statements ever made was made by a famous lawyer in St. Louis who died an alcoholic in disgrace: “The tragedy is not that I’m not the man I used to be. The greatest tragedy is that I’m not the man I could have been.”

When you take a stand of faith, you usually have to take it alone with God. When you make your final stand of faith on any issue, you’ll have to make it alone, with only God’s help.

Most of the decisions—great decisions—that I’ve had to make in my life as a leader have been lonely decisions where only I and God stood together. They have been mountain peaks of decision, with nothing but thin air between me and the next peak. I had to take that step alone and trust God for the consequences, with no guarantee but God, no warranty but His Word, all other conditions being against it, all natural circumstances being opposed to it, the waves and the wind fighting against it—and all I had was the hand of God!

But He never let me down, even if He had to pick me up by that hand and lift me across to that next mountain peak, without any visible, natural, normal, logical, reasonable means of help.

Man says, “It’s impossible! Tie up in port. Retire and rot away. Don’t attempt the impossible; you’ll sink!” God says, “Launch out into the deep! Cast forth thy nets and I’ll give you such a draft there’ll not be room enough to hold it! I’ll give you the biggest load you’ve ever had, when you were ready to sink without any load!” Man says, “Look at the storm! Look at the condition of your vessel! You can’t do it!” God says, “Look at Me! With man it is impossible; with God, nothing shall be impossible, and all things are possible to him that believeth!”⁴

We started our life and ministry on impossibilities. Like Abraham, we went out, not knowing whither we went.⁵ We didn’t know where to go, but God led us by the hand step by step. God had said He would open a door that no man can close. Man didn’t open it—God did!

God brought us through and we won the victory; but we had to make the decision—every one of us, alone—or we wouldn’t be here! “According to your faith be it done unto you.”⁶ We are living by faith, in spite of many problems and obstacles, but you had to make that decision yourself. You had to make the final decisions of faith yourself. It had to be your choice, or it would be no good, or you couldn’t stand. If you’re trying to coast along on someone else’s faith, forget it! They’ll let you down, sooner or later. You’d better stand on your own two feet before God. You made the decision to follow God. Not even God could make it for you. “Many are called, but few are chosen”⁷—because so few choose His way!

God has revealed some things which are so miraculous that they seem impossible, so supernatural they seem unbelievable. But if we are not willing to act by faith on what God has shown us, it could never happen. Somebody has to decide to trust God, like the spies in the wilderness.⁸ Somebody has to be willing to take that first step of faith in that direction—to take the initiative because of the vision, and to take it alone, if need be, regardless of the cost.

Someone has to take the first step of faith in that direction to make it come to pass. Somebody has to show he believes it. Somebody has to demonstrate that he really thinks God means business by what He said and what He showed. Someone has to make the decision of faith—alone! You don’t see the blessing yet. How do you know He’s going to pour it out? You’ve only got His word for it—you’ve got to prove Him! You have to literally test it, to challenge God. You have to take a step in the direction He said to go, to find out what He’s going to do. Because if you don’t go, He can’t show! If you don’t obey, He can’t make a way. If by faith you don’t be, you’ll never see. For believing is seeing, in God’s business!

The greatest darkness is just before dawn; the greatest desperation is just before salvation. The greatest hopelessness attacks just before rescue. May God give us the faith and the willingness to make the choice, alone—if need be—to make the decision on our own and to take the full consequences ourselves, whatever they may be.

Faith is not something that you can try to have. You either have it or you don’t. You have it because you’re full of the Word and the faith of God, and you just know it and expect it. You cannot try to have faith. Faith isn’t something you work up or muster up by your own efforts or strength.

Trying to have faith is a work of the flesh. Accepting faith through His Word is a work of God’s grace, like salvation. It’s free. It can only be received, but your works will show it. You’ll be tempted to doubt, but you won’t doubt. The Devil will try to scare you, but you won’t fear. He’ll try to frighten you, but you won’t quail. He’ll try to bluff you, but you won’t retreat. He’ll try to bully you, but you won’t surrender.—Because you’re willing to die trusting, you’re so sure of God!

I can’t decide for you! You can’t decide for me! Every man must give an account of himself to God!⁹ “What is it to thee? Follow thou Me!”¹⁰ We cannot hide behind others when it comes to our majesty of choice. We cannot push the responsibility upon others.

God wants you to make your own choices according to your own faith—not mine, not ours, not somebody else’s, but yours. He wants you to learn to trust Him personally, not lean on others.

“For without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to Him must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”¹¹ “For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!”¹² In other words, you’ve really already got it, by faith, and you don’t doubt, and you don’t change, and you don’t run out on God at the last minute. For God is not a man, that He should lie—and you know God’s going to do it, so you don’t even consider anything else.¹³

Some people like to have group faith. They want everyone to trust God with them. What they really mean is that they want everyone to trust God for them, so that they don’t have to have faith themselves. You can’t eat for me. I have to eat for myself. You can’t exercise physical muscles for me. I have to exercise my own. I can’t absorb the Word for you, nor can I exercise your muscles of faith; you have to do it yourself. I can’t have faith for you! You have to have your own, if you know God and you’re His child.

I can trust God with you, but not for you. That you have to do yourself. I can pray with you, teach you, try to encourage your faith, try to get you to look to Jesus, and try to inspire you by my own examples and my own stories and experiences of faith where God has never failed. But when it comes to the showdown, you must have faith for yourself. “Have faith in God!”¹⁴ I cannot do it for you.

Those whose faith is only a proud pretense will chicken out when the going gets rough and it looks like all is lost. They’ll leap off the boat when they think it’s about to sink.

But the captives of faith would rather go down with the ship, if such be the will of God, knowing that God is able to raise it again, if need be!

Fair-weather faith is no faith at all! Real faith endures the storm, even when it looks like you’re sinking. Real faith stands his ground when all else fails, and all others desert, even if he has to go it alone! Real faith never quits, never gives up, never stops, and therefore can’t be stopped—for God is with such faith! Real faith will pay any price, suffer any sacrifice, die any death!

You cannot stop the man of faith. You cannot dissuade him! You cannot divert him! You cannot stop him! He’ll go on with or without you, or right over you, if necessary. For this is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith.¹⁵ If it comes to that, all he needs is God! With that kind of faith in God, you can go anywhere and do anything, for all things are possible to him that believeth!¹⁶

What kind of faith do you have? How far are you going to go with God?

Originally published August 1970. Adapted and republished November 2010.
Read by Peter Amsterdam.

¹ Job 13:15.

² Daniel 3:16–18.

³ Genesis 32:24–26.

⁴ Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37.

⁵ Hebrews 11:8.

⁶ Matthew 9:29.

⁷ Matthew 22:14.

⁸ Numbers 13:16a, 25–30.

⁹ Romans 14:12.

¹⁰ John 21:22.

¹¹ Hebrews 11:6.

¹² Hebrews 11:1.

¹³ Numbers 23:19.

¹⁴ Mark 11:22.

¹⁵ 1 John 5:4.

¹⁶ Mark 9:23.

December 4

Covered and Protected

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4)

A condescending simile indeed! Just as a hen protects her brood and allows them to nestle under her wings, so will the Lord defend His people and permit them to hide away in Him. Have we not seen the little chicks peeping out from under the mother’s feathers? Have we not heard their little cry of contented joy? In this way let us shelter ourselves in our God and feel overflowing peace in knowing that He is guarding us.

While the Lord covers us, we trust. It would be strange if we did not. How can we distrust when Jehovah Himself becomes house and home, refuge and rest to us?

This done, we go out to war in His name and enjoy the same guardian care. We need shield and buckler, and when we implicitly trust God, even as the chick trusts the hen, we find His truth arming us from head to foot. The Lord cannot lie; He must be faithful to His people; His promise must stand. This sure truth is all the shield we need. Behind it we defy the fiery darts of the enemy.

Come, my soul, hide under those great wings, lose thyself among those soft feathers! How happy thou art! ( Faith Checkbook)

Better Days Ahead—Part 6a

By Peter Amsterdam

November 30, 2021

—Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Testimonies help to encourage us in the Lord. We can feel alone at times when we struggle, but when we hear that a friend or colleague has also faced something similar and overcome or made it through the battle, that can help to bolster our faith and give us hope.

Here is an excerpt from the previous post, “Fight the Good Fight of Faith”:

We are fighting a spiritual warfare! We are soldiers of the cross.

1 Timothy 6:12 says: Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses (AMP).

There are spiritual forces of evil, Satan and his demons, who oppose God and His children. They are in rebellion against God. They oppose our work of bringing the truth of salvation to the world and seek to pull us away from the Lord and His service. But God reigns over the entire created order, including the forces of evil, and Satan is a defeated foe.

Regarding the spiritual warfare, one of my co-workers wrote the following to a friend of ours, which I think describes in part how we all might feel at times. He said:

I can feel your prayers. They have kept me going, they really have. Sometimes I’m shocked at what a wimp I can be. I’m praying for you as well. There is distance between us, but where we live isn’t important because we’re one in spirit, and we each play a part in the victories and therefore the battles, too.

Each of us gets hit in different ways, but the Lord’s goal is the same: to prepare and strengthen us for what He needs us to be and to do.

You are such a fighter. I know, being a fighter doesn’t mean that you don’t get hit or knocked off your feet sometimes. I’m really experiencing that these days. It just means that we refuse to stay down! We keep coming back and landing another punch at the old boy, the Devil. We don’t always feel like getting back up, but it’s who we are and Who we have in us that overcomes the enemy’s lies and helps us push forward no matter what!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.—1 Peter 5:8–10 NIV

* * *

It’s interesting to me that my co-worker wrote the above note to the woman I mentioned in Part 2 in this series who is a friend of ours and who had developed a new habit that she calls her “talk to Papa and Jesus” time during her daily walks with her dog. This is when she talks to the Lord and the Father in prayer, as if they were right there with her. She said that anyone who sees her talking out loud and laughing with only her dog around might call her “that crazy old lady,” but in reality, she is a warrior in the Spirit!

Well, that’s not all of her story. Later I understood the significance of her saying she is a warrior in the Spirit. She wrote again, saying:

I’m kind of at a low ebb now. I feel bored and sad. I guess it’s just one of those “seasons” in my life, but I’m so grateful that I have Jesus and Papa constantly by my side. What a wonderful treasure. And I’m thankful that the Lord has continued to open doors for me to witness and minister to others.

However, I have been under attack spiritually recently. I have felt nervous and a little anxious at times, and I’ve had some stressful sleepless nights worrying about the future and my loved ones. I have felt alone. I’m used to living alone, so either I’m more vulnerable right now as I’ve been sick for a couple of weeks, or maybe the Lord is testing me and the dark spiritual forces of the Enemy are fighting me.

But more than these feelings of despair, I’ve been attacked in my spiritual life in a way I’ve never experienced before.

I have been enjoying wonderful times of communion with the Lord and Papa in my many quiet hours at home and also on my long walks. But just a few days ago, I got attacked in my mind and thoughts. I was at home, praying, having my quiet time, reflecting on God’s Word and feeling at peace, when all of a sudden, out of the blue, it was as if I heard an audible voice taunting me, saying:

“You’re crazy! All this talking with an unseen entity. You’re just doing this to make yourself feel better. This means nothing! You’re just quoting words to thin air, there’s no one listening. This is a stupid waste of time. Just wait … you’ll see!”

I have never experienced anything even remotely like that! It was terrible! I’m not a “touchy-feely” kind of person. I don’t have dreams. I don’t see visions. I can’t imagine anything. When I close my eyes, I only see black. I don’t “hear” the voice of the Lord speaking audibly—ever!

So, to feel like I was actually hearing a voice mocking me and rebuking me and threatening that I’ll see that the foundation of my faith is a lie was shocking, scary, and overwhelming! The tone of the voice was sarcastic and condescending. It was trying to make me feel like I was stupid; in fact, that I was crazy! This voice was attacking the thing that is the most important to me—my relationship with Jesus and Papa.

I felt weak. I felt like I had lost my anchor. For a moment I doubted.

But then I snapped out of it and I thought, “Hey, wait a minute!” I realized the Devil, the one who goes about like a roaring lion, was trying to take me out, devour me!

Then I went on the attack in the spirit realm and started resisting the Devil. I got mad and said in a loud voice, “Get behind me, Satan! You have no place here! You don’t belong here! I follow Jesus! Jesus Christ is the one who has the power here!—Not you! I have put on the armor of God and I have the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God! I rebuke you, in Jesus’ name! Get behind me, Satan, in the name of Jesus! You are a liar!”

I realized this evil attack was trying to make me doubt the power of prayer and the very existence of Papa and Jesus. The Enemy or his evil forces were trying to make me feel stupid and ashamed, so I would stop praying. Of course, Satan and his minions hate my faith in prayer and my knowledge of God’s Word that gives me faith to know that Jesus and Papa will never fail me! They have never failed me! No matter what happens, I can look back on decades of knowing Jesus and I can recognize His love, mercy, supply, and protection. I know He and Papa love me, they want the best for me, they cause all things to work together for good for me. I know that! I absolutely know it!

The Devil hates my confidence in the Lord and God’s Word, and he wanted to intimidate me and make me feel like a stupid loser. I don’t know how this kind of battle in the spirit really works. I don’t believe the Devil himself was actually there, since he can’t be everywhere at once and I won’t flatter myself that I’m oh so important that he would focus on me personally.

I believe this attack was the voice of his lies delivered by his evil minions. And it felt so real. I suppose others have felt the intense spiritual battle in this way as well, or through other emotions such as fear, jealousy, rage, self-loathing, etc.

I kept praying out loud, I kept fighting with the power of the Holy Spirit, even though I was reeling and felt destabilized. I kept resisting the Devil with God’s Word, quoting Bible verses that affirm Jesus’ power over the darkness. And then, as quickly as the battle erupted, it ended!

It was a fight! But I won! Jesus won!

And the end of the story is … I have become a warrior! I had been enjoying a sweet, tender, beautiful relationship with Jesus and Papa as we would commune together with such intimacy. I was a sweet old lady. But now?!! No way!

Now I’m a warrior! And I have gone to battle with the Devil’s evil minions and the Devil himself! Now that “roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8) has become a scared little rat that has slinked away in fear. And it’s only the beginning! I won’t quit! I will continue believing God’s Word, trusting in His goodness, and being a voice for truth in this fallen world!

And with that testimony, she sent me this picture which illustrates the fact that she has changed from that “sweet old lady” to a warrior for Jesus!

Praise the Lord! Here is a message from Jesus that encourages us all to continue to fight the good fight:

Nothing can destabilize you or move you when you’re placing your faith in Me. But you say, “Lord‚ I am destabilized! I’m shaken. I feel my feet of faith wobbling beneath me. How can my faith keep me stable when I feel like I am falling?” Even if you feel that your faith is shaken, if you have taken a stance‚ determined to stand strong in the power of My might, then you will not be moved and you can have full faith that your stand is sure.¹

Remind yourself of the promises I have made in My Word that when you put on My whole armor, you will be able to stand against the schemes of the enemy.² Resist your adversary, standing firm in the faith, and believe that he will flee from you!³ Even if you feel unstable and wobbly, because you have taken a stand of faith, you can trust that I will keep you from falling. Remember‚ the victory that overcomes is your faith, not your feelings.⁴

Come up to higher ground to the hills of praise and hide yourself in My presence and protection. I will nourish you and cherish you all the days of your life. And, in the life to come, I will reward you for your faithfulness.

One day you will revel in a place of unimaginable beauty. One day you will know a love and joy so complete, so all-encompassing, so perfect that it is unimaginable to you at this time. It is not possible for you to imagine even a fraction of the splendor, glory‚ perfection, and completion that awaits you in the realm beyond. You, who are now small, weak, and weary, will inherit the very kingdom of God.—Jesus

The victorious testimony above reminds me of a song called Warrior by Hannah Kerr that Maria included several months ago in a post of some of her favorite songs. Here are the lyrics of that song.

Warrior

Staring down the face of fear
Got to keep breathing
When the negative is all you hear
Got to keep believing

‘Cause in the darkness there is a light
Your truth it keeps on burning bright
Brave enough to fight the fight
Shout the battle cry

You’ll never stop me
I’m a warrior
When I fall down
I get stronger
Faith is my shield
Your love is the armor
I’m a warrior
I’m a warrior
I’m a warrior

Every scar on my skin
Is a beautiful reminder
Of a moment when I didn’t give in
And I walked through fire

‘Cause in the dark there is a light
Your truth it keeps on burning fight
Makes me brave to fight the fight
Shout the battle cry

You’ll never stop me
I’m a warrior
When I fall down
I get stronger
Faith is my shield
Your love is the armor

I will keep the hope alive
I will find the strength inside
I will keep the hope alive
I am a warrior, I will survive
I will keep the hope alive
I will find the strength inside
I will keep the hope alive
Warrior

You’ll never stop me
I’m a warrior
When I fall down
I get stronger
You’ll never stop me
I’m a warrior
When I fall down
I get stronger
Faith is my shield
Your love is the armor
I’m a warrior
I’m a warrior
Jesus make me a warrior

I will keep the hope alive
I will find the strength inside
I will keep the hope alive
Warrior

¹ Ephesians 6:10, 13.

² Ephesians 6:11.

³ James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9.

⁴ 1 John 5:5.

Casting Your Cares on Jesus

December 2, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 11:14
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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”—Matthew 11:28–29

My shoulders are broad enough to carry any load that you bring to Me. Your burdens may be too heavy for you to bear, but they are not too heavy for Me. You’ve heard it said many times, “Cast all your cares on Jesus,”¹ but you may ask yourself, “Practically speaking, how can I cast all of my cares on You, Lord?”

First take a few minutes to reflect on your situation. What are the cares that you are carrying? What is causing you to be anxious and to worry about the future? What makes your burdens heavy and your yoke weighty? What do you need to do to take My yoke upon you and find My promised rest?

There is a place of complete peace in Me; this is the place of surrender and faith and trust in My care for you. You ask, “How can I enter into this place of surrender and complete trust? With all that is to be done, how can I ensure that my cares will be upon Your shoulders and not mine?”

First take time to commune with Me and assess your priorities. Make note of the tasks at hand that you have to do. Take a look at your responsibilities and the worries and burdens that you have on your mind. Ask for My wisdom to help you to see which are legitimate concerns that you need to take care of with My help, and which are cares, burdens, worries, or fears that you cannot resolve but must instead place in My hands.

Commit all your cares to Me one by one and ask Me to take care of all your worries and concerns. Ask Me to help you to not take these burdens back upon yourself. Then commit all the responsibilities, tasks, and projects that you must do into My hands, and in doing so you’ll be casting all of your cares upon Me and trusting that I will sustain you and will not allow you to be shaken or moved by them.²

As you seek Me for the grace, wisdom, and anointing for each item on your to-do list and commit it into My capable hands, trust that I will continue to order your steps and keep you through whatever challenges you may face.³ No matter what your ministry, work, or calling may be, casting your cares upon Me will make your burdens lighter.

Of course, throughout the day there are often new concerns and times when cares and problems seem to tumble in on every side. When this happens, remind yourself that you don’t have to bear the load yourself. Bring any problems or challenges to Me and I will help you to carry the load and work through each situation with faith.

Pacing yourself for the upward climb

The pilgrimage of the Christian life is a continual climb upward to the top of the peak. There are small plateaus where you are able to pause, rest, and relax, or even places of prolonged respite where you can regain your strength before going ahead. Although climbing the mountain can be arduous and tiring, I do provide stopping points that you can enjoy and times of relaxation when you can recoup your strength. It is important to pause and rest at these times.

These lookout points are beautiful stopping places where you can look out over the valley and take in the awe-inspiring view, the breathtaking, majestic scenery of the mountain range, the sky, the forests, and all of creation. It will inspire you and encourage you and give you time to be filled with the beauty of it all and to reflect on your purpose and goals. These times will inspire you and remind you that it’s worth it all, and then you can continue your climb.

But sometimes in the rush of everyday life, it is easy to feel like you can’t stop to take advantage of the small plateaus and lookout points to rest and be refilled. It is important to remember that you need times to just relax and not only enjoy the climb and the view, but also to take the time to be refilled and rest before continuing on in the journey.

The journey upward for all who follow Me can be arduous at times. All mountain climbers have to pace themselves, knowing that the uphill climb will be taxing and will require great strength and endurance. It is a key principle for My mountain climbers to stop and rest and take time with Me and not let that time with Me be crowded out of their lives.

This is the principle of the mountain—one of the most important tenets of the Christian life—you must stop to enter into My presence and to be strengthened through My Word, and find rest for your soul. In this place of quiet rest, you will find peace, healing, and the strength you need to carry on and to continue on the right path.

When you neglect to take that time with Me in rest and restrengthening, over time you can grow weary and faint in your mind.⁴ Those who are weary must take time with Me to enter into My peace, to be refilled, recharged, and restrengthened.

Times change, circumstances change, the weather changes, and even mountain conditions change as you continue to climb up the mountain. So even those who are very adept climbers must not only rest, but most importantly take time with Me, or else they too can become weary and discouraged and start to feel heavy-laden and weighted down.

Seek My strength and guidance for climbing the mountain of this life. Take time for periods of rest. Refer to the Mountain Climber’s Manual and ask Me to guide you in the changing conditions you face. All climbers need to take the time to lay aside the weights they may be carrying and be refilled and strengthened to continue upwards on the journey.

Be replenished

Take the time to be replenished, My dear one. Stay close to Me, and allow Me to give you My promised rest. I see your great love for Me. You have given your life for Me, and I am well pleased. I see the longings of your heart, the desire to do what is needed, that which I have called you to do. I also see the struggles. I know and I understand the burdens you bear.

Do not fret or worry or take the burdens upon yourself, for they are too heavy for you to bear. Let Me sustain you and help you. You must leave your worries and cares—wondering how things will turn out, whether people or circumstances will change, whether problems will be resolved—with Me. They are not for you to carry.

Trust that I know best and that I am in control of every situation you face, even when things happen because of the wrong choices of man and the free will that I have given him. I am still able to work all things together for good for all who love Me and are doing their best for Me. I will cause all things to bear good fruit in the end for those who love and follow Me. When you have committed your concerns to Me in fervent prayer, then the burden of resolving those concerns is no longer yours. So, come to Me and lay down your cares.

My thoughts and plans are above your understanding, and sometimes you can’t see or comprehend the way I am working. But as you commit your burdens and the problems around you to Me, and let Me carry them, I will give you the strength and anointing and grace that you need for the onward journey. Trust in My everlasting love for you, My dear one.

Originally published August 1998. Adapted and republished December 2021.
Read by Simon Peterson. Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ 1 Peter 5:7.

² Psalm 55:22.

³ Psalm 37:23.

⁴ Hebrews 12:3.

Running Against the Wind

December 1, 2021

George Sosich

Today I happened to listen to a favorite old song of mine on YouTube, “Against the Wind” by popular singer-songwriter Bob Seger.¹ It’s a reflective song that tells the story of a person who, upon experiencing heartbreak in his younger days, loses his way in life and then spends the rest of it in hardship, seemingly always running against the winds of adversity. And yet in the end, there’s some sense of victory and hopefulness in that he hasn’t caved in to life’s troubles, but after all he’s been through, he still keeps on running, a sentiment he echoes in the refrain “I’m still running against the wind.”

After listening, I scrolled down to the comments section for the first time and was quite struck at the emotional reactions left by other listeners. Many shared how they were moved by the sentiments expressed in the lyrics and how they could relate to them. Others told of how the song brought back fond memories of their parents who loved the song, and how that now that they themselves are older, they understand why. Some said that they were brought to tears. I was moved to see how the song resonated with them so deeply.

This led me to reflect on my own life, and the memories of the many struggles I have faced came flooding back to me, even some that I had long forgotten.

The Bible does liken life to a race we’re running. Hebrews 12:1–2 says, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”²

I’ve read this verse many, many times in my life, but looking it up this time I saw something I’ve never noticed before: the phrase “marked out for us” (or “set before us” in other translations of this verse). This indicates that God purposefully enters us into our particular race. I find it interesting that we’re not running out of random chance, but rather by God’s design in a race that God intends for us to run and win.

If you’ve ever tried running against a strong headwind, you’ll know how hard it is to make ground. Athletes, like I used to be, know that if the wind is strong enough, it can hold you back so hard that you feel like you’re almost going nowhere. Have you ever felt like you’re running for all you’re worth in life but seem to be making little or no progress? No matter how much effort you put in, you keep meeting with fierce resistance? I’ve felt that way many times.

So how do we manage to keep running in the face of life’s heavy wind resistance? Paul says by “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” And he ought to know. Besides the regular human struggles of life we all experience, as an apostle of Christ and bearer of His message throughout the world, he faced enormous resistance in the form of severe persecution and other calamities. He even lists them in 2 Corinthians 11: beatings, whippings, a stoning, a shipwreck, floods, robbers, danger from various people, toil and hardship, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure, etc.³

And yet, in spite of the barrage of obstacles, setbacks, and hindrances, Paul “kept running,” and near the end of his life, facing execution for his faith, even proclaimed his victory over it all, saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”⁴ Here he gives another huge clue on how to keep running into the wind: “I have kept the faith.” His faith kept him going.

Some people quit midrace. Either they get weary of the fight or they get distracted by other things or even other people. Paul speaks of these when he admonished the disobedient Galatians, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”⁵

In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul gives some further clues about how to stay in the race: maintaining discipline and self-control, not running aimlessly but running with purpose and looking forward to heavenly rewards. He says: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control.”⁶

It takes a strong sense of dedication, discipline, and self-control to stay on course when the resistance is strong, and a healthy focus on the awaiting eternal reward gives us motivation to keep running when things are tough.

I’m sure that like Paul, any one of us could write a list of all the different types of headwinds we’ve faced in our own race. Maybe you’re facing some even at this very moment in your life. But when you feel like the wind is too strong and the finish line too far, remember the words of Isaiah, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”⁷

So, let’s keep on running no matter how strong the headwinds so that one day we will be able to say like Paul, “The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.”⁸

¹ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrkY-EZy74.

² NIV.

³ See 2 Corinthians 11:23–28.

⁴ 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV.

⁵ Galatians 5:7 NIV.

⁶ 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV.

⁷ Isaiah 40:29–31 ESV.

⁸ 2 Timothy 4:6–8.

A Hope That Is Unshakable

November 30, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:02
Download Audio (11.9MB)

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf.”—Hebrews 6:19–20¹

The heroes in the Bible came from all walks of life: rulers, servants, teachers, doctors. They were male, female, single, and married. Yet one common denominator united them: they built their lives on the promises of God.

Because of God’s promises, Noah believed in rain before rain was a word. Because of God’s promises, Abraham left a good home for one he’d never seen. Because of God’s promises, Joshua led two million people into enemy territory. Because of God’s promises, David conked a giant, Peter rose from the ashes of regret, and Paul found a grace worth dying for. …

From the first chapter of Scripture, the Bible makes a case for the dependability of God. Nine times the text reiterates “God said.” And without exception when God spoke, something happened. Something wonderful happened. By divine fiat there was light, land, beaches, and creatures… The reader is left with one conclusion: God’s word is sure. …

Could you use some unshakable hope? If so, you are not alone. We live in a day of despair… We’ve never been more educated. We have tools of technology our parents could not have dreamed of. We are saturated with entertainment and recreation. Yet more people than ever are orchestrating their own deaths. How could this be?

Among the answers must be this: people are dying for lack of hope. Secularism sucks the hope out of society. It reduces the world to a few decades between birth and hearse. Many people believe this world is as good as it gets, and let’s face it. It’s not that good.

But People of the Promise have an advantage. They determine to ponder, proclaim, and pray the promises of God… They filter life through the promises of God. When problems surface, they can be heard telling themselves, “But God said . . .” When struggles threaten, they can be seen flipping through Scripture, saying, “I think God said something about this.” When comforting others, they’re prone to ask, “Do you know God’s promise on this topic?”…

According to Peter, God’s promises aren’t just great; they are “very great.” They aren’t just valuable; they are “precious.”² To bind them around your neck is to adorn yourself with the finest jewels of the universe. It is through the great and precious promises that we participate in the divine nature of God. They lead us into a new reality, a holy environment. They are direction signs intended to guide us away from the toxic swampland and into the clean air of heaven. …

We are building our lives on the promises of God. Because his Word is unbreakable, our hope is unshakable. We do not stand on the problems of life or the pain in life. We stand on the great and precious promises of God.—Max Lucado³

Unshakable Hope

If your life is anchored to God’s Word, you don’t have to become flustered during stressful times.

In a world facing uncertain times, God’s people need hope now more than ever. But hope can be difficult to find when life seems to be caving in and all hell is breaking out around you—especially when you are facing financial pressures, family conflicts, and other stressful situations.

The Bible says there will come a day when everything that can be shaken will be shaken, so “the things which cannot be shaken may remain.”⁴ I believe we are experiencing that shaking today, and it’s only just beginning.

So, what does this mean for us? It means we must find God’s hope amid the stormy and stressful seasons of life. Thankfully, God offers us a reliable anchor, assuring us of victory: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”⁵ Notice that our anchor of hope must enter into the presence of the Lord, “behind the veil.” …

The Apostle Paul pointed out that because of this kind of hope, grounded in the promises of God, “We do not lose heart … we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”⁶ So if you’re feeling stressed out today, pause for a moment to look past the temporary cares and trials of this world. Fix your eyes on Jesus instead, for He’s “the author and finisher of our faith.”⁷

This unshakable hope must be a reality in our lives, not just a nice religious theory. A person who is fully trusting in the Lord will experience His “perfect peace” even when times are tough: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”⁸

Isn’t that good news? No matter what you may be going through, you can say as David did, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”⁹ …

Jesus offers hope for the hopeless. He’s our strength and confidence, our Rock in times of trouble. Although He never pretended life would be easy, He gave us this great promise: “Trusting Me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”¹⁰

What a great anchor for us when the storms of life come!—Ben Cerullo¹¹

It will all be right at last

Meditating on Jesus and learning to stop and get calm before Him, no matter what else is going on in your life, no matter what else is going on around you, makes it possible to praise Him in and through everything—even when you’re facing what seem like impossible situations. The fruits of praise grow from the roots of learning to rest in Jesus, as this poem from Giles Fletcher (written in 1588) so beautifully portrays:

There is a calm the quiet in spirit know,
That softens sorrow, and that sweetens woe;
There is a peace that dwells within the breast,
When all without is stormy and distressed;
There is light that gilds the darkest hour.
When dangers thicken and when tempests lower,
It is through faith and prayer and praise that calm is given,
That peace remains when all beside is riven,
That light shines down to man direct from heaven.

Someone whose anchor held through all the troubles in life that almost overwhelmed her, and the grief that she endured, and the storms that almost obscured her light, was Fanny Crosby. Fanny was the famous American poetess who became blind at six weeks of age through improper medical treatment. Before she went home to be with the Lord at the age of 95, she had written more than 8,000 gospel hymns. Millions have been touched by the beauty of the words that flowed from her pen.

Fanny had every excuse in her life for giving up. But instead, she decided to try to find the good in every situation, step by step and day by day, and she found that she could be content. Fanny’s song “It’ll All Be Right at Last” is a good example of this, as these stanzas so wonderfully express:

Pray on, pray on, O weary not,
Though great thy conflict be;
Look bravely up, and trust in Him
Whose love abides with thee.

Remember how He led thee forth,
Thro’ toil and dangers past;
Though yet unanswered is thy prayer,
It’ll all be right at last.

Pray on, pray on, and never faint,
Though oft severely tried;
If thine a persevering faith,
It will not be denied.

Pray on, pray on, with steadfast hope,
For thou shalt yet prevail;
“Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done,”
The promise cannot fail.

Cling firmly to the solid rock,
And hold the anchor fast;
The clouds will break, the light will come,
It’ll all be right at last.

“Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done. His promise cannot fail.” Intercessory prayer is a very important part of being able to rest in the Lord. If we’re truly resting in the Lord, we have made our requests known to Him and committed our cares into His hands. That’s why we can rest and be calm in spirit, with the quiet assurance that everything is going to be all right, it’ll all be right at last. In other words, God’s going to take care of everything, so we don’t need to worry.

When we cast all our cares and anxiety on Him, knowing He cares for us,¹² then we can enter into quiet prayer, just looking up into His face. It is like quietly opening a door and slipping into the very presence of God, listening to His still, small voice in our heart or basking in the wonder of His love in silence.—Maria Fontaine

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
Music by John Listen.

¹ BER.

² 2 Peter 1:4.

³ Max Lucado, Unshakable Hope (Thomas Nelson, 2018).

⁴ Hebrews 12:27–28.

⁵ Hebrews 6:19.

⁶ 2 Corinthians 4:16–18.

⁷ Hebrews 12:2.

⁸ Isaiah 26:3.

⁹ Psalm 16:8.

¹⁰ John 16:33 MSG.

¹¹ https://inspiration.org/christian-articles/unshakeable-hope.

¹² 1 Peter 5:7.

Cultivating Humility

November 29, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 10:15
Download Audio (9.3MB)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”—Philippians 2:3¹

Humility is an important Christian virtue to cultivate in every area of our walk with the Lord and our testimony to others. To be an effective witness, we need to actively seek for a spirit and mindset of humility, the attitude of a humble servant. Pride is the opposite of humility and will hinder our effectiveness as a witness and our ability to let our light shine in a way that glorifies God.² Pride can cause you to solidify into an old bottle, incapable of growth and change, while humility helps you to stay open to new things and the new ways of operating that God brings into your life.

We’ve all learned a lot about humility over the years in our walk with the Lord, so this is not a new concept, but it is central to our witness if the Lord is going to use us to reach others and be a blessing to them. He asks us to give Him all the glory and credit and honor in our lives, and to remain little in our own sight, ready to do whatever He might ask of us to be of service to Him and others.

Perhaps you have prayed in the past for greater humility so that you could be more loving and kind to others, so that you’d be easier to live with, and so that you’d have more of the Lord’s blessing in your life. But we also need humility for the sake of the people we witness to and minister to, to prepare us for the job we have of leading others to Jesus and to prevent us from falling into the snare of pride.

Pride can be dangerous in any area of our lives—pride in our accomplishments, our ability to teach classes, do charitable work, or be a help to people, pride that results from accepting the praise of man‚ pride in wanting to be a one-man show and not desiring to teamwork with others.

Humility is instrumental in protecting your walk with the Lord and your ability to receive the Lord’s guidance for your life, your relationships, and your service for Him. In Colossians 3, Paul spoke of Christians “clothing” themselves in humility: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”³ The Lord needs humble vessels to work through.

Humility is important to every aspect of our lives, including our walk with the Lord and our relationships with others. But it’s not only about our spiritual health or working well with others, it’s also about reaching the lost and drawing them to Jesus. We owe it to those who need Jesus to be humble enough to allow the Lord to use us as His instruments to reach them.

By humility I don’t mean shyness or having an “excuse me for living” attitude, but humility as manifested in being willing to put aside our own comfort or concerns to reach out and draw others to Jesus. When you walk in humility, you are loving and kind to others, you esteem others better than yourself. You don’t put yourself above others. You listen to others, you show an interest in them, and you impart an air of assurance and faith—not in yourself but in the Lord.

As you walk in humility you become the type of person that others want to be around, talk to, and listen to, and that’s so important in your witness and leading others to Jesus.

Love and humility are closely connected. If you have genuine love, then you’ll have humility in your interactions with others. The Lord asks us to actively strive for humility, and to give all the glory and honor to Him in and through our lives. He wants us to be clothed in humility so that when others look at us, they will see Jesus. Humility makes you winsome to the people you are reaching with the gospel. The path of humility is lined with gentleness, kindness‚ and love.

Humility will help you to be what you need to be for each person, because you will be in a position for the Lord to work through you in the best way possible. If they need a listening ear or a sympathetic shoulder to cry on, you will have the humility to be that for them. If they need to be convicted to serve Jesus, they will feel that loving conviction given in a spirit of humility and not judgment. They will feel the Lord’s love shining through you and your willingness to place your personal needs and desires on the altar to be His vessel.

It takes humility to be an instant witness, because sometimes the Lord will ask you to approach someone when doing so is outside your comfort zone, or someone whom it would be humbling for you to strike up a conversation with. It takes a willingness to put aside your preconceived ideas to do what it takes to reach people with the message, and not allow your spirit to be tainted or polluted with the pride of the world.

Standing up for the truth in your witnessing calls for humility. The Christian message and beliefs are not always going to be popular—in fact, they won’t ever be very popular with the majority. Your convictions will be challenged; you will sometimes be rejected, but if you are walking in humility, it won’t offend you. You’ll be able to praise the Lord and go on, trusting Him for the outcome. You’ll be thinking more about what God thinks about you than your earthly reputation.

By being humble, we can guard against the pitfalls of self-reliance, compromising our convictions, or being tempted to compromise for popularity or riches, and other negative things we don’t want in our lives. Humility helps us to treasure and share the spiritual riches that we are privileged to have and to stay on the straight and narrow. When we know that the Lord is our strength and that God’s Word is what keeps us, then we will in turn teach others the same. We will draw them to Jesus and connect them to His Word first and foremost, not to individual personalities.

If you find yourself beginning to pocket any of the credit yourself even in your mind, recognize it, ask the Lord for forgiveness‚ and begin to actively point others to Jesus so that He can be lifted up and people will be drawn to Him. It can help to share personal testimonies and specific times that the Lord helped you to overcome, due to or in spite of mistakes you made. Don’t try to cover up your faults and failings, but be open to wisely sharing them so that others can see that you too have struggles and weaknesses, and the Lord can be glorified when things go well or you experience success.

Your humility in being willing to “become one” with others to reach them with the gospel will go a long way in helping them be more accepting of your message, and ultimately‚ of Jesus. Good manners are also essential in the art of humility. Being courteous and following local etiquette and having the humility to do so will speak to those you interact with in your everyday life, as well as those you are witnessing to.

Seize every opportunity that comes your way to be a witness. Always be on the lookout for an opening to share a witness with others. Be humble enough to take advantage of a witnessing opportunity, even if it may be difficult for you and stretch your faith.

Jesus set the greatest example of humility in His willingness to endure the shame and humiliation of dying on the cross for our salvation. Humility deems the salvation of a soul of greater value than the need to maintain a reputation or a front. Humility gladly accepts reproach for the cause of Christ and does not answer in anger. Humility is a beautiful garment of peace that covers you when you could answer in haste, but you hold your tongue for the love of souls, and because you love the Lord more than your reputation or appearance.

The love of Christ is the compelling force in our quest to cultivate humility, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”⁴

Originally published August 2008. Adapted and republished November 2021.
Read by Debra Lee.

¹ NIV.

² Matthew 5:16.

³ Colossians 3:12 NIV.

⁴ 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV.

A Changed Relationship: Salvation Results

Peter Amsterdam

2020-10-05

God’s love for us is the motivation behind His plan of salvation, and that love was manifested in the death of His Son, Jesus, as a propitiation for our sins. The sacrificial death of Jesus resulted in a changed relationship between God and us. The price Jesus paid for our salvation was the supreme price; the sacrifice was immeasurable. Our redemption is due to the boundless love of God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Three significant results of Jesus’ death and resurrection are justification, adoption, and regeneration. These results bring about massive change in the lives of those who become reconciled to God through Jesus. Justification refers to our “legal” status before God, adoption speaks to our personal familial relationship with Him, and regeneration to a change in our spiritual nature.

Justification

Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, God forgives our sins. They have been imputed to Christ, meaning they became His and are no longer ours. At the same time, Jesus’ righteousness has been imputed to those who receive Him and accept His gift of salvation, so God no longer sees us as sinners worthy of punishment, but rather as righteous in His sight. Our “legal” guilt and condemnation are removed, and the separation between God and us is no longer there.

Our justification means that God declares us righteous, or declares us no longer guilty and condemned. This doesn’t mean that we who have received His gift of salvation are now sinless, as we are all still sinners, but it means that “legally” we are seen by God as righteous.

All of this is God’s work, not our own. There is nothing we could do or achieve to deserve this forgiveness and righteousness. In His love He made the way for us to be righteous in His sight—not by our works or good deeds, but by His grace, mercy, and love. It’s a gift of love, costly on God’s side, free on ours. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”¹

Scripture makes it clear that people are not saved by being good or doing good works or keeping the laws of Moses—or anything we do ourselves. Salvation, which results in justification, depends solely on God and His plan. All we have to do is believe that God has made it available through Jesus and accept it by faith.²

A beautiful feature of justification is that, as Christians, we no longer need to feel anxiety regarding our standing with God. Though we still sin, our status of having the righteousness of Christ does not change. We no longer need to question whether we’ve done enough or are close enough to God to merit salvation. God has done it all, and through Jesus’ death and resurrection we are and will always be seen as righteous by God.

When we sin, we need to repent and ask God to forgive us, as well as actively strive to become stronger in resisting temptation. The Bible teaches that we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ in the afterlife. However, sin doesn’t cause us to lose our salvation or justification, and “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”³

The love and sacrifice of God, through Jesus’ death on the cross, has resulted in our justification before God. It has removed our separation and has reconciled us with Him. What a precious and valuable gift has been offered by the God of love to humanity!

Adoption

We experience another significant change in our position and relationship with God through salvation. With sin no longer separating us from God, our relationship with God changes, as we become part of God’s family—we become His children. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”⁴

This change of relationship, this entry into God’s family as His children, is called adoption. We are not the sons and daughters of God in the same sense as Jesus, who is the only begotten Son, but we are adopted into His family. In one sense this change is a legal one, since as God’s children we become heirs of God with all the rights of heirs. But more than that, we now have a relationship based on being members of God’s family. God is our Father.

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”⁵

While God was seen as Father in the Old Testament, the emphasis was more on God’s holiness, and that holiness largely defined the relationship between humans and God. The general portrayal of God in the Old Testament is that He is mighty, holy, pure, and separate, and sinful humans need to be humble before Him, obey Him, and venerate Him.

Redemption through Jesus changed this relationship to a much more personal one. We can now relate to God as a child relates to his or her loving father. This closeness to God as Father, and His love for us, is seen in things that Jesus said about His Father:

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”⁶“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”⁷“The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.”⁸

We see God’s deep love in our adoption. He didn’t have to invite us into His family, He didn’t have to adopt us, but He did. Adoption is an act of love by someone who is not obligated to take in, care for, and love a child—it is by choice. God doesn’t adopt us because of how great or wonderful we are, or because we do good things for Him. He adopts us because He loves us—He loves humanity. He made it possible—at great personal cost to Himself—for sinners, separated from Him, to be redeemed, to be forgiven, and to enter His family. This is the love, mercy, and kindness of our God, who is love.

Regeneration

Another result of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the lives of believers is a spiritual change which is referred to in the following ways: being born again, rebirth, regeneration, being born of the Spirit, and becoming a new creation.⁹

All of these concepts generally refer to a spiritual change which occurs in the heart of one who is redeemed by Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms the redeemed person’s sinful nature in a way that renews them and brings a spiritual change in the person. This new birth is the clean slate or fresh foundation on which the new Christian begins his or her spiritual life, and from that point forward can grow in it.

This rebirth is a result of belief in and acceptance of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for us. When someone believes in and accepts God’s plan of salvation, when they acknowledge that Jesus is their Savior, they are reborn. The person may or may not feel the change, but the change has occurred. They are born of God because they have believed in Him.

Becoming a new creation doesn’t mean that the original created nature of the individual no longer exists and is replaced, but rather signifies his or her sinful nature being changed or re-created. It’s a spiritual or moral renewal of the redeemed individual’s nature. It’s a new self that is in alignment with the likeness of God.

God’s loving plan of salvation has justified us so that we are seen by Him as righteous. We have become His children by adoption. We are members of His family and no longer separated from Him. We are heirs of eternal salvation and of God’s other promises. We also become a new creation, as we are born again. These precious gifts are the fruits of God’s costly love, of Jesus laying down His life for us. We have been reconciled to God, and nothing will ever change that.

“I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.^”¹⁰

Originally published November 2012. Excerpted and republished October 2020.
Read by Reuben Ruchevsky.

¹ Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV.

² Romans 10:9–10; Galatians 2:16.

³ 1 John 1:9.

⁴ John 1:12 NKJV.

⁵ Galatians 4:4–7 ESV.

⁶ Matthew 6:26 ESV.

⁷ Matthew 7:11 ESV.

⁸ John 16:27 ESV.

⁹ John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17.

¹⁰ Romans 8:38–39.

Faith in the Flames

November 26, 2021

Gary Kent with TIJ TV

We’re going to go back in time to a remarkable scene on the plains of Dura right near ancient Babylon. An enormous statue of King Nebuchadnezzar had been set up, and thousands of representatives from his empire were invited to pay homage to it in a splendid ceremony. But when the vast assembly on the plain bowed to the ground toward the image, three young men defied the king and remained standing. Their decision angered a king and shook an empire. It’s also encouraged people everywhere. This is their story.

Run time for this video is 28:30 minutes (with the last three minutes being a closing).

https://youtu.be/KDWg3pESsMc

An Attitude of Gratitude

November 25, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 12:00
Download Audio (11MB)

It’s easy to be grateful when circumstances turn out well, but thankfulness doesn’t have to be limited just to the good times. Not only is it possible to be thankful in difficulties, it’s also beneficial. Thankful people cope better than those who grumble and complain. How, then, do we develop an attitude of gratitude when life is tough? The letters of “gratitude” give us some clues.

Give praise to God at all times. Praise takes your focus off yourself and places it on Him. Despite our changing circumstances, He never changes, so we can always praise Him for who He is.

Remember what God has done. Bringing to mind some of the things God has done in the past can be a stimulus to offer gratitude for what He is doing now and will do in the future.

Always be thankful. God’s will for us involves giving thanks in all circumstances.¹ If we want our lives to be in line with God’s will for us, let’s be thankful—always!

Trust God completely. This can be one of the hardest things to do when life is difficult. Not knowing why something is happening or how long it’s likely to continue can challenge even the deepest faith. However, God cautions us about leaning on our own understanding and invites us to trust Him wholeheartedly.²

Intentionally choose your attitude. There are many things that are beyond our control, but choosing our attitude is something we can control. Why not exercise that choice today?

Think before you grumble and complain. A grumbling and complaining attitude can so easily become the default response to situations that we don’t like. Instead, think “attitude of gratitude.”

Understand that attitudes are learned. It takes time to develop a consistent attitude of gratitude, so don’t be discouraged when it doesn’t happen immediately.

Develop friendships with positive, encouraging people. Attitudes are contagious and, sometimes unconsciously, we take on how other people feel about a situation. We need to surround ourselves with grateful people who will encourage us to do likewise.

Enjoy God’s blessings. Ever tried naming specific ways that God has blessed you? Write these down, perhaps beginning with three, moving on to ten, twenty, or even more! …

Having an attitude of gratitude is not a denial of unpleasant circumstances, nor is it a response that only a few people can demonstrate. It’s a matter of choice. We can choose to be grateful and reap the related benefits.—Florence MacKenzie ³

Gratefulness: The will of God

Good manners and common courtesy tell us that we are to thank a person who gives us a gift. Yet we often forget to thank our heavenly Father for the gifts that He bestows on us daily. The Bible says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God,”⁴ and we are instructed to “enter into His gates [God’s presence] with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”⁵

What has God given us? Everything! The life we live, our family and friends, the wondrous world we live in, and every simple and beautiful joy we experience. If you stop to think about the gifts God has given you, doesn’t it make you want to thank and praise Him for them?

You may not know exactly how to express your thanks to God and His Son, Jesus, our Savior. You might feel your words are not eloquent enough. Take heart. God delights in hearing you express your sincere thanksgiving from the heart, with words many or few, lofty or simple, flowing or halting. God sees the praise in your heart and translates it into beautiful melodies.

Just think, you have the ability to give Jesus daily gifts of gratitude. May we be inspired to say as King David of old, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”⁶ As you take the time to praise and thank Him, you will find that you become increasingly aware of the wonderful blessings that the Lord showers upon you daily, in ways both big and small.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that your worshipful praises direct your heart heavenward and enable you to enter into His presence at any time?—Maria Fontaine

A grateful heart

A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges they have. I attended a banquet recently in which a wounded soldier was presented with the gift of a free house. He nearly fell over with gratitude. He bounded onto the stage with his one good leg and threw both arms around the presenter. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” He hugged the guitar player in the band and the big woman on the front row. He thanked the waiter, the other soldiers, and then the presenter again. Before the night was over, he thanked me! And I didn’t do anything.

Shouldn’t we be equally grateful? Jesus is building a house for us.⁷ Our deed of ownership is every bit as certain as that of the soldier. What’s more, Jesus cured our leprosy. Sin cankered our souls and benumbed our senses. Yet the Man on the path told us we were healed, and, lo and behold, we were!

The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude. A zillion diamonds sparkle against the velvet of your sky every night. Thank you, God. A miracle of muscles enables your eyes to read these words and your brain to process them. Thank you, God. Your lungs inhale and exhale eleven thousand liters of air every day. Your heart will beat about three billion times in your lifetime. Your brain is a veritable electric generator of power. Thank you, God.

For the jam on our toast and the milk on our cereal. For the blanket that calms us and the joke that delights us and the warm sun that reminds us of God’s love. For the thousands of planes that did not crash today. … Thank you, Lord.

Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments. To rehearse God’s accomplishments is to discover his heart. To discover his heart is to discover not just good gifts but the Good Giver. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. It does to anxiety what the morning sun does to valley mist. It burns it up.

Join the ranks of the 10 percent who give God a standing ovation. “Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”⁸—Max Lucado⁹

It’s all about attitude

I was inspired the other day when I read some personal accounts on a friend’s blog on the subject of praising God for His goodness. It gave me pause.

Generally, I am a thankful person. I post inspirational stories on my blog or send them to friends and family by email to share with them the good things that happen in my life. Still, after all these years, I wasn’t in the habit of praising God even in the “bad” things that happen in my life. I also wasn’t in the habit of focusing my thoughts on the good or praising when I was in the middle of adversity.

But after I read my friend’s post, I was reminded that the little daily things—a sandwich, a shower, a sunset, an encouraging word from a friend, a walk—are all events that are worthy of thanksgiving.

Previously I’d always waited for an outstanding life event before I would become ecstatic in praise—like the first time I flew on an airplane, or the day I will meet my future wife or become a father. But that’s a lot of waiting and a lot of missed chances to be grateful when I could and should be thankful to God for the everyday blessings.

That’s easier said than done, but I realized that I could indeed make the choice to adopt a “gratitude attitude.”

May I remember my own words when I’m stuck in downtown traffic, or when the rain is coming down in torrents, or when the person I’m trying to share a message of God’s love with isn’t ready to receive it right then. All those everyday life annoyances won’t rule my attitude. I can still rejoice and be glad in those times when I determine to see God’s goodness and give thanks in all things and choose to praise the Lord for another day of life.—Bryan Whyte

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by Jerry Paladino.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

² Proverbs 3:5.

³ https://justbetweenus.org/everyday-life/faith-and-feelings/an-attitude-of-gratitude.

⁴ 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

⁵ Psalm 100:4.

⁶ Psalm 34:1.

⁷ John 14:2.

⁸ Ephesians 5:20 NLT.

⁹ https://www.faithgateway.com/attitude-gratitude/#.YKeazaEpBPY.

Better Days Ahead—Part 6

By Peter Amsterdam

November 23, 2021

—Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Following Jesus is not a passive, easy, feel-good hobby. It’s a challenge, a lifestyle, and a calling. We are blessed to know that our lives make a difference as we walk in obedience to God’s Word, doing what we can to witness, be an example of God’s love, and lead others to Jesus. Of course, not every day is an exciting thrill with momentous achievements and victories. Some days are rather humdrum as we go about our daily responsibilities, but what makes all the difference is that we know we’re living for the One who loves us, who died for us, and what we do for Him and others matters. We live in anticipation of one day hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.” (See Matthew 25:23.)

The confidence we have in God’s promises and the glorious future we will share with Jesus and all His saved children in heaven is a great motivator! And that’s important, because we are fighting a spiritual warfare! We are soldiers of the cross.

1 Timothy 6:12 says: “Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses” (AMP).

Chuck Lawless explains the spiritual warfare as follows:

We do genuinely wrestle against principalities and powers (Eph. 6:12), but the devil and his forces have never been outside of God’s control.

Since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, the devil has tried to bait us with false teaching, lure us into sin, and turn us against each other. He does this to keep us from glorifying God and doing the Great Commission. He seeks to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8) so we can no longer be a light to a lost world. The summary I commonly use is that the enemy wants us to mess up (fall into sin), give up (get discouraged), get puffed up (live in arrogance), split up (divide), or shut up (quit evangelizing).

But we are not on the defensive in this battle. … We put on the full armor of God not so we can defend ourselves, but so we can march into the enemy’s kingdom to do the work of the Great Commission.¹

We can take heart that we’re not alone in this battle. Jesus Himself had a face-down with Satan before He began His ministry. What we can learn from reading Jesus’ experience was that He overcame by quoting the truth of God’s Word.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.—Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

We know that a relentless warfare is being waged in this spiritual realm between good and evil, between God and His good forces and Satan and his evil forces, and that we have been called to fight the good fight of faith. The apostle Paul instructed us to be equipped and prepared to enter into the fray, as we go forth to shine the light of God’s truth to the world:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.—Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV, emphasis added)

We all face spiritual and emotional battles of some kind at different times in life—fear of the future, discouragement, discontentment, despair and loss of hope, anger, bitterness, temptation, addictions, arrogance, unbelief, lethargy, disunity with other believers, etc. Perhaps you have had sleepless nights when you’ve felt overwhelmed with concern about finances, or maybe it’s the unexpected medical condition that is crippling and weakening you, and you are tempted to doubt God’s goodness and plan for your life. Maybe you worry about the future and who will help take care of you, and you imagine the worst-case scenarios. Perhaps you are suffering with regret and condemnation when you see that things have not gone well in some way and you feel you or others are to blame. It’s possible that bitterness is eating away at your heart because of division between you and someone else.

If you are not facing physical enemies, you are surely facing spiritual enemies. Again, it is helpful to remember, especially when you find yourself in the “wilderness,” [that] you have a very real Enemy who seeks to destroy. He is ever prowling around, searching for those he can devour. … He wants nothing more than to tempt you to turn away from God and turn to the world for your answers, or even more, to just give up and give in to sin.²

We will face an ongoing spiritual war throughout our lives—that is the nature of life in this fallen world until Jesus’ return. Jesus prayed: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. … As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:15–18 NIV). Not only are we living in a fallen world, but we are sent into it to be His light and salt to bring others to Him!

So, what can we do when we face spiritual battles? We can learn to fight! We can keep going and determine not to quit!

We know that the Devil is not omnipresent as God and Jesus are. He cannot be everywhere, but his evil forces wage war against God’s children. The mind is the great battlefield where spiritual war is waged—the war to influence people’s thoughts and, through their thoughts, their actions.

The Bible instructs us to guard our thoughts and put on the mind of Christ:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

“To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

“The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

If we’re going to be the strong followers of Jesus that He wants us to be, we must be wholly His, and in order to be wholly His, we must discipline our thoughts and “gird up the loins of our minds” (1 Peter 1:13). That means to be prepared for action and sober-minded as we go about our mission of bringing God’s truth and message of salvation to the world.

Here is some insight from the Lord about our thoughts.

Jesus: People often consider thoughts to be fleeting and worthless, but yours are so precious to Me that I read each one. My ability to read your every thought may be disconcerting to you. You’re able to interact with other people while keeping your secret thoughts to yourself, but not so with Me! … The fact that I care about every aspect of you—even all your thoughts—demonstrates how important you are to Me.

I know how difficult it is for you to control what courses through your brain. Your mind is a battleground. … Your own sinfulness also finds ample expression in your thought life. You need to stay alert and fight against evil! I fought and died for you, so remember who you are and Whose you are—putting on the helmet of salvation with confidence. This helmet not only protects your mind, it also reminds you of the victory I secured for you on the cross.

Because you are My treasure, I notice and rejoice as soon as your thinking turns My way. The more thoughts you bring to Me, the more you can share in My joy. I disarm evil thoughts and render them powerless. Then I help you think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things. Ponder these things while resting in the Peace of My Presence.—Sarah Young, Jesus Lives

It’s wonderful to know that Jesus is helping us bring our thoughts into captivity and that by doing so we can enjoy a more intimate relationship with Him.

Earlier in this article we were reminded from Ephesians 6:10–12 that we can “stand strong in the Lord and his mighty power” and that we can “put on the full armor of God,” which will help us overcome the Devil’s attacks as we battle spiritual forces of evil in the world.

Ephesians 6:13–18 is a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare?

We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are to pray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).³

…In Ephesians 6:18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.⁴

In the following message, the Lord encourages us to not become discouraged and lose hope in the midst of this spiritual warfare. He is with us every moment of every day, and He has provided all that we need to be victorious!

Jesus: You are in a spiritual warfare that is the most important warfare that will ever be waged, for the most righteous cause, for results that are eternal—the salvation of mankind and the preparation of the earth for My kingdom come. And war is about opposition—it’s two opposing armies facing each other down, each determined to be the victor.

You have an advantage over traditional armies because your victory was prophesied from the beginning of time. Your success is guaranteed and set in heaven, if you continue to fight the good fight, using the spiritual weapons of warfare, determined to carry the day in every battle you face.

If you have the mindset that you are in a war, then regardless of the form that the battles may take, you will not see it as some strange thing that has come upon you (1 Peter 4:12). Instead, you will know that it is a part of the spiritual warfare—and as you face it with the power of My Spirit and using the spiritual weapons of warfare at your disposal, you will overcome, no matter what threat or challenge you face.

Every time you’re hit with a battle, remind yourself, “I am a child of God! I am an enemy of Satan and I’m a threat to his kingdom!” If you take on a battle-ready perspective every day, you won’t be shocked if you run into some resistance at times. As you wield the shield of faith, you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one that seek to undermine your faith (Ephesians 6:16).

The formula for overcoming any spiritual battles you face is faith. Trust that I am at the helm. No matter how powerful the waves are that beat against your ship, I’m going to bring you through the storm. Regardless of the circumstances—the size of the waves crashing against your vessel, or your inadequacy to meet the challenges—My will is that every battle you face will somehow work together for your good.

Determine to stand strong in Me and in the power of My might, and having done all, stand your ground (Ephesians 6:10, 13). Determine to run the race that I have set before you, and be not weary in well-doing, knowing that in due season you will see the reward of your faith, if you do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

May we each find joy and strength through yielding to Jesus, walking with Him day by day, and being His vessels of love and grace. The Lord is with us constantly, strengthening us, leading us, and helping us to be a testimony of His truth. God has given us every spiritual resource we need for this warfare so that we can stand strong and be His witnesses to the world. These include the truth, righteousness, gospel preparation, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:14–18).

As we fight our spiritual battles, I am confident that God will give us boldness and endurance as we put on the whole armor of God. “Fight the good fight of faith, and take hold of the eternal life to which we were called when we made our good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12 NIV).

We have the hope of heaven and can count on a glorious future of eternal life. Let’s not lose sight of the goal, the prize! “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). God is for us, He is always with us, and He will perfect that which concerns us. So, no matter how difficult, no matter how hot the spiritual battle, no matter how weak or tired we feel, let’s persevere fighting the good fight of faith because, as we do, we are guaranteed to win, by God’s grace and power!

¹ https://www.imb.org/2017/05/17/mission-enemy-10-facts-spiritual-warfare/

² https://www.faithgateway.com/enduring-with-the-lords-help/#.YQXbyehKiMo

³ https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-warfare.html

⁴ https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html

Immeasurably More

November 23, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:18
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All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.—Ephesians 3:20¹

Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears,
God is bigger than any mountain I can, or cannot, see,
Bigger than all my questions, bigger than anything,
God is bigger than any mountain I can, or cannot, see.

God is far bigger than I can ever imagine. God is a “doing” God, He is a God who is well able to do anything! He is able to do anything, far beyond our every human thought or imagination. …

There is no impossible circumstance too far gone that God cannot minister to. No problem too big that God cannot solve, no sickness He cannot heal, no miracle which God cannot do, no prayer which He cannot answer, no sinner too lost in their sin that God cannot save, no backslider too far from God that God cannot restore, no city too hard that God cannot bring a mighty revival to. For our God is well able to do far above all that we ask or think. … He is able to do!

If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we, more often than not, tend to fix our eyes on the problem. Then, as we dwell on it, we allow it grow until it becomes to us this huge mountain before us. However, in the eyes of our great and awesome God, it is but a speck of dust, which He can blow away by the gentlest breath. It can become all too easy to take our eyes off the awesomeness of God, to fleetingly gaze upon the circumstances, rather than fix our eyes upon our Almighty ADONAI, our EL SHADDAI, our God who is able to do far above all we can ask or think. …

Our God is able to heal you. Our God is able to rescue you. Our God is able to save you. Our God is able to meet all your needs. Our God is able to turn things around for you. Our God is able to restore you. Our God is able to heal your broken marriage. Our God is able to forgive you. Our God is able to show you mercy and grace. Our God is able to answer your prayers. …

We may never grasp how awesome God is, or the enormity of God. Or even how omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient He is. However, may we grasp the fullness of this promise from the Lord in Ephesians 3:20: “Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”² Because our God is an awesome God!—Matthew McDonald³

Rolling stones and trusting God

Recently, when undertaking a particular task, I began to get overwhelmed by the fact that the task was harder than I had anticipated, and that I wasn’t making much progress. These and other concerns began to eat away at my mind until I finally took it to the Lord and poured out my fears and worries, asking Him what I should do. The simple answer came clearly as soon as I stopped to listen: “Roll away the stone.” I immediately knew what He wanted me to do.

That’s a phrase taken from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Lazarus’ tomb was a cave with a large stone rolled in front of it. Jesus was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead, but the stone needed to be moved away first. Now surely if Jesus could raise His dear friend from the dead, couldn’t He just have made Lazarus walk through the stone—or sort of dematerialize and materialize again outside the tomb? “Beam me up, Scotty,” Star Trek style.

However, there was a plan and a purpose to the way this miracle was to be played out. First of all, try to imagine a crowd of Lazarus’ friends and family gathered around. There was a pretty close bond between Jesus and this particular family. The atmosphere must have been quite emotional, with many people weeping. The Bible even states that Jesus wept ⁴—one of the two times His tears are recorded in the Bible.

Then, standing before the tomb, Jesus tells the people to “roll the stone away.”⁵ He was going to do the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, but moving that stone was something that the family and friends could do. Their act of moving that stone was a demonstration that they believed in Jesus and His power.

However, when hearing Jesus ask them to roll away the stone, Martha reminds Him that her brother’s been dead for four days and that “there will be a bad smell.”⁶ Although she would love to have her dear brother alive again, there were some practical things to consider. Jesus reminded her of what He had already told her. “Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?”⁷

Right there was the lesson for me. I needed to have faith that Jesus would take care of what I couldn’t get done, but I also knew that before He’d do that for me, I had to “roll away the stone.” And in my case, rolling away the stone meant persevering in my task, doing what I could do to complete it and not giving up. I had been complaining that it was too difficult for me, but I realized that I needed to do the things that I could do.

God will do what we can’t do, but He often requires us to do what we can do first. One thing I have learned, though, during the “rolling away stones” phase, is that it’s best not to entertain fear or agonize about all the “what ifs,” as doing so makes it harder to focus on doing my part.

There often comes a point when we have done enough on our end, but perhaps we’re not happy with the direction things are going, and so we “try” our hardest to bring about our desired outcome. This isn’t doing our part and trusting God to do the rest, but more like us trying to solve the problem while God is patiently waiting on the sidelines for us to step aside and let Him do it.

Is there a “stone” in your life that God needs you to move before He can show you His answers? Or have you done enough “rolling” and now it’s time for you to let go? Take some time to think about what might be keeping a solution, answer, or result out of your reach. Should you roll or should you trust? If you should roll, then keep rolling with all your strength; if you should trust, then trust Him with all your heart. Then, when you know you have done your part, sit back and watch God fulfill His end of the bargain. He will! He has promised to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine!⁸—Dan Roselle

Exceeding abundance

A verse that people love to quote when it comes to what we can expect of God is Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”⁹

We usually focus on the exceedingly abundantly part, because that’s what we want: exceeding abundance for all our things and days. But focus on the last half for a few moments:

“Above all.” Above the met and unmet expectations, heartache and joy, success and failure, we can expect that the Divine is moving.

“According to the power that works in us.” It’s the stuff that God does in us while things happen to us, and while we make things happen with our own agency, that is the key.

Yes, of course, I’m believing for miracles. Things like peace, equality, unity, healing, provision; no more war and violence and terror, no more starving, thirsty and dying. I have great expectations for my future: the health of my kids and my marriage, my own physical and mental health; I want a bigger house so I can hear myself think, I want to be able to pay for my kid’s braces, I expect that things are going to get better.

But I also know that God expects me to be a part of it, a “rooter up of mountains”—a participant and problem solver in my faith and expectations. I can pray and believe for God to feed my neighbors, but if I’ve got food in my fridge and money in my bank account, I kinda think God answers my prayer with: “Well, what are you waiting for?” (the power that is at work within us).

And then above it all, whether the things I have faith and hope and expectations for come to pass or not, I can expect that the power of divine love will be at work in me through it all, offering me its generous, miraculous gifts.

The gift of expectation is that it turns us into seekers. Someone who follows the path, asks the questions, doesn’t quit (except to have a good old rest, which is perfectly fine), and seeks all the way through into the heart of life, which rarely turns out the way we expect, but if we look hard enough, we’ll find that exceeding abundance in miraculous and surprising ways we never thought possible. It won’t look like what we expect, but that’s the beauty of it.—Liz Milani¹⁰

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by John Laurence.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ NLT.

² KJV.

³ https://peebles.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/ephesians-320-kjv-unto-him-that-is-able-he-is-to-do-exceedingly-abundantly-above-all-that-we-can-ask-or-think.

⁴ John 11:35.

⁵ John 11:39 CEV.

⁶ John 11:39.

⁷ John 11:40 CEV.

⁸ Ephesians 3:20 NIV.

⁹ NKJV.

¹⁰ https://www.pktfuel.com/exceedingly-abundantly-above-all.

The Joy Set Before Us

November 22, 2021

By David Brandt Berg

Audio length: 9:35
Download Audio (8.7MB)

For those who love the Lord, death is our relief, release, freedom, promotion, graduation, and passing on to a better realm, the next step, the next grade. Our spirits are immediately freed to be with the Lord, so it’s not really death for us in the same way it is for those who aren’t saved. We don’t die in the sense that they die.

That’s why I don’t even like to call it “dying” or “death.” I prefer to call it graduation, passing on, or promotion. In spite of our sadness and grief at our loss, we should also rejoice when someone we love graduates from this life. They have finished this earthly grade in the school of life and are passing on to the next grade—the heavenly grade of eternal life!

For those who know and love the Lord, passing from death to life will be a beautiful experience. Jesus said that we don’t really die. “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”¹ In other words, if you’re alive in the Spirit, “he that lives and believes in Me shall never die.” And the Lord also says, “If anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death.”²

The Lord Himself delivers us from the power of death. “O grave, where is thy victory? Death, where is thy sting?”³ We experience death, but without the sting—the victory is ours in Jesus, not the grave. Thank You, Lord! Our death will be a victory over the grave and a victory over sin and death.—A glorious victory and a glorious entry into God’s eternal kingdom, where there will be no more death, nor pain, nor crying, nor sorrow.⁴ Thank You, Jesus!

It’s our homegoing, our graduation day, our promotion day. It’s when the Lord releases you and relieves you of your present responsibilities, and when you go home to your reward. As my grandmother said on the day she died, it’s your coronation day!

She had a beautiful death. She turned to my grandfather, slipped off her rings, and put them in his hand, as though she didn’t want anything that tied her to this world anymore. Everyone around her was weeping, and she said, “Why are you crying? Don’t cry. This is my graduation day. Earth recedes, heaven opens. This is my coronation day!”

For a Christian, I believe it will be the happiest event in your whole life. At last, free from this body with all its woes and aches and pains, and this life with all its troubles and problems, weariness and concerns, hard work and suffering. It’s all over, the race is run, and the course is ended.⁵

You’ve done it, you’ve made it. Thank God! It’s behind you. Never again will you have to run that race. Heaven forever. Eternal joy. Total glory.

Of course, people in the world don’t even like to think or talk about death. Funerals are so sad. They grieve and sorrow as “those who have no hope.”⁶ But for believers, we know that we will be with the Lord forever, and we can “encourage one another with these words.”⁷

When my childhood friend Lamont got killed in World War II, my mother had a dream of him walking up this long avenue of beautiful trees where he met his sister. He asked her, “How come everybody else is crying and you aren’t crying?” And his sister replied, “We see things very differently up here.”

When my uncle died, we held a funeral such as I think Miami, Florida, had never seen. We sang and we had a great time. We told testimonies, and everybody was happy as we celebrated his life. Afterwards the funeral director shook his head and said, “I have never in my life seen a funeral like that, with everybody happy and singing lively songs.” I said, “He’s gone to heaven! All his troubles are over.”

I think that, for a Christian, the time of death should be a time of rejoicing, a time to talk about the good things, and praise and thank God that those who have gone on once lived, and that they still live. Don’t feel sorry for those who have passed on to the next life. Of course, we feel sad and grieve because we feel their loss and we miss them and their fellowship and love.

But even in our times of grief, “we sorrow not as others who have no hope.”⁸ Everything in heaven will be more wonderful than all our most joyful experiences and fellowship and love on earth. The life hereafter for us, God’s saved children, will be filled with joy and we will experience our present happiness multiplied many times over. When you die, that’s the final healing. Permanent healing forever! Thank You, Jesus!

We can look forward to actually seeing the Lord and meeting Him visibly firsthand. We will see Him as He is, we will be like Him, and see Him face to face,⁹ experiencing the fullness of the realities of God and the world to come. Hallelujah! Having known Him and had His Spirit in our hearts and felt His presence in our lives for all these years, I don’t think it’s going to be too different. I think we’re going to feel at home with Him when we meet, just like old friends, as we have already been friends for many years.

So keep the faith! Never stop loving Him and others, and lead as many as you can into His wonderful, glorious love, so that He will rejoice to see you when you come, and say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”¹⁰ If you think you’ve experienced the joy of the Lord down here, there’s so much more to come in the next life!

While you are on earth, you have the privilege of witnessing about the love of Jesus to others and leading them to Christ for their eternal salvation in heaven. It can be difficult, sometimes trying, with many tests and trials, but it’s the most wonderful work in the world, and you’ll be glad you did when you see their happy, shining faces in heaven, thanking you for loving them and leading them to Jesus, to become members of His glorious kingdom of heaven.

(Jesus:) All the trying and sorrowful things you face in life will pass away and seem like a dream in the night seasons when I have received you into the glories of the everlasting kingdom and the joys that will be forever. I will recompense all your pain and sorrows, and the things that have been lost in the earth life will be preserved forever in the heavenly kingdom that I have laid up for you where you will rejoice forever.

The former things will be no more. The pain, the sorrow, the death, the dying, the tears will all be wiped away, and there will be no more pain nor crying nor sorrow, for all these things will fade away in the glories that are to come.

If you could see what is in store for you, the things I have prepared for you, if you could know the joy you will experience, you would be overjoyed for that which is to come. For it has not entered into your mind, neither have your eyes seen, nor your ears heard, the glories that will be, that I have laid up for you, My beloved.

Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg. Adapted and republished November 2021. Read by Reuben Ruchevsky.

¹ John 11:26 NKJV.

² John 8:51 NKJV.

³ 1 Corinthians 15:55.

⁴ Revelation 21:4.

⁵ 2 Timothy 4:7.

⁶ 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

⁷ 1 Thessalonians 4:18.

⁸ 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

⁹ 1 John 3:2.

¹⁰ Matthew 25:21.

04 – The Spiritual Disciplines: Stewardship/Simplicity

Peter Amsterdam

2014-02-22

The Spiritual Discipline of Stewardship is about properly using things that God has entrusted to our care, including our possessions, finances, and time. In order to understand and practice the discipline of stewardship and various disciplines that fit under its umbrella, it’s helpful to first understand a few basic principles: the principle of ownership, the principle of stewardship, and the need to have a right relationship with material things.The fundamental principle of ownership, simply stated, is that God owns everything you own. The Bible teaches that God, as the Creator of all things, owns everything, which means that whatever each person possesses, He ultimately owns.We read that The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein;^[1] for all the earth is Mine;^[2] whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine;^[3] the silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of hosts.^[4] All that we “own” is actually owned by our Creator, which includes not just our possessions, but ourselves as well. Because God owns them all, the biblical understanding regarding our things is that we are simply stewards or caretakers of what God owns and has put in our charge.Donald Whitney explains this principle well:That means we are managers or, to use the biblical word, stewards of the things God has given us. As a slave, Joseph was a steward when Potiphar placed him over his household. He owned nothing, for he was a slave. But he managed everything Potiphar owned on his behalf. The management of Potiphar’s resources included the use of them to meet his own needs, but Joseph’s main responsibility was to use them for Potiphar’s interests. And that’s what we are to do. God wants us to use and enjoy the things He has allowed us to have, but as stewards of them we’re to remember that they belong to Him and they are primarily to be used for His Kingdom.^[5]While God may own everything, He wants us to be happy and enjoy the things He has given us, as it says in 1 Timothy 6:17: God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. As custodians of God’s resources—specifically the things in our possession, and generally the resources of the earth—we can use them for ourselves and our loved ones, to live our lives and to enjoy what He has placed in our care. Stewardship, however, implies being faithful to manage the true owner’s resources and to manage them according to the instructions, or at least the guiding principles, of the owner. The owner sets the parameters and the manager works within them.Our Relationship with PossessionsUnderstanding the principles of ownership and stewardship helps us to develop a proper relationship with possessions, money, and wealth. Having the right relationship with these things is vitally important to our relationship with God.I want to point out that when speaking of possessions and money, within the context of the Spiritual Discipline of stewardship, it should be understood that material possessions and finances play an important role in our everyday lives. Having sufficient means to live, to provide for your family, to have your legitimate needs adequately met, is part of the godly use of what the Lord has entrusted to your care. As stewards of God’s funds, we are meant to use them in alignment with His nature and character. This means that besides using them for food, clothing, and housing, we can use some for taking time off, recreation, and celebration, as resting, relaxing, and celebrating are things which God has told us to do.Money and material possessions are morally neutral—neither good nor evil in themselves. We need them to live. The problems that arise due to wealth don’t come from the wealth itself, rather they stem from having a wrong relationship with it. It is when we crave money, when we love it, or when it becomes our main focus, and when we assign it power and importance that should be reserved for God alone, that there are problems.As the apostle Paul said in his letter to Timothy:But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.^[6]It’s the love of money or wealth—in other words, a wrong relationship with it—which can damage us spiritually. Jesus pointed out that when one loves mammon—translated in some Bible versions as money and in others as wealth—this negatively affects one’s relationship with God. It creates a rivalry with God.No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.^[7]Jesus wasn’t saying that wealth or money are evil, but He warned that loving it or setting our heart on it, making it central to our lives, putting our trust and hope in it for our security and safekeeping, is giving it the place of God in our hearts. God is meant to be central in our lives, and we are instructed to put our trust and hope in Him for our security and safekeeping. Loving and trusting in money and possessions displaces God in our hearts, and this is what Jesus calls serving mammon.Having money, or working to earn money to live, to care for one’s family, to improve one’s economic situation, is not serving mammon. The apostle Paul made it clear that providing for your family is vital. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.^[8] Jesus wasn’t condemning money or its legitimate use. He was speaking about the dangers which arise in one’s life when undue importance is put on money and wealth, especially when one puts their trust in it, when it begins to take the place of God in one’s life, when a person’s relationship with their money supplants their relationship with God.Some might feel that saying money isn’t evil in itself promotes the idea that all Christians should be financially well off, an idea which isn’t supported in Scripture. At the same time, it is also incorrect to say that money or wealth is in itself evil. It is the heart and attitude of the one who has the wealth which makes it either evil or good. As Robert E. Speer (1867–1947), author and authority on missions, said: We cannot serve God and mammon; but we can serve God with mammon. There have been many men and women of God who were wealthy and who used their wealth in God’s service by supporting mission works, financing missionaries, creating businesses which provided employment and made it possible for the poor to earn a living, and in numerous other ways.The Dangers of Riches, and True TreasureWhile wealth isn’t evil in itself, Scripture makes it clear that having riches is spiritually challenging and potentially dangerous. We read a warning in Psalms: If riches increase, set not your heart on them;^[9] and Proverbs says: He who trusts in his riches will fall.^[10] Jesus conveyed the challenge that the rich face when He said: For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.^[11] He explained that treasure should not be laid up on earth but rather in heaven, and drove the point home by showing that your heart is where your treasure is.^[12]We read further admonitions about the dangers of the wrong relationship with wealth throughout the rest of the New Testament. The book of Hebrews says to Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”^[13]Paul said that bishops should not be lovers of money ^[14] and to Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.^[15]

Our true treasures are not money and possessions; our true treasures are the kingdom of God, His love and interaction in our lives, our salvation, God’s provision and care for us, and our coming rewards. Understanding this puts our finances and their use in the right perspective.

Understanding the principles of ownership (that God owns everything) and stewardship (that we are to use what God has given us in conjunction with His will and His Word), and the need for developing a proper relationship with possessions and finances, all helps us to adjust our inner attitude and outer behavior regarding those things that we have control over, both tangible and intangible. Money and possessions are tangibles that we must decide how we use. Time is an intangible, yet we can also decide how we will use it. When we understand that our lives, our time, and our possessions all belong to God, we are in a better position to make godly decisions as to how we use what we are stewards over and how to have the proper relationship with them.

There are a few Spiritual Disciplines that can be put under the umbrella of stewardship, as they have to do with the use of our possessions or time. These are simplicity, giving and tithing, and the use of time, all of which will be covered in this and subsequent articles.

The Discipline of Simplicity

One of the disciplines which falls under the stewardship umbrella is the Spiritual Discipline of simplicity. Simplicity is refraining from using the money or possessions that we are stewards over merely to gratify our desire or hunger for status, glamour, or luxury. It means we use the finances at our disposal for meaningful purposes, that we live within the bounds of good judgment as far as what we spend finances on.^[16] It is being sensible and wise in our financial spending, and using the funds entrusted to us with care. It’s being modest in our personal spending, while being generous in giving to and helping others.

In order to bring simplicity into your life, you might consider:^[17]

Buying things for their usefulness rather than for their status. Avoid basing your buying decisions on the latest trends or what will impress others, and choose according to what you need. Don’t focus on impressing others or on your personal status.
Simplifying your life by developing the habit of getting rid of things which you no longer use or need. Many of us hold on to things we haven’t used for a long time, which could benefit someone else. Try giving them away and be free from having to store them. If you have become overly attached to some possession, consider giving it to someone who needs it.
Keeping yourself from being propagandized by advertising and social trends. The goal of marketing is often to convince you to discard your current item, which is sufficiently meeting your needs, and to buy the latest better, faster, more powerful model. You can make a conscious effort to avoid that, and use what you have until you truly need to replace it.
Avoiding purchasing things you don’t need. Do without nonessential items rather than going into debt to purchase them.
Learning to enjoy things that you don’t own. Use a library, public transportation, a public beach, or a park. Don’t feel you have to own things to use and benefit from them.
Minimizing or forgoing things or activities that produce an addiction in your life. These could be excesses in food or drink (junk food, alcohol, soft drinks, coffee or tea), or the excessive use of technology, communication, and entertainment devices. If you find you have a habitual or compulsive relationship with certain things or activities to where you can’t control your use of them, then stop using or doing them, put limits on them, or fast their use for a time.
Being careful not to let your responsibilities such as your family, or your legitimate pursuits such as your work, business, investments, etc., or your friends, become the center of your attention to the detriment of your relationship with God and His kingdom.

This list isn’t in any way meant as laws to be adhered to, but rather provides practical counsel on some matters to be aware of, and how to minimize or remove things that may be a distraction to your relationship with God and may be competing with Him for first place within your heart.

The discipline of simplicity can be understood as a means of being freed from some of the unnecessary attachments to the things of this life, a means to set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.^[18] Jesus told us that our heart is where our treasure is, therefore it’s wise to examine what our true treasure is. We should have a right relationship with our possessions and recognize the damage that can occur if that relationship gets out of balance. Simplicity can lessen our focus on ourselves and our things and help to keep us focused on our true treasure, our loving God who has given us the most valuable things we could ever possess—His love and salvation.

Other aspects of the discipline of stewardship will be discussed in subsequent articles.

Note

^[1] Psalm 24:1.

^[2] Exodus 19:5.

^[3] Job 41:11.

^[4] Haggai 2:8.

^[5] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1991), 140–41.

^[6] 1 Timothy 6:9–10.

^[7] Luke 16:13 NAS.

^[8] 1 Timothy 5:8 NIV.

^[9] Psalm 62:10.

^[10] Proverbs 11:28, NAU.

^[11] Luke 18:25.

^[12] Matthew 6:19–21.

^[13] Hebrews 13:5.

^[14] … not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3).

^[15] 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV.

^[16] Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines (New York: HarperOne, 1988), 168.

^[17] As taught by Richard J. Foster in Celebration of Discipline (New York: HarperOne, 1998), 90–95.

^[18] Colossians 3:2.

03 – The Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer

The Spiritual Disciplines

Peter Amsterdam

2014-02-04

The Spiritual Discipline of prayer is a key component in our relationship with God, as it is our main means of communication with Him. It is in prayer that we are able to converse with our Creator.As Christians, we have been given the incredible privilege of coming into the presence of God as His children, due to the salvation granted through Jesus. We can speak with Him, praise, worship, and adore Him, tell Him of our love for Him, and thank Him for all He’s done and continues to do for us. We can bare our hearts before Him, expressing our troubles and needs. We can intercede for others in their time of need. We can bring our requests to Him and ask for His help. We can tell Him how much we appreciate the beautiful things He’s created, and thank Him for the multitude of blessings we each have. When we’re weak and weary, we can speak to Him about it. When we’ve done wrong and have sinned, we can confess, ask for, and receive His forgiveness. We can speak with Him when we’re joyful or sad, in good health or bad, whether we’re rich or poor, for we have a relationship with the One who not only created us, but who loves us deeply and wants to participate in every aspect of our lives.Relationship with God, and Jesus’ ExampleRelationships require communication, and prayer is the main way we communicate with God. It is our means of inviting Him to participate in our daily lives, of asking Him to be directly and intimately involved with the things that are important to us. When we come before Him in prayer, we are asking Him to take an active part in our lives or in the lives of those we are praying for. Prayer conveys the reality of our overall situation, that we need Him and desire His presence in our lives.Being in good communication with God is a major part of our faith, of our relationship with Him. This is why prayer is something we need to cultivate, invest time in, and practice as a discipline. Communicating with God in prayer is a means of drawing closer to Him, of deepening our relationship, and in the process, it helps us to become more godly, more like Jesus.When it comes to praying, there is much to learn by looking at Jesus’ example of prayer within the Gospels and reading what He taught about it. One of the most fundamental things that Jesus imparted to His followers regarding prayer was about having the right relationship with His Father. In the Gospel of Mark we hear Jesus say, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”^[1] Abba was what a son or daughter in first-century Palestine would call their father throughout their lives; it was a familiar word, like Dad or Papa, in the Aramaic language that was spoken in Jesus’ day. Jesus used this word in prayer and taught His disciples to do the same, because it expressed the close, endearing, familial relationship believers should have with God. Throughout the Gospels when Jesus addresses God as Father in prayer, He most likely used the term Abba, as He would have been speaking Aramaic.In every instance but one ^[2] throughout all four Gospels, when Jesus prays, He uses the word Father.^[3] He constantly prayed to His Father, and He taught His disciples to do the same. (Since the New Testament was written in Greek, the Greek word Pater was used instead of Abba; however, Abba was preserved in three instances, which gives the understanding that Abba was the term Jesus and His disciples used in prayer, which was translated as Pater or Father in the New Testament.^[4]) Jesus’ use of Abba (Father) set the tone for the personal relationship we are privileged to have with God because of the gift of salvation. We are the sons and daughters of God; not in the same way as Jesus is, but as children adopted into God’s family. When we pray, we are coming before Abba, our Father.This manner of addressing God was also used in the Greek-speaking churches of Paul’s day. It is a word that was particularly associated with Jesus in the early church; to say Abba was to share in a common sonship and a common inheritance with Jesus.^[5] We, as children adopted into the family of God, also have a relationship with the Father.We are able to have an intimate connection with Him, as we would with our earthly father.For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”^[6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.^[7]Teachings from the Gospels about PrayerWhen Jesus taught about prayer through the parables, He made comparisons to situations such as the friend who borrowed the loaves at midnight,^[8] or the unjust judge ^[9] who eventually answered the woman’s plea. Through these story examples, He made the point that if the friend or the unjust judge would answer the petitions made to them, how much more would our Father in heaven answer our petitions? He demonstrates that we can have confidence that our prayers will be answered by our generous, loving Father. Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!^[10]In the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee, Jesus speaks of humility and confession in prayer.^[11] In the parable of the unforgiving servant, He touched on forgiveness, showing that it is prayer offered with a forgiving spirit that is answered.^[12] Pompous and pretentious prayers which draw attention to oneself are to be avoided; rather prayers should spring from sincerity of heart and motive.^[13] He spoke of intensity and vigilance in prayer ^[14] as well as expectancy.^[15] ^[16]By His example we learn to pray in solitude,^[17] to pray in thanksgiving,^[18] to pray when faced with decisions,^[19] and to intercede for others.^[20]Once, when Jesus finished praying, His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. He responded by teaching them what is today called the “Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father.”^[21] This rich prayer deserves a fuller explanation than can be given here, but in short it teaches us to pray by: praising God, the one who is holy and above all; expressing our desire and willingness for His will to be accomplished in our lives; acknowledging our dependence on Him to take care of our needs; asking for forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from evil.Besides praying to the Father in Jesus’ name, as He instructed His disciples to do, from examples in the Gospels we understand that prayers should be offered to Jesus as well.A leper came to [Jesus] and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.”^[22]A ruler came in and knelt before [Jesus], saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”^[23]Those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”^[24]Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.^[25]Jesus, through His example, and through teaching and emphasizing a relationship with the Father, has shown the importance of prayer and how to pray and in what circumstances, and most importantly that our prayers should be grounded in an intimate relationship with God. We are to be like children who climb on the lap of their father, with no pretense or fear, knowing and trusting that their father loves them and will protect, provide, and care for them.Looking at Our Own Prayer LivesPrayer plays a vital role in our spiritual lives, our connection with God, our inner growth, and our effectiveness as Christians. Jesus’ example of prayer, of getting away from the busyness of His life, taking time alone in prayer, even spending whole nights in prayer, interceding for others and praying effective prayers, marks the trail for those who long to walk in His footsteps.When we hold up our prayer lives to Jesus’ teaching and example on the subject, how do we fare? Do we pray often? Do we pray in faith, fully believing God will answer? Do we recognize that by praying we are asking God to intervene in our lives? Do we understand that we are praying for God’s will to be done, recognizing that His will may differ from ours? Do we realize that He does answer, but His answers may not always be yes?As the professor in my class on this subject said, God is not a cosmic bellhop. He’s not at our beck and call, waiting for us to order Him to do whatever it is that we want Him to do. As followers of Jesus, we strive to live in accordance with God’s will, which means that when we pray, we pray both in God’s will and for His will. As the Lord’s Prayer says, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Prayer is asking for the will of God to be done. It’s in this area that the Spiritual Discipline of Bible intake blends with prayer. As we read and meditate on His Word, we are more likely to understand His will, helping to align our prayers with His will.As Richard Foster wrote:“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3). To ask “rightly” involves transformed passions. In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after Him: to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves, to will the things He wills. Progressively we are taught to see things from His point of view.^[26]Developing Proficiency in PrayerWhen we desire to achieve proficiency in an area, we often look to the examples of those who are already proficient in order to learn from them. If you play golf, then you will study and try to follow the techniques of the golfing greats who have gone before you. The same is true in almost any field—music, business, the arts, medicine, etc. There are those who have gone before us in prayer who have become accomplished, and if we follow in their footsteps and use their example as a pattern, we too can have more fruitful and rewarding prayer lives.For example, we see that Jesus rose very early in the morning, while it was still dark, departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.^[27] The apostles gave themselves to the word and prayer and didn’t let the daily duties get in the way of what was most important for them.^[28] Martin Luther, when faced with so much to do, gave himself to three hours of daily prayer. John Wesley devoted two hours a day in the presence of the Lord. For these greats, and numerous others who have been effective in their Christian lives, time spent in prayer has played a significant role.Of course, they most likely didn’t start with such devotion to prayer, but became more proficient at it as time went on. While the fast-paced lives many of us live today may not allow for spending hours in daily prayer, we shouldn’t dismiss these examples. Rather we should each look at our own prayer life, at the time we spend in His presence, and ask ourselves if we are investing enough time communicating with the One with whom we are in what should be our primary relationship. Does our time in prayer reflect our deep desire to have Him participate in our lives, or is it more of a hit-or-miss commitment?It can be very effective to pray when you are reading and meditating on God’s Word. You are already tuned in to what God is saying to you through His Word and you can use what He’s speaking to you about as a stepping stone to your conversation with Him. Prayer isn’t meant to be a one-way conversation, with us speaking and expecting God to do all the listening. In times of prayer we should also open ourselves up to hear what God wants to say to us, through the Bible, through what godly teachers or preachers are saying, or through getting quiet before Him and opening our hearts to hear His voice. He can speak to us in many ways: through impressions He gives, thoughts He puts in our minds, through Bible verses or prophecies we receive. Prayer is communication, and communication is a two-way street. So besides asking God to hear what we are saying to Him, we should also be giving Him the opportunity to speak to us.Coming before the Lord in prayer is something that is expected of us, as believers, as shown by Jesus’ communications with His disciples.And when you pray … But when you pray ^[29] … This, then, is how you should pray^[30] … So I say to you: Ask …; seek …; knock…^[31] Then Jesus told His disciples … they should always pray.^[32]In the book of Colossians Paul says: Continue steadfastly in prayer …^[33] Continuing steadfastly in something means to give it constant care and attention. To do this requires a commitment, disciplining yourself to do it. It means considering it important enough to set aside regular time to give to prayer and conversation with the Lord.We are called to be in continual relationship with God, in a sense having an ongoing dialogue with Him, talking to Him, asking His guidance, praising Him, listening to Him throughout our day. This can be seen as the meaning of Paul’s general admonition to pray “continually” or “without ceasing.”^[34]While there is no exact prescribed formula for how to pray or how long to pray, Scripture is quite definite that we should pray. I’m pretty confident in stating that most of us Christians don’t devote the time to prayer that we should. Polls over the past years have shown that Christians, even dedicated ones, pray on average about seven minutes a day. This doesn’t seem to be the kind of time invested into practicing a skill that will result in proficiency. So how do we develop a better prayer life? There really isn’t any other way than by praying. How do you build up to running five kilometers a day? You start exercising or running today, and you keep it up regularly, increasing the time for which you run and the distance you cover as your endurance builds. It works the same with prayer. You begin by beginning. If you don’t take the first step by carving out a little time for it, most likely you won’t pray regularly.Some Methods to ConsiderStart with committing even ten minutes a day to prayer. If you are unsure what to pray about or how to go about it, try using the well-known ACTS method of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.Begin with adoration—praising, adoring, and glorifying God in prayer. You might find it helpful to incorporate verses from the Bible into your praise. (You can find a collection of verses on glorifying and praising God here.) After praising and worshipping, you can move on to confession—acknowledging your sins and asking for forgiveness. You can then move on to thanksgiving, expressing your gratitude for all the Lord has done and is doing for you. (Verses on thanksgiving also here.) After that, you can bring your prayers for yourself and others to Him in supplication. If you spend just a few minutes on each section, you will already be over the seven-minute average.Another fruitful means of prayer is combining it with your Bible reading and meditation. As you read and dwell on what you are reading, as you apply it to your life and circumstances, as the Lord lays thoughts on your heart through His Word, bring those things to Him in prayer.Prayer is our means of communicating with God, of coming into and remaining in His presence. As we climb onto our Heavenly Father’s lap, as His children, we can ask Him anything, we can trust Him with everything. We can feel His love for us, His assurance, His care. In our time of communicating with Him we learn from Him, and in time we become more like Him. If we truly desire to become more like Jesus, we must walk with Him on the path of prayer.NoteUnless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.^[1] Mark 14:36.^[2] The one time Jesus didn’t use the name of the Father in prayer, as He normally did, was on the cross, when at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).In this case He was quoting Psalm 22:1.^[3] Matthew 11:25–26, 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 10:21, 23:34,46; John 11:41, 12:27–28; 17:1,5,11,21, 24–25.^[4] Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6.^[5] J. B. Green, S. McKnight, and I. H. Marshall, eds., Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992).^[6] Romans 8:15.^[7] Galatians 4:6–7.

^[8] See “The Friend at Midnight and The Father’s Good Gifts.”

^[9] See “The Unjust Judge.”

^[10] Matthew 7:9–11.

^[11] Luke 18:10–14.

^[12] Matthew 18:21–35.

^[13] Matthew 6:5–6; Mark 12:38–40; Luke 20:47.

^[14] Matthew 26:41.

^[15] Mark 11:24, 9:23.

^[16] J. G. S. S. Thomson, Prayer (1996), quoted in New Bible Dictionary (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press).

^[17] Luke 5:15–16, 6:12.

^[18] Luke 10:21; John 6:11, 11:41; Matthew 26:27.

^[19] Luke 6:12.

^[20] John 17:6–9, 20–26.

^[21] Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4.

^[22] Matthew 8:2.

^[23] Matthew 9:18.

^[24] Matthew 14:33.

^[25] John 9:37–38.

^[26] Celebration of Discipline, 3rd ed. (HarperCollins, 2002), 33–34.

^[27] Mark 1:35.

^[28] Acts 6:4.

^[29] Matthew 6:5–6.

^[30] Matthew 6:9 NIV.

^[31] Luke 11:9 NIV.

^[32] Luke 18:1 NIV.

^[33] Colossians 4:2.

^[34] 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV.

The Pursuit of Success

November 19, 2021

By Max Jeganathan

Speaking from Singapore, Max Jeganathan compares Jesus’ parable of the man who sold his field to purchase the pearl of great price and the story of a pearl diver in John Steinbeck’s book, The Pearl, whose life is destroyed by his pursuit of success by worldly standards. While both were pursuing a pearl of great price, one pursued a pearl that represented eternal life, the other a worldly pursuit that ended in loss and tragedy.

Our pearl of great value is relationship with Jesus. Everything else flows from our relationship with Jesus. He is the One who most perfectly embodies the kingdom of heaven that this parable talks about. But not only is Jesus our pearl of great value, but you are God’s pearl of great value. Jesus took up brokenness and pain and gave up everything of Himself to save you and me.

Run time for this video is 36 minutes.

https://youtu.be/ri2aUM0ymI0

Having the Right Outlook

November 18, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 10:21
Download Audio (9.4MB)

I found the following tucked away in my “jewels” folder, author unknown. The idea illustrates a simple but effective tool for doing something amazing in our life: turning an upside-down life right side up again. Difficult as it may be at times, the choice of whether we will take what this life brings and use it as a ladder to victory or a trapdoor to the pit is still ours to make. Here is the excerpt:

Whenever I’m tempted to wonder what’s so great about my daily life, I go to the refrigerator door where a sheet of paper hangs, held firmly by a magnet. By the time I finish reading it, I’m usually ready to add another item to its list. What is it? A shopping list? Perhaps a to-do list? No, it’s something both mundane and profound, a reminder of the realities of life and a motivator for my mind and soul.

It’s not a list of things that many would immediately see as “good” things. Instead, it’s a list of what often could give cause for complaint, yet I’ve learned instead to search out that extra blessing that is hidden within. Here are a few examples:

Things to be thankful for anyway

For the buzz of the alarm clock that jolts me from sleep, because it means I’ve been blessed with another opportunity to love my family and hold them close.
For the endless stream of questions from my little ones, because it means that they possess inquisitive, intelligent, healthy minds.
For the mess to clean up after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have plenty to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am able to walk and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill, because it means I’ve been able to keep warm.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the continual beep of text messages on my phone, when I’m busy with other things, because it shows that others care about me.
For the troubles that dot my day, because they show that the Lord is busy investing His time and effort in shaping my life.

(Maria:) Though the basic principle of looking for the positive is familiar to us all, seeing it done so practically makes it easy to apply. If we look for the opportunities, we will see ways to turn what could be a weight and a drain on our hearts and minds into something we can be thankful for.

The Lord may challenge us to see how many of our life experiences we can add to our own gratitude list each day. As we do this, our attitudes and expectations about life begin to shift. It’s a reminder of the power of free choice. We cannot choose to eliminate everything that seems bad, but we can always determine how it will impact us and what we will make of life’s lemons.

The power of praise

I want to revisit some thoughts that were shared years ago in a vitamin post. However, as the Lord sometimes does, He gave an “updated version” of the prophecy to fit the need today. The Lord has such a beautiful way of sharing how He sees the power of praise! Even though I’m sure you have grown tremendously in this area, this topic still seems to offer us new challenges.

(Jesus:) When you praise Me in any situation, My Spirit renews your strength. You will mount up on the wings of My Spirit; you will run and not be weary, you will walk and not faint. Praising Me is always regenerative. It bolsters your faith, rekindles hope, and strengthens your bond with Me.

When you voice your thankfulness and gratitude, your words become a means to draw closer to Me. They help to chase away fear. They help you to leap over the gorge of worry and land in the field of peace and calm.

Your body in this life is like a vehicle. If your guidance system is set to Gratitude, and you power your vehicle with the fuel of Praise, you’re already well on your way to reach your destination, with more than enough power to get you there. My GPS is active in your life, and it will never steer you wrong.

So be sure that you have the latest updates from Me installed and your tank is filled to overflowing with praise. Then power up your spirit and take off with Me!

Is God always good?

Following is an article on a subject that bears revisiting, because so many struggle to understand when heartbreaking situations occur in their life. Here is a personal account of something that caused noted author and theologian Max Lucado to contemplate the topic of “Is God Always Good?”

I remember the day as a sunny, summer Brazilian one. My wife, Denalyn, and I were spending the afternoon with our friends Paul and Debbie … in a nice house where the air was cooler, the streets were cleaner, and life was calmer. Besides, they had a swimming pool. …

Our two-year-old daughter, Jenna, loved to play with their kids. And that is exactly what she was doing when she fell. We had stepped into the house for just a moment to fill our plates … when Paul and Debbie’s four-year-old walked into the room and casually told her mom, “Jenna fell in the pool.”

We exploded out the door. Jenna was flopping in the water, wearing neither floaties nor a life jacket. Paul reached her first. He jumped in and lifted her up to Denalyn. Jenna coughed and cried for a minute, and just like that she was fine. Tragedy averted. Daughter safe.

Even driving home, I was thanking God … and I offered yet another prayer: God, you are so good. … Then a question surfaced in my thoughts. … If Jenna hadn’t survived, would God still be good? I had spent the better part of the afternoon broadcasting God’s goodness. Yet had we lost Jenna, would I have reached a different verdict?

Is God good only when the outcome is? … Would and do we say the same under different circumstances? In the cemetery as well as the nursery? In the unemployment line as well as the grocery line? In days of recession as much as in days of provision? …

When God fails to meet our bottom-line expectations, we are left spinning in a tornado of questions. Is He good at all? Is God angry at me? Stumped? Overworked? Is His power limited? His authority restricted? Did the devil outwit Him? When life isn’t good, what are we to think about God? Where is He in all this?

God at times permits tragedies. He permits the ground to grow dry and stalks to grow bare. He allows Satan to unleash mayhem. But He doesn’t allow Satan to triumph. Isn’t this the promise of the Bible in Romans 8:28: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”? …

Nothing in the Bible would cause us to call a famine good or a heart attack good or a terrorist attack good. These are terrible calamities, born out of a fallen earth. Yet every message in the Bible compels us to believe that God will mix them with other ingredients and bring good out of them.

But we must let God define good. Our definition includes health, comfort, and recognition. His definition? In the case of His Son, Jesus Christ, the good consisted of struggles, storms, and death. But God worked it all together for the greatest of good: His glory and our salvation.

And is it possible that the wonder of heaven will make the most difficult life a good bargain? The Bible says, “This slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”¹

Compiled from posts originally published in 2019. Adapted and republished November 2021. Read by Debra Lee.

¹ 2 Corinthians 4:17. Text excerpted from a tract, “Is God Always Good?” by Max Lucado.

Better Days Ahead—Part 5

By Peter Amsterdam

November 16, 2021

—Dealing with DisappointmentOften when I’m having prayer time and meditating on God’s Word, I take some time to count my blessings and recall how God’s goodness has been manifested in my life. I feel so grateful. I think of Samuel’s wise words when he reminded us to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully and wholeheartedly; considering what great things He has done! (1 Samuel 12:24). It’s uplifting to meditate on the Lord’s goodness and mercy. I believe we can all rejoice and say, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3 NIV).But, of course, our life stories are not all roses and sunshine. We live in a fallen world, and consequently, I believe that we have all felt the sting of disappointment. The word disappointment is defined as “a feeling of dissatisfaction when one’s hopes, desires, and expectations fail to come to pass.” Some synonyms for it are dismay, frustration, and letdown.Disappointment can suck the proverbial life out of you. It can hurt so much that you can actually feel sick. And it’s not usually enough to just smile and “put on a happy face”—disappointment is often painful and sad!You might be in a season of life right now where you feel that you’ve experienced one disappointment after another. This could be related to lost opportunities, painful relationships or family issues, work projects being stalled or failing, a tragic medical diagnosis instead of a triumphant recovery, and the list goes on.Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33 NIV). And that means everyone! There’s no escaping it. I suppose that could sound a little fatalistic. So, what are we to do about it? Well, to begin with, let’s not forget the second part of that verse, where Jesus said, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” There is always hope, because Jesus is the ultimate victor!In the midst of disappointment, knowing that God is listening and hears our heartcries is a comfort. He will always hear us, whether we are happy, sad, heartbroken, or disappointed. And we can remind ourselves that nothing is too hard for the Lord or beyond His reach or outside of His care and provision for us. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).When we are feeling the weight of disappointment, it’s helpful to try to put things in perspective by looking at our situation from a different point of view.The first thing to keep in mind is this: no amount of suffering or disappointment we experience in this life can ever undo what God has done for us in Christ. …The truth is, our trials and disappointments, though we may not like them, do serve a purpose. It is through trials that we learn patience and humility, endurance and trust—virtues that strengthen us and develop godly character.Also, it is during the difficult times that we learn to rely on God and experience firsthand the absolute trustworthiness of His Word. We also learn the truth of what Paul taught: God’s power is at its strongest when we are at our weakest (2 Corinthians 12:9). …It is important that our perspective includes eternity. Our time on earth is an incalculably small fraction of our eternal journey.Consider the apostle Paul and the persecution he was subjected to while spreading the gospel. Although his litany of suffering seems unbearable by any measure, he amazingly referred to his hardships as “light and momentary troubles.” This is because he focused on the “eternal glory” that far outweighed any earthly disappointments he experienced (2 Corinthians 4:17; see also Romans 8:18). We can do this, he said, when we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but rather on what is unseen, our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 4:18). …Being a child of God means we are never alone in our trials (Hebrews 13:5). God gives us the strength and grace we need to endure any circumstance and to overcome any disappointment (Philippians 4:13).¹I have found that in times of struggle, quoting Philippians 4:4,6–7 out loud can help me to refocus on God’s truth and not allow worry and stress related to problems, sickness, disappointments, or work issues to dominate my thoughts.Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.After quoting these verses, the key is to make an intentional effort to put this into practice. It starts with rejoicing and thanking the Lord for His goodness and His blessings. It also helps to recall specific blessings and victories and enumerate these many good things. Then take note of the things that are causing you to feel anxious. Commit this list to the Lord in prayer, couching these petitions with thanksgiving, giving God glory and expressing gratitude for His mercy and goodness. The last step is to focus on receiving the peace that He promises to give, that amazing peace that “surpasses all understanding.” Even when the situation seems impossible, He has promised that we can receive His peace.When we experience disappointment, we can learn, grow, and mature, as we see in James 1:2–4:Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing (AMP).Of course, in spite of our best efforts to learn and grow from disappointments, there will be times when we feel overwhelmed and discouraged when something happens out of the blue that we were not expecting. Or when we had been working toward a specific goal that was important to us and, contrary to our plans, the outcome was different than expected and seems to be a setback or loss.In times like these we need to remember that God sees the big picture. Our situation is never hopeless. God has a plan for our lives. We know that we can trust God because He is good. We trust Him because He loves us and knows best. We trust Him because He has promised to work in and through even our setbacks, failures, and challenges and turn them into blessings in our lives. When our hopes and expectations don’t come to pass, it’s important to not become disillusioned with God Himself.When God does not act when we think He should act, it is not because He is unable to do so. … God chooses to act or not to act according to His perfect and holy will in order to bring about His righteous purposes. Nothing happens that is out of God’s plan. … There are times when He chooses to let us know His plans (Isaiah 46:10), and times when He does not. Sometimes we understand what He is doing; sometimes we do not (Isaiah 55:9). One thing we do know for sure: if we belong to Him, whatever He does will be to our benefit, whether or not we understand it. …When we align our wills with God’s will and when we can say, with Jesus, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), then we find the contentment Paul spoke of in 1 Timothy 6:6–10 and Philippians 4:11–12. Paul had learned to be content with whatever God sent his way. He trusted God and submitted to His will, knowing that a holy, righteous, perfect, loving, and merciful God would work all things together for good because that is what He promised. When we see God in that light, we cannot possibly be disappointed with Him. Rather, we [should] submit willingly to our heavenly Father, knowing that His will is perfect and that everything He brings to pass in our lives will be for our good and His glory.²We can be confident that even when we don’t understand, there is a purpose in what the Lord allows to come into our lives. And if we are open and humble, we can learn from disappointment, even if it is a result of our mistakes, sins, or wrong decisions. It is beneficial to seek the Lord for anything He wants to teach us during our times of suffering.When you are experiencing times of discouragement or disappointment, especially if you feel you have failed in some way, try to be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up in your thoughts. Be gentle with yourself instead of critical. Make a conscious effort to stop your negative self-talk.Remember that our identity as Christians, our sense of worth and self-esteem, is based on the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who created us specifically in love. He came to this world and gave His life for us. Not only that, but He has promised that we will live in an eternal world of beauty and joy in eternal bodies. When our view of ourselves is fully grounded in God’s unconditional love and our identity as a child of God with an eternal destiny, regardless of our faults and failings, that helps to build positive feelings about our future and full potential.How the Lord sees you is expressed beautifully in the song by Lauren Daigle called “You Say.” Here are some of the words of this song:I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to knowYou say I am loved
When I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong
When I think I am weak
You say I am held
When I am falling short
When I don’t belong
You say I am Yours
And I believe
I believe
What You say of me
I believeYou can find the official video of the song on YouTube,³ where it’s been viewed by over 230 million people!In closing, here is an encouraging message from Jesus.No matter what your circumstances or how you have handled them, no matter what you have done or not done, I love you. I see your every tear. I hear your every cry for help. I feel your heartaches, your sorrows, your frustrations, your disappointments. I see straight through to your heart of hearts, and I love you more deeply than you can possibly comprehend.Life often is a struggle, but it is made so much easier when you bring all your burdens and cares to Me. I can transform even turmoil, emptiness, and disappointment into peace, hope, and love.Come to Me with all that is weighing you down and I will relieve your troubled mind, dry your tears, and renew your courage and hope.Every new day can be a new start. Decisions of the past have had their effect, but no matter what has happened up till now, you can make the right decisions today.Don’t waste time reliving the pain of past mistakes and wrong decisions. That only saps your strength to do what you can do today. You can’t change the past.Learn from past mistakes and put them behind you today. Forgive those who have wronged you and ask forgiveness from those you have wronged. Look to Me and My Word for fresh courage and hope, starting today. Set new goals today. Spend your time on things that truly count today. Determine to do things better, commit all your ways to Me starting today.With My help, your future can be filled with fresh perspective, fulfillment, and new achievements that will more than make up for past disappointments—and it all starts today.—JesusPraise the Lord! Let’s remember, “Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”⁴ God bless you!¹ https://www.gotquestions.org/disappointment-with-life.html ² https://www.gotquestions.org/disappointment-with-God.html ³ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI ⁴ Bill Keane.Copyright © 2021 The Family International. Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Finding Courage

November 16, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:07
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If we consider all the things we could be afraid of, we can quickly see why don’t be afraid, in one form or another, is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture. Put positively, God calls us to “be strong and of good courage.”¹

But how can we become courageous?

Fear is often our natural response. We don’t have to think of all our reasons to be afraid; fear comes unbidden. But being strong and courageous doesn’t come naturally. Often, we have to think through different reasons why we ought to overcome our fears with courage. God calls us to take courage because it doesn’t just come naturally; we have to fight for it. Confronted with fears on every side and even from within, courage must be seized. …

In other words, good courage is fueled by faith in ultimate reality: what God promises his people. We are to be encouraged by God’s promises to forgive all our sins,² to never forsake us,³ to cause light to dawn in our darkness,⁴ to provide for all we really need,⁵ to provide an escape in every temptation,⁶ to work all things, even the worst things, for our ultimate good,⁷ to cause us to ultimately overcome our worst enemies,⁸ to make us live, though we die,⁹ to someday wipe away every tear,¹⁰ and to give us fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore in his presence—because of his presence.¹¹ And many, many more such promises.

Since courage is fueled by faith, and faith is believing God’s promises, … believing all that God promises to be for us in Jesus ¹²—biblical courage, “good courage,” results directly from taking hold of these promises. We must take courage.

This is exactly what David was doing when, faced with dangerous opposition, he wrote, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”¹³ … Based on what he believed,¹⁴ he exhorted himself to “let [his] heart take courage.”¹⁵ By faith, he resisted the temptation to overestimate what threatened him and underestimate God’s power or willingness to keep his promises. Letting his heart take courage meant letting himself believe God’s promises.

Courage is always fueled by faith. Good courage is fueled by faith in the ultimate good of the real God and all he promises to be for us in Jesus. Therefore, good courage must be taken—we must take hold of real promises given by the real God so that having done all, we can stand firm in the evil day.¹⁶ Come what may, we know that we “shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the [eternal] land of the living.”¹⁷—Jon Bloom¹⁸

Take courage

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”—John 16:33¹⁹

There isn’t a human being alive on this planet who isn’t acquainted with troubles. Times of difficulty arrive unexpectedly, often remain indefinitely, and the sorrowful memories they produce take deep root in the mind. It is no wonder, then, why Jesus’ promise in John 16:33 also takes deep root in the minds and hearts of so many Christians: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

This comforting verse is found within a larger section in the Gospel of John. Chapters 13–17 make up what theologians refer to as the Farewell Discourse. These are Jesus’ final words of reassurance, comfort, and encouragement to his disciples in the upper room before his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. …

In this verse, we see two certain realities: 1) the followers of Jesus will suffer great distress, and 2) Jesus has already won the victory. He didn’t want his disciples to be under the delusion that their future ministry would be full of ease and comfort, and he doesn’t want us to think that either.

Following Christ is difficult and there will be opposition. Yet, the reality of Christ’s victory over sin and death via his own death and resurrection provides peace and courage. … By entering into our world and suffering alongside of us, Jesus offers certain hope that transcends the temporal sorrow and suffering this world throws at his followers.

Therefore, we are not called to overcome the world ourselves, because Jesus already did. He provides his children with a certain future—a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”²⁰ It is because of this reality that we can “take heart” and “be of good courage.” …

An appropriate way to respond to Jesus’ words in John 16:33 is to ask, “What do I hope in?”

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Could it be that troubles and trials make our heart sick because we are placing our hope in that which does not satisfy—a job, a relationship, a position? Christ calls us, not to place our hope in temporal, uncertain things, but in his eternal victory over sin and death on the cross of Calvary. … If your hope is in Christ, then rest assured that no trouble or trial in this life will take that hope away from you. …

We are called to take heart, not in our own abilities or willpower, but in the finished work of Jesus.—Aaron Berry²¹

The courage of meekness

My Bible dictionary defines meekness as “an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward men, springing from a recognition that God is in control.” It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.

This kind of meekness is having faith and peace, because you know God’s in control. You can be mild and quiet of nature, because you’re full of faith. You have the assurance that God’s going to work things out no matter how incredibly overwhelming or desperate the situation might be.

You have faith, and therefore you have trust. You’re mild because you’re not frantically trying to work up a solution in your own strength. You’re not depending on your own talent, your own wisdom, your own charisma, but on the Lord, and that calmness translates to others as the Lord’s presence right there with you. You can be of good courage because of that meekness, that quietness of spirit about you that builds faith and trust in God’s unfailing care.—Peter Amsterdam

The courage to be kind

One sunny afternoon roughly seventy years ago, a young girl and her friends were watching through the mesh of a barbed wire fence as a group of men played football [soccer], enjoying the excitement of the game and the skill of the players. Suddenly, a kick sent the ball in an arc over the fence, and it landed near the children.

“It’d be great to have a ball to play with,” one of the boys remarked. “Let’s keep it.”

But a girl disagreed. “It’s not right for us to keep it,” she insisted, throwing the ball back over the fence.

This simple gesture of kindness and integrity took place in the heart of Germany in the early 1940s, during World War II. The players were British prisoners of war, interned in a camp on the outskirts of town. Some of the girl’s friends grumbled. After all, the players were prisoners—why should they have a ball when the children didn’t?

Kindness takes thoughtfulness, effort, and time. It also takes courage. Courage to stand alone on an issue. Courage to give, especially when one doesn’t have much. Courage to say no to indifference. Courage to act according to what one knows is right—especially when the right choice seems so obvious that “surely someone else with more time and resources will notice and do something about it.”

There is strength of character in kindness—the moral and mental strength to step out, to give, to believe, to persevere, to be true to one’s convictions, even when it means enduring challenges or paying a price. These are the kindnesses that leave a lasting impression.

It’s been over three-quarters of a century, but there may yet be survivors of that summer scene—and if so, I imagine they might remember my grandmother, the village girl who returned a football.—Avi Rue

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by John Laurence.
Music by John Listen.

¹ Daniel 10:19.

² 1 John 1:9.

³ Hebrews 13:5.

⁴ Psalm 112:4.

⁵ Philippians 4:19.

⁶ 1 Corinthians 10:13.

⁷ Romans 8:28.

⁸ Romans 16:20.

⁹ John 11:25.

¹⁰ Revelation 21:4.

¹¹ Psalm 16:11.

¹² 2 Corinthians 1:20.

¹³ Psalm 27:13–14.

¹⁴ Psalm 27:13.

¹⁵ Psalm 27:14.

¹⁶ Ephesians 6:13.

¹⁷ Psalm 27:13.

¹⁸ https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/let-your-heart-take-courage.

¹⁹ BER.

²⁰ 1 Peter 1:3–4.

²¹ https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/jesus-promise-in-this-word-you-will-have-trouble-john-1633.html.

Take a Pause

November 15, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 9:15
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“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”—1 Peter 5:7¹

Dear one, come to Me and find that peace and rest that you need. Don’t give way to worry or becoming flustered. Know that in My presence you will find the rest and peace you seek. Simply sit back for a few moments and speak to Me and receive from Me‚ and your balance will be restored, your sail will be put upright, and you’ll be back on course.

When things don’t seem to be going your way and you’re feeling frustrated, take a pause and come to Me. Remember that “in your patience you possess your soul.”²

Learning patience is an important part of your spiritual growth. Even though it is human nature to get upset when things don’t work out the way you think they should, if you take the time to bring the situation to Me, we can refigure it together. You will find that every burden is lighter when you bring it to Me, because I will be leading, loving, and guiding you, and lightening your load.

Cleanse your mind of the thoughts and concerns of the day and rest in Me. Let all the cares and worries melt away, as you pause and enter into My presence. Stop for a moment and look out the window up into the sky. Remember that if I made the world and all that is therein, I can certainly take care of you.

As you sit outside and enjoy My beautiful creation, breathe deeply and remind yourself that every beautiful thing is a token of My love. Every flower is My smile, every bird’s sweet refrain is My love singing to your heart, and every sunset that fills you with awe comes from My hand. All these things are manifestations of My love for you.

Whenever you see some beautiful bit of creation, take a moment to offer up a praise to Me—the Creator of all things. Even though you may not be able to watch the sun rise, you can still see it in your mind’s eye. You can go to a quiet place in your heart and mind, and we can commune in quietness and confidence.

As you lie in bed, waiting for sleep to come over you, know that I am with you. If you remember that I am with you‚ you’ll find the rest you need. As you set aside the burdens of the day, I will whisper to your heart and bring peace to your spirit.

My masterpiece

“God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”—Ecclesiastes 3:11³

When you look at yourself, the vessel that I have made, it can be hard for you to see the beauty that lies there. But I have made everything beautiful in its own time, including you. Not one part of you is a mistake; not one tone, hue, shape, or size is a mistake. Each part of you—including your personality and your talents, and the parts that you find less comely—were perfectly formed into how I created you to be. You are My masterpiece!

Nothing is hidden from My love. It searches and reaches into the very depths of your being and sees all. But that doesn’t change My love for you. You see your faults; I see your love for Me. You see your failings; I see how you persevere and put your trust in Me in spite of your weaknesses.

You were formed to fulfill My will and calling for your life. You shine with My light; you let Me shine through you, so that others can see My love shining through you.

As you hold on to Me, I will never let go of you. You are precious to Me, and I care for you and lovingly shower you with the warmth of My love. Receive My love and you will have joy unspeakable!

When you are tempted to become discouraged with yourself and your failings and lacks, remind yourself that I do all things well‚⁴ and you are a beautiful creation, fit not only for My use, but also to be the object of My love. And this love is not a form of sympathy for you because of your human flaws and defects, but rather, it is the love of a Master for a masterpiece of His creation!

Perfect love

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”—Psalm 55:22⁵

There’s no worry too great that you cannot lay it on My altar. There’s no tear that you shed that I cannot wipe away. There’s no burden that’s too heavy for Me to carry. So cast all your cares on Me, then leave them there, and remember that when you give them to Me, I will care for you and your concerns, because I love you more than you could ever imagine.

My perfect love will cast out your fear of the future, your worries about the past, and your anxiety about the present. Remember that I always have your best interests at heart. Everything that has happened to you or will yet happen to you‚ or hasn’t happened to you will work together for good at some point in your life. You haven’t been forgotten, missed, skipped over, or neglected.

When things look dark and you feel as though you can’t go on, turn to Me. As you soak in My Word and commune with Me, your faith and hope will be revived, and I will help you to take on a new perspective! As you strive to walk in My will, you will experience My joy.

Let My sunshine beam on you and warm your soul. Even when you’re feeling down and you close the curtains, My sunshine will beam through the cracks and warm you. My love will never leave or abandon you!

When you feel like you can’t make it another step‚ pause and commit everything to Me. Raise your hands and commit your cares and burdens to Me one by one. Let My love wash over you. Trust Me. Believe that I am with you always and accept My love and rest in it.

No matter what you are facing, remember that I only have your care and well-being in My thoughts toward you‚ and I will provide for you and give you all that you need. If this includes discipline or training, then I do so because of My great love for you. But I never have harsh thoughts of judgment toward you—only thoughts of love and care.

My love knows no boundaries. This is the love that I also wish for you to have for others—a love that loves the unlovely and does good, even to those who despise you, for through this testimony of My love, others will be drawn to Me. Let no one cross your path today without leaving them a little better for it‚ without a word of cheer or encouragement. Let all that you do be done in love.⁶ As you have freely received My love, freely give it to others.⁷

Originally published October 2005. Adapted and republished November 2021.
Read by Jerry Paladino. Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ TPT.

² Luke 21:19.

³ NLT.

⁴ Mark 7:37.

⁵ ESV.

⁶ 1 Corinthians 16:14.

⁷ Matthew 10:8.

01 – The Spiritual Disciplines: Introduction

The Spiritual Disciplines

Peter Amsterdam

2014-01-15

Trying to live according to the teachings of Jesus and to be more like Him is a personal goal for me, as I know it is for many of us. We want to follow His example of being loving and compassionate, generous, forgiving, kind, prayerful, Spirit-led, and of having a deep relationship with the Father and the determination to do God’s will.As Christians, we aspire to pattern ourselves after Jesus. We desire to be godly, meaning that we live in a manner which honors God, which is based on the knowledge of His Word, and with the awareness of, and reverence for, His constant presence within us. In short, living in a way which is pleasing to Him. The question is: How do we do that effectively? What steps can we take to help us to live godly lives?The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a young man he was mentoring, telling him that he should train himself for godliness,^[1] that he should pursue it,^[2] as there is great gain in doing so.^[3] The Greek word Paul used for training was gymnazō, which the English word gymnasium comes from, and which means to exercise vigorously. In other words, Paul was saying that Timothy should put effort and exercise into becoming godly.We all know that if we wish to become proficient at something or to become an expert or professional in some aspect of life, we must train and practice. When I was fourteen years old, I learned the basics of how to play the guitar. I could eventually play well enough to accompany myself or others when singing, but I never progressed further. I always admired those who were good guitarists, who could play more than the basic chords, which was the extent of my skill. Some years ago, I was talking with a young lead guitarist who in my opinion played amazingly. He told me that he could play lead guitar so well because throughout his teen years he’d practiced the scales over and over again. He was proficient because he’d put in the time and work to become so.Besides not becoming proficient in my guitar playing, when I was ten I gave up playing the piano after a few years of lessons because I wasn’t willing to keep up with the tedious hard work and practice that was necessary to play proficiently. Similar to my guitar playing, I learned the basics, but I never became skilled. I’m using music as an example, but this holds true whenever one wants to become skilled in some field. It requires effort, practice, time, and energy to become adept.Sports stars perform with such skill because they work at it regularly. They practice daily, they sacrifice, they take care of their bodies, they work on the areas in which they need to improve, they listen to their coaches. They consistently train for what they do. So often we see experts make their skill look simple—an ice skater who makes a beautiful move, an artist who sketches a perfect likeness, a high-diver who performs a flawless dive. It looks effortless, yet we know that to reach that level of proficiency has required a commitment to practice long and hard. They didn’t start out as champions or experts; they started with a desire to become proficient and were willing to work at it.Living lives which reflect Jesus’ light and love to others, living in accordance with God’s will, being attuned to the Holy Spirit, making godly choices, cultivating a close relationship with our Creator, all of this requires effort on our part. Paul was making this point when he told Timothy to train in godliness.How do we train for godliness? By applying ourselves to doing those things which put us in a position to receive God’s blessings and strength; by doing what is necessary to align the inner attitudes of our heart with God’s Spirit, Word, and will. Living a God-centered life isn’t something that happens on its own; it requires effort and commitment on our part. It calls for spiritual growth, which will contribute to developing such a life. As we mature in our faith, as we walk closer with God and as we live in alignment with His will, we are inwardly transformed, which in turn manifests itself in our outward life, helping us to be more God-centered and Christlike.One means of such spiritual growth is practicing what are referred to as the Spiritual Disciplines. Learning about and applying the Spiritual Disciplines can help you deepen your love for the Lord and your connection with Him in significant ways. They can help you align your life with God’s will and put you in a position to receive God’s blessings. Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines is similar to becoming proficient in any field; it entails making decisions which require self-discipline. It isn’t easy, but it is rewarding.In his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney quoted Tom Landry, who coached the Dallas Cowboys football team for thirty years, as saying:The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.Whitney went on to say:In much the same way, Christians are called to make themselves do something they would not naturally do—pursue the Spiritual Disciplines—in order to become what they’ve always wanted to be, that is, like Jesus Christ. “Discipline yourself,” says the Scripture, “for the purpose of godliness.”^[4]This series of articles will touch on the Spiritual Disciplines. The Spiritual Disciplines are not a means of gaining God’s love or favor for works we are doing or sacrifices we are making, nor are they a deal or contract between you and the Lord which states, “If I do this, then God will do that.” Rather, engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines is a means by which you put yourself in the position to receive God’s grace.Grace in the New Testament generally refers to God’s gracious gift of salvation through Jesus. However, the word grace is not limited to salvation. Throughout the Bible grace is used in the sense of loving-kindness, showing favor, performing compassionate acts which arise out of affection and goodness. Grace is God’s unmerited and compassionate favor which He bestows, not because He must or is forced to, but because of His love for us. From my experience with the Spiritual Disciplines, I can say that through them I have felt God’s grace in my life.Author Richard J. Foster wrote:The apostle Paul says, “He who sows to his own flesh will reap from the flesh corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8). Paul’s analogy is instructive. A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. He cultivates the ground, he plants the seed, he waters the plants, and then the natural forces of the earth take over and up comes the grain. This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines—they are a way of sowing to the Spirit. The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where He can work with us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. They are God’s means of grace. The inner righteousness we seek is not something that is poured on our heads. God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where He can bless us.^[5]The Spiritual Disciplines aren’t magic bullets which will change your life immediately; instead they are a way of life that puts you in the position to be transformed by God. They are a means to a deeper relationship with Him, to living as Jesus did. In fact, they include many of those things Jesus did when He walked the earth, such as prayer, spending time alone with His Father in quietness, fasting, sacrificial living, service to others, and more. It logically follows that if we want to be like Jesus, we would want to follow the example of how He lived, especially in regard to communing and connecting with His Father, and doing our best to serve as an example of God’s love and compassion to others.There are three main avenues which God uses to help us grow into Christlikeness. The first is people—our loved ones, spouse, friends, coworkers, teachers, mentors, and even those who oppose us. All of them can be catalysts for change in our lives.The second avenue of change is circumstances—the challenges we face, whether with health, finances, losing a job or getting a new one, moving locations, or any other things which require stretching and moving out of our comfort zones. God uses circumstances to bring change and growth to our doorstep. When He uses people and circumstances to bring spiritual growth, He is using outside influences which are generally beyond our control.^[6]The third avenue is the Spiritual Disciplines, which work from the inside out. While we have limited control over the outside influences and circumstances which draw us closer to God, the Spiritual Disciplines can generate change and growth from within. It’s each of us making a decision to take action for the purpose of inward spiritual change and growth. With the other two avenues, we have little choice or control; however, with the Spiritual Disciplines, we can choose to use them as a catalyst for growth, and we can choose which ones to practice and when.^[7]The disciplines which will be covered in this series are Bible intake, prayer, stewardship, simplicity, giving, wise use of time, fasting, solitude and silence, journaling, learning, confession, worship, celebration, service, fellowship, and evangelism. Different authors categorize the disciplines differently and some list additional disciplines. The ones that will be included in this series are those which most authors cover and which virtually all agree are considered Spiritual Disciplines.How deeply we dwell in communion with God, how open we are to His influence, how much we choose to do His will, how dedicated we are to maturing in our faith, are things that we each decide. How important is your connection to the Lord? What are you willing to do about it? These are questions that only you can answer. But if you have the desire to dwell in Him and let Him dwell in you, to grow in faith, to be in the position where He can bring the spiritual growth you seek, then I suggest you practice the Spiritual Disciplines on a regular basis.Using the Spiritual Disciplines is a private matter between you and the Lord. While there are some which should be practiced daily, such as Bible intake, meditation, prayer, and praise, there are others which are generally used less frequently. It’s up to you, in communion with the Lord, to determine which ones to practice and when.While many great Christians of the past practiced the principles brought together in the Spiritual Disciplines, they aren’t reserved for those who have reached such spiritual heights. The disciplines are for everyday Christians like you and me. They are for mothers and fathers, those in the workplace, students, missionaries, and anyone who loves Jesus and wants God to be involved in their lives.The Spiritual Disciplines that will be covered in this series are ones that I’ve selected from three prominent books on the subject: Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster, The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard, and Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney.The goal of this series is to bring about awareness of the Spiritual Disciplines, to provide a basic explanation of them so that you will have the tools in hand to strengthen your spiritual life and to help you reach your goal of being more like Jesus. It will also be a help to those of you who are teaching, ministering to, or discipling others, as you will have this means to teach them about the disciplines. My prayer is that you will find the Spiritual Disciplines a blessing to you and those you minister to.NoteUnless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.^[1] Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).^[2] Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).^[3] Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment … (1 Timothy 6:6).^[4] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1991), 21.^[5] Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (New York: HarperOne, 1998), 7.^[6] Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, 18.^[7] Ibid., 18.Copyright © 2014 The Family International.

02 – The Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Intake

The Spiritual Disciplines

Peter Amsterdam

2014-01-21

Christians who desire a flourishing relationship with God and who are interested in spiritual growth recognize that spending time taking in and absorbing God’s Word is of utmost importance. It is within the pages of the Bible that we learn about God and His love for humanity, about Jesus and His message, about how to live in harmony with God and our fellow human beings.

God is the Creator, and He wants to be in relationship with His creation. In order to make that possible, He has revealed Himself to us through the Bible. In it, He tells of His love for us and of the actions He has taken to make it possible for us as imperfect and finite beings to be in relationship with Him. The more we abide in His Word and let His Word abide in us, the more we understand how to live our lives in alignment with Him, in accordance with His will, and in a manner that reflects Him and His love, especially in our interactions with others.

Reading God’s Word

Setting aside time daily to read the Bible provides the opportunity to connect with God each day. It opens us up to letting Him speak to us through what we read, to His instruction and guidance, to His help through life’s problems and difficulties. Regular reading of God’s revelation to us reminds us of the moral code which we are meant to fashion our lives around, and provides us with guidance when we are faced with decisions. It is a key element for those who seek to be like Jesus, because it is in the Bible that we hear His teaching, see the example of His love, and are introduced to the relationship with His Father that His sacrifice has opened up for us. As we abide in His Word, we become more and more aware of the value He places on each individual, and the love and compassion He has for every human being. As we begin to absorb the truth contained within these pages, as we ponder and pray about those truths, and as we apply them to our daily living, we begin to anchor both our inner and outer lives on the foundation of Christlikeness, on godliness, and on the truth of God.

Each day we are flooded with a barrage of input from a wide variety of delivery systems which influences us in one way or another. Taking time daily to read what God has said to us provides a way to navigate through the maelstrom of information and input that we are faced with. It enhances our spiritual ability to discern truth and falsehood. It makes it easier to keep our hearts centered on those things which are important to living lives of true happiness, inner peace, and alignment with God and His will. It helps us to survive and overcome all that life brings our way. As Jesus said: Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.^[1]Abiding in God’s Word brings us in regular contact with His Spirit. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.^[2] Part of having that contact with the Lord, of having that promised peace, is spending time reading His Word.

Carving out the time to read daily is no easy task—it requires self-discipline, as does each Spiritual Discipline. Like the workouts and training that athletes must do daily to maintain their conditioning and excel in their performance, taking regular time to read Scripture will strengthen your spirit and make you a stronger Christian—one who is grounded in God’s truth and love. The connection with God, that savoring of His Word, helps you to be Spirit-led in your daily interactions with others, in your decision making, and in your ability to stay strong in the face of daily temptations.

There is no specific formula for how much you need to read daily or what portions of the Bible you should read. The key is setting aside the time to do it and then sticking to it. It helps to have a good contemporary translation. The English Standard Version (ESV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the New International Version (NIV) are known to be good and accurate contemporary English translations.

It helps to commit to reading a certain number of chapters per day, as having a realistic goal can motivate you to stick with your reading even on busy days. The book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life makes the observations that reading 15 minutes a day will take you through the entire Bible within a year, and that reading three chapters a day and five chapters on Sunday will accomplish the same. It also points out that since the Bible contains 66 different books, for variety’s sake you might want to consider starting to read in three places—Genesis, Job, and Matthew—as this divides the Bible into three sections that are equal in length, so by reading the same number of chapters in each section each day you will finish the three sections, and thus the entire Bible, at roughly the same time.

Finding and following a Bible reading plan of some kind can help you stick with your reading and forge ahead when you find yourself in the more difficult portions of Scripture. There are a variety of apps for electronic devices which can help you design your reading plan, including some that provide the reading program and the text. Some people prefer to read from the pages of their Bible in book form. Whether you read from a Bible or on your computer or use a mobile app, what’s important is that you read it.

Information about apps:

http://thecripplegate.com/three-must-have-bible-apps/

http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/best-bible-apps-for-the-ipad

http://rachelwojo.com/4-fabulous-bible-apps-i-recommend/

Information about Bible reading programs:

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/

http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138

Ideally, you should read in a situation free from distractions, perhaps in a quiet spot early in the morning before your day begins or late at night when all is winding down. The quietness and absence of activity around you facilitates meditating on what you are reading. If early morning is not possible, try to find another time of day when it is. But even if you can’t carve out some quiet time, then read on the run, in whatever time opens up for you—or listen to it in audio form as you go. It’s a fight to keep your commitment to read/study the Bible, but doing so will make a difference in your life.

Hearing about God’s Word

Along with personally reading God’s Word, it can be beneficial to hear His Word spoken about as well. This would entail reading, listening to, or watching sermons, talks, discussions, and posts which pertain to the Word and godly principles. Anchor, Directors’ Corner and Just One Thing can help with this, and there are other very good sites where men and women of God speak about and teach God’s Word.

I’ve found that there are some teachers I like to hear, whose style and what they speak about resonates with me more than others. But other people I know love to listen to someone who doesn’t appeal to me. We’re each different, but the point is that it can be helpful to watch or listen to those who share God’s words in a manner which speaks to you and helps strengthen your connection and relationship with the Lord.

It’s often much easier to listen to someone else speak about the principles and teachings of God’s Word than it is to take the time to read the Word yourself and to think about and meditate on what you have read. While it’s spiritually feeding and beneficial to listen to sermons and read articles about the Word, it shouldn’t replace your time reading the Bible and benefiting from what the Lord Himself has to say to you personally through His Word.

Meditating on the Word

When you read the Bible or listen to others expound on it, it’s important to ask yourself what God is speaking to you about through what you’re reading or hearing. Take time to think about what you’re reading. If a passage stands out to you, read it again. Think about it; ask yourself why it stood out to you and what the Lord might be trying to tell you through it. If a part of a sermon you listen to speaks to your heart, listen to it again, and think and pray about it. Remember, the reason for reading or listening isn’t to get through the material as quickly as possible, or to cram in as much as you can in the allotted time, but rather to absorb it, and to let it speak to you and become part of you. It’s a time to let the Lord communicate with you through His Word.

Focusing on what you read or hear, and thinking more deeply about it, is part of meditating on God’s Word. Our lives are so busy, and we often feel we need to rush from one thing to the next, so it’s difficult to take the time to truly think about what we’ve read and how to apply it, but it’s important to do so if we want it to affect us.

In the Psalms we hear David speak of meditating on God and His Word:

I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.^[3]

Hundreds of years earlier, God spoke to Joshua about the importance of continually meditating on the Word of God.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.^[4]

The great prayer warrior George Mueller wrote regarding meditating on God’s Word:

What is food for the inner man? The Word of God, and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it and applying it to our hearts.^[5]

Donald Whitney wrote:

The tree of your spiritual life thrives best with meditation because it helps you absorb the water of God’s Word. Merely hearing or reading the Bible, for example, can be like a short rainfall on hard ground. Regardless of the amount or intensity of the rain, most runs off and little sinks in. Meditation opens the soil of the soul and lets the water of God’s Word percolate in deeply. The result is an extraordinary fruitfulness and spiritual prosperity.^[6]

Reading, listening to, and meditating on the Word of God brings His blessings into our lives. As Psalm 1 says: Blessed is the man … [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.^[7]

Reading God’s Word and meditating on it brings us into personal communication with God. As we meditate on what we’ve read, we create the opportunity for His Word to speak to our hearts because we put ourselves in the position of being willing to listen to Him. In meditating on His Word, we enter into His presence, hungering to learn, to grow, to change, to draw close to Him, to do His will. He desires to speak to each of us directly. However, if we aren’t listening or meditating on Him and His Word, if we are so busy reading what He’s said that we don’t give Him room to speak to us personally about what we’re reading, then we are truly missing something important.

Many Christians are happy to listen to what this or that speaker or preacher has to share, to be inspired by someone’s sermon, yet are much less inclined to have that one-on-one communication with the Almighty that comes when we discipline ourselves to read, study, and meditate on Scripture. Richard Foster addresses this point:

Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them. The history of religion is the story of an almost desperate scramble to have a king, a mediator, a priest, a pastor, a go-between. In this way we do not need to go to God ourselves. Such an approach saves us from the need to change, for to be in the presence of God is to change. That is why meditation is so threatening to us. It boldly calls us to enter into the living presence of God for ourselves. It tells us that God is speaking in the continuous present and wants to address us … All who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord are the universal priesthood of God, and as such can enter the Holy of Holies and converse with the living God.^[8]

Of course, meditating on what you’ve read or listened to takes time, and if you find you don’t have the time to stop and listen, then you might want to consider reading a little less to free up time to meditate on what you’ve read. Author Maurice Roberts wrote:

It is not the busy skimming over religious books or the careless hastening through religious duties which makes for a strong Christian faith. Rather, it is unhurried meditation on the gospel truths and the exposing of our minds to these truths that yields the fruit of sanctified character.^[9]

If we want godliness in our lives, if our desire is to emulate our Savior, if we want the light which shines through us to be the light of God and His love, then we need to take time with Him and His Word. Disciplining ourselves to take this time daily is a key component of Christlikeness. Of all the Spiritual Disciplines, this is the most important, as God’s Word—the Bible—is His revelation of Himself to humanity. Reading and meditating on it, applying it to our inner being and to our outer actions is vital to being like Jesus. It is through the regular deep absorption of the water of His Word in our hearts that we are gradually renewed and transformed to become more like Him. It is through the application of what we read and meditate on that we have the grace to live lives that are in alignment with His will. For His Word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path.^[10]

Take the time to commune deeply with God through His Word. It will change your life.

[Jesus] said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”^[11]

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”^[12]

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^[13]

You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.^[14]

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.^[15]

I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.^[16]

I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.^[17]

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.^[18]

Note

^[1] Matthew 7:24–25.

^[2] John 6:63.

^[3] Psalm 119:15–16.

^[4] Joshua 1:8.

^[5] Roger Steer, Spiritual Secrets of George Mueller (Wheaton: Harold Shaw, 1985), 62, quoted in Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1991), 76.

^[6] Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, 49–50.

^[7] Psalm 1:1–3.

^[8] Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (New York: HarperOne, 1998), 24.

^[9] Maurice Roberts, “O the Depth!” The Banner of Truth, July 1990, 2, quoted in Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, 55.

^[10] Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

^[11] Luke 11:28.

^[12] John 14:23.

^[13] John 15:7.

^[14] Psalm 138:2.

^[15] Psalm 119:9 NIV.

^[16] Psalm 119:11.

^[17] Psalm 119:15–16.

^[18] John 17:17.

November 12,2021https://youtu.be/-xdO49Ta03M

Aging with God’s Grace

November 11, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 7:27
Download Audio (6.8MB)

“Though the process of aging continues, inwardly you grow stronger with the passing years. Those who live close to Me develop an inner aliveness that makes them seem youthful in spite of their years. Let My Life shine through you, as you walk in the Light with Me.”—Jesus¹

Quite a few of us have reached the time that the Bible talks about in Psalm 90, verse 10—the threescore-and-ten-years mark. This indicates to me that a beautiful beginning is nearer than ever. With every year that passes, though we continue to live fully in the present, we are also preparing for the future, our final destination. It also says to me that my time here on Earth is growing shorter. Every minute takes on greater value.

When I see and hear about people my age and even younger going to be with the Lord, I think seriously about the possibility that my time to go to heaven could be any time.

As Christians we know Jesus, His wonderful promises of heaven, and all that we have to look forward to. That gives us a strong incentive and motivation to keep working toward that goal. At the same time, however, we want to be sure that everything is in order in this present stage of our existence here on earth. We want to be sure that, when our time comes to pass on to the next life, we will have run a good race and finished our course to the best of our ability.

When we see so much yet to be done, we can feel a pull to stay in this life as long as we can so we can be a blessing to others for as long as God needs us here. We understand better Paul’s dilemma when he said, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”²

Everyone faces tests and trials in many forms in this life, but when we reach our latter years, we are very apt to have some extra challenges, such as less energy, difficulty sleeping, memory issues, brittle bones, incontinence, an increased susceptibility to heart attacks and strokes. We move more slowly and feel weaker and are less able to do many of the things that we were able to do before, and we become less independent and find ourselves having to rely on others more.

Our bodies start to wear out, and health issues we experienced when we were younger may get more intense, or we may develop other age-related issues. Some people my age are more prone to serious illnesses like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and others, but I also believe that Jesus sometimes uses the aging process to weaken some of the ties that hold us to this life as He prepares our hearts for the glorious time to come. However, you may also realize that there is more for you to do here; at least you want to be sure that you have done what you personally need to do before you take off to the incredibly amazing, wonderful next phase of your life.

I hear from many of you, and I look at your lives and I want to take each one of you in my arms and say: “Well done! You’ve already done so well! You just have a little further to go, so don’t give up, don’t get weary in well-doing. Even though you can’t do as much as you did before—you’re weaker, you’re frailer, sometimes housebound—you still have it in you to keep going as long as He wants you to.”

You already began your preparation in the greatest way possible years ago when you decided to give your life to Jesus. You committed to making Him the most important person in your life, and making His work, whatever He called you to, your most important career. So really, even if you aren’t able to do another thing, congratulations! Jesus is proud of you. There’s no question about that.

However, if you’re still here, that shows there must be some other things that you can do to help others and to even make your passing a smoother transition for yourself and others. For many people, there are practical things that need to be taken care of. Your loved ones need to know your wishes for when you pass; they need to know about your legal documents, such as your will; and there are many other tasks that need to be taken care of. (If you don’t know what these are, you can Google them and get a lot of valuable information.) These are important because they express consideration for your loved ones in making it easier for them. Whether you die in twenty years or ten years or in a year or even less, it’s still just as important to take care of these preparations, since you never know when they will be needed.

Also, there may be people whom you may want to give some valuable gifts to, in the form of your example of bearing the burdens of age graciously, passing on wisdom to others, continuing your prayer ministry, etc. There may be things you have wanted to say to people or do for them, and there just hasn’t been the opportunity or the time. It’s good to pray about those things so that when you come to the end of this life and you’re ready to go on to the next one, you will be happy that you were able to take care of them.

I’m not implying that each of us has so much time to think of things that we could do now to be a blessing to others. Many of us have responsibilities, such as jobs, ministries, children, grandchildren, or spouses to help care for, as well as continuing to minister to friends and acquaintances. Some of us have health conditions of our own and find that it becomes more difficult to carry out our everyday activities. But these are a natural part of aging in this broken world. They are part of the tests and trials of life, the obstacles to be overcome in our latter years, the final set of hurdles to be jumped and challenges to be faced. You’re doing it, so keep going.

If God has brought you this far and you’ve made it these many years, you know that He’s going to get you the rest of the way. He’s already so proud of you, and all of heaven’s realm is rooting for you. He’s giving you the strength you need to get through each day, one day at a time. You can thank and praise Him that every day of life brings you one step closer to the next life. However difficult it may seem here with the extra burdens of age, you can know that when you finally go home to heaven, His reward for a life lived for Him will be so great. These burdens of the present will be nothing compared to hearing Him say, “Well done, My wonderful, silver-haired, beloved friend. Come into My arms and you’ll see that it’s been worth it all!”

Originally published April 2019. Adapted and republished November 2021.
Read by Carol Andrews.

¹ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004).

² Philippians 1:23–24 ESV.

Better Days Ahead—Part 4

By Peter Amsterdam

November 9, 2021

—Nurturing Mental and Emotional Well-being

It is wonderful to know that no matter what is going on in our lives, we can trust Jesus and look to Him to establish our thoughts and guide our steps. The Bible says that God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him. (See Isaiah 26:3.) “The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, and He delights in his way [and blesses his path]” (Psalm 37:23 AMP).

The second part of this series covered some of the emotional challenges of loneliness, isolation, and despair, and the impact these have on our lives. Some of you have battled depression and a sense of hopelessness, and when you’re in the middle of it, you may be tempted to wonder if you’ll ever pull out of it. Maybe you feel like you’re just going through the motions. And eventually, everyday life can start to feel like a grind, lacking in joy and a sense of purpose and new possibilities.

Sometimes this can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being and can affect how you cope with everyday life. Many times, this is not due to weakness or spiritual apathy or because you’ve done something wrong. These types of mental and emotional struggles are the result of living in a fallen world and facing the many difficulties that bring about stress, sadness, and a loss of hope.

Jesus explained it this way:

Sometimes, life is just tough, and sometimes it stays that way for a while. There’s always a way through a difficulty when you look to Me for guidance and help, but it may take time for Me to bring the greatest good. Even when problems drag on and you feel exhausted or emotionally drained, I am by your side, ready to renew your spirit and give you the patience and perseverance to hang on as we work through the problems together.

I don’t promise a trouble-free life. I won’t wave a magic wand and remove your problems and struggles, but I can give you superhuman resources to enable you to withstand adversity, to hold your head high through the storm, and in time, to come out stronger and better equipped to face the next challenge.

Before getting into practical strategies, it’s important to remember that the best starting point when battling emotional or mental issues of any kind is to seek the Lord for His guidance and comfort, and stay close to Him on a daily basis. One of my favorite Bible passages about God’s peace in our hearts and minds is Philippians 4:4, 6–7:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NIV).

When any of us are battling, it’s time to draw close to the Lord. He is our Answer Man no matter what challenges we encounter. He knows every detail about our lives, thoughts, needs, and struggles, and drawing close to Him allows the healing power of the Holy Spirit to transform our mood and emotions, and for the fruits of the Spirit to flourish in our lives. We need to actively draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. (See James 4:8.)

We can strengthen our walk with the Lord in a variety of ways. Let’s take a brief look at some positive steps that will help us draw closer to Him.

Read the Bible and other uplifting devotional articles or books daily. You may have previously honed the practice of reading God’s Word every day, but with the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy for that habit to slip to where it’s no longer happening every day, and pretty soon it may not be happening much at all. It is important to make it a priority to take time with the Lord every day, if possible, reading the Bible and other devotional publications and spending time communing with Him in prayer. This is a good starting place for maintaining an overall sense of well-being—emotional, spiritual, and mental.

My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.—Proverbs 4:20–22 NIV

Pray and commit your burdens and cares to the Lord. When we notice that we’re carrying the weights of fear, worry, condemnation, anxiety, etc., it’s important to stop and take a little time to give those cares to the Lord very specifically. Then leave them with Him and trust that He does all things well.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.—1 Peter 5:7

Ask the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. We know that the infilling of the Holy Spirit gives us power to witness! (Acts 1:8) But there are also other personal benefits and blessings that come with being filled with the Spirit and allowing the Lord to transform our lives. Then we are blessed with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! (Galatians 5:22–23)

Remind yourself that God’s grace is sufficient. There will be many tests and trials in life that we don’t have the strength, wisdom, or energy to deal with. We are weak and flawed human beings, but God is all-powerful. He is sovereign, and His grace is sufficient! As the apostle Paul said:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.—2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Walking in God’s will. We can most clearly ascertain the big picture of the Lord’s will for our lives through reading His Word. It can be encouraging to watch for the Lord’s affirmations and signs for you personally as you go about your daily activities. If you keep a lookout for God’s little touches of love, open doors, and confirmations of His presence and working in your life, you may find that it boosts your spirit and gives you hope.

Remember that you are not alone! Hone your sense of the Lord’s constant presence with you. Remind yourself that Jesus is always with you. Being alone over long periods of time can affect your feeling of self-worth. You might begin to feel forgotten and that no one cares or loves you. You may not be able to change much in your immediate relationships—whether with family or friends—but you can focus on Jesus’ immense and never-changing love for you. He can fill all the empties and brighten your outlook.

I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.—Matthew 28:20 AMP

Maintain a grateful attitude. Sometimes, it takes practice and perseverance to learn to be consistently grateful. Gratitude is powerful and has been shown to improve physical, psychological, and mental health, our sleep, self-esteem, and more. Verbally articulating your blessings and expressing thanks to the Lord can help to remind you of the good things in your life, and it is also a good example to others.

There are also practical steps that help nurture mental and emotional well-being, such as:

Keep a journal in which you write your thoughts, prayers, and the guidance or instruction you receive from the Lord and promises that strengthen you. Some people find journaling helps them keep their mind focused, and it’s inspiring and rewarding to review your journey with Jesus.

Ask for advice and counsel from other trusted Christians. Sometimes we all need someone to pray with, one who can offer us godly counsel.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.—Proverbs 11:14 NKJV

Collect inspirational and/or motivational quotes that speak to you. You can put these up on your wall or keep them on your phone or somewhere you will see them frequently. We almost always have time to read a short quote or paragraph, and these can be powerful and help to “reset” our attitude, reminding us that there is hope, that God is good, that life will improve, and that we enjoy many blessings, despite the challenges we are presently facing.

Stay connected with people. Loneliness is a major factor that impacts mental and emotional well-being. One article explained it as follows:

When it comes to mental health, loneliness feeds symptoms. Loneliness exacerbates the symptoms of illnesses like depression, social anxiety and alcoholism. As difficult as it is to do, try to take the initiative to reach out to others. If you’re feeling down, you really need to push yourself even when it’s hard. The best way to meet other people is by getting involved with something you like. … Over time, the loneliness will fade.¹

While face-to-face time is preferred, if that’s not possible, seeing someone’s face and hearing their voice on the phone or over Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom is a wonderful alternative. You can still keep each other updated, pray together, encourage one another, and share one another’s burdens.

If you can’t find the support you need in the networks you currently have, then it would be beneficial to seek out new sources of friendship and Christian fellowship. You might want to join a church or find another group of people who share your interests, or volunteer a few times a week and build relationships that way.

It is helpful to spend time with those who have a positive impact on you, those who appreciate and value you, and are concerned for your well-being. Continue to build bonds with those who leave you feeling positive, enriched, and challenged.

Speak encouraging words to each other. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, with no one left out, and no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it!—1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG

Take care of your health. Self-care is not selfish. Jesus wants us to stay healthy in order to be good ambassadors for Him. We can increase our sense of well-being when we take the steps necessary to stay healthy, which include eating nutritious food (limiting sugar and processed foods), drinking enough water, getting sufficient exercise, and having a regular schedule that allows for sufficient sleep (ideally eight hours each night).

On the topic of sleep, I found the following information to be of interest:

Sleep is one of the most important elements of self-care. It affects neurotransmitters, stress hormones, thought processes and emotional regulation. Too little can make it difficult to make decisions, solve problems and control your emotions and behavior. Simply put, everything seems worse when you don’t get enough sleep. You may feel more anxious, agitated, depressed. Whatever symptoms you typically experience are amplified. Additionally, even though you may feel like you are functioning fine with little sleep, you aren’t. Studies have found that drowsy driving can impair your functioning behind the wheel as much as, if not more than, drunk driving.²

Stay active. Exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Being in nature, breathing fresh air, keeping fit, having a change of scenery, and benefiting from movement and exercise have a positive impact on your emotional health.

Volunteer, give to others. Acts of kindness and generosity do wonders for your overall well-being. Volunteering can build friendship bonds with others as you gather together around a shared cause.

The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.—Proverbs 11:25 NLT

Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of well-being research. Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.⁴

Focus on the moment. Staying present in the moment, being conscious of others around you and your immediate circumstances, helps to avoid your thoughts drifting to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We can’t change the past, and we can’t control tomorrow (James 4:13–15). Today is what we have to work with and what the Lord gives us faith for (Matthew 6:34), so let’s make the most of it by giving the demands of today and the good things around us our full attention.

Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savoring “the moment” can help to reaffirm your life priorities.⁵

What an excellent ground of hope and confidence we have when we reflect upon these three things in prayer—the Father’s love, the Son’s [sacrifice], and the Spirit’s power.—Thomas Manton (1620–1677)

Let’s make an effort toremember that our greatest avenue for spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being is reading and living according to God’s Word, seeking His presence in prayer and meditation, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. As we do so, we can trust that He will fulfill His promises to care for us and bring us through the valleys to the light of brighter days.

¹ https://silverhillhospital.org/community/blog-post/7-elements-of-self-care/

² https://silverhillhospital.org/community/blog-post/7-elements-of-self-care/

³ https://silverhillhospital.org/community/blog-post/7-elements-of-self-care/

⁴ https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/

⁵ https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/

Body Image: Finding True Beauty

November 9, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 11:07
Download Audio (10.1MB)

Body image can be defined as “a subjective picture of one’s own physical appearance,” or someone’s own impression of how his or her body looks.¹ Psychology Today says, “Body image is the mental representation we create of what we think we look like; it may or may not bear a close relation to how others actually see us. That is, it is subject to all kinds of distortion from internal elements like our emotions, moods, early experiences, attitudes of our parents, and much more. Nevertheless, it strongly influences behavior.”²

In a stirring talk recorded in the book of Isaiah, God speaks of the perfect knowledge He has of all His creation, and how He does all things well. He proclaims, “It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.”³

We humans have legs to walk with, feet to take us places, hands that help us create a livelihood for ourselves, and a mind and a soul that helps us make life’s many choices. We’ve been given all we need by an all-knowing God.

I think I would be happier with myself if I change how I see myself by simply being grateful for the gift of my body in which I get to experience life. To do this, I need to change my focus from the creation—my body—to the Creator—God. It’s a change in perspective: Do I place more value in how I or others think of my body, or in what God thinks of His creation?

In the Bible, the prophet Samuel is commissioned by God to find the next king of Israel, after the disappointment that King Saul turns out to be. God tells Samuel to take a look at Jesse’s sons, and Samuel is first introduced to Eliab. Now here’s a fine-looking man! One glance is all it takes for Samuel to feel that this could be Israel’s next king. But then God says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”⁴

Judging from this account, even in Bible times people were rather caught up in appearances, and this story serves the express purpose for all time of reminding us humans that God looks at things quite differently.

In a society obsessed with body image, there can be an inordinate priority placed on outward appearance over what is going on inside of our hearts. It can be too easy to care more about how we or others look, and in comparison, care less whether we are people of integrity and character.

Here are three questions I’ve come up with to keep my perspective in check, and to prevent myself from wandering into a negative body image phase.

First, whose idea of beauty am I measuring myself by? If God made me, and all creation glorifies God,⁵ then I am beautiful to Him.

Second, how do I want to be remembered by others? Generally, this has less to do with wanting people to remember me as a physically attractive person and more to do with qualities such as kindness, respect, empathy, and consideration. It’s nice remembering that lasting friendships are rarely based on one’s looks and have more to do with a person’s character and who he or she is.

Third, what does God see when He looks at my heart?

Of course, it’s important to take care of the body God has given us, and it is possible that a person’s negative body image issues have to do with neglecting to care for oneself. There are also certain physical things that one can do and thought patterns that one can adopt and/or shun that help one to be positive about his or her body shape. But fostering a healthy body image primarily has to do with accepting that one’s body is the creation of the Creator and then doing one’s best to be a steward of this body that we are given to inhabit during our human experience.—T.M.⁶

Made in the image of God

Why are we always our own worst critic? We’ve all had moments of self-doubt, our insecurities rearing their ugly heads, aiming for us with gut-wrenching accuracy as they pierce our carefully placed armor in just the right spot to make us crumble. We all struggle with nagging feelings of insignificance, inferiority, and self-perceived weaknesses.

But what does God think about our self-critiques? Would He agree with all you have to say about your intellectual or spiritual flaws, and your less-than-perfect body?

You can be sure that He absolutely would not.

God would tell you that there is nothing wrong with your intellect, or with your body. You see inabilities and big thighs—God sees His own perfect creation. God made you to be exactly as you are, and He does not make mistakes.

Regarding the verse ⁷: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.” The psalmist could not understand how the God who made the stars could have any interest in a mere human being.

This is healthy humility. Then the psalmist caught a glimpse of God’s perspective: We were made just a little lower than the angels. When we recognize that God bestows on us this kind of honor and glory, we begin to understand our value. The healthiest self-image is produced from the merging of humility and God-given honor. …

God made us in His image or likeness. This is the first sign of the value He places on us. No other creature on earth is made in the image of God.

God doesn’t want you to wrap your identity up in false notions of inferiority. Your negative thoughts about your body or your abilities can be thought of as offensive to God’s design. You are created in the image of God, and He made you the way you are for good reason. Embrace it and start thinking about what the reasoning behind His design could be.

Did He give you a particular quirk that you could use to connect with others and bring them to Jesus? Are you able to offer support and advice to others like you, that could shine the light of Jesus’ love on their lives?

There are so many possibilities when you start to recognize and accept God’s infinite love for you and the precise way He made you.—Unfolding Faith Blog ⁸

Biblical beauty

For a long time, I struggled to understand the biblical meaning of beauty. I looked to society to affirm my worth, but this failed. I then looked to God to affirm me in my physical appearance, and this also failed because it turns out that physical beauty and outward appearance are the least of God’s worries.

A common theme in scripture is that the heart is more important than outward appearance. In Genesis, when God made us in His likeness, it had nothing to do with our physical appearance because … we don’t necessarily resemble Him physically. Instead, our souls and hearts are continuously being sanctified in this life so that one day we will fully resemble Jesus—pure and without sin.

Psalm 139 tells us that the Lord formed our inward parts, knitted us together in our mothers’ womb, and saw our unformed substance. There in the secret, He loved us, called us His, and wrote our life’s story before we were even born and fully developed into our physical bodies. Did this have anything to do with our physical appearance? No!

In fact, that same verse says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Many like to apply this to physical beauty, but it turns out that when considered in the Hebrew context fearfully means “with heart-felt interest and reverence,” and wonderfully means “to be set apart.” Therefore, what this verse really means is that God made us with deep interest and to be set apart. …

When He made our physical bodies, His work was detailed and well thought-out. Science, anatomy, and physiology point to this. When He was done, He called it good. …

Jesus was God in human flesh, and the work of salvation could not have been completed any other way. In order for us to function with eternal purpose, a very practical step is to care and be good stewards of the bodies we have been given. Therefore, the major takeaway here is that biblical beauty is a matter of the heart.—Hanha Hobson⁹

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by John Laurence.

¹ Merriam Webster Dictionary definition.

² Psychology Today reference.

³ Isaiah 45:12 NIV.

⁴ 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV.

⁵ Psalm 145:10.

⁶ https://just1thing.com/podcast/2011/9/11/body-image-and-the-pink-fairy-armadillo.html.

⁷ Psalm 8:4–5.

⁸ https://www.tyndale.com/sites/unfoldingfaithblog/2019/01/17/made-in-the-image-of-god-facing-our-body-image-issues-and-insecurities.

⁹ http://www.hanhahobson.com/reflection/biblical-perspective-on-body-image-and-beauty/.

Answering the Call to Evangelism

November 8, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 10:27

Download Audio (9.5MB)

During the days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, Luke tells us that He appeared to His disciples during a 40-day period and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. He also ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait until they received the promise of the Father, which was the infilling of the Holy Spirit.¹ Jesus said that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, “and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”²

His last instruction to those who believed in Him was to share the gospel, the good news, everywhere to everyone; to teach them everything He had taught them. He told them, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you,”³ and in instructing those who believed in Him in that day, He is also speaking to us today.

All Christians are expected to share the gospel, to present others with the opportunity to receive Jesus as their Savior and help them learn how to develop a personal relationship with God. We are commissioned by Jesus Himself to be communicators of God’s great plan of salvation to others. People do not usually come to faith unless we, as Christians, share the gospel with them. “How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?^”⁴

People generally hear about God’s plan for salvation because someone communicates the gospel to them, and the “someone” meant to be doing this is all of us who already know Jesus. If we are going to be true to the commission the Lord has given, we must make a regular conscious effort to do so.

We know that God wants us to share the message of the gospel with others, but often our days are so full of responsibilities that taking time to witness to someone can seem challenging at times. We need to choose to make this a priority in our lives. We need to make the effort to find or create opportunities to share the gospel.

In many cases, the furthest you will get in your witness will be to “till the ground” rather than actually “planting the seed.” This initial period is sometimes called “pre-evangelism.” This quote from Norman Geisler explains it well.

If evangelism is planting seeds of the Gospel, then pre-evangelism is tilling the soil of people’s minds and hearts to help them be more willing to listen to the truth.⁵ … In the world we live in today, we may have to plant many spiritual seeds for a period of time before someone will seriously consider the person of Christ. We may have to till the ground before we have the opportunity to plant a seed. We are not called to bring all persons to Christ but simply to bring Christ to all persons.⁶

Much of our initial contact with people will fall under pre-evangelism, when we get to know them and have conversations on a variety of subjects. As friendship grows and trust builds, people are more inclined to be open to hearing what you have to say in regard to Jesus and salvation.

Sometimes spontaneous opportunities to witness arise, and we should be open to those, but it’s often the case that to have a chance to share the gospel with someone, you need to be intentional about it. Plan to meet at a place or time when you can have a deeper conversation, creating a situation in which they feel comfortable and are apt to be open to speak about deeper topics. This could open the door for you to talk about spiritual matters and to bring the conversation around to salvation.

Of course, there’s no single setting or way of sharing the message, as the world is made up of billions of individuals of different nationalities, worldviews, interests, likes, dislikes, and personalities; and while the gospel is meant for each of them, the manner in which it can be effectively delivered to them and to which they will best respond will vary. So while we are all commissioned to share the gospel and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so, we aren’t all expected to use the same methods.

We are each in different circumstances, so who we reach and how we reach them will be different depending on the situation and how God leads you. But we know that God, who loves humanity and “doesn’t wish that any should perish, but rather that all should reach repentance,”⁷ will use you to reach others in whatever circumstance you are in—if you will let Him.

Evangelism starts with the commitment to letting God use you to be His messenger to others. It can be a sacrifice to intentionally devote time to witnessing in order to obey Jesus’ call to preach the gospel, but the eternal results of witnessing are more than worth it. Inviting others for dinner, meeting a colleague for coffee, building a relationship with non-Christian friends, visiting your neighbors, giving someone a tract or another piece of literature—these things only happen if you plan for them, if you intentionally seek opportunities for sharing the gospel.

Since we are called to share the gospel, no matter what our circumstances, God’s Spirit can lead us to a means of doing so that will work within our circumstances. You may not always be able to have long conversations with others, but you can still plant seeds. You can give someone a piece of literature. You can ask them if there is something you can pray for. You can show them kindness and tell them Jesus loves them. You may not be in a position to do much in-depth witnessing, but you can prepare the ground of people’s hearts through showing God’s love and concern for them. If you are praying for the Lord to help you witness and to show you what method will work in your circumstances, He can give you ideas and opportunities.

While it is the message of the gospel—God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice—which will ultimately bring someone to salvation, their willingness to listen to that message often has to do with you. As Dwight L. Moody said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe-leather.” You are the gospel in shoe leather; you are the living contact point of the Holy Spirit, the human agent of divine power.⁸ The love, the kindness and gentleness, the care and concern which people feel from you help them to be willing to listen to what you have to say. As we let the light and warmth of God’s Spirit emanate from us, people feel God’s love.

Through us, Jesus “spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved.”⁹ In order for others to come in contact with that fragrance, they need to come in contact with you. Once they do, when they see and feel your love, when they feel they can speak with you, ask their questions, and share their hearts, you will be able to till the ground by answering their questions with the hope that you can plant the seed of God’s love and truth in their hearts.

Often people are drawn to you because, unbeknownst to them, you are filled with God’s Spirit, light, and love. However, unless at some point we put into words what it is that makes us different, they may never know and could miss the opportunity to hear about the gift of salvation and the transformed life that is there for them to accept. As Christians, we are called to make space in our lives, our hearts, and our time to share His Word and truth with others.

Sharing the gospel with others is the call of Christ to every Christian. All around us are people who have yet to hear the great news that God loves them, that He sent His Son so that all who believe in Him will be reborn, saved, and will enter into relationship with Him. They need someone to explain how to receive God’s free gift of salvation and truth, to teach them how to be spiritually transformed, and to guide them in their spiritual growth.

We all have busy lives, but the overarching context of Christianity is to share the gospel with those who don’t yet possess this great gift. As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends us. We are called, sent, and commissioned to preach the gospel. Ask Him to show you how, where, when, and with whom you can share your faith. Remind yourself that no matter what your circumstances, you are a disciple sent into the world—your city, your neighborhood, your workplace, your family—with the commission to share Jesus with those He brings across your path.

Originally published June 2014. Adapted and republished November 2021.
Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.

¹ Acts 1:4.

² Acts 1:8.

³ John 20:21.

⁴ Romans 10:14 NLT.

⁵ 1 Corinthians 3:6.

⁶ Norman and David Geisler, Conversational Evangelism (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 22–23.

⁷ 2 Peter 3:9.

⁸ K. Hemphill, “Preaching and Evangelism,” M. Duduit, ed., Handbook of Contemporary Preaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992), 525.

⁹ 2 Corinthians 2:14–15.

03 – Healing Is for Evangelism

Divine Healing

Peter Amsterdam

2012-03-13

Chapter 3

In the previous article, we presented some of the main points of agreement among the healing evangelists, one of which is that the power of healing is available to all Christians.

Another key point they teach is that one of the primary purposes for the gift of healing is as a tool for evangelism—that praying for the sick is a means of opening the door to preach about Jesus and bring people to salvation.

While they do pray for other Christians who need healing, they each make the point that healing is a very effective means of preaching the Gospel. When you pray in the name of Jesus for someone who is sick and they are healed, it’s a powerful testimony that what you preach about Jesus is true.

Don Dunkerley wrote the following about the effectiveness of healing in evangelism:

Using healing prayer in evangelism is a major emphasis in developing countries and is a reason for the meteoric rise of Pentecostal and charismatic churches in the twentieth century.

Missionaries observe that in many places the churches that grow most rapidly are churches that incorporate the ministry of healing into their normal church activities. This naturally raises questions about churches that downplay healing and also do not grow particularly well. Is there a correlation?^[1]

My advice to missionaries is to pray for the sick and distressed on every appropriate occasion. Pray for the healing of believers, and pray that unbelievers will be healed and saved.

Healing prayer is a key to growth in numbers of churches throughout the world. And using healing prayer as a means of evangelism is popular in churches around the world.^[2]

Jesus seemed to expect that this kind of evangelism would continue because He announced shortly before His ascension, “These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands: and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”^[3]

Wayne Grudem, a theologian, has this to say about healing and its purposes, including evangelism:

As with other spiritual gifts, healing has several purposes. Certainly it functions as a “sign” to authenticate the Gospel message, and show that the kingdom of God has come. Then also healing brings comfort and health to those who are ill, and thereby demonstrates God’s attribute of mercy toward those in distress. Third, healing equips people for service, as physical impediments to ministry are removed. Fourth, healing provides opportunity for God to be glorified as people see physical evidence of His goodness, love, power, wisdom, and presence.^[4]

Curry Blake states it succinctly:

The teaching for the Divine Healing Technician [those he is teaching healing to] is … for Mark 16:15. It’s for the street.^[5]

Praying for those who are in need of healing is a method of evangelization, which can be very effective. It’s something Jesus told those who believe to do and has given them power to do. Some TFI members have begun to incorporate healing prayer into their regular witnessing and are using it as a powerful addition to their mission outreach.

It’s God Who Heals—Give Him the Glory

The next foundational point that each of these healing evangelists preach is that it is God who heals, not the person doing the praying. One must always give credit to God, as all healing should glorify God.

Has there ever been a human heal anybody? No! Who did it? Jesus. It was actually the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “Even the works I do, even I don’t do them but it’s the Spirit of My Father. He does them.” Even Jesus didn’t take credit for the works He did. He gave the credit to the Spirit. So every healing that ever took place, one person did it. The Spirit. Right?… There has never been a healing, ever, there has never been a raising from the dead, there has never been a miracle that took place that the Spirit that is in you didn’t do.

I started realizing, this thing is easy. Why? Because the One that has the full knowledge of everything, the One that knows every situation and has healed every sick person, every bit of it, lives in me. And when I realized that, then I realized it wasn’t about who was laying hands on that boy. It was about the Spirit of God that healed that boy, and what I was feeling was the Spirit of God.^[6]

John and Sonja Decker write:

God gets the credit. Moving from surprise encounters to authentic manifestations of God’s healing power was a process that took over ten years. We observed all kinds of healings. Some were questionable and some were obvious. Some were routine and some were spectacular. Regardless of who was ministering or how they prayed, we learned one vital truth. We are very careful to always point to an awesome God who receives all the credit and glory. We receive no acclaim on how we or anyone else achieved the various healings. Prolonged intercessions with fasting may have played a part. However, the ultimate reason for the healing lies in a compassionate God who is willing to heal those who rely on His Word, His mercy, and His grace.

Be aware of people with religious spirits announcing that you are special. Avoid allowing people to “puff you up” by praising you for what is happening. Respond by having everyone lift their hands and voices in praise and thanksgiving, glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ for what He is doing.^[7]

As Christians We Are Engaged in Warfare Against Satan

As has been commonly taught by Christians throughout history, those who follow God are at war with Satan.^[8] Each of those involved in healing whose material I read teaches about the warfare between the kingdom of God and Satan and his demons. They see the fight for the healing of souls and bodies as spiritual warfare.

Don Dunkerley puts it this way:

Everyone doing healing evangelism is engaged in spiritual warfare. It is by the power of the kingdom of Satan, after all, that people are afflicted with sin, disease and demons. And as the Kingdom of God advances, the kingdom of darkness is pushed back and people are set free. So in order to understand healing prayer, we need to understand spiritual warfare and the role of prayer in that warfare.

When engaging in healing prayer [privately, before beginning to pray for people], rebuke spirits of infirmity specifically as Jesus did (Mark 9:25). Break their power and command them to loose their victims. You might pray something like this: In the name of Jesus I take authority over all spirits present that are not of Him. I particularly rebuke you spirits of infirmity and command you to loose your victims. By the power of the blood of Christ I command you to depart and go where Jesus sends you. I invite the healing power of the Holy Spirit to burn out all impurity.^[9]

Curry Blake states:

This whole thing goes back to warfare, it’s all it is: Warfare between two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness … If you could take that and just grow from that, that’s everything you need to know; that’s it in a nutshell. … They are the sick. They are the oppressed. They are a prisoner of war by Satan. … The prisoner of war is never the problem. It’s his guards that you have to deal with. ^[10]

Praying for the Sick Sometimes Puts You in a Position that Requires Casting Out Spirits

Before going into what the healing evangelists teach regarding casting out spirits, I want to make it clear that Maria and I, and these healing evangelists as well, don’t feel that every illness—whether physical or mental—is due to oppression or possession by demons or evil spirits.

According to the experiences recounted by these healing evangelists, at times they are faced with people who are hindered by an evil spirit, and when the healer begins to pray for the person, the spirit manifests itself and hinders the healing. At such times, the evangelists claim deliverance for the person. This seems to be fairly rare, but it is something that happens sometimes when praying for the sick. Since I am covering those things which these healing evangelists hold in common, and since they all spoke about finding themselves in situations where the person who needed healing also needed prayer against a hindering spirit, I felt it was important to include mention of this. While not a pleasant subject, it’s part of what they face from time to time.

They all wrote or spoke with compassion for those needing this type of prayer, and their main concern is setting people free from the bondage of Satan. They weren’t linking every sickness to the need for deliverance from a spirit. They spoke about prayers of deliverance in a matter-of-fact way, stating that there are sometimes occasions when such a prayer was needed. In such cases, people needed prayer for their physical healing, along with prayer against a troublesome spirit.

When they pray against spirits, the evangelists claim God’s Word and know that because God has given Christians power over evil spirits, the spirit must obey when they command it to leave. They speak about times when more than one spirit is hindering the person and they have cast them out one by one.

Jesus gave His disciples authority to cast out demons, and He said that He’s given that authority to believers.

These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues.^[11]

He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.^[12]

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”^[13]

They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.^[14]

There is also mention of some of Jesus’ followers being healed of evil spirits and sickness.

The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.^[15]

It should also be noted that the Gospel speaks of healing in reference to both infirmities and evil spirits. Jesus healed the sick and He healed those who had evil spirits. What was important to Him was setting people free from whatever ailed them. I found it interesting that Jesus had people with Him who had been healed of evil spirits and sickness. He didn’t stigmatize them no matter what their problem had been. They were healed and accepted.

In the book Doing What Jesus Did, John Decker shares an experience where he had to pray for someone who was hindered by a spirit. He concludes with:

I left with a different attitude about demonized people. It was as if I was allowed to experience what Jesus did so many times as illustrated in the Gospels. To Him, the demon-possessed were viewed in the same category as the brokenhearted, sick or those in pain. They all needed to be free and well. In Luke 4, Jesus Christ’s mission is stated clearly. He wants His followers to continue the same mission:

Our mission is fulfilling the Great Commission by doing the same things Jesus did. We are to preach, heal, set the oppressed free, and give Jesus Christ all the credit.

We are to set at liberty those who are oppressed of the devil by removing the demons that are oppressing them.^[17]

Dunkerley says something similar:

Evangelistic teams today, like those Jesus sent out long ago, are not only to preach the Gospel but to heal the sick and cast out demons.

Because we have the biblical mandate to do these things, we also have the power. … In what we call the Great Commission, Jesus told the disciples to teach all nations “to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Since Jesus commanded these very same men to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” (Matthew 10:8), doesn’t it stand to reason that those acts are among the “everything” that He commanded them to teach the nations? If so, then we should be doing those very things.^[18]

When we witness, when we engage in the mission in any form, we are engaging in spiritual warfare. Our goal is to win souls, to bring people to salvation, and in doing so we are fighting against Satan’s hold on humanity. This holds true when we pray for the sick—when we use the authority given to us through God’s Word to heal people physically through divine healing, and when we help heal people spiritually through guiding them to salvation.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.^[19]

When Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. As Christians carrying the message of salvation to the world, we too have power and authority to both heal the sick and cast out demons.

As disciples we are called to fulfill the Great Commission. Doing so involves spiritual warfare. Whether we are contending for someone’s salvation or their healing, we are fighting for the kingdom of God.

(Next in this series: Healing Is in the Atonement)

^[1] HE 20.

^[2] HE 21.

^[3] HE 25.

^[4] Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Page 1064.

^[5] CB Audio 7.

^[6] CB Video 8.

^[7] DWJD 3.

^[8] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

(Ephesians 6:12–18 ESV).

^[9] HE 95.

^[10] DHT Video 9.

^[11] Mark 16:17 ESV.

^[12] Luke 9:1–2 ESV.

In their Gospels, Matthew and Mark state the same:

He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction (Matthew 10:1 ESV).

He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:14–15 ESV).

^[13] Luke 10:17 ESV.

^[14] Mark 6:12–13 ESV.

^[15] Luke 8:1–3 ESV.

^[16] Luke 4:18–19 NKJV.

^[17] DWJD 6.

^[18] HE 43.

^[19] Ephesians 6:12 ESV.

Angels Around Us

Reflections 66

2000-01-02

By Hope Price (excerpts of her book, Angels)

Marie Monsen was a Norwegian missionary in China during the 1920s. At that time lawlessness was rife in China, and the Chinese army was not beyond reproach. One night the leader of the soldiers promised them that they could loot a city, as he had been unable to pay them for so long. This city housed the headquarters of the mission for which Marie worked, and she was there that night. Rumors had been heard that the looting would start at 10 p.m., but the soldiers were impatient and began at 8 p.m.

Marie and the Chinese Christians with her heard shooting and shouting all night, but no soldier came to bang on the door of their compound.

However, all through the night, terrified neighbors kept arriving to take refuge with them. They climbed into the compound over the walls, each carrying a little bundle of valuables in case the soldiers burned their homes to the ground. There were many fires to be seen around the city and much commotion everywhere.

All night Marie and the Chinese Christians with her welcomed the fearful neighbors, made them comfortable and shared with them the peace that only God can give. The non-believing neighbors saw the difference a Christian faith made to these people, who had no fear of the citywide attack happening all around, which could have invaded their own compound at any moment.

As the bullets whistled overhead, Marie shared with all of them the comfort in the words of Psalm 91:5 in the Bible: “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,” in her own words substituting “bullets” for “arrows.” The Scripture goes on to say that the Lord will send angels to keep His children safe.

The following morning, many of the other people who lived near the compound came to ask who their “protectors” were. At first Marie was not sure what they meant, until she heard the same account from so many that she knew it was true. They all separately said they had seen three tall foreign soldiers standing on the high roof of their Gospel Hall, one at each end and one in the middle. A fourth protector was sitting on the porch over the main gate, keeping watch in every direction. They were there all night, and all the accounts said they “shone.” Neither Marie nor any of her Christian friends had seen them. Only the nonbelievers living nearby had seen these angel protectors, to convince them that God takes care of all who trust in Him.

Your Own Angels

God will send angels just when you need them. You may hear a flutter over your shoulder, or think you see something out of the corner of your eye. Or maybe there will be an old man you meet on your path, who directs you the right way and seems to have a lively light and love in his eyes. Or you may just feel a certain warmth and a peace—an assurance that somehow everything is going to be all right.

As things get worse and worse in this old world, you’ll need the help of these angelic beings more and more, and He’ll send them more and more. The Lord wants you to know that He loves you, that He cares, and sending angels to help you is just one of the many ways He shows it. So don’t forget that if you trust in God and His help, you’ll have angels watching after you—your own personal angel or angels—sent by the Lord to take care of you!—David Brandt Berg

Reflections © 2000 The Family International.
David Brandt Berg (1919–1994) was founder of The Family International.
Visit our website at www.thefamilyinternational.org.

An Interview with Jackie Pullinger

November 5, 2021

HTB at Home

This week’s interview on HTB at Home is with Jackie Pullinger MBE, author of Chasing the Dragon, who has been working in Hong Kong for over 50 years and has seen God bring real change to families and communities.

Run time for this video is 37:30 minutes.

Better Days Ahead—Part 3

By Peter Amsterdam

November 2, 2021

—God’s Abundant Supply

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, He instructed them among other things to pray for the supply of their daily bread (or sustenance). Jesus experienced and understood the fragility of our earth lives and the importance of the supply of our needs. There is a wonderful verse in the Bible about God’s supply that says, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). God loves us so much that He has promised to care for us through the ups and downs of life. He will also help us learn to find His joy in whatever situation we find ourselves, in both the abundant times and the lean times (Philippians 4:11–12).

If you have experienced or are currently experiencing a time of financial difficulties, it can be very stressful, especially when you don’t know where the money will come from to meet your financial commitments. As you work to do all you can to be able to pay your bills and take care of your family, financial insecurity can produce a burden of stress and anxiety. There is also “vicarious stress” that you can experience when hearing about the difficulties of other people. Even just reading the news about financial woes and economic downturns and the sufferings of others can affect your spirit and peace of mind.

During difficult times, I believe we can find encouragement for the future by looking to the blessings of the past, as the authors of the Bible so often did in their writings. God has never failed us! It has not always been an easy journey, and we have all experienced times of testing, pain, and loss. But we can trust that God has worked all things together for good in ways both seen and unseen, and we can look back and gain courage as we recognize His mighty hand at work to provide for us again and again.

When I was thinking and praying about financial challenges, I was reminded of the principles in God’s Word of believing in and following God and trusting that He will supply for His children. It’s all about God’s unfailing promises and His care for us. I also am encouraged by reading messages in prophecy from Jesus that speak to our situations today. Here is one such message:

Nearly everyone in the world experiences financial pressure at one time or another, but some people deal with it better than others. The difference is often not so much these people’s circumstances, but to whom they turn for help. The secret to overcoming financial problems is actually the secret to overcoming any problem: Do what you can, and then rely on the “God factor.”

I told My disciples long ago, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”¹ The God factor can change everything! When you apply the God factor, all things become possible for you, too, because faith in God and His promises overrides all impossibilities.

Here are some promises you can bank on: “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.”² “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”³ “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”⁴

All that the Father has is Mine, so I have all the riches of the universe at My disposal, and I am concerned about your happiness and well-being. So start by doing what you can and then apply the God factor, asking Me to step in and do what you can’t.

When you’ve done all you can and have exhausted your usual means of supply but still struggle to make ends meet, don’t despair. I can provide by other means. When others fail in their financial responsibilities toward you, or you are adversely affected by others’ decisions, don’t despair. I remain true. When disaster strikes and unforeseen bills follow, don’t despair. I can pick up where your insurance policy leaves off. When the economy is tight and jobs are scarce, don’t despair. I am able to supply even in seemingly impossible circumstances.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”⁵ That is a promise I made long ago, and it still holds true. Tell Me your needs, and ask Me to supply them. Do your part—the asking, seeking, and knocking—and I will do Mine.

When money is scarce, your faith in My ability to supply for you is often tested. You are tempted to believe that My promises are not reliable, that I won’t supply for you as I said I would. But don’t succumb to those doubts, because I will come through for you.

Many factors affect how your prayers are answered and the means I use to provide for you, including the choices that you and others make, so don’t become discouraged or impatient or think that I don’t care or won’t supply. Sometimes you have to wait till the conditions are right.

In the meantime, count your blessings. Thank Me for what I’ve already done for you and given you. Reflect on the things that are to be treasured above material comforts, things that money can’t buy, such as the love of those dearest to you, true friendships, peace of heart and mind, and the fulfillment and satisfaction that come from knowing and loving Me. Value those things, and you’ll find joy in Me, no matter what your physical circumstances may be.

Speaking of counting your blessings and thanking the Lord for what He has already done, a friend shared with me about a new personal project she started, in which she is creating two lists. One list, called “Outstanding Miracles,” is a compilation of all the amazing things the Lord has done in her life over the years. The other list is called “Everyday Grace and Loving Kindness.” It’s a day-to-day accounting of the Lord’s touches of love, open doors, and answers to prayer—the little things that show that God is present in her life and taking care of her. She started these two lists recently when she was experiencing a particularly difficult time in her life to remind herself that the Lord has never failed her!

I’m sure you’ve had conversations in which someone says enthusiastically, “Remember when…” and then goes on to tell an amazing testimony of the Lord’s supply, open doors, healing, or intervention. It’s good for our spirits to bring to remembrance the ways the Lord has led and guided us in the past and how He has blessed our lives. It reminds us that what has happened before can happen again. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

We can count on Him and His promises to provide for us today and every day. As Matthew Henry said: “An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God’s bonds are as good as ready money!” This principle is illustrated well in the following testimony:

In its early days, Dallas Theological Seminary was in critical need of $10,000 to keep the work going. During a prayer meeting, renowned Bible teacher Harry Ironside, a lecturer at the school, prayed, “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need.”

Shortly after the prayer meeting, a check for $10,000 arrived at the school, sent days earlier by a friend who had no idea of the urgent need or of Ironside’s prayer. The man simply said the money came from the sale of some of his cattle!⁶

This brought to mind once again the blessing of remembering God’s goodness to us in the past. I have a dear friend who frequently refers to Psalm 50:10 ⁷ as she says, with a twinkle in her eye, “Okay, Lord, You own the cattle on a thousand hills. It’s time to have a cattle sale—again!”

Another principle that is important to remember is the principle of giving. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38 NIV). As Christians we are called to give as we are able of our time, our love, and our finances to God’s work and to help others in need. We pray that as you continue to give, the Lord will give back to you abundantly!

Maria commented:

Sometimes our struggles can seem so difficult, so monumental. In fact, sometimes they are difficult and monumental. Life is certainly not easy for any of us! But the thing to remember is that we have Jesus. When compared with the heartbreaks, devastating loneliness, frustration, hopelessness, and lack of love and purpose that many people have to face without the promise of an eternity with God, our problems can start to shrink!

The Lord wants us to have great concern for others and to sympathize with them. We all have, at times, experienced some kind of turmoil, confusion, and hardship. We can share the Lord’s comfort with others, as He has comforted us. (See 2 Corinthians 1:4.) We can also help meet their deepest needs by sharing God’s love and Word with them. The Lord promises great returns if we’ll give unto others. “Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

What a marvelous cycle! As we give to others, the Lord promises to give to us—strength, faith, and joy.

May we all take courage in the Lord’s promises, knowing that God has always come through for us in the past, and His promise still holds true that He will “supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Keep praying, knocking on doors, trying new things, and trusting that He will make a way. We have His promise that “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10 ESV).

Sometimes I like to think about the lives of Christians from times past. One person whom I draw a lot of encouragement from is George Müller.⁸

George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian missionary evangelist and a coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England. Through his faith and prayers (and without asking for money), he had the privilege of helping over 120,000 orphan children. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 42 countries and to challenge believers about world missions and trusting God. In his journals, Müller recorded miracle after miracle of God’s provision and answered prayer.

That’s an amazing legacy! I’d like to highlight one such miracle:

One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”

There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow, I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2:00 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”

Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.⁹

We can also admire the great faith of Charles Thomas (C. T.) Studd (1860–1931). He was an English missionary who faithfully served his Savior in China, India, and Africa. His motto was: “If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”¹⁰

T. Studd describes a miracle of the Lord’s supply in China as follows:

My own family knew nothing of our circumstances, only that we were in the heart of China. The last of our supplies was finished, and there was no apparent hope of supplies of any kind coming from any human source. The mail came once a fortnight. The mail man had just set out that afternoon, and in a fortnight, he would bring the return mail. The children were put to bed. Then my wife and I looked facts in the face. If the return of the postman brought no relief, starvation stared us in the face.

We decided to have a night of prayer. We got on our knees for that purpose. I think we must have stayed there 20 minutes before we rose again. We told God everything we had to say in those 20 minutes. Our hearts were relieved; it did not seem to us either reverence or common sense to keep on talking to God as though He were deaf or could not understand our simple language, or the extremity of our circumstances, or the weight of the words of His Son, Who said that God knew everything before we told Him, or as He said Himself, “Before they call I will answer.” And verily He did.

The mail man returned at the appointed time. We were not slow to open the bag. We glanced over the letters; there was nothing, and we looked at each other. I went to the bag again, took it by the corners and shook it; out came another letter, but the handwriting was totally unfamiliar to us. I opened it and began to read. We were different after the reading of that letter than we had been before, and I think our whole lives have been different since. This was the letter:

“I have,” he said, “for some reason or other received the command of God to send you a check for 100 pounds. I have never met you. I have only heard of you, and that not often, but God has prevented me from sleeping tonight by this command. Why He should command me to send you these 100 pounds I don’t know—you will know better than I. Anyhow, here it is, and I hope it will do you good.”¹¹

You don’t have to be a longtime missionary for the Lord to be concerned about your needs. All of us who have followed the Lord, either for a short period of time or for decades, know that He is faithful to provide what we need! We know that God can open the windows of heaven with miracles of supply, and He can demonstrate His concern for the smallest details in our lives. God never fails! Let’s not forget what He has done for us in the past and let’s allow our experience of His faithfulness to strengthen our faith for what He’s going to do in the future.

Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?—Romans 8:32 TLB

¹ Mark 10:27.

² Philippians 4:19.

³ Mark 11:24.

⁴ Matthew 6:33.

⁵ Matthew 7:7 ESV.

⁶ Today in the Word, MBI, January 1990, p. 36. https://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/4796/cattle-on-a-thousand-hills/

⁷ “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10 NIV).

⁸ You can read an accounting of the Lord’s miracles of supply on the George Muller.org site here: https://www.georgemuller.org/devotional/trusting-god-for-daily-supplies

⁹ George Muller: Trusting God for Daily Bread, https://harvestministry.org/muller

¹⁰ https://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpstudd.html

¹¹ Norman Grubb, C. T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer (Christian Literature Crusade, 1982).

Never Forget: You Are Not Forgotten! – Strategic Renewal

Be Where Your Feet Are

November 2, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 9:25
Download Audio (8.6MB)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to matter. I was in a constant pursuit of doing whatever it would look like to matter—to someone, to the world, to God. I believed I had to always be hustling toward the next best thing in order to prove my value to the world.

Three years ago, I packed up my whole life into my car, left behind my hometown in Connecticut, and drove 14 hours down south to rebuild my life in Atlanta, Georgia.

I was six months into living in Atlanta when all this striving came to a grinding halt. I remember sitting in the corner of my favorite coffee shop one evening. It was late—there were only a few people still there—but I was coming to this coffee shop on most evenings to bury myself in work. I was doing anything I could to avoid planting roots in this new city.

The owner of the coffee shop and I were chatting about something. As he turned to walk behind the coffee bar, he paused and looked back at me.

“You know,” he said to me. “I wonder about you.”

“Oh, really?” I answered. I was intrigued by what he might say next.

“Yeah,” he paused. “I just wonder who picks you up from the airport. That’s all.”

I bit back tears as he said it. It was like he was peeling through the thick, yet flimsy, layers of bravery I was trying to project and saying, “I see you.” He knew I needed people. We all do. He could see that I wasn’t planting roots or doing the hard and holy work of being present to what was right in front of me. I was hiding from people and God, waiting for another chance to run somewhere new.

I felt like God was with me in that moment, sitting with me in that coffee shop, whispering, “Stop striving. Stop chasing. Be here now. Moment to moment, I will lead you.”

Today’s key verse reminds me of the promise God makes to me: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”¹

I love the picture painted here. I love knowing God wants to teach me which paths to travel on. He won’t just keep an eye on me; He will keep a loving eye on me. He wants good for me, but it begins with me putting my hope in Him.

That is the tough part for me. Sometimes I think it would be easier to put my hope in myself or in my future. I want to skip the investment of hope and keep my eyes fixed on things I think I can control. But I miss out on life when I don’t live in the present moment God has given me. I miss out on so much. He has a daily mission for me, and it matters.

Be where your feet are.

This became my daily motto.

It’s still my motto, because I need a lot of practice. “Be where your feet are” is a constant reminder, a way to keep saying to myself, “Hey, look around. Don’t be freaking out about the future or worrying about the past. God wants to teach you something. Today matters. This matters.”

Without fail, when I turn from distractions, God always shows me moments He handcrafted for me. They’re waiting for me. I just need to step into them.—Hannah Brencher²

Sometimes a statement that seems simple can carry a great message when you think about it. “Be where your feet are” is a common saying of my favorite football coach. Of course, in his world of football, it means to dwell in the present. If a player has a bad play, he stresses to them to not let that play continue to distract them mentally and thereby cause the next play to be a bad one. The game is made up of many plays. In a sense, each play is an individual game. The player is to play each play individually. Win this play. Then win the next play. Play the game one play at a time. Play in the moment. Be where your feet are.

Similarly, there is really a powerful message for us in life. Play one play at a time. Life is made up of days. The psalmist tells us to number our days.³ We would do well to live our lives one day at a time. And strive to win each day. Don’t let yesterday ruin today. And by the same token, tomorrow’s concerns can ruin today as well.

Paul had many bad things in his past on which he could dwell. I am sure he remembered his days of persecuting GOD’S people. Yet he writes to the Philippian church, “forgetting those things which are behind…”⁴ I think Paul would have agreed with the “Be where your feet are” idea.

On the other hand, James urges us to be careful when making plans for tomorrow. James 4:13 reads, “Come now, you who say ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.” I think James would have liked the “Be where your feet are” sentiment as well.

The idea is to live today. One can’t change the past. We all have regrets. But the blood of Jesus Christ can forgive our mistakes of yesterday. According to Jeremiah 31:34, GOD remembers them no more.

Let us make the most of today. Let us “Be where our feet are” today.—Glenn Taylor ⁵

Proverbs wisely says, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”⁶ Rather, be like David, who said, “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.”⁷ That is the key. You can plan for tomorrow, but you know that tomorrow may never come. So praise God and enjoy the time that you have. “Tomorrow” might not just be the next day, but the principle can apply to the next hour or even the next minute. What you have is now. The future is not a given. So you may as well enjoy the moment, because in reality, that is all you are assured of.

You are‚ therefore, free to enjoy the time you have right now. If you don’t enjoy it right now‚ you really don’t get another chance. You can reminisce about good times or regret bad times. You can remember with fondness how you did enjoy the moment, or lament that you didn’t. But the only actual time you can enjoy the moment is right now, at the moment. So seize the moment! Seize the day! Seize the joy!—Jesus

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
Music by John Listen.

¹ Psalm 32:8 NIV.

² https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/05/29/be-where-your-feet-are.

³ Psalm 90:12.

⁴ Philippians 3:13.

⁵ http://taylorstudies.com/be-where-your-feet-are.

⁶ Proverbs 27:1.

⁷ Psalm 44:8.

Comfort for When Loved Ones Pass On

November 1, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 12:24
Download Audio (11.3MB)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”—Revelation 21:4¹

Though your heart breaks and tears flow on earth when your loved one passes on, in heaven there is rejoicing because this dear child of Mine is in My arms, perfectly happy and whole. Here I hold him close, wipe away his tears, and show him My great love for him.

In just a little while you will be reunited. Until then, hold tightly to My hand and let Me comfort you. Remember that the one whom you love but can no longer see is now in a better place. He is in My presence, where he is free from all pain, problems, and sorrow, and he now experiences My love without measure.

You cannot possibly imagine the love and joy and freedom that your loved one now experiences in the heavenly realm, but in My Word you can find a foretaste—a glimpse of heaven and its wonders. Come into My arms and let Me wipe away your tears. Let Me ease your pain and mend your broken heart. Let Me carry you through this time of heartbreak and loss. Come, find sweet relief in My presence, just as your loved one has.

Glorious new life

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”—Romans 14:8²

Your loved one has not vanished like dust in the wind. He has passed on to a new place, a new existence. His love for you is just as strong as ever. The memories he shared with you are just as fresh in his mind and remembered even more fondly. The pain you endured together is still there, too, but now he understands much better what it was all for, and he sees how each thread of your earthly experience has been woven together to form the beautiful tapestry of your lives.

I know it is difficult to accept that you will no longer enjoy his companionship in this life. You must believe that this end of his earthly life was not meant to be the end for you. He is still living, only in another realm. He is still fulfilling the purpose for which he was created, and so must you.

When the time comes for you, too, to pass from the shadows into the light, you will better understand. You will fully know as you are now fully known.³ Then the love that you had to let go of will be with you once again. It will be the beginning of a whole new and wonderful life of love that you will share for all eternity.

Perfect love

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”—John 11:25–26⁴

Your loved one isn’t lost to you forever. She has just stepped into a different dimension. It’s as though she has gone on a journey ahead of you, and one day you will join her in that new world. It’s a beautiful world, full of love and beauty, joy and laughter, peace and plenty.

I know you are heartbroken and sorely miss her, but you can rejoice in knowing that she has been freed from pain and has found perfect love and peace in Me. Though you’ll have to walk the road of life without her for a time, this time apart will make your reunion in heaven all the sweeter.

Love doesn’t die when a soul passes from this earth to the realm beyond. Love endures forever.⁵ Love joins hearts and transcends the boundaries that separate your worlds. Her love is a treasure that you will never lose, and so is Mine. I will comfort your heart and give you peace until the day you finish your journey and find yourself in the arms of your loved one once again.

Healing for times of grief

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”—1 Thessalonians 4:13–14⁶

Your loved one’s death was unexpected, and you didn’t have a chance to prepare or say goodbye. I understand the emotional distress you struggle with now. I know the sorrow you feel, and My heart breaks for you.

It is hard to lose loved ones, and it is natural to grieve their loss. Even if you believe that they are safe and secure in heaven, and that they have joined Me in their eternal home, and that I watch over them lovingly, you still feel the loss. But I want to comfort you and fill that void with My love and perfect peace—peace that transcends your natural reasoning and emotions; peace that doesn’t make sense in the way you usually try to make sense of things, but is wonderfully real and comforting.

The Bible speaks about the “peace that surpasses all understanding.”⁷ This is the kind of comfort that only I can give you. Even when you have every reason to sorrow and despair, I can pour My soothing balm over your spirit. I can pick up the pieces of your broken heart and help put it back together again.

You will always love and miss the one you lost, but you never need to feel alone or unloved or to despair over your loss. I am here for you. I have promised to never leave or forsake you, and I love you for all eternity.

Safe in My arms

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”—Deuteronomy 33:27⁸

Your beloved one who has left this life is safe in My arms and home in heaven. She is as happy and carefree as a little child because she is free from the pain that was wearing away her earthly body. She is young again—in the prime of life. I am sorry that you miss her so, but it was her time to come home. She was ready and wanted to come to Me.

Now she understands what she could not understand before. She is blessed with more of My love and feels more secure in My love than ever before. She looks back on her life on earth and your time together and sees how everything worked together for good. Nothing would make her happier than to see you truly rejoice in the gift of her life and the love and faith you shared, with no regrets.

Everlasting love

“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”—John 16:22⁹

Nothing will separate you from My love. Neither height nor depth, nor life nor death will ever separate you from My love.¹⁰ No matter how deep the sorrow, I will hold you tight, for My hands can reach to the lowest depths to raise you up.

Commit your precious loved one into My care. Your loved one is safe in My arms in the eternal realm. Nothing will ever diminish the gift of this precious love that you have shared.

I know how hard it is to say goodbye to your loved one. I know the heartbreak that you feel, for My Father and I were also separated for a time. But know that it is only for a brief moment of time. It will pass with the twinkling of an eye, and you will have all eternity to spend together!

This precious love that I have given you is forever, and I have prepared a place for you for all of eternity—your eternal home.¹¹

Published on Anchor November 2021. Read by Simon Peterson.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ ESV.

² NIV.

³ 1 Corinthians 13:12.

⁴ NIV.

⁵ 1 Corinthians 13:13.

⁶ NIV.

⁷ Philippians 4:7.

⁸ NIV.

⁹ NIV.

¹⁰ Romans 8:38–39.

¹¹ John 14:3.

08 – Love. Live. Preach. Teach. —Preach Him

Peter Amsterdam

2012-01-03

We have finished covering the second element of discipleship, Live Him, and nine principles connected to it: Abiding in Jesus, Love, Unity, Humility, Non-Anxiety, Forgiveness, Fellowship, Generosity, and Prayer.

The third of these four elements of discipleship is Preach Him. Some of Jesus’ last words before ascending into heaven were the mission statement for His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”^[1]

Forty-three days earlier He had died on the cross, and after three days He had risen from the dead. The purpose of it all was so that humankind could have the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins, to be reconciled to God, and to have everlasting life. Jesus had done His job. He had fulfilled His mission on earth. His death and resurrection had made salvation possible. He had made it possible for us to live eternally with Him.

During the last years of His life, He had enacted a two-fold strategy: to preach the message of the kingdom and salvation, and to find a core group of people who would embrace His teachings and assist in spreading His message to others—in making disciples. He lived the same mission statement He had just given to His disciples. He had come into this world and preached the Gospel. He had found those whom He could train to Love Him, Live Him, Preach Him, and Teach Him. Once He had imparted to them all that was needed, He could leave and the Holy Spirit would then come and empower His disciples to take the message to all the world.

Jesus’ years of public ministry were spent preaching, teaching, and training. In this article we’ll focus on His preaching.

Sometime after having been baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and after having fasted 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus went to live in Capernaum in the area of Galilee. From that point on He began, as Mark’s Gospel says:

Proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”^[2]

Matthew’s Gospel says:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”^[3]

Jesus made it clear that His preaching the Gospel was one of the reasons He was on earth:

He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”^[4]

He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”^[5]

When He visited His hometown of Nazareth and went to the synagogue, He stood up to read from the Scripture. He was given the book of Isaiah and read the following:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”^[6]

Jesus was sent to preach the Gospel, and He taught His disciples to do the same.

He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.^[7]

As you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”^[8]

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.^[9]

He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.^[10]

Jesus preached the Gospel, and through His example taught His disciples to do the same and gave them opportunities to experience preaching it themselves. After His death and resurrection, He said to them:

“As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”^[11]

Right before ascending into heaven, He declared:

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.^[12]

Within days the Holy Spirit fell and the early disciples were powerfully preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem, and in time throughout Israel, outside of Israel, and in all the world.

It’s through preaching the Gospel that Christianity spreads. It’s through witnessing that the gift of salvation that Jesus died to bring is given to others. If the first disciples hadn’t preached the Gospel and taught others to do the same, then the Gospel could have ceased to be known. God has given us something so great, so eternally life changing, it’s our responsibility, as disciples, to share it with others, to give them the same opportunity.

Disciples preach the message of the Gospel. As Peter said in Acts 10:

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.^[13]

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”^[14]

Disciples preach through the words they speak, through the lives they lead, and through the manifestation of God’s Spirit within them. Which brings us to:

The Light-bearing Principle

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.^[15]

Part of preaching the Gospel is living your life in a manner that people see the light of God in you—the concern you have, the joy, the integrity, the manifestation of God and His love in you, His Spirit dwelling within you. You have the light of life—Jesus—within you, and if you live your faith, then your life will be seen as light-giving. Then when people see you and what you do, they will see and feel the Spirit of God.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.^[16]

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).^[17]

And to the Philippians, Paul said:

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.^[18]

We are asked by the Lord to live in a manner that communicates Him to others, not only in words, but in deeds and truth. Words are important, of course, as through your words you will explain salvation, and tell about Jesus’ love; but your deeds, your good works, your example, the love and kindness you show people, your concern for them, all of this will show that the words you speak about Jesus are true, because those you are speaking with will feel Him emanating from you.

As disciples, it’s important that God’s light shines through you, which it will when you Love Him and Live Him, when you Preach Him and Teach Him.

The “In the World” Principle

We are to be active within the world, without becoming of the world.

Jesus, God incarnate, lived in the world. He wasn’t of the world but He lived in it. His being in the world made it possible for Him to interact with those in need, to love others, to help them, to heal them, to be friends with them, to witness to them.

In like manner we are in the world, and we too have the opportunity to love and help others, to bring them God’s love and everlasting life. Loving Him and living Him keeps us from the world but doesn’t take us out of the world. Disciples interact with others, and when the opportunity presents itself, they share the news of salvation.

The principle is to be involved in your world, the society in which you live—the workplace, the mission field, wherever you are—in a manner that makes you a blessing to others.

In the course of being actively involved in our world, we want to make sure we keep the proper connection and relationship with God, giving God, His Word, and the Great Commission the right priority. We don’t want to become absorbed by the ways of the world or its priorities. Jesus addressed this in prayer to His Father when He said:

I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.^[19]

The “People in Your Path” Principle

Disciples are ready to witness, pray for, and minister to whomever God brings across their path. 2 Timothy 4:2 expresses this concept quite well with the words “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” The phrase “in season and out of season” is translated in some Bible versions as persist in it whether convenient or not; keep at it in opportune times and in untimely situations; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable. There’s no telling when you will cross paths with someone who needs the message, and when you do, as a disciple, you should be ready to share God’s message with them.

Jesus was ready to meet the need no matter what the circumstances. He was faced with a multitude of different situations in which He needed to take action immediately—to witness, to love, to win, to heal, to forgive, to do a miracle. He rose to the occasion in every instance.

Some examples of this are the woman of Samaria, the wedding at Cana, Nicodemus’ visit, the woman caught in adultery, the centurion, the Greeks who wanted to speak to Him, Peter’s mother-in-law, the mute person, the Canaanite woman, the children, the rich young ruler, the mother of James and John, the paralytic man, the Syrophoenician woman, the boy with an unclean spirit, blind Bartimaeus, a leper, a man with a withered hand, the woman with the issue of blood, Zacchaeus, Pilate, the thief on the cross.^[20] He was ready in season and out. He was there for whomever the Father brought across His path.

Jesus reached out to those He was aiming to help—the sinners who needed salvation. Those He met and ate with were not always the rich, the righteous, or the folks who were “living right.” He was willing to minister to those whom others rejected—the hated tax collectors, the sinners, the unclean and unworthy. He was criticized when He connected with those who were in the margins, but He made it clear how important every soul is, no matter what their circumstances.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”^[21]

So He told them this parable:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.^[22]

Every person is valuable to God. He wants everyone to receive salvation, and He rejoices when they do. God brings people across your path for you to witness to, and their status in society, their prominence or lack of it, should make no difference whatsoever. If you are the disciple to whom the Lord has brought this person, you should be ready to speak with them, whether they are rich or poor. God is no respecter of persons. Everyone, no matter what their status, is a sinner before Him and in need of His love and redemption. A disciple’s job isn’t to judge or discriminate; it’s to preach the Gospel to everyone, especially to those whom He brings across your path.

When listening to a course on the history of Christian theology, I came across a portion that I thought was interesting about preaching to and teaching the poor. The teacher was speaking of Pentecostalism and went out of his way to commend them for the work they do in reaching the poor.

The professor said: Pentecostalism is the largest, fastest-growing form of global Christianity today. Pentecostalism has spread like wildfire; it is the fastest-growing set of churches in Latin America, very influential in Africa. And in these countries, the Pentecostal churches are the church of the poor. The poor people love this experience. It’s sort of evidence that God is with them even in their poverty. It’s tied to a very rather, we might say in the informal sense, puritanical lifestyle. Pentecostals stop smoking, stop drinking, the men stop beating their wives and running around. We get stable families among the poor, among the destitute, so that the children of the destitute end up becoming respectably poor, or maybe even lower middle class. And their children end up maybe going to college. The Pentecostals are the church of the poor, and in the second or third generation the poor are no longer poor because of Pentecostalism. That’s I think a very powerful witness to maybe the Holy Spirit working among the Pentecostals.^[23]

I thought it was interesting in that it shows the impact preaching and teaching can have not just on those you witness to and win, but if you teach them to witness, then the fruits of your teaching can change the generations to come. While the lecturer was speaking of Pentecostalism, the principle of what he was saying can be applicable to anyone who preaches the Gospel and teaches Christianity.

Following the People in Your Path Principle means not limiting those you witness to, or teach, or disciple, to only those whom you may be accustomed to or comfortable with. Reaching the middle and upper strata of society, or those on the lower economic scale, are both important to the Lord. He can make a disciple out of anyone who has a changed heart, learns to love Him, and wants to serve Him. Whoever God brings across your path, whoever He calls you to reach, is who you should witness and minister to. Be instant in season and out.

Preaching was something Jesus taught His disciples to do, and it was the commission, the mission statement, that He left them with. Disciples today have the same commission. We are to let our light shine, to interact with the world without becoming of the world, and to minister to those God brings across our path. This is preaching Jesus. This is doing the mission. This is how new disciples will be won.

(To read the next article in this series, click here.)

^[1] Mark 16:15 NAU.

^[2] Mark 1:14–15.

^[3] Matthew 4:17.

^[4] Mark 1:38.

^[5] Luke 4:43.

^[6] Luke 4:18–21 NKJ.

^[7] Luke 9:2 NKJ.

^[8] Matthew 10:7 NAU.

^[9] Matthew 10:27.

^[10] Mark 3:14–15.

^[11] John 20:21–22.

^[12] Acts 1:8.

^[13] Acts 10:42.

^[14] Romans 10:13–15.

^[15] Matthew 5:14–16.

^[16] John 8:12.

^[17] Ephesians 5:8–9.

^[18] Philippians 2:15.

^[19] John 17:15–16.

^[20]

The woman of Samaria: John 4:7

The wedding in Cana: John 2:1–11

Nicodemus’ visit: John 3:1–21

The woman caught in adultery: John 8:3–11

The centurion: Matthew 8:5–13

The Greeks: John 12:20–26

Peter’s mother-in-law: Matthew 8:14–15

The mute person: Matthew 9:32–33

The Canaanite woman: Matthew 15:22–28

The children: Matthew 19:13–14

The rich young ruler: Matthew 19:16–22

The mother of James and John: Matthew 20:20–23

The paralytic man: Matthew 9:2–7

The Syrophoenician woman: Mark 7:26–30

The boy with a spirit: Luke 9:37–43

Blind Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46–52

A leper: Matthew 8:2–4

A man with a withered hand: Mark 3:1–5

The woman with the issue of blood: Luke 8:43–48

Zacchaeus: Luke 19:1–10

Pilate: Luke 23:1–4

The thief on the cross: Luke 23:39–43

^[21] Luke 15:1–2.

^[22] Luke 15:4–10.

^[23] Professor Phillip Cary, The History of Christian Theology, Lecture #28.

The Key to a Balanced Life

October 28, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 9:21
Download Audio (8.5MB)

If you want to live a truly balanced life, you can only look at one person in all of history as a model: Jesus. If you put him at the center of your life, your life will be more balanced.

Think of your life like a wheel. The center of the wheel is a hub. All of the spokes of your life (which represent your relationships, your family, your career, your goals, etc.) come from that hub. We all build our lives around some sort of hub. The question is, what will be your hub? Will it be your family? Will it be your career? Will it be money? Or will it be Jesus?

How do you know what you’re building your life around? Take a look at whatever you think about the most. That’s what is driving you.

The center of your life is critical to developing a balanced life. A solid center leads to a solid life. A weak, flimsy center leads to a weak life. When I hear people tell me that their lives are coming unglued, it usually means one thing: They have a faulty center. Something other than God has taken priority in their lives.

Not only does the hub create stability, but it also controls and influences everything else about your life. Whatever you put at the center of your life will also be your source of power. The power of a wheel always emanates from the center outward—never the other way around.

Make Jesus the center of your life, and he’ll provide the stability, control, and power you need for your life. The Bible says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.”¹ … Put [Jesus] in the center of your life. Let him direct your life, influence it, empower it, and give it stability. Do that, and all the other areas of your life—from your family to your career to your goals—will find balance in Jesus.—Rick Warren²

A Christ-centered model for balanced living

Life balance. In today’s 24-7 wired world, it can seem elusive. We long for healthy, balanced living, but despite our best efforts, we run from morning to night, day after day and week after week. We keep telling ourselves it will be better next week or next month. But it never is.

Balanced living doesn’t just happen; it requires intentional planning and choices. But before we talk about how to achieve it, let’s first define what it is.

“It’s so easy to be scattered, distracted, spread too thin, with too many balls in the air,” explains Chris McCluskey. … “A balanced life doesn’t look like that. A balanced life allows you to be fully present in whatever you are doing. If you’re working, you can totally pour yourself into it, and then when it’s done, it’s done. You can wipe your hands, go off and play—without being distracted by things at the office. … A balanced life allows us to be where we are when we’re there.”

Balanced living is healthy living. It is Christ-centered and encompasses the whole of who we are—spirit, soul, and body. A balanced life enables us to enter fully into God’s plan and purpose for us in each season of life, stretching, yet honoring, our physical, mental, and emotional capacities and limits.

It is not about keeping all the balls in the air as much as it is about learning to drop some of the balls we are juggling to align ourselves with God’s purposes in each season of life.

As Christians, who we are and all we do must flow from the core of our being—relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, by definition, balanced living for Christians must start with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It then unfolds in daily conversation with God.

Once the core piece is in place—a personal, intimate relationship with God—we can then work … to define and create life balance. McCluskey suggests building on these three pillars:

Purpose: Life balance is about making intentional choices that align with God’s plan and purpose for our lives, which each of us must discover on life’s journey.
People: Because God calls us to love others as we love ourselves, life balance is lived in light of relationships—loving our spouses, children, and those God places in our path.
Play: True play restores health to your soul. Although play looks different for everyone, it can involve such activities as reading a book, playing sports, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and more.

Life balance doesn’t happen overnight. It requires planning and intentionality. And it changes and evolves as seasons and circumstances evolve. Yet, it’s a worthy pursuit, one that yields tremendous peace once achieved.—Mary Yerkes³

The guiding light of faith

Faith is a fundamental principle in a Christ-centered life. It’s a beautiful quality that declares your trust in My power and ability to care for you. Having faith in Me is part of your witness; it’s a declaration to others that regardless of your circumstances, you remain certain that I am looking out for you.

As you face the future and the options before you, don’t lose that personal assurance of faith in Me and My promises to care for My own. Faith must remain a resolute feature in your Christian life and walk with Me wherever you go. Your faith is what will give you the confidence to walk upon the new pathways that I’ve highlighted for you. It will enable you to explore the different things that you can do and opportunities that arise, while ultimately relying on Me to guide you each step of the way.

No matter what your specific circumstances, the fruitfulness of your future is about the combination of your faith in Me and your practical effort both working together to bring about the results I’m after. Both are needed, and together they will culminate in success.—Jesus

Published on Anchor October 2021. Read by Reuben Ruchevsky.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ Matthew 6:33 NCV.

² https://pastorrick.com/the-key-to-a-balanced-life-jesus.

³ https://christianlifecoaching.com/christ-centered-model-balanced-living.

Let Go and Trust God—Overcoming Worry

October 29, 2021

By Rick Warren

God wants us to be free from worry. Anxiety and worry occur when we choose to rely upon our own strength rather than upon God. Trust in God and give all your worries to Him.

Run time for this video is 14:47 minutes.

Spit Out of a Whale

October 27, 2021

By Curtis Peter van Gorder

I love quirky news stories, especially the ones that can be a springboard to dive deep into spiritual realities and are good conversation starters. They kind of jolt you out of your complacency and make you realize that life is full of surprises.

It’s easy just to rock along as one day blurs into the next, but sometimes there is an interruption in our way—a deer runs in front of our car and totals it; we find out our wife is going to have triplets, and on the day of her delivery one more pops out, making it quadruplets ¹; we discover a lost diamond ring with a carrot growing through it when digging up veggies in our garden 13 years after it was lost ²; we get hit by lightning for the seventh time ³; or a whale swallows us for 40 seconds, as happened to Michael Packard when he was diving in deep waters off of Cape Cod in search of lobsters.

“All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black,” he relates. Confused at first, he then realized he was in a humpback whale’s mouth and that it was trying to swallow him. “I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m getting out of here. I’m done, I’m dead.’ All I could think of was my boys—they’re 12 and 15 years old.” Then the whale surfaced, shook its head, and spat the ill-tasting morsel out into the ocean, where Michael was rescued by his first mate, who was looking for him in their boat.⁴

It is times like these that make us realize what is really important in life, as it did to the prophet Jonah—a story I found out that many people I have talked to don’t know. Our flawed hero, Jonah, was commanded by God to go to Nineveh, the flourishing capital city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. It was the largest city in the world for 50 years. His purpose was to warn them to repent of their wicked deeds, of which Nineveh had plenty—too many to enumerate here, but suffice it to say they were grotesquely cruel to their enemies in an attempt to strike fear in the hearts of anyone who would defy them.

Well, instead of obeying the Lord and going to Nineveh, he ships off to Spain, which was in the opposite direction. As always, God’s plan would not be frustrated, and so He has a hurricane-force gale blow to rattle the cages of everyone on board. After doing all they could to escape certain calamity, the crew tossed Jonah overboard to appease the wrath of God. It seemed to work, because the ocean became calm. Jonah is swallowed by a giant fish, just like Michael in the story above.

He is three days and nights in the whale and cries out desperately to the Lord, pleading for deliverance from a watery grave. The Lord answers his prayers and has the whale spit him out… Guess what happened next! That’s right—he went where God wanted him—Nineveh. Jonah goes to Nineveh and preaches to them “Forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”⁵ A short sermon indeed!

It is interesting to note that in one translation of this verse, the word “overturned” is used instead of overthrown, which can also mean completely transformed, which is what happens. But is Jonas happy when the whole city repents in sackcloth and ashes, asking for forgiveness? No! When the day of destruction comes and goes without fire falling from heaven, he goes off to sulk, waiting to see what will happen next.

It is blooming hot, hot, hot out there, and he is frying his brains when God shows up again and has a gourd plant grow up to give him some shade over his lean-to shelter. All this time Jonah is yelling at God and complaining that the Ninevites didn’t get their just deserts. God isn’t finished, though, and He sends a worm to eat the leafy gourd plant, which shrivels up and dies. Then to put the icing on the cake, He has a vehement east wind come blowing and heating up Jonah some more until he is ready to die to escape baking in this outdoor oven. God ends the story by saying, “You had pity on the gourd plant, and shouldn’t I spare the people of Nineveh who don’t know their right hand from their left and also many cattle?” Curtain!

More than just a story about a disobedient prophet, who even when he does the right things gets a lot wrong, this is a story about God working. He is the God of Jonah, but also the God of the ship’s crew, the God of the whale, the God of the Ninevites, the God of the gourd plant, the God of the worm, and the God of the east wind. Where is God not in this story?

He’s on every page of our life’s story as well, if we will open our eyes, read, and take to heart what He has written for us. And the next time you are the main character of a quirky occurrence, remember who is writing your script and trust Him for the outcome. He is more often in the interruptions of our lives than in the plans that we have made.

PS: For an overview of the book of Jonah in comics, see this link. And for an interesting comparison of the story of Jonah and Jesus, see this article.

¹ https://www.parents.com/health/parents-news-now/mom-delivers-quadrupletsbut-thought-she-was-having-triplets.

² https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40956139.

³ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Sullivan.

⁴ https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2021/06/11/humpback-whale-catches-michael-packard-lobster-driver-mouth-proviencetown-cape-cod/7653838002.

⁵ Jonah 3:4.

Better Days Ahead—Part 2

By Peter Amsterdam

October 26, 2021

—Finding Comfort in Times of Loneliness

When we find ourselves in one of the difficult seasons of life, this can often be accompanied by loneliness or a sense of being alone in our struggles. Feeling alone and isolated can create a sense of hopelessness and despair. From the very beginning of the biblical narrative, God created us to live in relationship with Him and with others. Our interactions with others, in particular with other believers, provide purpose, meaning, accountability, encouragement, appreciation, and bring joy and inspiration to our lives. They can shape and form the contours of our daily routines and add meaning to our everyday tasks.

But at times when you lack that sense of community with others, there can be a domino effect with other areas of your life being negatively affected that you may not connect to loneliness. You might try to fill the void with other things such as television, food, alcohol, gaming, internet surfing, or social media. This can affect your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

It is important to acknowledge when we need the support of others. If someone you trust and have confidence in asks you, “How are you doing?,” if things are not going well, try to be honest and say, “I’m not okay” and to ask for prayer and support. Letting others know how you are feeling opens the door for them to offer comfort and support.

People often don’t express when they’re lonely. They may be embarrassed by their situation or feel that no one seems to care about them. It’s important to check in on the people in our lives, to touch base with them to see how they’re doing. And if someone seems to be struggling or down, we can reach out to them to offer a listening ear, encouragement, prayer, or support.

We would do well to look at each person who crosses our path with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (See Colossians 3:12 NIV.) Our calling as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) is to always strive to reflect the Lord’s love and mercy, and to make a difference in someone’s life, even if you are only in contact with that person in passing. Simple acts of kindness can help alleviate someone’s loneliness and help them feel that someone cares. “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion” (Psalm 116:5).

Here is an explanation that Maria shared of our commission to reach those who are lost and lonely:

As followers of Jesus, we are called to go out into the sea of humankind, seeking those who are lost, sinking, and drowning, to offer them life, hope, and truth. We have God’s wonderful comfort, the power of His Word, and our knowledge of the future that He has promised for all His children. We are called to share what we have received with those who have lost hope of any comfort, or who lack the knowledge of God who loves them and the heaven that can await them.

They desperately need God’s love and truth. Let’s do everything possible to share with them the joy, peace of mind, and eternal life that we have in Jesus. He tells us to weep with those who weep and let our hearts be broken for those who do not yet know Him.

Do you remember what it was like before you found the Lord? Perhaps you were in despair and your life seemed meaningless? The Lord heard your heart cry, and He reached out to you and took you in His arms in your time of need. And to do this, He probably used some person, someone with the wonderful love of the Lord in his or her heart. He beseeches us to do the same—to share His love and truth with those who are lost and lonely.

We might be surprised at what an impact even small interactions can have in not only alleviating someone else’s loneliness, but also giving us a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Making contact with another person, even someone we don’t know, can enrich our lives and can help both the ones we minister to as well as ourselves to feel connected and less isolated. Dale Carnegie said: “You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”

There’s another important piece of the puzzle that can serve as an anchor for our faith if we are enduring a season of loneliness in our lives. We are never alone! No matter what our circumstances, we are not alone. Jesus is with us constantly, every second of every day. “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10 ESV). The Lord never forgets us.

As His children we have the reassurance that God never loses sight of us. Even before we were born, His eyes were on us. “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret… Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed” (Psalm 139:15–16). … Psalm 34:15 tells us, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” The hymn-writer exclaimed, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Because we are never out of His sight, we are never out of His mind. We are familiar with the incredible prayer of Psalm 139, teaching us that our creator is with us regardless of our location or state of mind. He sees us in every place. He knows us perfectly and intimately. Therefore, it says, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand” (Psalm 139:17–18). If you have visited the vast expanse of an ocean shore lately, walking on the seemingly endless sand, you get a sense of the unfathomable care and attention of our heavenly Father described in this psalm. …

Our Father does not forget us. We are always “in sight and on His mind.”—Daniel Henderson¹

A young woman wrote:

In times of loneliness, Jesus wants to draw us to Him. He wants to become our best and truest friend, the one we can always turn to and who will never let us down. He uses times of loneliness to solidify and strengthen our friendship with Him, because He knows that this friendship will carry us through all that life brings our way.

If you are struggling with loneliness, you don’t need to despair. Remind yourself that Jesus loves you more deeply than anyone ever could and understands you better than anyone else. You may discover that this time of loneliness is a gift in disguise. His gifts in disguise come to us with infinite love, and through them we can gain treasures that will far outlast our trials.²

When I was reading and praying about this subject of loneliness, I realized a truth that I had not fully grasped previously. As children of the God of the universe, who are destined to be with Jesus and the Father forever in heaven, we will never be completely free from loneliness in this life. We are not destined to be fully satisfied here on earth. No matter how full our lives might be, no matter if we are surrounded by family and friends, there will always be a void. Clarissa Moll writes:

Even though we know that Jesus attends us in our isolation, this knowledge may still not offer enough balm, and maybe for good reason. As C. S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

In her book Blessed Are the Unsatisfied, Amy Simpson echoes Lewis. “Maybe God doesn’t want to take away our longings yet,” she writes. “When we grow deeper in faith and closer to Jesus, we’re likely to find ourselves less—not more—satisfied with life here and now.”

Indeed, Jesus will come to our lonely places. He promises to meet us in our deserts, our quarantined spaces, to renew our souls, bring us joy, comfort our hearts, and give us peace. If in the midst of this companionship, our loneliness still gnaws at us, we can assure ourselves that it’s less a symptom of our solitude and more a mark of normal spiritual restlessness. This lingering loneliness reflects a deep longing for communion, one that will only ever be [fully] satisfied when we see Jesus face-to-face.”³

Another author also explains this concept well. I believe this is something that is worth meditating on to see how it applies to each of our lives. This might provide some insight that will bring comfort during difficult seasons of your life. Steve DeWitt wrote:

As Genesis 1:27 makes clear, from the inception of our being and design, we were made by God and for God. This provides us with a spiritual and relational capacity to relate to God that only God can fill and satisfy. As Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”

We look at loneliness as an enemy to be avoided at all costs. But this side of redemption’s consummation, our lives will never be free from loneliness. God uses it to get our attention. So, when a wave of loneliness hits, I try to consciously think, Why do I feel this way? I feel this way because I was made for God. Following the counsel of Elisabeth Elliot, I turn my loneliness into solitude and my solitude into prayer. In this way, loneliness ceases to be a devil to us. Actually, it becomes a guide and a friend. …

I may not have a wife, but I have Christ. You may not have a husband, but you have Christ. You may be separated from family, but you have Christ. You may be a widow, but you have Christ. You may be rejected by your spouse, but you have Christ. And since you and I are made for him, to have him is to have his Spirit as a guarantee that someday I won’t ever feel lonely again. … In our moments of inward desolation, the Lord is there, and with him there is a path through the valley of loneliness.⁴

I have a friend who is a very gregarious “people person.” Her husband passed away some time ago and she has been living alone for the last year. She explained that it has not been easy; she has felt quite isolated and, as she put it, “has had way too much alone time.” But she has honed a new habit that she calls her “talk to Papa and Jesus” time during her daily walks with her dog, which take her a couple of hours every day.

What has made this habit so special for her, she explained, is that she devotes this time each day to walking and talking out loud to Jesus and God. This is when she pours out her heart in prayer—for herself and others. This is when she talks to the Lord and the Father as if they were right there with her. She explained that sometimes she even laughs with them, and their presence is so real that she feels as if Papa and Jesus are holding her hands! (She said that anyone who sees her talking out loud and laughing with only her dog around might call her “that crazy old lady,” but in reality, she is a warrior in the Spirit!)

“The beauty of this situation,” she said, “is that when I reflect back on this difficult, often-lonely year, I can’t help but recognize my increased intimacy with the Lord and Papa, and my greater awareness of Their presence in my life. I feel more convinced than ever of their concern with every detail of my life and the lives of those I love. This intimacy is the greatest gift I have received.”

She sent me a snippet of an article that reads:

Never forget that you have a friend in Jesus (John 15:15), and that the Spirit dwells within you to give you strength to handle this season of loneliness… Dane Ortlund writes in Gentle and Lowly, “Christ’s heart for us means that he will be our never-failing friend no matter what friends we do or do not enjoy on earth. He offers us friendship that gets underneath the pain of our loneliness. While that pain does not go away, its sting is made fully bearable by the far deeper friendship of Jesus.”—Joe Carter⁵

I will close with a message from the Lord that I trust will encourage your heart:

One implication of My uninterrupted Presence with you is that you are never alone. I am training you to be increasingly aware of Me, but I understand that you are human and your attention span is limited. Sometimes, when you are suffering, you may feel as if you’re alone or abandoned. However, I suffered alone on the cross so that you would never have to be alone in your struggles. You are always with Me; I hold you by your right hand.⁶

I am nearer than you dare believe, closer than the air you breathe. Usually, you are not conscious of being enveloped in air because it is invisible and constantly available to you. Similarly, My unseen Presence is a constant in your life, but you often fail to recognize Me. This leaves you vulnerable to loneliness. …

I deeply desire for you to experience My nearness—and the peaceful contentment it brings—more consistently. There is a close connection between feeling lonely and being unaware of My Presence. This is an age-old problem: When the patriarch Jacob was in a barren place—far from his family—he was quite conscious of his isolation. However, I poured out My Presence upon him in the form of a glorious dream. When Jacob awoke, he responded, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…”

Not only am I constantly with you, but I’m also within you: in the inner recesses of your heart and mind. My knowledge of you is picture-perfect, and it is framed in unconditional Love.

Let feelings of loneliness remind you of your need to seek My Face. Come to Me with your ever-so-human emptiness, and My divine Presence will fill you with Life to the full!⁷

As we cultivate a deeper awareness of the presence of Christ, we will find a sense of belonging that will never fail us! He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Praise the Lord! God bless and keep you close to Him!

¹ “Never Forget: You Are Not Forgotten,” Strategic Renewal, https://www.strategicrenewal.com/never-forget-you-are-not-forgotten/

² “The Gift of Loneliness,” Just1Thing.com.

³ “Bloom Where You’re Quarantined,” Christianity Today, April 1, 2020, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/april-web-only/coronavirus-covid-19-bloom-where-youre-quarantined.html

⁴ “Lonely Me: A Pastoral Perspective,” August 4, 2011, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/lonely-me-a-pastoral-perspective/

⁵ “What Christians Should Know About Loneliness,” The Gospel Coalition, November 21, 2020, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-faqs-what-christians-should-know-about-loneliness/

⁶ Sarah Young, Jesus Always (Thomas Nelson, 2017).

⁷ Sarah Young, Jesus Lives (Thomas Nelson, 2009).

The Good News in a Culture of Consumerism

October 26, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:55
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In a very perceptive book called Life: The Movie, author Neal Gabler argues that entertainment has conquered reality. All of life has become a stage, and the way to success is through the pathway of becoming a celebrity. Gabler suggests that we spend our lives buying and shopping according to images and ideals that we hold as we seek to shape ourselves for our own performance.

The constant use of significant celebrities to model lines of clothing, sporting goods, and cosmetics tell us subtly that if we own these items, we too can be like our heroes. We are strategically convinced that we don’t simply have to watch the rich and famous; we can become them. The democratization of credit and the availability of easily-accessed goods guarantee our ability to play the part or parts we choose.

The practical aids are many. Credit and finance options bluntly inquire, “Why wait?” In earlier times people had to consider whether they could afford such things, and they might have had to delay while they saved. The time between viewing and having was often considerable, but not anymore. The messages are clear that we can have it if we want it, and we can have it now. It comes, of course, with a huge price tag in terms of increasing debt and anxiety. …

Is the bottom line to make money at all costs? Is happiness really being able to get what you want when you want it? Maybe it is time to recognize that life is far more than these trivial yet powerful views. Maybe it is time to call foul, to insist that real life is something far more nuanced, focused, and holistic than what the prophets of materialism have to offer.

The Christian view and alternative is that we are the products of a personal, loving Creator, and that our lives, opportunities, and resources are gifts to us. We interact with nature and the material world, we see God within it, but we also have other dimensions to our nature. The psalmist explains it in a way that much of the world rejects: The earth is filled with the glory of God. Because we have been made by God and for God, our ultimate glory—our claim to fame—is found in God.

The pretensions of the world are many, the seductions vast, and the attractions powerful. Yet in a world of invasive desires, intrusive demands, and restless indulgence, another voice can be heard: “Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The answer is not in a product but in a living Person.—Stuart McAllister

Relaying the message in contemporary culture

As Christians we face the task of delivering the good news, the Gospel, God’s message of love and salvation, to the world of today. In order to do so in a relatable fashion, it’s important to understand the fundamental changes that have occurred in society, affecting many people’s worldview, values, and perception of Christianity. Recognizing that these changes run deep and bring with them fears and insecurities, as well as skepticism, can help us to better convey the message in a manner that relates to those we are commissioned to reach.

We know that the Gospel is a message for today’s world, but finding the manner to reach those who have not yet been attracted to the message, or who have been put off by it for one reason or another, is an ever-increasing challenge. The modern world has changed incredibly and rapidly within the past thirty years, and it continues to do so. Secularism has heavily permeated spheres of thought and influence with values that promote self-interest and materialism, as well as other values that are incompatible with and ultimately undermine Christian and traditional values.

Meanwhile, certain principles or concepts that have been accepted as bedrock in the West for the past half century are no longer as solid as was supposed. Many people feel insecure about their future. They have much less trust in governmental, religious, and educational institutions, or in the veracity of what they read and hear in the news and media. Even saving money has increased risk, as many financial institutions have failed, and even countries are teetering on the brink of economic collapse.

Today’s cultural, societal, intellectual, secular, and moral environment, fused with widespread questioning, skepticism, and rejection of what have been accepted standards and values for years, has brought about a fundamental shift in many people’s values, ethics, worldview, relationship to authority, and their interactions with other people. For many it’s much more difficult to know what one can place trust in. While for some, conditions of the world and society may draw them to the message of the Gospel, for others the environment of today’s world makes it much more difficult for them to relate to it, much less believe it or receive it.

This presents those of us who are committed to sharing the Gospel with numerous challenges, not least of which is that we are called to bring a message about a man who lived and died and was resurrected 2,000 years ago—with the claim that this is the most important message they will ever encounter. It is therefore vital for the mission-minded Christian to find new and creative ways to express and deliver the timeless message of the love of God in a manner that speaks to the people of today’s world. No doubt Christians of the past have had challenges in their time periods as well, but today’s world is our challenge.

We are faced with the challenge of how we present Jesus in a manner that resonates with those we interact with, especially when, in the West at least, many non-Christians hold values which cause Christianity to be seen as irrelevant to their lives and worldview. In many countries, it can sometimes be difficult to bring up the topic of God, let alone Jesus, because widespread secularism and materialism have replaced belief in God and made Him irrelevant to their belief system.

Many people today are wary of the messages they hear, and why wouldn’t they be? Every day on the Internet, on television, in the news, in advertisements, they are bombarded with messages that they need this, that, and the other, that this is the right way to think, the right position to take. To them the message of the Gospel might seem like another advertisement telling them what they need, how to live, what will make them happy. People are often not inclined to trust such messages, because their experience is that many messages contain little or no validity. People are searching for answers, but many are cautious regarding where they place their trust.

To be effective in making the Gospel known to people, it is necessary to relate to them. To reach the people in your city or your country, or those you work with in your job, or your neighbors and acquaintances, you need to understand them, their culture, what they value.

Each person in every country or culture deserves and needs to hear the Gospel. As Christians, we are commissioned to bring it to those in the country, culture, and community in which we live, in a manner which they can most easily relate to and understand and accept.—Peter Amsterdam

Countering the gospel of consumerism

The gospel of consumerism has three core tenets: (1) we are created to be individual consumers; (2) we are meant to be passive; (3) our sole duty is to consume more.

The first tenet relates to our identity: who we are and how we see ourselves. The second tenet relates to our agency: how empowered we are to effect change and engage the world around us. The third tenet relates to our purpose: what is our reason for being and our way of life? The gospel of consumerism infiltrates every part of our personhood and runs counter to … the God revealed in Scripture.

God is not a consumer. God is a creator. Being created in the image of God means we are made to create too. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”—Reesheda Graham-Washington and Shawn Casselberry¹

Shaped for a greater purpose

Jesus spoke often about the challenge of materialism. Sure, there weren’t all the advertisements, brands, cosmetics and fashion magazines, but he did explain in Luke 12 how things have a way of taking hold of our hearts and becoming our master. He did talk about how we can so easily give our heart to the wrong grid, define ourselves by our “treasure,” and end up serving money.

Paul writes in Romans 12 that we get “conformed to the patterns of this world” without even thinking. Paul wasn’t writing about consumerism as such, but he was talking about how the dominant values of the empire have a way of moulding who we are. Consumerism, as an advanced cultural expression of materialism, is just a modern institutionalised expression of the same selfishness that has always been the problem. As Christians, we are called to live with a different hope and desire and remember that we are shaped for a greater purpose. …

The biblical story of Daniel highlights how we can live, and even thrive, in Babylon—an empire that symbolises false worship. Daniel purposed in his heart that he belonged to a more significant empire. He prayed with and sought support from friends with similar values. He recalibrated around God’s purpose for him often (at least formally three times a day) and remembered that everything, including his intellect and ability to interpret dreams, was from God and that only God was worthy of ultimate glory. …

As Christians we are called to give our life to a different story. Rather than conformed, we are to be transformed.² We will consume, but with different glasses on. We will find our hope, desire, and identity in Jesus and ironically find our life by giving it away—shifting from our agenda to serving God’s. We will value people, take time to grow, serve, share, and worship in ways that resist commodification. We will live to God’s glory in a world that focuses on self. This is the starting point of a significant life that matters for now and eternity.—Brendan Pratt³

Published on Anchor October 2021. Read by Simon Peterson.

¹ https://outreachmagazine.com/resources/books/compassion-and-justice-books/30710-countering-gospel-consumerism.html.

² Romans 12:1–3.

³ https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2018/01/12/i-see-i-want-i-take-%25E2%2580%2593-materialism-consumerism-god-and-discipleship.

Trusting in the Dark Times

October 25, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 7:39
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I love you, my dear friends and co-workers in the Lord. I pray that the Lord’s comfort and encouragement are a blessing and light on your path each and every day. I’m so proud of each of you for your dedication to the Lord and for following Him wherever He leads. Each of you is a hero of the faith—even if you often don’t feel like it. You may feel like you’re struggling or just barely making it and may not consider yourself much at all, but to the Lord, you’re heroes, because you’ve held on in faith through thick and thin.

Lord help us to keep the heavenly vision and not get our minds too focused on the little time we have here on earth, and its problems, difficulties, and hardships, to where we become weighed down and overwhelmed. That’s not to say the problems don’t exist or that we should just ignore them and pretend they’re not there, but rather that we will “endure as seeing Him who is invisible,” having “respect unto the recompense of our reward.”¹

I wish I could take each one of you who are going through trials and struggles of any kind into my arms and personally comfort you, pray with you, hear from the Lord together for you, and reassure you of His love, care, and plan. But I’m comforted by the fact that as you take time with our precious Savior, He holds you in His arms and gives you the comfort and personal encouragement that you need. As you give every burden and care to Him, He can heal your wounds and pour His soothing balm of love on your heart.

In every single challenge, tragedy, difficulty, and affliction, the Lord offers you His comfort and peace to help you carry through and even rise above what would otherwise seem impossible to overcome. His Word tells us that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”² It is so important during such times to seek guidance in the Lord’s Word to help you understand the way He sees things—His perspective, which is often very different than ours—and to receive the comfort, strength, and encouragement that you need to face the difficult and sometimes heartbreaking events that come to every life.

There’s an important factor for receiving His comfort and peace that He has promised, and that is to recognize and forsake any bitterness or resentment about the situation and the way things turned out. Resentment or bitterness can keep the door of your heart closed and prevent you from flinging it open so that you can experience the washing of regeneration and be renewed by His wonderful Spirit.³ His Spirit will fill every corner of your heart, but bitterness can prevent you from letting it in.

There are a number of reasons why we can allow bitterness to creep into our lives. We can be tempted to attribute the circumstances we are facing to the actions of another person, over which we had little or no control. Or at times we become angry at ourselves for our own mistakes and failings, feeling that there was more we could or should have done, that we could have somehow salvaged the situation if we had only done such and such, or not done such and such.

At times we can be tempted to even question God for allowing certain things and for not intervening to prevent the situation from happening. There are a number of reasons why we might be tempted to harbor some resentment or bitterness due to things that have happened in our lives. And if you dwell on it and water that little seed of bitterness, it can grow into a great big weed that can choke out your joy of the Lord and hinder your testimony.⁴

It’s only human to want to place the blame on ourselves or others for something that has happened or is happening. As humans, we would like to understand why certain things happened and we try to work it out in our minds and figure out why or how it could have been different. But we can’t always understand things in a black-and-white manner, and situations are generally much more complicated. As Paul wrote, “we see through a glass darkly” and “we know in part” in this life.⁵

So how do we respond to these challenging situations in life? The best way is first and foremost to trust the Lord and place it in His hands. If you don’t understand the why, or who is responsible for what, or what you could have done differently, leave it in the Lord’s hands, because He knows and He has promised to work everything out in the end for your good. That’s His promise to everyone who loves Him.

When you get riled up and discontent and stuck in a maze of trying to figure out what could have been different, this can hinder you from trusting the Lord. But trusting the Lord and committing your life to Him is the best thing you can do. Then you will be able to fully receive the resolution, comfort, and peace that the Lord is eager to fill your heart with. He longs to help and reassure you, but only you can open the door.

Following are some words of encouragement from the Lord to cast all our cares upon Him.

Fear not, for I am able to take all the broken pieces of your heart and put it back together again.

My precious one, only you can choose to cast your care upon Me, to trust Me with all your heart. You must choose to shed the weights of bitterness, discouragement, and anxiety. You must choose to let your heartaches and pain make you better, and they will, if you cast all your burdens on Me and allow Me to sustain you.

My loving arms will uphold you and bring peace and comfort to your heart. I have promised to use every experience you go through in life—no matter how dark they seem—to work together for good and to help others in the process.

And as you receive My comfort, with the same comfort that I comfort you, you can in turn comfort others.⁶

I know and understand that your way has been difficult and dreary at times. I know that you have experienced things over the years that you don’t understand. But trust Me that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel! As you reach out and turn toward My light, I will lead you along step by step. Your vision and the way forward will become clearer.

There are many things you cannot fully see or understand in this life, but if you’ll keep your eyes fixed on Me, even out of the ashes will spring beautiful white lilies and newness of life. Place your hope in Me and you will not grow weary and lose heart. Choose to throw off every encumbrance and keep running the race set before you with endurance, faith, hope, and love, looking unto Me—the author and finisher of your faith.⁷

Originally published in 1997. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Carol Andrews.

¹ Hebrews 11:27,26.

² Ephesians 3:20.

³ Titus 3:5.

⁴ Hebrews 12:15.

⁵ 1 Corinthians 13:12.

⁶ 2 Corinthians 1:4.

⁷ Hebrews 12:1–3.

02 – The Judgment of the SaintsFrom the End to EternityScott MacGregor2008-01-26[media]If you have read The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist, you understand that the wars and destruction that occur during the reign of the Antichrist will have a devastating effect on the Earth. There will have been nuclear war followed by the climactic Battle of Armageddon, and Jesus will then return to Earth to set up His Kingdom. Daniel chapter 2 tells us that “in the days of [ten] kings [that give their power and allegiance to the Antichrist] shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).The first event that apparently takes place at the beginning of the Millennium is foretold in chapter 7 of the book of Daniel. This chapter describes a vision Daniel had in which he saw, in allegorical form, the rise and fall of the Antichrist. The allegorical nature of the vision then changes to the following view of God’s throne room.I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days [God] was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. … I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. … Then the Kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.Daniel 7:9–10,13–14,27The saints that it is talking about here and in other passages that we will quote in this book are not just those canonized by various churches, such as the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, as “saints,” but rather all those who have received Jesus, the wonderful “Son of Man” as He is referred to several times in the Bible, Whose Kingdom is populated by all those who love Him. The saints that suffered under the Antichrist in the Tribulation seem to receive special mention, as is borne out in the following verse from the book of Revelation.And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.Revelation 20:4Yet not only those who were persecuted and killed, but all of God’s saints will rule and reign with Him during the Millennium.To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Revelation 3:21). And [they said, “You] have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the Earth” (Revelation 5:10). And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has” (Luke 12:42–44). Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?1 Corinthians 6:2–3God will engage the services of His saints to help Him run the world during the Millennium. Many have already been with Him in Heaven and know a lot more about things than we do. They’ve lived years, centuries, many even millennia in Heaven, so they would have undoubtedly learned much by this time. The great patriarchs and prophets and heroes of the Bible and Christian history are going to be right up next to Jesus and His heavenly counselors. And the Lord is going to put His dedicated followers of today into positions of responsibility too.Many people have the idea that after Jesus returns they are going to be way off somewhere in Heaven, perhaps floating peacefully on a cloud. But at least some of Heaven, part of the Kingdom of God, is going to be right here on Earth during the Millennium. And God’s people are going to be called upon to assist Jesus right here on Earth in His great task of ruling the world.Wouldn’t it be ridiculous, if after living busy, fulfilling lives on Earth full of challenges and fulfilling tasks, we wound up in Heaven with nothing to do but sit on a cloud, wear a white robe, and play a harp while a golden halo hovers over our head—for eternity? That would be incredibly boring. This current life is schooling for what must be done when we start getting our postgraduate course to prepare us for perhaps even greater work to do thereafter.However, not all the followers of Jesus will share equally in responsibilities and rewards. The Lord spoke a parable to His disciples about stewards being given various quantities of money to hold for their master, what they did with it, and how they were rewarded for how they used or invested it. The principle expressed in this parable undoubtedly applies to the blessings and responsibilities believers will receive in this new era. Those rewards will be commensurate with how they used their time, abilities, and resources toward furthering the Kingdom of God and obeying His law to love their fellow man while they were on Earth the first time.For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Then he who had received the one talent came and said, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.” But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”Matthew 25:14–30This parallels what a heavenly messenger told Daniel: “And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:1–3).Those who did little or nothing with the resources and opportunities for service for God and others that the Lord had given them will not lose their gift of salvation, and they will still be accepted into Heaven. But they will receive little or no heavenly rewards for their earthly life, or as the case may be, no positions of responsibility and honor in God’s Kingdom to come.Salvation—our entry pass to Heaven—is a gift from God that we cannot earn by our good works, but only through receiving Jesus as our Savior. However, the rewards we receive once we get to Heaven are earned through our works here on Earth. Those who were faithful to do good to others and obey God’s laws of “love the Lord your God with all your heart … [and] your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37,39) will “shine as the stars”—while those who do not manifest deeds of love on Earth will “awake to shame.”The Lord is going to need and use those who were faithful on Earth before this time, who did what they could with the “talents” they had to further the Kingdom of God when it was still mostly a spiritual entity. God’s Kingdom will have been founded on the Earth but it will still be a big job to establish it from one end of the Earth to the other. Those faithful to God now and in the past are going to be the ones entrusted to do it, and that will be part of their reward. Scripture tells us there will be many other rewards, most likely both spiritual and material blessings, although we don’t know all the specifics. The apostle Paul wrote that the “sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). And Jesus promised a “crown of life” to those who are faithful to Him (Revelation 2:10).The apostles Peter and Paul both wrote that those who are faithful to God in this life will receive crowns in the next. “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4). Perhaps they will resemble halos depicted around the heads of the saints in Christian art. As yet, we don’t know exactly what those crowns are, but certainly we won’t be disappointed when we receive them!

02: Revelation OutlineA Study of RevelationDavid Brandt Berg1981-04-01You’ll find the book of Revelation is divided into three divisions of seven chapters each—plus one. The book has 22 chapters, and the 21 chapters have three divisions of seven chapters each, plus a glorious and beautiful 22nd chapter about heaven that’s in a class all by itself.Each group of chapters, each seven of chapters, has to do with a different subject, and I’m just giving you a general overall title or subject matter for each of these. The first seven chapters are the introduction to the real nitty-gritty of the book, a general introduction to the endtime, because the first seven chapters cover the entire history of man from John’s day, the man who got this revelation from the Lord.—The apostle John, John the Beloved, John the Revelator, the author of the Gospel of John, that great old warrior of the faith, that dear old saint of God who lived to the nineties and was getting this revelation on the Island of Patmos as an exile.The Romans had tried to kill him, boil him in oil and so on, but he wouldn’t boil, so they sent him to the Island of Patmos. They tried to get him away where he couldn’t do any damage, where he couldn’t reach any people, where there weren’t any people to preach his gospel of love to, there weren’t any people he could subvert with this underground Gospel that threatened to destroy the Roman Empire.So he just sat down and got a book from the Lord which not only reached a handful of farmers on the Isle of Patmos, but all of Asia and all of Europe and all of Africa, and finally the whole world, and has been read by billions of people.The Romans exiled him to the Isle of Patmos to try to keep his mouth shut and to try to keep his message away from the people, but in so doing they just helped the plan of God, and he was better able to listen to God and get these marvelous revelations. And here we are 2000 years later, studying the words that he received on that island which have spread around the world for 2000 years.When the Devil tries to shut up the prophets of God, if you just give him enough rope, he’ll hang himself! They thought they were banishing John, exiling him to a place where he couldn’t preach anymore, but God gave him such a revelation there that he’s never stopped preaching since.His mouth has been opened in this book ever since. He’s kept preaching his gospel of this Revelation ever since. We’ll get into the word-by-word, verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter study a little bit later; first we’re trying to give you a general synopsis. That’s a Greek word which literally means a bird’s-eye view of the whole book.So the first seven chapters is a sort of review or a synopsis of the history of man from John’s day to the end.In the second seven chapters, instead of just flying across the whole history of man for the past 2000 years, (which he was predicting in these first seven chapters, and it’s all been fulfilled or is being fulfilled)—we circle around and we fly a little bit closer to the endtime, the very end of these 2000 years of history which John in predicting by the Spirit of God.In the first seven chapters, we also have what are known as the seven seals. The Lord Himself, the Lamb, receives this book of seven seals, a scroll with seven seals. He breaks open each seal and as He does, a different period of history happens, a different event in history occurs, and we’ll study that in detail later.We find the second seven chapters, from the eighth through the fourteenth, have to do with a famous and very important final period of man’s history known as the reign of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation period, and it ends with the marvelous coming of Christ and the Rapture of His saints in chapter 14. In the second seven chapters are the seven great Trumpets of Tribulation, the Tribulation Trumpets of the second seven chapters, and all the terrible things that happen during the Great Tribulation period.Finally the third seven chapters, chapter 15 through 21 plus 22, is a terrible picture, as well as a beautiful picture of the endtime. First has to come the bad news and then comes the good news, because the worse it gets, the better it’s going to get. And the sooner it gets worse, the sooner it’s going to get better.So in those last seven chapters, plus one, we find a detailed description of this end period, including some more details about the wrath of God and the great destruction of Babylon, the world system, and the final great Battle of Armageddon in which the forces of God fight against the forces of Satan and defeat him and his Antichrist Devil-man and his False Prophet and his whole kingdom. They gain a glorious victory as Jesus comes back again, this time with His followers on great white horses to charge through the skies to conquer the forces of the Enemy, to set up His kingdom here on earth.This is followed by the marvelous, beautiful, heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth, heaven on earth, called the Millennium because it lasts a thousand years on the earth as it should have been, like the Garden of Eden restored again. No more pollution, no more evil curse, and almost no more death. If anybody dies at even a hundred years of age they’ll think he’s just a child (Isaiah 65:20). People will be long-lived like they were before the Flood, when they lived to be nearly a thousand years of age. People will live again like that during the Millennium.These people are the ones who have managed to survive the wrath of God. He’s merciful enough to let them survive it, and they live through the Battle of Armageddon. The Lord had mercy, and the survivors are going to live on into the Millennium, that thousand-year period at the end.We will then be in our spiritual, supernatural, heavenly bodies. We won’t even need “Star Trek” transporters or spaceships, and thank God there won’t be any “Star Wars.” Because right there in the middle of the Antichrist’s reign there’s a big star war in which Satan is cast out of heaven with all his angels. This is what starts the Tribulation as he possesses this Devil-man Antichrist.After it’s all over, after the wrath of God and the Battle of Armageddon, before which we were caught up to be with Jesus in the air and the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we’re going to return with Jesus to conquer the earth and set up the kingdom of Jesus Christ for a thousand years over the unsaved who remain, those who survive the Tribulation, the wrath of God, and the Battle of Armageddon.They must be pretty tough or they must live a pretty charmed life, or the Lord must be extra merciful to them for them to live through all that. But if they didn’t, there wouldn’t be anybody left but us Christians, the saved. There wouldn’t be any of the world to rule over and to teach and train and show how the world should have been and how it should have been run, to be an example to the universe of what kind of government man could have had if he’d just obeyed God and if Adam hadn’t disobeyed and eaten of that tree that God told him not to.So this book carries us right on then through that great Millennial period and the final war of all, the Battle of Gog and Magog when Satan is loosed out of the pit of hell for just a little while to again go out and deceive the wicked people of the earth, the unbelievers, just to show that even though mercy be showed unto the wicked, yet they will not learn righteousness.Even after a thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ in person with His followers as His personal officers and police and guardian angels, they will again rebel against the Lord Jesus Christ and His church, His people ruling the earth, and God will have to destroy them all by fire, including the earth itself and the heavens, the atmospheric heavens.They’ll roll away in a big ball of fire like a scroll, and the earth will be completely burned up, burned over. Not the ball itself; it’ll remain. God didn’t intend to let the earth itself be destroyed, not the planet but the surface of the earth, in order to purify it, to wipe out all the wicked, wipe out all the pollution, wipe out everything that was bad or evil that still remained during the Millennium because of the wicked, and then He creates a New Heaven and a New Earth.So that’s how this marvelous book goes. The first seven chapters are a synopsis or a preview of the whole world’s history from the time of John to the end. Second seven chapters, we come in for a close look at the last seven years and the last seven trumpets of the Tribulation period. Third seven chapters, the horrible end of it all, the wrath of God, the Battle of Armageddon, the Millennium, the Battle of Gog and Magog for a while, and then a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness only (2 Peter 3:13). Those are the three sevens of chapters of the book of Revelation.Here’s a brief rundown of the contents of each chapter:Chapter 1: The introduction to things shortly to come to pass.Chapters 2 and 3: Letters to the churches, churches that existed in that day, in Asia, as well as types of churches to come and church periods to come.Chapters 4 and 5: The throne scene, with the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, upon the throne in heaven, who opens the seven-sealed Book of the Future.Chapter 6: The opening of the first six seals and a preview of the whole contents of history to the end.Chapter 7: The sealing of the saints, the sparing and sealing and protection of the final saints before the Tribulation days, the endtime.Chapters 8 and 9: The Tribulation Trumpets, the seven great trumpets of the Tribulation, and the angels of God are warned only to hurt the unsealed, only to wreak the judgments of God upon those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads but have taken the seal of the Antichrist instead, the Mark of the Beast.Chapter 10 is a grand announcement that the end is coming soon.Chapter 11: The two witnesses of the Tribulation and their rapture, some of the details of the endtime, and of the Tribulation.Chapter 12: The church in Tribulation; the dragon wars with the church.Chapter 13: The Great Red Beast of Tribulation, the Antichrist government.Chapter 14: The Rapture of the Church, God’s children, and the wrath of God after the Gospel has been preached in all the world and the destruction of Babylon, the great world system.Chapters 15–16: The wrath of God, with the angels of wrath and the vials of wrath.Chapter 17: The picture of Babylon and the Beast, the world system and its worship of materialism and its beastly government of the Antichrist and the Devil himself.Chapter 18: The destruction of Babylon in one hour. The great world commercial system, the great world materialistic system, is going to be destroyed in one hour according to the Word of God, in one day and one hour of that day. The merchants of the rest of the earth are going to stand afar off in ships and lament and weep over the destruction of all their treasures.Chapter 19: Armageddon, that final great battle of this time period of earth and the marvelous victory of Jesus Christ over Satan and his Devil-man and his False Prophet.Chapter 20: The Millennium and the Battle of Gog and Magog following it, in which Satan and all of his hosts and the wicked are wiped out.Chapters 21 and 22: These are really the only detailed specific description in the whole Bible of what heaven is like, and to your surprise, you find out that heaven is on earth—a new earth, even more beautiful than the first one. There will be no more sea; there will be beautiful rolling green pasture and farmlands and trees and flowers, and no deadly insects or reptiles or pests or vipers or anything that would hurt in the whole creation. Nothing deadly, nothing harmful; everything beautiful, no Curse.Copyright © 1981 The Family International.

How to Seek the Holy Spirit

October 22, 2021

By John Piper

Without the work of the Holy Spirit, we are helpless. Seek him, and he will rest upon you—especially in your hour of greatest need.

Run time for this video is just under an hour. You can also read the sermon text at this link (in a more succinct form) or use it for study notes.

Everyday Grace

October 21, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 13:16
Download Audio (12.1MB)

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”—1 Corinthians 10:13¹

Don’t be discouraged at the times when you feel you just don’t measure up. I know you’re eager to learn, to do, to be, and for your life to make a difference, but you get frustrated sometimes by your lacks and “humanness.” My grace is all you need, because My power works best in weakness.² So don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring. I have prepared a niche for you in the hollow of My hand.³

Remember that I never take something away without giving you something better. The mistake people often make is that they look for the same kind of thing as what I asked them to give up for Me. Don’t put Me in a box by looking for My blessings in your life only along certain avenues. I can and will bless your life in many ways‚ but not always as you might expect. But what you can count on is that there will always be a greater gift and blessing for anything you forsake or give up for Me.

You’ve committed your life, your hopes, and your future to Me. One day, you will see that the sacrifices that you’ve made in love for Me and others will transform into rewards. Your faithfulness, endurance, and perseverance to share My truth with others do not go unnoticed. What you spend to reach the lost I will more than repay.

When you don’t understand how I am working in your life, just remember that I’m way up in front and I see and know all things. My view is all-encompassing. I have perfect wisdom. I can see all eternity‚ and I know the best direction for you to take and how to work all things together for your good.

When you feel overwhelmed, call My name and I’ll be with you. With Me right beside you, you need never worry. So don’t let life’s troubles and complications get you into a stew. Ask for My help, and trust that I always have a plan.

My love and forgiveness

“He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him.”—Psalm 103:10–13⁴

If you could truly comprehend how much I love you, you would never allow yourself to be overwhelmed by discouragement with yourself. I forgive your sins, and I have promised that there is no condemnation for My children.

As you learn to praise Me and keep your mind stayed on Me in the midst of everything in your life—the good and bad, the pretty and ugly, the joyous and sad— you will experience My peace and contentment that transcends the boundaries of human understanding. My grace is sufficient for you and will give you the strength for whatever you face every day.

I will always be your strength and comfort. When you feel tired and as if you can’t take another step, come to Me and I will give you peace and strength. You’ll never regret a loving, unselfish, or sacrificial deed. Look for ways to give and to put others first.

You are like My moon, helping to light up this darkened world. Though your light is not your own, when you bask in Mine, you glow and cast My loving light on the shadowed places. As you allow My Spirit to work in and through you, you become more like Me. I cause your spirit to shine and to radiate love and beauty to others.

In Me you find your reason for being, and your calling and purpose in life. While you will experience the blessings of earthly love and joy, in the last analysis, I am what you live for and am the ultimate source of joy and love. You are Mine, and because of that, I will not cease to load My benefits upon you.⁵

Do you want to make a difference today? Spend time before My throne interceding for others. Your intercessory prayers can help to lighten loads and bring relief to those who are struggling. As you seek Me and My work first and foremost, I will provide everything you need, and even your desires, because you delight yourself in Me and want only what is best for My work and for others. All your days will be blessed by Me.

Grace to help

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”—Hebrews 4:16⁶

I am always nearest when you need Me most. I am with you through every pain and disappointment that you endure. My promise is that I will always be with you to keep you, protect you, guard you, strengthen you, speak to you, and heal you—today‚ tomorrow, and forever.

I will always be with you to guide and lead you; I never let go of you‚ My hand never loosens its grip on you, never tires. My presence is always with you to reassure you, strengthen your spirit‚ and heal you. I will perfect all things concerning you.

I hear your heartcry and will answer your prayers and bring you into a closer walk with Me both physically and spiritually. Just as the path of the just is as a shining light, My Spirit will shine more and more in your heart to light your way and bring you joy, comfort, and healing.

I will be with you to help you to be a witness and encourage the hearts of others and strengthen their feeble faith, and to help them to make straight paths for their feet through your witness and their encounters with you.

Just as every prayer you utter is heard, every step you take for Me is counted, every loving action is rewarded. Every child of Mine has My protection and is kept safely in My hands. I have promised to never fail to care for My own.

I am never distant from you. I am always at work nurturing‚ protecting, healing, and working everything together for your good and for My glory.

Always remember that your life on earth is a moment in time compared to eternity. The secret to living in My joy is to be as loving, praiseful, and giving as you can in whatever situation you find yourself in, knowing that I always more than repay everything you spend. The best is yet to come!

Let Me bless you with My grace

“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”—1 Samuel 16:7 ⁷

Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace. …

There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember that your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from My Presence.

I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying, “I trust You, Jesus” in response to whatever happens to you. … Think about who I AM in all My Power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My Love for you.

This simple practice will help you see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective—through the Light of My Presence—fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what.

You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting Me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to Me.⁸

Originally published in 2005, unless otherwise indicated. Adapted and republished October 2021. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.

¹ TPT.

² 2 Corinthians 12:9.

³ Isaiah 51:16.

⁴ TLB.

⁵ Psalm 68:19.

⁶ NLT.

⁷ NLT.

⁸ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson, 2010).

Better Days Ahead—Part 1

By Peter Amsterdam

October 19, 2021

—All Things Work Together for Good

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.—Romans 8:28 AMP

God is good. He does all things well. He doesn’t overlook or forget things. He is all-knowing. He never says, “Whoops, I didn’t see that one coming.” He is never late. He is sovereign, and His providence touches every aspect of each of our lives.

The tests, trials, and losses we endure in life can work together for good for us as we place our trust in the Lord, follow Him, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to bring about His plan. No matter how difficult things are, no matter how much we suffer, by His grace, we can continue to trust the Lord. We know that we have a glorious eternal future ahead.

Maria wrote:

Because “many are the afflictions of the righteous,”¹ it’s certainly comforting to know that “all these things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are called according to His purpose.”² In fact, in order to come through our many trials, difficulties, battles, and temptations victoriously, it is imperative that we make this promise in Romans 8:28 a vital part of our lives.

If we don’t send the events of our daily lives through the filter of Romans 8:28, if we don’t constantly view our disappointments, hurts, tests, illnesses, opposition, battles, etc., through the perspective that Romans 8:28 gives us, we will sadly miss many valuable lessons the Lord is trying to teach us. And we will rob ourselves of the peace that comes from absolute trust in this precious promise and principle.

If we learn the simple equation, “Trials equal good,” our lives will be richer, our lessons greater, and our minds more tranquil, and we will more easily recognize the Lord’s hand in the events of our lives. It makes all the difference in the world whether you look at a flood of problems, trials, and tribulations just waiting to see the worst happen, or if you look at them with anticipation to discover all the good that you know the Lord will bring out of them.—Maria Fontaine

It is such a privilege to know that we can trust the Lord no matter what difficulties, hardships, or challenges come into our lives. George Mueller once said: “In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer’s good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside.”

Romans 8:28 isn’t a “feel good” slogan or a mantra that helps us get through a rough day by visualizing a better day. It is a promise from our Father, given to those of us who love Him and who, by His grace, are doing our best to follow Him. The following excerpt explains a couple of important caveats about this well-known promise.

First, Romans 8:28 doesn’t mean we can live any way we choose, and God will fix our messes. To understand the truth of Romans 8:28, we can’t just quote the part of the verse we like: “And we know that in all things God works for the good…” and skip the rest, “of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 is a promise for believers. Real believers. Those who are living for Christ… This verse says to those who love God and are doing their best to obey his commands, “Even though bad/sad/evil/wicked things will touch your life, I (God) will use them to ultimately bring about good, both in your life and in the world.”

Joni Eareckson Tada, an inspirational speaker, author, and singer, is a quadriplegic who has been confined to a wheelchair for more than 40 years. When people ask her why God allows suffering, she often says, “God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” And what does God love? For people to enter into relationship with himself and become more like him. Joni’s life and ministry are a stunning testimony of how God can use a tragedy like a paralyzing diving accident to impact the lives of millions.

Romans 8:28 tells us God can use all things together for good. He doesn’t say all things are good… The truth of Romans 8:28 reminds us that although sin and Satan are powerful, God is more powerful. He is able to redeem and restore anything for our good and his glory. All things may not be good, but God can and will use all things for good.—Lori Hatcher³

Some people have really good imaginations and they find it easier to understand a spiritual principle if there’s something in the explanation that they can see in their mind’s eye. I recently read the following article, which I found to be an edifying and encouraging word picture.

I have a life preserver, which is my most valued possession. While sailing on the sea of life, so many times I have looked out to see a storm brewing on the horizon. I grab my life preserver and tie it on securely, then brace myself for the unforgiving blast that approaches.

When the storm hits, my little craft is tossed by the angry waves. They threaten to swamp and drown me, but with my life preserver, I know I will survive. No, more than survive. I will rise again, bruised and beaten perhaps, but victorious.

Sometimes the storms creep up on me from behind. Caught unawares in the raging fury, my boat capsizes, throwing me into the icy waters. I choke, sputter, and gasp for air, and find myself caught in a whirlpool. The more I struggle, the tighter the water holds me in its grip.

Alone, helpless, and defeated, I wait for the end, hope flickering like a melted candle. As I sink under the waters for the last time, a Voice comes over the sound of the storm. “Grab the life preserver! It is your only hope.”

Straining to see in the darkness, I catch sight of something floating on the water. It is my life preserver—always there when I need it most. I tie it on and immediately begin to float.

The darkness still envelops me. The sea still churns and foams and its angry waves threaten to pull me under. The rain continues to sting my cheeks. But I am buoyant once again. With complete trust, secure in my life preserver, I am content to wait out the storm.

What is the secret of my life preserver? It is so simple that you may dismiss it. It is a verse from the Bible: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). ALL things—storms, rain, and winds included—are for our GOOD. Someday, somehow we will understand.—S. Jade

I have to admit, it’s a whole lot easier to trust the Lord when things are going well—when we’re in good health, we have what we need, and we and our loved ones are safe and secure. But when things are not going well, it can be a whole lot harder to trust the Lord. The temptation is to worry, stress, complain, work harder, and try to “fix” the problems in any way we can. But we know that’s not the solution.

We don’t always understand at the time why the Lord allows some heartbreak or tragedy in our lives, and in many cases, we have to trust Him in spite of not being able to see the full picture. Edward Teller reminds us: “When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.” Here is some excellent insight on this from the late Reverend Billy Graham:

It’s easy to believe that God loves us and cares about us when things are going well, but when life turns against us, it becomes much harder to believe He cares.

Why should we keep trusting in God, even when nothing seems to change, and it looks like He isn’t even listening? One reason is because no matter how many changes have taken place in our lives, God has not changed. The Bible’s statement is true: “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

And if God doesn’t change, then that means His promises don’t change, either. He promised to be with you in the past—and He still is. He promised to guide you in the past—and He still will. Know His promises, study His promises, believe His promises, and trust His promises. In the Bible “he has given us his very great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4).

Don’t let your faith be overcome by your circumstances, but let your circumstances be overcome by your faith.⁴

If you’re suffering with a debilitating illness or a loved one has passed away, quoting and meditating on Romans 8:28 doesn’t change the situation and may not do much to ease the pain immediately. We live in a fallen world, and when we or those we love suffer loss or tragedy, it hurts! We weep. We grieve. And it usually takes time for us to see the good that comes from the bad things that happen, which often test our faith as we continue to trust in Him in trying times. In his book Why Us? Warren Wiersbe states that God “proves His sovereignty, not by intervening constantly and preventing these events, but by ruling and overruling them so that even tragedies end up accomplishing His ultimate purposes.”⁵ Let the following story encourage your heart in this regard:

I do not know if Louis Braille was a believer, but his life is an example of a sovereign God causing all things to work together for good. In the French Academy of Science there is a rather plain, old shoemaker’s awl on display. The story behind the awl is quite extraordinary. To look at it, one would never suspect that this simple tool could be responsible for anything of consequence. In fact, it caused tremendous pain.

This was the awl that one day fell from the shoemaker’s table and put out the eye of the shoemaker’s nine-year-old son. The injury was so severe that the boy lost vision in both eyes and was enrolled in a special school for children who were blind. The boy learned to read by handling large, carved-wood blocks.

When the shoemaker’s son became an adult, he thought of a new way to read. It involved learning a system of dots translated into the letters of the alphabet that could be read from a piece of paper on any flat surface. Louis Braille actually used the awl which had blinded him as a boy to form the dots into a whole new reading system for the blind—known today as Braille.⁶

Of course, we may not personally experience such a visible manifestation of the good that God has promised to work in our lives. During such times when our faith is being sorely tested, it comes down to placing our lives, our loved ones, our health and livelihood in God’s hands, and trusting Him to care for us. Even when the Lord appears to be silent and the trials seem to be endless, or the losses we suffer are major, God is merciful and faithful, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

In the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, we are given a beautiful example of how God brought good out of a seemingly hopeless situation. As R. W. De Haan commented:

[I am reminded] of the biblical truth that there are no accidents in the lives of God’s children. In Scripture, we read how Joseph interpreted a difficult experience that had seemed like a great calamity. He had been thrown into a pit and then sold as a slave. This was a great test of his faith, and from the human standpoint it appeared to be a tragic case of injustice, not a providential means of blessing. But Joseph later learned that “God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).⁷

We can also take a lesson from the prophet Habakkuk, as we review these well-known verses:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.—Habakkuk 3:17–19 NIV

It’s important to remember that there was a lot of evil going on in Habakkuk’s time, and the future did not look bright. In fact, the situation looked pretty grim. But in spite of such trying circumstances, Habakkuk proclaimed his trust in God, saying, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” He was not only trusting God, he was rejoicing and remembering that the Lord was his strength. He acknowledged that while he might lack his basic food needs, he would never be without God.

I think it’s most challenging to trust the Lord to cause all things to work together for good when you feel it’s your fault that you are in a difficult predicament. When you feel you’ve made mistakes or misjudged a situation or made unwise decisions, and therefore things have taken a turn for the worse, you can feel like you deserve to suffer the negative consequences. You get that sinking feeling in your gut and you can feel you are not “qualified” to receive God’s grace and mercy in the form of Romans 8:28. But we need to remember that this fulfillment of God’s Word is a manifestation of His grace! I am encouraged by the concept of “divine reversals” in the following message from Jesus.

I am the God of divine reversals. I can derive good out of evil: My master plan brings victory out of an apparent defeat. Come to Me just as you are—wounded from battle—and expose your wounds to My healing Light…

When you experience a divine reversal in your life, you are thrilled to observe how masterfully I operate in the world. Your suffering gains meaning because you know I can—and do—bring good out of evil. Ultimately, My plans will not be thwarted. I have the last word! As you see how utterly beyond you are My wisdom and ways, you get a glimpse of My Glory. This inspires you to worship Me—bowing before My infinite intelligence and limitless Power. As you open your soul to Me in worship, you gain assurance of My unfailing Love. “I know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).⁸

No matter what is going on in our lives, no matter what difficulties we are facing, we need to remind ourselves that we still have God. He will never leave us or forsake us! God is good! He is love! He allows us to experience difficulties, tests, and trials, but it doesn’t end there. He also brings forth beautiful blessings. So, if we are tempted to doubt and wonder why things are not going as we hoped, we can take a lesson from Arthur Ashe, as explained in the following testimony:

Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. More than a great athlete, Ashe was a gentleman who inspired and encouraged many with his exemplary behavior on and off the court. Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude.

He explained, “If I asked, ‘Why me?’ about my troubles, I would have to ask, ‘Why me?’ about my blessings. Why my winning Wimbledon? Why my marrying a beautiful, gifted woman and having a wonderful child?” Ashe’s attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble, “Why me? Why is God allowing this to happen?”

Even if we’re suffering acutely, we must not forget the mercies God pours into our lives—such things as food, shelter, and friends—blessings that many are deprived of. And what about spiritual blessings? We can hold the very Word of God in our hands and read it. We have the knowledge of His saving grace, the comfort of His Spirit, and the joyful assurance of life everlasting with Jesus. Think about God’s blessings and ask, “Why me?”—Vernon C. Grounds⁹

What an important reminder! We have so many blessings in our lives. Praise the Lord! As you place your trust in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, you can be confident that He will strengthen you, bless you, provide for you, and lead you in His will, and one day, whether in this life or the next, you will see the fulfillment of His unfailing promise to cause all things to work together for your good!

¹ Psalm 34:19.

² Romans 8:28.

³ “‘All Things Work Together for Good’—3 Things You Never Noticed About Romans 8:28,” https://www.preaching.com/articles/things-work-together-good-3-things-never-noticed-romans-828/

⁴ Billy Graham, “Don’t let your faith be overcome by your circumstances,” Gaston Gazette, October 12, 2012, https://www.gastongazette.com/article/20121012/Lifestyle/310129772

⁵ https://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_828-39

⁶ https://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_828-39

⁷ https://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_828-39

⁸ Sarah Young, Jesus Lives (Thomas Nelson, 2009).

⁹ https://www.preceptaustin.org/habakkuk-devotionals-and-sermon_illustrations

A Faithful Finish

October 19, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 10:31
Download Audio (9.6MB)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.—2 Timothy 4:7¹

The other night, I dreamed that crowds of people of all different shapes and sizes ran up a road to get to the top. But the black paved road seemed like a 90-degree wall. If you didn’t hit it running with full momentum, you would get stuck. As I began to tackle this obstacle, people ahead of me slowed down or stopped, leaving me holding on to this road for dear life.

People began passing me. I tried to climb, but I couldn’t. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I cried out, “I need help!”

Like an angel, a young man appeared and reached over the edge for my hand. He pulled me up and through a large cutout in a white brick wall. He continued to lie on his stomach through that cutout to help more people up.

Full of gratitude, I grabbed hold of his feet to give him extra stability as he served. Then he relaxed and sat up. The people after me didn’t need his help like I needed his help. They effortlessly climbed this steep wall of a road and through the white brick hole without assistance.

That’s when I felt it. Shame. Insecurity. Worthlessness. Was it just me? Was I the only one who wasn’t strong enough? Was I the only one who needed help accomplishing what everyone else could do on their own?

At that moment, God reminded me to run my own race. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or how you stack up to others. It’s OK to need help. All that matters is you made it!

We need to hold on to the goal of 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” That’s it! It doesn’t matter what place we finish. It doesn’t matter if someone has to hold us up as we limp across the finish line. We just need to finish and remain faithful.

Isn’t it awesome God designed the members of the body of Christ to help one another? As we fight the good fight in a world filled with comparisons and roadblocks, stalled momentum and dangerous cliffs, we can’t be afraid to ask for help when we need it and offer support to others who are struggling.

Ultimately, God wants all of His children to be with Him in eternity. He sent Jesus to do the work we could never do. And God gave believers the Holy Spirit, our great Helper, to guide us and strengthen us along the way. God has provided everything we need to finish our faith race well.—Shala W. Graham²

As I strolled along the river, swans and other birds added to the beauty of a sunny Sunday afternoon that was wasted on me. The past few years had been a nightmare. Alcoholism was taking its toll. Guilt, negativity, and discouragement hung over me like dark clouds. I was separated from my wife and had lost my job. I had also lost the respect of all my friends and coworkers. I felt like a worthless failure.

A few joggers passed me up. A group of young people raced by on bicycles. I hardly noticed them either, as my mind relived the events of the past few years, trying to figure out where I had taken the wrong turn that had led me to this awful place.

Then a young voice called out. “Don’t give up! Keep going! Don’t give up!” The words rang in my ears.

I turned to see a boy of about seven, running my way. As he passed, he yelled again over his shoulder to his younger sister, probably five, who seemed about to give up in what was apparently a race between them.

“Don’t stop now! You have to get to the finish line!”

It reminded me of a scene from the film Chariots of Fire (1981), where Eric Liddell, one of the runners in a 440-yard race leading up to the 1924 Olympics, was bumped by another runner and fell to the infield. As all of the other runners passed him, I imagined what must have gone through his mind in that moment. Give up! You have lost! Don’t bother to finish the race! Instead, Liddell picked himself up, got back on the track, and ran as though he was destined to win—and he did!

I smiled for the first time in a long while. A beam of light had broken through my darkness. So what if I had fallen into the depths? The only way out for me now was up! I could get up, I told myself. I could get back on track and run. I might not win in dramatic fashion like Liddell, but I could finish the course, the great race of life.

Time has passed. I’m still running and have gained some important ground. I am now a recovering alcoholic and have found renewed purpose and fulfillment in a life rededicated to sharing God’s love and hope with others.

It’s never too late to get up and try again.—Scott Montrose

“I have finished the race” is the second clause of three within a passage written by the apostle Paul to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”³ The apostle wrote these words near the end of his life. These three statements reflect Paul’s struggles in preaching the gospel of Christ and his victory over those struggles.

In the 1st century, the Romans celebrated both the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games. Competitors would spend up to ten months in arduous physical training. Because the Corinthians were very familiar with these events, Paul used the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote the church in Corinth saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”⁴ Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. Our motivation in serving Christ is much higher; we “run” not for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul is not commending himself for having “run the full distance”⁵; rather, he is simply describing what the grace of God had enabled him to do. In the book of Acts, Paul says these powerful words: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”⁶

So, by declaring “I have finished the race,” Paul is telling Timothy that he had put every effort into the work of proclaiming to all the gospel of salvation. He had completed the course set before him; he had left nothing undone. He was ready to cross the finish line into heaven. …

Every believer runs his own race.⁷ Each of us is enabled to be a winner. Paul exhorts us to “run in such a way as to get the prize,” and to do this we must set aside anything that might hinder us from living and teaching the gospel of Christ. The writer of Hebrews echoes the words of Paul: “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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”⁸

May we be diligent in our “race,” may we keep our eyes on the goal, and may we, like Paul, finish strong.—From gotquestions.org⁹

Published on Anchor October 2021. Read by Jon Marc.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ NLT.

² https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2020/09/14/help-for-the-faithful-finish.

³ 2 Timothy 4:7.

⁴ 1 Corinthians 9:24–25.

⁵ TEV.

⁶ Acts 20:24.

⁷ 1 Corinthians 9:24.

⁸ Hebrews 12:1–2.

⁹ https://www.gotquestions.org/finished-the-race.html.

Equality in Christ

October 18, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 6:59
Download Audio (6.4MB)

“In Christ, there is no difference between … male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.”—Galatians 3:28¹

When talking about equal opportunity or equal rights for men and women, the real question that is often on our minds, whether we readily admit it or not, is, “Who is in charge?” Competition, pride, jealousy, and discontent haunt many people’s lives today.

What a relief it would be if in every workplace and in our personal lives we could simply recognize one another’s talents, skills, and strengths, and without regard for gender do the best we can to make sure each person is in the position where he or she will be happy and challenged and able to accomplish the most for “the team.” But, you’re probably thinking, that’s more easily said than done. You’re right!

People everywhere yearn to be liberated. The quest for freedom is not unique to one gender. Men and women alike long for liberation. But where can one find it? The secret to freedom is not in men dominating women or in women dominating men, but in everyone working together in harmony, united, blended together in God’s love, all fulfilling their roles, all esteeming the other person better than themselves, all serving one another in humility.²

This might seem unrealistic, a utopian dream that could never happen on this earth. Given the common faults in human nature, how in the world can we get around such things as contention, jealousies, divisiveness, backstabbing, dog-eat-dog competition, etc.?

Throughout history, many have seen the resources and talents of women either underdeveloped or exploited. While in many cases this has been remedied to some extent by legislation, inequalities still exist, and in some societies the differences are still stark. The good news is that God has a path to gender equality that is superior to any human recourse available.

To begin with, it might surprise you to know that God doesn’t extol the strength of an individual, whether male or female. The strength of the individual is very limited. The greater strength, the greater love, and other virtues come from above, from God.³ Therefore, those who are truly liberated, whether they be male or female, are those who look to God for their strength.

If you have received Jesus Christ, His Spirit dwells in you.⁴ As you give Him more of yourself, your devotion and your own will, you grow spiritually. Then the abilities that God has given you can be increased many times over, so that you are not as you once were. You become a new person in Him, not with your own strength, but with the power of the Holy Spirit.⁵ Even if you have no strength of your own, He can empower you.⁶ It’s not that you become powerful in yourself; He is the one working in you and through you. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”⁷ This is true equally of both men and women.

God’s Spirit can work through both women and men. It allows women to exercise their gifts and talents, and men to recognize and appreciate those gifts and talents, without feeling threatened.

The key to true liberation is not seeking domination or power or having one gender rule over the other, but it is each one lifting up the other, the man helping the woman, and the woman helping the man, and each one giving what he or she is able to give. The solution is unselfishness and sacrifice on both sides, mutual acceptance of the gifts and talents of the other, and mutual recognition of God’s Spirit in each person. The Bible teaches us that “the greatest of these is love,”⁸ and “if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”⁹

The more we yield to God’s Spirit, the more areas we discover where there need not be a differentiation between the sexes. Jesus is in all who have received Him, and He empowers and works through them all, regardless of gender. “But to all who did receive him”—male and female—“who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”¹⁰ His children are “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”¹¹

As we grow closer to God, we see more and more of His Spirit in each other. We stop thinking in terms of “This is the opinion of a woman,” or “This is the opinion of a man,” because we will see God’s Spirit at work through that person.

Love, respect, trust, mutual admiration, and appreciation for one another come from God. “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”¹² Only He can give us enough of those things to start us down the path to true liberating equality.

Originally published October 1995. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Debra Lee.

¹ NCV.

² Philippians 2:3; Galatians 5:13.

³ James 1:17.

⁴ Revelation 3:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16.

⁵ 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 4:7.

⁶ 2 Corinthians 12:9–10.

⁷ Philippians 2:13 NLT.

⁸ 1 Corinthians 13:13.

⁹ 1 John 4:12.

¹⁰ John 1:12 ESV.

¹¹ John 1:13 NIV.

¹² James 3:17 NIV.

04 – Superhuman Bodies!

From the End to Eternity

Scott MacGregor

2008-01-01

But it is at the Resurrection and Rapture that both the living and previously dead saved will receive new super bodies that are both natural and supernatural.

That marvelous heavenly body is worth working for and suffering for, and worth being steadfast in our labors of love for the Lord and others, because the hard work will not be in vain.

The first time Jesus met His disciples after His resurrection, He walked right through a locked door into their secret meeting room and nearly scared them to death.

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

And He said to them, “What things?”

October 16

One with Christ Jesus

Because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)

Jesus has made the life of believers in Him as certain as His own. As sure as the Head lives the members live also. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then are we dead in our sins; but since He has risen, all believers are risen in Him. His death has put away our transgressions and loosed the bonds which held us under the death sentence. His resurrection proves our justification: we are absolved, and mercy saith, “The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die.”

Jesus has made the life of His people as eternal as His own. How can they die as long as He lives, seeing they are one with Him? Because He dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over Him, so they shall no more return to the graves of their old sins but shall live unto the Lord in newness of life. O believer, when, under great temptation, thou fearest that thou shalt one day fall by the hand of the enemy, let this reassure thee. Thou shalt never lose thy spiritual life, for it is hid with Christ in God. Thou dost not doubt the immortality of thy Lord; therefore, do not think that He will let thee die, since thou art one with Him. The argument for thy life is His life, and of that thou canst have no fear; wherefore rest in thy living Lord. (Faith Checkbook)

Contagious Joy

October 15, 2021

By Max Lucado

Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this. Every commercial promises the same product: joy. Want some joy? Buy our hand cream. Want some joy? Sleep on this mattress. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Even Preparation H. Before using the product, the guy frowns and squirms in his chair. Afterwards, he is the image of joy.

Joy. Everyone wants it. Everyone promises it. But can anyone deliver it? It might surprise you to know that joy is a big topic in the Bible. Simply put: God wants his children to be joy-filled. Just like a father wants his baby to laugh with glee, God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, deeply rooted joy.

(Read the article here.)

Fanning the Flame with the Spark of Faith

October 14, 2021

By David Brandt Berg

Audio length: 7:31
Download Audio (6.8MB)

There’s nothing like God’s Word in times of personal crisis. Faith comes by hearing the Word.¹ I was down physically and nervously and almost totally embroiled in physical things, and I came closer to collapse physically and nervously and spiritually than I have in years. But that wasn’t the Lord’s fault—it was my own fault. I overdid; I abused my body. I didn’t stay in the Spirit—and in this especially trying time, I should have lived more in His Word.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as weak as I’ve been a few times lately. I’ve really had a battle! Now I know how people feel when they have nervous breakdowns. Drinking all that coffee exhausts your adrenaline system, so that when you need it, you don’t have it, and it’s too much of a strain on your heart burning up so much energy. Adrenaline is like the fuel and your body is like the furnace. You’re dumping fuel on the fire immoderately, and then all of a sudden you run out of fuel.

Exercise is good for your heart and for your blood and breathing because it takes part of the load off the heart. But if you overdo physically during stressful times, physical exhaustion can set in on top of the nervous exhaustion, and you have neither the nervous nor physical energy to keep you going. God has provided these energy systems, but if you exhaust both of them, you have no reserve. It’s like driving a tired horse by whipping it; the horse may keep running for a while, but pretty soon he just completely gives out and collapses.

The Lord has put a warning system in your body—that little feeling of apprehension that something is wrong. You’re worried and you don’t even know why. What’s coming on is depression. You have a feeling of being very discouraged and depressed, morose. Under these circumstances, fears and worries can become overwhelming and everything just looks like a mountain. There is an immense amount of strain on your body, your mind, and your spirit. But God’s Word tells us that our bodies are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” and we are to be temperate in all things and “let our moderation be known to all men.”²

So often if it were not for that spark of faith, you’d just flicker out. But that spark of faith fans the flame. It’s like God blowing on the little ember and bringing it back to life again. It comes so much through hearing God’s Word!

Even encouraging words of one of His children can fan the flame, because you have faith in them and their word. As is told of the woman at the well and the men of Samaria in John 4: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman which testified.” Then later it says, “many more believed because of His own word and said unto the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.’”

Taking action to live your faith

You can’t face a needy situation without doing something about it if you’re conscientious! You can’t just pass by the poor man on the road to Jericho. You must take action like the Samaritan did. Christians are meant to be activists! People so often say, “I’m so sorry, how sad” in response to situations. But we are called to put our compassion into action!

That’s the difference between pity and compassion. Pity just feels sorry, whereas compassion does something about it! Jesus had compassion upon the multitudes and healed all who were sick.³ You have to have conviction or you can’t live, and then you have to do something about your conviction, or you’ll silence the voice of conviction and deceive yourself and become blind, so you don’t even feel the conviction anymore.

Did the mob who had seen the miracles of Jesus and had eaten the loaves and fishes have to cry “Crucify Him; crucify Him!” just because the religious leaders were doing this? These were the people who heard His message themselves, and when it came to a showdown, they made their choice and rejected it. They could have followed Jesus like others did. But when you reject the truth, then you have nothing left to believe but the lie. That’s the one sin God won’t forgive. He’ll forgive every sin in the book, except for rejecting Jesus—this is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, which is Jesus.⁴

The Bible tells us that “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Think not that that man shall receive anything from the Lord.”⁵ There’s nothing that tears you apart and tears you down quicker than indecision. The most uncomfortable place in the world is on the fence, torn between the two. You feel better after making a decision—even if it’s the wrong one!

I had become so torn apart by indecision, because I hadn’t obeyed God in the first place—and the longer you put off making a decision, the harder it gets, and the more confused you become. As I walked down that street in the rain, I felt about as dark and gloomy as the day, and I was so confused. If you don’t receive and obey the truth, you can wind up in utter confusion.

I was asking the Lord, “What’s right? What’s wrong, Lord, in this situation?” And I literally acknowledged to the Lord, “This decision has got to be made on the basis of Your Spirit and truth. I can’t lean to my own understanding. I here and now acknowledge You. You’ve got to direct my path, which way my feet are going to go, and You’ve got to show me the truth like it is, Lord! I’ve got to have a spiritual conviction about this.”

The minute we made the decision and began to obey, God did all the rest. Praise the Lord! Praise God for His mercy! He even “causes the wrath of man to praise Him,”⁶ and “all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.”⁷

Originally published April 1971. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.

¹ Romans 10:17.

² 1 Corinthians 3:16; 9:25; Philippians 4:5.

³ Matthew 14:14; Luke 4:40.

⁴ Mark 3:28–29.

⁵ James 1:6–8.

⁶ Psalm 76:10.

⁷ Romans 8:28.

Developing a Hopeful Faith During Trials

October 13, 2021

By Rick Warren

Ministry is hard work. I’m guessing you’ve had times when you wanted to throw in the towel. …

James also struggled in ministry. … James knew that in the middle of tough times, similar to the ones his readers were facing, hope was essential. Throughout the book of James, God gives us a road map for how to embrace a hopeful faith. I don’t know what you’re facing today, but you can still lean into these seven truths during difficult seasons.

(Read the article here.)

Hope, an Anchor for the Soul

October 12, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 10:45
Download Audio (9.8MB)

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”—Romans 5:3–5¹

This is one of my favorite Bible passages, but for the longest time I had difficulty understanding how “character produces hope.” I followed up to the “endurance produces character” part, but how do the difficult experiences that forge character make us more hopeful?

The cynic in me felt that it was more likely to be the other way around. I realized that life was going to throw me some curveballs. I didn’t expect things to be all sunshine and roses. I didn’t think of that as a bad thing, but it wasn’t exactly “hope.”

It dawned on me recently that I frequently settle for a superficial meaning of the word: “I hope we have good weather tomorrow.” “I hope things work out for you.” The way the word “hope” has come to be used, it can have an almost fatalistic ring to it. The things we hope for may or may not work out, so especially when we have little or no control over the outcome, we might as well “hope,” because that’s about all we can do.

But the apostle Paul is not talking about the wishful thinking kind of hope here. He’s talking about hope of the gospel. It’s hope that is grounded in faith in God’s love and loving plan for us personally and for humankind. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul writes, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”² It’s when we face difficulties and the bleak, blank times of life that hope in the deepest, truest sense shines brighter, stronger. This is how the deepening and shaping of our character produces hope.

Then we won’t shrink from the trials of life or be apprehensive in times of uncertainty. The hope that “does not put us to shame” will never let us down. Why? Because it comes to us through God’s love, which “has been poured into our hearts.” From that love springs faith, hope, and yet more love. It’s a beautiful, perfect cycle, an ongoing exchange of hope and trust that God has given to carry us through life, closer to Him.—Avi Rue

“We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God.”—Hebrews 6:19³

Last year was a very hard year for [my wife] and me; I know it was for many people. As the calendar went on, we experienced wave after wave of loss. …

In the midst of so much loss, I found myself asking, Jesus, what is it we’re supposed to look forward to? After your losses begin to mount up, you wonder what it is you’re supposed to hope for.

It was about that time I began to take a fresh look into God’s promises. And what I found took my breath away. In Matthew chapter 19, Peter has actually just asked Jesus the same question I had—What is it we are supposed to look forward to? Jesus replies like this:

“Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”⁴

That phrase—“at the renewal of all things”—is what caught my heart. I’d never heard God’s promise of hope to us described in this way. …

The Holy Spirit gently nudged me to remember Revelation 21, a passage of Scripture that’s been dear to me:

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’”⁵

When Jesus Christ returns, heaven and earth are restored. As it says in Acts, Jesus remains in heaven … “until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”⁶ He restores our lives and the earth we love—even our homes and “fields.” …

My heart started to sing at the thought that nothing is truly lost.

O friends, the great hope of the Christian life is not that we’ll find a parking spot tomorrow. Nor that we’ll get a raise next week (although God cares about those things).

The real hope that’s the anchor of the soul, the unbreakable spiritual lifeline, is the hope that … our loving Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will usher in the Renewal of All Things. … And that’s truly a hope worth looking forward to.

O Father, I pray You would open my eyes to this breathtaking hope. I pray that I would be filled with the hope of the restoration of all things. Come into my every loss, dear God, and speak to me about this precious hope. I want an anchor for my soul; I want an unbreakable spiritual lifeline. Restore my hope in the restoration. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.—John Eldredge⁷

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13⁸

When painful circumstances are weighing you down, I encourage you to rejoice and exalt in hope: to leap joyously forward. … As you lift your soul to Me in hopeful anticipation, My showers of Joy fall upon and within you. …

I delight in those who fear Me, who put their hope in My unfailing Love. “Fear of the Lord” is often misunderstood, but it is the foundation of spiritual wisdom and knowledge. It consists of reverential awe, adoration, and submission to My will. You submit to Me by exchanging your attitudes and goals for Mine. Since I am your Creator, aligning yourself with Me is the best way to live. When your lifestyle exhibits this biblical fear, I take delight in you. Seek to feel My pleasure shining on you at such times.

Living according to My will is not easy; there will be many ups and downs as you journey with Me. But no matter what is happening, you can find hope in My unfailing Love. In your world today, many people feel desperate. They become disillusioned and cynical because they put their confidence in the wrong thing. But My steadfast Love will never let you down—it will never let you go! Cling to hope, beloved. It is a golden cord connecting you to Me.—Jesus⁹

Published on Anchor October 2021. Read by Simon Peterson.
Music by John Listen.

¹ ESV.

² Hebrews 6:19 NIV.

³ MSG.

⁴ Matthew 19:28–29 NIV.

⁵ Revelation 21:4–5 NIV.

⁶ Acts 3:21 NIV.

⁷ https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/01/08/the-hope-that-is-our-lifeline.

⁸ NIV.

⁹ Sarah Young, Jesus Always (Thomas Nelson, 2017).

The Treasure and the Pearl

October 11, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 9:01
Download Audio (8.2MB)

The Gospel of Matthew contains two short kingdom parables, “The Treasure in the Field” and “The Pearl of Great Price,” which are absent from the other Gospels. These are twin parables which teach about the value of the kingdom of God and the joy of finding it. Let’s take a look at them:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”¹

Throughout history, before there were safes or banks, people hid their valuables in the earth, especially in unstable times such as during war. Josephus, the ancient Jewish historian, when writing about the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, said: “Yet was there no small quantity of the riches that had been in that city still found among its ruins, a great deal of which the Romans dug up … which the owners had treasured up underground, against the uncertain fortunes of war.^”²

Burying valuables was not uncommon. If an individual (or family) buried valuables and died without others knowing of the treasure’s whereabouts, then the treasure remained to be discovered by someone else. From time to time, individuals stumbled upon hidden treasures left behind by others—to their great delight.

The man in the parable was one such person. As is common with parables, this one gives us only the information needed to make the point of the parable. We’re not told who the man was, what he was doing in the field, how he found the treasure, or what it was. All we know is that he found the treasure and covered it up to hide it, and he bought the field which contained the treasure.

Jesus didn’t address whether it was moral for the man to not tell the current owner that his field contained something valuable. It seems from rabbinic writings which address such matters that because he found the treasure, he had a right to it. Because there is no mention of the man doing anything wrong, and since the parable isn’t addressing ethics, the assumption is that the man’s actions would not be perceived as morally wrong. The point of the parable is that this man was overjoyed at finding the treasure and was willing to sell all that he had to buy the field.

In the second parable, a merchant is searching for fine pearls. In antiquity, pearls were considered to be very precious gems and were highly valued. Divers fished for them in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean, and only the wealthy could afford them. First-century author Pliny the Elder described pearls as the most valuable of goods, having “the first place” and “topmost rank among all things of price.”³ In the New Testament, pearls are classified along with gold and precious stones.⁴

Unlike the man who stumbles upon the treasure in the field, this parable presents a merchant—most likely a wholesale merchant according to the Greek word used—who traveled from city to city to search for pearls to purchase and resell. When he came across a top-quality, extremely valuable pearl, he sold all that he had to purchase it.

Jesus’ message embedded in these two word pictures would likely have resonated with a variety of listeners. Many people would have easily identified with the man who found the treasure in the field. He could have been a day laborer, a husbandman, a sharecropper, a foreman, a steward, or just a passerby. The fact that selling all he had yielded enough to purchase the property showed that he wasn’t destitute, but he wasn’t rich either. He wasn’t expecting to find something valuable; he wasn’t treasure hunting. Most likely many who heard this parable would have related to him, and of course would have loved to find themselves in that situation.

The second man’s story related to a different audience. Someone with a profession such as his would have likely traveled to where pearls were sold. He clearly had to have some wealth to be in the pearl business to begin with, and the price of this pearl required his selling all that he had in order to purchase it. Anyone in business in Jesus’ audience could relate to the hope of striking it rich through taking a financial risk and coming out on top.

The idea of stumbling across a hidden treasure and taking the necessary risks to acquire it makes for an exciting story, as does traveling to exotic places, finding a great opportunity, and successfully taking advantage of it. These stories were attention-grabbers and stirred up thoughts about the joy of discovering untold riches.

While the means of coming across these valuable items were different—one was unexpectedly found, and the other was diligently searched for—both men had to take decisive action to acquire them. Discovering the treasures wasn’t the whole story—they had to sell, and then buy, and it was only through taking these actions that they came into possession of these valuables. In both parables, the men were faced with unique opportunities which required major action lest the opportunity be lost. Making this decision and taking the risk would change their lives.

What are the points being made through these parables? Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like someone who has found something of great value and takes a risk in order to obtain it. There is excitement in the discovery, an awareness of its value, and an understanding of the high cost required to obtain it. Because of its value, and the joy of possessing it, it is worth selling all to secure it.

Entering the kingdom of God through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, becoming a child of God, and having His Spirit dwelling in us, is both exciting and valuable. Finding the kingdom is finding treasure that is worth whatever the cost. The two men in the parables sold everything to obtain the field and the pearl to gain a valuable treasure. Likewise, the kingdom of God is worth giving everything for. The steep cost should be seen in light of the incalculable gain.

As the apostle Paul said: “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”⁵

Knowing Christ, being part of God’s kingdom, is to be valued above all. The concept of selling all that one has to obtain it portrays the truth that no cost is too great when it comes to gaining the kingdom; entering the kingdom is worth giving up everything else for. While living a life with God at its center costs, the eternal joy and the immeasurable value of being part of the kingdom is well worth it.

Originally published July 27, 2015. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by John Laurence.

¹ Matthew 13:44–46 ESV.

² Josephus, Jewish Wars, 7:114–115.

³ Arland J. Hultgren, The Parables of Jesus (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), 420.

⁴ 1 Timothy 2:9.

⁵ Philippians 3:7–9 ESV.

01 – The Heart of It All: Sin

The Heart of It All

Peter Amsterdam

2012-09-18

What Is Sin?

(For an introduction and explanation regarding this series overall, please see The Heart of It All: Introduction.)

This set of articles is going to address the topic of sin. It will cover the definitions of sin, the origins of sin and its effects on humanity and the world, and will touch on God’s plan for redemption from sin. (Redemption will be covered at length in subsequent articles.)

Sin is an important topic to cover, since it affects the life of every human being and is what has caused the separation of humans from God. Thankfully, God, in His love and mercy, has made salvation from sin available to humanity through Jesus’ suffering and death. As Christians, we have the incredible blessing of being forgiven for and redeemed from our sins. We are saved from the punishment of sin in the afterlife, a gift which is of inestimable value, as we will live forever with God. Sadly, we live in a world with many who don’t know that salvation is available. It is our mission as Christians to share the good news of the Gospel with them.

As Christians, it is important for us to understand the various aspects and effects of sin in our personal lives as well as in the lives of others we are trying to reach and help; also, it motivates us to bring the good news of salvation from sin to those who haven’t yet received it. It also helps us to better understand and explain to others why evil things happen in our world, and the origin of many of the problems and suffering humankind faces today. Having a fuller picture of sin helps us to better understand and communicate to others the need for and importance of salvation, while bringing about a deeper appreciation for our own salvation and what we’ve been saved from. While we’ve been blessed with redemption, for those who reject salvation, the effects of sin will have serious long-term consequences, not just in this life but in the life to come.

Christian philosopher Rufus M. Jones offers the following exposition of sin:

Sin is no abstract dogma. It is not a debt which somebody can pay and so wash off the slate. Sin is a fact within our lives. It is a condition of heart and will. There is no sin apart from a sinner. Wherever sin exists there is a conscious deviation from a standard, a sag of the nature, and it produces an effect upon the entire personality. The person who sins disobeys a sense of right. He falls below his vision of the good. He sees a path, but he does not walk in it. He hears a voice, but he says “no” instead of “yes.” He is aware of a higher self which makes its appeal, but he lets the lower have the reins. There is no description of sin anywhere to compare with the powerful narrative out of the actual life of the Apostle Paul, found in Romans 7:9–25. The thing which moves us as we read it is the picture here drawn of our own state. A lower nature dominates us and spoils our life. “What I would, I do not; what I would not, that I do.”^[1]

The main topic of these articles is sin in humanity in general and the effects and consequences of sin on human beings overall. It will also touch on the sins or weaknesses of Christians, but that is not the main focus.

What Sin Is

The most common Hebrew word used for sin in the Old Testament is chata, which is defined as “to miss the goal or path of right and duty, to miss the mark, to wander from the way.” The Old Testament also uses words translated as to break off (as in breaking God’s covenant), transgression of God’s will, rebellion, going astray.

The New Testament uses a variety of words when speaking of sin. These are translated as violate, transgress, overstep, miss the mark, go past, fall beside, failure, wrongdoing, deviate from the right path, turn aside, a deviation from truth and uprightness, unrighteousness of heart and life, lawlessness, ungodliness, unbelief, rebellious disobedience, and falling away.

Some definitions of sin from theologians are as follows:

Sin may be defined as the personal act of turning away from God and His will. It is the transgression of God’s law … the violation of God’s command. It is the turning away from God’s expressed will.^[2]

We define sin in general as a deviation from the divine moral law, no matter whether that law has been written in the human heart, or communicated to man by positive precept [through Scripture].^[3]

Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.^[4]

While God has expressed His will and moral law through the Bible, there was a time when the Bible didn’t exist. There are also many who haven’t heard of it or read it, or don’t know that it contains truth about God and His will. However, all throughout history humans have inherently known God’s moral law to some extent, as God has embedded it in the heart of each person.

When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.^[5]

While many people do not specifically know the moral laws of God as expressed in Scripture, everyone has a basic understanding that murder, stealing, lying, etc., are wrong, which is evidence of an overall moral consciousness that humans have. This understanding is often referred to as natural law or moral law and is contained within the Ten Commandments, some of which state:

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.^[6]

Because humans have intuitive knowledge of the moral law within them, they have a sense of what is right and what is wrong, of moral accountability. Their conscience “bears witness.”

I. Packer offers the following explanation:

Conscience has in it two elements, (a) an awareness of certain things as being right and wrong, and (b) an ability to apply laws and rules to specific situations. Conscience, as distinct from our other powers of mind, is unique; it feels like a person detached from us, often speaking when we would like it to be silent and saying things that we would rather not hear. We can decide whether to heed conscience, but we cannot decide whether or not it will speak; our experience is that it decides that for itself. Because of its insistence on judging us by the highest standard we know, we call it God’s voice in the soul, and in that extent so it is.^[7]

Wayne Grudem explains it this way:

The consciences of unbelievers bear witness to God’s moral standards, but at times this evidence of God’s law on the hearts of unbelievers is distorted or suppressed. Sometimes their thoughts “accuse” them, and sometimes their thoughts “excuse” them, Paul says. The knowledge of God’s law as derived from such sources is never perfect, but it is enough to give an awareness of God’s moral demands to all mankind. (And it is on this basis that Paul argues that all humanity is held guilty before God for sin, even those who do not have the written laws of God in Scripture.)^[8]

God’s expressed moral law and will in Scripture, and each person having an intuitive knowledge of the moral law and a conscience that bears witness when they break the moral law, means that all humans—whether they know Scripture or not—are aware that they fail to conform to or that they deviate from the moral law, and that they are doing wrong.

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.^[9]

While the sins humans commit are often sins against others, such as stealing from someone or lying about them, and while these sins can also damage the person committing the sin, they are first and foremost sins against God. To do such things is to break the moral laws of God; however, more importantly, these are sins against the Lawgiver Himself. They are an affront to His holiness and righteousness, and cause a separation between human beings and Him.

Sin Is Universal

The Bible teaches that sin is universal—that every human being, with the exception of Jesus, has been and is a sinner. Both the Old and New Testaments speak of everyone as sinners and no one as fully righteous.

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.^[10]

No one living is righteous before You.^[11]

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?^[12]

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.^[13]

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.^[14]

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.^[15]

The universality of sin is a concept that is present even in many pagan religions, which confirms that humankind has an intuitive understanding of God’s moral law, and of man’s sinful condition. Throughout the ages, religions made sacrifices because they believed they had displeased their gods.

Rufus M. Jones writes:

That is human nature. That feeling is deep-rooted in man wherever he is found. He is conscious that sin separates and he feels that something costly and precious is required to close the chasm. Sacrifice is one of the deepest and most permanent facts of the budding spiritual life. Its origin is far back in history. The tattered papyrus, the fragment of baked clay, the pictorial inscription of the most primitive sort, all bear witness to this immemorial custom. It is as old as smiling or weeping, as hard to trace to a beginning as loving or hating. It is bound up with man’s sense of guilt, and was born when conscience was born.^[16]

Louis Berkhof wrote:

The heathen religions testify to the universal consciousness of sin and of the need of reconciliation with a Supreme Being. There is a general feeling that the gods are offended and must be propitiated in some way. There is a universal voice of conscience, testifying to the fact that man falls short of the ideal and stands condemned in the sight of some higher Power. Altars reeking with the blood of sacrifices, often the sacrifices of dear children, repeated confessions of wrongdoing, and prayers for deliverance from evil—all point to the consciousness of sin.^[17]

Where Did Sin Originate?

Before God created the universe, sin didn’t exist, as only God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—existed. It is clear from Scripture that God is holy and that He doesn’t abide evil and doesn’t sin. Therefore, sin would not have been present before God created the angels.

When God created moral beings, angels and humans, He created them with free will. He created them with the ability to make moral choices, and in doing so, made it possible for them to choose to do good and right. However, giving them free will also allowed for the possibility for them to choose to do wrong. Their freewill choice to disobey God is where sin originated. God did not cause the moral beings He created to sin. However, they freely chose to disobey His commands and expressed will, and thus to sin. (More on this below.)

God is not the author of sin. He is holy; He separates Himself from sin. He doesn’t commit sin, He does no wickedness or wrong, and He doesn’t tempt people to do evil. Evil is the absence of good. It’s not a physical thing that is created. Evil is, in a sense, the absence of God, just as darkness is the absence of light. God couldn’t create evil, as if He did, He would be acting against His nature and character, which God does not do, and in fact cannot do. Let’s take a brief look at how the Bible expresses God’s holiness and righteousness and His outlook on sin:

The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.^[18]

The Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.^[19]

Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should do wrong.^[20]

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.^[21]

In the King James Version of the Bible there is a verse which says, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.^[22] This translation can be seen as meaning that God created moral evil. While the Hebrew noun ra, translated as evil, can mean moral evil, it has other meanings as well, such as disaster or calamity, which aren’t moral evils. Most modern translations don’t use the word evil in this verse, but rather disaster or calamity. The ESV renders the verse this way:

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

God hates sin and it is an abomination to Him.

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.^[23]

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.^[24]

For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.^[25]

The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.^[26]

While God didn’t create or cause sin, He did create a universe with creatures that have free will, which meant that His free-will creatures could choose to do wrong. In His omniscience and foreknowledge He knew this would happen, and in His love and mercy He made the way to reconcile humankind to Himself.

Theologian Jack Cottrell states:

If there were only rocks and trees and animals, “right and wrong” would still not be applicable. But with the creation of angels and men, who have the unique capacity consciously to choose to act either within or against the will of God, right and wrong suddenly become meaningful concepts, since there now exists the potential for the reality of moral evil or sin.^[27]

Before the first humans sinned, sin was present in the spiritual or angelic world. Angels were created as immaterial beings without physical bodies. They are created moral beings with free will and the ability to choose to do right or wrong, as evidenced by the fact that at some point they were faced with a moral choice in which some angels chose wrongly and fell away from God while others chose to remain true to God. Not much is said in Scripture about the fall of the angels, as to when it happened or what the sin was, though it is commonly understood to be pride. In any case, some of the angels sinned and are thus separated from God. They are now referred to as fallen angels and their leader as the Devil, or Satan.

God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment …^[28]

The angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, He has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.^[29]

Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”^[30]

The next article will discuss sin’s entrance into the world of humanity.

^[1] Rufus M. Jones, The Double Search—Studies in Atonement and Prayer (Philadelphia, PA: John C. Winston Co., 1906), 60–61.

^[2] J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 222.

^[3] John Theodore Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1934), 212.

^[4] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 490.

^[5] Romans 2:14–15.

^[6] Exodus 20:13–17.

^[7] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology, chapter Conscience (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), 96.

^[8] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 122.

^[9] Romans 3:19.

^[10] Isaiah 53:6.

^[11] Psalm 143:2.

^[12] Proverbs 20:9.

^[13] Ecclesiastes 7:20.

^[14] 1 John 1:8.

^[15] Romans 3:23.

^[16] Rufus M. Jones, The Double Search—Studies in Atonement and Prayer (Philadelphia, PA: John C. Winston Co., 1906), 66–67.

^[17] Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), 239.

^[18] Deuteronomy 32:4.

^[19] Psalm 92:15.

^[20] Job 34:10.

^[21] James 1:13.

^[22] Isaiah 45:7.

^[23] Zechariah 8:16–17.

^[24] Proverbs 6:16–19.

^[25] Deuteronomy 25:16.

^[26] Psalm 11:5.

^[27] Jack Cottrell, What the Bible Says About God the Redeemer (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2000), 249.

^[28] 2 Peter 2:4.

^[29] Jude 6.

^[30] Matthew 25:41.

01 – The Heart of It All: Salvation

Peter Amsterdam

2012-10-23

God’s Plan

(For an introduction and explanation regarding this series overall, please see The Heart of It All: Introduction.)

The core teaching of the New Testament can be found in one of the most beautiful verses of Scripture:

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.^[1]

This verse reveals the amazing truth that the Creator of the universe loved the human race so much that He sent the second Person of the Trinity—God the Son, Jesus—to become human and to die in our place for the sins we have committed, so that we wouldn’t have to suffer the penalty for those sins even though we deserve to. We have the opportunity to receive everlasting life because Jesus has paid the price for our sins through His sacrifice.

God’s plan of salvation, which was decided upon before the creation of the world, is rooted in God’s love for humankind. God’s motivation is love. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love us and made a way for us to be saved from the ultimate consequence of sin—spiritual death and separation from God in the afterlife, which is called hell in Scripture.

Some people have the impression that God is a cruel and angry God: that He judges people harshly because He is personally offended that they sinned against Him, and therefore He selfishly demands that they be punished. The true picture is very different. Because God’s nature includes the attributes of holiness, righteousness, justice, and wrath, in order to be true to His divine nature He must judge sin. He could have justly punished every human being for their sins. Instead, because His divine nature also includes the attributes of love, mercy and grace, His wish was that no one should perish,^[2] and to that end He has made a way in which humans can be redeemed. That redemption is rooted in His love, because He “so loved the world.” His love is such that even though we are sinners, and have sinned against Him, He has, in love, made a way that we can be saved from the merited judgment for our sins. God’s plan of salvation is the manifestation of His mercy and love for humankind.

God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^[3]

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.^[4]

From the Beginning

God knew, before creating the universe, that human beings created with free will would sin, so He made a way to save humanity from the penalty for sin through His plan of salvation. His plan for the salvation of humankind enabled Him to be true to all aspects of His divine nature: His holiness, righteousness, and wrath, and His love, mercy, and grace.

God’s desire is to save humans, to redeem them, to reconcile them with Him, while remaining true to His nature. He was under no obligation to save us; He could have simply let all humans suffer the penalty of sin, but He didn’t. In His love for us, the triune God made a way to redeem us. God had the plan of salvation from the beginning, which was put into play starting with Adam and Eve’s first sin and which culminated in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Since God is the omniscient Creator, it was no surprise to Him that Adam and Eve sinned. He knew that they would freely choose to disobey Him, and in His foresight, He had already designed His plan of salvation. When God told Adam and Eve the consequences of their sin, He also spoke to the serpent, saying:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.^[5]

From the very beginning, God said that an offspring of the woman would bruise or crush the head of the serpent—Satan—while Satan would only bruise his foot. At the time that the first sin was committed by humanity, God was already foretelling how Jesus would defeat Satan.

His plan of salvation included calling out a people, Israel, to whom He would reveal Himself and give His commandments. It was through His words spoken to Israel that God revealed knowledge about Himself, the one true God, and His law. Israel guarded and passed on His revelation from generation to generation, thus ensuring its preservation. It was through the lineage of Israel that He sent His Son as the God-man, through whom He brought salvation to humanity.

The history of Israel is the history of God laying the groundwork for the salvation of humanity through Jesus.^[6] The Old Testament not only contains prophecies about the Messiah’s life and mission, but also numerous foreshadows of the salvation to come through His incarnate Son. When speaking about the Old Testament, David Berg wrote:

God had a hard time getting the children of Israel out of the idolatry of Egypt and had to lead them through Moses, with the Law as their schoolteacher, by childish little illustrations and rituals, little material object lessons—the Tabernacle, the Ark, animal sacrifices, and the blood of beasts.—Types and shadows, mere pictures of the spiritual realities and eternal verities. He had to take what they understood, the things and forms with which they were familiar in the religions of Egypt and other heathen nations around them, in a fatherly attempt to audio-visualize for them the genuine spiritual truths of the mature adult true worship of God Himself. As the Apostle says, these were all “figures of the true,” mere visual likenesses or illustrations of the real unseen things of the Spirit! In the Old Testament were the illustrations; in the present New Testament time are the spiritual truths which we have now by faith alone (John 1:17).^[7]

Old Testament Types and Shadows

In order to gain a deeper understanding of salvation and redemption, of why Jesus had to die on the cross in order for us to be forgiven for our sins and become reconciled with God, it’s important to review some of the “types and shadows” within the Old Testament. We’ll focus here only on those which are directly connected to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Throughout the book of Genesis there were sacrifices made to God, beginning with Cain and Abel, then continuing with Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others. One particular story, that of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac, prefigures God’s sacrifice of His Son for the sins of humanity. When Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the sacrifice was, Abraham said that God would provide it. When Abraham was about to slay his son on the altar, the Lord then showed him a ram that was caught in the bushes, which Abraham sacrificed instead of his son. The substitution of the lamb for Isaac as a sacrifice to God portrays the concept of substitutional sacrifice, which is the basis for the animal sacrificial system which God later gave to Israel through Moses, as a means of atoning for their sins. God’s provision of the ram foreshadows His supply of a sacrifice, His Son, for the sins of humanity.

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together … And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.^[8]

Centuries later, when the descendants of Abraham, the Hebrews, were enslaved in Egypt, God spoke to Moses and told him that He would deliver the Hebrews out of the hands of the Egyptians. When the pharaoh of Egypt wouldn’t let them go, God informed Moses that on a certain night He was going to kill all the firstborn in Egypt, both men and animals. He commanded each Hebrew household to kill a year-old sheep or goat and to sprinkle its blood on the door frames of their houses. If they would do so, the firstborn in the houses with blood on the doorposts would be spared the judgment of God. Those without the blood would not be spared.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household … Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” … Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.”^[9]

Their obedience in sacrificing the Passover lamb and sprinkling its blood on the doorframe was the key to the Hebrews being spared from God’s judgment, and resulted in them being freed from bondage and slavery. In the second year after their deliverance from Egypt^[10] God instructed Moses to initiate the Levitical sacrificial system in which animal sacrifice would atone for sin. Authors Lewis and Demarest give the following excellent basic explanation of this sacrificial system:

In the burnt offering, the fellowship or peace offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, a sacrificial procedure was followed that generally involved the following elements: (1) an unblemished animal, connoting the idea of moral perfection, was presented at the door of the sanctuary by the offerer. (2) The offerer places his hands on the animal’s head, signifying identification with the victim and the transfer of the penalty of sin to the substitute. (3) The animal was slain by the offerer (in later times by the priest), signifying that death is the just punishment for sin. (4) The priest sprinkled the blood of the victim on the altar and around the base of it, the blood representing the life of the victim. And (5) the offering, in part or in whole, was burned on the altar of burnt offering, its fragrance ascending to God as a pleasing aroma. Repeatedly Scripture indicates that the purpose of these sacrifices was “to make atonement” for the offerer (Leviticus 1:4; 4:20; 5:13; Numbers 5:8; 8:12; 15:25).^[11]

Every year on the Day of Atonement a special sacrifice was made for the sins of all the people. First the high priest made an offering for his own sins, followed by a special offering for the people. Again, Lewis and Demarest give a concise explanation:

The high priest sacrificed the first male goat brought by the people as a sin-offering and sprinkled its blood on and in front of the “atonement cover” in the Holy of Holies, thereby expiating the uncleanness of the people (Leviticus 16:15–19) and making atonement. This act of blood shedding, according to Leviticus 17:11, represents God’s ordained way of securing atonement. The high priest then laid his hands on the head of the second goat (the “scapegoat”) and confessed all the sins of the community, thus symbolically transferring guilt from the people to the victim. The second goat became the sin-bearer, as it irretrievably carried the sins and iniquities of the people into the wilderness.^[12]

In these Old Testament sacrifices we can see the concepts of atonement and reconciliation for sins through substitution. In the same way as the ram was sacrificed in Isaac’s place, the animals were sacrificed for the sins of the offerer. These Old Testament sacrifices atoned for past sins, but needed to be repeated as new sins were committed.

God the Redeemer

Besides these types and shadows of atonement for sin through the substitutionary sacrifice of another in the place of the sinner, and sins of all being placed on a single “scapegoat,” there is another foreshadow in the Old Testament of things to come; namely, the understanding of God being the “Redeemer.”

In the exodus from Egypt, God Himself, through His mighty acts, delivered His people from bondage and slavery. He redeemed them and freed them. Speaking to Moses, He said:

Say therefore to the people of Israel, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.”^[13]

From this point on, God was called the Redeemer.

They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.^[14]

It is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.^[15]

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you.^[16]

The deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery was the work of God. The Hebrews weren’t able to deliver themselves from the bondage of the Egyptians. God is the one who pronounced judgment on the Egyptians when pharaoh would not let the Israelites go, and brought upon them the plagues that resulted in the miraculous deliverance of the Hebrew people. Through the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, God preserved the Hebrews from the punishment He inflicted upon the Egyptians.

God delivered the Hebrews through supernatural acts and wonders by His own hand, and not by their works. This was a foreshadow of the grace by which He redeems us through the work of God in salvation. It’s His work, not ours, which saves us. Salvation is available only by His grace, mercy, and love.

God’s plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus was His plan of redemption for human beings before humans ever existed. Within the Old Testament He begins to reveal His plan; and then in New Testament times when John the Baptist proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,”^[17] the fullness of His plan begins to be fully revealed.

The Lamb of God

The fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus’ death, His sacrifice of Himself in our place through His blood shed for our sins, is repeatedly spoken of throughout the New Testament. He is the Lamb sacrificed, the one who has died in our stead, and who, like the scapegoat, has taken our sins upon Himself. He is the Redeemer who saves us from the slavery of sin. His death and resurrection is the culmination of the Old Testament types and shadows. It is the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption. God has been holy, righteous, and just to His creations. He has been loving, merciful, and gracious. And we are beneficiaries of the greatest sacrifice ever made.

Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^[18]

We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.^[19]

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.^[20]

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.^[21]

You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.^[22]

Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.^[23]

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.^[24]

God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.^[25]

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.^[26]

This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^[27]

(To read the next article in this series, click here.)

^[1] John 3:16 NKJ.

^[2] The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

^[3] Romans 5:8.

^[4] 1 John 4:9–10.

^[5] Genesis 3:15.

^[6] Jack Cottrell, What the Bible Says About God the Redeemer (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1987), 402.

^[7] David Berg, Flesh or Spirit? February 1971.

^[8] Genesis 22:6–8,13.

^[9] Exodus 12:1–3,5–8,12–13,21.

^[10] In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected … And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses (Exodus 40:17,29).

^[11] Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology, Volume 2 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1996), 383–384.

^[12] Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1996), 184.

^[13] Exodus 6:6.

^[14] Psalm 78:35.

^[15] Deuteronomy 7:8.

^[16] Deuteronomy 15:15.

^[17] John 1:29.

^[18] Ephesians 5:2.

^[19] Hebrews 10:10,14.

^[20] Hebrews 7:27.

^[21] Hebrews 9:12–14.

^[22] 1 Peter 1:18–19.

^[23] Ephesians 2:13.

^[24] Ephesians 1:7.

^[25] Romans 5:8–9.

^[26] 1 Corinthians 5:7.

^[27] Matthew 26:28.

In God’s Perfect Time!

October 8, 2021

—Mary Jane Ponten’s story

Joni and Friends TV

Mary Jane Ponten was born with cerebral palsy at a time when the knowledge base for her condition was virtually nonexistent. This is a story of persistence and a demonstration of what life can become through faith in Christ, acceptance of who you are, and determination to become everything that God has created you for by refusing to accept the limitations projected on you by others. It’s a story that will make you smile. Mary Jane dreamed of becoming a missionary as a child, but no mission agency would accept her. Her missionary career was to start 50 years later, and today, now in her 80s, she continues to minister anywhere in the world she feels God is calling her.

Run time for this video is 28:30 minutes. (Note: To follow this in full, you’ll want to be able to read along with the subtitles that come on in parts.)

Prayer: The X Factor

October 7, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 6:31
Download Audio (5.9MB)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14¹

Through intercessory prayer, we can bring our petitions to God for anything that is according to His will. Although prayer is a spiritual effort and labor, it is part of our service for Him and others, as we “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” and are “alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”²

As the Lord has instructed us repeatedly in His Word, prayer is essential to every aspect of our lives, our walk with Him, our service for Him, and our witness to others, which is why we are told to “devote ourselves to prayer”³ and to “pray without ceasing.”⁴

The Lord once said in prophecy: “This revolution was born in prayer, prospered in prayer, and will only fulfill its great commission to be a light in the darkness of this day through prayer. You will only find the power to accomplish the tasks I have set before you through prayer.”

We think thousands of thoughts every day, and many of these can be turned into prayers. This is a habit that has to be formed, but it’s wonderfully effective in learning to “pray without ceasing.” You don’t have to make a list of things to pray for all day long; when a person or situation comes into your thoughts, you can turn it into a prayer to the Lord.

So often when I stop and pray and reflect on things, the Lord brings what is important to mind, or He reminds me of important things that I had forgotten. He often gives me good ideas during those times. And when He does, I realize that if I hadn’t stopped and taken that time, I would have missed all that. I see the importance of taking time just to stop and prayerfully think about things, to tune in to the Lord, asking Him to bring whatever He wants to my remembrance.

Over the years we have learned so much about how to pray more effectively—on target‚ in jubilation, proactively, and fervent and effectual prayers, which the Bible tells us will “avail much.”⁵ We should continue to exercise all that we have learned about prayer in our everyday witnessing and work, asking the Spirit to work in and through us to reach others.

Prayer can change what feels to you like the same old routine into a new one with unexplored possibilities, where there is untapped potential to be uncovered. As you pray and ask the Lord to work through you, He will guide you to speak to or share a tract with that lost soul, or talk to that needy person, or minister to someone whose faith needs a boost of encouragement.

Prayer is a vital ingredient to your witness and example of faith to others, as it is your link to the only One who can anoint and empower us to love others with the love that He first gave us.

One way to remind ourselves of the importance of prayer is to take a few minutes to reflect on times in your life when prayer made the difference. It can be anything, ranging from that boost of energy that the Lord gave you when you were tired and needed to keep going just a little longer‚ to that time when a prayer protected you or saved your life or resulted in an important outcome for someone you love. Remembering and knowing that the Lord has answered prayer in the past and has promised to always hear our petitions and respond according to His perfect will and plan is a good reminder of the importance of prayer.

Develop the habit of praying each day for the people you interact with and witness to, and teach the people you minister to and follow up on to pray personally and make prayer a pillar of their relationship with the Lord. Pray for their spiritual growth and that the Lord will help them to reach their full potential in whatever place of service He has for them.

Pray also that the Lord will guide you to people who are seeking Him, even if they don’t know it themselves. Also ask Him for a spirit of humility and love—true love and concern and a shepherd’s heart and understanding of others. Pray for wisdom and boldness in sharing the message, and yet the harmlessness of doves.⁶

There’s a time to pray on the go, and there’s a time to do some real “paving the way in the Spirit” through fervent prayer. As you connect with the Lord personally, you will be empowered by His Spirit to manifest His love for others throughout the day. As you devote time to prayer, whether at the beginning or the end of your day, you can commit every concern, need, and care to Him, knowing that He will hear your prayers and act as He knows best in each situation.

Every person‚ receptive or not‚ needs your prayers. Make a point of praying for every person that you cross paths with. Even if you aren’t able to speak to someone, or they reject your approach, pray for their soul and ask the Lord to lead them to Him somehow. If you miss a chance to witness to someone or lead them to the Lord, you can still beseech Him to give them a second chance to find Him.

As you go about your daily life, you can commit every aspect to the Lord‚ including your interactions with others and your witness to those whom the Lord brings across your path. You can pray that the anointing of the Lord’s Spirit will work in and through you so that your light will shine brightly before others to guide them to Jesus.

(Jesus:) Prayer is like a golden thread woven throughout the beautiful tapestry of your life. That golden thread will be an unbroken line weaving in and out of every part of the tapestry—every part of your life and work for Me. As you keep the prayer fires burning in your heart, My Spirit will give a golden shine to everything that you put your hand to.

Originally published August 2008. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Carol Andrews.

¹ NIV.

² Ephesians 6:18 NIV.

³ Colossians 4:2 NASB.

⁴ 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

⁵ James 5:16.

⁶ Matthew 10:16.

Abundant Life

October 5, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:43
Download Audio (12.5MB)

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10¹

The story is told of an artist who sculpted a beautiful angel and wanted the master artist, Michelangelo, to inspect it and offer his opinion. So Michelangelo was called in. The master artist carefully looked at the sculpture from every angle.

Finally, he said, “Well, it lacks only one thing.” Then he turned around and walked out.

The artist didn’t know what it lacked, and he was embarrassed to go and ask Michelangelo. So he sent a friend to Michelangelo’s studio to try and find out what his statue lacked.

The great artist replied, “It lacks only life.”

The same could be said of a lot of people today. They have the house, the car, the spouse, and the kids. They have the career. They have money in the bank. They have everything going the way that things ought to go to supposedly live life to its fullest. But there is something still lacking. They are still lacking life.

Jesus has something to say about that, and in John’s Gospel, He tells us what our lives ought to be about… “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The context of John 10 is that of a shepherd and his sheep, where Jesus is the Shepherd, while we are the sheep. But we are reminded that Jesus is not just our Shepherd; He is the Good Shepherd. It is important to know that the word used here for “good” doesn’t just mean morally good, though it includes that. It also could be translated “beautiful” or “winsome” or “lovely,” even “attractive.” Jesus is the beautiful, attractive, winsome Shepherd, and the Shepherd’s plan for His flock—more specifically, the Lord’s plan for you—is that your life would flourish. It is His absolute joy to bless you. …

The abundant life that John 10:10 speaks of is not necessarily a long life, though it may be, but it certainly is a full one. Medical science seeks to add years to our lives, but only Jesus can add life to our years. …

If somehow the Bible read differently and there was no promise of heaven and no afterlife, if we simply stopped existing when we die, but everything else about the Christian life remained the same, I still would be a Christian on that basis alone. To have Christ in my life, to have His leading, to have His guidance, to have His blessing, to have these standards to live by and to guide my life by … I would be a Christian for these things alone.

If neither heaven nor God’s plan to live eternally were promised to me, it has been worth it just having the Lord in my life. But the good news, friend, is there is a heaven. There is an afterlife. There is the hope that every Christian has: life—and that more abundantly.—Greg Laurie²

What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life?

In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal. We receive this abundant life the moment we accept Him as our Savior.

This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson, meaning “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.” In short, Jesus promises us a life far better than we could ever imagine, a concept reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” …

Before we begin to have visions of lavish homes, expensive cars, worldwide cruises, and more money than we know what to do with, we need to pause and think about what Jesus teaches regarding this abundant life. The Bible tells us that wealth, prestige, position, and power in this world are not God’s priorities for us.³ In terms of economic, academic, and social status, most Christians do not come from the privileged classes. Clearly, then, abundant life does not consist of an abundance of material things. If that were the case, Jesus would have been the wealthiest of men. But just the opposite is true.⁴

Abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, and goes on throughout all eternity. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”⁵ This definition makes no mention of length of days, health, prosperity, family, or occupation. As a matter of fact, the only thing it does mention is knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life.

What is the abundant life? First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear.⁶ …

True abundant life consists of an abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit,⁷ not an abundance of “stuff.” It consists of life that is eternal, and, therefore, our interest is in the eternal, not the temporal. Paul admonishes us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”⁸—From GotQuestions.org⁹

Living abundantly

Words can’t describe the riches to be found in Jesus, and the closer the walk with Him, the greater the revelations of His power and glory and inheritance that you will have as a Christian! I wish I had some new way of telling you what it means to come closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.¹⁰ He wants you to draw closer. He longs that you will have His peace and rest and joy.

He says, “My peace I give,” and “Ask and receive, that your joy may be full.”¹¹ He wants you to have all this fullness. He wants you to draw closer to Him. He even desires that you may prosper. The first Psalm tells of the righteous man, who prospers in all that he does.¹²

He wants you to draw closer to Him, so that you can know the abundant life that He has offered, that He comes to give—this life above the common, a life above the mediocre, a life above the ordinary. You’ll never know it by just a passing acquaintance with Him! “Draw me closer, closer, just a closer walk with Thee, dear Lord.”

He wants to show you the reliability of every promise in His Word. If you’ve got a need today, He wants to supply that need.¹³ He promised to give you the desires of your heart if you delight yourself in Him.¹⁴

Are you delighting yourself in Him? God is all that will ever satisfy you! “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”¹⁵

He is your “satisfying portion.” Draw closer to Him, read His Word, and meditate upon Him—your forever portion.—Virginia Brandt Berg

Abundance and hope

God through Jesus Christ offers us so much—“exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think”¹⁶—both in this present physical life and the spiritual life to come. For God’s desire for us is not for calamity … but to give us a more abundant life now and a hope for the future.

He came to give us rest and rejuvenation from the cares and stresses of daily living. He beckons us to come to Him when we are burdened down with cares and troubles: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest … for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”¹⁷ In this harried world, we all need times of quietness and time-out to speak with God and listen to God speak to us through His Word.

He came as well to inspire and encourage us in this world of war and turmoil with His encouraging words in John 16:33, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” It’s easy to become depressed if one focuses too much on the state of today’s world affairs. But He tells us, when we see these things happen, to “lift up [our] heads, because [our] redemption draws near.”¹⁸

He also assures us that He will be with us always, even to the end of this age. That means He will always be with us to carry us through life’s storms, to give us peace and encourage us right through the end.¹⁹ …

He sends us the Comforter or Helper in the form of God’s Holy Spirit—a Spirit that results in a life of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.²⁰

As we face the end of our physical lives, He tells us not to mourn like those who have no hope.²¹ For our physical life is merely a preparation for eternity. … This includes the kind of life in which we will possess a glorified spiritual body that will be made and fashioned like Christ ²² and an inheritance that will never fade away, reserved in heaven for us.²³ …

The kind of life in Christ described above only scratches the surface of what God has in store for those who truly remain faithful to Him. One could go on to describe the next life as one of blessings, health, prosperity, happiness, fulfillment and purpose. Even in this life, Christ’s followers have a wonderful appetizer of those future blessings!

He truly did come so that we can have life and have it more abundantly. It is no wonder, then, that the psalmist David was inspired to write, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”²⁴—Hector Earle²⁵

Published on Anchor October 2021. Read by Jerry Paladino.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ AKJV.

² https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/a-new-beginning/read/articles/abundant-life-10479.html.

³ 1 Corinthians 1:26–29.

⁴ Matthew 8:20.

⁵ John 17:3.

⁶ Matthew 6:25–32; Philippians 4:19.

⁷ Galatians 5:22–23.

⁸ Colossians 3:2–3.

⁹ https://www.gotquestions.org/abundant-life.html.

¹⁰ John 10:10.

¹¹ John 14:27, 16:24.

¹² Psalm 1:3.

¹³ Philippians 4:19.

¹⁴ Psalm 37:4.

¹⁵ Psalm 73:26.

¹⁶ Ephesians 3:20.

¹⁷ Matthew 11:28–30.

¹⁸ Luke 21:28.

¹⁹ John 10:28; Philippians 1:6; 4:13; Hebrews 13:5.

²⁰ Galatians 5:22–23.

²¹ 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

²² 1 John 3:2.

²³ 1 Peter 1:4.

²⁴ Psalm 16:11.

²⁵ https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/take-it-or-leave-it-reflections-on-john-1010.

A Day the Lord Has Made

October 4, 2021

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 12:18
Download Audio (11.2MB)

“This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”—Psalm 118:24

This day is My love for you, so keep your eyes open at every turn so that you don’t miss any of My small tokens of endearment. Look out your window and see the beautiful creation—that’s My love for you. Look at your loved ones and friends—they’re My love for you. Look at the nice clothes I’ve given you, the wonderful supply of your needs—that’s My love for you. Look at everything that is good, beautiful, and lovely that you see today and remember that it is all a manifestation of My love for you.

In all that you do for Me today‚ remember that I appreciate every act of kindness, every iota of work done for Me. I know many times you may not think of it as part of your service for Me if you’re taking care of your children, preparing food, working, studying, or doing mechanical tasks. But I look at each task as a song of praise to Me, because you’ve offered it to Me and sought to please Me in all that you do.¹

This is a wonderful day—24 hours to rejoice and be glad in My presence and love for you. I love you and I think you’re beautiful—My good creation!² I see your love for Me and your desire to please Me, and in return, I will give you everything you need, because I know you will be faithful to use it well and to give it right back to Me.

Remember to “seize the moment” throughout the day. Don’t get so caught up in your work and service for Me that you neglect to notice and appreciate the little things—nature‚ a compliment, a meal lovingly prepared, a comfortable bed, the starry night. Take time to stop and enjoy and even revel in these little things I bring your way each and every day.

If today is looking like a stormy day, remember that even when the day ahead appears cloudy and gray, you have My sunshine in your heart every day, all 24 hours, day and night. No matter how dark and cloudy it looks on the outside, remember that My sunshine can bring light in your heart.

I know you have a lot to do today, but remember, it’s not by your might or power, but by My Spirit and strength that things will be accomplished according to My plan.³ Commit your day and everything in it to Me‚ and you’ll be amazed at all we will be able to do today.

My vessel

You are called to be a vessel of My love to others. Find someone today who needs encouragement and share My love and truth with them. I want to use you today to encourage someone who desperately needs to know that they’re loved and appreciated. Keep in tune with Me and I will show you who that is.

Love is never wasted. Keep on loving others whether or not you see results, because I have called you to the kingdom for such a time as this,⁴ to help mend and heal the hurts of those around you. You are called to be an encourager, a lifter up, a binder of wounds, a bringer of joy.

You can have a ministry of sharing My love and shining My light on others no matter what else you are doing. When you witness to people about Me, you always win. Whenever you feel weary or discouraged, there’s nothing like sharing a salvation message with someone searching for truth and filling their need, which in turn will give you the boost you need. Thank you for being a vessel of My love and truth and for letting your light shine so that others will be drawn to Me.⁵

Casting your burdens

I know the times you feel overwhelmed, and I see when you feel insecure and discouraged. But I also see that at these times you are desperate to commune with Me and receive My direction and instruction. As you commit your life to Me, you can trust that I will guide you in the ways I know are best, and in the end when you look back, you will see My plan and timing in all things, even if from your present vantage point it might look like confusion. I always have My hand on your life.

Don’t allow yourself to become convinced that you can’t do what I’m calling you to do. Rather, rejoice in your human limitations, knowing that they make more room for Me to work. When you are weak, I am strong.⁶ You’ll have your ups and downs as long as you’re alive on earth; that’s just part of human life. But when you get down‚ you don’t have to stay there. Reach out to Me and let Me lift your spirit above your burdens so that you can dwell in My presence.

The touch of My love re-creates and gives new strength. It breathes fresh vigor into those who are tired and weary. You pour out to others every day and you give much for Me, but you never need fear running on empty, for as you pour out, I will pour back in. All it takes to remain full is faithfulness to your times alone with Me, when you retreat from all your burdens and concerns and dwell in My presence and My love in all its fullness. Its abundance will never diminish, and it will always be there for you.

When there’s so much to do and so little time to do it, give all of your burdens to Me. Take each one and give it specifically to Me. I may not help you to accomplish everything in one day, for there is only so much that is humanly possible. But I will give you My perfect peace in knowing that you’ve done your very best and have accomplished the things which were most important.

Remember to cast all your cares and burdens on Me. You can even make it a mental picture—every time you feel the cares and burdens of this life‚ picture yourself taking that backpack of burdens and giving it to Me. Don’t look back, wondering if I’m going to take care of your burdens. I will. I promise to take all your burdens upon Myself‚ as My Word says.⁷ Will you do that for Me today?

There is a limit to what you can physically do each day, so just trust that I will take care of the rest. At the end of the day, commit everything undone to Me; don’t hold on to it and let it burden or discourage you. I will take care of what you are not able to do each day as you commit it into My hands.

The Holy Grail

In tales of old‚ men set out on innumerable endless quests to find the “holy grail.” Such is the intense desire within man’s heart for a connection with Me and for the ability to live eternally. Yet I have freely given such knowledge and power through My Word recorded in the Bible and My death on the cross. You need not roam to the ends of the earth in its pursuit. You need only accept it.

Without My Word you will not be able to do the job I have called you to do. It’s vitally important that you have time in My presence every day. Take time with Me and together we’ll get a lot done to further My message to this lost and lonely world.

There are few nobler aspirations than being a scholar of My Word and wanting to be totally immersed in it until it becomes one with you and in you. The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit and life.⁸

Do you need a boost? My Word is always there for you, always full of power, always ready to lift you up, give you answers‚ encourage your heart, and give you strength and guidance. Never underestimate the power of My Word! Let Me renew your convictions each day through My Word and through My voice speaking directly to your heart. My Word gives you faith through you hearing it and determining to live by it.⁹

The most important thing—today and always—is your relationship with Me. If there’s anything standing in the way of our communication, today is the day to sort it out and make it right. If there’s anything hindering your receptivity to My Word‚ today is the day to resolve it. If there’s anything keeping you from having the time with Me that you need, today is the day to find a solution.

Today is the day to spend time with Me and receive the power, instruction‚ blessings, spiritual progress and anointing that come with it.

Originally published June 2005. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Simon Peterson. Music by John Listen.

¹ 1 Corinthians 10:31.

² Genesis 1:31.

³ Zechariah 4:6.

⁴ Esther 4:14.

⁵ Matthew 5:16.

⁶ 2 Corinthians 12:10.

⁷ 1 Peter 5:7.

⁸ John 6:63.

⁹ Romans 10:17.

01 A More Sure Word of Prophecy (2 Peter 1:19)

Book of the Future, Part 1

Book of the Future

Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg

1983-03-28

So many people today are worried about the future, wondering what’s going to happen. Most of today’s youth seem to almost instinctively realize that they are living on borrowed time. After all, we are the first generation that has had to live with the knowledge that we could completely destroy ourselves. People want to know what to do about it, or if there is any way to avoid it or prepare for it, to survive it.

Psychologists tell us that uncertainty and the fear of the unknown is the worst fear of all—not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s sad that so few people realize that they can know the future, that they can know what’s going to happen—accurately and in detail. Even the exact number of years, months, and days of parts of it.

How could this be? By what means can mortal man possibly transcend the bounds of time and peer into the future? By tuning in to God and His wonderful Word, the Bible. For He alone is the great “I AM,” who dwells in the eternal now where there is no past nor future and “time shall be no more” (Revelation 10:6). It all looks the same to God, and He can easily reveal to His prophets and seers the mysteries of the future. “For surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; for I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God” (Isaiah 57:15; 42:9; Ezekiel 12:25).

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded them” (Isaiah 34:16). The mate of every prophecy is its fulfillment. God’s Word finds its mate in fulfilled Bible prophecy, and the ones which have already occurred and been fulfilled, foretold hundreds of years in advance, have been fulfilled. Every prophecy the Bible has uttered has been fulfilled except the ones that are yet to come, and they’ll be fulfilled just as surely as the ones that have been fulfilled in the past.

It’s a marvelous, thrilling study to deal with fulfilled prophecies, and it encourages your faith to know that those regarding the future will be fulfilled just as accurately and just as perfectly and just as surely as every prophecy of the past. But we are particularly interested in those which are yet to be fulfilled.

You’ll find that God’s Word is specific and clear. Its prophecies tell you exactly who and where and even when. So if you’ve been wondering, “Where did we come from? Where are we going? What’s happening?” this wonderful book, the Bible, tells you all about it, exactly what’s going to happen. You don’t have to worry about it; you don’t have to fear. You don’t have to guess at it. It’s all here just as plain as can be.

“For that that is determined shall be done” (Daniel 11:36). What God has determined and prophesied, He’s going to do. Whatever God has said He’s going to do, He is going to do. Not one shall lack her mate. Not one prophecy shall be without fulfillment; every single one shall be fulfilled.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:19–21).

“And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (John 14:29; Matthew 24:35).

“Pearls of great price” (Matthew 13:45–46)

God has warned us time and again almost since the beginning of man, and certainly throughout the Bible, that there’s coming an end to things as far as man’s rule on this earth is concerned, and that his governments are going to eventually end so that God can set up His heavenly kingdom of peace on earth.

God has given man thousands of years to try to solve his own problems and run the world and bring peace and happiness, and he has brought nothing but war and misery. God has given man his chance and he has done nothing but make a mess of the world. And now, finally, man is able to destroy it. And if God did not step in and intervene in this last hour of history, man could completely destroy it and totally annihilate himself.

If God didn’t step in, mankind could commit suicide. We could either blow ourselves up with the bomb or we could gradually kill ourselves with famine or overpopulation or air pollution or water pollution. Let’s face it, man is destroying himself. He’s killing himself with his pollution and with his destructive nature, and if God doesn’t intervene and stop it, man would eventually wipe himself off the map! This is why Jesus prophesied of the last days: “Except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved” (Matthew 24:22).

The Bible predicts that in the last days of man-made regimes on earth, a totally godless, anti-Christ world government will arise, led by a Devil-possessed dictator, Satan incarnate, who will bring a temporary false peace on earth and a counterfeit utopia. Its price will be enforced worship of him as the imitation Messiah. All of his subjects will be branded with a credit number in order to buy or sell or obtain food or employment, and all those who refuse to cooperate will be hunted, persecuted, and slaughtered by his commandment. This will be a time of Great Tribulation.

This anti-Christ government of anti-Christ forces under the leadership of the Antichrist himself, this superhuman world dictator of man’s last one-world godless government, will then set up its headquarters in Jerusalem, his capital, and unite all peoples of the world into a one-world worship of this demon-demagogue and his magical image which can speak.

These startling events will immediately precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is the major endtime event, the grand climax, as the Lord Himself returns and wipes out the Antichrist and his followers and sets up the last and most lasting and only perfect government the world has ever known, and “the meek shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:11).

Most Christians seem to have rightly gathered from reading their Bibles and hearing various preachers that in the last days, times are going to wax worse and worse, and not get better. A lot of them believe that the end is going to be a time of very bad trouble and tribulation. And, of course, all real Bible-believing Christians believe that Jesus is coming again. They have also gathered the fundamental idea that there’s going to be a heavenly time on earth at some time or other. But a lot of them have it pretty mixed up and they don’t know how, where, or when these events will take place.

They’ve got the knowledge of these events and these priceless truths like a handful of pearls, but they don’t realize exactly how they ought to be strung, in what order and in what sequence, to make them a beautiful string of pearls in proper order to, you might say, wear around their neck of knowledge. They don’t realize the chronological sequence, which is necessary to understand what’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, etc.

True, the Bible admonishes us not to fret for tomorrow, which means we’re not to worry about tomorrow, but the Lord sure has had a lot to say about tomorrow, so He certainly must want us to be informed about tomorrow! That’s the whole point of prophecy: to let you know what’s going to happen so you won’t worry about it. You’ll know what’s going to happen.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. To understand what’s going to occur is to be prepared to face it and take it as it comes and hopefully survive it.—At least certainly to understand what you’re going through and to know what’s happening. You may not understand it all in advance; you may not know everything that’s going to happen. But we can know enough from God’s Word that we can know the major events and their characteristics, the major characters in these events, and in some cases when they’re going to happen, the exact time periods predicted in the Bible, so that when the time comes you’ll know exactly when certain events are going to take place, because God has already said so in His Word, plain as day.

It’s wonderful to be able to read a newspaper that tells you what’s going to happen—not just what’s already happened. Anybody can tell you what’s already happened, but the Bible tells you what’s going to happen. Newspapers are not really newspapers; they’re history papers. They tell you what’s already happened—past news. But God has given us a lot of later news about today, the time in which we’re living right now, and what’s going to happen next. So the Bible is not just a history book, it’s a news book. It not only tells you about yesterday, it also tells you about tomorrow.

To know or not to know “the times and the seasons”

All the way through the prophecies of Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, John, and Jesus, there are specific detailed descriptions of the last days on earth before Christ’s Second Coming. Has the Lord given us these signs for a reason? Does He want us to know about the soon coming of His kingdom? Does He want us to be prepared for it? Does He want us to have that knowledge and be able to teach others so? If He doesn’t, He’s sure wasting an awful lot of time throughout both the Old and New Testament telling us all the signs of His coming.

In fact, in one of the most descriptive endtime prophecy books of the Bible, the Lord told Daniel to close up the book and seal up the prophecy until the end: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. For the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. And none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:4, 9–10).

For almost 2,500 years the book of Daniel has been virtually a sealed book, and it’s only recently that men have begun to open the book, break the seals, and understand the prophecies and what Daniel was saying. Although they had the Bible for thousands of years, they still didn’t understand endtime Bible prophecy. But now we’re supposed to open the book, break the seals, and read it and understand it, because we live in the time of the end.

God’s Word says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy” (Revelation 1:3). It takes an effort; it’s work to try to understand Bible prophecy and to “study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). But you’ll find that “the entrance of Thy words giveth light” and wisdom and understanding (Psalm 119:130). When we delve into God’s Word, we “bring forth treasures, both new and old” (Matthew 13:52). You’ll discover how wonderfully the Lord can weave His Word together like a beautiful tapestry, filling in the whole picture to give you His vision of His plans. “For where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).

Of course, some Bible professors and students are going to say, “Jesus told His disciples that ‘no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh, not even the angels in heaven.’ And ‘it’s not for you to know the times or the seasons’” (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). When all the dramatic, climactic, final events of world history begin to unfold, let me tell you, you’re going to need to know. You are going to want to know and you are going to know, because God promised it in His Word.

If the Lord did not intend for us to know the times and the seasons, then why did He give us Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, John 14, Acts 1, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, 2 Thessalonians 2, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 1 and 3, and the whole book of Revelation, as well as multitudes of prophecies in the Old Testament, including many in the historical books, as well as the poetical books, and 17 books of the prophets with prophecies and specific predictions of the future. If God didn’t want His children to know anything specific about the future, then He wasted half the Bible talking about it, and we ought to throw that half away.

But He does want us to know, and throughout the Bible He continues to give us multitudes of literal, specific predictions of the future and what its times and seasons will be like. In fact, the Lord makes it extremely explicit many times in many places regarding the exact number of years and months, and even days, during the crucial last seven years of the endtime.

In Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21, Jesus Himself gives one of the most descriptive and specific of all resumes of future endtime events of any prophet in the Bible. After giving a long list of predictions and coming signs of the times, He tells us, “When you see these things or these signs come to pass, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.” “The generation that sees these things come to pass is not going to pass away till all these things are fulfilled” (Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:34). So obviously He wants us to “see” and “look” at the signs of His coming being fulfilled before He returns so that we can “discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3).

“For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”—going on, business as usual—“until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the Flood came and swept them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37–39). Who knew not? The wicked. Who knew? Noah! He knew what was going to happen; he was expecting it.

“For unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others it is not given, because they seeing, see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matthew 13:11–17).

“For ye, brethren,” the apostle Paul tells us, “are not in darkness, that that day (of Christ’s Second Coming) should overtake you as a thief.” In other words, it shouldn’t take you by surprise. “Ye are all the children of light, the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” We’re not in the dark on this question. We know Jesus is coming, and from His Word we know how He’s going to come. The Bible tells us plainly! (1 Thessalonians 5:1–5).

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” He says, “You’re not children of the night. You’re not supposed to be sleepy and asleep when it happens. You’re the children of the day, children of light. You’re supposed to be wide awake and have the light on these things” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

You’re supposed to know what’s happening and when it’s going to happen. God’s children are not supposed to be in the dark about all these Bible prophecies. If you know His Word, you won’t be surprised when you hear about the rise of a new powerful world leader and one-world government, the new credit-only computerized economic system and the dramatic ending of man’s governments on earth with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

To be foretold is to be forewarned. We who know His Word and His prophecies and promises for the future will never be surprised with a “mighty widening of the eyes” like those who have not discerned the signs of the times. We will be prepared.

We don’t have to be in doubt and confusion and in darkness, wondering what’s going on like the rest of the world, “men’s hearts failing them for fear, for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). We can know exactly what’s going to happen, exactly the way things are going to go. We may not like it and it may look pretty bad, but we know the happy ending, and all is well that ends well.

Thank God we have the preparation that prepares us for anything that’s going to happen, and that’s salvation, knowing Jesus and knowing that we’re saved. Then no matter what happens, even sudden death is sudden glory! No matter what anyone does to you, even if they kill you, “after they’ve killed the body, they have no more that they can do” (Luke 12:4–5), because God will take you into His spirit world with Him until we return to rule and reign here on this earth with Jesus.

Are you prepared? Have you personally received Jesus into your heart? I hope you’ve accepted Him. I hope you’ve received Him so that you can look forward to these marvelous future events not with fear and trembling, but with hope and faith and assurance that God’s going to see you through, He’s going to save you and rescue you out of it all and take you to be with Him, to live with Him forever.

You don’t have to know the future and all the marvelous details of endtime prophecy. These events will happen whether you know them or not. But it’s a good thing to know and to understand these things so that you’ll be able to know what’s going on and what’s happening, as well as be able to teach and warn others. The main thing you need to know is summed up in one verse, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

So receive salvation now; then you’ll be ready for the revelation of the future. Otherwise, knowing the future wouldn’t make much difference to you, because your future will be all bad news. You probably won’t even want to hear about what’s going to happen if you’re not saved. But if you are saved, then God has got some marvelous, wonderful, encouraging, thrilling revelations of the future in store for you.

Knowing Him and His Word, that’s what’s going to carry you through. The vision of what’s coming will give you the faith to believe God and the courage to launch out and march victoriously through the plagues of this world, through Great Tribulation, and right on through to the coming of Jesus Christ and our loving reign with Him forever.

What We Can Learn from the Pandemic (Part 6)

By Peter Amsterdam

September 28, 2021

Putting Things in Perspective

We have covered several topics in this series, including overcoming isolation and loneliness, dealing with financial stress, caring for our mental and emotional well-being, and rediscovering joy. As I close this series, let’s try to put things in perspective.

We can start by recognizing what we can and cannot change. Many things are not within our control, and we have to commit those into God’s hands and trust in Him to work as He knows best. But we can change our perspective, which will help us enter into the peace that the Lord has for us. The starting point for adjusting our perspectives is managing our thoughts and what we allow to occupy them.

David used to say, “You are what you read.” This principle is even more relevant today, as our access to information of every type is nearly limitless. Your perspectives and your peace of mind and spirit are not only affected by what you read but also by what you watch, the podcasts you listen to, who you follow online, and who you spend time with.

The importance of managing our thoughts and the information we allow to enter our minds and spirits brought to mind a Cherokee legend of two wolves.

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

That is a good question to ask ourselves periodically: “Which wolf am I feeding?”

We need to guard our thoughts, as one version of Proverbs 4:13 says: “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”¹ This is a well-known biblical principle that we have been practicing for decades. But it is helpful to periodically examine your thoughts for a couple of days to assess your “thought habits” and see if there are areas that you need to shore up. This is even more important during times when you are preoccupied with overwhelming situations such as uncertainty, lack of control, illness, financial needs, political unrest, fatigue, heartache, loss and stress that have continued over an extended period of time.

At times like the present, it is critical that we adjust our perspective and make a deliberate effort to reflect on the Lord’s goodness, His faithfulness, and the fact that He has never failed us. In spite of this time of trials and testing, we can give thanks for the many times we have seen the Lord fulfill His promises. He doesn’t always act according to our expectations or preferred timeframe, but we can look back and see His hand in our lives and give thanks.

While we cannot control the circumstances or events related to the pandemic or the changes it has brought about in our lives, we can control our emotions and our reactions.

If you have been battling fears and worries, if you are feeling stressed and anxious, take it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to give you His perfect peace. Rebuke the enemy and start praising the Lord and quoting Scripture and singing songs of praise. Ask the Lord to establish your thoughts and to help you set your mind on the things that matter and will last, the “things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”² Choose to use your time and energy in positive ways that promote health and peace and build your faith. Take some time to think of ways that you can nourish the “good wolf” of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith!

It is helpful to remind ourselves that God is good. God is love. God has never failed. God works in our lives to perfect that which concerns us, and it usually takes time. Anticipating God’s goodness leads us to and is the foundation of hope. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”³

God has your best interests at heart. He’s not in a hurry, and He will cause all things to work together for good for you, because you love Him and you are called according to His purpose.⁴

If you are struggling to adjust your mindset, take time with the Lord. He wants to share His perspective with you, and He will do so through the Bible and through His still small voice speaking to your heart. Time spent with Jesus helps to shift our perspective as He gives us insight into how He views things. The more time we spend with the Lord and in His Word, the more we will adopt His perspective and thoughts.

Let’s reflect on Psalm 23,⁵ one of the most beloved and quoted psalms. Most of us memorized this psalm decades ago!

¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He has always cared for us, He has always supplied all of our needs, even in difficult and trying circumstances.

²He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, …

We have been in many situations that were troubling or dangerous or unsettling over the years, but the Lord has led us and protected us, and He will continue to do so. He can give us peace in spite of the circumstances, as we keep our minds stayed on Him.⁶

³he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

When we are weary, we can rest in the Lord and find renewed strength and resilience. We can know that He watches over us. As portrayed in the very well-known poem, when it seems we are alone and we don’t see His “footprints in the sand” by our side, that is when He is carrying us.

We can trust that the Lord will establish our thoughts and guide our steps and lead us in a path that will glorify Him and advance His kingdom.

⁴Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

We may feel like we’re going through the darkest valley, but we don’t need to be afraid because we can be confident that Jesus is with us and His staff wards off the enemy’s attacks and comforts us.

⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

We have a glorious heritage of trusting the Lord to supply our needs. He prepares a table before us in spite of difficulties and attacks of the enemy. If He is with us, no one can overpower us. It’s truly amazing how in troubling situations the Holy Spirit can comfort us, causing us to overflow with the peace that transcends all understanding.⁷

⁶Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We can rest in this promise that God’s goodness and love are unchanging and will be with us all the days of our lives, and we can look forward to the day when we will be together with the Lord in heaven forever. He is preparing a glorious place for us. He will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there will be no more death, crying, mourning, or pain.⁸ Praise the Lord!

Recently, I came upon a prayer that Maria published over 10 years ago, and I was inspired by how relevant the prayer still is today. As you read and pray this prayer, think about all the ways the Lord has answered this prayer in your life. And the great news is that Jesus isn’t going to stop answering our prayers and working on our behalf now!

(Prayer:) Dearest Jesus, I pray for all of our Family members who are in need right now. Each one is in a different situation, but many are facing physical challenges. And, Lord, You know these challenges aren’t easy. Some don’t have enough personnel to keep their mission works going. Some don’t have sufficient financial support. Some are battling with ill health or searching for the assistance they need to care for their children. So many are in need, dear Lord.

We know that facing these challenges and finding workable solutions is a part of life, and it’s also part of processing and working through the changes we’re experiencing. But You are not limited by our circumstances, and I desperately call out to You for their needs. You are the one who is “moved with compassion” toward us.⁹ You are the one who has Your eye on every sparrow, yet You value each one of Your children so much more, and You care about every hair on our head.¹⁰ You are the one who has promised to care for Your own. I know You hear. I know You care. I ask for Your mercy and Your grace to be poured down upon each one in great abundance.

I praise You for the Family, and that we are a network of believers who can help to support and uphold one another, whether through prayer, or through our friendship and encouragement, or through other practical means. It inspires me every time I hear a story about one of our members helping someone else in need. It reminds me of You, Jesus. It reminds me of Your love.

During this time of change, help each of us to do whatever we can to help others. Even if we feel desperate and are in need and struggling ourselves, help us to be open to Your nudges. When You impress a need on our heart, give us faith to give, even if it hurts. If we don’t have much, help us to remember we still have a lot, because we can give some time to prayer for others; that in itself can make a world of difference.

As the song says, “Somebody prayed and my burdens were lighter. Somebody prayed and my path became clear. Clouds rolled away and the sunshine was brighter. Jesus, my wonderful Savior, was near.” Help us to be that “somebody” who prayed, who helped to make someone else’s burdens lighter, someone else’s path clearer, and their circumstances more pleasant in some way. As we share what we have with others, even if we don’t have much, You will see to it that our needs are met in return.

Thank You, dearest Jesus, for loving and caring for us and for all Your children all of these years. We know that You won’t fail us now. Not only are You alive and caring and attuned to our needs, but we have Family members all around the world who have a lot of love to give, and who are exercised in giving that love to others. Their sacrifices are beautiful. I praise You for their acts of love and kindness toward others. I know that You see each one, and that You will mightily repay and reward.¹¹

¹ GNT.

² Colossians 3:2 ESV.

³ Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.

⁴ Romans 8:28.

⁵ NIV quoted.

⁶ See Isaiah 26:3.

⁷ See Philippians 4:6–7.

⁸ See Revelation 21:4.

⁹ Matthew 14:14 KJV.

¹⁰ Matthew 10:29–30.

¹¹ Maria Fontaine, “Bringing Love to Life,” Directors’ Corner, October 17, 2010, https://directors.tfionline.com/post/bringing-love-life/

Against All Odds

October 1, 2021

—The Story of Judith Halim

Hope Singapore

More than 20 years ago, Judith Halim came to Singapore and began on a journey of overwhelming odds. She could not speak the language. She had no money and no job. Her daughter was born with heart and brain abnormalities. Her husband left her for another woman. How did Judith beat the odds? Hear her story!

Run time for this video is 30 minutes. (You will probably find this easiest to follow if you read along with the English subtitles.)

Rising Above Stress

September 30, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 11:56
Download Audio (10.9MB)

“Historians will probably call our era ‘the age of anxiety.’ Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.” When Billy Graham wrote those words in 1965, no one knew how true they would be 50 years later.

At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is “Lord of heaven and earth.”¹ At its worst, anxiety is a crippling disease, taking over our minds and plunging our thoughts into darkness.

But God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of fear, worry, and anxiety.

“Do not be anxious about anything,” the Bible tells us in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our instructions don’t stop there. The chapter goes on to tell believers exactly what we should focus on. And it’s not fear, terrorism, illness, death, or evil.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”²

The first step to an anxiety-free mind is to give your life to Jesus Christ. Once you’ve taken that step, it’s important to fix your thoughts on Jesus and the promise that He is preparing a place for His followers in heaven.³—Billy Graham Evangelistic Association⁴

The antidote to stress

Stress is one of the big “joy killers” that the Lord wants to free us from. Stress can destroy your health and strength if you let it continue unchecked. Stress is a cause of terrible unhappiness, illness, and death. A recent news article said that 75 to 90% of doctor visits in developed countries could be traced back to being a direct or indirect result of stress.

Faith is the antidote for stress when it really comes down to it. Faith and trust in God, that He has everything in His hands, that He is in control, that He will work everything out for good, automatically eliminates a lot of stress from our lives.

A common misconception is to equate stress with hard work, or to feel that some amount of stress is inevitable in a busy life. But that doesn’t have to be true. You can be a hard worker and not be stressed if:

* You maintain a balanced life. Work when it’s time to work, relax when it’s time to relax, and above all, keep your time with the Lord sacred. If you go through a period that’s extra busy and you have to cut corners on your relaxation, make sure that things slow down again when that project or time period is over. Don’t let it continue indefinitely or keep stretching it out for “just a little longer.” That can become an unhealthy addiction to the fast pace.

* Let the Lord carry the burdens. Take action to do the job that the Lord asks of you and play your role, but keep your role in perspective. Your role is not to solve all the problems and do everything. Let the Lord do the heavy lifting, as you commit everything to Him.

Any burden that you carry for too long will eventually cause stress. But stressful circumstances don’t mean that you have to be stressed. You can still choose how you react to the circumstances. Learn to lay your burdens down in spirit!

The balance that will help to keep you from succumbing to stress is strong faith and trust in the Lord, remembering that He is in control and that His timing is the best timing, and determining how you can most effectively cast your burdens on to His strong shoulders and not carry the load yourself. You weren’t meant to carry the burdens yourself.

We’ll never attain a once-and-for-all victory over stress, because we’re human, and it’s very natural to stress about things. But we can learn to overcome stress any time it comes around by replacing it with trust in the Lord, which brings faith and peace. The Lord has promised, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”⁵—Maria Fontaine

A game plan for stress

Why do we get stressed? We experience stress for countless reasons. Top causes of stress are work, finances, relationships, health, and media overload. So how do we deal with stress in a biblical manner? Christians are not immune to the pitfalls of life. It tends to hit us when we’re sick, overtired, overwhelmed, when we have taken on too many responsibilities, during moments of grief, when our circumstances spin out of control, or when our safety net or personal life falls apart and when relationships crumble—when our basic needs are not met.

We as followers of Christ believe God is sovereign and in control of our lives and he has given us all we need in order to live life abundantly. However, we also need to understand that when stress dominates our lives, it’s not because we’ve lost the ability to trust God. It’s because we aren’t armed with a game plan to counter stress. Just like the Bible instructs us with multiple ways to combat sin, we need to have a game plan for stress as well. …

Just as with those who are familiar with the steps of AA, the first step to combating stress is admitting there is a problem. Sometimes it’s not easy to admit it and you’re barely hanging on by a thread, but admitting we feel stress frees us from feeling trapped. However, it requires that we get honest with ourselves. Ignoring stress or pushing through it will have major negative consequences that will manifest in ways we won’t expect or aren’t equipped to handle. It requires humility and going to God. …

You must also make a habit of being in the Word on a daily basis. This includes talking to God on a daily basis. Both are vital to combating stress. It gives you the ability to not only know God’s Word but to utilize it in order to combat stress. The Bible is filled with Scripture that can dispel our stress, worry, and fear.

If you aren’t quite sure what is causing you stress, ask yourself these questions:

What are the primary sources of my stress?
How often do I pray about the issues in my life causing me stress?
How am I trusting God with my work, finances, health, relationships, and future?

These practices will help recalibrate our spiritual, mental, and emotional responses to stressors that disrupt the equilibrium in our lives.

Yet, we can let stress have a positive impact in our lives too. The first indication of stress can serve as a warning that we are not leaning on God like we should. Remember we serve a mighty God and he truly cares about the little things and big things in our daily lives.—Heather Riggleman⁶

Change your thinking to reduce stress

You can’t reduce stress in your life unless you change how you think. Our stress doesn’t come from the outside but from the inside.

Your mind is a special gift from God. It’s capable of storing more than 100 trillion thoughts. It can handle enormous amounts of information. God has given you the freedom to choose what you think about, from among all of that information.

The Bible says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”⁷

Paul reminds us that we can choose what we think about, and he encourages us to think about the right things. What we put into our minds impacts how we live.

It’s really no wonder we’re stressed when we consider what most of us think about on a regular basis. Many people, even Christians, allow anything and everything into their minds. … What you think affects the way you feel; the way you feel affects the way you act. Guard your mind. Keep your mind on the right things.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to fix our minds on these good things. Paul means that we need to make a deliberate choice. Change the channel on our minds. Only allow in things that fit into the characteristics described in that verse.

What happens when you do that? You get what God promises in the prior verse: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”⁸

Doesn’t that sound like it’s worth it?—Rick Warren⁹

Published on Anchor September 2021. Read by Jerry Paladino.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ Matthew 11:25.

² Philippians 4:8–9 ESV, emphasis added.

³ John 14:2–3.

⁴ https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-overcome-fear-anxiety-and-worry.

⁵ Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV.

⁶ https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/ways-to-overcome-stress-biblically.html.

⁷ Philippians 4:8 NIV.

⁸ Philippians 4:7 NIV.

⁹ https://pastorrick.com/change-your-thinking-to-reduce-stress.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Facing an Unknown Future
with a Known God

By Brian Chilton

This past Sunday, my family and I stopped by a local antique store after church. We were there for no reason but to check out their merchandise to see, as my wife says, “if there was anything that we couldn’t live without.” As we navigated our way through the aisles of the store, a sign appeared before me with a message that I needed to hear. The sign read, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” I have heard people asking God for a sign. I have asked God for the same. Nevertheless, God gave me a literal sign for the moment.

As a bit of a backdrop, my family and I had just attended the last service where I served as pastor. I am about to embark on a new phase of ministry. …

(Read the article here.)

Intimate Communion with God

September 28, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 13:15
Download Audio (12.1MB)

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.—Zephaniah 3:17

It is essential for us to recognize that God always takes the first step in inviting us to live in this union and communion with him. This is grace in action. We can discover the biblical foundation of this intimacy by first examining Scripture from God’s divine perspective and then from our human vantage point.

As amazing as it may seem, the undeniable truth is that God desires to walk with us in a deepening fellowship. Clarence Macartney (1879–1957), a conservative Presbyterian pastor and leader during the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, preached a sermon titled “God’s Favorite Word—Come.” Although Scripture includes many gracious invitations, Macartney selected the text from Revelation 22:17: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Instead of God placing obstacles or elusiveness in our way, this invitation is freely offered to anyone who hungers to know God more deeply. What is significant especially … is God’s strong desire to lead us into a vibrant relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore, hungering for God is a gift that God implants in the hearts and minds of those whom He seeks to draw unto Himself. …

In the New Testament, Jesus not only incarnates God’s invitation and desire for union and communion but is the means for making this a reality. As He gathered in the upper room on the last night of His earthly life, Jesus declared: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”¹

There is no greater intimacy than for one person to willingly choose to live with another individual. Jesus’ promise does not imply a brief weekend visit but rather a permanent indwelling of God within us.² This Scripture also captures the dynamic interaction between God and the individual person. Far from being a one-sided relationship, the believer must be obedient to Jesus’ instruction and express sincere love to God. …

A healthy love is always reciprocal and confirms our desire to grow in friendship and fellowship with Him. John Owen has captured this critical component: “Christ having given himself to the soul, loves the soul; and the soul having given itself unto Jesus loveth him also.” This echoes John’s teaching, “We love because he first loved us.”³

Scripture also provides numerous examples of what growing in intimacy with God looks like from the human perspective. … The psalmist cries out, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”⁴ …

Simply stated, there is nothing that can satisfy this deep longing except God.—Tom Schwanda⁵

Communion through worship

When we dwell on the goodness of God, then His goodness surrounds us and pervades our thoughts and attitudes. When we think positive thoughts, speak positive words, and take positive action, we align ourselves more closely with God and His will and purpose for us. When we praise and worship God, we draw closer to Him.

Through communion with God we gain understanding and perspective of His hand in our lives. Worship puts us on His wavelength. Praise invigorates our faith; it encourages us to see beyond our present circumstances and to focus instead on the fulfillment of God’s promises in answer to our prayers. Gratefulness turns times of trouble into times of triumph. Praise reminds us that with God, all things are possible.⁶

The more you praise God and express your love for Him, the more reasons you will find to praise Him. The more you worship God, the more naturally your words to Him will flow.

Let’s praise our heavenly Father for all the wonderful things He has done for us in the past and will do for us in the future. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”⁷

Jesus, all to You we surrender! You are the Creator, we are the creation—created to love You. Help us to love You with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength.⁸

Plant within us that desire to pursue You and our relationship with You. Help us to persevere in our relationship with You. Help us not to get so wrapped up in our work and the things of everyday life that we don’t realize that first and foremost we need to be close to You, to be intimate with You, to be lovers with You. All this other is good and necessary, but we should not neglect the most important thing—our relationship with You.

Please help us to look upward into Your beautiful face—trusting, praying, praising, and loving You. Help us to come to You, to tell You of our love for You, to constantly show our appreciation for You and to give You all the glory.

May we be ever nearer to You.—Maria Fontaine

Communion through relationship

The Christian life is about fully submitting our lives to God. And when we do, we are living under His agenda. We trust God to have His way with us, as Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”⁹ This is a promise of God, but His promises are conditional and made within the context of a relationship with Him. Our end is to acknowledge God in all our ways and He will automatically undertake to guide us. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”¹⁰

A life with Jesus will be a life of service because we are on His business, wherever He has placed us. We may have the most mundane jobs in the world, but we should not be [discouraged]. In time, God will likely move us on, but wherever we are presently, we are there for His purpose. It is usually in an overwhelmingly secular environment where we do not see any evidence of a relationship with God. But as Christians, we are the light of Christ in that environment, as Jesus said. “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”¹¹

Our Christian life is not the result of our ability to imitate God, but His ability to direct our lives and reproduce Himself in us. To the outside world, it seems revolutionary and perhaps radical, but it is also real. Working with Jesus gives divine purpose to any job we do. In the words of Paul, “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”¹²

The Christian life is not about perfection, but about our availability. It is about an intimate and loving relationship with Jesus in which He discloses His plans to us and puts us to work in union with Him.—Brett McBride

A communion prayer

O Lord, my God, with whom my soul is married for eternity,¹³ my inseparable companion—nothing can sever my branch from Your vine.¹⁴ Whether or not I feel You near, You stay faithfully by my side. Thank You that You’re not a faraway God. You are by me, inside me, surrounding me, holding me, embracing me.

While sometimes I’m aware of Your presence, help me to be more aware. I want to include You in all my activities. I want to have more conversations with You. It’s so good to know that I can communicate with You!—Not just to praise You, or to ask You favors, or to hear Your whispers in my heart, but to also chat with You as with a close friend. I can comment about things, express my feelings, and in short, I can share my life with You.

Thank You that I don’t have to work for Your love. Thank You that it’s a free gift and that You love me no matter what I do or what I’ve done or what I will do in the future. You don’t base Your love for me on circumstances, conditions, and events; You loved me before I ever loved You.¹⁵

Published on Anchor September 2021. Read by Simon Peterson.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ John 14:23 NIV.

² See also Ephesians 3:14–21.

³ 1 John 4:19.

⁴ Psalm 42:1–2.

⁵ https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Biblical_Foundations_for_Growing_in_Intimacy_with_God.

⁶ Mark 10:27.

⁷ Psalm 150:6.

⁸ Mark 12:30.

⁹ NKJV.

¹⁰ John 15:5.

¹¹ Matthew 5:14, 16.

¹² Philippians 2:15–16.

¹³ Hosea 2:19.

¹⁴ John 15:5.

¹⁵ 1 John 4:19.

When It Doesn’t Happen

September 27, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 12:35
Download Audio (11.5MB)

If you have been struggling with long-term battles with your health, and your healing seems to be nowhere in sight, it’s natural to have some questions, as this woman did who wrote me. She said:

For many years I’ve had some rather serious afflictions. I’ve prayed desperately for deliverance, and others have prayed for me. I’m still here and these haven’t completely incapacitated me, and I thank God for this. Nevertheless, a number of these afflictions have continued to one extent or another and at times it can be a challenge to hold on.

Recently a TFI brother with a fruitful healing ministry prayed for me. Still, no obvious physical healing has resulted. However, I know that as far as Jesus is concerned the answer is on its way and I’ll see it in His time. But it can be disappointing when I see others getting miraculous healings, and I wonder, “Lord, why not me! What’s wrong when I pray fervently and I don’t see it happen?”

And then, recently when I was sitting on the edge of my bed and stretching my legs, suddenly a sharp pain shot up my legs to my lower back and it spread to the upper part of my back. It was so painful that I couldn’t move.

I was in extreme pain and I was alone. I managed somehow to reach my phone and called a friend to pray for me. She prayed for me three times, yet the pain didn’t subside. I held on to the edge of my bed, putting all my weight on it to try to push myself up, but I couldn’t. It took all my strength to just lie back on the bed till someone could help me.

For the first week or so, I couldn’t find any comfortable position, except lying flat on my back, and changing positions was extremely painful. All I could do was fight to survive.

The second and third week went by, yet the healing and release from pain I was praying and hoping for didn’t come, though the pain subsided a little and I was able to move a little more.

Now, it’s been a month, and I am very thankful to the Lord for delivering me from most of that excruciating pain, but I still have pain in the left side of my lower back and my left leg.

During that extreme pain, I could hardly even pray in words. But I knew He knew my heart and my prayer, so I just rested in His arms and trusted that His healing would manifest in the physical.

I believe that God can heal instantly, but many times He doesn’t. Why is that?

I’ve come to the conclusion that this is where the Lord’s will comes in. I don’t think there is any specific formula for healing beyond having faith and trust, no matter what things look like in the moment. Of course, we need to do our part, but He sees the ultimate best for us and works with us to bring that result, whether or not in the moment we can see or understand how that works.

I prayed desperately every day, commanding the pain to leave and my body to be healed, and my husband also prayed for me daily. I praised the Lord for all the wonderful things He had done in my life and for what I knew He would yet do. I prayed in tongues. I asked the Lord to forgive me if there was anything I had done to cause it, but the pain didn’t stop. It was a very slow process.

I struggled with thoughts like: “Is there something wrong with me? Is it that I don’t deserve His healing? What else can I do? I’ve tried to do everything I could think of, and still I’m not healed.”

The Lord comforted me with the thought that He is honored by our faith—faith when we are in the midst of pain, faith when our prayers are not being answered as far as we can tell, faith when we don’t see even a hint of victory, yet we trust, counting on the Lord to do what He knows is best and believing that He’ll come through for us.

The Lord values the qualities of faith, trust, endurance, perseverance, and patience. He uses those dark times to polish and strengthen these qualities. It surely has been a test for me. I was feeling weary and was not sure if I could take much more. But I can see now that through these times He was helping me to grow.

When the Lord heals people instantly, it’s a great manifestation of His power in a very tangible way, especially to those who are unbelievers or still young in the Lord. But for us and others who’ve been serving the Lord for many years maybe He sometimes delays His healing, so that He can strengthen our relationship with Him in a deeper way. He knows that we are not going to give up or turn our back on Him. He wants us to hold on in these tests as we trust in His unfailing love.

I believe it is God’s will to heal, but maybe He’s looking at a bigger picture, beyond today, beyond the moment, beyond the pain. I don’t know why God doesn’t always heal instantly. We probably won’t get to see all the mysteries of His great plan and purpose and all the reasons why God does and doesn’t do things the way we think is best until we get to Heaven.

I think it is so important to keep an attitude of simple trust in Him and His deep love for us. That’s really the core and foundation of our faith. The way God works in our lives is beyond understanding. As Peter said, “God is God, and we are not.”

I think the furnace of affliction is one of the most difficult places that God brings us through. I was being sorely tempted and tested, but I was also aware of His presence. I felt His grace and strength each day and the overwhelming love He had for me. That pulled me through. I think the most important thing is that we know Him, love Him, trust Him, and need Him intimately in every way, situation, and circumstance.

When you know how much He loves you and cares for you, you can be sure that His hand is on your life. You can trust that He is doing what He knows is best for you. In His time, the storm will pass.

(Maria:) All I could say was “Bravo! Well said!” What a wonderful example of faith! Just like so many of you who have also endured long-term afflictions and continue to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!” I was so moved by this testimony that I asked Jesus for His perspective on the situation and how He looks at those who hang on, even when things don’t happen the way we think they should.

Here’s what He said:

My precious love, I know how these things that you endure and keep enduring can be wearying. My heart knows your every pain, every frustration, and every time some trouble doesn’t pass and you have to hold on, one more hour, one more day, one more week. I understand, and My heart aches for you, but I also know that good will come from what is so difficult.

It can be a struggle when you watch someone else receive healing, even when it comes from your prayers for them, yet you must continue to carry your burdens. It is the greatness of your faith that makes you able to do this. When this happens, many times it is not that something in your faith or walk with Me is missing. It’s the opposite. It’s because you have great faith that you are able to carry on in spite of more troubles, which enables you to help still more people.

I could stop that process, but your life’s mission on this earth would be incomplete. You have run so much of this race, so don’t stop now! I will bring you over that finish line victorious; I will see you through these things to the unimaginable glories to come. You just have to trust Me.

I’m so proud of you for the way you have endured. Those things that linger demonstrate something wonderful about you.

In the Bible when Jacob fought the battle with the angel in order to claim the greater blessing,¹ it resulted in his hip being injured. He broke free from his past and became Israel, yet he limped for the rest of his earthly life. I could have healed him, but there was an important purpose in My not doing so. When you read the faith chapter you get a hint of this when it describes him worshipping, leaning on the top of his staff.²

Can you imagine how many times he wished for his condition to change? But it was a reminder of how far he’d been willing to go to follow his God. He suffered many things, much grief, many times when he couldn’t understand what seemed to devastate his life, like when his son Joseph’s bloodied clothing was brought to him by his brothers, who claimed he’d been killed by a wild beast. Hope almost died in his grief, but he held on. He faced many times of great suffering and had to still cling to My promises by faith even when he couldn’t see any end to it.

He was a picture of faith: the man with a broken heart and unhealed body, refusing to allow anything to come between him and his God. My promises, like that staff, were all he had at times to uphold him. His faith gave him the strength to praise Me and to peer into the future to the time when I would make all things right.

You have that kind of great faith. Whether you see or feel complete deliverance from the troubles and afflictions in this life or not, you know that we are always walking together. I know what each person can bear. Many times, I allow those of great faith to face troubles or afflictions that continue or are only partially healed. Look at virtually every great person of faith and you’ll see troubles and hardships that they continued to face, sometimes for their whole lives on earth. But their determination gave them the strength to brave the winds and hardships of this life, and they became examples that have encouraged so many.

Your life has been an ongoing example of this to so many. The many trials and afflictions that you have suffered have made you wiser. Whether you feel this way or not, you stand as a powerful testimony of faith. You’ve overcome, because you have remained true, faithful, and close to Me.

Keep up the fight. Nothing that tries to come against you will be able to withstand My power through your bond with Me.

Originally published January 2019. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Debra Lee.

¹ Genesis 32:22–32.

² Hebrews 11:21.

Eternal Salvation

(For an introduction and explanation regarding this series overall, please see The Heart of It All: Introduction.)

While all Christians believe that Jesus died for our sins and we are saved through the sacrifice of His death on the cross, there are some differences in belief among different denominations as to whether that salvation is permanent or whether it can be lost.

It is a fact that there are Christians who lose faith, who stop believing in Jesus and salvation, and who turn from living a Christian life. The question arises in such instances: Did that person lose his or her salvation? Having once been saved, can you lose your salvation?

The Roman Catholic position on salvation differs significantly from the Protestant view and won’t be covered in detail in this article, though I’ll mention a few general things in brief. (This is by no means a complete explanation of Roman Catholic beliefs on salvation.)

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that by the sacrament of baptism God infuses justifying grace into the soul, which cancels original sin and imparts the habit of righteousness. This initial justification is strengthened through other sacraments, love-inspired works, and special merit from Mary and the saints.^[1] The belief is that when Catholics die, if they have committed venial (minor) sins which haven’t already been forgiven through the sacrament of confession, their souls will go to purgatory, a place where they will be fully cleansed. Having gone through the cleansing work of purgatory, they are then justified before God. Believers who commit mortal (serious) sin and die without receiving forgiveness through confession fall from grace and lose their salvation. Salvation in Catholic theology depends on continued obedience and can therefore be lost.

The two primary Protestant views are presented in general terms in this article. Beyond the main basic premises, various denominations on both sides of the issue also have further nuances within their belief systems, which aren’t necessary to delve into here.

Let’s look at the two general positions, beginning with those who believe that salvation can be lost if certain conditions are not met throughout a Christian’s life.

Conditions

Those who believe that it is possible for salvation to be lost believe that once one is saved, there are certain conditions that must be maintained in order to keep salvation. The belief is that God has reconciled us to Himself and we will have eternal life, provided these conditions are met. Some Pentecostal denominations, such as the Assemblies of God, as well as Wesleyan-based ones, such as the Methodists, believe this.

These conditions mainly have to do with maintaining one’s spiritual life and living a Christian life. Those who believe that salvation cannot be lost also believe that it’s important to maintain one’s spiritual life, but don’t believe salvation will be lost if one fails in this duty.

The conditions, as seen by those who believe salvation can be lost, are based on five general principles that must be fulfilled: abiding, continuing, enduring, firmness, and faithfulness. The position is that these conditions must be fulfilled throughout one’s life to maintain salvation.^[2] In the footnotes, I’ve included some of the verses which those who take this position base their understanding on.

Abiding

The first condition in this belief system is that one must abide in what they have heard concerning the Gospel. They must stay close to the source, God’s Word and Christ. ^[3]

Continuing

Continuing means remaining steadfast. While God has begun the work of salvation, one must continue steadfast, to hold fast and continue in the faith. If one moves away from the faith and hope that is in the Gospel, then salvation will be lost.^[4]

Enduring

Enduring in the faith to the end of our lives is seen as one of the conditions of the final salvation of a believer. Life is filled with ups and downs, and the expectation is that individuals will hold on to their faith and live it through life’s trials. If there is a failure to endure in the faith until the end of one’s life, eternal life will not be obtained.^[5]

Firmness

Those who don’t confirm—or make firm—their faith by supplementing it with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love are in danger of losing their salvation. By spiritually growing in these—and presumably other—virtues, they confirm their salvation.^[6]

Faithfulness

It is necessary to remain faithful to the end. The believer must remain in faith and belief. If that faith weakens and turns to unbelief, then there is a loss of salvation and eternal life, unless there is repentance and return.^[7]

Eternal Security

Other Christians disagree with the idea that salvation can be lost. They see God’s work in salvation through Jesus’ death as bringing eternal life, and consider that Christians have assurance of that eternal life due to Christ’s sacrifice.

Among those who believe in eternal security, sometimes referred to as “the perseverance of the saints,” there are differences of opinion as to why salvation can’t be lost. Nevertheless, they are in agreement that it cannot be lost.

Reformed churches (Calvinists) believe that God predestined people to be saved, and since they are predestined by God for salvation, they can’t possibly lose their salvation. While they don’t believe predestined Christians can lose their salvation, they do believe that some who profess to be Christians aren’t truly saved, that they aren’t predestined to salvation, and that those who lose their faith or turn their back on God were never truly saved in the first place. From their point of view, no truly saved Christian will ever turn against God. While there are undoubtedly people who profess to be Christians who aren’t actually saved, or who have said a salvation prayer but didn’t really mean what they were saying and thus weren’t born again, it doesn’t seem within the realm of possibility that no saved Christian ever turns away from faith in Jesus. Most Christians probably know of, or have heard of, saved Christians who abandoned the faith.

Many Protestant and evangelical churches base their belief in eternal security on specific promises in the Bible, without linking them to belief in predestination. Reformed churches also use scriptures which speak of eternal life as the basis for their understanding and belief in the perseverance of the saints.

Those who believe “once saved, always saved” believe this way due to a number of key verses which are very specific regarding having salvation permanently.

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.^[8]

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.^[9]

These verses have no caveats. They explicitly say that those who believe have eternal life, and no one or nothing can take it away. They will never perish. I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me. The next passage strengthens that understanding.

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.^[10]

Scripture states that those who believe in Jesus have eternal life.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life … ^[11]

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.^[12]

Eternal Life

Some who believe that Christians can lose their salvation don’t look at eternal life as meaning forever, but rather see it as a quality of life, a type of life in relationship with God, which one can have for a time and then lose. However, this concept doesn’t match the meaning of the Greek word aiōnios which is most often used in the Scripture for everlasting or eternal. The definition of aiōnios is without end, never to cease, eternal, everlasting.^[13]

Eternal life stands in contrast to judgment, condemnation, and separation from God. Those who receive Jesus, who are born again, are not condemned—they have been redeemed by Christ’s death on the cross.

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned … ^[14]

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.^[15]

Salvation doesn’t bring an end to sin in our lives. As Christians we are to continually strive to overcome sin, but humans have sinful natures and therefore we sin, and when we do, we should ask God for forgiveness.^[16] While our sins have ramifications in our spiritual lives, in that they affect our personal relationship with God, they aren’t a cause for the loss of our salvation. We may suffer the consequences of our sins and be chastised for them, since God, as a good parent, lovingly tries to teach and train us; but we don’t lose our place as a child of God, one adopted into God’s family.

For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives … If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons … He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.^[17]

To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.^[18]

As children of God, we are heirs of eternal life. It is our promised inheritance through salvation.

You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.^[19]

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.^[20]

Being justified by grace, which means being saved through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are heirs of an imperishable inheritance which is kept in heaven for us and which is guarded by God’s power.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.^[21]

The Holy Spirit, the Guarantee

As believers, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.^[22]

Theologian Wayne Grudem explains the seal of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our eternal inheritance like this:

The Greek word translated “guarantee” in this passage (arrabon) is a legal and commercial term that means “first installment, deposit, down payment, pledge” and represents “a payment which obligates the contracting party to make further payments.” When God gave us the Holy Spirit within, He committed Himself to give all the further blessing of eternal life and a great reward in heaven with Him. This is why Paul can say that the Holy Spirit is the “guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.” All who have the Holy Spirit within them, all who are truly born again, have God’s unchanging promise and guarantee that the inheritance of eternal life in heaven will certainly be theirs. God’s own faithfulness is pledged to bring it about.^[23]

God has promised salvation; through His death and resurrection Jesus has secured it; the Holy Spirit guarantees it. Our salvation is secure, is permanent, and is eternal. Once you have it, you don’t lose it.

We may have temporary lapses in faith, but these lapses in faith and obedience do not change our legal standing as heirs, as those justified by the blood of Jesus.^[24] Those who are saved, who have received Jesus, who are born again, do not lose their salvation.

One verse which is used by those who believe a Christian’s salvation can be lost is:

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.^[25]

This is a much debated scripture passage, and depending on one’s theology it is looked at differently.

Those who believe one can lose their salvation use this verse to show that it can be lost. According to this view, those who have been enlightened, who have received the heavenly gift of salvation and have shared in the Holy Spirit, if they fall away, lose their salvation.

From the Reformed point of view, Wayne Grudem argues in a lengthy explanation that the author of the book of Hebrews is not talking about born-again believers, but rather about those who were associated with the early church, who were enlightened by the Gospel but had not come to full belief and salvation. They knew something of God’s Word, they had seen the Holy Spirit work in different situations, and had seen the power of God manifest in others. They were connected with Christians, with the Holy Spirit, and had been influenced by them, but had not made the decision to believe. They had become “associated with” the work of the Holy Spirit, they had been exposed to the true preaching of the Word and had appreciated much of its teachings, but in spite of all this, they willfully rejected all of these blessings and turned decidedly against them.

In this view, the author of Hebrews was saying that it’s impossible to restore these particular people, as their familiarity with the things of God and their experiences of the influences of the Holy Spirit had served to harden them against conversion.^[26] This interpretation fits the Reformed belief that those who are truly saved won’t stop believing, but will persevere to the end due to their being predestined to salvation.

From the non-Reformed position, Baptist professor Dr. Andrew Hudson explains these verses in the larger context of what the book of Hebrews is teaching. Within the context of the complete book, he argues that while this verse is speaking about saved Christians, it is not speaking about them losing their salvation. He begins by making the case that “those who were once enlightened” does mean saved Christians. He goes on to point out that “falling away” in this context is not fully rejecting Christ, and that the judgment for the Christian who falls away isn’t a loss of salvation.

Hudson makes the point that the book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and who were faced with either trusting God for help (through Jesus) or refusing to trust Him. If they were to turn away from Christ and return to the Mosaic worship system, they would be saying that Jesus’ sacrifice was not sufficient for their daily faith needs. In taking that stand, they would be saying that Christ’s work on the cross was defective. In doing so they would be criticizing His public ministry and thus “putting Him to open shame.” In such an instance, these Christians would lose God’s blessing and experience His discipline. If they repented, they would be forgiven, but they would still face discipline from God’s hand. The believer would not escape the consequences of his sinful action by simply repenting. He’d be forgiven, but would face the repercussions.

Hudson suggests that the verse could be paraphrased like this:

For it is impossible for true believers who have been once enlightened, and have accepted the heavenly gift, and have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and have experienced the good word of the Gospel and the power of the coming kingdom; and then they fail to live their daily life by faith in Christ, to return by means of repentance to a place where they can escape God’s temporal chastisement because they have openly claimed that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient to maintain fellowship with God and they have publicly embarrassed and dishonored Christ, their patron.

I see Hudson’s explanation as the proper interpretation of the verse. It shows that Hebrews 6:4–6 isn’t speaking of Christians losing their salvation and being unable to regain it. (For Dr. Hudson’s full paper, click here.)

Christians who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, who have been born again, are saved permanently. We have received eternal salvation, God’s gift of love. We have everlasting life, we are reconciled to God, and we will live forever.—All because God loves us and Jesus died for us, so that we might receive the wonderful gift of salvation.

There will probably always be some theological debate among Christians as to who is saved and who isn’t, or whether some are predestined and others aren’t, as the scriptures on these matters and the interpretation of them will probably always generate some controversy. Let’s remember that these things are truly in God’s hands and it’s not our place to be judgmental. There may well be those whom we will be surprised to see in heaven, as we may not have thought they were believers, or that they sincerely meant it when they prayed for salvation. But we must remember that God is the true and righteous judge; He is the one who knows each person’s heart and motives, who understands everything about each of us. He longs for people to be saved. He loves us all and freely extends His gift of salvation to all who will receive it.

I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.^[27]

(To read the next article in this series, click here.)

^[1] Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 175–176.

^[2] These are summarized from J. Rodman Williams’ book Renewal Theology, Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 122–127.

^[3] Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it … how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:1,3).

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life (1 John 2:24–25).

If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (John 15:6).

^[4] You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard … (Colossians 1:21–23).

^[5] Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us (2 Timothy 2:10–12).

Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised (Hebrews 10:35–36).

^[6] We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end (Hebrews 3:14).

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10–11).

^[7] Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent (Revelation 2:4–5).

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven, and My own new name (Revelation 3:12).

^[8] John 6:39–40.

^[9] John 10:27–29.

^[10] Romans 8:38–39.

^[11] John 3:36.

^[12] John 3:16.

^[13] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press. 2000), 790.

^[14] John 3:17–18.

^[15] Romans 8:1.

^[16] For more on the subject of the connection between sin and salvation, see The Heart of It All, Sin: Humanity’s Sinful Nature , and Sin: Are There Degrees of Sin?

^[17] Hebrews 12:6, 8,10–11.

^[18] John 1:12.

^[19] Galatians 4:7.

^[20] Titus 3:4–7.

^[21] 1 Peter 1:3–5.

^[22] Ephesians 1:13–14.

^[23] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 791.

^[24] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

^[25] Hebrews 6:4–6.

^[26] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 794–803.

^[27] Philippians 1:6.

What We Can Learn from the Pandemic (Part 5)

By Peter Amsterdam

September 21, 2021

Rediscovering Joy

Most of us have felt the cumulative impact of the COVID pandemic on our everyday lives as it has continued over an extended period of time. For some of us, this has resulted in a lessening of our daily activities, whereas for others, it has resulted in a larger workload or additional responsibilities. Since many of the avenues for activities or interactions with others that provide a reprieve and inject novelty into our daily routines haven’t been readily available, a sense of boredom or tediousness can set in.

Over the past year and a half, circumstances have been different in our lives. Some of you are in countries where life is returning to normal little by little, whereas others of you are still in the throes of the full pandemic restrictions. But regardless of the details of your situation, you might be experiencing a sense of dullness or monotony or lack of joy. Someone I communicate with described it like this:

This is a strange feeling to describe and it’s hard to put your finger on what causes it, but sometimes it feels as if the joy has been sucked out of your life and you’re now on autopilot, just going through the humdrum motions, day after day. You know what you need to do, but you don’t want to do it. You’re not in the mood. You’re in a funk. You don’t have the motivation to move forward. You feel grumpy and negative about yourself, and you wonder if you’ll ever get your motivation and joy back.

I realized recently that being bored can become a habit. You get used to it and kind of resign yourself to a boring existence. Then you stop trying. Your flame of enthusiasm becomes a little ember that’s just flickering. You kind of die inside.

When you’re feeling this way, it’s easy to default to available, comfortable, feel-good pastimes. If you’re looking for excitement, change, variety and fun, it can lead to engaging in shallow pleasures such as binge watching, gaming, drinking, etc. Eventually you find yourself spending more and more time in these activities, but still not feeling much better.

Granted, that is just one person’s experience. Maybe you can relate somewhat to that description, or maybe not. I do hope that you’re not suffering from boredom or monotony to that extent. Such feelings are understandable, given the significant changes and challenges we’ve experienced these past many months in our work and interactions with others, due to COVID restrictions and health concerns.

But the good news is that no matter what our circumstances and what losses we have sustained, we can rediscover our joy!

It’s important to remind ourselves that Jesus is the source of our joy. Knowing Him, staying close to Him and His Word, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking in obedience to our calling can infuse our lives with joy that is not dependent on physical circumstances.

We read this in Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.” (NLT) [The psalmist] sought after God, then committed to praise and trust Him no matter what, which is what we read in the next verse, “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!” (Psalm 43:4 NLT)

Despite his heartache and overwhelming emotions, the psalmist remembered God truly was his only help and that GOD was always there, never forsaking him even when it felt like it.

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.—Acts 13:52

The joy of the Lord is your strength.—Nehemiah 8:10

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.—Psalm 126:3 NIV

Besides centering our lives on the Lord and His Word, and seeking to be filled with His Spirit, there are also practical “joy boosters”; that is, practical approaches that we can implement to enhance or recapture our joy. Let’s look at some ways in which we might do that. I’ll note a few ideas here, but this is by no means a complete list. If you’ll take some time to think and pray about this, the Lord can give you ideas that will work well for you personally.

Notice the little things. Try to pay attention to even brief moments that bring joy; these could be the result of little things. Take a moment to intentionally thank and praise the Lord for the little wonders that inspire you. Once you are aware of the things that produce joy, think about how you can intentionally build more of those moments into your life.

It could be such things as hearing a baby laugh, seeing a beautiful butterfly or playful puppy, laughing at a joke, eating a delicious dessert, hearing a beautiful song, or feeling invigorated after a walk or exercise session, creating or appreciating a work of art, and so on. Let small things bring you joy!

Allow time to do what brings you joy. Maybe some of the things you enjoy doing don’t seem important enough to take the time; it’s not a priority. Perhaps it feels like a self-indulgent waste of time or a distraction to your more important goals. But it is important to consciously make time and space to enjoy life as you are able.

Take a minute to remember what you used to love to do before the pandemic and find a way to pick it up again. If things are different now and that activity is not possible, or you find that it doesn’t “bring you joy” now, try something else. Just try! When you’re in a blah state of mind, you often can’t think of anything that would make you feel better, but don’t resign yourself to that mindset. Stir yourself up, give yourself some time, find something you like to do and enjoy it!

Make a difference. No matter how limited your circumstances, there is always something you can do to make things better. And making things better can give you a sense of fulfilment and enjoyment. Doing something for someone else, even something small, can bring you both joy. One of you shared the following, which I think illustrates this point well. She wrote:

I had just read “Willie and the Five-Minute Favor” by Iris Richard (in Kenya) in the July 2021 Activated mag.³ In the testimony Iris said:

We were just finishing up the distribution of 50 ten-kilo care packages to poor people … at the edge of one of the largest slums in East Africa.

Happy to have completed the project, I turned to leave when my colleague Sally held up the last package, saying, “Before we close, let’s quickly deliver this one to Willie up the hill. He isn’t able to walk down here.”

I was tired and sweaty, and my back ached. … I was about to postpone this task for another time when I remembered my new resolution of “five-minute favors,” which was inspired by something I read online:

“Want to make the world a better place? … Enter the five-minute favor concept that is no more complicated than its name alludes: take five minutes out of your day to do something that’ll benefit another person. … It doesn’t cost you much, but it can make a big difference in somebody’s life.”

Iris went on to explain how she decided to make the climb to deliver the care package to this needy man. He was alone in a one-room shack. His house had been destroyed in a flood, he had lost his leg in a hit-and-run accident, and consequently, he had lost his job.

She wrote: “Willie received our care package with a big smile. ‘God sent you!’ he said, and a tear ran down his cheek. … ‘I found new hope and purpose because of you,’ Willie said, when donated items for his new little roadside business were delivered by well-wishers.”

I was so touched by that testimony that I decided that I would also incorporate the idea of the “five-minute favor” in my life. I don’t live in Africa or have a ministry with the very poor, but I figured I’d give it a shot. I needed a new challenge, I was bored.

Soon after this commitment, I went to the grocery store. To give a bit of the back story: In a previous visit to this store a week or two earlier I had been trying to make a return at the customer service desk. I was having trouble with the transaction as I didn’t have my glasses and I kept entering the credit card number incorrectly. I noticed I was being attended by the store manager. The store was busy. While helping me, the manager was constantly approached by all kinds of people—customers, employees, suppliers, etc., and he was kind and polite with each one. He kept smiling as he’d turn to me and with a kind voice say, “Shall we try it again?” He never once lost his composure or seemed bothered at all.

While at the store on this recent occasion, I walked by the manager, and I thought, “Ah, here’s an opportunity for a five-minute favor.” But I quickly started to talk myself out of it. “I’m in a hurry. And besides, he’s busy.”

But no! I turned around and walked up to him. Standing there with my mask on, social distancing, I asked, “Are you the manager?” His serene expression quickly changed, and he got a concerned look on his face that seemed to say, “Oh no, what’s wrong now?!”

I reminded him of our previous encounter. He immediately looked relieved. Then I said, “I just want to compliment you on your kindness. You make a difference in people’s lives every day with the patience and consideration you show and with that constant smile of yours.”

He was literally speechless! After a few seconds, all he could say was, “Oh wow! Thank you for telling me.”

That was it. This just took a couple of minutes, but it made a difference not only for him but for me, too. I felt a sense of joy. I felt like that tiny thing meant something! I enthusiastically told my friends about this. The “five-minute favor”—I highly recommend it!

Take inventory of what saps your joy. Happiness can be circumstantial and fleeting, but joy is a gift from God, and we can have joy even in difficult circumstances. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”⁴ But it’s important to realize that there may be things in our lives that steal our joy. Those are sometimes referred to as “killjoys.” Here is an excerpt of a helpful article:

We will come through the pandemic, and we will be different in some ways. We will have deepened our relationship with the Lord through the suffering and difficulties we endured. By God’s grace, we will be more mindful of our blessings and more appreciative of our family and friends. Possibly we will have learned some new skills, such as how to use the internet more effectively for our work and ministries. Many of you have discovered new ways to witness to others and bring people along in their discipleship—through an online witness, Zoom classes, and chat rooms to share the Good News.

It is important that we not allow any negative emotions, thoughts or moods to take hold in our lives. The killjoys mentioned—selfishness, resentment, and fear—can grow with time and become habits or automatic reactions. If you have allowed any of these killjoys to take root in your life, it’s important to take the time to seek the Lord, study the Word, and ask for His forgiveness. You can have a fresh start beginning today! The Lord can cleanse your mind and spirit and fill you with His joy.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.—Psalm 94:19 NIV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.—Romans 15:13 NIV

This time of the pandemic can be a Beauty for Ashes experience. These difficult months may cause us to reevaluate our lives and priorities. Painful times can prompt us to open our hearts to the Lord, helping us to discover valuable truths that we might have missed otherwise. This is a great time to ask yourself and seek the Lord, “Is there any area I need to change in? Or any course correction needed in my life?”

Remember that the source of our joy is Jesus. In the world, happiness is often associated with appearance, wealth, relationships, possessions, etc. The message the world is sending is that happiness comes from outside ourselves. We’re bombarded with messages that circumstances control our sense of joy. But in reality, our joy comes from Jesus. Love, joy, and peace are all fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the source of our joy! Praise the Lord! As we seek the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives, we can rediscover our joy.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.—Habakkuk 3:18 ⁶

They lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.—Isaiah 52:8

¹ Tracie Miles, “I Feel Forgotten,” Proverbs 31 Ministries, November 23, 2018, https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/11/23/i-feel-forgotten

² Ingrid Fetell Lee as quoted in “How to Rediscover Joy—and Eliminate Killjoys,” Goop, https://goop.com/wellness/mindfulness/how-to-rediscover-joy/

³ https://activated.org/en/relationships/anyone-and-everyone/caring/willie-and-the-five-minute-favor/

⁴ Nehemiah 8:10.

⁵ “Are There Any Joy-killers in Your Life?” Gilroy Dispatch, November 4, 2006, https://gilroydispatch.com/are-there-any-joy-killers-in-your-life/

⁶ This verse and the following verses are ESV.

Trusting God in a Storm

September 24, 2021

By Tony Evans, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

A message on Mark 4:35–41. While the disciples are in the will of God, on the boat with Jesus, there’s a problem.

Run time for this video is 27 minutes.

Christlikeness

September 23, 2021

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 11:46
Download Audio (10.7MB)

The foundation of Christlikeness is God-centered devotion, having the right personal attitude toward God, recognizing who He is and our position in relation to Him, which includes three elements: the fear of God, the love of God, and the desire for God.

Fear of God

Scripture uses the phrase “fear of God” in two distinct ways: (1) as anxious dread, and (2) as veneration, reverence, and awe. Fear as anxious dread is produced by the realization of God’s impending judgment upon sin, such as Adam hiding from God after he had sinned because he was afraid.¹ However, Christians have been delivered from God’s wrath, and therefore the fear of eternal separation from God is done away with. We of course can fall under God’s discipline due to our sins, and we might fear His discipline, but we don’t have the dread of fearing God’s wrath.

For believers, the primary meaning of the fear of God is veneration and honor, reverence and awe. Jerry Bridges wrote: “It is the attitude that elicits from our hearts adoration and love, reverence and honor. It focuses not upon the wrath of God but upon the majesty, holiness, and transcendent glory of God.^”²

We read, for example, that when Isaiah was in God’s presence he was overwhelmed by God’s glory and majesty. His response showed how in awe he was at being in the presence of such purity and holiness: “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”³

The apostle John, when writing about seeing Jesus in heaven, wrote: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me … When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not …’”⁴ These were responses to a profound sense of veneration, honor, and awe.

We often focus on the love, mercy, and grace of God, while paying less attention to His awesomeness, glory, majesty, holiness, and power. But all of these are attributes of God, and sometimes there is a healthy tension in our hearts between the two. Jesus told His disciples to address God as Father, which indicates a close personal relationship. By the same token, it is right to acknowledge the reverence, awe, majesty, and glory of God. And it is this side of our relationship to Him that is expressed when we experience the fear of God. We see this awe and reverence expressed in both the Old and New Testaments.

Part of our relationship with the Lord is to “fear” Him in the sense of venerating Him, giving Him profound reverence, honor, admiration, and adoration. Fearing Him also means confessing His absolute uniqueness, acknowledging His majesty, holiness, awesomeness, glory, and power. When we include this in our understanding of God, we are motivated to obey His Word, as we recognize that each of our sins is an affront to His dignity and majesty. Our reverence for God will influence our behavior and regulate our conduct.

Love of God

The second element of a right attitude toward God is an understanding and acceptance of His love for us. Because God is perfect holiness, He must separate Himself from sin; and because we as human beings are sinners, there is a separation between God and humanity. However, through Jesus’ death on the cross, that separation has been spanned. In the book of 1 John, we read that God is love, and John goes on to explain that God showed His love to us through sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins—to be the sacrifice which allowed our sins to be forgiven, and our relationship with God to be restored.

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.^”⁵

As Christians, we understand that without God’s love manifested through Jesus’ sacrifice, we would be subject to God’s wrath. In His love for humanity, God made it possible for us to avoid the judgment that He must mete out on sin, because of His pure holiness; and He did this through Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. He ransomed us from the penalty of our sin. Of course, we see God’s love manifested in many ways—through the beautiful world we live in, His creation, His supply, our families and friends, and so much more. But the principal way we experience His love is through accepting the sacrifice He made in order to restore us to fellowship with Him—the sacrificial death of Jesus.

As those who wish to be more like Jesus, we see salvation not just as something that God has made available to humanity, but to each of us personally. When we read that God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,⁶ we take this to mean that “God loves me personally.” This knowledge of God’s personal love for us, His forgiveness of our sins, our personal restoration to fellowship with Him is the basis of our growth in Christlikeness.

The beauty of God’s love and forgiveness is that it is a work of grace; it rests solely on the work of Jesus and is given to us as a gift of love. Since it is based on grace, and not on our works or behavior, His love for us can never change. His love is unconditional; so no matter how many spiritual ups and downs, sins, failures, or bouts of discouragement we may experience, we can be assured that God still loves us. We are accepted into God’s family and loved by God as one of His children for the sole reason that we are united with His Son through salvation. Nothing will separate us from God and His love.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”⁷

This awareness of and confidence in God’s unconditional love for us should motivate us to deeper devotion to God, compelling us to align ourselves—mind, body, soul, and spirit—with Him.

Desire for God

Our desire for God is seen in what King David wrote: “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”⁸

Since God is spirit, David wasn’t gazing on God’s physical beauty, but on His attributes. Because of who God is, because of His love for us, we desire fellowship with Him. Like Enoch and Noah, we want to “walk with God.”⁹ We desire to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever,”¹⁰ to abide in Him and He in us.¹¹

Our desire for God is more than serving Him and more than prayer or Bible reading, though these things are part of it. Desiring the Lord means longing for Him, for His fellowship and His presence in our lives. We see the culmination of our future fellowship with God in the description of new Jerusalem, when He dwells with His people on earth.

“I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.’”¹²

The call that Jesus gave to one of the churches in Revelation is also a call for us today: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”¹³

Sharing a meal with someone was understood to mean having fellowship with them. Our desire for God includes our wish to fellowship with Him, to know Him better, to love Him more deeply. When we spend time in His presence, we radiate His attributes—His love, kindness, warmth, and mercy—to others.

Our reverence and awe of the Lord, our understanding of His deep love for us, and our deep desire for Him create within us God-centered devotion, which is the foundation for becoming like Him.

Originally published November 2016. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Reuben Ruchevsky.

¹ Genesis 3:9–10.

² This article is based on points taken from The Practice of Godliness (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2010), by Jerry Bridges.

³ Isaiah 6:5 ESV.

⁴ Revelation 1:12, 17 ESV.

⁵ 1 John 4:9–10 ESV.

⁶ John 3:16.

⁷ Romans 8:38–39 ESV.

⁸ Psalm 27:4 ESV.

⁹ Genesis 5:21–24; 6:9.

¹⁰ Psalm 23:6.

¹¹ John 15:4.

¹² Revelation 21:2–3 NAU.

¹³ Revelation 3:20.

Brave Like a Gurkha

September 22, 2021

By Tina Kapp

The Gurkhas are an indigenous people largely located in midwestern and eastern Nepal. They made up military units in the Nepalese, Indian, and British armies and were known for being absolutely fearless. My favorite example of their bravery is from Tim Bowden’s book, One Crowded Hour. During the 1964 Malaysian and Indonesian conflict in Borneo, a Gurkha regiment in the British Army was fighting the Indonesians. They were asked if they would jump from the transport planes above the battlefield, if that turned out to be the best course of action.

They could refuse, due to the fact that none of them had gone through any paratrooper training, but generally, the Gurkhas never said no to anything they were asked to do. However, this time they said that they would need to talk it over.

The next day they went back to the British officers and said that after discussing it, they had agreed they could do it under specific conditions. The Gurkhas first requested that they be dropped over marshy or relatively soft ground, as they weren’t experienced at falling. Since the theater of the operation was near a jungle, they expected it should be possible to find such a landing spot.

Next, “If possible,” the Gurkhas continued, “We’d like the plane to fly as slowly as possible and no more than 100 feet from the ground when we jump.” The British officer said they always fly slowly when dropping troops, but that 100 feet was much too close to the ground—the parachutes wouldn’t have time to open.

“In that case, you can drop us anywhere!” the Gurkhas said. “You hadn’t mentioned the parachutes.”

Now that’s bravery! As former chief of staff of the Indian Army Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw famously said, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he’s a Gurkha.”

The first Bible story that comes to mind when thinking of bravery and courage is Daniel and his three best buddies. All of them faced the choice of sticking to their beliefs and facing death (by fiery furnace or hungry lions), or they could take the easy way out, deny their faith, and go along with the crowds.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all had high-ranking positions in the government. They didn’t go around antagonizing people or always bringing up their differences in religion; they simply lived their faith. However, when the king (or his jealous advisors) pushed too far, they stood their ground and didn’t compromise on their beliefs, and God came through for them in big ways! I love how the king, after finding out that his advisors had tricked him into having Daniel thrown into the lions’ den, told him, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”¹ Everyone was well aware of Daniel’s faith and who had first place in his life.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know that God was going to bail them out when they refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. They boldly said that even if God didn’t rescue them, they still wouldn’t bow down.

After seeing God save them from the fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke, Nebuchadnezzar shouted, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”²

After that, the king declared it illegal to say anything against their God, and to sweeten the deal, he gave them all a promotion. Imagine if they had decided that it would really be smarter to just bow down this one time. They would have missed out being a testimony of their faith to the whole kingdom, not to mention missing out on going down as examples of bravery and faith to all of us who read the Bible today.

You might not feel like the bravest soul, and it can actually be hard to speak up when you need to, but with the Lord behind you, you can do it when the time comes. This is something King David knew well when he said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”³

Paul told the Corinthians, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”⁴

Following in Jesus’ footsteps, we have learned to be tolerant and understanding, turn the other cheek, and forgive those that hurt us. All of that is important and a big part of what it means to be a Christian; however, Jesus also spoke out against wrongdoing. He said a lot of things that were hard sayings even when He knew some people wouldn’t like it, because it was the truth. He didn’t say things to be popular or go along with whatever was the going trend at the time. He spoke only the truth.

Telling others about the will of His Father and at times speaking unpopular truths didn’t mean that Jesus went around bashing others for being different from Him and yelling at people, telling them that they were all sinners and going to hell. When I lived in Uganda, I noticed that there were some preachers who thought the Great Commission meant going around to the streets outside of the pubs and yelling in angry, raspy voices about God’s judgment and eternal damnation. I think that kind of preaching pushes people away from wanting to know more about God and His message of love and forgiveness.

Jesus talked to everyone and shared His message even with those who were not likely to receive it, and taught His disciples how to do the same. He taught them to be wise and to be an example of their faith through their kindness and actions. At the same time, when the crunch came, they knew when they had to stand up for their faith—a faith that often inspired people because of their strength of character and fearlessness. Rabindranath Tagore said, “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.”⁵

It takes courage to be a witness to your faith in the presence of rejection or opposition, but as Jesus told His first disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”⁶^,⁷

¹ Daniel 6:16 NIV.

² Daniel 3:28 NIV.

³ Psalm 27:1 KJV.

⁴ 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV.

⁵ Rabindranath Tagore (May 7, 1861–August 7, 1941) was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region’s literature and music.

⁶ John 16:33 NKJV

⁷ Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast.

An Instrument of His Peace

September 21, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 12:13
Download Audio (11.1MB)

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.—Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi

The prayer of St. Francis is a prayer loaded with spiritual meaning. For one, the words of the first few lines indicate how we should live our lives. In this world full of darkness, despair, and sorrow, we should be people who promote light, hope, and joy. This prayer is all about living our lives just as Jesus did during His time here on Earth. Living in a similar way is the most effective way of reflecting the image of God through our lives as His creation. …

Though born to a wealthy family, [St. Francis] chose to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ later on. It is said that he even had a vision where Christ told him to “repair my church,” and so he did with his own hands. He chose to live a life pleasing to Christ, even if it meant leaving his material wealth behind.

For many of us, we may not be called to the same path as St. Francis. However, as followers of Jesus, we are all called to be like Him and to live as He did. … This prayer reminds us of how we ought to behave every day, especially in the way we treat others.—From Christianity.com¹

Sowing love, forgiveness, and joy

There is a tendency in human nature and especially in our society today to make everything selfish, to focus inward on the all-important “me,” while overlooking the way our behavior and attitudes affect those around us. It is so easy to forget that focusing on others is an important way of focusing on God, and some of our best opportunities to serve God well are found in serving our neighbor well. …

Because one response prompts another, even the smallest of actions can have a huge effect. We’ve all experienced having a day made or ruined because of one simple interaction with another person, having one quick word or gesture change everything. Our lives are full of opportunities to make a difference in someone else’s life, whether positive or negative, and rather than simply avoiding harm, our goal should be to actively choose love and be a true “instrument of God’s peace.”

Because God’s love itself is boundless, it is impossible to count or list the ways that we can reflect His love and share it with others. St. Francis’ prayer, however, can be divided into three particular ways. The first of these is an attitude of mercy and forgiveness, as we pray, “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon.” Throughout the Bible, our Lord repeatedly reminds us of the importance of forgiveness, telling us that there can be no limit to the number of times we forgive those who have hurt us. We must cultivate an attitude of compassion, of offering mercy rather than revenge, even when it is difficult to do so. This can be done in so many ways—whether it is giving up the hurt of an old family fight or simply defending someone from malicious gossip, whether you know the person or not.

St. Francis also focuses on the love we show by simply being joyful and positive people: “Where there is despair, hope; where there is sadness, joy.” Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness for God’s blessings does so much, not only for those who we come in contact with, but also for ourselves, because by reminding others to be grateful, we remind ourselves as well.

It is amazing how little we have to do to raise someone’s spirits—a quick visit to an elderly or sick neighbor, a “just because” gift, or simply noticing someone and giving them a compliment and a smile. How often is the phrase heard that someone’s random act of kindness has “restored my faith in humanity”? When we live a life in Christ full of holy joy, we restore not only faith in humanity, but also more importantly, faith in God.—Rebecca Smith²

Seeking to understand

The Prayer of Saint Francis says, “Master, grant that I may not seek … to be understood, [but] to understand.” It’s not always easy to understand others. Each person comes with a different background, experiences, hopes, and dreams, and what makes perfect sense to me might not to someone else.

Because we’re all wired so differently, it can be pretty challenging to understand why people think and act the way they do. I think the natural tendency, though, is to assume others are like us—or to expect them to be like us. This can cause us to jump to conclusions. The problem with jumping to conclusions is that we very often miss landing on the right conclusion or even make the wrong conclusion. I could assume that something someone did or said was stupid, arrogant, or unkind because I don’t understand their motives or their circumstances.

It is so easy to assume. It is much tougher to take the time to find out the reasons behind a person’s actions or attitudes. It means that we have to step out of our own shoes—our own understanding, experiences, likes and dislikes—and into someone else’s. We have to intentionally seek to understand and move beyond our own assumptions.

The Bible tells us to “judge not”³ But when it seems like someone else is wrong or even just different or outside our personal experience, it can be hard to see much else. Before we even try to understand them, too often the tendency can be to put them in a box and slap a label on it. While we know (technically) that we’re not perfect ourselves, that’s often quickly forgotten when we’re confronted by the seeming imperfections of others.

When I see a flaw in someone else, I know that too often the last thing I’m thinking is “Well, I’m not perfect either.” But what if I were perfect. Would I then be in a place to judge? Not according to the Bible. “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”⁴

There has only ever been one perfect Person, Jesus. He never sinned—never has and never will. If anyone is in a position to judge, He is. So how did He deal with other people and their screw-ups? What kind of example did He set for us for interacting with all those less-than-perfect people?

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well,⁵ He had a prime opportunity to set her straight on a few things. However, that wasn’t His objective. Jesus didn’t judge her, and He didn’t write her off at face value—based on her appearance or her history. He took the time to really look at her.

Jesus sat with that woman and listened to her questions, her doubts, her misgivings. He took the time to answer her. He saw all she was and all she could be. Obviously, Jesus understood her well enough to be able to reach her on her own level, because she ran back to tell the whole town about Him. She had known Jesus not even a day, but she trusted Him enough to point to Him as the Savior. Because Jesus truly understood her, He was able to reach not only her but many others in that Samaritan town.

How often do we judge people based on their appearance or their actions, without first trying to understand what makes them tick? How often do we label others—and then treat them according to those labels—never stopping to hear their full story?

Who knows what friendships we can forge or opportunities to share the gospel by choosing to love and understand over labels and assumptions? Perhaps that person we have labeled and avoided is at a point in life where they could desperately use a word of encouragement or a friendly gesture. You have to let go of the labels and assumptions before you can truly understand and value the person for who they are—a fellow human being created in God’s image, someone for whom Jesus died on the cross, someone in need of His love and our understanding.—Marie Story⁶

Published on Anchor September 2021. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by John Listen.

¹ https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/what-is-the-prayer-of-st-francis-origin-and-meaning.html.

² https://catholicexchange.com/make-me-an-instrument-of-your-peace.

³ Matthew 7:1.

⁴ James 4:11–12.

⁵ John 4:4–42.

⁶ https://just1thing.com/podcast/2012/3/16/but-to-understand.html.

The Alpha and the Omega: Revelation Chapter One

September 20, 2021

By David Brandt Berg

Audio length: 7:53
Download Audio (7.2MB)

The history of mankind began in the Garden of Eden, but it has taken God over 6,000 years to unfold His plan to save mankind and redeem him and work out his salvation, to populate the world, and get people saved and get them through the Tribulation and into the heaven on earth of the Millennium. This revelation of the future as told by God to Jesus and to His archangel, who delivered the message, was recorded by John in the book of Revelation.

The first verse of the first chapter of Revelation says, “Things which must shortly come to pass”—that means soon. Then at the end of the third verse, it says, “for the time is at hand,” which means it is near. This book began in John’s day and it is foretelling the future, much of which is now history.

According to the Bible, the “last days” really began with Jesus when He first came to earth. The author of Hebrews writes, “In these last days.”¹ In other words, in these last days since Jesus has come. The last days of man’s history range from Christ’s first coming to His second coming. And in fact, right on through the Millennium for another thousand years. Those are really the last days for people on this earth who are unsaved and not redeemed.

John is writing this revelation in seven letters to the seven churches in Asia. In those days they didn’t have any carbon copies, so he wrote one long letter which they took to the different churches, and it was read in them to the believers. John was living on a little island just off the coast of Turkey, not far from these churches. He was like their bishop and he was naturally concerned and burdened about these very important churches.

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come. And from the seven spirits which are before His throne.” We find out who those spirits are later; they’re the angels of God, the angels of these churches to whom he’s writing. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead.”²

Jesus was the first one to rise from the dead, and then immediately after He rose from the dead, three days after His crucifixion, all the Old Testament saints also rose from the dead.³ But He was the first one that rose, “first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.” He is the King of kings.

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”⁴ Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He took our punishment for us so we could be saved just by believing on Him, receiving Him as our Savior into our hearts, loving Him and His Father God, and the Holy Spirit, and loving others, our neighbors as ourselves, and preaching the gospel in all the world to every creature.

In the seventh verse, we read: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” When Jesus comes back to rapture His saints, He’s going to come back in the clouds just the way He went away on the day of Ascension. Just like His disciples watched Him go up in the clouds, they’re going to see Him come down in the clouds. “Every eye shall see Him”—no secret Rapture—“and they also which pierced Him”—those who crucified Him. “And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.”⁵ The whole earth is going to see Jesus come when He returns to rescue His children out of this world.

Jesus goes on to say then: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”⁶ Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, so Jesus is saying that He is the beginning and the ending.

This same dear apostle who received this revelation wrote the following in the first part of his Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.”⁷

John then says, “I was in the isle that is called Patmos for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”⁸ He was literally in exile; he was a kind of prisoner for being a witness to the Word of God.

While he was on the isle of Patmos, he preached to more people than ever before, even though the Romans tried to get rid of him. He wrote: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.”⁹

Jesus himself commanded him that he was to write all this down in a book, and that’s what he did, and we’ve got the book to show for it today. Then John says: “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man. … And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”¹⁰

That is a picture of Jesus Christ as the apostle John saw Him in the book of this marvelous revelation. There stands Jesus in all His glory, in all His beauty, ready to speak to the apostle John, standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, seven beautiful bright lights, with seven stars in His hand. What a beautiful picture!

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.” He has already said this in verse 8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, that which is, and which was, and which is yet to come.” Verse 18, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore.” Jesus died, was crucified and rose again from the dead, and now He lives for evermore.

So He says to John, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”¹¹ Jesus is going to tell him the history of now and hereafter.

The Lord does not want us to be ignorant, brethren, but to know the things which must shortly come to pass.¹² And this is what He was telling the apostle John in that day, nearly 2,000 years ago now, about AD 107 on the isle of Patmos, where he was exiled by the Romans.

Originally published April 1981. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Jon Marc.

¹ Hebrews 1:2.

² Revelation 1:4–5.

³ Matthew 27:52–53.

⁴ Revelation 1:4–5.

⁵ Revelation 1:7.

⁶ Revelation 1:8.

⁷ John 1:1–3.

⁸ Revelation 1:9.

⁹ Revelation 1:10–11.

¹⁰ Revelation 1:12–16.

¹¹ Revelation 1:19.

¹² 1 Thessalonians 4:13; Revelation 1:1.

17 – The Heart of It All: The Nature and Character of God

The Heart of It All

Peter Amsterdam

2012-06-26

Conclusion

(For an introduction and explanation regarding this series overall, please see The Heart of It All: Introduction.)

When looking at God’s nature and character, we can see that God has many attributes, and these attributes are who He is. It’s not as if God is partly righteous and partly merciful, or that sometimes He’s patient and at other times He’s wrathful. God’s attributes are God’s essence. He’s not divided into parts. He is all of His attributes all of the time. What He is determines what He does, and His actions are based on His essence. He is infinitely whole and perfect in each of His attributes, and these perfect attributes are in complete harmony one with another. Everything God does is consistent with all of His attributes.

God’s Attributes: Equal and Consistent

There are times in Scripture when some attribute of God is emphasized more than another. Certainly God’s holiness, justice, and wrath are more prominently displayed in the Old Testament, though His love, mercy, patience, omniscience, and power are clearly evident as well. Love and grace are in the forefront throughout the New Testament, but there is no hiding the wrath that it also contains.

The God of the Old Testament and the New Testament is the same God—infinitely just, holy, loving, and merciful in both time periods, and all that He did is completely consistent with all of His attributes. Old Testament believers lived within the covenant that God made with Israel, in which the law, given through Moses, was predominant. New Testament believers live under a new covenant since the death and resurrection of Jesus and the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers. They are different covenants with the same God, and while certain aspects of God’s nature may have been emphasized in Scripture at different times, this doesn’t negate the other parts of His nature.

Both the old and new covenants, and God’s actions in both eras, were based on the fullness of God’s Being. Holiness, righteousness, love, mercy, grace, patience, wrath, aseity, eternity, immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and all of God’s attributes are woven throughout both Testaments because God’s actions are based on God’s Being; and His Being, the essence of who God is, is found in His attributes.

There are some theologians who have argued that love is the most important, or dominant, attribute of God, and that all others are based on God’s love. Others have argued that His holiness, righteousness, or some other attribute is the most important part of God’s Being. These positions are not held by the majority of theologians. The implication of one attribute being more important or dominant leads to the possibility that some of God’s actions could be inconsistent with His divine nature.—That He would possibly set aside one attribute in favor of another, and would act contrary to one of His attributes. This would then mean that God could change in His nature, that He could act in an unrighteous manner, and could be unloving or unholy, which as we see from Scripture is not possible.

While the Bible specifically tells us that God is love, it doesn’t state that God is only love. Scripture also specifically states that God is spirit, is light, and is a consuming fire. Again, it does not state that God is only any of these things.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.^[1]

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.^[2]

This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.^[3]

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.^[4]

Our God is a consuming fire.^[5]

When God told Moses about Himself, He said He was merciful, gracious, patient, loving, faithful, forgiving, just, and righteous.

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.”^[6]

God’s being is a unity of all of His attributes. None are separate from another, or more important than another. They all make up the essence of God.

Learning, Understanding, Worshipping

Learning about God’s nature and character helps us to have a better understanding of God. It is of course not possible to know all there is about God, but we can know what He has revealed about Himself through Scripture. What He has revealed shows that He is worthy of all honor, respect, praise, and worship. He is the awesome God of Scripture.

Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?^[7]

Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He! The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!^[8]

O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments.^[9]

He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name!^[10]

God’s Personal Care, and our Faith in Him

The Creator of all things, who has the power to speak creation into being, who knows all there is to know, who is from everlasting to everlasting, who is infinite in all of His Being, is not some faraway entity who pays no attention to the world and all that is in it. The opposite is true. God is personal. God being personal means that He enters relationships with us. He loves and interacts with us. He listens to us, cares for us, and answers our prayers. He entered our world and died for us so that we can live with Him forever.

He is concerned about His creatures, humans in particular. He made them in His image, He has entered into covenants with them, and He establishes relationships with them. He loves them and cares about them, does good for them, and finds pleasure in them. Though His image-bearing creations sinned by turning away from His will, God didn’t abandon them and cast them out. His self-giving love made a way for humans to be forgiven for their sins and to become reconciled to Him. Jesus suffered and died specifically for our sins. The personal, merciful, loving, and gracious God, in an act of deep love for those He created, brought forth the plan of redemption.

God’s holiness, righteousness, justice, and constancy are those attributes that give a foundation for our faith and trust in God. He is unchanging, the Rock, the strong tower in which we are safe. He is infinitely holy, so we can know that He will never do anything toward us which is unholy. He is infinitely righteous and just, so we can know He will always treat us fairly. Because He is constant in His nature and character, we know He will always act lovingly toward us, and will always be merciful and patient.

His omniscience and omnipotence help to engender faith that what God has said in His Word will happen, as He has the power to make it happen. When we pray for ourselves or others, when we lay hands on the sick, when we ask Him for anything, we can pray in faith, knowing that the all-powerful One can do all things which are according to His will and purpose.

Being aware of the unity of His attributes, the harmony between them, can help us to have a more trusting attitude when we can’t make sense of some of what happens in the world around us. Knowing that God is holy and just, that He hates evil, and that He will judge those who do evil, but that He is also patient, can help us to know that the injustice in the world will be dealt with, that vengeance belongs to God. When we consider His attributes in balance, it helps to guide us in our lives, decisions, and interactions with others. We too should hate evil, sin, and injustice, but we should also be loving, kind, merciful, and patient with others.

Knowing that God is uncreated Spirit, that His Being is unique and different from all other being, that He made all things, knows all things, and can do all things, can help us to accept that there are some things about God that are beyond our knowledge and understanding. We don’t know all His thoughts and ways, and we can’t always have answers to every question we have about Him. We can, however, know that because God is true to His nature, we can trust that He will act in accordance with His nature. Even if we may not understand everything about Him or why He does what He does, He has revealed to us His essence, His nature and character, His attributes, His power and abilities, and we know that these are what God is and always will be. Knowing this can help us have faith to trust in Him, even if we don’t have complete understanding of Him or His actions.

Knowing more about God’s nature and character, about His awesomeness, can and should cause us to love, praise, and worship Him. He’s the One who created the universe, who made the beautiful world in which we live. He loves and cares about us, so much so that He wants us to live with Him for eternity—which He has made possible through His ultimate love gift, the free gift of salvation.

God is wonderful! He loves us so deeply. He cares about every person. He cares about you personally. It’s a wonderful thing to know that He has made it possible for us to be with Him for eternity and that He has commissioned us to help others to learn about Him, His love, and the wonderful salvation that is available to all.

Note

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Other versions cited are The New International Version (NIV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), The New Revised Standard Version (NRS), The New King James Version (NKJV), and the King James Version (KJV).

General bibliography for all “Nature and Character of God” articles

Barth, Karl. The Doctrine of God, Vol. 2, Parts 1 and 2.Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2010.

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996.

Cottrell, Jack. What the Bible Says About God the Creator. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1983.

Craig, William Lane. The Doctrine of Christ, Defenders Series Lectures.

Garrett, Jr., James Leo. Systematic Theology, Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical, Vol. 1. N. Richland Hills: BIBAL Press, 2000.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Lewis, Gordon R., and Demarest, Bruce A. Integrative Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

Miley, John. Systematic Theology. New York: Hunt and Eaton, 1892.

Milne, Bruce. Know the Truth, A Handbook of Christian Belief. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009.

Mueller, John Theodore. Christian Dogmatics, A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934.

Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Rockford: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1960.

Packer, J. I. The Attributes of God 1 and 2. Lecture Series.

Williams, J. Rodman. Renewal Theology, Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

^[1] 1 John 4:8.

^[2] 1 John 4:16.

^[3] 1 John 1:5.

^[4] John 4:24.

^[5] Hebrews 12:29.

^[6] Exodus 34:6–7.

^[7] Exodus 15:11.

^[8] Psalm 99:3–5.

^[9] Nehemiah 1:5.

^[10] Psalm 111:9.

What We Can Learn from the Pandemic (Part 4)

By Peter Amsterdam

September 14, 2021

Caring for Our Mental and Emotional Well-Being

In the second part of this series, I covered the topic of some of the emotional challenges of loneliness, isolation, and worry that many have experienced as a result of the pandemic and the impact it has had on our everyday lives. Some of you have shared that you have battled depression and a sense of hopelessness, as these difficult times have continued on for an extended period of time. You may have been tempted to wonder if life will ever go back to “normal.”

Maybe you have been feeling like you are just going through the motions. I think it’s easy to try to ignore these feelings and just keep pushing through the days, one after another. Then everyday life starts to feel like a grind, lacking in joy and a sense of purpose and new possibilities. These emotions and feelings can come as a result of many circumstances, but the pandemic seems to have pushed many people into this state over time. This can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being, and can affect how we cope with the everyday events of life.

If you have experienced this, you can be encouraged that you’re not alone; others have had similar struggles. And the good news is that there is nothing we can face in this life that is too hard for the Lord or beyond His reach or outside His care and provision for us. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”¹ Thank the Lord that He has called us to hope and the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people.²

It goes without saying that our first line of defense when we are battling emotional issues of any kind is seeking the Lord’s guidance and comfort in His Word, reading devotional writings that lift our spirits and give us a clearer perspective, committing all our burdens and cares to the Lord, and seeking Him for any specific guidance He may have for us.

Because of your faith, rooted in God’s Word and decades of experience in His service, you are in a good position to endure the circumstances of the pandemic with courage and resilience. But even the strongest people can burn out and be affected by discouraging circumstances that continue over long periods of time, to the point that you don’t have the same bounce in your step or hope for the future. This is not weakness or spiritual apathy or because you’ve done something wrong. These types of struggles are the result of living in a fallen world and facing the many complications and difficulties that bring about stress, sadness, and a loss of vision or hope.

I’m not an expert on the topic of mental health and emotional well-being, so I did some research online and found some helpful coping strategies. I’ll touch on some of the main ones. Several of these strategies are not new to us, as they are related to healthy living, which as we know is an important part of living a balanced life.

Stay connected with people. As noted previously in this series, loneliness is a major factor that affects mental and emotional well-being. One article explained it as follows:

Loneliness not only negatively impacts your mental health, but it has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and memory problems. It can even interfere with sleep. When it comes to mental health, loneliness feeds symptoms. Loneliness exacerbates the symptoms of illnesses like depression, social anxiety and alcoholism. As difficult as it is to do, try to take the initiative to reach out to others. If you’re feeling down, you really need to push yourself even when it’s hard. The best way to meet other people is by getting involved with something you like. … Over time, the loneliness will fade.³

Granted, you might not be able to do the exact same things you’ve done before, but with some ingenuity and perseverance, you can find new ways to stay connected to friends and family. While face-to-face time is preferred, and a warm hug from a friend or loved one can work wonders, if that’s not possible, seeing their face and hearing their voice on the phone or over Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom is a wonderful alternative. You can still keep each other updated, pray together, encourage one another, and share one another’s burdens.

When making an effort to connect with people, it is helpful to spend time with those who have a positive impact on you, those who appreciate and value you. Notice how someone makes you feel, and continue to build bonds with those who leave you feeling positive, enriched, and challenged.

Keep active. Even with the restrictions of the pandemic (or other emergencies in your area), you can still keep active. You might not be able to do the group activities you prefer, but hopefully you can still exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Being in nature, breathing fresh air, keeping fit, having a change of scenery, and benefiting from movement and exercise have a positive impact on your emotional health.

Walking, running, cycling, swimming, dancing and even gardening can all help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Try not to think about it as exercise and think about moving instead. Start out with something small, like walking to the neighborhood coffee shop, then the next day try to go a little further. Slowly work your way up to a brisk walk every day. The combination of fresh air and movement will help your mind and body.⁴

Be kind to yourself. When you are experiencing times of discouragement or depression, try to be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up in your thoughts. Be gentle with yourself instead of critical. Make a conscious effort to stop the negative self-talk and don’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself.

Being mindful of your positive attributes helps to develop healthy self-esteem. For example, you can remind yourself of what you’re good at. You can keep in mind the nice things that people have said about you.

Most importantly, remember that our identity as Christians, our sense of worth and self-esteem, is based on the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who created us specifically in love. He came to this world and gave His life for us. Not only that, but He has promised that we will live in an eternal world of beauty and joy in eternal bodies. When our view of ourselves is fully grounded in God’s unconditional love, and our identity is that of a child of God with an eternal destiny, regardless of our faults and failings, that helps to build positive feelings about your full potential when you are in sync with Him.

How the Lord sees you is expressed beautifully in the song by Lauren Daigle called “You Say.” Here are some of the words of this song:

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

You say I am loved
When I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong
When I think I am weak
You say I am held
When I am falling short
When I don’t belong
You say I am Yours
And I believe
I believe
What You say of me
I believe

You can find the official video of the song here ⁵ on YouTube, where it’s been viewed by over 220 million people!

Try something new. You might feel nervous about doing something new, especially if you’ve been isolated for an extended period of time and are out of practice with stepping outside of your comfort zone. But if the Lord leads you to take the plunge, even if it’s scary initially, you can find renewed confidence and a greater sense of well-being and faith for the future.

This also includes learning new skills. This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A sense of well-being and achievement can be gained by attempting new things, such as learning to cook a new recipe, trying a do-it-yourself (DIY) project, taking on a new hobby, studying a new subject via online videos and tutorials. Choose something you enjoy that is free or affordable and easy to implement, and go for it!

Give to others. Acts of kindness and generosity do wonders for your mental and emotional well-being. You can give of your time by helping someone in need or by being a listening ear. You can volunteer in your community. “The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”⁶

Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of wellbeing research.

Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.

Research into actions for promoting happiness has shown that committing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing.⁷

Focus on the moment. Staying present in the moment, being conscious of others around you and your circumstances, helps to avoid your thoughts drifting to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We can’t change the past, and we can’t control tomorrow.⁸ Today is what we have to work with and what the Lord gives us faith for,⁹ so let’s make the most of it by giving the demands of the day and the good things around us our full attention.

Sometimes introducing small changes into your daily routine can help your thoughts stay focused. This can be as simple as taking a new route on your walk, having your coffee iced instead of hot, greeting someone on your walk who you’ve seen but haven’t said hello to before, etc.

Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savoring “the moment” can help to reaffirm your life priorities.¹⁰

Take care of your body. We are all aware of the importance of our health. Self-care is not selfish. Jesus wants us to stay healthy in order to be good ambassadors for Him. We can increase our sense of well-being when we take the steps necessary to stay healthy, which includes eating nutritious food (limiting sugar and processed foods), drinking enough water, getting sufficient exercise, and having a regular schedule that allows for sufficient sleep (ideally eight hours each night).

On the topic of sleep, I found the following information to be of interest:

Learn how to deal with stress. Stress is a part of life that we have to learn to deal with so it doesn’t control us. Stress can have serious consequences for our physical and mental health, and it is important that we take steps to recognize and reduce stress in our lives.

It’s helpful to be aware of your stressors. They could include such things as work pressures, financial worries, health concerns, or your loved ones’ situations. During these difficult times of the pandemic, we are all under additional stress due to concerns related to the situation. I’ve found it helpful to not watch or read so much news, as so much of what is published is bad news these days.

You will probably need to experiment until you find what best helps you to cope with stress. You might consider meditation, journaling, watching a funny movie or stand-up comedian, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, stretching, getting or giving a massage, doing a crossword puzzle or Sudoku, going on a picnic, watching a sunrise or sunset, stargazing, reading a good book, playing an instrument, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, etc.

As Christians, the act of prayer and committing our cares to the Lord is a vital component in our ongoing battle against stress. The peaceful mindset we seek is a gift from God, and He promises to give us His comfort and peace to combat uncertainty and unsettledness. There are many Bible verses ¹² that I find especially helpful when facing anxiety, such as:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.—John 16:33

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.—Psalm 4:8

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.—John 14:27

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.—Romans 15:13

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:7

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.—Jude 1:2

Thankfully, we have access to an abundance of information and instruction online and in books, which can be very helpful in identifying and applying coping strategies that can help us when we are going through challenging times. However, it’s of utmost importance that we remember that in this season of the pandemic, our greatest avenue for mental and emotional well-being is living in and staying obedient to God’s Word, seeking His presence in prayer, and being filled with His Spirit. As we do so, we can trust that He will fulfill His promises to care for us and bring us through the valleys into the light of brighter days.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.—Isaiah 40:30–31 NIV

¹ Jeremiah 32:27.

² Ephesians 1:18.

³ Cheryl Bundy, “7 Elements of Self-Care,” Silver Hill Hospital blog, June 12, 2020, https://silverhillhospital.org/community/blog-post/7-elements-of-self-care/

⁴ Bundy, “7 Elements of Self-Care.”

⁵ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI

⁶ Proverbs 11:25 NLT.

⁷ “Five ways to wellbeing,” Mind website (UK), https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/

⁸ James 4:13–15.

⁹ Matthew 6:34.

¹⁰ “Five ways to wellbeing,” Mind website.

¹¹ Bundy, “7 Elements of Self-Care.”

¹² Verses which follow are ESV, unless indicated otherwise.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Ministry of Small Things

By Diane Langberg

Be encouraged today. God is not calling you to bigger or better or more extraordinary. He is calling you to Himself. And He wants to take the small and the little and seemingly unimportant things in your life and inject them with His eternal glory. We do not need to be anxious, pressured souls. So rest in your commonness, your ordinariness, your smallness. We are but dust. Oh, but He, He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory and power, and He inhabits your dust, and He will make you full of His glory.

Run time for this audio is 35 minutes.

The “Contradictions” of Faith

September 16, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 6:38
Download Audio (6MB)

When we can see, feel, and sense the fulfillment of God’s promises in answer to our prayers, the joy it brings to our lives or the lives of those we love makes it easy to praise Him. Perhaps we put extra effort into praying for a friend, neighbor, or co-worker who is struggling, and soon we see a significant change come about in their outlook on life or circumstances. Or we put feet to our prayers by giving an extra gift to help others in need, and the Lord surprises us with a blessing that meets our needs in a meaningful way and reminds us clearly that He loves to take good care of us. Or perhaps we are faithful to take the time to pray for the Lord’s protection as we start our day, and a bit later we narrowly avoid a serious accident. Or we seek Him for some needed healing and soon start to feel improvement. These are wonderful manifestations of His care and provision.

However, at other times, life can be filled with apparent contradictions. We may have invested time, energy, prayer, and sometimes finances in seeking answers for ourselves or others, but we don’t see the outcome that we were hoping for. What then? Do we stop praying and conclude that the answer to our prayers isn’t going to come? How do we even know if God has heard us?

Of course, as the Bible tells us, we need to believe that when we call, He answers. But it’s not so easy to continue in faith if, day after day, we don’t see any change. We can be encouraged that Jesus understands our human limitations and weaknesses, and He has promised that His grace is sufficient.

In His loving, patient regard for our human frailties, He explains some important principles in the following message:

I know that sometimes it takes hanging on by faith when you don’t see the fruit of My promises when you feel you need them. That is what faith and trust in Me sometimes requires. For example, I have promised to keep you in all your ways, I have vowed that I will never leave you or forsake you, but you still have problems, get sick or hurt, make mistakes, face opposition, go through painful experiences, and eventually you die in this world.

You could be tempted to ask how that is “keeping you in all your ways.” The reality is that you need to trust Me regardless of the difficulties and challenges of this life. You need to believe that even when things don’t look like it to you, you are always safeguarded and preserved and shielded by Me. Sometimes that challenge or obstacle that you want to be kept from can be what will ultimately bring about good in your life and bless you with greater faith and victory in the long run.

There are so many examples of how faith has to be based on Me and the promises in My Word rather than on outcomes that you can see and touch and feel. I have promised that when you ask in faith, you will receive. So you may wonder why you don’t see the results and the answers to your prayers in every situation.

What about faith when it comes to healing? When you ask Me to heal you or someone else, I respond to your petition with the answer that will bring you or others closer to Me. Your part as My child is to ask Me to bring the answers and solutions that I know are best, and then to do what I show you to do, and trust in Me to work according to My will and plan. Your part is to pray for healing, and then trust Me to manifest the answer to your prayer in the way I know is best. When you claim My help, the healing has begun in the heavenly realm already. When and how the answer to your prayers is manifested is in My hands to perfect because only I can.

Remember that you see through a glass darkly; there are many things that you don’t fully understand. But I will answer your heartcry in the best way and time. If healing does not occur immediately in response to your prayers, the time of affliction can help you grow closer to Me, stronger in faith, and wiser in My wisdom. My purpose is always to bring a greater good into your life, and when it is the ideal time and place to most benefit you, I will bring the needed healing. For reasons beyond your understanding, in some cases it takes passing through death to arrive at the place of full healing.

How about everything else that comes into your life that you need to face and find your way through? Every prayer is heard and answered according to My will, but what is My will in each case for you? Because I love you, My will is to bring the best to you, but how that is manifested is in My hands.

How things transpire today affects tomorrow and the rest of your life. How can you know your future or anyone else’s? Without that understanding, how can you determine what will result in the greatest good overall? Only I can know these things.

The Holy Spirit wouldn’t need to lead you into all truth if you could reason things out yourself or judge what is true or false based on what you can comprehend. You need Our guidance, and it is freely available. Then you need to trust that everything will work together for your good, no matter how things appear in the present.

Pray for what you need and rejoice when you see immediate results, but also rejoice by faith when you don’t see what might seem best to you, because you can be assured that I will work all things together for good for you and those you pray for.

I am sovereign, not Satan, and not mankind. When you pray, remember that I love you and I love the ones you are praying for. Then leave the details of how the answers to your prayers will be manifested in My hands, because I am the only one who can see the full spectrum of the future. Pray, believe, and leave the results with Me.

Originally published January 2019. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Carol Andrews.

“Fishing for People” on Social MediaSeptember 15, 2021By Sean McDowellLast night, my mom asked me how I handle criticism on social media. I certainly can’t pretend it never bothers me, but overall, I don’t let it get me down. And the biggest reason is because of my social media philosophy. Having a purpose for why I am on social media helps me filter the negative feedback.And here it is: My goal is to “fish for people” online, as Jesus did “offline.”(Read the article here.)How to “Fish for People” on Social Media | Sean McDowell

Suffering and Blessing

September 14, 2021

A compilation

Audio length: 10:41
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For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.—Romans 8:18

Someone once asked me if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s disease and other medical problems when I have tried to serve him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence.

God may permit suffering so we learn to respond to problems in a biblical way. Scripture tells us that Jesus “learned obedience from what He suffered.”¹ Our goal should be not merely relief from suffering but rather learning to please God by being responsive and obedient to Him and to His Word.²

Sometimes God permits us to suffer to teach us that pain is a part of life. Nowhere does the Bible say that the Christian will not suffer adversity. Paul points out in Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Adversity can be a gift from God. Christ did not evade the Cross to escape suffering. Hebrews 12:2 says he “endured the cross, despising the shame.” Why? “For the joy that was set before him.” He knew that the final word was not crucifixion (suffering), it was resurrection (victory).

God may permit suffering for our well-being. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”³ We must accept this by faith and pray that God’s highest good will come as a result of our suffering. Only through adversity are some of the deeper lessons of life learned. Trust God to work out His own will and purpose in us so that we might be more Christlike.⁴ There is no redemptive merit in our suffering as there was in that of Jesus, but if we are faithful under adversity we may be able to share in “the fellowship of his sufferings.”⁵

We may suffer briefly, or all our lives. But let us not give up hope or engage in self-pity or bitterness. The end result is what we all look forward to. Being with the Lord in heaven will put all things into perspective!—Billy Graham⁶

Most of the Psalms were born in difficulty. Most of the Epistles were written in prisons. Most of the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers of all time had to pass through the fire. Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress from jail. Florence Nightingale, too ill to move from her bed, reorganized the hospitals of England. Semiparalyzed and under the constant menace of apoplexy, Pasteur was tireless in his attack on disease. During the greater part of his life, American historian Francis Parkman suffered so acutely that he could not work for more than five minutes as a time. His eyesight was so wretched that he could scrawl only a few gigantic words on a manuscript, yet he contrived to write twenty magnificent volumes of history. Sometimes it seems that when God is about to make preeminent use of a man, he puts him through the fire.—Tim Hansel ⁷

Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel. Although his captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, they could not defeat him. He testified, “Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night.”

During this time he turned to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested, and asked, “Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?” His response: “I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way.” These two men exemplify the supernatural joy that can be experienced by believers who live on the edge of death as the result of being severely persecuted.

Salvation, which brings strength for today and hope for tomorrow, lasts forever. Therefore, we don’t have to be defeated by troublesome circumstances. When we know we are saved, we have the assurance that God is at work in our lives, preparing us for the eternal realities of the better world. Yes, salvation is life’s greatest blessing.—H.V.L., Our Daily Bread

The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect.”⁸ If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. It is true that we can’t expect to understand His mind perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”⁹ Sometimes God’s perfect will includes sadness and suffering for His children. But we can rejoice in that He never tests us beyond our ability to bear it and always provides the way out from under the burden of sorrow we bear temporarily.¹⁰

No greater suffering has ever been experienced than that of Jesus, a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”¹¹ His life was one continued series of sorrows, from the cradle to the cross. In His infancy His life was in danger from Herod, and His parents had to take Him and flee into Egypt.¹² His entire ministry was characterized by the sorrow He felt from the hardness and unbelief of men’s hearts, from the opposition of the religious leaders, and even from the fickleness of His own disciples, not to mention from the temptations of Satan. The night before His crucifixion, He was “exceedingly sorrowful unto death” as He contemplated the coming wrath and justice of God which would fall upon Him as He died for His people. So great was His agony that His sweat was as great drops of blood.¹³ Of course, the greatest sorrow of His life was when on the cross His Father hid His face from the Son, causing Jesus to cry out in agony, “Why have you forsaken me?”¹⁴ Surely no suffering experienced by any of us compares with that of the Savior.

But just as Jesus was restored to the right hand of His Father after enduring sorrow, so can we be assured that through hardships and times of sadness, God uses adversity to make us more like Christ.¹⁵ While life among sinful humanity in this world will never be perfect, we know that God is faithful and that when Christ returns, sorrow will be replaced with rejoicing.¹⁶ But in the meantime, we use our sorrow to glorify God ¹⁷ and rest in the Lord God Almighty’s grace and peace.—From gotquestions.org¹⁸

Being confident in how much Jesus loves you won’t just make you happier; it will be a stabilizing force in your life. When you are assured of His love for you, when you are aware that He is intimately concerned about your welfare and happiness, then that knowledge will give you peace in your heart and steady you, even when you suffer or face disappointments, heartbreaks, difficulties, or any other adversities that life sends your way.—Maria Fontaine

Published on Anchor September 2021. Read by Jon Marc.
Music by Michael Dooley.

¹ Hebrews 5:8 NIV.

² See Romans 12:1–2.

³ Romans 8:28 NIV.

⁴ See Romans 8:29.

⁵ Philippians 3:10.

⁶ The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook (Minneapolis: World Wide Publ., 1984), 223–25.

⁷ You Gotta Keep Dancin’ (David C. Cook, 1985), 87.

⁸ Psalm 18:30.

⁹ Isaiah 55:8–9.

¹⁰ 1 Corinthians 10:13.

¹¹ Isaiah 53:3.

¹² Matthew 2:13–14.

¹³ Matthew 26:38; Luke 22:44.

¹⁴ Matthew 27:46.

¹⁵ Romans 8:29; Hebrews 12:10.

¹⁶ Isaiah 35:10.

¹⁷ 1 Peter 1:6–7.

¹⁸ https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-sadness.html.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Meeting the Challenges

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 9:47
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Life is a battle, and it’s meant to be, because that’s where the challenge lies that brings growth. But I promise you that as you put your trust in Me, I will work every challenge for your good, no matter what you face. The specific circumstances, the trials, and your weaknesses that come up day to day are not so important. What is crucial is how you respond to these things—the conclusions that you draw and the decisions that you make. Making the right decisions is what counts most, regardless of the immediate outcomes.

I understand the pressures you face in your everyday life, how these can press upon you and the stress they can generate. There is a safety valve for all those who love Me: you can come to Me when you are burdened and weighed down, and I will give you My promised rest. You will find relief in Me. I will be your pressure valve.

When this world gets you down, when the troubles and the confusion of life surround you and close in on you, come to Me and let Me carry the weight. Ask Me to help you rise above the pressure and strain, and I will bring you to a safe and secure haven for your mind and spirit.

There is a place of retreat for you in My presence. This place is protected from the cares of the world and is your defense and refuge in times of trouble and need. When you take refuge in Me, I wipe away all your tears and fears and renew your strength and courage to face life again.

You are special to Me. Remember that when disappointments come, when all seems lost, when you’re feeling down or just plain uninspired. Inspiration comes and goes, circumstances change, but My love for you is constant. You’ll always be special to Me.

Think on the good

As you face today, think on all the positive that is to come. Don’t dwell on the things that you dread—for they will ultimately be positive too‚ as they work to make your spirit stronger. Think of the joy that you give Me each time you choose to please Me.

You can praise Me and dwell on the good things, no matter what your circumstances, while you go about your day. If you’re walking‚ you can tell Me something you love about Me; while you eat, you can think thoughts of thankfulness for My care of you—how you’re surrounded in love. As your praises flow, you will feel My joy that will give you strength.

One day you will experience joy greater than you can imagine. All the things that seem so hard to you right now will pass away, and all that you’ve learned will lift you to wonderful heights. There won’t be any tears or pain in the day when you come to live in My presence forever.

I will make full compensation for any loss or hard things you endure in this life—everything that you have forsaken for Me and the losses that you have suffered. Keep fighting for the crown of life that will be given to you for running the race and making it to the goal line.¹

So don’t focus on the rough road ahead, but look up to the promised future that awaits you at the end of the road. Don’t focus on the rocks in the way‚ but at the beauty and the good that I have created; not at the wounds and the losses, but at the strength you’ve gained in the process; not at the pain, but at the joy you will know forever when your life journey has ended.

My love for you

I love all of you, your whole soul, your whole being. All of it is precious, beautiful, and special to Me. I made you, your physical and spiritual self for My pleasure, and I am happy with My creation. When you are thankful, positive, and praiseful for how I have made you, it enhances My pleasure in you.

I am your great provider. I know you have many needs, but there is not a single one that I am not capable of fulfilling. If you need something, you can ask Me for it in faith and expectancy, knowing that I care for you and will provide for you.

If you feel the tasks and challenges before you are too great for you, you’re right! But they are never too great for Me, and I will bring My will to pass in and through you, as you commit all things to Me and follow Me closely.

So don’t let discouragement get the better of you. Don’t look at the waves that at times threaten to overwhelm you. The waves are there—the problems and your weaknesses are there, they’re not your imagination—but they cannot drown you as long as you hold on to Me. They need not control you or direct your life. As Peter walked on water‚ you can walk on the waves by faith, with your gaze fixed on Me, the author and finisher of your faith.

Do you feel low or down? Are you too tired to face today? Don’t worry, My love, I’ve got the boost you need. Come and get energized through hearing from Me for today. If you take a moment with Me, you’ll find that your heart can enter into My secret place where you can be refilled and refreshed by My power.

Come to Me

Seek My presence in the morning, and let My Spirit permeate your feelings and thoughts. I want My Spirit and Word to dwell in you richly in all wisdom,² so that you can experience My love and joy all day long, in every situation.

What blessed peace can be found in the silent moments when you and I commune together, just the two of us. Here is where you find your strength. Don’t neglect this private time with Me—it is your strength.

This day that I’ve given you is a gift, but it’s like an empty box now. As you begin your day, it is your choice as to how you will fill it. Let it be filled with beautiful things from Me.

You are a wonderful, amazing creation of Mine, that I ordained to play a role that only you can fill. I love to see you move and act and think with My power and anointing, fulfilling your destiny, the role that I created you for.

I will perfect that which concerns you. You are My beloved bride in whom I am well pleased. You have given your life and strength in love for Me and those around you. And as you give, so will it be given to you.

I love you more than you could even imagine or realize. Every day when you come to Me you receive My grace to fight on‚ and every day I set aside new joys for you to experience when you come Home. You’ll be so glad that you held on through it all when you see My face.

Originally published June 2005. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Jon Marc. Music by John Listen.

¹ James 1:12.

² Colossians 3:16.

16 – The Heart of It All:

The Nature and Character of God

Peter Amsterdam

2012-06-19

God’s Omnipotence

(For an introduction and explanation regarding this series overall, please see The Heart of It All: Introduction.)

God, who created all things out of nothing, known as creation ex nihilo, is all-powerful. The traditional word for God’s infinite power is omnipotence, which comes from two Latin words: omni, which means all, and potens, which means power. God has the power to do anything He wills to do.

In the Old Testament, when God entered into a covenant with Abraham, He said He was el Shaddai, which in Old Testament Hebrew means God Almighty, God the most powerful. El Shaddai is used six times in Genesis and Exodus and once in Ezekiel. Shaddai, meaning Almighty, is used 36 times throughout the Old Testament in reference to God. In the New Testament the Greek word for Almighty, pantokratōr, is used 10 times, mostly in the book of Revelation. The name God called Himself when He spoke with Abraham described His omnipotence.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.”^[1]

God said to [Israel], “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.”^[2]

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty.^[3]

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.^[4]

We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign.^[5]

Scripture expresses that God has the ability and the absolute power to bring about whatever is His will.

For nothing will be impossible with God.^[6]

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”^[7]

Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.^[8]

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?^[9]

I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.^[10]

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.^[11]

The awesome power of God is manifested in His creating the universe. The Bible teaches that God created the universe and all that is in it, including our world, out of nothing. It says He spoke it into being.

He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.^[12]

God … who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.^[13]

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. … And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters.” … And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” … And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation.” … And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens.” … And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth.” … And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds.” … Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”^[14]

Theologian Thomas F. Torrance describes the doctrine of creation ex nihilo in this way:

The creation of the universe out of nothing does not mean the creation of the universe out of something that is nothing, but out of nothing at all. It is not created out of anything—it came into being through the absolute fiat of God’s Word in such a way that whereas previously there was nothing, the whole universe came into being.^[15]

It’s hard to imagine a greater display of power than creating the world out of nothing! Jeremiah sees creation as being proof that nothing is too hard for God. The apostle Paul spoke about creation being one way to perceive God’s power and nature.

Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.^[16]

What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.^[17]

Considering the intricacy and complexity of the universe and of our world, having the power to create it is incredible power. I thought Jack Cottrell expressed this well:

In addition to the bare fact of creation from nothing, the omnipotence of God is magnified even more when we consider the size and nature of the universe so created. Its size is so vast that we cannot even comprehend it … Our galaxy of about 100 billion stars is about 100,000 light years in width, and there are probably close to 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe. Many of these galaxies are visible only through a 200-inch telescope whose lens took ten months to cool and eleven years to polish. Yet God spoke the whole universe into existence with a word! The amount of matter originated in that creative moment could not even be imagined. According to one calculation, our own sun loses nearly five million tons of its matter per second; yet at this rate it will still last for many billions of years.^[18]

In creating the universe, God also created the active and latent power within created things. From the atom to stars and to galaxies, there is power within God’s creation. God has created the universe with natural power that has come from the All-Powerful.

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God.^[19]

The natural power of created things is seen in the ordinary working of the world. The sun gives light and heat, plants grow, water evaporates and turns into rain, the planets rotate around the sun, and so forth.

God’s power is also sometimes seen when He operates outside the ordinary working of nature by performing miracles. He separated a sea so His people could walk through on dry ground; He sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice; He caused a virgin to conceive a child through the Holy Spirit, who was to be God Incarnate; when that child grew up, He healed the sick and raised people from the dead; after He was crucified, God raised Him from the dead and brought Him bodily to heaven. These miracles are also evidence of God’s omnipotence.

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.^[20]

The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”^[21]

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin … And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”^[22]

They took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.^[23]

The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.^[24]

God’s power is infinite, meaning that it is without any limits, immeasurable. As such, He not only has the power to do those things He has done, but also the power to do things He could do but hasn’t done. Some examples of such things mentioned in the Bible are raising up children of Abraham from stones, or sending legions of angels to deliver Jesus. While He has unlimited power and thus the ability to do these things, He didn’t do them.

Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.^[25]

Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels?^[26]

While Scripture affirms that God can do all things, it also states there are some things God cannot do. He can’t deny Himself by going against His nature and character. He can’t lie. He can’t be tempted with evil, or tempt others with evil. He can’t do wickedly or pervert justice. He won’t violate His righteousness.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful––for He cannot deny Himself.^[27]

In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.^[28]

By two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.^[29]

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one.^[30]

When the Bible says God is Almighty and can do anything, it should be understood that God can do anything which is consistent with His nature and character.

Theologian J. Rodman Williams explains it this way:

This is not omnipotence in the sense of sheer power. For the God who is Almighty is the God whose character is holiness, love, and truth. Therefore, He does, and will do, only those things that are in harmony with who He is. To say it is impossible for God to do wrong or evil does not limit His omnipotence any more than, for example, to say it is impossible for God to will His own nonexistence. These are moral and logical contradictions to the very being and nature of Almighty God. In the scripture, over and over, God’s omnipotence is associated with His character.^[31]

Jack Cottrell wrote:

Is God’s “inability” to do these things an expression of weakness on His part? Hardly! In fact, the opposite is true. If He could do these things, it would be an expression of weakness. These are negative acts, not positive ones; to do them would imply a lack of strength. That He cannot do them is not a limitation but rather an affirmation of His power. Another approach to these “cannots” is that they are contrary to the very nature of God, and obviously omnipotence does not include the requirement that God must be able to contradict His own nature. God could not sin or annihilate Himself, for these are impossibilities by the very nature of things, or more specifically, by the very nature of God.^[32]

Wayne Grudem says:

Although God’s power is infinite, His use of that power is qualified by His other attributes (just as all God’s attributes qualify all His actions).^[33]

Besides not going against His nature and character, God can’t do things that are logical impossibilities. For example, God can’t make a square circle. He can’t make 5 plus 5 equal 11. These are logically impossible.

When explaining God’s omnipotence in relation to logical impossibilities, William Lane Craig says:

Can God do things that are logically impossible? For example, could God make a square circle? Could God make a married bachelor? Could God bring it about that Jesus both came and died on the cross, and that He did not come and die on the cross? Could God make a round triangle? These sorts of things are usually exempted from God’s omnipotence. The vast majority of Christian theologians have not understood God’s omnipotence to mean that God can do things which are logically impossible. Indeed, when you think about it, these really aren’t things at all. There isn’t any such thing as a married bachelor. There’s no such thing as a round triangle. These are just combinations of words which when put together are incoherent combinations. They are just logical contradictions. Therefore to say that God cannot do logical contradictions is not to say there is something that God can’t do, because these aren’t really things at all, and thus to say that God can’t bring about a logical contradiction is not really to inhibit God’s omnipotence at all.^[34]

God’s omnipotence is an important factor that builds our faith in Him, as He is not someone who makes claims and promises which He does not have the power to perform. God has the power to deliver on what He has promised. He promised that through Abraham the whole world would be blessed; that David’s seed and line would be eternal; that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, would suffer and die for the sins of mankind; He delivered.^[35] He prophesied events centuries in advance; they came true.^[36] When we read His promises to us, we can put our weight down on what He has said, as He is the all-powerful Creator and sustainer of the universe and all that is in it. He who is infinite power is our Father, and we are His children. We are safe within His arms.

(To read the next article in this series, click here.)

Note

^[1] Genesis 17:1.

^[2] Genesis 35:11.

^[3] Exodus 6:3.

^[4] Job 33:4.

^[5] Revelation 11:17.

^[6] Luke 1:37.

^[7] Matthew 19:26.

^[8] Genesis 18:14.

^[9] Jeremiah 32:27.

^[10] Job 42:2.

^[11] Psalm 115:3.

^[12] Psalm 33:9.

^[13] Romans 4:17.

^[14] Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26.

^[15] Thomas F. Torrance, The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being, Three Persons (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996), 207.

^[16] Jeremiah 32:17.

^[17] Romans 1:19–20.

^[18] Jack Cottrell, What the Bible Says About God the Creator (Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1983), 303.

^[19] Psalm 62:11.

^[20] Exodus 14:21–22.

^[21] 1 Kings 18:38–39.

^[22] Luke 1:26–27, 30–31, 34–35.

^[23] John 11:41–44.

^[24] Acts 5:30–31.

^[25] Matthew 3:9.

^[26] Matthew 26:53.

^[27] 2 Timothy 2:13.

^[28] Titus 1:2.

^[29] Hebrews 6:18.

^[30] James 1:13.

^[31] J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), Vol. 1, p. 71.

^[32]Jack Cottrell, What the Bible Says About God the Creator (Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1983), 300.

^[33] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press 2000), 217.

^[34] William Lane Craig, The Doctrine of God, Defenders Series Lecture 9.

^[35] Here are the Bible passages where the promises mentioned were given, which we know from history were fulfilled.

The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1–3). Given: Around 1800 BC. Fulfilled: Since the resurrection of Jesus, about 31 AD.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me. Your throne shall be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12–13,16). Given: Around 1000 BC. Fulfilled: When Jesus rose from the dead, about 31 AD.

You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2). Given: Between 750–686 BC. Fulfilled: about 4 BC.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed. 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 53:3–6). Given: Between 740–680 B C. Fulfilled: At Jesus’ crucifixion around 31 AD.

^[36] Here are some examples of things prophesied far in advance, and that we know from history occurred:

* The Jewish people, in exile in Babylon at the time of this prophecy, would return from their Babylonian exile and rebuild Jerusalem. Afterwards the Messiah would appear, be rejected, and Jerusalem and its temple would be destroyed. Given: About 530 BC. Fulfilled: By 70 AD.

Seventy weeks [periods of seven years] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed (Daniel 9:24–26).

* Israel would be destroyed. This was fulfilled by the destruction of Israel by the Roman army. Given: Around 1400 BC. Fulfilled: 70 AD.

The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young. They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you (Deuteronomy 28:49, 50, 52).

* The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. Given: between 626–586 BC. Fulfilled: At Jesus’ birth, around 4 BC.

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (Jeremiah 23:5).

* The rubble that was Tyre would be thrown into the sea. This was fulfilled by the army of Alexander the Great, as they built a land bridge from the mainland to the island of Tyre, using the city’s rubble. Given: Between 587–586 BC. Fulfilled: 333–332 BC.

They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters (Ezekiel 26:12).

* Four world kingdoms shown to Daniel in a dream: The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman Empires. Given: About 530 BC. Fulfilled: From 530 BC until 100 AD.

You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these (Daniel 2:31–33, 39–40).

What We Can Learn from the Pandemic (Part 3)

By Peter Amsterdam

September 7, 2021

God’s Supply in Times of Financial Challenges

One thing that has been very challenging during the COVID pandemic has been the impact it has had on many people’s financial stability, employment, regular income, and support for mission projects. We likely all know people who have lost their jobs; possibly some of you reading this have been laid off from your job or your work hours have been drastically reduced. Perhaps the regular fundraising activities that provided for you and your family on the mission field are closed doors now. Many of the people who have supported mission works for years have had to cut back on their offerings, or suspend them temporarily as their businesses have suffered losses or have had to close.

It can be very stressful when you have financial commitments such as car payments, rent or mortgage, insurance, or ongoing medical expenses, and you don’t know where the money will come from. In fact, you might have had increased expenses at this time due to helping out family members, friends, and needy people in your community, or if someone in your family has had medical issues and required ongoing care. Maybe you had been trying to save money little by little, but you have had to spend from your meager savings, and hence are lacking a buffer for emergencies.

Some industries that were thriving for years have dried up, and we don’t know whether they’ll come back. Many people lost their jobs in such fields as retail, the service industry, entertainment, personal trainers, hospitality (hotels, events, conferences), etc. While these sectors are starting to open up again in some countries, the impact has been significant and there’s no guarantee how much stronger local economies will become overall.

For those of you who are involved in mission works with the poor and needy, you are face-to-face with hunger, extreme poverty, and have been dealing with the many difficulties of ministering to those who are in such grave predicaments. Not only have more people been living in dire straits since the onset of the pandemic, but you also have had to contend with COVID restrictions that have limited your ability to minister to and help provide for those in need. Some countries where members have fruitful mission works are experiencing unprecedented political unrest, protests, violence, and chaos. These and other factors can quickly bring about financial strain and challenges, which we all know can create a huge amount of stress and fear of the future.

There is also “vicarious stress” that you can experience when hearing about the difficulties of other people you know or even don’t know. Even just reading the headlines can affect your spirit and peace of mind.

During these difficult times of trouble, we can find encouragement for the future by looking to the past, as the authors of the Bible so often did in their writings. Just as they found hope in God’s works in the past, we can encourage ourselves in the Lord by reflecting on His faithfulness in our lives in the past and reminding ourselves of how God has come through for us before.

We each have a deep and meaningful history of trusting the Lord. Through our many years of following Jesus, pioneering and living on foreign fields, winning souls and training new disciples, having and raising children, learning new languages and customs, and making ends meet in a variety of circumstances, we have each gathered a bucketload of testimonies of how God has never failed us and has come through for us every time! It has not always been an easy journey and we have all experienced times of testing, pain, and loss. But God has worked all things together for good in ways both seen and unseen, and we can look back and see His mighty hand at work over and over to provide for us.

A Family member shared with me about a new personal project she started, in which she is creating two lists. One list, called “Outstanding Miracles,” is a compilation of all the amazing things the Lord has done in her life over the years. The other list is called “Everyday Grace and Loving Kindness.” It’s a day-to-day accounting of the Lord’s touches of love, open doors, answers to prayer, etc.—the little things that show her that God is present in her life and taking care of her. She started these two lists recently when she was experiencing a particularly difficult time in her life to remind herself that the Lord has never failed her! “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”¹

I was reminded by this of the well-known story about Corrie ten Boom.

One night, three days before Betsie died, while sleeping next to her sister in the cot they shared at Ravensbrück concentration camp, she said:

“Are you awake, Corrie?”

Corrie: “Yes, you wakened me.”

Betsie: “I had to. I need to tell you what God has said to me… Corrie, there is so much bitterness. We must tell them that the Holy Spirit will fill their hearts with God’s love … we will travel the world bringing the gospel to all—our friends as well as our enemies.”

Corrie: “To all the world? But that will take much money.”

Betsie: “Yes, but God will provide. We must do nothing else but bring the gospel, and He will take care of us. After all, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. If we need money, we will just ask the Father to sell a few cows.”

Corrie: “What a privilege … to travel the world and be used by the Lord Jesus.”²

Reading this story brought to mind once again the blessing of remembering God’s goodness to us in the past. I have a dear friend who frequently refers to Corrie ten Boom as she says with a twinkle in her eye, “Okay, Lord, it’s time to have a cattle sale … again!”

I’m sure you’ve had many conversations in which someone says enthusiastically, “Remember when…” and then goes on to tell an amazing testimony of the Lord’s supply, open doors, healing, or intervention. It’s good for our spirits to bring to remembrance the ways the Lord has led and guided us and how He has blessed our lives. It reminds us that what has happened before can happen again. The Lord has not changed. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”³ We can count on Him and His promises to provide for us today and every day. Praise the Lord!

Of course, with each new challenge we face, we need to commit our situation to the Lord and seek Him for His solutions. As we take all our burdens and challenges to Him and lay them at His feet, we can claim His promises that He will keep us in perfect peace and give us rest, because we are trusting in Him.⁴ We can trust that when we cast our burdens on the Lord, He will sustain us and will never suffer us to be moved.⁵

Of course, we may need to seek the Lord for ways to change our approach or consider adjustments to meet the particular circumstances of the times we are living in. That is certainly true for today with the unusual conditions brought on by the pandemic.

Maria and I have been very encouraged to read of the different ways that many of you have adapted your ministries in light of the changing landscape of the world today in order to continue to minister to others and raise support. There was a great feature in the year-end report for 2020 called “Making the Best of It” that highlighted both new and old avenues of outreach and fellowship that members have implemented or carried on throughout the difficulties of the pandemic. In brief, those included:

Online Bible studies
Facebook group and YouTube channel for parents
Facebook page for Bible stories
WhatsApp and Zoom witnessing
Helping struggling mothers raise money and start businesses
Distributing literature and Activated mags
Teaching parents about homeschooling
Hosting outdoor summer camps
Teaching English
Providing aid for those in need
Tutorials for children in need
Using the STEPS program
Audio/video ministry
Couriering gifts to elderly people
Driving for Lyft
Fundraisers
Distributing aid parcels
Selling gospel literature and products
Running schools
Conducting Skype and Zoom fellowship and prayer meetings

We are impressed by how, despite your own challenges, so many of you have continued to reach out and give to others. What a beautiful example of innovation, faith, and perseverance. God bless you!

Besides adapting their ministries for today’s “new normal,” many of our members have also taken on other kinds of new employment that have provided income as well as opportunities to witness. Maria and I have heard from members who are advertising their talents on Upwork,⁶ Fiverr, TaskRabbit, and other popular freelancing websites. Some of these job opportunities include translating, dog walking and dog/house sitting, driving services (such as Uber and Lyft), teaching English as a second language (in person or virtually), tutoring children, babysitting, being a personal shopper, yard work, being a virtual assistant, transcribing, etc.

It’s very encouraging to see how the Lord is coming through for members around the world, and if you’re currently in need, He’ll do it for you too. Pray, keep knocking on doors, try new things, and trust that He will make a way. We have His promise that “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”⁷

Maria and I also want to express how very grateful we are for how you have continued to give your tithes and offerings even during these difficult times. We are so grateful, as that has made it possible for TFI Services to continue to provide inspirational posts, audios, and other tools for your ministries to others. Thank you for your generous giving! Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”⁸ We pray that as you continue to give, the Lord will give back to you abundantly!

A skill that we have all developed over the years serving the Lord is frugality. We have the advantage of knowing how to economize and be saving. Our background has taught us how to do more with less. We can adjust and acclimate faster than people who have not had as varied a life experience as we have. We have learned to “abound and abase” and to trust in the Lord for His supply in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Many members, and even former members, have commented that they have found that this shared life experience has helped them to be more resilient in challenging times.

What we have learned through these challenging times by the grace of God will serve us well in the future. Thank the Lord that the spread of COVID is starting to lessen in some parts of the world! Let’s continue to pray for the end of this pandemic and for the alleviation of the suffering of those most affected. If you find yourself in a difficult position financially, make sure to share your prayer requests with others. Maria and I are keeping each of you in our prayers, for the Lord’s continued supply through this pandemic and beyond. May we all take courage in the Lord’s promises, knowing that God has always come through for us in the past, and His promise still holds true that He will “supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”⁹

Sometimes I like to think about the lives of Christian “greats” from times past. One person whom I draw a lot of encouragement from is George Müller, whose story is familiar to us all.¹⁰

That’s an amazing legacy! I’d like to highlight one such miracle.

Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.¹¹

Here is a message from George Müller’s writings that can speak to the heart of each of us:

My dear Christian reader, will you not try this way? Will you not know for yourself … the preciousness and the happiness of this way of casting all your cares and burdens and necessities upon God? This way is as open to you as to me. … Everyone is invited and commanded to trust in the Lord, to trust in Him with all his heart, and to cast his burden upon Him, and to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Will you not do this, my dear brethren in Christ? I long that you may do so. I desire that you may taste the sweetness of that state of heart, in which, while surrounded by difficulties and necessities, you can yet be at peace, because you know that the living God, your Father in heaven, cares for you.¹²

God has never failed us. We have a rich treasure chest of memories of the innumerable times when He came through for us. Let’s not forget what God has done for us in the past and let’s allow our experience of His faithfulness to strengthen our faith for what He’s going to do in the future. God bless and keep you!

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.—Psalm 37:25 ESV

Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?—Romans 8:32 TLB

¹ 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV.

² Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord (excerpt), https://www.facebook.com/corrietenboommuseum/posts/one-night-three-days-before-betsie-died-while-sleeping-next-to-her-sister-in-the/733550346662069/

³ Hebrews 13:8 NIV.

⁴ Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 11:28.

⁵ Psalm 55:22.

⁶ Formerly known as Elance.

⁷ Psalm 34:10 ESV.

⁸ Luke 6:38 NIV.

⁹ Philippians 4:19.

¹⁰ You can read an accounting of the Lord’s miracles of supply on the George Muller.org site here: https://www.georgemuller.org/devotional/trusting-god-for-daily-supplies

¹¹ “George Muller: Trusting God for Daily Bread,” https://harvestministry.org/muller

¹² George Muller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Müller, Vol. 2 (London, 1886), 168.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Why Did Jesus Come Exactly
When He Did?

By J. Warner Wallace and Alisa Childers

By the time Jesus came to earth, a great many people had already lived and died. Why did Jesus come at the exact moment in history he did? Why didn’t he come sooner? An interview with J. Warner Wallace by Christian author, singer, and songwriter Alisa Childers.

Run time for this video is 22 minutes [starts at about 35 seconds].

Hope in the Darkness

September 9, 2021

By Maria Fontaine

Audio length: 8:32
Download Audio (7.8MB)

One day I was answering some correspondence from one of our TFI missionaries who serves on a very poor field. As I was dictating my response, I felt an urge to not only write him but to also write a letter to the people who he ministers to. I thought about how it would feel to be terribly poor, maybe not having enough to eat and not enough money to enroll your kids in school, and many other things that so many of us consider necessities of life.

I felt that Jesus had something He wanted to say to them. I didn’t think it out in advance, but just started writing. The following is the message that the Lord gave me for them.

A Message of Hope

This is a message of hope for you if you are suffering, a message that a better time is coming. So don’t despair, don’t give up. If you accept the love of the One who died for you to bring you a better life, one day you will live with Him in His beautiful home forever, as one of the members of His family, not having to suffer anymore—ever.

Life is hard; there’s no question about it. But there is someone you can counsel with when decisions seem too hard to make. There is someone you can run to when your heart is breaking and you need a friend to just sit beside you and hold your hand. There is someone who will be there for you in the bad times as well as the good. Not only that, there is someone who has promised to take all the bad things that happen to you and eventually bring good from them.

This is the One who the Bible describes as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”¹—someone who suffered the greatest of all suffering and who understands your worst emotional and physical pain. He is everything that you could ever want in a friend, a counselor, a guide, a teacher, and a father. He is Jesus, the Son of God.

God’s love is unending, it’s without limits. It’s higher than the highest mountain, deeper than the deepest sea. It’s everywhere, and it’s always, and there’s nothing like it anywhere! It’s awesome, magnificent, and all-encompassing! It’s far too big for us to fully comprehend.

Yet God wanted us to experience this monumental love. So our amazing Creator had a plan! He packed all that love and all that compassion and all that understanding into His Son, Jesus. Then He sent Him to earth to live like us. He came as a baby to live on earth and experience the things we go through. However, unlike us, Jesus was both God and man.

His mission on earth was finished when He died an excruciating death on the cross, rose from the dead, and went back to His Father and His heavenly home. He was willing to make that supreme sacrifice of dying for us in order to take our sins upon Himself and redeem us. He did this so that we could be forgiven and know how great a love He and the Father have for us.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”²

This love is manifested not only in the heavenly home that He has prepared for you, but also in His walking with you through all the difficulties, challenges, problems, losses, and tragedies of this life.

An amazing thing is that Jesus knows you personally. He knows your name. He knows all your problems and heartaches, and He wants to help you through each one.

He’s with you all the time, and when you open your heart to Him, you can hear Him speak to you. He wants to be your best friend and to carry on a conversation with you. He is everything good and beautiful, and He can help you find that goodness and beauty.

It’s possible for you to experience the peace He gives even if you live in a tent, a broken-down shed, or perhaps you don’t even have a place to live. No matter what your circumstances, you can experience joy and hope.

He’s promised that if you ask Him, and you have faith, He will answer you. As small and weak as you may feel, you can count on Him. God promises that all things are possible to those who believe.

If you open your heart to Him and make Him an important part of your life, He will answer you, He will speak to you, He will help you navigate this life. You can find the peace and faith and strength that come as you trust in Jesus as your best friend.

No matter how difficult things are, you can know that He is right there to help you cope. God doesn’t always take the bad things away, but He can make it easier for you and help you through each difficulty you face.

After you’ve walked with Him through this life, you will be able to keep walking with Him right into the next life in heaven! You will enter the most beautiful place where you will live forever in joy and peace. Love and justice will reign, and you will never be hurt or cheated or oppressed or taken advantage of again. You will never know pain or poverty again.

When it’s time for the angels to accompany you to heaven, you will hear Jesus say, “You did well, My dear one! My home is your home! Come right in! We’ll celebrate together! Forever!”

May you know His all-encompassing love. May you understand how important you are to Him. May you have faith that He is always beside you, and may you have His supernatural joy, no matter what your circumstances.

Jesus says to you, “I’m standing at the door of your heart and knocking. If you hear my voice and open the door, I’ll come in and we’ll have a wonderful meal together.”³ He has promised to come into your life and to fill it with His joy, peace, comfort, and eternal salvation.

If you would like to ask Jesus to come into your heart, you can do so by praying a simple prayer, such as:

Dear Jesus, I need You. You know all that I’m going through, and You understand my struggles. Even when I can’t see the way to go, You are there with me. I need Your presence in my life. Please come into my heart, forgive me my wrongdoings, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Originally published February 2019. Adapted and republished September 2021.
Read by Debra Lee.

¹ Isaiah 53:3.

² John 3:16.

³ See Revelation 3:20.