Our Daily Bread E-Book
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- Herausgeber: Publicações Pão Diário
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
OUR DAILY BREAD Annual Edition This convenient edition is a wonderful way to introduce family and friends to *Our Daily Bread*. With a new, inspiring reading for every day of the year, it offers encouragement, wisdom, and biblical insights to help deepen one's faith. Whether as a thoughtful gift for Christmas, birthdays, or special occasions, or simply as a way to support and uplift someone in their walk with God, this devotional is a meaningful companion for daily spiritual growth.
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Seitenzahl: 591
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
COVER PHOTO:Beach at Night, Alex Soh © Our Daily Bread Ministries.
WRITERS:
Dave Branon • Anne M. Cetas • Poh Fang Chia • William E. Crowder • Mart DeHaan David Egner • H. Dennis Fisher • Chek Phang Hia • Cindy Hess Kasper • Alyson Kieda Randy K. Kilgore • Albert Lee • Julie Ackerman Link • David C. McCasland David H. Roper • Jennifer Benson Schuldt • Joseph M. Stowell • Marion Stroud Marvin L. Williams • Philip D. Yancey
POEM CREDITS:
Jan. 9, by Keith and Melody Green. © 1982 Birdwing Music.
Jan. 15, by Ira F. Stanphill. © Renewal 1978. Singspiration.
Jan. 25, by Lelia Morris. © Renewal 1940. Hope Publishing.
Feb. 8, by Julia Johnston. © Renewal 1938. Hope Publishing.
Feb. 14, by Fredrick Blom. © 1968 Singspiration.
Feb. 19, by Edward H. Bickersteth. © 1968 Singspiration.
Feb. 23, by Frederick M. Lehman. © Renewal 1945. Nazarene.
Feb. 24, by Linda Lee Johnson. © 1979 Hope Publishing.
Mar. 6, by Alfred H. Ackley. © 1952 The Rodeheaver Co.
Mar. 22, by John W. Peterson. © 1957 Singspiration.
Mar. 27, by J. Wilbur Chapman. © Renewal 1938. The Rodeheaver Co.
Apr. 11, by Rich Mullins. © 1988 Edward Grant.
Apr. 23, by Virgil P. Brock. © Renewal 1964. The Rodeheaver Co.
Apr. 28, by Norman J. Clayton. © Renewal 1973. Norman J. Clayton.
May 7, by William J. Gaither. © 1963 William J. Gaither.
May 16, by Haldor Lillenas. © Renewal 1951. Lillenas Publishing.
June 4, by Thomas Chisholm. © Renewal 1951. Hope Publishing.
June 21, by Austin Miles. © Renewal 1940. The Rodeheaver Co.
ARTICLE CREDITS:
Jan. 9, Apr. 25, excerpted and adapted from The Jesus I Never Knew; Feb. 4, Mar. 5, Apr. 5, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; May 17, Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing?; July 11, Finding God in Unexpected Places; Aug. 18, Sept. 29, Oct. 15, Nov. 29, Grace Notes by Philip D. Yancey, © Zondervan. Published by permission of Zondervan.
EBOOK PRODUCTION:S2 Books
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2014 Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. All rights reserved.
Internet address: ourdailybread.org • Email: [email protected]
Printed in China. ISBN: 978-1-60485-985-0
OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES OFFICES
For information on our resources, please write to the office nearest you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices.
AFRICA REGION
SOUTH AFRICA (REGIONAL OFFICE) Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2637, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban 4320, South Africa PH: +27 31 563 6322 / 825 2001 • FX: +27 31 563 1963 Email: [email protected]
KENYA Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2761, 00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya PH: +254 20 232 1820 / 520 1415 • M: +254 717 805557 Email: [email protected]
NIGERIA Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 80125, Lafiaji Post Office 101006, Lagos State, Nigeria PH: +234 1 462 0199 • M: +234 80 5462 7884 Email: [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box EH301, Emerald Hill, Harare, Zimbabwe PH: +263 4 307459 • M: +263 772 932 637 Email: [email protected]
IBERO-AMERICA & CARIBBEAN REGION
BRAZIL (REGIONAL OFFICE)Our Daily Bread Ministries, Caixa Postal 4190, 82501-970, Curitiba/PR, Brazil PH: +55 41 3257 4028 Email: [email protected]
GUYANA Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 101070, Georgetown PH: +592 231 6704 Email: [email protected]
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Introduction
We want to hear from God, don’t we? To be near Him, to know more about Him, to be known by Him. This 2016 Annual Edition has been produced to help you in that desire. It will guide you through the Bible so that you might hear from His heart.
There’s a special story on page 373 about a young woman who questioned God’s love for her. She wondered, Is God’s love a generic sort of love for humanity as a whole, or does He desire a unique love relationship with each of us? Perhaps Christy Bower’s story can help you or someone you know.
You may also want to consider obtaining more copies of this book to share with loved ones.
Please contact us if we can serve you.
—The staff at Our Daily Bread Ministries
Enhancing Your Devotional Time
Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of your Our Daily Bread devotional reading:
Set aside a regular time and place. Your time will be more meaningful if you can concentrate and establish a regular practice.Read the Bible passage. Those words from God’s Word are the most important statements you will read each day. As you read God’s Word, seek to learn more about God, your relationship with Him, and how He wants you to live each day.Note the key verse. It is printed on the left side of each article. You may want to memorize this key Bible verse.Read the article thoughtfully. Reflect on what the writer is saying.Personalize the words of the prayer or poem. It may be used as a prayer-starter that expresses how you feel.Use the closing “thought” to help you remember the key idea. The last statement in bold type on each page is what we call “thought of the day.”Write down your discoveries. For example: What is God saying to you through His Word?Take time to pray. Talk to the Lord about what you’ve discovered in His Word and your response to Him.Share the lessons with others. When you talk with others, share what the Lord is teaching you from His Word.It is our prayer that in these devotional articles you will find encouragement, hope, and comfort as you draw closer to God and grow in your love for Him.
January 1 Friday - 31 Days Of Thanks
January 1 Friday
31 Days Of Thanks
Read:Psalm 136:1-16,26
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!—Psalm 136:3
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 1–3
■Matthew 1
January, according to many US calendars, is National Thank You Month. This, of course, is easily transferable everywhere, so perhaps it should be Global Thank You Month.
In order to make the best use of this celebration of gratitude, let’s begin by seeing what Scripture says about thankfulness.
One place to start is Psalm 136, which begins and ends with the words, “Oh, give thanks” (vv.1,26). Again and again in this chapter we are reminded of a single, overriding reason to bestow our gratitude on our great God: “His mercy endures forever.” We could spend the whole month learning about gratitude from Psalm 136.
The psalmist reminds us of God’s “great wonders” (v.4). He tells us of God’s creative work brought on by His wisdom (v.5). He moves on to rehearse the great exodus of His people (vv.10-22). As we think through these pictures of creation and deliverance found in Psalm 136, we can easily find something to thank God for every day of this Thank You Month.
What better way to start off a new year than to concentrate on conveying gratitude to our Lord! “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (v.1). — Dave Branon
How good it is to thank the Lord,
And praise to Thee, Most High, accord,
To show Thy love with morning light,
And tell Thy faithfulness each night! —Psalter
When you think of all that’s good, give thanks to God.
January 2 Saturday - No Appetite
January 2 Saturday
No Appetite
Read:Nehemiah 8:1-12
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.—1 Peter 2:2
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 4–6
■Matthew 2
When I was battling a bad cold recently, I lost my appetite. I could go through an entire day without eating much food. Water would suffice. But I knew I couldn’t survive long on water alone. I needed to regain my appetite because my body needed nourishment.
When the people of Israel came back from exile in Babylon, their spiritual appetite was weak. They had departed from God and His ways. To get the people back to spiritual health, Nehemiah organized a Bible seminar, and Ezra was the teacher.
Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses from morning until midday, feeding the people with the truth of God (Neh. 8:3). And the people listened attentively. In fact, their appetite for God’s Word was so stirred that the family leaders and the priests and Levites met with Ezra the following day to study the law in greater detail because they wanted to understand it (v.13).
When we feel estranged from God or spiritually weak, we can find spiritual nourishment from God’s Word. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Ask God to give you a renewed desire for relationship with Him, and begin feeding your heart, soul, and mind with His Word. — Poh Fang Chia
Break Thou the Bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord,
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word. —Lathbury
Feeding on God’s Word keeps us strong and healthy in the Lord.
January 3 Sunday - Help From His Spirit
January 3 Sunday
Help From His Spirit
Read:Micah 6:3-8
What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?—Micah 6:8
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 7–9
■Matthew 3
Many of us make promises to ourselves to mark the beginning of a new year. We make pledges such as I’m going to save more, exercise more, or spend less time on the Internet. We begin the year with good intentions, but before long old habits tempt us to take up our old ways. We slip up occasionally, then more frequently, and then all the time. Finally, it’s as if our resolution never existed.
Instead of choosing our own self-improvement goals, a better approach might be to ask ourselves: “What does the Lord desire of me?” Through the prophet Micah, God has revealed that He wants us to do what is right, to be merciful, and to walk humbly with Him (Mic. 6:8). All of these things relate to soul-improvement rather than self-improvement.
Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our own strength. The Holy Spirit has the power to help us as believers in our spiritual growth. God’s Word says He is able to “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16 niv).
So as we begin a new year, let’s resolve to be more Christlike. The Spirit will help us as we seek to walk humbly with God. — Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear. —Lynch
He who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the victory.
January 4 Monday - Situation Excellent
January 4 Monday
Situation Excellent
Read:Philippians 1:3-14
The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.—Philippians 1:12
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 10–12
■Matthew 4
At the First Battle of the Marne during World War I, French lieutenant general Ferdinand Foch sent out this communiqué: “My center is giving way, my right is retreating. Situation excellent. I am attacking.” His willingness to see hope in a tough situation eventually led to victory for his troops.
Sometimes in life’s battles we can feel as if we are losing on every front. Family discord, business setbacks, financial woes, or a decline in health can put a pessimistic spin on the way we look at life. But the believer in Christ can always find a way to conclude: “Situation excellent.”
Look at Paul. When he was thrown in prison for preaching the gospel, he had an unusually upbeat attitude. To the church at Philippi he wrote, “I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12).
Paul saw his prison situation as a new platform from which to evangelize the Roman palace guard. In addition, other Christians became emboldened by his situation to preach the gospel more fearlessly (vv.13-14).
God can use our trials to work good in spite of the pain they bring (Rom. 8:28). That’s just one more way He can be honored. — Dennis Fisher
Comfort us, Lord, when life’s trials assail—
we fail and stumble so often. Renew us, and help us to grow so that others may also know Your goodness and comfort.
Trials can be God’s road to triumph.
January 5 Tuesday - Adoption
January 5 Tuesday
Adoption
Read:Ephesians 1:3-12
He chose us in Him . . . having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. — Ephesians 1:4-5
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 13–15
■Matthew 5:1-26
My wife, Marlene, and I have been married for over 35 years. When we were first dating, we had a conversation I have never forgotten. She told me that at 6 months old she had been adopted. When I asked her if she ever wondered about who her real parents were, she responded, “My mom and dad could have selected any of a number of other babies that day, but they chose me. They adopted me. They are my real parents.”
That strong sense of identification and gratitude she has for her adoptive parents should also mark our relationship with God. As followers of Christ, we have been born from above through faith in Him and have been adopted into the family of God. Paul wrote, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:4-5).
Notice the nature of this transaction. We have been chosen by God and adopted as His sons and daughters. Through adoption, we have a radically new relationship with God. He is our beloved Father!
May this relationship stir our hearts to worship Him—our Father—with gratitude. — Bill Crowder
Loving Father, thank You for making me Your child and giving me a place in Your family. With a grateful heart, I thank You for making me Yours.
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. —Augustine
January 6 Wednesday - The Night No One Came
January 6 Wednesday
The Night No One Came
Read:Matthew 6:1-7
Do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.—Matthew 6:1
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 16–17
■Matthew 5:27-48
One winter night composer Johann Sebastian Bach was scheduled to debut a new composition. He arrived at the church expecting it to be full. Instead, he learned that no one had come. Without missing a beat, Bach told his musicians that they would still perform as planned. They took their places, Bach raised his baton, and soon the empty church was filled with magnificent music.
This story made me do some soul-searching. Would I write if God were my only audience? How would my writing be different?
New writers are often advised to visualize one person they are writing to as a way of staying focused. I do this when I write devotionals; I try to keep readers in mind because I want to say something they will want to read and that will help them on their spiritual journey.
I doubt that the “devotional writer” David, whose psalms we turn to for comfort and encouragement, had “readers” in mind. The only audience he had in mind was God.
Whether our “deeds,” mentioned in Matthew 6, are works of art or acts of service, we should keep in mind that they’re really between us and God. Whether or not anyone else sees does not matter. He is our audience. — Julie Ackerman Link
That my ways might show forth Your glory,
That You, dear Lord, greatly deserve!
With Your precious blood You’ve redeemed me—
In all my days, You I would serve! —Somerville
Serve for an audience of one.
January 7 Thursday - Words That Help And Heal
January 7 Thursday
Words That Help And Heal
Read:Matthew 6:5-15
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.—Matthew 6:9
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 18–19
■Matthew 6:1-18
On November 19, 1863, two well known men gave speeches at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The featured speaker, Edward Everett, was a former congressman, governor, and president of Harvard University. Considered one of the greatest orators of his day, Mr. Everett delivered a formal address lasting 2 hours. He was followed by President Abraham Lincoln, whose speech lasted 2 minutes.
Today, Lincoln’s speech, the Gettysburg Address, is widely known and quoted, while Everett’s words have almost been forgotten. It is not just Lincoln’s eloquent brevity that accounts for this. On that occasion, his words touched the wounded spirit of a nation fractured by civil war, offering hope for the days to come.
Words do not have to be many to be meaningful. What we call the Lord’s Prayer is among the shortest and most memorable of all the teachings of Jesus. It brings help and healing as it reminds us that God is our heavenly Father whose power is at work on earth, just as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). He provides food, forgiveness, and fortitude for each day (vv.11-13). And all honor and glory belong to Him (v.13). There is nothing in our past, present, and future that is not included in our Lord’s brief words that help and heal. — David McCasland
How easy it is to use many words
And give little thought to the things you say;
So willingly yield your lips to the Lord
And hearts will be blest by them every day. —D. DeHaan
Kind words smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer. —Blaise Pascal
January 8 Friday - The Hidden Life
January 8 Friday
The Hidden Life
Read:Colossians 3:12-17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.—Colossians 3:17
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 20–22
■Matthew 6:19-34
Some years ago, I came across a poem by George MacDonald titled “The Hidden Life.” It tells the story of an intellectually gifted young Scot who turned his back on a prestigious academic career to return to his aging father and to the family farm. There he engaged in what MacDonald called “ordinary deeds” and “simple forms of human helpfulness.” His friends lamented what they saw as a waste of his talents.
Perhaps you too serve in some unnoticed place, doing nothing more than ordinary deeds. Others might think that’s a waste. But God wastes nothing. Every act of love rendered for His sake is noted and has eternal rewards. Every place, no matter how small, is holy ground. Influence is more than lofty acts and words. It can be a simple matter of human helpfulness: being present, listening, understanding the need, loving, and praying. This is what turns daily duty into worship and service.
The apostle Paul challenged the Colossians: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” and “do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:17,23-24). God takes notice and delights in using us. — David Roper
Dear Lord, may I be willing to be hidden and unknown today, yet ready to speak a word to those who are weary. May Your Spirit touch my words and make them Your words that enrich and refresh others.
The way to accomplish much for Christ is to serve Him in any way we can.
January 9 Saturday - As Below, So Above
January 9 Saturday
As Below, So Above
Read:Luke 24:44-53
You are witnesses of these things. . . . but tarry in the city . . . until you are endued with power from on high.—Luke 24:48-49
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 23–24
■Matthew 7
The Roman paganism of Jesus’ day taught that the actions of gods in the heavens above affected the earth below. If Zeus got angry, thunderbolts shot out. “As above, so below,” went the ancient formula.
Jesus, though, sometimes inverted that. He taught: As below, so above. A believer prays, and heaven responds. A sinner repents, and the angels rejoice. A mission succeeds, and God is glorified. A believer rebels, and the Holy Spirit is grieved.
I believe these things, yet somehow I keep forgetting them. I forget that my prayers matter to God. I forget that the choices I make today bring delight or grief to the Lord of the universe. I forget that I am helping my neighbors to their eternal destinations.
The good-news message of God’s love that Jesus brought to this earth we can now bring to others. That was the challenge He gave His disciples before ascending to His Father (see Matt. 28:18-20). We who follow Jesus serve as an extension of His incarnation and ministry. It is why He came to earth. Before He left, He told His disciples that He would send His Spirit from above to them below (Luke 24:48). He did not leave us alone. He fills us with His power that we might touch lives here below to affect eternity. — Philip Yancey
Thank You, O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit
Till the work on earth is done. —Green
You ascended before our eyes, and we turned back grieving, only to find You in our hearts. —Augustine
January 10 Sunday - For The Long Run
January 10 Sunday
For The Long Run
Read:James 5:7-11
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.—James 5:7
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 25–26
■Matthew 8:1-17
A2006 survey of more than 1,000 adults discovered that most people take an average of 17 minutes to lose their patience while waiting in line. Also, most people lose their patience in only 9 minutes while on hold on the phone. Impatience is a common trait.
James wrote to a group of believers who were struggling with being patient for Jesus’ return (James 5:7). They were living under exploitation and distressing times, and James encouraged them to “set the timer of their temper” for the long run. Challenging these believers to persevere under suffering, he tried to stimulate them to stand firm and to live sacrificially until the Lord returned to right every wrong. He wrote: “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (v.8).
James called them to be like the farmer who waits patiently for the rain and the harvest (v.7) and like the prophets and the patriarch Job who demonstrated perseverance in difficulties (vv.10-11). The finish line was just ahead and James encouraged the believers not to give up.
When we are being tried in a crucible of distress, God desires to help us continue living by faith and trusting in His compassion and mercy (v.11). — Marvin Williams
For Further Thought What is most difficult about being patient during stressful times? Ask God for the grace to help you live by faith and to live for the long run.
The way to great patience is through great trials.
January 11 Monday - The Journey Begins
January 11 Monday
The Journey Begins
Read:2 Peter 1:5-11
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away.—2 Corinthians 5:17
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 27–28
■Matthew 8:18-34
More than 80 years ago, a 9-year-old boy prayed to ask Jesus to be the Savior of his life. His mother wrote these words in a memory book: “Clair made a start today.”
Clair—my dad—refers to the day when he made his decision to follow Christ as the beginning of his journey. Growing spiritually is a lifelong process—not a one-time event. So how does a new believer feed his faith and continue to grow? These are some things I observed in my dad’s life over the years.
He read the Scriptures regularly to increase his understanding of God and made prayer a daily part of his life (1 Chron. 16:11; 1 Thess. 5:17). Bible reading and prayer help us grow closer to God and withstand temptation (Ps. 119:11; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2). The Holy Spirit began to develop the “fruit of the Spirit” in him as he surrendered his life in faith and obedience (Gal. 5:22-23). We display God’s love through our witness and service.
Our spiritual journey is a process. What a privilege to have a relationship in which we can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”! (2 Peter 3:18). — Cindy Hess Kasper
I want my heart to be in tune with God,
In every stage of life may it ring true;
I want my thoughts and words to honor Him,
To lift Him up in everything I do. —Hess
Salvation is the miracle of a moment; growth is the labor of a lifetime.
January 12 Tuesday - A Neighbor On The Fence
January 12 Tuesday
A Neighbor On The Fence
Read:Acts 2:41-47
All who believed were together. — Acts 2:44
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 29–30
■Matthew 9:1-17
The fence around the side yard of our home was showing some wear and tear, and my husband, Carl, and I decided we needed to take it down before it fell down. It was pretty easy to disassemble, so we removed it quickly one afternoon. A few weeks later when Carl was raking the yard, a woman who was walking her dog stopped to give her opinion: “Your yard looks so much better without the fence. Besides, I don’t believe in fences.” She explained that she liked “community” and no barriers between people.
While there are some good reasons to have physical fences, isolating us from our neighbors is not one of them. So I understood our neighbor’s desire for the feeling of community. The church I attend has community groups that meet once a week to build relationships and to encourage one another in our journey with God. The early church gathered together daily in the temple (Acts 2:44,46). They became one in purpose and heart as they fellowshiped and prayed. If they struggled, they would have companions to lift them up (see Eccl. 4:10).
Connection to a community of believers is vital in our Christian walk. One way that God chooses to show His love to us is through relationships. — Anne Cetas
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love!
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above. —Fawcett
We all need Christian fellowship to build us up and hold us up.
January 13 Wednesday - Much More Than Survival
January 13 Wednesday
Much More Than Survival
Read:1 Thess. 2:17–3:7
Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love. — 1 Thessalonians 3:6
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 31–32
■Matthew 9:18-38
In April 1937, Mussolini’s invading armies forced all the missionaries serving in the Wallamo region to flee Ethiopia. They left behind just 48 Christian converts, who had little more than the gospel of Mark to feed their growth. Few even knew how to read. But when the missionaries returned 4 years later, the church had not just survived; it numbered 10,000!
When the apostle Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica (see Acts 17:1-10), he yearned to learn about the survival of the small band of Christians he left behind (1 Thess. 2:17). But when Timothy visited the Thessalonian church later, he brought word to Paul in Athens about their “faith and love” (1 Thess. 3:6). They had become “examples” to the believers in the surrounding regions in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thess. 1:8).
Paul never claimed credit for any numerical increase in his ministry. Nor did he attribute it to anyone else. Rather, he gave credit to God. He wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6).
Difficult circumstances may thwart even our best intentions, separating friends from each other for a season. But God is growing His church through every difficulty. We need only be faithful and leave the results to Him. — C. P. Hia
Lord, we are so prone to be fearful when we face opposition, yet so often we want to take credit for every little success. Help us see that You are the One who blesses and builds Your church.
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. —Jesus (Matthew 16:18)
January 14 Thursday - Sweet Rest
January 14 Thursday
Sweet Rest
Read:Psalm 4
You have put gladness in my heart.—Psalm 4:7
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 33–35
■Matthew 10:1-20
Try as we might—tossing, turning, fluffing the pillow, pounding the pillow—sometimes we just can’t fall asleep. After offering some good suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep, a news article concluded that there really is no “right way” to sleep.
There are numerous reasons why sleep eludes us, many of which we can’t do much about. But sometimes unwanted wakefulness is caused by anxious thoughts, worry, or guilt. It’s then that the example of David in Psalm 4 can help. He called out to God, asking for mercy and for God to hear his prayer (v.1). He also reminded himself that the Lord does hear him when he calls on Him (v.3). David encourages us: “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (v.4). Focusing our minds on the goodness, mercy, and love of God for His world, our loved ones, and ourselves can aid us in trusting the Lord (v.5).
The Lord desires to help us set aside our worries about finding solutions to our problems and place our trust in Him to work things out. He can “put gladness” in our hearts (v.7), so that we might “lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make [us] dwell in safety” (v.8). — Dave Egner
Give me a spirit of peace, dear Lord,
Midst the storms and the tempests that roll,
That I may find rest and quiet within,
A calm buried deep in my soul. —Dawe
Even when we cannot sleep, God can give us rest.
January 15 Friday - Food In The Cupboard
January 15 Friday
Food In The Cupboard
Read:Matthew 6:25-34
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about . . . what you will put on.—Matthew 6:25
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 36–38
■Matthew 10:21-42
My friend Marcia, the director of the Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf, recently illustrated an important way to look at things. In a newsletter article she titled “A Blessed Start,” she pointed out that for the first time in 7 years the school began the new year with a surplus. And what was that surplus? A thousand dollars in the bank? No. Enough school supplies for the year? No. It was simply this: A month’s supply of food in the cupboard.
When you’re in charge of feeding 30 hungry kids on a shoestring budget, that’s big! She accompanied her note with this verse from 1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Year after year Marcia trusts God to provide for the children and staff at her school. She never has much—whether it’s water or food or school supplies. Yet she is always grateful for what God sends, and she is faithful to believe that He will continue to provide.
As we begin a new year, do we have faith in God’s provision? To do so is to take our Savior at His word when He said, “Do not worry about your life . . . . Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matt. 6:25,34). — Dave Branon
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead. —Stanphill
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. —Corrie ten Boom
January 16 Saturday - The Little Tent
January 16 Saturday
The Little Tent
Read:Colossians 1:1-12; 4:12
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.—Colossians 1:19
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 39–40
■Matthew 11
During evangelist Billy Graham’s historic 1949 Los Angeles campaign, the big tent that held over 6,000 people was filled to overflowing every night for 8 weeks. Close by was a smaller tent set aside for counseling and prayer. Cliff Barrows, longtime music director and close friend and associate of Graham, has often said that the real work of the gospel took place in “the little tent,” where people gathered on their knees to pray before and during every evangelistic service. A local Los Angeles woman, Pearl Goode, was the heart of those prayer meetings and many that followed.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the followers of Christ in Colosse, he assured them that he and his colleagues were praying always for them (Col. 1:3,9). In closing he mentioned Epaphras, a founder of the Colossian church, who is “always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (4:12).
Some people are given the high visibility task of preaching the gospel in “the big tent.” But God has extended to us all, just as He did to Epaphras and Pearl Goode, the great privilege of kneeling in “the little tent” and bringing others before the throne of God. — David McCasland
They labor well who intercede
For others with a pressing need;
It’s on their knees they often work
And from its rigor will not shirk. —D. DeHaan
Prayer is not preparation for the work, it is the work.— Oswald Chambers
January 17 Sunday - Heavenly Perspective
January 17 Sunday
Heavenly Perspective
Read:2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:18
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 41–42
■Matthew 12:1-23
Fanny Crosby lost her sight as an infant. Yet, amazingly, she went on to become one of the most well-known lyricists of Christian hymns. During her long life, she wrote over 9,000 hymns. Among them are such enduring favorites as “Blessed Assurance” and “To God Be the Glory.”
Some people felt sorry for Fanny. A well-intentioned preacher told her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” It sounds hard to believe, but she replied: “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? . . . Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”
Fanny saw life with an eternal perspective. Our problems look different in light of eternity: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while 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” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
All our trials dim when we remember that one glorious day we will see Jesus! — Dennis Fisher
Dear God, please help us to see this life from a heavenly perspective. Remind us that our trials, however difficult, will one day fade from view when we see You face to face.
The way we view eternity will affect the way we live in time.
January 18 Monday - True Greatness
January 18 Monday
True Greatness
Read:Mark 10:35-45
Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. — Mark 10:43
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 43–45
■Matthew 12:24-50
Some people feel like a small pebble lost in the immensity of a canyon. But no matter how insignificant we judge ourselves to be, we can be greatly used by God.
In a sermon early in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. quoted Jesus’ words from Mark 10 about servanthood. Then he said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. . . . You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
When Jesus’ disciples quarreled about who would get the places of honor in heaven, He told them: “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).
I wonder about us. Is that our understanding of greatness? Are we gladly serving, doing tasks that may be unnoticed? Is the purpose of our serving to please our Lord rather than to gain applause? If we are willing to be a servant, our lives will point to the One who is truly great. — Vernon Grounds
No service in itself is small,
None great, though earth it fill;
But that is small that seeks its own,
And great that does God’s will. —Anon.
Little things done in Christ’s name are great things.
January 19 Tuesday - Two Men
January 19 Tuesday
Two Men
Read:John 11:30-37
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. . . . Jesus wept.—John 11:33,35
Two men were killed in our city on the same day. The first, a police officer, was shot down while trying to help a family. The other was a homeless man who was shot while drinking with friends early that day.
The whole city grieved for the police officer. He was a fine young man who cared for others and was loved by the neighborhood he served. A few homeless people grieved for the friend they loved and lost.
I think the Lord grieved with them all.
When Jesus saw Mary and Martha and their friends weeping over the death of Lazarus, “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33). He loved Lazarus and his sisters. Even though He knew that He would soon be raising Lazarus from the dead, He wept with them (v.35). Some Bible scholars think that part of Jesus’ weeping also may have been over death itself and the pain and sadness it causes in people’s hearts.
Loss is a part of life. But because Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (v.25), those who believe in Him will one day experience an end of all death and sorrow. In the meantime, He weeps with us over our losses and asks us to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). — Anne Cetas
Give me a heart sympathetic and tender;
Jesus, like Thine, Jesus, like Thine,
Touched by the needs that are surging around me,
And filled with compassion divine.— Anon.
Compassion helps to heal the hurts of others.
January 20 Wednesday - All Spruced Up
January 20 Wednesday
All Spruced Up
Read:Jude 1:20-25
[Jesus] is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless.—Jude 1:24
The Bible In One Year:
■Genesis 49–50
■Matthew 13:31-58
Getting our children to look good for church was always a challenge. Ten minutes after arriving at church all spruced up, our little Matthew would look like he didn’t have parents. I’d see him running down the hall with his shirt half untucked, glasses cockeyed, shoes scuffed up, and cookie crumbs decorating his clothes. Left to himself, he was a mess.
I wonder if that is how we look sometimes. After Christ has clothed us in His righteousness, we tend to wander off and live in ways that make us look like we don’t belong to God. That’s why Jude’s promise that Jesus is “able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless” gives me hope (Jude 1:24).
How can we keep from looking like we don’t have a heavenly Father? As we become more yielded to His Spirit and His ways, He will keep us from stumbling. Think of how increasingly righteous our lives would become if we would take time in His Word to be cleansed with “the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26).
What a blessing that Jesus promises to take our stumbling, disheveled lives and present us faultless to the Father! May we increasingly look like children of the King as we reflect His loving care and attention. — Joe Stowell
Lord, thank You for the blessing of being clothed in Your beautiful righteousness and the promise that You will keep me from stumbling and present me faultless before Your Father and my God!
To reflect the presence of the Father, we must rely on the Son.
January 21 Thursday - In Harmony
January 21 Thursday
In Harmony
Read:1 Peter 4:7-11
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.—1 Peter 4:10
The Bible In One Year:
■Exodus 1–3
■Matthew 14:1-21
Ilove playing the 5-string banjo. But it has one drawback. The fifth string will harmonize with only a limited number of simple chords. When other musicians want to play more complicated music, the banjoist has to adapt. He can lend marvelous melodic tones to a jam session only by making the right adjustments.
Just as musicians adjust with their instruments, we as believers also need to make adjustments with our spiritual gifts if we want to harmonize with others to serve God. For instance, those who have the gift of teaching must coordinate with those who have the gift of organizing meetings and with those who make sure meeting rooms are set up and cleaned. All of us have spiritual gifts, and we must work together if God’s work is to get done.
The apostle Peter said, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Stewardship requires cooperation. Think about your spiritual gifts (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 1 Peter 4). Now reflect on how you can dovetail their use with the gifts of other believers. When our talents are used in a complementary way, the result is harmony and glory to God. — Dennis Fisher
Without a note we sing in tune,
An anthem loud we bring,
When willingly we give our gifts
Of labor to our King. —Branon
