Your Daily Bible: Recent Episodes
Kurt Barnes
Short, daily meditations on God’s Word that are practical and relevant to your everyday life. Featuring pastor Kurt Barnes from Silver Creek Fellowship Church in Silverton, Oregon.
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
https://scf.tv/21daysofprayer/
Beginning Sunday January 7th, we at Silver Creek Fellowship will be entering into 21 days of concentrated prayer and fasting. If you sense God has more for your life, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a great place to start believing Him for all that He has for you. As you practice seeking Him first, He will move on your behalf like never before. You will start to see the power of prayer impact your relationships, work, family, and every area of your life.
We use this time to replace a habit, food, routine, or pleasure with prayer, worship, and reading God’s Word – and we have seen God do incredible things through this time!
For the 21 Days of prayer, we will be providing you with prayer guides, a prayer app, daily prayer devotions and opportunities to pray with others. Before we get started, I hope you will take the time to pray and consider fasting during the 21 Days campaign.
Pray First App – Guided prayers, prayer lists, and lots of other resources.
Daily Devotionals – Kurt will be giving a live devotional each morning on our FB page.
Support the show
Luke 24:25-35 On the Road to Emmaus
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
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Matthew 28:1-10
Jesus Has Risen
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
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Jesus is silent on Saturday. The women have anointed his body and placed it in Joseph’s tomb. The cadaver of Christ is as mute as the stone which guards it. He spoke much on Friday. He will liberate the slaves of death on Sunday. But on Saturday, Jesus is silent.
So is God. He made himself heard on Friday. He tore the curtains of the temple, opened the graves of the dead, rocked the earth, blocked the sun of the sky, and sacrificed the Son of Heaven. Earth heard much of God on Friday.
Nothing on Saturday. Jesus is silent. God is silent. Saturday is silent.
Easter weekend discussions tend to skip Saturday. Friday and Sunday get the press. The crucifixion and resurrection command our thoughts. But don’t ignore Saturday. You have them, too.
Silent Saturdays. The day between the struggle and the solution; the question and the answer; the offered prayer and the answer thereof.
Saturday’s silence torments us. Is God angry? Did I disappoint him? God knows Jesus is in the tomb, why doesn’t He do something? Or, in your case God knows your career is in the tank, your finances are in the pit, your marriage is in a mess. Why doesn’t He act? What are you supposed to do until He does?
You do what Jesus did. Lie still. Stay silent. Trust God. Jesus died with this conviction: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (Acts 2:27 NIV).
Jesus knew God would not leave him alone in the grave. You need to know, God will not leave you alone with your struggles. His silence is not his absence, inactivity is never apathy. Saturdays have their purpose. They let us feel the full force of God’s strength. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His son, would we have appreciated the act? Were He to solve your problems the second they appear, would you appreciate His strength?
For His reasons, God inserts a Saturday between our Fridays and Sundays. If today is one for you, be patient. As one who endured the silent Saturday wrote: “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7 NKJV).
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John 1919 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”
6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”
11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
13 When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people,[c] “Look, here is your king!”
15 “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.
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Luke 22:7-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22&version=NLT
The Last Supper
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
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Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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John 12:37-50
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h]
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
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Matthew 21:12-17
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
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John 12:12-19
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
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Matthew 7:24-29
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
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Luke 4:1-13Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
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Matthew 2:1-18 The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
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Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of JesusIn those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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John 1 (NLT)1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
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https://scf.tv/ukraine-relief/
PRAY AND GIVEWhen faced with a terrible unfolding situation like this, it can be difficult to know how to pray. Try these simple ideas:
1. Acknowledge God’s power
As humans, we can forget that ultimately, God has created the world and is not absent from it but all-powerful in it:
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24
2.Pray for God’s kingdom to come
The simplest prayer can be the most powerful:
“Your Kingdom Come,
Your Will be done,
On earth as in heaven”
3. Pray for individuals and communities
We’re called to pray for others in our world facing challenges and difficult situations:
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people…” – 1 Timothy 2:1
4. Pray for those in power
Leaders across our world are humans, just like us, who need prayer:
“… for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” – 1 Timothy 2:2-3
5. Pray for the church to continue to bring hope
As part of the global church, we are connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ that are scattered all over this world and we have a message of hope that can be shared far and wide, no matter what else is happening in our world:
“…For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
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Daniel 33 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
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Daniel 1 Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
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Jeremiah 1
1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
The Call of Jeremiah
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching[b] to see that my word is fulfilled.”
13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”
“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”
14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.
“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.
17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
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2 Kings 19 Hezekiah’s Prayer
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.
17 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”
32 “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:
“‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.
33 By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,
declares the Lord.
34 I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’”
35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.
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2 Kings 17:1-24
17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.
3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[a] king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison. 5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.
7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[b] 13 The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”
16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.
18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.
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Hosea 11:1-4 God’s Love for Israel
11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
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2 Kings 6:8-23Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans
8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
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**The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20** Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
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1 Kings 19
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
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1 Kings 12:26-33
26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”
28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.
An idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything that is so central and essential to your life, that should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. —Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller.
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1 Kings 12:1-17
Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam
12 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.
7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
“What share do we have in David,
what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
Look after your own house, David!”
So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
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1 Kings 11:9-13
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
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1 Kings 3:5-14
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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Psalm 51
**For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1** Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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1 Samuel 17:45-50
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
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1 Samuel 16:6-7
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
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1 Samuel 3The Lord Calls Samuel
3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”
15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
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Ruth 4:13-17
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
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Judges 6:1-16 Gideon
6 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.
7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
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Joshua 24
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”
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Joshua 66 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”
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Joshua 5:1-125 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
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Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua Installed as Leader
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
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Numbers 33 Stages in Israel’s Journey
33 Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:
3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.
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Numbers 21:4-8 The Bronze Snake
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”
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Numbers 13:23-3323 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
Report on the Exploration
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
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Exodus 19:16-2016 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
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Exodus 17:1-7Water From the Rock
17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
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Exodus 14:10-31
New International Version10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
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Exodus 12:12-13
New International Version
12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
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Exodus 2The Birth of Moses
2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
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Exodus 1:6-14
New International Version
6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
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Genesis 41:25-4325 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
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Genesis 39:20-2320 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
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Genesis 37:1-11
Joseph’s Dreams
37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
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Genesis 33:1-4
Jacob Meets Esau
33 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
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Genesis 32:22-32Jacob Wrestles With God
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
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Genesis 28:10-2210 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it[a] stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b] 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel,[c] though the city used to be called Luz.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord[d] will be my God 22 and[e] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
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Genesis 26:1-526 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,[b] 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”
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Genesis 2222 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death
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Genesis 12:1-4
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you.
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse.
And all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
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Genesis 11
The Tower of Babel
11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
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Genesis 9:1-17 God’s Covenant With Noah
9 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
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Genesis 6:1-8
Wickedness in the World
6 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
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Genesis 4:1-8Cain and Abel
4 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
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Genesis 3
The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
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Genesis 1:27(NIV)
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
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Genesis 1:1-5The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
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James 5:7-11(NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
1 Timothy 6:11 (NKJV)
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
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Jeremiah 29:1-14 (NLT)
Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. 2 This was after King Jehoiachin,[a] the queen mother, the court officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had been deported from Jerusalem. 3 He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah’s ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar. This is what Jeremiah’s letter said:
4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 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. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
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Romans 14:1
The Danger of Criticism
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Ephesians 4:3-4
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
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Romans 5:5 (NIV)5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails…
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Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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Ephesians 3:14-19(NIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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Philippians 1:3-63 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Off with my family to the beach! Please go back and listen to any of the more than 500 episodes available online!
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1 Peter 5:10-12 (NLT)
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11All power to him forever! Amen. 12I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.
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1 Peter 5:6-9 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
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1 Peter 5:1-5 (NLT)
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
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1 Peter 4:12-19 (NLT)
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” 19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you
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1 Peter 4:7-11 NLT
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
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1 Peter 4:1-6 NLT
1So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
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1 Peter 3:17-22 (Message)
17It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God. 19-22He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water. The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
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1 Peter 3:13-16 NIV
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
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1 Peter 3:8-12 NLT
8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
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1 Peter 3:1-7 NLT
1In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
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1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
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1 Peter 2:18-20 NLT
18You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
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1 Peter 2:13-17 NLT
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
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1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT
11Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
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1 Peter 2:4-10 NLT
4You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 7Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
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1 Peter 1:22-25 NLT
22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 23For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT
1So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
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1 Peter 1:17-21International Children’s Bible
17 You pray to God and call him Father. And this Father judges each man’s work equally. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God. 18 You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way. You got that way of living from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, but not with something that ruins like gold or silver. 19 You were bought with the precious blood of the death of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb. 20 Christ was chosen before the world was made. But he was shown to the world in these last times for you. 21 You believe in God through Christ. God raised Christ from death and gave him glory. So your faith and your hope are in God.
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1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
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1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT
10This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. 12They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
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1 Peter 1:6-9(NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
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The Christian Story in a Nutshell
Every good story needs a beginning, middle, and an end. In just a few rich verses, Peter tells the story of his audience’s life of faith.
They were living in the middle of the story, going about life with various hats on: citizens, slaves, family members. Their pre-Christian lives were not characterized by hope, especially if they were slaves. But now they were God’s people, every situation, task, person, and setback could be viewed through the glasses the lens of ‘living hope’ (1:3).
This living hope has a beginning: ‘the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1:3). The hope that Christians have does not float on clouds of wishful thinking. No, it springs from a tomb that once held the body of our crucified Lord, but that tomb is now empty. Jesus dealt death a fatal blow. It really happened! And if God has raised Christ from the dead, what can’t he do? Is it so impossible for him to set us free from the things that once bound us, and breathe new life into our lives.
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Living by a New Story
Tortoise believed life rewards the dedicated, and ended up crossing the finish line before the arrogant Hare. Chicken Little believed the sky was falling down, and ended up in a fox’s belly. Nothing will shape your life more than the story you believe yourself to be part of. Our view of life’s ultimate story will shape what we think is good and bad, how we spend our time and money, how we view ourselves and others – it influences everything.
Peter is writing to Gentiles across an area we today call Turkey. He locates them within a story, a story very different to the story they had once lived by.
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John 21:15-25
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
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John 21:1-14
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
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John 20:19-31
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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John 20:1-18The Empty Tomb
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
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John 19:18-4218 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
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John 19:1-17
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
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John 18:25-40 Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
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John 18:1-24
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
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John 17:20-26
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
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John 17:1-19
Jesus Prays to Be Glorified
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
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John 16:16-33
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
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John 16:1-15
16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
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John 15:18-27
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’[b]
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
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John 15:1-17**The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4** Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
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John 14:15-31
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “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. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
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John 14:1-14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
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John 13:18-38
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’[b]
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
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John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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John 12:44-50(NIV)
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
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John 12:20-43Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[b]
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[c]
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
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John 12:12-19(NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c]
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
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John 11:53-57
53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
John 12:1-1112 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
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John 11:27-5727 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
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John 11:1-27
The Death of Lazarus
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
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John 10:22-42(NIV)
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[b]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[c]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
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John 10:1-21**The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6** Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
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John 9
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
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John 8:21-59
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
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John 8:12-20
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
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John 8:1-11(NIV)
8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
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John 7:32-5232 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[a] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”
Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
**Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders
45** Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
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John 7:10-31
New International Version
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
Jesus Teaches at the Festival
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
Division Over Who Jesus Is
25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”
28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
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John 7:1-9 (NIV)
Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles
7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not yet[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
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John 6:41-70
New International Version
41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[a] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[b] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
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John 6:30-40
New International Version
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
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John 6:22-29
New International Version
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Jesus the Bread of Life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
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John 6:16-21
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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New International Version
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
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John 5:16-47
New International Version
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
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John 5:1-15(NIV)
The Healing at the Pool
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
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John 4:43-54
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. 45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
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Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
4 Jesus[a] knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.[b] She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,[c] where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
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John 3:22-36 **John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
22** Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.
23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew[a] over ceremonial cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.[b] 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
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John 3:1-21 (NLT)
3 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man[e] has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.[f]
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[g] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.[h]”
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John 2:13-25
Jesus Clears the Temple
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”[c]
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
Jesus and Nicodemus
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
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John 2:1-12 (NLT)The Wedding at Cana
2 The next day[a] there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
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John 1:35-51 (NLT)The First Disciples
35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”[a]).
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”[b]).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses[c] and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.[d]”
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John 1:15-34
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
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John 1 (NLT)1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
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Do you remember where you were on 9/11? An overwhelming sense of uncertainty and fear dominated our country that day and for many more after. Church attendance spiked as people searched for a way to cope.
In seasons of instability, our hearts long for a sovereign source of stability. We want answers, leadership, and clear direction. When the world is in turmoil, even those who don’t pick up a Bible on a regular basis are much more likely to listen to Scripture and pray.
As Daniel gains insight about the future of the nations around him, he is reminded that with difficult times comes an opportunity to share the reason for our hope.
In Daniel 11, the heavenly being tells Daniel that those who are wise will take the opportunity to instruct many. Hundreds of years later, the apostle Peter shares a similar message with early Christians, writing, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...” (1 Peter 3:15).
The reality is not everyone will want to hear what we have to say (Daniel 11:33). In those situations, it’s important to remember that God uses times of difficulty to refine and purify us as well (Daniel 11:35). Sometimes, refinement comes through receiving an uncomfortable or unpopular correction. Sometimes, refinement comes as we persevere in faith despite persecution.
No matter how great the opposition we face, we take heart in knowing that if we will stay faithful to God, He promises to deliver us and to bring glory to His name.
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We’ve all done it. A call drops, but we keep talking. Sometimes it takes a few seconds and sometimes it takes a few minutes, but eventually, we realize no one is listening.
Few things can be as frustrating or make us feel as foolish as recognizing we aren’t being heard. It’s the reason we cringe when customer service transfers us for the sixth time, and it’s the reason many of us struggle with prayer. We pour our hearts out to God, but we wonder:
Is God listening?
How do I know He heard me?
Daniel can relate to that feeling. When Daniel found himself in a difficult situation, he humbled himself and prayed. When Daniel didn’t get an immediate answer from God, he fasted and prayed some more. It wasn’t easy, but Daniel kept calling out to God the same way we keep calling back when an important call gets dropped.
The difference between calling God and calling another person is that God never loses touch with us. God’s messenger reassured Daniel that God heard every word and started working in Daniel’s life the moment he cried out (Daniel 10:12-13).
God always hears our prayer. Fighting through the frustration and persevering in prayer is about our hearts more than it is about getting God’s attention. With each prayer, we remind ourselves where our help comes from and we make space in our day to hear from the Lord.
God is working and we can trust Him, even when it seems like nothing is happening. Take heart in knowing God hears you and is working all things, even the hard things, together for your good (Romans 8:28).
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As kids, we ran to our parents’ room to escape the monsters under the bed. But what becomes our safe place as we get older?
Where do you turn when you’re scared, get bad news, or your world falls apart? Some run to a friend or special place. Some try to hide by getting lost in a TV show or movie. Others numb the pain by leaning on alcohol and other substances.
In Daniel 9, Daniel gets devastating news: Jerusalem, the city he loves, must lie desolate for 70 years. But instead of running from the fear and pain, Daniel turns to the Lord. Daniel 9:3 says, “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition…”
When bad things happen, our first instinct is often to run. We beg God to remove us from the situation as quickly and as pain-free as possible. But Daniel doesn’t do that. Instead, he acknowledges that God’s punishment is deserved and takes responsibility for Israel’s disobedience (Daniel 9:5-14). Then, Daniel repents and asks for forgiveness (Daniel 9:15-16).
Allowing ourselves to experience grief over our sin is the first step to moving past it. Not numbing or running from conviction is the spiritual equivalent of shining a light under the bed. By allowing ourselves to see the situation as it is, we can begin the process of replacing what the lies we believed with the truth of the Bible. We have face reality to change reality.
When we rush to get out from under the pain, we miss out on what God wants to do in our pain. As Daniel was praying, a messenger from God reminded him, “... you are very precious to God” (Daniel 9:23).
Israel still experienced the consequences of their behavior, but it didn’t last forever and it put an end to their sin (Daniel 9:24). Like Daniel, you are precious to your father in heaven. God hears you, and He loves you too much to let you stay in your sin.
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Art galleries are full of masterpieces that began with a simple brush stroke. We stand in awe at the finished product, but rarely do we get to see the work in progress. Would we love the Mona Lisa as much if we only saw its early stages?
Similar to an artist, God has a plan for us and a vision for us — His masterpieces. But often, we jump to conclusions or give up when there are still thousands of brush strokes to be made.
Seeing God’s handiwork come to fruition requires patience and faith. For example, the events in Daniel’s dream came to pass when Alexander the Great (the male goat) defeated the ram (Persia). After Alexander’s death, his kingdom was divided into four parts (the four horns/four winds of heaven).
Daniel’s vision also has implications we won’t see until the end times (Daniel 8:17). God is carrying out a bigger vision than we can see. We know God’s words will come to pass, but we shouldn’t assume to know when or how they will happen.
In Isaiah 55:8-9, God says his ways are higher than ours, and visions like Daniel’s remind us of this truth. As we pray and hear from God, we might receive a word or vision that doesn’t make sense at the moment. We can trust God to bring His plans to life. And in the absence of a clear next step, we allow our faith to continue to push us forward.
Every artistic process includes moments of frustration. But we have to understand the brush is safest in the hand of the Master Creator.
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Jesus’ coming is foreshadowed throughout the Bible. In Daniel 7, Daniel’s dream gives him a glimpse at what’s to come: “the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever” (Daniel 7:18).
When we ask Jesus into our lives, we become those holy people and the assurance of eternity is ours. The message of Daniel 7 is the same message we see throughout the Bible: Satan is vanquished, evil is defeated, and victory is ours in Christ.
Daniel’s dream also reminds us that in this world we will face hardship and temptation before Jesus returns (Daniel 7:21-22).
We don’t have to look far to find hardship and temptation in abundance. But rather than lose hope when strife comes, we can persevere knowing, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
We need to always remember that we are on the winning team spiritually. When hard times come, we take heart knowing that one day “all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27).
Living in freedom doesn’t mean we live free of problems. It means we live every day with the freedom of knowing we are on the winning team.
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At the beginning of Daniel 6, things are looking great for Daniel. He becomes one of three administrators over the 120 newly appointed satraps, who were like governors. Daniel impressed the king so much the king planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom.
Enter envy. Other administrators and satraps were so envious of Daniel they tried to find dirt on him to or create a scandal that would have him removed. They were relentless in their pursuit and convinced the king to make a new rule they knew Daniel couldn’t keep.
Things go from really great to really bad really fast. Not only is Daniel persecuted for praying to God, he is thrown into a pit of hungry lions with no way to escape.
Maybe you have been there, too. Things seemed to be going great. Then the call came. Or the rumors started that threatened your integrity. Or your boss called you into his office with the news of layoffs.
We may not be in an actual pit with real lions, but the “lions” in our lives are just as ferocious. God closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, and He can do the same for the “lions” in your life.
God doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life, but He does promise to be with us through it all. Daniel knew that and experienced it first-hand. Daniel continued trusting, praying, and praising his God. He did what was right without shame or fear.
Daniel 6:23 says, “And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” No matter the “lions” in your life right now, keep trusting, praying and praising our God. He can deliver us without a single wound.
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If you’re younger than 30, there’s a chance you’ve never heard of Adam West or Val Kilmer. But Adam West, Val Kilmer, Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, and Michael Keaton all have one thing in common. They all played Batman on the big screen.
Ask people from three generations to describe what Batman looks like, and you’ll get three different answers. With each iteration, Batman changed to reflect the times — moving from the caped crusader in a cartoonish black and gray leotard to the brooding dark knight we know today.
Batman’s evolution is a picture of the ever-changing standards we put on our heroes. What’s cool in one decade is lame to the next. What portrays strength in one generation is cheesy to the next.
If we chase people’s standards, we’ll always chase a moving target. That’s a reality Daniel understood all too well.
When Nebuchadnezzar was king, Daniel was his trusted advisor. But many years later, a new king was running things with a new group of nobles and influencers. Daniel had fallen out favor and been forgotten until an emergency caused the queen mother to remember the wisdom and insight Daniel gave to Belshazzar’s father (Daniel 5:10-11).
Belshazzar was prepared to give power, money, and authority to the person who could explain the message he’d seen on the wall, but Daniel wasn’t interested (Daniel 5:17). Daniel knew that even the influence that comes from following the Lord can quickly fade.
Daniel’s focus wasn’t on what he could gain by following the Lord, but on being faithful to follow the Lord. He spoke the words God gave him — nothing more, nothing less.
Like Daniel, we don’t follow the Lord for fame or fortune but to know and serve God faithfully. Our cool factor and influence might change over time, but the peace that comes from knowing and obeying God will last forever.
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None of us like to be told we’re wrong. We like it even less when the other person turns out to be right. Remember, the business deal everyone said was too good to be true? Or the relationship everyone warned you about that ended badly? Or that time in high school when the urge to “live a little” turned into a misdemeanor — just like they said it could.
Refusing to take advice is a form of pride. It’s the haughty spirit Proverbs 16:18 says leads to destruction. And, it’s the pride that led to Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall in Daniel 4.
Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper” (Daniel 4:27, NLT).
Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar still hadn’t changed, and everything God revealed came to pass (Daniel 4:28-30). It’s easy to read Nebuchadnezzar’s story and assume it could never happen to us. But no one is immune to pride.
We don’t have to be rulers to build kingdoms. We do it every day in big and small ways. We build companies, playgroups, online communities, and Snap streaks. Then, like Nebuchadnezzar, we stand back and admire our accomplishment, saying “Look at me! What a great thing I’ve done!”
The truth is nothing we have and nothing we build is ours, but for the grace of God. When we work hard, when we build communities, the goal is not to draw attention to us but to Him.
It took hitting rock bottom for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge that God alone deserves our praise (Daniel 4:34-35). But we don’t have to wait for an inevitable fall. God loved Nebuchadnezzar enough to send a warning through Daniel. And God loved each of us enough to show us a better way through the life, death, and resurrection of His son.
When God brings pride to our attention, it’s not to shame us but to save us. How much heartache could we miss if we were to listen and repent?
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Government officials and commoners alike are gathered in the public square for the unveiling a new statue. A trumpet blows, the order is given and everyone kneels before the statue in worship as the band plays.
Imagine the conflict in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the wrestled with whether to kneel or stand. The penalty for not participating was death, and they were government officials. People were watching. To kneel was to betray their God, and to not kneel was to betray their king.
Eventually, we all come to that moment when everyone else is doing one thing, but God has called us to do something different. To choose purity can impact our dating lives. To choose integrity can affect our upward mobility. To choose love makes us vulnerable in relationships.
God has promised to be with us when life is hard, but often our hearts struggle to believe it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know they’d find Jesus in the fire when they walked in the furnace. But they allowed their faith, not their fear, to guide their actions (Daniel 2:17-18).
Faith rarely makes reasonable sense. So when people see faith in action, they need an explanation. As a result of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's faith, the king acknowledged God’s power and people stood in awe.
When we stand up for what we believe, the same thing happens. In the eyes of the world, suffering is all pain. But in the eyes of God, suffering is a vehicle for hope.
Our faith might lead to suffering. But we take heart in those moments, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-5).
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We all know people who are naturally good at certain things.
The numbers person leaves others in awe at her ability to calculate her head. The athlete pushes expectations of what’s physically possible and brings us to our feet in celebration. The artist sees beauty and inspiration in ordinary life. The friend who lightens a room and brings people together.
God gives each of us unique abilities, talents, and insights — not for our glory but for His. When we’re operating in our gifting, things come easily. And if we’re not careful, we can start to take the credit for what God is doing in us and through us.
Daniel had a prophetic gifting. When someone wasn’t sure what God wanted, they would turn to the prophets — men and women with the ability to declare God’s will and interpret His purposes.
Daniel recognized that God gives His people this special insight. So before Daniel shares a word about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he reminds those listening where his ability to interpret dreams comes from: “... there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
The ability to do something well results in all measure of attention and praise. But no matter how powerful we think we are, we are not more powerful than God. God alone gives power and authority, and takes it away (Daniel 2:37-39). An only God can build a kingdom that will last forever (Daniel 2:44). All of our gifts and abilities were designed to help build that kingdom.
When Nebuchadnezzar saw what God empowered Daniel to do, it caused him to think twice about Daniel’s God (Daniel 2:46-47). In that same way, when we give God the glory He rightly deserves for our skills and abilities, we draw others to Him.
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Have you ever found yourself in a seemingly impossible situation? Perhaps a relationship was in a rocky place. Maybe your finances were in a tough spot. Or maybe you had a tough decision to make. Daniel also knew what it was like to face the impossible.
Daniel turned to the only person who could help him: God. While the people around him said, “No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men,” Daniel knew this to be untrue (Daniel 2:11).
The one, true God did live among them, and He lives among us today. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says we are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in us. In God’s mercy and grace, He makes wisdom available to us if we’ll ask, seek, and believe — just like Daniel did.
Daniel was able to describe and interpret the king's dream because God gave Daniel the wisdom to do so. Daniel asked for God’s help by praying for wisdom and pleading for mercy in this situation. Then, Daniel sought God by trusting Him and listening to the vision revealed to him. And finally, Daniel had to have the faith to believe God would come through.
For us, the process looks much the same. When we are faced with the impossible, we must have faith to ask God for help through prayer. Then, we seek His wisdom in His Word, and we believe He will help us through the impossible.
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When you hear the word “resolve” what comes to mind? Maybe you pictured a determined athlete, the 2-year-old that doesn’t want to back down, or the health battle we will do everything to fight.
The dictionary explains resolve as “fixity of purpose” or “firm determination.” We easily associate resolve with reaching the highest level in a sport or persevering through a diagnosis. But it also takes resolve to stay the course spiritually.
In Daniel 1, Daniel shows what having resolve for God looks like. Daniel, an Israelite, is chosen to join the king’s service. With this new role, Daniel faced pressure to compromise his Jewish standards and fit into the Babylonian culture. But “...Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8).
Daniel knew what he was being asked to eat and drink was not in line with Scripture. It would have been easy to partake in the meal and appease his new bosses, but Daniel knew this would be wrong in God’s eyes.
Daniel knew God, knew His Word, and was fixed on God’s purpose. So when faced with an uncomfortable — and potentially costly decision — Daniel didn’t have to wrestle with what to do. Though it took courage to follow through, the decision not to defile himself was clear.
Like Daniel, we need to first know God’s Word, then be intentional in our obedience to it. This is where resolve comes in.
The culture we live in isn’t always conducive to our values as Christians. Though knowing and wanting to do what is right is important, it is the first step. We also need to resolve to carry out our beliefs even when the pressure is on.
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When we make the decision to follow Jesus, we start a lifelong journey. But this is not a trip we make on our own. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we join a family of other Christians all around the world who are doing their best to follow Jesus step by step.
God is Relational all the way to His core, and he yearns to have a relationship with each of us, and He wants us to grow in our relationships with one another. Jesus demonstrated this for us in His relationships with the 12 disciples.
Galatians 6:1-3 teaches that community is necessary for every Christian. So how do we know when we’ve found the people God wants us to share our lives with? When seeking out community with other Christians, look for people who:
- listen to God and do what He says,
- hold you accountable,
- speak the truth with love and grace,
- are dependable and trustworthy, and
- readily give encouragement.
Believing we can do everything ourselves is prideful and shows a lack of humility. Opening up to people might seem scary, but we have more to gain by investing in friendships in the church than we have to lose.
When we respond to God’s command to love others, and we invest in relationships, we experience the joy, compassion, and depth of emotion that comes from a life well-lived (Galatians 6:7-8).
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We all know that feeling of walking into a gym for the first time. You want to get in shape, and today is the day you’re going to start! There is one problem: You have no idea what to do. You don’t know anything about fitness or how to use the equipment.
You need guidance.
There are times in all of our lives where we need counseling to know what to do. At a gym, guidance comes in the form of a personal trainer. In our spiritual lives, our guide is called the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus sent to us when we accept Jesus as our savior. In John 14:26, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our counselor, “whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.” The Holy Spirit helps us in SO MANY ways, according to Galatians 5:
- He helps us overcome sin.
- He helps us follow God's instructions.
- He produces godly qualities in our lives.
- He encourages us to seek God's approval not man's approval.
Before meeting Jesus, we did what seemed right to us. When we do what feels good at the gym, we rarely see ourselves change. When we do that in our spiritual lives, we find ourselves stuck in an endless cycle of sin.
Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we lived in conflict with God and His desires. Those old habits are hard to break. The only way to overcome sin and experience real life change is to listen and follow the Holy Spirit. As we let go of our old ways, our selfish desires are replaced with the characteristics of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
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Have you ever been in a relationship where nothing you did was ever good enough? If you have, you know it’s frustrating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. The eventual outcome is that we stop trying, or worse, become bitter toward others and doubtful of our own self-worth.
If you’re experiencing the pain of a no-win relationship, here’s some good news: You never have to work to earn God’s acceptance. In fact, it’s impossible to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Human nature leads us to think we have to obey certain rules to get God to accept us. But obeying rules doesn’t draw us close to God; it makes us slaves to the rules.
The Bible says when we were God’s enemies He sent Jesus to save us. He loved us when we didn’t care about Him. He loved us when we were doing sinful things. Through Jesus, God brings us into His family. The Holy Spirit changes us on the inside and makes us children of God, not robotic rule followers (Galatians 5:1).
What does matter to God is that Christians demonstrate their faith by showing to others the same kind of love He first showed us (Galatians 5:6). He wants us to love people who are far from God just as they are. He wants us to love them enough to point them to Jesus.
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“Don’t drink, smoke, chew or go with girls that do…”
For many this is familiar advice. The point is simple: Stay away from bad influences. Date those who follow the rules. It’s well-intentioned advice that misses the point. Instead of focusing on Who people follow, we focus on the rules they follow.
This is not a new problem in the church. From the beginning, people have struggled to understand the relationship between freedom in Christ and the call to live holy lives. Often, to solve this, churches obsess about either obedience or grace. Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 4. No doubt, teaching a set of rules is easier than teaching the radical grace described in the Bible. On the other side are churches that avoid addressing sin for fear of offending someone. Both groups miss the truth of Jesus’ message.
Grace and obedience are not independent of one another. We cannot obey our way into favor with God. That work was done on the cross by Jesus. When we understand that our salvation is an undeserved gift, our natural response is obedience.
As Christians, we have a personal understanding of how desperately we need forgiveness. Knowing Christ provides forgiveness creates a desire to obey rather than a requirement to do so.
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The apostle Paul wrote emphatically that Christians are sons and daughters of God, and therefore, Jesus is the Christian’s brother. Did you hear that? It’s truly remarkable! And this position of son and daughter is not just on paper; you enjoy this position experientially. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, something supernatural occurred. At the moment of your salvation, the Lord Jesus released His Holy Spirit into your heart, and your spirit came alive. You were born again!
As a result of your new birth, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work bringing you into a fuller, richer relationship with the Lord Jesus and the Father. One of the Spirit’s most wonderful works is to give you the unqualified assurance that God is your Father. The Holy Spirit reminds you again and again that you truly are a child of God—and nothing can ever change that reality. Your spirit rightfully cries out, “Abba, Father!”
But there is more. Since you are a son or daughter of God, you are not a slave. In fact, you are a joint heir with Jesus. You are in the family of God.
Commenting on what we see in Galatians 4:1-7, Tim Keller writes, “The Son’s purpose was to secure for us the legal status of our sonship. By contrast, the Spirit’s purpose is to secure the actual experience of it.”
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Galatians 3:15-29 (ICB)15 Brothers, let me give you an example: Think about an agreement that a person makes with another person. After that agreement is accepted by both people, no one can stop that agreement or add anything to it. 16 God made promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say, “and to your descendants.” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your descendant.” That means only one person; that person is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: God had an agreement with Abraham and promised to keep it. The law, which came 430 years later, cannot change God’s promise to Abraham. 18 Can following the law give us what God promised? No! If this is so, it is not God’s promise that brings us the blessings. Instead God freely gave his blessings to Abraham through the promise he had made.
19 So what was the law for? The law was given to show the wrong things people do. It continued until the special descendant of Abraham came. God’s promise was about this descendant. The law was given through angels who used Moses for a mediator[a] to give the law to men. 20 But a mediator is not needed when there is only one side. And God is only one.
21 Does this mean that the law is against God’s promises? Never! If there were a law that could give men life, then we could be made right by following that law. 22 But this is not true, because the Scriptures showed that the whole world is bound by sin. This was so that the promise would be given through faith. And it is given to people who believe in Jesus Christ.
23 Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming. 24 So the law was our master until Christ came. After Christ came, we could be made right with God through faith. 25 Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under the law.
26-27 You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This shows that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28 Now, in Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek. There is no difference between slaves and free men. There is no difference between male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. 29 You belong to Christ. So you are Abraham’s descendants. You get all of God’s blessings because of the promise that God made to Abraham.
Think back to playing games as a kid after school. Remember the arguments that ensued over an out-of-bounds call in basketball or a safe/out call in kickball? We knew the rules, but our selfish desire led us to yell, and even fight, over calls that didn’t go our way. It often took a mediator, like a teacher or parent, to correct the dispute.
The same way we needed a mediator for kickball and basketball, we need a mediator in our spiritual lives. Sin caused a rebellion between people and God, and we cannot restore the relationship on our own.
Jesus is the mediator who brings God and His people together. When God chose Israel to be His people, He gave Moses a set of commands called the law. The law established guiding principles for God’s people to follow. The law didn’t save people from their sin; it taught them how to be holy until a mediator arrived who could settle the dispute between our desires and God’s desires
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Life as a Christian can seem difficult if not impossible. How easy is it — really — to love our neighbors, to honor our parents, or to forgive someone who has hurt, betrayed or left us? How easy is it to share the Gospel with someone who you work with or sit next to in class?
It is impossible to follow Jesus on our own. The good news is Jesus gives us His power, so we’re never alone.
In Galatians 3, Paul calls the people “foolish” and “bewitched” for trying to earn their salvation. He reminds them that the Holy Spirit saved them. By trying to follow the law instead of accepting God’s grace, they were taking on an impossible burden and forgetting that they already belonged to Jesus.
Aren’t we just like that?
When we accept the gift of salvation through Jesus, He also gives us the Holy Spirit as our comforter and guide. The power of God lives in us! But instead of tapping into the power that enables us to follow Jesus, we slip into old habits and return to self-reliance. We allow others to dictate who we are.
When we are burdened by worries, hurts, or problems, we must keep our focus on the one who knows us and remember whose we are. We live under Jesus’ mercy and grace. He enables us to be who He’s created us to be and to do what He calls us to do.
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From the time we are babies, we are rewarded for hard work. We are promised a toy if we don’t scream during the shopping trip. When we are brave at the doctor’s office, we get a sucker. Teachers reward good behavior with stickers. As we get older, we work hard for good grades to get into a great college. We bust it at work to earn the promotion. Our whole lives teach us that success is the result of following the rules and putting forth the effort.
Maybe that’s why grace is a hard concept to understand. If I’m messed up and sinful, I’m not deserving. There must be something I need to do for Jesus to accept me. And once I am His, there must be a good behavior chart. There must be a list of things I have to do to be a successful Christian.
This isn’t a new struggle. Galatians 2 describes Paul’s reaction to Peter falling into the performance trap. Peter had begun doing what was right in other’s eyes, shutting out a whole group of people in the process. In Galatians 2:21, Paul reminds us that following a list of rules or checking off a to-do list is not necessary: “... if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
We are made right with God through Jesus’ sacrifice. Period. Galatians 2:16 says, "Yet we know that a person is not made right with God by following the law. No! It is trusting in Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God."
Peter was trying to follow man-made rules instead of the law God wrote on his heart. Focusing on a list of do’s and don’ts removes our focus from Jesus. When we decide to follow Jesus, He changes our heart. If we keep our focus on Him, He will guide our steps.
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Everyone knows “that” crowd in high school, the one we let intimidate us by their status or influence. They were cooler, more popular, had the best of everything.
But no matter how far removed the in crowd seemed, they are people just like the rest of us. They face the same struggles, hopes and fears. And while we might be intimidated, God sees us all the same. He does not show favoritism. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.
In Galatians 2:6, Paul writes, “Those men who seemed to be important did not change the Good News that I preach. (It doesn’t matter to me if they were “important” or not. To God all men are the same.)
The Gospel is the same no matter whom it is presented to. It takes the same amount of grace and mercy to be forgiven by Jesus no matter how much we make, what car we drive or where our kids go to school. Just because we are given status by the world’s standards does not mean we have special status in God’s eyes.
Maybe middle and high school are decades behind you. Maybe you're scared to talk to your neighbor about Jesus because you're not a pastor. Maybe you're afraid to speak up about changes at work because you're "just a shift worker."
In God’s economy, there is no such thing as “just a …” God doesn't rate us according to our status; He looks at the attitude of our hearts. If God is prompting you to have a tough conversation, do it and remember that the person sitting across from you is also just a sinner in need of a Savior.
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Pleasing dad is something most of us strive for throughout our lives. No matter how complicated our relationship with our parents might be, something in us desires to please our father. But in Galatians 1, Paul, a leader in the church, addresses this need to win our earthly fathers’ approval over our heavenly Father’s approval.
Paul was zealous for the religious traditions of his family. But after an encounter with Jesus, Paul realized there was much more to his faith than what his family passed down. Seeking his family and community’s approval by following their traditions would never give Paul salvation or a right relationship with God. Only faith in Jesus could change Paul’s eternity.
That recognition changed the chain of command in Paul’s life. In Galatians 1:10, Paul writes, "Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No! God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please men? If I wanted to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Serving God — even when it goes against the traditions of our friends and family — is hard. Jesus knows this better than anyone. Wrestling with His impending crucifixion, Jesus prays, “... My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus asks God to spare Him the pain that was to come, but ultimately Jesus places His faith in God the Father. At a time when Jesus could have pleased others and made His life less painful by denying God, Jesus’ trust in His Father produced obedience that resulted in our salvation.
We, like Jesus, are God’s children. Every day we face the hard choice about where to put our trust. In those moments, we have to stop and ask the same question Paul did: Am I trying to please God or men?
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John 1919 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”
6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the headquarters[a] again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”
11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’[b] Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
13 When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people,[c] “Look, here is your king!”
15 “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.
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Luke 22:7-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22&version=NLT
The Last Supper
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.[a] 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.[b]
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Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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John 12:37-50
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h]
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
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Matthew 21:12-17
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]”
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
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Psalm 119:33-40 (NLT)He
33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.[a]
38 Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;
for your regulations are good.
40 I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness.
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Psalm 63 (NLT)
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.
9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.
10 They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
while liars will be silenced.
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John 4:13-15(NLT)13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
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Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT)And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
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John 7:37-39(NLT)37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
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“After this, Jesus knew that everything had been completed. So that the Scripture would come true, he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ There was a jar full of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth.” -John 19:28-29 (NCV)
“Jesus gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death on a cross.” -Philippians 2:7-8 (NCV)
“I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7(NLT)
“So that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’” - John 19:28 (NIV)
“When I was thirsty they offered me vinegar.” -Psalm 69:21b (TEV)
“Take a branch of the hyssop plant, dip it into the bowl filled with blood, and then wipe the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes.” -Exodus 12:22
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” -John 4:13-15(NLT)
“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” -John 6:35 (NLT)
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” -John 7:37-39(NLT)
“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.” -Psalm 63:1 (TEV)
“As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.” -Psalm 42:1(ESV)
“For my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.” -Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)
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Ephesians 6:10-20(NLT)The Whole Armor of God10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
You could look at the state of society and lament that “everything’s going to hell in a handbasket.”
Sometimes, it seems as if like Psalm 12:2 “lies flourish while truth is as rare as gold”.
When your work, school, or city starts to feel foreign, keep in mind that your heart matters to God, and so do the hearts of those who are far from him.
The enemy lies constantly telling us that God has abandoned us to a wicked and perverse world, and our only option is to isolate or assimilate to the culture. But God’s Word shows us a third option — drawing close to Him and allowing His working through us to change the culture we’re in. So how do we do that?
In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul teaches us to equip ourselves with the same vigilance as a soldier preparing for battle. While we don’t fight against flesh and blood, we do fight against powers and principalities of evil. That requires weapons that can’t be made with human hands.
When we fight with the armor and weapons in Ephesians 6, we vanquish the enemy, and we gain back ground in this spiritual war. And the best news of all? No matter how messed up the world around us seems, this spiritual battle is one fight where we’ve been guaranteed victory.
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Ephesians 2
New Living Translation
Made Alive with Christ
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Have you ever tried to collect payment from a dead man? It’s near impossible. Unless someone steps in to cover the bill, you’re out whatever you were owed.
Spiritually speaking, that is our condition before we meet Jesus. There is a sin debt to be paid, but we can’t pay it because we are dead.
To pay off our debt, we’d have to be able to work. And that’s a problem because dead people can’t work. Even if dead people could work, what we’d earn wouldn’t be sufficient for the debt we owe. Even if we had something of worth to give — which we don’t — it wouldn’t matter because dead people can’t pay their bills.
Before Jesus, we’re spiritually bankrupt with no way out. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4).
God loved us so much He sent Jesus to pay our debt and bring us back to life. Think about that: Not only are we debt-free, we’ve also been given the opportunity to enjoy our newfound freedom.
Just getting us out of debt would have been a big deal, but God goes one step further. He gives us a new life so we can do all the good things He planned for us before sin entered the world (Ephesians 2:9-10).
That means that the things we do for God, we don’t do to earn favor from God. We do things for God because we’ve received favor from Him! The awe that led David to pen these words is the same awe that leads us to serve.
“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:4-5).
We work, serve, and give, not because we are trying to be made right with God but in response to what God has already done for us. Serving and giving is what happens when gratitude and wors
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Galatians 6:1-3
We Harvest What We Plant
6 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
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Galatians 4:6-7(NLT)6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
Ever notice how kids seem to fall asleep faster when mom or dad is in the room? The monster under the bed has nothing on mom or dad. And if the nightmare comes, it’ll be OK because mom or dad will be there to make it stop.
Kids don’t have to be brave when their parents are around because mom and dad will fight for them. The ability to let go of worries and rest securely — that is real freedom. And that is the freedom God offers us as His kids.
Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Freedom is not the absence of something, but the presence of someone. The darkness doesn’t go away when mom or dad enters the room, but kids are freed from fear when mom or dad draws near. The same is true for us and God.
The word “Abba” in Galatians 4:6 simply means, “Daddy.” Through Jesus, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We can cry out to God like a kid cries out to their parents, and He hears us (Galatians 4:6-7, Psalm 4:3).
No matter what is happening around us, we have access to all the freedom and security of a kid tucked snuggly into bed. We don’t have to wait to see if the treatment works. We can cry out, “Abba, Father!” in the exam room, and in His presence, we find freedom from fear. We don’t have to wait to see if the job comes through. We can cry out, “Abba, Father!” and in His presence, release our worries about what comes next.
We all have situations where we think, “If I can just get through this, I’ll be OK.” Paul reminds us in Galatians 4 that we don’t have to wait. We are sons and daughters of God, and in His presence, we are free.
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Galatians 2:20-21(NLT)20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Pop psychology says we can overcome our problems and become a better version of ourselves. If you’ve ever tried that, you know it’s exhausting.
The Gospel tells us the opposite. The Gospel says we were born into brokenness we can’t shake. This brokenness is called sin, and it separates us from our Father in heaven.
Jesus’ death and resurrection removed the power of sin once and for all. Jesus says when we believe this and put our trust in Him, our sin is removed, and we are made new.
We don’t get a renovated life, we get a new life with the Holy Spirit living inside each of us. That’s what Paul describes, writing,
“20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
To be “in Christ” is to receive a new identity. This is why Paul was so upset in Galatians chapter 2 with Peter who had separated himself from the non-Jewish Christians. The rules that separated the two groups no longer applied. Peter was doing more than just being rude; he was being someone he wasn’t.
Like Peter, we can forget that we are not who we used to be. When that happens, it shows up in our actions. We must remember that Jesus did the hard work for us. He made it possible for us to call God "Father."
Rather than trying harder to change, Paul tells us to remember whose we are. We are children of God, made new, set free. That’s how God sees us. The more we believe this about ourselves, the more our actions will reflect this reality — instead of who we used to be.
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Romans 5:5 (NIV)5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails…
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Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
God created work, and He cares about your work. Whether you work in your home, in an office, or by going to school, there’s a plan and purpose behind your work.
The people you sit next to or work alongside, the teachers you’re assigned, the customers who walk through your doors — each will learn something about God from you because God’s Spirit lives in you.
Our faith is meant to affect every part of every day. As it does, we experience a change in our attitude toward our coworkers and the work itself. We’re no longer working for the weekend or trying to get ahead. Instead, every day becomes an opportunity to serve God and see His kingdom come.
Praise
When the last time you thanked God for the ability to go to work or school?
What is God showing you about yourself and about Him through this opportunity or season?
How have you seen God show up for you this year in your workplace or classroom?
Repentance
Does your job or degree program hold an appropriate amount of value in your life? Do you find more of your identity in what you do or who God says you are?
How’s your attitude at work/school? Would you say you’re working wholeheartedly? Would others say the same?
Think about your interactions at work or school this week. How are you doing when it comes to speaking graciously and doing “all that you can to live in peace with everyone”?
Ask
Is there anything you’re stressed about or anyone you’re at odds with? Ask God to equip you for any difficulties awaiting you when you get to work or school.
What do you want to see God do in your school or workplace? Talk to Him about it.
Yield
You may have dreams and desires for your work, but remember, God has dreams and desires for you. Take a few moments and let God speak to you about who He has called you to be in your workplace or school.
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Jeremiah 29:7(NLT)
7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
Praise:
Repent:
Ask:
Yield:
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Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT) Building on a Solid Foundation
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
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Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We don’t think twice when someone asks us to pray for them. Yet when it comes to praying for ourselves, we don’t always take that same stance.
Instead, we buy this lie that praying for ourselves is selfish. We worry God will see us as needy or ungrateful. We treat Him like He’s one of us when nothing could be farther from the truth.
It is not selfish to pray for yourself. Praying for yourself is part of being fully surrendered and obedient to God. How can we know God if we don’t talk with Him about what matters to us?
God is a loving Father who wants to hear from His children. Philippians 4:6 that I just read is so clear! God says don’t worry about anything instead talk to me about everything! No thought is too small or insignificant to bring to Him.
Praise
- How does it feel to know that you can talk to God about anything?
- How have you seen God meet needs big and small? Thank God for how He’s demonstrated His care and concern for all aspects of your life.
Repentance
- Have any areas of your life been off-limits to God?
- Is there anything weighing you down that you don’t feel comfortable bringing to God? What is holding you back from praying about it?
- Are there any lies you’ve believed about what prayer should be that are stopping you from experience what prayer can be?
Ask
- What’s one practical, tangible way you need God’s help today?
- Are there burdens you’re carrying relationally, financially, or emotionally? What do you need in each of those areas?
Yield
- One of the gifts that can come from complete honesty with God is complete intimacy with God. Take a moment to pray through Psalm 139. Embrace the stillness as you wait for God to respond.
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Psalm 127:3-5(NLT)
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him. 4 Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. 5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
No two families are identical, yet our heavenly Father had His hand in creating each and every one. Family was God’s design. Just as He created each of us, He created the people we were born to and the siblings and extended family that surround us.
Some days, when everyone is getting along, family feels like a blessing. Other days, it feels like an immense challenge. For some, our families are our safe place. For others, our families are our mission field.
No one ever said loving others would be easy, but the Bible does promise it will be worth it. As we stretch ourselves to love our families well, our lives start to look more like our Savior’s (Philippians 2:1-11).
Praise
- What are some reasons you can thank God for your family?
- How has being brought into this family, at this point in time, brought good into your life?
- What do you appreciate about God’s design for family? What has it taught you about His character and values?
Repentance
- No human is perfect, which means no family is perfect. Is there anyone in your family you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from?
- How does your understanding of family align with God’s design for family? What, if anything, do you need to let go of to do what He’s called you to?
Ask
- What do you want to see God do in your immediate and extended family? Does anyone need healing, direction, or a relationship with Jesus?
- We can love and serve and advise our families, but only God can access their hearts. Where do you see an opportunity for your family members to grow spiritually or emotionally?
Yield
- What role does God want you to play in your family? Too often, we jump into who we think we should be without asking God, “Why do you have me in this family?”
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1 Timothy 2:1-4(NLT) Instructions about Worship
2 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
God puts leaders over us for our benefit, and their decisions can significantly impact our circumstances. This is one reason the Bible tells us to pray for those in authority over us from our parents and pastors to our employers and government officials.
Even if we don’t like or disagree with the leaders in our lives, we can still pray for them. We pray for them to have the wisdom and strength to obey God and lead us well.
When those in authority are obeying God’s will, it’s much easier for us to live peaceful and quiet lives. When they are not obeying God, we pray for their salvation and God’s guidance in their choices, as well as for protection from spiritual warfare.
Praise
- Have you experienced the blessing of being under a good leader? What are some ways that person’s leadership reflected God’s character and leadership?
- Who are the wise people in authority over you now? How would your life be different without their leadership? Consider how their counsel has helped you, and thank God for putting them in those positions.
Repentance
- We can all take good leaders for granted. Do you forget to pray for your leaders if things are going well for you?
- How do you respond to your leaders when life is difficult? Is there anything you need to change in how you react to immature, chaotic, or new leadership?
- Do you ever refuse to pray for someone in charge because you dislike their personality or politics? How do you think God feels about that attitude?
Ask
- What kind of leader do you want to serve under? Ask God to give those characteristics to the people over you.
- There are big decisions facing your church, your school, your work, and country. Ask God to give wisdom and discernment to the leaders who will be making those calls.
Yield
- What, if anything, challenged you today as you prayed for your leaders? Allow God to speak to you about your heart toward your leaders, and to reveal anything else He wants you to pray for them.
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Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Thinking of the church as a family gets complicated. Baggage from biological relationships and past religious experiences can cloud our understanding of what God intends a church family to be. But the Bible paints an extraordinary picture of who we are together.
The people of God are the church, a dwelling place for God. We’re like a body, connected by bones, joints, marrow, blood vessels, and more. Like a biological family, we don’t get to choose who’s in the church family with us. God is creating this structure; He’s designed this body. Over time, throughout history, in every language, nationality, and continent.
Despite our differences, we are called to be unified. So when one person suffers, the others feel it. When one person rejoices, others are lifted up. Each member of the church is integral to the next.
Praise
- Is there anyone in the church you can’t imagine this journey without? Thank God for them and the joy they bring.
- Who in the church do you struggle to understand, but you know God has placed them alongside you for a reason? Thank God for that person and His purposes in both your lives.
Repentance
- Has anyone in the church offended or annoyed you? Maybe a leader you disagree with or a volunteer who’s too outspoken? Think of one way you can seek unity with this person.
- How could you ask forgiveness for the part you played in the conflict?
Ask
- Are there relational needs you long to see fulfilled in the church? If so, ask God to bring those relationships to fruition. Ask Him to give you courage as you step out in faith to connect with a church family.
- Is anyone in your church family in need? Pray for them, and ask God if there’s a way you can fulfill their need.
Yield
- Does the idea of church family confuse or bother you? Allow God to reveal where those feelings come from and to bring clarity and peace to your heart.
- Has a wound or relationship from your past made connecting with your church family difficult? Ask God to intervene and reveal your next step.
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Luke 11:1-4(NLT)
11 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:
“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
3 Give us each day the food we need,
4 and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
If you’ve ever been intimidated by prayer, you’re not alone. We want the peace, power, and confidence that comes from talking to God. But we often don’t know where to start or what to say.
Jesus’ disciples experienced the same emotions, and in Luke 11, they ask Jesus to teach them to pray. In the verses that follow, Jesus gives us a helpful model for how to talk to God.
Praise God for who He is and what He’s done. Repent of where we’ve fallen short. Ask for what we need. Yield to His will and hear what He has to say. Praise, repent, ask, yield. Or for an easy way to remember it: PRAY.
Praise
- What do you love about God?
- What are some ways God is good at being God?
- What are you thankful for today?
Repentance
- Is there any area of your life where you’re withholding forgiveness?
- Is there any area of your life where you need forgiveness?
- Is there any area of your life where you’re lacking faith or wondering if God really is good? If so, take a few minutes to tell Him how you feel. It’s OK. He can take it.
Ask
- What do you need as you walk into your day?
- Is there any area where you lack love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, or self-control? This is the time to ask God for what you need.
Yield
- What do you need to hear from God today?
- Pause for a minute. What do you feel the Spirit saying to you as you sit in stillness?
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Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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Psalms 55:22 NLT
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalms 55:22 AMP
Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).
1. SAY IT. SPEAK IT. This is prayer
2. SOAK IN SCRIPTURE. Get into God's word!!
3. SING, SING, SING! Our adversary HATES worship.
4. SURROUND YOURSELF other believers. God did not design you to carry your burdens alone.
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Psalm 37:17-28 (NLT)
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the Lord takes care of the godly.
18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
20 But the wicked will die.
The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
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Philippians 1:3-63 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Ephesians 3:14-19(NIV)
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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1 Timothy 2:1-4
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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Colossians 4:2-6 (NLT)An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
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Acts 1:12-14
The Upper Room
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
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Psalm 118:1-9 (NIV)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
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Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
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Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
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Habakkuk 1:1-5(NLT)
1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.
Habakkuk’s Complaint
2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,
but you do not come to save.
3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
who love to argue and fight.
4 The law has become paralyzed,
and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
so that justice has become perverted.
Ok so that’s the complaint now listen up God is about to answer.
5 The Lord replied,
“Look around at the nations;
look and be amazed!
For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn’t believe
even if someone told you about it.
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
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Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)
10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.Matthew 5:14 (NLT)
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
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Psalm 36:5-9
New Living Translation
5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
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Luke 2 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Birth of Jesus
2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
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Luke 2:26
It has been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
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John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
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1st Timothy 2 :5-6
“There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.”
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Isaiah 49:16
“See, I have written your name on the Palm of my hands.”
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Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)
“Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”
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Nikodemus said to him, “how can a man be born when he is old?” John 3:4
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Amos 3:7
“For the Lord does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets”
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The little drummer boy is a classic Christmas song written in 1941 it's about a little boy invited to see the Christ child being a poor boy he's worried about not having a suitable gift to bring to the newborn King. The little boy is far more concerned about this than Jesus is. Do you find yourself concerned in the same way this year? Have you been counting down the number of paychecks until Christmas? Are you disappointed that this may be a modest Christmas? When God sent his son into the world the options were unlimited, he could have been born into a wealthy family who would have provided him with lavish things. He could have been from a bigger town with more prestige, but that is not the Christmas God chose. Christ came to humble parents and humble circumstances those very circumstances made the little drummer boy in the song feel as if he could approach Jesus he took one look at him and declared “I am a poor boy too.”
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Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT) The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
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Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)The Widow’s Offering21 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Each year, we try to make the holidays bigger and better than the year before. We frantically search the aisles and spend hard-earned money on the perfect gift. At Christmas, we feel the need to go above and beyond for show. So, we fill stockings to the brim and meticulously decorate the tree.
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Luke 19:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
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Luke 18:35-43 (NLT)
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
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John 7:1-9 (NLT)
Jesus and His Brothers
7 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going[a] to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
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Luke 13:10-17 (NLT)
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
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Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
Jesus Visits Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. —Matthew 2:10–11
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TWO KINDS OF OPPOSITION TO JESUS
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. —Matthew 2:3
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BETHLEHEM’S SUPERNATURAL STAR
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” —Matthew 2:2
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Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”
—Matthew 2:1–2
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Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
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Luke 2:1-5 (NLT)The Birth of Jesus
2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
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THE LONG-AWAITED VISITATION
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited
and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as
he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies and from
the hand of all who hate us…” —Luke 1:68–71
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MARY’S MAGNIFICENT GOD
Luke 1:46–55
“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.”
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PREPARE THE WAY
“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.” —Luke 1:16–17
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Lamentations 3:31-32 NLT
31For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. 32Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
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Proverbs 4:23
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
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Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
24“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’
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James 1:19-20 (ESV)
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
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Psalm 57:7 NIV
“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.”
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Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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John 13:35 (NLT)
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
1 Corinthians 13 (NLT)
Love Is the Greatest
13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
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- Colossians 3:15-16 (NLT)
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
- Colossians 3:15-17 (MES)
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
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Romans 14:1
The Danger of Criticism
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Ephesians 4:3-4
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
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Colossians 1:15-20
Christ Is Supreme
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[e]
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.[f]
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
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Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
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Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT
20Now 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. 21Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
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Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT)
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
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James 1:1-12 (NLT)
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! 2Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
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Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT)
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
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Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)
Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
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Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
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1 Peter 5:10-12 NLT
10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11All power to him forever! Amen. 12I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.
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1 Peter 5:6-9 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
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1 Peter 5:1-5 (NLT)
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
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1 Peter 4:12-19 (NLT)
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” 19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you
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1 Peter 4:7-11 NLT
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
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1 Peter 4:1-6 NLT
1So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
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1 Peter 3:17-22 (Mes)
17It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God. 19-22He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water. The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
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1 Peter 3:13-16 NIV
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
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1 Peter 3:8-12 NLT
8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
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John 6:1-14
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
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1 Peter 3:1-7 NLT
1In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
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1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
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1 Peter 2:18-20 NLT
18You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
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1 Peter 2:13-17 NLT
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
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1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT
11Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
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1 Peter 2:4-10 NLT
4You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 7Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
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1 Peter 1:22-25 NLT
22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 23For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT
1So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
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1 Peter 1:17-21 NLT
17And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. 21Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
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1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
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1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT
10This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. 12They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
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1 Peter 1:6-9(NLT)
6 So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
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The Christian Story in a Nutshell
Every good story needs a beginning, middle, and an end. In just a few rich verses, Peter tells the story of his audience’s life of faith.
They were living in the middle of the story, going about life with various hats on: citizens, slaves, family members. Their pre-Christian lives were not characterized by hope, especially if they were slaves. But now they were God’s people, every situation, task, person, and setback could be viewed through the glasses the lens of ‘living hope’ (1:3).
This living hope has a beginning: ‘the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1:3). The hope that Christians have does not float on clouds of wishful thinking. No, it springs from a tomb that once held the body of our crucified Lord, but that tomb is now empty. Jesus dealt death a fatal blow. It really happened! And if God has raised Christ from the dead, what can’t he do? Is it so impossible for him to set us free from the things that once bound us, and breathe new life into our lives.
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Living by a New Story
Tortoise believed life rewards the dedicated, and ended up crossing the finish line before the arrogant Hare. Chicken Little believed the sky was falling down, and ended up in a fox’s belly. Nothing will shape your life more than the story you believe yourself to be part of. Our view of life’s ultimate story will shape what we think is good and bad, how we spend our time and money, how we view ourselves and others – it influences everything.
Peter is writing to Gentiles across an area we today call Turkey. He locates them within a story, a story very different to the story they had once lived by.
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God who is compassionateThe passage reveals God’s compassion not just toward Nineveh but also toward Jonah. God patiently deals with His prophet who is angry because God decided to relent from judging Nineveh.
Jonah’s compassion toward the plant is out of selfish reasons. His compassion is masked by his underlying comfort and he gets angry when the plant dies because it inconveniences him. We often behave like Jonah. Even our best intentions are tainted by sin and selfishness.
Jonah’s love is misplaced. Jonah’s love is for himself and anything that comes in-between faces his extreme displeasure. His love for himself even blinds him to God’s tremendous act of grace towards Nineveh.
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Man who is angry
Jonah was angry because God’s forgiveness toward the people of Nineveh displeased him greatly. Why was that? Why would God’s forgiveness and grace toward this city make Jonah angry enough to want to die?
Jonah loved his own people. And Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. This was the reason why he ran when God called him to go and preach to Nineveh. He did not want to warn them about the judgment of God. He would rather see Nineveh routed and punished for their crimes against his own people. And God’s grace toward Nineveh revealed his own prejudice.
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Prophet who obeys
When Jonah obeys God’s command to preach the message to Nineveh, we get a glimpse of what happens when one man decides to obey God. How does God make you into a change agent, one who changes your city, one who changes this world? Through simple obedience.
When God calls, we obey. God’s call on our lives will cost us our time, resources, our comfort and we may need to make sacrifices and even take risks. But when we decide to obey God because of who He is, then we experience a great God at work.
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Jonah cries out to God from inside the fish. In his distress he prays. From the deep he calls out to God for help. And what did God do? He listens to him. We see Jonah in this chapter repenting of his sin.
He doesn’t make excuses for his sin he just honest about his failure. True repentance is turning from our sin and turning toward God to save us. It is to change the way we think about our sin and look at it for what it is in God’s eyes.
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God who pursues
When Jonah runs from God out of disobedience, God pursues him. The reason God pursues Jonah is not to pay him back for his disobedience but to bring Jonah back to Him.
God, the creator and sustainer of all things, uses nature to intervene in Jonah’s life. He uses a great storm to create fear among the sailors who decide to throw Jonah into the sea in order to calm the storm.
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Jonah Runs from the LordGod’s word comes to Jonah, the prophet, but he decides to flee in the opposite direction. Instead of going to Nineveh, he travels to Tarshish.
People run from God for various reasons. Maybe you are like Jonah in some sense. We tend to run from God in specific ways. It could be because of sin, habits, resentment, bitterness or anything that the Bible forbids but we hold on to for various reasons. People tend to run from God because of pain and suffering. It could be the loss of a friend, a suffering family member, personal suffering, disappointments, crushed dreams, financial crisis or situations like these. We end up blaming God and so we run.
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Don’t let fear stop you.
Chances are, you have a lot of big things coming up. Graduation. College. A career. Adult stuff. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed—in fact, you might not feel like you know what you’re doing!
Joshua was in the same boat. In the Bible, Moses was the only real leader the Israelites had ever had. He was the GOAT, basically. Joshua was Moses’ assistant. Then, Moses dies, and the entire burden of leading the Israelites was on Joshua. Sounds like a lot of pressure, right?
As God is giving Joshua instructions, He says this three different times:
“Be strong and courageous.”
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What happens when we don’t see God’s plan?
In the Old Testament, Jeremiah was a prophet delivering a message from God to His people who had been exiled to Babylon. This certainly isn’t where they wanted to be. It wasn’t the plan. Instead of God rescuing them right away, He tells them to “build homes, and plan to stay” (Jeremiah 29:5 NLT) and to “work for the peace … of the city where I sent you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NLT)
A few verses later, God says, … “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.” Jeremiah 29:10 NLT (emphasis added)
Seventy years! Most of us aren’t patient enough to wait for something for 70 seconds, let alone 70 years.
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How do you discover God’s plan for your life?
If you’ve ever run a race, you know it’s important to keep the right pace. If you go too slow, you’ll easily get behind and people will pass you. If you go too fast, however, you might get exhausted quickly and not have the strength to even finish the race.
Finding the right pace while running a race can be challenging. Fortunately, when it comes to our Christian life, we have someone who sets the pace for us.
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What should I do?
You’ve probably asked that question a lot, especially if you have a major life decision to face, like where to go to college or what career to pick, or if He or She really is the one to marry.
It’s a similar question a religious leader asked Jesus in the Bible: “Which is the most important commandment of the Law?” (Matthew 22:36) In other words: what should I do?
In the next verse, we see Jesus’ reply: “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
When we try to figure out what God’s plan is for our lives, we can start with these two things Jesus told us to do:
1.) Love God.
2.) Love other people.
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Are you excited about your life? Or do you feel as if you’re merely existing, drifting along from day to day without any sense of purpose or direction?
Through the years, I’ve met countless people who’re living what I call a “settled-for-life.” Somewhere along their journey, they became complacent and content in their circumstances. They settled for what they believed was adequate or satisfactory instead of exerting the effort and work necessary to living a life that’s truly excellent and outstanding.
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In every season of our life—whether as a new parent, a student pursuing a degree, or as empty-nesters— we are invited to live with intentionality. Some of these seasons seem bursting with opportunity while others feel less important. It’s important to remember that purpose does not start or stop at certain points in our life. Every moment we have is ripe for purpose-filled living.
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For many of us, disappointment, setbacks, and discouragement can make us feel like our purpose is out of reach. When we look at the path of our life, it often does not match the upward and onward vision of what we thought pursuing our purpose would look like.
It’s natural to want to avoid the setbacks and detours we experience in life, but the truth is that most of us will experience them. It may come in the form of an unrealized dream, like wanting to be married and finding yourself single. Or maybe you just got let go from the job you thought was going to finally elevate you as a leader. Perhaps a health diagnosis is physically preventing you from doing what you thought was your purpose.
The good news is that God does not waste any of it. In fact, He is the One who can take what the enemy meant to derail us from our purpose and use it for good. The very challenges, mistakes, and difficult circumstances we try to rush past or hide do not disqualify us—they often cultivate the effectiveness of God’s unique purpose in our life.
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One of the biggest stumbling blocks in realizing God’s intended purpose for our life is when we feel that our purpose has been put on hold. In our culture that values instant gratification, we can easily forget that development in the Kingdom of God does not run on our timeline—it’s often a much more gradual process than we would like.
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One of the best parts of our individual purpose is that it is unique to us. God is not looking for you or me to become carbon copies of the people around us. Do you know the unique role God has called you to play?
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What we believe about who we are has a massive impact on how our purpose is lived out. Stop for a minute and ask yourself what makes you, you? When you meet someone for the first time, how do you introduce and describe yourself?
Our identity is very important to the heart of God. So much so, that he fills the Bible with stories that affirm our new identity in Christ. We can enter into an identity crisis when we lose sight of who Jesus is. However, when we renew our minds with the truth of God’s Word, we’re able to restore our understanding of who we are in Christ. From this place, we find power, we find redemption, and we find all that we need to live a life of godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
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Have you ever known someone who could complicate even the simplest task? Christians are some of the best at this.
When God provides simple, clear instructions, it seems too good to be true. So we add on more and more rules and requirements until following God seems impossible to do. Then, when we’re challenged to do something Scripture clearly commands, we find we’re too busy, too tired, and stretched too thin to do the one thing that will give us life again.
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Imagine you had nothing to eat for weeks. Your hunger would be so overwhelming that it would consume all of your thoughts. If you saw the food your belly ached for, what are the chances you would share it with an equally famished person?
Paul is thinking along those lines when he warns us not to “bite and devour” one another (Galatians 5:15). When we are empty spiritually, we see people and things as means, or obstacles, to filling our emptiness.
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The human body is complex. Our 78 organs work individually and collectively. A dozen distinct systems coexist seamlessly.
God created every part of our body for a specific purpose. Hands pick up objects, write letters, and steer the car. Feet take us down the street, up the stairs. Our hearts ensure that blood gets to every inch of our bodies, and our brains supervise and regulate bodily activities.
What would the heart be without vessels to carry its live-giving force? And what would our brain be without that blood to power it? Every part must work together in harmony, so the body as a whole will thrive.
The same is true of the church. When we give our lives to Jesus, we join the body of believers. Each of us has different talents and abilities. But every person is vital, even if their gifts and service are not as visible as others’.
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Jesus washed smelly, dirty, calloused feet with His own holy hands. At this point, the disciples are prepared for Jesus to become the military and political leader of Israel.
Had Jesus wanted, He could have easily impressed the disciples with His resume. Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign Lord, King, and Messiah are a few of the titles Jesus held as God’s Son. Men like Peter, James, and John sat beside Jesus ready to be given positions of authority in His new regime.
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“In God We Trust” is in our pledge of allegiance, our national anthem, and on our money. It's easy to say, easy to sing about, and easy to read. But, it's not always easy to live.
What happens when you get a grim medical diagnosis or your boss says your position is being eliminated? What happens when Covid19 numbers are spiking and there is so much uncertainty. Will you still trust God if you come home and discover your spouse has moved out?
King David experienced his fair share of anxiety, sorrow, and pain. Just because he loved the Lord doesn't mean his life was easy. David wrote Psalm 56 while fearing for his life, and in Psalm 56:3, he shares the key to overcoming danger and difficulty: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you [God]."
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Too often, we take the same attitude to sin that celebrities take to blending in. In our desire to do what we want, to be our own gods, we put our sunglasses on and pretend no one is watching.
But deep down, we all know this is foolishness. We can't hide from God, and no amount of disguise stops God from seeing us as we really are (Psalm 53:2-3).
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"I'm sorry, but...[insert excuse here]."
How many times have you heard an empty apology? "I'm sorry" means nothing unless it comes from a repentant heart.
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We all share the need to feel safe. When we don't feel safe, we stop growing. Instead, we put all of our energy into managing fear and protecting ourselves.
Ancient cities protected their citizens by building large surrounding walls, which created a fortress that kept chaos out. The walls’ constant presence in people's lives created a safe atmosphere where communities could thrive.
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You enjoy your home, and the car is nice, but the payments are a burden. Maybe, there is the student loan and some credit card debt added to the mix. You work hard to stay ahead of the obligations, but the interest grows and you feel the weight of the debt hanging over your head like a great stone suspended by a mere thread.
It’s easy to feel that way about our sin as well, but unlike these financial obligations, when God saves us, there is no form of repayment required from us.
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Society teaches us to rely on ourselves and find our answers within. We take pride in not needing others and being self-sufficient. And if we're not careful, we can take that same attitude into our relationship with God.
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Has the weight of guilt ever made you sick? It did for King David, the author of Psalm 32.
Salvation makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God. But even after we commit to following Jesus, we don't always get it right.
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Have you ever tried to talk to someone who wouldn’t listen, teach someone who didn’t want to learn, or correct someone who preferred doing wrong? Maybe you've been the one who was unwilling to listen, learn, or make a change.
Either way, the effect on the relationship was probably the same. It either stagnated or ended because where there is no humility, there can be no intimacy.
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Sometimes life spirals out of control, and no one seems to be there to help. When our earthly support system disappears, it can often feel like God has abandoned us, too. Being in the midst of a storm is hard, and feeling alone in that storm is even harder.
In Psalm 22, David voices his frustrations about not feeling God in a moment of need. He also acknowledges that even though he feels abandoned, he isn’t, because God is still God and God is still good.
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Trust makes or breaks relationships. You can’t see it or touch it, but it’s obvious whether or not it exists between two people.
Trust will determine the success or failure of all of our relationships — with our friends, spouses, children, and even with God. All of our behaviors and attitudes will be governed by whether or not we trust God’s character.
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The psalmist calls God majestic. Such high praise is reserved for the best. God is impressive, beautiful, dignified, glorious. God is an all-impressive creator, and we are His favorite creation.
The same God who created a never-ending kaleidoscope of sunsets, oceans, jungles, and stars set apart sinful humans as His favorites. Psalm 8:5 says He has "crowned [us] with glory and honor," and we did nothing to deserve it.
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When we go through rough times in our lives, we often seek advice from friends, family, books, a counselor, or even the media. Sometimes, that advice can go a long way. Other times, it seems to make sense, but we’re left feeling empty.
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How often do you think about praising God outside of church on Sundays? The psalmist encourages us in Psalm 150 to praise God every day and in every part of our lives no matter how good or bad.
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If you found out your company was closing today, what’s the first thing you would do? You might call contacts in your industry, brush up your resume, or start browsing job sites.
If you found out a loved one had cancer, where would you go for help? If we’re honest, for most of us, the first response to illness is to Google the diagnosis.
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We all carry burdens. We carry them to work, to the grocery store, to school, and to bed at night. It’s hard to get out from under them. Sometimes, our burdens are a result of past mistakes. Other times, they are out of our control. Things like financial debt, relational strife, unexpected illness, and hurt from our past weigh us down.
In most cases, we can’t sweep our burdens under the rug. We might try to forget about them for a while, but they're always there — lingering in the back of our minds preventing us from fully enjoying the moment.
What if you didn't have to carry these burdens anymore? What if someone else wanted to carry them for you?
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Sometimes, we don’t want people to know our faults because we’re afraid they won’t like us. But we don’t have to worry about that with God. He knows all our mistakes, yet He still loves and accepts us (Romans 5:8).
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We never outgrow our need for our parents' help the same way that we will never stop needing our heavenly Father's guidance and protection.
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To some, the Bible is just stories of people who died long ago. But it can be so much more than that—if we let it be.
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When life is chaotic and we aren't hearing God's voice as clearly as maybe you have before, one of the best things we can do is remind ourselves of what we already know to be true.
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Psalm 84
Have you ever felt stuck between where you are and where you want to be?
You’ve mapped out the plan for your life, listing all the milestones you want to accomplish. But one day you wake up and realize you're not where you planned to be, in fact you might realize through no fault of your won that you’re not even in the same zip code that you want to be! Worse yet, you can’t see an easy way off of this detour. What do you do when the journey you're on isn't what you thought it would be?
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Psalm 63:1-11
While running from Saul, David takes refuge in the desert of Judah. David is thirsty and hot, in need of basic physical provisions. But it’s spiritual thirst, not physical thirst, that he sings of in Psalm 63.
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).
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Psalm 62
Life is filled with ups and downs. But sometimes, the hardest place to be is in between.
Maybe you're waiting for the doctor to call with test results or for God to open a new opportunity. When change doesn't happen as quickly as we think it should, we start to wonder if the universe is conspiring against us.
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1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
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Malachi 3:10
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
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Romans 8:2828 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
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John 21:15-25
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
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John 21:1-14
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
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John 20:19-31
New International Version
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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Ephesians 2:10 New International Version (NIV)10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
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James 1:5 New International Version (NIV)5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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2 Thessalonians 3:3 New International Version (NIV)3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
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Romans 8:38-39
Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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John 20:1-18The Empty Tomb
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
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John 19:18-4218 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”[a]
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[b] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c] 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[d]
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John 19:1-17
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
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John 18:25-40 Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
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John 18:1-24
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
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John 17:20-26
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
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John 17:1-19
Jesus Prays to Be Glorified
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
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John 16:16-33
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
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John 16:1-15
16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
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John 15:18-27
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’[b]
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
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John 15:1-17The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
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John 14:15-31Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “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. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
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John 14:1-14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
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John 13:18-38
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’[b]
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
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John 13:1-17Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
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John 12:44-50(NIV)
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
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John 12:20-43Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[b]
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[c]
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
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John 12:12-19(NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c]
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
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John 11:53-57
53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
John 12:1-1112 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
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John 11:27-5727 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
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John 11:1-27
The Death of Lazarus
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
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John 10:22-42(NIV)
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[b]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[c]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
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John 10:1-21The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
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John 9
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
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John 8:21-59
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
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John 8:12-20
New International Version
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
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John 8:1-11(NIV)
8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
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John 7:32-52New International Version32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[a] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”
Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders
45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
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John 7:10-31
New International Version
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
Jesus Teaches at the Festival
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
Division Over Who Jesus Is
25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”
28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
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John 7:1-9 (NIV)
Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles
7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not yet[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
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John 6:41-70
New International Version
41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[a] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[b] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
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John 6:30-40
New International Version
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
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John 6:22-29
New International Version
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Jesus the Bread of Life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
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John 6:16-21
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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New International Version
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
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John 5:16-47
New International Version
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
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John 5:1-15(NIV)
The Healing at the Pool
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
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John 4:43-54
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. 45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
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Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
4 Jesus[a] knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.[b] She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,[c] where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”[d]
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John 3:22-36 John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.
23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew[a] over ceremonial cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.[b] 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
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John 3:1-21 (NLT)
3 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man[e] has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.[f]
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[g] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.[h]”
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Jesus Clears the Temple
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”[c]
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
Jesus and Nicodemus
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
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John 2:1-12 (NLT)The Wedding at Cana
2 The next day[a] there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
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John 1:35-51 (NLT)The First Disciples
35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”[a]).
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”[b]).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses[c] and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.[d]”
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15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
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John 1 (NLT)1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
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Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now 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. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
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Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d]
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
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Ephesians 5:1-20
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 4:17-32 (NIV)
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
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Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV)
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
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Ephesians 3:1-13 (NIV)God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
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Ephesians 2:11-22 (NIV)
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)
Made Alive in Christ
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV)
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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Ephesians 1:1-14 (NIV)1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
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John 19 (NIV)
Jesus Crucified
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Luke 22:7-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22&version=NLT
The Last Supper
7 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.[a] 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.[b]
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Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
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John 12:37-50
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h]
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
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Matthew 21:12-17
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]”
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
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John 12:12-19
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
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Luke 19 (NIV)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
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**Romans 12:9-13
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13** Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
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Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
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Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
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Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
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Ephesians 3:14-21(NIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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1 John 4:18 (NLT)18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
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Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
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Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[a]
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
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Romans 15:13(NLT)13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
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Matthew 9:35-38
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
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Lamentations 3:19-26 (NLT)19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness
is bitter beyond words.
20 I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
21 Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
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Romans 8:31-39(NLT) Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV) Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Psalm 46 (NLT)1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel[b] is our fortress. Interlude
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
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Isaiah 43 (NLT) The Savior of Israel
43 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
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Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
Christ Is Our High Priest
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 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.
Some churches are not meeting in person for worship this Sunday to avoid possibly spreading the virus. But that doesn’t prevent us as the Body of Christ from coming before the Lord, kneeling in prayer, and pouring our hearts out to Him.
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Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Romans 8:38
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Proverbs 16:16 (NLT)16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than silver!
James 1:5 (NLT)5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
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2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NLT) Paul’s Charge to Timothy
10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
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Proverbs 18:15 (NLT)15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
Their ears are open for knowledge.
All leaders are learners. There are no exceptions. If you’re teaching in a classroom, caring for kids as a stay-at-home parent, or serving in a customer service role, you’re leading someone. And to do that more effectively, you need to keep learning.
When you stop learning, you start dying. It’s that simple.
No matter how old you are and no matter what kind of career you’re in, you need to be learning. Pick up a new skill. Study a fresh topic. Read a new book. Start a new Bible study.
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:15 this time from the Message, “Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights”
One of the most important roles you have in life is as a student. Jesus wants us to be disciples. That’s just another word for learner. You’re learning what it means to follow Christ.
Disciples of Jesus keep learning. They never stop.
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Psalm 78:1-7 (NLT)A psalm of Asaph.
1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
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Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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Joel 1:3 (NLT)3 Tell your children about it in the years to come,
and let your children tell their children.
Pass the story down from generation to generation.
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Matthew 8:2-3 (NLT)2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
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Proverbs 4:21-22 (NLT)21 Don’t lose sight of my words.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.”
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2 Kings 20:1-7 (NLT)Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery
20 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4 But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard,[a] this message came to him from the Lord: 5 “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”
7 Then Isaiah said, “Make an ointment from figs.” So Hezekiah’s servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!
https://www.nature-and-garden.com/health/fig-health-benefits.html
Fig poultice – boiled in water or milk, figs make for perfect poultices to make abscesses and boils mature.
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Affirmation
Proverbs 18:14 (NLT)
"The human spirit can endure a sick body,
but who can bear a crushed spirit?"
Prov 15:4 (CEV)
“Kind words are good medicine”
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Acceptance:
1 Corinthians 15:43 (TLB)
43 The bodies we have now embarrass us, for they become sick and die; but they will be full of glory when we come back to life again. Yes, they are weak, dying bodies now, but when we live again they will be full of strength.
Galatians 4:14 (NLT)
14 But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.
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Psalm 38:11 (NLT)11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
Psalm 142:4 (NLT)4 I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Isaiah 63:9 (NLT)9 In all their suffering he also suffered,
and he personally rescued them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
He lifted them up and carried them
through all the years.
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Psalm 106:44 (NLT)
44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress
and listened to their cries.
Before you can care, you’ve got to be aware. You have to pay attention. You have to put up your antenna. You have to start looking at people and listening to people and looking for the clues that say, “I’m in pain.”
Matthew 9:36-38 The Message (MSG)
35-38 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke.
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John 13:35 The Passion Translation (TPT)35 For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
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2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (NLT) A Call to Generous Giving
8 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 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. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 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.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
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Isaiah 58:10-11 (NLT)
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
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Acts 6 New Living Translation (NLT) Seven Men Chosen to Serve
6 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
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Deuteronomy 24:10-15 (NLT)10 “If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security. 11 You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you. 12 If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight. 13 Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the Lord your God will count you as righteous.
14 “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. 15 You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.
In Deuteronomy we find Gods advice to us about how we are to treat the poor. In the time that Moses was writing the law a poor neighbor’s only valuable possession for use as collateral might be his cloak, his outer tunic or only way to keep warm at night. God said that the holder of the pledge is told to return the cloak to the owner by sunset so that he may sleep in it. This thoughtfulness would be totally unexpected. Imagine literally giving the coat off your back to secure money for food to feed your family. Now the end of the day is coming and you haven’t been able to earn enough money to pay back the loan and get your coat back, looks like it’s going to be a cold night. But then a knock on the door, and the man that you owe the money to is standing there and you have no way to repay him but then something unexpected happens he returns your coat and wishes you peace. This would bring about great thanksgiving! And we are told that God views this as the lender as a just, and righteous act.
As Scripture challenges us to get involved with helping people in need, it also reminds us of our own poor spiritual condition. Without Jesus, we have absolutely nothing to use as collateral for our salvation, and no way we could ever pay it back. Even so, he freely and generously grants us forgiveness and new life. He saved us by dying on the cross.
Are you responding with gratitude and thanksgiving?
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Psalm 41:1 (NKJV)
41 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
You may have heard of the blessings Jesus spoke of in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10). Here’s a “blessing” from the Old Testament that is less well-known: “Blessed is he who considers the poor” (Psalm 41:1).
The Hebrew word translated “considers” means “to take thought for others.” The word translated “poor” means “those in need.”
There are many people around us who are poor—in love, in hope, and in the knowledge of God. Even though we cannot solve all their problems, we can show them that we care.
We may not have lots of money, but we can give of ourselves. We can let needy people know that we’re thinking of them. We can listen as they tell their stories. We can treat them with courtesy and respect. We can pray for them. We can write letters of encouragement. We can tell them about Jesus. If we can do nothing else, we can love them.
Think about those who live only for themselves, always trying to get ahead, looking for the next thing to make them happy. Compare them with people who give themselves to others. Which ones possess inner calm, strength, and joy?
The place of God’s blessing is easily entered: Consider the poor.
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Proverbs 29:7 (NKJV)
7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
The year was 1780, and Robert Raikes had a burden for the poor, illiterate children in his London neighborhood. He noticed that nothing was being done to help these children, so he set out to make a difference.
He hired some women to set up schools for them on Sunday. Using the Bible as their textbook, the teachers taught the poorest children of London to read and introduced them to the wisdom of the Bible. Soon about 100 children were attending these classes and enjoying lunch in a safe, clean environment. These “Sunday schools,” as they were soon called, eventually touched the lives of thousands of boys and girls. By 1831, Sunday schools in Great Britain reached more than a million children—all because one man understood this truth: “The righteous considers the cause of the poor” (Prov. 29:7 nkjv).
It’s no secret that Jesus cares greatly for those who struggle. In Matthew 25, He suggests that followers of Christ show a readiness for the Lord’s return by helping the hungry to get food, helping the thirsty to get a drink, helping the homeless to find a home, helping the naked to get clothes, and helping the sick or imprisoned to receive comfort (vv. 35-36).
As we bear witness that Christ is in our hearts, we honor our compassionate Savior by considering those on God’s heart.
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1 Peter 4:10-11(NLT)10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
We often ask what is the most important qualification for a leader? We must not bypass that quality which so completely characterized the life of Jesus Christ, the quality of unselfish servanthood. Jesus said,
“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 10:45)
The apostle Paul added to this focus when he wrote,
“Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but the interests of others as well” (Phil. 1:4).
But then pointing to the Savior as our great example, he quickly added,
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.” (Paul then followed this exhortation with a strong reminder of the humiliation of Christ) who, though being God, emptied himself by taking the form of a slave. There is no question that if we as Christians are going to grow and mature into Christ-like character, we must experience progress in giving of ourselves in ministry to and for others. While we can and should find comfort and encouragement in Christ (Phil. 2:1), that comfort should propel us into servant-hood of the Savior and one another. Servant living stands opposed to the primary concerns of people we see today where the focus of our culture and society is more on our own personal happiness and comfort.
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Titus 1:5-9 (NLT)5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
There it is: the perfect job. It’s the one you’ve dreamed about, prepared for and always wanted. It’s there in the ad, an email, or at the end of the boss’s sentence—‘We’d like to talk to you about an opportunity.’
In Titus 1:5-9, Paul lists the job description for such an opportunity—church leadership. His want ad used words we still find in effective leaders today: blameless, faithful, not overbearing, not quick-tempered, self-controlled, holy and disciplined—even being a good parent is covered.
As individuals, spouses, and parents, we have the responsibility to lead.
But, maybe thoughts of leadership bring feelings that say, "not worthy, ill-equipped—terrified!"
We may shy away from leadership. We don’t have or want a title or position that includes it. What we do have is a Savior who says ‘Lead!’ In John 21:15-17, Jesus tells Peter to feed and care for His sheep. As Christ followers, we lead others to know who Jesus is and share what He is doing in our own lives.
Each Christ follower is a leader—with a job description just like Paul gave to Titus—whether we are at home, with friends or on the job. As individuals, spouses, and parents, we have the responsibility to lead.
Most of us look into the future dreaming of the position we wish we had. God calls us to be responsible for the one we already have—showing the world Jesus by being like Him.
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Matthew 20:28
“The Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”
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2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
Notice the generations here. Paul says I gave it to you, Timothy … Timothy, you’re to give it to reliable leaders … and they’re supposed to give it to other people. There’s 4 generations in that verse—Paul, Timothy, reliable leaders, others. Friends, that’s what The PEACE Plan is all about.
I’m teaching you how to do some things. You’re going to teach other Christians how to do some things. And they’re going to teach others and they’re going to teach others. That’s how the multiplication process works.
Let’s get real practical right now. Let me show you how to do this. Let’s take these 3 areas of The PEACE Plan – Personal peace, Local peace, and Global peace. How would you practice being a servant leader in a Personal peace plan? Showing people how. Here’s what I would suggest you do. Sit down sometime this week and make a list of the things you’re good at. What are you good at? What do you like to do? Your hobbies? Your skills? A lot of things you’re good at you don’t even know you’re good at. You think everybody else is good at it … but they aren’t. (Need help with this we work together on this in STEP 3 of our discipleship program.
Some of you are really good at organizing your closet and you think that’s easy … everybody’s good at it! No way! That’s a gift. You’re good at it and you figure the things you’re good at everybody else is too. But they’re not. You have lots of skills and gifts that you’re good at. Most people have never sat down and done a talent assessment of their life. What am I good at and what do I love to do? If you love to do it then you’re most likely going to get good at it because you’re rarely good at something you don’t like to do.
Then once you make a list of the things you’re good at and you know how to do… I know how to balance a budget … I know how to crochet … I know how to close a deal … I know how to cook a perfect Traeger prime rib … and on and on and on. Then what happens you say, “Who do I know that would like to know what I know?” That’s called leadership. Servant leaders show us how. They don’t just do it. They pass it on. They don’t keep a secret what they’re good at, they give it away! So you ask, What do I know how to do and who could I share it with?
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1 Peter 2:12 (ICB)
12 People who do not believe are living all around you. They might say that you are doing wrong. So live good lives. Then they will see the good things you do, and they will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again.
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1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
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Hebrews 10:24 (AMP)24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds,
“A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential.” — John C. Maxwell
One of the great things about encouragement is that you don’t have to be brilliant to encourage people; you just have to have a heart for other people. Find ways to encourage others. Put your arm around them, and tell them how much you appreciate them. You never know if that one good act of kindness is exactly what they need.
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Our natural tendency is to hate our enemies or at least to avoid them at all cost. But if you run from conflict, you’re going to be miserable most of your life. Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to be peacemakers — not peacekeepers. There’s a huge difference. Peacekeepers avoid conflict and pretend it doesn’t exist. But peacemakers resolve conflict and reconcile relationships.
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18 ).
When you plant a seed, you always get back more than you started with. If you plant an apple seed, you get a whole tree full of apples in return. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. If you plant a seed of conflict, you’ll wind up with a lot more trouble than you bargained for. But the Bible says if you plant seeds of peace, you will reap a harvest of peace, kindness, and goodness in return.
So how do you do that? One of the most important life skills that you will ever learn is conflict resolution.
Make the first move. Don’t wait for the person to come to you. You take the initiative. Buy that person a cup of coffee or go to lunch together. Jesus took the initiative to show mercy to us.
The Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us .... While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:8b, 10a ESV).
Jesus didn’t wait for us to apologize. He didn’t even wait for us to feel bad about our behavior. Jesus made the first move. And he wants us to do the same thing.
Ask God for wisdom. God is always glad to help you when you’re doing what he says. The Bible says,
“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you” (James 1:5a TLB).
Ask God to help you decide the right time and the right place to plan a peace conference. Ask him to give you the right words to say and the right way to say them.
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Matthew 18:21-35 (ICB)When the US Civil War ended in 1865, more than half a million soldiers lay dead, the economy and infrastructure of the nation was shattered, and people remained deeply divided politically. The observance of Mother’s Day in the United States began with the efforts for peace and reconciliation of one woman In 1870, named Anna Reeves Jarvis. The daughter of a Methodist minister she began in her community a day called “Mother’s Friendship Day” in an effort to reunite families and neighbors alienated by the war. There is always great suffering when friends and families are fractured and unwilling to forgive.
The gospel of Jesus Christ brings the promise of peace and reconciliation with God and with each other. When Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive a brother who sinned against him (Matt. 18:21), the Lord surprised everyone with His answer of “seventy times seven” (v.22). Then He told an unforgettable story about a servant who had received forgiveness and failed to pass it on (vv.23-35). As God freely forgives us, so He requires that we extend what we have received to others.
With God’s love and power, forgiveness is always possible.
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“Search for peace, and work to maintain it” (1 Peter 3:11 NLT).
Today I want to help by giving some practical advice about how to help during a time of relationship conflict and that is to emphasize reconciliation, not resolution. It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything.
Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. When we focus on reconciliation, the problem loses significance and often becomes irrelevant compared to the importance of the relationship itself. We can re-establish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences.
Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm in arm without seeing eye to eye on every issue.This doesn’t mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating, but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.
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2 Corinthians 5:18 (NLT)18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
Your mission is simply to pass on to others the same Good News about God’s love that somebody told you.
But God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your mission on your own. He gives you other Christians to support you. In fact, evangelism is something you can do as a small group.
God has given us a wonderful example of this in Luke 5:17-26. It’s the story of a group of friends who brought someone to Jesus. They couldn’t find a way to get into the house where Jesus was, so they lowered their paraplegic friend through a hole in the roof on a stretcher, right in the middle of everyone and in front of Jesus. Jesus was impressed by their faith and told the man to get up and walk, and the man immediately did! The people were amazed.
Are you willing to go through the roof for a friend? Everybody needs to know Jesus! Without Jesus, people have no hope in eternity. The Christian who doesn’t care about the lost is really saying to the world, “I don’t care about you. I don’t care about where you will spend eternity.” But the Bible says,
“The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV).
Don’t get discouraged, and don’t give up. Keep praying, keep asking, keep inviting, and keep working to reach that person for Jesus.
Helping people get into Heaven is the greatest act of mercy you can do for them.
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“First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Matthew 7:5 NLT).
OK, so this week we so far we have been focusing on reconciliation and mainly we have talked about reconciliation between man and God but today I want to talk about reconciling our relationships with each other.
If you’re serious about restoring a relationship, begin with admitting your own mistakes or sin. Jesus said it’s the way to see things more clearly:
You need to confess your part of the conflict.
Because we all have blind spots, you may need to ask a third party to help you evaluate your own actions before meeting with the person with whom you have a conflict.
Also, ask God to show you how much of the problem is your fault. Ask, “Am I the problem? Am I being unrealistic, insensitive, or too sensitive?” The Bible says,
“If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:8 The Message).
Confession is a powerful tool for reconciliation. Often the way we handle a conflict creates a bigger hurt than the original problem itself. But when you begin by humbly admitting your mistakes, it defuses the other person’s anger and disarms their attack because they were probably expecting you to be defensive.
Don’t make excuses or shift the blame. Just honestly own up to any part you have played in the conflict. Accept responsibility for your mistakes, and ask for forgiveness.
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Matthew 28:18-2018 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Jesus’ last assignment to his disciples was impossible. There was no way they could possibly take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It could only happen through his power. God will often give you an assignment that looks physically impossible, but he will make it possible.“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it”(1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV).
God’s authority and anointing makes the impossible possible.In your business, marriage, health, and relationships, you’re going to come up against insurmountable problems. God is a competent Father and His heart beats with restoration and reconciliation. He can handle any problem you give him. Nothing is beyond his ability or his resources.
“What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NIV)
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7
We all worry. But for some, worry defines and dominates every waking thought. Imagine being able to live with a peaceful, quiet mind. In Jesus, it is possible. Just as Daniel slept peacefully in the lion’s den, we can be free from constant worry even in a world filled with opportunities for anxiety. Daniel’s secret is available to us. Daniel regularly cast all his anxieties on the Lord through prayer and petition. He spent time thanking God for his blessings and making his needs and requests known to God.
God promises to protect our hearts and minds from worry. Having all that free space to peacefully think about other things would truly be hard to imagine. You might say that it would transcend all understanding.
Reflect:
Why don’t we pray more?
What could you do with the extra time you spend in worry?
What are you worried about right now? Why not take a minute now to talk to your Father?
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And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:19
In Christ, we understand more fully the lengths our Father will go to meet the needs of His children. The Bible promises that from the wealth of His glory in Christ, God will supply our every need.
He sent His one and only Son to seek and save the lost, die for our sin, and resurrect victoriously from the dead. So, we are not positioned as beggars or thieves but as sons and daughters. Because of God’s glory on display in Christ, we have confidence that our eyes have not yet seen, nor our ears heard, nor our hearts imagined how God will provide for us.
Reflect:
How do you see God providing for His children in Scripture?
How have you seen God provide for your needs?
What are you asking God to do right now?
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*2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NLT)
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”*
The greatest thing you can do with your life is to tell somebody about Jesus and invite them to come to know him. If you help somebody secure their eternal destiny that they spend the rest of their life in heaven and not hell that’s what I would call making your life count! Nothing matters more than helping get their eternal destiny settled. They will be forever, ever grateful and thank you for the rest of eternity. That is the greatest thing you can do with your life
And God uses ordinary people. Not just pastors and missionaries. Just ordinary people to advance his Kingdom.
Ordinary people
Empowered by God
Making a difference together
Wherever we are.
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This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.- 1 John 5:14-15
Why can we pray with such a high level of expectation? First, God is our Father. If earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give us good things? Secondly, if God has given us Christ, why would He withhold from us any good thing?
Because of Jesus, we can approach God with boldness. Our access to God is no longer restricted by our sin. As a result, we have confidence that God hears our prayers and will respond. So why are we not praying with a high level of expectation?
Reflect:
Has your understanding of a good father affected your understanding of our heavenly Father?
What is your confidence in approaching God in prayer based on?
What are you praying in expectation for right now?
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'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.' - Malachi 3:10
When we bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, God promises to bless us beyond our capacity to receive. The test is a test of the heart. Will we be willing to give the first of our income as an act of faith and trust in the Lord?
Many people followed Jesus because He fed them (John 6). They wanted His stuff, not Him. Tithing tests our commitment to the person of Jesus over the provision of Jesus. Tithing is the ultimate test of the position of our possessions and the lordship of Jesus in our heart.
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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. – Romans 8:28
Why? There are so many things we don’t understand, and there are so many ways we can get upset at God because life isn’t going the way we think it should. But while we only see part of the story, God sees the big picture. Everything turns out good!
God has chosen and arranged every detail of your life — every single event, every single relationship — for His great purpose, and His plan is greater than anything we could imagine. Every line of your story, from beginning to end, will point to the magnificent, mind-blowing love of God for you and all His people.
Reflect:
Can you think of a time when something bad turned out to be for your good?
What’s one area of your life where you struggle most to believe this promise?
What one step can you take to help you see God’s good purpose in your life?
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Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5
No one wants to experience suffering and troubles. If we’re honest, we question why we have to go through them. When we’re at our weakest and most weary, God is building our character. Our struggles carve the channels through which the love of God flows into our hearts.
God promises none of our pain is wasted! He is working through difficulty for our ever-increasing good. And what is the highest good? The all-satisfying hope of Jesus — for ourselves and those around us. The experience of Jesus’ love enables us to triumph in our trials.
Reflect:
Can you think of a past struggle that you’re thankful for? Why?
What has stopped you from experiencing hope in difficulty?
How could you respond to a struggle differently today knowing God is using it to bring you His love?
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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.- Ephesians 2:10We’ve all felt worthless, hopeless, or useless. But God promises you have a special purpose. You are created by God and for God. You are not an accident or a mistake. You are God’s masterpiece, hand-crafted with pride and joy.
God has planned out good for us to do from the beginning of time. Don’t allow yourself, Satan or anyone else to say your life has no purpose, meaning, or value. If you are alive and breathing, you can be sure God is working in you and working through you. God promises He will fulfill your destiny.
Reflect:
Is there a time when you have doubted your worth to God?
How does this promise make you feel? Ask God to show you the “good work” He is doing in your life.
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 3:5-6
On every long journey, there are many moments when we get tired, impatient, fearful or disoriented, and we wonder whether we’ve lost our way. God promises to keep us on the right path through the problems and challenges of life. He only asks that we let go of our ideas and assumptions of what’s right and good and give Him complete control.
Following Jesus takes us beyond what’s familiar or comfortable, and we must trust and depend on God’s Word to stay on the right path. He’ll get us safely to our destination on the most direct route, guaranteed.
Reflect:
Can you think of a time when you leaned on your own understanding? How did it turn out?
What’s one area in your life where you need to give control to God?
What’s one thing you can do every day to remind you to lean on God?
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If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. - James 1:5
We all have a hard time making sense of life. We mostly tend to grumble about discouraging things and despair about trials. We even doubt God will help us through them! What we don’t often do is ask God about them.
God promises to give us the wisdom we need for understanding. God doesn’t expect us to know everything we need to know to meet our challenges or make the right choices. But He does expect us to ask Him and listen for His answer.
Through the Bible, God pours out His wisdom, and it will always be more than enough to meet our needs.
Reflect:
Do you remember asking God for wisdom for a situation in the past? How did it turn out?
What is the difference between having more information and more wisdom?
Can you think of a situation or choice where you need wisdom right now? Ask God for help.
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But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3
We can be sure God is faithful. His past performance in our difficult circumstances points to His unchanging character and faithfulness. In addition, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves Satan’s impotence and confirms that in Christ, no situation is hopeless.
We are aware of the enemy’s schemes. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But our God is a strong Father, guarding and establishing our steps. He has not left us alone. While the enemy may prowl around like a lion seeking to devour the weak, our God is strong and makes us strong. We can stand up and endure no matter what the enemy throws our way.
Reflect:
Where have you seen God’s faithfulness?
What’s one area of your life where God has strengthened you?
How have you seen the Lord protect you from evil?
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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 8:38-39
If you knew you couldn’t lose, would you bet differently? Most of us would say yes. We’d go all in and wait with anticipation, not worry, for the outcome.
God promises us that His love is a sure bet. Once we’re in Christ, nothing we do and nothing that happens to us can separate us from God’s love. He does not kick us out of His family when we mess up. God’s grace is big enough to forgive all our sins, and His power is big enough to conquer them. That fact allows us to approach each day with confidence.
Reflect:
Is there anything you’re holding back from God because you’re worried He’ll stop loving you?
How does it change your perception of death and your approach to life knowing that nothing, not even death, can separate you from God’s love?
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“He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
- Psalm 103:10-12
Americans have an obsession with justice. Think about the number of crime dramas on TV today. True crime podcast, entire networks devoted to crime. You can probably list five without even trying.
God loves justice. It’s the reason He cannot let sin go unpunished. But God is as merciful as He is just, and nowhere are those two qualities more clear than the cross where Jesus died. Jesus took the punishment we deserved. As a result, we can confess our sins without fear, knowing God will greet us with mercy, love, and grace.
Reflect:
Is guilt or shame keeping you from experiencing the full measure of God’s grace?
Is there anything you need to confess and repent of today? As things come to mind, pray and ask for forgiveness.
Is there anyone you need to forgive? Ask God to help you forgive the way He forgives you.
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Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
- Romans 8:1-2
Ever wanted to escape from a part of your identity? If you’re a sibling, you know what this feels like. For 12 years in every class, you were known as “John’s sister” or “Ashley’s brother.” No matter how different you and your siblings were, you couldn’t erase where you came from.
When Jesus saves us, He gives us a new identity. We are no longer who we used to be. Jesus’ death covered our sins: past, present, and future.
The condemnation you feel when you hear a song from the past? It is not from the Lord. Because when we are in Christ, God promises not to hold our sin against us.
Reflect:
How do your interactions with God change when you know He isn’t holding your sin against you?
Is there anything you’re having trouble accepting forgiveness for? What’s one step you can take today to put action behind the belief that God is not condemning you?
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No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Ever heard the saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”? If you’ve been in a situation where someone told you this, you know it’s far from the truth. God never promises not to put more on us than we can handle; He promises to guide us through adversity.
One of the best things that can come out of an overwhelming situation is a deeper understanding of how much we need God’s help. Difficulty doesn’t have to drive us away from God. If we’ll lean into what God wants to show us, difficulty will drive us closer to God in ways good times can’t.
Reflect:
Do you feel overwhelmed with more than you can handle? What’s weighing you down?
When are you most likely to question God’s guidance?
What’s one step you can take to remember God’s presence in those moments?
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If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
- Romans 10:9-10
God promises that when we put our faith in Jesus, we will be saved. Salvation isn’t something we do, it’s something God does for us.
For many of us, the most difficult part of salvation is not believing that Jesus is who He says He is. It’s continuing to believe, through all our ups and downs, that God will make good on His promise — that we have been and are being saved.
Reflect:
Who do you say that Jesus is? If you have asked Jesus into your life, what are some ways your life reflects that decision?
If belief is what saves us, why do you think God also asks us to profess our faith (or say it out loud)?
What is one step you can take today to trust God’s plan for your life?
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.. if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14
What if the only thing standing between you and the change you crave is you? As God’s children, we have direct access to the creator of the universe with all His infinite power and wisdom.
God is alert to our prayers. Day and night, He is ready to hear from His people. If we’ll humble ourselves and ask for God’s help, He promises to hear us and to heal us. Forgiveness and healing can start anywhere, at any time if we’ll turn to Jesus.
Reflect:
What do you need healing from today?
Where are you looking for answers or searching for healing?
What’s one step you can take today to take God up on this promise?
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.- 1 John 1:9
We are all born full of sin. Our rebellious nature covers every decision we make and everything we do. Like wet Oregon mud covers white Converse sneakers, it’s impossible to get rid of on our own.
God is absolutely perfect, in him there is no darkness at all so sin and the stench of sin is not allowed in His presence. A few years ago I had a sewage line under my house break and I had to crawl through that muck and fix and replace the pipe and then clean up the mess. If I would have walked into the house afterwards and said to my wife come and give me a hug she would have been unable to even though she loves me because the stench was so bad. And let me tell you the stench of our sins is way worse than that, but when we confess our sins, Jesus promises to forgive us. He doesn’t ridicule us or shame us; He welcomes us in and cleans us up. Through Jesus’ forgiveness, our sin is removed and our relationship with God is restored. Without the barrier of sin, we can run into the arms of a loving God where we find real, lasting joy.
Reflect:
What, if anything, keeps you from having complete joy in God and with others?
Is there anything you need to be forgiven for today? Take a few minutes today to ask Jesus for the forgiveness He promises to give.
Forgiveness is yours! What’s one step you need to take today to let go of the past and live like you have been forgiven?
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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.- John 3:16
Before the world began, God planned, prepared, and promised eternal life with Him in heaven. We were created in God’s image and designed to live in community.
Sin entered the world and broke our connection to God, but God’s love made a way. Through Jesus, we can be restored to God’s original design and live forever in community with Him.
God has a perfect plan for you life, and because of His love for you He gave his only son Jesus to die for you. Now because you are no longer stained with sin because you have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus you can live life to the fullest as a new creation and walk in God’s perfect plan.
Reflect:
Have you asked Jesus into your life? If so, take some time today to thank God for His gift of eternal life. If not, you can make that decision today.
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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- John 10:10
Every day, our hearts and minds are busy with what to think, what to feel, and what will give us the most satisfaction. Jesus promises to simplify our choices and calm our restless hearts. Jesus left heaven and came to Earth with a single-minded purpose: to give us life to the full.
Knowing this gives us a weapon against every sinful temptation, deceptive desire, and worldly distraction that Satan uses to harm us and steal our joy. Maximum fulfillment comes only in relationship with God, and Jesus is the only way to find it.
Reflect:
Have you experienced harm from seeking satisfaction outside of God?
What does it mean to you to have life to the full? Ask God if your definition of fulfillment is the same as His.
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Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' - Matthew 19:26
We may want to believe God’s plans and purposes, and we may want to experience abundant life in God. But isn’t it easy to throw our arms up when we look at our human circumstances and limits?
So God gives us a word of freedom: What I am bringing about comes only in my power, not yours. We can take God at His word, and we can trust Him to grow our faith, to arrange our circumstances, and to give us the ability to accomplish all that He says is possible.
Reflect:
What’s one situation you’re facing that seems impossible?
How does this promise change your attitude?
What does it look like for you to believe God for the impossible?
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Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
- Lamentations 3:22-23
Just like some days are so good we don’t want them to end, some days are so bad we just want to begin again. The good news is we can.
Every day is a new opportunity to experience God’s love and mercy. He never runs out of compassion or tires of helping us. God is loyal, constant, and steadfast. He promises that no matter how many times we have to repent, He is always willing to begin again.
Reflect:
Is there a decision you wish you could take back or an area of your life where you want to begin again? Describe it here.
Sometimes, the only way to know a promise is true is to act on it. How can you treat today like it really is a fresh start? What would you do differently today if you knew God wasn’t holding a grudge against you?
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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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
- Matthew 11:28-30
The yokes oxen wore were bulky, wooden harnesses that allowed them to pull farming machines. Weighed down by their yoke, the work was exhausting — even for a big, strong ox.
We don’t need to have seen a yoke to understand what it feels like to be burdened. The burdens of life weigh us down and wear us out. What Jesus offers us is an exchange: Take off the yokes we’re carrying and attach ourselves to Him instead. Jesus promises that when we work alongside Him, we’ll find rest for our souls. No longer weighed down by our old burdens, Jesus teaches us a new way of operating and brings purpose to what once felt like meaningless toil.
Reflect:
What’s wearing you out or weighing you down?
What would it look like for you to exchange your yoke for Jesus’ yoke?
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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
- John 14:27
Most of us think of peace as the absence of conflict, but Jesus promises us something better. He gives us peace in the face of conflict. When we let Jesus into our lives and trust Him with everything, we can walk into any situation with confident assurance knowing He won’t abandon us in our time of need.
When we know our God is with us, working through the Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us, we don’t have to fear the future or be paralyzed by “What ifs...” We can experience deep and lasting peace.
Reflect:
What does it look like for someone to be at peace?
Have you ever been in a difficult situation where you’ve experienced unexplainable peace? What happened?
Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that peace and prayer go hand in hand. Is there anything you’re stressed about today? Take some time to pray about it and let the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and y
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Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you
the desires of your heart.
- Psalm 37:4
Think about the last time you wanted something desperately. Maybe it was a car, an office, or the person who eventually became your spouse. We’ve all experienced longing — this sense that if we could just get that one thing our lives would be complete. But they never are, are they?
The only thing that will truly delight us, now and forever, is the Lord. His love makes us whole. And as it does, a funny thing happens. Our desires begin to change. What’s important to God becomes what’s important to us. What makes Him happy is what makes us happy.
God promises that as we keep company with Him, He holds nothing back from us. In Him, our joy is complete.
Reflect:
What is the desire of your heart today?
What is the longing you are hoping that desire will fulfill?
As we look back over our lives, we can see how God fulfilled our desires in unexpected ways or gave us something better than what we thought we wanted. What’s one way you’ve seen God fulfill a desire you didn’t know you had or answered a prayer in a way you didn’t expect?
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Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
'Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.'
- Hebrews 13:5
Trust is difficult to give, especially when it comes to money and our stuff. Trusting a friend with your car opens you up to financial liability. Trusting your teammate with a project could put your career on the line.
Trust makes us vulnerable, and no one likes to feel vulnerable. God knows this about us, which is why He promises to never forsake us. We trust God with the future because He will always take care of us. We don’t have to worry about if we’ll get the job or if we’ll have enough because God promises to be with us. And He will always be enough.
Reflect:
Is there any area of your life where you are not content? Where did that discontentment come from?
What would it look like to trust God in that situation?
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Still awaiting surgery... I appreciate your prayers.
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Still waiting on surgery keep the prayers coming!
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Hey everyone keep on praying. I have a herniated C6 Disk that I am waiting for surgery...
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Hey friends,
I am out with neck problems right now. Today is my MRI so please lift me up in prayer.
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'Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,'
says the Lord, who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54:10
No matter how hard we try, we will always let other people down. We’ll forget a birthday, say the wrong thing, misread a social cue. Even when we want to love each other well, we still fail. But God’s love, it never fails.
God doesn’t change His mind or renege on His covenants. When we asked Jesus into our lives, we became part of God’s family forever. No matter how messy our lives get or how troubled our hearts are, God does not abandon us. He promises to love His people and take compassion on us even when our lives are in chaos.
Reflect:
Do you ever feel unlovable? What makes you feel that way?
When God says His love is unshakable, how does that make you feel? Does it affect how you interact with Him?
Is there any area of your life where you need God’s peace and compassion? Spend some time in prayer and tell God how you feel.
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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Fear drives our decisions about all kinds of things — from what to wear to where to go to school and which career to pursue. Fear can keep us in relationships longer than we need to be. It can also make us do silly things, like refuse to step on the sidewalk cracks because we don't want to break our mother's back.
When we belong to God, fear doesn’t have to control us. Our God is the same God who spoke creation into existence. There’s no need to panic and no need to fear when He’s with us. He promises to help us when we’re scared, to hold us steady, and give us the strength to face the fears in our lives.
Reflect:
What are you scared of right now?
What has that fear caused you to do or prevented you from doing?
How do you need God to help you and strengthen you in that situation? Spend a few minutes talking to God in prayer. Tell Him how fear is affecting your life and ask Him for help.
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“He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
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 40:29-31).
When we’re exhausted, when it feels like we’re never going to get it right, God tells us to come to Him. Our human strength is limited, but God’s power is limitless. When we are operating in our own strength, we will always burn out. But God promises that when we slow down, trust Him, and move at His speed, we will never grow weary.
Reflect:
Are you tired today? Where do you need God to renew your strength?
Where is your hope? What or who do you look to for security, comfort, or strength?
What step could you take today to begin living like this promise is true?
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Gen 6:9
Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.
Can you imagine how Noah felt when God told him all humanity was going to be destroyed and he was to build an ark? The verse we just read tells us that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation, and had found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Even then, I think it was overwhelming for him to hear God’s command to build a ship that was 450-feet long, 75-feet wide, and 45-feet tall. After all, it had never rained on the earth, and there was no vast body of water nearby. Noah didn’t have an engineering degree or any ship-building experience. The only thing he had was a command from God. It is estimated that it took Noah between 55 and 75 years to build the ark.
How are we to respond when God asks us to do something far bigger than we have experienced in our lives? We’re to do what Noah did when he heard God’s command—believe, obey, and walk with God one step at a time.
As Noah walked with God in his assignment, he experienced the revelation of God through his obedience. He got to see things that only God could accomplish like the construction of a huge ship, the animals entering the ark, and his family’s survival during a flood of catastrophic proportion. God protected and provided for his family for almost a year while the earth was covered and recovering from the flood, and he witnessed the miraculous power of God firsthand.
When we say yes to God’s command and walk with Him in our assignment, we get to experience revelation, see His mighty work, experience the orchestration of events to fulfill the work, live under God’s grace of protection and provision, and witness His miraculous power firsthand.
Has God given you an overwhelming assignment? Will you follow Noah’s example and experience God’s work in a mighty and powerful way in your life?
Prayer
God, thank You for the assignment You’ve given me. I choose to believe and obey Your commands in my life. I’m amazed at how You work things out for good over and over again, and I believe You will do that in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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It was an age of spiritual darkness on the earth, and it didn’t make any sense. Foretelling a massive flood. Building a boat. Filling it with animals. Proclaiming he heard from God. But Noah knew what he had heard, and he pressed on. He built the boat. He endured the ridicule. He gathered the animals. He looked to heaven and trusted God.
Then the earth flooded.
Surrounded by the cackle of the chicken, the lowing of the cattle, the roar of the lion, and the sound of rain ... for 40 days. There was no end in sight. I wonder if Noah’s inner dialogue sounded something like, Will the waters recede? Will I see land again? Did I hear Him right? Can God be trusted?
In the end, a dove returned with a fresh olive leaf, proving the waters receded. God’s covenant was made complete. Sound familiar? We read the promise. We hear it. It resonates in our spirit, and we lean into it. But over time as we wait for the waters to recede, doubt enters.
Will the waters recede? Will I see land again? Did I hear Him right? Can God be trusted?
Generations have lived to tell the story of the Great Flood. Not because of the water, but because of the promise it carried. God’s word can be trusted. And that promise is emphasized every time we cast our eyes on a rainbow coloring the sky with its splendor.
Perhaps today you hear His quiet whisper, reassuring your soul:
“The waters in your life will recede. I’ll show you the way. You will see land again. Lean into My word. I can be trusted.”
Prayer
God, today I choose to trust in You. I believe that Your word is true, and Your promises last a lifetime. Thank You for being a light unto my path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Genesis 3 (NLT)The Man and Woman Sin3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
“Where are you?”
All-knowing God called out to the man He’d crafted with His own fingertips, asking a question yet already knowing the answer. I’ve often pictured God in this moment as a chuckling parent, standing behind Adam and pretending not to see him. But when reading this passage again, I gained a different perspective.
In an instant, Adam learned of his vulnerable condition and faced shame followed by fear. He assumed that his disobedience ruined every- thing, and all the good times were over forever. So when he heard God walking nearby, Adam didn’t dare run into the presence of his Creator; he hid, ashamed and afraid.
God chose not to peel back trees with a breath, revealing Adam’s hiding spot. He didn’t march through the garden broadcasting the serpent’s cunning words or send angels to evict them without getting personally involved. Instead, God affirmed His desire for relationship by inviting Adam into a conversation.
“Where are you?”
He didn’t start with questions about what they had done, who they had spoken to, how they had disobeyed, or whose fault it was. No, God started with the question closest to His heart. Father God created us to be near, and Adam had hidden himself away.
“Adam, I love you, I’m eager to spend time together, and you’ve placed yourself apart from Me. Where are you?”
I imagine Adam evaluating his situation, crouched there in his patch of trees. Where am I? You know I’m here. You probably see me even though I’m trying to avoid you. I’m right here.
In the Garden of Eden. Slouched behind these flimsy branches. Cloaked in shame. Frozen in fear. Distancing myself from You.
Then Adam made the best decision he’d made all day. Above the noise of his failure and beyond the shouts of shame and fear, He listened to God’s voice calling for him. And he replied.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for creating me to be near to You. No matter how many times I make the wrong choice, You still want me to be close. Today I choose to draw close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Matthew 5:14–16
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Have you ever wondered why you were created? The answer can be found by looking at Adam, the first person God created. Adam lived in the Garden of Eden and spent time with God every day, yet he had a desire for something more. One day when Adam was with God, I imagine he said, “God, I love everything in the garden! I enjoy walking with You and talking with You, but I’m lonely. I have a longing for something more.”
While that conversation isn’t in the Bible, Genesis 2:20 does say, “[Adam] gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.”
So what did God do? “The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:21– 22).
How did God know the only thing that would satisfy the desire of Adam’s heart was a bride? It’s because He has the same desire. God desires a bride, and the bride is you! So that longing Adam had for something more? It was for God and from God! Scripture says God has placed eternity within the hearts of man (see Ecclesiastes 3:11)—not so it would drive us crazy but so it would drive us closer to Him!
You were created to love God, but it’s your choice. You see, God created you in His image, which means He created you with a will because He has a will. He chose to create you, His bride, in hopes that you would love Him as much as He loves you.
God’s greatest desire is you and that you would choose to love Him. Will you make that choice today?
Prayer
God, thank You for creating me in Your image and giving me free will to choose how I will live my life. Today, I choose to live for You and to love You. Thank You for putting a desire for You in my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Luke 23:53 (NLT)53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.
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2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT)15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
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Matthew 2:11 (NLT)11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
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2 Timothy 3:14 (NLT)14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
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James 1:17 (NLT)
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[b]
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Luke 2 (NLT)The Birth of Jesus2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
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Luke 2:26
It has been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
I don't know about your family traditions but for my family there is nothing more exciting than Christmas Eve family and friends filling homes with love and laughter. The presents that we have lovingly chosen and wrapped will finally be opened. All of our planning and preparation has brought us here, and now we wait that final night with anticipation. Each year on Christmas Eve my family watches The Muppet Christmas Carol and as they sing the song “Only one more sleep till Christmas” I get the goose bumps each year!
Simeon was no stranger to anticipation. The Holy Spirit promised him that he would not die before seeing the Christ. He probably woke up each morning thinking, today could be the day! Every day he continued to draw breath, he waited to see the promised Messiah. That, my friends, is a life filled to the brim with anticipation.
Just as Simeon longed for Jesus’ coming, we now long for him to come again. We see promises of his return all throughout scripture. Revelation tells us that he is currently on his way, bringing justice and a new world (22:12) We live with the knowledge that not only will he come someday, but that he has coming into our life and into our world each and every day. How exciting is that?
For those of us who long for his final appearing, our days are filled with anticipation. A day is no longer just another 24-hour period filled with tasks or errands to run. For us, every night can be like Christmas Eve. Let's greet each new day with great anticipation knowing that Jesus has arrived and could arrive again at any moment.
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Luke 2:38
Coming up at that very hour (Anna) began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Have you ever gone door to door at Christmas time singing carols to your neighbors? Historically, caroling in England was a way of wishing ones neighbor good health, and it was not strictly a Christmas activity. It wasn't until the 1800s that Christmas carols made their way into the song list. Caroling became a popular way to spread Christmas cheer to friends, neighbors, or those who were unable to leave their homes. Christmas was shared with the whole community.
Those who learned about the baby Messiah were quick to share good news with those around them. The shepherds went immediately to the Manger to share everything the Angels had spoken about the Christ child (Luke 2:17) after seeing Jesus in the temple, the prophetess Anna told everyone about him. They all grasped the importance of what was taking place and sought to share it with others. Why do you think caroling is not as prevalent these days? Are we too busy? Are we afraid it would be an imposition on others? What stops us from sharing the wonder of Christmas with those around us? No one is saying that you have to pick up some hand bells and start knocking on doors. The important part is not the act of singing but the act of going.
How can we take the message of the Messiah to our neighbors? The good news is still good news after all these years. People still need to know that the savior has come for them. You can sing it if you like, or you can take a casserole or an invitation to a get together to one of your neighbors. It doesn't matter what methods we use as long as we share the message of Christmas in our communities.
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1st Timothy 2:5-6
“There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.”
Starting a couple weeks before Christmas, many of us start to walk to our mailboxes with expectations. We know that Christmas cards and letters will arrive almost daily. Families in matching outfits will grace the covers of glossy cards. There will be postcards with brief greetings and warm wishes. Then there are the Christmas letters, full of details of all of the events that have taken place in the blast year. Whose Christmas letter do you look forward to receiving?
Christmas letters are very personal things. They don't go to everyone because the message isn't for everyone. Not everyone needs to know what you've decided to go back to Disneyland or that your little sister finally got her braces taken off. They each contain a specific message for specific people. To share someone's letter with an unintended recipient might even amount to gossip.
Well some Christmas letters may not be for everyone, but the story of Christmas is for every single one of us. Christ came to earth because God loved the whole world (John 3:16) anyone can read scripture and know that it is meant for him or her. Christ came for everyone, and he died for everyone. In today's verse Paul wrote that Christ gave himself as a ransom for all.
It's easy to assume that everyone knows the message of the gospel, but that's not the case. People in our lives hunger and thirst for the hope of Christ, and those of us who hold fast to the word of God must be willing to share it. You may not want to share the details of your sister's Christmas letter with the world, but the gospel isn't gossip. It's good news. For everyone. Let's share it!
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Isaiah 49:16
“See, I have written your name on the Palm of my hands.”
How do you like to wrap your Christmas presents? There are so many options! Just this week I saw a viral video that showed how you can stretch that last square of wrapping paper further by turning your present kitty-corner my mind was blown! Some people prefer to rap in paper with cartoon characters or Santa’s, or snowmen, or if you're like me the greatest invention ever was the wrapping bag!
Whatever presentation you choose the last step is attaching the gift tag. You lovingly write a person's name on the tag and set the gift apart for that specific individual. So the tag is the very last step in the whole process of thinking about, shopping for, and purchasing just the right gift. And when someone sees the gift sitting under the tree that's just for him or her, what a wonderful feeling that is!
God's love for his people is the most well planned, extravagant, beautiful gift of all time. He went to great lengths to prove His love for us. Then, just so there wouldn't be any question, The Lord tells His people that their names are engraved upon His perfect and holy hands.
The gift of God's love has our names literally written on it, and it's ours to open and receive each and every single day. It would be terribly sad for such a precious gift to remain unopened. The enemy would have us believe that God's gift isn't for us. He tells us that we're unworthy of God's love. Do not believe it, sweet friends. God has made us were the through his son sacrificed. God reached out his hands, and they are marked with our names so that you know the gift of Christ is just for you.
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Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)
“Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”
Have you ever hidden a special gift deep inside the toe of a Christmas stocking? How exciting it is to watch someone pull out the rest of that candy or tiny trinket when you know there's something precious waiting for them in the very bottom! On the other hand, consider how frustrating it is when the person opening the stocking is satisfied with the candy or trinkets and does not seek anything beyond the initial treat. You can't wait for the moment when they will find the greater prize.
Do you ever feel as though your life is missing something? So many of us have gratefully accepted Christ as Savior but have not taken our relationship with him any deeper. We love Jesus, but as we meet the challenges of everyday life, we stopped searching for Him. We forget God’s great desire to continue daily walking with us. We forget that God wants to be continually reveling Himself more fully to us. We really are missing out on an important gift: we are missing the more of him that he has to offer us.
There is a sweetness to Salvation, much like the chocolate treat at the top of the stocking. We should certainly embrace an enjoy that indescribable gift. Oh, but let's also go deeper! Gems of wisdom and gifts of strong character and hope that come through perseverance will escape our notice and less we are willing to go further with Christ. The writer of Hebrews said that we must come to God believing that He exists and that He has rewards for those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6) through the inspired words of scripture, God is encouraging us to dig for the deeper gifts of Christ -to continue to pray, study, and serve him with all of our hearts, to daily learn to walk with the Holy Spirit. This Christmas, let's ask him to reveal to us the deeper things that we did not even realize were ours for the taking. He is waiting for us to seek the greatest prize -Him.
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Nicodemus said to him, “how can a man be born when he is old?” John 3:4
Are you familiar with the Holderness family? They became an Internet sensation by creating videos about their new Christmas pajamas each year. Dressed in snowmen covered fuzzy pj's, they sing clever lyrics about their family Christmas traditions and dance around. Millions of people watch there videos, because who doesn't love a grown man and woman wearing footed pajamas? Last year my family started a new tradition taking a picture together on Christmas in our matching pajamas, because no one is too old or too big for Christmas pj's.
Something about Christmas seems to make us young again. We can't help but experience a little childlike wonder this time of year. How sad would it be if we felt too old to throw a snowball or build a gingerbread house? In the same way, Christ’s love defies age.
Nicodemus was an old man. He was familiar with Jesus’ teaching and wanted to know more. Because he was a ruler of the Jews, he went to question Jesus and to make sense of everything He had said. How could it be possible for someone to be born again to see the Kingdom of God? This troubled Nicodemus because he was already old- birth was a long time ago for him.
Jesus gives us good news: we are never too old to choose God and be born of the Spirit. We can have the faith of a child at any age-it's the spirit of God that makes us new. As long as there is breath in our bodies, He can use us. There is no limit to what God can accomplish through a willing vessel. It's not too late. Someone else won't be better suited for the job. We have not missed our chance. We are never too old for God to use, or for Christmas pajamas!
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Amos 3:7
“For the Lord does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets”
How good are you at keeping a surprise or a secret? Can you keep it to the very end, or are you the type who drops hints in the hope that it will be discovered? We all know that person who nearly burst at the seams when trying to hold something in. (and some of us are that person!)
From gifts to surprise guest, Christmas is a season of fun surprises. Scripture tells us that God is a hint dropper. More than that, for those willing to listen, He shares his plan outright. There's something warm and endearing about knowing that God wanted to share details about his son. Throughout the years He was whispering pieces of his plan to the prophets. In Jeremiah God saw his people wondering in the darkness and whispered, “don't give up…he's coming.” He told Isaiah about the Virgin birth. It's as if he just couldn't help but give hints about what was to come. He knew he had the perfect gift to give the world, and he wanted to prepare God's people for its delivery. Because of these holy whispers throughout history, believers were expecting Christ.
There's so much we don't know about the ways of God. Yet because of Christmas, His love for us is no secret. His hints throughout history were fulfilled in the manger. And He continues to whisper good things to his children: “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.” (Jeremiah 29:11) This advent season may we tune our hearts to listen to God so that we don't miss the surprises He may want to whisper into your heart this season.
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Luke 2:7 (NLT)7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The little drummer boy is a classic Christmas song written in 1941 it's about a little boy invited to see the Christ child being a poor boy he's worried about not having a suitable gift to bring to the newborn King. The little boy is far more concerned about this than Jesus is. Do you find yourself concerned in the same way this year? Have you been counting down the number of paychecks until Christmas? Are you disappointed that this may be a modest Christmas? When God sent his son into the world the options were unlimited, he could have been born into a wealthy family who would have provided him with lavish things. He could have been from a bigger town with more prestige, but that is not the Christmas God chose. Christ came to humble parents and humble circumstances those very circumstances made the little drummer boy in the song feel as if he could approach Jesus he took one look at him and declared “I am a poor boy too.”
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Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)The Birth of Jesus the Messiah18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Mary was an ordinary Hebrew girl. She blended in. She was part of the crowd. But God chose Mary to play an important role in His plan to bring blessing and salvation to the world.
Mary supernaturally carried God’s Son in her belly and brought Jesus into the world. God saw fit for His only Son to be born, nurtured, and taught by Mary and her husband, Joseph. No longer able to blend into the crowd, Mary was set apart by God Himself.
Why? What made Mary so special? She didn’t have wealth, nobility, or social standing. Any talents she may have possessed were unimpressive. While her earthly possessions were few, Mary did possess three valuable traits.
First, Mary’s heart was fully surrendered. Mary answered the angel Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Though she had questions, she was open to God’s plan.
Second, Mary had faith. Mary shared the life-altering encounter with a close friend and relative, Elizabeth. Elizabeth recognized Mary’s faith, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (Luke 1:45).
Third, Mary was a worshiper. Luke 1:46-55 beautifully captures Mary’s heart as she points the focus and praise back to the One who saw her and knew her. God elevated Mary because she surrendered to Him and His plans for her life.
God uses the ordinary for His extraordinary plan. We can trust in Him.
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Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)The Widow’s Offering21 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Each year, we try to make the holidays bigger and better than the year before. We frantically search the aisles and spend hard-earned money on the perfect gift. At Christmas, we feel the need to go above and beyond for show. So, we fill stockings to the brim and meticulously decorate the tree.
Luke 21:1-4 reminds us that Jesus is not impressed by our status, wealth, or online following.
In Jesus’ day, most widows lacked the means to support themselves. Without a husband or children to provide, they relied on welfare from the church or the kindness of strangers. As the wealthy placed their gifts into the treasury, a widow placed two small copper coins in the offering. She gave only a few cents, but she gave all she had.
You can imagine the widow trying to hide her gift, embarrassed at its lack of size. But Jesus saw the depth of her sacrifice and called attention to her faith. The gift most likely to be seen as insignificant and the person most likely to be overlooked is the one Jesus brought to the forefront.
It’s easy to get caught up in the celebration and forget the person we’re celebrating. Jesus came so everyone — the poor and the wealthy, the curated and the chaotic — would have an opportunity to know their Father in heaven.
Those who have a lot and those who have a little can both lose sight of what matters. Jesus cares far more about the spirit with which we give than the amount we give. He longs for us to feel the same way (Matthew 6).
What if this Christmas we gave others the same attention Jesus gave the poor widow? What if we looked past the stuff to see a person’s heart? We might just help someone take a step closer to their heavenly Father.
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Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)Jesus and Zacchaeus19 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
If we’re honest, there are people we’re tempted to avoid. In Jesus’ day, Zacchaeus was one of “those people.” Considered a traitor by his countrymen, he got rich fleecing his fellow countrymen to collect taxes for the Romans.
Where most people would avoid a man like Zacchaeus, Jesus does the opposite. Love and obedience to God — not comfort — guided Jesus’ decisions. He calls Zacchaeus out of the crowd and invites Himself to Zacchaeus's house. The encounter with Jesus marked Zacchaeus so deeply that he offered to give his possessions to the poor and pay back what he had cheated from others.
Jesus came to save those we cross the street to avoid. And like Zacchaeus, people who encounter Jesus walk away changed.
Perhaps we’re too busy or too scared to engage. As Christians, the same power that lives in Jesus lives in us (Romans 8:10-11). What if the person we avoid is the very person who needs what we can offer?
The best gift the world has ever received lives inside of each of us. How many people would experience the hope and peace of Jesus if we simply reached out?
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Luke 18:35-43 (NLT)Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Perhaps the Christmas season should make us more aware, but often we can become a bit numb to the needs around us. Every day, we walk past people with needs — needs we have the ability to meet. Whether the single mom struggling to provide for her children or the college student with no family in town, we sometimes hear cries for help and dismiss them for more pressing matters.
Jesus arrived at Jericho with a large following. Over the noise and energy of the crowd, Jesus heard a blind man call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38). The crowd attempted to quiet him, but he yelled out again. Jesus stopped in his tracks.
This man’s situation couldn’t get much worse. Unable to see, he was unable to work. Unable to work, he was forced to beg to survive. Hearing Jesus pass by, the blind man put aside propriety and dared to take a risk.
So many others had passed this man day after day. But the Creator of the universe heard and saw the blind beggar. Jesus gave the man what he needed.
Jesus came to earth so everyone — from beggar to billionaire — could have a relationship with their Creator. Reaching everyone starts by hearing seeing and meeting the needs of one. Are you listening?
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John 7:1-9 (NLT)Jesus and His Brothers7 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
Jesus had a devoted inner circle who could see He was more than just another rabbi. But the people who struggled the most to understand Jesus was His own family (John 7:5).
James was Jesus’ half-brother, born to Joseph and Mary (Matthew 13:55). While James and Jesus grew up together, it wasn’t until after Jesus’ death and resurrection that James understood exactly who his brother was. When Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection, James saw that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God (1 Corinthians 15:7).
Those closest to us are sometimes the hardest to reach. Jesus knew how His family felt, but He never let their disbelief discourage Him from His mission (Mark 6:4). After all, reaching skeptics like His brothers was the mission (John 3:16). Imagine how Jesus felt when His little brother, James, finally came to faith.
James went on to become a pillar of the early Christian church in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9) because of his encounter with the risen Christ.
Likewise, don’t let the skeptics in your family discourage you. They see you reading your Bible, being kind when others aren’t, and experiencing peace in the midst of chaos. You are influencing others as you allow Jesus to change you.
You may be the only believer in your family. The people you’re closest to might mock or dismiss your faith. But don’t hide who you are in Christ. Instead, keep living out what you believe. One day, your steadfast love and obedience to God just might be what changes their mind.
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Luke 13:10-17 (NLT)Jesus Heals on the Sabbath10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
Every family has a rule follower. The person who insists on reading every instruction before playing a board game. The one who calls you out for sneaking candy into the movie theater.
The synagogue leader in Luke 13 was a classic rule follower. You can feel his righteous indignation when he basically tells Jesus, “There are six days for healing, and the Sabbath isn’t one of them.”
Rules can be helpful and good, and rule followers can keep us out of all kinds of trouble. The problem comes when we get so focused on doing things right that we lose sight of the right thing to do.
That’s what happened to the synagogue leader. His zeal for keeping man-made rules around the Sabbath caused him to neglect the most important rule of all. Love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40).
God designated the Sabbath as a day of rest (Exodus 20:10-11). But for centuries, religious leaders had added to God’s law, even creating a rule that you cannot heal on the Sabbath because, for a doctor, healing is work.
Two thousand years later, we read this story, and that seems silly. Why would anyone stop someone from being healed? But we can be just as guilty of hiding behind the letter of the law instead of submitting to the fullness of God’s law.
How often do we walk past someone in need because we gave to the Salvation Army’s bell ringers last week? Or, when’s the last time you felt the urge to do something generous but stopped for fear of what others might think?
Loving others is messy work. And the people most in need of it are often those we’d rather avoid. Like a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years.
The lesson Jesus teaches the synagogue leader is one we all need to hear. Caring for others is always the right thing to do, even if it raises a few eyebrows.
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Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)Jesus Visits Martha and Mary38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” or so we’re told.
Every year, no matter how early we start celebrating, there’s never enough time to fit everything in. With small group outings, work parties, school pageants, family gatherings, church services, and all the other activities we “must do,” Christmas can seem more like a nightmare than a dream. We can find ourselves so busy doing Christmas we forget to enjoy Christmas.
In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus and His disciples stop at Mary and Martha’s home for dinner. Luke 10:40 says, “Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.”
Can’t you see Martha running around? Making sure the table settings were just so, checking the food, doing all the things you do when someone important comes over for dinner. Martha was busy trying to make it all happen. Meanwhile, the person Christmas is all about was sitting in her house.
It isn’t wrong to want things done well. It isn’t wrong to make preparations to entertain friends, coworkers, or family for the holidays. Problems arise when we mistake our preparation in proximity to Jesus for true intimacy with Him. Pretty soon, it can feel like we’re on the outside looking in.
Martha got so distracted and busy doing things for Jesus that she wasn’t spending time with Him. “Mary has chosen what is better,” is not a knock on Martha. It’s an invitation to Martha to slow down and be with Him.
Maybe you’re like Martha rushing around your house every Christmas. If so, Jesus’ invitation is for you. But maybe you know a Martha — a sibling, coworker, or friend being crushed by their own expectations. Maybe the best gift you could give that person this holiday season is an invitation to take a step in.
This Christmas season, let’s not settle for making the party happen. Let’s be part of the party — let’s enjoy His presence and invite others to join us.
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GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. —Matthew 2:10–11
God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25). The gifts of the magi are not given by way of assistance or need-meeting. It would dishonor a monarch if foreign visitors came with royal care-packages.
Well, what then do they mean? How are they worship? The gifts are intensifiers of desire for Christ himself. When you give a gift to Christ like this, it’s a way of saying, “The joy that I pursue (verse 10) is not the hope of getting rich with things from you. I have not come to you for your things, but for yourself. And this desire I now intensify and demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more, not things. By giving to you what you do not need, and what I might enjoy, I am saying, ‘You are my treasure, not these things.’” I think that’s what it means to worship God with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. May God take the truth of this text and waken in us a desire for Christ himself. May we say from the heart, “Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the King of Israel. All nations will come and bow down before you. God wields the world to see that you are worshiped. Therefore, whatever opposition I may find, I joyfully ascribe authority and dignity to you, and bring my gifts to say that you alone can satisfy my heart, not these.”
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TWO KINDS OF OPPOSITION TO JESUS
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. —Matthew 2:3
Jesus is troubling to people who do not want to worship him, and he brings out opposition for those who do. This is probably not a main point in the mind of Matthew, but it is inescapable as the story goes on.
In this story, there are two kinds of people who do not want to worship Jesus, the Messiah.
The first kind is the people who simply do nothing about Jesus. He is a nonentity in their lives. This group is represented by the chief priests and scribes. Verse 4: “Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, [Herod] inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.” Well, they told him, and that was that: back to business as usual. The sheer silence and inactivity of the leaders is overwhelming in view of the magnitude of what was happening.
And notice, verse 3 says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” In other words, the rumor was going around that someone thought the Messiah was born. The inactivity on the part of chief priests is staggering—why not go with the magi? They are not interested. They do not want to worship the true God. The second kind of people who do not want to worship Jesus is the kind who is deeply threatened by him. That is Herod in this story. He is really afraid. So much so that he schemes and lies and then commits mass murder just to get rid of Jesus. So today these two kinds of opposition will come against Christ and his worshipers: indifference and hostility. Are you in one of those groups? Let this Christmas be the time when you reconsider the Messiah and ponder what it is to worship him.
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BETHLEHEM’S SUPERNATURAL STAR
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” —Matthew 2:2
Over and over the Bible baffles our curiosity about just how certain things happened. How did this “star” get the magi from the east to Jerusalem?
It does not say that it led them or went before them. It only says they saw a star in the east (verse 2), and came to Jerusalem. And how did that star go before them in the little five-mile walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem as verse 9 says it did? And how did a star stand “over the place where the Child was”?
The answer is: We do not know. There are numerous efforts to explain it in terms of conjunctions of planets or comets or supernovas or miraculous lights. We just don’t know. And I want to exhort you not to become preoccupied with developing theories that are only tentative in the end and have very little spiritual significance.
I risk a generalization to warn you: People who are exercised and preoccupied with such things as how the star worked and how the Red Sea split and how the manna fell and how Jonah survived the fish and how the moon turns to blood are generally people who have what I call a mentality for the marginal. You do not see in them a deep cherishing of the great central things of the gospel—the holiness of God, the ugliness of sin, the helplessness of man, the death of Christ, justification by faith alone, the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the glory of Christ’s return.
They always seem to be taking you down a sidetrack with a new article or book. There is little centered rejoicing. But what is plain concerning this matter of the star is that it is doing something that it cannot do on its own: it is guiding magi to the Son of God to worship him.
There is only one Person in biblical thinking that can be behind that intentionality in the stars—God himself.
So the lesson is plain: God is guiding foreigners to Christ to worship him. And he is doing it by exerting global—probably even universal—influence and power to get it done. Luke shows God influencing the entire Roman Empire so that the census comes at the exact time to get a virgin to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy with her delivery. Matthew shows God influencing the stars in the sky to get foreign magi to Bethlehem so that they can worship him. This is God’s design. He did it then. He is still doing it now. His aim is that the nations—all the nations (Matthew 24:14)—worship his Son.
This is God’s will for everybody in your office at work, and in your neighborhood and in your home.
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MESSIAH FOR THE MAGI
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” —Matthew 2:1–2
Unlike Luke, Matthew does not tell us about the shepherds coming to visit Jesus in the stable. His focus is immediately on foreigners coming from the east to worship Jesus. So Matthew portrays Jesus at the beginning and ending of his Gospel as a universal Messiah for the nations, not just for Jews.
Here the first worshipers are court magicians or astrologers or wise men not from Israel but from the East—perhaps from Babylon. They were Gentiles. Unclean. And at the end of Matthew, the last words of Jesus are, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
This not only opened the door for the Gentiles to rejoice in the Messiah, it added proof that he was the Messiah. Because one of the repeated prophecies was that the nations and kings would, in fact, come to him as the ruler of the world.
For example, Isaiah 60:3,
“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
So Matthew adds proof to the messiahship of Jesus and shows that he is Messiah—a King, and Promise-Fulfiller—for all the nations, not just Israel.
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NO DETOUR FROM CALVARY
And while they were there, 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. —Luke 2:6–7Now you would think that if God so rules the world as to use an empire-wide census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, he surely could have seen to it that a room was available in the inn.
Yes, he could have. And Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family. He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do.
God’s will was that though Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. The “No Vacancy” signs over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake. “For your sake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). God rules all things—even motel capacities—for the sake of his children. The Calvary road begins with a “No Vacancy” sign in Bethlehem and ends with the spitting and scoffing of the cross in Jerusalem. And we must not forget that he said, “He who would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross” (Matthew 16:24). We join him on the Calvary road and hear him say, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20). To the one who calls out enthusiastically, “I will follow you wherever you go!” (Matthew 8:19).
Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Yes, God could have seen to it that Jesus have a room at his birth. But that would have been a detour off the Calvary road.
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FOR GOD’S LITTLE PEOPLE
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
—Luke 2:1–5
Have you ever thought what an amazing thing it is that God ordained beforehand that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem (as the prophecy in Micah 5 shows); and that he so ordained things that when the time came, the Messiah’s mother and legal father were living in Nazareth; and that in order to fulfill his word and bring two little people to Bethlehem that first Christmas, God put it in the heart of Caesar Augustus that all the Roman world should be enrolled each in his own town?
Have you ever felt, like me, little and insignificant in a world of seven billion people, where all the news is of big political and economic and social movements and of outstanding people with lots of power and prestige?
If you have, don’t let that make you disheartened or unhappy. For it is clear in Scripture that all the mammoth political forces and all the giant industrial complexes, without their even knowing it, are being guided by God, not for their own sake but for the sake of God’s little people—the little Mary and the little Joseph who have to be brought from Nazareth to Bethlehem. God wields an empire to bless his children.
Do not think, because you experience adversity, that the hand of the Lord is shortened, he rules the whole world! He is in control of all things, and he holds our universe together in real time! He is a big God for little people, and we have great cause to rejoice in that.
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THE LONG-AWAITED VISITATION
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited
and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as
he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies and from
the hand of all who hate us…” —Luke 1:68–71
Notice two remarkable things from these words of Zechariah
in Luke 1.First, nine months earlier, Zechariah could not believe his wife would have a child. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he is so confident of God’s redeeming work in the coming Messiah that he puts it in the past tense. For the mind of faith, a promised act of God is as good as done.
Zechariah has learned to take God at his word and so has a remarkable assurance: “God has visited and redeemed!” Second, the coming of Jesus the Messiah is a visitation of God to our world: “The God of Israel has visited and redeemed.” For centuries, the Jewish people had languished under the conviction that God had withdrawn: the spirit of prophecy had ceased, Israel had fallen into the hands of Rome. And all the godly in Israel were awaiting the visitation of God. Luke tells us in 2:25 that the devout Simeon was “looking for the consolation of Israel.” And in Luke 2:38 the prayerful Anna was “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
These were days of great expectation. Now the long awaited visitation of God was about to happen—indeed, he was about to come in a way no one expected.
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MARY’S MAGNIFICENT GOD
Luke 1:46–55
“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.”
Mary sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history.
And where is God? Occupying himself with two seemingly obscure, but humble women—one old and barren (Elizabeth), one young virgin (Mary). And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song — a song that has come to be known as “the Magnificat” (Luke 1:46–55).
Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke’s account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impresses him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary.
Elizabeth says,
“Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me?” (Luke 1:43).
And Mary says,
“He has looked on the humble estate of his servant” (Luke 1:48).
The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the glory of the magnificent God.
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PREPARE THE WAY
“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.” —Luke 1:16–17
What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don’t let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean spiritually unprepared. Its joy and impact will be so much greater if you are ready!
That you might be prepared…
First, meditate on the fact that we need a Savior. Christmas will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Savior. Let these short Advent meditations help awaken in you a sense of need for the Savior.
Second, engage in sober self-examination.
Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24)
Third, build God-centered anticipation and expectancy and excitement into your home—especially for the children.
If you are excited about Christ, they will be too. If you can only make Christmas exciting with material things, how will the children get a thirst for God? Bend the efforts of your imagination to make the wonder of the King’s arrival visible for the children.
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Daniel had every reason to hide away and wait for exile to end, he didn’t. He had every reason to just give in and live like the Babylonians, he didn’t.
Daniel had every reason to lament, to give up, to be mad at God and give in…but he didn’t instead the opposite happened….He thrived.
I think Church we need to be reminded. Just like Daniel we too live in exile. This is not our home so like Daniel how can we live our lives in the midst of our culture and circumstances in a way that honors God that changes our work place, transforms our neighborhoods. How do we in the midst of all of this chaos be faithful to our calling?
Daniel understood that God is sovereign
Daniel knew that God was in control of everything. Daniel knew that God is sovereign.
Daniel 2:20-23
Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20 He said,
“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
21 He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
22 He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.”This is very important for us to remember. God is in control! No matter what it looks like out the window God has a plan, he’s never caught off guard or asleep at the wheel. He has a perfect plan and though we don’t always see it…it’s still true
Ephesians 1:11(NLT)
11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
Gods in control. That thing you’re struggling with, that person at work, that neighbor, family member…God’s in control.
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The Bible is not silent about the end times — that is, what will unfold on the earth shortly preceding Jesus’ return to the earth. Daniel is among the prophets who record visions of what will happen when Jesus returns.
Whether we're reading the prophecies in Daniel, Matthew 25, or Revelation, the sense of chaos is dispelled by a simple repeated truth: God is in control and our ultimate victory through Jesus is assured.
Even though we know how the story ends, we, like Daniel, are left with more questions than answers (Daniel 12:8). The curtain is pulled back but not completely. There remains a veil in place that obscures the details.
What is the tribulation? How does it affect Christians? How can we maintain our peace of mind in the midst of so many unknowns? The angel’s assurance to Daniel is our assurance as well.
“‘Go on about your business, Daniel,’ he said. ‘The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up. The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what’s going on’” (Daniel 12:9-10, MSG).
The promise in Daniel’s prophecy, and so many others, is that those of us who know Jesus will endure no matter what. We can live each day without fear because we were washed clean and made new the moment we asked Jesus into our lives.
We won’t understand everything about the end times, and that’s OK. We take comfort, not from having all the details, but from knowing that eternal life began when we started a relationship with Jesus (John 3:16 and John 17:3). We are His, and we will be with Him in the end.
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A recent study found that most people would rather know for certain that they are about to receive an electric shock than to not be able to predict it. This confirms what we have all probably experienced to be true in our lives. We fear the unknown and want to feel in control of our lives and circumstances.
Uncertainty looks different to each of us, but it is always stressful. For some, uncertainty is trying to find a job or waiting to hear if you have been accepted into a specific college. For others, it is not knowing if you’ll be able to provide for your family or wondering how your health will change as a result of a recent diagnosis.
Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem. He was living in a very uncertain time. The Israelite's had been taken into captivity and their holy city was in ruins. Their future looked bleak and dismal at best.
Yet, Jeremiah was able to find hope. He writes, “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.” (Lamentations 3:31-32).
Often, the best way to trust God in our present uncertainty is to consider God’s faithfulness in the past. The punishment Israel received was the result of their disobedience. However, God had also promised future blessing and restoration. Seeing God keep His word in the past allowed Jeremiah to believe with confidence that God would keep His promises in the future.
The same is true for us. Trusting in God’s faithfulness day by day grows our confidence in His promises for the future.
God is always working for the good of those who love Him, and His love and mercy never run out (Lamentations 3:23-25, Romans 8:28). So even when nothing around us looks “good” yet, we still have a reason to hope. God is not done and He does not abandon us. And for that, we can be thankful.
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Do you remember where you were on 9/11? An overwhelming sense of uncertainty and fear dominated our country that day and for many more after. Church attendance spiked as people searched for a way to cope.
In seasons of instability, our hearts long for a sovereign source of stability. We want answers, leadership, and clear direction. When the world is in turmoil, even those who don’t pick up a Bible on a regular basis are much more likely to listen to Scripture and pray.
As Daniel gains insight about the future of the nations around him, he is reminded that with difficult times comes an opportunity to share the reason for our hope.
In Daniel 11, the heavenly being tells Daniel that those who are wise will take the opportunity to instruct many. Hundreds of years later, the apostle Peter shares a similar message with early Christians, writing, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...” (1 Peter 3:15).
The reality is not everyone will want to hear what we have to say (Daniel 11:33). In those situations, it’s important to remember that God uses times of difficulty to refine and purify us as well (Daniel 11:35). Sometimes, refinement comes through receiving an uncomfortable or unpopular correction. Sometimes, refinement comes as we persevere in faith despite persecution.
No matter how great the opposition we face, we take heart in knowing that if we will stay faithful to God, He promises to deliver us and to bring glory to His name.
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We’ve all done it. A call drops, but we keep talking. Sometimes it takes a few seconds and sometimes it takes a few minutes, but eventually, we realize no one is listening.
Few things can be as frustrating or make us feel as foolish as recognizing we aren’t being heard. It’s the reason we cringe when customer service transfers us for the sixth time, and it’s the reason many of us struggle with prayer. We pour our hearts out to God, but we wonder:
Is God listening?
How do I know He heard me?
Daniel can relate to that feeling. When Daniel found himself in a difficult situation, he humbled himself and prayed. When Daniel didn’t get an immediate answer from God, he fasted and prayed some more. It wasn’t easy, but Daniel kept calling out to God the same way we keep calling back when an important call gets dropped.
The difference between calling God and calling another person is that God never loses touch with us. God’s messenger reassured Daniel that God heard every word and started working in Daniel’s life the moment he cried out (Daniel 10:12-13).
God always hears our prayer. Fighting through the frustration and persevering in prayer is about our hearts more than it is about getting God’s attention. With each prayer, we remind ourselves where our help comes from and we make space in our day to hear from the Lord.
God is working and we can trust Him, even when it seems like nothing is happening. Take heart in knowing God hears you and is working all things, even the hard things, together for your good (Romans 8:28).
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As kids, we ran to our parents’ room to escape the monsters under the bed. But what becomes our safe place as we get older?
Where do you turn when you’re scared, get bad news, or your world falls apart? Some run to a friend or special place. Some try to hide by getting lost in a TV show or movie. Others numb the pain by leaning on alcohol and other substances.
In Daniel 9, Daniel gets devastating news: Jerusalem, the city he loves, must lie desolate for 70 years. But instead of running from the fear and pain, Daniel turns to the Lord. Daniel 9:3 says, “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition…”
When bad things happen, our first instinct is often to run. We beg God to remove us from the situation as quickly and as pain-free as possible. But Daniel doesn’t do that. Instead, he acknowledges that God’s punishment is deserved and takes responsibility for Israel’s disobedience (Daniel 9:5-14). Then, Daniel repents and asks for forgiveness (Daniel 9:15-16).
Allowing ourselves to experience grief over our sin is the first step to moving past it. Not numbing or running from conviction is the spiritual equivalent of shining a light under the bed. By allowing ourselves to see the situation as it is, we can begin the process of replacing what the lies we believed with the truth of the Bible. We have face reality to change reality.
When we rush to get out from under the pain, we miss out on what God wants to do in our pain. As Daniel was praying, a messenger from God reminded him, “... you are very precious to God” (Daniel 9:23).
Israel still experienced the consequences of their behavior, but it didn’t last forever and it put an end to their sin (Daniel 9:24). Like Daniel, you are precious to your father in heaven. God hears you, and He loves you too much to let you stay in your sin.
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Art galleries are full of masterpieces that began with a simple brush stroke. We stand in awe at the finished product, but rarely do we get to see the work in progress. Would we love the Mona Lisa as much if we only saw its early stages?
Similar to an artist, God has a plan for us and a vision for us — His masterpieces. But often, we jump to conclusions or give up when there are still thousands of brush strokes to be made.
Seeing God’s handiwork come to fruition requires patience and faith. For example, the events in Daniel’s dream came to pass when Alexander the Great (the male goat) defeated the ram (Persia). After Alexander’s death, his kingdom was divided into four parts (the four horns/four winds of heaven).
Daniel’s vision also has implications we won’t see until the end times (Daniel 8:17). God is carrying out a bigger vision than we can see. We know God’s words will come to pass, but we shouldn’t assume to know when or how they will happen.
In Isaiah 55:8-9, God says his ways are higher than ours, and visions like Daniel’s remind us of this truth. As we pray and hear from God, we might receive a word or vision that doesn’t make sense at the moment. We can trust God to bring His plans to life. And in the absence of a clear next step, we allow our faith to continue to push us forward.
Every artistic process includes moments of frustration. But we have to understand the brush is safest in the hand of the Master Creator.
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Jesus’ coming is foreshadowed throughout the Bible. In Daniel 7, Daniel’s dream gives him a glimpse at what’s to come: “the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever” (Daniel 7:18).
When we ask Jesus into our lives, we become those holy people and the assurance of eternity is ours. The message of Daniel 7 is the same message we see throughout the Bible: Satan is vanquished, evil is defeated, and victory is ours in Christ.
Daniel’s dream also reminds us that in this world we will face hardship and temptation before Jesus returns (Daniel 7:21-22).
We don’t have to look far to find hardship and temptation in abundance. But rather than lose hope when strife comes, we can persevere knowing, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
We need to always remember that we are on the winning team spiritually. When hard times come, we take heart knowing that one day “all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27).
Living in freedom doesn’t mean we live free of problems. It means we live every day with the freedom of knowing we are on the winning team.
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At the beginning of Daniel 6, things are looking great for Daniel. He becomes one of three administrators over the 120 newly appointed satraps, who were like governors. Daniel impressed the king so much the king planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom.
Enter envy. Other administrators and satraps were so envious of Daniel they tried to find dirt on him to or create a scandal that would have him removed. They were relentless in their pursuit and convinced the king to make a new rule they knew Daniel couldn’t keep.
Things go from really great to really bad really fast. Not only is Daniel persecuted for praying to God, he is thrown into a pit of hungry lions with no way to escape.
Maybe you have been there, too. Things seemed to be going great. Then the call came. Or the rumors started that threatened your integrity. Or your boss called you into his office with the news of layoffs.
We may not be in an actual pit with real lions, but the “lions” in our lives are just as ferocious. God closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, and He can do the same for the “lions” in your life.
God doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life, but He does promise to be with us through it all. Daniel knew that and experienced it first-hand. Daniel continued trusting, praying, and praising his God. He did what was right without shame or fear.
Daniel 6:23 says, “And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” No matter the “lions” in your life right now, keep trusting, praying and praising our God. He can deliver us without a single wound.
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If you’re younger than 30, there’s a chance you’ve never heard of Adam West or Val Kilmer. But Adam West, Val Kilmer, Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, and Michael Keaton all have one thing in common. They all played Batman on the big screen.
Ask people from three generations to describe what Batman looks like, and you’ll get three different answers. With each iteration, Batman changed to reflect the times — moving from the caped crusader in a cartoonish black and gray leotard to the brooding dark knight we know today.
Batman’s evolution is a picture of the ever-changing standards we put on our heroes. What’s cool in one decade is lame to the next. What portrays strength in one generation is cheesy to the next.
If we chase people’s standards, we’ll always chase a moving target. That’s a reality Daniel understood all too well.
When Nebuchadnezzar was king, Daniel was his trusted advisor. But many years later, a new king was running things with a new group of nobles and influencers. Daniel had fallen out favor and been forgotten until an emergency caused the queen mother to remember the wisdom and insight Daniel gave to Belshazzar’s father (Daniel 5:10-11).
Belshazzar was prepared to give power, money, and authority to the person who could explain the message he’d seen on the wall, but Daniel wasn’t interested (Daniel 5:17). Daniel knew that even the influence that comes from following the Lord can quickly fade.
Daniel’s focus wasn’t on what he could gain by following the Lord, but on being faithful to follow the Lord. He spoke the words God gave him — nothing more, nothing less.
Like Daniel, we don’t follow the Lord for fame or fortune but to know and serve God faithfully. Our cool factor and influence might change over time, but the peace that comes from knowing and obeying God will last forever.
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None of us like to be told we’re wrong. We like it even less when the other person turns out to be right. Remember, the business deal everyone said was too good to be true? Or the relationship everyone warned you about that ended badly? Or that time in high school when the urge to “live a little” turned into a misdemeanor — just like they said it could.
Refusing to take advice is a form of pride. It’s the haughty spirit Proverbs 16:18 says leads to destruction. And, it’s the pride that led to Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall in Daniel 4.
Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper” (Daniel 4:27, NLT).
Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar still hadn’t changed, and everything God revealed came to pass (Daniel 4:28-30). It’s easy to read Nebuchadnezzar’s story and assume it could never happen to us. But no one is immune to pride.
We don’t have to be rulers to build kingdoms. We do it every day in big and small ways. We build companies, playgroups, online communities, and Snap streaks. Then, like Nebuchadnezzar, we stand back and admire our accomplishment, saying “Look at me! What a great thing I’ve done!”
The truth is nothing we have and nothing we build is ours, but for the grace of God. When we work hard, when we build communities, the goal is not to draw attention to us but to Him.
It took hitting rock bottom for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge that God alone deserves our praise (Daniel 4:34-35). But we don’t have to wait for an inevitable fall. God loved Nebuchadnezzar enough to send a warning through Daniel. And God loved each of us enough to show us a better way through the life, death, and resurrection of His son.
When God brings pride to our attention, it’s not to shame us but to save us. How much heartache could we miss if we were to listen and repent?
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Government officials and commoners alike are gathered in the public square for the unveiling a new statue. A trumpet blows, the order is given and everyone kneels before the statue in worship as the band plays.
Imagine the conflict in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the wrestled with whether to kneel or stand. The penalty for not participating was death, and they were government officials. People were watching. To kneel was to betray their God, and to not kneel was to betray their king.
Eventually, we all come to that moment when everyone else is doing one thing, but God has called us to do something different. To choose purity can impact our dating lives. To choose integrity can affect our upward mobility. To choose love makes us vulnerable in relationships.
God has promised to be with us when life is hard, but often our hearts struggle to believe it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know they’d find Jesus in the fire when they walked in the furnace. But they allowed their faith, not their fear, to guide their actions (Daniel 2:17-18).
Faith rarely makes reasonable sense. So when people see faith in action, they need an explanation. As a result of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's faith, the king acknowledged God’s power and people stood in awe.
When we stand up for what we believe, the same thing happens. In the eyes of the world, suffering is all pain. But in the eyes of God, suffering is a vehicle for hope.
Our faith might lead to suffering. But we take heart in those moments, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-5).
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We all know people who are naturally good at certain things.
The numbers person leaves others in awe at her ability to calculate her head. The athlete pushes expectations of what’s physically possible and brings us to our feet in celebration. The artist sees beauty and inspiration in ordinary life. The friend who lightens a room and brings people together.
God gives each of us unique abilities, talents, and insights — not for our glory but for His. When we’re operating in our gifting, things come easily. And if we’re not careful, we can start to take the credit for what God is doing in us and through us.
Daniel had a prophetic gifting. When someone wasn’t sure what God wanted, they would turn to the prophets — men and women with the ability to declare God’s will and interpret His purposes.
Daniel recognized that God gives His people this special insight. So before Daniel shares a word about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he reminds those listening where his ability to interpret dreams comes from: “... there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
The ability to do something well results in all measure of attention and praise. But no matter how powerful we think we are, we are not more powerful than God. God alone gives power and authority, and takes it away (Daniel 2:37-39). An only God can build a kingdom that will last forever (Daniel 2:44). All of our gifts and abilities were designed to help build that kingdom.
When Nebuchadnezzar saw what God empowered Daniel to do, it caused him to think twice about Daniel’s God (Daniel 2:46-47). In that same way, when we give God the glory He rightly deserves for our skills and abilities, we draw others to Him.
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Have you ever found yourself in a seemingly impossible situation? Perhaps a relationship was in a rocky place. Maybe your finances were in a tough spot. Or maybe you had a tough decision to make. Daniel also knew what it was like to face the impossible.
Daniel turned to the only person who could help him: God. While the people around him said, “No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men,” Daniel knew this to be untrue (Daniel 2:11).
The one, true God did live among them, and He lives among us today. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says we are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in us. In God’s mercy and grace, He makes wisdom available to us if we’ll ask, seek, and believe — just like Daniel did.
Daniel was able to describe and interpret the king's dream because God gave Daniel the wisdom to do so. Daniel asked for God’s help by praying for wisdom and pleading for mercy in this situation. Then, Daniel sought God by trusting Him and listening to the vision revealed to him. And finally, Daniel had to have the faith to believe God would come through.
For us, the process looks much the same. When we are faced with the impossible, we must have faith to ask God for help through prayer. Then, we seek His wisdom in His Word, and we believe He will help us through the impossible.
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When you hear the word “resolve” what comes to mind? Maybe you pictured a determined athlete, the 2-year-old that doesn’t want to back down, or the health battle we will do everything to fight.
The dictionary explains resolve as “fixity of purpose” or “firm determination.” We easily associate resolve with reaching the highest level in a sport or persevering through a diagnosis. But it also takes resolve to stay the course spiritually.
In Daniel 1, Daniel shows what having resolve for God looks like. Daniel, an Israelite, is chosen to join the king’s service. With this new role, Daniel faced pressure to compromise his Jewish standards and fit into the Babylonian culture. But “...Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8).
Daniel knew what he was being asked to eat and drink was not in line with Scripture. It would have been easy to partake in the meal and appease his new bosses, but Daniel knew this would be wrong in God’s eyes.
Daniel knew God, knew His Word, and was fixed on God’s purpose. So when faced with an uncomfortable — and potentially costly decision — Daniel didn’t have to wrestle with what to do. Though it took courage to follow through, the decision not to defile himself was clear.
Like Daniel, we need to first know God’s Word, then be intentional in our obedience to it. This is where resolve comes in.
The culture we live in isn’t always conducive to our values as Christians. Though knowing and wanting to do what is right is important, it is the first step. We also need to resolve to carry out our beliefs even when the pressure is on.
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The church building was small, hardly what we might consider structurally sound. Light shone through cracks in the cement walls. There was no floor but the dusty ground. Gabonese church members filled the rows of rickety wooden benches and service began.
Unlike us visiting missionaries, the people didn’t drive or take a bus to get there. They left early that morning and walked for miles to reach the church. They poured their hearts out to God singing songs. And when it came time to give the offering, people without shoes, electricity or running water walked forward and placed money in a woven basket, Four different times!
In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Paul commands those who are rich 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.” Instead they are to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
It’s easy to dismiss verses directed to the wealthy when we see people around us with so much more. But Americans are among the wealthiest people in the world. It only takes $32,400 a year, to be among the richest 1 percent in the world. So when we talk about the 1% and we all think they live in ivory towers… World wide many if not most of us Americans fall into that 1% category.
God asks us to give from what He has given us. We are to be generous with our time, our actions and our money. We have the ability to use what God has given us to bless others and point them to Jesus. And that is an investment that will always yield a return.
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When the desire for money and the pursuit of money is greater than our desire or pursuit to be more like Jesus, it breeds greed and discontent in our lives.
This was the case in Timothy’s day. False teachers were implying that godliness is a means to financial gain (1 Timothy 6:5). Paul warns Timothy to stay away from such teaching. He reminds Timothy that true wealth is found in knowing Jesus and recognizing that we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it (1 Timothy 6:7).
Money and stuff can be here today and gone tomorrow. When our worth is determined by what we have, we’re just one job loss, one house fire or one bad decision away from hopelessness.
The satisfaction we get from stuff is fleeting. There will always be something newer, trendier and more advanced just around the corner.
True contentment is not fleeting. It is based on Who we know, not what we have. God is well aware of all our needs even before we ask. When our value and identity is based on who we are in Christ, we’ll find that we already have more than we need.
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When the word “church” comes up in conversation, the first thing we think of is a building. We have this mindset that church is a place we go to on Sundays. As we get our family dressed, fight through traffic and get a good seat, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we aren’t just going to church; we are the church.
In 1 Timothy 5, Paul describes the church as people dedicated to doing whatever it takes to reach out and help others. We have a responsibility to serve and help others in need as the church. Caring for each other as well as those outside of the church is the quickest way to see Jesus change lives. Too often, we see a need and wait for the pastor or someone on staff to take responsibility. But that’s not the way church works.
Each of us has been given skills, abilities and opportunities to serve. In Timothy’s church, for example, the women ran a widows ministry (1 Timothy 5:16), and elders directed church affairs while others were devoted just to teaching and preaching (1 Timothy 5:17).
In the Bible, church is always a reference to people, not a place. The church is a body of believers that live out the Gospel in their words and actions. The church is at its best when people inside the building take Jesus’ message outside the building and serve those they meet.
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1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NLT)12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
In 1 Timothy, Paul is advising Timothy on how to handle a difficult situation. At the time, Timothy is being sent in to address areas of concern within the church. No doubt, this was an overwhelming task. Timothy was younger than many of the people he would be advising, and he also likely had less religious experience. This, however, was not concerning to God. What we see in others and ourselves is not what God sees. God sees the heart. God is concerned not with age or experience, but with our conduct, love, faith and purity.
Paul tells Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his age, but the principle extends far beyond just age. The broader message is that God has a plan for us no matter what our perceived limitation. As believers, we are called specifically to pursue God’s will above all else. This means that no matter our situation, we are without excuse when it comes to saying yes to what God puts in front of us. If we aren’t dead, God’s not done.
God is not waiting for us to reach a certain age, theological understanding or level of income to be used by Him. Our value to God lies in our obedience — not our age, race, gender or how much or how little we may have. Despite all the shortcomings we see in ourselves, we have the ability to confidently share Jesus’ message with those around us.
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Running a marathon isn’t something we just wake up and do. To build the endurance to finish a 26.2-mile race takes months of strict, physical training. To get up every morning and run, whether or not you feel like it, takes commitment and discipline.
While there are physical benefits to this kind of training — strong legs, a healthy heart, there’s a spiritual benefit to learning discipline as well. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul compares the drive it takes us to finish the Christian life well to the drive it takes to train for a race.
There are going to be mornings where we don’t feel like reading the Bible. There will be Sundays where we don’t feel like serving. There will be people we don’t feel like forgiving. But like the athlete who pushes through to reach his goal, we make a conscious choice each day to push past our feelings and circumstances to keep following Jesus.
The difference between physical training and mental training is the reward. "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
The medal we receive at the end of a race is nothing compared to the spiritual strength we receive when we learn to value discipline. Striving toward physical goals are great goals to have. But striving toward godliness has value in this life and the one to come.
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Pretend for a moment that you’re standing outside in a blizzard with only a T-shirt on. Would you refuse a jacket if one were offered to you? In the midst of freezing temperatures and billowing snows, the warmth a jacket provides would be more than desirable.
Not many of us would stand bare armed in a blizzard and refuse a jacket. We do, however, often refuse refuge from an even harsher environment. The raging storms of this world, that can knock us clean off of our feet. However, we often find ourselves running toward the storm and away from the protection of a loving God.
When we refuse God, we also refuse His goodness and His blessings that he has available for us in every situation. When we turn away from his outstretched hand, we turn away from the protection and warmth He longs to give us.
Nothing this world can offer us, even the good things, will ever lead to true contentment. The only thing this world has to offer us is a temporary fix that deceivingly leads to more emptiness.
Fortunately, we serve a God who holds more fulfillment, love, peace, healing and security than we could ever ask for. Ephesians 3:20 says God’s good is beyond our wildest imagination, and far greater than anything good this world has to offer. If we let go of our good things and open our hands and hearts to receive God’s goodness, we will have more good in our lives than we know what to do with.
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1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NLT)The Truths of Our Faith14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
and taken to heaven in glory.
In 1 Timothy 3, the apostle Paul is giving Timothy, a young pastor, instructions about how to lead his church. In case Paul got delayed on his way to see Timothy, he wanted the church to know how to live like people who follow Jesus.
Paul writes that part of the church’s role is to be a pillar of truth and to explain to the world the secret of how to be godly (1 Timothy 3:16). The answer to how we are made right with God is revealed in the hymn that follows:
- Jesus appeared in the flesh. Jesus was fully human. When Jesus was born, God came and lived among us.
- Jesus was vindicated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus completely obeyed God and lived a perfect life. The resurrection was proof of the Holy Spirit’s power in Him.
- Jesus was seen by the angels and taken up in glory. Jesus wasn’t just fully human, he was also fully divine.
As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life and gave us a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live a godly life by following Jesus.
The church exists to share this message, because being made right with God starts with believing this one revolutionary idea: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
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Every decision we make reveals standards we set for our lives. Giving in to the pressures of purity, buying what we can’t pay for, talking about someone we think we are better than all reveal our character. How we act will be determined by whether we are allowing the values of the world or the Bible to set the standards of our lives.
When our standards are dictated by people rather than God, we are automatically limited. We have to be careful not to draw conclusions about our value from what others say about us. Being a Christian is about how we live out our faith, and oftentimes, the right stance isn’t going to be the most popular one.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Paul gives us guidelines to live by because they are consistent with what God says is right and true. God is more concerned with who we are than with what we do. We are not given a list of duties to carry out, but qualities to live out.
Living a godly life starts at the heart. When we make God’s priorities our priorities, we’re less likely to allow work or volunteer activities to take us away from family responsibilities. When we see people the way Jesus saw people, we’re less likely to treat people we know well and treat people we don’t know poorly.
As a Christian, we represent Jesus at all times. Whatever we do, wherever we go, whatever we say, we make an impression of who Jesus is by what we say and how we act.
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1 Timothy 2:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT)9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.
This is one of those teachings that is so counter cultural that we struggle with it deeply. It offends us and we immediately go on the defensive.
Modesty is one of the most abused words in the Christian dialect and is usually only spoken about girls showing to much skin. Modesty goes much deeper than simply that.
Modesty and humility go hand and hand. Humility is evaluating ourselves properly, with sober judgment (Rom 12:3). Modesty is behavior that flows out of remembering our true place of service, and does not conceitedly boast about the self, but boasts in God (2 Cor 10:17) (Phil 2:3-4) Modesty, or the lack thereof, reveals where we’ve placed our identity.
Rich women in the ancient world arrogantly declared their high status, their value, their identity with expensive clothing and jewelry. How do we go about boasting in ourselves today?
We live in an identity-addicted society. We strive to put our tastes and our stuff on display so that everyone knows who we are. We’re told to accentuate our best features, get what we want out of life, stand up for and express ourselves. Social media is often the megaphone we use to herald our personal identity and covertly brag about our smarts, body, sexuality, culture, politics, sports, relationships, family, insecurities, experiences, and possessions.
People who are growing in there faith to become more like Jesus instead love to fade into the background, serving the needs of others, asking Jesus to take center stage. We’ve been freed to have a truly modest life, which will make the world wonder why we’re not fighting for our social status and incidental preferences. Maybe we can be so freed from human approval and praise that they begin to inquire, “Who are you?”
And we can respond, “I am not my own, for I was bought with a price. I belong to God”(1 Cor 6:19-20); (Romans 14:8)
Living modestly is to intentionally take the focus off of ourselves and shift people’s attention to God. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1)
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In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul says, “I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
As Christians, we are called to pray for those in authority: pastors, bosses, supervisors, managers, parents, school teachers, administrators, political leaders, etc. Not only are we called to pray for them, but we’re also told to thank God for each of these people.
How we feel about them, their work or their policies does not excuse us from the call on our lives to pray for them. Paul also says in 1 Timothy 2:8, “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” There are no conditions to this calling. We are simply called to pray, no matter our opinions.
Praying for and encouraging our leaders isn’t about asking God to find someone to take their place. Eventually every leader must step down, and it’s important that while they are in authority, we be willing to submit to God’s will for their lives—and ours— by thanking God for them and praying for their salvation, their protection and their ability to guide us and make wise decisions.
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If you have a pulse, you have a past. We all have things in our past we would rather not remember because remembering makes us uncomfortable. Maybe it was the names you called a classmate behind his back, or the girl you pursued just to get in her pants or the failed marriage you pretend never happened.
Paul, in his first letter to a young leader named Timothy, shows us how remembering the past helps us appreciate the present. After openly stating his past wrongs, Paul says, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:12-15).
None of us were good enough to earn a place in heaven — not even Paul, who started churches all over the world and wrote half of the New Testament. Salvation is a gift we didn’t deserve and didn’t earn. When we omit parts of our story or pretend we’ve always been this godly, it cheapens the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
Eager as we are to forget our past, it’s only when we put down our perfect fronts and acknowledge how God saved us from our messy pasts that we can experience the freedom of God’s grace.
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Too often, Christians believe everything should be easy because we are God’s people. But if you’ve followed Jesus for any length of time, you know that’s not always the case. Sometimes, things don’t go our way. And while it’s easy to turn our backs on God when life gets chaotic, Habakkuk shows us there is another way.
Habakkuk saw God unleash His wrath on the world. Confused and upset, he asked God the question we all want to ask: “Why?” Like Habakkuk, one of the best things we can do with our doubt is to present our questions to God and spend time with Him in prayer. In Habakkuk 3, the prophet is finishing a long conversation with God. He reflects on who God is, thanks God for His faithfulness and acknowledges that he can find joy in God’s presence, despite any tough circumstances.
Habakkuk’s response to his doubt gives us an example of how we can deal with doubt. First, recognize when we’re feeling doubt and understand why. Second, react by bringing our questions to God and praising Him in prayer. Third, remember how faithful God has been in our lives and the promises He’s made. Finally, choose to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in Jesus our Savior!
Remembering who God is, His faithfulness in the past, and His promises for the future gives us the confidence to trust God with what's happening right now. We are still human. We still live in a sin-filled world filled with loss, hardships, doubt, stress, and fear. The difference when we face each day with Jesus is that we have the ability to experience joy, peace, love, and security even in hard times.
Reflect:
- Given what you read today, is there anything about your response to doubt that needs to change?
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Have you ever pulled into your parking spot at work or school and realized you can’t remember a single moment of the drive? When we see and do the same things every day, it’s easy to go into autopilot.
As our familiarity with our surroundings increases, our awareness of their specialness decreases. This is true, not just in our morning commutes, but in our spiritual lives as well. In Habakkuk 2:14, God describes a time when the earth will be shaken out of autopilot and filled with an awareness of His glory.
The world wasn’t lacking examples of God’s glory. God’s glory was all around Israel, just like it’s all around us. Everything we find beautiful in nature — from the mountains to the beach — was made by God and points to how magnificent He is. The problem was a lack of awe for the God who made everything they depended on.
Taking for granted the God who made the wood, the people started making their own gods. And while we don’t see a lot of wooden idols today, we aren’t that different from the people God was warning when He said, “How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk!” (Habakkuk 2:18).
When we allow anything other than God to capture our awe, we’ve made an idol. Idols aren’t just statues. Idols take all forms — the need for acceptance, the love of money, the identity we find in roles at work or at home.
Removing idols from our lives doesn’t have to take the destruction of nations. Rediscovering our awe starts with the choice to give God credit and honor for all that we are, all that we have and all that we can do.
No matter how many steps we’ve taken from God, He hasn’t moved. God is still in His holy temple displaying His glory (Habakkuk 2:20). We just have to stop long enough to see it.
Reflect:
- Is there any area of your life where you’ve allowed yourself to become more captivated by something God created than by the Creator Himself? How has that affected your awareness of God’s presence around you?
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You pull into the dump with your final load of trash. The cleanup was a success, and you are ready to bask in the neatness of your newly-organized garage. But as you leave, you notice the rusted remnants of a gas grill, decayed fragments of some outdoor furniture, and a tattered old couch among the dumpsters.
The piles of discarded goods provide a tangible reminder of the temporary nature of life on earth. Like us, Babylon lived in an age of prosperity and excess. People lusted after what was newer, bigger, and better. But none of what they built still stands.
In Habakkuk 2, God spoke through the prophet Habakkuk to warn Babylon that He was not pleased with their obsession with money and material possessions. Habakkuk chastises Babylon for the way they built their wealth. Their desires were not upright. They obtained their wealth through greed, arrogance, extortion, and bloodshed. Their house was built through unjust gain and filled with stolen goods.
Habakkuk warns the Babylonians that, like the worn out items at the dump, their earthly possessions will eventually decay. A life built on materialism will not last. But a life built around a relationship with Jesus will last into eternity.
“The righteous will live by faithfulness,” Habakkuk writes, and one day “... the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Habakkuk 2:4 and Habakkuk 2:14).
On that day, we will all give an account for what we built our lives on. Like the nations of Habakkuk’s day, we have a choice: We can build our lives on a relationship with Jesus, or we can build our lives on acquiring stuff and making money. But only one will last into eternity.
Reflect:
- Is there anything about your attitude to money and stuff that needs to change based on what you read today?
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We don’t have the luxury of ignoring ISIS with the news tracking every tragedy. As the violence against Christians escalates, we wonder why hasn’t someone intervened?
Riots and protests reported on the news remind us of the anger and injustice, frustration and brutality that exist in communities across America. Where is the hope here?
Extremists protest and shout intolerance and hatred in Jesus’ name. God doesn’t support this, but why hasn’t He stopped it?
There seems to be a lot of injustice in this world and little action from God. Habakkuk felt the same way. His world was out of control and the people around him were full of evil. He begged God for justice, and even accused Him of being silent. But God’s response was simple, “Wait for it; it will certainly come and it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).
Often what we perceive as God’s slowness to action is His grace and patience with us. Peter, one of Jesus’ followers, described God this way, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God’s patience is not the same as His permission. No one hates sin more than God. No one is more angry with ISIS, no one is more hurt by the Baltimore riots, and no one is more grieved when the church misrepresents Jesus.
God is full of grace and fully just all the time. He will bring an end to evil, but not without giving those perpetuating evil a chance to repent. And His plan to change the world is through the local church.
We don’t have to riot, protest or fight to change things. We change the world as we share the good news of a God who loves us and was willing to die for us, and invite others to know Him, too.
Reflect:
- When was the last time you felt like God was slow to act? How did it make you feel?
- How does what you read today affect the way you pray for your community, your leaders, or the world?
- What’s one way knowing Jesus has changed you? Who can you share that story with this week?
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Habakkuk 2 (NLT)2 I will climb up to my watchtower
and stand at my guard post.
There I will wait to see what the Lord says
and how he will answer my complaint.
Today, banks make it pretty easy to order a new debit or credit card when yours has been compromised or lost. Back in the day, people had to go into the bank to get a new card. These days, one phone call and it’s headed straight for your mailbox.
But what if, after ordering the new card, you sat in your house day after day and stared out of the window at your mailbox, wondering where your card was but never bothering to go check it? Or, maybe you got too busy to stop and check the mailbox, so you just continued to rush past it every day. Obviously, you would not get your card. You wouldn’t even know if the card was ever there.
That may seem like a silly response to a pressing matter, but so many of us do that with God. We are quick to ask God for answers, but do we put ourselves in a position to receive them? We live in a fast-paced, instant gratification driven world where a slow answer often means no answer. If we don’t receive immediate answers, we jump to the next solution or try to figure things out on our own.
The prophet Habakkuk asked God questions then put himself in the best position possible to hear God’s answer. Not only did he position himself to hear, he waited. He waited in expectation (Habakkuk 2:1).
God hears every prayer, and answers them how He sees fit. Not how we see fit. Sometimes we have to wait for direction, but waiting is not the same as doing nothing. To wait with expectation is to continue seeking God believing He hears us and has something to say.
Reflect:
- Is there a prayer you have given up on because you haven’t seen an answer?
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It’s been a month — maybe two — since it all started going south.
The debt was manageable in the beginning. There was one pile of student loans, the car payments, and the credit card bills you swore were “emergencies.” But then came the medical bills you weren’t expecting, and the tuition bill that was twice what you thought it would be.
The pile got bigger, overwhelming you. You, who didn’t deserve this. You, who hadn’t done anything wrong. You, who the world was coming down on for really no reason at all.
We’ve all been there (or a version of there). Habakkuk was there, too.
Habakkuk watched as God set out to punish Israel using the wicked nation of Babylon. He didn’t believe Israel deserved such a punishment, yet they were taken by a nation that, in Habakkuk’s eyes, deserved it more.
And like many of us, Habakkuk asked God, “Why?”
God’s answer likely was not what Habakkuk wanted to hear. While Israel may not have been as wicked as Babylon, they were far from innocent. God sent Babylon against Israel because they needed to experience the consequence for their sin.
Not everything that happens in our lives is a punishment for something we’ve done. But sometimes, if we’re honest with ourselves, the circumstances we face are the result of our own bad decisions.
God loves us the way a perfect father does. He wants good things for His children. And sometimes, the most loving thing a father can do is allow us to experience the consequences of our actions so we’ll turn away from a life that’s not good.
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Cancer steals the ones we love. Babies die before they get a chance to live. Police officers are charged with murder. People riot in the streets and burn cities. Wildfires chase people from their homes.
If God is a good God who wants good things for His children, why do bad things happen? Where is the justice?
When devastating circumstances rock our lives, even the most faithful among us can be shaken with doubt. Where is God? Why is He allowing this? Is He really good? Does He even exist?
God is not scared of our questions, and He is not surprised by our doubts.
Even the prophet Habakkuk had doubts and questions for God. In Habakkuk 1:1-4, surrounded by violence, injustice, wrongdoing, destruction, strife and conflict, Habakkuk cries out to God, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2).
The Lord doesn’t condemn him for asking. He answers and gives him hope. God explains to Habakkuk that He has a plan so amazing that he wouldn’t even believe it (Habakkuk 1:5).
When devastating and confusing circumstances cause us to question God, we can be assured He cares, has a plan, and is working it all together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We may not understand because we only see part of the story, but God sees the big picture and has a plan greater than anything we could imagine.
God is working in your life and in our world in ways that if He told us, we would not even believe.
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In the midst of hard circumstances or anxiety, it can be difficult to see past the problem in front of us, much less present our requests rationally, clearly or with thanksgiving. What is there to be thankful for when you’re facing bankruptcy, or divorce, or Cancer? Shouldn’t you be anxious when the relationship you thought would last forever suddenly falls apart? What is there to rejoice about when you keep falling into that sin over and over and over again?
In Philippians 4:4-6, Paul isn’t telling us to ignore what circumstances we have. He’s directing us to get perspective on those circumstances. He writes in Philippians 4:8, “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.” Paul isn’t saying difficulties don’t matter, but that they are parts of a larger picture, a whole world filled with blessings, too.
If you’re in the midst of difficult circumstances, two things are true: First, those circumstances are threatening to consume your every thought and waking moment. Maybe they already have. But the second truth is this: In addition to the problems, your life is filled with wonderful blessings you can’t see because your focus is elsewhere. When you’re tempted to worry, thank God for something different. Maybe you are facing bankruptcy, but you are alive and healthy. Maybe that relationship did fall apart, but there is a God who loves you more than that person ever could. Maybe you’re in a pattern of sin, but there is a Savior who can and will help you through it.
Trouble and anxiety are real, but when we pause to recognize and thank God for His blessings in the midst of them, He gives us peace. Whatever good thing you think about may seem irrelevant, but even if it is only for a moment, it is a moment of freedom.
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As we grow older, the need to be good is continually reinforced. We justify ourselves with how good we are, whether it’s as an employee, spouse or person. The way we describe each other confirms it.
“He’s such a good person.”
“She has a good heart.”
At the beginning of Philippians 3, Paul points out the flaws in this kind of thinking. If we’re chasing goodness, we’re chasing a moving target.
If anyone reading Paul’s letter thought he or she was a good person, Paul was better. He was raised in the right family, went to the right schools and followed the right path. But he says all of these things were garbage compared to knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:8).
That’s because knowing Jesus isn’t about meeting a standard but following a person. The relationship Paul had with Jesus was more fulfilling than all the religious accomplishments of his past. Paul still did good things but not because he was trying to be good. Instead, Paul’s good deeds were an overflow of the love He experienced from Jesus. The same is true for us. When we put Jesus above everything else in our lives, we end up doing good things not because we have to, but because we want to.
After writing that everything in his life is worthless compared to knowing Jesus, Paul goes on to say he hasn’t lived up to Jesus’ example yet. Paul wasn’t perfect, but “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” he continued his whole-hearted pursuit of Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14). Like Paul, many of us need to give up trying to be good enough and run to the One who is enough.
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Life never seems to go the way we imagine it will in our heads. No matter the effort we put into preparing our day-to-day lives, unforeseen circumstances can leave us feeling frustrated.
Many of us have believed the lie that Christians won’t have troubles. But Jesus tells us plainly in John 16:33, “... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We will have problems. The question is what we do when we face obstacles.
In Philippians 2, Paul writes that we are to have the same mindset as Jesus. Jesus’ life was full of difficulty. Jesus had every reason to complain but never did. And even though Jesus was divine in nature, He never used His equality with God to His advantage. He humbled himself and took the position of a servant.
Keeping that in mind, think about the things we complain about:
Why is the traffic messing up MY schedule?
Why can’t they ever get MY order right?
Why didn’t they give ME the promotion?
Could pride be at the root of some of our complaints?
Jesus didn’t deserve the pain He endured, yet He we willingly walked into God's plan for him regardless of what it cost him. That kind of behavior gets someone’s attention. Can you imagine if we all did the same? We would stand out among our peers as “stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15).
Jesus came to bring people to His Father. When He left, He challenged us to do the same. As we choose to humble ourselves, taking on an attitude of gratitude instead of grumbling, we point people toward our Father.
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Are you chained to a secret addiction?
Trapped in a dark depression?
Feeling the weight of past mistakes or the effects of a failing marriage?
When everything seems to be falling apart, and we are certain we have let God down, grace intervenes and reminds us the story isn’t over yet. It’s only an intermission.
Paul’s life was certainly not going the way he had planned when he found himself alone in a prison cell. Yet, in Philippians 1:4-6 he wrote, “I always pray with joy… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
Your circumstances may not look good today. (They certainly weren’t for Paul!) Yet we can have joy and confidence knowing if it’s not good, God’s not done.
Not only is God not done with you, He wants to use the very circumstances you are struggling through today. In Philippians 1:12-14 we are reminded that God can use even the difficult things that happen to us to draw us closer to Him.
Your mistakes, your failures, and your heartache are part of your story. And when you fear you have let God down, grace trades our shame for hope, and trust and courage, knowing our pain is not wasted and God is bigger than the circumstances we feel “chained’ to right now.
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Our world has perfected the art of performance-based love. It is exhausting to feel like you’re only as valuable as you are expendable.
The good news is that our performance does not determine Jesus’ love for us.
It can be difficult to wrap our minds around how Jesus loves. We easily fall into the habit of performance, viewing Jesus’ commands as rules to follow instead of a means to intimacy with Him. But 1 John 5:3 says it is out of love for Jesus that we obey His rules — not the other way around.
God’s commands have not been put in place to oppress us, but to free us. God’s plan for our lives is the best plan for our lives. So when we give God ultimate control, it gives us ultimate joy.
If we measure our value on how well we’re following the rules, we make our faith about us instead of Jesus’ death on the cross. Obedience is not about how we perform, but how we respond. We say yes to God because we love Him, not out of obligation to Him or because we want something from Him.
Obedience is as simple as listening to Jesus and doing what He did, and what he says. Don’t simply try to follow the rules — follow Jesus.
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What if God was not love? What if He existed as all-powerful and all-knowing but lacked the attribute of love?
Love sets our God apart from the gods of every other religion. Other religions say strive, our God says, “Love.” Everything He made and everything He’s done was an act of love for us. When we see love in the world, it’s a reminder that we were made in His image. Love exists among us because it’s part of God’s character.
God is often described as our Heavenly Father. For those of us who had loving fathers growing up, seeing God as a loving dad is an easy way to comprehend His love for us. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. God doesn’t just love us; He is love (1 John 4:16). Love is not just what God does, it’s who He is.
It is one thing to be loving. It is infinitely more significant for God’s character to define and be defined by love. Love is patient, kind, humble, and eager to serve others (1 Corinthians 13). Because God is love, He is by His nature all these things as well.
God cannot be indifferent to what happens to us because it’s not in His nature. We can take comfort in submitting to a God who is love. And, we can bear any circumstances knowing we walk through them with a God who loves us and wants the best for us.
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It's easy to love people who love you back. But then there are times when it's not so easy to love. The times you have been hurt and wronged. Are you still supposed to love someone who hurts you? And, if so, how?
In 1 John 3:14-15, John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, warns us that hating someone makes us murderers in our hearts. God wants us to love even those who are hard to love.
Our ability to love others on our own is pretty limited. It's circumstantial, based on how we feel about the other person and the way he or she treats us. But with God’s help, we are able to love others the way Jesus wants us to — everyone, all the time.
We can show real love because we’ve experienced it. Jesus gave up His life for us before we ever knew Him. That willingness to love those who don’t deserve it is what John is calling us to. That is what it means to follow Jesus.
1 John 3:24 promises that as we open our hearts to love others, we experience a deeper relationship with God: "The one who keeps God's commands live in him, and he in them.”
Are there people in your life that you need some extra help loving? It’s OK to be honest and ask God for help loving others. He has given us all a great capacity to love, and in His strength, we can overcome all barriers.
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Already this week, most of us have probably lost our temper with our kids, ignored an opportunity to be generous, or let the urge to have one more get the better of us.
We're not yet who we want to be, but we're not who we used to be either. Before meeting Jesus, we were oblivious to our sinfulness. After meeting Jesus, the Holy Spirit inside of us makes us aware of our sinfulness — not out of condemnation, but out of a desire to help us change.
We cannot meet Jesus and stay the same. John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, and friends, writes, “No one who lives in [Jesus] keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him” (1 John 3:6).
When we understand the depth of what Jesus did for us, it draws us to Him. And as we spend time with Jesus, the desire to sin starts to lose its pull. Saved people are not perfect people, but they are forgiven people. And forgiven people change.
Salvation is a starting point, and the same Spirit that drew us to Jesus in the first place will continue to shape us over time. Even on our worst days, the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us or abandon us. He continues to draw us back to Jesus, time and time again.
One of the best ways to know if we are children of God is to look back at our lives and ask: Was there a time when I asked Jesus into my life? Is my life different now than it was back then? As we listen to Jesus and do what He says, we are being change daily from the inside out into His very own image.
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Have you ever been through a season where you felt like you weren’t hearing from God or seeing Him work in your life? You prayed, you studied the Bible, but inside you wondered if He even hears you.
After a while, it’s easy to think, "Maybe I’m not even really saved."
In 1 John 2:18-29, one of Jesus’ closest friends reminds us that we are children of God. No matter what we feel on any given day, if we know the Father, and we declare that Jesus is Lord, we are His and we are promised eternal life.
When everything about our circumstances tells us to turn our backs on God, John says, "remain in him" (1 John 2:27). Often our best next step when we feel like God is silent is simply to keep moving forward.
Persevere, trusting that He is working behind the scenes. Persevere in the knowledge that you are His, trusting that everything He does will somehow work together for your good. And finally, persevere in praying, reading the Bible, and coming to church, trusting that his ways are higher than your ways and being obedient to the things you know he has asked you to do and He will meet you there.
John promises that if we’ll push through the tough times, we can be confident and unashamed before Jesus when He returns (1 John 2:28).
We can’t always see God in action or hear His audible voice, but He is always there. God is speaking every day in ways we don’t expect. The same way that deep friendships are developed through seasons of conflict, seasons of joy, seasons of closeness and seasons of separation, our relationship with God deepens as we persevere in faith through the ebb and flow of life.
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Every Christian wants to know the secret to avoiding sin. When Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “Sin no more,” we wonder, “How?” When He tells His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands,” we ask, “Is that possible?”
John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, says it is. In 1 John 2, John gives us three ways to prevent sin and show Jesus we love Him.
1. Keep His commands.In 1 John 2:3, John says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” Sin is a way of saying, “I don’t love You right now as much as I want, love or need this other thing.” Our love for someone or something fuels our devotion to it, and our devotion demonstrates our love.
Sometimes emotion is lacking, but that doesn’t mean that the devotion should cease. Being disciplined and keeping God’s commands is a way of demonstrating our love for Him, even if we don’t “feel” like loving Him at the moment. Keeping God’s commands also helps us avoid sin before we ever approach it.
2. Do not love the things that belong to this world.What we serve shows what we love. That’s why Jesus said believers cannot love both God and money (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). John takes this one step further in 1 John 2:15, writing, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” Avoiding sin means being careful not to direct our love and devotion to anything other than Jesus.
3. Remember that Jesus always advocates for us.None of us are perfect. Sin may be unintentional, or we may knowingly step into sin. No matter how or why we may sin, John reminds us of an ultimate and freeing truth: Jesus is always advocating for us (1 John 2:1-2). To advocate is to defend, and Jesus defends us with His sacrifice on the cross.
All sins are forgiven in Jesus, so when you do find yourself in need of forgiveness, ask for it honestly and wholeheartedly, knowing that He does forgive. And then go, and sin no more.
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When was the last time you sat back, looked around, and realized you were grateful for your life?
Joy is what we experience in moments like that. We’re connected to something deeper than surface-level emotions and the positive or negative events in our lives.
Joy is an internal contentment regardless of external circumstances.
We lose out on joy when we’re separated from God and separated from others. That separation is called sin.
Our relationships are restored when we don’t hide our sins, but bring them to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. Because of what He’s done — dying on the cross and coming back to life — we’re no longer stuck dealing with our sins alone.
This is some of the best news in the entire Bible: Our cleanliness, or purity is only possible because of God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Jesus doesn’t ridicule us or shame us; He welcomes us and exchanges our sins for His joy.
Connection with God and with others is where joy comes from. When He removes the barrier of sin, we experience joy far better than we ever could on our own.
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When we make the decision to follow Jesus, we start a lifelong journey. But this is not a trip we make on our own. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we join a family of other Christians all around the world who are doing their best to follow Jesus step by step.
God is Relational all the way to His core, and he yearns to have a relationship with each of us, and He wants us to grow in our relationships with one another. Jesus demonstrated this for us in His relationships with the 12 disciples.
Galatians 6:1-3 teaches that community is necessary for every Christian. So how do we know when we’ve found the people God wants us to share our lives with? When seeking out community with other Christians, look for people who:
- listen to God and do what He says,
- hold you accountable,
- speak the truth with love and grace,
- are dependable and trustworthy, and
- readily give encouragement.
Believing we can do everything ourselves is prideful and shows a lack of humility. Opening up to people might seem scary, but we have more to gain by investing in friendships in the church than we have to lose.
When we respond to God’s command to love others, and we invest in relationships, we experience the joy, compassion, and depth of emotion that comes from a life well-lived (Galatians 6:7-8).
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We all know that feeling of walking into a gym for the first time. You want to get in shape, and today is the day you’re going to start! There is one problem: You have no idea what to do. You don’t know anything about fitness or how to use the equipment.
You need guidance.
There are times in all of our lives where we need counseling to know what to do. At a gym, guidance comes in the form of a personal trainer. In our spiritual lives, our guide is called the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus sent to us when we accept Jesus as our savior. In John 14:26, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our counselor, “whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.” The Holy Spirit helps us in SO MANY ways, according to Galatians 5:
- He helps us overcome sin.
- He helps us follow God's instructions.
- He produces godly qualities in our lives.
- He encourages us to seek God's approval not man's approval.
Before meeting Jesus, we did what seemed right to us. When we do what feels good at the gym, we rarely see ourselves change. When we do that in our spiritual lives, we find ourselves stuck in an endless cycle of sin.
Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we lived in conflict with God and His desires. Those old habits are hard to break. The only way to overcome sin and experience real life change is to listen and follow the Holy Spirit. As we let go of our old ways, our selfish desires are replaced with the characteristics of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
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Have you ever been in a relationship where nothing you did was ever good enough? If you have, you know it’s frustrating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. The eventual outcome is that we stop trying, or worse, become bitter toward others and doubtful of our own self-worth.
If you’re experiencing the pain of a no-win relationship, here’s some good news: You never have to work to earn God’s acceptance. In fact, it’s impossible to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Human nature leads us to think we have to obey certain rules to get God to accept us. But obeying rules doesn’t draw us close to God; it makes us slaves to the rules.
The Bible says when we were God’s enemies He sent Jesus to save us. He loved us when we didn’t care about Him. He loved us when we were doing sinful things. Through Jesus, God brings us into His family. The Holy Spirit changes us on the inside and makes us children of God, not robotic rule followers (Galatians 5:1).
What does matter to God is that Christians demonstrate their faith by showing to others the same kind of love He first showed us (Galatians 5:6). He wants us to love people who are far from God just as they are. He wants us to love them enough to point them to Jesus.
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“Don’t drink, smoke, chew or go with girls that do…”
For many this is familiar advice. The point is simple: Stay away from bad influences. Date those who follow the rules. It’s well-intentioned advice that misses the point. Instead of focusing on Who people follow, we focus on the rules they follow.
This is not a new problem in the church. From the beginning, people have struggled to understand the relationship between freedom in Christ and the call to live holy lives. Often, to solve this, churches obsess about either obedience or grace. Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 4. No doubt, teaching a set of rules is easier than teaching the radical grace described in the Bible. On the other side are churches that avoid addressing sin for fear of offending someone. Both groups miss the truth of Jesus’ message.
Grace and obedience are not independent of one another. We cannot obey our way into favor with God. That work was done on the cross by Jesus. When we understand that our salvation is an undeserved gift, our natural response is obedience.
As Christians, we have a personal understanding of how desperately we need forgiveness. Knowing Christ provides forgiveness creates a desire to obey rather than a requirement to do so.
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The apostle Paul wrote emphatically that Christians are sons and daughters of God, and therefore, Jesus is the Christian’s brother. Did you hear that? It’s truly remarkable! And this position of son and daughter is not just on paper; you enjoy this position experientially. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, something supernatural occurred. At the moment of your salvation, the Lord Jesus released His Holy Spirit into your heart, and your spirit came alive. You were born again!
As a result of your new birth, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work bringing you into a fuller, richer relationship with the Lord Jesus and the Father. One of the Spirit’s most wonderful works is to give you the unqualified assurance that God is your Father. The Holy Spirit reminds you again and again that you truly are a child of God—and nothing can ever change that reality. Your spirit rightfully cries out, “Abba, Father!”
But there is more. Since you are a son or daughter of God, you are not a slave. In fact, you are a joint heir with Jesus. You are in the family of God.
Commenting on what we see in Galatians 4:1-7, Tim Keller writes, “The Son’s purpose was to secure for us the legal status of our sonship. By contrast, the Spirit’s purpose is to secure the actual experience of it.”
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Galatians 3:15-29 (ICB)15 Brothers, let me give you an example: Think about an agreement that a person makes with another person. After that agreement is accepted by both people, no one can stop that agreement or add anything to it. 16 God made promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say, “and to your descendants.” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your descendant.” That means only one person; that person is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: God had an agreement with Abraham and promised to keep it. The law, which came 430 years later, cannot change God’s promise to Abraham. 18 Can following the law give us what God promised? No! If this is so, it is not God’s promise that brings us the blessings. Instead God freely gave his blessings to Abraham through the promise he had made.
19 So what was the law for? The law was given to show the wrong things people do. It continued until the special descendant of Abraham came. God’s promise was about this descendant. The law was given through angels who used Moses for a mediator[a] to give the law to men. 20 But a mediator is not needed when there is only one side. And God is only one.
21 Does this mean that the law is against God’s promises? Never! If there were a law that could give men life, then we could be made right by following that law. 22 But this is not true, because the Scriptures showed that the whole world is bound by sin. This was so that the promise would be given through faith. And it is given to people who believe in Jesus Christ.
23 Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming. 24 So the law was our master until Christ came. After Christ came, we could be made right with God through faith. 25 Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under the law.
26-27 You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This shows that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28 Now, in Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek. There is no difference between slaves and free men. There is no difference between male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. 29 You belong to Christ. So you are Abraham’s descendants. You get all of God’s blessings because of the promise that God made to Abraham.
Think back to playing games as a kid after school. Remember the arguments that ensued over an out-of-bounds call in basketball or a safe/out call in kickball? We knew the rules, but our selfish desire led us to yell, and even fight, over calls that didn’t go our way. It often took a mediator, like a teacher or parent, to correct the dispute.
The same way we needed a mediator for kickball and basketball, we need a mediator in our spiritual lives. Sin caused a rebellion between people and God, and we cannot restore the relationship on our own.
Jesus is the mediator who brings God and His people together. When God chose Israel to be His people, He gave Moses a set of commands called the law. The law established guiding principles for God’s people to follow. The law didn’t save people from their sin; it taught them how to be holy until a mediator arrived who could settle the dispute between our desires and God’s desires (
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Life as a Christian can seem difficult if not impossible. How easy is it — really — to love our neighbors, to honor our parents, or to forgive someone who has hurt, betrayed or left us? How easy is it to share the Gospel with someone who you work with or sit next to in class?
It is impossible to follow Jesus on our own. The good news is Jesus gives us His power, so we’re never alone.
In Galatians 3, Paul calls the people “foolish” and “bewitched” for trying to earn their salvation. He reminds them that the Holy Spirit saved them. By trying to follow the law instead of accepting God’s grace, they were taking on an impossible burden and forgetting that they already belonged to Jesus.
Aren’t we just like that?
When we accept the gift of salvation through Jesus, He also gives us the Holy Spirit as our comforter and guide. The power of God lives in us! But instead of tapping into the power that enables us to follow Jesus, we slip into old habits and return to self-reliance. We allow others to dictate who we are.
When we are burdened by worries, hurts, or problems, we must keep our focus on the one who knows us and remember whose we are. We live under Jesus’ mercy and grace. He enables us to be who He’s created us to be and to do what He calls us to do.
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From the time we are babies, we are rewarded for hard work. We are promised a toy if we don’t scream during the shopping trip. When we are brave at the doctor’s office, we get a sucker. Teachers reward good behavior with stickers. As we get older, we work hard for good grades to get into a great college. We bust it at work to earn the promotion. Our whole lives teach us that success is the result of following the rules and putting forth the effort.
Maybe that’s why grace is a hard concept to understand. If I’m messed up and sinful, I’m not deserving. There must be something I need to do for Jesus to accept me. And once I am His, there must be a good behavior chart. There must be a list of things I have to do to be a successful Christian.
This isn’t a new struggle. Galatians 2 describes Paul’s reaction to Peter falling into the performance trap. Peter had begun doing what was right in other’s eyes, shutting out a whole group of people in the process. In Galatians 2:21, Paul reminds us that following a list of rules or checking off a to-do list is not necessary: “... if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
We are made right with God through Jesus’ sacrifice. Period. Galatians 2:16 says, "Yet we know that a person is not made right with God by following the law. No! It is trusting in Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God."
Peter was trying to follow man-made rules instead of the law God wrote on his heart. Focusing on a list of do’s and don’ts removes our focus from Jesus. When we decide to follow Jesus, He changes our heart. If we keep our focus on Him, He will guide our steps.
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Everyone knows “that” crowd in high school, the one we let intimidate us by their status or influence. They were cooler, more popular, had the best of everything.
But no matter how far removed the in crowd seemed, they are people just like the rest of us. They face the same struggles, hopes and fears. And while we might be intimidated, God sees us all the same. He does not show favoritism. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.
In Galatians 2:6, Paul writes, “Those men who seemed to be important did not change the Good News that I preach. (It doesn’t matter to me if they were “important” or not. To God all men are the same.)
The Gospel is the same no matter whom it is presented to. It takes the same amount of grace and mercy to be forgiven by Jesus no matter how much we make, what car we drive or where our kids go to school. Just because we are given status by the world’s standards does not mean we have special status in God’s eyes.
Maybe middle and high school are decades behind you. Maybe you're scared to talk to your neighbor about Jesus because you're not a pastor. Maybe you're afraid to speak up about changes at work because you're "just a shift worker."
In God’s economy, there is no such thing as “just a …” God doesn't rate us according to our status; He looks at the attitude of our hearts. If God is prompting you to have a tough conversation, do it and remember that the person sitting across from you is also just a sinner in need of a Savior.
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Pleasing dad is something most of us strive for throughout our lives. No matter how complicated our relationship with our parents might be, something in us desires to please our father. But in Galatians 1, Paul, a leader in the church, addresses this need to win our earthly fathers’ approval over our heavenly Father’s approval.
Paul was zealous for the religious traditions of his family. But after an encounter with Jesus, Paul realized there was much more to his faith than what his family passed down. Seeking his family and community’s approval by following their traditions would never give Paul salvation or a right relationship with God. Only faith in Jesus could change Paul’s eternity.
That recognition changed the chain of command in Paul’s life. In Galatians 1:10, Paul writes, "Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No! God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please men? If I wanted to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Serving God — even when it goes against the traditions of our friends and family — is hard. Jesus knows this better than anyone. Wrestling with His impending crucifixion, Jesus prays, “... My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus asks God to spare Him the pain that was to come, but ultimately Jesus places His faith in God the Father. At a time when Jesus could have pleased others and made His life less painful by denying God, Jesus’ trust in His Father produced obedience that resulted in our salvation.
We, like Jesus, are God’s children. Every day we face the hard choice about where to put our trust. In those moments, we have to stop and ask the same question Paul did: Am I trying to please God or men?
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How’s your morning been? Your week? Your month? We live in a world of crazy deadlines, commitments, and opinions. Sometimes it feels like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. Pause, take a breath, and soak in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul’s prayer for the church of Ephesus is a wonderful reminder of how much more God wants for our lives than our short-sighted vision shows us.
This beautiful prayer depicts the wonderful relationship Jesus invites us to. The only way to experience the fullness of Jesus’ love is to let Him fully into our lives. God works through us not by pushing us around, but through His Holy Spirit’s guidance. The business of life can drown out the whispers of the Holy Spirit showing us how loved and cherished we are by our creator. Paul prays we’re strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and we’re given the power to realize just how deep and wide God’s love is for us (Ephesians 3:16-18).
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In the movie "Gladiator," Maximus Decimus Meridius goes from being a general in the Roman army to being a slave and gladiator. Maximus is incredibly skilled in combat, but no matter his arena, he never goes out to fight without his body armor, shield and sword.
The Greek word for “whole armor” in Ephesians 6 is “panoplia,” which refers to the shield and weapons of a fully armed soldier. Knowing our lives will be faced with trouble, and that Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, Paul advises us to put on the full armor of God.
As humans, we were not meant to fight the troubles of this world on our own. Our enemy is powerful, but the Lord trumps the enemy’s power by a long shot, and He gives us exactly what we need to stand firm against our enemy.
The armor God gives us — righteousness, salvation, faith, the Bible, peace, the Holy Spirit, and prayer — offer far more strength than physical armor ever could. With these tools, we can defend ourselves against the enemy in the tough times and train proactively in good times.
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“Thanksgiving is not a day; it’s a lifestyle.”
Maybe you’ve heard that phrase or seen it on a church billboard. Learning to be thankful every day is not a new concept. It’s an idea Jesus taught and a principle that Paul, the writer of Ephesians, tried to teach Christians in Ephesus almost 2,000 years ago.
Paul was a Christian missionary who was imprisoned for his faith. Yet in Ephesians 5:20, Paul encouraged the church to give thanks to God for all things. How could Paul, of all people, be thankful in every circumstance?
The answer is the Holy Spirit. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we receive the Holy Spirit to be our helper and our guide. And in the same breath that Paul encourages us to be thankful in all things, he says to fill up on the Holy Spirit instead of turning to wine, or whatever else used to bring us joy, because the Holy Spirit is far more valuable (Ephesians 5:18).
The Holy Spirit in us is what allows us to be thankful even when things aren’t going right, to have peace when life feels chaotic, and to have hope when all seems hopeless. When we can’t think of anything to be thankful for, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we can be thankful for Jesus – for the forgiveness of sins, for a relationship with God, and for the promise of eternal life.
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When family and friends get together, sharing food seems to be a required part of the process. Holiday celebrations wouldn’t be the same without everybody’s favorite dish or two. But, we can’t eat every day like it is Thanksgiving. If we do, the impact becomes obvious quickly. Bulges show where we don’t want them. Comfortable clothes aren’t comfortable anymore. Just like with any behavior that is excessive, there are consequences.
To reverse undesirable results, we have to discipline ourselves. It might be smaller portions, or putting down the fork sooner, or avoiding the candy jar and ice cream. If we really want a different result, we have to be willing to submit to the discipline.
Following Jesus happens one decision at a time, day in and day out.
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Ever noticed how one customer service experience can make or break a business’s reputation? Stories about a bloody Band-Aid can make you avoid chili for the rest of your life, while good reviews on Yelp can be the deciding factor in where you go for dinner. One person’s experience can affect the perception of an entire group.
The same can be said for Christians. Often, the people around us are looking at our actions to see what Christians look like, and you may be the only picture they see. The way we act as Christians can either point someone to Jesus or turn them away from Him.
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Have you ever felt ill-equipped to do something you wanted to do or knew you should do?
We all feel that way at times. Sometimes we feel that way as we walk with Jesus. We know we should read our Bibles, but it’s difficult to sit down and focus on God’s Word. We want to serve others, but it’s hard to find the time when so many responsibilities demand our attention. We know we should share our faith with a co-worker, but we can’t seem to work up the courage. We all face situations in which we don’t feel good enough.
Paul, the writer of Ephesians, felt ill-equipped sometimes, too. Paul was a missionary who wrote most of the New Testament. Yet in Ephesians 3:8, Paul refers to himself as “less than the least of all God’s people.” So how does the least of these become one of the most influential church planters and leaders of all time?
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I am a college football fanatic! There is no sporting atmosphere that rivals a good college football tailgate. Thousands of people drive for hours to hang out in a parking lot together. Even if people can’t make it to the stadium, nothing seems to bring people together like football. Fans meet in houses and sports bars just to be around other people who root for the same team.
The same way that football unites people of all backgrounds and walks of life around a common love, our love for Jesus is what unites Christians around the world as one church. A shared love for Jesus breaks down the wall of hostility between people who would disagree in any other setting — Republicans and Democrats, Duck fans and Beaver fans, Coke people and Pepsi people. At the time Ephesians was written, the great divide was between Jews and non-Jews, or Gentiles. But the message remains the same: In the Church, we all root for the same team, because we’ve all received the same grace.
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Imagine yourself walking into your favorite coffee shop. The barista greets you by name and starts making your drink before you even order. That feeling of being known, of being cared for personally, that’ll change the way you approach your day.
In Ephesians 2:10, the apostle Paul writes that God created each of us to fulfill a plan and purpose. The same way the barista was ready and waiting for you to step into the coffee shop, God is prepped and ready for us to step into the “good works he’s prepared in advance for us to do.”
When we say ‘yes’ to fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives, we move from consumer to server. No longer the consumer, we become like the barista getting joy from seeing others experience the personal way God loves us.
We don't earn our way into heaven. Our faith in God is what saves us, and our good works are a direct overflow of the love, grace, and mercy Jesus gives us. The way we thank God for all He’s done for us is by giving back a piece of what He’s given to us.
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Ephesians 1:17
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. "
Now, that is really the major objective of a Christian life -- to know God better. We need to ask ourselves, "Is this happening with us? Are we really getting to know God better?"
There is a principle in the Scripture that is very important for us to understand. We are all familiar with the phrase that says we are made in the image of God, which means in some way that humanity reflects God. But that fact means that we cannot learn who we are until we begin to know and learn who God is. It is the revelation and understanding of the nature of God that will tell us what we are like.
I believe that this is one of the major reasons why many people today never seem to discover who they are. They never learn what they can do, what possibilities lie within, and what potential is theirs because they have never discovered who God is. We reflect him, and therefore it is extremely important that we come to know God better.
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Perhaps it was an athletic team, a special project at work, or the popular crowd at school — we’ve all experienced the feeling of wanting to belong. There is a special feeling that comes from being chosen on purpose.
In Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul explains that God chose us before the creation of the world, and in love, He adopted us as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. He did all this not because we were good, but because He is good.
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Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy spirit whom He has given us."
There are two responses we often take to suffering: "Why?" or "Help!" Why is it that we get mad at the one who can help us the most? Even in your suffering God loves you and has your best interest at heart. We can run to Jesus in our times of suffering, He understands! He is our perfect leader! And our perfect example.
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Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Trials, rather than destroying our hope, are meant to increase our hope. What is hope? In the New Testament, hope does not mean wishful thinking. It means confidence. In this development period of your life, God says I'm going to use the problems in your life to give you the ability to handle pressure and that will make you reliable and a person of character, Christlike character. And when you have this Christlike character you will be confident. Trials will give you more confidence. The first time you have the problem you don't know what to do. The second time you had the problem you handle it a little bit better. The third time... You get confidence because you've been through the situation with Jesus by your side. When you become a veteran in the crises of life it produces confidence, stability and you become bold from the experiences because you can say from experience, not just from head knowledge, but from real life personal testimony, that God will never leave you or forsake you.
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Romans 5:1-5(NLT)
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
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Romans 5:1-5(NLT)
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
The Greek word for perseverance literally means the ability to handle pressure. God uses our suffering to teach you how to handle pressure, how to hang in there, never give up, be consistent, how to trust him completely. The opposite of perseverance is panic. You want to bail out, run away, and fall apart. You can either panic or persevere when you're under pressure. Paul says that God's very first purpose of suffering is to teach us how to handle pressure.
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Romans 5:3-4 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Paul says we are to rejoice in our suffering. He doesn't mean faking it. He's not talking about putting on a plastic smile and pretending everything's OK. He's not saying be a Pollyanna and deny reality. He's not talking about an artificial happiness. Many people take these verses and think that as a Christian you have to always to be smiling. That's hypocrisy, being a phony. Jesus never expects you to be a phony. That's not what rejoicing in suffering means -- that you pretend that everything is OK when it's not.
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Romans 5:2 "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (grace) where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory."
We not only have peace with God, but access to God. Notice the word STAND, Paul didn’t say we have access by faith into his grace where we now sneak in, or quickly race through before we get zapped. No he said we can stand, we can plant ourselves in the presence of God and enjoy him as much, as long, and as often as we choose. And then the end of the verse makes this insane statement about the crazy amazing future that lays ahead for all of us who are in Christ. Paul says we joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory! Now try to wrap your brain around that we are invited to share in the glory of the Father!
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Those of us who are in Christ have PEACE WITH GOD! The War is over! Hostility has ended! The War with God is over, and this is an important fact for us to know! Japan surrendered to the United States on August 15th 1945 bringing WW2 officially to an end but the last Japanese soldier did not surrender his post until 1972! Almost 30 years after the fighting had stopped! He was on a remote island in the South Sea and just prior to Japan's surrender he had received orders to disrupt trade and shipping and not take his own life. You see he didn’t know the war was over! So he just kept on fighting, and we do the same thing! We think I hope God’s not mad at me, I hope he doesn’t come down hard on me, He must be really upset with me.. We don’t get it! THE WAR IS OVER! The Sin that separated us from God has been dealt with forgiven; it has been separated from us once and for all because of Jesus!
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